Stila Iridescent Glitter & Glow Liquid Shadow Trio (Travel) Review & Swatches
Iridescent
Stila Iridescent Glitter & Glow Liquid Shadow Trio (Travel) ($25.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a nice way to get three different layering, glitter eyeshadows in your stash in a size that’s more practical to use up, since they are liquid and are harder to keep as long past the expiration date (compared to powders). These three in particular seemed more suitable for layering over other eyeshadows or eyeliner or used as a wash of sparkle on the lid or inner tearduct to brighten. Stila often uses the descriptor “sheer” for the shades that are less coverage, but I didn’t see that used for any of these shades, unfortunately.
Iridescent
LELimited Edition. $25.00.
Dollish
Dollish is a medium pink with warmer undertones and flecks of gold and pink sparkle that gave it a sparkling, metallic sheen. It had semi-opaque, buildable coverage in a single layer when I applied it to my lower lash line (using the doe-foot applicator) or inner tearduct (using a flat, synthetic brush). The consistency was thin, watery, and fluid, but it didn’t gather in my fine lines and set with just enough time to diffuse the edges but fast enough that I’d recommend working one eye at a time. It stayed on well for nine hours without flaking or creasing.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Sweet Tea (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Stila Enchantress (P, $24.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Twitterpated (P, $6.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- elf Little Dipper (P, $6.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Viseart Primrose (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Firenze (P, $22.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Terra Moons Wicked Rose (P, $6.25) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- BH Cosmetics Club Tropicana #3 (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop On the Edge (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- MAC Rose (P, $21.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$24.00/0.15 oz. - $160.00 Per Ounce
Stila says that it’s supposed to be a “long-wearing, sparkle eye shadow” in a “water-infused texture” that “dries down smoothly” with “minimal fallout.” There’s a lot to be impressed by with the formula, but there was some inconsistency in opacity and overall wateriness between shades so not all shades were equally impressive. When they’re good, they were pigmented, dried down evenly without creasing, and were long-wearing with minimal fallout. When they’re less impressive, they are more watery, semi-sheer to semi-opaque, prone to creasing as they dry down, though the wear is similar across all shades.
I felt like there was less fallout with the less blending done with them, e.g. applying directly to lid and only minimally working along the edges yielded the least fallout compared to diffusing and blending out the color with a brush. If I accidentally rubbed an eye, it seemed to interfere with the integrity of the wear completely–it was like a downhill avalanche of glitter that could not be stopped. They were easiest to use as the last step in a look, patted over eyeshadow with fingertip or swiped on with the sponge applicator for more of a “cut crease” kind of effect, or used along the lash line as eyeliner (I liked using a thin, liquid eyeliner brush to get a thinner line). They removed fairly well, but it was hard to get every last bit of glitter off the skin, though it was never painful or uncomfortable to remove them.
Browse all of our Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow swatches.
Look Using this Product
Dollish
LELimited Edition. $24.00.
Stylish
Stylish is a very pale gold base with darker, more true gold glitter. The base had better coverage than I expected, as it had very fine pearl that helped give it more medium coverage with a moderate amount of larger glitter. It built up to semi-opaque coverage with a second layer, just be sure to smooth out the initial layer and allow it to dry down before adding more on top. The texture was thin, more watery, but I felt that some of the pearl seemed to bunch up around the larger glitter, so it took more maneuvering to get an even layer down. Once it dried down, the glitter eyeshadow wore well for nine and a half hours without flaking or fallout.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Dazzle the Night Away (LE, $18.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Stila Follow the Sun (LE, $24.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Chem Trail (DC, $20.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Chem Trail (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Rio de la Plata (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Goldmine (P, $21.00) is darker (85% similar).
- MAC Night Thrill (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop Keep It Plutonic (-, $8.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Too Faced Irresistible (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop Get Lost (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$24.00/0.15 oz. - $160.00 Per Ounce
Stila says that it’s supposed to be a “long-wearing, sparkle eye shadow” in a “water-infused texture” that “dries down smoothly” with “minimal fallout.” There’s a lot to be impressed by with the formula, but there was some inconsistency in opacity and overall wateriness between shades so not all shades were equally impressive. When they’re good, they were pigmented, dried down evenly without creasing, and were long-wearing with minimal fallout. When they’re less impressive, they are more watery, semi-sheer to semi-opaque, prone to creasing as they dry down, though the wear is similar across all shades.
