As someone who has tested countless eyeshadow formulations over the years, I rarely find myself genuinely excited about a drugstore eyeshadow launch. However, Maybelline’s Shadow Blocks Eyeshadow Palette in the Broadway & Prince St colorway has completely changed my perspective on what affordable eye makeup can deliver. After incorporating this trio into my daily routine for the past three weeks, I’m ready to share my detailed thoughts on this stacked shadow system that promises convenience and quality in one innovative package.
First Impressions: Packaging and Concept
The first thing that struck me about the Shadow Blocks palette was its ingenious stacked design. Unlike traditional palettes that spread shadows horizontally, Maybelline has created a vertical trio of shadows that snap together in a compact tower. This unique concept immediately addressed one of my biggest makeup storage frustrations—limited space in my vanity drawer.
Each block contains a generous 0.08 oz of product, impressive for a drugstore offering. The Broadway & Prince St color story presents a harmonious gradient of complementary urban-inspired shades that can create both everyday and dramatic looks. The palette comes secured with a clear plastic wrapper, and I was pleased to find all my shadows properly sealed with no signs of tampering—a concern I’ve occasionally encountered with drugstore purchases.
The exterior packaging features Maybelline’s signature clean design with a clear window that allows you to see the actual shadow colors before purchasing. The blocks themselves have a satisfying weight and snap together with a secure magnetic closure that doesn’t accidentally come apart in my makeup bag.
Color Selection and Pigmentation: Urban Sophistication
The Broadway & Prince St edition features three remarkably versatile shades inspired by New York City’s vibrant intersections:
- Base Shade: A satin-finish cream with subtle warm undertones that brightens the entire eye area and creates a smooth canvas for the other colors.
- Mid-Tone: A sophisticated taupe-brown with the perfect balance of warm and cool undertones that deepens the crease and adds dimension.
- Accent Color: A rich, complex bronze with fine shimmer particles that creates stunning depth without overwhelming glitter.
The color story is exceptionally well-curated—these three shades work together harmoniously while each maintaining its distinct purpose. What impressed me most was the pigmentation level, which strikes the perfect balance between buildable and intense. The shadows deliver noticeable color on the first application but allow for layering to achieve more dramatic results.
Unlike many drugstore formulations that appear vibrant in the pan but translate poorly to the lid, these shadows maintain their color integrity from pan to application. The base shade provides actual coverage rather than just a subtle wash, while the accent shade delivers true shimmer intensity without requiring wet application.
Texture and Application: Surprisingly Luxurious
The texture of these shadows defies their price point. All three possess a remarkably smooth, finely-milled quality that reminds me of shadows from brands charging three times as much. There’s minimal powdery kickup when dipping into the pans—a common issue with many affordable eyeshadows that often leads to product waste and messy application.
The base shade applies evenly with no patchiness, creating the perfect foundation. The mid-tone shade blends with surprising ease, allowing for both precise placement and diffused application depending on your brush choice. The accent shade deserves special mention—it applies smoothly with minimal fallout, a rare achievement for shimmer formulations at this price point.
I’ve applied these shadows with both brushes and fingertips and found them responsive to different application techniques. For an everyday look, brushes provide perfect control, while using fingers with the shimmer shade intensifies its reflective quality for evening looks.
The shadows layer beautifully without muddying or losing their distinct characteristics, which speaks to the quality of the formulation. I was particularly impressed with how well they build without becoming patchy or uneven—a common pitfall of less expensive shadows when attempting to increase intensity.
Staying Power: Impressive Longevity
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of these shadows is their remarkable longevity. Without primer, they maintain their vibrancy and placement for a solid 7-8 hours before showing minimal fading. With my regular eye primer underneath, they last through my entire 12-hour workday with minimal creasing, even on my somewhat oily lids.
During a particularly humid day last week, I noticed only slight fading in the crease area after 10 hours of wear—impressive for any eyeshadow, let alone a drugstore option. The shimmer shade deserves special recognition for maintaining its reflective quality throughout wear without migrating across my lid or collecting in fine lines, an issue I’ve experienced with numerous high-end shimmer formulations.
