Estee Lauder Desert Dunes Pure Color Envy Eyeshadow Quad Review & Swatches
Desert Dunes
Estee Lauder Desert Dunes Pure Color Envy Luxe Eyeshadow Quad (Refill) ($44.00 for 0.21 oz.) includes two very light-toned matte shades, a mid-tone shimmery brown, and a fussy lil’ darker matte brown. It was difficult to work with as the formula was one of the worst eyeshadow formulas I’ve had the displeasure of testing in the last few years–like unbelievably bad for modern eyeshadow times!
Ingredients
Talc, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Dimethicone, Silica, Nylon-12, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Zinc Stearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, WaterAquaEau, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Chromium Oxide Greens (Ci 77288), Chromium Hydroxide Green (Ci 77289), Ferric Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Bronze Powder (Ci 77400), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Aluminum Powder (Ci 77000), Copper Powder (Ci 77400), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Carmine (Ci 75470), Ultramarines (Ci 77007), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140)] Rds Product Name: Power Surge Eye Shadow Satin Division: El (Estée Lauder)Ingredients: Talc, Dimethicone, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Zinc Stearate, Nylon-12, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Calcium Titanium Borosilicate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Alumina, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica, Tin Oxide, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Carmine (Ci 75470), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Copper Powder (Ci 77400), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Chromium Hydroxide Green (Ci 77289), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Aluminum Powder (Ci 77000), Chromium Oxide Greens (Ci 77288), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Bronze Powder (Ci 77400), Ultramarines (Ci 77007), Ferric Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510)] Rds Product Name: Power Surge Eye Shadow Sparkle Division: El (Estée Lauder)Ingredients: Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Talc, Diisostearyl Malate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Hydroxystearate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Unsaponifiables, Soybean Glycerides, Caprylyl Glycol, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Silica, Tin Oxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Edta, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Carmine (Ci 75470), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Copper Powder (Ci 77400), Ferric Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Chromium Oxide Greens (Ci 77288), Chromium Hydroxide Green (Ci 77289), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Aluminum Powder (Ci 77000), Bronze Powder (Ci 77400), Ultramarines (Ci 77007), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090)]
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.
Desert Dunes
PPermanent. $44.00.
Desert Dunes #1
Desert Dunes #1 is a light-medium beige with moderate, warm undertones and a matte finish.
- Semi-opaque coverage
- Finely-milled but moderately powdery
- Prone to sheering out
- Best applied over tacky primer
- Prone to fading (6 hours of wear)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Runway (LE, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
- Pretty Vulgar Rise (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Bonafide (PiP, $4.50) is cooler (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Nude Cashmere (P, $34.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Dominique Cosmetics Cafe con Leche (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Smokey Eyes are Forever Love Eyes Prime (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Aya (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Rose in the Air #5 (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Sephora Linen (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- ColourPop Ur a Faux (PiP, $4.50) is darker, cooler (80% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The formula is supposed to be "highly pigmented" with "stay-true color" that won't smudge, crease, or settle into fine lines and doesn't "flake or dust onto face." The quality of the more matte shades was typically higher than the shimmer shades, but all of the finishes seeme to be particularly short-wearing and made it seem like my lids "ate" the eyeshadows quite quickly.
Some of the shimmers were drier and thinner, which resulted in uneven application and some fallout, particularly with the more sparkly shades. The matte eyeshadows were more pigmented and smoother on average but still were on the thinner side with slight to moderate powderiness, which resulted in light fallout and/or the color sheering out too readily on bare skin.
Browse all of our Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Luxe Eyeshadow swatches.
Desert Dunes #1
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Desert Dunes #2
Desert Dunes #2 is a medium, golden brown base with lighter flecks of silver sparkle throughout.
- Opaque coverage
- Drier, more textured/chunky in feel
- Applied somewhat unevenly, prone to fallout
- Shorter-wearing (6 hours before fading and having fallout)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace S'mores (PiP, $6.25) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop Extra Bubbly (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop A Little Quarky (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Anastasia Zamn (LE, $12.00) is warmer (85% similar).
- Viseart Flirt (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Pat McGrath Bronze Gold 003 (LE, $25.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Viseart Limoncello (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Found (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Cle de Peau Les Annees Folles #3 (LE, ).
- ColourPop Faze (LE, $6.00).
- NABLA Cosmetics Subliminal (PiP, ).
Formula Overview
-
The formula is supposed to be "highly pigmented" with "stay-true color" that won't smudge, crease, or settle into fine lines and doesn't "flake or dust onto face." The quality of the more matte shades was typically higher than the shimmer shades, but all of the finishes seeme to be particularly short-wearing and made it seem like my lids "ate" the eyeshadows quite quickly.
