Melt Cosmetics Muerte Eyeshadow Palette Review & Swatches
Muerte
Melt Cosmetics Muerte 10-Pan Eyeshadow Palette ($58.00 for 0.66 oz.) is a new, seemingly permanent palette that features an assortment of hues from aqua to navy blue to burgundy across shimmers and mattes. This palette officially launches on November 29th!
Two of the shimmers were total disappointments, while one was decent, but it’s hard for me to understand how the other two shimmer formulas made it through testing; like I have no idea what the benefit/reasoning would be behind having such a firmly-packed shimmer that it had to be scratched and jabbed at just to get product to loosen from it to have anything to pick up.
Sometimes firmer presses minimize fallout or work better for creamier formulas, which often ensure shimmer and powder bind together as one, but Angelito was a head-scratcher. Because the palette itself is so deep, that being down two of the lightest shades made it hard to test, so I ended up trying the mattes paired with better-performing shimmer formulas so I could get a better sense of how the matte shades performed.
The mattes varied, and for the richness and depths of the hues, they weren’t bad, but they’ll take more time and effort. The key was to apply deeper shades before lighter ones, as when I tried working light to dark (which is how I typically work), it was harder to blend out and keep shades from looking drier on my skin. Most of the mattes included in the palette aren’t ones we see often, and even rarer to see as permanent/in single form, so if you’re looking for dupes, you’re more likely going to have to think about duping the “vibe” rather than specific shades exactly.
Ingredients
Muerte
PPermanent. $58.00.
Angelito
Angelito is a medium-dark, aqua-teal with subtle, cool undertones and a frosted finish. It had an incredibly dense, drier texture; it felt a bit gravelly in a way, because the shimmer and pigment were more clumped up rather than well-blended/well-mixed.
The texture seemed to soften after repeated use but was still a firmer, stiffer, and drier product to work with that had to really pushed and dragged onto the lid. I did not feel fingertips improved the application as most product stuck to my fingertip and nothing deposited to my lid. A dampened brush was decent but still posed a challenge for even application.
Gently pushing and jabbing at the surface, I could get enough product to pick up using my brush and then apply that to my lid with decent coverage. It lasted for eight hours before fading visibly.
Top Dupes
- Coloured Raine Emerald Rose (LE, $6.99) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Anastasia A5 (Norvina Vol. 2) (LE, $12.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Marine Waters (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Ace Beaute Fruit Dove (DC, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- MAC Money (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Must Sea (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Tarte Toad-ally (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Sugarpill Hug Life (P, $13.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Bud (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Surf Sesh (P, $8.00) is darker (90% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Zinc Stearate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Mineral Oil, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Triethylhexanoin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Soybean Lipid, Phytosterols, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Aqua, Propanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Magnesium Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Acrylates Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Triethoxyca- Prylylsilane, Disodium Carboxyethyl Siliconate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Aluminum Powder CI 77000, Ferric Ferrocyanide CI 77510, Iron Oxide CI 77491, Iron Oxide CI 77492, Iron Oxide CI 77499, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Blue 1 Lake CI 42090, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Red 40 Lake CI 16035, Carmine CI 75470, Ultramarines CI 77007, Manganese Violet CI 77742.
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
Angelito
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Lagrimas
Lagrimas is a bright, medium-dark aqua with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish. The eyeshadow was richly pigmented with a soft, lightly powdery texture, which was fairly blendable, but it was still drier and a bit chalky, so sometimes it caught on skin texture and had light-to-moderate fallout during application. It was easiest applied over deeper shades rather than initially. The color wore nicely for eight and a half hours before I noticed signs of fading.
Top Dupes
- Smashbox Frankenstein (LE, $22.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Sage (459CM) (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Give Me Glow Sea Princess (P, $7.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- About Face In Dreams (P, $14.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Give Me Glow So Rich (P, $7.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Python #4 (LE, ) is more muted (90% similar).
- ColourPop Andros (LE, $4.50) is cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Made in the Shade (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Chances Are (PiP, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Smashbox Sell Out (P, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Zinc Stearate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Mineral Oil, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Triethylhexanoin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Soybean Lipid, Phytosterols, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Aqua, Propanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Magnesium Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Acrylates Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Triethoxyca- Prylylsilane, Disodium Carboxyethyl Siliconate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Aluminum Powder CI 77000, Ferric Ferrocyanide CI 77510, Iron Oxide CI 77491, Iron Oxide CI 77492, Iron Oxide CI 77499, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Blue 1 Lake CI 42090, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Red 40 Lake CI 16035, Carmine CI 75470, Ultramarines CI 77007, Manganese Violet CI 77742.
