ALMAY I-COLOR INTENSE TRIOS! PALETTOHOLISM AT ITS BEST!
Gigi Here!
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference."
The truth always rears its ugly head. Deep breath here: My name is Gigi and I am a Palettoholic (please applaud here). "Palettoholism" is an addiction, an obsession with eyeshadow palettes (think "Fatal Attraction:" Put yourself in Glenn Close's place but insert palettes where Michael Douglas would be - and skip the rabbit scene). Place a few bizarre shades in a plastic or metal container and I will purchase it. I'll look at the compact, frown, and throw it in my basket anyway. It began with my love of painting and color and intensified when my dear mother bought a beautiful Revlon shadow compact for me at age fourteen. My mother, my own loving mother, was an enabler.
The Revlon mix was so amazing that I scraped out every bit. My friend gave me a quad from another company. Should I tell you this? I used that one from ninth grade until college. No, I didn't spit in it (TanteJoan - we'll discuss the mascara later) but I should have expired or gone blind from a deadly bacterial infection. Please don't keep your eyeshadows around for years - eye cosmetics should be tossed before all others. And why don't I follow my own advice?
Withdrawal from Palettoholism isn't pretty. I have to take it one day at a time. If I leave a drugstore without purchasing at least one palette, my hands shake and I have body tremors. I sweat profusely and my personality turns into Cruella DeVille from "101 Dalmations." I am highly agitated and often have hallucinations of rainbows and Jackson Pollock paintings.
Hence, here's the skinny about the latest knock-out palettes I purchased from Almay, their new "I-Color Intense Trios.™" My husband says I find products before they appear on shelves. Perhaps he's right - it's not on www.drugstore.com yet. I was at a large display and all of these were gone but three. I saw a woman about my age standing there and she said, "Gorgeous! I'm going to buy them all." Like hell you are, lady - no one and nothing separates me from makeup I crave. I thought of tackling her to the floor but don't want a rap sheet for aggravated assault. Images of Charlie Sheen's unflattering police photo haunted me. I asked myself, "Quick, what to do now?" My fingers began to tremble and my eyes twitched. I simply had to have them. I very nicely said, "I'm sorry, these are reserved for me." The poor thing believed it, relinquished them, and simply walked away with an "Oh, I didn't realize." I wanted to yell at her as she turned away, "If I told you to jump from a bridge, would you?" We aren't supposed to lie, but all things are fair in love and makeup.
I was never a huge fan of Almay's eyeshadows as they seemed dull, but these are renaissance, powerhouse palettes fit for the Red Carpet. The shadows are a trio with a large amount of a fair shade to use as a base and/or highlighter. The other tones contour and color like few others do. Almay now "decorates" shadows with ribbon-like "a's" and has improved the overall appearance (we all crave for pretty packaging in the end!). Almay has been working with the concept of different hues to enhance particular eye colors, but there are none I cannot use. This company's shades are perfectly coordinated and virtually goof-proof: There are instructions for use are on the compact. If you can read, you can create wonders. For the ultimate smokey eye made easy, follow their instructions. Otherwise, play with the shades in different ways - you can't go wrong! Almay's new achievement works with mineral particles which interact with light and brighten your eyes immediately. Some of the slightly shimmering, posh, designer shades? A gentle, ethereal pink to leave you like an angel, an off-white which mimics sixteen hours of great REM sleep, and a wispy, perfect beige tinged with a hint of gold.
The deeper hues are some of the most beautiful shades I've ever seen. There are tones of luscious chocolate, beautiful burnished bronze and copper, a slick silver-gray which doesn't look like you're going to the Mardi Gras, an inky, seductive deep blue, and an unusually gorgeous dark teal which gives me chills of excitement and turns me into Grace Kelly (I warned you about my hallucinations).
I did the ultimate test. I donned the white lab jacket we reviewers all have, rubber gloves, and performed state-of-the-art scientific testing. I made up one eye with a Christian Dior collection ($58.00!) and another with these. I repeated the process with Lancome and Lauder and these rivaled their costly competitors.
Application and blending are a breeze with the silky formula. You know what comes next - my lecture on keeping the applicator for convenience and using brushes for best results. The color remains a long time, especially when a primer is used, from Urban Decay's to the Two-Faced Wrinkle Injection cream/primer I also love. (What? You didn't buy it from beloved Beauty Ticket when on sale? There's still time. An eBay merchant to whom I am not related, savealot27, offers these at great prices and gives stellar service. You can't go wrong with her!)
Well, time for me to go - just me and my shadows... eyeshadows, that is!
How long do you keep your eyeshadows for ladies?
