Zoya Touch Collection includes three nude shades: Minka (latte beige cream with a metallic kiss), Shay (desert rose sand beige cream with a metallic kiss), and Pandora (mauve beige cream with a metallic kiss).
Minka is a light-medium beige with warm undertones and a subtle silver micro-shimmer. It’s a bit like Deborah Lippmann Not THat Innocent, though not as dark.
Shay is a pink-tinged peach-beige with a silvery-white micro-shimmer threaded through the creamy base. It looks pinker in the bottle than applied, at least on my hands, which I attribute to my natural yellower undertones. It’s a bit like MAC Hangin’ Loose on me.
Pandora is a light-medium pale, beige-y rose with silvery-white threads of metallic shimmer. The closest shade I could think of was Rescue Beauty Lounge Plie, which is darker and pinker.
All three were surprisingly pigmented–Zoya really meant it when they said these were full coverage, because these were nearly opaque in one coat, but I used two for the swatches. I typically get a week’s worth of wear out of Zoya’s formula. The formula on these was on the thicker side, though, so more patience was required than I anticipated, which resulted in messier swatches than I’d like, because it didn’t flow as nicely as it could (my carpal tunnel has been acting up, so my hands are really shaky lately).
If the idea of nude polish has always appealed to you but the sheer finishes commonly associated with softer nudes has put you off, Zoya has brought three neutral nudes to the party that deliver on opaque color coverage in two coats.
Product
9.5/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
9/10
Longevity
9.5/10
Application
4/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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Wet ‘n’ Wild Sweet As Candy Eyeshadow Trio ($2.99 for 0.12 oz.) is like a palette of Neopolitan ice cream! There is a bright, warm white with a metallic sheen; medium-dark chocolate brown with a metallic sheen; and berry-tinged pink with subtle yellow undertones with a metallic sheen. I found all three shades to have a higher level of sheen, more so than the typical frost.
my thoughts on the formula: Color Icon Eyeshadows are definitely some of the best eyeshadows you’ll find in the drugstore, and this trio is well-pigmented, smooth to the touch, and the colors themselves performed well enough in a wear test, though there was some minor but noticeable fading after eight hours. These seem to work best directly over a base, rather than layered on top of each other–like I layered the eyelid shade over the crease shade, and I felt like I had to pack more of it on to get it to really show.
One of the best trios I've seen from Wet 'n 'Wild, because the pigmentation on all three shades is excellent, along with a really smooth, soft texture. I did find it didn't wear as well as some of my favorite eyeshadows do, but they hold up remarkably well that I think most will find it excusable at this price point.
Product
10/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
8.5/10
Application
4/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
theBalm Risque Renee Eyeshadow ($16.00 for 0.12 oz.) is described as a “dark navy blue sheen.” It reads a little more like indigo to me–it has this really rich, deep dark navy blue twisted with a blackened violet. It’s all mixed with blue and violet and almost teal-ish shimmer and finished with a soft sheen. The sheen came through more when I applied it wet, but when dry, it has a slightly more matte finish.
my thoughts on the formula: theBalm’s eyeshadows are soft, silky smooth, and packed with pigment. They apply evenly, blend out beautifully, and aren’t powdery at all (sometimes a side effect of really soft eyeshadows). I find they are so easy to use, because they apply without fall out and blend with other shadows effortlessly. Worth noting, too, is individual eyeshadows come with 0.12 oz., which is just over double the average eyeshdaow–and at a rather affordable price tag.
theBalm's eyeshadows have such a soft, smooth texture that applies so well. Risque Renee is no different--excellent color pay off combined with the signature silky smooth feel makes for a standout eyeshadow.
Product
10/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
4/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
Guerlain Terra Inca Sublime Radiant Powder($70.00 for 0.51 oz.) is a “highlighting bronzer for the face and body.” It combines a “highlighting beige and a pink bronze” to “enhance the complexion while warming the skin with an iridiescent glow.”
It’s an oversized bronzer housed in a wooden compact that slides open (held together by three magnets). It has all of the hallmarks of luxury with engraved detailing on the outer cover with the Guerlain initials and logo, along with the intricate design of the bronzer itself. The center of the bronzer is a muted gold, while the outer portion is a rose-tinted bronzy brown. Together, they create a soft tan bronze with a golden metallic sheen. It’s more of a sheen than shimmer, but it’s not a very subtle sheen–I mention this because many of Guerlain’s products have a softer shimmer and sheen, but this powder has more sheen than Meteorites or the like. The powder has a soft, smooth, very refined texture that feels like silk moving across the skin.
