"This irresistible palette contains a collection of 5 velvet matte and 5 shimmering lacquers in nude, pink and red shades. Use shades on their own or mixed together for a custom-designed shade. Includes a double-ended brush to contour the Cupid's bow and fill in lips."
Packaging
Gorgeous packaging as you would expect from a luxury brand. Of course, being a holiday/Christmas edition, its encased in a very traditional, festive gold and it's perfectly complemented with touches of silver and purple (By Terry's signature shade). The top of the palette has a rubberised texture so that part won't get scratched. A palette may not be the most practical in terms of having to carry it around in order to re-apply throughout the day/night if needed. However, it does contain a lip brush and a handy mirror already and this is great for applying the velvet matte lipsticks in particular, because they are quite bright and very pigmented and require precise application (unlike sheer lipsticks which you can get away with applying without a mirror or lip brush). Applying with a lip brush also allows you to apply the lipstick in thin layers and really get the pigment into the crevices of the lips so the colour stays on much longer compared with applying it direct from the bullet of a traditional lipstick tube. The palette is fairly lightweight, too which is convenient.
Below is the palette itself. The palette has the same dimensions as By Terry's recently released eye shadow palettes (reviewed here, here and here), but it's a little lighter - also because there's less weight in the lip product provided compared to the eye shadows.
Below is the product description label on the bottom of the palette. The palette also comes with a velvet pouch (in By Terry's signature purple colour) to keep it safe in your hand bag.
The palette comes with a large mirror and a good quality, dual-ended lip brush. The bristles have tapered ends for precise application.
The top row of the palette are the matte lipsticks and the bottom row are the lip glosses or "shimmering lacquers".
Colours
Lipstick colours from left to right in the palette:
// Medium to dark cool toned red
// French rose pink
// Bright cherry (cool toned) red
// Bright orange (warm toned) red
// Dark neutral red
Shimmering lacquers from left to right in the palette:
// Sheer shimmering light beige
// Sheer shimmering cherry red
// Medium to almost full coverage bright orange red with subtle shimmers
// Medium bright, cool toned pink with lots of shimmers
// Medium shimmering light to medium tan
Swatches
Below are swatches applied with the palette's lip brush on my medium, olive (~NC30-35) skin tone. All photographed indoors under artificial lighting and using a strobe unless specified otherwise.
Lipstick Swatches
The first two photographs below are swatches of the lipsticks in the palette. Swatches from left to right on my arm are from right to left (i.e., opposite direction) of the palette.
Below are the same lipstick swatches photographed in indoor natural lighting.
Lip Gloss / Shimmering Lacquer Swatches
Swatches from left to right on my arm are from right to left (i.e., opposite direction) of the palette.
Below are the lip gloss swatches captured in low light (without a strobe) to show the iridescence.
Below are lip gloss swatches photographed in indoor natural lighting.
Ingredients
POLYBUTENE, OCTYLDODECANOL, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, POLYETHYLENE, CERA MICROCRISTALLINA/MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, HYDROGENATED DIDECENE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, SYNTHETIC BEESWAX, STEARALKONIUM HECTORITE, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, ETHYL VANILLIN, ALUMINA, MAGNESIUM OXIDE, +/- [CI 77491 / IRON OXIDES, CI 15850 / RED 7 LAKE, CI 15850 / RED 6, CI 77891 / TITANIUM DIOXIDE, CI 15985 / YELLOW 6 LAKE, CI 45410 / RED 28 LAKE, CI 19140 / YELLOW 5 LAKE, CI 77499 / IRON OXIDES]. INGREDIENTS (COCTAB) : POLYBUTENE, OCTYLDODECANOL, ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, SILICA, CERA MICROCRISTALLINA/MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE, CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, AROMA / FLAVOR, ETHYL VANILLIN, LECITHIN, TIN OXIDE, TOCOPHEROL, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, CITRIC ACID, +/- [CI 19140 / YELLOW 5 LAKE, CI 77891 / TITANIUM DIOXIDE, CI 45410 / RED 28 LAKE, CI 15985 / YELLOW 6 LAKE, CI 15850 / RED 7 LAKE, CI 77491 / IRON OXIDES, CI 77492 / IRON OXIDES, CI 15850 / RED 6, CI 77499 / IRON OXIDES, MICA]. (T0330/A)
Size
1.3 g / 0.04 oz x 10. For a lipstick lover like myself - I'll no doubt be able to finish the products in this palette (I rarely do with traditional full-sized lipsticks and lip glosses) - especially the lip glosses as these often need more touch-ups than the more pigmented lipsticks.
Pigmentation, Texture & Finish
The "lipsticks" or lip colours have a velvet matte finish with excellent pigmentation. The texture is very lightweight - particularly when applied with a brush in thin layers. As it's matte, the formula can be a little drying so it's best to condition your lips beforehand with a moisturising lip balm. As mentioned, having to apply with a brush means thin layers get applied so the colour lasts much longer. Obviously, it will get you through plenty of drinks and light meals, but perhaps not something oily like a curry! ;-)
The last three lip glosses or shimmering lacquers have decent pigmentation as far as lip glosses go, but especially the orange red. The first two are on the sheer side. The shimmer is more of a sparkly iridescence - quite fine and smooth - not at all glittery in texture. The second to last lip gloss (pink) is the most shimmery. They all coat the lips smoothly and doesn't feel thick, gloopy or too sticky - it just feels very comfortable. Though the more thick and tacky the lip gloss the longer lasting it tends to be, so you'll need to reapply these ones more throughout the day.
Scent
The lip products have a slight sugary, vanilla scent, but it's not that noticeable once applied.
The lip products have a slight sugary, vanilla scent, but it's not that noticeable once applied.
Overall
An ultra-luxurious gift for Christmas for yourself or a very special person that loves lipstick (especially red!). I think all the shades would suit most skin tones and if you need to, you can mix the shades to create one to your liking. Although I'm not sure I would be mixing all that often as much as it sounds like fun, because you would end up contaminating the original colour in the pan (it's hard to avoid especially when you're out and about and need to touch up). My only other issue is that I would have loved to see an orchid pink lipstick in the palette which is my all-time favourite lip colour, but I do understand that this palette is geared towards the festive season so it contains more reds. Overall, a very festive and seasonally-appropriate lip colour selection and an absolute lipstick lover's dream!
Availability
Available now at Mecca Cosmetica in Australia while limited edition stocks last. Hurry before they sell out - they are currently out of stock online so do check out your local store! Otherwise, you may also find it in Space NK and Beautylish while stocks last.
Hope this was helpful.
Thanks for looking! ^_^ xo