ColourPop Bronco & Camouflage Creme Shadows Reviews & Swatches
Bronco
ColourPop Bronco Crème Shadow ($8.00 for 0.13 oz.) is a light-medium, peachy yellow with strong, warm undertones and a flat, matte finish. It had good color coverage in a single layer, which applied decently when I initially swatched it, but I could not get it to sit evenly on my lid at all; I tried fingertips along with flat and fluffy synthetic brushes with no real success.
I found a fluffier brush was better for all-over application and was fast and efficient enough to diffuse it out for the most part before it set in place. The set has a bit of tackiness initially where the product on my lid lifted away and transferred onto the area above my lid, and I could feel my skin sticking in places. I tried to leave my eye closed for two minutes after application, which helped to minimize the peeling sensation but did nothing to alleviate the product getting into my fine lines and creases.
Applying it with fingertips was the worst way to apply it as the product separated along my fine lines/creases, thickened on itself, lifted away in places and produced bald spots, and was generally an uneven, patchy mess that looked like the desert the collection was inspired by. It faded progressively after four or five hours and was almost entirely missing from my lid after eight hours, though some product I applied above the lid (and above my crease) was much longer-wearing.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Velours Khaki #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Too Faced Spotlight (LE, $16.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Literally Me (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Sydney Grace Mama (Deep) (PiP, $5.25) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Mamastarrr's Cookie (LE, $17.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Soft Ochre (P, $23.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Warm Browns #6 (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Lil Smiley (PiP, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- NARS Keep on Dancing (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Deja Vu (LE, $4.50) is lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$8.00/0.13 oz. - $61.54 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be a "primer and shadow in one" that is long-wearing, "crease-proof and water-resistant" that can be used to "even out lid color" or worn "alone for a minimal look" or used under eyeshadow to "intensify color and extend wear." Per the brand, it can be applied with either fingertips or a "larger shade brush."
These were a true struggle to work with. I spent one day just trying to find the right way to apply the cream eyeshadows that didn't look like I hadn't had a drop of hydration in 40 years--they made my lids look shriveled, flaky, and emphasized texture I didn't know was there. I had to give up and try again the next day so I didn't abuse my lids beyond repair.
The next day, I applied them with the "best" method I could figure out and was astonished by how poorly they wore. The brand's Super Shock Shadows, which is a cream-to-powder formula, wear like iron for me; they typically go on just beautifully and last 10 hours without creasing or fading. This is one of the worst cream eyeshadow formulas I've tried and is one of the few soul-crushing disappointments I've experienced from the brand since its inception.
These alternated between sort of drier, stiffer and lightly creamy; the top layer seemed to dry quite quickly--three of the four shades arrived with a drier top layer that became creamier after a second swatch. However, when I went to use them for application and testing on the eyes, that top layer felt a bit drier each time.
The formula is fairly quick-drying, though it remained a bit tacky where my lid peeled away from the area above my crease. There was almost no play time at all; I think using fingertips was the absolute worst way to apply these as fingertip application yielded a faster-drying product that applied unevenly, lifted away as it dried down, and almost immediately gathered into creases and accentuated every fine line and bit of texture on my lid without fail. I also felt my fingertips stick a bit with a slight sensation of my lid coming off of my eyeball as I tried to diffuse the product.
A flat brush led to marginal improvement; a flat brush delivered more even coverage, but typically a thicker layer, and this is where I noticed more tackiness and where I had the issue of my skin sticking together, which created bald patches where the color stuck and lifted away onto a different part of my eye (e.g. from my lid to above my crease).
A fluffy brush was the best tool to use in my experience as it provided a thinner, more even layer of product while simultaneously buffing/diffusing it out, but if you don't blend it out right immediately, there's no forgiveness at all. The product has no ability to endure much blending, rubbing, or faffing or else it flakes off--an accidental rub of the eye will result in an entire bald patch to contend with. It did not take much to flake it all away.
I do not recommend layering or building up, and I certainly don't recommend blending two shades together as trying to blend them together resulted in one taking away the other and leaving behind no product at all in the area.
I could not keep it from getting into fine lines regardless of the tool I used, and I tried to leave my lid closed for two minutes to let it set more but that did not help. I tried using powder eyeshadow on top, and I felt like most shades "ate" a lot of the color from more matte eyeshadows, so whatever was layered on top looked drier, uneven, and faded. With shimmery eyeshadows, they seemed to apply better but had a more frosted, textured look that wasn't as smooth or as shiny as when worn over bare skin or over a traditional primer.
The formula didn't last well on my lids; the lighter shades had started to fade within five hours of wear and two were almost gone within eight hours. They were less prone to fading above the crease area on me (like the brow bone) and there was a decent amount of color still present after eight hours.
Browse all of our ColourPop Crème Shadow swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Synthetic Wax, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, BHT, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).
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.
Bronco
LELimited Edition. $8.00.
