Kaleidos Glowing Iris Eyeshadow Quad Review & Swatches

Glowing Iris
Kaleidos Glowing Iris Eyeshadow Quad ($22.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a purple-themed color story that featured three cooler-toned purple mattes, which were not perfect, but for the type of color they were, performed well. I would recommend pairing this with an eyeshadow primer, as well as ensuring to apply eye makeup prior to base so that any fallout could be dealt with!
Glowing Iris
PPermanent. $22.00.

Glowing Iris (Base)
Glowing Iris (Base) is a vivid, medium violet purple with strong, cool blue undertones and a matte finish.
- Semi-opaque color coverage
- Smooth, velvety consistency with some powderiness
- Applied and blended out well but sheered out a bit
- Long-wearing (8 hours on average)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Sugarpill Velocity (P, $13.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop On Paper (PiP, $4.50) is lighter (90% similar).
- Give Me Glow Wink (P, $7.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Sugarpill Slow Dive (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Majorelle (PiP, $8.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Neo Blue (PiP, $6.99) is cooler (90% similar).
- Anastasia B2 (Norvina Vol. 2) (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Stage Dive (LE, $25.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Matmata (LE, $17.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Outremer (P, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The eyeshadow formula is supposed to have a "rich, velvety texture" that is "soft and creamy yet highly adhesive" so that there is "no creasing." It is touted as being "ultra-pigmented" with "minimal fallout" that "blends effortlessly."
Kaleidos' matte eyeshadows are their standout; they are velvety, smooth, and blendable with high coverage and are incredibly easy to use--they absolutely live up to "minimal fallout" and have that "soft and creamy yet highly adhesive" aspect going on.
The shimmer shades were smooth, pigmented, and denser without being overly thick or too heavy, so they picked up well with dry brushes and applied evenly to bare skin, they just didn't have quite the level of wow-factor for me compared to their matte formula. There was also more variance in the shimmer shades so not every shade was fantastic, whereas the matte shades performed more consistently in comparison.
This eyeshadow formula lived up to its rave reviews within the indie community, though. On me, they typically lasted around eight hours before fading visibly with some of the deeper mattes staying on a little longer.
Browse all of our Kaleidos Eyeshadow swatches.
Ingredients
Mica, Silica, Lauroyl Lysine, Dimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Aluminum hydroxide, Magnesium Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Chlorphenesin, Methicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ultramarine (CI 77007), Red 27 Lake (CI 45410), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Prussian Blue (CI 77510), Red 30 Lake (CI 73360).
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.
Glowing Iris (Base)
PiPPermanent in Palette.

Glowing Iris (Radiate)
Glowing Iris (Radiate) is a deeper lavender with cool undertones and a bright, metallic finish.
- Opaque pigmentation
- Smooth, moderately dense but not too firmly-pressed or thick
- Picked up well with a dry brush and applied evenly
- Long-wearing (8 hours on average)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Wet 'n' Wild Hasta La Costa Baby #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Hey Aunty (PiP, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Hype (P, $9.99) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Mythical (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Wishful Thinking (LE, $25.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Give Me Glow Pretty Little Lilac (P, $7.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Ultraviolet #1 (LE, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Stormborn (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Unleashed (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Stila Vivid Amethyst (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The eyeshadow formula is supposed to have a "rich, velvety texture" that is "soft and creamy yet highly adhesive" so that there is "no creasing." It is touted as being "ultra-pigmented" with "minimal fallout" that "blends effortlessly."
Kaleidos' matte eyeshadows are their standout; they are velvety, smooth, and blendable with high coverage and are incredibly easy to use--they absolutely live up to "minimal fallout" and have that "soft and creamy yet highly adhesive" aspect going on.
The shimmer shades were smooth, pigmented, and denser without being overly thick or too heavy, so they picked up well with dry brushes and applied evenly to bare skin, they just didn't have quite the level of wow-factor for me compared to their matte formula. There was also more variance in the shimmer shades so not every shade was fantastic, whereas the matte shades performed more consistently in comparison.
This eyeshadow formula lived up to its rave reviews within the indie community, though. On me, they typically lasted around eight hours before fading visibly with some of the deeper mattes staying on a little longer.
Browse all of our Kaleidos Eyeshadow swatches.
Ingredients
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Octyldodecanol, Talc, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Mica, Boron Nitride, Polybutene, Silica, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tin Oxide, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Magnesium Myristate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Powder (CI 77000), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxide (CI 77499), Ultramarine (CI 77007), Prussian Blue (CI 77510), Red 34 Lake (CI 15880).
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.
Glowing Iris (Radiate)
PiPPermanent in Palette.