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.
Lagrimas
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Duelo
Duelo is a deep, slightly muted, bluish-teal with a mostly matte finish. It had that barely-there kind of micro-shimmer that wasn’t enough to change the finish but seemed to help blending. The pigmentation was intense where a little went a very long way, while the texture was smooth, velvety, and substantial with minimal fallout. It blended out nicely along the edges, which was nice to see. It stayed on well for eight and a half hours before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Majestic Breeze (PiP, $5.25) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Space Queen (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Python (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Water Bearer (PiP, $4.50) is darker (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Thrilled (P, $5.25) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Lunar (LE, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- YSL Scandal #5 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Photosynthesex #4 (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Chanel Blurry Blue #3 (PiP, ) is lighter, more muted (85% similar).
- Natasha Denona Symbol (272CP) (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Zinc Stearate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Mineral Oil, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Triethylhexanoin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Soybean Lipid, Phytosterols, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Aqua, Propanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Magnesium Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Acrylates Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Triethoxyca- Prylylsilane, Disodium Carboxyethyl Siliconate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Aluminum Powder CI 77000, Ferric Ferrocyanide CI 77510, Iron Oxide CI 77491, Iron Oxide CI 77492, Iron Oxide CI 77499, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Blue 1 Lake CI 42090, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Red 40 Lake CI 16035, Carmine CI 75470, Ultramarines CI 77007, Manganese Violet CI 77742.
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.
Duelo
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Panteon
Panteon is a muted, darker gray with cool undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that was buildable to full coverage with a second layer or if applied over an eyeshadow primer. The texture was soft, blendable, and moderately powdery, so there was some fallout during application. This shade lasted well for eight hours before fading a bit.
Top Dupes
- Make Up For Ever M106 Slate (P, $17.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Typographic (DC, $17.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop 101 (LE, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- LORAC Shadow (Mega Pro 4) (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace To the Nines (LE, $5.25) is warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Wow (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Bad Influence (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Nutcracker (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Serious (DC, $19.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- KVD Beauty Graphic Nature (DC, ) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Zinc Stearate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Mineral Oil, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Triethylhexanoin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Soybean Lipid, Phytosterols, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Aqua, Propanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Magnesium Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Acrylates Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Triethoxyca- Prylylsilane, Disodium Carboxyethyl Siliconate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Aluminum Powder CI 77000, Ferric Ferrocyanide CI 77510, Iron Oxide CI 77491, Iron Oxide CI 77492, Iron Oxide CI 77499, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Blue 1 Lake CI 42090, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Red 40 Lake CI 16035, Carmine CI 75470, Ultramarines CI 77007, Manganese Violet CI 77742.
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.
Panteon
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Noche Eterna
Noche Eterna is a deep blue with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish. The eyeshadow had nearly opaque color coverage in a single layer, which was easily built up to full coverage with less than a second layer. The texture was fairly soft, substantial without being too thick, and it applied evenly to bare skin and blended out without too much effort, though I’d recommend using less than you think initially. It wore well for eight and a half hours before showing signs of fading.
Top Dupes
- Melt Cosmetics Dim-out (PiP, ) is brighter (95% similar).
- About Face Lost Unfound (P, $16.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Sydney Grace itsaboy (P, $5.25) is lighter (95% similar).
- Give Me Glow High by the Beach (P, $7.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Sydney Grace Ice Fishing (DC, $5.25) is warmer (90% similar).
- LORAC Navy (PiP, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Midnight Courage (PiP, $5.25) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Viseart Defiance (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Terra Moons Arabian Nights (P, $6.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Viseart Dark Matte #10 (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Zinc Stearate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Mineral Oil, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Triethylhexanoin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Soybean Lipid, Phytosterols, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Aqua, Propanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Magnesium Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Acrylates Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Triethoxyca- Prylylsilane, Disodium Carboxyethyl Siliconate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Aluminum Powder CI 77000, Ferric Ferrocyanide CI 77510, Iron Oxide CI 77491, Iron Oxide CI 77492, Iron Oxide CI 77499, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Blue 1 Lake CI 42090, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Red 40 Lake CI 16035, Carmine CI 75470, Ultramarines CI 77007, Manganese Violet CI 77742.
