Ranking my Natasha Denona Palettes
I’ve been wanting to post this ranking for awhile but have put it off because there are a few Natasha Denona palettes on my wish list (and she just released a sneak peek at the next palette that will be dropping in early November). But who knows when or if I will get around to purchasing them and so I decided to go ahead and sit down and rank the ones I have now. This ranking wasn’t as hard as some of my others, like my Pat McGrath or my ColourPop - both of which I will be updating soon. I knew exactly what my number one was and exactly what was at the bottom of the list. I just had to work out what filled out the middle.
8. Safari
When this palette was first released it was the one I THOUGHT would be my first ND palette. But then I saw reviews and I was scared off. This is probably Natasha’s worst reviewed palette. And for good reason. The formula leaves a LOT to be desired. I talked myself into buying it because it was half off online at Sephora and am SO glad I didn’t spend full price on it. A lot of the shades work just fine but the darker shades take a lot to look okay on the eye and even then they can still look a bit patchy. This palette features the first iteration of ND’s cream to powder formula. I am so happy that my first experiences with that formula were with two palettes where Natasha had perfected it. I’ve only used this palette twice because I just didn’t enjoy it but I may break it out and give it another shot.
7. Mini Gold
This palette is ranked low not because I dislike it but because I simply don’t reach for it very often. The formula is good and I love the color story. It’s just one of those palettes I never think to reach for.
6. Bronze
For me, Bronze was one of those palettes that you go back and forth on about buying and then buy it and think “I could have skipped this.” So why isn’t it ranked lower. WELL. The formula is fantastic. It’s simply not that inspiring of a color story for me. The shades are beautiful, easy to use and create gorgeous looks. And I food myself reaching for it a lot this past summer. But it’s a palette that I am pretty indifferent too overall because the looks are not so unique that they couldn’t be created with other palettes in my collection.
5. Mini Tropic
The original Tropic palette I found utterly boring with the exception of the bottom row. Conveniently the bottom row is what makes up the mini Tropic. And so I purchased that. The formula isn’t perfect but I find myself reaching for this more than I expected to. The lavender and turquoise shades are fantastic and while the metallics are not Natasha’s best they are workable and the colors stunning.
4. Sunrise
This was my first ever ND palette I purchased. And it is what made me want to buy more. The color story isn’t one I reach for often but the shades in this palette are pigmented, easy to blend and the metallics are stunning. The lighter metallics also work beautifully as highlighters.
3. Mini Retro
Mini Retro is such an unusual yet pretty color story. I reach for it when I am looking for a softer look but still want a but of color. I love the dusky pinks and will often do a quick two shade look with just those. I really hope that Natasha eventually releases a full sized Retro palette.
2. Gold
This was the second ND palette I purchased and my first of her full sized palettes. And before Metropolis it reigned at the number one spot. On first glance it doesn’t look like a versatile palette but it is. I’ve used this for simple everyday looks and extra glam looks for events. It’s come with me to out of town weddings. More than the metallics, I really love the mattes with their unusual mustard-y yellow undertones.
1. Metropolis
If you’ve been reading The Mod Woman since last fall you will know how much I adore this palette. It’s not only my favorite Natasha Denona palette but also one of my favorite palettes in my entire collection. I find it so inspiring and it contains one of my favorite eyeshadow formulas, Natasha’s cream to powder formula. The color story can be intimidating for some but it’s actually really easy to use and create looks with. I always recommend breaking the palette into sections or quads.
Okay gang, do you own any Natasha Denona palettes? If so which ones do you own and which are your faves?
