Kaja Orange Blossom Shimmer Eyeshadow Trio Review & Swatches
Orange Blossom
Kaja Orange Blossom Beauty Bento Bouncy Shimmer Eyeshadow Trio ($21.00 for 0.09 oz.) includes three, ultra-sparkly “cream-powder” eyeshadows that are explicitly recommended to be applied with fingertips. The good news is that for those who prefer brushes, they work well with denser brushes (think shader brushes), and they were easy to use with dry brushes but could be amplified further with a wet brush. They were pigmented, sparkly, and shiny with good adherence to bare skin, minimal (sometimes none) fallout during application, and slight fallout during wear. I found they were more prone to slight creasing by the eight-hour mark rather than lots of fallout.
Though it’s not the easiest packaging to see all the shades at once, it is compact, lightweight, and travel-friendly. Each shade is 0.03 oz., which is smaller than the average full-sized eyeshadow but still plenty of product to work with (they don’t feel mini!). The price point is a sweet spot for mid-end, I think, and this type of product is great for augmenting one’s stash with its type of product (super sparkly!) and size.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Formula Overview
$21.00/0.09 oz. - $233.33 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "uniform shimmer in every swipe" that is best applied "with your fingers." They have a dimethicone-heavy feel (unsurprising given it was typically the first ingredient in each shade), so there's a velvety slip that is lightly emollient but not truly wet or cream-like to the touch. I found them to be more powder-like than cream-like, but they had the binding and hold of a creamier formula. They applied well to bare skin without the need of primer, adhesive sprays, or glitter glue for pretty stellar wear--they often lasted between eight and 10 hours on me with slight fallout. I more often saw faint creasing after eight hours than much in the way of fallout.
Fingertips will definitely yield the most pigmented the quickest, but I didn't struggle to use brushes (my preferred method for precision) and found that brushes often packed semi-opaque or opaque coverage as well. I also tried them wet and didn't find that to cause issues to the pan, and it did give some shades a smoother, shinier finish but wasn't necessary to use them (more like a bonus). I didn't have issues with fallout whether I used my fingertips or brushes to apply; I pressed and gently pulled the brush across my lid area to distribute the product (same technique I use for high-shimmer/metallic shades). They were impressive; they were magical--if you love sparkly, shiny eyeshadows, they're well worth a look!
Browse all of our Kaja Beauty Bento Bouncy Shimmer Eyeshadow Trio swatches.
Look Using this Product
Orange Blossom
PPermanent. $21.00.
Sandy Peach
Sandy Peach is a light, peachy-pink with warm undertones and flecks of gold and pink sparkle and finer shimmer. The color payoff was opaque in a single layer when applied with fingertips, as advised (so that’s what the ratings are based on!), though I was still able to get nearly opaque coverage using a dry brush. Fingertips tended to apply the product more smoothly to the lid more quickly, almost as if it was applied wet with a brush.
The texture was smooth, emollient, and had that silicone slip I’d expect based on the ingredient list (dimethicone is first in line). I was impressed by how well the eyeshadow adhered to bare skin and how there wasn’t fallout when applied with a fingertip and barely any when I used a brush. It stayed on well for eight and a half hours before creasing faintly on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Reunion (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Amour (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty White Suede #1 (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Body Heat #1 (PiP, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- NARS Singapore #1 (PiP, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Solar Exposure #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Peacocky (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- MAC Flashbeams (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop The Most (P, $4.50) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Laura Mercier Wild Rose (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The formula is supposed to have "uniform shimmer in every swipe" that is best applied "with your fingers." They have a dimethicone-heavy feel (unsurprising given it was typically the first ingredient in each shade), so there's a velvety slip that is lightly emollient but not truly wet or cream-like to the touch. I found them to be more powder-like than cream-like, but they had the binding and hold of a creamier formula. They applied well to bare skin without the need of primer, adhesive sprays, or glitter glue for pretty stellar wear--they often lasted between eight and 10 hours on me with slight fallout. I more often saw faint creasing after eight hours than much in the way of fallout.
Fingertips will definitely yield the most pigmented the quickest, but I didn't struggle to use brushes (my preferred method for precision) and found that brushes often packed semi-opaque or opaque coverage as well. I also tried them wet and didn't find that to cause issues to the pan, and it did give some shades a smoother, shinier finish but wasn't necessary to use them (more like a bonus). I didn't have issues with fallout whether I used my fingertips or brushes to apply; I pressed and gently pulled the brush across my lid area to distribute the product (same technique I use for high-shimmer/metallic shades). They were impressive; they were magical--if you love sparkly, shiny eyeshadows, they're well worth a look!
Browse all of our Kaja Bouncy Shimmer Eyeshadow swatches.
Look Using this Product
Sandy Peach
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Sun-kissed Tan
Sun-kissed Tan is a bright, medium-dark coral with strong, warm undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish. It had rich pigmentation applied with a fingertip and had only a few stray sparkles drop during application. If brushes are preferred, I found them manageable but this shade was a bit sheerer and chunkier to work with, so there was a little bit of fallout during application but nothing deal-breaking, in my opinion.
The eyeshadow had a smoother, more emollient feel to it, but it was thin and held together well so it did feel a bit like the cream-powder it was described as. It stayed on well for eight hours with slight fallout over time and a bit of creasing toward the end.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Fenty Beauty La'Bronze (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Saguaro (LE, $9.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Glaminatrix Nearly Natural (PiP, $8.04) is lighter (90% similar).
