Danessa Myricks Rootbeer & Wild Orchid Colorfix Metallic Reviews & Swatches
Rootbeer
Danessa Myricks Rootbeer Colorfix Metallic ($18.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a deep red with warmer undertones and a pearly sheen. It was intensely pigmented where a little went a very long way, so use less than you think to avoid over-applying (which was harder to correct due to the quick-setting nature of the formula, particularly on eyes/cheeks where blending was more necessary!).
The texture was lightweight, thin but not too thin, and spreadable. I liked using a flat, synthetic brush to apply it to my lid and a fluffy, clean brush to diffuse the edges but definitely worked very quickly to do so! It was workable as a cheek color, but I found it hard to blend it fast enough to get a really seamless edge and used leftover foundation to stipple over the edges to “cheat” the edge. It was easiest to apply as a lip color as it yielded opaque, even coverage that was semi-flexible as it dried down but transfer-resistant.
It lasted nicely for 10 hours as an eyeshadow, nine hours as a cheek color, and six hours as a lip color, though it was slightly drying as a lip product.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Makeup Geek Burlesque (DC, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Rewind (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Vamped (P, $6.25) is warmer (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Queen (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Heritage Rouge (PiP, $21.00).
Formula Overview
$18.00/0.34 oz. - $52.94 Per Ounce
The formula is a cream product that is supposed to be "highly pigmented," "smudge proof," "waterproof, and "rapid drying." They're multi-purpose products that can be used on the eyes, lips, and cheeks (though note: the Foil finish includes plastic, or PET, glitter, which is technically not considered eye safe via FDA).
The key takeaway with this formula is that they really do mean "rapid drying" -- it is both a pro and a con, but you have to work quickly and efficiently when using this product on the skin where one might want to diffuse, spread, or blend out edges. While the brand is consumer-friendly, this product is particularly favored by makeup artists, and I did feel like there was a learning curve with them.
Some shades dry a little faster than others, and once they dry down, they are pretty smudge proof as marketed, so they don't want to be moved. Attempts to blend them out after they set often resulted in the product lifting off the skin. They are also, typically, quite pigmented, so one should exercise caution when applying to cheeks initially. I found that some of the more sparkly shades were sheerer.
The consistency was thin, lightweight, and a runnier cream, which meant that it was easy to squeeze out more product than desired from the tube for the uninitiated. After a few uses, I was able to dial in the pressure I needed to squeeze out the product and was consistently able to get what I needed from there.
Eyes
Depending on the intensity of the shade relative to your skin tone and whether you wanted a sheerer or more opaque end result, fingertips or synthetic brushes would be the primary tools. I found that I often preferred to put a little product on the back of my hand and then used either my fingertips (for more all-over application) or a brush (for more precise or opaque application). For precision and ease of use (as my fingertips are a little large compared to my eye size), I liked fluffy, synthetic brushes to diffuse the edges or sheer out the product.
Some of the Foil shades in particular tended to a little thicker and tackier when applied, and I wasn't always able to maneuver them evenly. They seemed to work better as an accent, like on the inner tear duct or on the middle of the lid.
The majority of shades were very pigmented, fairly blendable, and long-wearing, while most shades lasted 10 hours without fading, creasing, or flaking. I did feel like my eyelids got a little drier from wearing several of these shades for multiple days in a row.
Lips
They applied a lot better to lips than I anticipated, as I often find that multi-purpose products do well on one or two areas but rarely all of them. The product applied well with a fingertip or a lip brush, though for speed, I liked using a fingertip. The majority of the shades applied evenly, didn't emphasize my lip texture/lip lines, and were comfortable enough to wear.
The dry down was noticeable, but the product had light tackiness, though I didn't have issues with the color lift up. Despite having more of a liquid lipstick kind of dry down, it still felt lighter-weight and was flexible, which is what made it more comfortable to wear. I didn't see marks left on my glass, and they easily lasted through a cup of coffee. Most shades seemed to wear for six hours or longer on me.
The more sparkly shades with less opacity tended to be least even and felt tackier, and if I pressed and rubbed my lips together, it seemed like some product moved a bit.
