Natasha Denona Sunset Mini Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Sunset
Natasha Denona Sunset Mini Eyeshadow Palette ($25.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette that features five miniature-sized eyeshadows in a slim, plastic case. I like the concept a lot, particularly with a brand like Natasha Denona that charges premium prices, because I think it can take quite awhile to even finish a standard eyeshadow (if ever; I don’t really know that world, you know!). The three shimmer shades could have been a bit better (Apollo in particular), but the two mattes were lovely.
Sunset
PPermanent. $25.00.
Guava
Guava is a medium, peachy orange with warm undertones and a matte finish. The eyeshadow had opaque pigmentation that applied evenly and smoothly to my lid. It had a silky, finely-milled texture that was easy to blend out and work with, though it was a bit powdeyr in the pan when I used fluffier brushes with it. This shade lasted for eight hours on me before I noticed slight fading.
Top Dupes
- Viseart Cantaloupe (Warm Mattes #6) (P, ) is darker (95% similar).
- LORAC Melon (LE, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Colour Pop Cage Free (LE, $4.50) is cooler (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Coral #6 (PiP, ) is brighter (90% similar).
- MAC Rule (P, $17.00) is darker, brighter (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Copy Cat (LE, $4.50) is darker (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Running Late (P, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Ciate Coco (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M720 Apricot (DC, $21.00) is brighter (90% similar).
- Viseart Meringue (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The majority of the brand's eyeshadows are quite pigmented, blendable, and long-wearing. The eyeshadows have improved over time, particularly with respect to longevity (without a primer). The original formula often creased on me within seven to eight hours, whereas the more current formula wears eight to nine hours with fading (instead of full-on creasing). The more matte finishes tend to be a bit more velvety, substantial, and less dry/powdery compared to prior iterations.
The metallic finish is often the creamiest, slightly denser in feel, but has excellent pigmentation, adhesion, and blendability. The sparkling shades can have some fallout, depending on how they're applied and how sparkly they are, so they sometimes work better with fingertips or a dampened brush; they can also run sheerer compared to other finishes.
Cream-Powders are the more unique formulation and tend to have firmer, almost stiff, consistencies and more semi-opaque, watercolor-esque coverage. They are longer-wearing, but they can take a few uses to learn how to use. This formula has also improved compared to when it first debuted--it is a bit more yielding now.
Browse all of our Natasha Denona Creamy Matte Eye Shadow swatches.
Guava
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Apollo
Apollo is a deep, reddish copper with warm undertones and a frosted sheen. It had good color payoff, but the texture was fairly dry and stiff in the pan, which made me have to dig my brush into it a bit to get product to translate onto my brush. I also felt like it took more effort to apply it evenly to my lid and to blend it out. The color stayed on well for eight hours before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- Colour Pop BPM (P, $4.50) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- NARS Bayadere #2 (PiP, $19.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Ciate Love Letter (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Warning (LE, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Bad Habit Solar (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Crush (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Sephora Hector E (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Claretluxe #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Chanel Rouge Brule (128) (LE, $32.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Arrow (P, $6.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$29.00/0.08 oz. - $362.50 Per Ounce
The majority of the brand's eyeshadows are quite pigmented, blendable, and long-wearing. The eyeshadows have improved over time, particularly with respect to longevity (without a primer). The original formula often creased on me within seven to eight hours, whereas the more current formula wears eight to nine hours with fading (instead of full-on creasing). The more matte finishes tend to be a bit more velvety, substantial, and less dry/powdery compared to prior iterations.
The metallic finish is often the creamiest, slightly denser in feel, but has excellent pigmentation, adhesion, and blendability. The sparkling shades can have some fallout, depending on how they're applied and how sparkly they are, so they sometimes work better with fingertips or a dampened brush; they can also run sheerer compared to other finishes.
Cream-Powders are the more unique formulation and tend to have firmer, almost stiff, consistencies and more semi-opaque, watercolor-esque coverage. They are longer-wearing, but they can take a few uses to learn how to use. This formula has also improved compared to when it first debuted--it is a bit more yielding now.
Browse all of our Natasha Denona Metallic Eye Shadow swatches.
Apollo
PiPPermanent in Palette. $29.00.
Dirty Mars
Dirty Mars is a medium-dark brown with warm, yellowish undertones and a matte finish. The texture was smooth and velvety with just a touch of powderiness in the pan. It had rich color coverage that applied well to bare skin and blended out easily. It wore well for eight and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay 7 and 7 (LE, $19.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Morphe Tan (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild To Muse and Carouse #2 (DC, $2.29) is warmer (95% similar).
