Sugarpill ElektroCute Neon Pigments Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Sugarpill ElektroCute Neon Pigments
Sugarpill ElektroCute Neon Pigments ($16.00 for 0.19 oz.) come in an assortment of five bold, bright shades. Overall, these are going to be a product some will absolutely love and others will find frustrating and difficult to use (and ultimately not worth the patience). These are designed to be used with some sort of base or mixing medium and shouldn’t be applied straight to bare skin. Over the past week, I’ve tried a rich assortment of bases and mixing mediums, and I’ll lay out my findings below, but suffice to say, expect a fair amount of fall out, some trial and error, and maybe a test of your patience. On the plus side, when I wore these out, I was stopped by no less than five people asking me what I was wearing (in the space of an hour).
First and foremost, these are not considered eye safe in the U.S. due to neon pigments (as “the FDA has not yet tested/approved the use of neon pigments in the immediate eye area,” per Sugarpill’s website), but they are considered eye safe in Europe and Canada. I’ve used them on lips and on eyes, but I reiterate that they are not considered eye safe in the U.S. and by using them that way, I am doing so at my own risk (and if you decide to do the same, it is at your own risk). All shades, except Hellatronic, are listed as lip safe.
I had the most luck using NYX’s Jumbo Eye Pencil as a base (the one I used for testing was Electric Blue, and I would have chosen Milk, but I actually don’t have it), as it absorbed and took the color mostly evenly and kept the majority of the sparkles that were pressed on… on for the remainder of the day. I was not able to get nearly as much sparkle to stick to the lid as appears in the jar, though, and the sparkles do not apply evenly and tend to stick randomly. In my test, I applied Sparkage on half of the lid with Hellatronic on the outer half, and all of Sparkage’s sparkles wound up in the center of the lid. Be very careful blending the product and only blend around the edges if applied on the skin. Here are my results with other bases:
- MAC Mixing Medium: slightly uneven color application, only partial adhesion of sparkles
- Lit Cosmetics Glitter Base: somewhat even color application but was slightly darkened/patchy in places, better adhesion of sparkles
- Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy: good adhesion of sparkles, somewhat even application but very imperative to watch the amount of Pixie Epoxy applied and allow to half-dry before applying (it felt far more finicky to use than when I’ve used it with Fyrinnae’s loose eyeshadows)
- Regular Eyeshadow Primers: some color applied and fairly evenly, but sparkles go everywhere but the lid (I tried Too Faced Shadow Insurance, NARS Smudge Proof, Urban Decay Original Primer Potion)
These can be applied to the brows by using a mixing medium like Illamasqua’s Sealing Gel or Lit’s Glitter Base and a thin, liner or brow brush. For lips, apply a thin coat of clear gloss and then pat on the pigment across the lips, then blend with fingers, brush, or just press and move your lips together. I like applying a little more gloss after that to get more even color. They can be applied to the body and used to accent body painting. I would recommend a creamy, opaque, slightly tacky base to apply the color on the skin and some of the sparkle, and to intensify the sparkle, use a glitter adhesive and a soft, rounded brush to lightly pat on additional product just where you need it. Small, dome-shaped brushes work the best for me for patting on color precisely and to minimize fall out. I also liked to pat and push my brush against the inside of the lid to keep the product “sticking” to the brush, rather than loosely pressed against it. The opaque base helped the most with yielding even color coverage, as invisible/clear bases seemed to highlight that they don’t always go on perfectly even. I spoke with both xSparkage (Leesha) and Queen of Blending (Lauren), and they both recommend a similar application to maximize color intensity and minimize fall out.
I’m sure some of you are thinking to yourself, “Wow, these sound like a lot of work, why would I bother?” To that, I can easily say that these are the easiest neons I’ve worked with. They are certainly a drastic improvement from MAC’s neon pigments, and these can take dampness better than most matte loose pigments. They’re more pigmented than Sleek’s neon eyeshadows and are slightly easier to blend. Sugarpill’s improved on some of the issues with neon pigments, but there is still plenty of room for improvement (in sparkle dispersion/evenness). Of the shades, Hellatronic was the most interesting and complex, as the base color actually seemed to shift (not just the sparkle), and the sparkle seemed finer and more embedded with the underlying color, whereas the others seemed more like a matte neon pigment with sparkle on top.
I looked across the different types of application (brows, body/skin, lips) to assess a rating, and ultimately, it’s hard to have such a varied application and resulting grade. I suspect most will use these around the eye area as eyeliner, eyeshadow, or brow color, so I did weight how they applied on skin (be it my forearm or somewhere else) slightly more than say lips (which was an area that these were easier to use in). I could not fully contain the fall out (even using adhesive bases designed for glitter). They don’t apply perfectly evenly. They do not want to be blended (together or on their own or with anything else). When they work, they can look gorgeous and totally traffic-stopping, but to get them there is certainly a journey.
