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I really don’t need any more eyeshadow. Last I checked (and yes, I made a spreadsheet), I own over 130 eyeshadows. It’s a sickness weakness. Hello, I’m Steffanie and I’m addicted to eye makeup. When I found out that the crazy affordable (like everything’s under $10, most products are $5) ColourPop released a line of pressed powder shadows, I waited. I said, “Now, Steffanie, you do not need any more of these dusty, colored happiness makers.” But as it usually does, blogs and their reviews got the best of me and I caved. I’ve been using them for two weeks now and I’m ready to share my opinion on these $5 shadows.
Currently, the ColourPop Pressed Powder Shadow collection has around 60 individual shades – not counting several ‘limited edition’ quads. There’s a fair mix of mattes, metallic, and satin options. You can find nearly 75% of the collection to be neutrals (brown, beige, etc.), but you still have intense pops of pinks, greens, blues, purples, reds and oranges! The one strange thing I noticed is NO BLACK SHADOW. Weird, right?
They cost $5 individually, the quads cost $18 for four shades (quad, duh) and if you need an empty palette to put your shadows in, you can try the Z-Palette ($14, small fits nine shadows), or a MAC palette ($8, fits four).
I picked up four everyday shades I figured I could get great use out of. I always do this when I try a new brand because if you can do well with the basics, I’ll be more likely to give you a shot for the unique options. I picked up:
The shade descriptions online are pretty accurate, as well as, the swatches – which I really appreciated since you can’t buy ColourPop in stores (yet).
These ColourPop Pressed Shadows are a knockout! They blend so seamlessly, minimal fallout and they last so well on the lids (especially if you use a primer). The texture is pigmented but packed into the pan well enough that they don’t just kick up dust everywhere (the way more affordable drugstore shadows can be). Wake Up Call and Ringer are probably my favorite shades because (shockingly) I don’t have anything quite like them. In fact, I used them in my mascara battle post (Chanel vs Maybelline here). Wake Up Call is my perfect subtle transition shade and Ringer is the perfect my skin tone but shimmer, everyday color. Not too white/beige, not too bronze gold. I just have nothing bad to say about the colors or performance of these shadows – top-notch.
If you have an empty Z Palette or MAC palette sitting around, I HIGHLY encourage you to pick up a few of these. They’re completely worth the money and better than any other ‘affordable’ drugstore eyeshadow – especially for all of the amazing matte shades.
I feel that ColourPop came out with these $5 eyeshadows a bit too late. With MAC Cosmetics lowering the cost of their 100+ selection of pro-quality single shadow pans to just $6, and indie brand Makeup Geek releasing their 100+ single shadows at $5 more than two years before them, I just fear that I don’t see how ColourPop is set apart? I know $5 is already super affordable for the quality, but I wish they could have priced these at $4 each. Then they would have really taken over the market. I don’t see why not – their limited edition palettes are already $18 INCLUDING the holder.
Also, they have yet to release an individually sold permanent palette holder. Maybe if they can beat Z Palette on the price of customizable palette holders, they’d truly be a force to be reckoned with in the customizable eyeshadow market!
Have you tried ColourPop shadows yet? Would you try them? If so, let me know which shades catch your attention and maybe I’ll have to give those a try now that I have half of a Z Palette filled waiting for more shadow friends 🙂
-Steffanie
