DISCLAIMER: I’M IN LOVE WITH THIS PRODUCT. The Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal (what a mouthful) is one of my new favorite products! This cream gel shadow is supposed to last for 24 hours and make your shadows more vibrant. It comes in several shades, and I tested out Barely Branded, which is a light shimmery nude color.
This shadow glides on SUPER smoothly. I simply apply it with my fingers (because I’m super serious about beauty and all), and it hardly takes any product to cover my entire eyelid. This shade is the perfect color for an all-over base to layer other colors over. I typically use it on my entire lid with a darker color in my crease and a highlight at my brow bone. It could be worn alone though by someone who likes a more natural look. You know, because shimmering eyelids are natural.
Maybelline Color Tattoo works almost like (or possibly even better than) an eyeshadow primer. It doesn’t crease at all and seriously increases the color and wear of my other shadows. I’m not sure if it would stay on for 24 hours as claimed (and who needs makeup to last that long? Seriously?), but it did last me for 16 hour days at Disneyland last weekend without a problem! I also have it on today, and it’s been on for over 11 hours including a trip to the gym…it hasn’t budged!
I’m also pretty bad at blending my eyeshadow well, and the smoothness of Maybelline Color Tattoo really allows me to mix together various colors seamlessly. Also, if I apply too much product, it’s much easier to blend out. It really doesn’t take much eyeshadow at all because all of my products cling so well to the cream gel formula. Another thing to mention is that it adds some shimmer to my typically matte shadows when layered.
I definitely want to try some of the other available colors. There’s a beautiful reddish plum called Pomegranate Punk that I’d love to try! I’m also nervous to see how these types of shadows do when layered together. I’m not sure if the brightness of the purple would mellow when blended with Barely Branded. Guess I’ll just have to buy it and find out.
At $6.99 these gel cream shadows are definitely pricier than some other drugstore singles, but I think all of the benefits (no creasing, great staying power, primer-like qualities, etc.) make that price MORE than fair! Let me know if you’ve tried any other colors of Maybelline Color Tattoo shadows! Or, get your own jar of Barely Branded here!