Whitney's Nippy Eye-Conic

MAC Nippy Eye-Conic Eyeshadow x 8 Palette ($45.00 for 0.49 oz.) is a new, limited edition neutral palette with a pop of plum but otherwise a mix of both cooler and warmer-toned neutrals across brown/gray/black. The mattes were very blendable (except the black) and easy to use, while one shimmer was so-so and the other was lovely to work with.

Ingredients

Nippy Sand

Nippy Sand Dust is a light-medium, peachy yellow with strong, warm undertones and a matte finish.

• Opaque pigmentation
• Soft, finely-milled consistency, lightly powdery
• Blendable, easy to work with
• Long-wearing (eight hours on average for this formula)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

• Top Dupes
• Formula Overview

Nippy Taupe Dusk

Nippy Taupe Dusk is a light-medium taupe with subtle, warm olive undertones and a matte finish.

• Semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation
• Soft, finely-milled consistency, lightly powdery
• Blendable, easy to work with
• Long-wearing (eight hours on average for this formula)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

• Top Dupes
• Formula Overview

Nippy's Chestnut

Nippy’s Chestnut is a muted, medium-dark brown with neutral-to-warm undertones and a matte finish.

• Mostly opaque, buildable pigmentation
• Soft, finely-milled consistency, lightly powdery
• Blendable, easy to work with
• Long-wearing (eight hours on average for this formula)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

• Top Dupes
• Formula Overview

Nippy's Grape

Nippy’s Grape is a medium-dark gray with cool, bluish undertones and a matte finish.

• Semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation
• Soft, finely-milled consistency, lightly powdery
• Blendable, easy to work with
• Long-wearing (eight hours on average for this formula)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

• Top Dupes
• Formula Overview

Nippy Platinum

Nippy Platinum is a soft black with strong, cool, almost purplish, undertones and a pearly sheen.

• Semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation
• Slightly firmer, stiffer feel
• Applied evenly but had light fallout, not as blendable as it needed to be
• Long-wearing (eight hours on average for this formula)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

• Top Dupes
• Formula Overview

Nippy's Melon

Nippy’s Melon is a light-medium, yellowish brown with strong, warm undertones and a matte finish.

• Semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation
• Soft, finely-milled consistency, lightly powdery
• Blendable, easy to work with
• Long-wearing (eight hours on average for this formula)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

• Top Dupes
• Formula Overview

Nippy's Crease

Nippy’s Crease is a medium-dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and a smooth, pearly sheen.

• Opaque color coverage
• Smooth, moderately emollient but not too dense or too thick
• Blendable, easy to work with
• Long-wearing (eight hours on average for this formula)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

• Top Dupes
• Formula Overview

Nippy's Noir

Nippy’s Noir is a very deep, dark black with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish.

• Opaque pigmentation
• Stiffer, thinner feel, harder to pick up evenly
• Harder to diffuse along the edges
• Long-wearing (eight hours on average for this formula)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

• Top Dupes
• Formula Overview

MAC Whitney's Nippy Eye-Conic Eyeshadow x 8 Palette

MAC Whitney's Nippy Eye-Conic Eyeshadow x 8 Palette

MAC Whitney's Nippy Eye-Conic Eyeshadow x 8 Palette

MAC Whitney's Nippy Eye-Conic Eyeshadow x 8 Palette

MAC Whitney's Nippy Eye-Conic Eyeshadow x 8 Palette

MAC Whitney's Nippy Eye-Conic Eyeshadow x 8 Palette

MAC Nippy Sand Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy Sand Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy Taupe Dusk Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy Taupe Dusk Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Chestnut Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Chestnut Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Grape Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Grape Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy Platinum Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy Platinum Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Melon Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Melon Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Crease Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Crease Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Noir Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Noir Eyeshadow

MAC Whitney's Nippy Eye-Conic Eyeshadow x 8 Palette

MAC Whitney's Nippy Eye-Conic Eyeshadow x 8 Palette

MAC Whitney's Nippy Eye-Conic Eyeshadow x 8 Palette

MAC Whitney's Nippy Eye-Conic Eyeshadow x 8 Palette

MAC Whitney's Nippy Eye-Conic Eyeshadow x 8 Palette

MAC Whitney's Nippy Eye-Conic Eyeshadow x 8 Palette

MAC Nippy Sand Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy Sand Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy Taupe Dusk Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy Taupe Dusk Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Chestnut Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Chestnut Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Grape Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Grape Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy Platinum Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy Platinum Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Melon Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Melon Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Crease Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Crease Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Noir Eyeshadow

MAC Nippy's Noir Eyeshadow

Ultraviolet

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio) ($22.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a jumbo-sized blush compact that contains a pan that’s been split into three distinctive shades. The brand says that it can be used “on face and around eyes as desired” (I wonder if “around” is code for “not for the immediate eye area,” though). As a blush formula, the heavy, denser, and thicker consistency made it difficult to pick up product, left them often looking thick and textured on my cheeks, and ranged from “make it stop” to “don’t apply in a rush” levels of difficulty.

