SMASHBOX . DOUBLE EXPOSURE PALETTE

Few palettes have caught my attention since the Urban Decay Naked palette frenzy. Being a neutral lover I found that I had no need to explore other shadow palettes, I had everything I could ever need with the Naked lineup. Or so I thought...

Meet my recent love, the Smashbox Double Exposure Palette ($60). This eyeshadow palette is quite possibly the best palette of all time – although many would argue that it's predecessor the Full Exposure Palette cannot be beat.  It's a 14-shadow palette, who's shades transform in one of four ways with the addition of water – get a deeper shade, turn up the vibrancy, transform it to a metallic or amp up the sparkle. This is all facilitated by coated pigments that give a multi-dimensional effect when wet. You can use the shades completely dry, wet or mix and match the finishes. The possibilities truly are endless. The palette comes with a dual-ended brush – the domed side absorbs just the right about of water for the most impactful color, while the angled side creates a precise line when wet, or smoky diffused line when dry. A lot of my experiences with brushes included in eyeshadow palettes end in heartbreak, but Smashbox ensures this isn't the case – the brush worked well both wet and dry and delivered a pigmented swatch with minimal fall out. And to finish off every look the Double Exposure Palette also features a deluxe-sized sample of the Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara. I love this mascara, the formula is very build-able, delivering thick, long lashes without clumping or smudging. A definite repurchase for me.

As you can see, this palette is certainly not one-noted – even before the shades 'transform with water' you can see colour diversity that far surpasses the Naked palettes. Smashbox was genius to pair neutral classics with nodes of navy, purple, and rose – a beauty obsessive's delight. I am guilty of being [slightly more than] obsessed with the Double Exposure palette – hell I've begun day dreaming of looks that I can create with it. For day I stick to the right hand side of the palette – I apply Flushed all over the lid, deepen the crease with a mixture of Fig & Espresso and highlight the inner tear duct with Quartz. To add interest to this look I like to use the angled brush wet and smudge the shade Copper along the lower lash line – this adds an unexpected metallic sheen and aids in brightening the eye. For night looks my brush finds the cool, deeper shadows found on the left hand side of the palette – I begin with a wash of Silver all over the lid, deepen the crease, creating a stylized V in the outer corner with Haze and Noir and highlight the inner tear duct and brow bone with Blanc. Once satisfied I add some water to the domed edge of the brush and pack the shade Silver onto the eyelid again in order to enhance the metallic finish and then use the angled brush dipped into water to smudge the shade Midnight along the lower lash line. All this and my experimentation continues. Not a palette to be missed, I say.

The palette is currently available from Sephora, and will be available at Murale February 2015. 

Have you set your sights on the Double Exposure palette?

AM¥     XO 

*The items in this post have been sent to THE PRETT¥ VAIN for purpose of review. All views expressed reflect my own opinion on the product. For additional information please see the Disclaimer.