Cover Girl Smoky Eye Solutions Review and Giveaway

September 2, 2010 separator giveaway

Awhile back I received a pretty epic package from CoverGirl. When I agreed to review their new Smoky Eye Look line, I thought I’d get an eyeshadow, mascara, and maybe a liner. You can imagine how excited I was when I came home to an absolutely massive box on my doorstep. I unwrapped a beautiful Pier1 director’s chair, a pretty makeup bag with mirror, and THREE complete sets from the Smoky Eye Look collection!!!
I kept all three of the ShadowBlast sticks because I’m a little bit selfish, but I shared the mascara and liners with a couple of my lovely friends because I’m not that selfish…
Now onto that review…
Let’s start with the mascara because it’s my go-to makeup item. I have used nothing but Maybelline Full and Soft for years. I try other brands, but I always end up crawling back to my trusted staple. Much to my surprise, Lash Blast just might tear me away from my long-term relationship. It turns out that funky-looking wand is good for more than just a second glance. It makes my lashes look absurdly long and thick, especially if I wiggle it from side to side while applying. It does take a bit longer to dry than my old flame, but I love how well it stays put without flaking during the day. Katie of Lemon Jitters is completely smitten as well, as evidenced by her recent makeup post.
Okay, on we go to the heart and soul of the collection – the ShadowBlast stick. This creamy, dual-ended stick deposits a soft, rich color directly onto lids exactly where you want it. My favorite shade is bronze fire because it’s really wearable for anytime at all. The tapered end is great for precision application, though I usually end up smudging things around a bit with my fingertips anyway for a more natural look. All three of the sticks that I tested were perfectly compatible colors that really flattered my skin tone with overwhelming my face. Of course, as with anything, I have a couple bones to pick with this product. I have pretty oily skin, and the shadow creased within half an hour on my shiny lids. I also had a stick break of on me during application, which did bum me out with such a new product.
I am not a big eyeliner person most days. My routine is usually mascara, a light dusting of Bare Minerals foundation, and a touch of blush so that I don’t look an ill-fated True Blood hopeful. Since I usually only play around with liner on a bored weekend evening, I wasn’t really accustomed to a liquid liner and was a little wary of it at first, but LineExact goes on more easily than most pencils I’ve used. It has a felt tip like a marker, so it deposits a thinnish line of color but can be turned on its side a bit for a thicker stroke. I have absolutely no complaints about this product and love the dramatic look it can help me achieve when I’m in that sort of mood.

The kits also come with great, really thorough instructions so that even the biggest beauty novice can master a smoky eye look without wobbling into hooker territory, and the website even has a little “look creator” to help you choose the best colors for your complexion. I would absolutely recommend this line to you guys – especially the mascara!

The Giveaway

How would you like to win $20 to buy your own CoverGirl goodies from your local Walmart? Yeah – I thought so… You have until midnight on September 9 to leave a comment for each of the two entry methods below, and this is open to anybody who has access to a Walmart.

Visit the Smoky Eye Look site, and tell me which CoverGirl Smoky Eye Look you’d most like to try.

Become a follower of Shrimp Salad Circus (the blog) using one of the blog subscribe options on the middle sidebar.

*Disclosure: I was provided with a CoverGirl Smokey Eye Kit and other products, information, and a Walmart gift card by CoverGirl through My Blog Spark. I was not financially compensated for this review, and all opinions are all mine and 100% honest.

80 comments

  1. Since I’m a Full ‘n’ Soft girl myself, how could I not apply? hehe I’m a follower (duh), and my fave Smoky Eye Look is the Natural Look 🙂

  25. I’d probably do the natural look. I’d also probably try setting it with a powder so it wouldn’t crease.

  44. I like the natural look.
    contestsandsuch[at]gmail[dot]com
    I subscribe to your blog via e-mail.

  56. I’m a natural look kind of girl. Thanks for the giveaway and I love your new look 🙂

  61. I would actually like to try the bronze fire eye shadowblast stick, sounds easy to use!

    beachcovejewelry@ gmail dot com

  68. Well, I’m an old lady so blue eye shadow is out. I’d love to try that Natural look. Will it make me look like Drew Barrymore?

  74. Aww, the smoky eye look site doesn’t have all the colors that are on the look creator! My eyes are green-gold, so I’d use either the purple plum or bronze fire during the day, and the onyx smoke or silver sky at night. But, since I already have a million purple and brownish-bronze eyeshadows, I’d have to go for the glam look to try something new for a night out–I’ve been using the exact same palette for about six years now. Awesome giveaway!

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