I see a lot of magazines and beauty blogs that feature similar products in different price ranges, and I liked the idea but wanted to put my own unique spin on it. So, whenever I find three perfect items in the three price ranges of “splurge”, “save”, and “steal”, I am going to feature them as such. It seems like every makeup company — from high-end department store brands to the more affordable drug store brands — are coming out with these highly-pigmented, stay-all-day, long-wearing cream/gel-based eyeshadows right now. There are so many different brands with this particular type of eyeshadow so I easily found three that fit into my Splurge/Save/Steal category. 

After seeing a bunch of advertisements for Maybelline’s Eye Studio 24HR Color Tattoo Eyeshadow and reading rave reviews about it, I decided to try it out myself. It was affordable enough ($6.99; ULTA.com) and, even though I RARELY buy drugstore makeup, I decided to pick it up. This is the only eyeshadow out of the three featured in this post that I have actually tried out so I will review it and then give an overview on the other two I chose in case you wanted to shell out the extra dough for the department store brands.

Chanel Illusion D’Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow in Illusoire, $36. Photo: Chanel.

SPLURGE on
Chanel Illusion D’Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow ($36; Macy’s.com): While I have not personally tried this product, I have heard that the “long-wear” claim holds to be true through reviews on various beauty blogs, in magazines and from makeup artists. Chanel’s Illusion D’Ombre is an intensely-pigmented shimmering eyeshadow that boasts how it offers “true versatility”: it is made of an innovative gel texture that is soft and cushiony, allowing it to be worn as an eyeshadow or an eyeliner (much like any of these long-wearing, highly-pigmented cream/gel shadows) and it comes in a nice range of nine shades. It has a crease-free formula and lasts at least 12 hours. Chanel’s shadow comes complete with a specially designed shadow/liner brush that has been developed specifically for this unique formula.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Stay-On Shadow Paint in Neon Fuschia, $24. Photo: Estee Lauder.

SAVE on
Estee Lauder Pure Color Stay-On Shadow Paint ($24; Macy’s.com): While I was at Macy’s the other day buying my favorite eyeliner (Chanel’s Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliner, which I reviewed here), these pretty eyeshadow pots at the Estee Lauder counter caught my eye. I’m not sure how long Estee Lauder has had these shadows out for, but the company has certainly debuted some new eye-popping colors for the late-winter early-spring season. The gorgeous “Extreme Emerald“, “Neon Fuschia” and “Bold Cobalt” shades really stood out to me, and inspired me to write this post about long-wear cream/gel shadows. I haven’t tried Estee Lauder’s version of these types of shadows yet, but I think I’m going to buy one in any of these bright colors just in time for spring.

These shadows from Estee Lauder are highly pigmented and cream-based, with light-emitting dimensional pearls that create shimmer to high-metallic finishes. Estee Lauder suggests you finger paint it onto lids, and boasts that it glides on quickly while wearing “infinitely — all day.” It is crease-free, won’t fade and is also dermatologist and ophthalmologist-tested.

Maybelline Eye Studio 24HR Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in Audacious Asphalt $6.99. Photo: Maybelline.

STEAL
Maybelline Eye Studio 24HR Color Tattoo Eyeshadow ($6.99; ULTA.com): This is the only eyeshadow I have personally used out of this trio and I must say that I absolutely love it and it lives up to all of its claims. I very, very, VERY rarely buy makeup brands that you can buy at your local drugstore but after hearing all of the rave reviews on Maybelline’s 24HR Color Tattoo Eyeshadow I had to try it out for myself. This stuff is serious — it lasted over 12 hours on my eyes (with a primer) and it is so highly pigmented that I could definitely get away with only one coat (even though I always wear at least two). What I love the most about this is that it will extend the life and enhance the color vibrancy of any powder eyeshadow that you wear over it.

Maybelline’s 24HR Color Tattoo Eyeshadow is a cream/gel formula that is crease-free and boasts “24-hour wear without fading.” It comes in ten colors, from nudes to bronzes to brights and also suggests, like Estee Lauder, that you use your fingertips to “finger paint” the color onto your lids.

I absolutely love Maybelline’s version of long-wear cream/gel eyeshadow and I am definitely planning on purchasing the Estee Lauder version as well. I might pick up Chanel’s shadow somewhere down the line, especially because it seems like it comes in the most sexy range of colors for the perfect smoky eye look on a night out.

xoxo,
Amanda