Camouflage
ColourPop Camouflage Crème Shadow ($8.00 for 0.13 oz.)is a very light, rosy brown with subtle, warm undertones and a flat, matte finish. It had nearly opaque pigmentation in one layer, which applied unevenly, patchily, and separated along fine lines and caught on texture with fingertips and a flat, synthetic brush. I was able to apply it using a fluffy, synthetic brush and get only somewhat appalling results; patchiness in places but no full-on bald spots at least.
The texture was drier on the top layer and got slightly creamier with moderate tackiness that lingered for a couple of minutes post-application, though the product seemed to “set” in place within a few seconds of getting onto my lid as I couldn’t diffuse or soften the edges at all if I didn’t do it while I was applying–that’s why a fluffier brush yielded better results as I could buff it in small circles and get a diffused edge while laying down the product.
It suffered from the same issues I had with the formula at-large: it was prone to separating along fine lines and my crease, especially initially as the product lifted from one section due to the tackiness and flaked slightly as it faded from the six-hour mark and onward. I didn’t feel like the creasing got substantially worse until that point as well as it seemed to flake from where it had separated after the initial application.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Ciate Skinny Dip (LE, ) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Adore (LE, $4.50) is warmer (95% similar).
- bareMinerals Granted (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- bareMinerals Come True (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Hanky Panky (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Jouer Camel (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Vagabond (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Purity (PiP, $4.50) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Nude Smoke (24) (DC, $39.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Narciso (P, $8.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$8.00/0.13 oz. - $61.54 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be a "primer and shadow in one" that is long-wearing, "crease-proof and water-resistant" that can be used to "even out lid color" or worn "alone for a minimal look" or used under eyeshadow to "intensify color and extend wear." Per the brand, it can be applied with either fingertips or a "larger shade brush."
These were a true struggle to work with. I spent one day just trying to find the right way to apply the cream eyeshadows that didn't look like I hadn't had a drop of hydration in 40 years--they made my lids look shriveled, flaky, and emphasized texture I didn't know was there. I had to give up and try again the next day so I didn't abuse my lids beyond repair.
The next day, I applied them with the "best" method I could figure out and was astonished by how poorly they wore. The brand's Super Shock Shadows, which is a cream-to-powder formula, wear like iron for me; they typically go on just beautifully and last 10 hours without creasing or fading. This is one of the worst cream eyeshadow formulas I've tried and is one of the few soul-crushing disappointments I've experienced from the brand since its inception.
These alternated between sort of drier, stiffer and lightly creamy; the top layer seemed to dry quite quickly--three of the four shades arrived with a drier top layer that became creamier after a second swatch. However, when I went to use them for application and testing on the eyes, that top layer felt a bit drier each time.
The formula is fairly quick-drying, though it remained a bit tacky where my lid peeled away from the area above my crease. There was almost no play time at all; I think using fingertips was the absolute worst way to apply these as fingertip application yielded a faster-drying product that applied unevenly, lifted away as it dried down, and almost immediately gathered into creases and accentuated every fine line and bit of texture on my lid without fail. I also felt my fingertips stick a bit with a slight sensation of my lid coming off of my eyeball as I tried to diffuse the product.
A flat brush led to marginal improvement; a flat brush delivered more even coverage, but typically a thicker layer, and this is where I noticed more tackiness and where I had the issue of my skin sticking together, which created bald patches where the color stuck and lifted away onto a different part of my eye (e.g. from my lid to above my crease).
A fluffy brush was the best tool to use in my experience as it provided a thinner, more even layer of product while simultaneously buffing/diffusing it out, but if you don't blend it out right immediately, there's no forgiveness at all. The product has no ability to endure much blending, rubbing, or faffing or else it flakes off--an accidental rub of the eye will result in an entire bald patch to contend with. It did not take much to flake it all away.
I do not recommend layering or building up, and I certainly don't recommend blending two shades together as trying to blend them together resulted in one taking away the other and leaving behind no product at all in the area.
I could not keep it from getting into fine lines regardless of the tool I used, and I tried to leave my lid closed for two minutes to let it set more but that did not help. I tried using powder eyeshadow on top, and I felt like most shades "ate" a lot of the color from more matte eyeshadows, so whatever was layered on top looked drier, uneven, and faded. With shimmery eyeshadows, they seemed to apply better but had a more frosted, textured look that wasn't as smooth or as shiny as when worn over bare skin or over a traditional primer.
The formula didn't last well on my lids; the lighter shades had started to fade within five hours of wear and two were almost gone within eight hours. They were less prone to fading above the crease area on me (like the brow bone) and there was a decent amount of color still present after eight hours.
Browse all of our ColourPop Crème Shadow swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Synthetic Wax, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, BHT, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).
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.
Christine, when things are really poor quality, I am always left smiling at your descriptions – “only somewhat appalling results” – I am certain this is what qualifies as “damning with faint praise”! What a shame that a company with such a good track record had dropped the baton, so to speak, at this point in the race!
Sometimes, it’s hard to convey how disappointed one is creatively, LOL!
