Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette
Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette ($65.00 for 1.06 oz.) includes a brow wax, two brow powders, four face powders, nine eyeshadows, and a double-ended brush. The palette is neutral-to-warm in tone overall, with the contour powder leaning neutral, almost cool in tone. All of the products in the palette had fairly soft, finely-milled textures that were blendable and easy enough to use. The eyeshadows can be a little powdery to work with when applying without a primer for the powder to adhere to, so that would be my bit of advice when working with them: use a primer, though they are workable on bare skin. The more matte highlight shade may look chalky on medium and darker skin tones, and the more shimmery highlight powder has a strong white base and can be stark when not buffed out.
Brow Tech Powders
Taupe is a light-medium taupe brown with neutral-to-warm undertones and a matte finish. It had good color payoff with a soft, blendable consistency, but it may be a little too soft for brows (though works nicely as an eyeshadow). It wore for eight hours. Smashbox Soft Brown (P, ) is darker. Viseart Café (P, ) is more shimmery, darker. Too Faced Nudie (P, $16.00) is lighter, more muted. Make Up For Ever M540 Gray Beige (P, $21.00) is darker. Too Faced Cashmere Bunny (P, $16.00) is darker, warmer. Kat Von D Vanish (P, ) is lighter. Divergent Radiant Initiation (LE, ) is lighter. MAC Charcoal Brown (P, $16.00) is darker. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Soft Brown is a medium-dark taupe brown with neutral-to-warm undertones and a matte finish. It had very nice pigmentation with a smooth, silky texture that blended well on the skin. This one wasn’t too soft or too firm. It wore well for eight hours before fading. MAC Charcoal Brown (P, $16.00) is lighter. Smashbox Taupe (P, ) is darker. Viseart Dark Matte #2 (P, ) is more shimmery, darker. Viseart Café (P, ) is more shimmery, lighter. Viseart Tabac (P, ) is darker, cooler. Too Faced Cashmere Bunny (P, $16.00) is lighter. Tarte Taupe of the World (LE, ) is more shimmery. Laura Mercier Stone Taupe (LE, $23.00) is darker, cooler. Anastasia Warm Taupe (P, $12.00) is warmer. Make Up For Ever M558 Dark Taupe (P, $21.00) is cooler. Dior Mirage (761) (P, $30.00) is lighter, cooler. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Contour & Highlight Powders
Contour is a medium-dark taupe brown with neutral-to-warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque coverage that was buildable from semi-sheer to semi-opaque and more blendable in practice than it seemed swatched. It wore well for eight hours before fading. Kat Von D Sombre (P, ) is lighter. Too Faced Medium Cocoa (P, ) is warmer. LORAC Light Contour (P, ) is more shimmery. NYX Taupe (P, $5.00) is cooler. MAC Taupe (LE, $21.00) is lighter. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Bronze is a medium brown with soft, warmer yellow undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had good pigmentation with smooth texture that was slightly firmer in the pan, and I found it a little more difficult to blend out than most of the powders in this palette. It lasted for eight hours on me. MAC Sculpt (P, $16.50) is warmer. MAC Aphrodite’s Shell (LE, $33.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer. Tom Ford Beauty Terra (P, $65.00) is darker. Benefit Hoola (P, $28.00) is warmer. MAC Matte Bronze (P, $25.00) is lighter. Kevyn Aucoin Desert Nights (P, $48.00) is warmer. ColourPop Skinny Dip (P, $8.00) is lighter. MAC Golden Rinse (LE, $35.50) is lighter, warmer. ColourPop Bon Voyage (P, $8.00) is lighter, warmer. Kat Von D Shadowplay (P, ) is lighter, warmer. Dolce and Gabbana Desert (P, $51.00) is lighter, warmer. MAC Matte Bronze (LE, $70.00) is warmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Highlight is a light yellow with a semi-matte finish–a very subtle sheen that gets lost on my normal-to-dry skin but may be more apparent on those with normal-to-oily skin types. The texture of this one is silky and smooth but excessively powdery to work with, so a little goes a long way and it is better to build up the color slowly. It started to fade after seven hours of wear. LORAC Yellow Highlight (P, ) is