WHETHER YOU KNOW YOUR WAY AROUND the cosmetics counter or not, chances are you’re a sucker for a color palette. Composed of alluring little cubes of color, these compacts incorporate any combination of lip, eye and cheek pigment in one handy little container of fun. They usually come with brushes and mirrors, and they always come with a mystifying array of choices that allow you to play with makeup, just like you did as a little girl— only now you don’t have to worry about getting caught!
Clockwise from top:
[shiseido]
EYEBROW STYLING COMPACT
Don’t forget the brows. Fill in sparse spots with light or dark shades in this duo, complete with tiny angled brush.
$30 at Macy’s, Sephora and department stores
[laura mercier]
ENLIGHTENMENT EYE & CHEEK PALETTE
Soft, classic shades for eye and cheek play off the pink tones so popular for spring 2014.
$55 at Neiman Marcus
[mally]
SHIMMER, SHAPE AND GLOW
From celebrity makeup artist Mally Roncal, this cheek compact offers a “superstar glow”: shimmer powder lifts the cheekbones, shaping powder contours and glow powder adds warmth.
$50 online at mallybeauty.com or amazon.com
[chantecaille]
SAVE THE BEES PALETTE
Gorgeous colors for spring 2014 presented with bee imprints are part of this brand’s ongoing eco efforts. A percentage of sales goes to the Xerces Society to protect bees.
$83 at Neiman Marcus
[make up for ever]
ARTY BLOSSOM EYE PALETTE
Irresistible is the way to describe this colorful eye palette ranging from plum to putty.
$42 to $50 at Sephora and HSN
[sephora]
RUSH LUSTER CHEEK SWEEP
This cheek compact includes a bright Radiant Orchid blush and two harmonizing luminizers.
$26 at Sephora
[bobbi brown]
NUDE EYE PALETTE
The queen of understatement, Bobbi Brown offers a quartet of shades for spring, each muted in the artist’s signature putty/brown tones.
$55 at Neiman Marcus or Sephora
by Dorothy Weiner
