bareMinerals Degrees of Dazzling Review, Photos, Swatches (Part 1)

bareMinerals Degrees of Dazzling

bareMinerals Degrees of Dazzling ($79.00 for 20 x 0.01 oz.) contains twenty loose eyeshadows in four different finishes. There are five eyeshadows in each of these finishes: Velvet, High Shine, Glimmer, and Liner Shadow. If you’re someone who normally uses an eyeshadow primer or doesn’t mind using their loose eyeshadows with a damp brush, you’ll enjoy this set quite a bit. On the other hand, if you want the color to apply perfect with a dry application (and have no desire to use primer), then it’s decent to good, but it’s not outstanding. Some of the shades bind incredibly well together with just a brush and nothing else, but some require a damp brush and/or primer to allow the loose color to bind and smooth out. Generally, these wore between seven and nine hours for me, with the matte shades tending to wear a little shorter than the really rich, metallic shades.  Part two is here.

Black Leather is described as a “glistening blackest black.” It’s a matte black with silver sparkles. It has fairly good color payoff, and with a fluffier brush, it can pack quite the whallop when patted on. It can be a little difficult to blend so use a light hand and build up the color. Matte blacks aren’t hard to come by (the sparkle never really shows up–just gets trapped in the brush or lost on the way!), so here are some comparison swatches.

Deep Sea is described as a “metallic teal.” It’s a rich, blue-teal with a frosted, slightly metallic, finish. It had excellent color payoff applied dry, and if you wanted an even smoother, more intense look, you could apply it with a damp brush. Too Faced Sequin (LE) is greener, lighter. Sephora Collection Midnight Swim (16) (P, $13.00) is darker. MAC Rain Drop (LE, $32.50) is lighter. See comparison swatches.

Ginger Sugar is described as a “shimmering taupe.” It’s a pale, golden champagne beige with a metallic finish and darker champagne sparkle. The sparkle doesn’t seem to blend well with the underlying color, so it seems to flake away or get pushed around. The base had good color payoff, though. MAC Rich Glance (LE, $21.00) is a cream product, no sparkle. Urban Decay Sin (P, $20.00) is a cream product, no sparkle. L’Oreal Iced Latte (P, $7.99) is lighter, no sparkle. Dior Night Golds #5 (LE) is more golden, no sparkle. See comparison swatches.

Golden Pear is described as a “sparkling pale green.” It’s a muted, darkened golden with a green-ish cast and metallic finish. The texture was a bit dry, and it didn’t stick together as well as other shades, so it’s one that I would use with a damp brush or over a sticky base. It was prone to fading faster than the other shades as well. Too Faced Tinsel (LE) is brighter. CoverGirl Ashen Glow Flame (335) (P, $7.99) is a cream product. MAC Greenluxe #3 (P) is very similar. Chanel Moon River (LE, $34.00) is a cream product, browner. MAC Antique Diamond (P, $18.50) is a cream product. MAC Arctic Grey (LE, $15.00) is similar. Guerlain Calligraphy #3 (LE) is darker. See comparison swatches.

Iridescent Iris is described as a “metallic violet.” It’s a duochrome that shifts from a murky green to a cool-toned, muted pinky-violet with a pearly sheen. It had so-so pigmentation, but it was more opaque when applied with a damp brush. Make Up For Ever #940 Star Powder (P, $20.00) is less violet. See comparison swatches.

Lagoon is described as a “deep ocean blue.” It’s a blackened blue with cool undertones and a satin finish. It had good color payoff, and the texture was soft and finely-milled. Tom Ford Beauty Cobalt Rush #4 (P) is bluer. bareMinerals Shaken Not Stirred (P) is similar. Make Up For Ever #147 (P, $20.00) is also similar. See comparison swatches.

Pewter is described as a “metallic pewter.” It’s a subtly warm-toned, light-medium taupe with a frosted, metallic finish. It had really rich color payoff, and the texture was soft and smooth. Laura Mercier Twilight (LE, $26.00) is darker, cream product. Marc Jacobs Beauty The Starlet #7 (P) is warmer. Disney by Sephora Kill Joy (LE) is similar. Urban Decay Armor (LE, $18.00) is darker. Urban Decay Mushroom (P, $18.00) is similar. MAC Dangerous Cuvee (P, $18.50) is a cream product. MAC Electroplate (LE, $18.50) is cooler-toned. Make Up For Ever #2 (P, $23.00) is a cream product. See comparison swatches.

