Urban Decay Chem Trail Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow ($22.00 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is a light, champagne gold with warm undertones and a sparkly finish. It had sheer coverage that did not build-up well–the best I could get was semi-sheer–and as I built up the color, it became increasingly chunky and added uneven texture to my lids, making them appear extra wrinkly and raised. After a few blinks, the layers would start to crack. One layer of product wore well for nine hours with no fallout but two layers resulted in small chunks of the product, which can get into the eye and is more painful than regular eyeshadow. MAC Pastelluxe #1 (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar). MAC Reflects Gold (P, $21.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). MAC Cool Companions #1 (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar). ColourPop Fringe (P, $6.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Stila Follow the Sun (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar). MAC Best Makeup (LE, $22.00) is lighter (90% similar). Natasha Denona Indian Gold (44M) (PiP, $29.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Urban Decay Neon Moon (LE, $20.00) is darker (90% similar). LORAC Cashmere (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Stila Stylish (LE, $24.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar). MAC Plead Gilty (LE, $22.00) is lighter (90% similar). Pat McGrath Astral Gold Allure (LE, $25.00) is warmer (90% similar). MAC Greenluxe #2 (PiP, ) is more pigmented (95% similar). Urban Decay Chem Trail (DC, $20.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). ColourPop El Capitan (-, $6.00) is darker (85% similar). Kaja Gold Dust (PiP, ) is warmer (85% similar). MAC Flicker (P, $21.00) is lighter (85% similar). Dior Earthy Canvas #2 (LE, ) is darker, cooler (80% similar). Dior Golden Savannah #3 (LE, ) is darker (95% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Urban Decay Zap Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow ($22.00 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is a medium, golden bronze with warm undertones and a sprinkling of gold sparkle. This had less shift, but it had one of the strongest base colors and could actually look like you were wearing eyeshadow without having a wrinkly, crunch eyelid. The texture was fairly smooth without being too thin or watery, and it spread decently. One layer yielded semi-opaque pigmentation, while two layers made the color fully opaque but didn’t add too much texture to the lid. I did notice that it had a tendency to “crack” on the lid wherever I had lines (like my inner lid), in the same way that some matte liquid lipsticks do when I smile. It lasted for nine hours without fallout when I wore one layer, and I had some flaking when I wore two layers of product. bareMinerals Santorini (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar). Maybelline Downtown Brown (P, $6.99) is less shimmery (95% similar). ColourPop Blaze (PiP, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). LORAC Smokey Topaz (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Chanel Patine Bronze (840) (P, $36.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Benefit Thanks a Latte (P, $20.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Hello Kitty Chocolate Chip (LE, ) is less shimmery, brighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Burn (PiP, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Noir Fume #2 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Estee Lauder Bitter Clove (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). ColourPop Nillionaire (P, $6.00) is darker (90% similar). Sydney Grace Vibrant Madness (DC, $8.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Stila Fairy Tail (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar). MAC English Gilt (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery, brighter (90% similar). Sephora Glitter Dress (357) (P, $9.00) is lighter (85% similar). Persona Resilient (PiP, ) is darker (85% similar). LORAC Rendezvous (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). ColourPop Body Language (LE, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Giorgio Armani Incognito #4 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Giorgio Armani Cold Copper (09) (DC, $39.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Urban Decay Recharged Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow ($22.00 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is a coppery brown with iridescent pink sparkle. The difficulty in getting this product to apply with any semblance of evenness on the lid was astounding. The texture gets so chunky when I’ve attempted to layer it, and when I tried to apply it as a wash of color, it was so uneven. This shade had less base color than it did copper and pink sparkles, but they didn’t spread evenly at all. I was able to get up to semi-opaque coverage, not that it looked good or felt tolerable on the lid (it has a clingy feel when layered). One layer lasted for nine hours without fallout, while two layers resulted in large chunks of product flaking off the eye within a few hours of wear. Maybelline Inked in Pink (P, $6.99) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Makeup Geek Wildfire (P, $12.00) is less shimmery (85% similar). MAC Glitz Please (LE, $21.00) is darker (85% similar). Dior Fusion (764) (P, $29.50) is more shimmery (85% similar). MAC Major Win (LE, $21.00) is darker, more muted (85% similar). Urban Decay Bad Seed (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Natasha Denona Golden Rose (60M) (P, $29.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Stila Dollish (LE, $24.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). ColourPop Emuse Me (LE, $6.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). MAC Rose Light (LE, $32.50) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Stila Enchantress (P, $24.00) is lighter (85% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty In Stardust (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). MAC Sweet Acting (P, $21.00) is lighter (85% similar). Pat McGrath VR Pink (PiP, $25.00) is lighter, more pigmented, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Kindness (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar). MAC Boom Boom Room (LE, $18.00) is darker, cooler (80% similar). Urban Decay Saturday Stardust (P, $22.00) is lighter, cooler (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Urban Decay Solstice Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow ($22.00 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is a medium-dark, reddish copper with warm undertones and multi-colored sparkle. The consistency was thin but smoother than the other shades, so it didn’t get quite as chunky when I attempted to build-up the color. It had semi-sheer to medium coverage. On the lid, there’s a semblance of a base color, but it still had a more textured look to it, which made the eyelid appear uneven. When I wore one layer alone, the product lasted for nine hours without fallout, and when I wore two layers, I had a little bit of fall out after nine hours but no chunks that had flaked off. MAC Humoresque (LE, $18.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Urban Decay Solstice (DC, $20.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (90% similar). Pat McGrath Alien Moon (LE, $25.00) is warmer (90% similar). MAC Boom Boom Room (LE, $18.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (90% similar). MAC Let's Roll (P, $18.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). MAC Bougie (P, $23.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Warrior (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter, more pigmented (90% similar). Chanel Laurier Rose (127) (LE, $34.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). MAC Reward Yourself (LE, $16.50) is darker, more muted (90% similar). ColourPop Gneiss Guy (PiP, $4.50) is cooler (90% similar). Sydney Grace Pistol (P, $6.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Urban Decay Element (PiP, $20.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). ColourPop Clan of Two (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Urban Decay Fortune-Teller (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). Laura Mercier Copper (LE, $23.00) is warmer (90% similar). MAC Claretluxe #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Kindness (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). MAC Starry Night (P, $17.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). Urban Decay Golden Hour (LE, $19.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Natasha Denona Calypso Blue (05M) (PiP, $29.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Formula Overview