Glowing Iris (Diffuse)
Glowing Iris (Diffuse) is a light purple with cooler undertones and a matte finish. It was powdery to the point where it did cause the product to sheer out noticeably.
- Medium color coverage
- Smooth, velvety consistency with some powderiness
- Applied and blended out well but sheered out
- Long-wearing (8 hours on average)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Escapism (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Sequence (P, $6.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Sugarpill Baby Doll (PiP, $13.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Terra Moons Lunar Haze (P, $6.00) is lighter (85% similar).
- ColourPop Wanted (PiP, $4.50) is lighter (85% similar).
- Glaminatrix Periwinkle (P, $7.30) is lighter (85% similar).
- ColourPop Selfie (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- MAC Cobalt (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, cooler (80% similar).
- KVD Beauty Dope (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
- ColourPop The Aquarius (P, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The eyeshadow formula is supposed to have a "rich, velvety texture" that is "soft and creamy yet highly adhesive" so that there is "no creasing." It is touted as being "ultra-pigmented" with "minimal fallout" that "blends effortlessly."
Kaleidos' matte eyeshadows are their standout; they are velvety, smooth, and blendable with high coverage and are incredibly easy to use--they absolutely live up to "minimal fallout" and have that "soft and creamy yet highly adhesive" aspect going on.
The shimmer shades were smooth, pigmented, and denser without being overly thick or too heavy, so they picked up well with dry brushes and applied evenly to bare skin, they just didn't have quite the level of wow-factor for me compared to their matte formula. There was also more variance in the shimmer shades so not every shade was fantastic, whereas the matte shades performed more consistently in comparison.
This eyeshadow formula lived up to its rave reviews within the indie community, though. On me, they typically lasted around eight hours before fading visibly with some of the deeper mattes staying on a little longer.
Browse all of our Kaleidos Eyeshadow swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Mica, Silica, kaolin, Synthetic Wax, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate, Octyldodecanol, Dimethicone, Methicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aluminum hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ultramarine (CI 77007), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850).
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.
Glowing Iris (Diffuse)
PiPPermanent in Palette.

Glowing Iris (Accentuate)
Glowing Iris (Accentuate) is a rich, deeper violet purple with cool, blue undertones and a matte finish. If you use a primer, that helped a lot with managing the powderiness.
- Semi-opaque color coverage
- Smooth, velvety consistency with some powderiness
- Applied and blended out well but sheered out a bit
- Long-wearing (8 hours on average)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Ace Beaute Eve (DC, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Sephora Whoopee Party (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Give Me Glow Grapeness (P, $7.00) is lighter, brighter (80% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Predator (LE, $6.50) is lighter (80% similar).
- Anastasia B2 (Norvina Vol. 2) (LE, ) is lighter (80% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The eyeshadow formula is supposed to have a "rich, velvety texture" that is "soft and creamy yet highly adhesive" so that there is "no creasing." It is touted as being "ultra-pigmented" with "minimal fallout" that "blends effortlessly."
Kaleidos' matte eyeshadows are their standout; they are velvety, smooth, and blendable with high coverage and are incredibly easy to use--they absolutely live up to "minimal fallout" and have that "soft and creamy yet highly adhesive" aspect going on.
The shimmer shades were smooth, pigmented, and denser without being overly thick or too heavy, so they picked up well with dry brushes and applied evenly to bare skin, they just didn't have quite the level of wow-factor for me compared to their matte formula. There was also more variance in the shimmer shades so not every shade was fantastic, whereas the matte shades performed more consistently in comparison.
This eyeshadow formula lived up to its rave reviews within the indie community, though. On me, they typically lasted around eight hours before fading visibly with some of the deeper mattes staying on a little longer.
Browse all of our Kaleidos Eyeshadow swatches.
Ingredients
Mica, Aluminum hydroxide, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Lauroyl Lysine, Dimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Magnesium Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Chlorphenesin, Methicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ultramarine (CI 77007), Iron Oxide (CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Red 30 Lake (CI 73360), Prussian Blue (CI 77510).
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.
Glowing Iris (Accentuate)
PiPPermanent in Palette.

Kaleidos Glowing Iris Eyeshadow Quad

Kaleidos Glowing Iris Eyeshadow Quad

Kaleidos Glowing Iris Eyeshadow Quad

Kaleidos Glowing Iris Eyeshadow Quad

Kaleidos Glowing Iris Eyeshadow Quad

Kaleidos Glowing Iris Eyeshadow Quad

Kaleidos Glowing Iris Eyeshadow Quad

Kaleidos Glowing Iris (Base) Eyeshadow

Kaleidos Glowing Iris (Base) Eyeshadow

Kaleidos Glowing Iris (Radiate) Eyeshadow

Kaleidos Glowing Iris (Radiate) Eyeshadow

Kaleidos Glowing Iris (Diffuse) Eyeshadow

Kaleidos Glowing Iris (Diffuse) Eyeshadow

Kaleidos Glowing Iris (Accentuate) Eyeshadow

Kaleidos Glowing Iris (Accentuate) Eyeshadow
Because blue-purple mattes are incredibly difficult to formulate, and I always use primer for every eye look, I’m not mad at this quad! But; my one fear is that these vivid tones of matte “blurple” would wash out my blue-green eyes. I am on the fence with this one. I would have to see it on the main two YT’ers who have similar eye colors to my own: Patti Alonso and Tarababyz before I would consider getting it.
I had my eye on this as I can’t resist cool toned purples but 2 out of 4 shades are more blue than purple and that color doesn’t suit me. I wish brands would include more pale shimmers for lid shades as I can’t get a full look out of a palette with only midtoned and dark shimmers. It’s even more important when there are less than 6 shades in a palette.
Ooo, pretty colors! I am really bad at matte eyeshadow though (it’s quite unforgiving on my weird, tissue-papery eyelids) so maybe I will see if I can find some shimmery ones in similar shades instead.
The shimmery purple shade is gorgeous, but the rest of the mattes just seem to miss the mark – in terms of colour and formula. I don’t think the brand has done these quad well at all.
The shimmers look so pretty! I have dupes of the mattes but still might pick this up . Love the shades .
Lovely to look at, but so sure I’d only use RAdiate and Accentuate, and a “B” isn’t enough for me for that.