The “nude/naked” eyeshadow trend has been done over and over again, ever since the launch of Urban Decay’s Naked palette which skyrocketed not only Urban Decay into Sephora stardom, as well a slew of  copycat makeup palettes. The Naked 1 became a staple for me,but at $54 it’s a big hit to the wallet. I’ve skipped out on many of the similar palettes over the years, such asMaybelline, LORAC and Smashbox, but after seeing Carli Bybel using L’Oreal’s La Palette Nude 2 I wanted to try theirs (a late night after work drugstore run might have also led to this impulse buy too).  A comparison, review, swatches and drugstore makeup look are below.

L’Oreal released two nude palettes, at $19.99 a piece, I was a bit shocked by the price, as Maybelline’s The Nudes pallete as only $9.99. The L’Oreal La Palette Nude 1 comes with a small brush and sponge; I purchased mine at Walgreens.  The one above is #1 and features warmer tones similar to the Naked palette, the #2 palette is cooler and similar to Urban Decay’s Naked 2. I went for #1 as I use my Naked way more than the Naked 2. Below is a comparison between Urban Decay’s and L’Oreal’s take on the natural shadow look.

Comparison

This palette features 10 shades, whereas the Naked palette features 10. You get three matte shades (1 cool and 2 warm) and only get two in the original Naked palette. The mirror on the L’Oreal palette is much larger than the Naked mirror, but the Naked brush is much nicer than the L’Oreal option. The L’Oreal features two highlighting shades, the Naked has one. But the Naked palette offers more diverse colors including a purple, pink, slate and black, whereas L’Oreal’s features mostly warm toned browns and golds.

 Review

The La Palette Nude 1 is a great affordable option for anyone looking to start out in makeup (high school and college students, I’m looking at you!). I also think this palette is awesome if you don’t want to dig into your more expensive palettes. Even though I’ve owned my Naked palettes for a few years, I hate using them everyday because those suckers are expensive! I think the three matte shadows in this palette really convinced me, as it’s really hard to find good matte eyeshadows at the drugstore. The palette and the 2nd version, features all the colors you could want in a warm or cool toned palette. I personally like that this palette is not complicated with random colors. You could use this for day or evening, so it’s perfect for travelling. I will say the colors are a bit chalky, but I didn’t have fallout and was able to blend. I give it a score or 9/10. I think this will become my new everyday staple, even though I adore my Naked palettes. They wore well with an eyeshadow base for 8-10 hours. P.S. I wish these shadows were named. I think it’s a bit lazy to not name makeup, but maybe that’s the writer in me.

Swatches

From left to right in palette, not named, are numbered from 1-10.

Makeup Look

Products: All drugstore, expect the brows (working on getting some drugstore products for those, but I’ll have drugstore options below)

Foundation: L’Oreal Infalliable Pro-Matte Foundation in Classic Ivory

Concealer: NYX Conceal, Correct and Contour Palette in Light (don’t love this for concealing, I’d use NYX HD Photoready, but I ran out!) and Maybelline Dream Lumi Highlighting Pen in Fair

Contour: NYX Conceal, Correct and Contour Palette in Light, I used the darkest shade #4 for my nose, forehead, chin and cheeks. Set with Maybelline Master Bronzer in 310 Weekend Bronze, this was limited edition, sorry guys! Similar: Rimmel London Natural Bronzer 

Powder: L’Oreal True Match Mineral Powder in Soft Ivory

Brows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown, filled in with Brow Bar To Go Powder (original palette) and set with Maybelline Eyestudio Brow Drama Scupting Brow Mascara in Deep Brown. Other options: NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Brunette and their Eyebrow Cake Powder in Brunette.

Eyes: L’Oreal La Palette Nude 1 used for all shadows.

• Base: NYX Eye Base in Skin Tone
• Crease: Number 5, 6 on the outer crease.
• Lid: Number 4 and number 7 on the outer half of the lid.
• Inner corner: Number 2
• Browbone: Number 1
• Lower lashline: Number 7 with a bit of number 4 in the middle
• Eyeliner: L’Oreal Silkissime Liner in Gold with a bit of L’Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Kohl Liner in Brown on the outer lid.
• Mascara: L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara in Carbon Black and L’Oreal Miss Manga Mascara

Blush: Milani Baked Blush in Rose D’Oro

Highlight: Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights Illuminator in Bare Light with Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips in Miami Glow over top.

Lips: Liner: Jordana Cosmetics Rock ‘n’ Rose.  Lipstick: Maybelline Creamy Matte Lipstick in Daringly Nude. Gloss: NYX Butter Gloss in Fortune Cookie.

Shirt and Necklace: American Eagle and Forever 21 (a few years ago for both) Similar: AEO Soft and Sexy Baby T-Shirt (almost identical) Forever 21 Snake Chain Choker.