SMASHBOX Always Sharp Lip Liner Set

What it is:
A collection of 10 long-wearing, water-resistant, self-sharpening liners for enhanced lip looks.

What it does:
Give your lips the ultimate lip look with this lip liner set. These lip liners feature tiny built-in sharpeners in the tip of the cap, so that they conveniently self-sharpen every time you twist off the cap. Each features a precise tip that helps you to accentuate your Cupid’s bow for fullness, or line the inside edges of your lips for a slimming effect. Lining helps prevent any smudging, feathering, or bleeding to your lip look.

This set contains the following colors:

• Crimson (true blue red)
• Figgy (red grape)
• Violet (bold berry)
• Fuchsia (vibrant magenta)
• Peony (midtone cool pink)
• Rosebud (mauve pink)
• Melon (soft peach)
• Nude Fair (light pink)
• Nude Light (beige pink)
• Nude Medium (medium beige)

Verdict: Last year I was really hoping for a great lip liner set to be released during the holidays and it didn't happen but this year Smashbox won my heart. I absolutely adore this set. There is great variety in all of the lip liner colors and the product is amazing. The liners apply smoothly on the lip and have great pigmentation. Also the fact that the liners self sharpen is a huge plus.   

*If you would like to pick up your own SMASHBOX Always Sharp Lip Liner Set it is available for $89.00 at Sephora. Click the links for more details: SEPHORA

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette

What it is:
A limited-edition eye shadow palette created and developed with Gwen Stefani and loaded with her 15 must-have shades.

What it does:
In a true creative partnership, Gwen Stefani and Urban Decay created the UD | Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette. Wende Zomnir—co-founder of Urban Decay—and her product development team spent countless hours at Gwen’s house, talking makeup and working closely with her on every detail of this palette—from the case to the amazing shades. These eye shadows were carefully created with Gwen Stefani, filling a void by creating the exact shades she always wished she had in her collection. This palette features her 15 must-have shades of eye shadow, including 12 never-seen-before colors and three that are from the Urban Decay shadow collection. With the ultimate range of neutrals and a few jewel tones to mix things up, this is Gwen Stefani’s go-to kit to create her most iconic looks. With these shades in your beauty wardrobe, you’ll have everything you need to recreate these signature looks for yourself. Each eye shadow in this palette is formulated with Urban Decay’s Pigment Infusion System™, the proprietary blend of ingredients that gives every shade its velvety texture, rich color, serious staying power, and blendability.

This palette contains the following colors:

Blonde (pale beige/pink iridescent shift)
Bathwater (pale beige with gold pearl)
Skimp (pale nude satin)
Steady (medium rose/metallic gold shift)
Punk (reddish brown matte)

Baby (cool metallic rose)
Anaheim (light taupe-brown matte)
Stark (nude-pink matte)
Zone (medium brown matte)
Serious (smoky gray with iridescent floating pearl)

Pop (pale coral with iridescent sparkle)
Harajuku (metallic blue-pink/iridescent micro-shimmer)
Danger (deep metallic royal blue/blue micro-sparkle)
1987 (bright metallic yellow-gold)
Blackout (blackest black matte)

Verdict: I'm on the fence about this collaboration. The colors in this palette are pretty neutral but its obvious that the shades will not work well on every skin tone. The best way to describe this palette is if Gwen Stefani and the Naked Palette had a baby. I wish there was a little bit more variation but then again Gwen's go to look is a simple eye and bold lip. If you are a UD collector or do not own a UD Naked palette I would recommend this palette since it is limited edition but other then that it's pretty passable.

*If you would like to pick up your own UD x Gwen Stefani Palette it is available for $58.00 at Sephora, ULTA, Macy's and Nordstrom. Click the links for more details: SEPHORA, ULTA, Macys, Nordstrom

Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette

What it is:
A universal face slenderizing palette that allows anyone to master the art of contouring.

What it does:
Sculpt your complexion using this palette’s paint by numbers technique. This all-in-one face slenderizing palette features six numbered, contouring shades and a step-by-step visual guide so you can seamlessly highlight, correct, contour, and accentuate your best features like a pro. With ultra-soft, satin powders, these shades blend easily to create a dimensional look without any harsh lines.

This palette contains the following colors:

1. Highlight (matte highlighter)
2. Correct (yellow correcting powder)
3. Contour - soft (for light-to-medium skin tones)
4. Contour - deep (for medium-to-dark skin tones)
5. Accentuate (rosy blush)
6. Glow (shimmer highlighter)

Verdict: Let me start out by saying that I am more of a cream contour person so even though I think this is a great palette it just wasn't for me. The formula of the colors was very silky and lightweight. The colors are also pretty buildable. If you are new to contouring or just prefer powder over cream then this would be a great product for you. I on the other hand am just going to stick to my Tarte Slenderizing Sticks.  

*If you would like to pick up your own Tarte Contour Palette it is available for $45.00 at Sephora and on the Tarte Cosmetics website. Click the links for more details: SEPHORA, TARTE