AURIC Ego Smoke Reflect Eyeshadow Duo Review & Swatches
Ego
Auric Ego Smoke Reflect Eye Shadow Duo ($39.00 for 0.23 oz.) includes a sparking, warmer pewter powder eyeshadow paired with a dark, grayish-taupe cream eyeshadow. For those who like high-shine, high-sparkle eyeshadows and like a cream eyeshadow that has longer play time, both may appeal. If you tend to wear your cream eyeshadows more sheered out, the darker base of this doesn’t quite lend itself to sheering out as readily as other shades.
Ingredients
Ego
PPermanent. $39.00.
Ego (Powder)
Ego (Powder) is a light, golden pewter with warmer undertones and a sparkling, high-shine finish. The texture was smooth, thin but not too dry, and while it was more firmly-pressed, it wasn’t as prone to fallout as something with a loose press but was best used with a moderate hand/pressure. I did find that I preferred application with a dampened brush when trying to use it as a standalone product, while a dry brush or fingertip worked well for using it as more of a layering shade (it seemed intended for both functions).
It had semi-opaque, buildable coverage, though the base itself was more translucent, which was as described by the brand. The product applied evenly to bare skin and had very little fallout, even used dry, as it adhered pretty well. It stayed on nicely for eight hours but had light fallout over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Heart-dog (P, $6.25) is warmer (95% similar).
- Sydney Grace Fire-Butts (LE, $6.25) is brighter (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever D552 Crystalline Gray Beige (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- JD Glow White Gold (P, $7.50) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Right Hand Mando (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Pat McGrath Lunar Luxury (LE, $25.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Clionadh Elixir (P, $5.25) is darker (90% similar).
- Dior Party in Colours #3 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty TFX1 (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Glam (328M) (PiP, $29.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
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It is supposed to be a "light-reflecting" eyeshadow with "high-shine pearls" that can be used alone or as a top coat. The brand describes them as having "micro-glitter," though only one of the shades reviewed contain plastic (PET) glitter.
They had more translucent bases, which was as described, but there was a lot of sparkle/shimmer, so the result was more medium to opaque, depending on the shade. The consistency was slightly drier, more firmly-packed into the pan overall with more of a glide than a denser, thicker silicone-like feel (like some more intense metallic formulas these days). One shade was noticeably drier/more firmly-pressed to the point where it seemed to impact the application/coverage relative to the other two shades.
They applied with minimal fallout and had good adhesion on bare skin, but they are best applied with a fingertip or a dampened brush with a pressing/patting motion for the most minimal fallout and the most even lay down of product. I found that I had to be careful blending out the edges with a fluffier, drier brush as fallout was more likely to occur then. They lasted around eight hours and had light fallout over time.
Based on the line-up at review, they should work alone, as more of a sheer wash of sparkle, as well as more packed on as a standalone powder eyeshadow or patted over the coordinating cream eyeshadows they sit on top of.
Browse all of our Auric Smoke Reflect Powder Eye Shadow swatches.
Look Using this Product
Ego (Powder)
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Ego (Cream)
Ego (Cream) is a deep, grayish-taupe base with fine, multi-colored pearl throughout that gave it soft sheen. It had rich color coverage in a single layer where a little went a long way. The darker, grayish base made it harder to apply it as a sheer wash and get a really even finish, though. In person, it read more blended than it seemed in the photo, though (kind of like how lip products can settle more or less noticeably “in person” than in a close-up photo).
The texture was smooth, emollient without being as wet as expected; it was a little airier and mousse-like, which gave it good adhesion with greater coverage while remaining blendable along the edges. It was a formula that had more play time, which some may prefer, but I needed to buff/blend out the product on my inner lid area as it settled a bit into fine lines as it was drying down (though this didn’t happen in my actual crease). Once I did that, the product finished drying down and lasted for nine hours before showing signs of creasing.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Dior Cosmic Eyes #4 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Serpentine (LE, $38.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury The Huntress (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Traveling Elegance (LE, $6.25) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Moss Agate #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Fallen Empire (LE, $6.25) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Give Me Glow Pistol (P, $7.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Santa Maria (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Albert (PiP, $6.25) is more shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Spring 2015 (LE, $45.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
/0.17 oz. - $0.00 Per Ounce
It is supposed to be "smooth, longwear[ing], [and] creaseless" cream eyeshadow. The texture was a cross between a traditional cream eyeshadow (which can feel wetter and thinner) and an airier, more whipped mousse. It was an intensely pigmented formula where one did not need a lot of product to get an even layer of product on the eye.
