Smashbox Matte Cover Shot Eye Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Matte
Smashbox Matte Cover Shot Eye Palette ($29.00 for 0.27 oz.) is a small, travel-friendly palette that features all matte eyeshadows in warmer, neutral hues. The formula is supposed to be “highly pigmented” with a “beyond blendable” texture. The mattes in the palette are decent to good, but they definitely beg for a primer to perform well; without, they had a tendency to sheer out, apply a bit unevenly, and had moderate fallout during wear. The wear time varied from shade to shade–six to seven hours–but all eight had softer textures and none felt firm/stiff in the pan.
Matte
LELimited Edition. $28.00.
Preview
Preview is a light yellow with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had good color payoff with a soft, smooth consistency that was moderately powdery and sheered out too readily on the skin. It lasted for six and a half hours before fading on me.
Top Dupes
- Smashbox Instinct (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- LORAC Custard (LE, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
- bareMinerals Pacific Sands (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty At Last (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty The Free Spirit No. 4 (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Classic (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Guerlain Coque d'Or #1 (DC, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Deluxe Edition #11 (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Sexy Dancer (LE, $19.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Pre-Game (PiP, $19.00) is darker (90% similar).
Preview
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Assistant
Assistant is a light, peachy-beige with warm undertones and a matte finish. The color coverage was fully opaque, while the powder felt soft, smooth, and finely-milled with minimal excess product kicked up in the pan. On me, it showed signs of fading after seven hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- Stila Light Pink (LE, $18.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Too Faced Coconut (LE, $16.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Bone (PiP, $22.00) is brighter (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Anonymous (LE, $19.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Tarte Conch (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Too Faced Cream Colored Ponies (LE, $16.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- MAC Blanc Type (DC, $17.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Viseart Grande Pro (Vol. 1) #1 (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Tarte Full Moon (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Tarte Super Mom (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
Assistant
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Werk It
Werk It is a muted, medium peach-brown with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had great pigmentation that applied evenly to bare skin with just a bit of sheering out. I would still recommend only using this if you intend to use primer underneath, though. The consistency was soft, lightly dusty and a bit thinner, but it blended out nicely. It wore well for seven hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Wet 'n' Wild Flock Party #1 (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop So Tart (PiP, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
- Viseart Apricot Nude (GPV1 #2) (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M536 Milk Tea (DC, $21.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Tarte Booty (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Dominique Cosmetics Fringe (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Only One (PiP, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
- LORAC Toffee (LE, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Chaser (PiP, $19.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Anastasia Dawn (DC, $12.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Werk It
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Publisher
Publisher is a muted, medium-dark brown with subtle, warmer yellow undertones and a matte finish. It had medium coverage, which was somewhat buildable, but this was another shade that really needed a base for it to adhere evenly to the skin. The eyeshadow had a soft texture that was blendable but had a tendency to apply unevenly, as it seemed to darken in some areas (perhaps natural oils on my lid) but not others. It lasted for six and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- NARS Yamal (DC, $25.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Stila Warm Honey (LE, $18.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Tarte Wanderer (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- LORAC Brown (LE, $19.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty We'll See (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Fix (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Viseart Grande Pro (Vol. 1) #8 (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- theBalm C3 (LE, $16.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Pretty Vulgar Nest Egg (PiP, ) is darker, brighter (95% similar).
- Viseart Grande Pro (Vol. 1) #4 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
Publisher
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Angles
Angles is a muted, dark red-brown with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. The texture was dusty and prone to sheering out, while the pigmentation was decent and buildable, but it was not opaque or full coverage in a single layer. It wore well for seven hours on me before fading.
Top Dupes
- Too Faced Peach Tart (PiP, $16.00) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Choco Cake (LE, $17.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Tarte Werk (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Coloured Raine Duchess (PiP, $6.99) is warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Schemer (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Too Faced Snooze U Lose (LE, $16.00) is brighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop In Bold (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Naturally Fabulous (LE, $17.00) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Corduroy (P, $17.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Coloured Raine Torch (LE, $6.99) is darker (95% similar).
Angles
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Supermodel
Supermodel is a light-medium peach with warm undertones and a matte finish. There was a noticeable powderiness to this shade, so I’d recommend tapping off a bit of powder before patting gently onto lid to minimize fallout. It had good pigmentation, though, and it applied fairly well to bare skin. This shade wore well for seven hours on me.
