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Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow Review, Photos, Swatches

Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow
Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow

More than Cream: Maybelline Goes Metallic with Barely Branded

Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow ($6.99 for 0.14 oz.) is a warm, creamy beige with a frosted, metallic finish. MAC Dazzlelight is whiter, less yellow/warm. MAC Brule reminded me of it, just matte and powder. Tarina Tarantino Fantastical was the closest in color–fairly close–but is a powder product. I think MAC Bare Study is whiter, less warm-toned.

I see this shade being very versatile and easily becoming a go-to eyeshadow base for a good portion of people. The shimmer when it sheers out is nice, and what I liked more about it was that it sheered out evenly so it could be easily used as a wash of color for when you’re pressed for time. The best news of all, of course, is that it did in fact wear for a full twelve hours without creasing or fading when I tested it.  It had a nice creamy consistency that made for quick and easy application, and it built up color well–I’d say use less for sheer color, because it is was nicely pigmented. I was able to get opaque color in one layer using a flat, firm brush (like MAC’s 249).  I picked it up at my local Walgreens, but it IS available online NOW! (YAY!) at ULTA. ULTA also has a deal for $10 off any $60 purchase with code 89776.

Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow Review, Photos, Swatches

A+
10
Product
10
Pigmentation
10
Texture
10
Longevity
5
Application
100%
Total

Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow
Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow

Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow
Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow

Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow
Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow

Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow
Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow

Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow
Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow

Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow
Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow

Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow
Maybelline Barely Branded / Inked in Pink Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow

106 Comments

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xamyx Avatar

I’m actually on my way to Walgreen’s (and Target) now, LOL. Hopefully, between the two, I’ll find this… I love my Paint Pots, but a cheaper alternative is always nice!

xamyx Avatar

But Chilled On Ice sooo pretty, LOL. I want to pick this up to maybe wear under COI.

I did see these at Target today, but I picked up a few other things instead, and I didn’t bring enough cash… At least it’s not LE, and for now I still have Bare Study.

Christen Avatar

Chilled On Ice was made permanent a few months ago with all of the new Pro Longwear Paint Pot shades that were added to the permanent line. I own both COI and Barely Branded. The base shade is extremely similar, but COI has a slightly pinkish iridescence to it that Barely Branded lacks. I couldn’t pick just one, though Barely Branded does go on more smoothly. For someone who loves champagne/white gold cream shadows, I think they’re both worth owning 🙂

Ani_BEE Avatar

Got these back at the end of November. Finally a cream shadow that not to dark on me for a nude lid and base. 😉 I pretty sure these will be permanent as there was no price increase at stores like the rest of the LE Tattoos.

Now they just need to make more mattes. 😉

Shepherdess Avatar

Hi Christine,

Do you know if Maybelline are releasing new permenant shades?
Also just wanted to add thank you for all the hard work over the holiday period, I can’t imagine its been easy what with uploading everything in time for people to decide what they want!

Hugs from London x

Nikki Avatar

I have barely beige too and I was thinking the same exact thing..seems like a repromote with just a different name. I’d like to see this same color but with no shimmer.

blueraccoon Avatar

It’s not the same shade; I have them both. Barely beige is pinker than barely branded. They are pretty similar, but it’s not the same shade. HTH!

Anne Avatar

I hope this one is not LE, since it seemss great!!!!! I love the Bronze Color Tattoo (I always get confused with the name since the same shade has different names in the US and in UK, and I get UK names but I’m more used to read US names), but this one looks as a great eyeshadow base!!!

Alisa Avatar

I know what you mean lol, when I was living in Germany the names were different Bad to the Bronze there was called On and On Bronze I actually have both because my mom had sent me one. I wish that they would release the black shade that they have overseas in the US I would love to have it to use as a base since the quality of this product is awesome!

Sarah Avatar

I love these! I have a bunch of them and they’re great as a base under eye shadows — they really tend to hold them in place. I’ve been admiring all of the new shades in the back room at work (I work at CVS). I just have to wait until they are put out on the shelves!

Elle Avatar

Do you know if this compares to tweet me from macs mega metal collection? I use mine all the time and have been looking for cheaper dupes.