Have you tried the new Almay line?
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Comments
I'm not that bad with palettes, just own two from Bodyshop but eyeshadows! Ack! They just keep flowing over all brims, because I love just looking at the pretty colours so I definitely know what you are talking about. Luckily, I haven't seen this brand in stores here in Sweden so I can resist, but it is oh so tempting! Thanks for a wonderful review.
I never tried the Almay line yet,I started to love palettes fews months ago only, Before that I couldn't do both eyes the same lool so it was a MAJOR problem but after some training and practicing, disasters and time I am FINALLY (almost ) good at blending eyeshadow correctly lol and NOW I am obsessed with the word Palette ! I don't know why but any colors in palette looks cooler than not in a palette...does it make sense? lol no! ok ! Loved your review GIGI <3
http://thehollywoodheels.com
I'm sure I have a ten-year-old Revlon compact that I have no intention of throwing away until it's empty. I guess I'm a paletteoholic, too!
Oh Gigi - let me just out myself right now 'Hi everyone, my name is Rie, and I'm a palettoholic'. You make them so tempting - nice save - certainly better than risking a rap sheet. You have to think quickly at times like these!
Rie
Hi Gigi,First, I think you should trademark the word PALETTOHOLISM. I think it is going to catch on and who knows there could even be a successful cure in the future. Until then, I have numerous Dior and Channel quads I am holding on to. I am not sure EXACTLY how old some of them are. I like the cruise the makeup counters when traveling. (It is so much more fun than hanging out in my hotel room in the evening.) When you travel in certain regions many people and brands often offer unique perspective. I have recently bought a great pallet from Cargo I like as well. I have also sampled some Almay and thought they were really good for the price! :)
Love the review! Did you seriously tell that lady the eyeshadows were reserved for you? Wow! I would never have the guts to do that, so I applaud you. :) I own an Almay palette, for blue eyes, and I bought it probably 5 years ago now. I use it once in a while, but only the brown, I don't understand why they have blue shadows in there if your eyes are blue, it doesn't really seem to bring my natural color out. Oh well, I really have a lot to learn when it comes to eyeshadow, which is why I'm here! I keep my eyeshadows FOREVER, until it's used up. So far, I have not used up any yet, I hit pan on one of my Clinique shadows, a whitish-silver, a long time ago. I still can get product out though so I'm keeping it.
http://www.rubysbeauty.com
I keep my eyeshadows pretty much forever lol, they never seem to have any issues with time. I haven't tried any of the new Almay stuff, the line has always seemed sort of blah to me, but maybe I'll give it a second look!
Hi Gigi. I loved your review! I totally get your obsession. I am obsessed to, but with lip products. If I dont leave the store with a gloss or lipstick, I feel anxious. I will have to check out these shadows. They sound great. I wonder if they have lipsticks or gloss to match?
I keep eyeshadows FOREVER, but they're loose minerals so I guess (hope) they don't go bad). These Almay palettes look nice because the base/highlighter shade has so much more product that you are sure to hit pan evenly!
I guess it is my turn, I now understand my affliction, Hello, My name is Vickie and I too am a Palettoholic! I won't do anything about my addiction however, I enjoy it. I too enjoy painting, drawing, and art. Make up is another facet of that love. The face is a blank canvas and make up, especially palettes, is my medium. I enjoy using wet and dry eye shadows. It is amazing what a little enhancement will do.I have a Mary Kay eye shadow "Rust" that I have had since the 90's, I don't use it but I can't throw it away either. LOL
LOVE those colours! Particularly that front pallette and the one with the deep forest green. They look so silky and highly pigmented. I'm going to see if I can track these down in Aus.As for how long I keep my eyeshadows - much too long! I dont use them that often so it would be so wasteful to throw them out when I only use them twice a year. Hmm
www.kittysdrawings.com
I have the green eyes palette for my hazel eyes, and I adore it! I got a gorgeous gold, a lovely taupy-copper, and a luscious chocolate brown. Love it! :)
I don't have a palette. I have brown eyes and wouldn't know what palette to use. I am not huge with the make up because I do not know what looks good on me.
I don't know this brand, but I want to try it!
Gigi, you know I am your sister in PA -- that's Paletteoholics Anonymous, not ypour home state -- although I have yet to call anyone, ever, to talk me out of acquiring a new one. I thought my recent conversion to the Church of Tricia Sawyer and her Icon Palettes meant never having to buy another's brand, but after reading just a few paragraphs I feel myself backsliding. I fear I must buy these Almay palettes, spawns of the devil though they may be. I may be damned, but I will burn all the brighter with my color-drenched eyes.
