Palettes or Pots?

[electra]

Hey guys.....uh this may or may not have anything to do with the topic of this thread...(though I think it does.)

I guess I won't be bothering with the whole B2M thing. It seems they want the pans to be in the pots when you return them to B2M. I guess they caught on about the whole depotting and taking back thing. I don't know if this is constant with all the stores or just some...but it's a bit disappointing.

I could be wrong. I just saw a few vids on YT saying that they have to have the pans. I was honestly hoping to just get the shadows, depot them and take them back (as I really do not need them whether I get a free item or not.)

Meh...anyway...back on topic...

 

[snowflakelashes]

If you are shopping at a MAC Pro or a freestanding MAC Store the perm colours are available in what they call "Propans" if what you are worried about is storage space. Then keep the (thin) packaging those came in, just a slip of thin cardboard really so that you can B2M the pan {yes you can B2M propans if I have done all my reading correctly}. This just won't work for limited edition shades but if your main concern is slowly working on getting a basic makeup look going then this may be an option for you.

As for me, I'm scared to depot, and up until this year you couldn't order the propans on the website so when I did most of my purchases pots were the only option so I have everything in pots (about 100...). Part of me prefers it that way. I can see how palettes could be convenient too though I just know I'm klutzy so scared to venture there yet

 

[MACForME]

I'm a palette person. Personally, digging thru so many pots makes me crazy. I depotted so many.. I just wish that the lids were CLEAR. That would rock.. Quads are nice if you're the type that always wears the same color combinations.. you could make a quad with only those. My 15 pan palettes are grouped my color family, blues, green, purple/pinks, etc..etc.. Its just easier for me that way.

 

[electra]

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowflakelashes If you are shopping at a MAC Pro or a freestanding MAC Store the perm colours are available in what they call "Propans" if what you are worried about is storage space. Then keep the (thin) packaging those came in, just a slip of thin cardboard really so that you can B2M the pan {yes you can B2M propans if I have done all my reading correctly}. This just won't work for limited edition shades but if your main concern is slowly working on getting a basic makeup look going then this may be an option for you. As for me, I'm scared to depot, and up until this year you couldn't order the propans on the website so when I did most of my purchases pots were the only option so I have everything in pots (about 100...). Part of me prefers it that way. I can see how palettes could be convenient too though I just know I'm klutzy so scared to venture there yet

Lol. I'm so slow. I didn't realize these rules went into effect like...last year (didn't even really know about MAC until this year.) Sorry about that you guys who already knew about this.

But thanks for the info. I'm not sure which option is best for me. I hope to not get eyeshadow crazy. I think it just sucks that you can't turn it in without the pan. However, it makes sense to just buy a pan and fill your palette with it. Depotting doesn't look too bad (depending on how far you do it.) But I suppose it all depends on the person and the space.

 

[hello_kitty]

I B2M pots without the pan all the time just fine at my freestanding store. I have never had a single problem, and supposedly if you do Live Chat on the MAC website, they say it's alright if the pans are not in there as well.

 

[ledisxo]

I am such a palette person ;D i sit with my palettes and organize them when new shadows arrive.

But soon im hopefully getting a mac eyeshadow display ekk seller from craigslist just needs to email me back damit! with her addy lol ;D

 

[M.R.evie]

I have both but I prefer the 15 pallette to help streamline the growing collection if ya know what I mean! I agree with earlier posts about it being able to see (and appreciate) what you have and what look u want to create. As far as not wanting to carry around your eyeshadows...as long as you use a great base you wont have to! I recommend the paintpots (I always use 'em and my eye makeup doesnt budge, unless I take a nap haha). Good luck on your decision

 

[upnadam!]

i depotted all my eyeshadows the other night and im realy happy. yes i loved them in pots and a couple of the cracked a little in the process... but life is just so much easier. i can easily see all the colours, i can take all of them anywhere and im not worried about dropping the pots and loosing them. plus i get to B2M my empty pots now

and when i only want a couple i just put them in a quad wich is even lighter and easier.

