Temptalia

A Rainbow-Inspired Palette to Dream About | Mega Edition

Christine — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 19:00:00 +0000

Rainbow palettes are always fun, and though 30-pan palettes are daunting, I was inspired by ColourPop’s Fade Into Hue palette (their take on rainbows) to put together what I envisioned as a rainbow palette at this scale that would grab my attention–I’m really more into smaller color stories (like 10-15-pan palettes), but it’s always fun to challenge myself to think beyond that!. I had a concept for each row, but I did use existing products from the get-go (instead of doing a digital mockup) so if something catches your fancy, it DOES, in fact, exist!

Here’s how I wanted the palette to work out:

Iridescent/Sparkling Top Coats: The first row was designed to be a row of iridescent/sparkling top coats that could be used wet/dry, individually or layered over other shades to lighten/brighten. Did I cheat by going for all Clionadh Multichromes? Probably. I definitely wasn’t envisioning Multichromes – just more iridescent or duochrome with a translucent base.
Duochromes: The second row was all about more mid-depth duochrome shades for each color family.
Brighter/Mid-depth Mattes: The third row was about brighter and more mid-depth matte shades that would coordinate with the shimmer shades selected for each color family. These would be more “typical” for inclusion in rainbow-inspired palettes!
Deep Shimmers: The fourth row was designed to offer deeper, richer shimmer eyeshadows for each color family. In a real dream scenario, these would be more satin-to-pearl in finish, almost working as a psuedo-matte as well as a shimmer (and would play particularly well with the first row). I didn’t want to create a digital mockup and then pick real versions, so I just stuck with what does exist in permanent ranges.
Deeper Mattes: The fifth row was selecting deeper mattes for each color family that would support the shimmers and contrast with the mid-depth mattes. I think with a rainbow-inspired palette with so much color that part of playing is to layer and create in-between shades.

See below for the shades in each column (which is by color family, effectively!):

Reds/Pinks

Dreaming in Rainbow

Gallery Options

Products

Swatches

Aura

Amulet

Pink (Bright Editorial #5)

Sweetheart

Raspberry (Bright Editorial #10)

9

Oranges

Dreaming in Rainbow

Gallery Options

Products

Swatches

Chromatic

Wildfire

Bratty

Bestie

Summer Heat

5

Golds/Yellows

Dreaming in Rainbow

Gallery Options

Products

Swatches

Glint

Lemonade

Buttercupcake

Luxury

Haystack

6

Greens

Dreaming in Rainbow

Gallery Options

Products

Swatches

Phosphorescent

Alpine

Ice Algae

Timber

Evergreen

8

Blues

Dreaming in Rainbow

Gallery Options

Products

Swatches

Fluoresce

Subzero

Oasis

Midnight Dreary

Penombre (Cobalt Blue)

6

Purples

Dreaming in Rainbow

Gallery Options

Products

Swatches

UV

Crystalline

Sequence

Queen

Power to the Purple

11

A Rainbow-Inspired Palette to Dream About | Mega Edition

10 Floral-Inspired Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Quads I Wish Existed

Christine — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 16:00:00 +0000

Last night, readers were chatting in Temptalia’s Discord about what Pat McGrath’s upcoming launch (revealed here–a rose-inspired six-pan palette) could be (she’s been teasing inspiration photos for the last few days). A lot of the inspiration photos have revolved around flowers (though a lot of roses!), and it made me think about more floral-inspired palettes from the brand. I was thinking that more Blitz Astral quads would be in order, since I think those work well to extend one’s collection (or the brand’s existing palette line-up) — here are my concepts!

Plumed Paradise

This quad is inspired by the bird of paradise (reference photo)! Here are color descriptions, followed by a suggestion of real products that exist (not necessarily by the brand)…

Inky, bluish-purple with cool undertones and a satin-to-pearl sheen (more pearlescent when applied wet)
Fiery orange-red base with gold-to-green shifting sparkle over a metallic finish (think VR Fire Opal with a deeper, redder base)
Medium-dark, muted teal with subtle, cool undertones and a metallic finish
Vivid copper-red with redder tones and a satin-to-pearl sheen (more pearlescent when applied wet)

Plumed Paradise 001

Sydney Grace Eyeshadows

JB

Orange Slush

Keep It Fun

Delightful Spark

JB, Orange Slush, Keep It Fun, Delightful Spark

3

Plumed Paradise 002

Single Eyeshadows

Midnight Dreary

Wildfire

Superzoom

Passion

Midnight Dreary, Wildfire, Superzoom, Passion

5

Hedonistic Hydrangea

This quad is inspired by blue hydrangeas (reference photo)! Here are color descriptions, followed by a suggestion of real products that exist (not necessarily by the brand)…

