Sneak Peek: Make Up For Ever Artist Palettes Photos & Swatches

For summer, there are two new, limited edition Make Up For Ever Artist Palettes ($42.00 for 0.54 oz.); one available in neutral hues and the other in a mix of brighter shades. All of the shades are shades available in the permanent Artist Shadow range, and they all swatched and appeared consistent with the singles I have (in fact, a few seemed even creamier!). The Artist Shadow formula remains a favorite for me, and it’s honestly a formula that has spoiled me when it comes to really easy-to-use, intensely pigmented, long-wearing eyeshadow.

The palettes had a surprising heft to them, though they are slim and don’t seem overly large. Each palette has a large mirror, though it doesn’t stand up on its own. The side that holds the eyeshadows seems to have most of the weight, which led me to expect it to be magnetic and allow for the eyeshadows to be removed (like last holiday’s case), but unfortunately, they seemed glued in. I tried using tweezers to remove four shades (at random) from each palette, but nothing was budging. I hope Make Up For Ever will consider making future Artist Palettes interchangeable, because I think that makes them more versatile, and then you can rearrange to suit your needs over time or for a trip. The other aspect worth pointing out is that most shades have noticeable shimmer; there are no official mattes in the palettes, but there are three satins.

Each pan is 24mm in diameter, and visually, they appear about the same size as your average eyeshadow pan (think MAC, Urban Decay, Makeup Geek), though it is very slightly smaller (MAC eyeshadows are 26mm in diameter). The pans contain 0.06 oz. a pop, whereas a full-sized Artist Shadow contains 0.08 oz. (and retails for $21!). The value of the palette is $141.75 based on $21/0.08 oz., though Make Up For Ever has a discounting system if you buy two or three (plus the coordinating case) individuals at a time. Based on that, you could get three for $44 or $44/0.24 oz., which would give the palette a value of $99. Another way to look at it is the cost of purchasing all nine individually, and presuming you buy in trios to maximize your discount, you would spend $132. As long as you’d use at least three shades in it, then you’ll pay less than purchasing the three as singles (you would get more product, but a little goes a long way with these).

I’ve been slowing working my way through all the Artist Shadows, so I’m hoping to review these palettes (and their single counterparts, if any differences) soon. You can also see swatches grouped together in the Swatch Gallery for the #1 (Nudes You Need) and #2 (Electric) palettes if you prefer a gallery view.

See more photos & swatches!