Clionadh Cosmetics Ray, Glare, Glisten Iridescent Multichrome Eyeshadows Reviews & Swatches
Ray
Clionadh Ray Iridescent Multichrome Eyeshadow ($7.75 for 0.05 oz.) has a transparent base with very fine pearl that shifted from brighter, cooler purple to pink to neon pink to peachy-pink to orange-gold. For as smooth and as fine as the pearl seemed, it still packed quite the punch–it actually looked like it was glowing to my eye!
This is actually the original version of Ray, which was discontinued, and it now exists as Ray, part of Series 2 Iridescent Multichromes, which are supposed to have a more intense shift/effect (which is why they are more expensive than Series 1 shades). I’m very curious to see how the updated version works as this one was quite intense to begin with (it’s in a future order).
The texture was soft, smooth, and not quite as emollient as other shades, but it still had great adhesion and sat smoothly on my skin. It had good color coverage that applied evenly and blended out with ease. There was visible fading present after eight and a half hours of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Clionadh Ray (P, $14.25) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Smashbox Spectacle (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop Pinch Me (LE, $10.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Morphe Stardust (P, $14.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Pat McGrath Iridescent Pink 003 (LE, $25.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Makeup Geek Mood Ring (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Clionadh Luminaire (P, $8.50) is more shimmery, more muted, warmer (85% similar).
- Anastasia Unicorn (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Humblebrag (P, $17.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Pat McGrath Iridescent Pink (003) (PiP, $60.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$8.50/0.05 oz. - $170.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "nearly transparent base" so they can be used on all skin tones (despite appearing white in the pan), and they "can be used on eyes, lips, face and body." While other Multichromes may require more specific application or technique, the brand says that this formula can be used "the same way you would" apply any "highlight or shadow."
The consistency has a denser, smoother feel that wasn't too firm, so I had no trouble picking up product with eyeshadow or highlighter brushes (without having to wet the brush). The product applied evenly, had semi-opaque to opaque, buildable coverage, and was blendable. Some of the shades with larger shimmer/sparkle had light fallout during application. They wore between eight and nine hours on me before fading a bit.
I found that the shift wasn't as dramatic between the three described color shifts per shade (some more so than others), but they did have a dramatic shift between at least two shades.
I tried a few shades as cheek highlighters, and they applied well on cheeks and diffused readily along the edges without emphasizing my skin's natural texture. They wore between eight and nine hours as cheek highlighters as well.
Browse all of our Clionadh Iridescent Multichrome Eyeshadow (Series 1) swatches.
Ingredients
+/- Titanium Dioxide, +/- Mica, +/- Synthetic Fluorohlogopite, Dimethicone, +/- Silicon dioxide, +/- Tin Dioxide, Caprylic/ Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Myristate, +/-Silica, +/- Iron Oxide, +/- Kaolin Clay, +/- Magnesium Stearate, +/-Ferric Oxide, +/- Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, +/- Ferric Ferrocyanide, +/- Bismuth Oxychloride, +/- Red 40, +/- Blue 1, +/- Aluminum Oxide, +/- Ultramarines, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol.
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.
Ray
PPermanent. $8.50.
Glare
Clionadh Glare Iridescent Glitter Multichrome Eyeshadow ($7.75 for 0.05 oz.) has a transparent base with a multichrome finish that shifted from bluish-aqua to bright blue to violet to lavender. Per the brand, it shifts from “turquoise-blue-violet.” It was sort of a pale blue that shifted to warmer lavender in person, so it went cooler, brighter to warmer, slightly more subdued. It had an intensely shiny, twinkling finish that gave it a strong glow.
The consistency felt lightly emollient to the touch, more loosely-pressed than some shades but seemed to be creamier than most of the Glitter shades. It had good pigmentation in a single layer, which adhered well to bare skin and blended out nicely with minimal fallout, even with a dry brush. The brand does recommend the “Glitter” shades to be applied using a fingertip or a wet brush, and both worked well (and better than a dry brush). This shade wore well for eight and a half hours with a touch of fallout over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Danessa Myricks Blue Moon (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Terra Moons X-ray (P, $8.50) is cooler (90% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Deadlock (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Clionadh Umbra (P, $8.50) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- JD Glow Synopsis (P, $16.50) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Terra Moons Euphoria (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop Dial Up (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Clionadh Cryosphere (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Clionadh Fluoresce (P, $14.25) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Idol (P, $6.50) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$8.50/0.05 oz. - $170.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "nearly transparent base" so they can be used on all skin tones (despite appearing white in the pan), and they "can be used on eyes, lips, face and body." While other Multichromes may require more specific application or technique, the brand says that this formula can be used "the same way you would" apply any "highlight or shadow."
The consistency has a denser, smoother feel that wasn't too firm, so I had no trouble picking up product with eyeshadow or highlighter brushes (without having to wet the brush). The product applied evenly, had semi-opaque to opaque, buildable coverage, and was blendable. Some of the shades with larger shimmer/sparkle had light fallout during application. They wore between eight and nine hours on me before fading a bit.
I found that the shift wasn't as dramatic between the three described color shifts per shade (some more so than others), but they did have a dramatic shift between at least two shades.