Some of the shimmers were drier and thinner, which resulted in uneven application and some fallout, particularly with the more sparkly shades. The matte eyeshadows were more pigmented and smoother on average but still were on the thinner side with slight to moderate powderiness, which resulted in light fallout and/or the color sheering out too readily on bare skin.
Browse all of our Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Luxe Eyeshadow swatches.
Desert Dunes #2
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Desert Dunes #3
Desert Dunes #3 is a blackened brown with cool undertones and a semi-matte finish.
Medium coverage
Dry, thin, powdery
Applied unevenly, had fallout
Prone to fading (6 hours of wear)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Melt Cosmetics Rott #2 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Lifestyle (LE, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
- Guerlain Royal Jungle #3 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Adagio (PiP, $8.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- NARS Moshpit (LE, $25.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar).
- NARS Mekong (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Give Me Glow Dirt Road (P, $7.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Roundhouse (DC, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Anastasia Deep Brown (P, $12.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Give a Glam (P, $20.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The formula is supposed to be "highly pigmented" with "stay-true color" that won't smudge, crease, or settle into fine lines and doesn't "flake or dust onto face." The quality of the more matte shades was typically higher than the shimmer shades, but all of the finishes seeme to be particularly short-wearing and made it seem like my lids "ate" the eyeshadows quite quickly.
Some of the shimmers were drier and thinner, which resulted in uneven application and some fallout, particularly with the more sparkly shades. The matte eyeshadows were more pigmented and smoother on average but still were on the thinner side with slight to moderate powderiness, which resulted in light fallout and/or the color sheering out too readily on bare skin.
Browse all of our Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Luxe Eyeshadow swatches.
Desert Dunes #3
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Desert Dunes #4
Desert Dunes #4 is a darker peach with warm, orange undertones and a matte finish.
- Semi-opaque coverage
- Finely-milled but moderately powdery
- Prone to sheering out
- Best applied over tacky primer
- Prone to fading (6 hours of wear)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Sandalwood (LE, $4.50) is darker (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Belle de Peche #1 (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Viseart Lovelorn (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Shell We Celebrate (LE, $20.00) is darker (80% similar).
- NARS Hammamet I (P, $19.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar).
- Sephora Flawless (332) (P, $9.00) is darker (80% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild VI Purple #5 (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (80% similar).
- ColourPop Crime Fighting (LE, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Urban Decay Caution (PiP, $19.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar).
- Sephora Biscotti (LE, ) is darker (80% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The formula is supposed to be "highly pigmented" with "stay-true color" that won't smudge, crease, or settle into fine lines and doesn't "flake or dust onto face." The quality of the more matte shades was typically higher than the shimmer shades, but all of the finishes seeme to be particularly short-wearing and made it seem like my lids "ate" the eyeshadows quite quickly.
Some of the shimmers were drier and thinner, which resulted in uneven application and some fallout, particularly with the more sparkly shades. The matte eyeshadows were more pigmented and smoother on average but still were on the thinner side with slight to moderate powderiness, which resulted in light fallout and/or the color sheering out too readily on bare skin.
Browse all of our Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Luxe Eyeshadow swatches.
Oh dear. This formula sounds absolutely atrocious. Like, HOW can they charge so much for such a lack of quality? 🤷🏻♀️
Thank you for the review Christine , you just saved me some cash. It is unacceptable for a luxury brand to put so a low quality eye shadow.
Oh, how sad! I was hoping these quads would redeem Estee Lauder (I remember when they were the ultimate luxury cosmetic brand back in the 70’s). I fear the rating of this quad – which looked so promising – might be an indication of what’s to come with the others! I liked the look of #3 in the swatch but reading about how poorly it performed – nope!
I was surprised they were as bad as they were! Like even the reviews on EL’s site are bleak!
I know, i just went to the EL website and read the reviews and they are awful! What a disappointment.
I feel like you know it’s REALLY bad if even retailer reviews say so, lol!
The first pictures I saw of these looked so nice! Very disappointing.
Thjis is why I ditched my EL eyeshadow palettes from long ago – Sea and Sky, Emerald Oasis – because the formula was so poor and it looks like nothing has changed.
This is actually inexcusable because these days, when a brand like EL, has access to the best technology, chemists etc and they put out this rubbish for a ridiculous price.
I’m going back to my SG singles that are a fraction of the cost and 50 times better quality.
EL has been trying to rebrand themselves in the “luxury” makeup marketplace.
FAIL.
That’s too bad. I really like this color combination.
You saved me money, this was the one I was eyeing. You are the best !!