Lise Watier Simply Nudes Eyeshadow Palette

~ stashy

I rushed to get this review up because I just couldn’t hold off on testing this puppy out and sharing my thoughts.  The Lise Watier Simply Nudes 12-Colour Eyeshadow Palette is from the Variations de Nude Spring 2016 collection:
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I’ve neglected my Project Focus 10 palette (the Smashbox Double Exposure) so I could wear this beauty all week:
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I picked this palette up when I redeemed my Optimum Points, so it didn’t cost me anything, but the retail price of this palette is $65 CAD, for 12g of product (1g per colour/pan).  For those of you not familiar with the brand Lise Watier, it’s a Canadian mid-range cosmetics line that I would compare to Stila or Smashbox in terms of quality – you can read more about the brand philosophy here. It is sold at Shoppers Drug Mart, select Sears and Hudson’s Bay locations. “Lise Watier” is pronounced Leez Watt-ee-yay. 😉

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Lise Watier’s description of this product:

A new generation of eyeshadows with a creamy powder texture that is ultra soft. The harmony of colours and the impeccable hold of this formula allow for a luminous and sublime look.

BENEFITS
• Cream-powder formula
• High pigmentation
• Multiple finishes, from matte to satin
• Paraben free

I was completely won over by this palette upon touching the eye shadows at the store – it felt incredibly smooth and buttery.  The curated colours in the palette are so nuanced and balanced – a bit of warmth but also some cool tones, a mix of shimmers and mattes; it just looked so chic.  I thought this would be it: The ONE.  The palette to end all palettes. 😉
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First, the colours: there’s a good mix of nudes represented; from the MLBB (My Lids But Better) shades to the transitional colours, to the deeper crease shades. One could create a wide variety of nudey type looks with this palette. I almost view the bottom row of colours as the shimmery counterparts to the top row of mattes (save for Cacao, the oddball matte shade on the bottom row).  What I especially love about this palette is that I truly can get a complete eye look just using this palette.  I don’t need to supplement it with a transition shade or a highlight colour – it’s all contained right here.
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Top row (L to R):
Amande – ivory (matte)
Peau de pêche – light peach (matte)
Argile –  peach (matte)
Terre – greyed taupe (matte)
Caramel – yellowed brown (matte)
Cendre – charcoal brown (matte)
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The texture of these is SO buttery. I know makeup reviews often talk about triple jet-milled, ultra fine textures and whatnot, but these are honestly THE smoothest shadows I’ve ever felt with my flesh. And therein lies a downfall: it’s so fine that the powder can have a tendency to just blend away to nothing.  I find that a patting motion rather than side to side is better for applying these onto the lids.  From this row, I could have done away with Peau de pêche, it seems redundant. I love both Argile and Caramel.

Bottom row (L to R):
Lumière – champagne (shimmer)
Satin – light peach (shimmer)
Cacao – chocolate (matte)
Nude – light beige (shimmer)
Trésor – light bronze (shimmer)
Rose étain – taupe (shimmer)
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The shimmers have a slightly different feel than the mattes – a little more spongey to the touch, they remind me a bit of the old Body Shop eye shadows (pre-Color Crush crap) which were dreamy. The formula of these shimmers are less consistent across the board than the mattes – the three lighter shades are much more shimmery compared to the darker shades which I would call frost finishes. The lone matte colour on this row, Cacao, has me scratching my head. My favourite of these are Trésor and Rose étain. Overall I preferred the matte formula over the shimmers in this palette, which works out well since there are 7 mattes and 5 shimmers (again, not sure why Lise Watier didn’t go even-steven here).

Lise Watier does claim that this product is high pigmentation, but I’d have to add a caveat. It’s not high pigmentation that punches you in the face, it’s buildable pigmentation.  At first swipe, you won’t be impressed, but at second swipe, you’ll realize that the colour slowly builds – kind of like a watercolour – creating a refined blended look.  This quality reminds me a lot of the MUFE Artist shadows. And similarly, these Lise Watier eye shadows also last an impressively long time on the lids without fading or creasing (over my usual lid primers).  These eye shadows do not kick up a lot of dust, and I experienced no fall out with them.
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There is a duo ended sponge / brush included. Initially I wanted to dock marks for the sponge end but now, having used the products, I can appreciate why a sponge applicator would work better with this shadow formula. The blend brush end is fantastic – the perfect size and density to blend out the edges. The packaging is a very sturdy plastic case with a full sized, high quality mirror. The palette measures 14cm x 8cm x 1.5cm. There’s absolutely no wasted spaces inside. This would make the ideal travel palette.

