Melt Cosmetics Radioactive Eyeshadow Stack Review, Photos, Swatches
Radioactive
Melt Cosmetics Radioactive Eyeshadow Stack (x4) ($48.00 for 0.36 oz.) contains two eyeshadows and two pressed pigments. Per the brand, “Radon and Radioactive pressed pigments contain ingredients that are not approved for the eyes.” The problems I experienced with three of the four shades were the same that often plague more matte, bright-hued shades–more powdery/drier textures and the pigmentation could have been a bit better.
Look Using this Product
Radioactive
PPermanent. $48.00.
Radioactive
Radioactive is a bright, medium-dark fuchsia with cool, blue undertones and a matte finish. It had nearly opaque pigmentation, which was buildable to full coverage with less than half of a layer more. The texture was a smidgen drier and dustier compared to most of Melt’s matte eyeshadows. It blended out just fine in practice, though, and had minor fallout during application. The color stayed on well for eight hours and did not seem to stain.
Top Dupes
- Coloured Raine Sweetheart (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Sincerely (P, $4.50) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Anastasia C2 (Norvina Vol. 4) (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Coloured Raine Party Drip (PiP, $6.99) is cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Bonbon (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Anastasia Texas Made (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Vidigal (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M853 Neon Pink (P, $17.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Anastasia Bahamas (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Neon Orange #6 (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone, Talc, Silica, Lauroyl Lysine, Isopropyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, PTFE, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Perfluorooctyl Triethoxysilane, Ethylene/Methacrylate Copolymer, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Polypropylene, Calcium Carbonate, Maltodextrin. May contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Iron Oxide (CI 77499), Iron Oxide (CI 77491), Iron Oxide (CI 77492), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Red 40 Lake (CI 16035), Tin Oxide (CI 77861), Carmine (CI 75470), Black 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.
Radioactive
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Xenon
Xenon is a bright, chartreuse green with warm, yellow undertones and a satin finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that applied evenly to bare skin. It was the easiest shade to use in the set, as it blended well and didn’t have major issues with fallout. The consistency was soft, more loosely pressed, but thankfully, that didn’t seem to cause any problems. It wore well for eight hours on me and stained slightly.
Top Dupes
- Viseart Lime (Bright Editorial #2) (P, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Stoppp (PiP, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Zenith (LE, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Frazzled (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Game Changer (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Viseart Sprout (21) (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Betelgeuse (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Don't Freak (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Glaminatrix Algae (P, $7.30) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Ion (342CM) (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone, Talc, Silica, Lauroyl Lysine, Isopropyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, PTFE, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Perfluorooctyl Triethoxysilane, Ethylene/Methacrylate Copolymer, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Polypropylene, Calcium Carbonate, Maltodextrin. May contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Iron Oxide (CI 77499), Iron Oxide (CI 77491), Iron Oxide (CI 77492), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Red 40 Lake (CI 16035), Tin Oxide (CI 77861), Carmine (CI 75470), Black 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.
Xenon
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Neon
Neon is a bright pop of lemon yellow with warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. There were faint gold flecks in the pan, but I didn’t find that they translated in a meaningful way onto the lid. The texture was somewhat powdery, and the eyeshadow had a tendency to sheer out a bit when I blended out the edges. I had to pat and pack on the color a few times to maintain the vibrancy level on the lid that appeared in the pan. It lasted for eight hours on me before fading.
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Oh Beehave (PiP, $4.50) is more muted (95% similar).
- ColourPop Pint to Go (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Makeup Geek Potential (P, $9.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Bus Stop (PiP, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Royal Woo (LE, $17.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Sugarpill Continue (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Smashbox Bolt (P, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Anastasia D1 (Norvina Vol. 1) (LE, $12.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Viseart Bright Editorial #7 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Mischief (PiP, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone, Talc, Silica, Lauroyl Lysine, Isopropyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, PTFE, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Perfluorooctyl Triethoxysilane, Ethylene/Methacrylate Copolymer, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Polypropylene, Calcium Carbonate, Maltodextrin. May contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Iron Oxide (CI 77499), Iron Oxide (CI 77491), Iron Oxide (CI 77492), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Red 40 Lake (CI 16035), Tin Oxide (CI 77861), Carmine (CI 75470), Black 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.
