City Color Shimmer Shadows Reviews, Photos, Swatches (Part 3)
City Color Beach Cottage Shimmer Shadow
City Color Beach Cottage Shimmer Shadow ($6.99 for 0.13 oz.) is a bright, light-medium green with cooler undertones and warmer, green shimmer paired with a metallic finish. It was very, very pigmented with a creamy, dense texture that worked best with a flat, synthetic brush (rather than natural hair brushes). It applied well, blended out easily, and wore for eight hours. ColourPop Big Banks (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery, more muted (90% similar). Milk Makeup Mermaid Parade (P, $24.00) is darker (95% similar). BH Cosmetics Club Tropicana #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar). By Beauty Bay Breeze (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). Sydney Grace Designer (P, $5.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Terra Moons Dragonfly (P, $6.25) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Melt Cosmetics Sweet Tooth (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). ColourPop Rivalry (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Urban Decay Current (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Give Me Glow Electric Mint (P, $7.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Left on Thread (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Sydney Grace The Shallows (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar). Huda Beauty Emerald #5 (LE, ) is darker, more muted, warmer (90% similar). Clionadh Morgana (P, $5.25) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Urban Decay Big Sky (PiP, $19.00) is darker, more muted (85% similar). Lethal Cosmetics Sigil (P, $6.50) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Make Up For Ever #52 (LE, $23.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). KVD Beauty Leafar (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). ColourPop Dynasty (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes 2 #28 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
City Color Black Widow Shimmer Shadow ($6.99 for 0.13 oz.) is a dark black with a semi-matte finish. It was richly pigmented with a creamy, smooth consistency that applied well and blended out surprisingly easily. It wore well for eight and a half hours before fading slightly. Viseart Chroma #3 (PiP, )(100% similar). L'Oreal Noir C'est Noir (P, $5.99) is lighter (95% similar). NARS Loverboy (DC, $25.00) is lighter (95% similar). Make Up For Ever S102 Onyx (DC, $21.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar). NARS Black Valley (P, $25.00) is glossier (95% similar). The Estee Edit Mood (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar). Too Faced Decadent (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Dior Cosmic Eyes #5 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar). MAC Carbon (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Smashbox Deadline (PiP, ) is less shimmery (95% similar). Milani Bella Black (12) (P, $4.49) is cooler (95% similar). ColourPop Let's Do It (P, $4.50) is warmer (95% similar). Makeup Geek Corrupt (DC, $6.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). KVD Beauty Jet (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Blackout (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar). Milani Pitch Black (P, $5.99) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). Coloured Raine Black Moon (DC, $6.99) is warmer (95% similar). MAC Nehru (Guo Pei) (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). KVD Beauty Smoke (Define) (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar). Chanel Rêve d'Orient #4 (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
City Color Breezy Shimmer Shadow ($6.99 for 0.13 oz.) is a light-medium, sky blue with a frosted, metallic finish. It had good color payoff with a really thick, almost cream-like texture, but it was harder to work with than some of the other shades as it was thick without the slip of other shades, so it tended to separate a little when applied to the skin (you can see it in the swatch). It lasted for eight hours before creasing. Buxom Schmooze (P, $12.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Huda Beauty Electric #8 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar). NARS Grand Large (LE, $28.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar). BH Cosmetics Club Tropicana #18 (LE, ) is lighter, brighter, warmer (90% similar). Anastasia Leo (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). Sydney Grace Ride the Wave (DC, $8.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). ColourPop Princess Morbucks (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Make Up For Ever D206 Celestial Blue (P, $17.00)(90% similar). NABLA Cosmetics Virgin Island (P, $12.00) is darker (90% similar). JD Glow Bora Bora (P, $7.50) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Urban Decay Double Dip (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). MAC Denim Genes (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Lethal Cosmetics Venom (P, $6.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). MAC Divine Blue (LE, $20.00) is more muted (90% similar). Fenty Beauty Igloo Bloo (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty TFX8 (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). Dominique Cosmetics Cold Heart (LE, $20.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). Urban Decay Haight (DC, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). Glaminatrix High Seas (P, $8.04) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). Pretty Vulgar Fancy (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
