When I saved up enough money for a really nice eyeshadow palette to treat myself to, I used to check out YouTube for potential looks to create. YouTube taught me how to blend my eyeshadow, so they certainly can be the ones to teach me how to use my new palette too, right?
More often times than not, I have found some exquisite eyeshadow tutorials including shades featured in my new palette, but with a major catch; they not only use the palette I have just coveted, but also about five other colors from four different palettes of which I have not obtained.
I’m not made of money, people.
As much as I wish that I could pull up to Ulta and purchase even some duplicate eyeshadow palettes to the upscale ones used in these videos, I simply cannot afford to. That’s just the tragic reality of being a college student who is low on funds 200% of the time.
Eyeshadow palettes consist of a wide array of colors to use on our eyelids, so I’m just wondering why these tutorials abandon the selection of colors already present in a given palette to create a look. These eyeshadow colors are normally also of the same general hue; for instance, the Tarte “In Bloom” palette consists of various shades of copper. Another example occurs in Anastasia Beverly Hills’ “Modern Renaissance” palette, which includes shades primarily of intense pink, yellow, and black hues. Most of the time, these palettes deviate in terms of lightness and darkness, since they feature lighter shades to highlight the browbone or such, and respective darker shades to perhaps contour the lid with. It’s not like the ample range is not given in a single eyeshadow palette to complete multiple looks with; it certainly is.
I decided to channel the frustration I have stewed within me as a result of this matter in a way that is beneficial for those with struggle with their eyeshadow palettes.
Sometimes for me haphazardly blurbing eyeshadow on my eyelids from the recesses of my new palette does not always look appealing and I need someone to make sure I use it properly. For those who’ve been in this situation, I’m here to show you all that you can devise bomb looks with one palette only. Huzzah! Let’s begin.
I chose to derive the next several looks from Urban Decay’s “Naked 3” eyeshadow palette because I distinctly remember the adolescent uproar that ensued when this particular palette was released. This was the palette to own at one time because it helped coined the existence of rose gold a few years ago, and I imagine that many of you probably still possess it. This was also the palette of which I had the most difficulty in finding tutorials on how to use it.
I’ve prepped my eyelids with Urban Decay’s Original Eyeshadow Primer Potion. I use this eyelid primer because it not only keeps my eyeshadow intact all day, but also all of my eye makeup as a whole. This product is especially a godsend for people with oily eyelids like mine!
Look One: Cutesy Pink Sparkles
This is very much an everyday eyeshadow look that I often wear to class when I am dressed nicely. It is a simple, yet iridescent combination of colors that remind me of all that is good in the world. Apply the eyeshadows to these specific places on the eyelid to create the look:
- Blend “Limit” into the crease
- Blend “Buzz” into the outer lid
- Using a tapered brush, blend “Nooner” into the outer crease
- Pat “Dust” in the middle and inner corner of the eyelid
Look Two: A Passionate Peach
Due to my lusting after Too Faced’s “Sweet Peach” eyeshadow palette, I have attempted to create a subtle look using my Naked 3 palette inspired by the shades of Too Faced’s “Sweet Peach.” The photos do not do the gorgeous orangey-ness of the shade “Trick” justice, but trust me, it’s very peachy looking. Follow the steps below to achieve this look:
- Pat “Strange” all over your eyelid
- Blend “Burnout” into the crease
- Blend “Trick” into the outer lid
- Using a tapered brush, blend “Mugshot” into the outer crease
Look Three: Tainted Rose
The inspiration for this look came as a result of slightly darkening Look One. It is a more muted pink look that has darker mauve undertones of a matte consistency. This is one of my personal favorites; it’s versatile and can do for either a daytime or nighttime look. Take a look below to see how to create the impression of a tainted rose:
- Blend “Limit” into the crease
- Blend “Nooner” into the outer lid
- Brush “Liar” into your outer crease
- Pat “Buzz” directly onto the eyelid
Look Four: Some Nice Plum
Plum is a trendy color this fall, so I decided to base the following look off of the nice eggplant color that we all enjoy to wear during this time of year. I like to think that this look is intended for the purpose of going out, but you are more than welcome to rock the darkness of this look during the day, too. Seek some nice plum below:
- Blend “Nooner” into the crease
- Blend “Factory” into the outer lid
- Blend “Darkside” into the outer crease
- Pat “Liar” onto the eyelid
- Dab “Strange” into the center of your eyelid
Look Five: Warm, Glittering Mocha
Upon examining the Naked 3 palette from a distance, most of the darker shades appear to be of the same hue. I intend to counteract this belief in the following look, and prove to you all that the darker shades of this palette are indeed multidimensional with varied levels of sparkle in each individual color. We conclude this exploration of the Naked 3 Palette with the following sultry look:
- Blend “Nooner” into the crease
- Blend “Mugshot” into the outer lid and outer crease
- Dab “Factory” into the outer corner of the lid
Pat “Liar” into the innermost part/central area of the lid
And there you have it. 5 eyeshadow looks from one palette. Get on my level, YouTube Beauty Gurus.