Clionadh Emboss & Sunbeam Glitter Multichrome Eyeshadows Reviews & Swatches
Emboss
Clionadh Emboss Glitter Multichrome Eyeshadow ($7.50 for 0.05 oz.) has a medium, warmer pink base with finer sparkle that shifted from brighter, warmer green to teal to light blue. Under brighter lights, the base appeared warmer, more pink-coral than pink. Per the brand, the base is supposed to be “semi-pigmented,” while the shift moves between “lime-turquoise-blue.” I found these to be accurate, though I might say it was mostly opaque rather than “semi.”
The texture was smooth with moderate glide, which felt more loosely-pressed but not to the point where I had to be cautious when picking up product (just don’t use a heavy hand with it!). It had nearly opaque pigmentation that adhered evenly to bare skin with a dry brush with light fallout, but this finish is recommended to be applied with a dampened brush or fingertips, which both were better at minimizing fallout opportunities. It wore well for nine hours on me before showing signs of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Secret (P, $6.00) (80% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Backdraft (P, $6.00) is warmer (80% similar).
- Pat McGrath VR Rose Venus (LE, $25.00) is warmer (80% similar).
- Natasha Denona Giving (PiP, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Sydney Grace Golden Peach (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, warmer (80% similar).
- Sydney Grace Blushing Peach (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, lighter, brighter (80% similar).
- Clionadh Kaleidoscope (P, $7.50) is lighter, cooler (80% similar).
- Huda Beauty Lilac #4 (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- ColourPop Seventh Heaven (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$7.50/0.05 oz. - $150.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to "apply relatively easy to the lid when patted on with a finger," but for "maximum longevity and intensity, apply over a set primer" or a "tacky base" for "larger-particle glitters." The brand goes on to stay that this formula can be applied with "your finger or a shader brush sprayed with setting spray" and then patted onto the lid. They also warn not to "dig" one's brush as they are "more delicate" in texture.
The base pigmentation varied from shade to shade, and the brand uses different particle sizes throughout the range, so some are finer and more pigmented and others may be more sparkly with a sheerer base. Keep in mind, the base being sheerer doesn't equate to a sheerer end product; the actual eyeshadows often appeared mostly opaque to opaque due to how packed they are with shimmer/sparkle--but it depended on the angle.
They end up being a bit more like traditional eyeshadow, since the bases have various colors (not black or transparent) with multichromatic shifts that varied from more intense to subtler. I felt like they were "easier" to use than the Jewelled Multichromes, especially if you're someone who uses more than a few shades at a time, though they have less of a high-shine finish and more of a twinkling/sparkling finish.
The texture was more loosely-pressed--definitely "delicate" as indicated by the brand--and worked best by patting or pressing onto the lid with a fingertip or a wet brush. They're still quite usable with a dry brush but definitely use a denser brush and a gentle pressing motion to pick up product. The texture itself was very soft, almost silky, and finely-milled; for has twinkling as the finish was, Clionadh's idea of "glitter" is more like fine sparkle.
The big difference with this formula is that the sheerer base makes them easier to sheer out for an all-over wash of color on the lid or diffused on the brow bone, but they can also be pressed into place without heavy blending for an intense, spotlight effect.
While setting spray or glitter glue would help to maximize longevity (by minimizing fallout over time), there was only light some fallout over time when pressed onto the lid with a fingertip and slight fallout applied with a dampened brush (wet with water) over eight to nine hours. The sparkles were finer and had better adhesion to bare skin, so the formula didn't need the most intense solution to minimize fallout in my experience.
Browse all of our Clionadh 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.
Emboss
PPermanent. $7.50.
Sunbeam
Clionadh Sunbeam Glitter Multichrome Eyeshadow ($7.50 for 0.05 oz.) has a more transparent, light pink base with finer sparkles that shifted from peach to gold to chartreuse to aqua with a bright, metallic finish. The brand described the base as “sheer” with am “orange-gold-lime-turquoise” shift. To my eye, it was kind of lighter than most of those–like more peach than orange, more chartreuse than lime, and more like the lightest take on turquoise (or aqua, as I’d call it).