City Color Hint of Mint Shimmer Shadow ($6.99 for 0.13 oz.) is a light-medium green with warm, golden shimmer and a metallic finish. The texture was slightly thicker and denser, which resulted in it easily adding texture to the lid. It applies best with a flat, synthetic brush and in one layer (more layers can add thickness and make it appear uneven in texture). It had great color payoff and wore for eight hours before creasing. NARS Zambezi (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes #4 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Facet-nation (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). MAC Jealous Girl (LE, $22.00) is warmer (90% similar). Melt Cosmetics Blue Dream (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar). ColourPop Freshman (PiP, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Minty Dream (P, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Viseart Coy #10 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Under the Sea (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Moira Neptune (P, $7.50) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Huda Beauty Mint #8 (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar). Sydney Grace Springtime (P, $6.25) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar). ColourPop Mintea (PiP, $4.50) is warmer (85% similar). NABLA Cosmetics Atmosphere (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Glaminatrix Pixie (P, $8.04) is lighter (85% similar). YSL Indie Jasper #5 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Sydney Grace Seashore (DC, $8.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). NYX Glass Slipper (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Huda Beauty Emerald #3 (LE, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Soleil et Lune #4 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
City Color It’s a Boy Shimmer Shadow ($6.99 for 0.13 oz.) is a bright, medium blue with cool undertones and a metallic sheen. It had really good color payoff with a creamy, dense consistency that spread across the skin well and wore for eight hours before creasing. ColourPop Tiara (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). Urban Decay Dive (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (95% similar). ColourPop Free Spirit (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar). ColourPop Two Piece (P, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Dior Denim #1 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, more muted (90% similar). Makeup Geek Blue My Mind (P, $9.99) is darker (90% similar). Sydney Grace Waterfalls (PiP, $6.25) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Milani Bella Cobalt (25) (P, $4.49) is less shimmery (90% similar). Make Up For Ever ME216 Electric Blue (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Give Me Glow Bubbles (P, $7.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). NARS Naked City (LE, $28.00) is less shimmery, more muted, warmer (90% similar). Fenty Beauty Igloo Bloo (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Smashbox Nile (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Give Me Glow Under the Sea (P, $7.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Glaminatrix Ice Cold (P, $8.04) is darker, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Mad About U (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Stila Lapis (LE, $18.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). BH Cosmetics Club Tropicana #4 (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar). Clionadh Subzero (P, $5.50) is warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Bay Breeze (LE, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
City Color Oh So Naughty Shimmer Shadow ($6.99 for 0.13 oz.) is an inky, deep black with charcoal shimmer. It was richly pigmented with a creamy, smooth texture that applied on the skin like a cream eyeshadow but didn’t lose any intensity. The edges were easily blended out, while the color wore well for eight hours. Buxom Black Tie (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Pat McGrath Black Metal (PiP, $25.00) is lighter (95% similar). Urban Decay Ground (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar). Lancome The New Black (P, $19.00) is darker (90% similar). Make Up For Ever I102 Onyx (DC, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Tarte Steel the Show (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Estee Lauder Burnt Anise (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Natasha Denona Full Metal Black (LE, $28.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Estee Lauder Black Myrrh (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Ulta Night Sky (P, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Dior Black Night #1 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Byredo Eternite (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Sleek MakeUP 1001 Nights (LE, $9.99) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). L'Oreal Eternal Black (P, $7.99) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Lancome My French #9 (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar). Make Up For Ever 28 Anthracite Black (P, $21.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Sugarpill Stella (P, $13.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Make Up For Ever D104 Black Diamond (P, $17.00) is darker (90% similar). Isamaya Diesel (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar). Give Me Glow Pencil Me In (P, $7.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
FORMULA OVERVIEW | City Color Shimmer Shadow ($6.99 for 0.13 oz.) is supposed to have “intense color payoff” with a “heavy metallic finish” that also has “long-wear.” There are 16 shades in the range, and this post features six of them. The majority of the shades in the formula have a very dense, thick, and cream-like consistency–I have best results using a firmer, flatter and synthetic brush than I do with a really soft, natural hair brush, though natural brushes offer a little more control over how metallic the finish gets and my MAC 239s were just fine with it (and those are natural hair). They are intensely pigmented, and they blend out and apply well to bare skin. The formula wore for around eight to eight and a half hours on me with very slight creasing. A few of the very frosted, metallic shades seemed to emphasize the natural texture of parts of my lid and need a little extra blending to smooth out. These reminded me of Makeup Geek Foiled Eyeshadows (but City Color’s are much denser) as well as Sleek’s more metallic eyeshadows.