They were pigmented, but they were extremely difficult to apply and blend out on my cheeks, which made me think that they’d be more workable as eyeshadows. The sparkling purple was a total failure across the board, while I had better success with the other two shades, but I’d never want to use these again–far too much effort and not enough reward.

Each shade is physically large enough for a small blush brush or a tapered highlighter to fit easily into them, so the shades were usable as individual hues.

• Ingredients
• Look

Ingredients

Look Using this Product

Melt Cosmetics Radioactive Eyeshadow Look - Neon Pops

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Read How-To

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Ultraviolet #1

Ultraviolet #1 is a light-medium purple with subtle, cool undertones and a heavy, frosted finish. It had a denser, thick consistency that felt more emollient but was really hard to apply evenly to bare skin (or over primer for that matter) whether as an eyeshadow or as a cheek color. I had a hard time discerning whether it was worse on my eyes or on my cheeks–it was patchy, uneven, and emphasized all texture on my cheeks, while on my lids, it emphasized texture, creased within four hours, and looked like a patchy mess that couldn’t be resolved with furious blending and flat brushes or even being used wet. It lasted longer as a cheek color with seven and a half hour wear, but it performed worse over foundation (ate my foundation around the six-hour mark).

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

• Top Dupes
• Formula Overview
• Ingredients
• Look

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

• Danessa Myricks Rebirth (P, $18.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
• Sydney Grace Mythical (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
• Kaleidos Glowing Iris (Radiate) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
• Tarte Unleashed (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
• Sydney Grace Wish (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
• Urban Decay Flash (DC, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
• Fenty Beauty Unicorn (P, $25.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
• Sydney Grace Black Tie (LE, $8.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
• Wet 'n' Wild Hasta La Costa Baby #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
• Sydney Grace Deliverer (P, $6.25) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$22.00/0.13 oz. - $169.23 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to be buildable and can be worn alone or layered with other blushes. I'd consider it a more pigmented blush formula; a few shades are soft and yielding enough to be used with a lighter hand or less-dense brush for sheerer, more buildable application, but most shades were semi-opaque to opaque in one layer. The texture ranged from smooth, lightly creamy to soft and slightly powdery (though finely-milled and silky to the touch!). They blended out fairly well, though a few shades could have been more blendable, and most shades lasted between seven and eight hours on me.

Browse all of our Melt Cosmetics Blushlight swatches.

Ingredients

Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Zinc Stearate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Silica, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Dimethicone, Calcium Titanium Borosilicate, Phenoxyethanol, Tin Oxide. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Iron Oxide Ci 77491, Manganese Violet Ci 77742, Red 27 Lake Ci 45410, Iron Blue Cl 77510.

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.

Look Using this Product

Melt Cosmetics Radioactive Eyeshadow Look - Neon Pops

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Read How-To

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Ultraviolet #2

Ultraviolet #2 is a bright, medium fuchsia pink with cool, blue undertones and flecks of larger lavender and violet glitter. It had opaque pigmentation in a single layer, though the powder was incredibly dense and firm, so I had to really jab and push my brush against the surface to get enough product onto my brush to begin with. In a way, this made it a bit easier to apply as a cheek color as it didn’t load up on my brush so I could apply and blend it out, then build up color.

I found that the thicker texture tended to emphasize my skin texture and made the product clump up in some places. It wore well for nine hours as a cheek color, though the glitter traveled over time. As an eyeshadow, there was some fallout within two hours of wear but lasted for a solid seven hours overall, but the color went on evenly and blended out without too much effort.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

• Top Dupes
• Formula Overview
• Ingredients
• Look

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

• Viseart Boheme Dream #7 (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
• ColourPop 2 Cute (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
• ColourPop Ivy League (P, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
• Viseart Interstellar (GPV2 #25) (P, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
• ColourPop Christmas Town (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
• ColourPop Solstice with the Mostest (P, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
• Coloured Raine Sweet Ruby (LE, $6.99) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
• Glaminatrix Bubblegum (P, $8.77) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
• Moira Rigel (P, $7.50) is less shimmery (90% similar).
• Huda Beauty Amethyst #9 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$22.00/0.13 oz. - $169.23 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to be buildable and can be worn alone or layered with other blushes. I'd consider it a more pigmented blush formula; a few shades are soft and yielding enough to be used with a lighter hand or less-dense brush for sheerer, more buildable application, but most shades were semi-opaque to opaque in one layer. The texture ranged from smooth, lightly creamy to soft and slightly powdery (though finely-milled and silky to the touch!). They blended out fairly well, though a few shades could have been more blendable, and most shades lasted between seven and eight hours on me.

