Trib tested: Laura Geller Marble Cakes Baked Eyeshadow & Liner Duo

I am happy I got the chance to try Marble Cakes Baked Eyeshadow & Liner Duo, because now it is a staple in my makeup routine.

The hues of the Sugar Sky/Blueberry shades turned me off at a glance, but I love the navy eyeliner. I am used to a dark black or gray liner, but now prefer that touch of color the blue adds to my usual neutral tones. I will admit, I do not care for the sky blue shadow, but it probably has to do with my age. I think I'm past the pastel shadow stage of my life. It could work as more of a highlighter on a night out but not for daily wear.

The Unearthed/Dutch Chocolate Liner of the second set was not as intense as I expected, but the Unearthed shadow more than lived up to my expectations. The pearly taupe gave me a warm shimmer across my eyelids -- not the glittery shine I remember from eighth grade makeup -- just enough to catch the light and brighten my eyes. I liked the look of the chocolate liner better when I applied it wet, but still prefer the navy.

The duo pack comes with a professional-grade double-sided brush (one thin for applying liner and the other a thick brush for the shadow) and has an added bonus with a small mirror in the compact lid for on-the-go touchups.

I recommend keeping the plastic cover for the small end of the brush, so that the tight bristles aren't pulled apart. Applying the liner would be difficult, if not impossible, without a sharp liner brush. The entire package makes the duo worth the $26 cost. I even might have to splurge and keep both in my makeup bag to mix the navy eyeliner and taupe shadow.

-- Melanie Wass

My first impression of the Laura Geller Marble Cakes was the beauty of the product. Nestled in a small compact container - note the half-circle mirror on top! -- the two-sided product is an artistic marble-like swirl of shine and color. It is packaged with a quality double-sided brush that makes application simple. The lush, soft end gently applies shadow, while the fine, angle-edged end can draw a line as thin or wide as you like along the lashes.

The shimmery Sugar Sky blue eye shadow is a bit too Katy Perry for me, but might work on a black-tie spangled out evening. I do like Blueberry eye liner, which, in my mind at least, brings out the color of my own baby blues. For daytime office makeup, the brown duo is perfect. The taupe shadow gives just a hint of gleam, while the Dutch Chocolate eye liner offers definition. I use the wet application, which stays on all day and through the evening without rubbing off onto my upper lid.

It's a keeper!

-- Sally Quinn

I've come a long way from kid-sparkly eye shadows and sticky lip glosses, but the blue hues from Laura Geller took me back in an instant. The Sugar Sky/Blueberry features colors that haven't been in wide circulation since the '60's. The Sugar Sky shadow is a bit campy for my taste, though the darker Blueberry does make for a nice eyeliner when applied wet; applying it dry barely leaves a trace on your eyelid.

The Unearthed/Dutch Chocolate is more modern; the shadow leaves only a hint of color and the latter half of the duo lines the eye well, albeit not overly dramatic for day wear.

The instructions mention that wet application of the liner makes it water-resistant, but the only benefit I found to a dampened brush was a more vivid color. A quick splash of water left the liner just as runny as any other non-waxed eye liner. Including the double-ended brush in the set is a great touch.

I'll keep the brown duo in my drawer, but the blues aren't going to be so lucky.

-- Caroline Hirt

Additional Information:

Laura Geller Marble Cakes Baked Eyeshadow & Liner Duo

The claim: This split dome features coordinating shades of eye shadow and eye liner to enhance eye color and define eye shape. The shadow starts as a swirl of liquid poured into terra cotta pans and baked for 24 hours. The result is an extremely fine powder that's silky smooth to the touch. The eyeliner can be used wet or dry with a buildable formula that becomes water resistant when applied wet. Available in Unearthed/Dutch Chocolate and Sugar Sky/Blueberry.

Cost : $26

Where : Online