Hellatronic is described as a “fluorescent indigo with red/purple/blue color-shifting super sparkles.” It’s a cool-toned, violet-tinged blue with bluish-violet sparkle. Sephora My Boyfriend’s Jeans is bluer, darker, less sparkly. Sugarpill Velocity is bluer, matte. Urban Decay Chaos is slightly darker, less sparkly. MAC Dynamic Duo 2 #2 is darker, matte. MAC Cobalt is matte. Illamasqua Sadist is bluer, matte. See comparison swatches.
Hi-Viz is described as a “blazing neon yellow with blue/green/gold color-shifting super sparkles.” It’s a brightened, warm-toned yellow with goldish-green sparkle. Fyrinnae Banna Mochi is more frosted, less sparkly. MAC Bright Yellow is more matte. MAC Colour Added is more shimmery, less sparkly. Illamasqua Hype is matte. Inglot #370 is matte. See comparison swatches.
Love Buzz is described as a “brilliant neon hot pink with yellow/orange/red color-shifting super sparkles.” It’s a brightened, neon fuchsia-pink with pinky-red sparkle. Fyrinnae Superstar is more frosted, les ssparkly, lighter. Sugarpill Dollipop is matte, darker. MAC Magenta Madness is similar but has no sparkle. Make Up For Ever #75 is darker, matte. See comparison swatches.
Sparkage is described as “radioactive lime green with blue/green/gold color-shifting super sparkles.” It’s a light-medium, cool-toned green with yellow-ish edges–it looks cool-toned overall, but there’s still a yellowness that comes through. It has green-ish-gold sparkle on top. Sephora Picnic in the Park is darker, less sparkly. Sugarpill Midori is much darker and cooler-toned. Illamasqua Fledgling is slightly darker, matte. See comparison swatches.
Supercharged is described as “flaming neon orange with blue/green/gold color-shifting super sparkles.” It’s a light-medium tangerine orange with golden sparkle. Fyrinnae Pyromantic Erotica is darker, more shimmery, less sparkly. Wet ‘n’ Wild Newport Nights #5 is les ssparkly. Maybelline Fierce & Tangy is darker, brighter, cream product (might work well as a base for this shade). MAC Chessa is less sparkly, more shimmery. Illamasqua Vulgar is a bit darker, matte. See comparison swatches.
ElektroCute Neon Pigment
PPermanent. $16.00.
Hellatronic
PPermanent. $16.00.
Hi-Viz
PPermanent. $16.00.
Love Buzz
PPermanent. $16.00.
Sparkage
PPermanent. $16.00.
Supercharged
PPermanent. $16.00.
Sugarpill Hellatronic ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Hellatronic ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Hellatronic ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Hellatronic ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Hellatronic ElektroCute Neon Pigment (Dry/Damp)
Sugarpill Hellatronic ElektroCute Neon Pigment (Over Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy)
Sugarpill Hellatronic/Sparkage ElektroCute Neon Pigment (Over NYX Electric Blue Jumbo Eye Pencil)
Sugarpill Hi-Viz ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Hi-Viz ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Hi-Viz ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Hi-Viz ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Hi-Viz ElektroCute Neon Pigment (Dry/Damp)
Sugarpill Hi-Viz ElektroCute Neon Pigment (Over Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy)
Sugarpill Love Buzz ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Love Buzz ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Love Buzz ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Love Buzz ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Love Buzz ElektroCute Neon Pigment (Dry/Damp)
Sugarpill Love Buzz ElektroCute Neon Pigment (Over Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy)
Sugarpill Sparkage ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Sparkage ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Sparkage ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Sparkage ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Sparkage ElektroCute Neon Pigment (Dry/Damp)
Sugarpill Sparkage ElektroCute Neon Pigment (Over Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy)
Sugarpill Supercharged ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Supercharged ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Supercharged ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Supercharged ElektroCute Neon Pigment
Sugarpill Supercharged ElektroCute Neon Pigment (Dry/Damp)
Sugarpill Supercharged ElektroCute Neon Pigment (Over Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy)
Aww shame they got poor grades but I love the clear packaging and typography for these <3 Won't be buying though, fallouts always frustrate me xD
Christine, it doesn’t show Hellatronic and Sparkage over the NYX Jumbo Pencil, it’s another picture of all the pigments in their packaging :p
Fixed!
🙁 boooo this makes me upset to hear.
I am guessing these are supposed to have fall-out from the name and packaging. I know fall-out is seen as a no-no because it makes the product less versatile (can’t be used for smooth, sophisticated looks) but I think there are going to be companies deliberately doing it when there is a trend like punk going around. If you’re going for the “I literally just slapped this on my face because I’m a free spirit, also I’m at a festival and have to use a tiny hand mirror” look I’m sure it helps with that!
Christine can you please do a demonstration on how you apply the Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy and the Sugarpill ElektroCute Neon Pigment, any of them, please??? O r describe it.I will truly appreciated 🙂
Hi Pamela,
I provided swatches of this in the post!
How did Sparkage compare to Sugarpill’s Absinthe?
