Make Up For Ever Let's Gold Eyeshadow Palette Review & swatches
Let's Gold
Make Up For Ever Let’s Gold 18-Pan Eyeshadow Palette ($45.00 for 0.54 oz.) is a subtle, neutral palette with a mix of shimmers and mattes across browns, greens, and coppers. If you’re familiar with the Artist Color formula, forget about it because this palette is nothing like those and isn’t advertised similarly at all — if you go in expecting the pigmentation and quality associated with Make Up For Ever eyeshadows over the last decade, you’ll be disappointed. The formula in a the palette is supposed to have “buildable payoff and blendability” that can create “natural to high-impact” looks.
For me, a lot of the shades ran together in practice as several didn’t build up, and the shimmers often lost a lot of sheen/shimmer applied that they were was less and less chance at achieving depth. There’s no “high-impact” out of this palette; I tried five looks, and they were terrible; the one posted was the best I could get after spending 45 minutes to try and build up and achieve depth for ONE eye (I normally spend 10-15 minutes per eye) and using the “better” shades in the palette.
The majority of the shades were more medium to semi-opaque with denser, stiffer textures that were more sensitive to oil build-up as half of my shades hardened after two uses and had to be scraped off to use again. The mattes tended to be more pigmented and a little softer, while some of the shimmers were firmer, thin, and hard to build up or blend out with brushes and only usable with fingertips. I wouldn’t call the formula buildable myself as it was more all over the place with some shades that were true-to-pan in color, some that looked way lighter, some that were easy to use, and others that were not worth using again. Some of the eyeshadows would clump up or bunch up on my lid, which resulted in patchy application, fallout, and a lack of buildable coverage. The wear was between six and seven hours for most shades.
Look Using this Product
Let's Gold
LELimited Edition. $45.00.
Pure
Pure is a soft, yellowy beige with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had nearly opaque color coverage in a single layer, but it was more powdery, so it sheered out as soon as I applied it. The consistency was soft and silky to the touch, but again, that powderiness made it prone to fallout and hard to keep opaque (or build it back up). It stayed on nicely for five hours on me before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- NABLA Cosmetics Rarity (PiP, $8.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Buxom Mix & Mingle (P, $12.00) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Just Flow (PiP, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- Too Faced Good Girl (LE, $16.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Paper Tiger (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Noir Fume #1 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Too Faced Vanilla Wafers (LE, $16.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Tarte Mixed Media (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- NYX Lap Dance (P, $4.50) is warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Mink Mirage #1 (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Pure
LELimited Edition.
Mine
Mine is a medium-dark brown with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that was buildable to full coverage, but it always looked patchy as parts of the powder darkened more than others on my skin. This shade developed a hard crust over the top of the pan within two uses that had to be rubbed off with a rough, paper towel. The color was difficult to apply evenly and to blend out evenly along the edges. It lasted for six and a half hours on me before I noticed fading.
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Golden Wheat (PiP, $5.25) is warmer (90% similar).
- Too Faced Tutti Cutie (PiP, $16.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Teddy Bare (PiP, $4.50) is darker (90% similar).
- LORAC Earth (LE, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Ground Brown (P, $17.00) is more muted (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Cocoa Mirage #4 (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Guerlain Tonka Imperiale #5 (DC, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Adele (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- LORAC Java (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Moody (Nude Mood) (PiP, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Look Using this Product
Mine
LELimited Edition.
Digger
Digger is a light-medium olive green with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had opaque pigmentation–not buildable coverage–that applied fairly well with just a smidgen of fallout when initially applied. The texture was smooth, firm without being stiff, and easy enough to use. It wore well for seven hours on me before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- Fenty Beauty Phatigue (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Glaminatrix Down to Earth (PiP, $7.30) is lighter (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M322 Khaki (DC, $21.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Agua Ardiente (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Sephora Omen (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Lodge (283CP) (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Lay Out (LE, $4.50) is lighter (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Walkin' Stick (LE, $5.25) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Oblivion (PiP, $4.50) is darker (85% similar).
