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Maybelline Reformulated Their Eyeshadow Palettes

by Rachel Nussbaum

It feels like a million years ago that palettes were breaking news in the beauty world, but throwback to those innocent times. Come, take a stroll to yesteryear: Urban Decay's Naked franchise, Too Faced's Peanut Butter, and the drugstore counterparts that came through to deliver max color options at an affordable price. Who doesn't remember side-for-side googling Maybelline's Blushed Nudes palette for dupe status? With color schemes that nail every "gentle smoke" genre, Maybelline's palettes excel at shadows that can play from easy washes to full on smoke screen. And thanks to a just-announced reformulation, they're about to get better than ever.

Urban Decay Naked Palette, $54, Sephora; Too Faced Peanut Butter & Jelly Eyeshadow Palette, $36, Ulta; Maybelline Blushed Nudes Palette, $7, Amazon

The word "reformulation" always shoots fear into my change-hating heart, but zero worries, it's all good things — here's what's different about Maybelline's reformulated eyeshadow palettes. Buttery shadows are par for the prestige brand course, but the same doesn't always hold true for drugstore options. It's a hit or miss game, and Maybelline's reformulation takes it square on with stronger pigmentation and increased blendability, according to the brand's Instagram announcement. The swatches check out — these guys look luscious as heck.

The brand's post says all of their existing palettes are getting the reboot, highly exciting news given the range already available. Blushed Nudes, Graffiti Nudes, Rock Nudes — truly choices for the picking.

Prices, as ever, are gloriously low — $9.99 for 12 shadows, a.k.a. about $.83 per shadow, a.k.a. yeah, definitely, distract your shopping companions with a clever decoy while you snatch these from the display ASAP.

Maybelline The Blushed Nudes, $7, Amazon; Maybelline The 24K Nudes, $9, Amazon; Maybelline The Rock Nudes, $9, Amazon; Maybelline The Nudes, $7, Target

I will say the brand's naming choices make me smile, what with the enigmatic "Nudes" moniker for everything. "24k Nudes" — otherwise known as jewel tones. Then again, love a theme. And what is nude, to a color ~chameleon? Really makes you think.

Also, obviously, packaging couldn't matter less. It's about what's on the inside!! In life and shadows, and when you see these babies in action, playful names matter less than their mega-pigmentation.

Excellent news on the drugstore front with this reformulation, and another choice move from Maybelline. Within the brand, it's hard to do wrong these days — their Dream Cushion Luminous Liquid Foundation kills it, their cream shadows define ride or die, and their matte lipsticks shine, to get paradoxical with it. Their good rep precedes them, and there's nothing like an old fave coming back better than ever.

Maybelline Dream Cushion Luminous Liquid Foundation, $12, Amazon; Maybelline 24 Hour Eyeshadow, $5, Amazon; Maybelline New York Color Sensational Creamy Mattes Lipstick, $5, Amazon