- Viseart Apricot (PiP, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Coral #1 (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Dior Coral Canvas #1 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Viseart Marmalade (LE, ) is brighter (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Gloaming (315DC) (PiP, $29.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk #3 (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Morphe Little Lady (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The formula is supposed to have "uniform shimmer in every swipe" that is best applied "with your fingers." They have a dimethicone-heavy feel (unsurprising given it was typically the first ingredient in each shade), so there's a velvety slip that is lightly emollient but not truly wet or cream-like to the touch. I found them to be more powder-like than cream-like, but they had the binding and hold of a creamier formula. They applied well to bare skin without the need of primer, adhesive sprays, or glitter glue for pretty stellar wear--they often lasted between eight and 10 hours on me with slight fallout. I more often saw faint creasing after eight hours than much in the way of fallout.
Fingertips will definitely yield the most pigmented the quickest, but I didn't struggle to use brushes (my preferred method for precision) and found that brushes often packed semi-opaque or opaque coverage as well. I also tried them wet and didn't find that to cause issues to the pan, and it did give some shades a smoother, shinier finish but wasn't necessary to use them (more like a bonus). I didn't have issues with fallout whether I used my fingertips or brushes to apply; I pressed and gently pulled the brush across my lid area to distribute the product (same technique I use for high-shimmer/metallic shades). They were impressive; they were magical--if you love sparkly, shiny eyeshadows, they're well worth a look!
Browse all of our Kaja Bouncy Shimmer Eyeshadow swatches.
Look Using this Product
Sun-kissed Tan
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Baked Cinnamon
Baked Cinnamon is a light, golden brown with warm undertones and a sparkling, shiny finish. It had opaque pigmentation when applied with fingertips (as recommended), and it had mostly opaque coverage applied with a dry brush (rating isn’t based on that). The texture was smooth to the touch, emollient without feeling that sparkly, and it adhered evenly and smoothly to bare skin without fallout. It wore well for eight hours on me before creasing faintly but had very, very little fallout.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Bamboo-zled (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Anastasia Streak (LE, $12.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Lava Lustre #2 (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- Buxom Bold Bling (P, $12.00) is less shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Anastasia B2 (Norvina Vol. 1) (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Jouer Champagne Bronze (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Anastasia D3 (Norvina Vol. 4) (LE, $12.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Ritz (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Star Aura (Define) (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Viseart Balmy (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The formula is supposed to have "uniform shimmer in every swipe" that is best applied "with your fingers." They have a dimethicone-heavy feel (unsurprising given it was typically the first ingredient in each shade), so there's a velvety slip that is lightly emollient but not truly wet or cream-like to the touch. I found them to be more powder-like than cream-like, but they had the binding and hold of a creamier formula. They applied well to bare skin without the need of primer, adhesive sprays, or glitter glue for pretty stellar wear--they often lasted between eight and 10 hours on me with slight fallout. I more often saw faint creasing after eight hours than much in the way of fallout.
Fingertips will definitely yield the most pigmented the quickest, but I didn't struggle to use brushes (my preferred method for precision) and found that brushes often packed semi-opaque or opaque coverage as well. I also tried them wet and didn't find that to cause issues to the pan, and it did give some shades a smoother, shinier finish but wasn't necessary to use them (more like a bonus). I didn't have issues with fallout whether I used my fingertips or brushes to apply; I pressed and gently pulled the brush across my lid area to distribute the product (same technique I use for high-shimmer/metallic shades). They were impressive; they were magical--if you love sparkly, shiny eyeshadows, they're well worth a look!
Browse all of our Kaja Bouncy Shimmer Eyeshadow swatches.
I have the rose colored set of these and absolutely love them!
Dang, I had a feeling these were going to review great! I’ve added this to my cart for my next Sephora haul!
I’m so happy to see the “Temptalia Recommends” sticker of approval on this trip, as it is my favorite of the three that you bought to review! I love that it’s small enough to bring along in my bag, too. This way, if I’m in a hurry, I can do all my crease work, eyeliner and mascara, but pop this on after I leave home if necessary.
Pretty!
After seeing Tara review these in her last Saturday night haul, I was really wanting to pick up all four but given no buy and no reviews from anyone I trusted besides, Tara, I decided to wait. I hope the others are as good as this one as this would probably be my least favorite of the shade combos. I have so many of these shades but then that could be said of all four combos, LOL!! Anyway, I would likely start with a more pinkier one and then I believe there is one that is more bronze related. I will probably pick one up next Tuesday as I want to try and get a $100.00 point perk before the upcoming sale. I hope they announce the dates of the sale pretty soon. I was surprised, though I don’t know why since I haven’t purchased anything from Sephora since November, that I am so far away from being a Rouge this year, YAY!! It has been my goal for the past 3 years and I have always failed really significantly but this year I may make it! The only thing I will miss about being Rouge is the early access but if you aren’t buying much it doesn’t matter very much. Funny how it has taken me so long to figure this out, LOL. Lovely eye look and I have to decide which of the four I am ordering. So much personal growth and at my age also. There was a time not so long ago that I would have ordered all four and likely 2 of each so my daughter would have them also. She has really cut back on her buying and says she doesn’t want anything now so money saved as Christine always says.
Wow – I really like this beautiful little trio of shades. They complement each other and all of them are of good quality. Gorgeous eye look Christine.
Thanks for the review. Iām a sucker for cute packaging and the price and shades are right for me. It reminds me of spending a couple of weeks in Seoul, with an Etude House and Innisfree right across the street. Oh, to be able to spend time at Korean beauty stores without boys in tow…a girl can dream, anyway!
I am definitely picking this one up during the Spring Sale! I bought their rosy/berry toned one during the Fall Sale, and I love the formula. I’m so glad you chose to review these, and that they’re doing so well!