ColourPop The Twins, The Crab, The Scales, The Archer Zodiac Loose Pigments Reviews & Swatches
The Twins
ColourPop The Twins Zodiac Loose Pigment ($6.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a medium, coppery base with flecks of pink and copper sparkle. It had opaque pigmentation in a single layer when applied with a wet brush (using water). The consistency was finely-milled and airy, though there were micro-sparkles throughout (it didn’t seem quite as glittery as some other shades). The product applied fairly evenly with a wet brush, though it did not diffuse along the edges as easily once it dried back down; a lot of the shimmer/sparkle started to spread without the base spreading at the same rate. It lasted for seven hours with slight fallout when I applied it with plain water, and it lasted for 10 hours when applied with a setting spray (I used MAC Fix+).
Editor’s Note: Please read “formula overview,” as a lot of the typical claims we’d see on a product like this aren’t present, e.g. they’ve stated that they’re not particularly long-wearing (and should be applied over a primer/cream eyeshadow for “best” pigmentation and longevity), that they should only be used wet (never “dry” on a “bare eye”).
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Moira Glace (P, $7.50) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Hiney (LE, $6.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Celestial (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Secret Garden (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Spill the Tea (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- MAC Don't Be Koi! (LE, $17.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Chanel Rising Sun (24) (P, $36.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Sydney Grace Stolen Kiss (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Ethereal Eyes #6 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Laura Mercier Copper (LE, $23.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (95% similar).
Formula Overview
$6.00/0.078 oz. - $76.92 Per Ounce
The reformulated Loose Pigments are supposed to be "high impact, concentrated" pigments that are "best used wet for a supercharged, intense metallic or duochrome finish." The brand specifically warns against using them dry on a "bare eye" (as in "should never be applied"), which is where the original and reformulation differ, as the originals could be used wet or dry. The brand also stated to "layer over an eyeshadow primer or Super Shock Shadow" for "the best staying power and pigmentation," so presumably they are not particularly long-wearing "as is." That's accurate; they last around seven hours applied wet with water but get to 10 hours when used with an adhesive spray (I tested with MAC Fix+, which I have a lot of prior testing experience with).
They are better than the originals, though they still suffer from a lot of the expected downsides to working with loose pigment, and whether the color and finish outweigh the application pitfalls is a matter of preference, skill, and patience. The formula needed to have a fairly wet brush; not quite sopping-wet but more than slightly damp (which is more in line with the amount of wetness I find necessary to apply 90%+ of products). If my brush was too wet, though, it tended to spread the product out too readily and was more likely to go on unevenly. The more glittery shades worked better with an adhesive spray or tacky base, rather than just wet with water, as they needed more to help the larger sparkles adhere to skin and minimized fallout/excessive spread of the sparkles (beyond where I wanted them) when blended.
Because the formula really does work best with a wet/dampened brush, they aren't as blendable once they're dry, so working with two or three shades in the same area is more challenging than working with more traditional, pressed powder eyeshadows. They're more in the vein of liquid and cream eyeshadows, which are blendable as they're drying, but once they set, most formulas are locked in place; these are not quite that locked in place but just didn't want to diffuse readily. They wore between six and eight hours before creasing, fading, and/or having a fair amount of fallout (applied wet with water). I would only recommend purchasing the formula if you intend to use them with an adhesive spray or tacky base. Drier primers, like MAC 24HR or Urban Decay Primer Potion work decently with most shades (fade-resistant but light to moderate fallout otherwise), but I would still opt for a tackier base. The following shades stained, and they stained through eyeshadow primer: The Ram, The Bull, The Water Bearer, The Archer.
The pigmentation was semi-opaque to opaque for most shades, and as it was a loose product, it was often more about how much product was applied, though I tried to apply a consistent amount for swatches (which were all done wet with water). The consistency varied from airy and finely-milled to heavier and more glittery. I noticed more of a "puff" of pigment as I worked with most shades, which seemed to confirm how finely-milled they were. They can also be used on cheeks and lips, and the more sparkly shades worked better as cheek products than the ones with deeper intensity or base colors, as they tended to be a bit harder to apply and diffuse (even using them dry as using them wet on cheeks often translated into stripes of color).
