Makeup of the Month: May | Tom Ford Pink Glow Eye and Cheek Compact

Hi, everyone! First off, I'd like to send a heartfelt thank you for all of the words of support and congrats you left in response to my last post. So much appreciated! The fact that I now have my PhD is still quite surreal, but I do feel incredibly relieved to be finished! 

Last month Jenn and I were *innocently* browsing around Holt Renfrew when I *innocently* inquired at the Tom Ford counter about when their Summer 2015 collection would be released. When they informed me that it would be hitting shelves just before the day of my Dissertation defense, I bit the bullet and pre-ordered the star of the collection, the Pink Glow Eye and Cheek Compact. What better treat for finally reaching Dr. status!? The palette actually arrived a couple of weeks early, but I held off until this past Thursday to finally dive in! 

This palette is the most expensive makeup item I've bought to date, but it is a true beauty with five unique shades to enjoy. Let's take a look!

The Pink Glow Eye and Cheek Compact comes in a metallic textured golden box with white lettering. Just from the outer layer, it gives off a chic, summery feel:

The palette itself comes housed in a soft, luxurious white leather pouch. Inside is a white, square-shaped plastic compact with rounded edges and golden details. To my excitement, it was actually larger than I expected, eclipsing the size of my palm:

Upon opening the case, a beautiful geometric arrangement of shades is revealed: 

Oh, hello there! 

The three shades on the left hand of the palette are eye shadows, each with a distinctly different shade and finish. At the top left is a beautiful highlight shade, a pink-tinged ivory with a frosty finish. The center left shade is a sheer, glittery cool gold, and the bottom left is a rich warm, rust-toned cranberry with a satin finish. 

The right side of the palette consists of two incredible blushes. The top right hue is a sheer pinky peach blush with a golden frosted finish and the bottom right is a rich, saturated , shimmery berry. 

Here are swatches of the 5 shades in the palette, the three shadows to the left and the two blushes to the right: 

So what are my thoughts on this luxurious palette? Is it worth the splurge? Here are some pros and cons- but mostly pros ;)

Pros:

• My favourite thing about Pink Glow? The blushes! Both cheek colours are buttery soft and blend beautifully together. I like using the berry shade as a contour and the golden peach as a highlight
• Wear time of the blushes and the shadows is quite impressive- they get me through the 9-to-5 and beyond
• I appreciate that you can create a complete eye shadow look with the palette, since it includes a highlight, lid shade, and deeper crease colour
• The variety of finishes in the eye shadow allows you to create a complex look
• The generally warm hues in the palette are flattering on my skin tone, but are not so warm that cooler complexions wouldn't get along with it
• All shades except one (the gold glitter) are beautifully pigmented
• Though this has a decidedly Summery feel, I think the shades would also be beautiful in Fall as well
• Sleek, chic, luxurious packaging
• The blush pans are large enough to use with a moderately-sized blush brush- much larger than I expected! 

Cons:

• The glittery shade is rather sheer and has some fall-out- it's pretty, but doesn't pack a punch
• The shades are absolutely stunning, but are not necessarily unique. Affordable dupes are most likely available! 

Overall, this palette is a total dream. The blushes are among the best I've tried and the shadows allow for a variety of sunset-like, shimmery looks. The pigmentation is impressive and the wear time is top-notch. Plus, it's a stunning thing to behold! Yes, the shades are dupe-able, but if you feel like a special treat this summer, the Pink Glow Eye and Cheek Palette is among the best you'll find.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!