Bobbi Brown Desert Twilight Eye Palette

RRP: £48

--What does the promo say?--

"The essence of late summer in eight sultry shades (for that tawny skin-glow that happens just before dusk). Featuring a mix-and-play palette of neutral shadows to transition you effortlessly from summer to fall: a light base shade, six medium lid shades and a dark liner shade. Includes a dual-ended Eye Shadow and Eye Liner brush-all in a sleek mirrored compact-so you can apply everything like a pro."

--Packaging--

The silver and black flip-top palette seems durable and robust while giving an edgy and dramatic look. Inside is a generously-sized mirror, a good amount of each of the 8 colours, a protective sleeve to cover them, and a double-ended brush (one end is a shadow brush and one end is a contour brush). The brush is my only quibble with the entire ensemble: while the contour end is excellent for precise and intense colour application, you seem to need to work the shadow brush much more to build up colour. Even though it's clearly made with high-quality materials, I can't help feeling that a sponge brush would be better for short-term results.

--Application--

As mentioned above, the only problem with application is inherent in half of the brush provided, and you can easily substitute this for your own brush if need be. Some application instructions (for example, ideas on looks you can create) would perhaps also be beneficial. However, generally application is straightforward.

--Appearance--

This palette has been lauded by several users for its ability to take the wearer from day (with its nude shades) to night (with its sparklier hues) and I don't disagree: the range of possible looks is fantastic and the range of colours concerned (taupes and pinks) means that everyone should be able to extract several looks from the palette to suit them. Another reviewer also mentioned the possibility of using the darker shades to contour eyebrows, which is an extremely plausible idea that I had not yet considered. It's therefore multi-use as well as being very pretty, and you can either keep it subtle or vamp up the glitter according to your own individual style.

--Texture and consistency--

The glittery shades are not gritty in the least, and the other shades seem to go on smoothly too, although I believe you'd get more from the matte shades with a different brush, rather than having to constantly go back to the palette. With the brush provided it seems very difficult to pick up a good amount of shadow for speedy application.

--Longevity--

Occasionally these shadows have a tendency to crease or fade, but it depends on the day (e.g. how hot or humid it is outside) and whether or not you have used primer prior to applying the shadows. Generally, though, they last well, with a little going a long way.

--Value for money--

£48 is expensive, and even though in my experience the Bobbi Brown palettes last forever, plenty of palettes from less pricey brands do too. Equally, although the colours are pretty and last well, this again is something that isn't impossible to achieve elsewhere. For me, the main draws are the multi-use functions and the fact that this is part of a limited edition range. However, if you wanted to be part of this product range without breaking the bank, there are plenty of ways to do this through the many more affordable products (see below), all of which are listed in full here. The glosses, eyeliner, and cheek/lip colour in particular provide similar insight into the beautiful dusky evening shades offered by this palette. By all means consider this palette as a stunning gift option - but don't feel you have to miss out if you're on a tighter budget, as the entirety of this limited edition range is worth exploring.

perfect partners

Desert Twilight Limited Edition Bronzer and Blush Duo, £27

Desert Twilight Limited Edition Nail Polish, £11

Desert Twilight Limited Edition Creamy Colour for Lips and Cheeks, £12.50

Desert Twilight Limited Edition High Shimmer Lip Gloss, £17

Desert Twilight Limited Edition Mini Brush Set, £55

Desert Twilight Limited Edition Long Wear Gel Eyeliner, £17

Desert Twilight Limited Edition Long Wear Cream Shadow, £18