Makeup Geek Fashion Addict, Tuscan Sun, Hopscotch, Sand Dollar, Taboo Eyeshadows Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Makeup Geek Fashion Addict Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Fashion Addict Eyeshadow ($6.00 for 0.064 oz.) is a muted, magenta-purple with warmer undertones and a matte finish. Like a lot of the other mattes from recent spring release, it was powdery and hard to work with–regular primer doesn’t cut it, either–only a white, lightly tacky base is of any help. I found it incredibly disappointing and a utter pain to use as it would sheer out easily (resulting in a lot of fall out) and did not build well. It had noticeably faded within six hours. Sleek MakeUP Acid #7 (PiP, $9.99) is warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Miracle Romance (LE, $4.50) is lighter (90% similar). Buxom VIP (P, $12.00) is cooler (90% similar). Dior Pink Vibration #4 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar). ColourPop Little Stinker (LE, $4.50) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Terra Moons Orchid (P, $6.00) is warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Cha Cha Cha (LE, $4.50) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Viseart Debauched (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Too Faced Boys N Berry (PiP, $16.00) is warmer (85% similar). UOMA Beauty Yaa Asantewaa (LE, ) is lighter (85% similar). Kaja Major Grape (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar). UOMA Beauty Abyssinia (LE, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar). MAC Vibrant Grape (DC, $17.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Viseart Bright Editorial #11 (PiP, ) is darker (85% similar). ColourPop Filtered (PiP, $4.50) is darker (85% similar). NARS Fashion Rebel #2 (DC, $25.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Sephora Electric Violet (LE, ) is cooler (85% similar). Huda Beauty Amethyst #3 (LE, ) is lighter (85% similar). UOMA Beauty Gazania (LE, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Anastasia Unicorn Tribe (LE, $12.00) is warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Makeup Geek Tuscan Sun Eyeshadow ($6.00 for 0.064 oz.) is a muted, medium, rosy coral with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque color payoff, but it was paired with a dusty, thin texture that didn’t apply well to bare skin (or a typical primer, like UDPP or TFSI) and needed a tacky, white base to make it appear even and true-to-pan in color. It started to fade after six hours of wear. LORAC Hot Toddy (LE, $19.00) is cooler (95% similar). ColourPop Cha Cha (LE, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (95% similar). Melt Cosmetics Ghosted (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar). ColourPop Labyrinth (P, $4.50) is cooler (95% similar). Sydney Grace Your Love (LE, $5.25) is darker (95% similar). Huda Beauty Karma (PiP, ) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). Melt Cosmetics Modern Love (LE, ) is darker (90% similar). Dose of Colors Berry Chic (PiP, ) is darker, brighter (90% similar). MAC You My Everything (LE, $17.00) is lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Glitz (LE, $6.00) is darker (90% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Day Eyes (Smoke) (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Cheek2Cheek (PiP, $4.50) is warmer (90% similar). ColourPop The News (LE, $4.50) is brighter (90% similar). Chanel Tender #5 (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Urban Decay Still Shot (PiP, $19.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar). ColourPop Bubblicious (LE, $4.50) is darker (85% similar). NABLA Cosmetics Sistina (PiP, $8.00) is brighter (85% similar). KVD Beauty Placebo (LE, ) is brighter, cooler (85% similar). Sydney Grace Adore Me (P, $5.25) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Huda Beauty Teddy (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Makeup Geek Hopscotch Eyeshadow ($6.00 for 0.064 oz.) is a light-medium lavender purple with cool undertones and a matte finish. It was semi-opaque with a dusty, thin texture that tended to sheer out and apply unevenly as it would stick to some areas better than others. It did not layer/build well on the skin. The color lasted for six hours. NABLA Cosmetics Flowery (PiP, $8.00) is warmer (95% similar). ColourPop Heiress (P, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Zoned Out (PiP, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). LORAC Lavender (LE, $19.00) is lighter, more muted (90% similar). MAC Such a Tulle (P, $20.