A Feast Of Love — New LORAC Cosmetics “Beauties Who Brunch” Collection

Brunch is by far my favorite meal — I can feast on shrimp and cheesy grits, then pair the meal with a mimosa; I can nibble on scrambled eggs and pair them with something as seemingly unharmonious as sweet potato fries, all the while enjoying a sangria; or I can sip a latte while savoring eggs benedict atop delicious crab cakes. Being able to mash up foods that would normally belong on either the breakfast or lunch menu somehow feels like an act of culinary rebellion (though it’s hardly anarchy!), and there’s a thrill to breaking the rules about meal entrees and proper eating times. And yes, the fact that I can have either coffee or  a cocktail without raising any eyebrows is a huge plus! It seems LORAC Cosmetics also shares my appreciation for Saturday and Sunday brunch dates —  in fact, it inspired the brand’s entire Spring 2017 collection, which includes an eyeshadow palette chockfull of pastel shades with names like Blueberry Scone, Jelly Donut, and Bloody Mary.

The LORAC Beauties Who Brunch collection, then, is comprised of a 16-color eyeshadow palette, four new Alter Ego Satin Lipstick hues, four new creamy Alter Ego Lip Gloss shades, two new Buildable Blush colors, and a Light Source Highlighter hue. Perky pinks, retro mint greens, darling lavenders, and soft peaches abound in this collection, which is as charming as its name implies. Below, check out swatches of some of the products in the collection!

LORAC BEAUTIES WHO BRUNCH ALTER EGO LIP GLOSSES

The pastel shades in the LORAC Beauties Who Brunch Alter Ego Lip Gloss collection ($17 each at LORACcosmetics.com) are meant to dress up lips with a few simple strokes, coating lips with striking shades that will read as fashion-forward, elevating even the most low-key jeans-and-a-tee outfit. As with all of LORAC’s Alter Ego Lip Glosses , these are infused with açai extract, safflower seed oil, and grapeseed oil so as to nourish, hydrate, and soften lips. Considering they’re lip glosses, as opposed to liquid lipsticks, these offer an impressive amount of pigment pay-off (though they won’t offer complete opacity unless layered over lip pencil or a full-coverage lipstick shade). They also feature a creamy consistency that feels more substantial than that of most glosses, but which isn’t heavy or cumbersome. The glosses aren’t sticky, and they provide a lovely sheen. But, as with most glosses, these aren’t long-wearing nor are they meant to create high-voltage, look-at-me-now, statement pouts. That said, they’re an edgy take on pastels that feels refreshing and novel. Below, check out the Brunch Queen and Barista lip gloss hues:

As you can see, the Brunch Queen shade is a dreamy lavender color with pink and turquoise pearls that give it a magical effect. It’s pretty much the epitome of the current unicorn beauty trend. Can’t you just picture My Little Pony’s Starlight character as you gaze at the shade? As for Barista, it reminds me of a strawberry-peach smoothie or a scoop of Blue Bell’s Southern Peach Cobbler ice cream.

Both shades are lovely, but I found the Barista shade washes me out completely given my fair complexion. That said, the Brunch Queen color looks amazing — especially when layered above a violet or magenta lip pencil.

LORAC I LOVE BRUNCH EYE SHADOW PALETTE

This 16-color eyeshadow palette is the crowning jewel of the Beauties Who Brunch collection, fusing pastel hues and soft metallic colors, incorporating both warm and cool undertones, and offering shadows with satin, shimmery, and matte finishes. The first row of the LORAC I Love Brunch Pro Eye Shadow Palette ($44 at LORACcosmetics.com), for instance, includes: Hot Sauce, a deep reddish-orange shade with a satin finish that reminds me of the glaze on Buffalo chicken wings; Gluten Free, a pearlescent white hue reminiscent of glistening coconut shavings or a scoop of fresh tapioca flour; Eggs Benny, a pale stormy gray that seems to have no tangible connection to its name (gray eggs? no m’aam!) but is, nevertheless, a nice color for soft smoky looks; and Lavender, a dusty matte shade which pays homage to the blossom after which it was named.