Browse all of our Melt Cosmetics Blushlight swatches.

Ingredients

Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Zinc Stearate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Silica, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Dimethicone, Calcium Titanium Borosilicate, Phenoxyethanol, Tin Oxide. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Iron Oxide Ci 77491, Manganese Violet Ci 77742, Red 27 Lake Ci 45410, Iron Blue Cl 77510.

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.

Look Using this Product

Melt Cosmetics Radioactive Eyeshadow Look - Neon Pops

Read How-To

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Read How-To

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Ultraviolet #3

Ultraviolet #3 is a medium-dark plum with warmer undertones and a cooler, violet sheen. It had a smoother texture to the touch, but it was quite dense, firm, and stiff to work with, so it had to really be pushed and jabbed into to pick up product. It was difficult to apply the product on my eye as the thinner (yet stiff/firm) texture tended to move around rather than build up or blend out. As a cheek color, it worked similarly, which resulted in an uneven application with areas of heavy color that emphasized my skin texture. It stayed on well for seven hours as an eyeshadow and eight hours as a cheek color.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

• Top Dupes
• Formula Overview
• Ingredients

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio)

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio)

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio)

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio)

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio)

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio)

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio)

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio)

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio)

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #1 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #1 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #1 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #1 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #1 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #2 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #2 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #2 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #2 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #2 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #3 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #3 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #3 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #3 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #3 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio)

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio)

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio)

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio)

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio)

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio)

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio)

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio)

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet Blushlight (Trio)

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #1 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #1 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #1 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #1 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #1 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #2 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #2 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #2 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #2 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #2 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #3 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #3 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #3 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #3 Blushlight

Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #3 Blushlight

Laura Mercier Art of Colour Eye & Cheek Palette ($79.00 for 0.83 oz.) includes eight eyeshadows, one blush, and a full-sized mascara and is a Nordstrom Anniversary Exclusive. It’s a disappointing palette; I think it looks and swatches better than it applies, and it’s a palette that should be used with an eyeshadow primer to minimize some of the issues that I experienced (like adhesion and longevity). Some of the eyeshadows ran a little drier, one was quite firm and difficult to use altogether, while the blush was horrendous. I would have also preferred to see them ditch the mascara and drop the price.

Bellini is a light-medium, pink-coral with gold shimmer. This was such an awful product; I have no idea why the brand’s blushes are dry and almost chunky in texture, when their eyeshadows are much smoother and more finely-milled. It had semi-sheer to semi-opaque color coverage that blends decently, but it looks a little dry on my skin. If I applied it with a damp brush or over still-drying liquid or cream foundation, it looked better. On, it lasted for six and a half hours before fading. Benefit Bella Bamba (DC, $28.00) is brighter. MAC Star Wonder (LE, $30.00) is darker. MAC Springsheen (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, warmer. NARS Orgasm (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer. Tarina Tarantino Feather (P, $25.00) is warmer. Too Faced Something About Berry (P, $30.00) is darker, warmer. Sleek MakeUP Rose Gold (P, $6.99) is more shimmery. Benefit Bella Bamba (Palette) (P, $28.00) is warmer. Smashbox Carnation (LE, ) is lighter, warmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Burnished Rose is a muted, medium-dark brown with a frosted finish. It had good color payoff with a soft, but almost dry, consistency. This shade didn’t layer well with other eyeshadows, as it didn’t seem to stick as well, but it was better when applied as the first layer (onto bare skin). It wore for seven and a half hours on me. Laura Mercier Brown Sugar (LE, $23.00) is . Benefit Dandy Brandy (P, $18.00) is darker. Inglot #421 (P, $6.00) is darker. MAC Sable (P, $16.00) is more shimmery. MAC Divine Decadence (P, $16.00) is darker. MAC Her Cocoa #4 (LE, $16.00) is darker. Too Faced Brown Sugar (LE, $16.00) is darker. LORAC Mocha (P, ) is more shimmery, lighter. Kat Von D Papilio (P, ) is less shimmery. Make Up For Ever ME612 Silver Brown (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter. LORAC Maroon (LE, ) is warmer. ColourPop Mooning (P, $5.00) is darker, more muted. Tarte Pretty (LE, ) is brighter, warmer. Cle de Peau Satin Moon #2 (P, ) is more shimmery, lighter. Urban Decay Lost (P, $18.00) is more shimmery. First 15 dupes listed, see more: See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Gunmetal is a medium-dark gray with cool undertones and a frosted finish. It had good pigmentation with a soft, lightly drier and dusty consistency that applied decently to bare lids. It lasted for seven and a half hours before fading. Urban Decay Redemption (LE, $18.00) is darker. Kat Von D Piaf (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter. LORAC Slate (P, ) is darker. MAC Graphic Style (LE, $16.00) is lighter. MAC Diesel (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery, darker. Giorgio Armani #21 (LE, $33.00) is darker. Buxom Cool Caviar (P, $12.00) is lighter. Milani Bella Gray (10) (P, $4.49) is lighter. Smashbox Obsidian (P, ) is less shimmery. Marc Jacobs Beauty The Enigma #2 (P, ) is lighter. Make Up For Ever ME108 Steel (P, $21.00) is darker. Marc Jacobs Beauty The Parisienne #1 (LE, ) is darker. Tarina Tarantino Silver Shoes (LE, ) is darker. Kat Von D Santeria (LE, ) is darker. Makeup Geek Galaxy (P, $5.99) is warmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Morning Dew is a subtly warm-toned, pink beige with a matte finish. It had good pigmentation with a really silky, finely-milled texture that could get a little powdery in the pan as it is quite soft. It wore for seven and a half hours on me. Smashbox Naked (P, ) is darker. Dior Golden Shock #4 (LE, ) is darker. Tarte Palace of Versaille (LE, ) is darker. Too Faced Powdered Sugar (LE, $16.00) is darker. Inglot #356 (P, $6.00) is darker. Too Faced Coconut Crème (P, $16.00) is cooler. Tarte Super Mom (LE, ) is lighter. bareMinerals Chance (P, ) is lighter, brighter. Urban Decay Walk of Shame (P, $18.00) is cooler. MAC Blanc Type (P, $16.00) is lighter. Too Faced Snow Angel (LE, $16.00) is . Too Faced Dainty (LE, $16.00) is darker, cooler. Laura Mercier Buttercream (P, $23.00) is warmer. Too Faced Egg Nog (LE, $16.00) is darker. Too Faced Cream Colored Ponies (LE, $16.00) is more pigmented. First 15 dupes listed, see more: See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

