Kosas 8th Muse High Intensity Color & Light Palette Review & Swatches
8th Muse (High Intensity)
Kosas 8th Muse (High Intensity) Color and Light Palette ($34.00 for 0.32 oz.) is the more intense coverage version of the shade and includes a bright, pink blush paired with a pearly, warm rose highlighter. The blush lived up to its “High Intensity” descriptor and was quite pigmented, but the highlighter seemed more like semi-sheer to medium and didn’t build much beyond medium coverage. The highlighter wasn’t quite as easy to apply as the blush, but they were both easy enough to apply and lasted for eight hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Formula Overview
$34.00/0.32 oz. - $106.25 Per Ounce
Each shade in the range has two levels of color intensity; each shade has a "High Intensity" version, which offers "double the pigment" compared to the regular shade (which has less intense, more "buildable" coverage). The formula is supposed to offer "easy-to-apply, blendable" blush that is paired with a "complementary" highlighter with.
In my experience, the High Intensity version offered greater pigmentation but also offered a more saturated take on the color scheme; it felt more like making a certain color combination work for both lighter and deeper complexions rather than just doubling up on the pigment. The regular shades were semi-sheer to medium coverage and were buildable. The High Intensity shades were definitely higher coverage and typically ran semi-opaque to opaque.
The consistency was creamy with moderate slip and felt like a traditional cream brush (wet to the touch, emollient, and thin). They applied well to bare skin as well as over foundation for the most part, though a few shades could have been more foolproof to work with over base products. The more shimmery shades (like highlighters) felt slightly more emollient compared to more cream-finish shades (like blushes).
As they're a creamier product, they sheer out and blend quite well during application, so one often needs to pat on a second layer to amp up the coverage (rather than applying more heavily) if higher coverage is desired (less necessary with High Intensity shades).
The formula dried down for the most part but didn't look totally flat or matte. As a result, they didn't slide around too easily during wear on my skin. Most shades started to show signs of fading after seven to eight hours of wear, which is average most cheek colors for me.
Browse all of our Kosas Color and Light Palette swatches.
Ingredients
8th Muse (High Intensity)
PPermanent. $34.00.
8th Muse (High Intensity) (Blush)
8th Muse (High Intensity) (Blush) is a deep pink with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. It appeared dewier initially, but once applied and diffused on my skin, it dried down and had more of a satin finish–skin-like but not wet-looking.
It had semi-opaque to opaque coverage in a single layer, which was definitely “double the pigment” compared to the regular version of this shade, and it was also much deeper and brighter. I felt like for those who wanted a lighter or sheerer pink, it needed a lighter hand to achieve that, so it was best suited for those who want or need greater intensity.
The product spread easily, while it sheered out somewhat but definitely retained a lot of its pigment. I didn’t have issues applying this over bare skin or over foundation. It stayed on well for eight and a half hours before fading visibly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Fenty Beauty Crush on Cupid (P, $20.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Too Faced Plumagranate (Blush) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Salt New York Raspberry (P, $16.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Chanel Hyperfresh (360) (P, $45.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Peony Droppa (LE, $20.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Clinique Berry Pop (03) (P, $21.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- About Face Laid (P, $18.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Clinique Plum Pop (04) (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- By Terry Tropical Sunset #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Flamenco (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter, glossier (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
Each shade in the range has two levels of color intensity; each shade has a "High Intensity" version, which offers "double the pigment" compared to the regular shade (which has less intense, more "buildable" coverage). The formula is supposed to offer "easy-to-apply, blendable" blush that is paired with a "complementary" highlighter with.
In my experience, the High Intensity version offered greater pigmentation but also offered a more saturated take on the color scheme; it felt more like making a certain color combination work for both lighter and deeper complexions rather than just doubling up on the pigment. The regular shades were semi-sheer to medium coverage and were buildable. The High Intensity shades were definitely higher coverage and typically ran semi-opaque to opaque.
