January 10, 2013

Wet n Wild Photo Op Eyeshadow Palette Review & Swatches

The new Fergie Centerstage Collection includes four new Wet n Wild Photo Op Palettes for $4.99. This collection appears to be exclusive to Walgreens for Spring 2013.

Wet n Wild really amped it up with the collection as the packaging got a super revamp. However, sadly it appears they spent more on the packaging than the actual quality of the products as this eyeshadow quad turned out very disappointing.

With the price increase ($4.99 versus Wet n Wild’s typical $2.99-$3.99) Wet n Wild could potentially alienate a few fans of the brand. I didn’t purchase this myself, a friend did, but I wouldn’t mind paying more knowing that Wet n Wild does have some VERY nice eyeshadows.

The packaging revamp also puts these into a higher price bracket as Wet n Wild creates a studier, larger compact for the quad. The entire redesign is quite lovely so yeah, the price rise stinks but if you’re getting something more substantial for your dollar I don’t think you can complain.

Sadly….

You aren’t.

Coloricon Palettes are a raging success in the beauty budget world. With good reason…they are pigmented, have a great formula, and are cheap as day old chips. Gotta love it.

However, with these new Photo Op Eyeshadow Palettes Wet n Wild seems to have reformulated their eyeshadows and not for the better. The shadow palette I have here is entitled Desert Festival. The colors are a beautiful array of coppery burnt oranges and browns. I love shades like this. Wet n Wild did an excellent job pairing chocolate browns with perfect oranges. There isn’t any major guess gaming for application and ease of use and pairing of shades is had here. I’m thankful for not having the deal with a mismatch of shades.

The main issue?

The formula. They included three eyeshadows and one liner shade in the quad all of which have the potential to create a very pretty look. However, the shadows are dry, dry, dry….they have a semi-matte formula with some minimal glitter and shimmer in the mix. The sparkle factor blends away easily so you aren’t left with a disco-ball-like effect. Sadly, the dryness of the formula really makes the shadows apply patchy and uneven. They also lack pigment due to this dryness. A cream base or using a wet sponge applicator will aid in application but you shouldn’t have to go to extra steps just to get an eyeshadow to apply correctly in my opinion. I’m very surprised at the formula. Typically Wet n Wild has a silky formula that applies easily with intense pigment. These lack all those characteristics. Sheer, lacking pigment, very dry, difficult to apply…..it just adds up to a bad shadow experience for me.

Oh well.

You can’t win ’em all.

If you absolutely have to have them, wait for a sale. Otherwise you can safely save your $5 and buy something else.

No likey!

Tried ’em?

Do share your experience!

I was gifted this item by a friend, brand, or family member.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • twirishlady

    Can I just say that I am LOVING your new closeup pics! Great idea. We get a much better idea of the shadows that way 🙂 Thanks so much!!!

  • kimkats

    that’s disappointing. They must have jacked up the price to be able to pay Fergie her commission for being their spokesperson, and dropped the quality as well. that won’t work for long – people love WNW becuase it provides a cheap thrill – good stuff at an insanely low price. If it’s cheap crap, WnW will be abandoned in droves. I wish they’d have not had a “famous name” to promote their product, and kept the price way low and the quality way up.

    • the Muse

      i don’t mind paying more but please keep the quality…these shadows are dry as hells :-/

  • Michelle

    Too bad the formula isn’t up to par, but the pairing of colors are gorgeous on you!

  • shoppingaholic

    OMG it looks so pretty on you. I think it would not suit the medium/dark skin tone. Though we can work through!! What do you think?
    <3

    • the Muse

      I think it would look lovely on most skin types 🙂 and thanks! I really love colors like this!

  • Amy Amethyst

    They are pretty on you, too bad about formula. I wonder if the others are like this too? None of the palettes really jumped out at me since I already have similar colors so I guess I’m not too disappointed.

  • Sarah Chicago

    This is what I don’t understand:

    Why do companies put SO much time into new eye shadows and build so much anticipation, and put it on shelves when they know the quality is bad? Like, do they not swatch their own products??

    Obviously they know that it doesn’t take much to make a GOOD, PIGMENTED product, because they’ve done it before!

    Take this palette for instance. Or the color “Jagged” in the UD Vice palette. Or the new Wet n Wild liquid lip color things that are disgustingly drying.

    Aren’t these companies embarrassed to put out these fail products?

