A Taupe Affair

If you look online there is a plethora of taupe comparisons as well as reviews but I wanted to go ahead and dip my toe into the taupe review pool. In the past few days I have purchased a Victoria Secret's eyeshadow and my first Maybelline cream eyeshadow.

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe
~$5.99 at drugstores

Victoria's Secret in Decadent
$12 in store 

 I always like swatching my new purchases and I happened to find that the VS looked very similarly to MAC's Satin Taupe which is my most used eyeshadow. 

MAC's Satin Taupe
$15 in store or online

Obviously the price difference isn't as alluring but let's take a closer look at the colors themselves.

From left to right:
Satin Taupe, Decadent, Tough as Taupe

From top to bottom:
Tough as Taupe, Decadent, Satin Taupe

In the top photo, in natural light, the colors are very similar. Both contain a nice sheen and have the gorgeous purple with grey undertones that I love in taupes. 

The bottom photo, in artificial light, the colors are less alike. Satin Taupe shows up more golden rather than the silvery Decadent. Decadent even shows up slightly pink.

Tough as Taupe is a very pretty matte taupe that could work very well as a base for either of the more shimmery colors. 

MY VERDICT: These colors may appear basically the same on the lid but to maximize each color, I would pair Satin Taupe with bronzey, golden colors while Decadent would be wonderful with colors that have silvery undertones. For anyone that has both Naked palettes by Urban Decay, I would say that Satin Taupe would belong with the warmer colors of the original Naked while Decadent would be at home with Naked 2. And PS. I LOVE and own both palettes!

What color do you tend to reach for when you need a quick, polished look? I'd love to read your responses in the comments below!