Makeup Geek Duochrome Eyeshadows Reviews, Photos, Swatches (Part 1)
Makeup Geek Blacklight Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Blacklight Eyeshadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is described as an “electric purple base with icy blue reflects.” It’s a light-medium, warm lavender purple with an iridescent, blue-to-violet frosted sheen. It had good color payoff with a soft, lightly buttery texture that was denser than most of Makeup Geek’s powder eyeshadow range. This shade lasted for seven and a half hours before creasing on me. I think the duochrome shift is subtle in this one, but it is more iridescent, so you get more of a nuanced look at all angles (but just less shift). Urban Decay Tonic (DC, $19.00) is warmer (95% similar). Pat McGrath Lavender Blue (LE, $25.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). Terra Moons Take Me to Terra (P, $6.25) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar). Urban Decay Bend the Knee (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). MAC Cheers My Dear (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Buxom La-La-Lavish (P, $12.00) is darker (95% similar). Makeup Geek Daydreamer (P, $9.99) is cooler (85% similar). ColourPop Cake Walk (LE, $4.50) is lighter (90% similar). NARS Lunar (LE, $25.00) is more shimmery, darker, more muted (90% similar). ColourPop Skydancer (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery (90% similar). Huda Beauty Lilac #6 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar). Anastasia Purple Horseshoe (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Datura (DC, $14.00) is cooler (90% similar). Huda Beauty Lilac #2 (LE, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Give Me Glow Princess Pink (P, $7.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). ColourPop Luna (Sailor Moon) (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). ColourPop Mind's Eye (LE, $4.50) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Ciate Mood (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). MAC Sunphoria (Feminine Wiles) (LE, $20.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). NARS Lunar (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Makeup Geek Mai Tai Eyeshadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is described as an “apricot base with orchid reflects.” It’s a light-medium, yellowed orange with a pinkish lavender shift. At certain angles, it appears warmer and more orange, and at others, it appears much pinker. It had good color payoff with a soft, blendable texture that applied well to bare skin and wore well for seven and a half hours before creasing. Urban Decay Duchess (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar). Becca Pink Sapphire (LE, $38.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Urban Decay Fireball (DC, $19.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). ColourPop Time Out (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery (90% similar). Urban Decay OC (DC, $26.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). ColourPop Heavy Glam (P, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). Too Faced Honeymoon (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). ColourPop Bouquet Toss (LE, $4.50) is warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Fairy Godmother (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). LORAC Sunday Funday (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). bareMinerals Shazam (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar). Coloured Raine Happy Daze (DC, $6.99) is less shimmery (90% similar). Rare Beauty Boost (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty The Dreamer #6 (PiP, ) is darker (85% similar). Too Faced Bellini (PiP, $16.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar). ColourPop Peace Sign (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Buxom Glitz Factor (P, $12.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Huda Beauty Mauve #2 (PiP, ) is darker (85% similar). Urban Decay Freelove (DC, $19.00) is darker (85% similar). MAC Gleam (P, $17.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Makeup Geek Phantom Eyeshadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is described as a “white base with violet purple reflects.” It’s a light-medium, lavender purple with cool undertones and a pearly shimmer-sheen. It had semi-opaque color payoff with a lightly powdery texture–it tended to look a little dry and chalky on my skin–that I bet would look great over a stronger base color. I couldn’t detect any genuine shifting of the color (even in person and contorting my arm into odd positions!), just a general iridescence/shimmer. It lasted for seven hours before fading and creasing. Sephora Moonstone (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar). Fyrinnae Seattle Fog (P, $7.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). Tarina Tarantino Diamond Dusk #1 (DC, ) is lighter (95% similar). Make Up For Ever I916 Frosted Mauve (DC, $21.00) is lighter (90% similar). Sugarpill Supernova (PiP, $13.