If you’re a budget-lovin’ babe who wears cool-toned shadows well, Sonia Kashuk’s got your back. Her new Starry Eyes Palette ($15) for holiday 2009 comes with six cool-toned powder eyeshadows in a mix of glitters and matte.
Exactly what’s inside?
- A shimmery brown with glitter
- Shimmery beige with glitter
- Shimmery taupe with glitter (fans of MAC Satin Taupe eyeshadow, this shade looks like Satin Taupe’s glittery cousin)
- A matte brown
- Matte white
- Matte taupe
I’ve been going through a glitter renaissance of late, and the glitter shadows in this palette are hitting all my right notes. You know how some glittery shadows are just too sheer? How all you can see sometimes is the glitter (but no color)? Well, these aren’t like that at all. All three deliver respectable pigmentation — a nice surprise for gals on Team Glitter.
Speaking of the glitter, I expected it to feel gritty here based on how chunky the bits look in their pans.
But that wasn’t the case. In fact, the particles appear fine — just right, in fact — once they’re applied.
It adds up to a very refined glitter look, if there is such a thing. 🙂
Swatches with flash
Swatches without flash
Breaking it down…
Pros
- The buttery matte shadows blend surprisingly well
- The mix of colors makes sense to me, and I can see how each shade fits with the others
- The shimmery black compact feels classy AND sturdy
- They score well on the affordability index, breaking down to $2.50 per pan
- They weren’t chintzy with the pans, and you get a reasonable amount of each product
But, alas, all is not well. There are a few things I wish I could change…
Cons
- I wish Sonia had released a palette with shades for girls who prefer warmer colors.
- The glittery beige and taupe shadows look almost identical on my skin; I’m guessing medium-to-dark-skinned beauties may feel the same way
- The packaging feels a little on the heavy side, which might not make it a star for travel
Considering the lovely price and overall quality of these shadows, I see a good stocking stuffer (or maybe even a gift for yourself). 🙂 Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I don’t really care for most of the shades, I don’t feel like I wear cool tones well, but that glittery brown shade is really going, ‘buy me, buy me!’
.-= Alexzandra’s last blog post… Chanel Spring 2010: Impressions de Chanel =-.
Amazing! I’m totally sold on this. I’m fair and cool-toned (well, actually, pretty neutral but I wear cool much better)- this perfect 🙂
.-= Tanya’s last blog post… A Fireside Chat With The Train Case. =-.
This would make a perfect gift for my friends this Christmas! I can’t say I like the colours for myself but the clutch is so cute 🙂
.-= Ashley’s last blog post… A November To Remember =-.
I’m totally buying this the next time I hit Target. BAM. Done. Love it.
Okay, between this and the brush set, I’m starting to love Sonia Kashuk! Must get to Target, stat!
.-= Rebecca’s last blog post… Smashbox Eye Wish Palette swatches & looks =-.
wow.. pretty colour, maybe it look better on Asean?
.-= Sherry’s last blog post… Time for paintball =-.
That looks like my kind of thing…And those glitters don’t look chunky at all!
.-= Citrine’s last blog post… Milani Infinite Liquid Eyeliner in Endless =-.
This palette looks amazing! Perfect for the girl with a split (Shimmer/Matte) personality. I’ll have to check it out.
.-= Jen’s last blog post… L’Occitane Friends And Family Discount: 25% Off Until Nov 15th! =-.
Whoa… just saw the “comment love” feature. How cool is that?
.-= Jen’s last blog post… L’Occitane Friends And Family Discount: 25% Off Until Nov 15th! =-.
Oh, pretty!! I’m fair and cool-toned, so perhaps this one will be worth hunting down 😛
.-= Rae’s last blog post… This is so brilliant! =-.
It is all about the bling for the holidays. Sonia Kashuk stuff have a great price point and they are so affordable. Too bad there are no Targets up here. I am have medium skin tone with a bit of olive and on the cool side, so this palette might end up looking like neutrals from me.
.-= amy’s last blog post… LOTD Fun Ways to Wear Medusa’s Makeup Mineral Eye Dusts: As Lipstick/Lipgloss! Pink Edition =-.
Oooh, the glitter does actually look quite nice in texture – I wouldn’t have expected that! I agree with you though – I wish there were some warmer colors.
.-= Catherine’s last blog post… NOTW & last NOTW – China Glaze Let’s Groove with lots of glitter =-.
Hi Karen! Usually I don’t use so much of a glittery or shimmery eyeshadows but considering it’s a holiday palette we all need to shine a little during the Holiday Season :).
.-= Tavia’s last blog post… Bobbi Brown Face Lift – Spring 2010 Collection =-.
