Melt Cosmetics Brunet Eyeshadow Palette Review & Swatches
Brunet
Melt Cosmetics Brunet 8-Pan Eyeshadow Palette ($48.00 for 0.58 oz.) includes five matte eyeshadows and three shimmer eyeshadows. I had higher expectations for this, as it did have quite a few matte shades, which Melt tends to do better than their shimmers, but there was inconsistency across the board that made it an underwhelming, under-performing palette containing shades we have seen many times over (so why release something subpar?).
I was surprised to see so many light shades in the palette, as Melt doesn’t usually have so many of those very washed out hues, so I imagine this palette will be less workable on darker skin tones as a result.
Ingredients
Mica, Zinc Stearate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Silica, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Dimethicone, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Calcium Titanium Borosilicate, Alumina, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Tin Oxide, Lauroyl Lysine, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Disodium Carboxyethyl Siliconate. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Iron Oxide Ci 77499, Iron Oxide Ci 77491, Iron Oxide Ci 77492, Manganese Violet Ci 77742, Carmine Ci 75470, Ultramarines Ci 77007, Yellow 5 Lake 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.
Brunet
PPermanent. $48.00.
Suede
Suede is a very light beige with soft, warm undertones and a matte finish. It had medium pigmentation with a thinner, moderately powdery texture that was prone to fallout. It stayed on nicely for seven hours before fading visibly.
Top Dupes
- Kaja Modern Beige (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Moira Nude Beige (P, $7.50) is darker (95% similar).
- Moira Beige (P, $5.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Brule (P, $17.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- NYX I Have a Headache (P, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- Too Faced Vanilla Wafers (LE, $16.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Smashbox Vanilla (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Mink Mirage #1 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Nookie Rookie (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Lancome Queen's Lace (LE, $19.00) is warmer (95% similar).
Ingredients
Talc, Mica, Zinc Stearate, Lauroyl Lysine, Silica, Dimethicone, Cocoglycerides, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Polyethylene, Acrylates Copolymer, Magnesium Carbonate, Boron Nitride, Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Red 40 Lake (Ci 16035), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
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.
Suede
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Buff
Buff is a light, peachy beige with warm undertones and a matte finish. It looked yellower applied than it did in the pan, where it looked like a true peach (so some orange). The texture was somewhat powdery, thinner, and had some fallout during application. It had mostly opaque coverage that lasted decently for seven hours before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- Milani Bare It All (PiP, $5.99) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Too Faced Banana Cream Pie (LE, $16.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Juvia's Place Kesi (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Lo-Fi (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Such Grace (LE, $4.50) is darker (90% similar).
- NARS Lady Killer (DC, $25.00) is darker (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Chamomile (PiP, $8.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Totally Obsessed (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop What's Your Sign (LE, $4.50) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Wiggles (LE, $4.50) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Zinc Stearate, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Cocoglycerides, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Lauroyl Lysine, Polyethylene, Talc, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Acrylates Copolymer, Magnesium Carbonate, Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Red 40 Lake (Ci 16035), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
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.
Buff
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Cork
Cork is a light, golden brown with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation with a moderately powdery texture that was prone to sheering out and had some fallout during the initial application. It wore well for seven and a half hours before showing signs of fading.
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Treehopper (LE, $5.25) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Velvet (LE, $4.50) is cooler (95% similar).
- Viseart Grande Pro (Vol. 1) #7 (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Sephora Khaki (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Tamarind (LE, ) is more shimmery, brighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Lore (P, $6.50) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Viseart Warm Mattes #3 (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Toffee (P, $5.25) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop State of Mine (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Zinc Stearate, Silica, Dimethicone, Cocoglycerides, Talc, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycerin, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyethylene, Acrylates Copolymer, Magnesium Carbonate, Boron Nitride, Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Red 40 Lake (Ci 16035), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
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.
Cork
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Musk
Musk is a light-medium, coppery brown with strong, warm undertones and a metallic finish. The eyeshadow was firmer in the pan, though it picked up well with a dry brush and ended up looking very smooth and even when applied to my eyelid. It had opaque pigmentation that stayed on well for eight hours before fading visibly.
Top Dupes
- Dior Poncho #1 (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Stranded (PiP, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Happy Glow (Enhance) (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Tarte You're Lion (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Sydney Grace S'mores (PiP, $6.25) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Ginger (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Found (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Viseart Limoncello (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, brighter (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Velvet Cuffs (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Happy Glow (Prime) (LE, ) is lighter (85% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone, Cocoglycerides, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyethylene, Phenoxyethanol, Lauroyl Lysine, Tin Oxide, Talc, Silica, Boron Nitride, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Acrylates Copolymer, Magnesium Carbonate, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
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.
Musk
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Tan
Tan is a muted, medium taupe-brown with warmer undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable color coverage that applied evenly to bare skin and blended out without difficulty. The texture was soft, slightly thin, but it wasn’t hard to use. It lasted well for eight hours before fading a bit.