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
Noche Eterna
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Catrina
Catrina is a blackened navy blue base with flecks of medium and navy blue shimmer and micro-sparkle. It had opaque pigmentation in with a denser, more emollient texture that felt like a cream-powder hybrid. I was able to pick up with my flat shader brush without much effort, and the product transferred to my lid easily, though the edges were hard to really soften and diffuse (I’d cheat with one of the matte shades in the palette instead). It stayed on nicely for eight hours before creasing slightly.
Top Dupes
- Make Up For Ever ME224 Navy Blue (P, $17.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Icon Disco Eyes #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Lunar (P, $20.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Sprung (DC, $25.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Ministry (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Tipsy (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Lucid Dream (LE, $6.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Gamma Ray (DC, $20.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Rendezvous (DC, $8.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Sephora Astral Blue (383) (P, $9.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Zinc Stearate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Mineral Oil, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Triethylhexanoin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Soybean Lipid, Phytosterols, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Aqua, Propanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Magnesium Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Acrylates Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Triethoxyca- Prylylsilane, Disodium Carboxyethyl Siliconate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Aluminum Powder CI 77000, Ferric Ferrocyanide CI 77510, Iron Oxide CI 77491, Iron Oxide CI 77492, Iron Oxide CI 77499, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Blue 1 Lake CI 42090, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Red 40 Lake CI 16035, Carmine CI 75470, Ultramarines CI 77007, Manganese Violet CI 77742.
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
Catrina
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Velorio
Velorio is a deep burgundy with neutral-to-cool undertones and a matte finish. It was intensely pigmented with a soft, lightly powdery texture that had light fallout during application. It felt slightly drier, but it was blendable along the edges without losing its intensity, though it did not play as well with other shades in the palette and could emphasize my skin’s natural texture (due to the dryness). The color started to show signs of fading after eight and a half hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- NABLA Cosmetics Blackberry (PiP, ) is brighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Rendezvous (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge Nocturama (P, $16.00) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Hell in Heels (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Type A (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Mind Games (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Venice (LE, $6.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Boss Lady (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Dior Galactic #4 (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- Tarte Drama (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Zinc Stearate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Mineral Oil, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Triethylhexanoin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Soybean Lipid, Phytosterols, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Aqua, Propanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Magnesium Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Acrylates Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Triethoxyca- Prylylsilane, Disodium Carboxyethyl Siliconate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Aluminum Powder CI 77000, Ferric Ferrocyanide CI 77510, Iron Oxide CI 77491, Iron Oxide CI 77492, Iron Oxide CI 77499, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Blue 1 Lake CI 42090, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Red 40 Lake CI 16035, Carmine CI 75470, Ultramarines CI 77007, Manganese Violet CI 77742.
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.
Velorio
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Sangre
Sangre is a medium-dark burgundy with cool undertones and a mostly matte finish. It had rich color payoff that adhered fairly well to bare skin and blended out without too much effort–for the intensity and depth of shade, not bad at all, but there was still room for improvement. The texture was slightly drier, but it wasn’t thin nor so powdery that it lost its intensity; if anything, it tended to deepen slightly once applied and blended out. It wore nicely for nine hours before fading visibly.
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Ms. Brightside (LE, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Vinter (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Maria (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Obituary (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop A Fortune (LE, $4.50) is cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Topanga Blvd (PiP, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Velvet One (LE, $4.50) is warmer (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Mind Games (LE, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Tarte Stained Glass (LE, ) is lighter (85% similar).
- ColourPop Mosaic (PiP, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Zinc Stearate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Mineral Oil, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Triethylhexanoin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Soybean Lipid, Phytosterols, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Aqua, Propanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Magnesium Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Acrylates Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Triethoxyca- Prylylsilane, Disodium Carboxyethyl Siliconate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Aluminum Powder CI 77000, Ferric Ferrocyanide CI 77510, Iron Oxide CI 77491, Iron Oxide CI 77492, Iron Oxide CI 77499, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Blue 1 Lake CI 42090, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Red 40 Lake CI 16035, Carmine CI 75470, Ultramarines CI 77007, Manganese Violet CI 77742.
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
Sangre
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Corazon
Corazon is a medium-dark red with neutral-to-cool undertones and a matte finish. It had nearly opaque color coverage that was buildable to full coverage with a second layer. The texture was slightly drier and was thinner with less substance compared to the other mattes, though it was easier to control and build up (if desired). It could have been a bit more blendable but wasn’t too difficult to work with. It stayed on well for eight and a half hours before fading a bit.
