The Natasha Denona Gold Palette: A Luxurious Investment or Worth the Hype? This highly anticipated eyeshadow palette boasts fifteen richly pigmented shades in a stunning range of finishes, from creamy mattes to dazzling metallics and sparkling shimmers. Priced at $129 USD, it's a significant investment, prompting the question: does the quality justify the cost? This in-depth review explores the palette's packaging, formula, application, longevity, and overall performance, dissecting each shade and finish to determine if it lives up to the hype surrounding Natasha Denona's renowned artistry.We'll examine the palette's luxurious gold casing, analyzing its practicality alongside the included mirror. We'll delve into the texture and pigmentation of each of the fifteen shades, paying close attention to blendability and fallout. From the stunning duochromes to the intensely pigmented metallics, we'll scrutinize the performance of each finish and assess their lasting power. Ultimately, this review will provide a comprehensive assessment to help you decide whether the Natasha Denona Gold Palette is the right addition to your makeup collection.
Pros And Cons
- Sturdy packaging
- High pigmentation in mattes, easy application
- Metallic formula is smooth, soft, and requires minimal product
- Good lasting power (7-10 hours)
- Shades blend well together
- Cohesive palette
- Packaging is prone to getting dirty and difficult to clean
- Some fallout, especially from glittery shades
- Too many similar brown matte shades
- $129 USD / $168 CAD price point
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Price and Packaging
The Natasha Denona Gold Palette retails for $129 USD or $168 CAD. This is a significant investment for an eyeshadow palette, making the packaging a key consideration. The palette itself is sturdy, but the gold exterior is prone to fingerprints and smudges, and is difficult to clean. The included mirror is partially obscured by a plastic sheet with the shade names, making it less practical. While the separate compartment keeps the mirror cleaner, it's not a practical mirror for application.
The box itself contains additional information on ingredients and shade layout. The website claims the palette is paraben-free, talc-free, and cruelty-free. However, it's important to note that many of the shadows do contain talc, despite this claim.
Shade Breakdown and Swatches
The palette contains fifteen 2.5-gram eyeshadows in a variety of finishes: duochrome (DC), creamy matte (CM), sparkling (K), metallic (M), and a couple of shades with an unclear CP designation (possibly cream-to-powder). The shadows are arranged in three rows, and I'll break down each row individually.
Swatches reveal the rich pigmentation and blendability of the shadows. The finishes are consistent with the descriptions but may appear more subtle or intense depending on application.
Row 1: Lime Chrome, Python, Sparks, Aria, Cava
Lime Chrome (194 DC), a golden apricot with a green duochrome shift, is stunning on its own and layers well with other shadows. Python (195 CP), a deep teal creamy matte, applies smoothly and is highly pigmented, though some fallout may occur. Sparks (196 K), a sheer vanilla gold with a sparkling finish, is best used as a layering shadow or brow bone highlight.
Aria (197 CM), a warm pink beige creamy matte, is a lighter brown option. Cava (198 K), a champagne gold sparkling shade, is more pigmented than Sparks and can be used alone or as a blending shade.
Row 2: Aurora, Dijon, Ooh La La, Log, Varys
Aurora (199 CK), a peacock blue with a sparkling finish, is surprisingly pigmented for a sheer shade. Dijon (200 CM), a rich mustard creamy matte, requires careful application to avoid being overpowering. Ooh La La (201 M), a warm gold metallic, is more versatile than a straight yellow gold due to its orange undertones.
Log (202 CM), a dark brown creamy matte, is incredibly versatile and blends seamlessly. Varys (203 M), a medium brown metallic with a chocolatey bronze tone, is a standout shade that works well all over the lid or as a detail shade.
Row 3: Brass, Sandstone, Alchemist, Teak, Orem
Brass (204 M), a green-gold metallic, is slightly chunkier than other metallics and prone to flaking. Sandstone (205 CM), a cool yellow beige creamy matte, is similar to Teak (207 CM), another medium brown creamy matte, and less frequently used.
Alchemist (206 M), a cool bronze gold with yellow glitter, is unique and reflective. Orem (208 CP), a cool gold metallic, applies smoothly and effortlessly like Varys.
Formula and Performance
The metallic shades are incredibly smooth, soft, and pigmented, requiring minimal product for application. The creamy mattes are also highly pigmented but less powdery than some other brands. The sparkling shades are sheer, and best layered.
The palette's longevity is approximately 7-10 hours, depending on application and activity level. Minimal fallout occurs, mainly with glitter-heavy shades. The shadows wear well without creasing or crumbling.
Overall Impression and Conclusion
The Natasha Denona Gold Palette is a high-quality, luxurious palette with a cohesive shade range and exceptional formulas. While the price point is high, the performance justifies the cost for many. The metallic shades are particularly impressive, applying effortlessly and lasting well.
While some may wish for more variation in the matte shades, the overall quality and blendability are superb. The palette is highly recommended for those seeking professional-quality eyeshadows and who appreciate the unique finishes and blendability of Natasha Denona products.