The packaging changed significantly, as the jars are now taller, slimmer, and have no sifter, though there's a plastic "lid" that sits inside the top of the jar. I'm not a fan of this style of packaging, especially as these are meant to be used wet, then it becomes very challenging to sift out just enough product for a use and mix a wet brush with dry powder elsewhere (instead of sticking one's brush right in the jar). It is also going to be progressively more difficult to pick up just the right amount of product as product gets used up (and you're going lower and lower into the jar). The taller jars also are a bit easier to knock over for those prone to clumsiness (like myself).
Browse all of our ColourPop Zodiac Loose Pigment swatches.
Ingredients
Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethiconol, Tin Oxide, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).
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.
The Twins
LELimited Edition. $6.00.
The Crab
ColourPop The Crab Zodiac Loose Pigment ($6.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a light lavender with strong, cool blue undertones and flecks of blue-to-violet shifting sparkle. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation with a drier consistency that was finely-milled in its base, but it had larger flecks of sparkle, which made it seem a bit chunky compared to some of the less sparkly shades (but I would not describe it as actually chunky!). The loose pigment applied evenly to my lid with a wet brush (using water) and blended out nicely along the edges, even as it dried down. It wore well for seven hours (with slight fallout) just applied with water and 10 hours with setting spray (I used MAC Fix+).
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Lethal Cosmetics Afterglow (P, $6.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Alma (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Moon Daisy (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- NYX Blueberry Baller (P, $10.50) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge Illusionism (P, $16.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Tarina Tarantino Diamond Dusk #1 (DC, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop AAC (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Blue Reflection (32) (DC, $39.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- KVD Beauty Amethyst (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop Cake Walk (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$6.00/0.078 oz. - $76.92 Per Ounce
The reformulated Loose Pigments are supposed to be "high impact, concentrated" pigments that are "best used wet for a supercharged, intense metallic or duochrome finish." The brand specifically warns against using them dry on a "bare eye" (as in "should never be applied"), which is where the original and reformulation differ, as the originals could be used wet or dry. The brand also stated to "layer over an eyeshadow primer or Super Shock Shadow" for "the best staying power and pigmentation," so presumably they are not particularly long-wearing "as is." That's accurate; they last around seven hours applied wet with water but get to 10 hours when used with an adhesive spray (I tested with MAC Fix+, which I have a lot of prior testing experience with).
They are better than the originals, though they still suffer from a lot of the expected downsides to working with loose pigment, and whether the color and finish outweigh the application pitfalls is a matter of preference, skill, and patience. The formula needed to have a fairly wet brush; not quite sopping-wet but more than slightly damp (which is more in line with the amount of wetness I find necessary to apply 90%+ of products). If my brush was too wet, though, it tended to spread the product out too readily and was more likely to go on unevenly. The more glittery shades worked better with an adhesive spray or tacky base, rather than just wet with water, as they needed more to help the larger sparkles adhere to skin and minimized fallout/excessive spread of the sparkles (beyond where I wanted them) when blended.
Because the formula really does work best with a wet/dampened brush, they aren't as blendable once they're dry, so working with two or three shades in the same area is more challenging than working with more traditional, pressed powder eyeshadows. They're more in the vein of liquid and cream eyeshadows, which are blendable as they're drying, but once they set, most formulas are locked in place; these are not quite that locked in place but just didn't want to diffuse readily. They wore between six and eight hours before creasing, fading, and/or having a fair amount of fallout (applied wet with water). I would only recommend purchasing the formula if you intend to use them with an adhesive spray or tacky base. Drier primers, like MAC 24HR or Urban Decay Primer Potion work decently with most shades (fade-resistant but light to moderate fallout otherwise), but I would still opt for a tackier base. The following shades stained, and they stained through eyeshadow primer: The Ram, The Bull, The Water Bearer, The Archer.