Now, the price.  At $65, it is more expensive than comparable palettes, for example, the Tarte Tartelette Matte palette is $54 for 12 shades (1.5g of product each shade), and the Urban Decay Naked 1 costs $66, also for 12 shades (1.4g each). So why is this Lise Watier one costing $65 for 12 shades too, but only 1g product each? I’ll answer with 2 possible reasons: 1) Economies of scale. Lise Watier is a small-time brand compared to brands like Tarte or Urban Decay.  Smaller production runs mean higher costs. 2) Country of origin. The Lise Watier palette is made in Italy whereas the others are made in the US.  Labour costs, shipping, import duties, etc. all factor into the product’s costs – just some points to consider.
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After wearing this for the past week, I have to say, this palette is darn close, but not The One.  This palette is very safe, from the pigmentation to the colour selection to the finished look. It impressed me but in subtle ways – as someone who is not into large scale eye shadow palettes (anything with more than 5 colours), I found myself wearing nearly all of the colours from this palette.  I would recommend this if you’re looking for an all-rounder palette that is dependable and good for travelling.  I’d love to see Lise Watier develop an all matte palette using the matte formula from this palette!

I set out to do some comparisons and my half-assed attempt came up with these:
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The 3 colours on the bottom row of theBalm Meet Matt(e) Nude palette seemed to be a good match for the 3 right hand side of the Lise Watier top row, but once swatched, no dice.
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But the MAC Uninterrupted is a pretty good match for Caramel from this palette, with Uninterrupted pulling stronger mustard tone.
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Pros:
• Smooth and highly blendable formula
• Well-rounded colour selection for complete eye looks
• Long wearing formula
• Packaged well for travel (mirror, compact size)
• Useful applicator
• Made in Italy

Cons:
• Not as high pigment as claimed
• Inconsistent quality between the shades; matte are better than shimmers
• Higher priced than comparable palettes

Stash worthiness: 8/10

Canadians: do go to the store to feel this palette. I assure you that you’ll gasp a little at the texture (especially the mattes) – it’s like silk!  Americans, you’ll have to take my word on this – you can only purchase Lise Watier from her US site here.

If I were to make a couple of changes to this palette, this is what I’d come up with:
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Do you see what I did?  Here’s the original:
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I got rid of Peau de pêche (the light peach matte shade 2nd from left), and shifted Argile over to its spot. Then I moved Cacao, the lone matte from the bottom, up to where Argile was, and added a shimmery brown shade at the bottom. I shall call that shade Chocolat. 😀

Hope you found this review helpful!  So, have you found The One (eye shadow palette)? Do tell!

61 thoughts on “Lise Watier Simply Nudes Eyeshadow Palette”

  2. Oooh that really looks like a great everyday palette! I feel I need to dig up those LW palettes I got on sale last year and actually try using them 😀 I’m really terrible at buying e/s and then not using it, tending to stick with the same old. I used MUFE’s Artist palette a lot last year, and this year I switched back to LORAC Unzipped. But truth be told, I’m so lazy to use e/s these days.

    Love the very in-depth review! (It definitely struck me that Caramel resembled Uninterrupted!) Will def. keep an eye out for this palette. Maybe I’ll pick it up during the next Optimum event…’cause I totally need more e/s…

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    1. tsk tsk, get those palettes opened! I’d say LW is kind of inconsistent between the formulations of her eye shadows. These ones are quite different than other ones I’ve tried in the past. I think it’s partly due to the brand always trying out different technologies. I think in the past she had gel to powders which I found to be much more pigmented and heavier feeling, if that makes sense. How do you like the LORAC Unzipped? My friend got that and she loves it… I’m still pining for the PRO palette.
      I’m guilty of getting things and not opening for a LONG time… I still have not opened up Christmas gifts to try yet! I was hoping having the blog would force me to get to them… but some (most) days you just want familiar stuff, ya know?
      Haha… maybe this will pop up in the LW annual clearance sale? I’m always surprised at what they have. If I see this on sale next year, I’d possibly get a back up! 😛

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  4. Great palette and it is good to see there are equal amounts of matte and shimmery eye shadow options as some of the palettes either gives more shimmery or more matte and so, it is perfect fo an everyday use. As you have said, it is travel friendly too as it comes with blending brush and sponge. Loved I and have fun playing around with it

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    1. Thank you! Yes, a lot of thought has been put into this palette and I really appreciate how workable everything is. I feel that the purpose of a palette versus single pan eye shadows is to offer complete eye looks and be suitable for travelling – otherwise, I don’t really understand the need for a palette. This one is really good at those points!

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  5. Can’t believe you used the same palette for an entire week! That’s dedication 🙂
    Adding it to my SDM wishlist only because I have a bunch of points to blow (waiting for the next event)
    ~ps r u getting my txt msgs?

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    1. I know right? But this palette warranted a full week of trailing. I did get a whole bunch of different looks from it. I think you’d really like this one – a workhorse palette!
      I just replied… oops

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  6. I really love the balance of cool and warm tones in this palette and I’ve recently become completely obsessed with plumy purple and mustardy camel shades together (although it never occurred to me to do that combo with eyeshadow…so far I’ve just been using it in home decor).
    I really love your explanation for the price differences, that all makes so much sense! Because of you I’ve started paying more attention to the country of manufacture on my cosmetics. It’s fascinating stuff!
    Caramel actually looks more mustardy in the pan than Uninterrupted does, it’s crazy how actual swatches can always surprise me like that.
    I would totally buy that Stash Watier palette! 😀

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    1. Thanks! I do like to understand why things cost what they do. i’m not saying that a palette made in Italy vs in US is automatically better quality, but it does factor into the cost structure (minimum wage and benefits there greatly outweigh US workers’).
      And yes, I was surprised how differently those mustardy colours swatched compared to how they appear in the pans. I do love them though – gives such a nice warmth to my eyes when I lightly diffuse the outer edges with them.
      Hahaha Stash Watier palette, you’re a riot! 😀

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    1. Yes that shade (and those kinds of shades) apply so differently on the skin compared to the pan. I don’t mind though, the colour is really nice when blending around the edges of an eye look. It just adds a warmth that’s different.

