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After the mind-blowing frenzy years ago over the original Urban Decay Naked palette, other cosmetic companies began jumping on the nude/naked/natural palette bandwagon. Today we're swamped by plethoras of palettes in every color-way---from every brand, and even drugstore staples have leapt into the fray to cash in on the phenomenon of makeup palette obsession.
Enter Lorac. Considering that the first and only Lorac shadow palette I ever owned (for years) was the original Unzipped, purchased way back when Sephora still carried the brand, I've become quite the rabid fan of the Pro palettes. (The Unzipped is not a Pro palette, the formula is different.)
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| Unzipped Original (image from Temptalia) |
My first actual Pro palette was the original Mega Pro, released for Holiday 2014. If you've been a makeup maven for any length of time, you recall all the tears and tantrums over the release of that item. Apparently, I was lucky and had no trouble at all getting mine from Amazon. I was completely thrilled by the Mega Pro. Indeed, I've used it quite a bit; I even used it today.
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| Mega Pro (Image from Temptalia) |
Since leaving Indiana and living mostly in the back of beyond, I hadn't had access to a brick & mortar Sephora or Ulta in five years. Right now the nearest Sephora is 100 miles from here. When we moved from Bullhead City, AZ to southwestern Utah nearly fifteen months ago, I was extremely pumped by the fact that there was a local Ulta store in the area.
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| Lorac Pro (image from Lorac.com) |
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| Lorac Pro 2 (Image from Lorac.com) |
Of course, I also had to have the Mega Pro 2 when it released last year. I love it just as much as the rest of them!
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| Lorac Mega Pro 2 (Image from Temptalia) |
Then around 6 or 8 weeks ago, a certain 'big YouTuber' let the cat out of the bag---that the Lorac Pro 3 was coming! And omigosh, the colors were right up my boulevard! Pale neutrals, creams, light golds, and tawnies with a couple of purples and taupes thrown in. My breath caught and butterflies fluttered in my solar plexus. Perfect! My eyes are pretty small and now with age have become hooded, so the deeps, bolds, brights and/or smokies are not good on me. I need pale, pastel and light shades to open up my squinty little eyes.
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| Lorac Pro 3 (Image from Ulta.com) |
Soon after that video, a few more YouTubers were sent the Lorac Pro 3 as PR and slowly the reviews began to crop up. I was kind of dismayed at some of these reviews because many of them were NOT glowing. Some even made claims that the formula was not the usual high quality of the preceding Pro palettes. Whaat?!
I was in disbelief. Well, no matter. I was determined to get that palette anyway. I'm not including any swatches or other detail here--I'm not a true beauty blogger--I recommend checking out Temptalia or Musings of a Muse for more in-depth reviews and close-up photos. I mainly want to relate my own experience and opinions here.
Chump that I am, the email that gave a one-day-only early release for Ulta Platinum customers was deleted unread, so I had to wait until it was released (online only) on June 19th. Eagerly, I placed my order, used a coupon code, used my accumulated points and submitted the order. I promptly got a red flag saying there was a processing problem and the order could not be submitted. I kept trying and continued to get the message. I called Ulta. The girl was nice enough but she couldn't do anything except submit a help ticket. I'd hear back from someone within 48 hours.
Two days later I got a survey from Ulta asking about my customer service experience. But I'd never heard back anything about the order that would not process. I rated the experience rather poorly. Days went by. Nothing.
Ages later, I finally heard back from them. They couldn't find any problem, advised me to make sure my billing address and info was all correct and try again sometime.
I decided to just go to the store and get it on the store release date of the 26th. BUT then I got a 20% off coupon code from Ulta in my email. Couldn't resist that, so online I went and again tried to put through an order. And once AGAIN, I got an error message and could not put through an order. I tried again. Now I get a message that I couldn't use that coupon code as it had already been used---WHAT? You have got to be $#!++ing me! (Sorry, please excuse my French...)
Now mind you, all my account information was correct, my card was fine, etc. etc. I've ordered from this company a zillion times! I had even tried paying through Paypal. Nothing worked. I called Ulta again. Got the same routine. Very nice girls on the phone, but they aren't enabled to do anything except issue help tickets which apparently mean nothing once they leave Customer Service. Again, I'd 'hear within 48 hours'...which I didn't. Disappointed, I emptied my cyber cart yesterday.
Today, June 26th, I was waiting at Ulta's door when they opened at 11 a.m. I headed straight for the Lorac Pro 3 display prominently set up right inside the entrance, snatched up the daggone palette and headed for the checkout counter. As she rang me up, the cashier said brightly, "First one of the day!" as she waved my palette through the air. I smiled placidly, but inwardly I was snarling like a starving she-wolf. I took my precious orange bag and slunk off to the car.
One thing I'm glad I did was to NOT listen to the YouTubers who bashed this product. I also read EVERY single review of it on Ulta's website. While there were some who echoed (almost word for word) what they'd heard on YouTube, I was heartened by the many glowing five star reviews.
I joyfully unboxed my new palette and started putting my fingertips in every single color. Where was the chalky, unpigmented product so many of those ladies complained of? Why were so many 'unimpressed' with this? So many complained about the color Medallion as being chunky with glitter and falling apart. Mine isn't.
I just don't get it. It's gorgeous and is my favorite of all the Lorac palettes I own. It's creamy in texture and saturated with color. I'll get a lot of use out of it. Since most of the colors are very light, one is not going to get a 'BAM' look from this palette. If that's what you're looking for, then it would be best not to expect it from this product. This palette is best suited for those who are looking for subtle, 'naked-skin' looks. No matter what your ethnicity is, you will find something that is close to your skin tone here. From the palest blonde to olive to Asian to the deepest of complexions, it's in here. It does include a couple of very deep colors and a few subtle pops of soft color, but most of the shades are...flesh tones. Since I'm beyond the age of wearing garish makeup, this is heaven in a palette.
My point is, don't believe everything you hear. Just because a public figure espouses an opinion, that doesn't mean it has to be YOUR opinion, too. Make up your own mind. You be in control of your own opinions and own them. Maybe no one else agrees, but it's yours. And you're entitled to it.
Till next time,
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma-which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition." ~ Steve Jobs
"Deep down, I happen to be very shallow." ~ Pat Paulsen
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