Smashbox Ultramarine, Cerulean, Violet Always On Cream Eyeshadows Reviews & Swatches
Ultramarine
Smashbox Ultramarine Always On Cream Eyeshadow ($22.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a medium-dark, bluish-teal with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation that applied fairly evenly, but it had room for improvement. I’d recommend using a fluffy, synthetic brush to diffuse the edges as it was a shade that seemed to dry down quicker than other shades in the range–brushes gave me more play time and were more forgiving.
The texture was smooth, velvety, and thin without being runny, so it had good glide/slip on my skin. It lasted well for eight and a half hours before creasing a bit.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Sublime Reverie (PiP, $6.25) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Turquoise (PiP, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Water Landing (LE, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Sephora Shawn (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Kaleidos Digiteal (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop Runnin' Thru the Six (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop 1946 (LE, $4.50) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Dominique Cosmetics Mystic Ice (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (80% similar).
- Anastasia B3 (Norvina Mini Vol. 2) (LE, $12.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- ColourPop Wavelike (PiP, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$22.00/0.34 oz. - $64.71 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "saturated color with a comfortable matte finish" that is long-wearing and won't crease. It has a thin, more velvety-cream consistency that was lightweight, spreadable, and tried down to a semi-flexible feel. It wasn't flexible in the sense that it could be continuously blended out after it had dried down, but it didn't feel as heavy or as clung-on to my lid, which I suspect was the result of the thinness of the product paired with its more powder-like finish.
The dry down was fast, so it didn't settle into my fine lines or creases as it dried down, but I felt like I had a decent amount of time to apply, blend, and diffuse the product as long as I worked one eye at a time. Once the formula dried down, it was more locked on and felt a lot drier to the touch, so I would not recommend fussing with it much once it sets as it could lead to the product lifting away.
Most shades were opaque, while some were opaque but had a tendency to sheer to more semi-opaque coverage and had to be built up in places. They tended to wear between eight and eight and a half hours before creasing a bit on me. I had higher hopes for wear, as I'm a huge fan of the brand's 24HR primer, but they definitely started to crease on me at an average-length of time (powder eyeshadows tend to last between seven and eight hours on me). If I wore them as a base, they lasted better--10 hours or so--or if I wore them more sheered out, it added a half hour to an hour of better wear.
Browse all of our Smashbox Always On Cream Eyeshadow swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Lauroyl Lysine, Dicalcium Phosphate, Dextrin Palmitate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Microcrystalline WaxCera MicrocristallinaCire Microcristalline, Zinc Stearate, Octyldodecanol, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) WaxCandelilla CeraCire De Candelilla, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Styrene/Methyl Styrene/Indene Copolymer, Hydrogenated Styrene/ Isoprene Copolymer, Silica, Laureth-4, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Aluminum Powder (CI 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Blue 1 (CI 42090), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Bronze Powder (CI 77400), Chromium Hydroxide Green (CI 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), Copper Powder (CI 77400), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Ultramarine
PPermanent. $22.00.
Cerulean
Smashbox Cerulean Always On Cream Eyeshadow ($22.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a light, sky blue with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish. It was a “warmer” blue as far as blues go. The texture was lightweight, velvety, and thin but spreadable, though I found it was faster to dry down, which made it harder to work with than other shades–especially as any unevenness was more visible given the contrast of blue against skin tones.
It had mostly opaque pigmentation in a single layer, which sheered out slightly in practice. I wish it had been more blendable, so this was a shade I’d recommend using brushes to apply, as they gave me an improved application compared to fingertips. This shade stayed on well for eight and a half hours before creasing faintly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Huda Beauty Sapphire #4 (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Makeup Geek Tenacious (P, $9.00) is darker (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics New Heaven (P, $8.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- By Beauty Bay Sky (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild To Muse and Carouse #3 (DC, $2.29) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Hi-Def Cyan (P, $21.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Baby Jane (P, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Terra Moons Azure Skies (P, $6.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Anastasia B2 (Norvina Mini Vol. 3) (LE, $12.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Narcotic (DC, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$22.00/0.34 oz. - $64.71 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "saturated color with a comfortable matte finish" that is long-wearing and won't crease. It has a thin, more velvety-cream consistency that was lightweight, spreadable, and tried down to a semi-flexible feel. It wasn't flexible in the sense that it could be continuously blended out after it had dried down, but it didn't feel as heavy or as clung-on to my lid, which I suspect was the result of the thinness of the product paired with its more powder-like finish.
The dry down was fast, so it didn't settle into my fine lines or creases as it dried down, but I felt like I had a decent amount of time to apply, blend, and diffuse the product as long as I worked one eye at a time. Once the formula dried down, it was more locked on and felt a lot drier to the touch, so I would not recommend fussing with it much once it sets as it could lead to the product lifting away.