darker. Kat Von D Lyric (P, ) is darker, brighter. Dolce and Gabbana Eva (P, $51.00) is warmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Glow is a muted, buttery gold with warm undertones and a frosted sheen. It had good color payoff, but it was soft enough to be a little powdery and I felt like the shimmer came away from the powder (the two weren’t binding well), so more shimmer is pronounced on the skin compared to the underlying color–which is better for medium and darker skin tones. The shimmer didn’t emphasize pores for me, and the highlighter lasted for seven and a half hours on me. Becca Moonstone (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, warmer. Tarte Champagne (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Photo Op Eyeshadows
Vanilla is a light beige with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had good color coverage with a soft, lightly powdery texture that lasted for seven and a half hours before fading. Wet ‘n’ Wild Naked Truth #2 (P, $2.29) is warmer. Urban Decay Anonymous (LE, $18.00) is lighter. LORAC Nude #1 (LE, ) is cooler. Urban Decay Righteous (LE, $18.00) is lighter, brighter. theBalm #24 (P, $6.50) is warmer. Dior Sundeck #1 (LE, ) is cooler. Too Faced Heaven (P, $16.00) is cooler. Too Faced Dream On (LE, $16.00) is brighter. Zoeva Bitter Start (P, ) is lighter. Too Faced Rock Candy (LE, $16.00) is lighter, brighter. Marc Jacobs Beauty The Dreamer #1 (P, ) is brighter, warmer. Tarte Compassionate (LE, ) is lighter. Kat Von D Damned (LE, ) is more shimmery. Marc Jacobs Beauty The Night Owl #4 (P, ) is lighter. Too Faced Coconut Crème (P, $16.00) is lighter, cooler. First 15 dupes listed, see more: See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Totally Nude is a muted, medium pink with a hint of beige and warm undertones paired with a matte finish. The texture was slightly powdery but very silky in feel, while it had good pigmentation that adhered fairly well to the skin. It showed signs of fading after seven and a half hours of wear. Givenchy Rose Dentelle (3) (P, $23.00) is darker. Laura Mercier Cashmere (P, $23.00) is darker. bareMinerals Velvet Mauve (P, $14.00) is darker. Chanel Rose de Mai (P, $29.50) is darker, warmer. Urban Decay Laced (P, $18.00) is darker, cooler. Inglot #359 (P, $6.00) is brighter. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Champagne is a brightened pop of gold with warm, yellow-orange undertones and a metallic sheen. It’s a light-medium, orange-leaning gold with a frosted, metallic sheen. The texture was soft, silky, and a smidgen powdery to work with on bare skin, as it sheered out a little, but it blended well. The color wore for eight hours before fading. Dior Contraste Horizon #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker. Buxom Gold Status (P, $12.00) is darker. MAC Natural Vigor #2 (LE, $21.00) is darker. MAC Kitties (P, $16.00) is lighter. Too Faced Nutmeg (LE, $16.00) is darker, cooler. Ardency Inn Sunday (P, $21.00) is more shimmery. Too Faced Honey Pot (LE, $16.00) is darker. Tarte Golden Locket (LE, ) is darker, cooler. Divergent Golden Honesty (LE, ) is darker. L’Oreal Eternal Sunshine (P, $7.99) is darker. Stila Vitality (P, ) is darker. Dior Night Golds #4 (LE, ) is darker. bareMinerals Surreal (P, ) is darker. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Stripped is a soft, medium orange with warm, yellow undertones and a pearly sheen. It had mostly opaque coverage with a silky, smooth texture that applied well to the skin. It faded after seven and a half hours, but it was easy to work with. bareMinerals Tres Chic (P, ) is lighter. bareMinerals Nirvana (P, ) is more shimmery. Buxom Famous Flirt (P, $12.00) is less shimmery, lighter. Marc Jacobs Beauty The Dreamer #5 (P, ) is lighter, more muted. Kat Von D Ludwin (P, ) is less shimmery, darker. Kat Von D Geek (LE, ) is darker. bareMinerals Shhh… (P, ) is less shimmery, darker. