elf Magnetic Pull, Blue Steel, Midnight Sapphire, Rich Amethyst No Budge Shadow Sticks Reviews & Swatches
Magnetic Pull
elf Magnetic Pull No Budge Shadow Stick ($5.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a medium taupe with subtle, cool undertones and a pearly sheen.
- Semi-opaque, somewhat buildable coverage
- Lightly creamy, glided on comfortably without tugging
- Applied evenly, best blended out with a fingertip
- Long-wearing (10 hours without creasing)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tarte Wave (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Love Ritual (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Down the Coast (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- ColourPop Trading Post (LE, $4.50) is lighter (80% similar).
- Sydney Grace Down the Coast (DC, $8.00) is lighter (80% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Meteoric #2 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
- Viseart Fondant (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
- Stila Boheme (LE, $24.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
- KVD Beauty Heaven (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Anastasia Libra (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$5.00/0.05 oz. - $100.00 Per Ounce
The formula is comparable across both the Matte and original (Shimmer) ranges. I felt like the Matte shades were ever-so-slightly thicker in a way that enabled them to have higher coverage and a smoother laydown of color overall whereas the Shimmers felt a touch thinner but the shimmer seemed to be forgiving (as it can be).
The formula is supposed to have "high pigment" and "long-lasting color." They had a smooth, lightly creamy consistency that had enough glide to comfortably move along the lash line or over the lid space without tugging. Most of the shades had semi-opaque to opaque color payoff, and while not every single one applied evenly, most did.
I found that using a fingertip was the most foolproof method to even out the product for all-over color while a dense, synthetic brush worked well to buff out edges. If blending out the edges of a more contrasting shade (against one's skin tone), you'll want to work one eye at a time as the formula dried down and set to a more transfer-resistant finish. The matte shades seemed to have a bit more play-time relative to the shimmer shades but not by much!
Once the formula set, it stayed on well and lasted for 10 hours without fading or creasing on me.
Browse all of our elf No Budge Shadow Stick swatches.
Ingredients
Cyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Synthetic Wax, Ozokerite, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Lauroyllysine, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Yellow Iron Oxide (Ci 77492), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), 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.
Magnetic Pull
PPermanent. $5.00.
Blue Steel
elf Blue Steel No Budge Shadow Stick ($5.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a medium-dark gray with cooler undertones and flecks of pink and silver micro-sparkle over a metallic finish.
- Medium, somewhat buildable coverage
- Lightly creamy, glided on comfortably without tugging
- Could have applied more evenly, best blended out with a fingertip
- Long-wearing (10 hours without creasing)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Soleil Neige #4 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Black Hole (P, $8.00) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Revenge (Misunderstood) (LE, $4.50) is darker (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Industrial (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Are You Shore (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Glam Noir (P, $28.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Dose of Colors Game Over (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Full Metal Black (LE, $28.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Viseart Eclipse (GPV2 #7) (P, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Terra Moons Carbon (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$5.00/0.05 oz. - $100.00 Per Ounce
The formula is comparable across both the Matte and original (Shimmer) ranges. I felt like the Matte shades were ever-so-slightly thicker in a way that enabled them to have higher coverage and a smoother laydown of color overall whereas the Shimmers felt a touch thinner but the shimmer seemed to be forgiving (as it can be).
The formula is supposed to have "high pigment" and "long-lasting color." They had a smooth, lightly creamy consistency that had enough glide to comfortably move along the lash line or over the lid space without tugging. Most of the shades had semi-opaque to opaque color payoff, and while not every single one applied evenly, most did.
I found that using a fingertip was the most foolproof method to even out the product for all-over color while a dense, synthetic brush worked well to buff out edges. If blending out the edges of a more contrasting shade (against one's skin tone), you'll want to work one eye at a time as the formula dried down and set to a more transfer-resistant finish. The matte shades seemed to have a bit more play-time relative to the shimmer shades but not by much!
Once the formula set, it stayed on well and lasted for 10 hours without fading or creasing on me.
Browse all of our elf No Budge Shadow Stick swatches.
Ingredients
Cyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Synthetic Wax, Ozokerite, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Lauroyllysine, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Yellow Iron Oxide (Ci 77492), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), 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.
Blue Steel
PPermanent. $5.00.
Midnight Sapphire
elf Midnight Sapphire No Budge Shadow Stick ($5.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a purpled, navy blue with cool undertones and a pearly sheen.
