Makeup Geek In the Nude Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
In the Nude
Makeup Geek In the Nude Eyeshadow Palette ($50.00 for 0.58 oz.) includes nine eyeshadows with four new, palette-exclusive shades (So Pale, Buffed, Creased, Dark Roast) and five shades from the permanent range (two–In the Spotlight and Grandstand–are Foiled Eyeshadows). It’s a warm, neutral eyeshadow palette that is good quality: pigmented, blendable, and wore between seven and eight hours. I didn’t have any major issues applying or using the eyeshadows in practice, and I suspect it would be a workhorse palette for some (that don’t already have neutral eyeshadows coming out of their ears).
Makeup Geek Eyeshadows retail for $6.00, while the Foiled Eyeshadows retail for $10.00, which makes the palette a value of $62 ($42 worth of regular eyeshadows, $20 worth of Foiled eyeshadows).
Ingredients
May Contain: Mica, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Boron Nitride, Carmine CI 75470, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Polyethylene (&) PTFE, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Zinc Stearate, Lauroyl Lysine, Nylon-12, Triethylhexanoin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide (CI 77861), Kaolin, FD&C Red No. 40 Aluminum Lake (CI 16035), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Isoeicosane, Magnesium Stearate, Polyisobutene, Talc, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Poloxamer 338, Silica, Manganese Violet CI 77742
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Look Using this Product
In the Nude
LELimited Edition. $50.00.
Rapunzel
Rapunzel is a light-medium yellow with warm undertones and a soft, pearl finish. It had good pigmentation with a soft, lightly dusty texture that applied fairly well on bare skin, though a primer would help. It wore well for seven and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Smashbox Keeper (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Dior Lucky Star #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Disney by Sephora Sand in the Glass (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever ME512 Golden Beige (DC, $21.00) is darker (95% similar).
- bareMinerals Aspire (P, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Anastasia Legend (P, $12.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Flasher (PiP, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- Too Faced Nectar (PiP, $16.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Tarina Tarantino Taurella (DC, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Rouge Bunny Rouge Golden Rhea (P, $19.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Look Using this Product
Rapunzel
DCDiscontinued. $6.00.
In the Spotlight
In the Spotlight is a brighter, light-medium peachy orange with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The consistency was smooth, denser, and cream-like, though it was a powder, and yielded rich, opaque pigmentation in a single layer. The version in the palette seemed to lean a bit pinker than my standalone shade, but it was hard to tell on the lid and in some lighting. It started to crease on me after seven hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- Dose of Colors Shell We Dance (P, $20.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- bareMinerals Ball Gown (LE, ) is more muted (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Love Eyes (Enhance) (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- LORAC Unpredictable (PiP, $19.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Anastasia Gem (P, $12.00) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (90% similar).
- YSL Onde Sable (04) (P, $30.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Too Faced Cherish (PiP, ) is more muted, less pigmented (90% similar).
- Dior Mellow Shade #4 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Mortal #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Sphinx (P, $45.00) is cooler (90% similar).
Look Using this Product
In the Spotlight
PPermanent. $9.99.
So Pale
So Pale is a light, yellowed beige with warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. It had medium pigmentation, which was somewhat buildable, but it would need a primer to get anywhere close to semi-opaque to opaque coverage. The texture was soft but powdery in the pan and likely led to some of the sheerness. This shade started to fade on me after six and a half hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- Melt Cosmetics Suede (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- LORAC Porcelain (LE, $19.00) is brighter (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Take a Memo (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Moira Nude Beige (P, $7.50) is darker (95% similar).
- Too Faced Dream On (LE, $16.00) is darker (95% similar).
- LORAC Cool Taupe (Mega Pro 4) (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Too Faced Rock Candy (LE, $16.00) is brighter (95% similar).
- Smashbox Hero (PiP, ) is brighter (95% similar).
- Moira Beige (P, $5.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Zoeva Make It Last (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
So Pale
LELimited Edition. $6.00.
Tan Lines
Tan Lines is a medium brown with warm, orange undertones and a matte finish. The color payoff was opaque, while the eyeshadow felt smooth, silky, and applied evenly to bare skin. It blended out with ease and lasted for eight hours on me. I did feel like it seemed a touch lighter than my standalone version, which had a richer texture (a little denser, more substantial).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Silk Sheets (LE, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC No Me Queda Mas (LE, $17.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Inglot #357 (P, $6.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge Deep Ochre (P, $16.00) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild To Muse and Carouse #2 (DC, $2.29) is warmer, lower quality (95% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Ethereal Eyes #9 (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Too Faced Girl's Night (LE, $16.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Burning Desire (LE, $25.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Buxom Filthy Rich (P, $12.00) is brighter (95% similar).
- LORAC Maple (LE, $19.00) is cooler (95% similar).
Tan Lines
DCDiscontinued. $6.00.
Buffed
Buffed is a light-medium, peachy brown with warm undertones and a matte finish. The eyeshadow had good color payoff, though it wasn’t opaque in a single layer. The consistency was soft, a smidgen dusty but not too messy in the pan, and blendable on the lid. This shade wore well for seven and a half hours.
Top Dupes
- Morphe M.F.E.O. (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Hot Gossip (PiP, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Slick (LE, $4.50) is cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Summon Us (LE, $4.50) is cooler (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Naked Sleep (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Nova (LE, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Or Whatevah (LE, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Cornelious (PiP, $6.00) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Bare to Wear (PiP, $4.50) is warmer (95% similar).
- Guerlain Electric Look #5 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar).
Look Using this Product
Buffed
LELimited Edition. $6.00.