 

[Almond_Eyed]

I prefer palettes because 1) It's more cost effective and 2) It's easier to organize if you have lots of shadows.

15 potted shadows will cost $262.50 CDN at $17.50 CDN each before taxes.

A 15-pan pro palette and 15 refill shadows will cost $209.50 CDN before taxes. ($14.50 CDN for palette and $13 CDN each for refill pans)

Now consider Back2MAC, you need 6 empty containers to get a lipstick or eyeshadow. You're paying a difference of $4.50 between a potted shadow and a refill. Multiply that by 6 containers, you're paying $27 to get that "free" lipstick or eyeshadow doing Back2Mac (that's if you return 6 eye shadow containers). Buying palettes and refill pans are going to save you money in the long run, especially if you're broke like me =)

I have two 15-pan palettes and one empty 4-pan palette so I can customize a quad for traveling. The palettes are really thin so I find they're very convenient for storing, and I like how I can lay them out so I can come up with new looks and eye shadow combos.

If you're concerned about your shadows cracking while traveling, EnKore has some good tips for carrying palettes in his "Travel Tips" video on YouTube.

Note: Sometimes the MAC store doesn't have a shadow in stock in the refill pan so I'll dish out the extra money to buy the potted shadow and depot it when it get home. I'll collect those empty pots for BTM (the MAC store I go to accepted my depotted cases, I think it depends on the MA.)

HTH

<3

 

[bellydancer]

I prefer palettes, it just saves me a lot of space and I get to look at the colors all at once when deciding what color to use, the only eye shadows I keep in the pot are the ones with the special packaging.

 

[BebeGirl123]

I was contemplating the same issue when I started out, and found that I love palettes better than pots. I also love quads b/c you can see the colors w/o opening it.

 

[malaviKat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Almond_Eyed I prefer palettes because 1) It's more cost effective and 2) It's easier to organize if you have lots of shadows. 15 potted shadows will cost $262.50 CDN at $17.50 CDN each before taxes. A 15-pan pro palette and 15 refill shadows will cost $209.50 CDN before taxes. ($14.50 CDN for palette and $13 CDN each for refill pans) Now consider Back2MAC, you need 6 empty containers to get a lipstick or eyeshadow. You're paying a difference of $4.50 between a potted shadow and a refill. Multiply that by 6 containers, you're paying $27 to get that "free" lipstick or eyeshadow doing Back2Mac (that's if you return 6 eye shadow containers). Buying palettes and refill pans are going to save you money in the long run, especially if you're broke like me =) I have two 15-pan palettes and one empty 4-pan palette so I can customize a quad for traveling. The palettes are really thin so I find they're very convenient for storing, and I like how I can lay them out so I can come up with new looks and eye shadow combos. If you're concerned about your shadows cracking while traveling, EnKore has some good tips for carrying palettes in his "Travel Tips" video on YouTube. Note: Sometimes the MAC store doesn't have a shadow in stock in the refill pan so I'll dish out the extra money to buy the potted shadow and depot it when it get home. I'll collect those empty pots for BTM (the MAC store I go to accepted my depotted cases, I think it depends on the MA.) HTH <3

Every time I'm into a local MAC store (and there are several around here as I'm in Toronto) they remind me that you can also B2M the pro pans (the little silver tin). So you aren't prevented from B2Ming just because you're buying palette inserts...not that I've ever hit the pan on a shadow. LOL

You should, however, have the shade/description sticker on the back so they know that you aren't simply depotting and splitting the plastic pot and the silver pan to make 2 B2M items. (Hope that makes sense).

The only time I buy pots is if I have no other choice... ie. Limited edition items, warehouse sales etc. or if the shadows can't be had in palette form (ie. mineralized shadows). Pots take up too much space, in my opinion, though I can see why some people would love them. They're fun to look at, the LE stuff has unique packaging in many cases, it's easy to see colours in the clear window, if one falls your entire collection doesn't shatter etc. Still, they aren't for me.