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Daiquiri (PiP, $4.50) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Comet (LE, $4.50) is cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Black Cherry (LE, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Heart (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Coloured Raine Apple Strawberry (LE, $6.99) is cooler (90% similar).
- Ace Beaute Red Rose (DC, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Viseart Chili (22) (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Sauce (PiP, $6.99) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Walking Heartbeats (LE, $17.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- UOMA Beauty FU2 (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Zinc Stearate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Mineral Oil, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Triethylhexanoin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Soybean Lipid, Phytosterols, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Aqua, Propanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Magnesium Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Acrylates Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Triethoxyca- Prylylsilane, Disodium Carboxyethyl Siliconate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Aluminum Powder CI 77000, Ferric Ferrocyanide CI 77510, Iron Oxide CI 77491, Iron Oxide CI 77492, Iron Oxide CI 77499, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Blue 1 Lake CI 42090, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Red 40 Lake CI 16035, Carmine CI 75470, Ultramarines CI 77007, Manganese Violet CI 77742.
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
Corazon
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Calaca
Calaca is a soft, peachy gold with warm undertones and a frosted finish. The texture was very loosely-pressed and had a cakey texture; the powder felt creamy but came away in clumps, which resulted in tons of fallout, uneven application, and made it rather difficult to work with. It was worse wet as it was even more uneven.
It had opaque pigmentation when really pressed and pushed into my skin, but it was so much effort to get there that it looked visibly thick on my lid area. It wore well for eight hours before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- Smashbox Pool Boy (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Smashbox Bellini Bling (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Beloved (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop In the Wild (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Delicate (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Bad Habit Weightless (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Dior Rivage #2 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Terra Moons Io (P, $13.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Boogie Down (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Smashbox Keeper (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Zinc Stearate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Mineral Oil, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Triethylhexanoin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Soybean Lipid, Phytosterols, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Aqua, Propanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Magnesium Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Acrylates Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Triethoxyca- Prylylsilane, Disodium Carboxyethyl Siliconate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Aluminum Powder CI 77000, Ferric Ferrocyanide CI 77510, Iron Oxide CI 77491, Iron Oxide CI 77492, Iron Oxide CI 77499, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Blue 1 Lake CI 42090, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Red 40 Lake CI 16035, Carmine CI 75470, Ultramarines CI 77007, Manganese Violet CI 77742.
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.
Catrina alone is worth buying the whole palette for, plus most mattes performed well. It’s strange that Melt couldn’t develop a decent metallic gold, it should be an easy color to make.
How sad about Angelito! Because if I were getting this palette, I would need to have those 2 lighter shades work well.
Now, the one shade I absolutely need to find a dupe for is Velorio. That is a perfect super deep red that would look lovely with all my rosy hued looks of late!
I love the campaign, but I’m on the fence. I do not tend to wear such intense dark shades. I’m leery they might look harsh and overpower me. I love the shades tend towards cool.
I’ve always been hesitant on trusting MELT for a few reasons. At this price point and after former issues, this brand should be more critical reviewing products before distribution. I’m glad I trusted my gut to skip this and that I can dupe this.
I’m kind of bummed out that 2 of the 3 shimmers are so bad. I probably can dupe most of this palette but I like the aesthetic so much I wanted to get it. Money saved, I guess!
Muerte is one of my two favorite palette releases of the year, along with Menagerie’s Killer Purr. The mattes are the true stars of this palette. STUNNING. The reds and burgundies are spectacular! The ratio of mattes to metallics is great for me since I have hooded eyelids. I’ve worn this palette to work twice with one or two shades on the crease/lid and a contrasting shade on the lower lash line.
I got Angelito to work for me with a glitter glue on top of either a primed eyelid or some matte shadow. I do this with almost all of my metallic/shimmer shadows if I want them to be more than a liner or an inner corner highlight, though, so bear that in mind.
I always apply shimmer shadows with a finger. Always. Whether it’s Natasha Denona or Colourpop, I just prefer fingers….so using my fingers the Melt shimmers in stack form are creamy, the ones in their Gemini palette are definitely not as nice, but work better than a brush. I get that you shouldn’t have to do extra work to make a shadow perform, but since I use fingers anyway it’s not that big of a deal to me if that’s the only way they work.
Having said that, I want this damn palette but I’m buying it on some kind of discount or sale.
Weird both of the shades in my palette are not pressed hard at all….the gold shade is actually pretty loosely packed in my palette. Out of the two palettes I prefer the vida one mostly because that’s just a color scheme I’m going to wear more.
