Linda Hallberg Cosmetics Spectral Eyeshadow Palette Review & Swatches
Spectral
Linda Hallberg Cosmetics Spectral 8-Pan Eyeshadow Palette ($59.00 for 0.72 oz.) is a visually stunning palette with a mix of almost richer pastel hues paired with some deeper grounding shades (like the plum and blue). It’s just too bad that so many of the shades were disappointing–from issues with pigmentation to difficult in application, it was just a rough palette to work with. After I tried using it twice with abysmal results, I backed away from it out of frustration, and when I returned, it was still poor, even when I tried it over eyeshadow primer.
There were some shades that were decent to good, which kept the palette in the C range, but the spectacular failures were all I could remember–especially as Occult is the deepest shade and needed to add contrast when working with the other shades. With eight shades, there’s just no room for two Fs.
Look Using this Product
Spectral
PPermanent. $59.00.
Dim
Dim is a medium coral with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had opaque pigmentation in a single layer, which applied evenly to bare skin. The texture was smooth, almost cream-like as it was so finely-milled, and blendable. It wore well for seven and a half hours on me before creasing faintly.
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Secret (P, $6.25) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Too Faced Jardin (PiP, $16.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Peace Sign (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Dior Pink Glow #2 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Rest Stop (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, brighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Light Up (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Nude Light #7 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever S814 Light Rosewood (P, $17.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Rose Cashmere #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Bare (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Talc, Zinc Stearate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Squalane, Tri- ethylhexanoin, Silica, Nylon-12, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyisoprene, BHT, Tin Oxide, May Contain [+/-]: CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77000 (Aluminum Powder), Cl 77400 (Bronze Powder), Cl 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 15850 (Red 6, Red 7 Lake), Cl 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Dim
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Faint
Faint is a light, lime green with subtle, warmer undertones and cooler, fine shimmer. It had good pigmentation in one layer, while the texture felt soft, lightly dusty to the touch but blended out well on my skin. This shade stayed on well for seven and a half hours on me before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Freak (DC, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Mula-la (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Cle de Peau Modern Era #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes 2 #27 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Secret Keeper (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Giorgio Armani #17 (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Atmosphere (P, $8.00) is cooler (85% similar).
- LORAC Sea Haze (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (85% similar).
- Viseart Coy #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- KVD Beauty Pink Flamingos (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Talc, Zinc Stearate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Squalane, Tri- ethylhexanoin, Silica, Nylon-12, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyisoprene, BHT, Tin Oxide, May Contain [+/-]: CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77000 (Aluminum Powder), Cl 77400 (Bronze Powder), Cl 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 15850 (Red 6, Red 7 Lake), Cl 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Faint
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Eerie
Eerie is a medium-dark lavender with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. It had a drier, thinner texture that made it difficult to work with, as it did not build up well, applied unevenly, and was pretty difficult to work with, even over primer. It showed signs of fading after six hours on me, though I’ll admit it was hard to judge since it was so patchy to begin with.
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Uplevel (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Viseart Haze (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Trigonal (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Wisteria (DC, $6.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Meow (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Zoeva Daydream (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Carnival (DC, $6.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Pretty Flower (LE, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Lotus (P, $8.00) is lighter (85% similar).
- Bad Habit Invincible (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
Ingredients
Talc, PTFE, Zinc Stearate, Polyethylene, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspo- lymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, Alumina, Glycerin, May Contain [+/-]: CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), Cl 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 42090 (Blue L Lake), Cl 15850 (Red 7 Lake), Cl 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Eerie
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Abstract
Abstract is a bright, light blue with strong, cool undertones and a sparkling fiish. It had a drier consistency that resulted in semi-opaque pigmentation and some fallout during application. I’d recommend using this with a wet brush to ensure smoother application and greater intensity (with less fallout). This shade stayed on well for seven hours on me and had some fallout over time.
Top Dupes
- JD Glow Sky (P, $7.50) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- MAC Hopper Blue (LE, $17.00) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC Big Bad Blue (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Muva's Boy (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop So Surreal (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Stunt Santa (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Too Faced Ice Queen (LE, $16.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
- Maybelline Hydrangea Hype (135) (LE, $6.99) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Bassline (P, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop REM (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Ingredients
Talc, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Mica, Dimethicone, Silica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Behenyl Dimethicone/Bis-Vinyldimethicone Crosspolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tin Oxide, C20-24 Olefin, Cl 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Cl 77007 (Ultramarines).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Abstract
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Illusion
Illusion is a bright silver with micro-glitter over a metallic finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation when applied to bare skin, as the color seemed to move and sheer out a bit due to the more emollient texture. It was denser, almost thick, in the pan, but it felt a little drier when applied and blended out on my lid. It had a touch of fallout during application, and then there was a touch more during the eight hours it lasted but it was quite minor relative to how much sparkle was in it.
