COVERGIRL Sterling Blue Review: Is This $6 Cool-Toned Eyeshadow Actually Good?

COVERGIRL Sterling Blue: Is it ACTUALLY a steal?

A genuinely cool-toned eyeshadow for $6? Obviously, I had to try it.

I picked up the COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers 1-Kit Eyeshadow in 600 Sterling Blue because the color immediately caught my attention. It is an icy, silvery blue that looks like it could have been pulled straight out of an early-2000s makeup bag.

And I mean that in the best possible way.

Sterling Blue reminds me so much of the frosty blue eyeshadow Britney Spears wore in the 2000s. It has that same icy, slightly futuristic look, and I was curious to see whether a $6 drugstore single could actually look as pretty on the eyes as it did in the pan.

After swatching it and using it to create a finished eye look on my stepdaughter Char, I can confidently say one thing: this is definitely cool-toned.

The bigger question is whether the formula is actually worth buying.

COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers 1-Kit Eyeshadow in 600 Sterling Blue

First Look at COVERGIRL Sterling Blue

Sterling Blue comes in a tiny single-shadow compact with a clear lid and a double-ended sponge applicator. The packaging is simple and definitely gives classic drugstore makeup vibes.

For around $6, I wasn't expecting anything elaborate.

The color inside is where things get interesting.

Sterling Blue looks like an icy blue-grey with a soft shimmer in the pan.

Sterling Blue is a pale blue-grey with a silvery sheen. Depending on the lighting, it can look more blue, more silver, or almost grey.

There is absolutely no warmth hiding in this shade.

Natural light brings out the icy shimmer in Sterling Blue.

If you are someone who has bought supposedly cool-toned eyeshadow only to watch it turn warmer on your skin, this is the kind of shade you want to see in the pan.

The Formula Feels Surprisingly Buttery

The first thing I noticed when I touched Sterling Blue was the texture.

It feels buttery and smooth, which surprised me for such an inexpensive single eyeshadow.

Sterling Blue has a soft, buttery texture when picked up with a finger.

It is also quite sheer.

This isn't a blue shadow that gives you a completely opaque lid in one swipe. Instead, it deposits a translucent wash of icy blue with a noticeable shimmer.

I actually think that makes it a good starting point if you love the idea of blue eyeshadow but aren't ready to cover your entire eyelid in intense cobalt.

You have a lot of control over how much blue you actually see.

How Pigmented Is Sterling Blue?

The swatches tell this story better than the pan does.

One swipe of Sterling Blue gives a sheer wash of icy blue shimmer.

One swipe is very sheer. You can clearly see the shimmer and a hint of blue, but the skin underneath remains visible.

Building it up helps.

 A second layer builds the blue while keeping the finish soft and translucent.

Even when layered, though, Sterling Blue keeps that light, almost ethereal quality. It never becomes a thick block of blue pigment.

Then I took it over to the window.

Sterling Blue swatched in natural window light.

This is probably the most accurate representation of the shade. In natural light, you can really see the icy blue base and fine silvery shimmer.

It is beautiful.

If you like these very cool grey-blue shades, my Natasha Denona Mini Xenon Palette Review: Is It Really Cool-Toned? is also worth checking out. Mini Xenon gives you several deeper grey and black options to pair with a shade like Sterling Blue.

Sterling Blue Gives Me Major 2000s Britney Spears Vibes

A Quick Note About the Eye Photos and Swatches One thing to keep in mind when looking at these photos is that Char does not have cool-toned skin, so the eye photos are not an example of how Sterling Blue looks against a cool complexion. I wanted to include them because they show how beautiful the shade looks on her blue-green eyes and how the shimmer translates from the pan to the eyelid. The arm swatches are on my skin, and I have a cool undertone. If you're here specifically to see how Sterling Blue looks against cool-toned skin, those swatches are the most accurate reference in this review. Neither the eye photos nor the swatches have been color-enhanced, so you can see how the shade actually photographed in different lighting.

There was something immediately familiar about this color once I saw it on the eyelid.

Sterling Blue worn across Char's eyelid.

A quick note about the photos: I haven’t enhanced the eyeshadow or changed its color in any of these images. The photos have only been cropped where needed to protect the model’s identity, so the shade you see is the shade we actually got.

Sterling Blue is so early 2000s.

The icy blue, the frostiness, the shimmer. It instantly reminded me of the blue eyeshadow looks Britney Spears wore during that era.

I genuinely love that this color has come back around because Sterling Blue shows how wearable the look can actually be.

The sheerness keeps it soft. Instead of looking like a solid stripe of blue across the eyelid, you get a wash of cool color that catches the light.

From the side, the shimmer catches the light beautifully.

Sterling Blue on Blue-Green Eyes

Char has blue-green eyes, and this is where Sterling Blue really impressed me.

Sterling Blue with Char's blue-green eyes.

The cool blue-grey brings out the cooler tones in her iris beautifully. Her eye color still stands out instead of disappearing into the eyeshadow.

That's something I sometimes worry about when matching blue eyeshadow with blue or blue-green eyes.

Here, it works.

The silvery quality also gives the entire eye area a brighter, icier appearance, especially when the light hits it.

I also think this would look incredible on brown eyes. Cool blue against brown creates a striking contrast, so this is definitely not a shade I would reserve only for people with blue or green eyes.

