Happy Wednesday! Here's this week's survey, which you can copy and paste and share as a comment.
P.S. — Thanks to Leigh for this week’s survey idea!
We're here to help you make better beauty purchases that you'll enjoy and love! We recommend signing up to take advantage of personalized features like tracking products you own, viewing dupes that you already have, and more!
Here are some useful resources for you:
Curious how two shades compare to each other? Type in the shades below to get instant side-by-side swatches!
Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!
Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).
We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!
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!
Your skin tone/coloring:
Best brand for eyeshadows? Make Up For Ever, the new Marc Jacobs Eyeconic formulas, yet to try Viseart!
Worst brand for eyeshadows? Among the brands known for their eyeshadows – Too Faced and MAC
Best brand for mascara? L’Oreal Lash Paradise is amazing!
~nw 15-20. Best e/s Viseart, w/ old? Mufe as a close runner up. Worst: seems to be tf, though haven’t bought any in years. Mascara: Heroine Make.
Oh yes of course — Viseart is outstanding; had I thought a few minutes more I’d’ve put that in my answer
Skin colouring: Approx NC-20
Best Brand for Eyeshadow: (bc i use organic mu) Kjaer Weis shadows
Worst Brand: (during conventional days) Dior shadows
Best Brand for Mascara: for length – W3LL People Expressionist;
for volume – Dr. Haushka Volume Mascara
and Kjear Weis mascara over either to keep it smudge proof
Thank you Helena for sharing your picks ! I’ve recently made the switch towards the green skincare and I’m looking to incorporate natural makeup in my collection.
I’ve heard raving reviews about the Kjaer Weis brand in general.
Your skin tone/coloring: fair, cool
Best brand for eyeshadows? both of these questions are tough because so many brands have real treasures and winners but no brand is without its losers too. Best brand – maybe Inglot or MAC (because of the wide selection of colours, finishes, etc.) and also Sephora (many great ones and the prices are hard to beat)
Worst brand for eyeshadows? Revlon, maybe? (I’ve not purchased a Revlon shadow in donkey’s years but the reviews I’ve read for them are pretty dismal). From my own experience, I’m sad to say that recently Too Faced (a former love) and Tarte have fallen into this category, along with Hourglass (anyone else remember their spectacular eyeshadow duos?)
Best brand for mascara? MUFE and Clarins (and also L’Oreal, though I’ve never moved away from the original Voluminous ones).
Medium warm (MAC NC37, Teint Idole Ultra Bisque 370 Warm, Luminous Silk 5.75)
There seem to be good and bad shadows with many brands: For example, some of my favorite and least favorite shadows have been released by Urban Decay. I love Viseart mattes but their shimmers are not my preference. I love the shimmer shadows in the Jouer Skinny Dip palette but I’ve never tried their other palettes for comparison. I love the shadows in my five Chanel Quads but I’ve heard there are some real misses in the line. I am overall unimpressed with Tom Ford, in both cream and powder shadows (and yes, I have nude dip and try to love it but no, it’s just so underwhelming). I do love NARS shadows, both the duos and dual intensity formula, and I have been very pleased with my purchases from the last 4-5 LE collections.
If I had to pick a brand that seems to do an exceptional job with eyeshadow formula across the board, it would have to be Kat Von D. I own all the singles, My Vida Loca Remix, Metal Mattes, and Pastel Goth. I’ve been impressed by all and I am really fighting against purchasing the Saint and Sinner palette. I am certain it is an excellent palette but I am trying to exert some self control.
Best Mascara: For me, it has always been LANCOME. Definicils, Hypnose Drama, Grandiose, and now Monsieur Big. I have spent the last two years experimenting with different brands and after trying at least a dozen other brands and formulas, it is always mind-blowing to pick up one of my LANCOME mascaras and see how much better they work for me. I do have to say, Urban Decay’s Perversion is pretty damn good too.
I agree with you on inconsistency with Urban Decay shadows. They’re either smooth and blendable, or patchy with a lot of fallout. I’ve never had any luck with Lancôme mascaras though. I know a lot of people love them, like you, but they’re too wet and clumpy for me personally. I’m glad they work for you though!
Agreed. I loved my Vice palettes, but am disappointed with Naked Heat (I don’t have any other Naked palettes).
Lancome Monsieur Big is a good mascara to try from Lancome.
Tammy, I am fighting that same battle against purchasing the Saint & Sinner palette. I’m not sure if I’ll make it through or not. I do know that I don’t need it because I already have a LOT of palettes and single eyeshadows. But I sooooooo want it!!!
Seraphine, I’m not sure whether to hope we both stay strong or we both cave, lol
I tried to cave today, but failed.
