Clionadh Kiln & Sand Blast Jewelled Multichrome Eyeshadows Reviews & Swatches
Kiln
Clionadh Kiln Jewelled Multichrome Eyeshadow (~$19.00 for 0.05 oz.) has a blackened base with a multichrome finish that shifted from reddish-burgundy to warmer burgundy to copper to golden bronze. Per the brand, it’s supposed to shift between “burgundy-red-orange-gold.” The shift was present in real life from a multitude of angles and presented as a gradient that ran from lighter, warmer burgundy to deeper, reddish-burgundy (with less warmth) or more of a darker, copper-bronze to a lighter, golden bronze. It read less orange/gold to me as I felt like the blackened base added depth that made it more copper-to-bronze. This one had one of the more noticeable and stronger shifts from the range.
The consistency was dense, smooth, and lightly emollient with a creaminess to it that still managed to pick up well with a dry brush, though a dampened brush yielded a more intense, metallic finish. For the greatest intensity and depth, I’d recommend using a fingertip to apply the product starting on the center of the lid and diffusing outward gently. I didn’t notice any fallout with this shade when I worked with it dry as well as with a fingertip. It had opaque color coverage in a single layer where a little went a long way.
It stayed on well for eight and a half hours before creasing on bare skin and 11 and a half hours over primer. The brand specifically stated to apply this formula over “dried-down primer,” but there are so many eyeshadow formulas that don’t do this, so most of my reviews test longevity without primer. In an effort to ensure greater ease in comparing this shade to others, I tested it both ways but the rating is based on primer wear time for clarity.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- JD Glow Urgent (P, $15.00) (100% similar).
- Terra Moons Centauri (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Flamethrower (P, $25.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Event Horizon (P, $16.50) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Fyrinnae Venus Sunset (P, $14.50) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Terra Moons Jupiter's Inferno (P, $15.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath VR Sextraterrestrial (LE, $25.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Clionadh Gothic (P, $19.00) is darker, cooler (80% similar).
- Clionadh Torch (P, $10.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar).
- Natasha Denona Ultraviolet (LE, $28.00) is lighter, cooler (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$19.00/0.05 oz. - $380.00 Per Ounce
The formula was described as "finely milled, ultra rich pigments" that have a "black base and intense colour shifting reflects" with the "end result [being] a saturated, vibrantly shifting shadow."
For those new to Multichromes, the brand has a nice application guide that walks customers through application. The big takeaway is with black-based Multichromes, less is more when it comes to blending as the more one blends, the more the base comes through and the shifting shimmer disappears. They can be used wet or dry, with a dry or wet brush, or with fingertips in "patting motions instead of swiping."
Clionadh's formula worked well with an assortment of brushes--flat shader brushes, fluffier shader brushes, narrow and larger pencil brushes, and even fluffier crease brushes. I liked using a small, lightly rounded crease brush to apply and diffuse product in my crease to buff out the edge for a blacker base to come through, which I found helped to blend the Multichrome shade with any transition/crease shade I might have used. A flatter, but not firm, shader brush worked well to deposit color all over the lid, especially on smaller areas, but fingertip application yielded the most intense, shiniest finish along with deeper color.
Multichromes are, in a way, the equivalent of applying three or four or five shades on an area at a given time, so for someone who likes the effect of more than one shade on the lid but may not feel as confident about blending... a multichrome gives some of that end result with less effort. It also does it in a reverse way, too, as they often shift slightly different from left to right, right to left, top to bottom, and bottom to top.
The consistency was smooth to the touch, dense and slightly thicker with a creamy, lightly emollient feel. A few shades felt more cream-like than powder-like, but most felt like a richer, creamier metallic by touch. The brand recommended applying the eyeshadows first as "there may be some fallout," though it seemed minor in my experience--the creamier consistency made the eyeshadow adhere readily to bare skin (or over primer).
I found them easier to use than expected, as I didn't feel like they had to be used with a wet brush or a fingertip to get opaque, even coverage, and they were blendable along the edges. The black base does make it harder to wear along the lower lash line without getting a noticeable shadow where the edge gets diffused, and the same was true around the inner tearduct (the brand's Iridescent Multichromes are better for these areas as they have a transparent base).
They had a tendency to crease faintly on me after eight to nine hours of wear without primer and more reliably between 10 and 12 hours over an eyeshadow primer. The shift became a bit more faded after seven to eight hours compared to the initial application over bare skin and around 10 hours over primer.
