Hello everyone,
Hope you are having a great day! Today, I am reviewing “The Smokes” eye shadow palette from Maybelline.
Product Details from the Maybelline Website:
The Expert Wear Smokes Palette by Maybelline offer great colors that are perfect for everyone. These shades have great pigment and will help you achieve the perfect day or evening look.
Price:
CAD $14.99 (Price varies across stores) for 9.6 gm.
My Experience with Maybelline The Smokes Eye Shadow Palette:
After introducing “The Nudes” Eye shadow Palette last year, Maybelline introduced three other 12-pan palettes – The Smokes, The Brights and The Blushed Nudes. I am quite happy to see drugstore brands coming up with bigger eye shadow palettes.
Packaging: “The Smokes” eyeshadow palette comes in a 12-pan rectangular black plastic case with a transparent lid which closes securely. It is quite compact and travel friendly and the transparent lid makes it easier to spot the colors of the palette without having to open the lid. There is a slightly longer-than-usual double-ended sponge tip applicator included with this palette. There is no mirror provided.
There are some instructions on the back of the palette which provides some guidance on the various eye looks that you can create with this palette, which is really useful for eye makeup beginners. The colors have been placed in this palette in a manner such that it can be split up as quads, trios or duos.
Color and Finish: Though it is called the “smoky palette,” there are some everyday neutral shades too. The palette has smoky shades of grey, black and silver. There is also a burgundy and navy blue, which helps to create different looks. The finish varies across the colors. It is a mix of matte, satin and shimmer finishes.
I have split up the palette in quads and have numbered the shades on the pictures, so that it is easy to reference:
Quad 1: Shade 1 is a matte bluish-grey. Shade 2 is a satin bluish-taupe. Shade 3 is a matte brown. Shade 4 is a brownish-champagne.
Quad 2: Shade 5 is a matte black but it has silver shimmer particles. Shade 6 is a shimmery champagne. Shade 7 is a metallic silver gray. Shade 8 is a frosty baby blue.
Quad 3: Shade 9 is a matte burgundy. Shade 10 is a shimmery silver. Shade 11 is a matte navy blue. Shade 12 is a matte baby pink.
Texture and Pigmentation: Unfortunately, most of the shades in this palette are hard and feel very chalky. The matte shades in particular are very difficult to use and are quite patchy. I had high hopes for shades 9 and 11 (the burgundy and the navy), but they are the worst shades in this palette. They are so patchy and have very poor color payoff. The other colors too have low pigmentation and I have to dig in to try to get at least some color from them. Even a primer does not seem to help here.
Shade 7 – the metallic silver gray – is the best shade in this palette in terms of texture and pigmentation. I wish the other shades were as creamy as this one.
Longevity: These shades last for hardly 4 to 5 hours on my lids, even with a primer, before they start to crease and fade.
Pros of Maybelline The Smokes Eye Shadow Palette:
- Palette contains everyday shades along with smoky shades.
- Travel-friendly packaging.
Cons of Maybelline The Smokes Eye Shadow Palette:
- Most of the shades feel dry and chalky.
- Most of the shades have low pigmentation.
- Low lasting power.
IMBB Rating:
2.5/5
Do I Recommend Maybelline The Smokes Eye Shadow Palette?
Among all the 12-pan palettes from Maybelline, “The Smokes” is the worst! The formula seems totally different from the others. Please don’t buy it!
Maybelline The Brights Eyeshadow Palette
Maybelline The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette
Maybelline The Blushed Nudes Eyeshadow Palette
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Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow – Sunbaked Neutrals
Maybelline Eye Studio Color Plush Silk Eyeshadow – Copper Chic
Makeup Revolution Matte Brights Redemption Palette for Bright Coloured Lovers
Sleek Makeup Ultra Mattes Bright V1 Eye Shadow Palette
You have explained each shade in so much detail Padmashree, hats off!
Thanks so much, Jomol! 🙂
The colors lack pigments.. It is such a disappointing palette
Yes Purva! Wish Maybelline had used a better formula. 🙁
Such pretty colors!! Sad they aren’t that pretty in quality 😐 thanks for the review Padmashree!
Thanks so much, Akshata! You are welcome! 🙂
Such a waste of versatile colors and from Maybelline 🙁
Yes Shikha! Some of their other 4 pan palettes have much better formula.
Wish they worked on the quality too…
True, Swathi! With a good formula, this would have been an awesome palette! 🙂
I would luvvvvvvvvvvv to see your makeup collection/stash 🙂
Sure Neha! Once I can get everything organized! 🙂