Wet 'n' Wild Lights Out Color Icon Eyeshadow Quad Review, Photos, Swatches
Lights Out
Wet ‘n’ Wild Lights Out Color Icon Eyeshadow Quad ($2.99 for 0.16 oz.) seems like the “smoky” quad out of the bunch with a light, shimmery beige, deep taupe and black, and a smoky, shimmery green. The quality was a little all over the place in the quad, though nothing was amazing without a solid primer underneath it. I still found that, while primer helped, the formula faded far faster than a lot of other formulas on the marketplace (including the previous version).
Ingredients
Talc, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Ethyl Macadamiate, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Silica, Nylon-12, Magnesium Myristate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polybutene, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Lauroyl Lysine, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, o-Cymen-5-ol, Water/Eau, Tin Oxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, [+/- (MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): Iron Oxides/CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Mica, Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891, Ultramarines/CI 77007].
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.
Lights Out
PPermanent. $2.99.
Lights Out #1
Lights Out #1 is a deep, taupe-brown with neutral-to-cool undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that was buildable to opaque coverage if used over primer; without primer, it was always a bit faded and semi-opaque to my eye. The texture was soft, thin, and dusty, which was part of the problem. It lasted for six and a half hours before fading noticeably on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Makeup Geek Grunge (DC, $6.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- MAC Influential (LE, $17.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Dior Matte Charcoal (PiP, ) is lighter, brighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Downtown (LE, $6.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Downlike (PiP, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Bowl Out (LE, $17.00) is darker (95% similar).
- NARS Coconut Grove (P, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Ashbury (LE, $17.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Sydney Grace Admiral (P, $5.25) is darker (95% similar).
- Makeup Geek Nightfall (LE, $6.00) is darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The formula is supposed to be "powerfully pigmented" with a "butter-soft" texture that "glides on like a dream." The majority of the eyeshadows are on the drier side, sometimes feeling loosely pressed and other times more chalk-like and truly dry to the point where a primer became a must for getting good adhesion and wear out of the formula. Most of the matte shades were quite pigmented, and I found they actually applied better to bare skin than some of the shimmers, which often appeared faded and muted in practice compared to how they appeared in the pan. The pigmentation varied from decent to mostly opaque depending on the shade, and the wear was typically between five and seven hours on me.
I did not keep most of the previously-released trios and palettes from the brand as mine, but when I compared 2018's formula to the prior one (and mine are likely five or more years old), the previous formula was far better for their shimmers--slightly more slip, creamier in feel, and typically more pigmented and true-to-color on the lid. I think the mattes, overall, are improved as they are more blendable and pigmented on the lid.
Browse all of our Wet 'n' Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow (2018) swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Ethyl Macadamiate, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Silica, Nylon-12, Magnesium Myristate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polybutene, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Lauroyl Lysine, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, o-Cymen-5-ol, Water/Eau, Tin Oxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, [+/- (MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): Iron Oxides/CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Mica, Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891, Ultramarines/CI 77007].
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.
Lights Out #1
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Lights Out #2
Lights Out #2 is a bright beige with subtle, warm undertones and a sparkling sheen. It had good color coverage in a single layer, though the texture felt drier and had larger sparkles, so there was some fallout over time. The eyeshadow blended out fairly well, though, and stayed on for six hours otherwise.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Wet 'n' Wild Hasta La Costa Baby #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- LORAC Dream It (LE, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Sephora Clash (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Call of the Canyon (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Bluebell (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Shroom (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Madame (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Linda Hallberg Cosmetics Bang (LE, ) (90% similar).
- ColourPop Strike a Match (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Runway Worthy (LE, $17.00) is cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The formula is supposed to be "powerfully pigmented" with a "butter-soft" texture that "glides on like a dream." The majority of the eyeshadows are on the drier side, sometimes feeling loosely pressed and other times more chalk-like and truly dry to the point where a primer became a must for getting good adhesion and wear out of the formula. Most of the matte shades were quite pigmented, and I found they actually applied better to bare skin than some of the shimmers, which often appeared faded and muted in practice compared to how they appeared in the pan. The pigmentation varied from decent to mostly opaque depending on the shade, and the wear was typically between five and seven hours on me.
