Dollar for Dollar, Is It Worth It?

I did something I’ve never done before…I bought a $45 eyeshadow palette. I was drawn to the colors. I went back to the website to look at it time and time again. Finally I realized, I could have this product! Now, it is out of my normal makeup budget ( I mean I could buy my kids 7.5 takeout cheese pizzas for that price!) but I realized, I had a gift card! Oh, Sweet Mary had given me a gift card to shop for my birthday. The gift card cut the cost of the eyeshadow in half! So, I purchased my “$20″ eye shadow palette and eagerly awaited it’s arrival.

A few days later, my box arrived. I opened it with the enthusiasm of my 3 year daughter when she opens a present. Sheer joy and anticipation filled me. Really! The compact was so pretty. The colors so…wrong. They didn’t look the pretty colors on the computer screen. I checked the label. Yep, Velvet Plum, that’s what I ordered. The screen showed a dark plum, champaign and a smoky gray (do you agree??). The palette showed a plum, rose and plum with shimmer. Hmmm. Not the $45 product I had hoped for. (I actually purchased the compact from another site but they are now out of stock. Notice the nifty little color diagram shown on this site. It would have been nice to see that pre-purchase!)

I decided to keep the compact and try it anyway. I wonder, what is the difference between a $45 palette and a $5 palette? I needed to know. You need to know. I have worn the shadow on several occassions. I can’t honestly say that I know.

I read several reviews online and find that most women have mixed emotions on the topic. Some are just brand junkies. Some are drugstore junkies. I think the key to keeping your eyeshadow, expensive or cheap, lasting all day are the tools you use to apply it.

Use an eyeshadow base and good brushes (read a great brush review here) and you’ll be looking like a million no matter how much you spend!