Illamasqua Reflection Eyeshadow Palette ($46.50 for 0.20 oz.) is new for fall, and it is supposed to contain four “highly pigmented” eyeshadows with a “water-resistant” and “long-lasting” formula that is “silky” and “effortless” when applying and blending (per Illamasqua’s website). This is really a product that I think translates better in real life, under normal use, than it does in photos. It’s just not something that looks phenomenal in a close-up; no matter how lovely it seemed in person, the camera made the shades look a little iffy. If you like shimmering, sparkling cream eyeshadows, and you’re not going to be taking macro photos of your eye, I suspect you’ll still enjoy it. If you want your makeup to be immaculate, you’ll want to pass.

Every time I checked it in the mirror, I was struck by how pretty and sparkling the eyeshadows looked, but close-ups show that the product has room for improvement. Primarily, as these blend out, there’s an unevenness in texture that creates an almost patchy-looking appearance at times. I noticed that this happened a lot with Graphica, whereas Acute and Dart were much easier and forgiving. Precipice was a little chunky at times and was always the quickest shade to crease of the four.  They are water-resistant, so they won’t immediately smudge and run if your eyes are watery or water splashes on them, but if you rub at them long enough, they will move.

Precipice is described as a “soft lemon.” It’s a soft, light yellow with a sparkling, shimmering finish. It was semi-opaque when applied, but it is shade that worked best when sheered out. If it was applied in layers or at more semi-opaque coverage (in a single layer), it was quick to crease (two to three hours), but if it was sheered out, it held up better and lasted six and a half hours before creasing. Maybelline Shady Shores is darker, yellower. NYX Hot Yellow is a powder. Make Up For Ever #102 is matte, powder. See comparison swatches.

Acute is described as an “ash taupe.” It’s a subtly warm-toned, taupe (mix of gray and brown, heavier on the brown) with a shimmery, sparkling finish. It had good color payoff, and it could be applied with mostly opaque color in a single layer. This shade wore well with only faint creasing visible after eight hours of wear. Edward Bess Dusk is less sparkly, powder. Urban Decay Lost is a powder. Urban Decay Midnight Rodeo is similar. Urban Decay Rehab is less sparkly. MAC Satin Taupe is darker, powder. Chanel Topkapi #2 is similar, powder. See comparison swatches.

Dart is described as a “toasted bronze.” It’s a medium-dark brown with bronze shimmer. It had mostly opaque color coverage in a single layer, which could be softened slightly. It wore well on without creasing for seven hours, but I saw some faint creasing just before the eight-hour mark. Urban Decay Ambush is more frosted, powder. MAC Divine Decadence is darker, powder. Bobbi Brown Golden Bronze is yellower. Too Faced Gangsta is similar, powder. See comparison swatches.

Graphica is described as a “graphite grey.” It’s a medium-dark gray with silver and teal micro-shimmer. This had semi-opaque color–it was weaker compared to the rest of the palette–and when sheered out tended to look a bit patchy. This shade creased after six hours of wear. Urban Decay Redemption is cooler-toned, powder. MAC Polished Jet is more sparkly. Urban Decay Asphalt is similar, powder. MAC Nighttrain is similar, powder. Make Up For Ever #1 is similar. See comparison swatches.

Illamasqua Reflection Eyeshadow Palette

Illamasqua Reflection Eyeshadow Palette

Illamasqua Reflection Eyeshadow Palette

Illamasqua Reflection Eyeshadow Palette

Illamasqua Reflection Eyeshadow Palette

Illamasqua Precipice Eyeshadow

Illamasqua Precipice Eyeshadow

Illamasqua Acute Eyeshadow

Illamasqua Acute Eyeshadow

Illamasqua Dart Eyeshadow

Illamasqua Dart Eyeshadow

Illamasqua Graphica Eyeshadow

Illamasqua Graphica Eyeshadow

Illamasqua Reflection Eyeshadow Palette: Acute (inner lid), Dart (outer lid),
Graphica (crease), Precipice (highlight)