Kosas Heat, Smolder, Fiery 10-Second Eye Eyeshadows Reviews & Swatches
Heat
Kosas Heat 10-Second Eye Eyeshadow ($15.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a light-medium rose gold with moderate, warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had semi-sheer color coverage, which was somewhat buildable but I had issues consistently building up the product as sometimes the underlying layer would flake off when disturbed. The texture was very fluid, watery, and spreadable to the point where it inherently diffused as it was spread out.
I couldn’t follow the brand’s instructions for application and achieve success at all; the only way to work with it was to immediately start blending it out, but the end result was somewhat uneven. It lasted for seven hours before fading on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Huda Beauty Supernova (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Magic Moment (PiP, ) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Tarte Hippocritical (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty About Last Night No. 06 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- YSL Paris #5 (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Mesmerising Maroon #3 (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Night Fever (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Melting Point (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Smashbox Rose Rocked (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Dreams #1 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$15.00/0.06 oz. - $250.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to "glide on like gel watercolor" that you "swipe on one eye at a time," then "wait 5-10 secs" and "tap, tap, tap (don't rub)." They describe it as "effortless, one-wash application."
I actually found that following the brand's instructions for application to be a recipe for disaster! By waiting, the product lost its slip and lifted away on a fingertip/brush and resulted in uneveness, patchiness, and an almost a "ring" of color wherever I tried to spread it out from. If I applied a swipe of product and immediately started to diffuse and blend it out, I was able to get a layer of somewhat even color that didn't have any lines of demarcation from where it was initially applied.
The texture was watery, thin, and cool to the touch, and while it was more emollient initially, it was the type of formula that instantly diffused so it was better to use less than what you think you need and build up if necessary. Building up went decently but it was a precarious situation that did not always work out, as sometimes building resulted in the base layer flaking off.
The coverage was semi-sheer to medium, depending on the shade, and it could be built up to some degree, again, depending on the shade. It would be more ideal for someone who was looking for sheerer coverage and purchasing a shade closer to their skin tone (which also helps to camouflage uneveness).
I don't have the original formula to compare, but from people who loved it, the new formula seems sheerer, less sparkly, and harder to work with overall.
Browse all of our Kosas 10-Second Eye Eyeshadow swatches.
Ingredients
Aqua/Water, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract/Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Mica, Alcohol, Silica, Propanediol, Glycerin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter/Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil/Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Galactoarabinan, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Honokiol, Potassium Sorbate, Tin Oxide, (+/-): CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491/Iron Oxides, CI 77499/Iron Oxides
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.
Heat
PPermanent. $15.00.
Smolder
Kosas Smolder 10-Second Eye Eyeshadow ($15.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a medium-dark bronze with moderate, warm undertones and a pearl finish. It had semi-sheer color coverage that did not build up consistently well, as sometimes the base layer would flake off, and I could typically see a slight “ring” wherever the two layers joined along the edges. The consistency was lightweight, spreadable, and more watery, but it dried down in about 10 seconds.
I couldn’t follow the brand’s instructions for application and achieve success at all; the only way to work with it was to immediately start blending it out, but the end result was somewhat uneven.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Violet Argente (LE, $46.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Supersonic Girl #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- NARS Riding High (LE, $19.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop A Little Quarky (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Underworld (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Better Society (PiP, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Moira Copper (P, $7.50) is lighter (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever Flame (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Moira I Mean (P, $8.50) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Romeo (PiP, $8.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$15.00/0.06 oz. - $250.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to "glide on like gel watercolor" that you "swipe on one eye at a time," then "wait 5-10 secs" and "tap, tap, tap (don't rub)." They describe it as "effortless, one-wash application."
I actually found that following the brand's instructions for application to be a recipe for disaster! By waiting, the product lost its slip and lifted away on a fingertip/brush and resulted in uneveness, patchiness, and an almost a "ring" of color wherever I tried to spread it out from. If I applied a swipe of product and immediately started to diffuse and blend it out, I was able to get a layer of somewhat even color that didn't have any lines of demarcation from where it was initially applied.
