Forget vivid shades and garish colours , the latest eyeshadow craze is to go nude — earthy and pink tones that mimic the natural colour of our eyelids . They make eyes look bigger and flatter older skin as they don ’ t crease or highlight wrinkles . The Duchess of Cambridge is a fan — last week she revealed her favourite eye make-up is Urban Decay ’ s Naked Palette . Here , Alice Smellie puts the latest nude eyeshadows to the test ... KATE ’ S MAKE-UP . Naked Palette , Urban Decay , £38 , urbandecay.co.uk . SHADES OF NUDE : Twelve rich shades from deep cream to charcoal are presented in a fabric case with a mirror . They are applied with a double-ended , scarily large brush . APPLICATION : The cream looks startlingly white on my eyelids , but the bronze shades are easy to blend . Though thick , both ends of the brush are delicate enough to apply to my lids without dropping product onto my face . The thinner of the two ends draws a thick , dark line above and below my lashes . I look in the mirror and my eyes are smoky enough to hang out in a jazz club , but not overly gothic , and it lasts through a dog walk with a sprinkling of sleet , which is impressive . 9/10 . METALLIC MAGIC . La Palette Nude Rose , L ’ Oreal , £14.99 , boots.com . SHADES OF NUDE : A slender compact with ten shades , from beige through rosy tints to a dark purple . Six have a subtle metallic sparkle . APPLICATION : You can ’ t go wrong with these ! The shades are sheer so you don ’ t need a steady hand to apply it and can layer them on confidently . The darker shades look menacingly gloomy in the compact , yet they are so sheer on the skin that I end up using a dark brown rather than a bronze . The final look is age-appropriate for me in my early 40s , and it is light enough to wear in the day . When I catch sight of myself in changing room mirrors while out shopping , I look ten times less tired than usual . 8/10 . NEUTRAL TONES . Mini Eye Palette , No 7 , £11 , boots.com . SHADES OF NUDE : Eight Farrow & Ball-style shades : a deep cream , four similar-looking browns and three shades of grey . Application is via a double-ended brush . APPLICATION : The lightest shade looks mask-white on my eyelid . A lot of powder comes away as I swirl the brush over the eyeshadow . I find the brush too thick to apply a line along my lashes and it gives me a bruised look under the eyes . The result is messy . 4/10 . EYESHADOW PRO . Full Exposure Palette , Smashbox , £37 , smashbox.co.uk . SHADES OF NUDE : There are 14 daunting looking colours with a double-ended blending brush . APPLICATION : I am amazed at how easily the brush swoops over my eyelids . I play around with three shades of bronze . But then I get over-confident : I attempt to draw a line with the charcoal and end up looking as though I ’ ve been up a chimney . 6/10 . PORTABLE TOUCH-UP . Eyes Uncovered Nude Palette , Collection , £3.99 , superdrug.com . SHADES OF NUDE : The budget option : the case is cardboard with no mirror . The applicator is double-ended , but consists of just two flimsy- feeling foam pads . There are six matte colours , ranging from nude to charcoal . APPLICATION : As I smear the brush around the powder , I gouge a chunk out of the charcoal . The powder sinks into my wrinkles . It looks as though my six-year-old applied my make-up . Not for me . 3/10 .
The latest craze is said to make your eyes look bigger and flatter old skin . The Duchess of Cambridge is a fan and reveled FEMAIL is a favourite . Alice Smellie has put the latest nude eyeshadows to the test for Urban Decay .