- MAC Mo' Money Mo' Problems (P, $17.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
Look Using this Product
Digger
LELimited Edition.
Soil
Soil is a muted, light-medium orange with warm undertones and a matte finish. The texture was soft, silky, and smooth, but it was on the more powdery side. It was fairly pigmented, but in practice, it ended up sheering out almost as soon as I applied it, so the real coverage was more semi-sheer and only a little buildable. It stayed on decently for five and a half hours before I noticed fading.
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Peach Crush (P, $5.25) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Dreamer (LE, $4.50) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Fake Tan (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Original (PiP, $4.50) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Copy Cat (LE, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Compose (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Guava (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Honey (PiP, $8.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Glaminatrix Uluru (P, $7.30) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Viseart Cantaloupe (Warm Mattes #6) (P, ) is warmer (90% similar).
Look Using this Product
Soil
LELimited Edition.
Wealthy
Wealthy is a muted, medium-dark copper with warm undertones and a matte finish. The eyeshadow had opaque pigmentation in a single layer (not buildable!) with a smooth, velvety texture that felt firmer in the pan but wasn’t stiff to work with. It might have been the best of a very disappointing experience but still a far cry from what I’ve experienced from Make Up For Ever in the past. It lasted for six hours on me before there was visible fading.
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Courtroom Realness (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Strength (LE, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Smolder (PiP, $4.50) is cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Velour (LE, $4.50) is warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Gold Rush (PiP, $4.50) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Amber (LE, $4.50) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Sephora Woodland (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Summer Heat (P, $5.25) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Arouse (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Goal Getter (PiP, $4.50) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
Wealthy
LELimited Edition.
Lavish
Lavish is a muted, medium plum with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation with a smooth, velvety texture that was thinner and appeared dry applied to my lid (emphasized my lid texture a bit), it blended out without much effort. It wore well for five and a half hours before fading noticeably on my skin.
Top Dupes
- NARS Dirty Deeds (LE, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Mink Dusk (LE, $25.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Stardom (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Treasure All (DC, $5.25) is lighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Hacked (PiP, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Buzzin (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Anastasia Dusty Rose (P, $12.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop T-Cup (LE, $4.50) is darker (90% similar).
- Chanel Warm Memories #1 (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Viseart Fusion (PiP, ) is cooler (90% similar).
Lavish
LELimited Edition.
Hotshot
Hotshot is a soft gold with warm, yellow undertones and a frosted finish. It had semi-opaque color payoff that adhered decently but had a bit of fallout. When I tried to build up the coverage, the product lifted and clumped together and created a patchy result. The consistency was denser, more firmly-pressed in the pan, but it was blendable along the edges without too much work. It wore nicely for six hours on me before fading a bit.
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Chalet Lust #2 (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- NARS Let It Whip (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Dior Grand Bal #4 (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty De La Creme #1 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Ciate Halo (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Peekaboo (LE, $6.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Joie (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Viseart Flirt (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Viseart Alexandre Trois (P, ) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Guerlain Ors et Merveilles #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Hotshot
LELimited Edition.
Famed
Famed is a medium gold with strong, warm orange undertones. It had semi-sheer coverage that did not build up well, as the more I tried to apply, the clumpier and patchier the application appeared. The texture was drier, firm, and thin, which showed on my lid. It lasted for five hours on me before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- KKW Beauty Saint (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Bad Habit Pearl (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Smashbox Revenge Bod (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia Glistening (PiP, $12.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Dior Earthy Canvas #1 (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia Hollywood (LE, $12.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Zero Clue (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Blunt (DC, $19.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Dior Devilish #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild My Glamour Squad #5 (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
Famed
LELimited Edition.
Bullion
Bullion is a light green with strong,w arm undertones and a satin sheen. It appeared a few shades lighter than the pan color, was sheer, did not build up, and was hard to apply evenly to the lid as it didn’t adhere well without primer. The texture was smooth to the touch but firmer and thinner with so-so blendability. The eyeshadow had faded noticeably by the sixth hour of wear from what I could tell as it got lost on my skin tone more so than other shades.
