palette

And soon, Bobbi will launch her limited-edition Dress For Success Makeup Collection ($60), for which 100 percent of the proceeds will go straight to the organization. Look for the kit, which will include a variety of flattering eye shadows, a brownish-pink lip color, pink and clear lip glosses, and mascara, exclusively at Macy's.

Here's the thing about makeup palettes: unless all of their colors are neutral and easy to wear, I will probably use them like crazy for a week, then shift back to my normal "no makeup" colors while the palette languishes in the bottom of a drawer. That's why I think Bobbi Brown's pink and gold palette ($45) and I might have a long-term relationship. The six lipstick shades are nothing bold, nothing outrageous — just rosy, flattering hues for everyday. Plus, the brush is full-size, which makes application easier for Miss Clumsypaws here. Win!

I love the idea of palettes, but rarely does their actual utility measure up to their promise. Sephora's new Shopbop palette ($30), however, may be a prominent exception thanks to its Archimedean design. The palette looks like your run-of-the mill blockbuster, but it's actually ingeniously portable. Each of five mini palettes inside pops out, and there's a mirrored case that's small enough for a clutch. The palettes also have a thumbhole so that you can use the kit like a real painter's palette. I do take issue with a couple of things, though. The set doesn't come with mini brushes, so if you take one palette out for convenience, you still need at least a shadow applicator and a kabuki brush. Also, the colors don't pop out individually, so if you wanted to mix and match you're out of luck. I love the concept, though, so let's hope for more Shopbop-designed makeup in the future.

If you, like myself, sometimes come into work barefaced and then engage in a mad scramble to get made up, I have just the thing to make the whole thing easier. Benefit's Her Name Was Glowla ($36) makeup kit comes with everything you need in a little box that tucks away in a desk drawer. It has a ton of eye shadow shades, a universally flattering (and trendy) coral blush, mini mascara, lip gloss, and even two luminizers. Best of all, it has tiny brushes, so you aren't fumbling around or carrying a bag-load of stuff to the powder room. I've been using it for months now, and it really cuts down on prep time. Plus, I'm never rummaging around in my purse looking for gloss or trying to carry some enormous blush brush around discreetly. It makes me feel much more adult, even if I'm not actually responsible enough to wake up early and put on makeup.

I don't even wear very much eye shadow, but boy am I a sucker for a pretty palette. Case in point, the eye shadow from Dior's new limited-edition Tailleur Bar Set ($90). It's a delicate rendering of Dior's iconic New Look woman in eye shadow, and if I didn't need to eat lunch for the next two weeks, I'd be down at Neiman Marcus right now buying it. The set also comes with a lovely Serum de Rouge lipstick. Are you tempted by this one, too?

Shu Uemura always has the coolest artist collaborations, and this year's Abracadabra Fantasy holiday collection is a stunner. Artist Aya Takano has created some incredibly vibrant packaging complete with hot pink reindeer, starry-eyed sylphs, and false lashes covered in stars and hearts. It's a different take on the season than we're accustomed to seeing here in the US, and an excellent antidote to the surfeit of red, green, and dark brown we're sure to see emerge this season. To check out more of the collection, just click through the gallery below:

We love a good palette, but realistically, most have a couple of shades you'll never use. The ones you can customize yourself sometimes knock your stuff around or end up with your colors tumbling out. Enter the brilliant Unii Palette ($29), which you can fill up with your favorites shades from any brand. The case is magnetized, so everything sticks in place, and you can fit more in because there are no slots for specific products. It's a simple solution to a long-standing problem, it cuts down on clutter in your makeup bag, and it's perfect for vacations and nights out.

Over the past few weeks, I've been exploring color correction shades of just about every hue you can imagine, from green to yellow to orange to blue and purple to pink. Whew! But what's a girl to do with all this newfound knowledge? Arm yourself with a palette of multitoned corrector shades, of course. Here are a few to get you started so that you can do a little experimenting of your own. Which shades and brands have you found to be the best for your complexion?