ULTA’s 21 Days of Beauty kicks off tomorrow, the 15th. You can check out additional in-store events and all of the details here.

Top Deals

• STILA SMUDGE STICKS: Buy 1, get 1 free (March 16th)
• BUTTER LONDON: $9 each (March 19th)
• URBAN DECAY: 50% off Primer Potions (March 21st)
• SMASHBOX: 50% off 24HR Photo Finish Shadow Primer (March 27th), 50% off Foundation Primer (April 4th)
• MARIO BADESCU: 25% off all products (March 28th)
• LORAC: $15 eyeshadow palette (March 29th)
• TARTE: $25 Maracuja Oil, regularly $46 (April 2nd)
• IT COSMETICS: 50% off Bye Bye Redness Correcting Creme (April 3rd)

There are a few different types of gold–all fun and festive for the holiday season–and here are some of my recent favorites! I’d love to hear yours

1. Makeup Geek Gold Digger — a frosted, orange gold
2. Ulta Gold — a shimmery, yellow gold
3. Ardency Inn Sunday — a light-medium gold with a metallic finish
4. Make Up For Ever D416 Crystalline Yellow — a sparkly white gold
5. Ardency Inn Heaven — a metallic, antique gold

>> See side-by-side swatches! <<

It’s actually hard to find a cool-toned brown that’s permanent AND not only available in a palette. No wonder so many readers are waiting desperately for a brand to release a truly cool-toned set of neutrals! What are your favorites?

1. MAC Mystery — a medium-dark, neutral-to-cool brown with a matte finish
2. NARS Bali — a dark brown with subtle, cool undertones
3. Inglot #363 — a plummy brown with cool undertones and a matte finish
4. Inglot #326 — a burgundy brown with cool undertones and a matte finish
5. Ulta Mink — a cool-toned brown with a satin finish

>> See side-by-side swatches! <<

Today, I have the last four shades from ULTA’s Brilliant Color Eyeshadow ($10.00 for 0.12 oz.) range! (If you missed part one and two, check them out here and here.) To recap–generally–the formula wears about eight hours, is nicely pigmented, and has a soft, smooth texture. It feels like a pressed eyeshadow, for the most part, but it is soft to the point where it almost loosens. If you’re familiar with L’Oreal’s Infallible Eyeshadow, Lancome Infinite Color Design Eyeshadow, or Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense, this formula will be recognizable.

Gold Brilliant Color Eyeshadow ($10.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium, yellow gold with strong, warm undertones and a frosted, metallic finish. It had good color payoff when applied dry, but it was more opaque and smoother when applied with a dampened brush. It wore well for eight and a half hours before starting to crease. Makeup Geek Gold Digger (P, $5.99) is more orange. MAC Her Cocoa #1 (LE, $15.00) is very similar. Giorgio Armani #1 Spring 2012 #3 (LE) is lighter. Le Metier de Beaute Goldstone (P, $30.00) is darker. bareMinerals Gold Nugget (LE, $18.00) is less metallic. See comparison swatches.

Sage Brilliant Color Eyeshadow ($10.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark, warm-toned green with a soft, frosted sheen. It had so-so pigmentation when applied dry, and it was more opaque when applied damp, but it was one of the weaker shades in terms of pigmentation in the range. It lasted for almost eight hours before it started to crease. Makeup Geek Shimmermint (P, $5.99) is lighter. theBalm Runaround Rebecca (P, $16.00) is similar. Urban Decay Mildew (P, $18.00) is warmer. MAC Golden Olive (LE, $21.00) is similar. See comparison swatches.

Silver Brilliant Color Eyeshadow ($10.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a light-medium, cool-toned silver with a frosted, metallic finish. It was sheer when applied dry, and when applied with a dampened brush, it was semi-opaque. This shade lasted for seven and a half hours before it seemed to fade. It’s a very commonly seen shade, so there are plenty of similar shades: see comparison swatches.

