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The Neutrogena Kerry Washington Essential Eye Palette Is on the Cusp of Greatness

May 3rd, 2018 by Karen 9 Comments

neutrogena kerry washington essential eye palette k2
Lids by Neutrogena and Kerry Washington. I’m wearing the new Essential Eye Palette, which is only $12.99!

It’s not exactly a scandal… Get it? Haha… But I’m definitely getting Olivia Pope vibes from the poised, polished browns in Kerry’s chic new Neutrogena eye palette.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I’ve only seen a few episodes from the first season of Scandal (tried but didn’t really get into it), but I remember loving the clothes, like the all-white ensembles! The stiletto pumps! The bags!

Oh, THE BAGS. Olivia Pope’s character dresses like she eats nails for breakfast, and I LIKE IT. No matter what she wears, though, her makeup always looks sophisticated, so yeah, definitely see her wearing this palette.

It has five powder eyeshadows, all in surprisingly cool neutral tones, which is so refreshing betwixt all of the orange and reddish neutral palettes all over the place these days.

neutrogena kerry washington essential eye palette swatches
Swatches of the Neutrogena Kerry Washington Essential Eye Palette

I mean, I like fun warm tones, too, but when you have a slightly hooded lid situation like I do, cool-toned browns are just so handy. They’re perfect for contouring a crease that isn’t very deep, but that really only works with shadows that have a semi-matte or matte finish, because when you’re using them this way, you don’t want them to reflect a lot of light.

I thought Kerry’s palette would focus on semi-matte or satin finishes, but it does not. On my skin, the shadows are shiny… Actually, borderline frosty, even. And they seem to get progressively shinier as I blend.

All of them are moderately pigmented, which I like because I’m not apt to over-apply, and they’re relatively easy to blend (compared to intensely pigmented shadows), but once I get a brush up in the mix and start buffing away, the color diffuses pretty quickly, leaving behind a shiny opalescent finish that highlights every mother-lovin’ line on my lids…

The only one that doesn’t do this is the dark bronzed brown on the far right, and that one is EPIC.

neutrogena kerry washington essential eye palette k2
I’m wearing the dark bronzed brown on my lids and drawn up into my crease. I also buffed out the edges with the palette’s mid-tone golden brown. The blush is a mix of the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blushes in Rosy and Bronzed, and the gloss is Neutrogena Hydro Boost in Raspberry 60. The foundation I’m wearing is Neutrogena Hydro Boost Tint in Honey 85.

Now, if Neutrogena introduced a few five-pan palettes in the same formula they used for that bronzed brown, I’d call them drugstore Chanel or BECCA, because even though I’m not big on the shininess, I still think this palette a lot going for it, like negligible fallout and long-lasting, finely milled powders that don’t fade.

Oh, yeah, and it’s $13 instead of $50.

Overall, this is a palette on the cusp of greatness, and you still might want to give it a go, even with the shininess.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Neutrogena Kerry Washington Essential Eye Palette Is on the Cusp of Greatness / Originally published May 3rd, 2018

There are 9 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Eyes, Makeup, Neutrogena, Palettes, Product Reviews

The products in this entry were provided by the manufacturer for consideration. For information about my posting policy, please see my Disclaimer.

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Comments

  1. Kim says

    May 3rd, 2018 at 7:41 am

    This looks really nice on you! I don’t know if it’s me or my monitor but I’m getting a very plum vibe from the bronzed brown.

    I have sad news. For the last couple of days (I’m pretty much out of faux cils) I’ve been using my dinoplatz and felt like my lashes were clumping oddly on my right eye. When I took a very close look last night, I realized I was missing a chunk of lashes in that spot. You can imagine my horror. 🙁 I don’t know what happened but hope they grow back super-quickly (and am secretly terrified they may be gone for good). 🙁

    Reply
    • Karen says

      May 3rd, 2018 at 7:45 am

      My skin tends to pull purple out of colors so that might be what you’re seeing!

      I’m so sorry to hear about your lashes and I totally feel your pain. I’m still waiting for that area on my right lash line to grow back. 🙁 On that note, I’m thinking of treating myself to Latisse for my birthday. lol

      Reply
      • Kim says

        May 4th, 2018 at 7:44 am

        I was so excited to see some stubble there today. If my eyebrows are any measure, it’ll take a year for the poor lashes to grow back. I remember when that happened to you. I can’t tell in your pictures, though, which is good! Your eyes are already brown so I don’t blame you for wanting Latisse! I’d love to have long, thick camel-style lashes. I’d dye them black and never need mascara. 🙂

        Reply
        • Karen says

          May 4th, 2018 at 7:54 am

          Mine are taking forever to grow back, it seems. In general I’ve noticed that the rate my hair grows is so much slower than it was pre-baby! I don’t know if it’s just that so much of it fell out and it’s just a long process to get it all back or if this is the new normal.

          Reply
          • Kim says

            May 7th, 2018 at 8:19 am

            I feel like my hair grows really fast where and when I don’t want it! HAHA! My roots are a constant cover-up challenge and I could probably shave my legs every day. Oh, and my eyebrows grow where I don’t need the hair, instead of filling those bald spots. Your hair is SO thick that it always looks nice; I would have never known that it thinned a bit if you hadn’t said so. 🙂

  2. Linda Libra Loca says

    May 3rd, 2018 at 7:54 am

    I might have to watch Scandal now just to see the clothes you mention. Don´t think I have ever watched even one episode, but I could use some inspiration for a fierce office wardrobe.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      May 3rd, 2018 at 8:16 am

      Yes, her wardrobe is epic!

      Reply
  3. Jennifer says

    May 3rd, 2018 at 1:30 pm

    I’m so comforted to hear that you couldn’t get into Scandal either. I tried to watch the first episode and couldn’t even finish it. Yet all these people rave about it and there’s been like a zillion seasons.

    What I have totally gotten into, not that you asked, is Good Girls! Sooo good! Check it out. I watch it on Hulu because we cut our cable cord a few eons ago.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      May 3rd, 2018 at 3:25 pm

      Oh, I’ve heard of that show! I have Hulu too so I’ll check it out.

      Do you watch The Handmaid’s tale on Hulu, by the way?

      Reply

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