You Could Use Sterling Blue as More Than Eyeshadow

This is where the sheer formula becomes an advantage.

I could absolutely see Sterling Blue working as an eyeshadow topper.

Tap it over grey, charcoal, navy, lavender, or another cool-toned shadow and you could add that icy blue reflect without covering everything underneath.

You could even experiment with it as a highlighter for a full-beat, intentionally icy makeup look.

This is not going to give you a subtle champagne highlight. It would be blue, frosty and very cool-toned, which is exactly why I think it could be fun.

For something more neutral on the eyes, my Urban Decay Tease Eyeshadow Review: Is It Actually Cool-Toned? covers a much softer cool-toned option that works beautifully for everyday makeup.

Sterling Blue is the shade I would reach for when I actually want the cool color to be part of the look.

My Biggest Question Is How Long It Will Last

I haven't done a full wear test on Sterling Blue yet, so I don't want to claim that this lasts all day.

My swatches did give me one concern.

The blue color didn't last particularly long on the arm, although the shimmer stuck around for quite a while after the base color had faded.

That makes me think this may be an eyeshadow that benefits from a good primer, especially if you want the blue itself to remain visible for several hours.

Because it is already sheer, losing some of that base pigment could make the color disappear faster than you want.

I still think it is a great starting-off eyeshadow. I just wouldn't buy it expecting intense, long-wearing blue pigment.

What Sterling Blue Looks Like in a Finished Makeup Look

The finished look on Char using COVERGIRL Sterling Blue.

For this look, Sterling Blue was the main eyeshadow. I only used one other product with it, NUDESTIX Nudies Glow Highlighter Stick in Ice Ice Baby, to add extra glow.

The finished result looks much more put together than I expected!

This is where I think the $6 eyeshadow makes its best argument.

It looks really pretty.

The finished eye is cool, icy and shimmery without looking overwhelmingly blue. You can see the Y2K influence, but it doesn't feel like you're wearing a costume from 2002.

It also proves that you don't necessarily need an entire palette to create an interesting eye look.

One inexpensive single shadow can do a lot when the color itself is good.

Sterling Blue after swatching and creating the finished eye look.

And yes, I actually used it. No pristine PR pan fakery happened here.

Is COVERGIRL Sterling Blue Worth $6?

For $6, I think Sterling Blue is absolutely worth trying.

The formula feels buttery, the color is genuinely cool-toned, and that icy blue shimmer is gorgeous.

Its sheerness makes it approachable for someone who is just starting to experiment with colorful eyeshadow. It also gives you more options because you can wear it alone, build it up, use it as a topper, or get creative and try it as an icy highlight.

The potential downside is longevity. My arm swatches lost their blue pigment relatively quickly while the shimmer stuck around, and I haven't completed a proper eye wear test yet.

So I wouldn't call this a hidden $6 dupe for a high-end eyeshadow.

What I would call it is a ridiculously pretty little cool-toned shadow that punches above its price when it comes to color and texture.

My Rating: 4.2/5 ★★★★☆

Color: 5/5

Cool-toned factor: 5/5

Texture: 4.5/5

Pigmentation: 3.5/5

Versatility: 4.5/5

Longevity: To be determined after a full wear test

For me, the color is the reason to buy this one.

If you've been wanting to try frosty blue eyeshadow without spending much money, Sterling Blue is an easy place to start.

And for $6, getting to channel a little 2000s Britney energy feels like a pretty good deal.

Frequently Asked Questions About COVERGIRL Sterling Blue

Is COVERGIRL Sterling Blue actually cool-toned?

Yes. Sterling Blue is a very cool blue-grey with a silvery shimmer. I didn't notice any warmth coming through when I swatched it or used it for the finished eye look.

Is COVERGIRL Sterling Blue sheer?

Yes. Sterling Blue gives you a sheer wash of blue and shimmer rather than opaque color in one swipe. You can build it with additional layers, but it keeps its soft finish.

Does Sterling Blue look good on blue-green eyes?

It looked beautiful on Char's blue-green eyes. The cool blue-grey complemented the cooler colors in her iris and gave the entire eye area an icy look.

Would Sterling Blue work on brown eyes?

I think so. Blue and brown create a gorgeous contrast, and the softness of Sterling Blue makes it much easier to wear than a very bright or opaque blue.

Can you use Sterling Blue as an eyeshadow topper?

Yes. The sheer, shimmery finish makes it especially well suited to layering over other eyeshadows. Grey, charcoal, navy and lavender would all be beautiful underneath it.

Does COVERGIRL Sterling Blue last all day?

I haven't completed a full wear test yet. On my arm, the blue pigment faded fairly quickly while the shimmer remained longer. I would use an eyeshadow primer if you want to maximize the staying power.

The $6 Verdict

Sterling Blue isn't trying to be complicated. It is one tiny pan of frosty blue eyeshadow for about $6, and somehow that is part of its charm.

The buttery texture impressed me, the cool tone is exactly what I hoped it would be, and seeing it on Char's blue-green eyes made me appreciate the color even more.

I would especially recommend it if you're curious about blue eyeshadow but don't want to spend $30 or $40 figuring out whether you'll actually wear it.

Would you bring frosty blue eyeshadow back, or should Britney keep this one in the 2000s? Tell me in the comments.