Maybelline Barely Beige, Mossy Green, Rich Mahogany Color Tatto Cream Shadows

Earlier today, I read on Nouveau Cheap that Maybelline has released four new, limited edition Color Tattoo cream eyeshadow shades.  I was particularly intrigued by the mention of the shade Barely Beige and the idea that it might be a dupe for MAC Painterly Paint Pot, as I’ve been wanting a skintone cream shadow to wear as a base or on it’s own.

UPDATE: Fourth shade purchases & reviewed, please see here. And, I’m doing a giveaway for a set of all four eyeshadows; go here to enter!

As I’m home today, I headed out to check out the drugstores near me. The Rite Aide just down the street didn’t have it, but the one two blocks further away had a display; it was almost empty, but had three of the limited edition shades left (there are several shades in it, but most are the permanent shades). I was able to buy three of the four new shades: Barely Beige, Mossy Green, and Rich Mahogany.  I did not buy Gold Shimmer, since there weren’t any left – I’m not sure if I would have anyway; I like gold shimmers, but I have several.

These eyeshadows are definitely limited edition, unfortunately; although the actual packaging isn’t marked LE, the shrinkwrapping is.  I do appreciate that they’re shrinkwrapped – it’s my favorite type of drugstore safety seal, since it’s so easy to see if something has been opened, but still easy to open and doesn’t leave sticky residue on the packaging.

The packaging, a small glass jar, with a screw top, is a bit bulky and heavy, but works very well for this type of product – I’m not sure that there’s something smaller that would have worked as well.

The texture of the shimmer shades of the Color Tattoo eyeshadows is very smooth and creamy.  They’re easy to blend, and I find that on me they work best as a sheer wash. I have trouble building up to the intense color you see in the swatches; if I do, they tend to get patchy on me – though some shades more than others.  Of course, this opinion is based on the shades I already own, not the new ones I bought today (see the end of the post for the shades I already own).  As a base, they last all day on me and I don’t need to use an additional primer.

And – the reason you’re probably reading this – the swatches. As always, these are swatched on bare skin.

Maybelline Barely Beige, Mossy Green, Rich Mahogany – natural light

Maybelline Barely Beige, Mossy Green, Rich Mahogany – with flash

As you can see, Barely Beige is definitely NOT a dupe for Painterly – it’s very shimmery.  If used as a base for a matte eyeshadow, the eyeshadow would appear shimmery (it creates a very pretty effect, actually; I’ve tried it with some of the other Color Tattoos).

Mossy Green is a really lovely olive green with hints of gold. I tried this one out on my eyes and I was a bit disappointed though; it seemed patchy. I’ll have to play with it more to see if I can make it work.

Rich Mahogany is a really lovely warm brown. It doesn’t seem patchy at all, but I haven’t played with it much yet.

— update! —

I took some time to play around with Mossy Green, which really is a gorgeous color.  Using it alone, it really is patchy, unfortunately – I would consider it unwearable on it’s own. I tried using my fingers and several different brushes, but just couldn’t make it work.

Mossy Green – patchy. Photo is not color accurate; see swatch photo.

However, it does work beautifully as a base – it brings out the green tones in whatever it is used under, and adds a really nice depth.

Here is L’Oreal Gleaming Bronze Infallible Eyeshadow alone, and then applied on top of Mossy Green.

I really love Gleaming Bronze alone – it’s one of my summer favorites – but I think I love the enhanced depth and olive tones in the second photo, over Mossy Green, even more.

— end update —

And, just for the sake of completeness – and since I’ve never swatched them for this blog – here are the rest of my color tattoos. My favorites are Bad to the Bronze and Tough as Taupe, and I generally wear both as a wash, lightly, with another shadow semi-translucently applied on top.

swatches:

natural light

with flash