Light-medium, sky blue with finer, gold pearl over a lightly metallic finish–almost like a creamy, smooth metallic
Pale, golden chartreuse with flecks of cooler, mint-to-teal shifting pearl over a metallic finish
Medium-dark periwinkle with cool, bluish-silver shimmer with a metallic finish
Faded cornflower blue with cooler undertones and a smooth, pearly sheen

Hedonistic Hydrangea 001

Sydney Grace Eyeshadows

Juggler

Dazzle

Below Zero

JB

Juggler, Dazzle, Below Zero, JB

15

Hedonistic Hydrangea 002

Single Eyeshadows

Secrets

Reflectance

Dive Bar

Blue Magic

Secrets, Reflectance, Dive Bar, Blue Magic

11

Dahlia Decadence

This quad is inspired by dahlias (reference photos), which come in a lot of varieties from pops of pink and orange to black dahlias, which are almost velvety, deep red! Here are color descriptions, followed by a suggestion of real products that exist (not necessarily by the brand)…

Light-medium orange with moderate, warm undertones and smooth sheen
Vivid, deep pink base (slightly cooler compared to the shimmer) with sparkling, peach and gold throughout
Softened purple with warmer, pink undertones and a metallic finish
Deep, pink-red with a smooth, metallic sheen

Dahlia Decadence 001

Sydney Grace Eyeshadows

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Golden Rose

Mythical

Sweetheart

Pumpkin Spice Latte, Golden Rose, Mythical, Sweetheart

17

Dahlia Decadence 002

Happy Daze

Come and Get It

Sky Lights

Feline Pretty Femme

Happy Daze, Come and Get It, Sky Lights, Feline Pretty Femme

8

Pervasive Poppy

This quad is inspired by gray poppies (reference photo), which have a more toned-down, cooler mix of grayish purple, lavender, and faded, blackened purple. Here are color descriptions, followed by a suggestion of real products that exist (not necessarily by the brand)…

Light-medium, bluish-lavender with fine, gold contrasting pearl over a satin-to-pearl finish
Light, pinky-lavender base with flecks of gold-to-green shifting sparkle
Muted, medium purple with neutral-to-cool undertones, almost a silvery, metallic sheen
Blackened purple with neutral-to-cool undertones and a smooth sheen

Pervasive Poppy 001

Sydney Grace Eyeshadows

Blue Mist

The Greatest Gift

Mythical

Glee

Blue Mist, The Greatest Gift, Mythical, Glee

17

Pervasive Poppy 002

Single Eyeshadows

Afterglow

Opal

Hunter

Baltic

Afterglow, Opal, Hunter, Baltic

20

Iris Insolence

This quad is inspired by irises (reference photos), which seem to be most prevalent in shades of purple! They have yellower centers, but I thought I’d focus on the petal tones. Here are color descriptions, followed by a suggestion of real products that exist (not necessarily by the brand)…

Soft pink with slight, warm undertones and a satin-to-pearl sheen
Brighter, medium lavender base with lighter pink and gold sparkle
Vibrant, pink-purple with blue-to-violet shift paired with metallic finish
Deep, blue-violet with cool undertones and a satin-to-pearl sheen

Iris Insolence 001

Sydney Grace Eyeshadows

Winter Garden

Deliverer

As If

JB

Winter Garden, Deliverer, As If, JB

12

Iris Insolence 002

Single Eyeshadows

Opal

Plum

Sky Lights

Queen

Opal, Plum, Sky Lights, Queen

18

Magnificent Marigold

This quad is inspired by marigolds (reference photos)! Here are color descriptions, followed by a suggestion of real products that exist (not necessarily by the brand)…

Neon, pearlescent orange with moderate, warm undertones and a smooth sheen
Bright, sparkling sunshine yellow with strong, warm undertones and twinkling teal pearl
Vivid red with warm undertones and violet pearl over a metallic finish
Intense, blackened copper with fiery, warm undertones and a smooth sheen

Magnificent Marigold 001

Sydney Grace Eyeshadows

Orange Slush

Hercules

Ladylike

Queen of Hearts

Orange Slush, Hercules, Ladylike, Queen of Hearts

14

Magnificent Marigold 002

Single Eyeshadows

Pumpkin Pie

Gilded

Mars (GPV2 #16)

Vintage

Pumpkin Pie, Gilded, Mars (GPV2 #16), Vintage

2

Restricted Rose

This quad is inspired by the brand’s own Divine Rose series… but make it smokier, sultrier (alternatively, you could call it Midnight Rose, which I think fits with the brand’s naming in general, though the quads seem to all have alliteration). Here are color descriptions, followed by a suggestion of real products that exist (not necessarily by the brand)…

