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We’re talking Revlon today! This is exciting.
If you asked me about 3 years ago what my favorite drugstore makeup brand was, I would have told you Revlon. After a slew of products that worked perfectly for me, (such as the Revlon Colorstay foundation and Revlon Ultra HD Lip Lacquers,) I was sure I’d never recommend another drugstore makeup brand again.
But then, things changed.
Revlon stopped being an innovator, and instead settled back into a “mature follower” kind of role. They never were the first to release a new and innovative product anymore- they left that to Maybelline.
Instead, Revlon stayed back and surveyed other brand’s risks and successes, and then decided if it was worth creating a competitor.
It’s pretty obvious what product the new Revlon Colorstay Creme Eyeshadow is molded after- Maybelline Color Tattoos.
We all know Color Tattoos are pretty darn amazing. Can Revlon Creme Eyeshadow keep up? Let’s find out!
Revlon Colorstay Creme Eyeshadow Pricing & Availability
Revlon Colorstay Creme Eyeshadow is widely available at almost all drugstores. I picked mine up over New Year’s weekend at Bed Bath & Beyond.
I paid $7.49 USD for each shadow, however at the time Bed Bath & Beyond ran a promotion where if you purchase $30 or more from Revlon, you receive a $10 gift card. Specials like this one are super common when it comes to drugstore makeup products, and so there’s no excuse for paying full price.
Keep an eye out at Walmart, Ulta, and Amazon for the best deals.
Revlon Colorstay Creme Eyeshadow >> Purchase on Amazon
12 beautiful & wearable shades
Anybody remember when Maybelline Color Tattoos first blasted onto store shelves? I remember, like, an bright orange, a sea foam green, a Caribbean ocean Turquoise, and a slew of other totally 80’s colors. I wanted no part of it.
Revlon, on the other hand, offers a well balanced shade range right from the get-go. Out of the 12 shades, 6 to 8 of them are what I’d consider “neutral, wearable shades.” (Of course, this is a matter of opinion.)
The remaining shades are definitely more colorful, but not ridiculous. You’ve got a medium pink, an olive green, and an ashy purple. The collection also includes sparkly gold and silver shades, which some may consider “neutral,” while others may not.
The colors create a well-rounded collection, and there is a shade for basically everybody in there.
Slight chemical-y smell if you get really up in there
I have 4 shades, and they all smell exactly the same. Revlon clearly did not try to scent these, and so you can smell the chemical odor, though it is quite faint.
I can’t smell it just by opening the jar; I have to really stick my nose in there to smell it. Though, after sniffing all of my shades repeatedly for testing purposes, I developed a slight headache. That can’t be good, but I won’t be sniffing them all the time.
Super sensitive noses might pick up on the odor, but I don’t think most will find them offensive.
The packaging sure looks familiar
Looking at these from the top, it’s quite obvious who Revlon is imitating. I think the colors look beautiful in the packaging, and so these are products that I wouldn’t mind keeping out on my vanity for decorative purposes.
The glass jar feels sturdy, and I wouldn’t worry at all about tossing these in my makeup bag for traveling.
However, when looking from the side, the packaging is quite a bit bulkier than Maybelline Color Tattoos. It’s not a huge deal, as it won’t take up that much more space in your bag, but still. The smaller the better.
But wait, there’s a surprise in the lid
If it wasn’t for some of my favorite YouTube beauty vloggers, I would never have noticed this little perk.
Revlon included a little nylon brush inside the cap. The textured area slides out revealing a small brush.
Most of the time, I roll my eyes at these silly attempts at applicators because they rarely work, and I’d rather just have the packaging be smaller instead.
Surprisingly, this little brush proves quite useful. The tab makes it easy to hold, and the bristles seem good-quality and not likely to fall apart anytime soon. (I’m looking at you, sponge-tip applicators.)
The paddle shape spreads the product beautifully so you don’t have to get your fingers messy, and it actually does a pretty decent job of blending the edges too.
Especially when on the road, I think I’m going to get plenty of use out of the applicator. Plus, it’s easy to clean- also a plus when on the go.
Smooth, silky texture is easy to work with
One major gripe I have about the Maybelline Color Tattoos is their inconsistency when it comes to texture. Some are smooth and easy to use, while others are chunky, dry, and impossible to blend.
I don’t find that to be the case with Revlon Colorstay Creme Eyeshadow. All four of the shades I have are equally soft and spreadable, so I never end up with chunks of color on my eyelids.
It also means the color picks up very easily from the surface. You never need to scrub your brush or finger on the product, add oil to moisten it, or try to microwave it back to life. Seriously, I’ve done all these things, and I don’t think I should have to.
Super fast drying – work fast!
This is a good and bad thing, but mostly good.
The cream has a quite thin texture that sets pretty quickly, and once it’s set, it’s set. It’s not going anywhere.
When you apply, think about where you want the color to look like before you apply it, and then blend quickly. But since the texture is so smooth and thin, blending isn’t difficult at all.
It works out.
705 Creme Brûlée
Creme Brûlée is my least favorite if I must choose one, but it’s not bad by any means.
The shade is a true champagne color with slightly warm undertones. It’s slightly shimmery, but not glittery. I consider it a satin finish.
I always believe I’ll love these types of shades, but I always end up disliking them because the yellow tones in my skin really highlight the warmness, making the shade look rather gold on me. It’s not the shades’s fault; it’s just my skin.
Although, I find that this shade doesn’t spread as evenly as the others, and it is the most prone to patchiness and settling into fine lines.