That was hilarious! I love eyeshadows but, I'm terrible with blending too. I just can't get it right so I stick to earth tones. Where can I learn how to wear all the gorgeous shades that are out there? I definitley want to try Almay.
"A true friend is someone who knows you're a good egg,
even if you're a little cracked!"
I'm so impressed that I know what Fatal Attraction is. =) Wow, you make them sound so heavenly! I'll attempt to find them when I'm out next.
THOSE LOOK soo convenient. Thanks for the review:)
they are soo pretty, I think the oldest palette I use is only around 2 years old since I didnt use much make up before
http://tinas30dayshred.blogspot.com/
i like almay (its good for my sensitive skin) But i havent tried thes-they do look nice though! this was such a funny post! I love the story of how you got these! "sorry these are reserved for me!" hahaha! :-)
I keep my eyeshadows forever . I like almay mascaras.
I got the NYX palette for brown eyes and I'm disappointed, there is too much fall out and the colors are not pigmented. But I love my Barbie 1980 palette from Stila, and I wanna try Stars MakeUpHaven palette of 15 colors! This one looks great!
I cannot believe that you said that, to the other woman!!! What nerve, what panache!! And she believed you!! What a hoot! I have tried some almay palettes, but not too much, but now with you saying that the color stays with a primer, I may have to break it out!! These new colors look lovely!! I like many others here need to practice practice practice the blending...never can blend enough can we ??Looking forward to checking these out next time I'm out of the house!! Thanks for a great review...love these drug store finds!!
I have a bunch o' pallettes but I find myself going back to my Cat Cosmetic's "Hello Gorgeous" one every damn day,LOL! It's just so easy and it works for me no matter what! I literally can no longer open my vanity drawer without swearing because there is so much in there (weeding out SOON,promise!) and I know there are some dark and dirty palettes from Dior that might just be old enough to drink legally very soon...need I say more? LOL! LOVE how you always manage to make drugstore-shopping trips sound like a scene from a funny movie! These DO look pretty awesome and at the price Almay usually goes for?We can all become pallette-aholics as well and start our own local chapter! :) GREAT review!
Gigi, you are my co-dependent and enabler. And you KILL me! I have the same affliction with palettes. I adore them. I think it goes back to loving little paint sets when I was a child. I've used other Almay eye palettes in the past and wasn't in love with them. But these look like they're worth a try."These are reserved for me" - what a great line. I'm going to use it on a regular basis now! Only 2 cookies left on the plate? Sorry, they are reserved for me!
Carole
my first choice is the duo shadows, but within the last month i've been wanting more palettes
I have had eyeshadows for YEARS just so I can look at how pretty they are. Remember the Chanel denim palette? Yep, still here. The first Chanel quad prism palette. Yep, still here. The stunning duo from Nars that I bought to complement a dress I was wearing 4 years ago? We have tea often. The Lorac palette that my 19 year old has made a mess of, but damned if I will just give it to her. Now the only thing that might keep me from getting this Almay palette is I am not a fan of Almay make-up. And I saw the new Revlon palettes when I was dying at the drugstore this week. I was TOO SICK to buy it. However, now I feel much better (thank you amoxicillan) and really wish I had bought it. I am a bit of a palette-snob, however. If they sold Almay at Sephora I would buy them all. Don't judge me, I told you I had a problem!
I LOVE makeup! I totally am a palettoholic also. Eyeshadow is great, and Almay is a really good brand.
Krysta<3
I've used their older palettes and used to like them - now I prefer loose mineral shadows, but I did really like the palettes I had.
emilysmakeupbox.blogspot.com
I haven't tried these palettes yet. But, I'm definitely going to now! Great post Gigi! Thanks!
Gracie
Ooh those are pretty. I love palettes that make it easier to put quick eye looks together and travel with them.
Gigi, I have YOU to thank for my current obsessive, addictive palette disease. I just purchased two of the Almay palettes YESTERDAY, not the I-Color Intense but instead the older version of the ones you mentioned. (Am I the only one who always spells palette incorrectly??) I'm wearing the silvers and grays today. You really can't beat the quality for that price point. Plus my brownish, eyes are poppin' with minimal effort on my part. Target was all out of the ones you reviewed but I think these run a close second. You would have laughed at Lizzy and I. I held the package up next to my eyes and she chose the palette that had the eye that looked the most like my strange eye color. I've said it before, if you want an honest opinion ask a 7 year old, she'll never steer you wrong. I really enjoyed this post, I can totally see you snaking those shadows out from under that poor unsuspecting shopper. She never stood a chance.... GODDESS GRANNY-I am cracking up over your palettes that are "old enough to drink"-Seriously FUNNY......
i'm terrible when it comes to throwing out make up!! i think i've got some 6yr old bonne bell gloss that needs to live in the garbage.. seriously.but as for palettes.. unless i hit the bottom of every pan, it's not going anywhere!!! i think the 120 palette i have will last me my whole life lol. i haven't tried almay yet (but these palettes looks stunning)! i bought an almay eyeliner on ebay a while ago but it arrived completely crushed. I'm pretty sure i've swatched their products before.. when i'm at my local drugstore (i have a habit of swatching eyeliners, blushes, shadows, gloss, lipsticks.. you name it i'll swatch it all along my bf's arms).