The pigmentation was semi-opaque to opaque for most shades, and as it was a loose product, it was often more about how much product was applied, though I tried to apply a consistent amount for swatches (which were all done wet with water). The consistency varied from airy and finely-milled to heavier and more glittery. I noticed more of a "puff" of pigment as I worked with most shades, which seemed to confirm how finely-milled they were. They can also be used on cheeks and lips, and the more sparkly shades worked better as cheek products than the ones with deeper intensity or base colors, as they tended to be a bit harder to apply and diffuse (even using them dry as using them wet on cheeks often translated into stripes of color).
The packaging changed significantly, as the jars are now taller, slimmer, and have no sifter, though there's a plastic "lid" that sits inside the top of the jar. I'm not a fan of this style of packaging, especially as these are meant to be used wet, then it becomes very challenging to sift out just enough product for a use and mix a wet brush with dry powder elsewhere (instead of sticking one's brush right in the jar). It is also going to be progressively more difficult to pick up just the right amount of product as product gets used up (and you're going lower and lower into the jar). The taller jars also are a bit easier to knock over for those prone to clumsiness (like myself).
Browse all of our ColourPop Zodiac Loose Pigment swatches.
Ingredients
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Silica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Alumina, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Tin Oxide, Dimethiconol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Carmine (CI 75470), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140).
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.
The Crab
LELimited Edition. $6.00.
The Scales
ColourPop The Scales Zodiac Loose Pigment ($6.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a medium pink with strong, warm undertones and flecks of pink, gold, and blue sparkle. The consistency was soft, airy, and finely-milled with slightly larger sparkles that were noticeable (by touch only). It had opaque pigmentation when applied with a wet brush (using just water), which then adhered well to my lid and blended out fairly well, though it was easiest to work quickly before it fully dried back down. It lost some of its sheen after it had dried, though it was still more intense/smoother in sheen than if I had applied it dry. It stayed on well for seven hours with some fallout when applied with water and 10 hours with a setting spray (I used MAC Fix+).
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Natasha Denona Tranquil (385M) (PiP, $29.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Provocative (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Chanel Tender #4 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, less pigmented (90% similar).
- Stila Enchantress (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Shine Bright (P, $6.25) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- NARS Firenze (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Glam (320M) (PiP, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Virgin Orchid #2 (PiP, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- About Face Baroque (P, $14.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Tarte Pop Art Princess (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$6.00/0.078 oz. - $76.92 Per Ounce
The reformulated Loose Pigments are supposed to be "high impact, concentrated" pigments that are "best used wet for a supercharged, intense metallic or duochrome finish." The brand specifically warns against using them dry on a "bare eye" (as in "should never be applied"), which is where the original and reformulation differ, as the originals could be used wet or dry. The brand also stated to "layer over an eyeshadow primer or Super Shock Shadow" for "the best staying power and pigmentation," so presumably they are not particularly long-wearing "as is." That's accurate; they last around seven hours applied wet with water but get to 10 hours when used with an adhesive spray (I tested with MAC Fix+, which I have a lot of prior testing experience with).
They are better than the originals, though they still suffer from a lot of the expected downsides to working with loose pigment, and whether the color and finish outweigh the application pitfalls is a matter of preference, skill, and patience. The formula needed to have a fairly wet brush; not quite sopping-wet but more than slightly damp (which is more in line with the amount of wetness I find necessary to apply 90%+ of products). If my brush was too wet, though, it tended to spread the product out too readily and was more likely to go on unevenly. The more glittery shades worked better with an adhesive spray or tacky base, rather than just wet with water, as they needed more to help the larger sparkles adhere to skin and minimized fallout/excessive spread of the sparkles (beyond where I wanted them) when blended.