The brand recommended applying this formula over a "dried-down primer," which is actually unusual to see for an eyeshadow formula, so since most of the formulas I test don't require primer for testing, I tested all shades both ways so that they can be more readily compared to other formulas on the market.
Browse all of our Clionadh Jewelled 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.
Kiln
PPermanent. $19.00.
Sand Blast
Clionadh Sand Blast Jewelled Multichrome Eyeshadow (~$19.00 for 0.05 oz.) has a blackened base with a multichrome finish that shifted from rich, reddish copper to brighter orange to yellowy gold. Per the brand, it’s supposed to shift between “orange-gold-lime.” The “lime” was really subtle to my eye; it looked almost like a dirty olive in practice as it moved from copper to olive. The shift wasn’t as strong with this shade as there were less distinctive shifts between colors, so it ended up being more gradual compared to other shades in the line-up (that might list four specific colors they’ll shift between) but still produced a noticeable gradient between two shades even straight-on.
It had a dense, smooth, lightly creamy consistency that didn’t feel quite as thick or as emollient as other shades in the range (though by no means dry!). The eyeshadow yielded opaque color coverage that could be applied with a dry or wet brush as well as fingertips; the latter two methods yielded a shinier finish, but I really had no trouble applying it like I would any other eyeshadow. The blackened base does mean that it works best applied by pressing and patting on rather than sweeping, otherwise the shifting shimmer dissipates.
It wore well for eight and a half hours before creasing on bare skin and 11 and a half hours over primer. The brand specifically stated to apply this formula over “dried-down primer,” but there are so many eyeshadow formulas that don’t do this, so most of my reviews test longevity without primer. In an effort to ensure greater ease in comparing this shade to others, I tested it both ways but the rating is based on primer wear time for clarity.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Phoenix (P, $25.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Terra Moons Sundazed (P, $17.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Kaleidos Solaris (P, $16.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Terra Moons Sun Scorched (P, $15.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Decode (P, $12.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Fyrinnae Venus Sunset (P, $14.50) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Dogbane (LE, $28.00) is less shimmery, lighter, more muted (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Blitz Sextreme (PiP, $25.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Clionadh Forge Lite (P, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Terra Moons Mirage (P, $17.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$19.00/0.05 oz. - $380.00 Per Ounce
The formula was described as "finely milled, ultra rich pigments" that have a "black base and intense colour shifting reflects" with the "end result [being] a saturated, vibrantly shifting shadow."
For those new to Multichromes, the brand has a nice application guide that walks customers through application. The big takeaway is with black-based Multichromes, less is more when it comes to blending as the more one blends, the more the base comes through and the shifting shimmer disappears. They can be used wet or dry, with a dry or wet brush, or with fingertips in "patting motions instead of swiping."
Clionadh's formula worked well with an assortment of brushes--flat shader brushes, fluffier shader brushes, narrow and larger pencil brushes, and even fluffier crease brushes. I liked using a small, lightly rounded crease brush to apply and diffuse product in my crease to buff out the edge for a blacker base to come through, which I found helped to blend the Multichrome shade with any transition/crease shade I might have used. A flatter, but not firm, shader brush worked well to deposit color all over the lid, especially on smaller areas, but fingertip application yielded the most intense, shiniest finish along with deeper color.
Multichromes are, in a way, the equivalent of applying three or four or five shades on an area at a given time, so for someone who likes the effect of more than one shade on the lid but may not feel as confident about blending... a multichrome gives some of that end result with less effort. It also does it in a reverse way, too, as they often shift slightly different from left to right, right to left, top to bottom, and bottom to top.
The consistency was smooth to the touch, dense and slightly thicker with a creamy, lightly emollient feel. A few shades felt more cream-like than powder-like, but most felt like a richer, creamier metallic by touch. The brand recommended applying the eyeshadows first as "there may be some fallout," though it seemed minor in my experience--the creamier consistency made the eyeshadow adhere readily to bare skin (or over primer).
I found them easier to use than expected, as I didn't feel like they had to be used with a wet brush or a fingertip to get opaque, even coverage, and they were blendable along the edges. The black base does make it harder to wear along the lower lash line without getting a noticeable shadow where the edge gets diffused, and the same was true around the inner tearduct (the brand's Iridescent Multichromes are better for these areas as they have a transparent base).
They had a tendency to crease faintly on me after eight to nine hours of wear without primer and more reliably between 10 and 12 hours over an eyeshadow primer. The shift became a bit more faded after seven to eight hours compared to the initial application over bare skin and around 10 hours over primer.
