theBalm Meet Matt(e) Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches

Christine — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:00:29 +0000

theBalm Meet Matt(e) Eyeshadow Palette

theBalm Meet Matt(e) Eyeshadow Palette

theBalm Meet Matt(e) Eyeshadow Palette ($34.00 for 0.33 oz.) contains nine matte eyeshadows named after theBalm’s favorite Matts. It includes a small, dual-ended bristle brush, which is usable and better than sponge-tipped brushes that are often included in these kinds of palettes, but it wouldn’t replace full-sized brushes for me. The palette is small, square-ish, and made out of heavy-duty cardboard. It flips open and has a mirror under the lid.

Matt Smith is a matte gently warmed-up light beige. It’s warmer than Urban Decay Walk of Shame. It’s not as warm or as pale as Urban Decay Booty Call. MAC Vanilla is yellower. MAC Blanc Type is lighter. Inglot #390 is darker.
Matt Gallagher medium-dark brown with a matte finish. Bobbi Brown Stone is several shades darker. MAC Quarry has a slightly mauve tone to it in comparison. Inglot #360 is darker and cooler-toned.
Matt Ramirez is a dark, sooty brown with warm red undertones but an almost gray-ish tint. MAC Diamond Dove is very similar, perhaps less gray-tinted. MAC Brun has a stronger gray tinge. MAC Midnight Flurry is pretty similar.
Matt McDonald is a bluish-gray with a slightly pearled silver sheen. I wouldn’t describe this as matte. NARS Mandchourie is a bit darker and has gold sparkle. MAC Weathered is slightly darker.
Matt Horowitz is a purpled blue with a semi-matte finish. I couldn’t think of anything that was really similar to this. Inglot #321 is in the same color family, but it’s much, much darker.
Matt Chung is a pale white-pink with a matte finish. NARS Douce France is similar, slightly less pale. Bare Escentuals Muse is brighter. MAC All Races is darker and grayer.
Matt Batali is a deep burgundy eggplant with brown and purple tones. Laura Mercier Deep Garnet is redder. MAC Deceit is shimmery. NARS Arabian Nights is darker and shimmery. MAC Shadowy Lady is a little browner.
Matt Schilling is a matte teal that leans a little blue. MAC Emerald Dusk is shimmery and darker. Urban Decay Hijack is darker and greener.
Matt Patel is a gray-ish mauve with a little brown. MAC Tendersmoke is pinker. Bare Escentuals Rowdy is a bit warmer. MAC Winterized is purpler. NARS Lhasa is browner.

Overall, the texture of these shades are soft, smooth, and buttery–they’re not as dense or as buttery as theBalm’s more shimmery eyeshadows (think the Shady Lady series or their singles). These are finely-milled and soft enough that there is some excess powder kicked up when you go to use them. The majority of the shades applied with good to excellent color payoff, though Matt Chung was a little chalky and sheer, Matt Schilling wasn’t chalky but it was a bit sheer and a little dry, and Matt Patel was slightly sheer in places and didn’t apply as smoothly. Also worth noting, Matt Batali was a bit drier and not as soft or as dense as the other shades in the palette, but the pigmentation didn’t suffer as a consequence.

Each eyeshadow is 0.037 oz., whereas the average full-sized eyeshadow is typically 0.05 oz. I actually like the size of each shade, because they’re about 75% the size of regular full-sized ones (though theBalm’s individuals shades are 0.10 oz.), you still get plenty of product, but the entire compact fits in your hand and is very travel-friendly. I will point out the obvious that theBalm’s Shady Lady palettes contain a whopping 0.60 oz. (almost double the size of this palette) and retail for $39.50, which is only a little bit more. Nude ‘tude is slightly larger at 0.38 oz. and retails for $36. The Shady Lady palettes are still a super-sized value palette in comparison, but I think the pricing is about right here, and you’re getting a good amount of product for your buck.