Top Dupes
- Melt Cosmetics Stubborn (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Kaleidos Cold Brew (Diffuse) (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Hourglass Soft Brown (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Anastasia Birch (LE, $12.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Mink Mirage #2 (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Statuesque (DC, $25.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Chanel Lumieres Naturelles #3 (LE, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC That Somebody (LE, $17.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Beauty Mark (PiP, $8.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Viseart Pecan (PiP, ) is darker (85% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Zinc Stearate, Lauroyl Lysine, Talc, Silica, Dimethicone, Cocoglycerides, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyethylene, Acrylates Copolymer, Magnesium Carbonate, Boron Nitride, Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
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.
Tan
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Bourbon
Bourbon is a deep gold with warmer undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish. The texture was moderately dense, somewhat stiff initially, but it seemed to become a little more yielding after a few uses. It had opaque pigmentation with moderate fallout as I blended it out, which was somewhat the result of that stiffer texture. It wore decently for eight hours before fading visibly.
Top Dupes
- Coloured Raine 24 Karat (PiP, $6.99) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- JD Glow Oh Honey (P, $7.50) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Amber (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Paradiso (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop Queen B (PiP, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop Foxes (P, $9.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Too Faced Warm and Toasty (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- ColourPop Night Show (P, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Coloured Raine Toucan (LE, $6.99) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (85% similar).
- Pat McGrath Enraptured (DC, $25.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cocoglycerides, Silica, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyethylene, Phenoxyethanol, Lauroyl Lysine, Talc, Boron Nitride, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Acrylates Copolymer, Magnesium Carbonate, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77499), Aluminum Powder (Ci 77000), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
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.
Bourbon
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Stout
Stout is a dark, olive gold with muted, warm undertones and a sparkling finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation with a moderately dense, somewhat stiff texture that I had to dig into in order to get product to pick up on a dry brush. It was easier to work with using fingertips or a dampened brush, especially as those methods also countered the light fallout during application. This shade showed signs of fading after eight hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Light My World (PiP, $6.25) is more shimmery, brighter (90% similar).
- Anastasia My Angels (LE, $12.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Dior Jungle #4 (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Put U on Gold (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Small Fairy (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Coloured Raine Nightingale (LE, $6.99) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- ColourPop Corona (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Coloured Raine Lemon Wheat Grass (LE, $6.99) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- NARS Tryst (DC, $25.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Sephora Bronze (LE, ) is more shimmery, brighter, warmer (85% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Dimethicone, Zinc Stearate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Silica, Cocoglycerides, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyethylene, Lauroyl Lysine, Tin Oxide, Talc, Boron Nitride, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Acrylates Copolymer, Magnesium Carbonate, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
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.
Stout
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Brunet
Brunet is a medium-dark brown with muted, almost warm olive undertones, paired with a matte finish. It had nearly opaque pigmentation that was buildable to full coverage with a second layer. The texture was soft, silky, and blendable. It stayed on nicely for eight hours before fading a bit.
Top Dupes
- Pat McGrath Throwing Shade (LE, $25.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Anastasia Rustic (PiP, $12.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Whiskey Neat (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Coloured Raine Hot Cocoa (DC, $6.99) is lighter (85% similar).
- Morphe Contour (PiP, ) is lighter (80% similar).
- Urban Decay Chessboard (LE, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (80% similar).
- KVD Beauty Martyr (LE, ) is lighter (80% similar).
- Morphe Dust (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Rose in the Air #1 (PiP, ) is lighter (80% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Zinc Stearate, Lauroyl Lysine, Talc, Dimethicone, Cocoglycerides, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glycerin, Polyethylene, Acrylates Copolymer, Magnesium Carbonate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77499).
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.
so. Musk is one of my favorite fragrance notes, but somehow I am grossed out by an eyeshadow being named Musk. what gives, brain?
it’s a lovely color nonetheless!
Good for them for rounding out their offerings with some lighter mattes. I wish they’d get it together with their formulation. Bourbon is a stunning shade.
Your new photo is so beautiful, you look wonderful !
Thank you so much!!!
You’re exactly right. With so many wonderful neutral palettes around, how is there so much inconsistency within this one. It’s not like reinventing the wheel level of difficulty in producing a good one!
I think Bourbon and Stout are the standout shades here in an otherwise underwhelming palette of too many matte shades of popular colours.
Well this is a disappointing finish to a weirdly timed release with a color story that looked 100% phoned-in.
Well, that’s a shame. At $48 for a neutral palette I have plenty of I probably wouldn’t have gotten it anyway, but had the rest of it been top notch and consistent I would have considered it for Bourbon. Dang I am loving that dark not too reflective gold, but the rest of it is just a miss and I have better ways to spend $48. The JD Glow comes close and maybe I’ll consider that but it’s too shimmery and just a hair too light to be a perfect dupe.
This looks so perfect!