Mariella Avatar

I hope these come to Canada. I was just at the drugstore today looking at the Maybelline display, hoping there were some new colours but NOTHING!!! It’s funny how in the photos of the shadow in the pot, it doesn’t look “metal” at all…I thought it had to be a mistake. I’m due for another pot of Bare Study (mine dried up as I rarely used it) but I think I will get this instead (assuming it does come to Canada!)

charlotte Avatar

It was actually released in Canada before the US. Keep looking.. they are permanent so they should show up in the regular displays sometime this spring.

Mariella Avatar

I was actually in a Rexall/Pharmaplus yesterday, looking to see if they had a new display but didn’t see anything. I’ll have to take a closer look today, when I go to the gym.

BooooNinja Avatar

Hi Mariella (pretty name, by the way!).
If you don’t see them at your drugstore, it may be because they’ve already been snapped up and you’ll have to wait for them to be restocked. Probably a good thing these are permanent. 🙂

BooBooNinja Avatar

Oh no! I haven’t yet opened my Barely Beige because I’m waiting for a chunk of time when I’ll get a lot of wear out of it. *Precisely* because I’m concerned that it’ll dry out on me. It’s my first cream eyeshadow. By the way, I’ve read you can delay the drying out process by storing cream shadows upside down.

Do the Maybelline Color Tattoos dry out faster than cream shadows made by other brands? Does anyone know which brand has the slowest-to-dry-out cream shadows? It matters to me because I don’t wear enough MU to get through it quickly.

Gabriella Avatar

Ive had macs paint pot in painterly since February and I open it almost everyday and it has not dried out a bit. I dont store it upside down either, its kept in my makeup bag lol

Emi at Project Swatch Avatar

I’ve had some Maybelline Color Tattoos since they were released, I think about a year, and they are fine. I hear MAC Paint Pots basically never dry out, but for what it’s worth, you could buy a couple Color Tattoos for the price of one Paint Pot.

I hear Bobbi Brown cream shadows dry out quite quickly (and they’re quite expensive, too).

Alisa Avatar

This shade actually reminds me a little of the cream shadow I recently purchased from smashbox called Quartz, although quartz seems to have a little more beige in it. Very pretty though I really like Maybelines color tattoo shadow

Andrea Avatar

I know the color is super similar, but can anyone tell me if the quality is better than the Color Tattoo in Barely Beige? I might still pick this one up anyway since this kind of shade is so amazingly versatile…

CC Avatar

I recently got this one and the Pink shade one (not sure what is called). The pink one is perfect for everyday and for work since I don’t do much eye shadow (I love MAC Paint Pots and Maybelline Color Tattoos because they are so easy to work with and don’t require a lot of time). I haven’t played with this one but I’m sure it will work great!

blueraccoon Avatar

I was at Walgreens at 2am one morning and happened to find a display that had all five of the new metal shades. So I bought all five 🙂 I really do like this one.

Dawn Avatar

I’m really hoping these new colours make it to the UK. We didn’t get the 8 new colours that the US got recently (the nude ones and the bright ones) – so annoying

Patricia Avatar

Maybelline just stated that the Color Tattos (LE or not) are not going to be realesed in Brazil at all! I mean why? They have just released other products, why not these?? I have 3 collors that my friend gave to me (she is living on Washington) and I wish I could buy more! =/ I really don’t get it, Maybelline.

Liz Avatar

I don’t have this one, but I do own Barely Beige, which is pretty close (I hear). I love it (and all the Color Tattoos I have) but I definitely experience some creasing with them. I recently tried using oil blotting sheets on my eyelids, then setting with loose powder and voila!, no creasing. I do find it slightly disappointing that I have to put in extra effort to make these work, but once I do, they really seem to be set. I love them as a single wash of color or Barely Beige specifically with brightly colored eyeliner.