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Dothraki (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, brighter (90% similar).
- Burberry Gold Shimmer #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- NARS Bayadere #3 (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Smashbox Goldenrod (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Rose Blend #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Anastasia Gold Bar (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Chanel L'Intemporel de Chanel #1 (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Guerlain Coque d'Or #2 (DC, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia Legend (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Captivating #1 (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Look Using this Product
Bullion
LELimited Edition.
Trophy
Trophy is a medium-dark gold with strong, warm orange undertones and a frosted finish. It had sheer coverage, which did not build up, and it applied poorly with a patchy application and did not blend out well. The texture was dry, thin, and stiff to work with. It lasted for four hours at best.
Top Dupes
- Too Faced Peaches and Dreams (PiP, $16.00) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- bareMinerals Tres Chic (PiP, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Glam Gold (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Dior Eden-Roc #1 (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Anastasia Surface of the Sun (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop El Rey (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Jones (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Leopard Sun #2 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, more pigmented, warmer (85% similar).
- KVD Beauty Galore #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Clarins Brown Sugar #1 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
Look Using this Product
Trophy
LELimited Edition.
Smelted
Smelted is a medium-dark orange with warm undertones and a satin finish. It had semi-opaque color payoff that did not not build up well, as it bunched up together and looked patchier when I used a second layer. The consistency was drier, thin, and harder to pick up evenly with a brush, and it absorbed oil very readily, which resulted in hard pan within two uses. This shade stayed on well for six hours on me before fading a bit.
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Coral Reef (P, $6.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Too Faced Sunset Dream (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Get Closer (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Paradox (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Independent (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop The Aries (P, $4.50) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Salt Water (P, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Too Faced Macaron (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Cle de Peau Golden Age #3 (LE, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever I722 Mandarin (DC, $17.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Smelted
LELimited Edition.
Jewelry
Jewelry is a pale pink with warm undertones and a satin finish. It had sheer coverage and did not build up. Worth noting, it appeared much, much lighter applied than it did in the pan. The texture was drier, thin, and did not apply evenly on my skin. The only reason it didn’t look as bad as all that sounded was that it was close enough to my skin tone that it was hard to see all those issues. From what I could tell, it lasted for five hours at best.
Top Dupes
- Lisa Eldridge Supernova (P, $16.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Kaleidos Cold Brew (Radiate) (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Wayne Goss Pearl Moonstone #1 (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- theBalm #14 (P, $6.50) is cooler (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty White Suede #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Jest (P, $17.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Chanel Les Indispensables #4 (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Grain (P, $17.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Throttle (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- LORAC Champagne (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Jewelry
LELimited Edition.
Precious
Precious is a light gold with warm, yellow undertones and a satin finish. It had medium color coverage in a single layer, which built up to semi-opaque coverage; if I tried a third layer, it started to clump up on itself and lift the product off of my lid. The texture felt smooth to the touch but was thinner overall, and it was prone to hardening after two to three uses. It stayed on well for five and a half hours before fading on me.
Top Dupes
- Anastasia Legend (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Golden Mink #1 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Pretty Vulgar Free (PiP, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Super Hard Core (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Hidden Treasure (P, $6.25) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Viseart Starlight (GPV2 #2) (P, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Kiss of Klimt (P, $20.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Glisten (DC, $6.99) is more shimmery (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Demure (P, $6.25) is more shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop Mighty Morphin' (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
Look Using this Product
Precious
LELimited Edition.
Fortune
Fortune is a soft brown with warm undertones and a satin sheen. It had semi-opaque color payoff in one layer, which was buildable to full coverage with a second layer. This shade hardened after two uses, so I had to scrape off the top layer using a paper towel in order to keep using it. I had to do this every 2-4 uses, depending on how much of it I used. I have normal-to-dry lids, and I do not use a primer, but this is unusual behavior of powder eyeshadows in my experience. The color applied evenly and blended out without much effort. It lasted well for six and a half hours on me before I noticed fading.
