Lorac Pro 2 Review

This legacy post has been given a facelift! Content was edited for clarity and ease-of-reading with 2018 updates marked in-line.

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On Sunday, June 15 (2014), the Lorac PRO 2 came available for sale. Because I own (and dearly love) the Lorac Pro, I had to get a look as soon as I could. I placed an order and anxiously awaited their arrival. Because Ulta and UPS must have shipping wizards in their ranks, I received it on Wednesday. I was so excited to check out these shades and anxious to confirm that they are the same awesome formula as the Lorac Pro. You’re anxious too, so let’s tear ‘er open!

Packaging

The outer retail packaging is very similar to that of the Lorac Pro Palette (Original). Like the original, it comes with a small tube of their Behind the Scenes Primer, which you can see in the window on the right.

I flipped it over!

And because this is an unboxing…we’ll unbox it. Pretty red interior – the attention they pay to the little things is nice. (2018 Note: Speaking of paying attention, please don’t to how grown-out this gel mani is. Sheesh.)

Lorac Pro 2 out of the box. Here’s the back! Like the original, it has a nifty QR code that will take you to some tutorials and look ideas. Have I ever told you how much I love when technology and beauty come together?

And here is the front. I really enjoy the fact that they kept the same look to the packaging – same material, just in a grey color instead of black. The surface material does mean it is going to hold onto stuff, so you’ll need to wipe it down – but here’s hoping to not having to do it as often as you would for the black Lorac Pro Palette.

Here’s a comparison shot between the original and the new Lorac Pro 2. My Lorac Pro is a little disheveled, but I have had it for a year (literally a year!). and it is well-loved.

So now, because I’m like that…

Wait for it… Wait for it…

 

Okay, fine.

Are you sitting down, though? Hope so. Deep breath:

Inside the Lorac PRO 2

Sit there for a moment and bask in how beautiful this palette is. The fact that it is pristine, untouched. These. Damn. Shadows. Even though I knew I could count on the quality of these shadows, I wasn’t sure if I could count on the colors to be flattering (for me). I was wrong – I need dis, you need dis, etc.

Anyway, onto swatches of the this gorgeous thing. All swatches were done with the Behind The Scenes Primer that comes with the Lorac Pro 2.

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Swatches

Lorac Pro 2 Swatches, from left – Buff, Lt. Brown, Cool Gray, Nectar

Really quick – the matte shadows in this palette are not all 100% matte. Some of them do have a bit of a sheen or tiny tiny shimmer to them – they kept it subtle though, you need not worry about appearing Ke$ha-esque with them, but I thought it was worth noting.

Buff is your, “nude,” shade that I would personally use as an all-over shadow base to facilitate blending, for a basic neutral daytime eye, or as a transition shade between a crease color and a brow-bone. Everyone will get use out of this, regardless of their actual skin tone; though it would definitely be a highlight on deeper skin tones. (2018 Note: This is still definitely a base, but is a little paler than I usually love these days.)

Lt. Brown is a mid-tone brown that I personally would find nice for crease work. (2018 Note: Still agree!)

Cool Gray almost has a plummy cast in the pan, but was pretty solid grey shade. It is going to be awesome for smokey eyes. (2018 Note: I still agree with this use but I’ve gotta say I underrated the hell out of this color; it is a really neat crease color that does not make you look dead or exhausted.)

Nectar kills me. I’m not usually into pink shadow, but this peachy pink is so pretty – a nice way to change up a neutral eye with subtle color. It is so feminine! (2018 Note: People are still somewhat afraid of pink tones on the eyes for some reason. This one is definitely neutral enough to not make you look sick.)

Lorac Pro 2 Swatches from Left – Snow, Beige, Rosé, Mocha

Snow is a shimmery white. This is going to make an awesome inner-corner highlight and if you’re brave enough to slap it all over your lid, it will be shimmery and awesome there. I could see using this in some holiday looks quite.a.lot. (2018 Note: I used this in precisely zero holiday looks. Frankly, I avoid this color. White eyeshadow, regardless of how prettily it swatches, just doesn’t suit me.)

Beige reminds me of a cross between the original Lorac Pro Palette’s Nude and Champagne shimmer shades. This will look nice on the lid, as a brow highlight, or if you are of a darker complexion, this could be your inner-corner highlight, too. (2018 Note: I dig it.)

