First thing I said after opening Too Faced’s holiday set, Le Grande Palais (well after the original awe of seeing it all), was oh my god, there’s lots of glitter.
As I mentioned in my post last week on Too Faced’s holiday sets, I’ve gotten these guys for the past four years and there’s always a blockbuster set with a ton of eyeshadows (in this case, there’s 18 shadows). For 2015, it’s all about the glitter, in fact most of the colours are a glitter consistency. Total swoon!
Since it’s the holiday season and Christmas parties are abundant, I wore this look out last Friday night as I attended two different parties (I’m just like, so popular.. kidding). As much as that hot pink and navy blue attracted to me, I chose to go with the baroque grey shade (Eiffel), with the light blue frost (String of Lights) in the inner corner to make it less smoky and more glamourous.
1. Lie down an eyeshadow primer, such as the mini of Too Faced Shadow Insurance included in the set, then with an apricot colour, apply this in your crease to act as your transition shade. I used Salted Caramel from the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette, unfortunately there is no shade close to this in the Grande Palais palette.
2. With a flat shader brush, spray it first using a setting spray then apply String of Lights and apply to the inside of the lids towards the middle.
3. Using the other side of that brush, spray it again and then apply Eiffel from the middle of the lids to the outer area. Try to keep the colour concentrated on the lid area.
4. Using a crease brush, dip it lightly into both Cobblestone and Dreamlight and lightly blend that into your crease.
5. Before finishing the eyes, apply your foundation. I used Too Faced Born This Way foundation in Porcelain.
6. Apply a liquid or gel eyeliner, winging it out (I used Benefit They’re Real! Push Up Liner) and then curl your lashes using Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara (the mini from the set). Add some false lashes if you wish (mine are by Velour).
7. Using Eiffel again, apply that to your lower lash line and then coat your bottom lashes in mascara.
8. To finish off the face, apply your concealer, then to contour, I used Sun Bunny (a staple in Too Faced’s holiday sets).
9. For blush, I chose the peachy-toned one, Stardust, then the luminizer in Flush to highlight. For the lips, I used Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Sugar.
I love this look but I do have a few qualms with this palette.
Glitter in general is hard to use, and the glitter shades in this palette definitely look more gorgeous in the set than they do when you apply them. They look great on, but they are hard to apply. I definitely recommend spraying a setting spray on your brush prior to applying them, just so they have something to latch onto. I know in other reviews, people commented that Too Faced should have included their glitter primer, as this set has a majority of glitter shades. I have to say I agree. The colours are gorgeous, but a bit tough to apply. I actually went back and reapplied them after I put on my liner and mascara because the colours faded a bit.
I still think this set is beautiful and would make a fantastic gift, just be weary with the glitter shades.
Is Too Faced Le Grande Palais on your wish list?
Please note, product sent by PR, all opinions are my own.
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Has it hit you yet?
With the weather getting colder and drier, I am applying lip balm non-stop to my chapped lips. Since matte liquid lipsticks are so on trend right now, it’s super important you keep those kissers moisturized!
This is the perfect time to stock up on old faves or try something new. With the holiday season comes sets upon sets of lip products from all your favourite brands.
Looking for the perfect gift (or just something for yourself?). Here are my top three picks.
Fresh Sugar Lip Party Favours
Cult-fave Fresh releases their uber-popular Sugar Lip balms in a party-ready tin. Complete with four Sugar Tinted Lip Treatments in Cherry, Berry, Ruby, and Fig, as well as a Sugar Lip Polish, which gently exfoliates and conditions. The Tinted Lip Treatments nourish and give beautiful, sheer colour.
Gift this together, or split it up amongst friends and family. This guy retails for C$45 (with a C$70 value). There’s also more sets from Fresh, including the blockbuster Sugar Lip Lovers, which has a mini Sugar Lip Polish, a 5ml Sugar Lip Serum, a mini Sugar Lip Advanced, Mini Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment, and a mini Sugar Rose Lip Shine, all for C$65.
If you want something a little smaller (stocking stuffer?), give the Nude Lip Lovers Mini Kissing Trio a shot (C$33). This set includes a mini Sugar Honey Lip Treatment, a mini Sugar Nude Lip Treatment, and a mini Sugar Rose Lip Treatment.
Rodial Glam Balm Lip Tree Deco
All I had to see was “Glam Balm” and I knew I was sold on this one. Rodial’s Glam Balm is an intensive lip balm that hydrates, smooths, and protects the lip. Infused with shea butter and vitamin E, it soothes and softens the skin, while the hyaluronic filling spheres and rose wax offer hydration to plump up lips.
The whole plumping thing got me intrigued (not gonna lie, I asked for lip fillers for Hannukah this year…), unfortunately this didn’t really plump up my lips (it doesn’t give you that tingling sensation that most lip plumping products do), but it does leave lips moisturized. To be honest, I do find this quite similar to my favourite balm, Rosebud Salve, both in its petroleum consistency and rose scent.
Rodial Glam Balm retails for C$24 at Murale.ca. The special holiday version comes in a box complete with a ribbon attached, you can throw it on the Christmas tree.
