I bought this locally (from a brand new store so I know it couldn’t have sat around in-store long) and it was too dried out. It wasn’t hard as a brick but it was too thick and dry to get with the sponge applicator it came with (classic porcelain 20 in case there’s a major difference between the dryness based on color but I doubt it.)

I did manage to use it some by applying moisturizer to it or my finger and rubbing to moisten it and then use it but overall I was under-impressed because it became a more time consuming process to use this way.

I used it for a week this way and I didn’t break out more and I also didn’t break out less. Even with the moisturizer it stays on well but I think as a result of the moisturizer needed to apply it, it migrated on my eye where the eyelid creases creating a light line there after an hour or so.

It wasn’t the worst product in the world – might even be good if they could figure out how to keep it moist but I’m going back to using my Covergirl Aquasmooth.

I saw this in a magazine at some point and thought it was possibly the best makeup tools I had seen for awhile. I sought it out and initially found it at Sephora.com but then I also found it at beauty.com which was more convenient because I was making a drugstore.com purchase (and they ship together with beauty.com.)

PROS: it does do what it says it will do (though make sure you realize it says WATER RESISTANT not waterproof.)
CONS: very expensive for what you get. The “brush” is really a semi-flexible foam tip, a little rough.

At first I thought this was a really great product BUT then I started playing with my eye shadow and found that I could accomplish the same effect with the proper makeup brush wet down with water! (Use one edge of your eye shadow since you are wetting it down which could make it hard to use without water.)

If it were waterproof instead of just water resistant then it would have the bang for the buck that I was expecting. If you don’t have a steady hand or don’t have some good makeup brushes to work with, this product might still be for you (though I would recommend trying a wet makeup brush – angled or maybe a lip brush if you don’t have one specifically for eyeliner – before you buy this.)

Rimmel makes a really nice deep black eye shadow that I’ve been using for my eyeliner lately.

Would I buy it again? No, definitely not.

I wanted to post this one on the main page as well as the promos page because it’s such a great deal (because not only would you get $5 off, as of this post, they also have a free lipgloss with any purchase as well!)

Redeem this coupon at checkout using coupon code SLEIGH
and receive $5.00 free towards your purchase.
e.l.f. cosmetics

With all cosmetics at just $1, that’s 5 free new products!!
offer expires 1/1/2006

http://www.covergirl.com/cgcollection/custom/compact/custom_compacts.jhtml

Here’s the thing, it’s drugstore cheap BUT it’s more expensive than buying a palette that they’ve preselected for you. At around $3 for a case (or $6 with two lipglosses already in it) and around $4 per color, it comes to $14-19.

It’s still about half the cost of buying a department store brand (think MAC).

I like my lipglosses in a tube, thankyouverymuch, so I opted for the blank case and four eyeshadows. I bought: Shimmering Onyx, deep rich black with sparkles; Aubergine Queen, deep burgundy red with the tiniest hint of purple with sparkles; Swiss Chocolate, a milk chocolate-y brown shimmery (no sparkly bits but not matte); and Champagne, a nice light eggshell colorwith a touch of pink (also not matte but with no glittery bits.)

There are 14 shades of eyeshadow to choose from, 7 shades of lipgloss and 21 shades of lipcolor – not bad.

For those of you who are used to using the little eyeshadow or lipgloss brushes being enclosed in the case, this doesn’t have a place for you. I just invested in some good brushes so it doesn’t bother me (some cheap but good quality from e.l.f. for $1 each and one expensive smudge brush from beauty.com.)

I opened up my little packets to plop the trays into the pallet and for a split second I thought “how are these going to stay in? They aren’t a tight fit…” Then after a moment I relized that the trays were metal and the pallet was magnetic. Fine for me because I don’t throw more than my lipgloss in my purse (remember the tubes of lipgloss?) But I’m a little concerned for those of you who want something to throw in your purse … because, raise your hand, how many of you carry electronics in that purse? Cell phone? Palm? Ipod? Digital Camera? Credit Cards? (I’ll rant another time about magnets on purse closures.) So just a word of warning. Maybe someone will do a test on the strength of the magnet and see if it’s not worth worrying about, but until then I wouldn’t risk my electronics.

As for the eyeshadows themselves, I tried them applied dry and in layers and they looked wonderful. I could achieve a light look for daytime or go heavier for a more glamourous or night look. I also tried applying it with a wet brush which gave me an incredible night look since the colors I picked out were mostly pretty dark and wet you can’t apply it as lightly.

• Quality product
• Reasonable price
• Good colors
• Good variety

• Magentic case
• No place for a small brush(s)
• Not as cheap as premade CoverGirl cases

WOULD I BUY IT AGAIN? There are two other eyeshadows I liked, I would buy more if they make a few more shades to choose from so I could fill another palette or if I run out of one of my current shades. So…Yes.

If you’ve tried this product and love it or hate it, feel free to leave a comment. 🙂

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