This is part 2 in a 3 part series reviewing the new CoverGirl Smoky Eye Look trio of products.
CoverGirl Smoky Shadow Blast
$8.49
Available at: drugstore.com
Packaging and Instructions
Unless you've been living in a style-free hole in the ground, you've likely seen the CoverGirl Smoky Shadow Blast commercials or print advertisements. The selling point is clear: one product, two easy steps, perfectly smoky eyes. It's hard to resist that kind of sell. The Smoky Shadow Blast is packaged in a compact double ended stick, with the step 1 side and step 2 side clearly labeled. The outer packaging has clear, yet succinct, directions on how to apply the two colors to achieve a smoky eye look. It's kind of like paint by numbers.
Texture and Feel
CoverGirl Smoky Shadow Blast is a cream eyeshadow in stick form. While you do apply the shadow with the stick, it must be blended with your finger, just like any other cream shadow. I personally like cream shadows because of the ease of blending and the way you can build color, but some women are uncertain when it come to using cream shadows. If that sounds like you, you'll probably want to experiment with CoverGirl Smoky Shadow Blast when you aren't going anywhere so that you can get the look down without any time constraints. Cream shadow can be tricky and it's easy to accidentally rub it off while you are trying to blend.
Results
Overall, I enjoyed using the Smoky Shadow Blast. I don't feel that the two step application process is nearly as easy as it is billed to be, but the pre-matched colors and compact wand packaging are definite strong points. Also, the color I tried -- Bronze Fire -- was very shimmery. Almost too shimmery for daytime, despite the fact that this color combo was presented to me as the "natural" option. Finally, I've read some reviews that complain that CoverGirl Smoky Shadow Blast creases and wears off. As part of my super-scientific approach to this review, I wore Smoky Shadow Blast with my normal eyeshadow primer and I did not have any issues with creasing or wearing off. In fact, my eyeshadow was completely intact at the end of a 10-hour day at the office. Bottom line, if you can handle the shimmer and the cream consistency, the pre-matched colors and compact wand make CoverGirl Smoky Shadow Blast an easy option for creating a dynamic eye look and it is particularly well suited to travel.
Reviewed on: September 1, 2010. Overall rating: out of 5.
Part 1 - Review: CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara
Part 2 - Review: CoverGirl Smoky Shadow Blast Eyeshadow
Part 3 - Review: CoverGirl Line Exact Liquid Eyeliner
Disclosure: Review samples, promotional information and giveaway items were provided by CoverGirl via Blog Spark; no compensation was received in exchange for this review.
