You’ve seen the white packaging. It’s everywhere. If you spend more than five minutes on beauty TikTok or scrolling through Sephora’s "New & Trending" section, you’ve definitely run into the Makeup by Mario Master Mattes The Neutrals palette. It’s the successor to the original Master Mattes, the one that basically redefined what a "pro" eyeshadow palette looked like for the average person. But honestly, when this neutral version dropped, the internet had some feelings. Some people called it a masterpiece. Others called it "boring" or even "muddy."
Is it just a collection of brown powders, or is there something more going on here?
Mario Dedivanovic—the man who basically molded Kim Kardashian’s face for a decade—didn't just throw twelve random colors together. He’s a makeup artist. He thinks about bones. He thinks about shadows. That’s why Makeup by Mario Master Mattes The Neutrals feels different from a typical "nude" palette you’d grab at the drugstore. It’s a tool. It's meant to mimic the natural shadows of the human body.
What is the Master Mattes The Neutrals palette actually trying to do?
Most eyeshadow palettes are designed to look pretty in the pan. You see a bright shimmer or a deep plum and you think, "I want that." Mario went the other way. This palette looks... well, neutral. It's a gradient of 12 matte shades that range from a crisp, cool white to a deep, soulful black. In between, you’ve got these "in-between" shades—taupes, soft mauves, and muted greys—that don't look like much until they’re actually on your skin.
The big selling point here is the "featherlight matte finish." It’s a specific formula. It isn't that heavy, buttery, ultra-pigmented stuff you get from brands like Juvia’s Place or even Natasha Denona. Instead, it's thin. It’s buildable. If you’re a beginner, that’s great news because you won't accidentally give yourself a black eye in one swipe. If you're a pro, it means you can layer and blend without the shadow getting "cakey" or heavy.
The "Muddy" Controversy
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. You’ll see some reviews claiming the shades look muddy.
✨ Don't miss: Green Emerald Day Massage: Why Your Body Actually Needs This Specific Therapy
Honestly? That usually happens when people treat this palette like a "glam" palette. Because the tones are so realistic and neutral—not warm or orange—they can look a bit dull if you don't understand your own undertone. On very warm skin, the cool taupes in Makeup by Mario Master Mattes The Neutrals can look a little grey or "ashy." That’s not a defect; it’s just color theory. This palette is leaning heavily into that 90s supermodel aesthetic. Think Kate Moss or Naomi Campbell. It’s about structure, not necessarily "pop."
Why professionals keep it in their kits
I’ve talked to artists who swear by this for bridal work. Why? Because it photographs like a dream. Shimmer can be tricky with flash photography. It can highlight texture or look messy if it migrates. A perfect matte eye? That stays. It defines the socket. It lifts the lid.
The palette includes:
- MN 1: A clean, stark white (perfect for cleaning up the brow bone).
- MN 5: A soft, muted transition shade that disappears into the skin.
- MN 11: A deep, cool brown that actually works for filling in brows.
- MN 12: A true black that isn't patchy.
Comparing The Neutrals to the Original Master Mattes
If you already own the original Master Mattes, you might be wondering if you need this one. Most people don't. The original is much warmer. It has those "sunset" tones—burnt oranges, warm bricks, and golden browns.
Makeup by Mario Master Mattes The Neutrals is the colder, more sophisticated sister. It’s for the person who wears silver jewelry. It’s for the person who wants that "cool girl" effortless look. If the original palette is "golden hour," The Neutrals is "overcast afternoon." Both are beautiful, but they serve different moods.
🔗 Read more: The Recipe Marble Pound Cake Secrets Professional Bakers Don't Usually Share
The packaging is the same sleek, white plastic. It’s small. About the size of an iPhone. You can throw it in a purse and not worry about it taking up half your life. The mirror inside is actually good quality, too—not one of those warped ones that makes you look like a Picasso painting.
How to actually use it for a "Modern Matte" look
Don't just slap a dark shade in your crease.
- Start with a shade that matches your skin tone exactly. Use it as a base from lash line to brow.
- Grab one of the medium-toned taupes. Apply it with a fluffy brush in a "windshield wiper" motion.
- Use the darkest brown (MN 11) or the black (MN 12) on a flat brush. Push it right into the lash line.
- Blend the edges with a clean brush. No extra product. Just the brush.
The result is an eye that looks "sculpted" rather than "painted." It’s subtle. It’s basically the "no-makeup makeup" version of eyeshadow.
Is it worth the $50+ price tag?
Let's be real. $50 for some brown eyeshadow is a lot. You can find "dupes" for this at the drugstore—ColourPop's Stone Cold Fox is a popular one. But there’s a difference in the milling of the powder. The Makeup by Mario Master Mattes The Neutrals shadows are incredibly fine. They don't have that "kickback" in the pan where powder flies everywhere.
If you are a makeup minimalist who only wants one palette to do everything—work, weddings, funerals, grocery store runs—this is a solid candidate. It’s reliable. It doesn't oxidize. It doesn't crease after four hours (if you use a primer, obviously).
💡 You might also like: Why the Man Black Hair Blue Eyes Combo is So Rare (and the Genetics Behind It)
However, if you love "wow" factor, you’re going to be bored. There are no glitters. No metallics. No "special" shades. It is a workhorse palette, not a showpony.
Where to buy and what to watch out for
You can find it at Sephora, Kohl’s, and Mario’s official site. Be careful with "too good to be true" deals on eBay or random third-party sites. Fake Mario palettes are rampant and the formulas in those can be literal chalk (or worse, contain ingredients you don't want near your eyes).
Also, a quick tip: these shadows are dry. That’s intentional. They aren't "creamy" because creamier mattes often contain more oils, which can lead to creasing on oily lids. If you find them too dry, make sure your eyelids are hydrated with a light eye cream before you start.
To get the most out of your Makeup by Mario Master Mattes The Neutrals, pair it with a dense, natural hair brush if you have one. Synthetics work fine, but natural hair picks up these specific pigments a bit better for that airbrushed finish Mario is famous for. If you find a shade is appearing too light, try "packing" it on with a flat brush instead of sweeping it. This builds the opacity without the "muddy" blending issues. Use the white shade (MN 1) to "erase" any mistakes—it’s pigmented enough to act like a powder eraser for your edges.
Next Steps for Your Routine
Check your current collection for a cool-toned taupe and a true matte black. If you have those and you’re happy with how they blend, you can probably skip this. But if your current mattes are looking patchy or too orange, head to a Sephora and swatch MN 5 and MN 6 on your arm. You'll see immediately if that "featherlight" texture is what your routine has been missing.