The new Buxom Waterproof Smoky Eye Sticks ($18 each) make me wanna holla ROAD TRIP! New for spring, the line of eight twist-up shadow sticks sports uber-lightweight packaging perfect for throwing into a makeup bag filled with just the bare essentials (there’s even a hidden sharpener tucked away at the bottom of the pencil).
Buxom Waterproof Smoky Eye Sticks from the left to the right: Bow & Arrow, Nunchucks and Silver Sword
Buxom designed the long-wearing shadows to line and shade eyes in flash. I tried three of the eight colors, Bow & Arrow (a shimmery dark green), Nunchucks (a shimmery blueish black) and Silvery Sword (a smokey graysish black), and, using the new Smoky Eye Brush ($17), followed “The Buxom Method” tutorial included with the product.
The Buxom Method
- Gently brush the Smoky Eye Brush against the eye stick tip, then sweep color back and forth on the lid near the lash line and into crease.
- Line the lash line with the pointed tip.
- Soften the edges with brush to get down and smoky.
Buxom Smoky Eye Brush, $17
Buxom Smoky Eye Sticks, $18 each
Swatches from the left with the flash: Silver Sword, Nunchucks and Bow & Arrow
Swatches withouy the flash
Silver Sword
Nunchucks
Bow & Arrow
Silver Sword on eyes
All three resist water well, but I had a hard time blending out the edges, and when I tried layering I got patchy and uneven color. The brush feels scratchy against my skin, too.
Although I like the cheeky names, streamlined packaging and the long wear time, I think there’s some room for improvement. If Buxom could find a way to smooth out the shadows and make them easier to blend, these little sticks could become gems worthy of your next big trip.
PRICE: $18 each for the Smoky Eye Stick and $17 for the Smoky Eye Brush
AVAILABILITY: Exclusively at Sephora stores and online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B-
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Speaking of cute packaging, I was surfing the web earlier today and saw a couple of sweet new eyeshadow palettes from Bobbi Brown and Urban Decay. I now have monster crushes on Bobbi’s Peony and Python Palette and UD’s Feminine, Dangerous and Fun Eyeshadow Palettes. Too cute!
AnieJ says
February 8th, 2011 at 3:15 pmYeah, these don’t sound like my cup o’ tea (which is fruity). Do you think these could still work as liners? I love the names too, like the shadows with Husky, etc. So Cute! Why is this feeling like my humpday?! I’ll never make it to Saturday now….
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Tiffany says
February 8th, 2011 at 3:18 pmI have one of these that I got in a set but I haven’t tried it yet. story of my life.
I LOVE any and all Buxom lip products though!
kalcedon says
February 8th, 2011 at 3:27 pmThanks for the review-I mean, I guess I would have been suckered into purchasing at least one of these just because of their names and the little images on the top of the box… in a second… how friggin unique and cool are they? (is there an alcoholics anonymous-like aid movement for those who buy make-up products solely because of their names??? :D)
stacie says
February 8th, 2011 at 3:46 pmThese sorts of things annoy me a bit they bring out one product then a product you have to have to use the first product and neither sound great. Hurrah for reviewers we can save our pennies for products that deserve it 😀
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Chris25 says
February 8th, 2011 at 4:04 pmSilvery Sword looks neat. I have been looking for an alternative to MAC Blackground.
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Karen says
February 9th, 2011 at 10:13 amAh, that’s a good color. This one’s a little harder to blend…
Gina says
February 8th, 2011 at 4:13 pmI love Buxom mascara by Bare Essentials. It works very well! I also use the Buxom lip gloss. “Dolly” and “Gina” are my favorites. 🙂
Gina says
February 8th, 2011 at 4:16 pmI meant Bare Escentuals! LOL
Karen says
February 9th, 2011 at 10:12 amI’ve heard the glosses are really nice!
My Funny Valentine says
February 8th, 2011 at 4:17 pmCute products! shame about the blending issues..
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Karen says
February 9th, 2011 at 10:11 amI know! If only they were just a touch smoother…
Alka says
February 8th, 2011 at 4:18 pmI love the idea of these but I would definitely get frustrated with them if they were difficult to use – especially if I took them traveling. Thanks for giving us a heads up on their limitations. I love my BE big and bright liners and often smoke them out since they are so creamy but I always have to set them with an eyeshadow for staying power. Kudos to BE for trying to simplify our lives.