- Medium, somewhat buildable coverage
- Lightly creamy, glided on comfortably without tugging
- Applied unevenly, hard to layer, best blended out with a fingertip
- Long-wearing (10 hours without creasing)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Moira Nimbus (P, $7.50) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Space Pirate (LE, $6.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Inertia (P, $6.25) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Dominique Cosmetics Blueberry Fizz (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Slate (27M) (PiP, $29.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Devinah Cosmetics Are You a Good Witch (P, $5.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Selfish (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Anastasia OA (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Silver Burn (LE, $19.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$5.00/0.05 oz. - $100.00 Per Ounce
The formula is comparable across both the Matte and original (Shimmer) ranges. I felt like the Matte shades were ever-so-slightly thicker in a way that enabled them to have higher coverage and a smoother laydown of color overall whereas the Shimmers felt a touch thinner but the shimmer seemed to be forgiving (as it can be).
The formula is supposed to have "high pigment" and "long-lasting color." They had a smooth, lightly creamy consistency that had enough glide to comfortably move along the lash line or over the lid space without tugging. Most of the shades had semi-opaque to opaque color payoff, and while not every single one applied evenly, most did.
I found that using a fingertip was the most foolproof method to even out the product for all-over color while a dense, synthetic brush worked well to buff out edges. If blending out the edges of a more contrasting shade (against one's skin tone), you'll want to work one eye at a time as the formula dried down and set to a more transfer-resistant finish. The matte shades seemed to have a bit more play-time relative to the shimmer shades but not by much!
Once the formula set, it stayed on well and lasted for 10 hours without fading or creasing on me.
Browse all of our elf No Budge Shadow Stick swatches.
Ingredients
Cyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Synthetic Wax, Ozokerite, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Lauroyllysine, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Yellow Iron Oxide (Ci 77492), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), 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.
Midnight Sapphire
PPermanent. $5.00.
Rich Amethyst
elf Rich Amethyst No Budge Shadow Stick ($5.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a medium-dark purple with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen.
- Medium, somewhat buildable coverage
- Lightly creamy, glided on comfortably without tugging
- Could have applied more evenly, best blended out with a fingertip
- Long-wearing (10 hours without creasing)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes 2 #26 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Stargazing (PiP, $4.50) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Craving (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Ciate Wicked (P, $24.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Sydney Grace You, Only Better (P, $6.25) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Plz (LE, $9.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Sydney Grace Twisted Shifter (P, $15.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Dear Reader (P, $6.25) is darker (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Lunar Illumination (PiP, $6.25) is warmer (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Glory (DC, $8.00) is darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$5.00/0.05 oz. - $100.00 Per Ounce
The formula is comparable across both the Matte and original (Shimmer) ranges. I felt like the Matte shades were ever-so-slightly thicker in a way that enabled them to have higher coverage and a smoother laydown of color overall whereas the Shimmers felt a touch thinner but the shimmer seemed to be forgiving (as it can be).
The formula is supposed to have "high pigment" and "long-lasting color." They had a smooth, lightly creamy consistency that had enough glide to comfortably move along the lash line or over the lid space without tugging. Most of the shades had semi-opaque to opaque color payoff, and while not every single one applied evenly, most did.
I found that using a fingertip was the most foolproof method to even out the product for all-over color while a dense, synthetic brush worked well to buff out edges. If blending out the edges of a more contrasting shade (against one's skin tone), you'll want to work one eye at a time as the formula dried down and set to a more transfer-resistant finish. The matte shades seemed to have a bit more play-time relative to the shimmer shades but not by much!
Once the formula set, it stayed on well and lasted for 10 hours without fading or creasing on me.
Browse all of our elf No Budge Shadow Stick swatches.
Ingredients
Cyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Synthetic Wax, Ozokerite, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Lauroyllysine, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Yellow Iron Oxide (Ci 77492), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), 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.
Because waxy jumbo pencils are my BFF when it comes to keeping my eyeshadow intact despite the incessant allergy tears, I’m going for Magnetic Pull, Blue Steel and Rich Amethyst to use primarily as bases for whatever similar eyeshadows that I will be applying to the inner corner and onto the mobile lid. These actually could also be used alone, especially Magnetic Pull!
These Elf shadowsticks are a mixed bunch – some of them are great and others are so-so. I like the colour range and the taupe shade was my favourite.
I really like the color of Magnetic Pull – I’m glad it performed well!
Magnetically pulling me in..
Blue steel is more glittery than I was hoping but still overall not bad!