Awhile back, I posted a picture of my Z-Palette on our Instagram and I asked if y’all were interested in learning about my favorite single shadows. I have a lot of them, so I’m sorry it took awhile! In fact, this is only Part I, as this particular Z-Palette is double-sided, so I have a ton of shades I love on the back of this palette as well! But as you can see, there are a ton of colors on the front side, so we have plenty to talk about today.
All of my single shadows in this palette are either from Colourpop or Makeup Geek. I think both companies make amazing products and I think the quality is pretty much equal. Colourpop is actually a few dollars cheaper, which is nice, but nothing can touch Makeup Geek foiled shadows. They are so buttery, shiny and I don’t know any other shadows like them! They are a bit more expensive than their regular shadows at $10 each, but they are just totally gorgeous. I usually use a finger to just pat them on my lid, as that works better than a brush for the best color payoff.
Basics
Makeup Geek Vanilla Bean ($6): Light Shimmer with Peachy Beige Undertone
Makeup Geek Peach Smoothie ($6): Soft peachy orange with a matte finish
The first shadow in the palette is essentially a bone color shade I can set my eyeshadow primer with. It basically matches my skin tone, which is why you can’t see it in the swatch picture. The description says that Vanilla Bean has a light shimmer but it’s more of a satin/matte finish – it’s not really shimmery. Peach Smoothie is a great transition shade for more neutral looks, so I use both of these shades a ton. These are probably the first shades I’ll hit pan on.
Duochromes/Foiled Neutrals
First Row:
Colourpop Pep Talk (No longer for sale): Icy metallic peach. (Makeup Geek Cinderella ($6) is similar but currently sold out.)
Makeup Geek Mai Tai ($6): Apricot base with orchid reflects.
Colourpop Play by Play ($4): Duochrome peach with a green gold flip
Colourpop Rosé All Day ($4): Metallic vibrant chartreuse
Second Row:
Makeup Geek In The Spotlight ($10): Soft pink with coral undertones and a foiled finish
Makeup Geek Magic Act ($10): Muted medium gold with a foiled finish
Makeup Geek Grandstand ($10): Medium coppery brown with a foiled finish
Makeup Geek Legend ($10): Warm bronze with a foiled finish
I really like the top row of shades for a fun duochrome inner corner highlight or adding a pop to the center of the lid. Pep Talk is more of a pinky shimmery shade that I like for an inner corner highlight when I’m wearing a red look. I wear the foiled shades all the time, especially on the weekends for sort of a one and done kind of look if I want to look like I’m trying a bit but I don’t actually want to try too hard. My favorite is to use Grandstand all over with a touch of In the Spotlight right in the center, and a light transition shade like Frappe (below in Neutrals) in the crease. It looks gorgeous and makes my eyes pop.
Greens
Colourpop Sideline ($4): Duochrome eggplant with a green flip
Makeup Geek Envy ($6): Deep metallic green
Colourpop Team Captain ($4): Matte medium olive
Makeup Geek Take Two ($10): olive green with a foiled finish
I love wearing green eyeshadows so I’ve slowly been acquiring different finishes and textures of green shadows so I have a bit of variety. I also really like using a bit of Rosé All Day (Duochromes above) in the inner corner, Team Captain in the crease, Take Two all over the lid and Envy to deepen up the outer corner a bit.
Pinks/Reds
First Row:
Colourpop Labyrinth ($4): Matte dusty pink
Makeup Geek Cherry Cola ($6): Deep brown with strong red undertones and a matte finish.
Makeup Geek Curtain Call ($10): Cranberry red with a foiled finish
Second Row:
Colourpop Get Out ($4): Matte cool cranberry
Makeup Geek Bitten ($6): Matte deep maroon red
Makeup Geek Americano ($6): Dark brown with subtle purple undertones and a matte finish
I am the queen of the red/pink eye look – in fact, my friend and I coined it, “The Lauren.” I love using Labyrinth in the crease, Get Out a bit lower in the crease, Bitten all over and using Cherry Cola or Americano to deepen up the look. I will occasionally use Curtain Call in the center of the lid to give it a pop of red. Curtain Call is a foiled shade so it’s so bright and shiny and makes any look more dramatic and fun.
Neutrals
First Row:
Makeup Geek Lucky Penny ($6): Medium rose brown with a shimmery finish.
Colourpop Popular Demand ($4): Matte red brown
Makeup Geek Frappe ($6): Medium maple brown with a demi-matte finish. Note: Frappe has microscopic shimmer particles, but functions as a matte when applied
Makeup Geek Dessert Sands ($6): Medium camel brown with warm yellow undertones and a matte finish.
Second Row:
Makeup Geek Morocco ($6): Rich, burnt orange with a matte finish
Makeup Geek Chickadee ($6): Matte Yellow Orange
Makeup Geek Cocoa Bear ($6): Matte reddish brown
It’s obviously important to have neutral shades in your arsenal as well. I like mixing up my looks but I like having these basics that I can mix in and match with each other, in addition to the shades above. I like using Chickadee as a transition shade to make things a little different than just a regular neutral. Dessert Sands is a nice transition shade to work with the green shades above. Cocoa Bear is the most gorgeous brown shade, and I use Frappe as a neutral transition all the time as well.
As mentioned previously, this Z-Palette has two sides, so I’ll be back later to discuss the shades on the other side of my Z-Palette in a future blog, since this one is clearly long enough! Let me know what you think about my fave single shadows – did any of your favorites make the cut? Are you going to start your own Z-Palette? Let me know in the comments below!
xo,
Lauren
Purchased; all opinions are my own
Post contains affiliate links
laurenelectro
A self-proclaimed beauty junkie/hoarder with a serious Sephora problem. This blog is a total rationalization of that problem. Everything is TOTALLY fine. Her free time is a mixed combination of making fun of reality TV with her husband, hanging out with cats and finally trying to figure out how to do her hair.