Real vs. Steal: The Eyeshadow Palette Edition.
When it comes to makeup and great beauty products, we all have our splurges. Something about high end cosmetics is appealing, it’s the pigmentation or the packaging. I can’t decide. Repeat makeup purchases get pricey, and for some items (like eyeshadow), you can barely tell the difference when you find a quality affordable option. The Real vs. Steal series continues and this time I’m bringing you the best budget friendly alternatives for some of the most popular luxury palettes.
Who doesn’t love a good neutral palette? When it comes to creating easy, everyday looks, neutrals will win every time for me. The Tartelette Toasted Palette is a cult favorite amongst the beauty community, however, the ColourPop palettes are here to stay. The “whatever” shadow palette from ColourPop sports the same tonal family as the Toasted Palette, for literally half the price. The shadows are blendable, user-friendly, and contain several different eyeshadow textures so you can create everything from a soft and natural look to a full beat glam. (It’s also necessary that I mention ColourPop has a million more palettes with brighter shades, cool tones and more!)
Having a bright palette in your collection is crucial if you’re a total makeup maven. It totally transforms any look you’re creating, even if you’re only incorporating one color. They’re also perfect for creating more editorial, high-fashion looks. When Spring and Summer roll around, I love including a subtle hint of color in my looks for something a little unexpected. If you’re looking for a travel friendly palette with all the colors you’ll ever need, the Younique Shadow Palette 7 is the one for you. Although it has fewer shades, the Younique pigments apply just as vividly and beautifully as it’s high end counterpart, and blending is a dream with the formula. To add, you can mix colors to get any shade you want, and the packaging is a much higher quality than the plastic cover on the Viseart palette. For just a fraction of the price, you’ll be getting comparable quality and the best bang for your buck. Get it here.
3. Anastasia Contour Kit vs. NYX Highlight and Contour Pro Palette
Contour kits are probably one of the most expensive palettes you can purchase. With a million options on the market, it’s hard to sift through all of them and find your favorite. Luckily, there’s a drugstore option that blows many out of the water. Personally, I have tried the Anastasia contour kit, and although the shades are gorgeous and super natural, I found them to be a bit chalky and hard to blend. (Would NOT recommend for beginners or for those of us who can be heavy-handed!) I tried the NYX alternative, and absolutely adored it. It comes with so many more shades so I can transition my contour shades year round. The best part? It’s almost half the price and can be found at some drugstores!
4. Huda Beauty Rose Gold Remastered vs. I Heart Revolution Rose Gold Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Palette
This affordable option is literally a hidden gem. The I Heart Revolution line is absolutely incredible and they have products ranging from eyeshadow palettes, to powders and more. The Rose Gold Chocolate Bar is an amazing alternative to the coveted Huda Beauty Rose Gold Remastered Palette and the shades are so similar that the difference is undetectable on the eyes. The Chocolate Bar palette is extremely pigmented, buttery and easy to blend. It has everything from your everyday neutrals to fun pops of color and shimmer shades. You can create a myriad of different looks from just one palette.
5. Huda Beauty Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette in Amethyst vs. ColourPop “It’s my pleasure” Shadow Palette
If you’re a fan of the mini Huda Beauty Obsessions palettes, Colourpop has got you covered from now on. As gorgeous as these mini palettes are, I find the pans to be on the smaller size. The ColourPop alternative has very similar shades, and the quality is beyond amazing. ColourPop offers a variety of palettes that come in bright/neon colors as well, so you can find very similar shades to all the mini Huda ones. Also, they’re about half the price so you can stock up on more shadow without questioning the quality. For some of the ColourPop glitter and metallic shades, I highly recommend applying the shadow to your lid with a finger to get the most color pay off.
High end makeup will always have a place in my heart, but there’s nothing more fun than finding something that’s just as great for a fraction of the price. Makeup is all about experimenting, making it your own, and discovering what you feel most beautiful wearing. Don’t forget the most important rule: there are no rules!
Keep on glowing girl! xo
Do blondes really have more fun?
Maintaining this ashe-y blonde hue is an absolutely commitment. If you’re going to pursue this shade of blonde, you have to know what you’re signing up for. It’s been several years and lotsa dollars for me but I absolutely love it.