[unpaid/sample] The biggest concern with liquid matte shadows is that they’ll do that shrinking thing when they dry and somehow bring all your lid creases into the spotlight. Lid creasing is completely normal and happens to everyone because your eyes are so expressive and busy all the time. Something that makes lids look smooth and adds colour is a bit of a miracle, but here we are!

The two shades I have here are Plush (left) and Reef (right). They’re both very easy wear shades (luckily, as there aren’t any more colours as yet) and give a smooth, neutral lid look. They seem very dark when you first put them on but once you blend out, they’re not nearly as intense.

I’d advise application with an eye brush rather than the doe’s foot applicator provided because it gives you more control and the option to add more – taking away is a nightmare so you may as well start off shy and overlay if you want to. If you want the full pigment look as seen in the swatches, just leave it to dry and it will stay there – if you’re blending, do it while the product is still wet. Personally, I would always wear this blended but love the idea of the flexibility to do either. It’s a gentle feeling ingredient blend – there’s no sting on the lid as some liquid shadows can have (particularly metallics but the GENSEE metallics didn’t give me lid sting either). In terms of last, it will depend entirely on how oily your lids are – not for you if struggle to hold onto shadow – any shadow – but if you’re mild to moderate on oil, which I am, they lasted all afternoon. The GENSEE Mixed Media Matte Liquid Eyeshadow is £19 HERE.