Top Dupes
- Anastasia Sherbert (LE, $12.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Flock Party #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Inglot J313 Honey (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Milani Bella Cappuccino (03) (P, $4.49) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop Triton (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Becca Toasted Marshmallow (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Can't Escape Me (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty White Suede (Nordstrom) #3 (LE, ) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Dormouse (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Natasha Denona Skin (75S) (PiP, $29.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
Look Using this Product
Fortune
LELimited Edition.
Treasure
Treasure is a medium-dark green with warm, olive undertones and a frosted finish. The color payoff was opaque in a single layer, though it appeared lighter and had less depth than it did in the pan. The texture was drier, thin, and stiffer in the pan, so I had to jab my brush at the surface to get an even amount of product onto the brush for application. It wore well for six hours on me before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- Bad Habit Laurel (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Dark Sepia (47P) (PiP, $29.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Isamaya Motor (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Chanel Lumiere et Opulence #1 (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Chanel Cuir Brun (928) (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Anastasia Bronx (LE, $12.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Tarte DIY (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Dream Glow (Smoke) (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Smoked Opaline (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Smashbox Hundo (PiP, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Look Using this Product
Treasure
LELimited Edition.
Glorious
Glorious is a medium-dark, reddish-brown withw arm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had nearly opaque color payoff that adhered somewhat evenly to bare skin, but I had to be careful to only blend the edges or else the color seemed to sheer out. The texture was soft enough to pick up well with a brush and did not have fallout. It stayed on well for seven hours before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- Wet 'n' Wild My Glamour Squad #9 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Money Trees (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Cocoa Mirage #3 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Intergalactic (DC, $6.99) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Sangria (LE, $9.99) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Iris Bronze #3 (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Chanel Les Indispensables #9 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Buxom Precious Metal (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics On the Road (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Ciate Happy (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
Glorious
LELimited Edition.
Igneous
Igneous is a medium orange with warm, golden-orange pearl. It was more satin than metallic, and it almost read semi-matte depending on how terribly the application went. The texture was very thin, smooth to the touch, but difficult to pick up with a brush and had a tendency to harden after two uses. The eyeshadow had semi-sheer color payoff that built up to medium coverage, but if I tried to do more than two, thin layers, it bunched up and became patchy. It lasted for five and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Play (LE, $6.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Dior Shimmer Copper (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Trouble (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Ludwin (PiP, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Too Faced Sunset Dream (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Dune (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Romeo (Deep) (PiP, $6.25) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Sephora Cherry Blossom (364) (P, $9.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- LORAC Apricot (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Nude (P, $28.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
Igneous
LELimited Edition.
Molten
Molten is a soft coral with warm, orange undertones and pink shimmer. It had semi-opaque color coverage that applied unevenly and was difficult to build up with half of it disappearing and the rest clumping together in a delightful, texture-emphasizing mess. The texture was drier, thin but didn’t actually suggest it was going to be such an abomination on my skin from how it felt alone. This shade wore well for five hours before fading noticeably on me.
Top Dupes
- Sephora Satin (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Dior Coral Canvas #1 (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Viseart Sangria (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Freelove (DC, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar).
- NARS Supernova (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Dior Night Bird #3 (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Strive (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Sephora Hippie Girl (223) (P, $9.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever D750 Frosted Peach (P, $17.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Mamacita (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
The packaging just looks so cheap. Really a bummer MUFE isn’t maintaining quality either.
That’s what I thought too, the first time I saw an image of it. It doesn’t look like something from MUFE, it has a very drugstore look to it. Like I’d expect to see this for $15-20 at Target around the holiday time, maybe with a NYE-themed name.
I totally agree about the packaging.
Oh my but this is BAD. I saw the palette on Sephora’s website last week and wasn’t crazy for the colours…again, too much orange-y warm – but a few of the shades looked nice (Treasure, for example, and Precious, Bullion and a few others) but this is SO BAD that I’ll use my dupes of the shades I like and save myself a packet and a lot of frustration
Absolutely appalling and atrocious lack of quality for a brand that was so well known for their high quality eyeshadow formula. Another major brand in need of a swift kick in the buttocks. ??
oh my!!! Christine is giving out F’s? This palette must really suck!!
