Thursday, July 7, 2011

Purchase Review: Magnetic Freestyle Palette

I wanted to do this post last night but I fell asleep before I could do the post.

I had been looking at a couple of different palettes for a while now--Z Palette and Uni Palette--and while they look like they are really good quality, I wasn't willing to spend as much as they cost. I'm really not too particular about how the palettes look--honestly, I was using an empty Altoid tin for a while and was actually considering doing some decorative work on it instead of buying a palette. I also know that you can pull out the inserts in the MAC palettes the small palette is a little too small and the larger palette is bigger than I wanted.

My search led me to Bobcosmetics on ebay. They sell a magnetic freestyle palette, which is 15 cm long and 10 cm wide (approximately 5.9 inches long and 3.9 inches wide). This is the listing that I found and decided to try and purchase. I was really excited because the package arrived yesterday after I placed my order on July 1st.

I have never liked the bulkiness of Urban Decay's Book of Shadows III and found myself rarely using the shadows. I really wanted to depot it and get rid of the bulky packaging. Here is the size differential between the shadow drawer and the freestyle palette.



I have read on a few blogs how people really like the latch system on the Uni Palette. Since I don't have a Uni Palette, nor have I seen it in person, I can't give a comparison review on it but the latch system on this freestyle palette is your typical snap shut latch. It's not ridiculously tight and perhaps it might be a little on the loose side. We'll have to see how well it continues to perform over time but it's fine for now and isn't so loose that it will unsnap by itself.


It was actually my first time to depot anything so I was a little worried, especially since the Urban Decay shadows are soft. Luckily, it's in a cardboard drawer and was relatively easy to pop out. I did have a few mishaps, as you can see. I worked my way from right to left so the last two rows of shadows look pretty good. Practice helps to make perfect.


Since I was on a roll, I also depotted my Benefit Bella Bamba blush as I didn't like the deep cardboard box that it came in. After I depotted my pans, I typed names on labels and put those on the bottom of the pans. I also typed up a color chart, which I then cut down and laminated. By doing this chart, I don't have to turn the pans upside down to see what color it is. It's more for my own convenience than anything else. For now, I have it taped to the lid of the pan but I may just lay it over the shadows. You know how most eyeshadows/blushes come with a plastic cover over it when you first buy it? I usually keep mine and keep my palette covered with it.

Overall, I'm really happy with this freestyle palette. It was only $10.00 plus $2.50 shipping and handling. I am considering picking up a few more. Perhaps the only thing that I personally don't like about having depotted the shadows, is that there is nothing separating the shadows from each other. When I first put it in, I had it all right next to each other but ended up putting some space in between each pan. Some people may not like the fact that it has no mirror on the lid but I actually prefer that it doesn't have one. I usually don't use my palette mirrors and it would just add more weight to it.

Back to work for me. I snuck on using my Company's computer to do this post.  Hehe!
I hope that you're all having a wonderful week so far.

*Kat*

8 comments:

tiffyama said...

Great find with the magnetic palette! Definitely a good buy since all of those other types of palettes are so pricey. You organized it so nicely too~

breakingrumours said...

i gotta agree,the uni palette seems so expensive :? this looks like a great find! and you are so organized and hardworking to type the color chart and all^^

galpal.hi said...

@tiffyama--Thank you! I was really happy when I discovered it on ebay. I know that I took a chance since I hadn't heard about it before but I figured that it was inexpensive compared to the others so I'd chance it.

*Kat*

galpal.hi said...

@breakingrumours--The other palettes are pricey but they are really pretty and have mirrors in them. Thanks but I'm not really that organized just figured it would be easiest for me to see the colors when I need to know what they are.

*Kat*

BV said...

You've inspired me to try and depot my Tarte and UD palettes... you're right - the huge size of them puts you off trying them!

I will consider getting this from bobodave also!
cheers
BV

galpal.hi said...

@BV--I really need to get more cause I'm in depotting mode! I actually tried to see how easy it would be to depot my Dior single eyeshadow and it really surprised me when the pan popped right out! I actually didn't want it to happen. I'm thinking that this is perfect for taking a bunch of favorite shadows from different collections with me on my trip to Las Vegas in October. I think that I can squeeze into the one palette a bunch of eyeshadows and a blush.

*Kat*

Bijin Blair said...

I kind of like having mirrors in my palettes. Somehow I tend to end up using them even those tiny itty bitty ones!

Has your weekend started? What are your plans hun?

galpal.hi said...

@Blair--somehow I very rarely end up using the mirrors in the palettes. I think it's because when I do my makeup, I'm pulling colors from different palettes so they are all laid out and I just use the mirror that's in my hand.

Actually didn't have much plans this weekend. Had a graduation party to attend last night and spent yesterday afternoon hanging out at Mai's house. How was your weekend?

*Kat*