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Thursday, August 23, 2012

Review: Maybelline Limited Edition Fall 2012 Fashion Week Eyestudio Quad in Olive Martini

I don't think I've ever done this before, but because this palette is limited edition and there are only two of it in each display (click here to see the display), I'm starting this review with the following message: 

If the colors in this palette appeal to you, GET IT the minute you see it. 

Don't wait for a sale, don't scramble for coupons--just get it. I am so in love with this palette that I would hate to see anyone miss out on it while it's still available. I know it's just now showing up in stores for many of you, so I want to get this review out there ASAP so that those who want it have the very best chance at getting it.

Now that I've gotten that off my chest, let's take a closer look:
 Maybelline Limited Edition Fall 2012 Fashion Week Eyestudio Quad in Olive Martini
(retail: $9.49 at Rite Aid, .09 oz)

I purchased this quad at my local Rite Aid for $9.49, but as with all things drugstore, prices can vary from store to store and region to region.

(click to enlarge for a better view of the ingredients) 



This quad has a beautifully edited selection of colors that work together to create soft, ethereal eye looks. In fact, I'll be creating two eye looks for you in a post I'm doing next week, so please check back for that if you're interested. In the meantime, let's take a close look at these colors:


IMPORTANT: if you look at the pic above, you'll see that the pink shade, as well as the two brown shades, all appear to have some sparkle to them. But the sparkle is just an over-spray, meaning that once you break the top layer, there is no sparkle running through the shadows themselves. I know that sparkle is a deal-breaking for some of you, so I want you to be aware that the more you use these shadows, the less sparkle you will see on your eyes. Also, the seafoam shade does not have a sparkle over-spray, so it reveal its soft, satin-shimmer finish on the first swipe.

The first two shades in the quad:


For all of my swatches, the first swatch was done on bare skin and the second was done over Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden. Looking at the light pink shade, you can see above that this color is so close to my actual skin color that it almost looks like nothing on my bare skin. But please note that the color of UDPP Eden interfered with the pink shade on the second swatch, and in real life this color has more pink to it. Here is it at a different angle--I hope you can see the pink tone a bit better here:


As you can see, the seafoam shade is quite pigmented on its own (unusual for a shade like this from the drugstore) and really doesn't become that much more intense over primer. I also love that, unlike some other pastel shimmers I own, these two shades don't come off as chalky when on the the eye.

The second two shades in the quad:


As I had hoped when I first showed you pics of this quad, the third shade in the Olive Martini quad is a dupe for MAC Club/Too Faced Label Whore, etc. etc. (more on that in a moment). The fourth shade in the palette was a complete surprise. It's a little difficult to see in my pics, but this is a rich brown that contains very fine red shimmer. Sound familiar?

If a "rich brown with red shimmer" does sound familiar to you, then you might be thinking of my Fall 2012 Fashion Week Limited Edition Color Tattoo review! Yep, the brown shade in the Olive Martini quad is like the powder version of the LE Color Tattoo shade, Rich Mahogany! Check it out:


Let me tell you, wearing this brown shade over Rich Mahogany creates such a rich, beautiful look that I can hardly stand it!  

But now, back to the MAC Club/Too Faced Label Whore dupe. Since the Wet n Wild shade in the Limited Edition Night Elf palette from 2010 is a confirmed dupe for MAC Club, etc., I wanted to show you what it looks like next to the third shade in the Olive Martini quad:


The ONLY difference here is that the teal shimmer in the Maybelline shadow gives off a slightly less intense duochrome effect. It's a sheerer shadow than the Wet n Wild version, but you can easily build for more intensity (and of course wear it over primer to pump up the intensity as well).


In these pics, I think you can see a little bit better that the duochrome effect is a bit more subdued in the Maybelline shadow but, on the eye, you definitely don't have to strain to notice it.


The texture of the shadows in the Maybelline quad is very impressive. All four colors are buttery, soft but not crumbly, and the blend beautifully. Staying power is impressive even without primer (6 hours for me before I start to see minor fading/creasing) and these shadows last all day and into the night when I apply primer first.

I honestly can't think of a single negative thing to say about these shadows, other than the fact that I wish the pans themselves were a bit bigger for the price. But since I rarely hit pan on my shadows to begin with, I'm willing to work with small pans when the colors are this gorgeous.

FINAL VERDICT: Once again, if the colors in this palette appeal to you, then run, don't walk, to your nearest drugstore and look for this one. The colors are beautifully edited and work so well with each other that I don't even think about reaching for another shadow when I'm using this quad. The light pink shade, which seems like the least exciting color in the quad, can not only work as a base color, but it can also double as a "I need to tone down this bright color" type of shade. The seafoam shade and the MAC Club dupe work so well together (seafoam on the lid, Club dupe in the crease) that it almost brings me to tears. The seafoam really brings out the duochrome in the Club dupe so that when you blend them together the effect appears ethereal and mermaid-like. And if you loved the Color Tattoo in Rich Mahogany but didn't like the texture (the one I bought was dry and patchy), then you simply need its powder counterpart in this quad. I honestly haven't been this in love with an eyeshadow quad in quite some time and I give it my highest recommendation.

