Too Faced 2016 Holiday Collection: Grande Hotel Cafe Review

Have you ever wanted to spend Christmas in New York gazing up at the giant Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree while sipping hot cocoa as the snow flutters down around you? Well I have and even though I may not get around to it this year, the adorable Grande Hotel Cafe has already put me in the holiday spirit!

I have come to expect nothing but the most decorative packaging from Too Faced and this year they did not disappoint! This magical set includes three deliciously scented palettes inspired by the season including: Gingerbread Cookie, Peppermint Mocha and Eggnog Latte plus a Better Than Sex Mascara. Now if that isn’t enough to make you want to deck the halls and belt out carols I don’t know what will!

The palettes are cute booklets resembling cafe menus and they come tucked away inside the Grande Hotel - a beautifully decorated box commemorative of New York City's famous Plaza Hotel.

As you open the doors and remove the palettes, you will find a cute cafe with stools, cappuccino machine, Christmas trees, tables and even a chalkboard menu! It seems that Too Faced aimed to completely delight and appeal to our playful side by creating this dollhouse-like makeup box and you can even use it to enhance your bedroom decor for the holidays.

The Peppermint Mocha Palette includes two mattes and four shimmers in stunning garnet, gold, bronze, baby pink and cream. Although some shadows range from light, medium and full-coverage, many start off sheer so I recommend using a good primer to make them pop. The shimmers aren't ultra smooth, saturated or creamy and they do create a bit of fall-out but once layered and intensified the effect is gorgeous! The bubble gum pink blush provides a wintery flush but I tend to use this type of pink very sparingly.

Eggnog Latte smells like one of those comforting hot drinks you’d enjoy on a cold December night. The range of matte, shimmer and glitter is gorgeous and I’m digging the gold, deep green and champagne combo! I don't think another light cream highlight was necessary but it doesn’t take an expert to make these pigments look amazing. Like the other palettes, the color pay-off and consistency varies by shade and some start off quite sheer with the ability to be intensified for a brilliant finish. I suggest patting on the shimmer and glitter and keep layering until you reach the level of saturation you desire. The peachy-pink blush is very light and silky but a deep berry tone would have added more variety and depth.

Gingerbread Cookie consists of darker crease colors, a glamorous gold glitter with metallic finish, silvery-purple, cream, deep beige, classic black and a deep, sultry plum. Instead of blush you get the Gingerbread Bronzer which is too light for contouring my skin tone but functions as a subtle highlight.

All 18 shadows are very festive and quite dazzling so overall I think Too Faced fans will like this set. Although the glitter pigments may be a bit finicky to work with (as most glitter is) each collection is expertly coordinated to inspire beautiful creations and there is enough here for parties, events, day wear and a night out. The Grande Hotel Cafe makes a great gift for any makeup lover and retails for $62.00. Too Faced is available at Sephora and at toofaced.com.