TheBalm Nude Dude eyeshadow palette - review + swatches!

Hey jelly beans! Today, I'm going to talk about one of my most recent makeup purchases - this gorgeous 'Nude Dude' eyeshadow palette by TheBalm (£29.99, Superdrug). This palette features twelve versatile, neutral shades (four mattes and eight shimmers), ranging from light, golden browns to warm, rosy purples. Some of you may be familiar with the Nude 'tude palette - Nude Dude is considered to be 'Volume 2' of TheBalm's eyeshadow palette series (a little like Naked and Naked 2 by Urban Decay). I decided to try this one instead of the Nude 'tude, as I felt that the warm, rosy-toned shades would be more suitable for my skintone.

The packaging is really fun and eye-catching, although I can see why some people might consider it a little tacky (a bunch of guys wearing nothing but eyeshadow pans? Hmm...). It has a quirky, retro feel, as is typical for TheBalm products. This palette comes with a nicely sized mirror, as well as a high quality brush for easy application.

The eyeshadows have a creamy, velvety texture, and are incredibly easy to blend. There is a little bit of fallout when applying some of the darker shades, but the overall quality is fantastic. The pigmentation of these eyeshadows is top-notch, and rivals a lot of the more expensive palettes. The colours are rich, vibrant, intense, and very true to how they look in the packaging. Buying eyeshadow palettes can be a little tricky - there is usually at least one shade that ends up being a complete misfire, and doesn't get used. I can honestly say that with Nude Dude, this isn't the case. Every single shade is absolutely gorgeous, and you can create endless amounts of looks with them. I also really love the rosy, golden theme of this palette - it reminds me a little bit of Naked 3 by Urban Decay (but better!).

Fearless is a very light beige, which works quite well as a blending shade.
Fabulous is probably my most used shade in this set - it's perfect for highlighting the inner corners of your eyes.
Flawless is a soft, matte brown, which works nicely as a crease colour. It's one of the less exciting shades in this set, but it's still lovely for casual wear. 
Faithful is a sparkling bronze shade with gold undertones. I love using it as an all-over lid colour!
Fit is more of a rose gold shade, and it's definitely one of my favourites in this palette.
Firm is a slightly deeper bronze, which looks beautiful when combined with Faithful or Fit.

Flirty is a delicate, warm, rose shade. It works beautifully as an all-over lid colour. 
Feisty is more of a matte rose brown. I like to combine it with Flirty for a simple, everyday look. 
Friendly is an intense, dark red shade with purple undertones; perfect as an eyeliner. 
Funny is my favourite shade in this palette - it's a creamy, warm brown with reddish undertones. You can combine it with any of the eyeshadows in this set, and it will work beautifully. 
Fierce is a shimmery black with a hint of glitter. This is perfect for creating a dramatic smoky eye. 
Fine is an intense dark shade with purple undertones. 

Overall, I think this is a brilliant, high quality palette which deserves a place in any makeup collection. I honestly can't think of anything I dislike about it - the packaging is sturdy; the shades are gorgeous, highly pigmented and easy to work with. If you're looking for a versatile palette that's a little more affordable than some of the more high-end brands (such as Urban Decay), you should definitely check out Nude Dude! 

Have you tried the Nude Dude palette by TheBalm? What is your favourite nude palette?

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