Natasha Denona Chroma Crystal Top Coats Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Bronze
Natasha Denona Bronze Chroma Crystal Top Coat ($28.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a medium, coppery brown with warm, orange undertones and a sparkling, metallic sheen. It had good pigmentation in a single layer when applied with a fingertip (which was how the brand advised for “intense payoff,” whereas a brush would yield a “more sheer effect.” The texture was dense, and while I could feel some of the cream-powder hybrid qualities of the formula, it felt more like a dried down cream eyeshadow. There needed to be more slip in the formula to help improve application and blendability, as it took a little more effort to even out the color and diffuse the edges. It lasted for eight hours before it started to crease with light fallout.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- NARS Thar (LE, $19.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop My Way (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC A Harvest of Greens #1 (PiP, $21.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Lust in Time (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Viseart Truffle (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Tan (PiP, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Hot Chocolit (LE, $38.00) is more shimmery, less pigmented (90% similar).
- NARS Hammamet (Right) (DC, $25.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Coppin Ice (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Viseart Ambre (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, brighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$28.00/0.08 oz. - $350.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be a "multipurpose sparkling topcoat" that can be worn on "bare eyelids, as an eye shadow topper, or top of a lipstick for a dazzling shimmer effect." The brand recommended to apply with a fingertip for "intense payoff" and a brush for a "more sheer effect." The product is supposed to "glide on easily and set in seconds" for "all-day, crease-proof wear." The formula needed more slip overall--they just weren't that blendable and had a tendency to go on unevenly or patchy on their own. The pigmentation was mostly opaque to fully opaque when applied with fingertips and sheerer, but buildable, with brushes. It was long-wearing enough to get through most of the day, but I did get faint creasing after eight hours of wear and slight to some fallout over time.
Browse all of our Natasha Denona Chroma Crystal Top Coat swatches.
Bronze
PPermanent. $28.00.
Grey-Brown
Natasha Denona Grey-Brown Chroma Crystal Top Coat ($28.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a medium-dark, taupe-brown with soft, warm undertones and a sparkling finish. It had opaque color coverage when applied with a fingertip to the lid. The texture was quite dense, but this shade had more slip compared to the other three shades released, so it was a bit easier to work with for initial application and blending out for even coverage. It wore well for eight hours before starting to crease on me and had slight fallout over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Dark Force (DC, $20.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Topaz Flash (90) (P, $26.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Burn (Naked Reloaded) (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Morphe Hustle (LE, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Buxom Mink Magnet (P, $12.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Too Faced Rum Raisin (PiP, $16.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Platinum (P, $45.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Cashmere (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Dose of Colors Wild and Free (P, $20.00) is cooler (85% similar).
- Huda Beauty Tiger #4 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$28.00/0.08 oz. - $350.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be a "multipurpose sparkling topcoat" that can be worn on "bare eyelids, as an eye shadow topper, or top of a lipstick for a dazzling shimmer effect." The brand recommended to apply with a fingertip for "intense payoff" and a brush for a "more sheer effect." The product is supposed to "glide on easily and set in seconds" for "all-day, crease-proof wear." The formula needed more slip overall--they just weren't that blendable and had a tendency to go on unevenly or patchy on their own. The pigmentation was mostly opaque to fully opaque when applied with fingertips and sheerer, but buildable, with brushes. It was long-wearing enough to get through most of the day, but I did get faint creasing after eight hours of wear and slight to some fallout over time.
Browse all of our Natasha Denona Chroma Crystal Top Coat swatches.
Grey-Brown
PPermanent. $28.00.
Nude
Natasha Denona Nude Chroma Crystal Top Coat ($28.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a light-medium, golden orange with warm undertones and a sparkling sheen. It had excellent pigmentation that applied somewhat evenly to bare skin, but it was a struggle to really diffuse and soften the edges regardless of whether I was using fingertips or brushes or if layered over a primer. The effect was certainly sparkling and pretty but wish the formula had more slip and blendability to be a more versatile product. It stayed on well for eight hours before creasing faintly, while there was slight fallout over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- NARS Outer Limits (DC, $25.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- BH Cosmetics Club Tropicana #6 (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- BH Cosmetics Club Tropicana #1 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Sphinx (P, $45.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Day Gleam (P, $21.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
- MAC Warm Wash #3 (LE, ) is brighter (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Botanic (192DC) (PiP, $29.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- NARS Outer Limits (LE, $25.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Dior Shimmer Copper (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Clionadh Cookie (LE, $6.25) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$28.00/0.08 oz. - $350.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be a "multipurpose sparkling topcoat" that can be worn on "bare eyelids, as an eye shadow topper, or top of a lipstick for a dazzling shimmer effect." The brand recommended to apply with a fingertip for "intense payoff" and a brush for a "more sheer effect." The product is supposed to "glide on easily and set in seconds" for "all-day, crease-proof wear." The formula needed more slip overall--they just weren't that blendable and had a tendency to go on unevenly or patchy on their own. The pigmentation was mostly opaque to fully opaque when applied with fingertips and sheerer, but buildable, with brushes. It was long-wearing enough to get through most of the day, but I did get faint creasing after eight hours of wear and slight to some fallout over time.