Deep, muted red, subtle berry tones, with a smooth sheen
Warm lavender base with gold sparkle over a metallic finish
Blackened purple with gold micro-sparkle throughout a metallic finish
Medium, rosy plum with subtle, warm undertones and a pearly sheen

Restricted Rose 001

Sydney Grace Eyeshadows

Princess Pay Pay

Immortal

The Commons

Sweetheart

Princess Pay Pay, Immortal, The Commons, Sweetheart

15

Restricted Rose 002

Single Eyeshadows

Feline Pretty Femme

The Most (2019)

Hot Mesh

Paradiso

Feline Pretty Femme, The Most (2019), Hot Mesh, Paradiso

8

Prodigious Peony

This quad is inspired by peonies (reference photos), which I think are commonly associated as shades of white, pale pink (both warmer and cooler), coral, and occasionally, a plummy-pink/deeper pink variety! Here are color descriptions, followed by a suggestion of real products that exist (not necessarily by the brand)…

Light-medium pink-coral with slightly pinker undertones and teal reflects paired with a pearl finish
Light, silvery lavender with flecks of silver, pink, and gold micro-sparkle
Lighter, warm-toned purple with a bright, metallic finish
Vivid, deep pink with a satin sheen

Prodigious Peony 001

Sydney Grace Eyeshadows

Lucky Peach

Red Mist

Pandora

Ladies Dancing

Lucky Peach, Red Mist, Pandora, Ladies Dancing

15

Prodigious Peony 002

Single Eyeshadows

Backdraft

Prowlin'

Calypso

Paradiso

Backdraft, Prowlin', Calypso, Paradiso

12

Sublime Sunflower

This quad is inspired by sunflowers (reference photos), which are obviously known for their bright, yellow petals, deeper, brownish centers and vibrant green leaves/stalks! There are also deeper, more orange-red varieties of sunflowers, too. Here are color descriptions, followed by a suggestion of real products that exist (not necessarily by the brand)…

Rich, slightly golden yellow with moderate, warm undertones with flecks of teal pearl to contrast over a satin-to-pearl finish
Deep coral-orange base with sparkling, green-gold shift
Rusted gold with contrasting copper and red shimmer through a metallic finish
Vibrant, mid-tone green with moderate, warm undertones and smooth, lightly metallic finish

Sublime Sunflower 001

Sydney Grace Eyeshadows

Mermaid

Marmalade

Fool's Gold

Take the Time

Mermaid, Marmalade, Fool's Gold, Take the Time

16

Sublime Sunflower 002

Single Eyeshadows

Beehive

High Society

365 Deinonychus

Beehive, High Society, 365, Deinonychus

17

Tempestuous Tulip

This quad is inspired by tulips (reference photos), which have a large variety of shades, so I went with a mix of peach/coral, purple, and more classic red framed by the green pulled from the stems! Here are color descriptions, followed by a suggestion of real products that exist (not necessarily by the brand)…

Warmer, light-medium chartreuse green base with cooler, lime green to mint shifting pearl
Soft, peachy coral base with blue-to-pink shifting pearl
Muted, medium-dark purple with warmer, pink tones paired with a satin-to-pearl finish
Deep, pink-red with a smooth, metallic sheen

Tempestuous Tulip 001

Sydney Grace Eyeshadows

Perfect Vacation

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Awake

Princess Pay Pay

Perfect Vacation, Pumpkin Spice Latte, Awake, Princess Pay Pay

12

Tempestuous Tulip 002

Single Eyeshadows

Prismatic

Starluster

Nepenthe

Feline Pretty Femme

Prismatic, Starluster, Nepenthe, Feline Pretty Femme

12

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Plumed Paradise

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Hedonistic Hydrangea (Original Version)

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Hedonistic Hydrangea (Final Version)

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Dahlia Decadence

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Pervasive Poppy

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Iris Insolence

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Magnificent Marigold

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Restricted Rose

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Prodigious Peony

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Sublime Sunflower

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Tempestuous Tulip (Original)

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Tempestuous Tulip (Final Version)

10 Floral-Inspired Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Quads I Wish Existed

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Plumed Paradise

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Hedonistic Hydrangea (Original Version)

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Hedonistic Hydrangea (Final Version)

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Dahlia Decadence

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Pervasive Poppy

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Iris Insolence

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Magnificent Marigold

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Restricted Rose

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Prodigious Peony

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Sublime Sunflower

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Tempestuous Tulip (Original)

Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Mockup: Tempestuous Tulip (Final Version)

10 Floral-Inspired Pat McGrath Blitz Astral Quads I Wish Existed

Palettes I Wish Existed | Recreating with Singles (A Follow Up!)

Christine — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 15:28:11 +0000

Okay, okay! I’ve put together some ways to get the vibes of the palette mockups I posted yesterday.

