Ask Belle: All-in-One Palettes

Dear Belle,

I’m going on my honeymoon next month and I want to pack light.  I decided to cut down my makeup bag to one foundation, one mascara and one makeup palette.  I’m looking for a palette with a blush, a few shadows and maybe a lip gloss or two.  Ideas for which brand makes the best palette?

xx, Tessa

I don’t usually recommend all-in-one palettes because I like to mix-and-match, but for traveling, they’re a great choice.  The first thing to look at isn’t a palette, it’s the Trish McEvoy Makeup Planner.  It’s a small pouch that you fill with pages, which magnetically hold your favorite foundation, concealer, blush, shadow and lip colors.   They’re also refillable so, if you use your shadows unevenly (everyone has a favorite that runs out first), you can replace the shades as needed.  And, since you can pick your own shades, you never feel boxed in by what’s available.

Trisha McEvoy is great, but it’s a bit pricey.  So if you’re looking for something less expensive, Too Faced makes a nice palette.  They  make a natural palette with sun-kissed tones, and another with pink hues.  Neither has eyeshadows per se, but you can easily use the brighteners and highlighters as eye color.

I also love this LORAC palette.  It gives you six neutral shadows (two of which can be used as eyeliner), two blushes (one pink, one color) and a bronzer.

Need something under-$25?  Try Victoria’s Secret.  This palette gives you eight shadows, four lip colors and a neutral mauve-plum blush.