When I first saw these Maybelline Eye Studio Color Plush Silk Eyeshadows (bleh what a mouthful!) I was quite intrigued. Let's just say it has been a very long time since I've seen something interesting at an American drugstore. The last blip of interest I had was with Revlon's A Golden Affair Sculpting Blush and a Floral Affair Sheer Powder Blush back in 2008. Long post ahead, by the way. Took me days to write!!!
Now I'll be honest and admit that I'm completely biased. It was Japanese cosmetics (drugstore, low to mid-end) that turned my attention to makeup and skincare to begin with. That means American drugstore brands will always be at a disadvantage and will have to go much further to impress me. It really doesn't help my opinion that whenever I visit a local Walgreens or CVS, all I see are these super-sized to the point of vulgar compacts, compounded by colors that were either way too harsh, plain and boring, or just downright ugly. It seems some American drugstore brands don't give much thought to the crap they throw together. Am I being unfair? Perhaps. Am I generalizing? May be. Stay with me here, this is not a bash-American-drugstore-brands post.
By the way, I bought these palettes at different times, so some pictures were taken indoor with flash and others in natural light without flash. I will note either way.
#30 Purple Icon, picture taken in natural light without flash, and #40 Green With Envy, taken indoor with flash.
So far, there are only a few American drugstore/low-end brands that have made it into my makeup cabinet, and as such I have been watching them for new developments:
- NYX: hate the bulky compacts but love the products, though I haven't posted anything on this brand at all! I have some really awesome items too, like the Mosaic Powders, Rouge Cream Blushes, Jumbo Eye Pencils, Jumbo Lip Pencils, and the Ultra Pearl Manias (all 30 shades!). I'm eyeing the Chrome Eyeshadows next ^.^
- Physicians Formula: again absolutely hate the bulky compacts but love the stuff ^.^ haven't posted anything on this brand either even though I own a bunch of items like the Happy Booster Powder and Blush, Multi-Colored Blush and Highlighter, Mineral Correcting Powder, Mineral Glow Pearls and Blush, Multi-Reflective Face Powder, and Gel Cream Liner Glam Collection.
- Avon/Mark: not a drugstore brand but is in the same price range. I mostly pay attention to the blushes, as every once in a while they would pleasantly surprise me with gems like the Cynthia Rowley for Avon All Over Face Powder, Jillian Demsey for Avon Horizon Blush, Mark Earth Face Glow, and Mark Good Glowing Mosaic Blush.
- An honorable mention for Revlon with A Golden Affair Sculpting and a Floral Affair Sheer Powder Blushes, though I haven't seen anything else interesting since 2008...
And now, thanks to these eye palettes, Maybelline becomes the newest addition to my proud watch list! Seriously, they got me to do a double take!
- Small and sleek packaging, check.
- Pretty, and more importantly, wearable colors, check.
- Nice and smooth texture eye shadows that are generally well pigmented, check.
- Beautiful finishes with ample sparkly wattage (a requirement of mine, yes), check.
- Can be used dry or wet for a more intensified look, bonus check xD
Yep, Maybelline is in alright, and I'm now eyeing the Color Explosion palettes too ^.^ Too bad they haven't made the blushes as exciting as the eye palettes, but I guess I shouldn't be too demanding :P
#50 Taupe Temptress and #80 Pink Persuasion, both pictures were taken indoor with flash.
I am very happy to say these Plush Silk Eyeshadows look and feel quite close to some of the Japanese stuff I use. I'm really impressed, Maybelline! These eyeshadows are soft to the touch, smooth, and blend very well. I would say they're on par with Kate Dual Carats and Diamond Cut Eyes (haven't posted much on Kate either but hopefully will soon!), Visee Brilliance Forming Eyes, Lavshuca Dual Prism Eyes and Summer Gradually Compacts, and they're definitely better than Lavshuca Noble On Color Eyes and Eye Color Select! No joke! Pigmentation is also excellent depends on whether I'm using the eyeshadows wet or dry. Staying power I can't comment on because I've only tested these. This is a preview post.
#110 Legendary Lilac, picture taken in natural light without flash.
As you can see, I bought 5 of these Plush Silk palettes and am still eyeing 4 others, #05 Give Me Gold, #10 Mad For Mauve, #70 Copper Chic, and #100 Sunset Seduction. When I see a good promotion I will probably grab these. But for now, enjoy the dry and wet swatches for the other 5 I have :) , #30 Purple Icon, #40 Green With Envy, #50 Taupe Temptress, #80 Pink Persuasion, and #110 Legendary Lilac.
#30 Purple Icon: this palette looks sheer, and when use dry it doesn't pack a punch like some of the others, though it's not as sheer as #110 Legendary Lilac. And then you add water and -poof!- what the?!? I can't believe this crazy intensity comes from the same docile-looking palette that is #30 Purple Icon! When use wet, all the shades goes from very sheer and low intensity to high intensity, and then some! Meanwhile, the colors goes from violet-purple to squarely in the far end of the bluish purple spectrum. Purple Icon is quite fitting here!
Picture taken with natural light and without flash.
When use dry:
- Far left: shimmer, very sheer, a sparkly translucent white shade.
- Second from left: satin, very sheer, a pale lavender that is unfortunately dull, perhaps because of its luminous-lacking finish.
- Third from left: semi metallic, low intensity, a pretty translucent (not opaque) purple with just a touch of violet.
- Far right: satin, low intensity, a cooler candy purple.
When use wet:
- Far left: metallic, high intensity, becomes an opaque chalky white, so intensely metallic it has a "foiled" effect. This shade shows the most eye-popping difference between dry and wet finishes. It barely showed up in the picture when swatched dry! Look at it now!