EOS Limited Edition Lip Balm Set
This one is super exciting! I get a lot of these balms and although it’s cool to smell the different scents, they are more or less the same. Last year’s holiday collection was inspired by Rachel Roy, so there was a twist on the packaging, but this year, EOS is getting a bit more personal.
This three-balm set includes Vanilla Bean, Sweet Mint, and Pomegranate Raspberry (we’ve seen these all before, although Vanilla Bean is usually reserved for the holiday season), but here’s the best part… this set includes two sheets of decorative jewelled art to personalize your lip spheres. WHAT?!!?!
Ever wanted to bedazzle the heck out of these things? Now you can! Want to add your name or initials? Yass girl, go crazy!!
This set retails for C$9.99 and can be found at WalMart, London Drugs, and Shoppers. Pick it up and have an EOS party!
You can’t go wrong with lip balm as a gift. These sets are perfect to gift as-is, or you can split them up to complement an existing gift.
Will you be gifting lip balm this season?
Please note, I was sent these products from PR. All opinions are my own.
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If there is one holiday collection I look forward to the most, it’s probably Too Faced.
I’ve been fortunate to receive the Too Faced holiday sets for the past three years, so I just had to get my hands on 2015’s edition.
This year’s holiday theme is Christmas in Paris and they totally nailed it with the accompanying sets. From the blockbuster set, which includes 18 eyeshadows, a Melted lipstick, primer and mascara, to their smaller – and still amazing – items, if you are looking for a showstopping gift this year, take a look at Too Faced.
So let’s start with the best first. A Sephora-exclusive, Le Grand Palais might just be the holiday set of all holiday sets this year. This blockbuster includes 18 eyeshadows in glitters, shimmers, and mattes, two blushes, a bronzer (Sun Bunny Natural), a highlighter (Candlelight Glow), a deluxe Better Than Sex mascara, a deluxe Melted Lipstick in Melted Peony, and a deluxe Shadow Insurance eyeshadow primer. It also includes step-by-step glamour guides so you create a variety of different looks.
The eyeshadow palette does pop out of the set, so you don’t have to carry the whole she-bang around with you. Like I mentioned, Too Faced spices their holiday sets up every year with different themes, but for the most part, they always bring out an 18-colour eyeshadow palette. There are some repeat shades in here from past holiday palettes (Satin Sheets, Moon on their Wings, for example – from their Sound of Music theme a couple years back), but there are some new colours in here as well (also, can we just talk about those glitter shades…). Compared to other years, I definitely think this is one of the best sets they have come out with, solely based on the fact that you get a generous-sized Melted Lipstick (in a gorgeous pink shade- not the usual holiday red), a good-sized Better Than Sex mascara (which is amazing) and the Shadow Insurance (which is good to have considering the amount of eyeshadows in this set).
Now the price. This retails for C$72, with a value of C$469. Too Faced, in my opinion, always comes out with the best value in their sets. For under $75, you really can’t go wrong with this one. Even if you aren’t a huge makeup person, I can’t imagine anyone not loving this set.
Looking for something that is more shareable? The Grand Chateau consists of three separate palettes housed in a little chateau with a deluxe Better Than Sex mascara thrown in. Each palette contains six shadows and a blush or bronzer. Each palette is different and there’s something for every party, mood or taste; in fact, you can create a look with each individual palette just by themselves. Best part is that you can either gift it together or separate them to give to multiple friends. This retails for C$69, so a little less than Le Grand Palais, which is a better deal. The great thing about this one though is that you can separate them, so you if like buying one thing and then splitting it up between friends or family, this would be a good option.
Now my favourite set, Melted Kisses & Sweet Cheeks (C$45) consists of three bestselling and long-wearing Melted Lipsticks with three coordinating deluxe long-wear Love Flush blushes.
I have a few of the Melted Lipsticks and they are definitely one of my favourite lip formulas. They are a creme opaque matte lipstick, which gives you the most beautiful colour. This set includes Nude, Peony, and Fig, with the blushes being Love Hangover, Justify My Love, and Your Love is King. The best part about this set is that each duo is separately packaged, meaning that you can either gift them together in the main package, or separate them and throw them in three friend’s stockings (or just keep them yourself – hey, it’s a great deal!). Each duo’s box also has a “To: From:” on the back, so they’ll never know you split up the gift.
The reason I love this set so much is because I find holiday sets are mostly comprised of eyeshadows or lip products. Very rarely will you come across blushes. I have a few holiday blush palettes, but I know from personal experience, when my friends come over, they are always in need of blushes. These guys are perfect since it is a good size, so they will last awhile, and the colours are so fabulous (plus the Polly Pocket-esque packaging is just to die for!).
Overall, you can’t go wrong with any of these items. They all have amazing value for what you get and the variety of different products in each set makes them one of the most coveted holiday makeup items this year.
Are any Too Faced items on your holiday wish list?
Please note, product sent by PR, all opinions are my own.
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1. Lie down an eyeshadow primer, such as the mini of Too Faced Shadow Insurance included in the set, then with an apricot colour, apply this in your crease to act as your transition shade. I used Salted Caramel from the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette, unfortunately there is no shade close to this in the Grande Palais palette.
