Hey you. Yes, you, standing there staring at your screen, trying to decide which Huda Beauty eyeshadow palette to buy. It’s confusing, isn’t it? One minute you’re looking at soft, pretty nudes, and the next you’re being pulled towards something called ‘Mercury Retrograde’ with colours you didn’t even know had names. Your basket is full, your budget is crying, and you still don’t know which one is truly you.
Take a deep breath. I’ve been exactly where you are. As a beauty writer who has tested more eyeshadow than I’ve had hot dinners, I can tell you that Huda’s palettes are some of the best out there. But with so many, choosing is a nightmare. That ends today.
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This is your simple, no-nonsense guide to finding your perfect Huda Beauty eyeshadow palette. We’re going to forget the hype and look at what each palette actually does, who it’s for, and how you’ll really use it. Whether you’re a makeup newbie or a seasoned pro, we’ll find your match. Let’s dive in.
Why Are Huda Beauty Palettes So Special Anyway?
Before we look at individual palettes, let’s understand why people go mad for them. It’s not just clever marketing.
- The Formula: Huda Kattar, the founder, famously spent two years perfecting her eyeshadow formula. The mattes are creamy, blendable, and buildable—not dusty or patchy. The shimmers and metallics? They’re often pressed pigments that feel almost wet. They give that intense, foiled, “look-at-me” shine with just your finger.
- The Colour Stories: Each palette tells a story. It’s not just a random bunch of colours thrown together. They are carefully curated to create complete looks, from day to night. The shades work together.
- The Pigment: You get what you pay for. These are highly pigmented shadows. A little goes a long way, which means the palette lasts for ages.
Right, now let’s meet the contenders. We’ll split them into families.
The “I Want Easy, Everyday Nudes” Family
You want something reliable. Something you can reach for every morning that makes you look put-together, whether you’re going to the office or the supermarket. You want to enhance your eyes, not paint a rainbow on them.
1. The Nude Obsessions Palettes (Mini)
These are the perfect starting point.
- What they are: A series of small, square, 9-pan palettes, each focused on a specific nude colour spectrum: Light, Medium, Rich, and Chocolate Brown.
- The Vibe: Simple, foolproof, and travel-friendly. Each has a mix of mattes, shimmers, and a glitter topper.
- Who it’s for: Beginners, makeup minimalists, or anyone who loves a curated, co-ordinated look without thinking. If you have fair to light skin, go for Nude Light. For light to medium skin, Nude Medium is stunning. For medium to deep skin, Nude Rich is your best friend. Chocolate Brown is a warm, smoky neutral dream for deeper skin tones.
- Find them here: Check out all the Nude Obsessions palettes at Cult Beauty
2. The New Nude Palette
The queen of sophisticated nudes.
- What it is: A large, 18-pan palette that redefined “nude.” It’s not just browns; it’s mauves, pinks, berries, and taupes.
- The Vibe: Romantic, luxurious, and artistic. It has incredible textured shades, including two unique “Pressed Glitter” toppers and a cream concealer base.
- Who it’s for: The nude-lover who wants more artistry. It’s for creating soft, rosy, ethereal looks. It’s brilliant for hazel, green, and brown eyes. If you want your nudes to have a dreamy, pinky-purple twist, this is it. (Note: The pressed glitters are for external use only—avoid the immediate eye area).
- Find it here: See the New Nude Palette at Selfridges
The “I Love Colour & Want to Play” Family
You look at a neutral palette and feel a bit bored. You want to express yourself. Your makeup is your art, and you’re not afraid of a little (or a lot of) colour.
3. The Mercury Retrograde Palette
The cult favourite for a reason.
- What it is: A 18-pan palette of dreamy, out-of-this-world pastels and muted brights.
- The Vibe: Euphoric, whimsical, and soft-focus. Think icy lilacs, mint greens, sky blues, and melted peaches. It’s colourful but wearable.
- Who it’s for: The colour-curious romantic. If you’re scared of bright colour, this is your gateway. The shades are muted and blend into beautiful, hazy looks. It’s perfect for spring, festivals, or just beating the winter blues. It sings on fair to medium skin tones.
- Find it here: Explore Mercury Retrograde at Lookfantastic
4. The Naughty Nude Palette
The sexy, smoky sister.
- What it is: A 18-pan palette that takes “nude” into deep, sultry, berry and chocolate territory.
- The Vibe: Smoky, sultry, and intense. It’s packed with rich plums, warm bronzes, and deep, sparkly shades.
- Who it’s for: Anyone who lives for a dramatic night-out look. If your idea of a nude is a smoky eye, this is your palette. It’s incredible for creating depth and is particularly flattering on medium to deep skin tones and brown eyes.
- Find it here: See the Naughty Nude Palette at Boots
5. The Empowered Palette
The bold colour statement.