Cheeks
As cheek application is often sheerer, rather than full coverage, applying the more pigmented shades to cheeks took some getting used it as one has to work quickly and start with way less than you need. I preferred using more feathery, duo-fiber brushes for really vivid shades to diffuse and apply product on cheeks better, but fingertips worked for getting an initial placement and then a clean brush was lovely for the blending portion.
The wear time on cheeks was comparable with eyes (so around 10 hours of good wear).
Editor's note: I don't know why I didn't make this connection previously (at some point, I was aware they were multi-use), as I bought these as cream eyeshadows for review. If I had to go back and do swatches of each shade on cheeks and lips, I might never, ever review (based on the volume of other products I have in the queue), so while I tested each shade for application, pigmentation, longevity, etc. for all three purposes, you will only find a skin swatch.
Browse all of our Danessa Myricks Colorfix Metallic swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isononyl Isononanate, C30-45 Alkyl Methicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Silver, Silica, Cyclopentasiloxane (and) Disteardimonium Hectorite (and) Propylene Carbonate, Dimethicone, PARAFFIN, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mica, Phenoxyethanol,Titanium Dioxide CI 77891, Iron oxidesCI77491, Ultramarines CI 77007, CI 77742, Iron oxidesCI77497
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.
Rootbeer
PPermanent. $18.00.
Wild Orchid
Danessa Myricks Wild Orchid Colorfix Metallic ($18.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a rich, darker purple with cool undertones and a more frosted finish with faint sparkle throughout. It had opaque pigmentation in a single layer, which applied evenly to bare skin.
I was able to diffuse the edges better as an eyeshadow than as a blush, which made sense to me as this was quite pigmented but very quick to dry down (which is a selling feature of the product, per the brand) and I needed to sheer it out more on cheeks vs. eyes. I’d recommend using a bit of foundation to soften the edge when trying to use it as a cheek color. I had no trouble applying it as a lip product, and I remained surprised at how the formula has a full dry down but has some flexibility to it on my lips.
It wore well for 10 hours as an eyeshadow and nine hours as a cheek product. It lasted well for five and a half hours as a lip product but smudged a bit around the edges of my mouth after a meal and felt a little drying over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Fyrinnae Queen (P, $7.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Danessa Myricks Mystery (P, $18.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Hazmat (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Flannel (P, $6.25) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Give Me Glow Ultra Violence (P, $7.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Ardency Inn Royal (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Utterly Alone (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Vio-lit (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (85% similar).
- ColourPop 81 Points (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Spirit (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$18.00/0.34 oz. - $52.94 Per Ounce
The formula is a cream product that is supposed to be "highly pigmented," "smudge proof," "waterproof, and "rapid drying." They're multi-purpose products that can be used on the eyes, lips, and cheeks (though note: the Foil finish includes plastic, or PET, glitter, which is technically not considered eye safe via FDA).
The key takeaway with this formula is that they really do mean "rapid drying" -- it is both a pro and a con, but you have to work quickly and efficiently when using this product on the skin where one might want to diffuse, spread, or blend out edges. While the brand is consumer-friendly, this product is particularly favored by makeup artists, and I did feel like there was a learning curve with them.
Some shades dry a little faster than others, and once they dry down, they are pretty smudge proof as marketed, so they don't want to be moved. Attempts to blend them out after they set often resulted in the product lifting off the skin. They are also, typically, quite pigmented, so one should exercise caution when applying to cheeks initially. I found that some of the more sparkly shades were sheerer.
The consistency was thin, lightweight, and a runnier cream, which meant that it was easy to squeeze out more product than desired from the tube for the uninitiated. After a few uses, I was able to dial in the pressure I needed to squeeze out the product and was consistently able to get what I needed from there.
Eyes
Depending on the intensity of the shade relative to your skin tone and whether you wanted a sheerer or more opaque end result, fingertips or synthetic brushes would be the primary tools. I found that I often preferred to put a little product on the back of my hand and then used either my fingertips (for more all-over application) or a brush (for more precise or opaque application). For precision and ease of use (as my fingertips are a little large compared to my eye size), I liked fluffy, synthetic brushes to diffuse the edges or sheer out the product.
