Makeup Geek Power Pigments Reviews, Photos, Swatches (Part 1)
Untouchable
Makeup Geek Untouchable Power Pigment ($9.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a rich, orange-red with warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. It had opaque pigmentation that applied fairly well to bare skin and didn’t take too much work to blend out, but it darkened within 10 minutes of initial application and took on a slight sheen. When I tried it over primer, this was slightly less noticeable, but it still deepened on me over time, though it didn’t get patchy until seven and a half hours of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Morphe Fire (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Hot Head (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Smashbox Fling (P, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Anastasia C2 (Norvina Vol. 3) (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Strike While Haute (LE, $17.00) is lighter, more muted, cooler (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Destroyer (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- Sephora Blood Moon (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Neon Orange #3 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Huda Beauty Coral #2 (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Chanel Quintessence #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, more muted (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$9.00/0.07 oz. - $128.57 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "highly-pigmented" that "will maintain their vibrancy." Some shades were pigmented, some were not. The majority of the eyeshadows had a grainier, drier texture that had some excess product kicked up in the pan and was prone to moderate fallout during application without use of a primer. In general, most of the shades were dismal applied over bare skin as the drier texture seemed more prone to picking up the natural oils on the skin, absorbing them, and looking uneven as some parts appeared darker than others.
Several shades were an exercise in frustration trying to blend out and maintain vibrancy, which was something I felt even when I used the eyeshadows over primer, as they always faded and darkened within a few minutes of wear. I packed and packed the shades on to get decent results out of them and had to use primer just to get something only mildly embarrassing to look at.
Typically, within six hours, the shades had altered noticeably with some fading and patchiness apparent; with primer, that got closer to eight hours overall but I saw some slight shifting in certain shades faster than that. The looks I created with these shades took me three times longer than other bright, matte eyeshadows on the market (Viseart, Sugarpill, Urban Decay, ColourPop) and required a lot of cleanup in comparison.
Browse all of our Makeup Geek Power Pigment swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Zinc Stearate, Boron Nitride, Mica, Triethylhexanoin, Phenoxyethanol, Lauroyl Lysine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica. May Contain: FD&C Yellow No 5 Lake (CI 19140), Iron Oxides (CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499), Carmine (CI 75470), FD&C Blue No. 1 Aluminum Lake (CI 42090:2), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), Ultramarines (CI 77007), FD&C Red No. 40 Lake (CI 16035), Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide (CI 77861), FD&C Black No 2 (CI 77266)
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.
Look Using this Product
Untouchable
PPermanent. $9.00.
Unleashed
Makeup Geek Unleashed Power Pigment ($9.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a brighter, medium pink with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. The texture was slightly grainy but less dry compared to the other red/purple shades in the formula, so it was easier to use and blended out without too much work. This shade also was better at applying true-to-pan and actually staying that way (other shades darkened noticeably within a few minutes). It had good pigmentation and lasted for seven and a half hours with only slight fading over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Gabriella (LE, ) is more muted (95% similar).
- MAC Bird's Eye View (LE, $17.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Bijou (LE, $17.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Sephora + Pantone Universe Fruit Dove (LE, ) is more muted (95% similar).
- NARS Domination (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Juvia's Place Zulu #8 (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay 1960 (LE, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Fair Play (LE, $4.50) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
- Sephora Eliza D (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Ruby #9 (LE, ) is lighter, more muted, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$9.00/0.07 oz. - $128.57 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "highly-pigmented" that "will maintain their vibrancy." Some shades were pigmented, some were not. The majority of the eyeshadows had a grainier, drier texture that had some excess product kicked up in the pan and was prone to moderate fallout during application without use of a primer. In general, most of the shades were dismal applied over bare skin as the drier texture seemed more prone to picking up the natural oils on the skin, absorbing them, and looking uneven as some parts appeared darker than others.
Several shades were an exercise in frustration trying to blend out and maintain vibrancy, which was something I felt even when I used the eyeshadows over primer, as they always faded and darkened within a few minutes of wear. I packed and packed the shades on to get decent results out of them and had to use primer just to get something only mildly embarrassing to look at.
Typically, within six hours, the shades had altered noticeably with some fading and patchiness apparent; with primer, that got closer to eight hours overall but I saw some slight shifting in certain shades faster than that. The looks I created with these shades took me three times longer than other bright, matte eyeshadows on the market (Viseart, Sugarpill, Urban Decay, ColourPop) and required a lot of cleanup in comparison.
