Kosas Tropic Equinox High Intensity Color & Light Palette Review & Swatches
Tropic Equinox (High Intensity)
Kosas Tropic Equinox (High Intensity) Color and Light Palette ($34.00 for 0.32 oz.) consists of a medium, orange-brown blush paired with a golden copper highlighter. The blush was more blendable and easier to work with over both bare skin as well as over foundation compared to the highlighter, which was a little tackier and occasionally lifted up base products a bit. Both shades were quite pigmented and lasted around eight hours.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Formula Overview
$34.00/0.32 oz. - $106.25 Per Ounce
Each shade in the range has two levels of color intensity; each shade has a "High Intensity" version, which offers "double the pigment" compared to the regular shade (which has less intense, more "buildable" coverage). The formula is supposed to offer "easy-to-apply, blendable" blush that is paired with a "complementary" highlighter with.
In my experience, the High Intensity version offered greater pigmentation but also offered a more saturated take on the color scheme; it felt more like making a certain color combination work for both lighter and deeper complexions rather than just doubling up on the pigment. The regular shades were semi-sheer to medium coverage and were buildable. The High Intensity shades were definitely higher coverage and typically ran semi-opaque to opaque.
The consistency was creamy with moderate slip and felt like a traditional cream brush (wet to the touch, emollient, and thin). They applied well to bare skin as well as over foundation for the most part, though a few shades could have been more foolproof to work with over base products. The more shimmery shades (like highlighters) felt slightly more emollient compared to more cream-finish shades (like blushes).
As they're a creamier product, they sheer out and blend quite well during application, so one often needs to pat on a second layer to amp up the coverage (rather than applying more heavily) if higher coverage is desired (less necessary with High Intensity shades).
The formula dried down for the most part but didn't look totally flat or matte. As a result, they didn't slide around too easily during wear on my skin. Most shades started to show signs of fading after seven to eight hours of wear, which is average most cheek colors for me.
Browse all of our Kosas Color and Light Palette swatches.
Ingredients
Tropic Equinox (High Intensity)
PPermanent. $34.00.
Tropic Equinox (High Intensity) (Blush)
Tropical Equinox (High Intensity) (Blush) is a medium brown with warm, orange undertones and a satin sheen. It appeared brighter and almost like reddish-orange when applied and sheered out on my skin. The consistency was lightweight, thin, and fairly emollient, which worried be initially, but it dried down for the most part and didn’t feel tacky while worn.
The color blended out fairly well, but I would definitely recommend using a lighter hand as it can spread too readily and result in color over a larger area than intended. It had opaque color coverage in a single layer, and it definitely seemed “double the pigment” compared to the first level offered. There was a bit of fading present after eight and a half hours of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Roosevelt (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Flower Beauty Cinnamon (P, $9.99) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Phytosurgence Smolder (P, $17.07) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Kiss Kiss (P, $7.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Earthnut (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop Spot Me (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- By Terry Savannah Love #5 (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop Fashion District (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- NARS Dream Place (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- Chanel Canaille (89) (LE, $45.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
-
Each shade in the range has two levels of color intensity; each shade has a "High Intensity" version, which offers "double the pigment" compared to the regular shade (which has less intense, more "buildable" coverage). The formula is supposed to offer "easy-to-apply, blendable" blush that is paired with a "complementary" highlighter with.
In my experience, the High Intensity version offered greater pigmentation but also offered a more saturated take on the color scheme; it felt more like making a certain color combination work for both lighter and deeper complexions rather than just doubling up on the pigment. The regular shades were semi-sheer to medium coverage and were buildable. The High Intensity shades were definitely higher coverage and typically ran semi-opaque to opaque.
The consistency was creamy with moderate slip and felt like a traditional cream brush (wet to the touch, emollient, and thin). They applied well to bare skin as well as over foundation for the most part, though a few shades could have been more foolproof to work with over base products. The more shimmery shades (like highlighters) felt slightly more emollient compared to more cream-finish shades (like blushes).
As they're a creamier product, they sheer out and blend quite well during application, so one often needs to pat on a second layer to amp up the coverage (rather than applying more heavily) if higher coverage is desired (less necessary with High Intensity shades).
The formula dried down for the most part but didn't look totally flat or matte. As a result, they didn't slide around too easily during wear on my skin. Most shades started to show signs of fading after seven to eight hours of wear, which is average most cheek colors for me.
Browse all of our Kosas Cream Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Mica, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Microcrystalline Wax, C10-18 Triglycerides, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax; Caprylyl Glycol, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, [+/ -: Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77499)]
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.
Tropic Equinox (High Intensity) (Blush)
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Tropic Equinox (High Intensity) (Highlighter)
Tropical Equinox (High Intensity) (Highlighter) is a medium copper with strong, warm golden shimmer throughout that gave it a soft, almost metallic finish when applied (and left to dry down). The base was slightly redder, so if it was applied more sheerly, the base tint came through. It had rich color coverage in one layer, though it could be applied with a lighter hand or sheered out more for buildable coverage if preferred.
The texture was moderately emollient with a touch of tackiness, so I felt like it had to be applied with a lighter hand (or even a sponge or a stippling brush) to ensure it didn’t lift up foundation. The highlighter applied evenly and blended out well over bare skin. It wore nicely for eight hours before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Rose Inc Lustrous (P, $36.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Cover FX Sunkissed Bronze (Right) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge Celestial Fire (P, $38.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Tantalize (54) (P, $45.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Wayne Goss Golden Glow (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Estee Lauder Solar Crush (LE, $47.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Kosas Helios (Highlighter) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever 12 Copper (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- MAC In on the Secret (LE, $42.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Anastasia Mimosa (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
Each shade in the range has two levels of color intensity; each shade has a "High Intensity" version, which offers "double the pigment" compared to the regular shade (which has less intense, more "buildable" coverage). The formula is supposed to offer "easy-to-apply, blendable" blush that is paired with a "complementary" highlighter with.
In my experience, the High Intensity version offered greater pigmentation but also offered a more saturated take on the color scheme; it felt more like making a certain color combination work for both lighter and deeper complexions rather than just doubling up on the pigment. The regular shades were semi-sheer to medium coverage and were buildable. The High Intensity shades were definitely higher coverage and typically ran semi-opaque to opaque.
The consistency was creamy with moderate slip and felt like a traditional cream brush (wet to the touch, emollient, and thin). They applied well to bare skin as well as over foundation for the most part, though a few shades could have been more foolproof to work with over base products. The more shimmery shades (like highlighters) felt slightly more emollient compared to more cream-finish shades (like blushes).
As they're a creamier product, they sheer out and blend quite well during application, so one often needs to pat on a second layer to amp up the coverage (rather than applying more heavily) if higher coverage is desired (less necessary with High Intensity shades).
The formula dried down for the most part but didn't look totally flat or matte. As a result, they didn't slide around too easily during wear on my skin. Most shades started to show signs of fading after seven to eight hours of wear, which is average most cheek colors for me.
Browse all of our Kosas Cream Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mica, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Microcrystalline Wax, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, C10-18 Triglycerides, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax; Caprylyl Glycol, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, [+/ -: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491)]
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.
Okay, so I really love the highlighter in the duo, but that blush would probably have me looking like a raging Cheeto! Too orange for me.