Hey beauty lovers! I’ve been testing out the Maybelline New York Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quads in Emerald Smokes (0.17 oz), and I NEED to share my thoughts with you all. If you’ve been eyeing this affordable green palette, let’s get into what you should know before buying.
First Impressions & Packaging
When my Emerald Smokes quad arrived, it came well-protected in bubble wrap – always a good sign! The packaging is exactly what you’d expect from Maybelline: simple, practical, and compact. Perfect for tossing in your makeup bag without taking up too much space.
One thing I noticed right away: most packages come sealed with TWO tape seals, which is great for ensuring you’re getting an untampered product. However, I should mention that MANY reviewers reported their eyeshadow arriving cracked or broken – especially the lightest shade. While mine arrived intact, this seems to be a common issue with shipping these powder products.
Something odd – several people mentioned their quad was missing the sponge applicator that typically comes with these. Not a dealbreaker since most of us use our own brushes anyway, but worth noting!
The Color Story
The Emerald Smokes quad features four complementary shades:
- A pale, slightly off-white/ivory base color with subtle shimmer
- A soft, mid-tone olive green
- A deeper forest green
- A dark, almost black-green shade with golden sparkles
What makes this palette SPECIAL is how perfectly the colors work together. The green tones lean olive/khaki rather than bright kelly green, making them much more wearable for everyday looks. There’s a subtle shimmer throughout – definitely not matte, but not overly glittery either.
For those hunting for specific greens, several reviewers mentioned this was the ONLY khaki/olive combo they could find after searching everywhere. If you’re seeing olive greens in clothing stores lately and need eyeshadow to match, this palette delivers exactly that vibe.
Application & Performance
I found these shadows apply smoothly and build up nicely. The pigmentation is good for the price point – not the most intense color payoff you’ll ever see, but definitely workable and buildable.
The lighter shades work great all over the lid or as a highlight, while the darker greens make excellent liners. One reviewer with pale, neutral-warm skin tone mentioned they use both the mid-green and dark green as liners depending on how dressy the occasion is.
The staying power is pretty decent! While you might notice some color drift by the end of the day (the darker shades can blend upward a bit), it tends to blend smoothly rather than creating a messy situation. Several longtime users mentioned they get all-day wear without creasing – a big win for an affordable drugstore option!
Who This Palette Works For
This palette seems to be a FAVORITE for people with certain eye colors:
- Green-eyed folks reported loving this palette, especially the yellowish base shade
- Those with blue-gray eyes mentioned green shadow works better for them than blues, pinks, or beiges
- Several reviewers with warm skin tones found these golden-green tones particularly flattering
The colors are described as subtle rather than heavily pigmented, making them approachable for everyday wear or office settings. If you’re looking for super intense, dramatic greens, you might want something more vibrant.
Value & Availability
At around $5-10 (depending on where you purchase), this quad is a STEAL compared to high-end eyeshadows that can run $40+ for similar color stories. Many reviewers specifically mentioned being pleased with the quality-to-price ratio.
One interesting note: LOTS of reviewers mentioned they’ve been using this exact palette for YEARS and were thrilled to find it on Amazon because it’s becoming harder to find in local stores. Several people mentioned this appears to be a discontinued item they can now only find online. If you fall in love with it, you might want to grab a backup!
The Good & The Bad
The Good 👍
- Beautiful olive/khaki green color story that’s hard to find elsewhere
- Subtle shimmer that’s sophisticated, not teenybopper glittery
- Good staying power with minimal creasing
- Works beautifully for various eye colors, especially green and blue eyes
- Extremely affordable price point
- Each shade is labeled for where to apply (helpful for makeup beginners)
The Bad 👎
- Shipping issues – many received cracked or broken shadows
- Some packages missing the applicator
- Lightest shade may be too yellow-toned for some preferences
- Not the most intense pigmentation (though some prefer this subtlety)
- Some find it too flaky or powdery
- Becoming harder to find in physical stores
My Real-Life Experience
I’ve been wearing this quad for about two weeks now, and I’m honestly impressed with how versatile it is. For quick everyday looks, I sweep the light shade all over and add the medium green to my crease. For evenings out, I amp it up with the darkest shade along my lash line for a smoky effect.
The colors really DO make my eyes pop, and I’ve gotten several compliments specifically on my eyeshadow since switching to this palette. The subtle golden tones in the greens catch the light beautifully without looking overly shimmery or inappropriate for daytime.
I did notice a bit of fallout during application, so I’d recommend doing your eye makeup BEFORE your foundation if you’re using this quad. And while the colors do last well throughout the day, I find using a good eyeshadow primer definitely helps maximize staying power.
Who Should Skip This
If you’re looking for ultra-pigmented, one-swipe intensity, this probably isn’t your palette. The colors build nicely but definitely have that more subtle, buildable drugstore formula. Also, if you prefer completely matte shadows, the shimmer in these might not be your thing.
Those who have had bad experiences with eyeshadow creasing might want to invest in a higher-end option with a more crease-resistant formula, though several reviewers specifically mentioned being impressed that this affordable option DOESN’T crease on them.
Final Thoughts
For around $6-8, this Maybelline quad is seriously impressive. The olive-toned greens fill a gap in many makeup collections and work especially well for those with blue, green, or hazel eyes. The wearable color story makes this perfect for makeup beginners or those who prefer subtle eye looks with just a touch of color.
The biggest concerns are the shipping issues (broken shadows) and the fact that this seems to be disappearing from physical stores. If green shadows are your thing, I’d recommend grabbing this online while you still can!
Overall, I’d give the Maybelline New York Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quads in Emerald Smokes a solid 4 out of 5 stars. It loses a point for the occasional quality control and shipping issues, but for the price point and wearable color story, it’s a total winner in my book.
Have you tried this palette? I’d love to hear your experiences with it too! 💚
Quick Tips for Best Results
- Use an eyeshadow primer to maximize color payoff and longevity
- Apply with brushes rather than the included applicator (if yours even came with one!)
- Tap excess product off your brush before applying to minimize fallout
- For more dramatic color, try applying with a slightly damp brush
- The darkest shade makes a gorgeous eyeliner when applied with a thin, angled brush
- If your shadow arrives broken, you can try the alcohol repair method to press it back together
Similar Products Worth Considering
If you love the Emerald Smokes quad but want to explore other options:
- For higher pigmentation: Check out ColourPop’s green palettes for more intense color payoff
- For more matte options: NYX has some excellent matte green singles that could complement this quad
- For luxury alternatives: Urban Decay’s green shades offer similar tones with more buttery formulas (at a higher price point)
But honestly? For the price, this little quad from Maybelline delivers everything most of us need for a gorgeous green eye look without breaking the bank. Sometimes the drugstore classics really DO deliver!
Buy on Amazon: Here