CC Avatar

I have the same problem, but I have super oily skin, and no matter how many primers and powders I apply, everything creases on me! Whether is high end or drugstore, I still have the same problem but I find that MAC Paint Pots and these Color Tattoos have the best staying power, at least for me :p

Joy Avatar

I have somewhat oil lids and NARS smudgeproof eye shadow primer works well on me. Color tattoo has creased on me. MAC paint pot kind of depends. Some of them do. Paint pot in Rubenesque doesn’t crease on me though, even without the primer. I suggest getting a sample from MAC counter and give it a go.

An Avatar

I have been wanting this since I first heard about it!! I stopped by my local Ulta weeks ago, but they didn’t have this metal collection yet. And they had no idea when it was coming. OTL

I’m glad you gave this e/s a good review. I want it even more now! ^^
I hope my local Ulta gets it in-stock soon.

Angelique Avatar

I’m really happy this shade is not LE, I own Barely Biege & I use it more than any cream shadow I own & was upset that I didn’t pick up 2, but Barely Branded looks pretty much the same.

Wenz Avatar

These are my absolute favorite drugstore makeup product hands down!!!! Loving the neutrals!
I use the Barely Beige (looks similar but was LE released a few months ago) for my lazy makeup days. Add some mascara, tinted moisturizer- out the door!

P.S. Maybelline’s website doesn’t say their are LE. Lord know I hope they aren’t!!! But let the stalking begin 🙂

Melissa H from So. Fla. Avatar

I am in love w/ these Maybelline Color Tattoos.
I picked up Bad to the Bronze and Bold Gold and they are just awesome as a “go to” color. They last all day…and if I forget to take it off at night….it looks pretty darn good in the morning too….ha ha.

Veronica Avatar

I have this! Great shade, although it is VERY metallic against my skin. I do experience mild creasing with these, but with my hooded eyes, I’ve never had a cream eye that didn’t crease so no biggie. 🙂

liz Avatar

I had that problem as well. Try blotting your lid with an oil-absorbing sheet before applying, then dusting with a bit of translucent powder after. Mine stayed put all day when I did this! Hope this helps!

Micaela Avatar

I picked this up last week at a CVS- it’s awesome! I’m very pale (like NC15-20) and it’s a great base! I’ve been using it every day and it doesn’t crease for a really long time! It is pretty shimmery though!

Bernice Avatar

Since you linked to your post on the Benefit ones I have to once again say how much you’ve grown as a blogger (as if that weren’t apparent enough LOL!) But seriously your swatches have gotten so much better – it’s not like they were bad to begin with – everything is just so streamlined 😀

breyerchic04 Avatar

I don’t think I need this because I have Barely Beige and tend to go for slightly (or much) pinker colors. But I did just order the pink, and several other things from Ulta, got the $10 off and free shipping! Am excited for getting 8 items for the same price as my foundation 😉

Michelle Avatar

been trying to find the limited edition ones but haven’t had any luck. need to check out cvs as the walgreens near me have not had them. will go check out ulta…hopefully they aren’t sold out online! thanks!

Christine Avatar

Try Walmart.com (free shipping with $45 beauty purchase). I found most of the Maybelline metal tattoos as well as the Color Sensational Vivids.

Shriya Avatar

I own all the colors that are available in India.Bad to the bronze is good for daily use. This color is Ah-mazing but its not available here . Thankx for the lovely review 🙂

kdrake31 Avatar

Barely Branded is gorgeous, but how is it going to look on my NW 43 skintone? I hope that Maybelline will create a few more flesh tone colors for darker skintones in 2013.

Susan Avatar

I bought it today at Target after reading this post! It looks fairly similar to Barely Beige (LOVE!) except this one is more golden and Barely Beige is more pink. To me it’s different enough to own both and I know I’m going to get lots of use out of it. If you missed out on Barely Beige, I think this one will look pretty much exact on the lids.

Valencia Avatar

Thank you for posting this review. I just purchased the product, and I’m pleased with the result. I think that MAC just lost a customer! I too hope that Maybelline will expand this product line.

Ana R. Avatar

Is this color going to be apart of the permanent line? If not, do you think it would be okay to buy a bunch now? I would hate to be without this product. It’s an awesome base for my very oily lids. It really helps with the longevity of my eyeshadows throughout the day. It has been a lifesaver!

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