African Violet is a warm, plummy purple with larger gold sparkle and shimmer. It’s part of the permanent range, and it’s been included in past palette releases from the brand. It’s an interesting shade, but it seems to have production issues; you’ll see a lot of love it or hate it kind of reviews. This was the smoothest and softest version I’ve come across, but the shimmer separates slightly when you start to blend it on the lid still. It lasted for seven hours on me before fading. Smashbox Amethyst (P, ) is darker. Too Faced Passion (P, ) is more shimmery, lighter. Kat Von D Love Letter (P, $16.00) is less shimmery, darker. ColourPop Prickly Pear (LE, $5.00) is more shimmery, cooler. bareMinerals Catch Me If (P, ) is less shimmery, cooler. MAC Pinkluxe #3 (P, ) is more shimmery, cooler. theBalm #2 (P, $6.50) is lighter, cooler, less shimmery. MAC Neo Nebula (LE, $21.00) is lighter, cooler. Urban Decay Bordello (P, $18.00) is cooler. theBalm A1 (LE, $16.00) is lighter, less pigmented, less shimmery. theBalm rem (P, $16.00) is cooler. Fyrinnae Meerkat (Pressed) (P, $8.25) is darker, brighter. Fyrinnae Meerkat (P, $6.80) is darker, brighter, more pigmented, less shimmery. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Vanilla Kiss is a light beige with a satiny sheen. It had semi-sheer coverage (it just blends in with my skin tone) with a really firm texture, which I think is why the color payoff was subpar. I had really had to jab at it to get any powder to dislodge from the surface, so this was the big dud in the palette. It wore for seven hours before fading on me. Divergent Serene Vanilla (LE, ) is less shimmery. bareMinerals Celebrate (LE, ) is darker. MAC Smokeluxe #1 (P, ) is more shimmery. MAC Brownluxe #1 (P, ) is darker. MAC Mylar (P, $16.00) is less shimmery, brighter. Kat Von D Lucius (P, ) is less shimmery. Tarte Chantilly Lace (LE, ) is warmer. YSL Avant Garde #2 (P, ) is brighter. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Cappuccino is a muted, medium brown that leans slightly taupe-y but still pulls lighter and warmer than taupe, I think. It had a matte finish that was really smooth and finely-milled. The texture felt silky and a smidgen powdery in the pan but looked good applied. The color lasted for almost eight hours on me. MAC Omega (P, $16.00) is darker. Kat Von D Vanish (P, ) is warmer. Marc Jacobs Beauty The Lover #7 (LE, ) is darker. theBalm Score (LE, $16.00) is darker. Hello Kitty Hot Cocoa (LE, ) is darker. Make Up For Ever M540 Gray Beige (P, $21.00) is darker. Becca Ombre Nudes #3 (P, ) is darker, warmer. bareMinerals Trench Coat (LE, ) is darker. LORAC Latte (P, ) is warmer. Smashbox Taupe (P, ) is darker. Buxom Star Treatment (P, $12.00) is darker. Too Faced Nudie (P, $16.00) is warmer. Too Faced Cashmere Bunny (P, $16.00) is darker, warmer. See comparison swatches/ compare dupes side-by-side.

