These tiny little palettes include three shades of shadow each with an applicator to create a simple, easy smoky eye in a few steps. I’m of the mentality you don’t need twenty different eyeshadows to create one look! This little palette includes the essentials which are a highlighting shade, a lid shade, and a contrasting shade that can double up as a crease and eyeliner all in one. These come in two shade variations of a traditional smokey eye with colors of black and silver and a more of a brown taupe variation (love this one). The shadow formula is quite lovely at this price point. Velvety, pigmented, easy to apply, and blend out with a bit of fall out but nothing too dramatic. Color wears well with or without primer and doesn’t fade easily once applied on my drier eyes. The black shade in the Smokey Night Palette quite reminded me of MAC Black Tie! It was very pigmented with fine micro shimmer and a very soft, silky texture.

I liked, as I mentioned above, that each palette had three shades as it made creating a smokey look really easy. Simply highlight, add a lid shade, and contrast and define with the deeper color. Add a little mascara and eyeliner and you’re done! So easy and so cheap!

All in all Essence Smokey Eyes Sets are a really great budget pick up and make for a great travel companion as they are small, travel easily, and give you all the essential shades for creating quick, easy smoky eyes.