I pulled from Sydney Grace’s catalog if I could, since they’re more affordable and have a very robust singles range (compared to ColourPop’s, which always feels like 50% discontinued at a given moment!). In that process, I noticed that Sydney Grace has gaps in deeper, richer mattes, especially outside of taupe/brown, not nearly enough in the platinum/pewter camp, and where are all the richer teals?!

If one of the color stories I created caught your attention, and you have a decent collection already, here’s how I would approach recreating with what you have…

Identify the colors that standout. These are the ones drawing you in, and then you’ll want to think about if you have anything similar. The other shades are often “grounding” or help to build out the story. Possibly you’ll discover that you have 75% of the shades but there’s one or two more standout shades you’re missing–then obtaining a single or two might be totally reasonable.
Think about the “look” you’d wear, and then just recreate that look (likely a narrower set of shades!) rather than the whole “palette.” You can also do this by looking at each row or column.
Try clicking on one of the shades I’ve shown to recreate and then look to see if you have any of its dupes!

Pat McGrath Dream Palette #1: Enchanted Forest

In Enchanted Forest, here’s how I would have described each dream color:

Warm beige with subtle, peach-to-green shift, pearl finish
Medium-dark, taupe-brown with neutral-to-warm undertones, matte finish
Medium-dark green with subtle, cooler undertones and warmer, golden sparkle and subtle green pearl, metallic finish
Medium-dark pewter with highly reflective sheen, metallic finish
Bright, mint green with subtle, warmer undertones and a mix of blue and pink pearl (possibly shift), sparkling finish
Muted, deep green with moderate warm undertones, matte finish
Medium olive green with muted, warm undertones and an intense sheen, metallic finish
Muted burgundy with subtle, warm undertones, matte finish
Rich, true teal, slightly cool-leaning, with smooth, reflective sheen, metallic finish
Sparkling gold duochrome, green-to-teal shift, sparkling, metallic finish (it’s basically VR Fire Opal, maybe a smidgen lighter)

In terms of products that are permanently available, shades 1, 4, 5, 9, and 10 were harder to get a 1:1 replacement. I was surprised at how lean permanent teal eyeshadows are–someone produce 10 shimmery teals, stat!

Enchanted Forest

Sydney Grace Eyeshadows

Gallery Options

Products

Swatches

Serenity

Puppy

Sweetsop

Wondrous Knight

Springtime

Island Paradise

Cadet

Brilliant Realm

Optimism

Mermaid

19

Enchanted Forest (V2)

Single Eyeshadows

Gallery Options

Products

Swatches

Metal

Puppy

Levy

Chemical Bond

Springtime

Island Paradise

Cadet

Sketch

Money Maker

Flashy

17

Pat McGrath Dream Palette #2: Subversive Odyssey

In Subversive Odyssey, here’s how I would have described each dream color:

Warm golden peach base with strong pink-to-gold shift, pearl finish
Brighter plum, subtle warm undertones, matte finish
Sparkling, medium purple with subtle, warmer pink undertones, sparkling, metallic finish
Bright, richer minted green with pale gold sparkle, metallic finish
Light, very cool-toned blue base with pink-to-gold shifting sparkle, metallic finish
Rich, deep blue-teal with moderate, cool undertones, matte finish
Medium-dark green with subtle, warm olive undertones, sparkling, metallic finish
Deep, purple-taupe with cool undertones, matte finish
Vivid, medium-dark violet purple with smooth, reflective sheen, metallic finish
Transparent base with green-to-gold shifting sparkle, sparkling finish

Subversive Odyssey

Sydney Grace Eyeshadows

Gallery Options

Products

Swatches

Turtledoves

Redeemed

Mythical

The Shallows

Swimming Swans

Thrilled

Sweetsop

Officer

Flannel

Mystery

43

Subversive Odyssey (V2)

Single Eyeshadows

Gallery Options

Products

Swatches

Winter Sunrise

Ladyship

Mythical

The Shallows

Snowdrift

Stormwatch

Pear Tree

Officer

Queen

Candela

18

Pat McGrath Dream Palette #3: Vintage Rose

In Vintage Rose, here’s how I would have described each dream color:

Light beige with iridescent pink and violet shift, satin-to-pearl finish
Muted, medium-dark taupe-brown with subtle, cooler undertones, matte finish
Darker purple with subtle, warm undertones and reflective, smooth sheen, metallic finish
Brighter, lighter purple with warmer, pink undertones and faint blue and gold pearl, metallic finish
Light, grayish-lavender with neutral-to-warm undertones with lighter, gold-to-pink shifting sparkle, metallic finish
Deep burgundy with subtle, warm undertones, matte finish
Dusty, medium-dark pink with muted, warm undertones and a reflective sheen, metallic finish
Deep plum with subtle, warm undertones, matte finish
Rich, reddish-plum with intense sheen, metallic finish
Bright, light-medium pink base with cooler undertones paired with golden shift, metallic finish