I currently have six shadow palettes (more or less all filled) and one blush palette. I keep my palettes labelled on the outside (by colour spectrum) as well as the inside (15 shades listed) so I can easily figure out which palette I need and which colour I'm using.

It's personal preference though. I can't imagine travelling with all of those shadows in pot form. Having said that, I don't see the need to travel with 6 shadow palettes either...so, if I travel, I will likely take one or two palettes and protect them accordingly.

 

[Cinci]

I have all my shadows in my palettes. If I am going out and need to take some with me for touch ups, I pop them out of the palette and put them into a quad. easy as pie.

 

[LMD84]

so now i have been depotting for about 9 months and i have not looked back! palettes are so much easier to work with! for one i'm not hunting about in a make up bag for a certain colour in a pot anymore!

plus quads are fantastic for travel. i usually take a couple of self made quads

 

[Folie]

Getting palettes has reminded me how much I LOVE pots. It's easier for me and less work. With the palettes you have to organize them and make labels. I have yet to make any labels yet, because I still not sure how I want to arrange my one lone full palette.

So, now, I have about 16 shadows that I keep forgetting the names of. I don't want to use them until I have them labeled. At least for me, I hate how palettes look when they have empty spaces. So, now I've been buying them in batches of 15 or more. I never had this problem with pots. The only reason I swatched to palettes, though, is I am running out of room for my pots. So from now on, it's palettes and refills, but I have no intentions of depotting any of my pots.

 

[obscuria]

Economically, it's cheaper to get palette form, even with the added cost of buying the actual palette.
If you were to fill one:

15 eyeshadow X 11 bucks each +12 bucks for the palette= 177 + tax
versus
15 eyeshadows x 14 bucks each: 210+ tax

That alone is good enough reason for me.

I prefer the palettes because I have so many (filled up my 4th palette a week ago) and it is just easier to organize and keep in one place. I say, if you plan on having more than 15 eyeshadows, palette form is a good way to go.

The only con is some eyeshadows you may want may not come in palette form and only pot form, but that is easily solved by depotting, then you can B2M the pots.

 

[MizzTropical]

I like buying pots, unless the palette is already made, I've never bought an empty and filled it myself. I like having all my shadow pots seperate though. I don't mind it. Probaly because I'm a neutral girl and I really don't own 300 diff shades of MACs shadow.

 

[musicalhouses]

I'm a sucker for palettes, and I agree that they do help you to B2M faster, but I tend to use my e/s more when they are in pots than in palettes. Just a preference, I guess..

 

[joygasm]

I honestly don't have that many MAC shadows. I usually use things from my coastal scents palette or MUFE. I have about 2 shadows from MAC. But I have a whole lot of their blushes.

But I would say if you do have a good amount I'd go for the palette. If you're only getting one or two stick with a pot.

Or you can even go for the quad.

 

[newlymaclover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by electra I see. Although it's nice that the pots have the names on the bottom and a window on the top, I can see how it would be kind of hassle (especially if you're in a hurry.) Also I didn't mean anything by the BTM stuff. I didn't want to make it seem like I was trying to be slick. I just like that you can get a lipstick or something when you return the containers. Since I do not have much of a makeup selection (actually it's pretty much non-existent) I thought it was nice I could get something free to add to it. (I understand that the pans cost less.) Unless I misunderstand the whole thing... Thing is all I can manage to get right now are the pots...I could get the palette, but then I'd have no shadows to put in it (yeah I'm that broke, I have to choose between one or the other right now.)

What was meant is that you're better off to buy 6 e/s pans and 1 lipstick and it comes out cheaper than buying 6 e/s pots and depotting for a B2M lipstick.

And as for my opinion, I'm all about the palettes- my makeup storage system is such that if I leave them in pots they will get buried in the bottom of my train case and never used.