So we all know I’ve never really been a fan of the Maybelline eyeshadow palette. They feel slightly too expensive and slightly too boring. Whenever Maybelline launch a new eyeshadow palette I really hope it will go against the usual grain, but… well… read on.
Today we’ve got the Maybelline Nudes of New York Palette. Here’s what it says on the Maybelline site:
This nude eyeshadow palette is made to flatter a wide range of skintones so that everyone can create their very own Nudes Of New York eyeshadow look.
Price and Packaging
As usual with the Maybelline eyeshadow palettes, this palette comes in at £12.99… which does feel a little pricy for the drugstore. But you do get 12 decent sized pans and 4 super large pans. So you do get a decent amount of product, but not necessarily for the price. The packaging is a sturdy plastic packaging with a clear lid. Which, to be honest, I kinda like… as it means you can see your eyeshadow shades through the lid, and I don’t really use the mirror in my eyeshadow palettes (even though sometimes it’s nice to have one).
Colour Story
It’s been it’s no secret that this is a neutral palette, it’s not pretending to be otherwise. But I do find it fascinating that the theory behind this palette is that there is a look in there for 4 skintones. But then when you match the 4 looks to the colour layout in the palette there seems to be no rhyme nor reason as to why the eyeshadows are in the order they are… But there you go. Here’s the details on the 4 looks:
Choose from ‘Exposed Nude’, ‘Fiery Nude’, ‘Toasted Nude’ and ‘Golden Nude’.
1. EXPOSED NUDE SMOKEY EYE: Bare your inner nude with soft taupes custom designed to flatter every skintone. Complete the look with Dreamer, followed by Soloist, Originator, Voyager and Explorer.
2. FIERY NUDE SMOKEY EYE: Fire up your look with heated nudes from soft berry to rosy copper designed for fearless intensity on every skintone. Complete the look with Fighter, Voyager and Globetrotter.
3. TOASTED NUDE SMOKEY EYE: Embrace your inner nudist. Warm nudes designed to flatter every skin tone. Complete the look with Self Starter, Inspired, Pioneer and Creator.
4. GOLDEN NUDE SMOKEY EYE: Sun Kissed nudes that compliment every skin tone. Never chalky, never ashy, never dull. Complete the look with Pioneer, Inspirer and Self Starter.
However, putting the 4 looks aside, it’s a nice neutral eyeshadow palette. A fair few of the shades blend out to be the same colour, but it does have some really nice shades in there!
Formula
As you can see from the swatches below, the pigmentation is pretty good. The mattes are a little chalky, but do have a lovely colour payoff, and the shimmers are so so pretty! And all the shades really are designed to blend into each other seamlessly. I find some of the darker mattes can be a little patchy and so take quite some time to layer up. However, once you get to a space where you’re happy with your eyeshadow look it does stay put all day, doesn’t crease and doesn’t end up half way down your cheeks by the end of the day!
Overall Impressions
As I think you can tell from this review… I still feel very meh about Maybelline eyeshadow palettes. Like they’re a nice eyeshadow palette and there’s nothing fundamentally wrong with it, but for £5 or so more you can get a Zoeva or Morphe palette where the formula is SO much nicer, or Makeup Revolution, where you get a similar (if not better) formula but for less money.
Plus, the colour story in all their palettes is just a little….. boring still. Now I’m not saying that every palette has to be bright colours, or have a random pop of green or whatever, but there is just something about this….
Have you tried this palette? If so, what did you think?
Katie x