One Face One Palette

This is a sort of tutorial/review post today, because I recently discovered the Benefit 10 palette hidden away in a bag of stuff and wanted to do something with it. It contains two eyeshadows, two lips tints and a highlighter-bronzer duo, so I thought it might be interesting to see if it is possible to create a decent look using just what is in the palette, brushes included.

I have had this palette for ages without using it that often but the thinking behind this was to see if it would work on its own so that, for instance, you could keep it in your bag to use after work if you're going out. I think it is discontinued now but there are some quite similar palettes out there (I have listed some at the bottom!) so I hope that makes this post still relevant.

To make it exactly the same as it would be if I was doing this as a sort of post-work transformation, I started off with a finished base and mascara, which doesn't help with eye make-up but would be what I would be working with after work. I really love all the colours in the palette, that is both shades of eyeshadow, and both sheer lip colours. Obviously you can't create the most elaborate look but I attempted a creased eye using the lighter shade all over and darker on the lash line and crease, then I put the pink all over my lips with the coral just in the centre. The highlighter bronzer duo is a super clever idea I think, and I love the little brush it comes with, but just a word of warning, you do need to make sure you blend this otherwise it really does just give you two stripes.

Now when I said I used two shades of eyeshadow, one all over and one in the crease, you maybe thought "... really? It very much looks like one", this is because of the brush (gasp, yes I am blaming my tools). For the highlighter and bronzer, and lips, the brushes were kind of fine, not the absolute best but they both do the job. The eyes less so because not only is it one of those funny sponge ones, but it is also pretty huge. For one colour all over it would be fine but as it was I smudged the second eyeshadow everywhere. This is probably the biggest problem with the palette, which is annoying because a little eyeshadow brush is definitely the least likely thing I am to have in my handbag, but having said that, the eyeshadows as I said before, would definitely each be lovely enough by themselves.
Although this isn't hugely sophisticated, I am still pretty pleased with it and I definitely think I will be keeping this in my bag. It's not exactly black tie but for a drinks or maybe even a casual date or something I think it would be brilliant to be able just to whip this out quickly at the end of the day to feel a little bit done up with very little effort. I think the shades in this are super complimentary, as well as all being lovely enough to work individually as well.

If you're interested in trying out something similar, I have dug up a few other options, although in fact none of them are Benefit because I am not a huge fan of the makeup kits they have at the moment. I also haven't found any eye, lip and cheek palettes, someone fix this?! There are quite a few eye and cheek palettes, such as these beauts at Barry M, or these from Sleek and I am also quite in love with the Two Faced face palettes, which are a selection of blush/bronzer/highlighter and concealer either pinkish or bronzeish. Makeup Revolution also has some eyeshadow and eyebrow compacts, like this one, although for me this wouldn't be quite as useful because I do my brows at the beginning of the day anyway.

I hope this post was useful, I know it has definitely made me reconsider palettes over individual products, so who wants to join me to campaign for the return of the eye, lip and cheek palette?!