Pink Haze is a peachy-pink with warm undertones and a frosted sheen. It had good pigmentation with a soft, smooth consistency that applied well to the skin and lasted for eight hours before fading. NARS Goddess (P, $28.00) is darker. Sugarpill Kitten Parade (P, ) is darker, cooler. Viseart Pont des Arts (P, ) is less shimmery. Zoeva Sweeter End (P, ) is darker, more muted. Cle de Peau Baby Universe #2 (P, ) is darker. bareMinerals Future (P, ) is warmer. Make Up For Ever I524 Pinky Beige (P, $21.00) is less shimmery. Make Up For Ever I520 Pinky Sand (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, warmer. Urban Decay X (P, $18.00) is darker, cooler. MAC Jest (P, $16.00) is more shimmery, warmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Brown Sugar is a softened, medium-dark brown with warmer, yellow undertones and gold sparkle. It had semi-sheer coverage and the glitter didn’t bind with the powder, so it got everywhere but your eye. A lot of it was trapped in the brush or fell below my lid when I was blending it out, so there wasn’t a lot of fall out during wear as there just wasn’t much glitter to fall! I would recommend a tackier base to use with this one. It lasted seven hours on me. Laura Mercier Burnished Rose (LE, $23.00) is . NYX Bedroom Eyes (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter. Too Faced Cocoa Chili (P, $16.00) is less shimmery. Tarte Pretty (LE, ) is warmer. Givenchy Inattendue #1 (P, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer. Cle de Peau Stellar Gaze #2 (P, ) is more shimmery, lighter. Make Up For Ever D652 Celestial Earth (P, $21.00) is more shimmery. Laura Mercier Bamboo (P, $23.00) is more shimmery, lighter. MAC Sketchbook (LE, $16.00) is darker. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Laura Mercier Art of Colour Eye & Cheek Palette

Laura Mercier Art of Colour Eye & Cheek Palette

Laura Mercier Art of Colour Eye & Cheek Palette

Laura Mercier Art of Colour Eye & Cheek Palette

Laura Mercier Art of Colour Eye & Cheek Palette

Laura Mercier Art of Colour Eye & Cheek Palette

Laura Mercier Art of Colour Eye & Cheek Palette

Laura Mercier Bellini Second Skin Cheek Colour

Laura Mercier Bellini Second Skin Cheek Colour

Laura Mercier Bellini Second Skin Cheek Colour

Laura Mercier Burnished Rose Eyeshadow

Laura Mercier Burnished Rose Eyeshadow

Laura Mercier Gunmetal Eyeshadow

Laura Mercier Gunmetal Eyeshadow

Laura Mercier Morning Dew Eyeshadow

Laura Mercier Morning Dew Eyeshadow

Laura Mercier African Violet Eyeshadow

Laura Mercier African Violet Eyeshadow

Laura Mercier Vanilla Kiss Eyeshadow

Laura Mercier Vanilla Kiss Eyeshadow

Laura Mercier Cappuccino Eyeshadow

Laura Mercier Cappuccino Eyeshadow

Laura Mercier Pink Haze Eyeshadow

Laura Mercier Pink Haze Eyeshadow

Laura Mercier Brown Sugar Eyeshadow

Laura Mercier Brown Sugar Eyeshadow

Laura Mercier Art of Colour Eye & Cheek Palette with LORAC Dark Green Eyeliner

Laura Mercier Art of Colour Eye & Cheek Palette with LORAC Dark Green Eyeliner

Urban Decay Bondage Weightless Makeup Adhesive ($14.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is described as a “clear, water-based adhesive [that] sets and holds glitter.” It’s supposed to help the brand’s new Heavy Metal Loose Glitter apply “for a full-on jewel-encrusted effect that lasts all day (with very little fallout).” It’s a good thing they added that little bit “with very little fallout,” because I tried two different shades of the new glitters on top of the adhesive, and there was still some fall out. It seemed like one or two glitter particles fell per hour, but in general, the glitter adhered well and was comfortable to wear over the adhesive. The consistency is very much weightless, and it doesn’t feel tacky or thick, so it’s easy to spread across the lid, but I found you needed a fair amount of it on the skin if you wanted a solid glitter effect. If I spread out the adhesive, the glitter tended to apply in a sheer, sparse layer. The adhesive definitely breaks down easily with water, though getting all the bits of glitter off is a different story (more on that below).

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Loose Glitter ($12.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as an “easy-to-use loose glitter.” Each shade had the same instructions included on a separate pamphlet in the box, which said to lay down a layer of their adhesive first, then with fingertips or brushes, apply the glitter. I didn’t like using fingertips, because the majority of the glitter stuck to my finger and only a smattering adhered to the lid.