Neon
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Radon
Radon is a vibrant, medium-dark coral-orange with faint, pinkish pearl over a more matte finish. The consistenccy was moderately powdery but very finely-milled that it seemed a touch drier by touch. It had good color coverage but was hard to apply to bare skin, as it went on a bit patchy and had some fallout (even when I was careful) to contend with, so I’d make sure to do eye makeup first with this shade. I noticed signs of wear after eight hours on my lids.
Top Dupes
- Viseart Nectar (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Virtual Reality (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Meteorite (P, $4.50) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Urban Decay 12/12 (LE, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Under Pressure (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Splash (PiP, $6.99) is darker (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Mango Tango (DC, $6.00) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC Early Bird (LE, $17.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Too Faced Peach Punch (PiP, $16.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Flowerboy (P, $4.50) is cooler (90% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone, Talc, Silica, Lauroyl Lysine, Isopropyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, PTFE, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Perfluorooctyl Triethoxysilane, Ethylene/Methacrylate Copolymer, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Polypropylene, Calcium Carbonate, Maltodextrin. May contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Iron Oxide (CI 77499), Iron Oxide (CI 77491), Iron Oxide (CI 77492), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Red 40 Lake (CI 16035), Tin Oxide (CI 77861), Carmine (CI 75470), Black 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.
These colors are kind of scary to me, but you were able to do a very cool eye look!
Thank you, Seraphine!
Wow, I cannot stop looking at these pictures of your eye look…It’s just so beautiful and unique!!!
It’s making me want to get these 1980s neon shades, but I know I could never pull it off.
Aw, thank you again! Sometimes using some more muted shades can help ground brighter/more neon colors if you aren’t going for an electric eye. Like instead of being a typical, bright rainbow eye, it ended up looking much grungier, almost like a dirty rainbow eye…..
“Dirty Rainbow”…I love that! What other products did you use to create the look? (Sorry to keep going on about this, but I’m so impressed!)
Everything is listed under “Look Details” – https://www.temptalia.com/look/a-muted-rainbow-esque-eye-with-melt-radioactive-love-sick-stacks/
This rated beautifully. It’s a skip for me b/c I have dupes for everything, plus I don’t reach for these shades regularly enough to justify the cost.
Totally makes sense. Melt shadows are huge, so while it might “justify” the price, they are more product than most will need!
I think Radon and Xenon got switched, or the descriptions did. I love neon colors 🙂
So sorry!! I’m such an idiot!!
Not a stack I need, BUT; this eye look you did is literally a piece of artwork! Like if you had this commissioned over to a fab artist to be recreated as a painting, it would make for one awesome insignia for the Temptalia site!
You are always so kind, Nancy 🙂 Thank you! The look didn’t turn out quite as I wanted… but I’ll say it photographed better than I felt it looked in person so I guess that was a win!
I absolutely agree, Nancy T. It’s a work of art, and I love your insigna idea.
This is only one of two stacks I don’t own and I can’t really say why I haven’t bought it. Maybe because neons are my thing, although these are rated decently.
They’re not the worst, but they’re not particularly impressive. But if you aren’t using neons, it definitely seems like an easy pass.
I love that green shade. If anyone’s considering this palette but is put off by the price, I’d recommend the BH Cosmetics Modern Mattes palette. It’s got similar shades for everything here except for the yellow and I can vouch for the pigmentation!
Thanks for the suggestion, Lea!
In my head I use colors like this all the time,lol. But in reality my Viseart Bright Editorial and Urban Decay Electric palettes rarely get the love they deserve. Now if I could work it like Christine, ha ha . I’d wear the heck out of these shadows. Still haven’t found a Melt eye shadow shack or palette to buy yet.
I don’t know that any of the Melt Stacks are shaping out to be must-haves. I think, at least, Gemini, was more interesting and a much better value proposition, but the Stacks haven’t wowed me overall.
Good god this look is KILLER
Thank you, Ginny!
Christine, I believe you could make any group of colors look beautiful. Amazing talent. I could never work with these colors yet I really love most colors overall.
Definitely getting a Rainbow Brite vibe from that look. Love it!
I LOVE the 80’s vibe from these! You work them well!
Thank you, Jenny!