Most shades were opaque, while some were opaque but had a tendency to sheer to more semi-opaque coverage and had to be built up in places. They tended to wear between eight and eight and a half hours before creasing a bit on me. I had higher hopes for wear, as I'm a huge fan of the brand's 24HR primer, but they definitely started to crease on me at an average-length of time (powder eyeshadows tend to last between seven and eight hours on me). If I wore them as a base, they lasted better--10 hours or so--or if I wore them more sheered out, it added a half hour to an hour of better wear.
Browse all of our Smashbox Always On Cream Eyeshadow swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Lauroyl Lysine, Dicalcium Phosphate, Dextrin Palmitate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Microcrystalline WaxCera MicrocristallinaCire Microcristalline, Zinc Stearate, Octyldodecanol, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) WaxCandelilla CeraCire De Candelilla, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Styrene/Methyl Styrene/Indene Copolymer, Hydrogenated Styrene/ Isoprene Copolymer, Silica, Laureth-4, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Aluminum Powder (CI 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Blue 1 (CI 42090), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Bronze Powder (CI 77400), Chromium Hydroxide Green (CI 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), Copper Powder (CI 77400), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Cerulean
PPermanent. $22.00.
Violet
Smashbox Violet Always On Cream Eyeshadow ($22.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark lavender with warmer, pink undertones and a mostly matte finish. It had medium pigmentation in one layer, which was somewhat buildable, but this shade seemed to be too silicone-heavy and had a tendency to pill during application.
The more I blended it out or tried to layer up the coverage, the more likely it was to pill, which resulted in a chunkier finish and some additional unevenness. The texture felt lightweight, thin, and spreadable without being runny, which should have made it easy to work with, but it was the hardest shade to use in the line-up of 15. There was visible creasing after eight and a half hours of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Viseart Lilas (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Luv Bug (LE, $5.25) is lighter (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Countess (PiP, $5.25) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Tarte Skipper (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop Big Moves (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop Clubhouse (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Coloured Raine Purpleberry (LE, $6.99) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Quite Spoiled (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Chanel Quiet Revolution #1 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Ciate Jet Setter (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$22.00/0.34 oz. - $64.71 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "saturated color with a comfortable matte finish" that is long-wearing and won't crease. It has a thin, more velvety-cream consistency that was lightweight, spreadable, and tried down to a semi-flexible feel. It wasn't flexible in the sense that it could be continuously blended out after it had dried down, but it didn't feel as heavy or as clung-on to my lid, which I suspect was the result of the thinness of the product paired with its more powder-like finish.
The dry down was fast, so it didn't settle into my fine lines or creases as it dried down, but I felt like I had a decent amount of time to apply, blend, and diffuse the product as long as I worked one eye at a time. Once the formula dried down, it was more locked on and felt a lot drier to the touch, so I would not recommend fussing with it much once it sets as it could lead to the product lifting away.
Most shades were opaque, while some were opaque but had a tendency to sheer to more semi-opaque coverage and had to be built up in places. They tended to wear between eight and eight and a half hours before creasing a bit on me. I had higher hopes for wear, as I'm a huge fan of the brand's 24HR primer, but they definitely started to crease on me at an average-length of time (powder eyeshadows tend to last between seven and eight hours on me). If I wore them as a base, they lasted better--10 hours or so--or if I wore them more sheered out, it added a half hour to an hour of better wear.
Browse all of our Smashbox Always On Cream Eyeshadow swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Lauroyl Lysine, Dicalcium Phosphate, Dextrin Palmitate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Microcrystalline WaxCera MicrocristallinaCire Microcristalline, Zinc Stearate, Octyldodecanol, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) WaxCandelilla CeraCire De Candelilla, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Styrene/Methyl Styrene/Indene Copolymer, Hydrogenated Styrene/ Isoprene Copolymer, Silica, Laureth-4, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Aluminum Powder (CI 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Blue 1 (CI 42090), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Bronze Powder (CI 77400), Chromium Hydroxide Green (CI 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), Copper Powder (CI 77400), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
That’s really a shame about Violet doing that pilled up thing, because that’s a shade I may have bought. None of these three are doing it for me, but I was hoping to have been able to use Violet as a tenaciously waterproof base for purple/lavender/violet eye looks.
Nope- still don’t like these very much. Maybe it’s the matte finish that is putting me off and the ratings aren’t anything to rave about either.
Some of these shades look promising to use as bases! I like the tube format better than the pot like MAC’s paint pots, and the MUFE ones are hard to find now.
I love violet, but it looks troublesome. This is the kind of product I have to be ultra wary of, but I always want them to work out.