Are sampler palettes worth it?

Hello everyone. I would really love the insight from some of you veterans on sampler palettes. I am still fairly new, and I started my kit with Cameleon and Wolfe paints thanks to local on the ground distributors. I am now ready to expand my paint collection but I was curious if it is more fiscally responsible to buy the sampler palette of say Paradise or Kryolan, or to go by what a lot of you have commented as being the most used colors from each brand.

Thanks so much,
Ricky

i bought an empty 12 and 6 count pallet and refilled them with my most used and favorite colors, (paradise brilliants, tag, fab).  I also bought a 12 count pallet of Ben Nye magicakes to see how I'd like them (I do).  I also have a pallet of Ben Nye Lumierres with extras added with magnets. I still have my larger containers for festivals, and the smaller pallets i take to smaller parties, plus I can toss the 12 count pallet in my purse when I'm going to be some place "I might get the opportunity to paint." , lol.

I think they are worth it. The thing is, everyone has their own favorites for many different reasons, and what you love, I might hate. Even brands that are described as similar have differences between them that are small to some and meaningful to others. So i would advise against buying large amounts before you have tried everything.

When I started I bought a $200 "starter kit" of all DFX, which is a great brand, that many love. I regret that choice now, for a variety of reasons. I wish I had more paradise but I am forcing myself to use up what I have first.

You can also purchase smaller sizes of individual colors... Yes the 45g is "cheaper" than the 16g, but if you don't end up using it, you cost yourself less buying the smaller size.

I'm not an expert compared to a lot of the wonderful members, but that is my best advice.

P.S. Get some fab ziva blue, you won't regret it!

I would say yes, because you get to try colors a bit before you jump in with both feet on buying a larger quantity. Plus, you find which ones you use most, and then you buy larger containers of those colors. I have a few of my samplers from when I first started three years ago, because they just don't get used as much. Some of them I have used up and bought new, just to refill the small pot.

They weren't worth it for me, for the simple fact that I started out with snazaroo, and frankly, I wish I had started out with the jumbo in the first place and saved myself $90 on samplers alone, when the jumbo rainbow snazaroo was only $55.


Lesson learned, I went on to paradise, and I regret nothing. In fact, every time I open my kit, I am just sooooooooooo thrilled that I took the plunge and just went for it, because I'm so happy about the amount and variety.


Also, I've found I use up the same colors:black, red, white, teal and pink...no matter if it is a sampler or a kit.....if you have the budget, try the samplers. I think the best sampler palettes are the ones that allow you to choose which colors will be in your pallete.

I have  got two tag ones originally - but it was after I had been painting a bit, this was as I wanted a kit for small party's though, I have an enormous events kit and a small one that fits in a tote-it makes my life easier, but I think it depends what your after.

Love them. I basically buy everything as a sampler palette. Especially palettes where you can pick the colors you'd like to have and if you really love it you can but the big ones. I know there are some colors I have in sampler palettes, that when they run out, they run out and I won't buy more.

But yes, love the samplers so you can choose when colors you want and which you'd like to buy again!

I have to say you guys are amazing! I truly appreciate the input, and varying perspectives on the matter. I have a lot to think about. Thanks again:)

rthling wrote:I would say yes, because you get to try colors a bit before you jump in with both feet on buying a larger quantity. Plus, you find which ones you use most, and then you buy larger containers of those colors. I have a few of my samplers from when I first started three years ago, because they just don't get used as much. Some of them I have used up and bought new, just to refill the small pot.

i just did the refill thing and it works like a charm!!!!

so yeah, now i've got my 2 small samplers and i can refill them with my most used color combos-excellent for painting small parties since i only need a little portion of my kit at a time!

also great for painting outside, as there is no glitter, crumbs, dirt, or leaves falling into your paint case and making cleanup a headache!

I wanted to try Paradise so I bought the 30 sampler and have really liked it for a different reason. I love having a whole bunch of colors right there in such a small size for parties. I've actually been refilling most of the pots with TAG because I use the colors mostly for line work but I like having some paradise for stenciling and for blending and lip color so there are a few I'll always stock. I've just been buying the bigger size and refilling the tiny pots. But as far as trying different BRANDS of paints, I'd buy a white or black and see what you think of the consistency, smell. I wouldn't try metallics to test a brand because metallics are always a different consistency from the regular line.

What a good idea Denise!!! I haven't thought about buying the bigger sizes and just refilling as needed. What a bag of smarties you are!!  

I was great too because I had a bunch of bits of colors sitting around I just smooshed right in. I've really loved having all the paints right there and I've been surprised how long those little pots last. I can do about 4 full events before I have to refill the white and the others were about 6 months or so. Finally just ran out of red.

That's such an awesome idea for keeping everything nice and compact. I ended up only buying the Kryolan sampler but not the Paradise because my local distributor didn't have it. I did, however, buy the larger ones based on references from the Must Haves post, and I am super ecstatic! Love the texture and the application. I know loads of people were talking about the scent but I really enjoy the "tropical coconut" smell. Especially when a very obnoxious mother at my last gig wanted me to hurry and paint her daughters face before she changed her dirty diaper.   I've never held my paint so close to my face that I could possibly eat it, just to relieve myself of that horrid smell. Lol.