The jar has a plastic sifter that is level with the top of the jar, so you have to tap out the glitter into the lid, which makes closing it a glittery mess. I wish the sifter was dropped, so that there was a couple millimeters of space for the glitter to sit on top of the sifter but still inside the jar. When I used a brush, a lot of the glitter didn’t stick to my brush–there is a very small window of how you make the journey from jar to eyelid and keeping your brush just so, and then patting it on the lid and hoping that most of it sticks to the lid. I had three or four times the amount of glitter underneath my lid as on it unless I really slathered on the adhesive, and I had to put adhesive straight onto the brush, too.

The included instructions said to brush away any excess during application, and while those glitters might not stay on the lid on their own, they weren’t easy to remove them from the skin. I tried several different methods, but I ended up resorting to tape. Urban Decay’s loose glitters aren’t really any more difficult or easier to use than most loose glitters available–they’re simply not an improvement on the status quo. With the particle size of these, I prefer using something like Lit Cosmetics’ adhesive base, because I can easily apply it to the lid and my brush to really minimize the fall out during application and get a much more glitter to adhere at once.

ACDC is described as a “bright purple glitter.” It’s a medium, cool-toned purple glitter.

Catfight is described as a “pink glitter.” It’s a medium-dark, pinky-red glitter. MAC Pink (P, $21.00) is finer. See comparison swatches.

Goldmine is described as a “yellow-gold glitter.” It’s a medium-dark yellow-toned gold glitter.

Loaded is described as a “bright, deep green glitter.” It’s an emerald green with cool undertones glitter. Lit Cosmetics Yoda (P, $12.95) is lighter, finer. See comparison swatches.

Pyrotechnics is described as an “iridescent glitter.” It’s a multi-colored mix of iridescent pink, lilac, and gold glitter.

Reverb is described as a “bright, deep blue glitter.” It’s a medium-dark blue glitter. Lit Cosmetics Bar Star (P, $12.95) is finer, more multi-dimensional. See comparison swatches.

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Urban Decay Bondage Weightless Makeup Adhesive

Urban Decay Bondage Weightless Makeup Adhesive

Urban Decay Bondage Weightless Makeup Adhesive

Urban Decay ACDC Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay ACDC Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay ACDC Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay ACDC Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay ACDC Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Catfight Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Catfight Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Catfight Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Catfight Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Catfight Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Goldmine Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Goldmine Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Goldmine Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Goldmine Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Goldmine Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Loaded Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Loaded Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Loaded Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Loaded Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Loaded Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Loaded Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Pyrotechnics Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Pyrotechnics Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Pyrotechnics Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Pyrotechnics Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Pyrotechnics Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Reverb Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Reverb Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Reverb Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Reverb Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

Urban Decay Reverb Heavy Metal Loose Glitter

NYX Milk Jumbo Eye Pencil ($4.49 for 0.18 oz.) is a stark, cool-toned white with a matte finish. Maybelline Too Cool is shimmery. Buxom Sheep Dog is shimmery, less cool-toned. Make Up For Ever #32E is shimmery, warm-toned. Make Up For Ever #4 is shimmery. See comparison swatches.

Milk is fairly creamy, slightly thick, and applies with mostly opaque color in a single pass. It layers and builds up well, so you can get a crisp, opaque white all-over the lid, which is why it boosts the color of any product with weak pigmentation. The pencils come in a whole slew of shades, too, but the white hue works well to amplify color without muting or really altering the color of any product you layer over it.  It doesn’t set immediately, so it’s a good idea to lightly blend the color across the lid, which helps to even out the application and ensure it’s not too thick and settles into creases while setting.

If NYX’s Jumbo Eye Pencils wear well on you, Milk can be a life-saver, as it instantly boosts the performance of even terrible products. If you’ve tried them and they have a tendency to crease on you, then it won’t be as useful as a product for you. I know that readers have long reported both excellent and dismal wear. I’m in the camp where these wear quite well on me without fading or creasing for eight hours (but show faint signs of creasing after nine hours), and if layered with powder, perform even better.  NYX also gives you quite a bit of product–0.18 oz. as compared to the more typical 0.10 oz. (Urban Decay, Clinique) or. 0.14 oz. (MUFE, NARS) found in these jumbo-sized pencils. Now, the only downside is that it requires sharpening, and because of how creamy it is, there is waste–which is common across this type of product, not just with NYX.

NYX Milk Jumbo Eye Pencil

NYX Milk Jumbo Eye Pencil

NYX Milk Jumbo Eye Pencil

NYX Milk Jumbo Eye Pencil

NYX Milk Jumbo Eye Pencil (why white backgrounds don’t always work!)