With the more transparent base, it was particularly versatile, and it had a lighter, brighter effect and color, so it worked well for inner tear duct, all-over the lid, or layered over another eyeshadow. This is one I find I think about and want to reach for extra oomph in a look. The base was sheerer, but the impact was more opaque–you can see the translucency in the first swatch but then see how reflective and seemingly opaque it is in the next photo.
It had a smooth, lightly creamy texture that was dense but not too firmly-pressed in the pan. The powder picked up well with a dry brush and applied readily with very minimal fallout, but as the brand recommended, fingertips/dampened brushes were even better. I just didn’t find it necessary to switch from a dry brush because the fallout was really quite minimal (or even none, depending on tool). It lasted well for nine hours before fading a bit.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Clionadh Illumination (P, $7.75) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Play Hard (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Raw Jade (Left) (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Morphe Liberation (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- Clionadh Hex (P, $5.25) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Clionadh Candela (P, $7.75) is more shimmery, darker, brighter (85% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Philosophy (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar).
- Huda Beauty Neon Green #9 (LE, ) is darker, warmer (80% similar).
- ColourPop Northern Lights (LE, $4.50) is darker, warmer (80% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Arcade (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$7.50/0.05 oz. - $150.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to "apply relatively easy to the lid when patted on with a finger," but for "maximum longevity and intensity, apply over a set primer" or a "tacky base" for "larger-particle glitters." The brand goes on to stay that this formula can be applied with "your finger or a shader brush sprayed with setting spray" and then patted onto the lid. They also warn not to "dig" one's brush as they are "more delicate" in texture.
The base pigmentation varied from shade to shade, and the brand uses different particle sizes throughout the range, so some are finer and more pigmented and others may be more sparkly with a sheerer base. Keep in mind, the base being sheerer doesn't equate to a sheerer end product; the actual eyeshadows often appeared mostly opaque to opaque due to how packed they are with shimmer/sparkle--but it depended on the angle.
They end up being a bit more like traditional eyeshadow, since the bases have various colors (not black or transparent) with multichromatic shifts that varied from more intense to subtler. I felt like they were "easier" to use than the Jewelled Multichromes, especially if you're someone who uses more than a few shades at a time, though they have less of a high-shine finish and more of a twinkling/sparkling finish.
The texture was more loosely-pressed--definitely "delicate" as indicated by the brand--and worked best by patting or pressing onto the lid with a fingertip or a wet brush. They're still quite usable with a dry brush but definitely use a denser brush and a gentle pressing motion to pick up product. The texture itself was very soft, almost silky, and finely-milled; for has twinkling as the finish was, Clionadh's idea of "glitter" is more like fine sparkle.
The big difference with this formula is that the sheerer base makes them easier to sheer out for an all-over wash of color on the lid or diffused on the brow bone, but they can also be pressed into place without heavy blending for an intense, spotlight effect.
While setting spray or glitter glue would help to maximize longevity (by minimizing fallout over time), there was only light some fallout over time when pressed onto the lid with a fingertip and slight fallout applied with a dampened brush (wet with water) over eight to nine hours. The sparkles were finer and had better adhesion to bare skin, so the formula didn't need the most intense solution to minimize fallout in my experience.
Browse all of our Clionadh 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.
Sunbeam
PPermanent. $7.50.
Editor’s Note: Clionadh is closed through October with a reopen scheduled for sometime in November (likely early November). They are catching up on pre-orders for November and moving to a larger facility. Since I still have lots of products to review from the brand, you’ll still see posts even though no one can order until November! They’re all permanent, and honestly, I’m probably still weeks out from finishing all the reviews!
omg Sunbeam is a STUNNER. I love the look of these!
It is so stunning indeed!! I don’t know how but indie brands are leaps and bounds ahead of the major high-end bounds in terms of their creativity and shades that they create. Even the brands such as PMG. There is something completely magical about those shades.
I normally don’t gravitate towards pink eyeshadow unless it’s fuchsia, but these are two that I could absolutely see myself incorporating into some more neutral pinky-taupe or burgundy based looks! They would pull the green out in my eyes, I believe.
Both of these shades are just beautiful and so versatile to wear.
Sunbeam is TOO beautiful.
Emboss is calling me. These are truly special.