Anna Sui | Lip & Eye Palettes

Ok. Let's just take a moment to appreciate the design of these Anna Sui palettes for a second, shall we? As a blogger, I often get sucked in by pretty packaging and quirky adornments but these beauties take it to a whole new level - I defy anybody to stash them away in a makeup drawer - they've taken pride of place on top of dressing table since I got them. It might have been love at first sight but let me tell you, the whirlwind affair doesn't stop at the aesthetics...ohhh no, it's all about what's inside that counts too, right? One contains a variety of pigmented, glossy lip colours complete with everything from barely there nudes to vampy reds and the second offers a beautiful array of shimmery shadows which happen to be perfect for the upcoming Autumn/Winter season.  After using them for the past few weeks, they've become my new obsession. Here's why...

Anna Sui | Lip Palette | £28.00 £14.00* | Link

If you've been reading my blog for a while you'll know that I have a particular weakness for pretty lipsticks and testing and trying different shades.  Lip palettes always seem to tempt me but I've never owned any simply because I never really saw myself getting enough use out of one.  I always throw my lipstick into my handbag for the day but the thought of carting around a palette always made me a little dubious as to whether or not they were actually worth the hassle.  It really was love at first swatch with this one though.  Each shade is amazingly pigmented and so creamy to apply.  I love the glossy finish that each shade has - they almost have that 'lip laquer' effect once applied which i absolutely love.  They don't have names so bare with me and my wordy explanations of which shade is which here - but personally, one of my favourites has to be the middle shade on the top row.  I adore a brown-toned nude and this one is simply stunning - the hint of gloss really makes it pop and it looks so beautiful on a day to day basis.  It reminds me of a glossy, slightly lighter and more wearable version of Mac's Velvet Teddy.  I've also worn a couple of the coral/red shades recently - the lighter coral on the top row (second from the right) and the middle shade on the bottom row are perfect for this time of year - the orangey tones set off (whats left of) my holiday tan and look so bright and vibrant - which again, is amplified with the glossy, laquer-like finish.  I cant wait to start wearing the darker reds in the palette (how beautiful is the vampy burgundy shade?!) nearer to Autumn/Winter. 

I can't say I'm 100% converted to palettes yet but it is undoubtedly a gorgeous one to own and I'm so happy to have it in my collection. I've actually popped it into my bag along with the lip brush on a daily basis and it's not been too much of a faff because it doesn't weigh much at all (just bare in mind it's cardboard packaging so I'd be careful what's in there with it!) Luckily, the shades are fairly long lasting due to the pigmentation and despite the creamy, moisturising finish, tend to last around the two-three hour mark and the darker shades wear off to a nice, even stain/hint of colour. Another thing which I love about the palette is the delicate fragrance - for those of you who hate scented products you might not be too much of a fan, but I love the floral/sweet scent. I've been trying to put my finger on it for a while and I think I've cracked it - it smells very similar to Turkish delight - yummy! Overall, a fabulous addition to my collection and my first ever lip palette (can you believe it?!).  I've been loving it! I'm not denying that my classic lippies are much more practical but it's been really nice to experiment with these ones the past few weeks - I love the fact that it contains such a fab mix of shades suitable for every season and occasion as it makes it much more versatile. I cannot wait to delve into the darker shades now that we're coming towards the end of summer!

Anna Sui | Eye Palette | £28.00 £14.00* | Link

The second palette contains a selection of beautiful eye shadows.  Personally, I think these are the perfect mix for the upcoming autumn/winter months and I can't wait to start using the purples and striking khaki shade - they're still fairly neutral but not so 'in your face' that you wouldn't be able to use them on a daily basis.  I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with these shadows. Each one is really soft and creamy and all of these swatches were created with just a single swipe - a jolly good sign of a decent eyeshadow I'm sure you'll all agree. The only one which isn't too great is the second from the left on the top row. Sadly, this is one of the shades I'd usually get a lot of use out of as I love my understated neutrals, but I just can't seem to get it to swatch like the rest and it doesn't seem to show up too well on my skin - at best, it will probably work as a subtle highlight shade.  So far, my favourites have to be the intense copper shade (how beautiful!?) and the deep, antique gold - they've worked so well with my skin tone at the moment and I've created some beautiful daytime looks with the two - they look lovely blended together with a matte brown blended into the crease of the eye. I'm so excited to start experimenting more with colour - I've recently tried the khaki and purple shades and have to say they looked lovely on - a nice pop of colour without being too bright. The glittery black is also a nice addition - slightly more gritty and with a little more fall out than the rest but undoubtedly perfect for smokey eyes and nights out!

Again, like the lip palette, a very versatile and pleasing mix of shades for both day and night.  It's definitely more suitable for autumn/winter but there's some lovely neutrals in there I'll be using all year round (the copper colour sets off a tan like nothing else!) I've seen swatches of this palette on other blogs and I've read mixed reviews - I'm not sure if I've got a good'un but the only shade I've had problems with seems to be the lighter nude one - for me, the darker shades in the palette seem to be much more easy to blend and are much softer so do bare this in mind. Also, it has the same scent as the lip palette - it's fairly strong so if you do have sensitive peepers, it's worth noting!

Both palettes usually retail for £28.00 - but they're currently on offer for £14.00* each over on the Escentual website - you can find the lip palette here, and the eyeshadow palette here. Although I think the original price of £28 is a little steep, snapping the two up for the price of one is a smashing deal and they're well worth the money for the pigmentation, formula and eye-catching packaging.  I know the eye shadows have been a little hit/miss for some folk so if you're going to grab one, I'd say go for the lip palette - it makes a fabulous addition to any lipstick collection and it contains a lovely mix of nudes, pinks, corals and reds. If you're in need of ideas for birthday gifts for any beauty obsessed pals you might have, trust me here when I say you cannot go wrong with these (I'd have been over the moon if anyone had wrapped these up for me!) The packaging completely makes them - they're so unique and pretty. 

Have you tried these palettes or anything else from Anna Sui? Let me know your thoughts!