Smashbox Ablaze Cover Shot Eye Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Ablaze
Smashbox Ablaze Cover Shot Eye Palette ($29.00 for 0.27 oz.) is a small, travel-friendly palette that features warm hues of copper with both matte and shimmery finishes. What I liked about this palette was that each well was large enough for regular eyeshadow brushes, and there was enough product across each that nothing felt skimpy. It actually is a more realistic amount of product, where one can finish and work through it, particularly for those of us with less modest stashes!
The formula is supposed to be “highly pigmented” with a “beyond blendable” texture. Some of the eyeshadows have a dustier or thinner texture, which can make them prone to sheering out (and difficult to maintain their intensity) or fade faster than other shades. Overall, the majority of the shades were very pigmented, wore seven to eight hours, and blended out without much work. I liked that this particular palette had both shimmery and matte finishes, and there were some deeper shades to add contrast, so this seemed like it would be much more versatile than some of the other color combinations in their new palette series.
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Ablaze
LELimited Edition. $28.00.
Relaxed
Relaxed is a soft peach with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had good color payoff, but the texture was so soft that it also kicked up a lot of excess product in the pan and sheered out too easily on the skin, so it was difficult to get that opaque coverage in practice without a primer. On its own, it lasted for seven hours before fading.
Top Dupes
- Zoeva Here to Stay (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Ethereal Eyes #3 (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Inglot #328 (P, $6.00) is darker (95% similar).
- LORAC Fawn (LE, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Too Faced Peaches 'n Cream (PiP, $16.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Tarte Barefoot in the Grass (LE, ) is brighter (95% similar).
- Becca Ombre Nudes #1 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Sephora Walking in the Sand (DC, $10.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Momentum (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Stark (PiP, $19.00) is darker (85% similar).
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Relaxed
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Moccasin
Moccasin is a soft, light-medium copper with a frosted finish. The pigmentation was opaque, while the texture was soft, blendable, and easy to work with, but it was drier and had a tendency to look faded on the lid (almost immediately), even though the pigmentation still seemed to be opaque. It wore well for seven hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Pat McGrath Bronze Rose 005 (LE, $25.00) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Muse #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- theBalm #21 (P, $6.50) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- LORAC Sandbar (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Ciate Gold (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Too Faced Bon Bon (Semi-Sweet Palette) (PiP, $16.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Tarte Simmer (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Power Eyes (Smoke) (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Tarte Sunset (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Pretty Vulgar Ego (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
Look Using this Product
Moccasin
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Siesta
Siesta is a muted, medium-dark rosy copper with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. This eyeshadow had mostly opaque color payoff paired with a lightly dusty, thinner texture. It blended out well, but it sheered out more easily than desired, so it was harder to maintain its intensity on the lid without a primer. It lasted for seven hours on me.
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Sundance (PiP, $6.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Gingersnap (PiP, $17.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Pitter Patter (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Walk of No Shame #2 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Disco Dust #3 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Anastasia Rose Pink (PiP, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Bling (PiP, $4.50) is darker (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Ambitious (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Wing Woman (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Chanel Rouge Brule (128) (LE, $32.00) is darker (90% similar).
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Siesta
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Nirvana
Nirvana is a medium-dark reddish berry with subtle, warmer undertones and a mostly matte finish. There was a subtle hint of micro-shimmer, but it did not translate on the skin, so it functioned as a matte finish eyeshadow in practice. The pigmentation was rich, and the texture was smooth without being too dry or powdery, though it did not feel as finely-milled as other shades in the palette. This shade started to fade after eight hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- Huda Beauty Spanked (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Look See (PiP, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
- NARS Ishta (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Smashbox Spiked Punch (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Hell Ride (PiP, $19.00) (95% similar).
- Anastasia C1 (Norvina Mini Vol. 3) (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Dose of Colors Berry Pop (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Sephora Orchid (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Cascade (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Bitter Sweet (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
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Nirvana
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Delirious
Delirious is a medium-dark, coppery brown with warm undertones and a frosted sheen. It had intense pigmentation with a soft, smooth consistency that was just a touch loose in the pan, but it applied beautifully to bare skin and blended out easily. I noticed a little fading after eight hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- KVD Beauty Rust (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- LORAC Garnet (PiP, $19.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Tarte Scandal (LE, $14.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Copper Kettle (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- Smashbox Oxidize (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Red Hot Copper (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Vintage (DC, $6.99) is lighter (85% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury The Dolce Vita #2 (PiP, ) is warmer (85% similar).
- Coloured Raine Who Me (DC, $6.99) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- MAC Star Myth (LE, $17.00) is warmer (85% similar).
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Delirious
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Torch
Torch is a medium-dark orange with a fine, golden shimmer. The color payoff was great with opaque coverage, while the texture felt soft, finely-milled, and smooth without being too dusty or too dry. This shade started to fade after seven and a half hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- NABLA Cosmetics Paprika (P, $8.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Cle de Peau Golden Age #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever Smelted (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop GNO (PiP, $4.50) is darker (90% similar).
- Dior Pareo (P, $29.00) is brighter (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Topaz #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever I730 Pumpkin (DC, $21.00) is darker, brighter, more pigmented (90% similar).
- Smashbox Torch (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- LORAC Apricot (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Inglot J337 Pumpkin (LE, $10.00) is lighter (90% similar).