The texture was watery, thin, and cool to the touch, and while it was more emollient initially, it was the type of formula that instantly diffused so it was better to use less than what you think you need and build up if necessary. Building up went decently but it was a precarious situation that did not always work out, as sometimes building resulted in the base layer flaking off.
The coverage was semi-sheer to medium, depending on the shade, and it could be built up to some degree, again, depending on the shade. It would be more ideal for someone who was looking for sheerer coverage and purchasing a shade closer to their skin tone (which also helps to camouflage uneveness).
I don't have the original formula to compare, but from people who loved it, the new formula seems sheerer, less sparkly, and harder to work with overall.
Browse all of our Kosas 10-Second Eye Eyeshadow swatches.
Ingredients
Aqua/Water, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract/Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Mica, Alcohol, Silica, Propanediol, Glycerin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter/Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil/Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Galactoarabinan, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Honokiol, Potassium Sorbate, Tin Oxide, (+/-): CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491/Iron Oxides, CI 77499/Iron Oxides
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.
Smolder
PPermanent. $15.00.
Fiery
Kosas Fiery 10-Second Eye Eyeshadow ($15.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a dark copper with muted, warm undertones and a satin sheen. It had semi-sheer pigmentation that was somewhat buildable, but it was difficult to get an even second layer as I could always see where the two layers joined along the edges — almost like a ring. The consistency was very fluid, watery, but it definitely dried down in 10 seconds and was more prone to flaking than fading over eight hours.
I couldn’t follow the brand’s instructions for application and achieve success at all; the only way to work with it was to immediately start blending it out, but the end result was somewhat uneven.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Dior Sienna #4 (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Milani Sunsets by the Beach (PiP, $5.99) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Smashbox Outfoxed (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Devinah Cosmetics Gild (PiP, $5.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Leopard Sun #3 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Bogart (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Dior Cruise Look #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Alnwick (DC, $25.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Caramel Brown #2 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop DJ (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$15.00/0.06 oz. - $250.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to "glide on like gel watercolor" that you "swipe on one eye at a time," then "wait 5-10 secs" and "tap, tap, tap (don't rub)." They describe it as "effortless, one-wash application."
I actually found that following the brand's instructions for application to be a recipe for disaster! By waiting, the product lost its slip and lifted away on a fingertip/brush and resulted in uneveness, patchiness, and an almost a "ring" of color wherever I tried to spread it out from. If I applied a swipe of product and immediately started to diffuse and blend it out, I was able to get a layer of somewhat even color that didn't have any lines of demarcation from where it was initially applied.
The texture was watery, thin, and cool to the touch, and while it was more emollient initially, it was the type of formula that instantly diffused so it was better to use less than what you think you need and build up if necessary. Building up went decently but it was a precarious situation that did not always work out, as sometimes building resulted in the base layer flaking off.
The coverage was semi-sheer to medium, depending on the shade, and it could be built up to some degree, again, depending on the shade. It would be more ideal for someone who was looking for sheerer coverage and purchasing a shade closer to their skin tone (which also helps to camouflage uneveness).
I don't have the original formula to compare, but from people who loved it, the new formula seems sheerer, less sparkly, and harder to work with overall.
Browse all of our Kosas 10-Second Eye Eyeshadow swatches.
Ingredients
Aqua/Water, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract/Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Mica, Alcohol, Silica, Propanediol, Glycerin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter/Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil/Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Galactoarabinan, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Honokiol, Potassium Sorbate, Tin Oxide, (+/-): CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491/Iron Oxides, CI 77499/Iron Oxides
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.
Yuck. 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼
What Nancy said.
Same.
Allow me to repeat my downer lament about how they put out a garbage product on purpose that will now take hundreds (thousands?) of years to breakdown in that landfill they’ll end up in soon enough.
Feeling sadder now, but it’s true and well worth thinking about.
So very, very disappointing as the shades are lovely colours. Just as well we have the dupe list….
Fiery could have been a fab summer one and done.. not to be.
Why the hell they could not just put a functional stopper on the 10 second liquid shadows i’ll never understand.