Eye Base Essentials eyeshadow kits apply evenly and leave a silky, soft matte finish, but doesn’t provide as much camouflage as a traditional concealer. They are waterproof and are worth considering if you find that using concealer or foundation as an eyeshadow base doesn’t work for you. The Malibu and Sheer Gold shades have a sheer metallic sheen. Deluxe Eye Shadow costs more but provides a greater amount of product. These larger powder tablets have a sumptuous texture and seamless application that make them a pleasure to work with. Like McEvoy’s regular eyeshadow, these come in a range of finishes, including sparkle and matte. Eye Definer/Eye Liner is McEvoy’s collection of dark powder eyeshadows designed for lining the eyes or creating more dramatic shading (such as for the classic smoky eye). Each has a smooth, dry texture that should be applied in sheer layers to avoid flaking. Application is stellar and pigmentation is excellent, so with patience you can get beautiful results. Every shade is recommended, including those that look obviously blue and purple.

Some of the eyeshadow kits are less desirable because the sparkles on the finishes are quite flyaway so the effect doesn’t last. Some kits have a basic twist-up eyeshadow stick with a creamy texture that blends easily, but doesn’t allow for precise control. The stick in some eyeshadow kits is about the width of a pencil eraser. Furthermore, the creamy texture limits the claimed staying power and leads to creasing for those with oily eyelids. For what McEvoy is charging, this product is a makeup masterpiece that is worth the price of admission all day long. These strongly pigmented powder shadows apply smoothly and wear for hours without flaking. Unfortunately, all of the color options are dark with shimmery, opalescent color and they work only for an evening, deeply smoky-eye design.