Natasha Denona Palette 03 Eyeshadow Palette Review & Swatches

Palette 03

Natasha Denona Palette 03 Eyeshadow Palette 5 ($48.00 for 0.4 oz.)

Back story: I purchased all of the 5-pan palettes a few months ago to re-review because if there’s a brand that has a more constant, evolving formula… it is Natasha Denona (the ingredient list is substantially different today compared to the original release and even from a few years ago). I have better experiences with the more updated formulas, so it seemed like a good way to test the current formula as well as get updated swatches. This week, the brand is running buy one, get one free on the 5-pan palettes… so… here we are… frantically reviewing them! Leave a comment with which one of the original 13 you are most desperate to see re-reviewed, and I will endeavor to make it so!

Palette 03

8.5

Product

9.5

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

8.5

Longevity

4.5

Application

88%

Total

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Steel Blue (11V)

Steel Blue (11V) is a muted, medium blue with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish. It had medium color coverage that was buildable to mostly opaque coverage with a second layer. The texture was finely-milled, smooth, and almost velvety, but the Creamy Matte formula is superior to this one because this shade had a tendency to sheer out and had some fallout during application. I’d recommend using a lighter hand to minimize fallout (as well as excess kicked up in the pan). It lasted well for eight hours on me before I noticed slight fading.

The newer version seemed a bit darker and less cool-toned, and while it had a more finely-milled, silkier feel to the touch, there was still a similar level of powderiness and a tendency to sheer out. The newer version was still quite a bit better than the one I had previously (which was rated an F).

Top Dupes

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MAC Blk-ish (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Marc Jacobs Beauty The Free Spirit No. 14 (LE, ) is more pigmented, warmer, better quality (90% similar).
Viseart Sky (Cool Mattes 2 #7) (P, ) (90% similar).
Makeup Geek Stealth (P, $6.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Sephora Storm (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
MAC Linger Softly (DC, $21.00) is lighter (85% similar).
MAC A Sprinkle of Blues #2 (PiP, $21.00) is more shimmery (85% similar).
NYX Leather and Studs (P, $4.50) is darker, warmer (80% similar).
Hello Kitty Playdate (LE, ) is warmer (80% similar).
LORAC Denim (LE, $19.00) is cooler (80% similar).

View Swatches

Steel Blue (11V)

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

8.5

Longevity

4.5

Application

82%

Total

Chromatic (04M)

Chromatic (04M) is a bright, light silver with cool undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish. It had rich color coverage in a single layer with a fairly smooth, lightly creamy texture that was dense without being overly emollient. The denseness helped bind the larger sparkles with the rest of the product so there was very little fallout. It wore well for eight and a half hours on m and had a smidgen of fallout over time.

It appeared slightly deeper with more dimensional shimmer/micro-sparkle through it, so it looked more metallic. The texture felt a bit more sparkly to the touch, so not as “smooth” in that sense compared to the original, and it also had less slip (in a good way, in my experience!).

Top Dupes
Formula Overview

Top Dupes

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NARS Creeper (LE, $25.00) is more muted (95% similar).
Tarte Flask (P, $14.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
MAC Silver Coin (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
Chanel Tisse Ombre de Lune #2 (PiP, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Fenty Beauty Slush Fund (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
Kat Von D Moonshine (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
MAC Tattle-Tale (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Sleek MakeUP Pretty in Paris (LE, $9.99) is lighter (90% similar).
Melt Cosmetics Indica (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Linda Hallberg Cosmetics Illusion (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).

View Swatches

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.

Chromatic (04M)

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

92%

Total

Metallic Steel Blue (11M)

Metallic Steel Blue (11M) is a muted, medium-dark blue with cool undertones and a soft, metallic sheen. It had nearly opaque color coverage in one layer, which could be built up to full coverage with less than half of a layer more. The consistency was smooth to the touch, but it was a little dense and somewhat firm, which made it work best with a flat, synthetic brush and pressing/pushing motions on the lid to get an even lay down of product. It stayed on nicely for eight hours before fading visibly on me.

The color was just about the same (possibly a smidgen darker), while the texture was more blendable, slightly softer but not as thick/heavy on. It was similar to the previous version in terms of overall performance, too.

Top Dupes
Formula Overview

Top Dupes

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Illamasqua Alluvium (P, $25.50) is less shimmery (95% similar).
Viseart Bijoux Royal #8 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
NARS Underworld II (PiP, $19.00) is lighter, more muted, cooler (90% similar).
Chanel Tisse Jazz #3 (LE, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
MAC Celestial Peak (LE, $17.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
Stila Denim (LE, $18.00) is darker (85% similar).
Fyrinnae Mermaid Masquerade (P, $8.50) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
Viseart Sapphire (PiP, ) is more muted (85% similar).
BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes 2 #24 (PiP, ) is darker, brighter, cooler (85% similar).
MAC Moon's Reflection (DC, $17.00) is lighter (85% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$29.00/0.08 oz. - $362.50 Per Ounce

Browse all of our Natasha Denona Metallic Eye Shadow swatches.

Metallic Steel Blue (11M)

Product

9.5

Pigmentation

Texture

8.5

Longevity

4.5

Application

86%

Total

Smoke (65V)

Smoke (65V) is a muted, deepened bluish-gray with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish. The eyeshadow had decent pigmentation that was buildable to full coverage with less than a second layer. The texture was lightly powdery in the pan, but it applied evenly and blended out without too much effort. It lasted well for eight hours before showing signs of fading on my eye.

The newer version was grayer, cooler-toned, and a bit darker. It blended out more readily, lasted longer, and felt silkier, but it had a similar level of powderiness.

Top Dupes

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NARS Transvaal (P, $25.00) is warmer, glossier (90% similar).
Marc Jacobs Beauty Make Sure (PiP, ) is darker, brighter, cooler (90% similar).
MAC Nehru (DC, $17.00) is darker (85% similar).
Natasha Denona Fata Morgana (LE, ) is less shimmery, brighter, cooler (85% similar).
NYX Shameless (P, $4.50) is darker (85% similar).
theBalm #26 (P, $6.50) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
Urban Decay Dagger (PiP, $19.00) is cooler (85% similar).
Chanel Quintessence #9 (LE, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
MAC Grey Horizon (LE, $17.00) is darker (80% similar).
Natasha Denona Python (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (80% similar).

View Swatches

Smoke (65V)

8.5

Product

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

88%

Total

Cloudy Blue (17M)

Cloudy Blue (17M) is a medium, cooler blue base with warmer, green-to-gold shifting shimmer that gave it a more frosted finish. The texture was drier with light dustiness, and it definitely felt “dried out” compared to the original, but with a dampened brush, I was able to get more depth and better application. It had opaque pigmentation in a single layer but there was a bit of fallout. This shade wore well for eight hours on me before fading visibly.

This was one of the few shades that I felt went backwards, even though it lasted better on bare skin, the coverage was weaker with a drier texture that didn’t adhere as well as the older formula did for me. It lost some of its dimension as a result, too.