Beach Cottage
PPermanent. $6.99.
Black Widow
PPermanent. $6.99.
Breezy
PPermanent. $6.99.
Hint of Mint
PPermanent. $6.99.
It's a Boy
PPermanent. $6.99.
Oh So Naughty
PPermanent. $6.99.
See more photos & swatches!
City Color Beach Cottage Shimmer Shadow
City Color Beach Cottage Shimmer Shadow
City Color Beach Cottage Shimmer Shadow
City Color Beach Cottage Shimmer Shadow
City Color Beach Cottage Shimmer Shadow
City Color Black Widow Shimmer Shadow
City Color Black Widow Shimmer Shadow
City Color Black Widow Shimmer Shadow
City Color Black Widow Shimmer Shadow
City Color Black Widow Shimmer Shadow
City Color Breezy Shimmer Shadow
City Color Breezy Shimmer Shadow
City Color Breezy Shimmer Shadow
City Color Breezy Shimmer Shadow
City Color Breezy Shimmer Shadow
City Color Hint of Mint Shimmer Shadow
City Color Hint of Mint Shimmer Shadow
City Color Hint of Mint Shimmer Shadow
City Color Hint of Mint Shimmer Shadow
City Color Hint of Mint Shimmer Shadow
City Color It’s a Boy Shimmer Shadow
City Color It’s a Boy Shimmer Shadow
City Color It’s a Boy Shimmer Shadow
City Color It’s a Boy Shimmer Shadow
City Color It’s a Boy Shimmer Shadow
City Color Oh So Naughty Shimmer Shadow
City Color Oh So Naughty Shimmer Shadow
City Color Oh So Naughty Shimmer Shadow
City Color Oh So Naughty Shimmer Shadow
City Color Oh So Naughty Shimmer Shadow
City Color It’s a Boy Shimmer Shadow
City Color It’s a Boy Shimmer Shadow
Love City Color’s pigmentation!! Great review!! 🙂
Thank you!
Ah, I’m so in love with Beach Cottage!
Anyone know if there’s an affordable way to get hold of City Color stuff in the UK?
Hopefully someone can help you, A!
Don’t know the particulars/exact cost about shipping to the UK, but the company sells from ebay and say they ship internationally. citycolorcosmetics is the name of their store. I just bought Beach Cottage and Spring Fling. Beach Cottage is very pigmented. I mean a little goes a long way. But it’s a gorgeous green. I love it. Spring Fling seems quite pigmented as well and is lovely. Keep in mind, they just got here today and I’ve only swatched, not tried on my eyes. They also sent me a full size lip balm in a neutral color, free. That was nice!
Hello, I’ve just bought quite a few of them from boozyshop.nl. Currently there’s a 50% sale on these shimmer shadows. Hope it helps
What a pleasure to see such nicely-performing eyeshadows at this price point! Of course I want Hint of Mint and It’s A Boy. Breezy and Beach Cottage might lean a bit turquoise for me, but I want them anyway. And Oh So Naughty is absolutely gorgeous, though I rarely wear black eyeshadow. I see a City Color order in my near future!
If you end up trying them, please let me know how you like them!
I will, Christine! I’m a bit slow to order right now because I’m having so many other expenses and not working while I get ready to start school…
If you do order, sign up for their emails, as they have sales all the time, 25% off or BOGO. And they ship fast, everything was well packed, and they usually throw in a free, full-sized product as gift, I didn’t even ask for it. One time I got a lipstick and other time a shadow trio. Hope you enjoy!