    • AnnaCatherine

      I can’t agree more. I get so discouraged at wet n wild and other brands that I KNOW know how to make quality products and then release junk. Do they think we won’t notice? And what baffles me is that it happens across all price ranges. It bothers me a little bit less when it’s a $5 wnw palette, but when Urban Decay or MAC or even higher end brands try to charge lots more for poor products it really upsets me. I just don’t understand.

  • AnnaCatherine

    I’m glad none of the colors in any of the palettes really spoke to me, cuz I have a habit of buying wet n wild in bulk, normally even without seeing reviews because 90% of the time their stuff is in the good-great range for such a great price. As excited as I was for wnw to get a celebrity spokesperson I haven’t really loved much from her collections. I just hope that newbies don’t try some of this new stuff and write off the brand because they really truly do have amazing products. I have many HG products from them and it would be a shame if consumers judged them from this poor release.

    • the Muse

      that’s true anna…fergie face would influence a ton of new consumers to WnW and it would be a shame if they based their first experience on this rather poor collection 🙁

      • AnnaCatherine

        At least NYX is on the ball. Hopefully those are pigmented and nice cuz if they are all my paychecks will be going right to them.

  • Chiqui

    I have purchased these without reading the reviews thinking, their eyeshadow palettes had been excellent. I wouldn’t mind paying more as long as they keep the formula but sadly it was such a dud! To think i hauled all the colors. The face stuff wasn’t so bad but the shadow palettes were just awful. Cheap makeup and higher price. They better do something about this before they drive everyone away. I would love for them to make that new 8 pan palettes over the holidays, permanent. I personally had a hard time finding the warm one, but I was able to pick up the purple.

    • the Muse

      hiya chiqui! exactly sigh…can’t believe how bad the formula is and they’ve done so many great palettes in the past not sure what happened here 🙁 don’t bother picking this one up, you aren’t missing anything hun!

  • OrangeLipstickBlog

    I actually had this in my hand last night and then thought, “I better wait for the Muse to review this…” I put it back!

  • Winni

    It’s so weird because I have this one and I really like it. I have oily eyelids tho…
    The two lightest shades aren’t very pigmented; but that orange and dark brown eyeshadow really are! Of course I always use over primer and yesterday I wore the brown in my crease over the new pink color tattoo. Loving the close up shots, Muse! Keep em coming! Xo

    • the Muse

      oily lids might be key ;-D drier texture prob loves oily lids…I have drier lids and def felt these were too dry for me 🙁 I used primer as well and also tried with a cream base but the formula on these are TOO dry 🙁 oh thanks happy to hear that, always kinda freaked by closer ups so happy to hear the feedback that peeps enjoy ’em!

      ps how’s baby ;-D Love the shades shot as your avatar hahaha!

      • Winni

        She just turned 1! Eeeeee! This year went so fast! I need to update my picture. She’s too cute, super tall like her daddy with perfect soft wavy hair. 🙂

        • the Muse

          awww wow that did go fast makes me feel old hehehe…! I’d love to see an updated pic ;-D!

  • Teresa

    Thanks for saving me $5!

    I lI’ve WnW shadows, so this is disappointing. I hope this isn’t a sign of a downgrade in quality!

  • Phyrra

    I saw the eyeshadow quads, was tempted by the purple, but skipped it. I’m likin’ the lipsticks and the blushes. This review shows me it was a good call to skip the eyeshadows.

  • Miss D

    The eyeshadow’s texture may suck, but these photos of you in those colors are FABULOUS! Awesome eyes, Muse!

  • Hez

    Muse! Despite the formula, you did an awesome job on your eyes here and you have INSPIRED me. I hit 40 this past July 🙁 lol and I have noticed that under my brow bone it’s puffy.. and fat lol and it’s difficult for me to see the the contour shade.. you know.. the dark one in the middle? lol I love how you do it here… going to attempt to copy this look. I stand in awe of you Muse. Saluting. Love it. Love it. xo

    • the Muse

      aw thank you hez! 🙂 gosh very flattered to hear it. I don’t have that issue but I have a problem with puff under eyes 🙁 it makes me look tired ALL the time. Happened after I hit 30 le sigh. perhaps you should try something to tighten the skin a bit, eye cream/serums or even a temporary solution to smooth the area and hold it tight for your shadow? there are SO many products around that do it ;-D Believe me I can totes relate to eye issues, seems my first real sign of aging le sigh! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