TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6.4*
Why: Readers agree that this product is "difficult" and "hard to use." One woman says, "I thought it sounded great, but it was one of those things you really need to practice. And after two months, I haven't gotten it right yet. I've been wearing eye makeup for 43 years and this is the most difficult to get right ever." A reviewer says, "this goes on too wet and smears all over your eyes" and it's "very difficult to keep it where you want it and to get it to dry properly. Another reader says, "This eyeshadow goes on smooth and dries quickly" but "haven't noticed any eye lifting -- have noticed it has [an] effect that makes skin look crepe-y. UGH!"
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6.3*
Why: One reader says, "This tin is so hard to open I won't even use the shadows! I have other products in tins -- glosses mostly -- and they are no problem. This one will get thrown out." And if you do manage to get one open, here's what's inside: "The color selections are just beautiful, but too bad they flake so badly. The particle size is too big and the powder is dry, it doesn't pick up well on my brushes. This is a cheaply made formula in cheap containers trying to sell for big bucks -- not worth it! I had to return mine to the store." Another person says, "I bought the cake for brown eyes from Sephora online and was so excited to try it. There were so many colors in the cake, and they all looked like 'me' shades. However, there is absolutely no pigmentation to these, if I could get any shadow on my brush at all. Even wet, I could barely get an application."
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6*
Why: "I had high expectations from this eyeshadow and it failed to deliver. First of all, it's very chalky. Second, I had to layer it quite a bit in order to have any color on the eyelid, even with primer. The packaging is cute, but for $9 I was expecting better quality," says one reader. Another comments, "this is not up to the usual standards of Physicians Formula products. The shadow is pale -- I think the shadow needs more pigment." One reader says, "it's not the best eyeshadow I've used, but it works for everyday wear. I have the one for brown eyes and it slightly brightens up my eyes without looking too 'done up' which is OK for where I am now (military). But I wouldn't wear it to go out at night because the colors are not vibrant enough. It works for the day and that's just about it. I wouldn't wear it for anything special."
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 5.1*
Why: One woman looking for quality on the cheap says, "I bought this product not too long ago looking to save some money on eye color. I can only say that I'm happy that the decision didn't take long because this 'Expert Wear' didn't take long at all before the colors, which don't really complement each other very well, started developing that sheen to the surface that is common with low-quality eyeshadows." Another reader complains the shadow "cakes too quickly [and the] colors don't complement each other." Another woman concurs, "I agree that the colors don't really go together and some get used way more than others. The big problem, however, is that it creases by noon. I want to do my makeup once, not three times to get through a day. Disappointed." One woman adds that "Maybelline makes lovely colors, but the quality isn't there. They crumble, aren't intense enough to last all day, and after a while, sort of compress and it's difficult to get any product on the applicator."
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 3.7*
Why: Readers call this a "junk product," "a smoky mess" and "pretty useless." Ouch. "Utter disaster of a product," says one reader. "It is like trying to use a poorly-formulated grease crayon as eyeshadow. Primer does not help; nothing helps. Poor color payoff, poor application (I tried fingers, a brush, a sponge ... nothing could make it go on evenly), poor staying power (creases like nothing else!) and one end fell out when I opened the container (before I even tried to twist it up) ... You would be better off grabbing a Crayola Crayon from your kid's crayon box and trying to use it!" Another reader says, "I can't fairly rate this product on its coverage or staying power because its application is nearly impossible. Part of the convenience of having a stick shadow is not having to pack any applicators or brushes in your purse, but that's the only chance in 'H-E-double-hockey-sticks' you have of getting a decent application with this one. Like someone else said, it's a big crayon. When I tried to carefully apply the darker color with the angled tip, the entire thing broke away from the base with only the tiniest amount of pressure ... Sorry CoverGirl, but you really dropped the ball on this one."
Eye makeup has been evolving since around 10,000 B.C. from a number of civilizations and cultural uses ranging from reducing sun glare to burial rituals to restoring eye sight. Nowadays, whether we want to test out a new trend, have our makeup reflect our mood, complement our outfit, or make a statement -- we wear eye makeup pretty much for aesthetic purposes. We use eyeshadow to play up our eye color, add dimension and depth to our eyes or just attract attention to them. And, eyeshadow no longer comes in just a basic powder form, you can find it in a mousse, liquid and even a crayon form -- and in more colors and textures than you could possibly dream up.
But unfortunately, we're not here to tell you about the latest and greatest eye makeup, the best long-lasting eyeshadows, or help you find your sexiest eye shadow shade. Instead, we're going to share the worst eyeshadows with you according to our readers.
We're not pointing any fingers -- yet -- but a reader says one of the eyeshadows has "absolutely no staying power, cakes into the crease and looks terrible." Another reviewer "wanted to like this because the color selection was great, but... having the GLITTER invade your eye half way through application is not fun business." And other readers succinctly sum up the eyeshadows in this list in a few words:
"unmanageable"
"junk product"
"a smoky mess"
"pretty useless"
"utter disaster of a product"