Some of the Foil shades in particular tended to a little thicker and tackier when applied, and I wasn't always able to maneuver them evenly. They seemed to work better as an accent, like on the inner tear duct or on the middle of the lid.
The majority of shades were very pigmented, fairly blendable, and long-wearing, while most shades lasted 10 hours without fading, creasing, or flaking. I did feel like my eyelids got a little drier from wearing several of these shades for multiple days in a row.
Lips
They applied a lot better to lips than I anticipated, as I often find that multi-purpose products do well on one or two areas but rarely all of them. The product applied well with a fingertip or a lip brush, though for speed, I liked using a fingertip. The majority of the shades applied evenly, didn't emphasize my lip texture/lip lines, and were comfortable enough to wear.
The dry down was noticeable, but the product had light tackiness, though I didn't have issues with the color lift up. Despite having more of a liquid lipstick kind of dry down, it still felt lighter-weight and was flexible, which is what made it more comfortable to wear. I didn't see marks left on my glass, and they easily lasted through a cup of coffee. Most shades seemed to wear for six hours or longer on me.
The more sparkly shades with less opacity tended to be least even and felt tackier, and if I pressed and rubbed my lips together, it seemed like some product moved a bit.
Cheeks
As cheek application is often sheerer, rather than full coverage, applying the more pigmented shades to cheeks took some getting used it as one has to work quickly and start with way less than you need. I preferred using more feathery, duo-fiber brushes for really vivid shades to diffuse and apply product on cheeks better, but fingertips worked for getting an initial placement and then a clean brush was lovely for the blending portion.
The wear time on cheeks was comparable with eyes (so around 10 hours of good wear).
Editor's note: I don't know why I didn't make this connection previously (at some point, I was aware they were multi-use), as I bought these as cream eyeshadows for review. If I had to go back and do swatches of each shade on cheeks and lips, I might never, ever review (based on the volume of other products I have in the queue), so while I tested each shade for application, pigmentation, longevity, etc. for all three purposes, you will only find a skin swatch.
Browse all of our Danessa Myricks Colorfix Metallic swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isononyl Isononanate, C30-45 Alkyl Methicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Silver, Silica, Cyclopentasiloxane (and) Disteardimonium Hectorite (and) Propylene Carbonate, Dimethicone, PARAFFIN, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mica, Phenoxyethanol,Titanium Dioxide CI 77891, Iron oxidesCI77491, Ultramarines CI 77007, CI 77742, Iron oxidesCI77497
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 really full on shades, not for the feint hearted at all. At least they are good quality.
Wow, these are beautiful! I wonder how Wild Orchid compares to OCC Technopagan??? I finally destashed my old tube of Technopagan, I loved that color so much back in the day T_T
Ooh that’s an interesting comparison. I don’t have the heart to throw away my Lip Tars, even my very first tube!
I think Wild Orchid looks like it might be more of a true purple throughout, whereas Technopagan was more of a purple base with an indigo glow.
Ah good point! Christine just posted another DM Colorfix that looks more blue, Mystery, though like you said they both lack that indigo sheen that Technopagan had! I just went through a huge culling of my collection and decided it was finally time to see them go. Admittedly I actually squirrelled away Technopagan (along with Illamasqua Kontrol, my other favorite purple that has definitely gone bad) into a little box to keep for memories – but I got rid of all my other Lip Tars. It was time T_T
These two shades sing to me! They look (and sound) way better than many of the other shades. The working quickly part still stumps me, though.
LOVE Rootbeer! Reminds me of Lip Tar (RIP)…
I wonder if these could be used (and work well) as an eyeliner. I could see using both these colors in that way. They are beautiful.
They should!
Thank you. There are so many beautiful shades!
Agree with Ari and Rina about channeling OCC. Well, OCC left a niche that needed filling, and DM took it on. But making the shades be multiuse? Impressive, even if not all are winners. Technopagan is a total classic of its time and a big contender for the m/u hall of fame. I fess up, never got it.
Rootbeer is beautiful , it reminds me of mac artifact paint pot!
Omg Rootbeer tho….