I have received them and I plan to try NV tomorrow. I was going to try it today but I went with KvD Bachelorette. Go figure. I think that it will work. I just need to figure out a liner to go with it. I definitely think it will not look ashy, as I had feared. There is less of a white base in it than I anticipated. If we are voting, I am voting YES to Smoky Eyes Week! I have a short story to relate...I called myself giving Carbon a chance yesterday because it is in the Brooke Shields palette, which I like very much otherwise. I put on my Fergie WnW primer with shimmer because I wanted some dimension to the smoke. Packed Carbon on the lids and a little higher, blended out with Satin Taupe (also wanted to try this one because ppl say it's different in this palette, and it is, but not in a bad way). By the time I got to work, I had beautiful greyish-taupe smoky eyes. WHY, MAC, WHY can't Carbon either go back to the quality it was when it was the large single shadow with the twist off cap (dating myself, I know) or be substituted with Typographic in the palettes. It sucks now. It makes me sad to see my once-beloved Carbon the butt of jokes. Today I went with a BCAM look! I will get back to the smoky eyes some other time. FACE: Laura Mercier primers, oil free mixed with Radiance Lancôme TIU 24Hr, 470C EL Double Matte Powder, Deep (trying to use this up) NYX HD Concealer, Nutmeg (?) at some point, Iman blush in Peace will be applied EYES: e.l.f primer, sheer WnW e/s, Nutty, on lids MAC e/s, Shag, in crease MAC e/s, Smut in outer v NYX fat black liquid liner pen Sephora Atomic Volume Mascara, explosive black LIPS: KvD Painted Love l/s, Bachelorette, straight outta the tube - love