I have never tried the Maybelline Eyestudio products. The eyeshadow quads always looked tempting, but I personally don't enjoy getting quads that have only shimmery shades or only matte shades. I appreciate the variety of textures when it comes to my palettes so that I can create an entire eye look just using that one palette...versus having to pull from other palettes if I happen to need a matte or shimmery shade. After watching Amarixe's drugstore eye tutorial using the new, limited edition Strut it Suede quad, I knew I had to have it. Finding this quad was a bit of a quest. They were sold out at my Walgreens and CVS because they are only a couple of them on each Maybelline display. Luckily, I found mine at a local Ulta store. When I went to reach for the Strut it Suede quad, I fell in love with Makeover Mocha. I love neutral quads, I just can't seem to get enough of them! I have to be completely honest, I absolutely love these two palettes!!!
The first three shades are incredibly silky smooth. The light champagne color is a frosty cream shade. The second and third shade are very wearable shades brown. They have a satin-like finish, and they come off looking matte on my eyes. The last shade is a little more gritty-feeling because there is some fine glitters, but the shade is gorgeous. I'm not usually into dark, charcoal shades--but I love this one!
The first shade is another satin-finish brown. The second shimmery taupe shade is the real winner in this palette and really brightens up your eyes. The third and fourth shade are both browns with gold micro-glitters within the shadow. These shades are perfect for fall.
As you can see from the swatches, they are insanely pigmented. Just keep in mind that these shadows are also very easily blended and sometimes the intensity can be blended away. So the key with these shadows is to layer!
The third neutral quad I purchased was bought on a whim. All Sonia Kashuk quads were $10.00 versus the normal $12.99, so I decided to give this one a chance--especially since I was on a neutral eyeshadow kick. I was intrigued by the bottom left shade...which look beautifully, shiny. I thought the shadow was going to appear as if I was wearing liquid metal. Unfortunately, the shade was just glitter packed very tightly into the pan. When I was rubbing the shade for swatches, the shadow actually started crumbling and falling apart underneath my finger. I was sorely disappointed in this quad.
Even though the other shades are nice, pigmented, smooth, etc...that shimmery, gold, bottom-left shade just really turned me off from the rest of the palette.
If you're looking for a nice neutral quad for fall or just for your collection, I highly recommend the Maybelline Eyestudio limited edition quads. The Sonia Kashuk one seems to be more readily available (Target), but if you can get your hands on the Maybelline--then go with it!