My youtube: http://www.youtube.com/lilyscorner123My blog: http://lazyscorner.blogspot.com/
I've never tried Almay, but I've been eyeing their palettes for a while. I think I'll try them out the next time I go to my local drugstore and see how they look on me! :) If I like them, I think I might even go back for more colors and products by Almay.
ooh i saw an ad for this. the color pay off looks amazing!!
Wow those look gorgeous!! I want them!!
can't say i've tried it, but i love the colors here!
i still have eyeshadows that i had back in middle school and i can't seem to throw some away. it's like i have this bond! i am a sucker for palettes because there's no second guessing if colors go well together or not. I must say that I am sort of a snob when it comes to drugstore eyeshadows. I used to buy my eyeshadows from drugstores but always felt dissapointed by the color payoff. I know a lot of companies have come along way though because a lot of people have been loving those Maybelline quads. I don't think I've ever tried anything from Almay, but that neutral palette in the back looks pretty.
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http://sharynramblings.blogspot.com
I must admit that i never throw eyeshadows out unless they are empty or so broken that i cant use them without making a huge mess! I never really liked almay eyeshadows before because they seemed too boring for me, but these new ones look awesome and i'm hoping to pick some up soon. thanks for the review!
Never tried Almay but I like the palette with blue and gray! Hmmm worth buying?
http://moocafelatte.blogspot.com/
I still have eyeshadows that I bought in high school over ten years ago. I don't really use them, but I like that I still have them. It feels nostalgic! I have a couple of these Almay trios but I haven't opened them yet. I'm trying to get rid of my older stuff first, but I bought them on a good sale and they included a colored eyeliner in the package!
It's good to know my palette addiction has a name! And I want ALL of these!!! I can justify more than one because my eyes are kind of green, kind of blue, occasionally look hazel... The colors look amazing, and I am going to find these and buy them all! I also need to find some Too-Faced wrinkle injection cream. I'm really glad to learn that Almay has improved their eye-shadows, I've often tried them because I like the hypo-allergenic feature of their products, but it's true, in the past they have always disappointed me. I'm sure that I will not be disappointed this time! Thanks, Gigi for another stellar review!
o lord gigi, i absolutly love your writing. thi was the laugh i needed. i noticed alot of glen close jokes as well =) my favorite palette ive had for 2 years (almost out...guess i need a new one) is revlon colorstay in copper spice. that peach is absolutly perfect and the darkest brown is perfect for my brow powder, which for a fair gal like me, is hard to find. i to am a palettoholic, and love it when fellow palettoholics admit to such, but please gigi, no shame in our game. like you said, all is fair in love and makeup =)
I need to look around for these. I have *no* pallettes (hanging head in shame), and the Almay ones I've seen in Canada have all been total mismatches.
But these ones look really nice, and the prices aren't usually too bad on them here (higher than in the States but not on the level of high street prices).
Thank you!
i have one of these and i love it... and they are so affordable
I haven't tried any recent Almay products, but I have used them years ago and they were nice. I typically like powder and single containers eyeshadows better, and don't really like the weird design on the eyeshadow for some reason. AH, but maybe I should grow up and start using it. (: I do have some giftcards, I just might check this out.
Let's all enjoy the Summer sunshine!
These are ok, but again, the colors don't do much for me.
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3&Third...
they look cool, but i'm not sure about the colours.i throw out old make up every now and then, it's not worth getting an eye infection.
Oooh Gigi you know how to convince me I NEED something! After reading this I'm already bristling with anticipation. The formula of these little lovelies sounds beautiful - I adore smooth eye-shadows, and it's even better that they're such wearable shades. Thanks, terrific write-up!
I am also very reluctant to throw out my eyeshadows. I don't really use them after a while, but neither do I reach for them. I have been switching to loose shadows and tapping them out to another container before applying in the hope of minimising contamination.I do like palettes as it saves me from pondering which colours combination work and the new Almay ones sound great!