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Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches

Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette
Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette

Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette ($49.00 for 0.51 oz.) includes twelve eyeshadows in an assortment of a slightly earthy set of more neutral shades. The eyeshadow formula is described as “luxe,” “long-lasting,” and “high-intensity” that “deliver rich color with a luxurious satin finish.” They can be used wet or dry, but I wouldn’t use the majority with a damp brush, because it creates a stiffer, hardened surface on the top that you’ll have to remove if you want to use the eyeshadow again. I was able to use the more frosted shades with a damp brush without issues later on. The frosts, in general, perform better than the other shades, as they have a denser texture, but they still tend to be powdery. The mattes have a thinner, drier consistency that feels soft in the pan but just doesn’t translate as intensely on the skin. It is a huge improvement from Body, but there’s still a lot of powdery shades with hit or miss pigmentation. I feel like it’s a palette that absolutely requires a primer to do the heavy-lifting and/or a damp application (in the case of the frosts) to be workable. At this price point, though, there are too many misses.

Light is a light, warm-toned beige with a matte finish. It had so-so color payoff both wet and dry with a slightly powdery consistency, but it wasn’t too bad. It wore well for seven and a half hours before fading. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Individual is a medium brown with warm undertones and a matte finish. Applied dry, it was semi-sheer, and applied damp, it was semi-opaque. It wore well for seven hours on me before fading. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Being is a medium-dark brown with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque color payoff applied dry, and then it was about the same applied damp, just more uneven. The texture was powdery but thin, a little chalky. The color showed signs of fading after seven hours of wear. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Kitten is a warm-toned, beige peach with a frosted, slightly metallic, finish. It had semi-sheer color payoff applied dry, and it was fully opaque applied with a dampened brush, which also helped smooth the color out so it applied better. It wore well for eight hours before creasing. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Affection is a medium brown with warm, orange undertones and a frosted finish. Applied dry, it had semi-opaque pigmentation with a soft frost finish, while applied with a dampened brush, the frost finish was amplified and the color was more opaque. The consistency was soft, blendable, but it was a bit powdery. It wore well for eight hours before creasing slightly. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Character is a dark brown with warm undertones and a copper sparkle (that just translates into a mostly satin sheen with little visible sparkle). The texture is drier and thinner, which yielded barely-there color payoff when applied dry. It was boosted to semi-sheer coverage with a damp application, but it rendered the color difficult to blend, so it appeared patchy. It started to fade after six and a half hours of wear. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Thought is a medium, bronzy brown with warm undertones and a frosted sheen. It had good pigmentation applied dry, and it was fully opaque when applied damp. The texture was soft without being powdery, while the color wore well for eight and a half hours before creasing. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Heart is a rosy brown with neutral-to-warm undertones and a satin-matte finish. It was semi-sheer applied both wet and dry, but trying to apply it damp made it difficult to work with as it didn’t want to blend. It lasted for seven hours before fading on me. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Peace is a medium-dark, coppery-brown with a muted quality and soft frosted finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation applied dry, and it was mostly opaque applied with a dampened brush, but it was somewhat hard to blend with both application methods. It wore well for seven hours before fading on me. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Vitality is a brightened, gold with warm, yellow and brown undertones and a metallic finish. Applied dry, it had semi-opaque color coverage, but it was powdery enough that it didn’t bind well dry. It worked better with a dampened brush, as it had opaque color payoff and was much smoother. It wore well for eight hours when I tested it. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Substance is a medium-dark, warm-toned taupe with a frosted finish. It was semi-sheer applied dry, and it was fully pigmented applied with a dampened brush. The consistency was slightly powdery but workable, and it lasted for eight hours before fading on me. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Essence is a medium-dark black with a matte finish. The texture felt soft, but it was dry and thin, so it didn’t bind well on its own. It had semi-opaque color payoff applied dry, and it intensified to mostly opaque color coverage when applied dampened, but it was harder to blend when I used it damp. The color stayed on well for seven hours before creasing. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette
Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette

Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette
Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette

Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette
Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette

Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette
Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette

Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette
Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette

Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette
Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette

Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette
Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette

Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette
Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette