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Posh is a medium, rosy pink with warm undertones and a frosted finish. It’s a muted, medium pink with warm undertones and a frosted finish. It had a soft, smooth consistency that applied well to bare skin and wore for eight hours. MAC After Dusk (P, $16.00) is darker. MAC Rose Light (LE, $32.50) is more shimmery, lighter. Urban Decay Scratch (P, $18.00) is less shimmery. Maybelline Inked in Pink (P, $6.99) is lighter. Sleek MakeUP Sunset #12 (P, $9.99) is cooler. bareMinerals Page Six (P, ) is lighter. Inglot #399 (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker. Chanel Abstraction (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, warmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Platinum is a light-medium, golden pewter with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had good pigmentation with a fairly soft, smooth texture that was easy to work with on the lid. On me, the color wore for eight hours before fading. Viseart Jeu de Paume (P, ) is less shimmery, darker. Anastasia Beigely (LE, $12.00) is lighter. ColourPop I Heart This (P, $5.00) is more shimmery. Kat Von D Delaney (P, ) is darker. Kat Von D Telepathy (P, ) is warmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Sumatra is a dark brown with subtle, warmer undertones and a matte finish. It had good pigmentation with a fairly soft, smooth texture that took a little extra effort to blend but lasted for eight hours. MAC Brown Down (P, $16.00) is warmer. Kat Von D Sytry (P, ) is warmer. Buxom Big Spender (P, $12.00) is lighter. Too Faced Sexpresso (P, $16.00) is darker, warmer. Becca Ombre Nudes #5 (P, ) is darker, warmer. MAC Ground Brown (P, $16.00) is warmer. Too Faced Chocolate Cake (LE, $16.00) is warmer. Tarte Eiffel for You (LE, ) is lighter, warmer. Tarte Dreamer (LE, ) is warmer. Hourglass Obscura #2 (P, ) is lighter. LORAC Espresso (Mega Pro) (LE, ) is darker. Too Faced Knockout (LE, $16.00) is darker, warmer. Make Up For Ever M626 Neutral Brown (P, $21.00) is less shimmery. Kat Von D Shadow Box (P, ) is less shimmery. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Aubergine is a blackened plum-purple with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. This was the hardest shade to work with, as it was a little stiffer and had trouble adhering as well to bare skin as some of the other shades. It lasted for eight hours before fading, though. MAC Black Plum (LE, $16.00) is lighter. Tarte Bombshell (LE, ) is brighter. Tarte My Own Cotes de Rhone (LE, ) is lighter. Bobbi Brown Rich Chocolate (LE, $22.00) is warmer. theBalm #27 (P, $6.50) is lighter, more muted. MAC Dynamic Duo 4 #2 (LE, $16.00) is lighter, cooler. MAC Spellcaster (LE, $16.00) is lighter. theBalm Matt Batali (LE, $16.00) is darker. bareMinerals Ensemble (LE, ) is more muted. MAC Shadowy Lady (P, $16.00) is lighter. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Blackout is a deep black with neutral undertones and a mostly matte finish. It had good pigmentation with a soft, blendable texture that wore well for eight hours. Milani Pitch Black (P, $5.99) is more shimmery. Sugarpill Bulletproof (P, $12.00) is less shimmery, darker. MAC Carbon (P, $16.00) is less shimmery. Too Faced Panther (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery. bareMinerals Black Leather (LE, $14.00) is less shimmery. Makeup Geek Corrupt (P, $5.99) is less shimmery. Guerlain Crazy Paris #6 (LE, ) is cooler. Wet ‘n’ Wild Three’s a Party #3 (LE, $2.29) is cooler. Urban Decay Crave (P, $18.00) is warmer. Urban Decay Blackout (P, $18.00) is less shimmery. theBalm Righteous (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, lighter. Kat Von D Shax (P, ) is lighter. Kat Von D Killing Moon (LE, ) is . Anastasia Noir (P, $12.00) is less shimmery. ColourPop Roulette (P, $5.00) is less shimmery. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
#SHAPEMATTERS
PPermanent. $65.00.
Taupe
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Stripped
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Posh
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Platinum
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Sumatra
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Aubergine
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Blackout
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Soft Brown
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Contour
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Bronze
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Highlight
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Glow
LELimited Edition.