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Inglot #346 (P, $6.00) is lighter (85% similar). Illamasqua Creep (P, ) is lighter, more muted, warmer (85% similar). Sugarpill Baby Doll (PiP, $13.00) is lighter (85% similar). ColourPop Howlin' (P, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). NARS Strada (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar). Sydney Grace Jewel Bee (LE, $5.25) is lighter, warmer (80% similar). Clionadh Aurora (P, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar). Sydney Grace Regal (P, $5.25) is darker, warmer (80% similar). Urban Decay Optimized (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar). Huda Beauty Lilac #7 (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Makeup Geek Sand Dollar Eyeshadow ($6.00 for 0.064 oz.) is a very light, grayish beige with cool undertones and a matte finish. It had decent color payoff with a smooth, lightly dusty texture, but it was workable on the skin and didn’t emphasize the texture of my lid. It does sheer out, though, so if you want opaque/buildable coverage, you’ll need a really strong base with it. The color wore for six hours. Coloured Raine Pure (LE, $6.99) is lighter (95% similar). KVD Beauty Black Milk (DC, ) is lighter (95% similar). Anastasia Blanc (P, $12.00) is lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Thirteen (PiP, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar). Sephora + Pantone Universe Ash (LE, ) is darker (90% similar). bareMinerals Chance (PiP, ) is lighter (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Makeup Geek Taboo Eyeshadow ($6.00 for 0.064 oz.) is a deep, eggplant purple with cool undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-sheer coverage that was somewhat buildable paired with a drier texture that applied unevenly on the skin. It took a lot of work to blend out the color, unfortunately. Of all the misses in the launch, this one was one of the less surprising misses, as it is consistently a color that most brands have difficulty in creating. It lasted for seven hours on me. MAC Shadowy Lady (LE, $17.00) is more pigmented (95% similar). MAC It's Vintage (P, $20.00) is darker (95% similar). bareMinerals Center Stage (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty About Last Night No. 04 (LE, ) is lighter, brighter (95% similar). Tarte Evening Affair (LE, ) is darker (95% similar). Too Faced Meow! (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Stila Eggplant (LE, $18.00) is darker (90% similar). ColourPop Chopper (LE, $4.50) is darker (90% similar). Kaleidos Flowing Haze (Accentuate) (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Tarte Vamp (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar). About Face Infinity (P, $16.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). MAC Video Emotions (LE, $17.00) is darker (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Violet Satine #4 (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar). Tarte My Own Cotes de Rhone (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Dior Tutu #5 (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar). MAC Wild Card (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Huda Beauty Vortex (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar). Tarte Fierce (PiP, ) is lighter (85% similar). Pat McGrath Xtreme Aubergine (PiP, $25.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). ColourPop Hard to Crack (LE, $4.50) is warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
FORMULA OVERVIEW | Makeup Geek Eyeshadow ($6.00 for 0.064 oz.) is supposed to be a “highly-pigmented” powder eyeshadows. They come in a variety of finishes and shades, and the range has some winners but more than a few misses, too, so your mileage may vary from shade to shade. The formula tends to be softer and a little more powdery/dusty as they are not as firmly pressed into their pans, but they aren’t typically crumbly or so loose that they are prone to breakage. I find the more shimmery shades to be the most consistent in pigmentation, blendability, and wear, while the more neutral-hued matte shades are often finely-milled, blendable, and easy to use. The brighter pops of color, both shimmer and more matte, can run the gamut on quality. Some shades are better built-up than immediately opaque, which can suit some application styles better. The wear tends to fall between seven and eight hours as some shades are more prone to fading as a result of the dustier texture. (Note: this applies to their standard powder formula, not their Foiled line, which is a different formulation.)
Fashion Addict
DCDiscontinued. $6.00.
Tuscan Sun
DCDiscontinued. $6.00.
Hopscotch
DCDiscontinued. $6.00.