Vintage Rose

Sydney Grace Eyeshadows

Gallery Options

Products

Swatches

Red Mist

Grounds

Rushed

Totally Worth It

Immortal

Brilliant Realm

Go for It

Plummet

Awake

The Greatest Gift

50

Vintage Rose (V2)

Single Eyeshadows

Gallery Options

Products

Swatches

Red Mist

The Virgo

Synthetica

Plum

Pegasus

Sketch

Go for It

Plummet

Awake

The Greatest Gift

15

Natasha Denona Dream Palette #1: Woodlands

In Woodlands, here’s how I would have described each dream color:

Medium, bluish-aqua with subtle, cool undertones and flecks of gold and iridescent teal pearl, metallic finish
Light-medium taupe with subtle, warm undertones, matte finish
Medium, muted grass green with subtle, warm undertones, matte finish
Medium green with subtle, warm undertones and warmer, golden shimmer, metallic finish
Deep taupe with warmer, olive and gold flecks of shimmer, metallic finish
Rich, deeper berry with subtle, cool undertones, matte finish
Light-medium gold base with gold-to-green shifting shimmer, pearl finish
Dark copper with muted, redder undertones, matte finish
Light-medium brown with moderate, warm undertones, yellow-peach leaning, matte finish
Medium-dark purple-taupe with subtle, cool undertones, satin finish
Medium-dark olive green with moderate, warm undertones, matte-to-semi-matte finish
Muted, dark blue with strong, cool undertones (almost leaning purple), matte finish
Bright, medium blue-aqua with subtle, cool undertones and barely-there gold pearl, satin finish
Deepest forest green with neutral-to-cool undertones, satin finish
Medium-dark emerald green with subtle, warm undertones and reflective sheen, metallic finish

Woodlands

Single Eyeshadows

Gallery Options

Products

Swatches

Mint Green

Relax

Evergreen

Tree Line

Somber

Sleeper

Candela

Underworld

M647 Speculoos

Grounds

Bravo

Blue Velvet

Mint Condition

Forbidden

Timber

17

Woodlands (V2)

Natasha Denona Eyeshadows

Gallery Options

Products

Swatches

Mint Frost

Sculpture (226CM)

Rhino

Antique Olive (14M)

Industrial (45M)

Aubergine (24V)

Indian Gold (44M)

Ripe (253CM)

Flint (184CM)

Per Se (135CM)

Bia (285CP)

Smoke (65V)

Golden Aquamarine (86P)

Jubilee (271M)

Emerald Green (16M)

15

Natasha Denona Dream Palette #2: Neon Lights

In Neon Lights, here’s how I would have described each dream color:

Intense, dark purple with cooler undertones and bluish-violet shifting pearl, reflective sheen, metallic finish
Neon, medium-dark coral with warmer, more orange undertones, matte finish
Bright, purple-berry with pinker undertones, reflective sheen and faint iridescent pearl, metallic finish
Bright, medium purple with neutral-to-cool undertones paired with flecks of blue-to-teal sparkle, metallic finish
Muted, medium green-teal base with golden pearl, pearl finish
Deep gold with warmer, olive undertones paired with pink-to-peach shift, metallic finish
Deep berry-red with subtle, cool undertones, matte finish
Vivid, deep coral-red base with flecks of violet and pink pearl, metallic finish
Medium, warm lavender with pink undertones, matte finish
Medium coral, leaning slightly pinker in base, paired with peach-to-gold shifting pearl, metallic finish
Deep purple with subtle, warm undertones, matte finish
Bright, medium-dark green with neutral-to-cool undertones, matte finish
Rich, deep blue-teal with cool undertones, matte finish
Medium, rosy mauve with warm undertones, matte finish
Deep red with subtle, warm undertones, highly reflective sheen, metallic finish

Neon Lights

Single Eyeshadows

Gallery Options

Products

Swatches

Queen

Lay Low

Ladies Dancing

Sky Lights

Dive

Citron

Love Letter

Maids a Milking

Lotus

Starluster

Eresia

Ice Algae

Stormwatch

Finjan (2020)

Princess Pay Pay

16

Palettes I Wish Existed | Pat McGrath + Natasha Denona Edition

Christine — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 15:01:08 +0000

Pat McGrath Dream Palette #1: Enchanted Forest

I’m desperately waiting for Pat McGrath to create more green eyeshadows. Like desperately. I love green! I can just imagine the richness and depth PMG would be able to get, plus… the duochrome/sparkly shades? Yes, please!

Pat McGrath Dream Palette #2: Subversive Odyssey

I’d love to see a palette with more color, but I am a big fan of slightly more muted, colorful palettes… This is my interpretation of a space/galaxy-themed color story… but make it muted.