Vanilla
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Totally Nude
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Champagne
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette
Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette
Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette
Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette
Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette
Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette
Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette
Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette
Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette
Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette
Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette
Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette
Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette
Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette
Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette
Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS Palette
Smashbox Brow Wax
Smashbox Taupe Brow Tech Powder
Smashbox Taupe Brow Tech Powder
Smashbox Soft Brown Brow Tech Powder
Smashbox Soft Brown Brow Tech Powder
Smashbox Contour Contour Powder
Smashbox Contour Contour Powder
Smashbox Contour Contour Powder
Smashbox Bronze Contour Powder
Smashbox Bronze Contour Powder
Smashbox Bronze Contour Powder
Smashbox Highlight Highlight Powder
Smashbox Highlight Highlight Powder
Smashbox Glow Highlight Powder
Smashbox Glow Highlight Powder
Smashbox Contour & Highlight Powders
Smashbox Vanilla Photo Op Eyeshadow
Smashbox Vanilla Photo Op Eyeshadow
Smashbox Totally Nude Photo Op Eyeshadow
Smashbox Totally Nude Photo Op Eyeshadow
Smashbox Champagne Photo Op Eyeshadow
Smashbox Champagne Photo Op Eyeshadow
Smashbox Stripped Photo Op Eyeshadow
Smashbox Stripped Photo Op Eyeshadow
Smashbox Posh Photo Op Eyeshadow
Smashbox Posh Photo Op Eyeshadow
Smashbox Platinum Photo Op Eyeshadow
Smashbox Platinum Photo Op Eyeshadow
Smashbox Sumatra Photo Op Eyeshadow
Smashbox Sumatra Photo Op Eyeshadow
Smashbox Aubergine Photo Op Eyeshadow
Smashbox Aubergine Photo Op Eyeshadow
Smashbox Blackout Photo Op Eyeshadow
Smashbox Blackout Photo Op Eyeshadow
Smashbox Photo Op Eyeshadows: Champagne (inner lid), Posh (middle of lid), Stripped (middle of lid),
Platinum (outer lid/lower lash line), Aubergine (crease), Totally Nude (above crease), Vanilla (brow bone)
Smashbox Photo Op Eyeshadows: Champagne (inner lid), Posh (middle of lid), Stripped (middle of lid),
Platinum (outer lid/lower lash line), Aubergine (crease), Totally Nude (above crease), Vanilla (brow bone)
I don’t need this palette, but I definitely need that lipstick you’re wearing! What is it? But if it costs more than $25, please don’t tell me.
THE MAKEUP LOOK
On face: Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation, Urban Decay Naked Loose Setting Powder. On eyes: Zoeva Nude Reflection Eyeliner. On lips: ColourPop Lumiere Lippie Stix.
omg Lumiere looks AMAZING on you! I also scrolled down to find out what lipstick you were wearing! The palette is pretty nice (save for Aubergine) but that lipstick looks A+, must pick it up on my next colourpop order! 😉
Oh Christine, this looks like a beautiful palette! It has all the right colors. I was one time so dissapointed from a palette from smashbox (the Master class III) that I got scared to ever try anything again- lol. But this one looks very nice!
It was better than I expected!
Wow, I’m really impressed Smashbox took such a big risk and was able to pull it off!! For $ 65, everything here had to perform decently or it wouldn’t be worth buying. Like if the shadows were duds, you wouldn’t buy just for the contours and vice versa. And the colors look like it will work for many people. If the bronzer is too dark, it could be re-purposed as shadow and if the highlighter is too light for the face, it could be re-purposed as highlighter for brow or inner corners. I think this would be a nice all-in-one palette to grab in the morning, to travel with, or to leave at the office for quick touch ups.
It is a fairly handy neutral palette if you like yours to lean warm!
yay for the B+ as I was planning to get it! Thank you for the great review Christine! ps.I am prepared for the large size now. lol
Yay!
If the palette is still available when I need to replace my Smashbox sculpting trio (which I do really like), I would consider this, as the trio alone is $45. However, since I can’t use the brow powders, and can “dupe” shadows, I don’t feel compelled to run out and grab this any time soon. I have many sculpting products, and more I want to still try, so I think I’m set for a while, LOL!
It’s pretty large just to get for the face products, I think.
Yeah, but it would be handy for rushed mornings to have so much in one palette. Except for the brow shades (seriously, did anyone think this through-even a dark taupe or charcoal brown would have been a better choice than 2 really similar shades), I would actually use everything. I do like the size of the sculpting trio in terms of toting it around, but I don’t always like searching for it, LOL!