Top Dupes
- Sephora Cassette (LE, ) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop First Class (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- MAC Discotheque (P, $20.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Indica (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Moon Glow (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes 2 #16 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Chromatic (04M) (PiP, $29.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Juvia's Place Yemoja (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Banquise (P, $19.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Unfazed (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
Ingredients
Polyethylene Terephthalate, Mica, Squalane, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate , Polyurethane-11, Silica, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glass Beads, Tris-BHT Mesitylene, Tin Oxide, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77000 (Aluminum Powder).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Illusion
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Occult
Occult is a medium-dark plum with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish. It felt smooth to the touch but was drier, thin, and almost chalky, which resulted in fallout and a tendency to sheer out. It had semi-opaque pigmentation at best, which was uneven and patchy, and the more I fussed with it, the worst it looked. There was noticeable fading after six hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- Terra Moons Star Catcher (P, $6.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Delirious (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Trust (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Terra Moons Moon Reverie (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Getty Up & Go (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Plum (Define) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, more muted (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Last Caress (PiP, ) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- LORAC Black Currant (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Tarte Plums Up (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- LORAC Plum (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Ingredients
Talc, PTFE, Zinc Stearate, Polyethylene, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspo- lymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, Alumina, Glycerin, May Contain [+/-]: CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), Cl 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 42090 (Blue L Lake), Cl 15850 (Red 7 Lake), Cl 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Occult
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Phantom
Phantom is a rich, aqua-teal with cool undertones and a matte finish. It had nearly opaque pigmentation that adhered well to bare skin and blended out nicely along the edges. The texture was smooth, drier to the touch, but it didn’t impede the application. It wore well for eight hours on me before fading slightly, but this shade stained my lid into the next day.
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Muscle Beach (P, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- Sephora + Pantone Universe Cascade (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Sugarpill Cheat Code (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Seltzer (PiP, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Energy Boost (LE, $6.99) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Ice Cold (PiP, $4.50) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
- ColourPop We're Off (P, $6.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Sephora Helen P (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Arsenic (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, more muted (85% similar).
- ColourPop HTML (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Ingredients
Talc, PTFE, Zinc Stearate, Polyethylene, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspo- lymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, Alumina, Glycerin, May Contain [+/-]: CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), Cl 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 42090 (Blue L Lake), Cl 15850 (Red 7 Lake), Cl 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Phantom
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Unknown
Unknown is a bright, medium-dark pink with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish. The eyeshadow had nearly opaque color coverage in one pass, which adhered well to my lid and blended out without difficulty. The texture was soft, silky, and smooth to the touch but wasn’t prone to fallout. It stayed on nicely for eight hours on me before fading visibly, though it left a stain into the next day.
Top Dupes
- Glaminatrix Musk (P, $7.30) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Strawberry Sorbet (LE, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Flamingo (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever S854 Candy Pink (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop Fan Fiction (LE, $4.50) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Loves It (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop Sherbet (LE, $4.50) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Morphe Heart (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Huda Beauty Amethyst #7 (LE, ) is darker (85% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M856 Fresh Pink (DC, $21.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Ingredients
Talc, PTFE, Zinc Stearate, Polyethylene, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspo- lymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, Alumina, Glycerin, May Contain [+/-]: CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), Cl 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 42090 (Blue L Lake), Cl 15850 (Red 7 Lake), Cl 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
I came so close to buying this palette. I’m glad I waited for your review. I love the colors, but those F-rated purples are F-word awful. Unacceptable, and especially from a $59 palette with only eight shadows. I will be checking out the dupes for Unknown and Phantom.
Did you get Strobe Creepy cute? Somehow I think you mentioned it. It has a lot of the same general feel. I got it, and like it, having forwent pastel goth. It’s quite sad, when you were waiting for this great offering, and you have better dupes on all except one, already. For one of the world’s most highly touted brands, this is pretty pathetic.
So F-wording true!
Unlike her other palettes this one does not speak to me AT ALL and I’m glad to save the money, especially after some of those ratings.
Oh no! After seeing your initial post about this palette with swatches, I was hoping the powders would apply and wear better than they swatched. This is such a unique and pretty palette; it’s a shame it didn’t do better. I think Occult and Eerie would have worked better had they been formulated with a different pigment than Red Lake 7, because it’s notorious for being gritty and difficult to incorporate into powder formulas. It’s a pigment that needs to be broken down with a high-quality emollient like Octyldodecanol or a volatile liquid silicone like Cyclopentasiloxane or Isododecane. Red Lake 40 isn’t as pigmented, but it’s much more versatile and mills pretty readily with other powders; plus it’s approved for use on all areas of skin by The EU and The US, unlike Red 7 which is prohibited for use in the eye area in The US. But hindsight is 20/20 and all that, so here’s to hoping LHC learns from this misstep going forward. I know it’s taken me a lot of trial and error to discover what pigments work best in which formula, which is probably why I feel comfortable commenting and critiquing. Maybe we’ll get lucky and they’ll re-release the palette after addressing the issues!
Thank you for sharing some in-depth insight, Andrew 😉 Always appreciated!
It was very interesting to read this, thank you for sharing your knowledge!
It’s no problem! I have very few people to talk with about this stuff so I’m always eager to share my feelings about formulating.
That’s very useful information about the Red pigments. Thank you!