I tried a few shades as cheek highlighters, and they applied well on cheeks and diffused readily along the edges without emphasizing my skin's natural texture. They wore between eight and nine hours as cheek highlighters as well.
Browse all of our Clionadh Iridescent Multichrome Eyeshadow (Series 1) swatches.
Ingredients
+/- Titanium Dioxide, +/- Mica, +/- Synthetic Fluorohlogopite, Dimethicone, +/- Silicon dioxide, +/- Tin Dioxide, Caprylic/ Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Myristate, +/-Silica, +/- Iron Oxide, +/- Kaolin Clay, +/- Magnesium Stearate, +/-Ferric Oxide, +/- Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, +/- Ferric Ferrocyanide, +/- Bismuth Oxychloride, +/- Red 40, +/- Blue 1, +/- Aluminum Oxide, +/- Ultramarines, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol.
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.
Glare
PPermanent. $8.50.
Glisten
Clionadh Glisten Iridescent Glitter Multichrome Eyeshadow ($7.75 for 0.05 oz.) has a transparent base with a sparkling, multichrome finish that shifted from cooler lavender to warmer lavender to pink. Per the brand, it shifts from “violet-pink-orange-gold.” I found “orange-gold” to be difficult to detect, whether in photos or in person, so it was more violet-to-pink where the pink went cooler to warmer at most.
The consistency felt more loosely-pressed into the pan, which was as expected based on the formula, so it worked best with a lighter hand to pick up product and then pressed onto the lid for initial application to minimize fallout. The brand recommends using fingertips or a wet brush (instead of a dry brush), which is accurate in my experience, though I found a dry brush to be totally workable if one doesn’t mind light fallout/clean-up. It had good pigmentation in a single layer that stayed on well for eight and a half hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Terra Moons Euphoria (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Lavendaring (LE, $25.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Clionadh Aura (P, $14.25) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Mirrorball (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Danessa Myricks Young Love (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- JD Glow Synopsis (P, $16.50) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Clionadh Spark (P, $12.50) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Viseart Coy #9 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- JD Glow Firestorm (P, $15.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Zero Day (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, less pigmented, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$7.75/0.05 oz. - $155.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "nearly transparent base" so they can be used on all skin tones (despite appearing white in the pan), and they "can be used on eyes, lips, face and body." While other Multichromes may require more specific application or technique, the brand says that this formula can be used "the same way you would" apply any "highlight or shadow."
The "Glitter" finish (which isn't actual, plastic PET glitter!) is more loosely-pressed in the pan, so they need to be used with a lighter hand. They can also have some fallout when used with a dry brush, which is why the brand specified to apply with a fingertip or a wet brush, though I definitely found them very usable with a dry brush (with minor clean-up of fallout required). They wore between eight and nine hours on me before fading a bit.
I found that the shift wasn't as dramatic between the three described color shifts per shade (some more so than others), but they did have a dramatic shift between at least two shades.
I tried a few shades as cheek highlighters, and they applied well on cheeks and diffused readily along the edges without emphasizing my skin's natural texture. They wore between eight and nine hours as cheek highlighters as well.
Browse all of our Clionadh Iridescent Glitter Multichrome Eyeshadow swatches.
Ingredients
+/- Titanium Dioxide, +/- Mica, +/- Synthetic Fluorohlogopite, Dimethicone, +/- Silicon dioxide, +/- Tin Dioxide, Caprylic/ Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Myristate, +/-Silica, +/- Iron Oxide, +/- Kaolin Clay, +/- Magnesium Stearate, +/-Ferric Oxide, +/- Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, +/- Ferric Ferrocyanide, +/- Bismuth Oxychloride, +/- Red 40, +/- Blue 1, +/- Aluminum Oxide, +/- Ultramarines, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol.
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.
Ray will one day be mine! Photographed, at least on my phone/computer the shift almost reads red but your shade description somehow makes the shade seem even more exciting.
When my husband saw me looking at the Clionadh website he turned to me and said “just buy it” lol. He knows I don’t need it, not even close.
Sorry, also Christine heads up, the price of the new version of Ray is CAD 16. An embarrassing testament to my lusting over the shade.
It’s a different formula, so the one I reviewed is (was) the price when it was made but is marked as discontinued 🙂
I think the iridescent ones are my favorite of these Clionadh shadows. Ray really is a good dupe for Pat McGrath Iridescent Pink (003). These have all been so beautiful to look at!
Ooh, I’d love to pop Glare on my mid-lid in a purple halo eye look! I’m loving the very icy aqua shift it has!
Ray and Glisten are beautiful also. But not my first picks for myself, though.
I almost put in an order for as soon as I saw Ray so thank you Christine for mentioning the DC’d status: I’ve been looking for a dupe of PMG Iridiscent Pink and Becca Pink Pyrite (just been looking to dupe that old Becca palette). I love how smooth this version of Ray is. I hope intensity doesn’t mean increased glisten or sparkle but I suppose I’ll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, I’ll keep editing my Clionadh wishlist and Christine’s enchanting eye looks.
How gorgeous are these? Ray would be my favourite…