Browse all of our Makeup Geek Power Pigment swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Zinc Stearate, Boron Nitride, Mica, Triethylhexanoin, Phenoxyethanol, Lauroyl Lysine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica. May Contain: FD&C Yellow No 5 Lake (CI 19140), Iron Oxides (CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499), Carmine (CI 75470), FD&C Blue No. 1 Aluminum Lake (CI 42090:2), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), Ultramarines (CI 77007), FD&C Red No. 40 Lake (CI 16035), Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide (CI 77861), FD&C Black No 2 (CI 77266)
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.
Look Using this Product
Unleashed
PPermanent. $9.00.
Dynamic
Makeup Geek Dynamic Power Pigment ($9.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a rich orange with warm, yellow undertones and a mostly matte finish. The texture was fairly soft (especially compared to other shades), and I didn’t have any issues blending out the edges of the eyeshadow over bare skin or over primer. However, it darkened considerably on my lid and looked more like an orange-red (even over primer), and it turned patchy within 15 minutes of wear (almost like it seeped into my lid texture) and just stayed at that level of patchiness for the next seven hours.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Farasha (LE, $17.00) is darker (95% similar).
- NARS Persia (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Estee Lauder Orange Vif (LE, ) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Anastasia A5 (Norvina Vol. 3) (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Itsy Bitsy (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Topaz #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Anastasia D2 (Norvina Vol. 2) (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Can't Afford This (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Big Cocktails (PiP, $4.50) is lighter (90% similar).
- Zoeva Through the Window (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$9.00/0.07 oz. - $128.57 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "highly-pigmented" that "will maintain their vibrancy." Some shades were pigmented, some were not. The majority of the eyeshadows had a grainier, drier texture that had some excess product kicked up in the pan and was prone to moderate fallout during application without use of a primer. In general, most of the shades were dismal applied over bare skin as the drier texture seemed more prone to picking up the natural oils on the skin, absorbing them, and looking uneven as some parts appeared darker than others.
Several shades were an exercise in frustration trying to blend out and maintain vibrancy, which was something I felt even when I used the eyeshadows over primer, as they always faded and darkened within a few minutes of wear. I packed and packed the shades on to get decent results out of them and had to use primer just to get something only mildly embarrassing to look at.
Typically, within six hours, the shades had altered noticeably with some fading and patchiness apparent; with primer, that got closer to eight hours overall but I saw some slight shifting in certain shades faster than that. The looks I created with these shades took me three times longer than other bright, matte eyeshadows on the market (Viseart, Sugarpill, Urban Decay, ColourPop) and required a lot of cleanup in comparison.
Browse all of our Makeup Geek Power Pigment swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Zinc Stearate, Boron Nitride, Mica, Triethylhexanoin, Phenoxyethanol, Lauroyl Lysine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica. May Contain: FD&C Yellow No 5 Lake (CI 19140), Iron Oxides (CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499), Carmine (CI 75470), FD&C Blue No. 1 Aluminum Lake (CI 42090:2), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), Ultramarines (CI 77007), FD&C Red No. 40 Lake (CI 16035), Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide (CI 77861), FD&C Black No 2 (CI 77266)
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.
Look Using this Product
Dynamic
PPermanent. $9.00.
Potential
Makeup Geek Potential Power Pigment ($9.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a medium yellow with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation with a soft, blendable texture but was rather powdery in the pan, so there was some fallout during application (even after tapping away some excess). It lasted for seven hours on me before sinking into my lid lines/creases.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Huda Beauty Tiger #1 (LE, ) is brighter (95% similar).
- Too Faced Honey Buns (LE, $16.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Smashbox Peacemaker (LE, $22.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Coloured Raine Ginger Bae (LE, $6.99) is brighter (95% similar).
- Coloured Raine Sunset (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Neon (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Viseart Tweety (24) (LE, ) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Sylvia (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Amalfi (LE, $4.50) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Viseart Bright Editorial #7 (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$9.00/0.07 oz. - $128.57 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "highly-pigmented" that "will maintain their vibrancy." Some shades were pigmented, some were not. The majority of the eyeshadows had a grainier, drier texture that had some excess product kicked up in the pan and was prone to moderate fallout during application without use of a primer. In general, most of the shades were dismal applied over bare skin as the drier texture seemed more prone to picking up the natural oils on the skin, absorbing them, and looking uneven as some parts appeared darker than others.
Several shades were an exercise in frustration trying to blend out and maintain vibrancy, which was something I felt even when I used the eyeshadows over primer, as they always faded and darkened within a few minutes of wear. I packed and packed the shades on to get decent results out of them and had to use primer just to get something only mildly embarrassing to look at.
