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This party season is the perfect opportunity to go all out, Especially when we’re talking makeup. There is something about having a dewy, golden base and a phwoar eyeshadow look that will really seal the deal. That is exactly why everyone who is into makeup should have a go-to power eyeshadow palette that they can rely on in times of party (or times of rest, as we say, there are no rules). MAC Cosmetics are OGs in this and have been creating wearable palettes for ‘the girlies’ for quite some time, so they knew exactly what they were doing when they created this brand new limited edition Love Surprises Eyeshadow Palette.
Light up your life!
Eyeshadow palettes can be hit and miss, they can lack pigment - especially for darker skin tones - they can lack warmth, or be too warm or have an unbalance of temperature for cooler and warmer skin undertones, they can miss out on a power base or on a flashy shimmer that complements most. It’s a lot of boxes to tick. This limited-edition six-pan eyeshadow palette comes in four colour waves that feature different textures, and a mix of fun and everyday hues packed in the most adorable bow-box.
As we prepare for the festivities, five GLAMOUR staffers test out the four shades for this week's 5 People Test and here are their truest and most honest thoughts.
The Product:
MAC Eye Love Surprises Eyeshadow Palette, £35, MAC Cosmetics
The Verdict:
Shei, GLAMOUR’s Beauty Writer
Wave: Sparkling Wine Splash
Can we talk about how cute the packaging for this palette is? I mean aesthetics are not a reflection of how good a product is, but they most certainly help. This eyeshadow palette has the aesthetic part down lock but the collection of shades is impeccable. I went for the Sparkling Wine Splash Palette as I felt that the golden and brown hues would best complement my skin.
I use the lightest matte shade as the base of the eyeshadow and then complemented it with the shimmers and even the black shimmery hue to smoke up the corners of my eyes. The colour deposit is strong and a little goes a long way. If you take it on the go with you, it also has a compact mirror and it would look oh-so-adorable in your going out-out clutch. I just needed a burned orange to seal the deal, but aside from that, I will likely retort to this eyeshadow palette beyond party season, I know it.
Rating: 8/10
Luca, GLAMOUR’s Social Media Manager
Wave: Regal Rosé
I was immediately drawn to this Eye Love Surprises palette, adorned with bubbles and a bow, with intrigue. I usually opt for luxe/edgy packaging over cutesy, but gave it the benefit of the doubt. Inside was a - you guessed it - surprising mix of colours, some shimmery pinky tones with a deep purple and sky blue thrown in.
For my *very* low-lift eyeshadow look, I just took Naughty or Ice (sky blue) on an angled brush and applied it in a line directly above my existing eyeliner wing for a little pop. Then, I dabbed Sequin & Sparkles (a taupe duo chrome with specks of lilac) in my inner corner to complement the blue. It immediately took my look from day to night in a matter of seconds, bringing all the drama from the punchy shades alone.
Rating: 8.5/10
Denise, GLAMOUR’s Commerce Writer
Wave: Bold Bows
There’s no better time to experiment with eyeshadow than December (AKA party season). Naturally, when I got my hands on the Bold Bows Mac Cosmetics palette I was beyond excited. It packs 6 vibrant shades: from a toasty warm yellow to a shimmery red and a rich brown. Now, I admit, as a sucker for a soft-glam bronze-y look, these shades are a bit out of my comfort zone, but as it turns out, bright colours are so much fun to work with. I went for a sunset-inspired, siren-eye look with a smoked-out wing and surprisingly, the formula was so easy to work with, delivering a seamless blend.
Long story short, the Eye Love Surprises Eyeshadow Palette ticks all the boxes in my book. A good range of colours? Check. Pigmented shades? Check. Adorable packaging? Check. And tip for my brown-eyed girlies: trust me when I say that the shimmery red shade will compliment your eyes in the most beautiful way...
Rating: 10/10
Lian, GLAMOUR’s Audience Development Manager
Wave: Best-sellers
I fell in love with MAC’s Eye Love Surprises Eyeshadow palette. With bronze, brown and pinky classics that blend effortlessly, it’s immediately obvious why these are best sellers. Packaged in the most adorable Y2K-esque circular bubble effect palette, the overall aesthetic makes this feel like more of a treat than your average eyeshadow palette.
Featuring versatile yet everyday essentials, softer nude shades make for an easy go-to to spruce up your day-to-day natural makeup, while the deeper reddish brown and gold shades could easily be used to create a softer evening look.
I went for something in between, with the light peachier tone making for a good base before combining with pink and brown at the edges to blend out, adding a touch of gold on top to give a subtle sparkle. What immediately stood out to me was how pigmented the eyeshadows were, with them also staying put for hours after I’d applied them. A little goes a long way which you definitely want when using softer shades. I can safely say that this is my new go-to palette, being the perfect thing for achieving an understated smokey look.
Rating: 9/10
Chelsea, GLAMOUR’s Senior Visual Editor
Wave: Sparkling Wine Splash
When it comes to Christmas makeup, I've never been very daring or experimental. I usually stick to my regular everyday nudes and browns, maybe adding a bit of glitter. This MAC palette is exactly what I need this festive szn, just enough for a subtle smokey eye and a touch of sparkle, you really only need a touch as the glitter shades are super pigmented. This one is staying inside my clutch until January.
Rating: 8/10
For more from Glamour UK Beauty Writer Shei Mamona, follow her on Instagram @sheimamona
