Review & Swatches: e.l.f. Baked Eyeshadow Trios

I’m always a little wary when it comes to baked eyeshadows. They’re so hit and miss depending on the brand, but their popularity hasn’t faded. When e.l.f. released their Baked Eyeshadow Trios last fall, they were going like hotcakes. For a limited time, they’re back in stock and I’ve got swatches in case you want to get your paws on them while you can.

There are four trios in the collection: (left to right) Peach Please, Smoky Sea, Lavender Love, and Brown Bonanza.

The shadows go on very smoothly. They’re infused with jojoba, rose, sunflower, apricot, and grape that help nourish the eye area, which feels great on the skin. Right off the bat, I was super pleased with their pigmentation, which didn’t fade throughout the day over primer. e.l.f. says that they can be applied both wet or dry, but I noticed that performance with a damp brush was only enhanced with some of the shades. I used the e.l.f. Mist

As you can see from the swatches, the lighter shades definitely benefit from wet application where the shimmer really intensifies, but the deeper ones are best dry. I don’t typically apply any of my shadows wet though, and I think these stand strong on their own without the extra step.

What surprised me about these trios— besides their pigmentation— was that despite all of the shades having shimmer, I still felt like they all came together to create a complete look. While I normally prefer a matte for the crease, the deeper shades were a tad toned down in finish, and so more workable for me.

Bottom line: the e.l.f. Baked Eyeshadow Trios give baked eyeshadows a good name, so grab them while they’re back in stock— who knows if it will be the last time they’re available. They’re on the website for $4 each.

Have you had good luck with baked eyeshadows?