They had a moderate dry down time; they did dry down to a more powder-like finish that wasn't budge-proof--I could still soften the edges a bit--but had a tendency to settle into my fine lines on the inner lid area as it was drying down, so I had to buff the product back out to even the product out. Once I did this, it didn't keep creasing after the dry down. If I applied and buffed out the product as a sheerer layer of product, then this wasn't an issue as less product was more apt to dry down fairly quickly compared to a more opaque layer of product.
The consistency dried down but wasn't thick, heavy, or inflexible, so it paired well with other powder eyeshadows (not just the one included with it) and could be used as an eyeshadow base or eyeliner as well. Aside from the initial creasing (which I could blend/buff out) as it was drying down, once it dried down, I didn't get creasing until the eight to nine hour mark.
Browse all of our Auric Smoke Reflect Cream Eye Shadow swatches.
I personally now avoid these pairings with aging hooded eyes. I think they look amazing on certain eye shapes and types and can really make eye makeup easy peasy. I love the reflects in the cream shadow. Tom Ford had a similar cream shadow with a very similar colour simply called Spring (with the I can’t remember the year)… Better price here!
I actually thought the same initially! Ego ended up being grayer and not as brown. The formulas are more similar than not, though Tom Ford’s definitely felt more fluid, less mousse-y/airy. I think the AURIC formula is closer to Charlotte Tilbury’s (which felt very similar to Tom Ford’s when it debuted).
I think that shimmer top on Auric Ego makes it different. I’m looking at the swatches.. TF Spring 2015… sheesh.. that long ago LOL.
LOL! I know. And that’s STILL in my vanity drawer (Spring 2015).
Like the powder! Very pretty gray!
Oh no, these are so pretty! I might have to keep an eye out for them.
I think the combination of these two eyeshadows are beautiful. The pewter shade would look lovely over the grey base of the creamy one. Although the darker grey shade is too dark for me to wear, I think these could look perfect on someone else.
The big plus side is that they are waaay cheaper than Tom Ford’s or Charlotte Tilbury’s.
This is the one that really caught my eye with this release! I also have aging, hooded eyes (as Wednesday mentions), but I’m still clinging to my youth and may put this on my wishlist. 😂
I’ll call this temptation alley, because I could see this duo having an eye brightening effect. However, I do have ND Glam, so I may not absolutely need this.
It’s so pretty almost a greenish hue but in some pix taupe. This is my pick.
I wonder if they’ll sell the powders and creams separately at some point down line—even just as refills.
oh I love everything about this.
I love the fact that the ‘topper’ is more of a neutral/ warm shade and that the cream leans more on the cool side because together, they make the perfect shimmer baby.
Is it warm, is it cool, who the heck knows but it’s daarrrn beautiful.
I am so excited for the other reviews and so bloody proud of Sam.
Oh man, I wasn’t even going to get this color but this looks beautiful!
Thanks for the honest review, I tend to like my cream shadows sheered out so it sounds like this one would apply about as good as CT Veruschka, which did not sheer out well at all.
OOOooooOoooooh.. I shall make this mine!
Bwuhahaha
I love this duo. Once upon a time I would have purchased it without a thought, but over the years I’ve learned that while I LOVE these colors, they do *not* look good on my skin. Like at all. It’s such a bummer. I mean, the gray cream is probably fine. But a greenish gray does something weird on my eyes. Love the color, love the product, have to pass because my skintone is dumb. (ps – thank you for telling us about the glitter in one of the duos and I’m glad it’s not in this one)
I was very interested in this! However, having ND Glam, CP Right Hand Mando, and SG Frosted Morning, I can’t justify it. I’m sure I’ll find something else to buy! 😂