First, before we get to Laura Mercier’s new Artist’s Eyeshadow Palette (in case you’re wondering, though, yes, it does have African Violet), a quick and (hopefully) amusing story…
So I decided to grab lunch at the mall this afternoon to take a break from all of the construction racket directly below my window (Oh, did I mention the new gas line trench being dug through my front yard? Good times…) and, let’s be honest, try to get warm, so I zipped up the jacket I was already wearing (in the house), grabbed my keys and iPhone and said “BRB!” to Tabs (who doesn’t seem to mind the cold at all). “Call me if you need anything, sir!”
The second I opened the door and stepped outside, I realized — holy sh*t! It’s warmer out here than it is inside.
Yay! 🙂
At Nordstrom, one of the first things I spied was the new Artist’s Eyeshadow Palette from Laura Mercier. Part of a three-piece $80 kit, it also comes with a small Caviar Stick in Cocoa and a mini Full Blown Volume Mascara.
As a side, I love the number of mattes in this palette. Laura stocked the entire top row with really useful non-shimmery shades perfect for lining lash lines, contouring creases and smoking outer corners.
Compared to the version of this palette released last fall (Laura releases new versions of it every so often), this one seems a little more flexible to me. It leans more heavily on the basics with fewer flashy shimmery purples and pinks, more browns and beiges, and a nice seasoning of black, navy, taupe and, yes, purplish golden African Violet.
As for the packaging, well, it freaks me out a little. I get hives sometimes, and when I do, they kind of look like the bumpy pattern on the palette. Holding the case in my paw makes me feel all itchy and tingly, and not in a shirtless Ryan Gosling way. I really wish the outside had something smoother and less, I dunno, pebbled.
If you’re looking for a palette filled with easy-to-blend basics, I think this one’s worth a swatch-a-roo next time you find yourself near a Laura counter; however, if you already have a sizable makeup collection, there’s a good chance you have similar colors in your kit.
Meanwhile…a fabulous frenzy of fried food!
So. Lunch.
Cheesecake Factory. Fish sandwich. Sweet potato fries.
I’d never gotten it there before, and dang if it wasn’t great! The fish was nicely breaded, not too oily, and the brioche it came with was just slightly grilled with a nice crunch.
The sweet potato fries had a lovely texture, too. Crunchy but not like taco shells. I think I still prefer the frozen ones from Trader Joe’s, though, because they have more flavor, and Trader Joe’s is just awesome, but I’d definitely eat them again.
Sadly, no cheesecake for me this time. I thought the full plate of fried food was decadent enough, and my muffin top was already stuffed. 🙂
You ever go to Cheesecake Factory? What do you usually get?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I really like the 6 mattes in the top row! (and their names as well :P)
I love Laura Mercier. Just paired NARS Galapagos with Laura Mercier eyeliner in Black Gold today, great combo. I love this palette, though I already own the single of African Violet. I do love African Violet and I see why she puts it in every palette. It is a shadow that plays well with others and complements pretty much every eye color. Sherazade is another fave of mine, too. I like the Violet Steel color. I would probably use this palette if I bought it.
Oh my I do love the look of this palette! The previous one last year didn’t wow me but you’re right, what’s up with the packaging?! Gives me the goosebumps >.<
The shades are easy and good for daily use! 🙂
This palette is another beauty! I already have the first Artist palette so I most likely won’t get this version. But it’s still worth a look 🙂
Hi Karen, I don’t go there too often because the one by me is always very crowded but when I do make it, I get the Jamaican black pepper shrimps comes with white rice, black beans and a mango sauce. The red velvet cheesecake is now my staple desert for every occasion.
Happy Monday to you!
I get white chocolate raspberry cheesecake! Oh man- I have a special place in my heart for Cheesecake Factory. It was one of the stop at my surprise birthday party when I turn 21. Such a long long time ago 😉
Deep night looks super pretty.
Nice palette, never tried African violet but I’m curious! This weekend I brought the Laura Mercier travel makeup case and it has the same textured exterior as this palette. I really love the case though, it has several makeup bags and they are magnetized so they stick inside the case , great for traveling!