Out of this bunch, I have 3. Hint of Mint is my fave absolute fave color –it’s a mint with metallic gold duo chrome undersheen, like they took sunlight and infused it with mint, a very unique color, just perfect for spring. I also love It’s A Boy, very bold and bright, nice pop of color. And I got Oh So Naughty, thinking it was a navy, but it’s a shimmery black and whoaaaa, it’s cray cray pigmented. That along with Black Widow are the most pigmented blacks I’ve EVER seen for shadows. I think I will pick up Beach Cottage next. And thanks again for swatches and reviews!
The black eyeshadows are very pigmented and intense!
Wow! Love the look you did. These look to be much better value than the Natasha Denona shades. Shame though that CC don’t ship to the UK ?.
Thank you so much, Claire!
🙁
It rare to see so many high rating from a drug store level shadows. Just these are not sold in-store in the US? I’ve only seen a few random items at Winner here in Canada.
I don’t know if they’re sold in-store – I bought mine online!
In the USA, I’ve only seen their products online at their website, but they do ship to Canada for flat fee. I’m in the USA, ordered 2x, and they do a good job with shipping, they ship fast and everything was well-packed.
Excuse my french, but these are HELLA pigmented! These look like they would rival high end products!
They are! I think they’re a great, budget-friendly alternative for someone interested in MUFE’s Artist Shadows. They definitely aren’t 100% the same, but they have a similar application and density.
Gorgeous eye look!
Thank you, Ariella!
Beach Cottage is beautiful!
Agreed!
Oh goodness, I have GOT to get Beach Cottage and Hint Of Mint!!! These are amazing, complex greens. And this formula at this price point sounds like a dream come true. Oh So Naughty looks good, too!
And it’s hard to find lighter greens to begin with!
Oh my goodness, you must get Hint of Mint! I have it, and it has the most amazing golden duo- chrome under sheen, so hard to capture on camera. When you swatch on your hand and tilt your hand back and forth, it’s like they took a ray of sunlight and just infused it with mint. Okay, okay, I will stop raving for now. If you want to order, sign up for their emails, they have 25% off sales all the time, BOGO, you will never have to pay $7 full price for these.
I have GOT to sign up with them, Katherine. So glad that you brought this eyeshadow brand to our collective attention! Because these 2 greens are to die for; minty duochromes for summer!
Black Widow and So Naughty are perfect. It’s often hard to find blacks with pigment and blendabality! The finish on Black Widow is perfect. I don’t like flat matte shadows and that demi-matte is utter perfection.
They are rich!
Wow, I don’t usually put color shadows on my eyes but that Beach Cottage is so pretty, I’m almost changing my mind!!
Maybe at this price you can afford to experiment sometime! 🙂
interesting- have used their blushes and eyeshadows in the past but wasn’t wowed… can you list where are these are made? i try to stay away from PRC products… otherwise I will try them based on your review!
They are made in China. These are the only products I’ve used from them!
Isn’t it interesting that PRC products have such a bad track record with QC on so many products, but their Asian neighbors Korea and Japan have leading edge, quality products? I used to try to be a NFC consumer (except for human food, then tried to by American made Chinese ingredients, but US doesn’t really have the variety) …. Until I had to get an instant thermometer. All from there. Everywhere. LE to HE. Certain ‘American’women’s sportswear lines were also mfg there, exclusively. Now, only one firm NFC rule: NO PET TREATS FROM PRC. One has to be vigilant about makeup products, to follow an NFC rule.
Those blues and greens are making me drool!
They’re so rich!
I think those colors and your application are absolutely the best of the best. Stunning.
Aww <3 Thank you, Susan!
Just love those stunning greens and blues. The mint one would be my favourite. Such great ratings for the price – now why can’t Chanel do this?
Love your eye look Christine – it is beautiful.
It’s a good question! Makes you wonder why!
I’ve just noticed–why the heck is there fragrance in these? lol. What do they smell like?? o_O Someone else said their was a slight scent…
I didn’t notice a scent myself!
These look really good! And affordable too! I’m going to check their website out!
Yay!
Those are lovely greens and blues! Puts a lot of higher-end formulas to shame!
They really do!