12 Lust-Worthy Holiday Palettes

12 Lust-Worthy Holiday Palettes. There is something ironic about the name “holiday palette” in the beauty industry. The truth is most of these spectacular limited-edition items have long sold out by the time December rolls around. Fashion houses ship these collections in mid-September for an early October on-counter date. Most of us are still wearing t-shirts and enjoying late summer weather at that time. But retailers want to be the first to launch any collection so the earlier the better is the common mantra.

With that said, October is the perfect month to check out your favourite brands for limited edition Christmas collections. There is always one or two items that are stand outs and worth the investment. Department and specialty stores usually only get a handful of the most special palettes. That is because these items cost so much to produce. Beauty companies don’t make money on them. They are used to create excitement and demonstrate the craftsmanship and quality of the brand.

I’ve reviewed all the major collections for holiday and found some wonderful limited edition items for the holidays. Here are my top picks.

 

The Giorgio Armani Hollywood Palette

Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani takes inspiration from 1930s and 40s film sirens for this Hollywood limited edition makeup collection. The star product is this dual-tiered palette that boasts 10 eyeshadows and two shades of cream foundation, and luminescent compact powder. The eyeshadows are both matte and pearlescent silky textures. Ranging from gold to jet-black, the colours are those favoured by film stars of the 30s. Choose from discreet nudes to full-on glam. This palette is beautifully done. A collector piece for sure.

 

Bobbi Brown Deluxe Eye & Cheek Palette

New York makeup artist Bobbi Brown is known for her neutral palettes and this one is ideal for evening. You’ll find a mix of deep chocolates, champagne and ivory with a pop of pink for the cheeks.

 

Guerlain Palette Ors et Merveilles – Eyes & Blush Limited Edition Palette

Intelligent and ultra-compact, this golden case combines two levels containing the essentials of sophisticated makeup. It comes with a large mirror and two devoted applicators to make application on-the-go easier. On the top level, five lustrous eyeshadows with notes of champagne, brown and gold combine with a twist of plum and pink for an iridescent result. On the lower level, you’ll find four versions of pink blush with matte and shimmer finish.

 

Lancome L’Absolu Palette

This spectacular holiday palette reflects the poetry and colours of a secret Parisian garden. The packaging boasts a golden doorway that allows entrance into Maison Lancome during a mysterious winter night. You’ll find warm browns, snowy white and deep black hues.

 

Estee Lauder Colour Portfolio

This is one of Lauder’s best palettes of the year. Play with 30 fashionable eyeshadow shades, an eye pencil and pair of lip gloss – all for $49.50. It’s worth over $250. Even better, you’ll receive three look cards to give you tips and tricks on how to get the hottest holiday looks.

NARS Holiday look

 

NARS Despair Cheek Palette

Enjoy four hues of blush in pinks and blushing bares. It comes with a mini Kabuki Ita Brush for flawless application. The palette casing is topped with a Steven Klein fashion image.

 

Yves Saint Laurent Beaute Kiss & Love Multi-Usage Palette

Red hot lip prints are the starring accent for the French brand’s edgy holiday collection. This palette contains eye, lip and cheek colours to create the perfect festive party look. Update your smoky eye look with dark brown accented with high pearl gold, silvery shimmer and champagne hues. A pop of coral blush enhances the complexion while two Rouge Volupte shades: Light Pink and Pure Red are infused with gold pearls. It’s a beautiful palette that will impress your most discerning beauty friends.

 

Shu uemura beauty remix smoky eye & cheek palette in Indigo

Rework your smoky eye this season with navy accented with pink blush. You’ll find gold and white shades to add a sophisticated accent. This limited edition holiday palette from Tokyo-based shu uemura brand is one of their best.

 

 

Dior 5-Couleurs in Blazing Gold

The iconic French fashion house updates its famous 5-Couleurs eyeshadow palette with a subtle wave pattern. This particular combination pairs burgundy, a pale ivory with silver and a grey-brown. It is a sophisticated colour palette.

 

Chanel Exclusive Creation – The Signe Particulier

Get ready to party with this palette of four eyeshadows. Revolving around a deep, luminous and matte rouge noir, a warm saffron gold lights up makeup, a velvety parma violet adds a touch of softness and a slightly rosy satiny beige delivers a dash of light. Each eyeshadow can be used on its own or in a duo for an intense look.

 

MAC Holiday Enchanted Eve Eyeshadow x 6 Palette in Mauve

This palette is a nice alternative to beiges and browns. You’ll find six shadows that run from a rich blackened plum to white with pink pigment.

 

Bobbi Brown Sterling Nights Eye Palette

This sleek black lacquer eye palette features nine of Bobbi’s favourite neutral shades for the season. Wear them on your own or mix and match.

 

 

I gave away one of my favourite collector palettes from my archives. YSL’s Wildly gold from holiday 2014 was a showstopper. The animal print palette revealed party-worthy eye and lip shades. I invited readers to share their favourite palette in a blog comment below. I then drew a name at random. Congrats to Melissa from Canada.