I know what you're thinking: "Jaime, seriously? Another neutral palette?" and I promise that is how I felt about this too until I tried it. Out of the box, the Laura Mercier Extreme Neutrals Palette looks really rather ordinary, but what it actually is, is a beautifully put together palette with a fabulous balance of warm and cool tones in a variety of finishes. How's that for a solid performer?
Where I find most neutral palettes fail is that they rely too heavily on shimmery impact shades and don't balance it out with satin and matte formulas. Thankfully the Laura Mercier Extreme Neutrals Palette has it down perfectly, with the ability to create several full eye looks with just the one palette. The palette itself is classic Laura Mercier in style: Chic, slim and with a great mirror. The outside has a padded, speckled gradient look to it, and the palette feels luxurious in the hand (unlike so many of these cardboard palettes that are coming out lately)
Shades: Top Row: Dune, Wind, Rock, Dust, Earth, Bone. Bottom Row: Choco Glace, Violet Sugar, Candy Mauve, Hot Chocolate, Chocolate Espresso.
Just like my other favourite from the brand, the Artist Palette, the shadows in this are exceptional in quality. The textures are buttery and smooth, never chalky or dusty, and they blend like an absolute dream. The wear time always impresses me and these are no exception to the rule, if you've never tried out Laura Mercier shadows that you might be missing out my friends!
I was also thrilled to see there are no shadow duplicates from the Artist Palette in the Extreme Neutrals Palette - something the brand often does and I find a bit frustrating as a makeup collector. They even skipped their best selling African Violet shadow for the lilac tones of Violet Sugar and Candy Mauve, which is so refreshing to see!
After absolutely loving the Artist Palette, I am thrilled to see the brand release another 12 shadow palette with equally incredible shadows that pair so beautifully with each other. This is NOT the case of finding two or three shadows in a palette that you'll run out of and inevitably find the palette useless - every single shadow in this is so wearable.
We all know every brand and their dog is putting out a neutral palette or three, but I knew that Laura Mercier would nail it with the Extreme Neutrals Palette. You won't find fallout-inevitable glitter riddled shadows here. You won't find dusty mattes that don't blend here. You won't find shimmers that blend away to nothing. What you'll get is a classically beautiful neutral based eyeshadow palette full of high-quality luxury eyeshadows from a brand that has 'done' neutrals for decades. A must have for any makeup lover or collector - this is a good one folks!
Laura Mercier Extreme Neutrals is Limited Edition and available at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, John Lewis and Space NK