Just throw the whole palette away … ???♀️ Ugh …. this is more than disappointing for MUFE … I wasn’t interested in this palette either way
Wow, what a spectacular fail! Too bad.
It must be so incredibly frustrating to do reviews such as this!
Yeah, I definitely want to just write an overview and skip the shade-by-shade portion of the program when it comes to some of these – especially with 18 shades! 😉
Christine, Thank you for saving me the money I would have spent for the palette. It’s definitely disappointing from a brand that is known to produce very good eyeshadows. You’ve just proven once again that it pays to wait for your reviews.
So true, I have this thought every time something comes out that I was interested in, but the reviews are awful. I think I’ve saved myself a lot of disappointment by reading Christine’s reviews.
“Olives in Mud” … too funny!!
What’s going on with all of these bad palettes lately? I am surprised MUFE would release such garbage.
Yeah, when even your best efforts to try to get something out of an F rated palette have you naming it “Olives In Mud”! ???
From arguably the top of the heap to the bottom of the barrel in a few short years. This is hardly radiant; it’s shameful.
Such a sad sad story.
OMG – I am shocked that MUFE put out such a shoddy effort! Where has their integrity gone? I’d much rather have a few stellar eyeshadow singles from SG, at a much cheaper price and far better quality than this rubbish. What a lot of time you wasted on this palette Christine.
Another palette to hit the most disappointing list for the end of the year.
Wow that is……..a harsh rating. Good to know.
Wow. It is truly impressive that a company could release a palette in 2019 that messes up both mattes and shimmers.
I misread the title and thought this was from Makeup Revolution and was surprised they put out such a crummy product. Imagine my amazement that this was MUFE instead.
Wow, an F for MUFE shadows. Sad, very sad, they’ve sold out. Thanks for the review, I was kind of drawn to this palette, but crossing off my wishlist
Gosh I should have waited for this review, Christine :/ i bought it too fast! hope sephora will let me return it 😛
Ouch!
Not all that many years ago I remember you reviewing MUFE single eye shadows, the ones they redid though they shouldn’t have. Then MUFE was doing great products, and now this!?!?!
I feel sorry for those who doesn’t come here to read reviews, those who doesn’t even google the product they are eyeing and come home with a palette like this one.
It might be hard to do in depth reviews on products like this, but this is when it’s needed the most.
Thank you for doing your job so well, Christine, and for saving us our hare earned money, and finally for always being honest.
Thank you for this review. So bad quality, good to know it!
Yikes! What is going on MUFE!? It seems like they’re trying to hard to keep up with the Joneses that they’re completely missing the mark.
What a surprising disappointment! My classic, old-formula MUFE eyeshadow singles are some of the best eyeshadows I own, and the “nudes you need” palette is also one of the best and well-loved I own. I will never understand why companies feel the need to fix what isn’t broken – especially if the original product is fantastic. MUFE had such a reputation (at least for me) of consistent quality and innovative colors, which has all but disappeared in the last few years. Christine – any insight into why they changed the eyeshadow formula?
Agreed! I still really enjoy my “Nudes You Need” palette for the shimmers, and sometimes pull out my Artist Vol 3 Floral palette for the bright shades. I second this question for Christine — did the brand give any explanation for why they changed the Artist color formula?
Yikes! Seems like brands are really just pushing products instead of putting thought into them this year. I know that they’ve been doing this for a long time, but seems like there is no thought about quality as there have been multiple F’s recently.
Makeup Forever is one of the few brands that I’ll readily justify the price for. But the more I think about it… the current eyeshadow… isn’t that good… and the current foundations.., aren’t that good… and their brushes, albeit inconsistent… aren’t that good. I think they’re surviving off their name.
Well that’s sad. I love the MUFE shadows that I own – I hope they don’t keep going in this direction!