- What it is: A 18-pan palette celebrating vibrant, rich colours like cobalt blue, emerald green, and vibrant purple, alongside strong neutrals.
- The Vibe: Powerful, confident, and artistic.
- Who it’s for: The true colour enthusiast. This is for when you want to do a graphic blue liner, a green smoky eye, or a bold purple cut crease. It’s for playtime and making a statement.
- Find it here: Check out the Empowered Palette at Space NK
The “Give Me Rose Gold & Desert Dreams” Family (The Classics)
These are the palettes that built Huda’s empire. They’re iconic for a reason.
6. The Rose Gold Remastered Palette
The original icon, made better.
- What it is: A 18-pan palette of warm roses, coppers, and bronzes.
- The Vibe: Warm, luxurious, and universally flattering. The shimmers in here are legendary.
- Who it’s for: Everyone. Seriously. If you only ever buy one Huda palette and you love warm tones, make it this one. It makes blue and green eyes pop and looks incredible on all skin tones. It’s the ultimate special-occasion-but-also-everyday palette.
- Find it here: See Rose Gold Remastered at John Lewis
7. The Desert Dusk Palette
The sunset in a palette.
- What it is: An 18-pan palette mixing warm berries, purples, oranges, and dazzling duochromes.
- The Vibe: Magical, warm, and mysterious. It has some of the most unique duochrome shadows ever made.
- Who it’s for: The person who finds Rose Gold a bit too safe. It’s for creating sunset eyes, cranberry smoky looks, and anything with a magical twist. A favourite of makeup artists.
- Find it here: Explore Desert Dusk at Feelunique
Your Decision Tool: The Simple Quiz
Still stuck? Answer these questions:
- What’s your everyday style?
- A) Minimal and natural. -> Nude Obsessions
- B) Romantic and pretty. -> New Nude
- C) Warm and glowy. -> Rose Gold Remastered
- D) I like to switch it up! -> Keep reading.
- What’s your ‘going out’ look?
- A) A darker smoky eye. -> Naughty Nude
- B) Something with colour, but soft. -> Mercury Retrograde
- C) Bold, bright, and artistic. -> Empowered
- D) A glittery, magical sunset eye. -> Desert Dusk
- What colours do you always wear (clothes/jewellery)?
- Mostly blacks/neutrals: You can carry any palette! Choose based on your eye colour.
- Warm tones (creams, browns, reds): Rose Gold, Desert Dusk.
- Cool tones (blacks, greys, pinks, blues): New Nude, Mercury Retrograde.
- Every colour under the sun: Empowered.
Pro Tips for Using Your Huda Palette Like an Expert
- Use a Primer: For the shimmers to really pop and the mattes to last all day without creasing, use an eyeshadow primer. Urban Decay Primer Potion is a classic.
- Apply Shimmers with Your Finger: For the most intense, foiled effect, pat the shimmer shades on with your fingertip. Use a brush for a softer look.
- Start Lightly: These are pigmented! Dip your brush in lightly, tap off the excess, and build up the colour. You can always add more.
- Clean Your Brushes: To keep colours true and avoid muddy blends, clean your brushes regularly. A quick spray with Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner works wonders.
The Final Word: Which One Should You Put in Your Basket?
Let’s make this final call simple.
- For the absolute beginner / someone who wants one easy palette: Nude Obsessions in your skin-tone match. It’s affordable, foolproof, and complete.
- For the person who wants the best all-rounder, do-everything palette: Rose Gold Remastered. It’s iconic, flattering, and will see you through every season and occasion.
- For the romantic soul who loves pinks and mauves: New Nude. It’s uniquely beautiful.
- For someone who wants to try colour in a safe, beautiful way: Mercury Retrograde. It’s a mood-lifting dream.
- For the glam lover who lives for a deep, smoky eye: Naughty Nude. It’s pure drama.
Remember, makeup is about fun. It washes off. So don’t stress too much. Whichever palette you choose, you’re getting incredible quality that will inspire you to play.
FAQ: Your Guide to Choosing a Huda Beauty Eyeshadow Palette
1. I’m a complete beginner. Which Huda palette is truly foolproof?
For a true beginner, the Nude Obsessions mini palettes are your safest and smartest investment. Their small, curated 9-pan format eliminates decision fatigue—every shade is designed to work together. You get a complete gradient (light transition, medium crease, deep outer corner) and a few stunning shimmers, all in a colour family suited to your skin tone (Light, Medium, Rich, etc.). This teaches you eye makeup fundamentals without the overwhelm of an 18-pan palette. The quality is identical to the larger palettes, so you’re learning on the best tools.
