Huda Beauty Desert Dusk – Splurge or Skip?

When Nykaa announced that Huda Beauty was finally launching on their website, I was happy. Now I could buy Huda Beauty without overpaying Instagram sellers, but I also promised myself I wouldn’t buy anything at that particular point- I didn’t NEED anything, I told myself. But when has that ever worked?

The night they launched Huda Beauty, I surprisingly accessed it when a lot of other people couldn’t. And, in a classically impulsive mood, I caved and bought the Huda Beauty Desert Dusk Palette. It costed a whopping INR 4850, but I bought it anyway.  (Regretted it later because sister was poor)

CLAIM

A dynamic eyeshadow palette with 18 shades in 4 unique textures: 1 dazzling glitter, 8 creamy mattes, 6 shimmering pearl shades and 3 duo-chrome toppers.

WHAT IT DOES

Adventure on an exotic Arabian journey with the latest eyeshadow palette by Huda Beauty. This richly toned palette features 18 versatile shades that can be layered in infinite ways to create a vast array of looks with just one palette. Layer different textures to create unique combinations or add intrigue to smooth matte shades with a duo-chrome topper. From subtle, natural looks to dramatic statements and bold glittering looks, this palette will become your new essential for all your makeup routines.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I still remember the hype surrounding this palette- the sneak peaks, the promo video, the looks Huda was serving, the glitz and the glamour, all of it. When I received the Desert Dusk, I was glad to see that the Huda Beauty team had decided to change their packaging- make it more ~lux~, but was it? Yes, it was more weighted than the Rose Gold, and yes, they had added a ginormous mirror (which was a huge plus), but the actual packaging still felt like cheap plastic. I wasn’t a fan.

True to Huda Beauty style, the protective cover inside the palette had Huda’s eyes imprinted on them. Classic touch, made the palette seem a lot more personal. The palette consists of 18 shades which included mattes, pearls, duo-chromes and a glitter.

SHADES

1. Desert Sand: Soft peach-yellow, with orange undertones. Matte.
2. Musk: Muted, taupe brown. Matte.
3. Eden: Medium orange-pink, with warm undertones. Matte.
4. Amber: Medium dark brown with red undertones. Matte with a hint of shine.
5. Blood Moon: Rich, medium copper with red undertones. Metallic shimmer.
6. Oud: Plummy brown with warm undertones. Matte.
7. Celestial: Medium brown with golden-peach undertones. Duo-chrome.
8. Nefertiti: Medium gold with warm undertones. Shimmer.
9. Twilight: Bright lavender with pink undertones. Duo-chrome.
10. Amethyst: Magenta purple with pink undertones. Matte.
11. Royal: Dark, plummy brown with pink pearl. Shimmer.
12. Retrograde: Rich copper brown with green to blue shift. Duo-chrome.
13. Cashmere: Medium Taupe with metallic sheen. Shimmer.
14. Angelic: Light-medium pink with cooler undertones and a golden sheen. Shimmer.
15. Cosmo: Dark copper with glittery finish. Glitter.
16. Turkish Delight: Rich, cranberry red. Metallic shimmer.
17. Saffron: Medium dark red with warm undertones. Matte.
18. Blazing: Medium dark orange with red undertones. Matte.

HOW IT WORKED OUT

As ecstatic as I was about purchasing this palette, I didn’t have the same feeling about trying it out. Maybe I was scared of being disappointed, especially considering all the hoo-haa surrounding the palette and it’s launch, and partly because of the exorbitant amount of money I had blown- for an “indie brand”, Huda’s prices are definitely way up there, and her constant launches can get annoying. Either way, this is about the palette itself.

I noticed that the mattes were easy to blend, and while there was kickback, it wasn’t as much as ABH shadows (which I don’t mind as long as the product is going on pigmented and blends well). One shadow that I absolutely had to DIG IN to the pan for it to show up was Amethyst. Such a pretty colour, but so hard to work with- dry, powdery and downright pissing off. Another one that was on similar lines was the glitter. It would constantly budge and of course, there was a lot of fallout. I didn’t like it from the get-go. I liked the duo-chromes and shimmers better than the Rose Gold Palette since they could be picked up with a brush. Some of them didn’t fare as well as the others, but I wasn’t too mad about it.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I don’t hate the palette, but it’s not one of my favourites and I’m not always reaching for it to create a look. Bottom line is, there are way better palettes in the market for a lot less coin, so if you REALLY want to own this palette as a status symbol, and if you can afford it, go right ahead. If not, find another alternative, because you will.