Sand Dollar
DCDiscontinued. $6.00.
Taboo
DCDiscontinued. $6.00.
See more photos & swatches!
Makeup Geek Fashion Addict Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Fashion Addict Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Fashion Addict Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Fashion Addict Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Tuscan Sun Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Tuscan Sun Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Tuscan Sun Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Tuscan Sun Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Hopscotch Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Hopscotch Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Hopscotch Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Hopscotch Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Sand Dollar Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Sand Dollar Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Sand Dollar Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Sand Dollar Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Taboo Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Taboo Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Taboo Eyeshadow
Makeup Geek Taboo Eyeshadow
Man I’m really disappointed. Makeup Geek seems to be doing less than stellar on most of the reviews as of late 🙁 Hope they bring back the thunder!
I hear ya, Melissa! I hope so, too.
Yeah the sparklers tanked hard…
it almost seems like they force product out whether it’s good or not.. because they know people will buy it. less effort and more money. :\
I’m so glad I didn’t jump on the bandwagon with these. I was tempted to get Taboo initially. It’s sad to me that Marlena prefers quantity over quality now. If you can’t put out a good product at the price point you want to maintain, don’t release it. It just ruins the company’s brand. I would have respected her so much more if she would come out and say “I can’t find a matte formula that lives up to MU Geek standards…blah blah”.
I think a firmer press would work better with some of the brighter/bolder shades – that seems be the only way to get decent color that’s at least buildable!
Ugh. I am so disappointed with these! I was hoping that maybe the issues had been tweaked out of the matte formula, but apparently not!
Aww!
Ack. Not good.
Agreed!
Bummer, some of these colors are SO pretty, but on my oily lids, will need super glue to make it stick 🙁
lol!
I was eyeing Tuscan Sun and few other but these ratings changed my mind 🙁
Aww!
I’m really curious, especially as you’ve collaborated with MUG on a color in the past, Christine, whether Marlena reads your reviews and whether she has any input on them? I feel like the matte formula from MUG hasn’t been doing well lately, and I’m curious as to whether this is a result of formulation changes as in her promo videos on YT, she’s been talking about how “creamy, pigmented, smooth, and finely milled” the new release shadows are. What do you think the problem is with them?
I don’t release drafts or give warnings to brands of what a review will entail at all, so Marlena doesn’t have any input on my reviews, but that is the same for all brands. I couldn’t really say if she reads my reviews or not, but I know Nick from Makeup Geek does read them.
Based on the shades released in spring, the matte formula is smoother but more powdery and prone to sheering out – it feels like there is less binder or less pigment overall. They remind me more of LORAC eyeshadows but not quite as soft/silky, whereas before their mattes had a fairly good balance between soft and firm (like Cocoa Bear, Barcelona, etc.).
I wouldn’t say I collaborated on the color, just to be clear, though – I gave feedback on an existing shade prior to it being put into production (I have no idea if they took any of that feedback and actually made tweaks to the formula), but I didn’t create a shade or product with them. Hope that clears that up! 🙂
I was eyeing Tuscan Sun but I’m gonna have to reconsider. I typically use UDPP and I don’t find it particularly tacky (unless I apply eyeshadow immediately after application). Do you have a favorite tacky eyeshadow primer Christine?
If I need something with tackiness, I usually just go NYX Milk 🙁
Thanks Christine! Atleast now I have an excuse to buy more eyeshadow primers. Haha!
Christine, i can never say enough how much your i love your honesty! Always have appreciated it. Its so disheartening that alot of youtubers “love” these new shadows so much, and cannot tell you the cons! Its fustrasting to see all those swatches and tutorials and getting pumped about these new shades but they fall so flat. Honest reviews are becoming so rare now.
I’ll have to check out some of the tutorials/reviews after I wrap them up (I try not to read too many… or none at all… if I know I’m reviewing something imminently so as not to influence myself).
Thanks, Mandy!
