First Impressions - JLB Cosmetics Malibu Beach Collection.

I went out with my daughters the other day, because I had seen these at Ross the evening before, and regretted not getting them, especially after having unsuccessfully tried to find them online. 

So I went ahead and got the one I had initially really liked, and decided to get the other one as well, though I had not really cared too much for the colors at first.  These palettes sell for $12 a piece, according to Ross's price sticker, and I got them for $5.99 each.  I have to admit I am surprised at the low price for these palettes, for the quality.  I used the Sand palette yesterday, and really loved the look I created, and today I used the Surf palette and really love the purples that I used. 

JLB Cosmetics Surf The Malibu Beach Collection.  The outside of this palette is slightly textured and looks a little bit like rattan, or a straw hat weave.  It is constructed of pretty sturdy cardboard, and closes magnetically.

You get 12 pastel and summery shades in this palette, and there are no names for any of the colors, which makes it a bit difficult if creating a look and telling others what shadows were used.  Most of these shades are satin, with a couple being somewhat glittery, and one or two matte shades.  The colors are fairly pigmented, can be built up and blend beautifully.  They are pretty powdery, and can be a bit chalky, mostly just when swatched.  For the look I created today, I used the 5th shadow in the upper crease and upper eyelid area.  For the transition shade I used the 6th shadow, and for the lid, I used the 10th shade.  I used the very last shade on the browbone, under my eyebrow. 

As you can see in the swatches, the shadows are fairly light and pastel.  They are fairly washed out due to the lighting, but the first four (from the left) are very high sheen, whereas the next four are pretty satin.  The very last shade (far right) is matte, and difficult to work with.  It doesn't like to pick up on the brush very well, but as you can see in the pictures below, it does show up on the browbone.

This is my overall look.  I used The Balm Shelter tinted moisturizer for my foundation, Nars Super Orgasm on my cheeks, and a Burt's Bee's lip crayon in a pink color on my lips.  Highlighted with Hourglass's Ambient Lighting powder in Ethereal. 

Another angle of today's look.  You can see just a hint of the purple at the corner of my eye.

Please excuse the giant pimple between my eyes!  Here is the look I created today.  My phone does NOT show the color transitions very well but you can see how these shadows are just a bit shimmery, and definitely not glittery like some Too Faced or Urban Decay shadows.

Overall I really like this palette, way more than I expected to.  I'm excited to create some more looks with this, and play with it a bit more.  I feel like this was a pretty good deal for $6, and if you can find it, I really suggest picking it up, even if you're not sure you'll like the colors.  I was pleasantly surprised after I got them home and got a chance to swatch them.

Now for the other palette.  This is the one that I initially regretted not purchasing the night I saw it.  There is one shade in here that I just had to have.  The rest of the palette is beautiful too, but I really loved that one color, and don't have anything like it at home.  Ultimately that is the deciding factor these days, since I have so much makeup. 

This palette feels like it is wrapped in burlap.  It's a bit more textured than the other palette, but is constructed of the same cardboard with the magnetic closure. 

The shadows.  Ok you guys, this palette.  Those colors.  Just.... yes.  The palette was slightly damaged (the 9th shadow has a small chunk missing from it) but it is still functional, obviously.  The first four shades are matte, the second set of four shades are satin shimmer, and the last four are satin shimmer as well. There doesn't seem to be any really glittery shades, and I like that.  Though I think one glitter shade to help make a look pop can be nice. That burgundy though...  I had to have that color in my collection.

So, as you can see, the first four shades are definitely matte, and though they don't seem very pigmented (the middle two) they are...  they just match my skin tone very closely.  That last shade of those first four is a fairly pigmented white color that is great for the browbone.  And the next set of four, that gorgeous burgundy color.  I can't stress how much the camera just does NOT do it justice.  This is going to be a GORGEOUS color for fall and winter, for a smokey eye look, or as a beautiful crease color.  I can't WAIT to play around with that color.  The next three shades are satin shimmery and super pigmented.  There is a bronze, a golden shimmer, and then a very dark taupe shimmer.  The next set of four start with a beautiful dark copper shimmer, and from there the colors lighten up a bit, from a light gold, to a champagne shimmer, to a very light beige, almost white sheen that would be great for a shimmery browbone highlight.

This was the look I created yesterday.  Kind of a retro glam look with a beautiful classic red courtesy of Lime Crime Velvetines.  For this look I used all matte shades from the Sand palette and was really impressed with the pigmentation and how easily they built up and blended in order to create the natural eye look. 

So far, I really like these palettes.  I have used each one, only once so far though (which is why this is a first impression post.)  I will be working with these off and on for awhile, mainly because I'm so excited to try out all the colors!! 

Let me know what you think in the comments below! 

(All pictures taken with my iPhone 5s)