The brand recommended applying this formula over a "dried-down primer," which is actually unusual to see for an eyeshadow formula, so since most of the formulas I test don't require primer for testing, I tested all shades both ways so that they can be more readily compared to other formulas on the market.
Browse all of our Clionadh Jewelled 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.
Wow, these are beautiful, it makes me want to dip my toe in. Beautiful eye looks Christine!
OMG – Sand Blast is stunning! Both shades are so rich and vibrant, excellently rated and beautiful to look at.
Christine, how did you find this brand? My eyes and brain can’t take this beauty! Can you justify their price point for their product? It’s seems high to me- even converted to USD. UGH. I. WANT. EVERY. SHADE of the Jeweled!!
Multichromes, in general, are expensive by most indie brands. Clionadh has been popular in the online community for the last year or so! 🙂
Hi there! I’m by no means a long-time customer of this brand, but I’ve placed four different orders in the last year and a half. I’ve also bought other multichromes from other brands.
The price reflects the cost of the materials. The price point is of course much higher than a more “standard” eyeshadow of the same size, but it’s actually a pretty good compromise, given how expensive the raw materials are.
Here’s an explanation verbatim from Clionadh’s instagram – “While we understand these prices may seem high, we ask that you please understand our reasoning. The pigments that go into these range from 20x the average pigment cost up to 50x on the high end. They are relatively new technology to the industry, and therefore reflect the high price tag. In order for us to even create these shades, we have decreased our return to keep these prices as competitive as possible. We also would like to remind you that the price reflects the labour costs to have them in pressed form instead of loose and the packaging. We truly believe these are fair and competitive prices for what you are getting.”
I’m like you and wanted every shade at first, but have been spreading them out across time and orders. The cost of the materials is also why Clionadh has shifted to preorder status for this collection. At first they were paying for ingredients first and posting in-hand available inventory for purchase. The high expense of ingredients, multiplied by multiple shades, meant that they could only afford to buy a certain amount out-of-pocket. Shades would sell out incredibly fast, which disappointed customers. By offering the Stained Glass collection on preorder, customers are able to submit orders for every shade they want. Clionadh takes payment upon the order’s placement and uses that capital to buy the materials. Since the inventory is not in-hand, the turnaround time for fulfillment is greater, but that should settle down after COVID effects subside. I personally don’t mind, though, because I can order based on what I want and when, rather than being squeezed by availability and paying the shipping fees from Canada more times than I choose.
The brand owners are really transparent and informative in their updates, too. If I may point out an accessory that I love, check out the Stained Glass palette. It’s pricier than a Z-palette for sure, but fairly large and super gorgeous. Absolutely a “display on the vanity” kind of palette and ticks everything off my list in terms of design and color. Here’s a link – https://www.clionadhcosmetics.com/product-page/preorder-stained-glass-empty-magnetic-palette. I’m not sure when it’ll come back in stock, but this is by far my favorite empty palette out of the ones I own. Looking at that rainbow of colors makes me happy in the mornings.
Thank you for sharing this info. This is very helpful in understanding the pricing as well as the availability.
Kiln is definitely the more special if the two shades. It has so many different shifts of color to it! So, y’know, it had to go on my WL. I believe it will look great with my blue-green eye color, too.
Hey, Christine
What primer did you use with these? Thanks in advance!
Smashbox 24HR.
Hi Christine,
Thank you for reviewing these. Clionadh comes at a heftier price tag than most (indie) shadows. I cant wait to see which ones you recommend.
This is kind of random, but do you have a post on empty palettes for single shadows or how you store them? I’m curious to know if you have a preferred method of storage for different formulas or pan sizes. Do you prefer to keep each brand in it’s own palette? Does empty space drive bonkers?
I just use whatever I have on hand – I don’t return to singles that often once I’ve tested, so no, it doesn’t bother me if they’re in different types of palettes, have empty space, aren’t arranged right (they’re often arranged in order of purchase), etc. Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of time to micro-organize!
So beautiful , love the dimension that the shadow creates.
Not my colors but oh wow, they look gorgeous on you! :o)
I am SO glad you featured these shadows from Clionadh. I recently purchased from them and feel it will be very useful for people to reference your quality swatches. Leigh and Maggie have been amazing with their service and communication. I am normally not a collector, but I will buy a second round of these to own them all! <3
I really need to try this brand even if its just one of these singles . Beautiful colors ?
Kiln is on my list of multichromes to try! I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
So happy to see Clionadh reviews!! I recently preordered 6 glitter multichromes.
Your photos and looks are out of this world!
These are definitely gorgeous!! Think I might have to give them a try!