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). KVD Beauty Violator (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Fyrinnae Unicorn (P, $7.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Make Up For Ever 5 Frozen Purple (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Datura (DC, $14.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). Make Up For Ever I918 Lavender (DC, $21.00) is darker (90% similar). Urban Decay Roadstripe (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Ventura (P, $9.00) is lighter, more muted (85% similar). Viseart Wisteria (PiP, ) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar). Sydney Grace Mystery (P, $6.25) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Dior Pink Vibration #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar). KVD Beauty Astrological (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop The Crab (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). ColourPop Trainwreck (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). NABLA Cosmetics Adoration (PiP, ) is less pigmented (85% similar). Anastasia A1 (Norvina Vol. 1) (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Makeup Geek Rockstar Eyeshadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is described as a “pale silver with purple iridescence.” It’s a murky, light beige with cool undertones and a very subtle, pink-to-green shift. The texture on this is unlike the other duochrome eyeshadows released (and this was released prior); it has a much more powder-like feel and is less dense. It lasted for eight hours on me. bareMinerals Iridescent Iris (LE, $14.00) is darker (95% similar). Make Up For Ever #940 Star Powder (P, $20.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Cle de Peau Cosmic Aura #2 (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (95% similar). ColourPop Gecko (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). MAC Vex (P, $17.00) is warmer (95% similar). Makeup Geek Mood Ring (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, brighter (90% similar). theBalm Sandbar (LE, $16.00) is warmer (90% similar). NYX Snow Rose (P, $7.99) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Anastasia Pink Heart (LE, ) is lighter (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Makeup Geek Typhoon Eyeshadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is described as a “deep teal base with green and gold reflects.” It’s a muted, medium-dark green-teal base with lighter green and gold frost. This was another shade that I wasn’t able to see a real shift in it; the color seems more complex to me as the undertone reads cooler while the shimmer is bountiful and warmer in tone. The consistency was soft, smooth, and buttery, and it applied well to the skin. On me, it started to crease after seven and a half hours of wear. ColourPop Frog and Wife (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar). NABLA Cosmetics Rosemary (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Dose of Colors Palma (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Sugarpill Clickbait (P, $13.00) is lighter (90% similar). Sydney Grace Scrooge (DC, $8.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Urban Decay Big Sky (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Huda Beauty Emerald #5 (LE, ) is less shimmery (85% similar). Hello Kitty Three Apples (LE, ) is less shimmery (85% similar). Sydney Grace Levy (P, $6.00) is more muted (90% similar). Rouge Bunny Rouge Whispering Ibis (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar). Pat McGrath Supernova (LE, $25.00) is less shimmery, darker, brighter (85% similar). Chanel Griffith Green (126) (LE, $32.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Sydney Grace Scrooge (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, less pigmented, warmer (85% similar). NARS Filth and Fury (LE, $25.00) is less shimmery, more muted (85% similar). Morphe Diva (LE, ) is darker (85% similar). Sydney Grace On the Road Again (DC, $8.00) is lighter (80% similar). Melt Cosmetics Mean Green (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (80% similar). Clarins Garden Escape #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (80% similar). Buxom Money Maker (P, $12.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar). Sydney Grace Optimism (P, $6.00) is darker, brighter (80% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Makeup Geek Secret Garden Eyeshadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is described as a “deep espresso base with bright teal reflects.” It has purple-burgundy base with strong teal shimmer. I don’t get a lot of shifting from one color to the next, rather it is a complex color as the base is warmer and browner, and the shimmer is dense and produces strong teal color on top of the base–it has the effect of layering two dissimilar shades. The texture was dense and seemed to be pressed into the pan a bit harder than other shades, so it didn’t blend out quite as easily as anticipated. It wore well for seven and a half hours on me.
