I’ve always been a huge fan of LORAC Cosmetics. Carole Shaw’s range of beautifully pigmented and long-wearing products attracted me since the first time I saw them featured at Sephora. I am especially fond of the line’s eyeshadows, which come in a range of gloriously pigmented, butter-soft shades. Thus, I jumped at the chance to review the line’s latest palette, the Private Affair palette.
The Private Affair palette gives its owner everything she needs to take her from day to night, and any time in between. Inside the pretty (but oddly large and cumbersome) croc case are six shimmery eyeshadows ranging from an ivory champagne to a blackened-plum with red sparkle, a tube of Behind The Scenes Eye Primer, and a double-ended eyeshadow brush. Really, what more do you need? All together, this palette is a $136 value that retails for $38.
Let’s discuss the colors! In this palette you get:
- A champagne beige color that is neutral-to-cool toned
- A light rosy beige color that is neutral-toned (this color is pinker than the champagne beige, but on me they apply almost the same – this color is just slightly darker
- A very lovely silver-taupe color
- A gunmetal-grey color (I’ve been all about gunmetals lately!)
- A plum-wine color that’s just beautiful in the crease
- A gorgeous deep blackish color with red shimmer, similar to MAC Beauty Marked
All of these shadows are insanely pigmented. One does have to be careful with the amount of pressure applied to the pans of color, as these eyeshadows are extremely soft (meaning that you can get a lot of fallout if you press too hard, or even break the eyeshadows!). The lightest touch is all that is necessary, anyway! I am especially in love with the rosy beige shade and the gunmetal-grey shade. Also, women who don’t want to look like disco balls need not worry: the shimmer in LORAC eyeshadows isn’t pronounced or chunky. Instead, the eyeshadows impart a flattering glow. The only real problem with these eyeshadows is that they all run somewhat cool-toned, so ladies who are very warm may find these colors to not be terribly flattering. I have an olive undertone, and do not have a problem with any of these colors.
I was pleasantly surprised by the Behind The Scenes Eye Primer. Not all primers are made equal, but Behind The Scenes can hold its own. The primer is a light beige color but dries to a clear but ever-so-slight tacky finish, which is perfect for grabbing the creamy-soft shadows. I found that my eye look lasted all day and night, which is no small feat considering the high temperatures and humidity I experience at my job. If I had to compare it to another brand, I would say it’s very similar to Too Faced Shadow insurance.
I did not care for the little brush that was included in this kit. It seemed flimsy and cheap compared to the high caliber of the other products. The space it takes up in the palette would have been better utilized by a mascara or an eyeliner, preferably the excellent LORAC liquid eyeliner!
Despite this little hiccup, the overall quality of the Private Affair palette is as high as one could hope for. Yes, the shape of the palette is a little bulky, and yes the eyeshadows are fragile, but this isn’t a travel palette in my opinion. This is a palette that should sit proudly on a vanity table, ready to be worn on a daily basis – at least, this is what my palette is currently doing! Here’s a look I created with the palette (my mascara is Black Radiance Dynamic Duo Mascara and Primer, and my brows are filled in using Vanitymark Ultra-Brow pencil!):
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