Hi Stevee,
Please read my review above – I specifically mentioned that Calaca, which is the gold shade, was very loosely pressed!
Ugh! Angelito, arguably the prettiest color in the palette, gets a D-. So sad…
I agree, that was my favorite one in the palette. So sad it didn’t perform.
I really wanted this palette but not anymore. Thanks for getting the review up so quickly Christine.
What a disappointment this palette has turned out to be. The only shade I liked was Catrina. I found the matte shades to be quite ‘heavy’ or dense looking and I think they would be difficult to apply on the eye without getting into a mess. Sad that the brand couldn’t get the shimmers right.
I have this palette and this is honestly the first review I’ve read that had some of these complaints. I absolutely ADORE this palette, and it works great for me. I have the viseart dark mattes palette, and this one is a million times better in my opinion, as far as dark shades and my ability to blend them out. I don’t have any issues when I use my finger and glitter glue with the shimmer shades. My daughter also has this and she also has no issues with any shades at all. I couldn’t be more pleased with getting this.
I think it may be a fingers vs brushes battle here, lol! I’m an oldy so when i started using makeup and i was watching the pros when they would show backstage at fashion shows, the great makeup artists like Pat McGrath and Kevin Aucoin would always use their fingers and i just started doing the same. For shimmers especially. I do understand that some do find it unsanitary but you can determine the build up of the shimmers. People hate to do that now.
I hear people complaining about how bad some Pat McGrath shadows are and i just want to say “Have you tried your fingers?”. Especially when i hear people say the special shades arent anything to look at. Well, they kinda missed the point of the special shades if you use a brush!
I loved both of these palettes personally. I am a fan of Melt, but only as of recently and i find that it mainly comes down to opinion and application style. Its a smaller makeup brand as opposed to maybelline and i think they make shadow formulas that they prefer to work with and Lora really likes using her fingers when she works so these are her kinds of formulas.
Unfortunately, I tried using fingertips and found using fingertip for application to be worse for Angelito and wasn’t improved with Calaca (but it was like, better in this way, worse this way, so no net gain).
The whole concept and design of this palette is just beautiful, and Melt does great matte shadows, but their shimmers have always left something to be desired, in my opinion. I had the Gemini palette for a while (eventually I ended up giving it away) and the two shimmers in that palette never wanted to build for me… I don’t understand how a company doesn’t have a great shimmer formula! Even drugstore eyeshadows have great shimmers!
i dont even try shades that light unless the palette is made with women of color in mind so that shade, even though it was beautiful, it would never really show up well on me anyway. I think thats primariy why i use my fingers, that i can pat it on and build up more color without brushing it off and then having to replace the pigment lost and sparkle.
Unfortunately, fingers are the only way to pack on pigment for lighter shades for me but i know my limitations too, lol! Thats why even though i’m DYING to get Mercury Retrograde by Huda, i cannot. I can deal with half of a palette being unusable to me but not 85% of it for almost $70. Thats why Jackie Aina’s palette was so monumental for women of color. Finally a palette where we could wear 100%. That was worth every penny!
I agree 100% and I’m glad you pointed that out! Alot of palettes look beautiful these days, but lack depth. & those super light shimmer shades either get popped in the inner corner or I’ll sweep em over my cupids bow lol
I feel like a broken record, but I‘m baffled again. I used a brush (Smith 256) with the metallics and had no issues. Calaca is soft, but no softer or fallout prone than most of my PM shadows, some of which are an absolute nightmare (fallout-wise). Besides, I have 50 golds. I’d have been happy if they’d left this out for something more unique.
I’m not affiliated with Melt, but I felt I should say something for those on the fence.
I’m sad that Angelito scored so low.But I can dupe Angelito with ABH Norvina 2. I have beautiful shimmers to use in conjunction with these deep jewel toned mattes. I’ll probably pick this up from the collection. I want at least one piece, too bad most didn’t rate well during testing.I like my Melt eye shadow palettes/stacks and pencil eye liners a lot.
I am so, so confused, seeing youtubers i trust rave about these shimmers. Then again, Melt always had great quality control issues, which is very unprofessional for a brand I feel.
I have the same problem with the shimmers in my Gemini palette (I bought it recently so it must be a newer batch). They are so firmly pressed I can hardly pick up anything. The only way I can is with my finger, and I have to be almost brutal. I think they reformulated but either they pressed too hard or the formula isn’t good. That’s a shame because their palettes are so beautiful.
Glad I’m not totally alone, lol! Sorry yours are similar, though 🙁