I like the BE pressed eyeshadows, but I do find many of the darker colors in the duos to be "too" pigmented and dark, if that sounds possible. Then I can't really use them, except maybe for eyeliner. But this The Promise duo is the exception. The darker color, "Vow," is fantastic! It is the perfect, matte taupe-brown color, and it blends like a dream. I find myself reaching for this duo to use Vow as my crease color when using other favorite lid colors. The golden color that accompanies Vow in this duo is 'okay,' it reminds me a little bit of MAC Ricepaper (if you are familiar with MAC eyeshadows). But since I have gotten older and my lids are not as taut, I am not too crazy about using frosty eyeshadows on my lids, either. Something with a sheen- or on the satiny side- is okay, but anything too frosty and sparkly is a no-no for me. Gives my lids a lizard-skin type of appearance, which is not attractive at all. But if you are looking for a nice, neutral, lid or crease color, this duo just might be for you! I'm glad I purchased this one. :o)

I decided to branch out from my Nars eyeshadow duos and try something a little cheaper. The READY 2.0 eyeshadows caught my eye because there is a very wide range of not only colors, but textures as well. I chose The Promise, which is comprised of a very pale golden color with an incredibly unique cool-toned mauve/taupe/beige color that I've been looking for for many years. The quality is mostly amazing. The unique color is a dream..the texture reminds me a lot of Naked and Buck from the UD Naked palette--buttery smooth, zero fallout and so easy to blend. The pale golden shade is a tad chalky with some minor fallout (as it as a more shimmery shade) but it's not difficult to work with. What is difficult to work with is the packaging. It's a funny shape and I have to use my fingernails to pop the compact open (as my fingers get in the way no matter how I hold it...). And while I would have gladly purchased the darker color on its own and given this 5 lippies for the sheer brilliance of that color alone, I do have to take one lippie off because I wasn't 100% sold on the gold color. But overall I think this is a lovely duo and I've already ordered another READY2.0 duo to go along with it. Definite win for Bare Escentuals on this.