Because the formula really does work best with a wet/dampened brush, they aren't as blendable once they're dry, so working with two or three shades in the same area is more challenging than working with more traditional, pressed powder eyeshadows. They're more in the vein of liquid and cream eyeshadows, which are blendable as they're drying, but once they set, most formulas are locked in place; these are not quite that locked in place but just didn't want to diffuse readily. They wore between six and eight hours before creasing, fading, and/or having a fair amount of fallout (applied wet with water). I would only recommend purchasing the formula if you intend to use them with an adhesive spray or tacky base. Drier primers, like MAC 24HR or Urban Decay Primer Potion work decently with most shades (fade-resistant but light to moderate fallout otherwise), but I would still opt for a tackier base. The following shades stained, and they stained through eyeshadow primer: The Ram, The Bull, The Water Bearer, The Archer.
The pigmentation was semi-opaque to opaque for most shades, and as it was a loose product, it was often more about how much product was applied, though I tried to apply a consistent amount for swatches (which were all done wet with water). The consistency varied from airy and finely-milled to heavier and more glittery. I noticed more of a "puff" of pigment as I worked with most shades, which seemed to confirm how finely-milled they were. They can also be used on cheeks and lips, and the more sparkly shades worked better as cheek products than the ones with deeper intensity or base colors, as they tended to be a bit harder to apply and diffuse (even using them dry as using them wet on cheeks often translated into stripes of color).
The packaging changed significantly, as the jars are now taller, slimmer, and have no sifter, though there's a plastic "lid" that sits inside the top of the jar. I'm not a fan of this style of packaging, especially as these are meant to be used wet, then it becomes very challenging to sift out just enough product for a use and mix a wet brush with dry powder elsewhere (instead of sticking one's brush right in the jar). It is also going to be progressively more difficult to pick up just the right amount of product as product gets used up (and you're going lower and lower into the jar). The taller jars also are a bit easier to knock over for those prone to clumsiness (like myself).
Browse all of our ColourPop Zodiac Loose Pigment swatches.
Ingredients
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethiconol, Tin Oxide, Carmine (CI 75470), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).
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.
The Scales
LELimited Edition. $6.00.
The Archer
ColourPop The Archer Zodiac Loose Pigment ($6.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark purple base (with warmer undertones) paired with aqua-blue to periwinkle blue shifting shimmer. It had a very finely-milled, velvety consistency in the jar. It had opaque pigmentation in a single layer, applied wet (with just water), that adhered evenly to my skin, though it was more challenging to soften and diffuse the edges as it dried down. I found it easiest to go back in dry product and risk a bit of fallout to soften the edges instead. This shade retained a lot of its complexity even after it dried down. Applied wet with water, the product lasted for seven hours before creasing and nine hours with slight fading using a setting spray (I used MAC Fix+).
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Smashbox Stormy (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (85% similar).
- Fyrinnae Edge of Space (P, $14.50) is darker, more muted, warmer (85% similar).
- Too Faced That's My Jam (PiP, $16.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Disco Snowball (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter, more muted (80% similar).
- Urban Decay Spandex (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (80% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Lady Pimp (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
- NARS Jardin Perdu (Right) (DC, $25.00) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (80% similar).
- Dior Temptation (184) (P, $29.50) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
- MAC Push the Edge (PiP, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker (80% similar).
- Ciate Wicked (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$6.00/0.078 oz. - $76.92 Per Ounce
The reformulated Loose Pigments are supposed to be "high impact, concentrated" pigments that are "best used wet for a supercharged, intense metallic or duochrome finish." The brand specifically warns against using them dry on a "bare eye" (as in "should never be applied"), which is where the original and reformulation differ, as the originals could be used wet or dry. The brand also stated to "layer over an eyeshadow primer or Super Shock Shadow" for "the best staying power and pigmentation," so presumably they are not particularly long-wearing "as is." That's accurate; they last around seven hours applied wet with water but get to 10 hours when used with an adhesive spray (I tested with MAC Fix+, which I have a lot of prior testing experience with).