Buxom Twilight Tryst (P, $12.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Tarte Trendy (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar). Fyrinnae The Alchemist (P, $8.50) is less shimmery (95% similar). NARS Frioul (LE, $28.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Laura Mercier Turquoise Blaze (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Sephora Mermaid Tail (112) (LE, $13.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). MAC Deep Blue Green (PiP, $21.00) is more pigmented, warmer (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty The Siren #7 (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar). Kaja Magic (P, $16.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). bareMinerals Deep Sea (LE, $14.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Makeup Geek Houdini (P, $9.99) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Make Up For Ever ME302 Peacock (P, $17.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). KVD Beauty Kelly (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Smashbox Roll Deep (PiP, ) is more muted, warmer (85% similar). bareMinerals Dazzle (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). ColourPop Lucid (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). MAC I've Got a Crush on You (LE, $32.50) is warmer (80% similar). Makeup Geek Insomnia (P, $9.99) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Anastasia Throne (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar). Clionadh Wormwood (P, $5.25) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Blacklight
DCDiscontinued. $6.00.
Mai Tai
DCDiscontinued. $6.00.
Phantom
DCDiscontinued. $6.00.
Rockstar
DCDiscontinued. $6.00.
Typhoon
DCDiscontinued. $6.00.
Secret Garden
DCDiscontinued. $6.00.
See more photos & swatches!
Makeup Geek Blacklight Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Blacklight Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Blacklight Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Blacklight Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Blacklight Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Blacklight Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Mai Tai Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Mai Tai Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Mai Tai Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Mai Tai Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Mai Tai Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Mai Tai Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Phantom Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Phantom Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Phantom Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Phantom Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Phantom Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Phantom Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Rockstar Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Rockstar Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Rockstar Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Rockstar Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Rockstar Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Rockstar Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Typhoon Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Typhoon Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Typhoon Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Typhoon Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Typhoon Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Typhoon Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Secret Garden Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Secret Garden Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Secret Garden Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Secret Garden Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Secret Garden Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Secret Garden Eyeshadow
Mai Tai, Typhoon, Secret Garden, Blacklight, Phantom, Sephora My Boyfriend’s Jeans Eyeliner
Mai Tai, Typhoon, Secret Garden, Blacklight, Phantom, Sephora My Boyfriend’s Jeans Eyeliner
Love the eye look you created! Gotta get me some of these they’re gorgeous!
Thanks, Ariella!
I had my eye on most of the pigments because they look so gorgeous. I heard that a lot of people are receiving them and the jars are cracked? MUG has amazing customer service so I don’t think it should be too much of a problem. I think I will add Typhoon to my list as well its beautiful!
Completely random but I would love to see a review of the new Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Palette. I bought it but rely on a lot of your reviews for confidence, haha!
I reviewed that last week 🙂
Emily, I got my pigment (i only ordered one pigment and many shadows), their solution was to ship a new jar out (which would take a couple of weeks because they are back ordered) or get a dollar back in credit. It looked like the top was screwed on way too hard for the cheap packaging. I ended up just putting it in another container. I love the pigment. just the packaging is not good.
I agree that not all shades here look like true duochrome, more like multi-dimensional shimmers. They’re all very pretty nonetheless!
They are pretty, but yeah, not duochrome for all!
For something called duochrome I really wish there was a much stronger duochrome :/ The colors are all really pretty but they aren’t as shift-y as I had hoped.
If you want more shift, the pigments have more shift, IMO.
So happy these reviewed well! I hope the rest and the loose do so also! Secret Garden and Typhoon are gorgeous! I think these are going to make me place my first MUG order. Although, I may wait because of all of the Holiday goodies cluttering up my mind. So happy they are permanent! Does anyone know if MUG is good about restocking when they sell out? I’m worried about that happening with these.
They will restock, but their restocking time is long from what I remember – they are essentially placing a new order with their lab/manufacturer, and so it can take weeks/months. (Same as other brands, but it’s possible bigger brands or those with bigger budgets can pay to expedite.)
I see..Hmm.That changes thing as these will be nice to have around the holidays. I’ll wait for you to finish reviews and probably get at least some that stand ut to me to try. Thanks for fitting these in. I know you are swamped!
