Hello!
This week I thought it would be helpful to share the eye shadow palettes I wish I would have passed on buying. Some of these are high end brands, and some drugstore. Even if a palette is affordable, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t perform well. I will be telling you the reasons why I don’t like or use them, and some better alternatives to spend your money on.
First up is the Urban Decay Naked Heat palette. I regret this one the most because it was the most expensive. I will say there is nothing wrong with the performance of this palette. The shadows blend well and last all day. I honestly never, ever reach for this palette when doing my makeup. I do not feel I can do a ton of different looks with this, and the shadows are too dark and dramatic for my liking. I also do not like the packaging of this. The palette itself is really bulky, and the shadows are really skinny. I don’t feel I can get my brush in there. This bad boy will cost you $54, too.
What I recommend you get instead is the Tarte Toasted Palette. This is a great alternative warm toned palette. I feel like I can do so much more with this, and I like the tones better. Also, both palettes come with 12 shades, but the Tarte Toasted Palette is $39! I really like how these shadows wear, too!
The next palette I regret is the E.L.F Mad for Matte palette. E.L.F has two palettes called “Mad for Matte”, the one I’m referring to is the Nude Mood one. I honestly bought this palette because beauty YouTuber Kathleen Lights said she really liked the Mad for Matte Summer Breeze palette. I thought maybe this one would be similar. This palette performs horribly. The shadows are so patchy and hard to blend! The pigmentation is pretty poor, too. Even though this palette only costs $10, save your money!
The next palette I would pass on is the NYX Ultimate Shadow palette in the shade Warm Neutrals. I was so excited to get this palette. Unfortunately, it ended up being a huge disappointment. The shadows are so sheer, you really have to build them up to see any color on your lid. I also feel like I can’t do a complete look with this palette. The colors in the palette do not go well together, the shades are too similar, or do no compliment each other. Plus this will cost you $17.99 which is pretty expensive for how poor it is. Hard pass.
Instead, I would highly recommend the ColourPop Dream St. palette. This palette is a little less than the NYX one at $16. You do only get 12 shades, where in the NYX palette you get 16. I would rather have 12 amazing shadows, than 16 worthless shadows. The tones in the Dream St. palette are so versatile, and the metallic shades do not disappoint! It has beautiful warm toned oranges and reds, and even some pops of blue. The shadows are also very easy to blend. You could also go with the Tarte Toasted Palette above.
The last palette I would save your money on is the CoverGirl Roses TruNaked Palette. This palette cost $12.99 for eight shadows! That is so expensive for a drugstore brand! Not to mention the shadows are so powdery. You put your brush in one and feel like you’re going to shatter it. They blend pretty well, but there are better options out there that are more cost effective.
If you are looking for a pretty purple toned palette, the Maybelline City Mini Chill Brunch Neutrals palette is a better option! In this palette, you get six shadows for $6.99! These little palettes have every shade you need to complete a look. This one has a two purple shades, a bone shade, and three shimmer shades. They blend easily, and you don’t get the dusty effect you will with the CoverGirl palette.
I hope this is helpful if you are in the market for a new eye shadow palette. I have a feeling the Urban Decay Naked Heat palette will become very popular again once Fall comes around, but I would save your money! Which eye shadow palette do you regret buying?