Stila Light Eyeshadow
Stila Light Eyeshadow

Stila Light Eyeshadow
Stila Light Eyeshadow

Stila Individual Eyeshadow
Stila Individual Eyeshadow

Stila Individual Eyeshadow
Stila Individual Eyeshadow

Stila Being Eyeshadow
Stila Being Eyeshadow

Stila Being Eyeshadow
Stila Being Eyeshadow

Stila Kitten Eyeshadow
Stila Kitten Eyeshadow

Stila Kitten Eyeshadow
Stila Kitten Eyeshadow

Stila Affection Eyeshadow
Stila Affection Eyeshadow

Stila Affection Eyeshadow
Stila Affection Eyeshadow

Stila Character Eyeshadow
Stila Character Eyeshadow

Stila Character Eyeshadow
Stila Character Eyeshadow

Stila Thought Eyeshadow
Stila Thought Eyeshadow

Stila Thought Eyeshadow
Stila Thought Eyeshadow

Stila Heart Eyeshadow
Stila Heart Eyeshadow

Stila Heart Eyeshadow
Stila Heart Eyeshadow

Stila Peace Eyeshadow
Stila Peace Eyeshadow

Stila Peace Eyeshadow
Stila Peace Eyeshadow

Stila Vitality Eyeshadow
Stila Vitality Eyeshadow

Stila Vitality Eyeshadow
Stila Vitality Eyeshadow

Stila Substance Eyeshadow
Stila Substance Eyeshadow

Stila Substance Eyeshadow
Stila Substance Eyeshadow

Stila Essence Eyeshadow
Stila Essence Eyeshadow

Stila Essence Eyeshadow
Stila Essence Eyeshadow

Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette
Stila: Vitality (inner lid), Peace (middle of lid), Character (outer lid/crease),
Individual (crease), Light+Kitten (brow bone), Lionfish Eyeliner

Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette
Stila: Vitality (inner lid), Peace (middle of lid), Character (outer lid/crease),
Individual (crease), Light+Kitten (brow bone), Lionfish Eyeliner

Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette
Stila: Kitten (inner lid), Thought (middle of lid), Substance (outer lid/crease),
Character (crease), Light+Kitten (brow bone), Jade Eyeliner

Stila Soul Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette
Stila: Kitten (inner lid), Thought (middle of lid), Substance (outer lid/crease),
Character (crease), Light+Kitten (brow bone), Jade Eyeliner

100 Comments

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Mariella Avatar

This is one of the 2 palettes I was interested in getting – in fact, this was probably my favourite, looking at them online. But at this rating and with how easily these can be duped, it’s another easy “pass” for me. Hoping in a weirdly perverse way that Spirit is also less than great so I can save for the 3 or 4 things I am really wanting in the next few weeks.

Mariella Avatar

Ani BEE, I just took a look at your review for In the Light and I was surprised to read that yours came with a sponge tipped applicator. I’ve had that palette for quite some time now and I’m sure I’ve tossed the packaging but I don’t think mine came with any sort of applicator (just the pencil and the booklet with the palette).

Carrie Avatar

Call me crazy, but I just can’t get excited over another warm-toned neutral palette, especially one of middling performance, when so many better ones exist at this price point.

Adhishree Avatar

i feel like the colours and pigmentation are a less impressive version of some of the naked palettes, pretty but seen way too much over the past year! so in that sense it would be a miss.

Sarah @ The Gold Lining Girl Avatar

It’s so strange…this palette swatched so much better for me than what I’m seeing here. I’ve been using it for a week and am so impressed with it actually. The colors are highly pigmented and last a long time. Weird! But sometimes things work for one person that don’t for others! I appreciate your reviews – I often check here before making purchases!

Megan Avatar

I thought this palette was really great, too. I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks now and am really impressed with it. I wonder if there are different batches or something?

Janna Avatar

I feel like these were such a HUGE fail!!! With how bad they are, I can not believe that Stila made these-they should know better!
I almost ordered all three of these before I swatched them and I am so glad that I didn’t!

