The Lorac Pro to Go: A Classically Well-Constructed, No-Brainer Palette?

Even though I’m a self-proclaimed cosmetic crack whore, there are so many mornings when I’m feeling a lack of creativity; altogether uninspired. When I’m in a funk I can pick up anything - either NAKED palette, Nude ‘Tude, Laura Mercier, even the Original Lorac Pro - and quickly become intimidated by the number of options I suddenly have. 

The worst is when you pick up your favorite palette only to realize that you’ve completely hit pan on your favorite three or so shades while the other nine remain unloved. Then you start to wonder why you dropped $50 on it only to use three shades.

Carol Shaw provides an answer to to this all too familiar dilemma by constructing

THE ULTIMATE

NO BRAINER PALETTE!

Yumm........

This palette comes complete with six beautifully neutral shadows as well as two blushes, one with a matte finish and one with a slight satin finish, and  a mid-toned matte bronzer.

Like its predecessor the Lorac Pro to Go is made up of half shimmer shadows (Pearl, Chai and Mink) and half matte shadows (Shell, Cafe and Black).

Unlike its predecessor you don’t have as many options, but that’s kind of the point.

This is a palette meant to create two or three complete neutral looks. This is something that won't give  you a shit ton of random shades and say “Good luck trying to make sense of this.”

And unlike its predecessor this kit comes with a slew of face products to include two blushes in Coral and Pink, as well as a bronzer; all of which are a good size. 

At first I was skeptical about the price as $38; ($41 somethin' after tax) is kind of a lot to drop on six shadows, but the addition of the face products definitely warrants the price. That's how Lorac is expanding their consumer base: by drawing them in with the shadows and introducing them to their cheek products and thereby sparking an interest to try more Lorac face products. 
It's kind of brilliant, actually.

The Criticisms

As much as I like this palette, however, I do have some criticisms.

The construction of the shadows reminds me a lot of the Too Faced 9-pan palettes in that you have a lid color, an outer 'V' or lining color, but then the highlight shade at the end is like, twice the size of the other shadows. I never understood why that was. 
The highlight shade is the shade that I personally use the least, and when I do use them, it's just around the inner corner and the brow bone, which takes up the LEAST surface area on the eye. 

Why not make the lid color the largest? Why not make them all the same size?

I just don't understand. 

AT ALL!

Ugh. Gross!!!

I mentioned earlier that this is a 'No Brainer Palette.' While I still hold that to be true, I think it's suited better for smokey eyes than for a daytime, wear to work look.

I think the palette is missing transition shades.

Since I am of a medium/tan skin-tone I would start with cafe as a base color. Then what? I could apply the bronzer color to the outer 'V' in an attempt to create a darker contrast, but I don't know how much of a contrast that would make. I could use that black, but I don't want to wear a smoky eye to the office.

So what's left?

To mix cafe and/or Bronzer with the black to create a darker brown.

I could incorporate Shell to the inner corner to make a gradient effect, but that would still require mixing cafe and black to make the look daytime appropriate.

One of the most awkward things is having "bedroom eyes" at the office and potentially looking like a lady of the night.

I loath the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette, but I think the Pro to Go would benefit from shades like Naked 2, or Faint for example.

It's a BEAUTIFUL smoky eye palette!

If you're a Kardashian, this palette contains your entire look (year 'round).

But I just don't think it's able to transition as well to create a daytime look for normal people aspiring to subtle sophistication.

I found it to be kind of disappointing just because it turns out this palette isn't as versatile as I thought it was.

Though, I must say, I had pretty high expectations.

PLEASE!!

Leave me a comment telling me how you like to use this palette.

Do you use it primarily for day? or night?

Do you use more of the matte colors? or the shimmer colors? How?

Do you favor this palette over the original Lorac Pro palette? or Vice versa?

Thanks for reading, and Remember:

Don't Just Wear Makeup...
Let it Inspire You!