Teal Brilliant Color Eyeshadow ($10.00 for 0.12 oz.) is is a muted, medium-dark blue with a frosted, metallic finish. It had semi-sheer pigmentation when applied dry, and it intensified to mostly opaque color coverage when applied with a dampened brush. The color wore well for almost eight hours before showing signs of fading.L’Oreal Timeless Blue Spark (760) (P, $7.99) is very, very similar. Giorgio Armani Blue Beetle (34) (LE, $33.00) has a duochrome. Disney by Sephora Friend Like Me (LE) is darker, less shimmery. MAC Divine Blue (LE, $19.50) is lighter. MAC Dimensional Blue (LE, $19.50) is lighter. L’Oreal Infinite Sky (P, $7.99) is lighter. See comparison swatches.

ULTA Gold Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Gold Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Gold Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Gold Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Gold Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Sage Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Sage Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Sage Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Sage Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Sage Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Silver Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Silver Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Silver Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Silver Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Silver Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Teal Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Teal Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Teal Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Teal Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Teal Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Brilliant Color Eyeshadow: Gold (inner lid), Sage (middle of lid),
Teal (outer lid/crease), Marc Jacobs Intro(vert) Eyeliner

Today, I have three more shades from ULTA’s Brilliant Color Eyeshadow ($10.00 for 0.12 oz.) range! (If you missed part one, check it out here.) To recap–generally–the formula wears about eight hours, is nicely pigmented, and has a soft, smooth texture. It feels like a pressed eyeshadow, for the most part, but it is soft to the point where it almost loosens. If you’re familiar with L’Oreal’s Infallible Eyeshadow, Lancome Infinite Color Design Eyeshadow, or Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense, this formula will be recognizable.

Pink Brilliant Color Eyeshadow ($10.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a light-medium, yellow-toned pink with a frosted, slightly metallic, finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation when applied dry, and then it was fully opaque when applied damp. It could be layered for fully opaque color dry, though. The color wore well for eight and a half hours before showing signs of fading. MAC Pink Sensibilities #3 (LE, $21.00) is very similar. L’Oreal Always Pearly Pink (756) (P, $7.99) is not as warm-toned. Tom Ford Beauty Seductive Rose #2 (P) is more glittery. Too Faced Taffy (LE, $16.00) is similar. Urban Decay Minor Sin (LE, $18.00) is less shimmery, warmer. Marc Jacobs Beauty The Tease #5 (P) is lighter, cooler. Urban Decay SWF (P, $18.00) is darker. Chanel Harmonie du Soir #4 (LE) is similar. See comparison swatches.

Purple Brilliant Color Eyeshadow ($10.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark, lightly cool-toned purple with a frosted finish. It had the same color payoff whether applied wet or dry–mostly opaque but not fully. It had a soft, smooth consistency, and it was buildable. The color lasted for eight hours on me before starting to crease. Sleek MakeUP Bliss in Barcelona (LE, $9.99) is cooler-toned. Marc Jacobs Beauty The Tease #1 (P) is less frosted. MAC Pinkluxe #4 (P) is warmer. MAC Plush (DC, $21.00) is warmer, less frosted. Urban Decay Rockstar (P, $18.00) is darker, less frosted, cooler-toned. Urban Decay Gravity (LE, $18.00) is slightly cooler-toned. L’Oreal Perpetual Purple is slightly darker,cooler-toned but very similar. See comparison swatches.

Night Sky Brilliant Color Eyeshadow ($10.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark black with silver sparkle and shimmer over a satin base. It was semi-sheer when applied dry, and then it was more opaque when applied with a dampened brush. The texture of this was a little drier, so blending it takes some time and is not as easy as other shades. The effect can be pretty intense when applied wet, and surprisingly, the fall out was very minimal during the eight hours it lasted. Tarina Tarantino Diamond Dusk #5 (LE) is cooler-toned. Too Faced Pure Glam (LE, $16.00) and Marc Jacobs Beauty The Mod #2 (P) are less shimmery. Bobbi Brown Lava (LE) is similar. Chanel Mirifique (P, $36.00) is a cream product. Buxom Black Lab (P, $18.00) is also a cream-product. bareMinerals Penthouse (LE) is less shimmery. See comparison swatches.

