If have any interest in the beauty scene at all, there’s no doubt that you’ve heard about Natasha Denona.
Her eyeshadow palettes sell out at Sephora in less than an hour, and despite their high price (averaging $129), they can’t keep them in stock.
But doesn’t it seem weird to you that a lesser-known makeup company with insanely high prices would just show up and blow the competition away? What’s so special about this eyeshadow? Is it made of diamonds or something?
Better yet, who is Natasha Denona and where did she come from? And why are we so obsessed with her?
Let’s dive a little deeper and get some answers.
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So Who is Natasha Denona?
Well, she’s obviously the creative mastermind behind the Natasha Denona makeup brand, but she’s also so much more than that.
First off, she’s a self-taught European makeup artist that has worked with big-name people like Bar Rafaeli and Gal Gadot.
She’s well-versed in painting, photography, performance arts, and high fashion, and you can find her work on a magazine cover or two. She also has an in-depth knowledge of science and chemistry from her mother, who worked as a chemist.
Her perfect balance of creativity, technical experience and science has allowed her to create a product that is entirely different than anything else on the market.
The Long Road taken
Natasha Denona was born in Croatia and then raised in the diverse and creative culture of Aachen, Germany.
Her mother was a chemist. She would often visit her mother in the lab, where she learned the skills she would later need to formulate one-of-a-kind makeup products. She even attributes the inspiration for her Blackest Black Gold Rush eyeshadow to her mother working with black coal in the lab.
With a love of dance and theater, she began performing on stage when she was just 15 years old. This is the exact time she remembers falling in love with makeup, as the dancers applied their own makeup before the shows.
But she didn’t just stop at her own makeup. Even at this young age, she gained invaluable experience by applying makeup to other dancers in her company.
At the age of 18, she moved to Israel to pursue a career as a solo dancer/fashion model. As she quickly fell in love with the fashion industry, she began to observe everything she could about the makeup, lighting and photography.
The Next Level
She eventually began working in the French production of Cabaret, where she was able to hone her skills. Like her younger days, here she doubled as a makeup artist.
She eventually realized that her passion was in makeup, not performing.
After the birth of her first daughter, she made the decision to pursue makeup artistry full-time. During this time, she built an impressive portfolio of celebrity clients and gained a lot of attention from big names in the industry.
In both 2002 and 2006, she was awarded the prestigious Makeup Artist of the Year Award from the Israeli Fashion Awards (aka the “Oscars” of Israeli fashion). In 2002, she opened the Natasha Denona Makeup Academy, where she helped many aspiring artists launch successful careers.
After many years of convincing from her husband, she eventually decided to launch her own line of products that were different than anything else on the market. The rest, they say, is history.
Why is Natasha Denona so Expensive?
Her products are very different than other makeup brands. Denona states that “they’re softer. They have a crazy payoff and are exactly as vibrant as they look in the pan, so they’re so easy to work with.”
She continues by saying, “I also actually formulate every single shade. Each color has a different formula — they all sort of have the same base. But every color’s formula is unique. That’s what makes every shade so good. They need to be different because different pigments react differently.”
Denona attributes the softness and blendability to the high-grade ingredients found in her products.
“All eye shadows have talc in them. But a high-quality talc is so different than a low-quality one. You can feel it. A high-quality one is much smoother. The pigment moves better. It doesn’t stop or stick to the skin. It spreads better, too.”
Furthermore, the talc is milled in Italy where you can find the highest-quality factories in the world. Additionally, her products are high in mica, calcium sodium borosilicate, and dimethicone, all expensive ingredients.
When confronted about the price, she responds with, “the number of colors in each pan makes it not expensive. They’re sometimes even cheaper than other brands if you break them down into individual colors.“
Just remember, like everything else in life, you get what you pay for.
Goals
Makeup forums across the internet are flooded with complaints about Natasha Denona being too expensive (although fans rave about the quality being unmatched by any other).
Even though this makeup may seem unobtainable, Natasha Denona really just has the average lady in mind. “It’s very important for me to create products that are very useful for everyday women,” she has said.
She strives to create new trend-setting shades, cutting-edge formulas, and unique textures by specially formulating her products with high-quality ingredients in the lab.
Denona wants nothing more than for her makeup to be useful to professionals, makeup fanatics and the typical everyday woman.
For those that are struggling to purchase the full palette, there are mini options available for a much more affordable price.
Best-Selling Eyeshadow Palettes:
#MakeupByNatashaDenona
“For Natasha Denona, makeup is the ultimate living art form. She has always had a profound love of aesthetics and uses her innate creativity, and technical skill to produce amazing works of art. ”
📷Image Credit: @natashadenona on Instagram
See more of her work on her portfolio page.
Makeup Advice From Natasha
- Eyeshadow should be applied with a painting technique, and a minimum of 4 colors should be used. “You need one shade to transition and another for blending. Then the darker shade, and the transition between the darker shade,” she says.
- Neutral colors like maroon look good on everyone.
- Darker colors should be used near the lash line and should be blended out to make eyes appear bigger (light colors make the eyes look smaller).
- Application of makeup should only be used to enhance the face and shouldn’t obscure the individual’s unique features.
- When applying your own makeup, you should face yourself head-on in the mirror. If you pull your skin tight, you won’t be able to see where you’re applying the shadow.
More Information:
Sources
- About Natasha Denona Makeup (NatashaDenona.com)
- Sephora Can’t Keep This $200 Eyeshadow Palette in Stock (Racked.com)
- Why Is This Cult-Favorite Eye-Shadow Palette So Expensive?(TheCut.com)
- Get to Know Natasha Denona (BeautyLish.com)
- Behind The Brand [Natasha Denona](Sephora.com)
Final Thoughts
With Natasha Denona’s vast experience with makeup artistry and her unique insight into chemistry, she’s been able to create a remarkable product that is unlike anything else on the market.
Her cutting-edge eyeshadows use high-quality ingredients that have been uniquely formulated, each with their own specific purpose. Even at $129 a palette, they’ve quickly become a cult classic that can barely stay on the shelves.
Professional makeup artists rave about the blendability, softness, and high-payoff of the pigments. But even then, these products are designed with the “everyday woman” in mind. It’s truly a product that everyone can appreciate.
With the makeup industry on the rise, there’s one thing for sure… Natasha Denona is here to stay and we can expect great things from her in the future.
Until next time,
YOUR TURN: Have you tried any of the Natasha Denona eyeshadow palettes yet? I would love to know what you think about them in the comments section below! 👇🏼👇🏼
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