- Buxom Filthy Rich (P, $12.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- LORAC Sandstorm (LE, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Dior Ombre Sculpting Powder (003) (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Tarte Starry (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Anastasia Bengal (P, $12.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Throwing Shade (LE, $25.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Juvia's Place Burkina (P, ) is lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The majority of the brand's eyeshadows are quite pigmented, blendable, and long-wearing. The eyeshadows have improved over time, particularly with respect to longevity (without a primer). The original formula often creased on me within seven to eight hours, whereas the more current formula wears eight to nine hours with fading (instead of full-on creasing). The more matte finishes tend to be a bit more velvety, substantial, and less dry/powdery compared to prior iterations.
The metallic finish is often the creamiest, slightly denser in feel, but has excellent pigmentation, adhesion, and blendability. The sparkling shades can have some fallout, depending on how they're applied and how sparkly they are, so they sometimes work better with fingertips or a dampened brush; they can also run sheerer compared to other finishes.
Cream-Powders are the more unique formulation and tend to have firmer, almost stiff, consistencies and more semi-opaque, watercolor-esque coverage. They are longer-wearing, but they can take a few uses to learn how to use. This formula has also improved compared to when it first debuted--it is a bit more yielding now.
Browse all of our Natasha Denona Creamy Matte Eye Shadow swatches.
Dirty Mars
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Sun Beam
Sun Beam is a rich, medium-dark copper with warm, orange undertones and a golden-orange sheen. It had excellent pigmentation that applied better to the lid than I expected, as the texture was slightly powdery and more loosely-pressed in the pan, which I felt made it a messier product to work with. I had the greatest success using this shade with smaller, flat, firm brushes (dampened made it a cinch to work with) as those helped to minimize fallout. The eyeshadow blended out nicely on the lid and stayed on for eight and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Melt Cosmetics Hot Wire (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Topaz #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Colour Pop Passport (LE, $4.50) is lighter (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Corrupt Copper (P, $25.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- LORAC Unleashed (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Volcanic (LE, $19.00) is more muted, cooler (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Smokey #6 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, more muted (90% similar).
- MAC Jingle Ball Bronze (P, $17.00) is more muted (90% similar).
- Too Faced Sparkling Pineapple (PiP, $16.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC A Glimmer of Gold #3 (PiP, $21.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$29.00/0.08 oz. - $362.50 Per Ounce
The majority of the brand's eyeshadows are quite pigmented, blendable, and long-wearing. The eyeshadows have improved over time, particularly with respect to longevity (without a primer). The original formula often creased on me within seven to eight hours, whereas the more current formula wears eight to nine hours with fading (instead of full-on creasing). The more matte finishes tend to be a bit more velvety, substantial, and less dry/powdery compared to prior iterations.
The metallic finish is often the creamiest, slightly denser in feel, but has excellent pigmentation, adhesion, and blendability. The sparkling shades can have some fallout, depending on how they're applied and how sparkly they are, so they sometimes work better with fingertips or a dampened brush; they can also run sheerer compared to other finishes.
Cream-Powders are the more unique formulation and tend to have firmer, almost stiff, consistencies and more semi-opaque, watercolor-esque coverage. They are longer-wearing, but they can take a few uses to learn how to use. This formula has also improved compared to when it first debuted--it is a bit more yielding now.
Browse all of our Natasha Denona Metallic Eye Shadow swatches.
Sun Beam
PiPPermanent in Palette. $29.00.
Halo
Halo is a light gold with warm, yellow undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish. The color payoff was semi-opaque and buildable, but it was the type of shade that really shined (ha, ha) when applied with a dampened brush or over a primer. It had a soft, slightly looser consistency, so there was some fallout during application (if used without primer or with a dampened brush). The eyeshadow wore well for eight hours with slight fallout.
Top Dupes
- Tarina Tarantino Taurella (DC, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Colour Pop Cruisin' (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- KKW Beauty Armenian (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Tarte Compass (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Too Faced Butter Pecan (PiP, $16.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Guerlain Petrouchka #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Viseart Flirt (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC Oh So Gilty (P, $18.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Barely Baked (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Colour Pop CREAM (LE, $4.50) is more muted (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$29.00/0.08 oz. - $362.50 Per Ounce
The majority of the brand's eyeshadows are quite pigmented, blendable, and long-wearing. The eyeshadows have improved over time, particularly with respect to longevity (without a primer). The original formula often creased on me within seven to eight hours, whereas the more current formula wears eight to nine hours with fading (instead of full-on creasing). The more matte finishes tend to be a bit more velvety, substantial, and less dry/powdery compared to prior iterations.
The metallic finish is often the creamiest, slightly denser in feel, but has excellent pigmentation, adhesion, and blendability. The sparkling shades can have some fallout, depending on how they're applied and how sparkly they are, so they sometimes work better with fingertips or a dampened brush; they can also run sheerer compared to other finishes.
Cream-Powders are the more unique formulation and tend to have firmer, almost stiff, consistencies and more semi-opaque, watercolor-esque coverage. They are longer-wearing, but they can take a few uses to learn how to use. This formula has also improved compared to when it first debuted--it is a bit more yielding now.
