Almay Intense I-Color Smoky-I Kit Review & Swatches
I picked up this Almay Intense I-Color Smoky-I Palette for Brown Eyes about two hundred years ago…naaa, not that long. But it was late last year when they originally released for Spring 2012.
I just now dug it out of my “to be reviewed” pile after getting curious about the new palettes Almay released for Spring 2013. I figured, “hey, I already have one to try!” so why haul the new ones unless I knew I’d love ’em!
Let’s take a look!
Excellent packaging on these as they feature a diagram and instructions for application. This shows how evolved drugstore makeup has come as before it was kinda toss us in the pool and learn to swim. Nowadays drugstores (and even higher end brands) make a ton of effort to give us easy to follow instructions for getting the most of palettes. I personally love that aspect of this range and appreciate the little extra of including a how to get the look guide.
I purchased this at Harmons for $5.79 at the time. That price is very budget friendly for what you get. They created this palettes for an easy to apply smoky eye look and that’s exactly what it delivers.
Unfortunately there color selection in this brown eye palette is a little off for me. Both the brown and cream shades are excellent picks but I was at a lost for the lilac shade. They suggested using it in the crease but I found it blended into the brown and it was hard to notice any contrast from it at all. A lighter brown paired with this chocolate brown they included might have proved better for definition.
Aside from this small mishap the formula is quite good. Although the lighter shades are sheerer the brown is richly pigmented. I love the creamy beige and think I’ll make a ton of use out of it as it’s soft, delicate, and makes for an excellent color wash. Colors are easy to apply, blend out, and use. They have a soft, silky formula sans any major glitter and a smooth, satiny finish that adds depth to eyes. They wore well under primer without fading or creasing.
I’m disenchanted by some of the color selections I’ve seen in these trios since they appear a tad mismatched. As I mentioned above even this one was a tad odd, lilac? Who pairs that in a smoky brown look? But outside of that the quality is here. The shadows have a very nice formula on a whole. Almay just needs stop concentrating and marketing shades on what they would look best with certain eye colors. Forget that idea completely. Just release shades that work together and stop with the marketing to certain eye colors and you’d have a total win.
Worth exploring!
Especially with new ones available for Spring 2013 and these older ones on clearance at certain drugstores.
Tried ’em?
Do share your thoughts!