Chantecaille The Coral Reefs Palette

(If you haven't already, don't forget to check out my blogiversary giveaways.  You can read about #1 here and #2 here. Thanks to everyone that's already entered!) 


In most cases, I subscribe to the "You get what you pay for" school of thinking.

I don't mind paying a little extra for something -- whether it's makeup, clothing, a bag, hotel, restaurant, etc. -- if it's high quality.

If you've followed this blog for any length of time, you know that I clearly don't have an issue paying for high end makeup. (Now, don't get me wrong -- there are plenty of high quality drugstore or lower end items that I love too.  I just have plenty of favorites that are a little more pricey.) But even I have my limits.

I love the Makeup Forever HD Foundation -- it costs $42, which is certainly pricey, and it's probably my holy grail foundation.  That's why when I see a $60 Giorgio Armani or $55 YSL foundation, I wonder how much better it can really be to justify the $20 or so different in price.

I'm not willing to spend that extra money and find out, I guess.

The only time that I splurge on those super high end brands is when I have holiday/birthday money and gift cards because I feel like gifts should be used to treat to yourself.  

That's how I wound up buying a bunch of Hourglass Cosmetics products a couple of years ago (Their Veil Liquid Makeup is totally worth the $60, by the way.  The only reason that it hasn't reached holy grail status is that the color match isn't as close as I like.) and finding out that it's a brand I am willing to splurge my own money on occasionally.

(And on that note, you can bet that I'll be using the remaining Sephora gift cards I have from my birthday to pick up one -- or two -- of the new Ambient Light Powders when I'm in Vegas in a few weeks.)

That's why I decided to go for a big indulgence with some of the money I received for my birthday and give the Chantecaille Coral Reefs Palette a try.

Chantecaille is a brand that I've always been curious about.  Their limited edition palettes are always stunning and some part of me is always desperate to try one.

The fact that the colors often aren't ones that I'd get much use out of usually stops me.

Well, that and their exorbitant price tags.

The Coral Reefs Palette is $79.

Wrap your mind around that for a minute -- a simple palette that contains three eyeshadows and a cheek color for a total of 12 grams of product costs $79.

That's nuts, right?

In this case, curiosity got the better of me and I just had to find out if the shadows and blush are really so amazing that they justify that bonkers price.

(I should probably mention that 5 percent of the proceeds from the palette go to the Marine Conservation Institute, which is dedicated to protecting 10% of the world's oceans by 2020 -- definitely a worthy cause.)

As I mentioned, the palette contains three eyeshadows -- Pink Pearl, a pale pinky-beige; Reef, a midtone taupe-y brown; and Driftwood, a dark chocolate brown.  The cheek color is Coral, a peachy shade.  All of the colors have a satin finish and are imprinted with a piece of coral in the center that has a shimmery gold overlay that wears off as you use them.

Chantecaille Coral Reefs Palette with gold overlay in tact -- top row (l. to r.): Pink Pearl & Reef; bottom row (l. to r.): Driftwood & Coral

Chantecaille Coral Reefs Palette with gold worn off -- top row (l. to r.): Pink Pearl & Reef; bottom row (l. to r.): Driftwood & Coral

The colors are all lovely wearable shades that create a fresh, natural look. The little paper slip that sits overhe palette designates Pink Pearl as the base/highlight shade, Reef as the eye color, and Driftwood as the eyeliner.  Personally, I like to wear Pink Pearl from lashes to brow, Reef in the crease, and Driftwood in the outer V and as liner.  However, when I want a little bit smokier look, I use Reef on the lid, Driftwood in the crease, and Pink Pearl as a highlight and that's really pretty too.

The Coral cheek color may be my favorite shade in the palette, though -- it's nicely pigmented but it has this sheerness to it that makes it look so natural on the cheeks.  It's gorgeous.

Chantecaille Coral Reefs Palette -- top row (l. to r.): Pink Pearl & Reef; bottom row (l. to r.): Driftwood & Coral

Both the cheek color and shadows are extremely easy to work with. They apply and blend so easily that it's almost like you don't have to think at all when you're using them.  You know you're going to get a pretty, natural look every time.

Even considering all of that, I have a hard time saying this palette is worth $79.

While the shadow and blush formulas are clearly top notch, I have several other formulas in my collection that are just as good and didn't cost nearly as much.

I know I'm always harping on it, but the Balm's shadows have a lovely formula and are just as easy to work with. You can get an entire Shady Lady Palette with nine shadows for $39.50 or the Nude'Tude Palette with 12 shadows for $36. Even Hourglass' Vol. 6 Eye Palette that contains six pretty fabulous shadows only costs $58.

That said, if you find yourself with a gift card or some birthday money burning a hole in your pocket, I don't think you'd be disappointed in the Coral Reefs Palette.

I'm certainly not.

I just don't see myself regularly spending this kind of money on makeup that isn't any more special than items I already have in my collection.  It's fun to splurge once in a while and see what the fuss is about, but on the whole, I'd rather invest my beauty budget a little more conservatively.

Have you tried any products from Chantecaille or any other big time luxury brands? Did you find that the quality justified the super high price tag?