720 Chocolate
Chocolate appears to be the only truly matte in the entire collection. The texture feels lovely and smooth, if not slightly mousse-y, and it blends beautifully especially with the included brush.
I consider the shade to be a medium-deep neutral brown. On me, it’s a bit too deep to work as a transition shade, but it’s great for adding depth to the outer corners, or achieving a super easy, one shadow look.
730 Praline
Praline is a soft, rose-gold shade that is slightly shimmery, but not glittery. It can be applied lightly for a very natural rosy glow, or it can be built up to an intense, foiled finish.
I don’t have any problems applying or blending Praline, plus the shade is very forgiving. I think it’s a great fool-proof shade for beginners, or those who are constantly on the move and in need of something easy that won’t hold them back in the mornings.
This one is definitely my favorite.
740 Black Currant
I purchased 3 “neutral” shades, plus this one, which is one of the more colorful ones. As you can see from the swatch, it’s not all that bad.
The color is buildable so it can become more intense than what is shown, but it is still a very wearable purple. This one is pretty reflective, though, so depending on what you do during the day, it may not be a completely daytime approved shade.
If you’re looking to add a bit of color to your looks, but don’t want to go too crazy, then Black Currant is a great starting point.
Lasting power is, as expected, outstanding
As you’d expect, the lasting power from Revlon Colorstay Creme Eyeshadow is amazing.
Seriously, I swatched the colors on my hand two days ago and the remnants are still clinging on. They dry down to a film that you can definitely feel on your skin, but it doesn’t bother me.
For my oily-lidded friends, you’ll probably still want to use an eyeshadow primer, obviously, but even without one, these are seriously tough.
I have oily eyelids, these lasted all day (8 hours or so) on me without a primer. With a primer, it’ll probably go for days if I let it. But I won’t.
The final verdict – are they worth buying?
I definitely like the Revlon Colorstay Creme Eyeshadow, and I’m glad I purchased them. If I weren’t on a makeup-buying freeze, I most likely would go out and purchase even more shades.
The soft and creamy texture sets these apart from the Maybelline Color Tattoos, and makes them just a bit easier to work with on the go. When you’re in a hurry, you want something that you can easily slap on without having to worry about it being a project and a half to blend.
I give these two thumbs up!
Revlon Colorstay Creme Eyeshadow >> Purchase on Amazon
That’s all for today!
Like this post? You’ll probably find this one helpful too >> The EASIEST Way to Apply Winged Eyeliner (Even on hooded eyes!)
If you find this post interesting, informative, or just plain entertaining, tell me about it in the comments below! And don’t forget, sharing is caring. Share this post!
Till next time. ♥︎
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FTC- Not sponsored by any brands mentioned. I purchase all products myself. All opinions are my own. Some links may be affiliated.
Martha says
I tried these and I was disappointed. I’m looking for a replacement for the Maybelline Color Tattoos that are getting harder to find, but these just are not the same. Not as pigmented. Bummer because they have lots of pretty shades.
Kay says
I have to agree that they aren’t as pigmented as some of the Maybelline Color Tattoos. I too am disappointed that I can’t find many of the more vibrant shades anymore, since they did make such great bases. Such is life, I guess. Thanks for reading, and I do hope you discover something that meets your needs soon! 🙂 xo
Elenore says
Some really nice stuff on this site, I enjoy it. Haven’t gotten around to trying these yet, but bet I will!
Kay says
You totally should, they’re pretty great! Thanks for reading 🙂 xo
Kristen says
Ooh that purple one looks pretty! Good purples are so hard to find because they always end up so patchy and dry. Any idea why? Regardless, this is a great read. <3
Kay says
I have no idea why purples are so problematic for so many brands. I’ve tried researching, but I can’t seem to find a straight answer yet. I’m definitely not giving up, though, because it drives me nuts too, haha! Oh, and this particular purple is actually more pigmented than it appears in the swatch- the little brush that comes in the cap applies the product so much better than my finger does. Thanks for reading 🙂 xo
Jane says
I’ve got my eyes on these at my Target. I’m waiting for them to go on sale though lol.
Kay says
I know what you mean, Jane! I always vouch for waiting for sales. Why pay full price when you don’t have to? Thanks for reading, and I hope you get your hands on them soon! 🙂 xo
Kandice Baptiste says
I needed to thank you for this good read!! I absolutely enjoyed every little bit of
it. I’ve got you book-marked to look at new stuff you post…
Kay says
Thank you so much Kandice! I’m glad you enjoyed 🙂 xo
Jaqueline says
Highly energetic post, I enjoyed that bit. Will there be a part 2?
Kay says
Hi Jaqueline. I wasn’t planning on a part 2, but now that you mention it, it might be fun to do an update post about how these hold up over time and if I keep loving them. Thanks for reading, and thanks for sparking the idea! 🙂 xo
Mindy says
Hello, I read your blog on a regular basis. Your story-telling style is witty, keep up the good work!
Kay says
Thanks so much, Mindy! I hope you continue enjoying. 🙂 xo
Lorena says
These shades look stunning! Definitely worth a try. And the photos look really nice as well! Thanks for sharing Kay! 🙂
Kay says
You’re very welcome, Lorena! 🙂 xo
Lee says
Thanks for the review – I’ve seen these in store but definitely wondered about their quality. I’m going to have to go buy one! I love that Praline shade especially – it looks so pretty in your swatch!
XO
Lee | LegalLee Blonde
Kay says
I’ve been wearing these non-stop! Praline is gorgeous and they’re all so easy to work with. Thanks so much for reading! xo