Maybelline Eye Studio Green with Envy Eyeshadow Quad Review, Photos, Swatches
Affordable Eyeshadow? Really? Maybelline Eye Studio may make it possible!
Maybelline Eye Studio Green with Envy Eyeshadow Quad
($7.49 to $9.99) is new from Maybelline for spring. Though the packaging is nothing to write home about (typical mass packaging–feels cheap, not the sturdiest palette I’ve ever handled–the lids often pop off, but they can be popped back on), the eyeshadows are some of the better ones I’ve tried when it comes to drugstore beauty brands. The eyeshadow quad consists of four shades…
- A shimmery, white-gold champagne highlighter that’s opaque enough to show up but sheer enough not to be overly frosty. I like this as a highlighter or all-over-the-lid kind of wash of color.
- A shimmery, yellow-based green with a golden sheen. It’s like a slightly muted, less golden-shimmered MAC Lucky Green. It has decent color pay off, but it’s not quite as pigmented as higher-end eyeshadows (like MAC or Urban Decay), but for a drugstore brand, I’m still impressed.
- A shimmery, muted peach-brown with golden shimmer and sheen. I can’t think of a dupe for this (at least, not off the top of my head), but it kind of feels like one of those hard-to-wear neutral shades, at least for me. I think those with cooler complexions may find it easier to wear than warm-toned complexions.
- A charcoal gray with gold and green shimmer. I felt like this had the worst texture and color pay off of the four, though it was still okay (just not fabulous). It felt a little chalky or powdery, so it’s best applied in layers and patted on rather than blended too much. It is, however, a unique shade (which just isn’t something you see often from mass). I think if you layered this over a dark base, you wouldn’t have to worry so much about pigmentation and could get the cool multi-tonal shimmer to show.
I think the color pay off of the Give Me Gold Eyeshadow Quad was better than this one, but I’d still say it was good for something found in mass retailers and for the price. It has the same silky texture, but it can sometimes feel powdery (use less than you think, then build up). I have a few more of these to try out over the next few weeks, so I’ll continue to review the other variations as I test them. I have a few of the more “colorful” ones to judge just how pigmented Maybelline can do truer, more vibrant hues.
Which ones have you tried? Impressed or disappointed?
If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ! 🙂
- Product: 26/30
- Value: 9/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 3/5
Recommendation: If you like soft shadows and want something affordable, Maybelline Eye Studio Quads might be up your alley!
See photos & swatches…
I’m scared to try drug store makeup. I always get so disappointed and return them. The only thing I’ve loved from a drugstore is the Loreal Lineur Intense Liquid Liner in Carbon Black. Other than that, it’s qtips and cotton pads, haha!
I have this, used it a few times and wasn’t the happiest with it. While I really liked the champagne and peachy brown shades, the green wasn’t as pigmented as I thought it would be. The charcoal (I thought it was more dark brown), was a bust. In the crease or outer third of the eye, its not too bad. I do agree, it comes off kind of powdery. Applying it with a brush resulted in a ton of dark glittery fallout. How did you find the fallout? Are you doing a review of the mineral shadows? I liked those a lot more than the quads! =)
I found the charcoal color worked well in the crease, but I used the 226 with it over UDPP!
I didn’t get much fall out with these myself!
i actually used this THIS morning and ended up with a MESS. i’m quite good at applying eyeshadows but these darn things just blended together into a bunch of mud. the green doesn’t really show up on my skintone and the dark grey left much to be desired.
i would rate these a C+, at best.
What base did you use, Lesley? I used Soft Ochre paint pot with the 239 and didn’t have that problem!
I used a paint pot as my base but I got a muddy mess just like Lesley.
i used soft ochre paint pot as well. perhaps i’ll try again with a stiffer brush.
I think I know what you’re talking about. At first swatch, they look very nice- but as you try to blend, the intensity kinda disappears & they start to look like a blended mess.
I have the same quad (and two others) and in mine the green is next to the gray. I just thought it was sort of odd :).
I actually saw this last night and considered picking it up but I’ve heard reports of it not lasting well? I have oily lids so I’m always afraid of my shadows not staying…
I haven’t had any wear problems (there is minimal fading, but I really have to get all up close to notice), but my lids are probably pretty “normal.”
