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Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette Review, Photos, Swatches

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Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette
Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette
Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette
Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette
Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette
Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette
Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette
Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette
Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette
Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette
Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette
Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette
Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette
Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette
Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette
Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette
Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette
Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette

Softlight

Smashbox Softlight Cover Shot Eye Palette ($29.00 for 0.27 oz.) is a small, travel-friendly palette that features a smoky take on “soft” shades of gold, peach, and brown. 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.

This was the worst palette in the bunch, as it did not work well even over primer–the formula was just too dusty and dry. The eyeshadows ran together, sheered out, and faded within five hours of wear. No matter whether I used two shades or five shades, it looked like the same faded, shimmery beige eye.

Softlight

LELimited Edition. $28.00.
F
F
4
Product
6.5
Pigmentation
5
Texture
4
Longevity
2.5
Application
49%
Total

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Smashbox Keeper Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Keeper Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Keeper Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Keeper Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Keeper Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Keeper Cover Shot Eyeshadow

Keeper

Keeper is a light gold with warm, yellow undertones and a frosted finish. It had good pigmentation, but the consistency was drier and prone to sheering out, so it left just a wash of semi-sheer shimmer once I started to blend it. If I patted it on and barely touched the edges, it looked opaque for three hours–then it seemed to just fade and fade and fade.

Keeper

PiPPermanent in Palette.
D-
D-
6
Product
9
Pigmentation
6
Texture
4
Longevity
3
Application
62%
Total
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Smashbox Spectacle Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Spectacle Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Spectacle Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Spectacle Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Spectacle Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Spectacle Cover Shot Eyeshadow

Spectacle

Spectacle is a pale lavender with cooler undertones and a frosted finish. It had semi-sheer color coverage with a dry, dusty consistency that did not apply evenly, blended away to next to nothing, and had little staying power even when just patted and left unblended on the lid (four hours).

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Smashbox Starlight Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Starlight Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Starlight Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Starlight Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Starlight Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Starlight Cover Shot Eyeshadow

Starlight

Starlight is a light-medium peachy beige with warmer, yellow undertones and a soft, frosted finish. It had decent pigmentation, but it had the same dry, dusty texture that sheered away as soon as I attempted to blend it on the skin. The color lasted for five hours on me.

Starlight

PiPPermanent in Palette.
D
D
6
Product
8.5
Pigmentation
6
Texture
5.5
Longevity
3.5
Application
66%
Total
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Smashbox Fresh Take Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Fresh Take Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Fresh Take Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Fresh Take Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Fresh Take Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Fresh Take Cover Shot Eyeshadow

Fresh Take

Fresh Take is a medium peachy orange with warm undertones and a satin finish. It had sheer color payoff with a dusty, thin texture that was difficult to apply, as there was not much that adhered to the lid, even when patted and packed onto the lid. The color seemed to vanish by the fourth hour.

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Smashbox Cascade Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Cascade Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Cascade Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Cascade Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Cascade Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Cascade Cover Shot Eyeshadow

Cascade

Cascade is a muted, medium pinky-coral with gold shimmer. The texture was very powdery and thin, which resulted in the eyeshadow sheering out very easily over the lid, despite having good pigmentation–it just didn’t stick! This shade faded within five hours on me.

Cascade

PiPPermanent in Palette.
D-
D-
5
Product
9
Pigmentation
5
Texture
5.5
Longevity
3
Application
61%
Total
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Smashbox Aglow Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Aglow Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Aglow Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Aglow Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Aglow Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Aglow Cover Shot Eyeshadow

Aglow

Aglow is a soft mauve with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had semi-sheer color coverage with a dry, dusty, and thin texture that lasted for a mere two hours on me. Even over primer, it was gone after four hours!

Aglow

PiPPermanent in Palette.
F
F
2
Product
4.5
Pigmentation
4
Texture
1.5
Longevity
2
Application
31%
Total
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Smashbox Well, Hello Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Well, Hello Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Well, Hello Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Well, Hello Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Well, Hello Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Well, Hello Cover Shot Eyeshadow

Well, Hello

Well, Hello is a medium brown with warm, yellow undertones and fine copper flecks of shimmer. It had sheer pigmentation with a dry, dusty texture that sheered out as soon as I attempted to blend it out. The color lasted for two hours on me.