Browse all of our Natasha Denona Chroma Crystal Top Coat swatches.
Nude
PPermanent. $28.00.
Peach
Natasha Denona Peach Chroma Crystal Top Coat ($28.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a medium orange with warm undertones and a sparkling, metallic shine. It had rich pigmentation in a single layer when applied with fingertips and sheerer coverage when used with a brush, which was as described by the brand. The texture was quite dense and felt a little dry as it was harder to blend out the edges with using a fair amount of pressure to do so, which wasn’t comfortable on the lid. The eyeshadow lasted for eight hours before creasing and had some fallout during wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Make Up For Ever Flicker (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Caramelo (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Helena (275K) (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Star Dust (LE, $28.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Electrode (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Honey BB (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Easy Peasy (LE, $4.50) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Botanic (192DC) (PiP, $29.00) is less shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Lifetime (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Shiny Objects (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$28.00/0.08 oz. - $350.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be a "multipurpose sparkling topcoat" that can be worn on "bare eyelids, as an eye shadow topper, or top of a lipstick for a dazzling shimmer effect." The brand recommended to apply with a fingertip for "intense payoff" and a brush for a "more sheer effect." The product is supposed to "glide on easily and set in seconds" for "all-day, crease-proof wear." The formula needed more slip overall--they just weren't that blendable and had a tendency to go on unevenly or patchy on their own. The pigmentation was mostly opaque to fully opaque when applied with fingertips and sheerer, but buildable, with brushes. It was long-wearing enough to get through most of the day, but I did get faint creasing after eight hours of wear and slight to some fallout over time.
Browse all of our Natasha Denona Chroma Crystal Top Coat swatches.
I just got Joya & Aeris, but still Grey-Brown is just calling my name…
I really really want the grey-brown one. I saw Kathleen Lights use it in a tutorial and it looked so stunning!
I would rather pay a bit more and get the Dior Mono Fusions or Chanel Illusion Ombres versions-those are much better quality, bigger range of colors, with more complex finishes
I 1000% agree with you Katherine!!
With the first 2 shades, I am thankfully duped to the gills with MAC’s To Boldly Go, Superwatt and then CP’s “3” also looks close enough to Gray-Brown for me. And then there’s Peach! I do have Flipper, but it seems to be a more summery yellowish orange, so Peach has me quite tempted even with just a B-. Self-control is needed to contain this lemming!
Grey-Brown really caught my eye and the others are really nice too but they just seem like way too much trouble to get a result that is “true to pan” and easy to work with – shades of MAC Pigments. I’ll look for a pressed e/s dupe.
I love the shades, especially the grey-brown one, but I just don’t like the finish. All those glittery bits, with fallout, in my eyes. Coupled with the fact that they are tricky to apply and blend makes them not user friendly to me.
At first glance these remind me of the L’oreal infallable eyeshadows. The pressed pigment ones in individual pots. I would venture to say that these aren’t as pigmented as the L’oreal ones. I know i’m going on and on here but for a DS eyeshadow, they are so GOOD! I say save yourself some money and try the L’oreal ones if these ND shadows catch your eye. Thats just my opinion of course.
They’re not really meant to be eyeshadow on its down like the Infallable but instead sort of a top coat to your eye look, at least that’s my understanding to the ND pots
I love these! To me they represent something different from the regular creamy eyeshadows that you can get from dior, chanel, l’oreal Colourpop super socks and so on. Yes, these brands formulas are all more creamy and have more slip. It they are also all “regular” eyeshadows. But these are marketed as top coats and work to sort of adds something to either already applied eyeshadow or goes on straight to a bare lid to give them like a wet sparkly look without the creasing aspect that a gloss or a cream colour base from Mac would give. I would more compare these more to a sparkly pigment that can adhere by itself to the lid without needing any gluelike product underneith. And with tinier specks of glitter that helps in making the lid look more wet and glossy rather than sparkly. I use them often on bare skin for a little something extra no makeup look, or to oumph up a shimmer that doesn’t sparkle or shine or gloss just right…;) But I would not compare them to cream or cream to powder shimmery or metallic eyeshadows. If you compare them to that, no doubt you are going to find faults with this product. But to me they represent a different approach and the product is more like a pigmenty top coat or wash or a spot pigment that can be built up or an eye gloss without the creasing. But not an eyeshadow per se…
They do however give off some subtle fallout as the day passes on, but that’s not a huge problem for me. So for me they are thumbs up!!
These are great for a quick naturally shimmery eye. For daytime I don’t have time for a full shadow look, so I just smudge some of these on with my finger and it gives my eyes some sparkle without looking too makeup-y.