Anatomy of the perfect eyeshadow palette: LORACs' Pro Palette and Pro Palette 2

LORACs' Pro Eyeshadow Palettes - the original (bottom) and No. 2 (top)

In an effort to avoid beating a dead horse I'll skip reviewing LORAC's Pro Palettes and instead go into the composition of these palettes and why they're selling like hotcakes.

Let's start with the V's: Value, Variety & Vanity

Value - The price point comes in at $42 USD for sixteen shades. The pans while petite in size certainly pack a Hawaiian punch when it comes to colour payoff and overall performance.

Variety - Two different formulas split across sixteen shades (eight mattes and eight shimmery) -- think neutrals, jewel tones, light and dark. Everyday, nighttime and everything else in between. 

Vanity - LORAC makes your eyes look gooood.

LORAC Pro Palette

LORAC Pro Palette 2

As for the rest..

Packaging - slim, sleek, compact, complete with a magnetic closure and built-in mirror. LORAC also throws in a sample sized Behind the Scenes Eye Primer in lieu of a chintzy brush, I'm looking at you Urban Decay.

Usability - I'm no makeup artist, but the quality of these eyeshadows makes buffing and shading fun. LORAC put a huge amount of thought into the shade selection; you can wear them separately, but why would you? The magic lies in the blending and the mixing of the shades. Feel free to jump the barrier and use both palettes, make all thirty-two shades mingle like nobody's business.

Swatches - you know I couldn't skip this part, swatching for me is the best bit!

Pro Palette swatches from left to right starting with the top row: White, Cream, Taupe, Light Pink, Mauve, Sable, Espresso and Black

Pro Palette swatches from left to right starting on the top row: Nude, Champagne, Gold, Light Bronze, Pewter, Garnet, Deep Purple and Slate

Pro Palette 2 swatches from left to right starting on the top row: Buff, Light Brown, Cool Gray, Plum, Navy, Charcoal, Black, Snow, Beige, Rose, Mocha, Chrome, Silver, Jade and Cocoa.

Permutation - I stink at math, so please forgive me for not knowing the actual number of looks you're able to create with either of these palettes. However, please believe me when I tell you you'll hit the pan on most of these shades in an effort to get there!

Looks - here are three different looks I created for your viewing pleasure.

In look #1 I used six shades from the original Pro Palette 

In look #2 I used five shades from the Pro Palette 2

Here's a breakdown of look 3 using both Pro Palettes:

• Base > Nude
• Contour > Cocoa
• Centre of the lid > Gold 
• Inner corners > Snow
• Lower lash line > Chrome

Why LORAC, what makes these palettes winners?

Availability - Buy 'em online or in-store at Ulta, Kohl's or you can hit up Amazon, buy a couple of palettes and stalk the Mega Pro Palette while you're at it. LORAC even has their own handy dandy online retail store. Btw, LORAC will be selling both palettes at a discounted rate (25% off) on Cyber Monday, 1st December for 24-hours.

Deserted on an island test - Passed. The four other items I'd have on me would be a comb, EOS' mint lip balm, sunscreen and a memory foam pillow. Scott, fret not. You'd be by my side with your own accoutrements. 

What other people are saying...

Audrey, SF - Ulta review:

"This palette is amazing. The colors are all so pigmented, and it offers a wide variety of mattes, shimmers, neutrals, and even a few colors (Garnet, Deep Purple, etc.). The shadows are buildable, blendable, and buttery (hello alliteration) and can create such a wide variety of looks you really don't need anything else. I was even in a situation once where I had 2 Naked Palettes and a Pro Palette at my disposal, and I still used mostly Pro." 

Bohdaciousfaces, Indiana - Ulta review:

"I was nervous to spend this much money on one single palette, but honestly this palette has all the neutral shades you'll need in one place. The fact that I can make multiple complete looks with one palette sells itself for me. The actual product is very great quality too and I reach for my Lorac pro daily unless I'm doing an extra special look that day. The only bad thing I have to say is the packaging gets so dirty looking with the shadow kinda smearing all over. I'm an OC cleaner and the smeared packaging just irks me. But I can live past that. Overall it's a must have in any makeup collection."

Quinn O, Memphis - Kohl's review

"I love this eyeshadow. I was iffy at first because I wanted to get either the this or the Naked palettes but decided to go with this one first due to the number of matte colors. As soon as I got the palette I did a matte eye looking using the champagne color and I fell in love. Must have palette for anyone, beginners or pros."

Highlights: great mattes, pigmented, price for number of shadows

Take it from me or any one of these lovely reviewers.