Do you own any products from the Maybelline Fall 2012 Fashion Week Collection? If so, I'd love to hear how they're working for you! Please check back next week if you'd like to see my eye looks I've created using the Olive Martini quad.
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49 comments

  1. Those are some great colors. I had that quad in the blue shades, and found them to be well pigmented.

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  2. Wow, I'm pretty sure I saw this in CVS and just passed it right by because I didn't think I needed anymore eyeshadow. Then again, I may have just seen it in your earlier post that had the photo, LOL. But thanks for the great swatches and review---I'll keep my eyes open (pun intended!)for this quad. I love those colors.

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  3. I have almost the entire permanent line, and they are wonderful shadows. Smooth, creamy, pigmented, and blend beautifully. The only "negative" I can think of is there are no mattes.. but I don't care. Interesting colors, and while at first some appear to clash in the pan, give them a try.. they all compliment each other very well. I wore "mad about mauve" today as a matter of fact. Desperately searching for these LE ones.. but so far no luck in my area. My only hope at this point is that they show up really late after everyone else has lost interest, lol.

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    1. So glad you've had a good experience with these quads! And i'm keeping my fingers crossed that you find these soon. :)

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  4. Pretty awesome colors. I would get it, but I just got the Wn'W Comfort Zone palette. If people are still looking for the Night Elf color, then they should just buy the Comfort Zone palette(since it is a definer color in it) because I believe it is a bit cheaper than this quad.

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    1. Thanks for the reminder about CZ! I had Night Elf near me when I was writing this post and completely forgot about the fact that that shade is also in the CZ palette!

      Even still, this one is so with it (to me) because the other 3 colors are gorgeous and work so well together. :)

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    2. Darn autocorrect! with = worth

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  5. I want the olive martini,and the other you swatch...the brown quad.....

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    1. Both would look gorgeous on you! Hope you can find them soon, hun!

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  6. G, you're making me break my piggybank! just the other day, i bought 3 of the limited edition colors (i will get the last one) color tattoos.i was just at Ulta, i spotted that palette and now you gonna make me drive to Delaware just to get this! arghh!

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    1. Lol!! Sorry about that, but this quad is just so pretty and wearable that I couldn't keep it to myself!!

      I would call your Ulta first, before you go, and ask them if they can hold this quad for an hour for you. That way, you will know it's there before you make the drive. :)

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  7. I just picked this up today at CVS and I had my $5 beauty club reward to use! These colors are gorgeous, I can't wait to try it tomorrow. They had all the displays, and were wiped out, I couldn't believe I got this. I can't wait to see the looks you create!

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  8. It looks great! I love these quads!

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  9. That third shade in the olive martini quad reminds me of the bottom right shade in the comfort zone palette also. I must have this quad for the seafoam and dark brown shades.

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    1. Yep, boryk mentioned that a couple comments up, and you're right! Totally forgot that wnw put that shade in the CZ palette after they used it in Night Elf!

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  10. That last colour in the quad is looks like a spot on dupe for Urban Decay's LOUNGE. It has the same duochromatic colour shift.

    Donna

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    1. Hum...I'll have to see if I have lounge in one of my UD palettes...thanks!

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  11. Just a head's up, I finally found this display at Walgreens this morning but it's not a shelf display, it's an endcap display. I was searching so hard for the display I've seen in photos that I passed the endcap by because I wasn't expecting it! I bought two of the lipsticks, Strike a Rose and Refined Russet. I can wear SaR now but RR will definitely have to wait for cooler weather!

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  12. Dang! Hope these make their way to Texas soon! I haven't seen any of the fashion week stuff pop up here yet!

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    1. I've heard that some stores won't be putting out this display until sept, so hold tight and hopefully they'll be there soon!

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  13. It does look amazingly gorgeous. I probably would never buy this on my own, but now, after your review, I think I NEED it! Haha. I really can't wait to see the looks you come up with from this palette, because I have no idea how to use eyeshadow on my own (so sad). Thanks for the post!

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    1. Lol!! You are so welcome, and I'll definitely post eye looks at the beginning of next week. :)

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  14. Lucky me ! I ran into rite aid and lo and behold, before me sat the full display!! Eekk! So I scooped up olive martini because I am a sucker for any type of duo chrome shadows- and love collecting label wh0re dupes.. And I'm reallyimpressed with the three smaller shadows.. The big creamy white shadow is ok, but I wish that green color was the biggest pan!! Thanks again!