Went to Sephora to get it, but they didn’t sell it to me because even though they had it in stock in a drawer, their official release date is the end of next week.
Lol!! Maybe I’m just not meant to have it.
Your skin tone/coloring: Fair/light with neutral undertones.
Best brand for eyeshadows? My favorite formula for matte eyeshadow is TheBalm & my favorite for shimmers is Kat Von D!
Worst brand for eyeshadows? I have had bad experiences some TooFaced shadows.
Best brand for mascara? I love CoverGirl and TooFaced (really just the BTS mascara)
I’ve never even considered TheBalm mattes. Probably because I never see them anywhere to try them. I’m a matte girl, so I’m interested now.
Skin tone: light medium, nc20-25
Best brand for eyeshadows: I haven’t tested extensively but Viseart has my favourite pressed powder formula and Laura Mercier’s Caviar Sticks are my fave cream/stick
Worst brand for eyeshadow: I have never tried anything from Maybelline that I liked
Best brand for mascara: Maybelline
Ditto the LM caviar sticks. I’ve tried other brands (usually deluxe samples) and they just don’t work. I wonder why no one else seems to be able to dupe the LM formula. Just seems odd. But, I certainly haven’t tried them all. Does anyone else have a recommendation?
Your skin tone/coloring: NW45-47 with peachy undertones
Best brand for eyeshadows? mac, the og shades from makeup geek, mufe , kat von d ( i need to test out viseart, denona, abh, tarte and more )
Worst brand for eyeshadows? i don’t know I think you can find good eyeshadow everywhere, depend on your taste and the color. Currently Too faced seems bad.
Best brand for mascara? Maybelline and L’oréal.
Your skin tone/coloring: Light neutral, MAC NC20
Best brand for eyeshadows? Kat Von D, MAC, and Urban Decay are my favorites. (There are so many I haven’t tried yet!)
Worst brand for eyeshadows? Most drugstore brands, including Revlon, L’Oréal, and Maybelline. (I have a birthday palette from NYX that I’ve yet to try, but the colors are quite pretty. I hope it’s better than other drugstore shadows I’ve tried in the past.)
Best brand for mascara? My all-time favorites are by Cover Girl and Rimmel. I’ve never found a high end mascara that is worth the high price (I’ve tried Benefit, Clinique, Dior, Estée Lauder, Too Faced, MAC, Lancôme, and others).
Your skin tone/coloring: MAC NW 20. Best brand for eyeshadows: my beloved Tarte. Also Mary Kay, which I rarely even use these days for some reason. Worst brand for eyeshadows: Covergirl or Flower. Best brand for mascara: Maybelline for Full ‘N Soft, and the Balm for Mad Lash.
I cherry pick my e/s from whatever line I find them. I buy singles, so I’m always browsing the various lines for a swatch. I’m too picky w/mattes to buy them on line. I tried and gave up quite awhile ago. I know I’m probably missing out on some good ones.
If anyone likes waterproof mascara, I love the Chanel Inimitable (pricey) and Cover Girl Super Sizer. Both offer lengthening and add a bit of volume. Chanel’s applies so easily and is easier to take off. Both wear well.
Skin tone/coloring: fair/light
best brand for eyeshadow: UD
worst: two faced
mascara: ciate
Skin tone/coloring: Very fair, MAC NW10 in winter, NW13 summer, black hair and almost black eyes.
Best brand for eyeshadows: Urban Decay or Make Up For Ever.
Worst brand of eyeshadow: for me personally I’ve never had any luck with Too Faced.
Best brand for mascara: High end would be Urban Decay (Perversion) or Lancome (Hypnose). Drug store would be Maybelline, all types seem to be great. I don’t care for the picky plastic wands, I prefer the brush type, but regardless, Maybelline knows mascara.
Great question Leigh.
Skintone / coloring : light, MAC NC 20, med brown hair and eyes
Best brand for eyeshadows : MAC, ABH, Colourpop, KVD
Worst brand for eyeshadows : LA Colors, Revlon and Urban Decay. . . so overrated for dry shadows that fade and have terrible fallout
Best brand for mascara : MAC, Loreal, Armani
I have porcelain skin. My favorite eyeshadow brands would be Kat Von D and Makeup Geek (which sadly doesn’t get talked about much anymore). My least favorite eyeshadow brand is Essence, which makes awful 8 pan palettes. My favorite brand for mascara is Tarte by far! I’ve tried several of their mascaras, including Lights Camera Lashes, Lights Camera Flashes, Gifted, and Tarteist Lash Paint, and I’ve loved every single one! I’m definitely trying Maneater during Tarte’s holiday sales.