Rose Gold is described as a “antique golden mauve.” It’s a muted, rose-tinged copper with a frosted, metallic finish. This shade is also available individually in the permanent range. It had fairly good pigmentation, but the texture wasn’t as smooth as it could have been–a smidgen chunky in a way. When used with a damp brush, it smooths out better. Tom Ford Beauty Pink Haze (LE, $40.00) is a cream product. MAC Temperature Rising (LE, $15.00) is less metallic. MAC Mythical (LE, $15.00) is brighter. Giorgio Armani #8 (P, $33.00) is more metallic, lighter. See comparison swatches.

Silver Dollar is described as a “sparkling silver.” It’s a bright, light silver-white with silver sparkle. It had so-so color payoff, and the consistency was on the drier side, so it performed better with a damp brush and/or slightly tacky base, otherwise it was prone to fall out. Sleek MakeUP Pretty in Paris (LE, $9.99) is more metallic, less sparkly. Kat Von D Holy Bible (LE) is less sparkly. Disney by Sephora Your Voice (LE) is similar. MAC Guise (LE, $21.00) is a touch darker. MAC Virgin Silver (LE) is a cream product. MAC White as Snow (LE, $32.50) is similar. Chanel Infini (P, $28.50) is also similar. See comparison swatches.

Starry Night is described as a “deep iridescent purple.” It’s a neutral-to-cool, dark purple with blue and teal satin sparkle. The base was more matte, while the sparkle sat on top, but there was enough of it that it gave a slight sheen when applied. The texture was a little dry and didn’t stick together as well, so it will be better applied with a damp brush or over a sticky base. MAC Past Midnight #2 (LE, $21.00) is more cool-toned. Disney by Sephora Wonder by Wonder (LE) is very similar. See comparison swatches.

bareMinerals Degrees of Dazzling

bareMinerals Degrees of Dazzling

bareMinerals Degrees of Dazzling

bareMinerals Black Leather Eyecolor

bareMinerals Black Leather Eyecolor

bareMinerals Black Leather Eyecolor

bareMinerals Black Leather Eyecolor

bareMinerals Deep Sea Eyecolor

bareMinerals Deep Sea Eyecolor

bareMinerals Deep Sea Eyecolor

bareMinerals Deep Sea Eyecolor

bareMinerals Ginger Sugar Eyecolor

bareMinerals Ginger Sugar Eyecolor

bareMinerals Ginger Sugar Eyecolor

bareMinerals Ginger Sugar Eyecolor

bareMinerals Golden Pear Eyecolor

bareMinerals Golden Pear Eyecolor

bareMinerals Golden Pear Eyecolor

bareMinerals Golden Pear Eyecolor

bareMinerals Iridescent Iris Eyecolor

bareMinerals Iridescent Iris Eyecolor

bareMinerals Iridescent Iris Eyecolor

bareMinerals Iridescent Iris Eyecolor

bareMinerals Lagoon Eyecolor

bareMinerals Lagoon Eyecolor

bareMinerals Lagoon Eyecolor

bareMinerals Lagoon Eyecolor

bareMinerals Pewter Eyecolor

bareMinerals Pewter Eyecolor

bareMinerals Pewter Eyecolor

bareMinerals Pewter Eyecolor

bareMinerals Rose Gold Eyecolor

bareMinerals Rose Gold Eyecolor

bareMinerals Rose Gold Eyecolor

bareMinerals Rose Gold Eyecolor

bareMinerals Silver Dollar Eyecolor

bareMinerals Silver Dollar Eyecolor

bareMinerals Silver Dollar Eyecolor

bareMinerals Silver Dollar Eyecolor

bareMinerals Starry Night Eyecolor

bareMinerals Starry Night Eyecolor

bareMinerals Starry Night Eyecolor

bareMinerals Starry Night Eyecolor

bareMinerals Eyecolors: Stay Golden (inner lid), Rose Gold (middle), Deep Sea (outer), Lagoon (crease)

bareMinerals Eyecolors: Ginger Sugar (inner third), Pewter (middle), Charcoal (outer/crease)