2. What’s the real difference between “New Nude” and “Rose Gold Remastered”? They both look pinky-brown.
This is a key distinction. Rose Gold Remastered is a warm-toned palette. Its stars are coppers, bronzes, warm browns, and peachy-pinks. It creates sun-kissed, golden-hour looks that are universally flattering, especially on blue/green eyes and warmer complexions. New Nude is a cool-to-neutral-toned palette. It focuses on mauves, dusty pinks, berries, and taupes. Its vibe is romantic, ethereal, and “muted glamour.” If you tan easily and suit gold jewellery, lean Rose Gold. If you have pink undertones and suit silver, lean New Nude.
3. I have mature eyelids (hooded eyes, some texture). Which Huda formula works best?
Opt for palettes with superior matte and satin formulas and avoid large, chunky glitters. The Nude Obsessions palettes are excellent as they offer sophisticated matte shades. The matte shades in the Naughty Nude palette are also incredibly blendable for creating depth without settling into lines. A pro tip: use the stunning shimmers in the Mercury Retrograde palette (like “Libra” or “Super Moon”) by applying them with a damp brush for a sheer, metallic wash of light that brightens the lid without emphasising texture.
4. Is the Mercury Retrograde palette wearable for everyday, or is it just for bold looks?
It’s surprisingly and beautifully wearable. The genius of Mercury Retrograde is its muted, pastel intensity. Shades like “Super Moon” (icy pink), “Libra” (soft mint), and “Hot Mess” (burnt coral) are not neon; they’re soft-focused. You can use a single shade swept over the lid for a pop of ethereal colour, or pair a soft matte like “Turbulent” (muted lavender) with neutrals from another palette. It’s designed for creating hazy, dreamy looks that are colourful yet soft, making it perfect for elevating your everyday makeup.
5. I have a deeper skin tone. Which palettes will show up and flatter me most?
Huda’s palettes are renowned for their pigment, but some are specifically curated for deeper skin. Top choices are:
- Nude Obsessions in Rich/Chocolate Brown: These minis are tailor-made, ensuring every shade from highlight to deep contour will show up and blend beautifully.
- Naughty Nude: Its rich berry, plum, and chocolate mattes, and its intense, deep shimmers, are spectacular on medium-deep to deep skin, creating incredible dimension.
- Rose Gold Remastered: The warm, rich metallics and deep bronzes in this palette perform phenomenally, offering both daytime shine and dramatic smoky potential.
6. Are the pressed glitters in palettes like “New Nude” safe to use on the eyes?
This is crucial. The Pressed Glitters in Huda’s palettes (like in New Nude) are not intended for use on the immediate eye area (i.e., the mobile eyelid). Their particle size is not considered eye-safe by some regulatory standards. They are, however, stunning for use on the cheekbones, brow bone, or as body glitter. For a similar glittery effect on the eyes, use the palette’s shimmer or metallic shades, which are perfectly safe. Always check the packaging symbols and warnings.
7. Which palette offers the most versatility for creating both day and night looks?
The Rose Gold Remastered palette is arguably the most versatile workhorse. You can create a soft, office-appropriate look with “Bare” and “Sandalwood” (matte transition shades) and “Moon Dust” (a subtle shimmer). For night, you can easily deepen it with “Coco” and “Black Truffle,” and amp up the glam with the iconic foil shades like “24K” or “Maneater.” Its balanced mix of essential mattes and transformative shimmers in a warm spectrum makes it a complete kit.
8. How do I stop the vibrant shades in palettes like “Empowered” from looking muddy when I blend?
Vibrant colours require a slightly different technique. First, use an eyeshadow primer to create a clean, sticky base—this helps the pigment adhere. Second, pack the colour onto the lid with a flat shader brush where you want maximum intensity first. Then, using a clean, fluffy blending brush, only blend the very edges where the vibrant shade meets your transition colour. Avoid going back and forth over the centre of the colour repeatedly, as this sheers it out and can mix with other colours on your brush, causing muddiness.
9. I’m drawn to “Desert Dusk” but worried the colours are too much. How can I use it subtly?
Desert Dusk is a masterclass in duochromes and rich tones, but you can absolutely use it subtly. Focus on the left side of the palette. The mattes like “Amber” and “Saffron” are warm, wearable transition shades. Use “Eden” as a soft, rosy lid colour. The real secret is using the duochromes (like “Twilight” or “Royal”) with a light hand. Gently pat them over a matte base with your finger for a sheer, shifting effect that adds a magical hint of colour, not a full-on dramatic look.
10. Is it worth investing in a large 18-pan palette, or should I start with minis?
This depends on your personality and experience.
- Start with a Mini (Nude Obsessions) if: You’re a beginner, you have a specific colour preference, you travel a lot, or you get overwhelmed by too many choices. It’s a lower-cost entry point to the formula.
- Invest in a Large 18-pan palette if: You already love eyeshadow and understand your preferences, you want a full spectrum of tones (lights, mediums, darks, shimmers, mattes) in one place, or you are drawn to a specific, complex colour story (like Mercury Retrograde). The value per gram is often better, and they offer endless creative possibilities.
