Favorite Eyeshadows of 2023
The palette made a big comeback in 2023, didn't it?
If there is one thing I can be accused of with no defense is buying and owning too much eyeshadow. 2023 was no different.
The “no duh”s:
I love blue eyeshadow. I love a Mimi from The Drew Carey Show moment. So I had a wonderful year, especially in fall and winter.
Cosmic Brushes Winter Wonderland took my breath away, not just in color story but in performance as well. I already knew I liked the CB formula, so I was not worried it would let me down, but blue and purple eyeshadow can topple even the mightiest of formulas and I am glad to report that Cosmic passed the test. How can you beat a duochrome and two multichromes in a 20 pan palette for $36?
Natasha Denona Midi Xenon was very divisive, and it seems some people were just figuring out that yeah, your undertone does affect how things look on you. I had no issues with this palette, and was excited about it since the leaks. I liked the Mini Xenon, the only issue I had was the black in the Mini being powdery and the lack of a true white - we were given a bone white instead. I am also a fan of topper shimmers, as too often I’ve completed the matte portion of an eye look and overestimate the depth of a shimmer and completely cover the mattes I spent 5 minutes blending. I wore this palette to 3 wedding events and got compliments each day.
The “really?”s:
Natasha Denona I Need A Nude was my personal shock of the year. I am that person who used to be able to say “no, I actually don’t own any nude neutrals” when people would ask the rhetorical who needs this. And with this palette, I can join the club and never wonder “but what if this is the one?” because THIS is my one. Once again featuring topper shimmers, I was so impressed by this release that it changed my mind on neutrals entirely. Well, almost, I’m still not clamoring for more.
Oden’s Eye Jewel Shine single shadows - I did what someone who has never tried a formula before should do - I waited to order expensive $15 singles until after others reviewed them. Except for the red Leon shade, I didn’t hear too much negative about the shadows on an individual basis. As in, the complaints were vague and general. So when there was a sale and I got the shades Olivia (light orange-pink) and Gabriel (grey green) I expected worse and was pleasantly surprised. Yes, they are oily. If it wasn’t for the prices, I’d order more.
Worth mentioning:
About Face Eye Paints - I own nearly every color. I keep one in my bag for finger application, and the rest I use as bases and they last all night, rarely crease, and don’t flake. I love their matte finish, and when more colors come out, I will keep buying them.
Beauty Bay Metaphoric - Oh wow, Janus, you’re a fan of Blues and Greys? Tell me something I don’t know. I’ve been iffy on BB’s shadow formula - the conversation online is very much in the same vein as Colourpop’s - it’s good for the price. And just like Colourpop, there are some people who say BB’s formula better than this or that luxe priced brand, and I just never found that to be the case. With that said, this is a great palette and I think it got lost in the sweep of grey and cool toned shadows hitting the market in late 2023. The shimmers are a bit flat and textureless, but they are high impact and I recommend it for anyone else who loves silvers and blues.
Rabanne mini palette in Back to Black - No one really talked about Rabanne releasing color cosmetics and it being available in Ulta. I received some of their products for Christmas, and now I keep this eyeshadow duo in my purse - the highest honor a product can have bestowed upon it. Is it the best black eyeshadow I have ever tried? No, but it blends easily with my finger or the one random brush I also keep in my purse, for that indie sleaze look TikTok has been demanding come back for over two years. They have a cream duo, which I plan on trying when there is another Ulta sale.