Boundless Beauty: Pal(ette)ing Around

Wednesday, 24 June 2009 19:00

With Sephora’s grand opening in the Oaks Mall last month, we could barely stand the urge not to rush in and try—-then promptly buy—-every color in its highly pigmented glory. But not only would we look like University Club’s Lady Pearl on prom night, but our beauty budget would have been obliterated like our diet after a night out at Dragonfly.

Enter the too-good-to-be-true workhorse that is Sephora’s Color Play Palette. We can’t believe our eyes (or our bottom line). This 6.5-by-7-inch Pandora’s box of beauty lets you create thousands (10,000 to be exact) of different looks with its all-in-one collection of eye shadows, lip-glosses and face colors.

By Lauren Irizarry; Photos by Sean Kelly

At just $22, this compact includes 36 summer-ready eyeshades, 12 lip-glosses, three blushes, a bronzer and applicators. We caught up with Sephora Beauty Expert Tristen Wilbur (who keeps her palette in the center console of her car) to get the scoop on what to wear right now—after all, the options were dizzying. Tristen says the best way to use the palette is to play around (as if we needed permission).

“It’s all about hot summer hues,” she says. She suggested “the mermaid look” with vibrant greens, ocean blues and accents of gold (see below for more of her suggestions).

Not only is the kit ultra-portable and filled with long-lasting colors, all the make-up is paraben-free, which means a mix of essential oils is used, instead of the synthetic material, to stop any bacteria from growing. As if we needed any convincing.

PERFECTLY PURPLE

From light lavender to violent violet, Tristen recommends using a variety of purple shades to accent basic blue shadow.

SEA INSPIRED

Smudge ocean blues and sea greens with sandy golds and seashell ivory to create this season’s mermaid-inspired look.

SUNKISSED

Tristen says the lip-glosses are perfect for mixing and matching. “I like to use a bit of the bronzer on the center of glossed lips to make them sparkle and stand out.”  Tristen suggests layering Laura Mercier Tinted Moisterurize with SPF 20 ($42) underneath.