Hannah Avatar

Awwwwww 🙁 It’s so sad and such a shame that so far two of these new Stila palettes have bad reviews. I was looking forward to getting this one and the all matte palette. Maybe that one might be better (fingers crossed) :). Thank you Christine for reviewing these. Bummer you had to pay so much for all of them, but you sure have saved me tons of money that I can spend on other makeup (new NARS lipsticks) 😉

MelanieT Avatar

Most Stila breaks me out in hives around my eyes so I don’t know why I bother looking at the reviews lol. These look so pretty in the pan, too bad the quality is lacking.

xamyx Avatar

Am I the only one who finds it amusing Stila couldn’t even get *Kitten* right…? I have it in a couple of palettes, as well as a face highlighter, and it’s soft, buttery, and almost *too* pigmented! It’s actually the product that got me interested in the brand, after I picked up a trio on clearance years ago. It’s also their most iconic shade, so I’d think it would be the same here (unless they didn’t want it to completely overpower the others, LOL!).

I wonder if they changed manufacturer, or they’re trying to “improve”, like so many other brands (I have Lancome & Estee Lauder shadows from HS that are sooo much better than the current offerings, and I really wish they didn’t change for the worse).

xamyx Avatar

I’m also wondering when Stila became a $50/palette brand… I like the brand, but I feel the demographic is much younger, and the pricing prior to these palettes really seemed in line with that. I have the first “In The…” palette (neutrals), and although I picked it up when ot first came out, I think I paid only aboit $35, and it came with a liner!

Maggie Avatar

I thought the same thing about Kitten! I think I’ll have to snag one of those “in the” palettes if they’re on clearance or something with Kitten in it. This is just too sad!

Debra Avatar

It looks like (literally!) that Stila put all their effort into the packaging, promotion, and marketing and not much in the product. It happens sometimes.

But for yet another one to be a dud (or semi-dud) is hardly good for their company. Or for the customer’s wallet.

Jeezz! With so many makeup companies out there and so much to choose from, this was a dumb move, Stila!

Debra Avatar

Different palette, the Tarte LE AmazonianClay Eyeshadow Palette V2 just came from Sephora. It’s a gift for Dear Daughter On-the-Go. Beautifully boxed and looks beautiful.

I will ask her to swatch it once I give it to her (swatching etiquette!) and let you know how these powders are. And then I might put in an order for me!

Rachel R. Avatar

At least this one was better for you. I have enough wonderful neutral palettes, I wouldn’t need this and don’t want it. I’m also staggered that they managed to mess up Kitten. That was my favorite Stila color.

WildDove Avatar

I’m surprised cosmetics companies haven’t got “buttery, highly pigmented” down to an easily duplicable science by now. The inconsistency from one brand/palette/line/product to another is mind-boggling.

Genevieve Avatar

There are a few shades I really like: Substance and Vitality, but overall I think it is a palette where the shades are dupeable. As the quality is very hit and miss, I won’t be buying this. I think it would have been better for Stila to put out one palette of great quality rather than four that are mediocre.

Savannah Avatar

I work at a retailer that carries Stila and I am quite certain that there must be some sort of batch issue here, Christine. I am a picky freak about pigmentation, performance, etc. I have been using the 4 new palettes quite a bit since we received them and have experienced the opposite of what you have! Really nice color payoff, great consistency and texture, and so forth. Wonder what’s up…

Megan Avatar

I agree! I have not had any issues… I have all 4 of them and am super picky… Sure some aren’t insanely pigmented but with good blending they go on beautifully!

Megan Avatar

Hi, I just wanted to let you and everyone know, these shadows are not all intended for wet use, only the shimmery ones… I work for Stila and use a MAC pain pot underneath and really love the application and the blendability of them! I think it’s all on how you apply it…

Cailey Avatar

I’m surprised as I have this palette and really love it, I in fact rank it above the urban decay shadows which always seem to be the most raved out. Maybe it’s personal preference makeup is a unique experience after all

Kristine Avatar

I’m surprised you had such bad luck with this. I think it’s better than the Naked palettes by a long shot. Properly prepped (I used a Mac paint pot or Urban Decay) they’re highly pigmented and the shades are just gorgeous. I use this for weddings and have never had issues. It’s my most used palette, even for myself. I’m just surprised because it performs better than Naked, Naked Basics, and you have those rates so high.

Christine Avatar

Hi Kristine,

I’m glad you like yours! I think it is simply we had different experiences – the Naked palettes are infinitely better to me than these, which is my opinion (based on my experiences) – just like your opinion is these are better than the Naked palette based on your experiences. It doesn’t make me wrong or you wrong.

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!