Absinthe is very yellow-based! http://www.temptalia.com/sugarpill-chromalust-loose-eyeshadows-review-swatches
I don’t like pigments and I hate glitter. But for the neon friends, I can see how this could become a makeup staple.
I like the color of the orange one, but these sound like too much of a pain in the butt to even bother with.
You should check out Space Kitty by Fyrinnae, it has similar color and sparkle.
I still want them. They’re gorgeous and I’ll have uses for them! I really don’t know how the FDA hasn’t determined whether or not neons are eye safe yet… It’s preventing me from buying the Sleek Acid palette because Sleek “can’t” (won’t) ship it because its a neon palette. I HIGHLY recommend picking up Milk!
try ebay
I personally think they’re still worth it. With a sticky base, a quick clean up and foundation applied after eyeshadow, I think they’d totally be doable.
I agree, I think they are still worth it…I viewed Leesha’s (XSparkage) short review of them and her “quick” eye look was very nice. I think with a little practice and preparation these will look awesome and are very do-able.
I agree with you guys! I never understand why people hate fall out. So what? Just clean it up with a baby wipe, and be sure to use a “pressing” motion rather than a “sweeping” motion during application to lessen the chance of fall out. And as aforementioned by Adeline, do eyes first instead of foundation. Problem solved.
It’s not just fall out during application – it’s one thing to deal with fall out when you’re just applying, but it’s entirely different when it occurs throughout the day. Fall out during the day means it’s not something you can just redo or wipe away, and for some (like me), it means irritated or watery eyes all day long, because of the constant product falling into and around the eye.
Well, I own a lot of neons and honestly they don’t seem as much trouble as these. They work perfectly well with no mega-fuss. So I’ve no desire to try these, even if they may be a smidgin brighter (and even then, I’m not sure!).
I’d love to see the photos of the look you did, Christine!
It’s in the post – it is after the Hellatronic swatches!
Thanks! For some reason that image didn’t show up the first time I looked!
I really love Hellatronic regardless of the pita issues – this type of blue seems to rock so many different complexions.
Wow. These are really disappointing.
I kind of just want to own Hellatronic just so I can stare at it, and admire how beautiful it is! Not sure I could be bothered negotiating the application though – I have enough trouble motivating myself to put on normal eyeshadow! ^_^
They look gorgeous on you, but I won’t be purchasing. I’ve heard about Sugarpill but haven’t used any of their products before-is this much fallout and difficulty using the product the norm?
ChromaLusts are much, much easier to use 🙂 (So are their pressed eyeshadows.)
omg! Thanks a lot. I was almost going to buy them all. You saved ma life. 🙂 😉
xx
they sound really troublesome to use, but they look so pretty! i can’t stop staring at them…
Neon pigments tend to be tricky sheer, dry, and patch are the problems you find. I have another set from a brand that stop selling these are people complained the not FDA approve. I say screw the FDA on this (with love)…. They don’t test anything themselves but take in what others have tested and file them away as da rules. Living in Canada though, we have a little more proactive makeup regulations to added all the time. (Canada is Mercury free in the Mascara that can be sold here for year but i didn’t know that Mercury was a common ingredient int he US market.)
I’m more miffed about carmine and cochineal use in all prepared food as safe dyes into everything that’s red. Pasta sauce does not need dyes. >_<
I should say I order them all anyways and i want the green and pink for a look this month. 😉
Nothing wrong with that – they’re definitely better than a lot of other neons I’ve tried, but they are tricky. For the person willing to deal with the issues and doesn’t mind the time/effort, it’s all good. Super pretty effect when it works.
So… how do these compare to sugarpill’s other loose shadows? I have a few of the others and they take some patience as well, but they would for anyone not used to applying loose products. I’m very intrigued by these ElectroCute things because I LOVE sugarpill, but all the reviews so far are pretty off-putting. That compounded with that their last release (heartbreaker) was a total miss for me, AND the price jump… I may just skip these all together 🙁
ChromaLusts are easy to apply compared to these, IMO! Those really don’t have any challenging issues – they’re just a loose product, so they have the inherent issues or application needs of a loose product but on the whole, not a lot of special treatment.
Too bad these didn’t get top grades, because the colors are really pretty!
First of all I had no idea that they were not eye safe. Even though they are approved in other parts of the world I don’t think people who have eye problems (vision and sensitivity) like me should use them. I overlooked that statement on their website and now I am thinking of just returning them as soon as they arrive. The color payoff doesn’t look so great, which is strange, since this company is known for having eyeshadows that are pretty opaque. Thank you so much for reviewing them and warning consumers like me that missed vital information when we purchased them.
I want these, but I have too many shades similar to these ugh.
(nice shout out to my favorite matte eyeshadow of all time — make up for ever #75).
I absolutely love these (I’m a huge fan of anything neon) but I don’t think I’m willing to spend the money on them. I guess I’ll just live vicariously through Leesha (xSparkage) because, somehow, she made these look super easy and awesome to apply. Sigh.