I think there’s something very cool, very “power to the people!” about products able to work well for a wide range of beauty lovers — different skin types and tones, young people and older folks — especially when those products aren’t too expensive.
At the same time, I also like products designed with a very specific girl (or guy) in mind, like Aerin Beauty’s new $70 A Garden in Bloom Palette, which focuses like a laser on beauty lovers with some extra spending money.
There’s a good chance A Garden in Bloom girl already carries a Chanel bag, and all of the sales associates at Neimans and Saks know her by her first name. One of her inspirations? Audrey Hepburn, and the classic eye look she wore in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. 🙂
She likes a very specific makeup look, too, with her eyes and cheeks defined by light washes of color, and only rarely ventures into bolder, brighter territory. Luckily, this limited edition spring palette, with its three cool-toned, moderately pigmented powder eye shadows — a pinkish beige with a satin finish, a matte taupe and a purplish gray — and matte rosy pink powder blush, offers exactly that.
That being said, if you’re a fervent MAC or NARS fan accustomed to more color, and/or you’re just trying to work within a reasonable budget, A Garden in Bloom might not drive you wild. The pigments aren’t particularly punchy, and it’s a subtle look overall.
I like how polished I feel when I wear this palette, but I don’t think I’m its ideal girl. Considering the price, I can’t help craving more flexibility.
But A Garden in Bloom does what it’s designed to do — create elegant, effortless, watercolor looks on eyes and cheeks — and for that, along with a 7-hour wear time and easy-to-blend powders, it wins.
PRICE: $70
AVAILABILITY: Available now online and at Aerin Beauty counters and Bergdorf Goodman stores
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
I have Netflix mania
I streamed so much Netflix last weekend that my house was like the Mississippi!! 🙂 I watched Clueless (for the umpteenth time), Breakfast at Tiffany’s (LOVE AUDREY!), The Switch (cute), Craigslist Joe, a few more episodes of Portlandia and something else I’m sure I’m forgetting…
Watching Breakfast at Tiffany’s, it hit me that Holly Golightly is totally a cat lady.
How could I have never realized this before? #catladiesunite
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I’ve always wanted to try something from this line, but this looks a little meh. I do think this would be good for me in about 10 years time though haha. 🙂
Hi Tracy,
I know what you mean. I’m keeping my eye on this line for a future date! 🙂
Wow the packaging is so beautiful. Perfect for Spring.
It’s pretty, but hard to keep clean.
I watched Clueless on Netflix the other day too! I was having a bad day and I needed a pick-me-up and it totally worked! I ⤠that movie ☺
I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve watched that movie. It always makes me laugh!
“Boy, getting off the freeway makes you realize how important love is.”
LOL!
Anytime I’m driving on busy highways (especially when I’m visiting Houston) I always think/feel like Dionne! And I use the phrase “that was way harsh, Tai” all the time haha
Haha! “I totally paused” is my go-to Clueless phrase. 🙂
Oy. Not a fan of amping up the price on something just because a brand can! The colours are pretty and you look lovely in them, but I will pass. 🙂
Hi Amy,
Thank you! Hope you had a lovely Tuesday.
I LOVE these types of eyeshadow shades so so much! The blush isn’t one I’d usually go for, but it looks so fresh and bright and pretty on you, I’m glad it’s in there! Definitely need to go have a play with these!
Yay, Becca! I hope you enjoy the palette.
This is a great neutral palette – very classy and one that I would reach for to look professional. However, I can buy some other professional looking makeup for the same price – I can pick up a UD Naked or Naked 2 palette and Nars Orgasm blush for the same price and have a lot more to mix and match. I would look at this palette if I had the extra money to splurge and if I was in the market for something fancy and subtle.
Hi Katherine,
For sure. Flexibility is such big thing for me too. For that price, I want a wide range of looks to choose from.
Thanks for reminding me about the UD Naked Palette. I haven’t taken mine out to play in a while. Must fix that!
Love! These colors are right up my alley for day looks, but I’m not sure if I would purchase this. Great size for travel, but I am notorious for depotting my eyeshadows, blushes, lipsticks and concealers and putting them in palettes so I have more versatility. Plus, I am sure there are dupes out there. (A couple Kevin Aucoin eyeshadows I own come to mind.)
Hi Rose,
You are my hero! I’ve been meaning to depot my MAC shadows for, um, years. Still haven’t gotten around to doing it, le sigh.
Speaking of Kevyn Aucoin, do you have any recs for me? I found a Space NK near my house that carries the line. So stoked!
My favorite KA products is eyeshadow duo #203 Fog Cool Smoke (matte beige taupe and matte grey brown), his contour color (unfortunately it only comes in Medium) and his skin base, which I can’t remember the name right now. The skin base comes in this teeny-tiny jar and it VERY pigmented and concentrated. You only need a tiny bit to do your whole face (I mix it with my Clarins Beauty Balm) and you can use it as concealer. I have dry skin, so you may want to try before you buy. The other eyeshadow palette I can’t find, but it two great shades of blue. It’s hiding in one of my tackle boxes that I keep my makeup in. As for depotting, I always depot the MAC blushes and eyeshadows that I can’t buy in a pan and I will also sacrifice other lines that I think I can depot (ZuZu is one line I like and can depot easily). I am an organization freak and hate seeing a bunch of single eyeshadows and blushes that I have to dig around to look for something. I will keep the YSL, Chanel and Dior compacts intact though… Too pretty!
Hi Karen!
You look beautiful here 🙂 Which lip lipstick/gloss are you wearing in the first picture? I have been looking for a lovely coral for myself and this looks perfect!
You look amazing! Your skin in particular is all glowy and nice.
I don’t know what I’d do without Netflix!
You look gorgeous Karen !
I honestly just want this for the case, but it’s not worth $70 for the case alone. Hmph. I like the blush and shadows but feel like they would be easy to find dupes for. Plus I like to change up my shadow looks every day, so I don’t know that I’d get my moneys worth out of those 3 light shades. The colors make me think of a Monet though 🙂
On a side note, I laughed out loud over your Holly Golightly comment. She is a cat lady, although she kind of tried not to be when she let Cat go – but then spoiled it when she went chasing after him.
I LOVE this woman’s products! Everything is so delicate looking and pretty! WANT!
The eyeshadows look the same as the other palette, the Dusk palette. A bit more pigmentation and a blush that doesn’t translate to dirt. They work for you though, Karen. However, I will absolutely not be buying it. I have the Vice Palette (Christmas gift to myself ~ Who can say no to over $200 in product, plus all the samples UD handed out when their shipping department was closed in December?!) I also remember Clueless… >_> When I was like 8~10 range. It was on Nickolodeon, when they were still Nickolodeon and not “Nick.”
I AM the target customer but for $70 it needs to more unique than that.
I feel ya, Cindy! I wish there was more sparkle…
This is too expensive for me 🙁 I would have loved to own this because the packaging, which I agree with you is not going to keep clean for long, just screams out Spring, and the shades look like ones that I will use often!