I had a weird feeling this would suck, just from the picture of the palette. I’m really sad to see MUFE go this far downhill. Before the formula change, they were my #1 favorite for eyeshadows. 🙁
I want to thank you for still doing what you do. A lot of blogs I read when I picked up yours are defunct now, but this is tiny drop in the bucket of reasons why I still lurk here, still hold off pulling the trigger on things I suspect you’ll get a hold of, and prefer you to YouTube et al.
Thank you.
It’s so funny [sad] that I just bought some Sydney Grace, and used this site extensively for my dithering before pulling the trigger, while at the same time revisiting the MUFE older trios that I have and lamenting how their policy of “if it ain’t broke, break it,” has left some many of us flocking elsewhere.
My pleasure! 🙂 It is, unfortunately, getting harder and harder for a lot of bloggers to make enough money for it to be sustainable as a part-time or full-time job.
I hope you really enjoy the Sydney Grace eyeshadows!
I 100% agree with the “F”. I purchased this before reading any reviews and returned it within a few days. The shades look pretty enough, but the formula is not what you’d expect from MUF. Every shade, including the shimmers, are powdery and look dull. They apply patchy and don’t blend for anything, and the colors don’t look the same on the eye as they do in the palette. So disappointed in MUF and I’m not sure how this low quality palette made it onto store shelves.
I remember when MUFE eye shadows were among the best. And I purchased a whole bunch of their discontinued discounted singles of the old formula and am very happy I did. This palette struck me as strange from the get-go. For one thing, in the year when Natasha Denona did a highly successful Gold palette to call this odd assortment of semi-repetitive colors “gold” was an odd choice. I was looking at this palette at Sephora a few days back and puzzled to see yet another warm neutral palette, all in the mid tones. It was like taking a color range that has already been done to death– and making it worse on both a color level and on a formula level. At the same Sephora, Surratt is no longer on the shelves, which was a disappointment. Not a perfect brand but very innovative with a lot of interesting products. I’ve built my Surratt collection at Rouge sales over the years. I think it must be hard for brands to keep up the quality and stay in business. Thank you, Christine for going to all of the trouble.
I have bought quite a few Makeup Forever eyeshadow palettes, and never liked any of them near as much as I enjoy the single shadows before they reformulated them. Most of the shadows in the palettes have gotten hard pan and just applied horribly. The singles I have, I absolutely adore. This is just a boring and pitiful release.
Do you think you could of just got a bad palette or have others given bad reviews also? I know I have read many reviews for palettes and some were good and some were bad because of a defect in a certain batch of palettes. Maybe you should contact MUA about it. It is a shame because for $45, you should get a great quality palette. Thanks so much for the wonderful, time consuming reviews you give. So VERY appreciated!
If there’s a known defect, the brand should acknowledge the issue and proactively get in touch with customers. If they have not, I wouldn’t assume there’s an issue of a “bad batch” (which I think is more myth than anything else based on talking to brands and those involved in manufacturing over the years!). I ordered when it launched, not years later when ingredient availability or how or where it is manufactured may have had to change, and it’s most likely that they ordered a large quantity and produced it in the same time frame in order to have enough supply for the launch. It’s more likely that people have different expectations, want different things out of their products, etc.
For example, I don’t use primer and I judge products based on the claims they make, so someone who wears primer and never tries it without may not experience what I experienced. In some products, this might take a disappointing experience to a decent one!
I don’t understand how MUFE could do this to customers, it makes me not trust the brand any more. I have I think 9 of their old formula – singles, and they remain spectacular. They’ve really become lost. A shame. And shameful to put out this palette!
This is so weird cuz Tati loves this palette. I saw her review on it and went to check out your review. And turns out Christine isn’t liking it. Sad, cause I trust both of your reviews. The colors are so everyday wearable with a pop of change like the khakis and muted purple. But the swatches really aren’t that great, 喔feel like this is a palette for a light wash of color. maybe for workplaces that don’t allow bright colors, or when u are in a rush and don’t have time to slowly apply eyeshadow.
I didn’t care for the color scheme, but I almost balked when I saw the rating! Wow! CAn’t imagine such a rating for MUFE, but then like MAC they seem to be going in a very different direction these past five or so years.