Thank goodness I have MAC You My Everything, and Free To Be (pinker, but still in that family)! As Tuscan Sun was the one shade in this set that I was truly interested in.
The rest look disastrous!!! I’ll be grabbing up the Nyx brights palette instead for hits of intense, bright yet light shades.
Hopefully the NYX palette is better!
Oh, I was thinking of getting the NYX Brights too!! If you get it first, let me know what you think and vice versa. Thanks!
uuuuu I knew these would get horrific scores after seeing the swatches in the sneak peak. Such a shame! these are fantastic matte colours…
It’s a bummer — they’re just too soft, I think!
Wow! I’m glad the only matte I bought so far is Tuscan Sun (couldn’t pass up that color)! I have Brownie Points, Wild West, & Friend Zone sitting in my cart…
I have to say that the new shimmer shades I got are a much improved improvement on the old shimmer shades. I have Pillow Talk & Anarchy, & they’re so soft n smooth… I swear they’re just as creamy as the foiled shades… Lovin em so far ?
* Inglot literally has a dupe for EVERYTHING lol
…a “much improved improvement”, eh, old self? Lol
Happy to hear you’re enjoying the new shimmers! 🙂 Venom is the standout for me! Pillow Talk was odd – did you have any issues with the color changing as you used it?
Yeah, Venom is def nice. I have some shimmers in my cart but don’t remember which ones.
& it’s funny you should say that bc it starts out as a silvery light purple (or a metallic greyish-lavender), & idk, but it seems to turn more of an orchidy-silver color after slight oxidation (I’m talking a half hour/hour-ish)..? At least I think it’s oxidation.
It reminds me of a mood-shadow lol. I like it as a topper over other shades or for the center of the lids.
* I haven’t heard (or read) about anyone else saying anything about the color change, so it could just be me?? Or my lighting(s)? Idk lol, have you?
?✨
LOL! I can totally see what you mean by a mood shadow 😉
Pillow talk is one of my faves. It is like silver/purple/pink and that’s why I love it. So yes, I noticed it sort of changes but I think that’s what makes it great. I actually want a backup of that one.
Yeah, for me, my issue is that it changes but inconsistently so it looks like… a plum? and then a silver? in the same space but not blended, lol.
It’s definitely different, for sure! Lol
I was really hoping taboo would do well. What in the world happened to the MUG formula???something about that particular shade must be hard to formulate, as the dupes didn’t fair very well either. Christine, is there something close sold as an individual shadow?
I don’t know offhand if any are sold individually, just that those are all the similar shades I could think of!
Taboo 🙁
🙁
Wow, what a shame. I might cross these new shades off from my wishlist altogether. They look so disappointing.
Some of the shimmers are nice, and a couple of the mattes are workable but some are total misses.
Some of the colours, themselves are nice. Easy to just let this collection be as there are so many better options that are more workfriendly, if you know what I mean.
I agree!
I would say im surprised at the ratings, but im honestly not. When i saw the preview shades i was underwhelmed, there were maybe 3 shades id like but didn’t rush out to purchase (tiki hut , tuscan sun & wild west). I remember thinking last summer it seemed they improved the formula, when i bought poppy and desert sands . They felt noticeably softer and more pigmented and i use them a lot. I then tried the duochromes and did not like them at all- they wore horribly, the “shift” colors seemed to separate from the base shade and transferred horribly. (I have that same issue with the foiled and have a love /hate with them since they feel so silicony lol). I do have a few foiled shades i love tho and even voltage which was the only duochrome i kept
Anyway after that last order and the whole situation with the pigments/glitters it seems like she has started to just pump out new products instead of perfecting what she has out first. For that reason ive waited before ordering where in the past i would have been all over preordering. Il be waiting on your honest reviews of the new blushes coming before i take the plunge.
Sorry to hear that the duochrome eyeshadows didn’t work out for you, Anne! 🙁 The Foiled shades are gorgeous, but I can understand what you mean by the silicone-like feel!