Your skin tone/coloring: Light-medium, neutral-to-warm
Best brand for eyeshadows? bareMinerals—I find their Ready shadows so user-friendly
Worst brand for eyeshadows? I don’t know if I can answer this one because once I dislike something from a brand, I tend not to try it again. I don’t think that’s a fair sampling.
Best brand for mascara? Blinc—tubing mascaras are the only ones that stay smudge free on my smaller Asian eyes.
Your skin tone/colouring: Porcelain, with pink undertones
Best brand for eyeshadows? Most of UD’s, although they still have the occasional dud.
Worst brand for eyeshadows? Hands down – Revlon, with honourable mention to Too Faced, Tarte’s latest, Dior and often MAC
Best brand for mascara? I quite like the Physicians Formula Argon Oil mascara
Your skin tone/coloring: Fair/neutral
Best brand for eyeshadows? Urban Decay when they are on their game, I think because I’ve used their shadows so long I have a good handle on how they work best/least.
Worst brand for eyeshadows? Lancome. Haven’t met a Lancome eyeshadow yet that I like.
Best brand for mascara? Benefit! I feel like they are real innovators in the mascara game. When Badgal came out it was the go to, then They’re Real blew minds it was so good for that time. Roller Lash is fantastic and set a new standard but drugstore is already catching up. They are probably already developing something new and incredible.
Your skin tone/coloring: fair/warm-toned (elf Flawless Finish Foundation in Natural/Porcelain is a perfect match)
Best brand for eyeshadows? Lorac
Worst brand for eyeshadows? The $2 elf eyeshadow quads and the clay shadows…. all of the others are great and I haven’t tried any brands that I don’t like.
Best brand for mascara? ESSENCE! I can’t imagine ever spending more than $5 on mascara. They are everything I could need or want in a product.
Arent they great? I have the Essence princess in the green and pink rubbery print first time in my life I really notice my eyelashes. I also like Maybelline and Cover Girl but nothing compared to Essence. Also like their eye shadows palette bought all of them in clearance. Lol! The shades turned out rather similar they repeat two colors in each palette but I do like them all better than Elf I have the prism palette love the colors but not great (found for $4.00 at TJ Max). Their baked ones are better I have only the Peach Please would like to get the purple trio baked one also.
Your skin tone/coloring: Fair/cool NW10
Best brand for eyeshadows? Kat Von D. The Metal Matte palette from last year is my favorite eyeshadow palette ever. I just received my Saint and Sinner palette this week and have loved every look I have created with it. It is absolutely beautiful! I even love KVD eyeshadows more than Marc Jacobs, MAC, and MUFE.
Worst brand for eyeshadows? Too Faced is usually so powdery it just sheers out to nothingness on me when blended.
Best brand for mascara? Too Faced Better Than Sex/MAC Haute and Naughty
Skin tone: Light (to almost Med. Light) & Very Warm/Yellow Undertone
Best eyeshadow brand: Kat Von D !!!
Worst eyeshadows? Vincent Longo. So sheer, So fading. Just horrible.
Best mascara brand: Too Cool For School (Escalator) — please don’t buy them all!
Your skin tone/coloring NW15-20 w/ cool to neutral undertones
Best brand for eyeshadows? I don’t have a big collection, so from what I’ve tried I would say Inglot. Honorable mentions: ABH (MR and Mario palette) and Lise Watier for her holiday collections, especially the Aurora eyeshadow palette released a couple of years ago. It is made in Italy and the quality of this palette is outstanding. The packing is so festive (it is in a metal box). I’m curious to see what they release this year.
Worst brand for eyeshadows? Too Faced. I will never put an eyeshadow from them on my eyes.
Best brand for mascara? Lancôme Mr. Big. It makes like a have falsies on but I’m sure that I kike that look.
Your skin tone/coloring: NW 20, green eyes, dark brunette
Best brand for eyeshadows? Natasha Denona (except chroma crystals), Viseart, Lorac Pro formula
Worst brand for eyeshadows? Guerlain. Embarrassingly awful considering the price. How can a brand with beautiful products like the Rouge G lippies and Meteorites leave something so awful in their line?
Best brand for mascara? Haven’t found one brand that has 100% formulas I like but some recent faves include Le Volume de Chanel and Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes.
Skin tone: Very pale and cool undertoned, NW5-10
Best brand for e/s: Coloured Raine, ABH (most of the time) KVD, Nabla
Worst brand for e/s: Revlon, Too Faced, Charlotte Tilbury (blend to mud and don’t last very long on me personally)
Best mascara: for everyday I like DS Cover Girl Super Sizer in the waterproof formula. For HE Lancôme and Dior Iconic Over Curl (have to set with waterproof over it so maybe shouldn’t be best but I do like how it makes my lashes look) I almost always use Lancôme Cils Booster as a primer under both DS and HE mascara’s. I believe Estee Lauder has a black primer which I want to check out next time I go to the big city.