It’s no problem at all. Red pigments are especially interesting because of just how many of them are available. I think it’s fun to try to find patterns between them, like why certain pigments work better in water-based products versus oil-based, or why certain pigments don’t readily dissolve and how/if that’s connected to molecular structure versus another factor like production method. There are so many factors to picking the right pigment for the right formula; it can be overwhelming!
Just a nit pick, it isn’t prohibited for use in the immediate eye area, it isn’t approved for use in the immediate eye area. Wouldn’t want someone to get the wrong idea lol.
You’re right Brian, thank you. ‘Prohibited’ implies there’s a governing body which would actively regulate the use of cosmetic pigments for consumer safety. The FDA is pretty lax on regulating cosmetic pigments, despite the adverse reactions possible. The reason it’s not approved for the eye area is it’s a very common skin irritant in the immediate eye area, especially if you already have sensitive skin or a personal history of irritation with certain pigments. I’m very sensitive to red lakes, so in my own lab I ‘prohibit’ using unapproved pigments where they don’t belong. But that’s just my own preference and I don’t expect other brands to do the same; most do put warnings about it, but too many slip through annually without proper consumer safety warnings for my taste. I think it’s the brand’s responsibility to notify consumers of possible adverse reactions, whether they’re made to do it or not.
I meant to say The FDA is pretty lax on regulating cosmetic pigments IN FINISHED PRODUCTS- they do actively set rules and standards for pigment use, they just have a bad habit of not following through and doing the same with the end products. I caught myself that time ;)!
This is so disappointing. When 25% of the shades in a palette are complete failures, in my opinion, it renders the palette a total loss. The color scheme is just flat out stunning, though I think I may have chosen a yellow-y shade, a duochrome or a topper instead of a bold silver.
You might be able to get away with Fs like these… if you had 15-20 shades… 30 shades… but eight? 🙁
I’m so glad I waited for your review on this one! It’s such a gorgeous color story, but just doesn’t perform well enough to be worth the money. Off to look through the dupes and see what I can pull together!
I know! The color story is awesome in theory!
What a shame! 🙁
Let me get this straight; 8 eyeshadows for $59 smackaroos and practically unusable. Mkay. I don’t even where to begin when it comes to expressing my thoughts on this sad ripoff. ?
This is really depressing coming from her. Maybe my expectations for a makeup artist owned brand are too high. I’m really glad I waited for your review before purchasing.
Huge fan of her work – she is incredibly creative, so I was definitely surprised that it didn’t perform well (also, the other palettes I have are good, though they’re of the more baked style formulation!).
I bought this palette some time ago, I thought it swatched OK, with fingers, but it has issues used on the lids, unfortunately. I guess I fell for the fun colours in it. Lesson learned, ALWAYS wait for Christine to review more expensive palettes.
Were you able to get it to work well enough for your liking, Helene? So bummed about the performance since the scheme was cool.
I don’t think I’ve used Eerie yet, can’t say I look forward to it now 🙂 Occult has just been used to darken the outer corner of the lid a little bit and very sparingly in the crease, so I hadn’t noticed the issues so much. The other colours are OK, but not as good as her quads, I think. I have used them as a sheer wash of colour on the mobile lid and also for a mostly green, with a hint of blue one day when I felt colourful. I actually had some problem of patchiness with the green, it might be my lids, or the primer, as you didn’t notice anything like that with the colour
I like to use the pink as a blusher as well, but with a light hand.
I write this one up as an uninformed, spontanious buy, and I should have swatched it better, and waited for a review.
To conclude, I think you are right in your reviews of this.
It sounds like you’ve been able to use it a little bit, at least, so that’s good – but wish it was better! 🙁
So happy I didn’t buy before your review. I would have been really disappointed. The color scheme is so pretty it’s a shame it didn’t perform well. I had a feeling this might not rate well. Maybe I’ll try one of her other palettes later.
Wow – this is a yin and yang palette! Either an A or a B+ or a C/F. This is too bad – it could have been a beautifully deeper toned take on pastel shades, but really it is awful. Gold stars to you Christine for putting in a lot of time and effort to try and make this one work.
These colours have no appeal for me, whatsoever (but I’ve come to realize I’m not generally a fan of pastel matte eyeshadows – I think they remind me of the standard interior wall paint colours in the 1950’s!). But at this price point, it’s pretty distressing for those who are drawn to these types of colours – almost $60 for an overall C rating and lots of F rated shadows??? You can do better for $20 at the drugstore!
I don’t understand or like the color story in this palette so it’s an easy skip for me!
I love Linda Hallberg’s artistry so I’m disappointed that this palette isn’t up to par. The color story is awesome. Like others, I’m thinking about making my own palette of singles to dupe this one because I was very close to buying this when it came out. Thank you for everything you do Christine!
Thank you for your review, Christine! I wanted to get this when it launched, but I realized it’s quite similar to the Nabla Freedomination collection (launched 2 years ago, I think, but the singles are still available if anyone is interested in the color story). They’re so much better quality! I know not everyone likes their celestials, but they work for me with glitter glue or Fix+ like a dream.
At least using Fix+ or an adhesive isn’t such a stretch – kind of like “better with eyeshadow primer” in that most people probably have one available to use!