Thanks so much for the reviews!! I see shimmer, but the duo chrome isn’t as strong as I thought it was going to be in these shades. Undecided for now, will wait to see the next set of swatches. Secret Garden reminds me of NARS Pasiphae – do you see similarities?
My pleasure, Katherine!
I don’t see any similarities — http://www.temptalia.com/side-by-side?sbs_1_search=Secret+Garden&sbs_1=208541&sbs_2_search=Pasiphae&sbs_2=201346
Oh interesting! Pasiphae pulls browner and greener on my lid than your swatch, so maybe that’s where I saw some similarity
Thanks Katherine! You just inspired me to pull out my pan of Pasiphae to use in a look today!
These are so pretty! It’s interesting how that brown-blue/green duochrome is always the most shifty one in any collection. I wonder why that is?
Probably has something to do with the ingredient that actually does the shifting!
Typhoon and Secret Garden are just stunning <3 <3 <3
Glad ya liked ’em!
Pretty, but I think some of the lighter shades could have been more pigmented. I don’t see a shift in the green one, either.
I feel like some of these would be better described as multi-dimensional than duochrome!
I think I’d agree with that.
Love these!
Awesome, Alice!
I have gotta get Typhoon!!! Even though I *know* that wearing an eyeshadow that matches ones eye color is counterintuitive, I would still rock this puppy somehow, someway! ?
As for the other shades, I already have dupes. ?
Yay for dupes!
I actually like all of these! I’m not a huge fan of greens but these are the type I would like, I think. Backlight is so similar to the UD dupe. I love that shade so it’s tempting to get this one but how would you say the formulas compare?
UD wears longer on me, a little smoother! They are very similar.
Lol, I’m a total sucker for greens! 😀
for that price, I would probably get them all if I could but we don’t have those in Greece. bummer 🙁 they are such lovely colours…
I think they ship internationally?
I have just checked it out and they do ship to Greece!!! the 12-pan set will probably be mine now! thank you Christine! 🙂
Is this Rockstar the same as the eyeshadow Makeup Geek has had out for awhile now, or is it a new (but very similar) shade with the same name?
Yes, it is the same – I noted that in the review. They repromoted it with this collection.
ROCKSTAR I have from before the collection. It’s beautiful, but subtle for sure. 😉
Some of these shades remind me of Urban Decay ones as well. Like Typhoon is a deeper version of Junkie and Blacklight is a lighter version of Omen. lol
UD has some similar shades for sure!
No surprises here that I LOVE Phantom and Typhoon. Seriously gorgeous green colours. And I love your eye look too Christine. Really beautiful.
Thank you, Genevieve!
I am wearing Rockstar and Secret Garden today. Simple eye graduated intensity out, but the nifty part is how secret garden transitions from teal to this beautiful lightish purple.. on me. I lined my eyes in TT puppeteer and I brushed the secret garden eyeshadow on top and this pulled the teal colour heavier around my eye and smoked out to the purple colour. So freaking pretty! I like Rockstar all over..it’s very subtle and neutral.
Yesterday I wore Steampunk and it is amazing as well.. looks navy bluish on my brush and transitions from a deep coppery bronze to a smoky almost navy colour. I think these shades are stellar. Gives the effect of a lot more ‘work’ and effort on the eye look when it is just one simple eyeshadow.
They’re interesting – multi-dimensional more than duochrome, I think, for some, but the ones that aren’t a real duochrome still have a lot of depth and nuance to them!
Agreed Christine.. that would be a better description. I do not see them as duochromes either. They do not shift on me unless I change the texture of the base they are laying on. That being said. I do love them anyway… beautiful on the eyes are not an over the top shimmer that emphasizes eye texture.
I need Typhoon and Secret Garden. Even if they aren’t “duochrome” shades, I love the complexity and the colors in general. So pretty!
They have a lot of depth – great shades still!