Creased
Creased is a medium-dark taupe brown with soft, warmer undertones and a matte finish. It had excellent pigmentation that applied well to bare skin. The texture was soft, smooth, and blendable without being powdery or dusty in the pan. The eyeshadow lasted for just over eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Pretty Vulgar Nest Egg (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- LORAC Bedrock (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Princess of Soul (LE, $17.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Dare (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Sephora Espresso (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Stila Warm Taupe (LE, $18.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- LORAC Cool Taupe (PiP, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Tarte Sweet Tea (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Becca Ombre Nudes #3 (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Shea (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
Look Using this Product
Creased
LELimited Edition. $6.00.
Cabin Fever
Cabin Fever is a muted, medium-dark red-brown with warmer undertones and a matte finish. The color payoff was opaque, while the eyeshadow had a soft, blendable consistency that felt a bit firmer in the pan compared to other shades in the palette but was not difficult to blend or diffuse on the lid. It was softer and easier to work with than the standalone version I have.
Top Dupes
- bareMinerals Good Spirits (LE, ) (100% similar).
- ColourPop Beast (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M600 Pink Brown (DC, $21.00) is more muted (95% similar).
- Coloured Raine Moments (DC, $6.99) is cooler (95% similar).
- Morphe Mocha (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Morphe Chip (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Sydney Grace Maple Sugar (LE, $5.25) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Swiss Chocolate (P, $17.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Natasha Denona Vulcano (125CM) (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Anastasia Violeta (LE, $12.00) is darker (95% similar).
Look Using this Product
Cabin Fever
DCDiscontinued. $6.00.
Grandstand
Grandstand is a medium copper with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It was intensely pigmented with a creamy, smooth consistency that felt dense and applied more thickly compared to other shades in the palette. It was easy to apply and blend out on the lid, but it did start to crease on me after seven hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- LORAC Unbelievable (PiP, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty About Last Night No. 03 (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Lust in Time (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Bronzage (124K) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Screw It (PiP, $4.50) is warmer (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever D712 Creme Brulee (DC, $21.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Viseart Balmy (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Topaz #9 (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC A Harvest of Greens #1 (PiP, $21.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Romeo (PiP, $8.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Look Using this Product
Grandstand
PPermanent. $9.99.
Dark Roast
Dark Roast is a dark brown with neutral-to-warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that applied evenly for the most part, but it took marginally more effort to blend out compared to other shades in the palette. The coverage was buildable to full coverage with two to three layers, though. On me, the eyeshadow started to fade noticeably on me after eight hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- Morphe Central Park (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Makeup Atelier Red Ochre #5 (P, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Tarte Yule Be Surprised (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Secret Service (DC, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Earth (102CM) (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Too Faced Charmed, I'm Sure (PiP, $16.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Tarte Powerful (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Benefit Quick, Look Busy (P, $20.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Cupcake (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Cross-Cultural (LE, $17.00) is darker (95% similar).
Thank you for the review! There are a few shades I really want in this palette. There are so many neutral shades in my collection and in the beauty community as a whole, hahaha, but I may not be able to resist this one!
My pleasure, Stephanie!
I agree with you, Christine. This would be a nice palette for someone just getting into makeup and not wanting to buy a super expensive palette. The shades work well together and are on trend. Lovely eye look you did with them.
Definitely!
Thank you, Deborah!
Add a few more orange/peach shades, and you will have UD Naked Heat, except with nicely contrasting shades
There ya go! 😉
“That don’t already have neutral palettes coming out their ears”; LOL!
Because yes I really DO. I would have much rather Marlena had jumped on the unicorn/mermaid train and put together a 9-pan using many of her gorgeous foiled shadows and whichever well-perfoming colorful and bright shades she has to out do the one by Tarte. Now THAT would have caught my interest by the tail!
That would be a great idea! Maybe they’ll do that some time!
I second this! If they did a palette of foils, I would be on it so fast.
I know some readers said how boring this was when you previewed it, earlier. But boy do I love this!
It has everything my hooded eyes need in a palette. In one easy to grab place!
I’m actually pretty impressed with it, plus a B+ isn’t bad in my opinion!
Do you think you’ll be getting it, Shannon?
It’s a pass for me. $50 for a 9 shadow Maukeup Geek Palette is not happening. Tartelette Palettes are 12 shadows for $46 and Naked Palettes are 12 for $54.
Based on what the owner has said in the past, they are trying to position themselves as mid-end rather, and Tarte/UD are more mid-end (just passing along some info – I understand why the price seems high for the brand based on past branding).
I agree with you , this is a really good palette, if you don’t already have a gazillion “nude” palettes and singles and duos and you name it. I do, so I’ll not get this.
I am getting rather tired of nude and naked to be honest, but I do like this palette, I think they have done a good job with it and you can probably get a lot of really pretty and very wearable for work looks, and also looks for after work.
I really like when you do the math, by the way so we know if it’s a save, same price or even cost more. quite a good save on this one, I think.
I’m glad I could help, Helene! 😀
This is a very useful and cohesive palette as a whole and the matte shades have been done particularly well. Beautiful eye look Christine and thank you for the review.
I really like this! I love Cabin Fever – it seems like such a unique shade!
How do I get to the new eye shadows?
I’m not sure what you mean?
This looks like a pass for me.
Oh my gosh is this gorgeous. I don’t need another neutral palette, but I seriously think I might need this because of how gorgeous Buffed and Cabin Fever are. I’ve still yet to own any MG product, so perhaps this will be the one to pop the cherry!
Thanks for sharing and love the look you created!
I am such a big fan of nudes I love that they vary in color from palette to palette I need this!!
Hey,
I’m stuck on weather I should buy this palette or the dose of colours baked browns. I’ve never tried MUG shadows (or DOF), and I was wondering the mattes in which palette perform better? Xx
I haven’t reviewed Baked Browns, unfortunately!