Thank you!
Oy, vey! Epic fail! If this is CP’s take on paint pot, back to the drawing board. And so many had high hopes for the product, both as a primer and a one and done. This looks like one and dumpster, because you don’t want it in your own trash.
I thought it was me/my lids, but I put on MAC Paint Pots (three of them) AFTER taking ColourPop’s off and they weren’t fine. Same with Tom Ford Cream Shadowss and CP’s Soper Shock Shadows…
Ugh, I am torn on this. I was hoping it was good so it’s a cheap alternative to paint pot, yet I was hoping it’s not good so I can stick to my anti-haul for the month (2 days left hehehe). Didn’t expect these to be this bad though!
This entire collection just seems worse and worse with every one of your posts! CP really dropped the ball.
Well, if the other colors review as poorly as these two did, it’s entirely possible that when mine arrives I’ll just scoop out all the product and use the cute jar for holding pills or earrings or something.
I’m very curious to hear from readers if they have similar experiences or not – there aren’t too many reviews out yet!
Well, mine is due to arrive this Friday, so I should be able to report back on its quality on next Friday’s check-in 🙂
Ahh, I was hoping these would work since there’s not that many cream matte shadows out there for this price point.
Wow… so not only did Colourpop make a collection solely consisting of ash with a complete lack of inclusiveness, but it also just straight up sucks? Fitting, I suppose. I really hope they can actually listen to criticism and start making better, more thought out collections. This one was a joke.
Do they not test their products before launch? You would think that their staff tries things out and sounds an alarm. I never would have expected this from the maker of the SS formula.
omg i’m actually shocked at how badly these performed! did not see this coming at all. woof ?
Camouflage is a pretty color. It’s a shame about the quality. I know some people were hoping for MAC Paint Pot dupes. I’ve heard e.l.f. Eye Putty Primers are similar and work really well, if that helps anyone.
Oohhhh boy….. I bought the shade Laurel review-unseen thinking “creme shadows are easy, they couldn’t mess it up!” Serves me right….
I don’t think I’ve ever seen an F rating for a ColourPop product before. How the mighty have fallen! I hope this collection tanks and they’re forced to rethink their product launch schedule — with so much, so fast, quality has clearly fallen by the wayside.
I am honestly so happy that by the time I remembered the launch these were sold out. I was planning to buy a few to use for a shadow base since they resembled Mac paint pots, but these are just yikes.
Like so many others, I was hoping that this would be an inexpensive dupe for MAC Paint Pots. Obviously, they are not. Nope. Not in the least. ?
Yeah, this doesn’t make me want to trade in my beloved Paint Pot. How disappointing. And with ColourPop churning out new releases all the time, perhaps they skip product testing to save time.
I used to really love this brand and over time I’ve become less excited by what they put out.
:/ ouch
I wonder if powdering it before it has a chance to migrate would make it workable. These shades aren’t worth the work to me, but fingers crossed for Laurel
Ouch, that’s really way way below usual Colourpop quality!
It sounds heinous. Glad I missed it. I tried to get ahold of them the first few days they came out, but it was already sold out. I’m so sick of mid-size to semi-large companies that sell out of stuff super quickly.
I have been disappointed with the last few colorpop shadows and eyebrow pencils and didn’t care for there lip liners. Too bad they used to have great singles before they started churning out palettes right and left.
Oh this is a let down, I thought about picking up one of these on my next order. Well this is why I keep coming back to your blog, you’ll tell us what’s up!
This is really a shame. I’m a sucker for pots of cream shadows like this. Guess it saves me money!
I had the same experience today when I went to apply with my fingertips. When I pressed a matte powder shadow overtop (from the Wild Nothing palette) it looked better but omg what a TIME. The formula just dries down way too quickly (worth noting that my eyelids are SUPER oily, too).
I hope they tweak this a bit. I’ve been waiting a long time for Colourpop to give us this product!
Oh, I’m glad I’m not alone, LOL!
Def not alone. For the most part, I love everything from them. These were a terrible disappointment =(
OH!H DANG!! These were the only products that semi-interested me since it would be cool if they were like Paint Pots or the drugstore dupes that came out a few years ago (can’t remember the brand… Maybelline?) but these sound awful! BIG PASS.
I tried them out today (got Laurel and Camo) and boy do I agree with you. I’ve tried other eye primers/creme shadows, and they were a lot more creamier and gave me at least a couple seconds to spread with a brush before drying down. These gave me like a nanosecond, so if you messed you’re stuck.
Also they were so DRY. Like I have good skin and mildly oily lids, and these sucked the moisture right out of them. They were settling in in creases I never even knew I had. I’ve also tried it with some eye cream, and it does work a little better, but
Not to mention they smell like chemicals and processed clay and just not nice things.
I’m so sad, I wanted these to work for me so bad. Guess I’ll have to stick with the MAC paint pots.
I’m sad you had such a bad experience, Meow, but am comforted on a personal level to know I’m not alone!