Limited Edition Maybelline Matte Color Tattoos: Swatches + Review!!

Ohmahgah you guys I can't even with these. I CAN'T EVEN. I think the lady at the cash register of the CVS I finally found these at saw me pee a little when I found these sitting in the Maybelline Gilded In Gold display (which is the limited edition collection these matte Color Tattoos are a part of). Can you blame my inability to control my excitement though?? 

For nearly a month now I've been hunting these down at every Walgreens, RiteAid, Bed Bath & Beyond, Ulta… seriously, every store I could think of that gets in limited edition cosmetic releases I was there. And I was creepy (I'm assuming anyways… I can't imagine any of the stores thought my silent-disheveled-sweats-wearing-self was endearing).

Enough of my rambling though; let's get on to checking out these beauties and seeing if the hunt was well worth it, shall we?

I'd like to think I can speak on behalf of everyone that the minute Maybelline released the original set of Color Tattoos the thing that was ultimately missing was a good selection of neutrals. So Maybelline listened and, little by little, released a few limited edition collections of colors like "Rich Mahogany" and "Barely Branded". However, there was still a lack of matte nudes since every new nude release seemed to contain shimmer. Bugger! That's where the newest collection of limited edition Color Tattoos come in though… these are indeed matte nude shades and are nothing short of "oh-my-gawd-you-need-to-get-these-now-they-are-nothing-short-of-extraordinary-unicorns-pooping-rainbows". 

By the way, as a short intermission, I just HAD to toss in these photos of Galileo. He absolutely loves the hard plastic safety seals that come around certain foods and cosmetics so you know the minute I ripped off the "limited edition" safety seals from these Color Tattoos he went absolutely bonkers. Just look how ferocious he looks as he gnaws at that wrapper in the (blurry but oh well) second picture hahah!!

Ahem, back to the makeup.

"Just Beige" is a creamy, borderline tacky ('sticky'), pastel yellow ochre (wut wut to all of the painters out there; if not, just google it because it's an accurate color description). I found that this was the least pigmented of the bunch but that by no means is saying that it's sheer. For people with a heavy yellow undertone to their skin this would be a great neutral color to slap on the lids and even them out but for people like me with more of a neutral skin tone then this works great as a semi-nude-esque eye brightener. This takes my eyes/face from looking like I got a couple hours of sleep to at least six or seven hours!! Perfect for the overworked student (or mother, etc.).

"Nude Pink" is absolutely my favorite out of the bunch. It is such a gorgeously understated pastel dusty pink mauve that gives the eyes a je ne sais quoi sophistication with practically no effort. This is the kind of color that makes me absolutely lazy with any other eye shadow because I can just smudge this onto the lids and not have to add anything else to the eyes while still looking pretty and polished.

"Matte Brown" is not only the least creatively named but also most uninspiring color for me of the bunch. If it hadn't been on the stand when I finally found these Color Tattoos I definitely wouldn't have been disappointed but since it was there, well, you know… makeup hoarding problems. It's still a great color and wonderfully pigmented so for the darker skinned ladies out there this is your nude!! For anyone with lighter or medium skin like me though I can really only see this being used for smokey eyes (which, admittedly, I rarely take the time to do) or maybe as a smudgy liner. Regardless I think it was a great third color to have in the collection as a whole!

 L-R: Just Beige, Nude Pink, Matte Brown

Seeing these all lined up you can tell that there's something here for any matte nude lover. These are creamy, pigmented, and truly effortless to just smear on the lids and go on those busy I-can't-even-remember-how-to-tie-my-shoes-much-less-do-my-makeup mornings. I've heard that "Just Beige" and "Nude Pink" are dupes for the "Soft Ochre" and "Painterly" Paint Pots by M.A.C. but, since I don't own any M.A.C. Paint Pots I really can't tell you all if those claims are true. Maybe you can compare and tell me in the comments below!

The one negative I have with these Color Tattoos though?:

Uuuuuuuuugh the formula is a creaser… which is almost worse than a stinky pooper (which is what I call Galileo when I pick him up to hug him, notice he smells like poop, then see he has a log of poo stuck to his butt fur). I have this problem with every single Color Tattoo though so you may or may not experience the same creasing. And by the way, if you're one of those lucky "Color Tattoos don't crease on me without a primer!" ladies I hate you, haha (just kidding, I'm only jealous). That's okay though, all I have to do is be sure to put my beloved theBalm "PUT A LID ON IT…" Eyelid Primer onto my lids before these cream shadows et voilà! All day Color Tattoo perfection.

So that's it people!! Like said, I truly am supremely happy that I finally found these matte Color Tattoos at CVS and think that, if you can find them before they're discontinued, they're something you should definitely pick up for yourself to have as a staple in your makeup collection. Happy hunting!

Do you own any of the matte Maybelline Color Tattoos?

Were they worth the hunt?

How do you feel about matte eye shadows in general?

Do share!!

xoxo - Cassie