They are better than the originals, though they still suffer from a lot of the expected downsides to working with loose pigment, and whether the color and finish outweigh the application pitfalls is a matter of preference, skill, and patience. The formula needed to have a fairly wet brush; not quite sopping-wet but more than slightly damp (which is more in line with the amount of wetness I find necessary to apply 90%+ of products). If my brush was too wet, though, it tended to spread the product out too readily and was more likely to go on unevenly. The more glittery shades worked better with an adhesive spray or tacky base, rather than just wet with water, as they needed more to help the larger sparkles adhere to skin and minimized fallout/excessive spread of the sparkles (beyond where I wanted them) when blended.
Because the formula really does work best with a wet/dampened brush, they aren't as blendable once they're dry, so working with two or three shades in the same area is more challenging than working with more traditional, pressed powder eyeshadows. They're more in the vein of liquid and cream eyeshadows, which are blendable as they're drying, but once they set, most formulas are locked in place; these are not quite that locked in place but just didn't want to diffuse readily. They wore between six and eight hours before creasing, fading, and/or having a fair amount of fallout (applied wet with water). I would only recommend purchasing the formula if you intend to use them with an adhesive spray or tacky base. Drier primers, like MAC 24HR or Urban Decay Primer Potion work decently with most shades (fade-resistant but light to moderate fallout otherwise), but I would still opt for a tackier base. The following shades stained, and they stained through eyeshadow primer: The Ram, The Bull, The Water Bearer, The Archer.
The pigmentation was semi-opaque to opaque for most shades, and as it was a loose product, it was often more about how much product was applied, though I tried to apply a consistent amount for swatches (which were all done wet with water). The consistency varied from airy and finely-milled to heavier and more glittery. I noticed more of a "puff" of pigment as I worked with most shades, which seemed to confirm how finely-milled they were. They can also be used on cheeks and lips, and the more sparkly shades worked better as cheek products than the ones with deeper intensity or base colors, as they tended to be a bit harder to apply and diffuse (even using them dry as using them wet on cheeks often translated into stripes of color).
The packaging changed significantly, as the jars are now taller, slimmer, and have no sifter, though there's a plastic "lid" that sits inside the top of the jar. I'm not a fan of this style of packaging, especially as these are meant to be used wet, then it becomes very challenging to sift out just enough product for a use and mix a wet brush with dry powder elsewhere (instead of sticking one's brush right in the jar). It is also going to be progressively more difficult to pick up just the right amount of product as product gets used up (and you're going lower and lower into the jar). The taller jars also are a bit easier to knock over for those prone to clumsiness (like myself).
Browse all of our ColourPop Zodiac Loose Pigment swatches.
Ingredients
Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Tin Oxide, Dimethiconol, Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Carmine (CI 75470), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).
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.
What brush did you use?
I don’t write down the brushes I use (I use a different one for every shade I apply!), sorry!
The Archer is totally fun and it’s my sign. If I saw it at an Ulta I would probably grab it.
I like The Crab and The Archer. I don’t have dupe for them. It’s nice to see some unique purples.
Another stunning eye look Christine – so beautiful. The shades are very pretty, and I think the Archer is most unusual.
The Archer is gorgeous!!! Unfortunately, next to my blue veins it will read like The Bruise.
I’m a Cancer and just love the shade for my sign…picked it up today after seeing your review! I was waiting to see how it did. Was considering the Archer since purples look good with the green in my eyes but think maybe Issa (super shock) might be similar? Unsure. And I’m also unsure about working with pigments so one to start! Thanks for the review! I got so excited when I saw your review of these!
Good idea to just get one, Sandy! I think pigments are love/hate – some just find them too much work and others find the end results to be worth it!
The Crab did very well and isn’t easily duped for me. The Archer looks sooooooo nice! Wonder why it didn’t score higher? (But I see now that i’s likely to the blending issue once wet. The only thing that bothers me is I don’t care for pigments where you HAVE to wear primers or wet them. I have so many that I’ve purchased and from indie brands, and I end up rarely using them. So, I likely won’t be purchasing them.