Hello there!
I've bought a lot of palettes in the past year - 11 to be exact, which is roughly one a month. But the one that really stood out to me was the Dope Nude palette, which I picked up on a whim without much expectation.
Meet the Dope Nude palette.
Getting to know the product.
I'm not super familiar with the brand, but I do know it was created by a makeup artist, and I've only seen reviews from Nastya Nami, so my opinion of the brand is pretty much based on her thoughts.
I bought this palette on VTB for 3700 rubles, and now it's available on Zavtra for 3780 rubles, plus promo codes and other discounts. The palette itself weighs 19 grams and doesn't have any specific shade breakdown. It's made in China.
Unboxing and Design. The packaging isn't exactly impressive. The box had a plastic cover that I had to remove to check the palette's integrity (some people complain that the shadows get damaged, and one person even had a broken mirror). The box itself has a bare minimum of information, and the text is tiny - I had to squint to read the important stuff.
The palette itself is pretty understated - a small, silver brick. It opens with a magnet and a pin, but the latch is really annoying - it's always slightly ajar. Inside, there's a decent mirror that I use to apply my eyeshadow.
Shades and Swatches.
I've got 12 shades to play with, but unfortunately, they're not labeled. Six of them are matte, two are satin, and four are sparkly. I'll show you the swatches up close, but basically, the formulas are all pretty similar.
The golden sparkle effect is amazing - it's like a billion tiny glittering specks. The main color is a warm, sunny yellow, but there's also a lot of silver in there. The sparks come in all different sizes, which creates a seriously impressive, three-dimensional finish. The base color is transparent, but the sheer number of glitter particles gives it a rich, dense look. I did notice that all the sparkles do tend to shed, so it's best to apply it with your finger and seal it quickly.
I was really impressed by the warm matte shade for shading. I agree with Natasha that the palette is designed in a way that makes it easy to use the shades as a gradient. And, as it turns out, this is a shading shade for the warm sector.
The matte shades have a similar finish - they're thin, silky, and blend beautifully. They're also very minimal in terms of fallout, and I don't need to tap them off. They apply smoothly to the skin and never leave any harsh lines that are hard to blend out (I once forgot to prime my skin and ended up with a big stain - but that's a different story!). You can build them up to a high intensity without looking like you're wearing a ton of product - the coverage remains thin and beautiful.
I won't compare them to Huda Beauty or Urban Decay - they're different, and I can tell the difference just by looking at them. But these shadows are definitely worthy of being right up there with the best!
The medium matte shade is great for blending out harsh lines. It's quite warm on me, so I often pair it with the second medium shade, which is a bit cooler, to create a more neutral look. But overall, it's perfect for a quick, everyday neutral look.
4. Hands down, the most beautiful sparkle. It already has a noticeable brown base, but it's more like a backing than setting the tone for the eyeshadow, which some might. The same billion sparkles, mostly cold silver, give it a fantastic contrast. You need to see it in bright artificial lighting or on a flash, it's a total game-changer, I've shown it as much as I can, but trust me, it's a miracle.
5. Neutral satin. I wouldn't call it cold, but it's definitely not warm. It gets blended in the pan, but doesn't fall apart. It's a good workhorse, you can apply it quickly with a brush and get a nice, pretty eyeshadow look. Without sparkles, the satin finish gives a smooth, calm, and beautiful effect on the eyes.
6. Light matte, from the warm side. I use it sparingly, mainly to tone down something or soften the outer corner. It's not particularly special, but if I forget my powder, it'll do the trick.
7. The most laid-back sparkle. And the darkest, it has a pronounced gray undertone, but the sparkles are smooth. It still shines and quite strongly, but lacks depth, the sparkles are one-toned and small. I'd use it more often if it weren't too dark of a base.8. I was a bit worried about the 'conditionally cold dark matte' shade, but it's actually a total winner. It does an amazing job of toning down the outer corner of my eyes without looking too grey or harsh on my makeup.
9. The 'smoky cool brown' shade is another great one - it's not too grey and looks amazing on its own or mixed with the third shade to add depth and neutrality. For me, it's a bit too dark on its own, but it's perfect for a dark smoky eye look. I love how this palette is so logical in terms of the shades.
10. The second sparkle shade is similar to the first, but with a semi-transparent brown base and lots of tiny brown glitter particles. It's not my favorite, but it's still a great addition to the palette.
11. The warm brown satin shade is another great option - it's not too red or orange, but more of a golden brown. I don't love it on its own, but it looks amazing mixed with a lighter satin shade. It's a bit too dark to use on its own, but it's a great addition to the palette for when I want to add a bit of warmth and depth to my look.12. I'm really loving the light, neutral matte finish. It's in the cooler, more brown end of the spectrum, but it's still a pretty cool brown without any grey undertones. I don't often reach for it just because, but when I do, it's great for subtle, everyday looks. The pigment is pretty strong, so it's not great for creating a super thin, nude look with a light satin finish.
Longevity
I apply all my eyeshadows in a simple, everyday order: base, powder, matte eyeshadow, glue, and satin/sparkle. And the result is that my eyeshadows stay put all day on my hooded eyes without getting greasy, even on the most oily skin. The mattes don't get dull or develop any creases by the evening, and the satins and sparkles don't budge or fall off during wear.
Makeup
I have to admit, my eyeshadow palette isn't the most diverse, and I haven't been experimenting with it as much as I should be. But I do love using it for everyday looks, and I've been reaching for it a lot lately.
1.
Shades 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 12.
1112.I've got to say, I'm really loving the color options on this product. The shades 5, 9, and 12 are my top picks.
2223.Shades 2, 3, 5, 6, and 11 are also looking great to me.
3334.Lastly, I'm really enjoying the combination of shades 2, 3, and 4.
4445.These swatches - 1, 2, 3, 6, 10 - are where things started to get a bit wonky for me.
555When I started snapping pics, I noticed that some of the shades looked a bit uneven or super graphic - and I'm blaming the camera for that. Trust me, in real life, they looked way better than these pics suggest!Do I like the product?I'm going to say it straight out - this product has made it to my favorites of the year. The color palette is super versatile, the sparkles are gorgeous, and the satin finish is totally on point. I can do my makeup in under two minutes with my non-dominant foot, the textures are non-irritating, and it's super long-lasting. For me, it's a perfect everyday base for a quick morning routine.
Would I recommend it for purchase?
Yeah, especially if you get it at ZYA with a promo code - I managed to snag it for around 2800-2900, and that's a pretty sweet deal.
Thanks for reading!