Natasha Denona Pastel Palette Swatches

Finally getting around to posting swatches of the Natasha Denona Pastel Palette. Out of the 15 shades, 8 of them are matte (with half being creams and the other half being powders) and 7 of them are shimmers. Some shimmers are nothing but fine particles and a some have larger sparkles mixed in. 

The creamy mattes are sheerer than the powder mattes and the shimmers have a somewhat thicker texture to them that requires some building up. 

I’ve had this for like (maybe?) a month or so and I’ve worn it about 10 times but I’m still unsure how I feel about the quality and shade selection. This has been a very distracting month and that has gotten in the way of putting the time and attention into this palette that I’ve wanted to.

Tulle (creamy powder) is a warm light pink with a finish that is lies somewhere between a matte and a satin. On the lid, it might as well be used as a matte but it has the slightest sheen to it. It is slightly warmer than Feather but the two aren’t all that different from each other. This one looks a bit dry on the lid. Seems a bit more pigmented than the other creamy powders.

Illusion has a clear base with a pinkish red sheen. The way it reflects light isn’t very shiny but more flat/deadened giving the feel of a warm misty glow. Similar to Red Giant from Terra Moons Cosmetics, which has a much stronger, warmer, and more obvious red tone and reflection to it. All small particles, feels pretty creamy and smooth to the touch. Picks up easily, no noticeable shimmer fallout.

Mint Frost is a light teal shimmer with lots of larger silver sparkles. Somewhat thicker creamy feel to it. Swatches with good color payoff but doesn’t pick up super heavily on a brush. Needs a few layers if using a brush to apply. Good amount of visible sparkle and shine on the lid and shows up well when used over or next to deeper shades. Not too much sparkle fallout for the type of shade that it is.

Bora (creamy powder) is a medium matte orchid. This looks way lighter and more pink on the skin than it does in the pan. Takes a while to apply because I have to build it up, going into the pan MANY times to pick up color. It looks nice once applied, sits nicely on the skin, blends out smoothly and you really don’t need a transition with it at all, but it does take longer to use these creamy shadows than it does with the regular powder formula.

Dainty has a pale, icy pink base with large gold sparkles. This looks darker in the pan than it does on the eye. Very similar in texture and feel to Mint Frost. Applied with a brush, I don’t get that much fallout but if I apply with my finger I get a LOT of sparkle fallout. Adheres easily both over the creamy powders and regular powder mattes.

Brisk (regular powder matte) is a pale mint green. It applies better and more evenly over a primer than over bare lids. I wore this prominently all over the lid one day but did not take photos. I remember it not adhering well to just my skin alone. Builds up well though.

Adriatic is similar to Mint Frost but has no larger sparkle in it. It has a little bit of a brighter green hue and a subtle golden sheen in some lighting conditions. Similar formula as Illusion. Good color payoff, applies and builds up easily with a brush.

Starlet has a bright coral base with lots of large gold sparkle. Sparkle fallout is a bit heavier with this shade than the other sparkly shimmers, especially if I use my finger to apply it. Using a brush, I get much less fallout.

Bellini (regular powder matte) is a very bright, bordering neon, peach. It applies the same way that the other powder mattes do, working better when applied over a primer. But it does have better color payoff than similar shades I’ve tried in other palettes.

Bubble (creamy powder) is one of the sheerest shades in the palette, requiring lots of building to get the same level of opacity as most of the other shades. It is similar to Airy but more purple toned and a different formula (that one is a powder matte). This one also sits nicely on the skin without looking dry or patchy. 

Limoncello is a pale yellow shimmer with larger blue sparkles. Applied by itself or over another light warm matte shade, it appears more yellow and the blue sparkles are less noticeable. If I apply this over one of the cooler toned shades (like Bubble or Airy) or over a deep shade from another palette, the blue sparkles stand out more. Fallout is reasonable.

Duet has a light pink base with a fairly strong blue sheen. It is sheer enough and light enough that I can use this as a brow bone highlight but it also works very well to top deeper shades on the center of the lid. All small particles, smooth finish.

Airy (regular powder matte) is slightly warmer than Bubble. The two probably didn’t need to both be in this palette but they are different enough depending on what you want to use them for.

Zest (creamy powder) is a very light greenish yellow. This is the driest looking on the skin of all the creamy powder shades and to me this looks much more yellow on the skin than it does in the pan.

Feather (regular powder matte) is a pale pinky purple. This looks more pink the pan. On the lid, it looks more purple and isn’t all that far off in depth from Bora if they are both used together.