I’ve worn this palette through workout sessions, outdoor events in varying weather conditions, and long workdays. In each scenario, the shadows have performed admirably with minimal touch-ups required. The colors maintain their distinct appearance rather than blending into an indistinguishable smudge by day’s end—a quality that speaks to the stability of the pigments used.
Versatility: From Day to Night
One of the strongest selling points of the Broadway & Prince St trio is its remarkable versatility. The three carefully curated shades can create numerous looks depending on application technique and intensity:
- For a quick morning routine, I sweep the base shade across the entire lid and highlight my brow bone, add a touch of the mid-tone in the crease, and I’m ready to go in under two minutes.
- For office meetings, I add definition with the mid-tone shade blended into the crease and outer corner, creating polished dimension without being overly dramatic.
- For evening events, I intensify the crease with the mid-tone, pack the shimmer shade on the mobile lid, and smoke out the lashline with the deepest shade for a sophisticated look that transitions effortlessly from day to night.
The stacked design proves particularly convenient for touch-ups throughout the day. I can easily carry just this single product in my purse rather than a bulky palette, knowing I have all the essential shades needed to refresh or intensify my eye look.
Comparison to Similar Products
Having tried numerous eyeshadow trios and small palettes, I can confidently say the Shadow Blocks system offers several advantages over comparable products:
- Unlike many drugstore trios that include one standout shade and two fillers, each shadow in this stack serves a distinct and essential purpose.
- Compared to high-end trios from luxury brands, the pigmentation and blendability compete remarkably well at a fraction of the price.
- The stacked design provides significantly more product (0.08 oz per shade) than most compact palettes, offering better value for money.
- Unlike some “travel-friendly” palettes with minuscule pans, these shadows allow for easy brush access without cross-contamination between colors.
When compared specifically to other Maybelline eyeshadow offerings like their City Mini palettes, the Shadow Blocks provide more product per shade and superior pigmentation, though with fewer color options in a single purchase.
Potential Drawbacks: Room for Improvement
While my experience has been overwhelmingly positive, there are a few considerations worth mentioning:
- The stacked design, while innovative, means you need to unstack the blocks to access certain shades, which might add seconds to your routine compared to an open palette format.
- Though the magnetic closure is secure, I occasionally find myself wishing for a slightly stronger magnet to prevent any possibility of separation when tossed in a makeup bag.
- Those seeking extremely bold, editorial looks might find the shade range too neutral, though I personally appreciate the wearable versatility.
- While the packaging is sleek, the plastic construction, though sturdy, doesn’t have the luxurious feel of some higher-end products.
These minor points are far from dealbreakers and are significantly outweighed by the product’s strengths.
Value Proposition: Excellence at an Accessible Price
At its current price point, the Shadow Blocks palette represents exceptional value. The cost per ounce of product is lower than many comparable drugstore options, especially considering the quality of the formulation. The versatility of the shades also means you’re likely to use every color completely—not something I can say about many larger palettes where several shades often remain untouched.
The quality-to-price ratio here is remarkable. I’ve used shadows from luxury brands costing five times as much that don’t perform significantly better than these. For makeup enthusiasts on a budget or those who simply appreciate smart value, this palette is a standout option that doesn’t feel like a compromise.
Special Notes for Different Skin Tones and Eye Colors
The Broadway & Prince St colorway shows thoughtful consideration for a range of skin tones and eye colors:
- On fair skin (like mine), the shades create beautiful definition without appearing harsh or overwhelming.
- Friends with medium skin tones have reported that the colors show up beautifully without appearing ashy or losing their distinct character.
- On deeper skin tones, the shadows remain visible and true to color, though the base shade may work better as a subtle highlight than an all-over base.
The neutral-warm undertones of this particular trio complement most eye colors remarkably well:
- Blue eyes: The bronze accent shade creates stunning contrast that makes blue eyes appear more vibrant.