NARS Interstellar Eye Paint ($25.00 for 0.08 oz.) is described as a “silver.” It’s a bright, metallic silver. It had fairly good color payoff, but it was more prone to sheering out than some of the other shades. This is one of the less unique shades in the range, and you can find many silver eyeliners/cream eyeshadows on the market. Maybelline Cool Crush is slightly cooler-toned. Bobbi Brown Chrome is similar. Urban Decay Cuff is darker. Maybelline Silver Strike is similar. MAC Tundra is darker. Buxom Chihuahua is similar. See comparison swatches.

Mozambique is described as “olive.” It’s a mossy, yellow-toned, medium-dark green with a mostly matte finish. It was very, very creamy and pigmented. I felt like this one was prone to sheering out, though, on the lid because of how much slip it had.  I couldn’t think of any eyeliner or cream eyeshadow dupes for this shade–everything was either much darker or much less yellow.

Black Valley is described as “black.” It’s a rich, deep dark black with a matte finish. It is, obviously, a shade that you can find in many brands’ gel eyeliner ranges, so it’s not unique. It just comes down to whether the formula is better for you than others, so while it’s not particularly exciting, it makes sense for every brand to do their version of it since it is a basic. Here are many black eyeliners/black cream eyeshadows from other brands.

Please refer to my original review here for a more in-depth look at the formula as a whole. To recap, Eye Paints are designed to be a long-wearing, highly-pigmented gel formula that can be used as an eyeshadow or as an eyeliner. I applied each shade using NARS’ #38 brush to mimic applying it as an eyeliner (narrow swatch) and then applied the same color with the horizontal edge of the #38 to mimic applying it as an all-over lid color (wide swatch). The formua’s strength is its creaminess and intense color payoff, but it dries and sets very quickly so it can be difficult to blend the shades together or soften the edges if you do not work quickly.

I’m waiting on Tatar in the mail, so I’ll have a review of that shade later next week, but these are the least three shades I tested and found they were in line with the rest of the range. I layered powder eyeshadow over Iskandar and Mozambique (an Inglot gold eyeshadow and MAC Velvet Moss, which I believe is discontinued–I was just aiming to get as close to the base color). Layering powder over the Eye Paints seemed to be the best way to use them all over the eye, as it maximized the wear time–ten to twelve hours with very minimal fading and no creasing–while creating a perfectly even surface once the powder eyeshadows were layered on top. Alone, I had noticeable fading with Mozambique after six and a half hours (Iskandar holds up better–the shimmery shades have been slightly more fade-resistant for longer compared to the more matte shades) but no creasing. It was significantly faded after ten hours. Black Valley and Interstellar wear best as eyeliners, getting to eight hours of wear with no fading or migrating. On the lid, Black Valley manages well for seven hours but starts to fade from there, and it did crease just slightly after eight hours, while Interstellar lasts with just slight fading at eight hours but no creasing.

NARS Interstellar Eye Paint

NARS Interstellar Eye Paint

NARS Interstellar Eye Paint

NARS Interstellar Eye Paint

NARS Mozambique Eye Paint

NARS Mozambique Eye Paint

NARS Mozambique Eye Paint

NARS Mozambique Eye Paint

NARS Black Valley Eye Paint

NARS Black Valley Eye Paint

NARS Black Valley Eye Paint

NARS Black Valley Eye Paint

NARS Iskandar & Mozambique Eye Paints

NARS Iskandar & Mozambique Eye Paints

NARS Iskandar & Mozambique Eye Paints with Powder Eyeshadow on top

NARS Iskandar & Mozambique Eye Paints with Powder Eyeshadow on top

NARS Transvaal Eye Paint ($25.00 for 0.08 oz.) is described as a “grey.” It’s a medium-dark, neutral-cool gray with a mostly matte finish. It was intensely pigmented and very creamy. NARS Madison Ave. is bluer, darker. Maybelline Audacious Asphalt is shimmery, warmer. See comparison swatches.

Solomon Islands is described as “turquoise blue.” It’s a medium-dark blue with a hint of teal/green to give it a more turquoise coloring. It has a matte finish and rich color payoff. MAC Mountain Air is darker and pearly, but it was the only turquoise-ish cream eyeshadow/eyeliner I could think of to compare. See comparison swatches.

Ubangi is described as a “black with blue shimmer.” It’s a cool-toned black with medium blue and navy blue micro-shimmer. This particular shade had a very slippery consistency–it was wetter than the others–and the color payoff was less intense as it had a tendency to sheer out. Urban Decay Sabbath is bluer. MAC Night Trail is similar. MAC Petrol Blue is lighter, bluer. MAC Waveline is lighter, less shimmery. bareMinerals Noon is more muted. See comparison swatches.