Below, take a closer look at Eggs Benny, which has just slightest bit of shimmer, and Lavender, which has a matte finish that’s not flat or dated.

Next, check out the fiery quality of the orange Hot Sauce shadow and the overall ethereal sheen of the Gluten Free shade:

Moving on to the second row of eye shadows, we start seeing more traditionally spring-ready shades. Jelly Donut, for instance, is a nostalgic baby pink eyeshadow with a matte finish that will likely remind you of strawberry frosting. Pancakes, meanwhile, is a glistening, pale, cake batter color that perfectly combines white, camel, and caramel tones, and which features a hint of pearly white shimmer. Next, Sorbet gets into moodier territory, as the matte shade is more of a mauve-is hue that’s actually reminiscent of homemade dragon fruit sorbet. Last but not least, there’s Valet, a bashful ash gray hue that’s softer and less steely than Eggs Benny.

Below, take a closer look at the Pancakes and Jelly Donut eye shadows:

And here’s an up-close shot of the Valet and Sorbet eye shadows:

Next, check out some of the more adventurous shades in the palette, which happen to be placed on the third row from the top. These include: Avocado Toast, a 50s mint green shade with a matte finish; Moonlight, a soft yellow gold shade packed with opalescent shimmer; Blueberry Scone, a stunning blue hue that reminds me of the bluebonnet flowers seen all through Central Texas in the springtime; and Bloody Mary, a reddish berry shade with gold and white shimmer.

Here’s a better view of the Blueberry Scone and Bloody Mary eyeshadow hues. As you can probably see, Blueberry Scone has more of a traditional matte finish, so that it’s way more powdery and chalky, whereas Bloody Mary has more of a satin finish and just a touch of sparkle.

Next check out Moonlight, a soft yellow gold shade with a metallic sheen, and Avocado Toast, a fun mint green shade.

Hungry for more? Then feast your eyes on the final row of eyeshadows in the palette. Here, you’ll find Mimosa, which has more of a mellow apricot coloring and boasts a matte finish; Smoothie, a pale reddish lilac color reminiscent of black cherry ice cream; French Toast, a soft bronze hue with golden shimmer; and Sunday Funday, a seashell pink shade with plenty of sunny sparkle.

Below, check out Smoothie and Mimosa up close:

Next, take a closer look at French Toast and Sunday Funday:

As you can see from the swatches above, some of these eye shadow shades are truly unique. Colors like Blueberry Scone, Avocado Toast, Smoothie, and Mimosa are as unusual as they are beautiful. Other colors, like Moonlight and French Toast, meanwhile, help to add balance to some of the quirkier shades.

Below, check out a look I created using the Lavender eye shadow shade, then applying the Valet and French Toast colors to the crease area, and layering the Smoothie hue over the Lavender layer, all along the lower lids. To give the look a bit of pop, I used an aqua blue liner.

Next, here’s a warmer eye shadow look. This time, I relied on two shades in the same color family, applying the Mimosa shadow all along my lower lids and the Hot Sauce shade along the crease and outer corners. To create more of a gradient look, I buffed the two shadows together using a very fine amount of the Pancakes shade, softening the effect and creating a smoother blend.

These are two really simple looks that shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to pull off. That’s the beauty of this palette: you can create striking eye looks that still feel soft and pretty. This palette isn’t about creating harsh lines, elongating or widening eyes, achieving bedroom eyes, or even amping up the drama. It’s about embracing the small pleasures in life: a good meal, tasty cocktails, sweet-smelling flowers, a breeze on your face, a dandelion blowing in the wind… That’s the mood of all the colors: they’re meant to make your face bloom, to perk up your complexion without too much severity. It’s the perfect palette for something as whimsical and carefree as Sunday brunch.