This looks so nice and useful. Dupeable though.
Definitely dupable!
Hmmm. So I like the idea of this palette, but the color choices are just awful :-/ I’ll be passing on this one.
Bummer!
I am so very “on the fence” about this one. I think if they get it at Shoppers Drug Mart (they carry Smashbox – pretty much everything – but this might be exclusive to certain retailers) I’ll probably cave and get it with my points but, to be honest, I’m not even sure why and I was honestly hoping this would get a C rating or lower…F would have been really good. Christine, I know this is or was VIB Rouge exclusive at Sephora but do you know if it’s LE or if other retailers will be carrying it once it’s available to everyone (much like the new Clinique Cheek Pops)? I didn’t see any info about this in the review but I may well have missed it whilst wrestling with the angel and devil perched on each of my shoulders.
According to Sephora’s site, it says “Exclusive” and “New,” but I don’t know if it’s just limited time exclusivity.
Too warm for me I think!
I can see that!
I love what you did with the colors, but I think with neutrals, I just bore too easily. I also have a really hard time caring about brow stuff.
Thanks, Vijaya!
Respectable score and a decent looking palette, perhaps a bit boring. This would make a great basic travel palette which you could bump up with the inclusion of a couple of products.
It’s one of those products that a lot of us have, but if you’ve been waiting for the right one still, this could be it!
While I definitely appreciate the work you put into this review, this all-in-one palette still isn’t calling to me. I just believe Smashbox could have done a better job with these. As someone mentioned the other day: Light, Medium, Dark options. Now that idea I would be on board with!
That would be cool!
Very nice! I just might get this one. Thanks for the review.
No problem, Valerie!
No – this palette is not for me – too many mattes, too many neutrals. Although the highlighter shade is lovely – this is a miss for me.
Oh, bummer!
Pleased to see a Smashbox review! They’re readily available where I live but I rarely consider them because they’re so expensive. This is a pass, I find I’m pretty happily covered for neutrals with my Naked Palettes! But any more Smashbox reviews would be much appreciated 🙂
Glad you’re covered with your Naked palettes!
It looks like a nice palette overall, and I like that the contour shade is on the cooler side – much better to contour for most skin tones in my opinion. I don’t think the eyeshadows are very exciting though, so for $65 it’s not a good investment for me.
It is a good contour shade!
I’m glad this did well. If I were a heavy traveler or someone new to makeup, I could see this being of greater interest to me. I’m just kinda ehh..not excited about this. I will be sure to check It out when it hits stores and see if the real life thing is more exciting. But, I need to be pumped to drop $65. It just feels really dupable to me.
I’m sure you have dupes for sure 😉
Wow that contour looks great on you! It really looks like a subtle shadow! I wish the rest of the pallet could work for me, because I would love to try it, since it looks cooler, lighter, and pinker than most other contour products out there–all yays for me!– but I think the rest of the palette would be too warm.
Thanks a lot, Julie! 🙂
Bonus points for them for putting a wee lid over the wax, smart move!
I like some of the eyeshadows, and overall, I think it’s a really well out together palette that would serve as a great all-in-one basic for light to medium skintones. But it doesn’t really speak to me. I *have* basic neutral eye palettes already, I don’t bother with much contouring, and I have never ever bothered with wax on my brows.
This is permanent, right? So if it’s still around by the next time I see my teenage niece, I might get it for her.
Sephora lists it as just new, so it seems like it is permanent, but I don’t get info from Smashbox so I have to rely on the retailer unfortunately!
I am crossing my fingers (and toes and eyes and everything crossable) and hoping we’ll get this palette here soon!
I hope you do!
Gorgeous palette! 🙂 Especially love the shadows & contours. Smashbox has some seriously cut palettes.
Glad you’re enjoying it!
This seems to be a fairly solid palette for lighter complexions. It’s super convenient having pretty much everything in one spot and the price isn’t bad at all
It is decent for lighter skin tones!
Oh man, I would so wear these. Though I’d probably use the brow colors for contouring though because I prefer cool tones. Do I “need” it? No. Do I want it, “Yes!”
That would be a good way to use the brow shades!