- Green eyes: The taupe mid-tone enhances the richness of green eyes.
- Brown eyes: All three shades complement and enhance the depth of brown eyes.
- Hazel eyes: The combination of warm and cool undertones in the palette brings out the multiple colors present in hazel eyes.
Application Tips from Extended Use
After three weeks of regular use, I’ve discovered several techniques that maximize this palette’s potential:
- For the most impactful application of the shimmer shade, slightly dampen your brush with setting spray before applying.
- The mid-tone shade works beautifully as an eyebrow powder for those with light to medium brown hair.
- For a quick one-shadow look, the mid-tone applied with a fluffy brush across the lid and blended into the crease creates instant definition.
- The base shade makes an excellent inner corner highlight when you want a more subtle effect than a true shimmer highlight.
- For those who enjoy tightlining, the deepest shade can be applied with a damp angled brush along the upper lashline for subtle definition.
Sustainability and Ethical Considerations
Maybelline has made progress in its sustainability efforts, though there’s still room for improvement. The packaging uses standard plastic without recycled content—an area where I hope to see advancement in future iterations. However, the compact design does minimize excess packaging compared to larger palettes with similar total product amounts.
The company has committed to making 100% of their packaging recyclable, compostable, or reusable by 2025, which is encouraging. They’ve also expanded their cruelty-free certifications in recent years, though their parent company’s status regarding animal testing in certain markets remains a consideration for those strictly focused on cruelty-free products.
Perfect For…
This particular Shadow Blocks trio would be ideal for:
- Makeup minimalists who appreciate multipurpose products
- Busy professionals seeking efficient morning routines
- Travelers wanting to pack light without sacrificing options
- Makeup beginners intimidated by larger palettes
- Anyone looking to elevate their everyday eye look without complexity
Would I Repurchase?
Without hesitation, yes. In fact, I’ve already purchased a backup of this particular colorway and am exploring other color stories in the Shadow Blocks line. This product has earned a permanent place in my routine—high praise from someone who tests new makeup constantly.
When this trio eventually runs out, I’ll immediately replace it. The combination of quality, convenience, and value makes it a standout product that deserves a spot in virtually any makeup collection.
Final Verdict: A Remarkable Achievement in Affordable Eye Makeup
The Maybelline New York Shadow Blocks Eyeshadow Palette in Broadway & Prince St has thoroughly impressed me on nearly every level. From the innovative stacked design to the thoughtfully curated color story, from the luxurious texture to the impressive longevity, this trio delivers far beyond its modest price point.
What makes this product truly special is how it combines simplicity with sophistication. It’s approachable enough for makeup beginners yet versatile enough for experienced enthusiasts. It streamlines your routine without limiting your creative options. It’s travel-friendly without sacrificing product quality or quantity.
In a beauty market saturated with endless options, the Shadow Blocks system stands out as something genuinely innovative and practical. It solves real problems for makeup users—limited space, travel constraints, decision fatigue—while delivering excellent performance.
If you’re looking to simplify your routine, maximize your storage space, or simply enjoy beautiful eye looks without breaking the bank, I cannot recommend the Maybelline Shadow Blocks in Broadway & Prince St highly enough. It’s that rare drugstore find that doesn’t just perform well “for the price”—it performs well by any standard.
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Pros:
- Innovative space-saving design
- Exceptional pigmentation and blendability
- Impressive longevity
- Versatile shade selection
- Excellent value for money
- Minimal fallout
- Works well across skin tones and eye colors
Cons:
- Need to unstack to access all shades
- Magnetic closure could be stronger
- Limited shade range for bold/creative looks
- Basic plastic packaging
Who should buy this: Anyone looking for high-quality, versatile eyeshadows in an innovative format at an accessible price point.
Who should skip this: Those who prefer extremely bold colors or who find the stacked format inconvenient compared to traditional palettes.
Buy on Amazon: Here