ULTA Pink Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Pink Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Pink Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Pink Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Pink Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Purple Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Purple Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Purple Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Purple Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Purple Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Night Sky Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Night Sky Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Night Sky Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Night Sky Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Night Sky Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Brilliant Color Eyeshadow: Pink (inner lid), Purple (middle of lid),
Night Sky (outer lid/crease), Tarina Tarantino Cute Robot Eyeliner

ULTA Brilliant Color Eyeshadow ($10.00 for 0.12 oz.) recently popped online, and I couldn’t resist trying them when they were buy one, get one free (and they’re B1G1 still right now, actually!). If you’re familiar with L’Oreal’s Infallible Eyeshadow, Lancome Infinite Color Design Eyeshadow, or Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense, this formula will be recognizable. It is a loosely pressed eyeshadow; it is, in general, more of a pressed eyeshadow than a loose one, but it isn’t pressed as firmly as true pressed eyeshadows. It can be used wet or dry, depending on what you’re looking for. ULTA doesn’t have nearly as grand a description as the previously mentioned formulas do; ULTA says these “[offer] the comfort of a cream and the ease of application only a powder can deliver.” They’re supposed to be long-wearing (but no specific hour-length is given) and crease-resistant.

Bone Brilliant Color Eyeshadow ($10.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a pale, light beige with subtle warm undertones and a satin sheen. It had good color payoff whether it was used dry or damp, and I was able to use it with a dampened brush even though it had more of a matte finish. The texture was very soft and finely-milled–just a little powdery. It wore well for eight hours on me and was lightly creased after nine hours of wear. Too Faced White Chocolate (P, $16.00) is darker, warmer. bareMinerals Celebrate (LE) is more shimmery. Too Faced Egg Nog (LE, $16.00) is similar. Too Faced Cream Colored Ponies (LE, $16.00) is matte. Too Faced Snow Angel (LE, $16.00) is matte. theBalm B1 (LE, $16.00) is warmer, darker, matte. Too Faced Dainty (LE, $16.00) is cooler-toned. bareMinerals Boss Lady (LE) is cooler-toned. Disney by Sephora A Wish (LE) is darker. theBalm Adagio (P, $16.00) is matte. Urban Decay Anonymous (LE, $18.00) is warmer. L’Oreal Endless Pearl (P, $7.99) is slightly more matte. See comparison swatches.

Taupe Brilliant Color Eyeshadow ($10.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium brown with a hint of a grayish tone, but it had stronger warm, red-orange undertones and a frosted finish. The pigmentation was excellent whether used dry or wet–intense either way. The texture was soft, velvety, and smooth. It wore well for nine hours before starting to crease. I thought L’Oreal Amber Rush might be similar, but it is much warmer and redder. Urban Decay Mugshot (P, $18.00) is darker, grayer. MAC Until Dawn #1 (LE, $21.00) is similar. Urban Decay Stray Dog (LE, $18.00) is darker. Bobbi Brown Stormy Grey (LE, $21.00) is darker, grayer. See comparison swatches.

Mink Brilliant Color Eyeshadow ($10.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a dark, cool-toned brown with a satin-matte finish–a very subtle sheen so it isn’t totally matte. It had fairly good pigmentation applied dry, and it was slightly better applied with a dampened brush, but it was about the same. The color was buildable, though, so in practice, it can get quite intense as you layer. The texture wasn’t as soft or as blendable as the other two shades. It wore well for eight and a half hours before fading. bareMinerals Perspective (LE) is slightly darker. theBalm Matt Ramirez (LE, $16.00) is more matte. MAC Najm el Lail (LE, $15.00) is similar. MAC Showstopper (LE, $15.00) is similar. MAC Concrete (P, $15.00) is more matte, darker. bareMinerals Apropos (P) is similar. See comparison swatches.

ULTA Bone Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Bone Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Bone Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Bone Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Bone Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Bone Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Taupe Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Taupe Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Taupe Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Taupe Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Taupe Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Mink Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Mink Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Mink Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Mink Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Mink Brilliant Color Eyeshadow

ULTA Brilliant Color Eyeshadow: Bone (inner lid), Taupe (middle of lid), Mink (outer lid/crease), Marc Jacobs Intro(vert) Eyeliner

ULTA Brilliant Color Eyeshadow: Bone (inner lid), Taupe (middle of lid), Mink (outer lid/crease), Marc Jacobs Intro(vert) Eyeliner