Typically, within six hours, the shades had altered noticeably with some fading and patchiness apparent; with primer, that got closer to eight hours overall but I saw some slight shifting in certain shades faster than that. The looks I created with these shades took me three times longer than other bright, matte eyeshadows on the market (Viseart, Sugarpill, Urban Decay, ColourPop) and required a lot of cleanup in comparison.
Browse all of our Makeup Geek Power Pigment swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Zinc Stearate, Boron Nitride, Mica, Triethylhexanoin, Phenoxyethanol, Lauroyl Lysine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica. May Contain: FD&C Yellow No 5 Lake (CI 19140), Iron Oxides (CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499), Carmine (CI 75470), FD&C Blue No. 1 Aluminum Lake (CI 42090:2), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), Ultramarines (CI 77007), FD&C Red No. 40 Lake (CI 16035), Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide (CI 77861), FD&C Black No 2 (CI 77266)
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.
Potential
PPermanent. $9.00.
Transform
Makeup Geek Transform Power Pigment ($9.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a bright, medium green with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. It had opaque pigmentation with a smooth, blendable texture–it was by far the best eyeshadow in the range–that was easier to use on the lid with or without primer. The downside, though, was that it did not maintain its vibrancy as it darkened when applied to my skin, and this occurred when I applied it over primer, too. It wore well for seven and a half hours with only slight, visible patchiness.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Haus Labs Mint Matte (P, $24.00) (100% similar).
- Give Me Glow Kelly Green (P, $7.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Coloured Raine Currency (PiP, $6.99) is warmer (95% similar).
- Coloured Raine Level Up (PiP, $6.99) is warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Earthbending (LE, $4.50) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Sugarpill Midori (P, $13.00) is lighter, more muted (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Sage (459CM) (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Anastasia B2 (Norvina Vol. 3) (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia E1 (Norvina Vol. 3) (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- NYX Contort (P, $4.50) is darker (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$9.00/0.07 oz. - $128.57 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "highly-pigmented" that "will maintain their vibrancy." Some shades were pigmented, some were not. The majority of the eyeshadows had a grainier, drier texture that had some excess product kicked up in the pan and was prone to moderate fallout during application without use of a primer. In general, most of the shades were dismal applied over bare skin as the drier texture seemed more prone to picking up the natural oils on the skin, absorbing them, and looking uneven as some parts appeared darker than others.
Several shades were an exercise in frustration trying to blend out and maintain vibrancy, which was something I felt even when I used the eyeshadows over primer, as they always faded and darkened within a few minutes of wear. I packed and packed the shades on to get decent results out of them and had to use primer just to get something only mildly embarrassing to look at.
Typically, within six hours, the shades had altered noticeably with some fading and patchiness apparent; with primer, that got closer to eight hours overall but I saw some slight shifting in certain shades faster than that. The looks I created with these shades took me three times longer than other bright, matte eyeshadows on the market (Viseart, Sugarpill, Urban Decay, ColourPop) and required a lot of cleanup in comparison.
Browse all of our Makeup Geek Power Pigment swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Zinc Stearate, Boron Nitride, Mica, Triethylhexanoin, Phenoxyethanol, Lauroyl Lysine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica. May Contain: FD&C Yellow No 5 Lake (CI 19140), Iron Oxides (CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499), Carmine (CI 75470), FD&C Blue No. 1 Aluminum Lake (CI 42090:2), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), Ultramarines (CI 77007), FD&C Red No. 40 Lake (CI 16035), Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide (CI 77861), FD&C Black No 2 (CI 77266)
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.
Well that’s disappointing! These are exactly the sort of things that I love (unapologetically bright mattes), but the fact that almost all of them darken significantly on the eye makes them less than ideal.
Whilst these are definitely not my kind of shades, for mattes, they are pretty good, I can’t see any patchiness at all in the swatches.
Right now, I am so glad to already own CP Yes, Please and the 2 red toned 6-pan palettes from MAC’s Fruity Juicy Collection from last summer. There are definitely higher quality brights than MUG’s shown above. Although, I really do love Transform, because I’m a sucker for a good green!
“Transform” is an apt name, eh?
I know brights like these are harder to formulate, but I want so badly for Makeup Geek to succeed and do well!
I have high expectations on these! Well, I have got the Viseart Editorial Bright palette, so I am covered!
IMO, if you have that, these are pretty redundant!
The only one of these I want is unleashed. That one is the standout in the range for me. Looking at the dupes is making me wish you’d review more of the Sugarpill eyeshadows for us Christine!