Worn, it imparts a glowy sheen (I wore it on the tops of cheeks and softly brushed around the temples) that’s a soft, golden bronze. It worked well paired with a blush, too, though it could be worn alone for something very bronzy. It also has fantastic wear; it stayed glowy and smooth for eight hours before starting to fade away. The compact itself is done very well, though it’s not the most secure packaging and wouldn’t be my favorite item to travel with. For $70, at least they give you half an ounce of bronzer, though–not many will get through that!
It's a nice highlighter-bronzer mix for those wanting a very glowy, golden beachy bronze coloring. If you prefer a more natural bronzer, you might consider the regular Terracotta line, which has more matte finishes.
Product
9.5/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
4/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
Giorgio Armani Sweet Fire (7) Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow
More Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow with #7
Giorgio Armani Sweet Fire (7) Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a soft, rosy pink with a metallic sheen. It’s a much more wearable pink than you often seen, because it is less vibrant and reflects more of the natural pink found in the skin. I did feel like the color in the pot didn’t match the result when used–it looks pinker, less rosy, so it is a little misleading.
This is a product that lives up to its claims–it wears all day without budging, creasing, or fading–and blends as well on its own as it does with other eyeshadows (or on top of an eyeshadow base). Giorgio Armani describes the Eyes to Kill Intense formula as neither powder nor cream but a hybrid that creates a “smooth, lasting color film” that can be applied wet or dry. Giorgio Armani explains, “Each shade is intensified with a second pigment for a multi-dimensional effect. In just one swoop, create a wet, shimmering smokey eye … Base color covers eyelid, and second pigment adds drama to the contour.”
The texture of these feels almost like a cream eyeshadow, but it has the thinness of a powder eyeshadow while retaining some of the blendability of the hybrid cream-powder eyeshadow. It also works well with other eyeshadow (see this look using #6). It’s almost like a really dense loose powder that’s been pressed down, because if you dig at it, it loosens.
Though pricey, each shade comes with 0.14 oz. worth of product, which is a hefty amount (normal eyeshadow averages around 0.05 oz., no matter the price). The only aspect I didn’t love was the little black stopper inside the jar (once you unscrew the black lid), because my longer fingers felt awkward grabbing it (so I just unscrew it upside down so it falls into the cap).
If the color in the pot matched the actual color swatched, it would have been a higher rated product, so take that into consideration--if the softer pink is more your style, then it works out for you!
Product
9/10
Pigmentation
8/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
bareMinerals High Shine Eyecolors ($16.00 for 0.05 oz.) just saw the release of six new shades: Gold Medal (pale gold), Flash (iced lilac), Meteorite (iced mocha), and Vapor (gunmetal gray), which are shown in this post, along with Ice (frosted pink) and Rose Gold (antique golden mauve).
I love the texture and color pay off of this product, but I still find the packaging a huge let down. I first reviewed these here. These apply really smoothly with insane pigmentation and a fun, foil-like finish. These wear well alone (eight hours, no creasing) as well as over a base, with other shadows, or over other eyeshadows.
Gold Medal is a muted, antique gold with a metallic finish.
Flash is a softened lilac with a silvery-white sheen.
Meteorite is a cool-toned brown with subtle burgundy tones.
Vapor is a bluish gray with a smooth, metallic sheen.
These are beautiful from first swatch to application, but there is a major drawback to this product line. The applicator/tube is a total no-go! However they managed it, when you pull the applicator out of the tube (which is a large sponge-tipped applicator), it also pulls a ton of product onto the edges. In essence, it pulls out far too much product on the applicator itself as well as leaves a lot along the rim of the tube (which just falls on your floor, lap, or wherever!).
I would recommend dumping the color into a jar or else cutting the applicator off — because it seems like the larger sponge-tip does pull much of the excess to the rim, so if you just snipped it off entirely (and used a separate brush to apply), you could leave it in the tube. (Ironically, they tout the applicator as a “convenient, quick-draw wand [that] allows for easy, on-the-go application.”) I wouldn’t recommend any kind of QUICK-DRAW with this unless you wanted it all over your sink.
It's such a great product bottled in such a horrific way. There's just not that much excess product in the tube that you'd want to risk wasting it with the current packaging. The colors are amazing, as is the formula itself!
Product
10/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
4/5
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!
Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