Karen says
February 9th, 2011 at 10:11 amI’ll have to check those out, Alka. Do they come with a sharpener, too?
Alka says
February 9th, 2011 at 12:27 pmYes, they have the built in sharpener on the end along with a smudgy thing (sorry not very technical).
Glosslizard says
February 8th, 2011 at 4:40 pmI kinda have a grudge against Bare Escentuals. They used to be my favorite place to buy bath goodies and they completely abandoned their bath line in favor of all the mineral makeup (which I don’t particularly care for). I must confess, however, that I’m irrationally attracted by the warlike, bada$$ names! I might check one out, but I’ll provide my own brush! 😉
Karen says
February 9th, 2011 at 10:11 amI used to be a fan of their lotions and body washes too (they made some GREAT gift sets). They need to bring those back!
Krista says
February 8th, 2011 at 5:32 pmLove the colors! 🙂 I’m going to have to give these a whirl…
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Karen says
February 9th, 2011 at 10:08 amGreat! I hope you like them!
Lucie says
February 8th, 2011 at 6:32 pmOh man, I love those UD palettes! I’ve been wanting Woodstock (the bright pink) forevaaaa so I’ll so be picking up the ‘Fun’ palette and maybe the ‘Dangerous’ one too! Thanks for the heads up, I’ve been waiting for these to be available online since they were announced! Yay!
Karen says
February 9th, 2011 at 10:08 amYou’re welcome, Lucie! They look so gorgeous… I’m drooling at the thought of them, LOL!
mkdallas says
February 8th, 2011 at 6:42 pmSo glad you reviewed these, Karen! I was coveting them but based on your review, think I’m going to hold off. Between the MAC Greasepaint Sticks and the UD 24/7 Shadow Pencils, I’m good to go with more user-friendly products. I do love me some BE, though…I wish they’d add a few more shades to their Big & Healthy Lip Stick line.
Karen says
February 9th, 2011 at 10:06 amYeah, it sounds like you’re covered. How are you liking the UD pencils?
Meghan says
February 8th, 2011 at 6:54 pmI LOVE Nunchucks!!! 🙂 The heart swatches are adorable!! You are SO creative Karen!
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Karen says
February 9th, 2011 at 10:06 amI kinda love that name too, LOL!
Nina says
February 8th, 2011 at 7:50 pmthey are all going into my shopping list / shopping cart. <3333
Karen says
February 9th, 2011 at 9:50 amI didn’t know you were a Buxom fan, Nina!
Nina says
February 9th, 2011 at 11:06 amim an eyeliner fan! 🙂
Paintthetownscarlet.wordpress.com says
February 9th, 2011 at 5:49 amThese look quite waxy so I’m surprised they scratch – love Nunchucks!
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Karen says
February 9th, 2011 at 9:37 amEh, they really have a hard time layering and building. I had an easier time with the MAC Greasepaints.
Kim says
February 9th, 2011 at 5:55 amIt’s funny because I thought the same thing about the names and the icons. Right up my alley. 🙂 However, you know I’ve yet to master the smokey eye without looking like a train wreck, so I wasn’t too tempted to try them.
Karen says
February 9th, 2011 at 9:36 amLOL… they need to make a shade called “Taser.” I’d be all over that!
Soooo. Smokey eyes. Have you tried smudging a creamy eye pencil on the lid and then sweeping a shadow directly on top? You could always do a black liner and then a shimmery silver or gunmetal on top. Easiest smokey eye ever, I swear! If you’re feeling more adventurous they line your waterlines if you wanna look all sultry (like Tabs).
Kim says
February 9th, 2011 at 10:00 amOh, that was funny. Taser, indeed!
I’ll give it a try, but I think it might just be because I’m getting older and the dark eyes kind of make me look like a zombie. And the fine lines and droopy eyelid aren’t helping. 🙂 40 next month, you know. Tick tock. 🙂
Hazel says
February 10th, 2011 at 7:46 pmlove the names of these! love the colors too but i think i’ll stick to my mufe aqua eyes lol
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Yelena says
December 7th, 2011 at 12:58 pmthnx for the review karen. i agree, blending is not their strength but definately great colors. and the armed and gorgeous set has all of 6 colors to choose from. i am liking them as liners but have only tried them once on the lid and blended ok with my fingers (i didnt have the brush with me at the time). it worked to take me from work to happy hour in about 2mins 🙂