Top Dupes
- ColourPop All 4 U (PiP, $4.50) is warmer (95% similar).
- Tarte Different Strokes (LE, ) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
- LORAC Nectar (PiP, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Kaleidos Lunar (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Pleasing to the Eye (PiP, $17.00) is darker (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Dearest Constant (Light) (PiP, $5.25) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Sweetheart (PiP, ) is more muted (90% similar).
- Moira Cinnamon (P, $7.50) is warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Come-Hither (PiP, $4.50) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Smooch (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Supermodel
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Editor
Editor is a muted, dark purple with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had good color payoff with a soft, smooth texture that wasn’t too powdery or too firm in the pan. This shade blended out fairly easily on bare skin and lasted for seven and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- KVD Beauty Hybrid Moments (DC, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Tarte Plums Up (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Plum (Define) (PiP, ) is brighter (95% similar).
- Tarte Mancat (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Viseart Fusion (Violette) (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- LORAC Cabernet (LE, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Razy (LE, $4.50) is brighter (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Meanstreak (PiP, ) is darker, brighter (90% similar).
- MAC Sugar Plum (PiP, $17.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
- Tarte Still Life (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar).
Editor
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Deadline
Deadline is a dark black with neutral-to-cool undertones and a matte finish. The pigmentation was mostly opaque, and it applied without too much patchiness onto bare skin, but it did take some extra work to diffuse and apply overall. The texture was soft without being powdery. It wore well for seven and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- LORAC Jet Black (LE, $19.00) (100% similar).
- Anastasia D5 (Norvina Vol. 1) (LE, ) (100% similar).
- ColourPop Roulette (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Sabbath (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Hourglass Black (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- NARS Loverboy (DC, $25.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- NARS Pandora II (PiP, $19.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Too Faced Black Sugar (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Too Faced Decadent (LE, $16.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Anastasia Beast (LE, $12.00) is brighter (95% similar).
Thanks for your review. Glad I opted for the cheaper BH Cosmetics matte palette instead. I was still considering this but I don’t need an extra matte palette unless it’s a stand out.
No problem, Michele!
Meh. Especially in light of having bought that all matte MUFE Artist Palette 4. Plus owning way better similer matte eyeshadows across MAC, KVD and others. This one here just doesn’t impress me as much as those.
Totally understand, Nancy! 🙂
Oooh I love the plummy tones! Neutrals with a bit of variation is always more fun.
It’s not nearly as warm-toned as most!
I like the idea of these little palettes. Wish someone would make a decent one.
I liked a few of these! I also liked Tarte’s new Pro to Go eye palette!
I appreciate Smashbox doing these more convenient-for-travel sized palettes. Since I’m pretty full up on matte neutrals, in this one I’m really only interested in Werk It, so great to know about the dupe options esp. MUFE Milk Tea.
I agree – I like the size/price of the line in general!
I wasn’t interested in this one at first, but i’m kinda digging it now!!
Surprise 😀
Mattes are so problematic (sigh). But I think for $29, still a good deal for all these shadows, it’s so hard to find all-matte palettes, and the colors look like they could get a lot of use, mixed and matched with shimmers.
It’s not a terrible deal!
I really like these colors and don’t usually mind using primer, so I might check this one out. I will need to check my stash for similar shades, though. Knowing me, I wouldn’t be surprised to find a few dupes. lol
lol! I bet you have dupes!
Assistant and Editor are my favorites here but it’s probably a pass.
Seems like it if only two catch your eye!
Kudos to Smashbox for trying to do a matte palette – all brands generally have hits and misses with mattes. Pretty good shade range and they even nailed the purple shade well. Much better quality than the last one, thank goodness.
It is funny how the purple is better than you’d think!
Overall, this new issue of palettes is rather disappointing. Additionally, most of the consumer reviews by self-identified MUAs, primarily on Sephora, say they are not getting the wear time you are. Too bad. Pretty good concept. Some individual shades are outstanding, but overall they’re pretty meh.
I like a few, but there are some misses in the range as well!
I’m not wild about matte shadows in general (I love at least a bit of sheen) and this one has some pretty “meh” colours in it. I also have the KvD Shade+Light e/s palette so I’m totally “covered” for an all matte palette. The Shade+Light palette is much better quality across the board, it seems, and has several more interesting colours that I do like using.
I like satins when most want matte – I find satins to be easier to use overall, though there are some nice mattes out there!