Also, just picked up a tube of Essence mascara when I was in Missoula on Tuesday but haven’t had a chance to try it yet. Unfortunately I was stricken with a migraine today and it is almost midnight on Wednesday night where I live and am just now feeling better. I will give it a try. I heard Emily Noelle rave about it and several other YT’ers so for about $5 I thought I would give it a try.
Skin tone: light with neutral undertone but the closest (but not good) MAC match is the NC20.
Best brand for eyeshadows: ABH singles, Makeupgeek, Marc jacobs and Viseart.
Worst brand for eyeshadows: covergirl, Maybelline, MAC (I don’t like the hard press) and the glitter fallout from the Colourpop glitter super shock eyeshadows and the shimmer fallout from the shimmer eyeshadows from their pressed formula.
Best mascara: Clinique lash power mascara (tubing).
Skin Tone: Light Medium, NC25, MUFE 127.
Best E/S brand: Violet Voss (love the holy grail palette!), MAC and Too Faced.
Worst E/S brand: Estee Lauder 🙁 no pigment, no blendability.
Best brand for mascara: Lancôme Definicils or Benefit They’re Real!
Your skin tone/coloring: fair, warm (~NC10), blue eye, brown hair with copper highlights
Best brand for eyeshadows? UD singles for quality, ABH for range
Worst brand for eyeshadows? Don’t know — thanks to Temptalia, I haven’t bought a poor quality eyeshadow in years. If question is range — Clinique comes first to mind as never catching my attention with something unique
Best brand for mascara? Am using Lancôme and Clinique products right now, both are good quality and both brands offer ranges
Your skin tone/coloring: deep Mac NC 50
Best brand for eyeshadows? My hands down favourite is MUFE
Worst brand for eyeshadows? I haven’t had luck with drugstore shadows to the point where I haven’t tried them for years. The problem was the never showed up on my skin.
Best brand for mascara? Lancome all of their mascaras are bomb.
LANCOME is YES!!
Skin tone: NC25-ish
Best brand for eyeshadow: Viseart, KVD, UD, Lorac Pro
Worst brand for eyeshadow: Although I’ve sworn off most drugstore brands, for the price point, you can find one or two decent products. That said, the worst brand in my experience, given the way-too-high price tag is By Terry. Seriously, I’ve used drugstore shadows that performed better.
Your skin tone/coloring: MAC NC23! Light with prominent warm yellow undertones, dark warm brown hair, and warm hazel/brown eyes!
Best brand for eyeshadows?: MUFE artist shadows are THE BEST.
Worst brand for eyeshadows?: Maybelline!!
Best brand for mascara?: I love Essence, and Sephora Collection for mascara!!
Leigh, great idea for questions!
Your skin tone/coloring: Very fair with neutral undertones; magenta/red hair; hazel/green eyes.
Best brand for eyeshadows? MUFE Artist Shadows; Ardency Inn Modster
Worst brand for eyeshadows? YSL; Maybelline
Best brand for mascara? I’m allergic to almost all mascaras, but based on performance and being hypoallergenic: Tarte; Physician’s Formula; Almay
More info on worst shadows: The YSL I’ve had had no pigmentation, even when packed on, even with primer, even when used wet, even when using a sponge-tip applicator. (Their blushes and lipsticks are awesome, though.)
Maybelline is the worst DS e/s, but most drug store eyeshadows just absolutely suck IMHO.
Your skin tone/coloring: light yellow/gold
Best brand for eyeshadows? Going to have to name an indie: Aromaleigh.
Worst brand for eyeshadows? Oof. I dunno. With as much makeup as I have, you’d think I’d have a lot more experience with varied brands, but I don’t. Hmmmm … It’s been about 30 years since I used one, but I remember being very disappointed in Covergirl.
Best brand for mascara? Again, not a lot of experience, but I think Dior makes some nice ones (though I’m currently using mostly Benefit).
Your skin tone/coloring: Cool/fair
Best brand for eyeshadows? Colourpop & Wetnwild/Cover Girl roses, jewels.
Worst brand for eyeshadows? Almay, Maybelline, Revlon
Best brand for mascara? Essence princess!
(I know I included more than one ?).
Skin tone: medium/deep, just slightly warm
Fave eye shadows: Colourpop, Sephora pro-palette
Least fave eye shadow: Smashbox and Elf
Fave mascara: Too Faced Better than Sex
I forgot to mention that I was also pretty impressed with Huda Beauty Rose Gold palette and Jouer Skinny Dip palette.