Well, Hello

PiPPermanent in Palette.
F
F
2
Product
3
Pigmentation
4
Texture
1.5
Longevity
2
Application
28%
Total
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Smashbox Beach House Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Beach House Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Beach House Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Beach House Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Beach House Cover Shot Eyeshadow
Smashbox Beach House Cover Shot Eyeshadow

Beach House

Beach House is a medium-dark brown with warmer undertones and a golden shimmer. It had semi-opaque color payoff with a dusty, thin texture that was prone to sheering out when I worked with it. The color just didn’t adhere well to the lids at all for me. I noticed fading within five hours of wear.

Beach House

PiPPermanent in Palette.
F
F
4
Product
7
Pigmentation
5
Texture
5.5
Longevity
2.5
Application
53%
Total

46 Comments

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Lam Avatar

So happy you posted this today … was seriously considering buying it lol! So, thank you for saving me money :p

This may be asking much, but do you know of a similarly-themed palette? I love soft pastels and the like but oftentimes they’re dusty as all hell. My search continues…

kjh Avatar

I was googling spring releases and kvd is doing a pastel goth palette. It’ll be interesting to see what she can do with pastels. Hardly what we think of from kvd. If that comes out ok, then Kendo should have done a better job with the Sephora watercolor palette. Well, they should have, anyway. I still might get that COTY palette remaindered. There has to be 19$ worth of decent shadow in it. But that did not fare well here on T. I’d love a decent pastel palette as well.

Emily Avatar

For soft neutrals (also a favorite of mine) I immediately think of Viseart Paris Nude, which has similar colors to this palette but with amazing textures . Also the NARS dual-intensity shadows–some gorgeous muted colors that are nonetheless bright and glowy-looking. Laura Mercier, Chantecaille, Rouge Bunny Rouge, and Cle de Peau also come to mind. If you love Tarina Tarantino shadows, I adore Floriculture (and Christine’s eye look with it, which I’ve worn oodles of times since discovering it); out of 8 pans, only one is dark, and it’s a beautiful plum. The rest remind me very much of what I thought this Smashbox palette would be.

Katherine T. Avatar

It’s funny because when I first saw the swatches, I thought most of these were highlighters, the pigment was so sheer. Well, skip for me, as these already look half-eaten, and my oily lids will take care of the rest in no time 😉

kjh Avatar

Always get a chuckle out of an epic fail I avoided due to this blog. Thanks, as always. I can usually pick a couple of shades in each..like the big pan bluish in bold, the green and burgundy in smoky, and aglow in this one. Delving deeper into the dupes (excuse the alliteration) it looks as if Tarte metallics poker face is the one. The S SAs say those fit in their well palette, and poker face would be a good addition to my diy en taupe palette. See, there is ALWAYS a good take-away from Temptalia!

liz Avatar

Oh i’m disappointed in this one! I’m really fair and I like a sheer wash of neutrals on the lid and was really looking forward to this lil palette. Looks like an easy skip. Dang it. I never got my hands on the original Rainforest of the Sea palette so I’m still on the hunt for the perfect pocket sized light neutral palette. I’d love suggestions, fellow readers!

Christina D. Avatar

I completely agree. I somehow managed to collect all seven palettes, and this is the only one that I considered returning. However, because I have quite a few palettes that lack a highlight or brow bone shade, I know I can make use of this.

Nika99 Avatar

I was considering buying this during the Ulta 20% off sale also.If these were done right they could have been stunning.A small palette of inner corner,brow bone,and base colors in different soft tones would be great but it would have to be pigmented and have a nice shimmer to some of them.This just sounds so bad.So glad I did not purchase!!

paintednightsky Avatar

Thank you for the honest review! The Smashbox cover shots really appeal to me and I’ve been trying to narrow down which ones I want. It is amazing how some influencers on youtube who got their PR package for free hyped this particular palette up :/

paintednightsky Avatar

Yes, the difference is you always disclose and are 100% honest and uninfluenced to give great reviews on mediocre products 🙂 I think most people like me don’t have tons of disposable income to spend on makeup and want to make the most of their money. For me it is a once in awhile indulgence. I know something is up when ytubers are saying the same palette you reviews and making it sound better than it is by saving it is an awesomely pigmented for a bridal palette for soft looks are full of it -_- I always use your reviews as the main point of research and branch off from there to see what others say. Thank you so much for saving so many people money with your reviews <3

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!