Pat McGrath Dream Palette #3: Vintage Rose

Give me deep plums with twinkling pinks and lavender!

Natasha Denona Dream Palette #1: Woodlands

I would love to see a kind of woodland-fairy kind of themed palette from Natasha Denona… a mix of earth tones – green, taupe, plum. I will never stop loving and wanting more taupes and greens from brands that have top tier eyeshadow formulas! NEVER!

Natasha Denona Dream Palette #2: Neon Lights

I never realized how much I wanted a bright, more colorful palette from Natasha Denona but now I’m envisioning the formula with brighter and deeper mattes, really creamy, intense metallics… sigh.

What color story would you love to see from a brand? (Which brand, what’s the story, tell me more!)

10 Natasha Denona Mini Eyeshadow Palettes I'd Like to See

Christine — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 17:42:50 +0000

As I was testing the newest Natasha Denona Mini Eyeshadow Palette (in Nude) this week, I was struck by how much I would love to see the mini format in a slew of other color combinations. Those of us who tend to like variety or flit between palettes likely don’t need full-sized pans of eyeshadow, so the minis are a great way to enjoy a variety of color, finish, and so on at a much lower cost (compared to high-end brands single or palette price points, like ND’s $129 larger palettes!). I particularly liked the mix of finishes in the Nude palette with two mattes and three shimmers, as I felt like it gave me a lot of room to play. Hope you enjoy and find some inspiration (you can always recreate the color combo with existing shades you own!) from my 10 concept palettes below…

Galaxy Eyeshadow Palette

Galaxy

Deliberately designed to be less cohesive than several of the others you’ll find described below, this is all about the kind colors and depths seen if you, quite literally, googled “galaxy” — pops of fuchsia and deep orange, violet, and more purple-leaning blue. I think the five shades work together but could see this complemented easily by shades likely already in one’s stash.

Colors I’d include: mid-tone, shimmery raspberry with subtle, cool undertones and a bright, metallic sheen; vivid, mid-tone orange tempered by slightly redder undertones and a matte finish; medium, golden peach with stronger, orange undertones and a metallic sheen; deep violet with flecks of blue, lavender, and pink paired with an intense, metallic finish; deeper, slightly subdued, cool purple with a matte finish.

For those who might own several past releases from the brand, I’ve also pulled the closest shades released (some of which can be purchased individually, many of which are exclusive to a palette) that might “dupe the vibe” if any existed (so not all shades are “duped”), which you can view here.

Signs of Spring Eyeshadow Palette

Signs of Spring

I like pastels in spring but often find they’re lacking in quality, and it seems like, in general, that they’re harder to produce in ways that translate well across a lot of skin tones. As a result, when I think about spring, I think about slightly richer but still more dulled down shades.

Colors I’d include: light-medium, golden green with a sparkling, metallic finish and subtle gold-to-green shift; pale, muted light green with muted yellow undertones and a matte finish; pale yellow with balanced undertones and a pearl sheen (not enough to be orange and yellow enough that it isn’t gold); medium-dark mauve with gold-to-pink shift and a shiny, metallic finish; and deep reddened plum with a matte finish that leans slightly warm.

Camo Eyeshadow Palette

Camo

Who would I be if I didn’t put together some murky greens? What I like about the five-pan format that Natasha Denona has going is that you can start to play with undertones a bit while still making it more cohesive, so the two shades on the left are slightly warmer, whereas the three shades on the right run slightly cooler.

Colors I’d include: smoky, medium-dark olive green with a soft metallic finish; light-medium dirty beige with a matte finish; pale, tarnished pewter that leans ever-so-slightly yellow with a bright, metallic finish; mid-tone, sparkling yellow-green with slightly olive undertones; and a deep, army green with neutral-to-warm undertones and a matte finish.

Scorched Eyeshadow Palette

Scorched

My vision for this palette is all those warm-toned shades we see over and over but on steroids–they’re amped up, they’re vivid and vibrant and so rich that they appear almost dense (in my mind). More Natasha Denona Sunset on Fire than just a sunset.

Colors I’d include: rich, molten red with warmer, more orange undertones and a soft, metallic sheen; pop of tangerine orange with strong, yellow undertones and a matte finish; intense yellow gold with true yellow undertones and a bright, shiny metallic finish; deep, orange-copper with a sparkling, metallic finish; rich, red-brown with a matte finish.

Warm Smoke Eyeshadow Palette

Warm Smoke

Hey, I know that not everyone can or wants to wear color 24/7, and I can enjoy some sumptuous neutrals as much as the next person! I even think there’s still room for warm neutral releases… just ones that aren’t as red/orange based. (And of course, we so need a few dozen cool-toned neutral launches but anyway…) This is my take on slightly warmer neutrals that are on the more muted side, which you might also interpret as “dirty.”

