Many of Chantecaille's products benefit charities, and the Chantecaille 15 Year Anniversary Eye Shade Trio, $68, takes it two steps farther -- it benefits three. There's a deep eggplant shade embossed with an elephant, a shimmery vanilla butterfly and a sheer copper topped with a sea turtle -- and proceeds go to organizations that work with each of these creatures. As for the formula, it's packed with anti-aging brown seaweed extract -- in case gorgeous colors, chic packaging and philanthropy weren't enough.
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Designer Made
Unlike many flash-in-the-pan beauty collaborations, Jason Wu for Lancome is still going strong, and the pre-fall collection might just be the best yet. The Lancome Color Design 5 Pan Eyeshadow Palette in Disco, $50, is the star of the show thanks to stunning shades of gray and green that match Wu's collection perfectly. So even if Wu's floral cocktail dress isn't on your shopping list, this palette should be.
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Luxe in Leather
If warm, sultry colors are your version of fall, then you're going to love the YSL Eye Palette Collector Fétiche, $60. There's a sheer gold shade that makes the perfect base or highlighter, plus four richly pigmented colors: black, green, copper and chocolate brown. The real kicker with this palette, however, is the outside, which is wrapped in "biker jacket leather." It's a serious indulgence that's worth the splurge.
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The New Gray
Gray shadows are a beauty mainstay, but for a modern twist, look for grays with warm beige undertones. Giorgio Armani Beauty Eyes to Kill Eyeshadow Quad in Maestro, $60, is spot on with four shades that range from taupe-gray to black-gray. And if gray's not your thing, this palette comes in seven other variations that are all equally as gorge.
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Not Quite Neutral
The new Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting EyeShadow 5-Color Palettes, $50, are designed to be neutral -- but better. Each of the 10 color variations (Envious Orchid is shown here) has five shades that range from a pretty nude to subdued tones of purple, blue, green and copper. But unlike bold palettes, you'll actually use them all instead of finishing one or two while the other three take up precious makeup bag space. They're sheer, wearable and super pretty -- it's hard to choose.
Here's the problem with eye shadow palettes: They look beautiful, enticing us to buy them, but when it comes to actually using them, we tend to have a favorite color or two, and the other shades go to waste. Sound familiar?
Well, the new fall eye shadow palettes are here to change all that. The colors have that wow factor, but they're sheer enough that you'll wear them again and again. Plus, the packaging is stunning. From Cle de Peau's faceted jewel compact to YSL's leather-wrapped version, each one is better than the last.