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  8. So great that you ended up loving this purchase! Too bad that the shimmers don’t perform quite as good as the mattes, though. Rose etain is dreamy!

    Love what you did with the redesign of the palette! I like yours better 😉 it drives me crazy when palettes include two highlight shades that look almost identical on the eyes…like, why??

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    1. Yes, I’m happy with this palette overall. A real staple type of palette for me. I don’t own many palettes so I’m glad I have this one.
      It drives me batty too with the highlights – such a wasted opportunity to add a variety of colours and they include basically 4 MLBB (my lids but better) shades? Grrr. If anyone at LW HQ is reading this, I’m available for consulting on product development. LOL 😛

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      1. It definitely could have used more medium and dark tones, and like you said, an even number of matte and shimmer shades, buuut regardless of that, you still find that it’s a staple palette for you so that’s awesome!

        How do you typically use shades like Cacao and Caramel? Mustardy/red shades kind of scare me and I never know what to do with them.

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        1. I wear Cacao on my lash line and outer “v” to deepen an eye look. I use Caramel very lightly to diffuse out the edges of my shadow just above the crease – it looks really nice to warm up a cool eye look.

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  10. I have a hard time with the 65$ price tag !!! ( You know how much I loved last year LW Rivage palette; but recently I found out that the texture is changing and the shadows are starting to crumble :() I may be too focus on MUFE, Viseart & Laura Mercier etc.etc. Did I find the one ??? Good question, I guess I have to many to answer this question … I like a lot of palettes but for different reasons 😀 Great post !

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    1. I know, I know. $65 is a lot. For someone with many palettes, I’d say you DON’T need this! Hmm interesting that the texture of your older palette is changing / crumbling. I wonder if that palette is one of their gel to powder formulations? I do wonder if these will change in texture and become less creamy as it is exposed to air – only time will tell, I suppose.
      I think us beauty addicts are on a lifelong search for The One! 😉

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      1. I think it’s the same formulation 😦 I will try it this weekend to see if it’s just the appearance that change or if the formula is going bad too !!!!
        (Hummmmm!) To tell you the truth, I’m not sure THE #1 palette exist ! Maybe 1.1, 1.2,1.3 😛

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    1. Aww thanks. I only know how to pronounce it from my Montreal pal.:P
      Haha, it’s not really that sophisticated photoshopping skills, I literally copied the pan and moved it over. And the new shimmery brown shade, I copied the texture from an online swatch I liked and pasted it over the other pan. That’s all! 😉

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  16. Wow these eyeshadows look amazing!! Wish I could find them here, I’m a big fan of Stila’s eyeshadows so if they’re close to their quality I’m sure I’d love these too. From one makeup addict to another! 😉

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  18. Very pretty palette! Never tried anything by the brand, but there are some great colors in there. The price is maybe a tad high for what you get, but I do love the outer packaging as well.
    xo Anne

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    1. The packaging really is great for this palette. I could see myself bringing this on a trip with me. I really couldn’t fault it there. I’ve enjoyed almost all of the Lise Watier products I’ve tried, it’s a great Canadian brand!

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  22. This seems like a descent palette. I love the range of colors though they are quite nice I agree you get a bit of everything 🙂 I HATE switching from palette to palette when doing one single eye look but.. I always find myself doing so because all the shades I want to use are in different palettes -.- lol. Can you get anastasia beverly hills in Canada??? If so I would recommend you purchasing one of her palettes they are great ! Usually there is a mixture of shimmers mattes and metallics so you get everything and the price is very inexpensive compared to her single shadows. Hmm.. I don’t think I’ve found my it palette yet. I do reach for my z palette and anastasia palettes regularly though. :p I think my it palette would probably he my own z palette except I need to add a few more shadows lol

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    1. Yes we do have Anastasia available here. None of the palettes from the brand has drawn me in – some of the shades look weird to me. I haven’t actually tested them to feel the quality but maybe i should give it a try. Yeah, I think for me, my THE ONE palette would have to be a custom palette I created myself. That’s really the only way you get exactly what you want.

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      1. I hear the new one she’s making with mua mario, kim Kardashians makeup artist is coming out soon and I’m sure it’s gonna be great! Custom palettes are everything, if you do end up getting one get the makeup forever z palette type of empty palette available at sephora it’s only 14 dollars I think .. and it’s big compared to other z palettes which are way pricier. I’m telling you makeup geek shadows are 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 you need them!

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