Colors I’d include: deep, plummy-taupe with subtle, warmer undertones and a satin sheen; medium, almost grayish beige with neutral-to-warm undertones and a matte finish (I envision it looking slightly darker when applied); light, dirty beige with a bright, sparkling finish; medium-dark taupe-brown with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen; darker (but muted that there’s a softness to it when diffused), taupe-brown with neutral-to-cool undertones and a matte finish.

Emerald Eyeshadow Palette

Emerald

Emerald green is really underrated. We often see chartreuse, more lemon-lime greens, or really green-teal kind of shades, but it’s harder to find more balanced green-hues, especially from major brands. It’s one of my favorite colors because it can lean warmer or cooler depending on what it is paired with.

Colors I’d include: rich, medium green with slight, warmer undertones with a soft, metallic sheen; light-medium green with very subtle yellow undertones and a matte finish (think deeper than pastel green but not mid-tone); light mint green with slightly warm-leaning undertones and a pearl finish; rich emerald green with a sparkling, metallic finish; deep, slightly muted forest green with cool undertones and a matte finish.

Sugar Sugar Eyeshadow Palette

Sugar Sugar

For the most part, I start playing with the colors and tones first, and then a name might come to me (though sometimes a theme, like Galaxy, inspires the colors); this was one of those where I wanted romantic pinks and plums that weren’t too pale but weren’t too red/plum either. It is kind of funny but when I “design” these mockups, I tend to think about what’s actually doable in the industry so I’ll find ways around more troublesome types of colors if I can!

Colors I’d include: deeper pink with subtle, warm undertones (the type that could almost look cool-toned based on someone’s undertones and what it was next to) and a pearly sheen; mid-tone, dusty pink (much more pink than mauve) with a matte finish; light-medium pink with warmer, rosier undertones–more warm brown than gold/orange–and peach and gold shimmer with a metallic sheen; smoky, plummy mauve with flecks of gold and violet sparkle; and deepened plum with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish.

Starry Night Eyeshadow Palette

Starry Night

One of the color combos I’ve come to love is a mix of gold and blue, which I think doesn’t always sound like it’ll work, but it can end up quite beautiful. A lot of the ones I’ve played with have included copper as well, but I thought I’d try playing with mint green as companions with the cooler, greenish-gold shade as the “pop” of color.

Colors I’d include: smoky, cornflower blue that leans almost violet with a peary sheen; mid-tone aqua with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish; light-medium, springy green with subtle, warm undertones and a brighter, metallic sheen; rich, greenish-gold with a sparkling, metallic finish; deep, vivid blue (I don’t want it to be a blackened blue!) with strong, cool (almost purple) undertones and a matte finish.

Taupe Enough Eyeshadow Palette

Taupe Enough

Taupe, how I adore thee, and yet there aren’t nearly enough of them out there, especially grayer, cooler, more neutral ones. We tend to see plummy-taupes (almost like a mix of mauve and brown) or golden taupes (not quite brown, not quite true taupe).

Colors I’d include: medium-dark platinum with a bright, shiny finish; light-medium grayish-taupe with neutral undertones (expect it to go on a bit deeper than it appears in the pan); light-medium, cool beige with flecks of fine silver and gold micro-shimmer; deep, smoldering taupe with subtle, cooler undertones and flecks of subtle sparkle over a metallic finish; deep-dark taupe with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish.

Violet Lullaby Eyeshadow Palette

Violet Lullaby

I suspect this is the least realistic as these types of purples are difficult to achieve, presently, without getting marked as “pigment” (as the ingredients that give the richness in purple aren’t allowed for use on the immediate area, at least in the US), but I can dream, right? Purple, purple, purple in delicious, monochromatic dreams.

Colors I’d include: vivid, medium-dark violet with subtle, cool undertones and a pearly sheen; mid-tone lavender with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish; pale, silvery lilac with flecks of gold and periwinkle sparkle; intense, smoldering pink-purple base with flecks of pink-to-gold shifting sparkle; and a deep, slightly subdued, violet purple with cool undertones and a matte finish.

Three Urban Decay Eyeshadow Palettes I Want to See

Christine — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 18:23:53 +0000

Today, Urban Decay confirmed the upcoming Naked Cherry palette, which features a variety of pink-leaning hues, in their signature 12-pan format. As I was reacting, it also got me thinking about how much I’d love to see Urban Decay reveal a new book, rather than continue to turn the pages in their Naked range. I’m fan of most of the Naked range, and I like how they’re permanent and make neutral eyes readily available. But as a long-time Urban Decay fan, I am also dying for them to consider richer, deeper, and less neutral-hues in palettes that aren’t just released during the holidays. Palettes that are cohesive, travel-friendly, and available year-round. I think of it as a complement to Naked rather than a replacement.