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  15. That's a really pretty set, I just wish they Maybelline palettes were a little cheaper!!

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    1. I agree. They feel like they should be in the $6.99 ballpark to me, though that's probably what they run at Target, huh?

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  16. After I saw this post I went out to Walgreens and bought the quad! Judging by your pictures I thought it would be larger. I'm still happy with my purchase because the shades are beautiful. Now I need to figure out how to wear them.

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    1. This is the standard size for ALL of the eyestudio quads, sadly. As I mention in my review, that's my only complaint...I wish the pans were bigger.

      Hope you like it when you try it!

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  17. The Wet n Wild shade you mentioned being a dupe for Mac's Club looks like one of the shades from their Comfort Zone palette, too. Nice review and your pics are so clear and vivid!

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    1. Thanks! And yep, I explained in the comments above that I forgot about that one...my mind automatically went to Night Elf because I had it near me when I was writing this post. :)

      And thanks so much for the kind words about my pics! I really appreciate that, Steph. :)

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  18. I found this quad at Walgreens today, yipeee! It is so pretty in person, thanks for the recommendation! I cant wait to see the looks you show us. You do a great job on this blog, I really enjoy it. Thanks!

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    1. Yay!! I'm so glad you found it, and I hope you love it as much as I do!

      And thank you so much for that! :)

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  19. I saw this 2 days ago at my Walgreens, and I said to myself, "Oh, I bet G. would love this." Ha! I have started to be able to predict what you would like. :) :)

    I did not get this only because my first love is Indie make up, and I have many, many, many Aromaleigh shadows (v.1 and v.2) In my vast AL selection, I have several douochromes, and even specifically this kind of brown with green.

    Once in a while I show some restraint. Not always; sometimes. ;)

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    1. Wow!! You know me too well, girlie!! Lol!! That's awesome! Thanks so much for sharing. ;)

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  20. I'm getting too darn excited for all of LE products maybelline is dishing out lately! Have you seen the LE Color Tattoos that correspond with the LE great lash colored mascaras?!? I'm gonna break my bank by buying all 4 of the bright LE color tattoos and the fall LE color tattoos! I don't want to miss this opportunity.

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  21. I thought this looked similar to the Copper Chic (core collection) Eye Studio quad, but no, I'm just going nuts.

    Someone above commented on the quality of these quads and I can't agree more. They're so incredibly pigmented and while I love my e.l.f. palettes, the pigmentation and smooth application of Eye Studio always catches me off guard in the best way.

    Gonna have to pass on this one, provided I can find the LE Color Tattoo shades. Can't justify both.

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  22. I love the duochromes in MAC, Urban Decay, wetnwild etc so this is a picker-upper for me for sure!
    Thanks for sharing! Your site is the only one I visit every single day!

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  23. I just have to say....since I've been following your blog my wallet has taken quite a hit. Not that I'm complaining mind you. I ran into the Olive Martini palette yesterday at Rite Aid and immediately pounced on it. This is not something that I would not have normally done before. But after seeing your review and swatches....I knew these shades were right up my alley. Thanks again for all your hard work...your blog has become one that I trust and one that look forward to reading everyday.

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  24. Very gorgeous! I have seen some really awesome Youtube tutorials using this palette and I can't wait to get it.

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  25. So super stoked about this collection. I FINALLY found this collection at Walgreens(thanks to my sister) last night and picked up this quad, another one and the light nude blush, which I think is perfect to pair with this quad! My color tattoos are in the mail. A sweet friend that lives near a rite aid was able to grab them and mail them to me since I was afraid we wouldn't be getting them!!! Look forward to the looks you will be posting using this quad! Did you pick up any other quads?

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  26. Grabbed this and the Smoky Cinnamon quad along with the color tattoos and I am l-o-v-i-n-g them all. GREAT collection (from an eyeshadow perspective).

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  27. Thanks for reviewing this quad. I purchased olive martini cozy cashmere and smokey cinnamon i also purchased one of the permant quads in coral I am blown away by the pigmentation. I had been contemplating getting show similar shadows from mac. Thanks for saving me a small fortune. I also purchased blue on by and ready set green color tattoo. Also I had read on other blogs if you had bold gold it was the same as gold shimmer. Not true they are different

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  28. Yeah, this post totally made me run out to CVS to snatch that quad up after I'd realized I'd seen it there. I got my $3 bucks too, now pondering what to spend it on. I already got the Barely Beige Color Tattoo too. G, do you think the lightest shade in this quad is comparable to the Milani champagne chubby eye stick thing, colorwise, I mean? That's the one thing I've kind of had my eye on since it's in your HG list. They looked kinda similar when I held them up next to each other in the store.

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  29. I hate I missed ths!! I want this quad so ad.. Definitely my fav from the fall collection & I can't find it anywhere now! =(

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