Apparently it’s Pumpkin Spice Latte season, but here’s the thing: I’ve actually never had one and neither do I have any desire to try one, but … I have no issue wearing makeup inspired by the beverage. That said, ‘pumpkin spice latte’ shades are exactly the types I reach for the most. The irony is not lost on me, lol
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It came as no surprise that I had several options to choose from when it comes to autumnal-hued palettes, since I’m drawn to shades like this like a moth to a flame. The hard part was narrowing it down to my most favourite, and these are what made the cut. I need to also say that it’s so much fun rediscovering palettes while shopping my own stash … and not needing to go purchase new products.
CHANEL Les 4 Ombres Tweed 03 Tweed Fauve | Originally reviewed here, this is one of 4 palettes released by CHANEL last year (limited edition, no longer available). This quad leans warm and has a nice mix of finishes, with the satin & metallic hues easily grounded by the mattes. The textures are all stellar, displaying excellent opacity and super easy to blend out. Honestly, I’m still not over the detailing of this collection — from the coordinated tweed sleeve, to the tweed embossing on each shade. LOVE.
NARS St Germain des Prés Palette, Claudette Collection | Originally reviewed here, this palette launched in 2021 as part of the Claudette Collection created in homage to François Nars’ mother (limited edition, no longer available). There are 3 shimmers (top row) and 3 mattes (bottom row), and all have unbelievable colour saturation, a velvety smooth texture, and excellent blendability. While this specific palette may no longer be available, the good thing is that NARS has released several other palettes with quite a few similarly toned shades.
Dior Backstage Eye Palette 003 Amber Neutrals | Originally reviewed here, this palette was released around 2019 and I’ve found conflicting info online as to whether or not it’s still available, so a hunt might be in order. The top row has a cream primer that I’ve never actually used and I wish Dior had just omitted it completely, replacing it with another powder shade instead. Apart from the 3 mattes along the bottom row, these shades actually apply in a softer way, so this is a great palette to reach for when wanting a more subtle effect but still in the same pumpkin-y theme. Texturally they’re all wonderful, despite not being as pigmented or creamy as the previous palettes, and it’s also great for travelling with as you get plenty of options to play with.
Guerlain Ombres G 910 Undressed Brown | Originally reviewed here, this is a fairly recent release from Guerlain (September 2023) and probably the most impressive of the bunch as far as texture & pigmentation go. The shades all display 100% opacity even with one swipe, they’re all decadently rich & buttery smooth, and so easy to blend out. The shimmery orange/copper hue is an certainly an eye-catcher, but the other 3 shades qualify as neutrals and really help to ground out that one flamboyant colour. Luxe & worth it.
Le 9 de Givenchy Le 9.05 | Originally reviewed here, this palette was released in 2020 with several other colour harmonies. As with the Dior palette, this too looks way more intense in the pan than how the shades actually apply, although the shimmery white hue is off the charts vivid. A little drier than what I prefer, I really like how this palette provides quite a few colour options that even those with cooler complexions can wear and the perfect shades for those who prefer their ‘pumpkin’ on the subtle side.
Personally, I don’t get the fuss about drinking a pumpkin spice latté; I’d much rather eat the pumpkin cheesecake I make every Thanksgiving, lol. That said, I did have fun going through my makeup to create this post — and realized that for someone who’s not a fan of the beverage, I sure have a lot of pumpkin spiced latté makeup. Guess that’s a sign that maybe I need to actually give the drink a try.