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Torch
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Throwback
Throwback is a muted, dark brown with warm, red undertones and a matte finish. It had good pigmentation, though not quite opaque, that was buildable overall. The consistency was firmer in the pan, but it wasn’t as thin or as dusty as some of the shades in the palette were, so it ended up being fairly easy to work with in practice. The eyeshadow lasted for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Coloured Raine Vintage Feels (LE, $6.99) is warmer (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Nude Light #9 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Coloured Raine Native (DC, $6.99) is lighter, brighter (95% similar).
- NYX Not Today (P, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- LORAC Romance (LE, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Zoeva Cheap Bar (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Henna (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Hard (PiP, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Dakota (247CM) (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Makeup Geek Sidekick (DC, $6.00) is warmer (95% similar).
Look Using this Product
Throwback
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Darkhorse
Darkhorse is a deep brown with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. The eyeshadow had fantastic color payoff that covered the skin with opaque, even color. It had a soft, smooth consistency that wasn’t too firm or too soft in the pan, so I didn’t have any issues with fallout or the color losing its intensity when applied to the lid. It lasted just over eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Smashbox Vintage (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Caravaggio (PiP, $8.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Not a Basic Peach #7 (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Makeup Atelier Red Ochre #5 (P, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Smashbox Coffee Blossom (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Dominique Cosmetics Cafecito (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Eight (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Played Out (LE, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- Tarte Fireside (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Dior Atelier Dore #5 (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
Interesting. I had considered getting the Smashbox releases with my Ulta discount and didn’t…maybe that was a mistake.
I like them overall, but some palettes are better than others!
I like every single shade. Off to buy it and a eyeshadow primer.
I have found Smashbox’s primer to be quite good with these (which should be a duh!), and it’s my now-favorite primer 🙂 (MAC’s 24HR primer is also great – but when I compared the ingredient lists for both, they came out virtually the same but Smashbox is a bit cheaper.)
I’m so glad they now MAKE one (MAC also)! Gives me options once I run out of my primer potion (other than visiting Christchurch to stock up on UD).
Estee Lauder owns both companies, example M.A.C. Cosmetics Lightful C Vibrancy Eye Cream and Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Undereye Primer are same, as Camera Ready BB Water and MAC Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation.
Yeah, I know 🙂 I had to check the ingredients lists, though, because just being owned by the same parent doesn’t always mean they use exactly the same formulas across brands (they usually tweak it).
That’s interesting about the two primers!
The colors are more of a rusty peach, but I wish Too Faced’s Sweet Peach palette was as well made as this one!
If only! 🙁
I’m really into these tonal shades!! I can;t wait to see the other palettes reviewed!
Happy to hear it, Stephanie!
I really love this palette! But I realize I already have dupes for almost all of these shades… makes sense why I like it so much, I guess!
That does make sense, haha!
I do too, but here they would all be in one little compact palette. Am I fishing for a reason. Why yes I am. I do have the 20 % off at Ulta. Do I really need it? I don’t know but I just want it so bad
I have tried this palette out with a few primers. I had the best luck with lorac, when I used UD the shadow melted away at about hour six. It was a giant mess when i tried it with a MAC paint pot, so lesson learned to try different primers. I’m happy because I love the colours and was worried I was going to be returning this cute little palette.
Thanks for sharing your primer trial & error, Kim! I agree that there are some formulas that do better with certain types over others!
“Beyond blendable”, what does that even mean? That it blends itself? 😉 I do LOVE the colors in this palette though. Definitely gonna keep my eyes open for this one, has my name written all over it.
lol, must be!
I think I might already have enough similar colors to make this palette a redundant purchase, but I do like the selection!
Glad you have good dupes 😀
These colors are calling my skin! I love them, they are so fall-ish. These are colors I like to wear solo on those minimal makeup days. I might think about picking this up for a Christmas gift to myself lol.
Random story: Yesterday my Sephora package was delivered and my son picked it up from the office. I get home and he grabs it and say, “Now this will go under the tree until Christmas!” HA I was not having it knowing that my UD Vintage lipstick in Roach was in there (and on my lips today) so yea, he tried it but failed.
Hahaha!
My husband and I are not much for putting presents under the tree… impossible to wait!
I could never wait if I could see the packages. We hide! Which can become tricky when we have to travel to celebrate Christmas with our family ?.
Roach would look great with this palette!
I just love this one! Obviously too, since I have dupes of many of the shades contained within. But it *could* come in very handy for traveling, if one didn’t want to bring their ABH Mod. Ren with them.
Overall the palette might be a bit warm for me but Nirvana is so well done!
Very pretty colours. How does this compare to Anastasia modern renaissance. It seems to be in the same family.
This is like a mini ABH Renaissance palette with all the key shades. For those who wear these colours, this little palette is just a winner. Lovely on you Christine.
I’m really loving this palette! An affordable way to try those trendy warm colours. I think you’re missing the review for one though (Dark Noise)?
I love the reasonable size of these and the colors are nice; I tried some and something about the formula did not work for me (looked almost caked on my eyes?) so I returned them, which I think is the first time I’ve sent something back to Sephora just because I didn’t like it. I wonder if it’s something specific to my skin or how I do makeup because they seem very popular! I’m going to try on of the little 8-shade bare minerals palettes to see if I have better luck there finding something small for travel.
My colors, what else is there to say?
It’s like a mini Modern Renaissance palette!
Despite the nice colour selection, I feel like I can find these shades anywhere. I honestly rather have the cool packaging it comes in than the eyeshadows lol
lol!
Hi Christine,
would you compare this to the Morphe Natural Beauty palette?
Sorry, I don’t have that!