Maybelline has entered the cream eyeshadow competition with their Color Tattoo line. This consists of 10 shadows in mostly very vibrant shades. There appear to be 3 finishes to these and 2 types of shades. The shades are either neutrals or brights. The finishes are matte, satin or metallic.

Neutrals include:  Too Cool –metallic white; Tough as Taupe – matte taupe; Audacious Asphalt – gray with brown undertone; Bad to the Bronze – golden bronze; and Bold Gold – shimmery medium gold

Brights include: Fierce and Tangy – hot orange;  Painted Purple – bright purple with blue undertones; Pomegranate Punk – shimmery raisin; Tenacious Teal – vivid shimmery teal; and Edgy Emerald – green that’s got teal undertones

Maybelline says: Dare to wear our longest-lasting shadow.
Our ink technology creates super-saturated color.
Cream gel smoothes on for vibrant color that does not fade.

After falling in love with L’Oreal Infallible eyeshadows I couldn’t wait to try these Maybelline ones. When I saw the mostly bright colors though I played it safe and bought Tough as Taupe and Bad to the Bronze. Both are the types of shades I like best.

With Tough as Taupe I was expecting a true taupe since it swatched that way, I find though that it runs very gray on me. When I first apply it, it looks like it has some brown undertones to it but as the day goes on it morphs more and more gray and more and more matte. When I applied it, it was instantly opaque. I had to work pretty fast to blend it on my eye though since it’s on the dry side even though it’s a cream eyeshadow. I’ve mostly worn this alone for a quick eye. While I like it, I don’t love it. It lasts well during the day even without a primer but like I said, the color morphed on me making it less flattering by day’s end.

If I’d only bought Tough as Taupe I’d probably never have bought more but I also bought Bad to the Bronze at the same time and that’s the one I’d recommend. The color stays true on me and I like the metallic finish of it. It’s more golden than L’Oreal Infallible’s Bronzed Taupe. It looks pretty on its own and it also looks good as a base for powder eyeshadows. Maybelline was right when they said it’s color saturated and doesn’t fade.

 

What’s on most people’s minds is how similar are these to L’Oreal Infallible eyeshadow?. I don’t find them similar at all.

-The texture of Color Tattoo is very creamy, more like MAC Paint Pots.

-The texture of L’Oreal Infallible is a hybrid that’s a little bit cream and a little bit powder.

-Color Tattoo lasts longer and is much more difficult to remove. I absolutely need a good eye makeup remover with the Maybelline. Even swatching these I have to really work to get them off my arm.

-Color Tattoo dries faster and behaves like a tattoo, it doesn’t want to budge on my lids!

If I wear to give these a letter grade I’d go with B since there are more positive aspects to Color Tattoo than negative. Since I love the finds in a drugstore haul lately I’m glad I tried these. The price is right and you can almost always find a sale or extra reward dollars.  I paid around $7.50 for mine and I got back $5 for buying two at CVS. There is only one other shade that appeals to me (and I’ve already picked it up and am plotting a review!) so unless Maybelline comes out with new shades I’m probably done buying these.  — Marcia

 

For some great swatches of all ten shades see Makeup and Beauty Blog.