Rosé – stop. Take all my money. Okay, not really – but I am really happy with this shade I think Rosé is this palette’s Lt. Bronze (my absolute favorite from the first Lorac Pro Palette). (2018 Note: I use this a lot. Still. I’m amazed I haven’t hit pan!)

Mocha seems to just be a darker shade of Rosé – not exactly what I picture when I envision, “Mocha,” but still very pretty nonetheless. (2018 Note: Use the heck out of this, too, frequently in conjunction with the previous – but alone, too.)

Lorac Pro 2 Swatches – Plum, Navy, Charcoal, Black

These shades can be packed on as dark as you wish, or blended out  b e a u t i f u l l y, just like their dark counterparts in their predecessor.

Plum is pretty straightforward. A nice plum shade, will be nice for smokey eyes, crease work, etc. You can figure out how to use it – I’m a newb with purples, yet. I swatched it lightly here, but you can definitely build it up and make it deeper if you like. (2018 Note: I didn’t end up using this one a ton. I’d occasionally pair it with mocha, but my skin tone doesn’t play with it as nicely.)

Navy is also pretty straightforward. You can see that it is not a true matte, though – the camera’s flash picked up some of the subtle flecks of shimmer. Not a dealbreaker by any stretch of the imagination – I would wear the heck out of this as a liner (their formula is nice for lining with shadow, and works well when moistened if you’re into that.) (2018 Note: While I love this in theory, I never could make it work for me in practice.)

Charcoal will also be a nice lining shade, will see a lot of use in smokey eyes. I would definitely line with this. (2018 Note: I really like this for a less-harsh shadow-as-liner.)

Black – I was almost disappointed to see Black back in this palette until it occurred to me that this, like its predecessor, is just going to be one of those perfect palettes to start with. Have no eyeshadow whatsoever? Here’s literally everything you need to create dozens of looks. I use it to line ALL the time. (2018 Note: Still on the shadow-as-liner train!)

Lorac Pro 2 Swatches from Left – Chrome, Silver, Jade, Cocoa

2018 Note: These last four shades are awesome in theory but challenging in practice.

Chrome reminds me a lot of Pewter from the first Lorac Pro Palette, and it was easily my second favorite there. This is definitely different, but it is still an awesome, warm shimmery grey-brown. (2018 Note: This is the friendliest of these four. I can actually wear this one!)

Silver surprised me. This shade looks quite nice both in-pan and swatched – in terms of a flattering look on me it might not be the best, but makeup isn’t always done to flatter your own features – sometimes it is just fun for you. I see this being used like crazy for party looks and holiday stuff. (2018 Note: This silver is really pretty but I’ve only ever been able to use it in looks I wouldn’t really describe as, “wearable;” ones that were more about art than beauty.)

Jade is the shadow I thought would disappoint me in this palette. Looking at it, if I had to pick a color I felt, “meh,” about before swatching, I would have picked Jade. Instead, I had no reason to expect disappointment from this deep green with a bronze/gold shimmer. I can’t think of the best way to use this yet, but I’m only starting to think outside the box with shades outside of my, “safe zone.” (2018 Note: Although I was initially impressed, I could not make this work for me in a way that did not end up looking like a metallic bruise. Really interesting swatched; perhaps a better artist than I could do it justice.)

Cocoa, finally, is the deep, rich, shimmery awesome brown. It is darker than Urban Decay’s Darkhorse (Naked), and the shimmer is far more noticeable. (2018 Note: I use this most often as shadow-as-liner, but it isn’t awesome for that due to the shimmer. I think the color is nice, but when you blend it out you end up missing out on some of the excellent, dimensional shimmer. Since I don’t tend to wear very dark eye looks, I tend to miss out on that!)

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The Bottom Line

The shadows in the Lorac Pro Palette 2 comparable in quality to the first. I really don’t think you can go wrong with this one (whereas, say, a Naked 3 might have limited use depending on your complexion, eyes, etc). Like its predecessor it is a robust standalone palette which makes it excellent for those just starting off with shadow (or prestige shadow), but is definitely going to hold its own in a collector’s stash.

Did you pick up Lorac Pro 2? Were you considering it before? Have I maybe changed your mind? Leave a comment below!