Like vodka shots and Vegas weddings, lip palettes are great in theory, but not always in practice. All too often, only days or hours after your purchase, you're experiencing signs of regret--either the colors don't blend as seamlessly as you'd hoped, or there's only one standout shade. The result? You use your favorite hue until it's empty and toss the rest of the compact in the trash. If this sounds familiar, I can sympathize, but that doesn't mean you should swear off palettes completely. As I recently found, Trish McEvoy's Maxed Out Pretty Lips delivers lots of versatility and wearablilty without the usual waste.

In the brand's typical fashion, the compact is supersleek, skinny, and handbag-friendly, and the formulas are rich and creamy--pigmented enough to make an impact but sheer enough so that you can blend them with ease. The palette contains six lip colors, ranging from pale pink to deep wine, along with two glosses, a coral shimmer and sheer mocha, so it's perfect for transitioning your look from summer to fall or day to from night. Best of all, and contrary what its name might suggest, Maxed Out won't blow your budget--the compact is available for $21 through Nordstrom's Beauty Exclusives sale (nordstrom.com). --Jennifer Riley

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