Yep, she’s legit — swipe to check out the full sultry collection and stay tuned for more juicy details ??? #UrbanDecay #NakedCherry #Makeup #Beauty #NewMakeup

A post shared by Urban Decay Cosmetics (@urbandecaycosmetics) on Sep 4, 2018 at 7:00am PDT

It must have been that rainbow eye makeup I did this morning that had me diving into Photoshop to create my own dream palettes, and here’s where I went… I’d called it the Velvet line-up, which is a tie to the brand’s own Velvet eyeliners that are deeper, smokier takes on their original eyeliner range.

P.S. — My philosophy shows a bit as perfecting brow bone highlighters and transition shades is tricky to please a universal audience (due to diverse skin tones), so while I wanted to include shades I could see being used in the crease, above it, and possibly on the brow bone, if one needs to bring in a lighter brow bone or transition shade, I think that still makes each palette very versatile.

Velvet Vale

I think earthy, more green-leaning neutral palettes are hard to find in permanent options, and Urban Decay makes some fabulous greens so I know they could do it justice. The more forest-like greens are grounded by neutrals that have been slightly desaturated and are more yellow- and olive-based than orange- or red-based). As always, a mix of depths and finishes to create a cohesive selection of shades.

Velvet Opulence

This is my ode to the metallic and jewel-toned shades that I always gravitate toward. I’ve designed this one so that it looks like two palettes in one, which, I believe, makes it easier to see possible color combinations as there are two color stories (half and half, if you will) but that if you stretch your imagination, you’ll see plenty of possibilities mixing and matching between the two sides. This is a palette that tries to weave cool and warm, light and dark, metallic and matte into one bold, eye-catching palette.

Velvet Empress

To me, the Velvet range isn’t necessarily about being brighter or colorful but richer overall, whether that’s in the saturation or is the depth or the inherent lack of typical neutrals. I think this straddles a line between Naked and where I’d want to take Velvet as a series because plums and mauves are often included here and there within neutral palettes. I feel like they’re the new neutrals. They’re more approachable than bright blues for more people, they offer a little pop and oomph, but they’re easier to use together whether it’s only a couple of shades or half a dozen in a look. This palette combined cooler, purplish and purplish-taupe shades along with slightly warmer, more mauve and plum hues across a mix of finishes and depths.

Where would you like to see Urban Decay go with their palettes?

5 Eyeshadow Palettes I'd Love to See ColourPop to Release

Christine — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 17:30:23 +0000

ColourPop Treasures & Trinkets Eyeshadow Palette

Last week, I posted swatches of ColourPop’s newest eyeshadow palette, Give It to Me Straight, and the comments were pretty telling: give us something that isn’t warm neutrals. It got me thinking about what kind of palettes ColourPop (or any other brand!) could put out, and I was inspired to try my hand at making a few 12-pan color combinations as well. I’ll say that it’s a lot harder to visualize a palette in my mind and put it to “paper” in a cohesive, organized way. I think I would be better able to put something together if I had say, 100 eyeshadows on a table, and then I could choose, arrange, and keep re-arranging until satisfied. When I thought about possibilities, I tried to go for a mix of cooler, more muted, and more colorful shades that we haven’t seen as much of.

I’d love to hear from you — breakdown a 12-pan palette you’d like to see; describe the colors and textures as you see them or mockup your own image!

ColourPop Treasures & Trinkets Eyeshadow Palette

Treasures & Trinkets

This concept was inspired by jewel-tones and the shades that might play well with them–like emerald, sapphire, jade, amethyst, and so on. I wanted it to be usable on its own, but I see it paired with someone’s go-to transition and brow bone shades.

ColourPop The Woodlands Eyeshadow Palette

The Woodlands

If you know me, you’ll know that I love green… and in all forms–bright, chartreuse greens to deep olives to green-golds and everything in-between. I wanted something a little monochromatic but with a play between cool and warm undertones with a variety in depth and finish.

ColourPop Amaranthine Eyeshadow Palette

Amaranthine

I love mauves, plums, and tuapes, and this palette is about mixing the two for something sultry, smoky, and muted but still with dimension with an assortment of pearl to metallic shimmer and mattes.

ColourPop No Less than Dazzling Eyeshadow Palette

No Less than Dazzling

This was a variation on jewel-tones with more brilliance and luster–the metallics would be really shiny and smooth on the lid with a few of the shimmery shades having a satin-to-pearl, lit-from-within quality.

ColourPop On a Summer Breeze Eyeshadow Palette

On a Summer Breeze

I wanted something with a little pop and warmth but still more focused on color without being neon with really intense, rich metallic and shiny finishes.