One of my favourite things to watch on Social Media at the moment are the videos of people talking about the old school beauty favourites of the mid to late 2010’s. I even have a few friends that are going through their so called ‘Makeup Graveyards’ at the moment. And I’ve had the best time reliving those memories. A time where the glam was bold and exciting. And when highlighter was king!
Now, I’ve been running my beauty blog for well over eight years. And I was a makeup lover and collector long before that. All that to say, my collection is rather large and extensive. But there are some products in my collection that no matter how many declutters I do and how much makeup I give to friends and family, I’ll never part with. So, I figured today, we could go through my own personal makeup graveyard and chat about some of the products that will always have a special place in my heart and home. Let’s get into it!
URBAN DECAY NAKED 2 EYESHADOW PALETTE
RELEASED – 2011
Now, how’s this for a blast from the past? The Urban Decay Naked 2 palette has the honour of probably being the oldest palette still in my collection. I got this, if I remember correctly, as a Christmas gift back in 2015. And I know it doesn’t look it, but I did beat this palette to hell (it was one of maybe three eyeshadow palettes I owned at the time). The Naked 2, at the time, was the cooler toned version of the original Naked Palette. And leaned more into the taupes, bronzes, and gunmetal greys. It was the less popular of the original Naked palettes from my memory. By the time I got this palette in 2015, everyone was frothing over the Naked 3. But I reckon the thing it’s most remembered for is the tin packaging. I remember seeing so many drugstore brands emulate this style of packaging and pan layout (BYS is one that I vividly remember).
COULD THIS MAKE A COMEBACK? – You know what? I won’t say no. Cool tones are having a huge moment right now. And I could easily see this palette having a moment if it were to make a comeback. Having said that, Urban Decay did release those Naked Shaped last year to pretty mixed reviews. I think they would have to do a relaunch similar to what they did with the Original Naked Palette. And maybe swap a shade or two out. One of my gripes is that there aren’t enough usable matte shades in this palette. Ditch the black and the second cream shade for some deeper browns and then we’ll be in business. Urban Decay, have your people call my people.
HUDA BEAUTY ROSE GOLD EYESHADOW PALETTE
RELEASED – 2017
Huda Kattan was one of the first big bloggers I followed when I was first getting into makeup. I learned so much from her. Especially when it came to technique. I knew she would have a fan for life in me. And I was over the moon to see her launch her first ever colour makeup product, the original Rose Gold Textured Eyeshadow Palette. This was truly a thing of beauty. The bold, bright, dynamic eyeshadows shades that had come to be associated with the beauty scene of the time, but with a dramatic twist. We had rich browns and red, some fun pinks, some gorgeous creamy shimmers, and four very interesting metallic cream shades. It easily slotted in amongst the growing trend of warm pink and red toned palettes that had gotten increasing popular in the wake of the ABH Renaissance palette coming out the year prior (holy shit, that palette is 10 years old). But had more than enough uniqueness to make it stand out on it’s own.
COULD IT MAKE A COMEBACK? – I mean? Technically, it already did. the Rose Gold Remastered Palette came out the following year with significantly improved formulas and an updated palette format. But could it come back in the big 2026? I’m not sure. Huda retired the 18 pan palette format back in 2024 when she took over the brand again. And most likely, she did that for a reason. But for the 10 year anniversary, I could see a mini version of this doing well. Colourful makeup is another one of those things that is trending upwards in the beauty world. People want fun, bold colours again. And I could see a version of this that has the reds, pinks, browns, and shimmers being a hit.
MAC COSMETICS X NIKKIA JOY LIPSTICK
RELEASED – 2017
Back in 2017, MAC kicked off their MAC Maker Influencer Collaboration. Every year (for a few years anyway), they hand selected beauty content creators from all around the world to make a limited edition lipstick. And Aussie beauty Nikkia Joy was part of the first collection. Which, naturally, I had to get my hands on immediately. Nikkia described her lipstick as being a more pink toned version of Velvet Teddy (which was still at the height of it’s popularity at the time). And swatching it out, I can certainly see the vision. The lipstick was in MAC’s original matte formula. Which was super comfortable and creamy on the lips. And for me, it was a solid entry to my ‘My Lip But Better’ lipstick collection.
COULD THIS MAKE A COMEBACK? – I’m going to answer this question a little differently. The lipstick shade itself? I would love to see it reformulated in the new MACXimal Silky Matte formula. But I would also love to see MAC revive the MAC Maker program. It almost feels like a crime that only one Australian influencer got the call up for this. And I would genuinely love to see some of our homegrown talent get this kind of opportunity.
HOURGLASS AMBIENT EDIT VOL. 3
RELEASED – 2017
Remember when they used to only bring out one of these Hourglass palettes at Holiday? I do. The Ambient Edit Vol. 3 was the first Ambient Edit palette I ever owned. And if I remember correctly, I only picked this one up because I was salty that I missed out on the one from the year before (it had the marble packaging and the big pan for the Ambient Lighting Powder). This palette went for some of the more fun blush shades, a gorgeous powder bronzer, and one of the Strobe Powder Highlighters alongside two of the iconic Ambient Lighting Powders. And as you can clearly see, I beat this palette around. It was the only palette I would use for my face for the longest time. She was very, very loved
COULD THIS MAKE A COMEBACK? – A redundant question if there ever was one. It’s now been more than ten years since the first Ambient Edit Palette and not only is Hourglass still bringing these out every holiday, people are still buying them and selling them out. I, however, haven’t bought a new one of these since probably 2023. I don’t think the value is there with them anymore and lord know I have enough Ambient Powders to do my face 200 times over. I will give them some props for bringing out multiple palettes now. But I still think they have work to do to make them truly inclusive.
SMASHBOX X VLADAMUA PETAL METAL HIGHLIGHTER
RELEASED – 2018
I know when it comes to late 2010’s highlighters, everyone’s first though is ABH X Amrezy. But I am a contrarian at heart. And I wanted to hit you all with another true blast from the past. The Smashbox X VladaMUA Heavy Petal collab was one of the most hyped and talked about beauty collaborations of 2018. With the Petal Metal highlighter easily being the most coveted part of that collection. Everything about this highlighter was droolworthy. The rose gold chrome packaging, the embossing of the pan, the soft, subtle pink glow (which was a departure of the ultra metallic highlighters at the time). It’s easily the collab that put Smashbox on the map for people. But the thing that I personally remember was this collection launching at Meccaland (remember that?!). And being legit scared that I wouldn’t be able to get it because it would sell out (good thing I don’t have that mentality anymore..)
COULD THIS MAKE A COMEBACK? – Honestly? Who’s to say? Vlada is still a massively popular makeup artist working today. And I would love to see Smashbox make a comeback. But if I’m being honest, I wouldn’t want the highlighter to come back. I would love to see their little six pan palettes return though, those were awesome (I did have the palette that was part of this collection and I’m still kicking myself for decluttering it).
And that is just a sneak peek at my makeup graveyard! This ended up being longer than I thought it would be. But I had a ton of fun walking down memory lane and chatting about the makeup I love. And yes, I will probably do this again. What is your most prized makeup possession? Let me know in the comments.
Cheers and love
Emily xo