The consistency was creamy with moderate slip and felt like a traditional cream brush (wet to the touch, emollient, and thin). They applied well to bare skin as well as over foundation for the most part, though a few shades could have been more foolproof to work with over base products. The more shimmery shades (like highlighters) felt slightly more emollient compared to more cream-finish shades (like blushes).
As they're a creamier product, they sheer out and blend quite well during application, so one often needs to pat on a second layer to amp up the coverage (rather than applying more heavily) if higher coverage is desired (less necessary with High Intensity shades).
The formula dried down for the most part but didn't look totally flat or matte. As a result, they didn't slide around too easily during wear on my skin. Most shades started to show signs of fading after seven to eight hours of wear, which is average most cheek colors for me.
Browse all of our Kosas Cream Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Mica, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Caprylic/Aapric Triglyceride, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Microcrystalline Wax, C10-18 Triglycerides, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax; Caprylyl Glycol, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, [+/ -: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Red 7 Lake (CI15850), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Red 30 Lake (CI 73360), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Yellow 5 (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.
8th Muse (High Intensity) (Blush)
PiPPermanent in Palette.
8th Muse (High Intensity) (Highlighter)
8th Muse (High Intensity) (Highlighter) is a light-medium pink with strong, warm undertones and a luminous sheen. The texture was moderately emollient, creamy, and lightweight but seemed to sheer out a fair amount in practice, so while it seemed to have more semi-sheer to medium coverage initially, it was definitely sheer in action. It was somewhat buildable but didn’t develop more than medium coverage for me.
The product applied easily over bare skin, but I had to be more careful applying it over base products as it seemed more prone to lifting my foundation up. It wore nicely for eight hours before fading visibly on my skin.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Clionadh Clionadh (Dark) (P, $12.50) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Anastasia Sassy Grape (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Starlight (LE, $20.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Cool (Winter 2016) Highlighter (LE, $60.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Halo Gorgeous (P, $5.99) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Physicians Formula Pink (P, $10.99) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Pink Gold Glow (LE, $48.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Becca Amethyst Flashes Geode (LE, $34.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Sol Body Catwalk (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Give Me Glow You Wanna Peach of Me (P, $17.25) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
Each shade in the range has two levels of color intensity; each shade has a "High Intensity" version, which offers "double the pigment" compared to the regular shade (which has less intense, more "buildable" coverage). The formula is supposed to offer "easy-to-apply, blendable" blush that is paired with a "complementary" highlighter with.
In my experience, the High Intensity version offered greater pigmentation but also offered a more saturated take on the color scheme; it felt more like making a certain color combination work for both lighter and deeper complexions rather than just doubling up on the pigment. The regular shades were semi-sheer to medium coverage and were buildable. The High Intensity shades were definitely higher coverage and typically ran semi-opaque to opaque.
The consistency was creamy with moderate slip and felt like a traditional cream brush (wet to the touch, emollient, and thin). They applied well to bare skin as well as over foundation for the most part, though a few shades could have been more foolproof to work with over base products. The more shimmery shades (like highlighters) felt slightly more emollient compared to more cream-finish shades (like blushes).
As they're a creamier product, they sheer out and blend quite well during application, so one often needs to pat on a second layer to amp up the coverage (rather than applying more heavily) if higher coverage is desired (less necessary with High Intensity shades).
The formula dried down for the most part but didn't look totally flat or matte. As a result, they didn't slide around too easily during wear on my skin. Most shades started to show signs of fading after seven to eight hours of wear, which is average most cheek colors for me.
Browse all of our Kosas Cream Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mica, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Microcrystalline Wax, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, C10-18 Triglycerides, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax; Caprylyl Glycol, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Silica, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tin Oxide, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, [+/ -: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491)]
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.
Can you tell I love these shades! I have four of the blush dupes. This is really pretty also but I don’t need it. Really, really pretty, though!
Even though I really love both shades in this duo, I’m a bit of trepidation using a cream cheek product during this pandemic with my having to wear a mask. Perhaps next summer…?♀️
Holy moly, that is a bright blush – but at least it’s of good quality.