Wet n Wild The Naked Truth Color Icon Eyeshadow Palette Review & Swatches

I haven't been real impressed with Wet n Wild eyeshadow quality as of late. The last palette I bought was quite a disappointment and I told myself I wasn't going to purchase any more of their palettes until they improved the quality (or reverted) to the original formula.

But being the kind of girl who has such a soft spot for neutrals, I just couldn't say no when I saw The Naked Truth on the display of their new Spring 2014 collection. I had a feeling the formula wasn't going to be great, but I bought it anyway. Well, turns out it's not as bad as my last palette but it certainly isn't anything like the original 3 or 8 pan palettes, either.

There are 5 palettes in this collection (all permanent) but I opted for the neutrals called The Naked Truth because it's the most wearable option. The packaging is a classic Wet n Wild palette – clear lid and black plastic base. Also comes with 2 mini brushes; one sponge tip and the other (useless) synthetic bristles applicator. The palette is thin and compact but feels fragile and may not hold up well in a makeup bag.

The Naked Truth contains:

• Browbone shade – a champagne/bone with silver sparkle; least pigmented, sparkly with poor color payoff (barely shows up on me even after packing it on)
• Base shade – a matte vanilla; fairly pigmented with good color payoff, most creamy and fairly easy to work with
• Definer shade – a matte dark brown; nicely pigmented with excellent color payoff but goes on a little patchy
• Eyelid shade – a shimmer taupe; sheer but somewhat buildable; has a powdery texture
• Crease shade – a coppery brown with gold sparkle; also sheer but buildable; easiest color to work with

It is obvious that these shadows have a different formula than their 3 and 8 pan counterparts. These are dry and chalky in comparison; nothing buttery smooth like we were used to.

There is a way to make it work, though. To improve color payoff and wear time, I find applying over a cream base helps. You can apply it over a primer, too, but I find a cream base to bring out their true color and let the shadows adhere to the lids better than a traditional primer.

It's hard to come by a decent neutral palette at a bargain price, especially ones that have a good variety of texture (matte and shimmer). While I can't say I am entirely impressed with The Naked Truth, I am not that disappointed with it, either, and I still think it's worth checking out if you are looking for an affordable alternative. However, if you are looking to buy your first Wet n Wild palette, I'd still recommend the original 3 or 8 pan palettes before you venture into the new collection as those still have the best formula in my opinion. :)

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