I love the gold shimmer in all these shades. it makes them seem more lux than they are
I bought one of these quads, It was the Sunset Seduction, and it was absolutely awful. I love Maybelline products, but this quad that I bought was and probably is the worse product from their line. The colors are really pretty when you swatch, but there is no way you can blend them, no matter if you use a little or a lot, in the end it looks very messy like some other girls have said. Totally not worth the price, save the money and buy a better quality eyeshadow.
yea i have the (dark) purple one. its ok. swatches out pretty good but when applied with a shadow brush it didnt show up as much as i wanted it to (or expected it to, at least). but with a good base its alright. but i do agree that some of the colors are a little too ….(soft?) which makes it a little too powdery. it IS good for a drugstore though.
I’m going to have to try these. Maybelline is my favorite drugstore brand. And usually after playing around(brushes, bases, ect) I can get a chalky eyeshadow to stay.
And I love the swatch of the green. Even if it’s bad color pay off I hardly ever pass on a green shadow.
The eyeshadow that is third from the right kind of reminds me of Honey lust, except not as glittery as Honey lust 😛
Ah when it comes to eyeshadow, I don’t think I can ever go back to drugstore brands (except maybe L’Oreal’s HIP line) … XD Thank you for the review! :]
Christine,
I generally enjoy reading your product reviews and i find them extremely helpful when buying make up. However, I noticed sometimes you seem a little biased when it comes to drug store makeup. The truth is however, that many of us can’t afford to run out and buy a $25-$30 eyeshadow palette from Sephora, so alot of us take to CVS or Walgreens to get our makeup. I’m not criticizing you, I am just pointing out that yes drug store make up may not swatch as nicely as MAC or Urban Decay but it isn’t so fair to downgrade it because its more commercial.
I didn’t downgrade these for purely being drugstore products, but the quality isn’t as good as something else (the other Maybelline quad I gave, for instance, got a B+, because it was much, much better in quality). I rate quality against all products, but in the actual review, I will make comparisons and consider whether I think it’s worth it, whether it’s good relative to MAC and the like — but the bottom line is this isn’t the best eyeshadow, whether it’s cheap or not. I don’t think it’s fair to give extra points to something just because it’s cheap (just like value is always compared against similarly priced brands, not Maybelline vs. Chanel prices, but Maybelline vs. Cover Girl).
I guess I’m not sure how I downgraded these because it’s more commercial. This particular product did well overall, and it lost points from packaging (where the lids fall off easily) and quality, because those were two areas it could have been better.
These quads are really appealing to me, so I think I might check them out and get a few. Thank you for the reviews!
nice!!!
I really like these colours en the eyeshadows are verry pigmented for drugstore products!
Christine,
Can you please let me know of a trick to prolong the wear of these eyeshadows. I just recently bought 2 of these Quads. I put the shadows on over Ochre paint pot at 7:00 am and by 12NN they are very faded
Could it be my oily skin?
Not applying correctly?
Should I try a different eyeshadow base?
Please let me know. I would really appreciate you help.
Pat rather than sweep – you’ll want to pat or tap the eyeshadow on and press it onto the lid.
hi i see a video on you tube on how to apply these eye shadows i got the green one it s so beautifull well use ur fingers sound funny but try it there is no fall out and it will look so nice and to stay pt u dont neet to spend so much money on a base just apply some of ur foundation and will LAST got really oily skin work for me and thanxxx
Nice! I kinda like the colors, the dark one’s texture doesn’t look very nice though..
I bought this one a few weeks ago, and so far I’m liking it! Of course I’m spoiled by higher end stuff like UD, and even excellent quality cheapie stuff like NYX Ultra Pearl Mania, but like you said, for drugstore this is great. I agree the darkest shade can be a little difficult, but the trade-off is that it’s a pretty unique and pretty shade – which makes it not so hard to have to work with it a little more. You wouldn’t want to put too much elbow grease into a shade that looks like a zillion others!
I tried this in the store and it’s the only one of these quads that I immediately fell in love with. Apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought so, because they were completely out of stock, except for the stinking tester!! Still want to pick this one up in a big way. The colors are gorgeous, the texture of the shadows is amazing and the pigmentation is incredible for a drug store product. This is one that I will definitely buy! Hope I can pick it up during a Walgreens sale
😎