Have you ever wanted to kick yourself for passing something up because you thought it was too good to be true? For about a year I’ve been eyeballing the Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Singles, but I was convinced there was no way they could deliver on quality due to their $1.99 price tag. Currently available in seven shades, the Color Icon singles pack a punch of pigment in a tiny package. I’m enjoying wearing colors Envy, Nutty, and Brulee like nobody’s business! I picked these up at my local Walgreens after some coaxing by a good friend, and I’m so glad I did.

I found it incredibly ironic that Wet n Wild’s Brulee was named so closely to MAC’s Brule, so you know I had to check them side-by-side. But as I was scouring my eyeshadow stash, I discovered how close MAC’s Llama was as well!

On my NW15-20 skin, I thought it was interesting that Llama actually was a closer match to Brulee (Wet n Wild’s) than Brule actually was! While neither MAC shades are spot-on dupes, Llama definitely picks up more of Brulee’s peachy tones on me.

Another thing that took me by surprise was the color saturation of the pigment in the shadows. Even without primer, you can see they stay pretty true to tone. I know…but you’re not dreaming!

If you were only able to purchase one color of the Color Icon singles, I implore you to pick up Nutty! It’s the most perfect shade for day or night, and can go with just about any other shadow already existing in your collection. Compared to the other shades I tried, I have to say that Nutty gave me the most fallout. It wasn’t horrible, but a little loose powder under the eye area will definitely come in handy, so you can brush away what falls. Other than that—this shadow just ROCKS.

When it comes to the Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Singles I tried:

What I loved…

With the price at $1.99 each, I can’t find another bargain shadow that matches their quality.
The texture is buttery/satiny and the pigmentation is great either with or without a primer.
Minimal creasing after hours of wear.

What I would change…

The case is a little difficult to open, the snap is super tight and I’ve been using a pen to open them so I don’t break my nails.
Add a wider range of shades to the existing Color Icon singles collection.

These pass with flying colors! If you’re interested in learning more about some of Wet n Wild’s newest products and colors for 2011, head over to Nouveau Cheap for extensive coverage.