I felt like there was less fallout with the less blending done with them, e.g. applying directly to lid and only minimally working along the edges yielded the least fallout compared to diffusing and blending out the color with a brush. If I accidentally rubbed an eye, it seemed to interfere with the integrity of the wear completely–it was like a downhill avalanche of glitter that could not be stopped. They were easiest to use as the last step in a look, patted over eyeshadow with fingertip or swiped on with the sponge applicator for more of a “cut crease” kind of effect, or used along the lash line as eyeliner (I liked using a thin, liquid eyeliner brush to get a thinner line). They removed fairly well, but it was hard to get every last bit of glitter off the skin, though it was never painful or uncomfortable to remove them.
Browse all of our Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow swatches.
Stylish
LELimited Edition. $24.00.
Embellish
Embellish is a medium-dark pink with warm, brownish undertones and flecks of bronze and pink sparkle. It had semi-sheer, buildable coverage–up to semi-opaque–that adhered fairly evenly to bare skin but worked best sheered out as a wash of sparkle on the lid or layered on top of other products (like eyeshadow or eyeliner). It didn’t have any flaking, creasing, or fallout for nine and a half hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Sephora Pink Quartz (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Stila Peachy Sheen (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Parallel Universe (Left) (DC, $25.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Pretty Vulgar Ruffled (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Nude (140CP) (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Nostalgic (LE, $19.50) is lighter (90% similar).
- Victoria Beckham Beauty Chiffon (P, $36.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty In the Pink #3 (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Firenze (P, $22.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Dewdrop (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$24.00/0.15 oz. - $160.00 Per Ounce
Stila says that it’s supposed to be a “long-wearing, sparkle eye shadow” in a “water-infused texture” that “dries down smoothly” with “minimal fallout.” There’s a lot to be impressed by with the formula, but there was some inconsistency in opacity and overall wateriness between shades so not all shades were equally impressive. When they’re good, they were pigmented, dried down evenly without creasing, and were long-wearing with minimal fallout. When they’re less impressive, they are more watery, semi-sheer to semi-opaque, prone to creasing as they dry down, though the wear is similar across all shades.
I felt like there was less fallout with the less blending done with them, e.g. applying directly to lid and only minimally working along the edges yielded the least fallout compared to diffusing and blending out the color with a brush. If I accidentally rubbed an eye, it seemed to interfere with the integrity of the wear completely–it was like a downhill avalanche of glitter that could not be stopped. They were easiest to use as the last step in a look, patted over eyeshadow with fingertip or swiped on with the sponge applicator for more of a “cut crease” kind of effect, or used along the lash line as eyeliner (I liked using a thin, liquid eyeliner brush to get a thinner line). They removed fairly well, but it was hard to get every last bit of glitter off the skin, though it was never painful or uncomfortable to remove them.
Browse all of our Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow swatches.
From stila which are your favorite ? Have you tried any from the drugstore that seem comparable to stilas glitter formula ?
It really depends on what you’re going to use them for as they are all over the map in terms of opacity and finish! ColourPop’s Super Novas are similar.
What three great shades and the mini size does make it more practical. Love them.
I know! Minis are so great for a formula like this!
I had hoped Stylish would be less gold and more of a pewter, oh well. I much prefer “neutral” metallics to true gold or silver, and when they’re light, they’re so wearable (on my skintone)—like taupe, but more glam. It’s easier to find darker ones, though, like gunmetal…the search continues.
Man, I wish Dollish came in as part of the permanent collection as it’s a shade I would use a lot. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised I like it so much as Lit Cosmetics Solar Blast in size 3 is one of my favourites glitters to use with all my orange looks.
Dollish looks pretty but i doubt it will show up well on my NC30 skin tone. They look similar to colourpop supernova liquid shadows.
I have a love/hate relationship with Stila’s Glitter & Glows. A lot of the times, I just want a nice pop on the center of my lid and no matter how much I rub off the applicator I always get too much. I think I love the idea of them, but not the actual product. I prefer the Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter shadows, I think b/c they have a drier consistency.
Thankfully, I have dupes for Dollush and Stylish that I do much prefer over both of these shades. My favorite shade, Embellish has a listed dupe that I have: UD High. Just not so sure I would call it a dupe myself, though. But, I suppose it’s close enough? ?