Maybelline New York Color Tattoo 24Hr

Don't be put off by the fact this product has the word 'tattoo' in the name:  Maybelline New York Color Tattoo 24Hr is actually an eyeshadow.  A marathon-wear eyeshadow.  (We think you probably could run a real-life marathon in this and it would stay firmly in place.) The fact that the formula is so long-lasting is quite scary, in the case of several of the shades.  (There's a really intense purple and an azure turquoise which maybe ought to carry a printed warning for anyone over 21.)  But - as so often is the case, with collections of brights - there's a truly brilliant neutral lurking in the collection.  Very quietly.  A soft, flattering, perfect smokey grey-taupe (shade name:  Permanent Taupe).  Apply with a fingertip, blend - and in about two seconds flat, eyes are shaded beautifully.  And once it's there, it's THERE. Oh, boy is it THERE.  No creasing/smudging/movement at all.

There isn't oodles of playtime before it 'sets' so you may have to practice once or twice to perfect your technique.  But this is completely brilliant for mornings when you're time-poor and don't want to head out of the door completely bare-faced.  It's best on primed/prepped lids, but works perfectly fine on a lid to which you've already applied a touch of cream or serum.  On entirely naked lids, it's harder to smooth into the skin, and seems to set even more speedily.

There are a couple of other shade options which come under the 'wearable' banner (just):  Eternal Gold and On and On Bronze.  Used incredibly lightly - literally the teensiest touch - the gold's attractive on the brow-bone, and the bronze, we've found, is nice on the inner top eyelid to bring a little 'light' to the eye.  But you really need to experiment because there's some serious shimmer in these:  it's easy to tip over into 70s disco diva-dom.

Though if that's your thing, these would be just great.  And would still be dazzling from a distance when the bouncers at Studio 54 were ushering you towards the door at closing time...

UPDATE!!!!!!

UK readers find them here/£4.99 at www.boots.com US readers find them here/$6.99 at www.maybelline.com (The shadows even have their own Facebook page here)