I’ve never been a huge eyeshadow girl (I think I’ve mentioned before that I feel like my glasses make my eyes invisible), but I really want to try these shades.
Target, I’ll be seeing you tomorrow!
.-= Christina’s last blog post… Day One Of Slightly Improved-ness =-.
oohhh if I hadn’t seen the name, I would’ve said that it was a brand new MAC palette. Awesome colors and you can’t beat the price.
.-= Marisol’s last blog post… My other fear besides cats… =-.
Hi Karen,
been reading your blogs for awhile.
It would be nice if you could write some blogs about cool tone and warm tone
I mean – What are they???
This is a pretty palette.
The matte taupe kinda looks like my new RGB nail color in Toast, except more appetizing. Toast looks scary in the bottle. I want to use it to see how it looks but I’m in the process of debating whether or not I should chop my nails off. My right middle fingernail split on the edge so I now have NINE fingernails that are the same length and one that’s short.
I might have to hit Tar-gay and get that palette.
Hi Kate & Zena,
Chop it off! Short nails will allow you to type those essays faster… 😉
omg, the palette looks too pretty and the colors are amazing!!how i wish they came to asia
.-= Blovet Beauty’s last blog post… Canmake Nudy Glow & Mascaras Scans =-.
Hi Blovet Beauty,
Hey, ya never know! Perhaps one day the brand will make it over there.
Sonia Kashuk is really hitting it out of the park with the new holiday items. When I first saw those glitter e/s I thought they were pretty chunktastic too so I am surprised to hear they actually come out quite refined. I haven’t been to Target in ages. I can’t wait to check this out in person.
.-= Stephie’s last blog post… 2 Great Things About Having a Job =-.
Hi Stephie,
LOL, “chunktastic.” I’m gonna have to borrow that onoe from you!
it reminds me of a more affordable version of the NARS pleasures of paris palette in that it is filled with colors i would definitely use. LOVE sonia kashuk!
Hi Lorna,
Me too! She totally reinvented drugstore makeup and made it cool.
Very nice…I may have to try this and the brush set!
Hi Bisbee,
Both would be fantastic stocking stuffers (or as a gift for yourself, hee!).
I usually don’t like glitter shadows but these look nice 🙂
.-= gio’s last blog post… Beauty Dictionary: Beauty Acronyms =-.
Hi Gio,
These are actually really great!
Karen, thank you SO much for highlighting this palette! I went to Target this morning and bought the absolute last one. If anyone else is considering purchasing it… consider fast.
.-= Christina’s last blog post… Day One Of Slightly Improved-ness =-.
Hi Christina,
YAY! I am glad you managed to snag one! Maybe you’ll put it to use this weekend. 🙂
Got any fun plans lined up? I’m probably just going to some organizing (story of my life right now) and perhaps sneak in a movie or two.
It’sooooo pretty! I’m a medium colored lady though, so I’m feeling I might be in the same boat as Karen.
Mmm… I want to be selfish and keep, but when I saw the palette in the flesh I knew it was *perfect* for my best friend. Since tonight is her birthday celebration and I was also hunting for a gift… I gave in to my better instincts and wrapped it up before I could change my mind. 😉
My weekend looks like tonight’s Friday the 13th party (mortality-themed scavenger hunt, scary movies, and the “Death by Chocolate” dessert I’m making right now — involving brownies, chocolate genoise, and Nutella mousse!), errands, and catching up with friends over coffee.
Good luck with the organizing! And definitely sneak in those movies — it’ll give you something to look forward to while you work. Have fun!
.-= Christina’s last blog post… Day One Of Slightly Improved-ness =-.
This is the first year that I won’t be buying MAC holiday palettes. In fact I’m avoiding even taking a looksy because it hurts too much. I know, drama! But yeah, I may get this for myself as a consolation gift for being a starving student. I usually tend to wear warmer colors better but for some reason, cool browns and taupes wear really nice on me in winter. Since I tend to get paler in the winter, I think some of my orangey undertones are harder to see, hence harder to clash with.
Karen,
Ha ha! So true. They all are happily close to the same length again and painted purple to motivate me. I saw my teacher yesterday and she helped me out a lot. It was like, “Ohhhhhhhhhhh, that’s what you meant. I get it! I see the ray of enlightenment.”
Ohh glittery! I love me anything shiny even though I don’t know how to wear them.
-meream
.-= All Women Stalker’s last blog post… 10 Tips on How to Get his Phone Number … =-.
I’m stoked to have found your review of this–I’ve had my eye on this palette for weeks! Thanks for posting! 😉
.-= Kristi’s last blog post… Accessories =-.
I’m so so late on SK. I bought her makeup when it first debuted at Target and not since. Her palettes remind me of Bobbi Brown with the mix of matte and sparkle.