- Second from left: semi metallic pearl, high intensity, this shade gains a subtle pearl effect and also becomes an opaque vivid lavender. Dull no more!
- Third from left: metallic, high intensity, this color loses all of its violet leaning and becomes a metallic version of the cooler candy purple (the darkest color when swatched dry). Love this transformation!
- Far right: shimmer, high intensity, this color surprised me a bit, in a good way :) Like, woh, hello there! When wet it becomes a deep bluish purple with silver sparkles.
Dry versus wet (applied with damp brush) swatches, both pictures taken in natural light without flash.
#40 Green With Envy: this palette is much more consistent when it comes to pigmentation. I think it is already well pigmented when used dry. This picture is taken indoor with flash.
When use dry:
- Far left: metallic pearl, low intensity, appears a pale ochre but goes on a pretty pearly ivory.
- Second from left: metallic, low intensity, a coppery gold that reminds me of Laura Mercier Metallic Creme Eye Colour in Gold.
- Third from left: metallic pearl, medium intensity, a moss green with gold iridescent sheen. Very pretty!
- Far right: shimmer, high intensity, black with a greenish tint and gold shimmers.
When use wet:
- Far left: metallic, medium intensity, loses the pearly effect and becomes "whiter," so it's more of a metallic off white when wet and is no longer a pearly metallic ivory.
- Second from left: metallic, high intensity, this shade loses the copper and becomes more of a beige gold, though I actually think it's a tad dull now and I like its dry version better!
- Third from left: metallic, high intensity, this color also loses its pearly effect and becomes a very metallic moss green. Also has a "foiled" effect.
- Far right: semi metallic pearl, high intensity, this color gains an iridescent greenish gold sheen and the gold shimmers become very apparent. It would probably make a beautiful liner!
Dry versus wet (applied with damp brush) swatches, with the dry swatches taken indoor with flash and the wet swatches taken in natural light without flash.
#50 Taupe Temptress: 3 out of 4 colors in this palette are translucent, as in not opaque. Also, the 2nd and 4th colors (from left) appear more mauve-y in the pan, probably due to my indoor lighting. The picture was taken indoor with flash.
When use dry:
- Far left: shimmer, very sheer, a translucent pearl color.
- Second from left: shimmer, very sheer, a gorgeous translucent wash of rose with peachy undertone.
- Third from left: metallic, medium intensity, a translucent taupe.
- Far right: shimmer, high intensity, a deep brownish maroon. This color is interesting in that it is matte, save for the shimmer that seems to be "floating" in it. I've read about "matte-based" eyeshadows before but only now I see what that really means ^.^
When use wet:
- Far left: metallic, high intensity, becomes an opaque metallic off white.
- Second from left: metallic, high intensity, also turns opaque, becomes less rosy and more "earthy," like a pale and muted brick color. I prefer its dry and translucent version.
- Third from left: metallic, high intensity, this taupe also turns opaque and "cools" a bit with its silver shimmer becoming very apparent. It also gains a "foiled" effect.
- Far right: shimmer, medium intensity, turns reddish brown. And surprisingly, using this color wet actually reduces its intensity a bit as it becomes slightly more translucent, with more apparent coppery shimmers. Matte no more!
Dry versus wet (applied with damp brush) swatches, with the dry swatches taken indoor with flash and the wet swatches taken in natural light without flash.
#80 Pink Persuasion: it was this gorgeous silver-pink palette that first caught my eyes. Picture taken indoor with flash.
When use dry:
- Far left: metallic pearl, medium intensity, appears silvery white but applies more of a snowy pearly white and is already quite pigmented even when dry.
- Second from left: shimmer, low intensity, a translucent milky pink.
- Third from left: metallic, medium intensity, a translucent grayish silver.
- Far right: shimmer, high intensity, true black with silver shimmers. Another "matte based" shade.
When use wet:
- Far left: metallic, high intensity, becomes a metallic ashy white with a "foiled" effect.
- Second from left: metallic, high intensity, becomes more of a dusty pink.
- Third from left: metallic, high intensity, becomes an intensely metallic steel color with a foiled effect.
- Far right: shimmer, high intensity, using this color wet brings seems to bring all the silver shimmers out! It looks like a starry night, almost!
Dry versus wet (applied with damp brush) swatches, with the dry swatches taken indoor with flash and the wet swatches taken in natural light without flash.
#110 Legendary Lilac: this palette also shows dramatic difference between dry and wet pigmentation and texture. I went from WTF(?!?) to holy crap ^.^ Talk about mood swings xD When use dry, it's disappointingly sheer and dull, but add water and watch it comes to life! All pictures for this palette were taken in natural light without flash.
When use dry:
- Far left: shimmer, very sheer, white with hints of lavender that barely shows up in the dry swatch picture!!!
- Second from left: satin, very sheer, a dull whisper pink with what looks like a "wimpy" gold iridescent sheen that barely shows up.
- Third from left: satin, very sheer, a dull lavender with an even weaker gold iridescent sheen.
- Far right: satin, low intensity, appears more lilac in the pan but applies a bit more violet.
When use wet:
- Far left: metallic, medium intensity, the lavender becomes a lot more pronounced when wet, it's a purple-y white almost!
- Second from left: metallic pearl, medium intensity, a muted lotus pink with a more apparent gold iridescent sheen - a golden lotus! Sounds corny, but this color is exactly that! I definitely prefer the wet version of this color!
- Third from left: metallic pearl, high intensity, does gilded purple make sense? It's a metallic cool purple with a gorgeous gold sheen. Love love love the wet version of this color!
- Far right: metallic, high intensity, turns a deep magenta with gold shimmers. Very pretty!
Dry versus wet swatches.
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