Please refer to my original review here for a more in-depth look at the formula as a whole. To recap, Eye Paints are designed to be a long-wearing, highly-pigmented gel formula that can be used as an eyeshadow or as an eyeliner. I applied each shade using NARS’ #38 brush to mimic applying it as an eyeliner (narrow swatch) and then applied the same color with the horizontal edge of the #38 to mimic applying it as an all-over lid color (wide swatch). The formua’s strength is its creaminess and intense color payoff, but it dries and sets very quickly so it can be difficult to blend the shades together or soften the edges if you do not work quickly.

As a cream eyeshadow, the wear is just okay; there is some fading apparent after six to seven hours, and Ubangi seemed more prone to fading than the other two shades. I did not experience creasing with any of these shades. When worn as an eyeliner, Solomon Islands did not fade or migrate, and it seemed to last quite well over a nine-hour period. These definitely perform best as eyeliners, less so as cream eyeshadows. If you want to use them as a base, they wear well with powder eyeshadow on top–no creasing or fading after ten hours of wear.

See more photos & swatches!

NARS Transvaal Eye Paint

NARS Transvaal Eye Paint

NARS Transvaal Eye Paint

NARS Transvaal Eye Paint

NARS Solomon Islands Eye Paint

NARS Solomon Islands Eye Paint

NARS Solomon Islands Eye Paint

NARS Solomon Islands Eye Paint

NARS Solomon Islands Eye Paint

NARS Solomon Islands Eye Paint

NARS Ubangi Eye Paint

NARS Ubangi Eye Paint

NARS Ubangi Eye Paint

NARS Ubangi Eye Paint

NARS Transvaal, Solomon Islands, Ubangi, Interstellar Eye Paints

NARS Transvaal, Solomon Islands, Ubangi, Interstellar Eye Paints

NARS Eye Paints ($25.00 for 0.08 oz.) is supposed to be a long-wearing, highly-pigmented gel formula that can be used as an eyeshadow or eyeliner. The consistency is very creamy, and just about every single shade I tried was incredibly pigmented. These dry down very, very quickly, so you have to work fast, and they take some work to blend with each other as a result. Using one or two isn’t so bad, but add a third into the mix, and it can be troublesome. The edges need to be blended almost immediately, or else layered with a similar-colored eyeshadow to help diffuse the drier edge. Yesterday, I wore these primarily as eyeshadows (but also two as eyeliner on the lower lash line) over bare lids. I experienced very slight creasing after seven hours of wear as well as some slight fading, which worsened and was noticeable after eight and a half hours of wear. As an eyeliner, they lasted better and did not fade or migrate over a nine hour period.

Iskandar was the easiest to apply and blend out, while Mesopotamia was the one that set the quickest and was most difficult to blend. I like a fairly flat, somewhat narrow, brush with a little thickness and a domed edge for applying these (I used MAC’s 242), because it’s useful for placing dense color but also has enough density and thickness that it can blend out the edges, too. Today, I’m testing a couple other shades for wear (alone) but as well as with eyeshadow on top (so more as a base) to see how they perform that way. Tomorrow, I’ll try them over NARS’ Smudge Proof Primer to wrap everything up with a neat little bow.  One last thing: the size on these is slightly smaller than average gel eyeliners (usually around 0.10 oz. or so).

Iskandar is described as “gold.” It’s a rich, medium-dark gold with orange and bronze undertones and a copper and gold shimmer. It has a frosted, metallic finish. The color payoff was rich and opaque whether applied as an eyeliner or as an eyeshadow–I used NARS’ #38 brush for the thinner swatch and then turned it horizontally for the larger swatch. NARS Campo de Fiori is similar. Maybelline Bold Gold is less warm-toned. MAC Going for the Gold is darker. Illamasqua Alchemy is yellower. See comparison swatches.

Mesopotamia is described as “brown.” It’s a deep brown with subtle warm, red undertones and a matte finish. It is richly pigmented and applied smoothly. Bobbi Brown Chocolate is warmer. Urban Decay Demolition is similar. MAC rich Experience is also similar. Buxom Two by Four is slightly warmer. See comparison swatches.

Snake Eyes is described as “black with green shimmer.” It’s a deep black with brown undertones with emerald green pearl. It had fairly good color payoff but to make the pearl stand out, two layers are needed. Urban Decay Loaded is lighter. MAC Dark Envy is greener. MAC My Next Indulgence is lighter. See comparison swatches.

NARS Iskandar Eye Paint

NARS Iskandar Eye Paint

NARS Iskandar Eye Paint

NARS Iskandar Eye Paint

NARS Mesopotamia Eye Paint

NARS Mesopotamia Eye Paint

NARS Mesopotamia Eye Paint

NARS Mesopotamia Eye Paint

NARS Snake Eyes Eye Paint

NARS Snake Eyes Eye Paint

NARS Snake Eyes Eye Paint

NARS Snake Eyes Eye Paint

NARS Iskandar, Mesopotamia, Snake Eyes Eye Paints

NARS Iskandar, Mesopotamia, Snake Eyes Eye Paints