I’d love this palette a whole lot more if it weren’t so dang expensive! The shades look cool and useful, but I cannot justify the price at ALL.
The shadows in this palette look beautiful! I especially like African Violet and Deep Night!
I agree that the packaging is a little strange – it looks to me like the seed pod that comes off a tree around here…
I think I’ll skip this even though many of the shades are nice, I’m just not into the browns!
I have trypophobia and that case set it off so badly, ew! So unfortunate, as the eyeshadows look lovely
I’m so disapointed, I would rather they’d have repromoted the one from Christmas even though I own 10 of the shades as singles. It’d be nice to have them all in one palette for travel.
I don’t think anyone who has Nars Narsissist needs this one.
Bella, THANK YOU for this comment. I’ve been looking at the shades in the palette and they are gorgeous. Unfortunately I was the stooge who paid $79 for the NARS palette ( I really wanted to hate it but I don’t LOL I love it)at Sephora and then forgot to add my darn b-day gift before I checked out. 🙁 The swatches here look a lot like the colors in the NARS palette and some of them are matching my eye look today. (yea!)
Great palette. I own the last one and really like it. Does anyone know what justified/caused this significant price increase from $48 for the previous edition to $80 for this one?
This palette does look gorgeous, and the food… No comments 😉
I’ve never owned the African Violet shade, but I find it hilarious that it comes in every palette. I think it would be a knock out on my blue-green eyes.
awww!!! I had already had my heart set on Nars Narsissist palette when the tax refund arrives, but this one is seriously making me think twice. I use the heck out of my LM artists and Glamour Wardrobe, which has Deep NIght- a not to be missed matte Navy with subtle barely detectable shimmer. All in all, I think I’d get way more bang for the buck with the Nars set, since I already have all but 5 of these shades, including the Caviar stick. For anyone new to Laura Mercier eyeshadows, I’d highly recommend as a great intro and very good value!
Wooow, this palette is gorgeous!
This palette is nice, but I still don’t think it’s worth $80. And I agree Karen – the packaging is creepy haha.
There’s no way that bundling this palette with two (not even full-size) products justified raising the price that much. PASS.
This is a no for me. Prefer the first one. ANYWAY….getting on to Cheesecake Fact! Don’t get me started! Love all of the appetizers…small plates…many of the entrees. I’ll mention just a few: I die over the hummus, the blue cheese-onion-pear flatbread thingy; the Boston salad, arugula salad; Thai lettuce wraps; chicken piccata; bang bang chicken and shrimp; and cheesecake—Adam’s Peanut Butter Cup or Cookie Dough (although I rarely ever get the cheesecake!). Ha. Was this a post about Laura Mercier?
Oh, I’m gonna need to check out that LM palette, but that price–OUCH!!!
I love Cheesecake Factory–my only issue is that they give you way TOO MUCH food—the portion sizes are OUTTA CONTROL! I usually order from the apps menu as my main meal otherwise I have leftovers (which don’t seem to travel well or taste as good as they do in the restaurant)
Thank you so much Karen, for the swatches. THis really is a beauty (with a beaute of a price tag). Sometimes I think these companies are really getting greedy. WOuldn’t it be nice if the average wage would increase a little at the same time? Ugh… ok, I’m off my soapbox now.
I bought the Artist Palette from Christmas, and I quite like it, but in retrospect it’s a little overly purple. I really love African Violet, but it’s so funny that it’s in EVERY LM Palette!
I love the eyeshadows in the LM Enlightenment Palette that’s out right now, LOVE, but I honestly don’t think I would use the blushes much, particularly the bright pink. Not for me.
I’m on the search for a chinchilla grey eyeshadow. I have a really old Lancome shadow that’s kind of what I’m looking for, but it’s hella old and a little dried up (and discontinued).
That ‘African Violet’ shade is especially stunning – I love a good shimmery eyeshadow! I was wondering, for the writing on the photos, are you using a font or writing it out by hang (on a computer program)? It’s gorgeous!
PS: You post so often on the blog, and I love it! My Makeup and Beauty Blog email newsletter (subscription thing, please let’s just use some more words here to describe it) is fast becoming one of the dependably bright spots of my day! 🙂
The purples in that one are just amazing!! I love it!!
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