Clionadh Oculus & Castle Jewelled Multichrome Eyeshadows Reviews & Swatches
Oculus
Clionadh Oculus Jewelled Multichrome Eyeshadow ($19.00 for 0.05 oz.) has a blackened base with a multichrome finish that shifted between bright, warmer purple to cooler, more violet purple to navy blue to green-leaning teal paired with a metallic finish. I got flashes of reddish-purple at times, and I saw a hint of a golden edge on my lid. Per the brand, it is supposed to shift between “turquoise-blue-violet-pink-red-orange-gold.”
I felt like a lot of the color shifts were incredibly prominent and easy to see–I could really see the color shift on my lid just looking in the mirror briefly. The orange/gold were the only shifts that I felt were hard to determine. The texture was smooth, creamy, and more emollient than most shades in the range. It worked well with a dry brush, but it was more intense and smoother in application (with less effort) when applied with fingertips. It had opaque color coverage that stayed on well for nine hours before creasing slightly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- JD Glow Umm (P, $15.00) (100% similar).
- Terra Moons Phantom Galaxy (P, $15.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Terra Moons Wormhole (P, $15.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Clionadh Anneal (P, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Cosmic Rocks (LE, $34.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Clionadh Oxidize (P, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Danessa Myricks Galaxy (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Clionadh Crown Glass (P, $19.00) is cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop Water (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Payload (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, less pigmented, 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.
Look Using this Product
Oculus
PPermanent. $19.00.
Castle
Clionadh Castle Jewelled Multichrome Eyeshadow ($19.00 for 0.05 oz.) has a blackened base with a multichrome finish that shifted between purplish-blue to blue-teal to green-teal paired with an intense, metallic finish. Per the brand, it is supposed to shift between “teal-blue-indigo.” I felt like I detected those three shifts with ease, and as the spectrum wasn’t so wide, it was easy to detect the shift in person without becoming a contortionist.
The narrower spectrum also ensured that it was very easy to incorporate it into a more complex look as a lot of shades that would correspond with deeper blue would work as well with greener-teal. The consistency was moderately emollient, almost cream-like, without being too dense or too thick, so it was still usable with a dry brush, though fingertip achieved the smoothest and most metallic application with the least work. This shade stayed on well for eight and a half hours before creasing slightly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Terra Moons Moonwalk (P, $17.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Terra Moons Beyond Apollo (P, $8.50) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Clionadh Trefoil (P, $19.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Terra Moons Looking Glass (P, $17.00) is warmer (85% similar).
- Clionadh Trefoil Lite (P, $19.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Terra Moons Mood Ring (P, $17.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Kaleidos Limelight (P, $16.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Fyrinnae Stained Glass (P, $14.50) is darker (85% similar).
- Clionadh Gargoyle (P, $19.00) is warmer (80% similar).
- JD Glow See Weed (P, $15.00) is lighter, warmer (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.
That first one is incredible. Do you think these would work wet for a winged liner?
Yes, I think so! I have seen this done by others via the brand’s Instagram!
*heavy breathing*
Whoa…that first one! WOW!
Need some vapors, cuz that first one Oculus has me swooning big-time! So many different colors in just one shadow, it’s like a dark rainbow.
You can probably hear me gasping all the way in Arizona. Heck, Genevieve can probably hear me gasping all the way away in Australia! But as much as these truly are breathtaking, I don’t think I’d actually wear them. I might break down and order one from all these magical shade shifters you’ve shown, Christine, but one is probably all I’d ever need.
Oh, that was you that gasped! 😉
I’m sure I’m not the only one! How do they do this??? Like I said, it’s magical!
And if you’ve heard sad European crying afterwards, that was me. Why is all this beauty so hard to get here?
Thank you for showing me this magic, Christine.
I’m glad Oculus was so shifty, it is one I pre-ordered. Now I can’t wait for September!
Both shades are ones that I love – that beautiful blue and stunning green…how gorgeous they are.
I heard all the gasping and heavy breathing up here in Canada and I’m adding mine, WOW! Oculus is stunning! I can see myself doing another order.
Yeah, but my gasps didn’t have as far to travel since I’m here to – another “Janie Canuck”. I didn’t realize til now that you’re also in Canada – how fortunate we are.
Hi Mariella, I’m hoping Arizona will send some of their warm weather our way I’m growing webbed feet and I don’t think the borders are going to be opened any time soon!
You must be in the Prairies – Alberta, I’m guessing – from the weather description. Here in southern Ontario, we’re in the middle of heat wave so intense I don’t even want to leave the house (though I’ve been trying to force myself to take very early morning walks) – next week looks to be even worse – they’re calling for temps that will feel like 42 C with the Humidex factored in. We could do with some of your rain, wherever you are. We have a watering ban in effect for the next week because of construction at the main water treatment facility and they want to ensure that water pressure is high for fire fighting, etc. Send us rain; we’ll send you heat…LOTS of heat! (if only it worked that way).
Yes you nailed it, Alberta. We’ve been watching your weather, I lived in Ontario in my teens so I know the humidity, Ack! It seems when the weather in the east is hot it’s cool out here. I think we’ll head to the west coast and visit my family as August is usually nice out there. I hope your weather cools off some, if it makes you feel better our mosquitos are eating us alive!
Oculus is incredible!
I know that I will not wear these often enough to justify owning more than one or two of these (a cooler toned and a warmer toned, maybe) for special occasions, but I am having a hard time narrowing it down. I keep thinking at least one of the shades will perform low enough that I can take it out of consideration, but, nope! And the eye looks Christine has done are all so gorgeous – I can’t decide…I guess it’s a nice problem to have.
I truly did not know eyeshadow could look like this. So dimensional, so vivid, so multichromatic…I’m blown away. Clionadh seems like one of the few brands producing truly innovative shadows. The contrast to Urban Decay’s latest palette feel particularly stark.
Which, of course, begs the question: if it’s possible for an indie brand to make such incredible, original products on one what assumes is a shoestring budget…what excuse do major brands like Urban Decay, Too Faced, MAC, Lancome, Chanel, Fenty, and and Charlotte Tilbury have for disappointing releases in the same category?
I know that multichromes are expensive (by the raw ingredient), so it’s possible that indies are willing to take smaller profit margins (especially as they sell direct), whereas a lot of beauty brands need massive margins for it to work (especially as retailers take a nice cut off the top). PMG included one in her recent palette, so it’ll be interesting to see if any other brands do so going forward.
Ohh dear,
I ordered a bunch of clionadh on preorder. It seems I have to extend that order 🙂
I haven’t been this exited about make up in many months!
Oculus: Pulitzer Prize for eyeshadow. I suspect the only thing that approximates that shade is an iridescent Amazonian butterfly flitting among dappled leaves. I actually HELD my breath.
Oculus…WOW!!!!! Just amazing!
(How is the brand name pronounced?)
I’m not sure! Moments where I’m glad I’m TEXT and not voice, lmao!
Oh my!
I had decided against Oculus, I don’t need another green, I thought, blueish shift, I don’t really do blue, I thought. But I was so wrong! This is an amazing eye shadow! It’s going to be so difficult to chose if there are more breathtaking ones in line for reviews.
Thank you Christine for reviewing these, I would probably not have even heard about this brand had it not been for Temptalia.
Can I nominate this site for some kind of beauty award? I want to, best site for reviews on line!
Sorry for all the ! bit if there ever was a makeup product deserving them, this is the one. 🙂
Aww!! Thank you, Helene!