Urban Decay Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow ($22.00 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is supposed to be a “liquid version” of the powder-based Moondust Eyeshadow formula. The difference (besides consistency!) is that these are designed to have a buildable formula that can be used on the lash line, over other eyeshadows on the lid, or on its own, and once it dries down, it “won’t budge or crease.” I felt like it was an overly fussy product, and I think it takes extra work and very specific preference to make them “worth it.” I’d much rather use the regular Moondust eyeshadow, which is even $1.00 cheaper (it is hard to compare liquid vs. powder weights, so there could be more uses in one than the other).

For the most part, they’re sheer to semi-sheer and somewhat buildable, but the texture doesn’t support layering. I don’t think they are that usable on their own, because they dry down quickly and are hard to blend out–they look patchy and uneven–and trying to build-up color by putting additional product on the same area always resulted in a thick, chunky, and uneven disaster on the eye. I tried layering them over eyeshadow as well, and from afar, it can be pretty, but they look horrific close-up as they are the same on top of something else: uneven with poorly distributed sparkle. The tiniest dab on the inner lid that you don’t touch or blend opened up the eye, but I tried brushes (including the brand’s Moondust brush), fingertips, silicone applicators, and the included brush (on the applicator) to no avail. I only had moderate success using the included applicator and layering it over eyeliner.

The formula itself was inconsistent every time I used a shade, because the product doesn’t seem to be well mixed, which results in sheerer and thinner, more pigmented and chunkier consistencies. They don’t really mix up, but you can try to twist and maneuver the wand into the product to try and mix it that way. The highlight of the formula is that there was virtually no fall out across all the shades except for when I tried to layer or build-up color, then sometimes I’d get a big chunk that would flake off entirely, but when worn on top of liner or as a single layer of product (on top of eyeshadow or alone), I had no fall out.

I also found the included applicator is particularly disappointing; it does nothing to improve application as it is a coarser brush that’s rather stiff, which means that it is hard to get any evenness out of it. It tends to glob product on rather than give you a sense of precision. The coarser bristles hold product in them unevenly as well. It is the type of brush that when pull it across the skin in one fluid motion, the product pulls to the side and leaves almost nothing in the middle.

Urban Decay Chem Trail Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Chem Trail Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Chem Trail Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Chem Trail Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Chem Trail Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Zap Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Zap Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Zap Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Zap Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Zap Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Recharged Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Recharged Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Recharged Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Recharged Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Recharged Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Solstice Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Solstice Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Solstice Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Solstice Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Solstice Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow

Zap, Spacetime, Zodiac, Vega (lash line)

Zap, Spacetime, Zodiac, Vega (lash line)

Chem Trail over Giorgio Armani #9 and #10 Eye Tints

Recharged, Chem Trail, Solstice, Magnetic (lower lash line)

Recharged, Chem Trail, Solstice, Magnetic (lower lash line)