I’ll be honest. When I first saw the Beauty for Certain Playa to Palazzo Eyeshadow Palette, I figured it was just another influencer-backed product designed to look good on a vanity but fail the moment a blending brush touched the pan. We’ve all been there. You buy a palette because the packaging is stunning, only to realize the mattes are chalky and the shimmers migrate to your chin by noon. But after spending weeks digging into the formula and the brand’s history, I’ve realized this specific launch from Brea Baker’s line is doing something most mainstream brands are too afraid to try.
It’s messy. It’s loud. It’s a paradox.
Most palettes try to be "the only one you’ll ever need," which is a marketing lie. Nobody needs fifty shades of beige. The Playa to Palazzo palette doesn’t play that game. It’s built on a specific narrative—the transition from the beach (Playa) to the luxury of an Italian estate (Palazzo). It’s basically a vacation in a compact.
The Reality of the Formula: What’s Actually Inside?
Let’s talk texture. This isn’t your standard buttery-smooth-silicone feel that you get with brands like Natasha Denona. Beauty for Certain, as a brand, tends to lean into high-pigment, high-impact payoff. If you’re someone who likes a "watercolor" wash of color, you’re going to hate this. The Playa to Palazzo palette is dense.
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The mattes are pressed hard. You have to really swirl your brush to pick up pigment, which actually prevents a lot of the kickback and fallout that plagues other high-end palettes. Once it's on the eye, the blendability is surprisingly decent, though I’ve found that the darker shades require a bit more "work" than the mid-tones.
The shimmers are the real stars here. They aren't those chunky, flaky glitters. Instead, they have a refined, almost wet-look finish. One specific shade—a deep, metallic bronze—is formulated with a high concentration of mica that catches light in a way that looks expensive. It’s the kind of glow that makes people ask if you’ve had a facial, rather than asking what eyeshadow you’re wearing.
Why the Color Story Confuses People
People look at this palette and think it's disjointed. You have these sandy, warm neutrals sitting right next to aggressive, jewel-toned pops of color.
It’s intentional.
The "Playa" side of the palette focuses on those sun-drenched, terracotta vibes. These are your everyday transition shades. Then you hit the "Palazzo" side. Deep teals, rich golds, and a plum that looks almost black until the light hits it. It’s designed for the person who spends their day in a swimsuit and their night in a silk dress. If you don't travel often or if you work in a very conservative office, you might look at the blue shades and think, "When will I ever use that?"
Honestly? You might not. And that’s okay. A palette shouldn’t be judged solely on whether you use 100% of the shades, but rather on whether the shades you do use are exceptional.
Understanding the Brand: Who Is Beauty for Certain?
You can’t talk about the Playa to Palazzo palette without talking about Brea Baker. She didn't just slap her name on a white-label product from a factory in China. She’s been vocal about creating "clean-ish" beauty that doesn't sacrifice the "editorial" look.
In a 2021 interview with Forbes, Baker mentioned that her goal was to create products that feel like a luxury experience but remain accessible to a diverse range of skin tones. This is where the palette shines. The pigment load is high enough that the colors don't turn ashy on deep skin. That’s a common fail point for "vacation" palettes, which often lean too heavily into pale peaches and champagnes that only show up on fair skin.
The Competition: How Does It Stack Up?
Let's look at the landscape. You have the Urban Decay Naked palettes, which are the industry standard for neutrals. You have Pat McGrath for the "luxe" experience. Where does Beauty for Certain fit?
It’s the middle child.
It’s more adventurous than a Naked palette but more wearable for a non-makeup artist than a Pat McGrath Mothership palette. The price point reflects that too. It sits in that "prestige" bracket—not quite drugstore, not quite "I need a payment plan for this" expensive.
Common Mistakes People Make with This Palette
I see a lot of complaints online about "patchiness" with the darker shades in the Playa to Palazzo collection. Having tested it, I’m 90% sure it’s a tool issue.
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Because these pigments are so concentrated, using a fluffy, cheap synthetic brush is going to give you a headache. You need something with a bit more density. A natural hair brush (or a high-quality goat-hair synthetic mimic) grabs the pigment much better.
- Don't skip the primer. This isn't a "swipe and go" formula. If you have oily lids, the Palazzo shimmers will crease within four hours because of the emollient base.
- Apply shimmers with your finger. Seriously. The heat from your skin melts the binders in the shadow and gives you that foiled look that a brush just can't replicate.
- Layer the "Playa" neutrals first. Use the tan and terracotta shades to build a base before you even think about touching the teals or golds. It provides a "safety net" for blending.
Is the Packaging Actually Functional?
Packaging matters. If a palette is too bulky, it stays on the shelf. The Playa to Palazzo palette is slim. It's roughly the size of a large smartphone, which makes it incredibly packable.
There’s a mirror. It’s a good mirror—not one of those warped ones that makes you look like a funhouse character. However, the outer casing is a bit of a fingerprint magnet. If you’re a neat freak, you’ll be wiping it down every single day.
The Longevity Factor: Does It Last?
In a standard 12-hour wear test, the Beauty for Certain Playa to Palazzo Eyeshadow Palette holds its own. By hour eight, the transition shades might start to fade slightly if you're in a humid environment (ironic for a "Playa" palette), but the dark pigments stay saturated.
One thing to watch out for is the blue pigment. Blues are notoriously difficult to formulate. In this palette, the teal-blue shade has a slight staining effect. It’s not permanent, but if you don't use a solid base, you might wake up the next morning with a "ghost" of your eyeshadow still visible. It’s the price you pay for that level of saturation.
The Verdict on the Playa to Palazzo Aesthetic
This palette is for the person who wants to feel like they’re in a Slim Aarons photograph. It’s aspirational. It’s for the girl who wants to look like she just stepped off a yacht in Capri, even if she’s actually just going to a brunch in a strip mall.
It isn't perfect.
The lack of a true, matte transition shade for very fair skin is a bit of an oversight. If you're "porcelain" pale, the lightest matte in this palette might still look like a bruise if you aren't careful with your blending. Conversely, for very deep skin, the "light" shimmers serve more as a pop of highlight than a lid shade.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Purchase
To really see the value in the Beauty for Certain Playa to Palazzo palette, you have to stop thinking about it as a single unit and start thinking about it as two separate moods.
When you’re in "Playa" mode, keep the edges blown out and messy. Use the warm browns and the copper shimmer. It’s supposed to look like you’ve been in the sun. When you switch to "Palazzo," sharpen the lines. Use a bit of micellar water on an angled brush with the deep plum shade to create a sharp wing.
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Next Steps for the Best Results:
- Audit your brushes: If you're still using the ones that came in a 20-piece set for ten dollars, upgrade to a dedicated "packer" brush and a tapered blending brush before using this palette.
- Check the batch code: Like many independent brands, there can be slight variations in press density. If your palette feels exceptionally hard or "glazed" over, gently scratch the top layer off with a clean spoolie to reveal the fresh pigment underneath.
- Experiment with wet application: The gold shade in the Palazzo section becomes a literal liquid metal if you spray your brush with a setting mist (like MAC Fix+) before dipping in.
- Coordinate your base: This palette leans warm. If you’re wearing a cool-toned, pink-based foundation, the terracotta shades might look "dirty" rather than "sun-kissed." Stick to neutral or golden-leaning base products.
The Beauty for Certain Playa to Palazzo Eyeshadow Palette isn't just another product—it's a specific vibe for a specific person. If you crave pigment and high-contrast looks, it’s a solid addition to your kit. Just don't expect it to do the blending for you. You have to be the artist.