Browse all of our Natasha Denona Metallic Eye Shadow swatches.
Surprised at the B+! From what I am seeing on different YTube channels, I thought this would rate lower.
Hope you release the Tropic palette review soon!
The two mattes were really good (94.4% and 95.6%), so those helped keep the average score from falling (the palette average of the five shades was 87.8% before rounding). I haven’t watched or read any reviews on it, so I don’t know what others are saying, but the palette itself came together in a look without much work – the look above took about 7-10 minutes and used no primer.
I’ve seen so many negative reviews about this palette. This was my first foray into Natasha Denona eyeshadows and I am very much enjoying it. I agree with you that the Mattes are the star of this palette.
It seems like more and more brands palettes get a wider range of reviews – I know one reader had a similarly poor experience with Viseart’s new Petit Pro (02) palette and then exchanged it for another at Sephora that she said was significantly better.
This seemingly innocuous reply is actually quite insightful and revealing. The message being: palettes right now have low reliability and validity, with lots of variability from piece to piece and lot to lot. Not good.
I think this is a handy little mini palette of well co-ordinated shades. I hope the brand releases other colour groupings in this fashion, to make it more affordable and versatile.
It was a shame that some of the shimmers were a tad poor, but at least the brand didn’t put in glitter.
Beautiful eye look Christine.
I like the idea of the minis for the same reasons, Genevieve!
I like this concept too and might be interested in a different set of shades if she releases more.
How ‘bout the last row of Tropic, Natasha?
Oh goodness, YES to that, KJH! 👏
I’ll second that!
I hope they can release a mini lilac palette. I think the big palette is too expensive but a mini one would be interesting to get.
I was considering this based on colors and brand. I am very disappointed in Apollo. I love the color in the pan but the swatch is not as It would seem to have been. I will pass.
This was my first purchase from the brand. Not impressed. It’s turned me off from buying anything else from ND. To me, this was a test to see if it was worth it. Test failed.
I have Lila, a 5 pan and several singles. I wouldn’t use this as your marker necessarily – the quality is better than the low scoring items in this version. Worth testing in person if you can.
I respectfully disagree. I’ve found throughout that her mattes are generally always amazing. But I’ve found that her shimmers are kind of hit or miss. Either they’re wonderful and easy to work with or they need help to get them to look true to pan or to get them to adhere to the eye. I find her shimmers to be hit or miss with little middle ground.
If she came out with an all matte palette, I would jump at it.
That’s certainly your prerogative. It just shows we all have different experiences and preferences for what we like.
I think I like it. It looks great for doing a warmer toned on-the-run eye look. My only issue is that I’m getting warm-neutral burnout, but still, this would be nice.
This doesn’t surprise me at all. I’ve never been happy with a ND purchase and frankly don’t understand all the fuss. I think the products are overpriced and mediocre quality (in general). there are much better brand options out there.
I really like the idea of a mini palette that doesn’t cost as much as a full-sized palette. What a great idea for traveling! But I don’t like these particular shades for myself.
I don’t own anything by this brand, but if they come out with a mini palette that is more usable for me and if it gets better reviews, I might consider trying it out.
I really like that it’s small and tailored; much prefer this over mega-palettes. I’m ok with the rating though of course Apollo disappoints. This one is not for me though, as I have all these shades several times over already and for the cost — $25/.14 oz — it would have to really wow me.
Do you think this mini-palette is representative of what to expect from the full-sized ones? I’m interested in this as sort of a tester.
The mattes, yes, the shimmers, sort of. I think that Apollo doesn’t represent most of the brand’s more metallic shades (ND is usually too soft, not too firm), but the other two shimmers have issues/downsides that I’ve experienced with the brand in the past – some of the brand’s shimmery shades are very glittery or more loosely pressed.
I knew from first glance that I had dupes for most of these shades, and your review confirmed. I have 2-3 dupes for every shade. It’s not mentioned on the list of dupes, but Sun Beam looks really similar to Juvia’s Place’s Nefertiti. So this palette is a verified skip for me. I really find that Natasha Denona is a hit or miss brand in quality control (at least in terms of eye shadow). Some of the shades will be spectacular and some really need a lot of work to get them to act right. It makes you not want to take the chance and invest due to the price point.
Also, I saw this in Sephora over the weekend, and this baby is tiny. It’s like a newborn, like smol.
What beautiful shades!
I picked this up over the weekend; my first Natasha cause the prices for the full size are ridiculous and this is horrible for me. You are right in that the shimmers could have been sooo much better. Overall the entire palette is not a go for me and is definitely going back to Sephora. I know her full sized are raved about but I won’t dare spend that much so this was it for m with trying her. A bit disappointed really and I didn’t look at any reviews of it at all, I wanted to get my own unbiased opinion. I wore it today putting it on at 7am and I wiped it all off my eyes at 10am. I’m no pro at applying makeup but I do a pretty darn good job on me, this just looked muddled and horrible on me.