I did not keep most of the previously-released trios and palettes from the brand as mine, but when I compared 2018's formula to the prior one (and mine are likely five or more years old), the previous formula was far better for their shimmers--slightly more slip, creamier in feel, and typically more pigmented and true-to-color on the lid. I think the mattes, overall, are improved as they are more blendable and pigmented on the lid.
Browse all of our Wet 'n' Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow (2018) swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Ethyl Macadamiate, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Silica, Nylon-12, Magnesium Myristate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polybutene, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Lauroyl Lysine, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, o-Cymen-5-ol, Water/Eau, Tin Oxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, [+/- (MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): Iron Oxides/CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Mica, Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891, Ultramarines/CI 77007].
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.
Lights Out #2
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Lights Out #3
Lights Out #3 is a deep black with neutral undertones and a semi-matte finish. The eyeshadow had more of a “natural matte” finish to me, where it was rather matte to my eye but seemed to absorb some of my skin’s natural oils. There were larger flecks of silver sparkle in the pan itself but none of the flecks transferred (that I could see, at least) onto my lid. It blended out fairly well, but it did take a bit of extra effort to diffuse the edges. It wore well for seven and a half hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Inglot J325 Pitch Black (LE, $10.00) is more muted (95% similar).
- ColourPop Faraway (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Nude Awakening #7 (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Anastasia Night Sky (P, $12.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Dark Matter (LE, $25.00) (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Diva Lights (Define) (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever I102 Onyx (DC, $17.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Urban Decay So Dark (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Stila Coal (LE, $18.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Milani Naughty-Night (PiP, $5.99) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The formula is supposed to be "powerfully pigmented" with a "butter-soft" texture that "glides on like a dream." The majority of the eyeshadows are on the drier side, sometimes feeling loosely pressed and other times more chalk-like and truly dry to the point where a primer became a must for getting good adhesion and wear out of the formula. Most of the matte shades were quite pigmented, and I found they actually applied better to bare skin than some of the shimmers, which often appeared faded and muted in practice compared to how they appeared in the pan. The pigmentation varied from decent to mostly opaque depending on the shade, and the wear was typically between five and seven hours on me.
I did not keep most of the previously-released trios and palettes from the brand as mine, but when I compared 2018's formula to the prior one (and mine are likely five or more years old), the previous formula was far better for their shimmers--slightly more slip, creamier in feel, and typically more pigmented and true-to-color on the lid. I think the mattes, overall, are improved as they are more blendable and pigmented on the lid.
Browse all of our Wet 'n' Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow (2018) swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Ethyl Macadamiate, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Silica, Nylon-12, Magnesium Myristate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polybutene, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Lauroyl Lysine, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, o-Cymen-5-ol, Water/Eau, Tin Oxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, [+/- (MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): Iron Oxides/CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Mica, Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891, Ultramarines/CI 77007].
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.
Lights Out #3
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Lights Out #4
Lights Out #4 is a dark green with warm, olive undertones and a shimmery, frosted finish. It had good pigmentation that applied fairly evenly to bare skin, though it was hard to maintain the intensity and depth without a primer underneath as the formula just seemed to suffer greatly at staying true-to-pan without primer. The texture was drier, but it remained blendable and didn’t have much fallout during application. The eyeshadow stayed on well for seven hours before fading noticeably on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Emerald Isles (Cream Color) (LE, $45.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Galactic Conquest (LE, $25.00) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Poison Ivy (P, $38.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Hundred (LE, $19.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Sugarpill Junebug (P, $13.00) is brighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Protest (-, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Emerald #4 (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- L'Oreal Golden Emerald (P, $7.99) is more shimmery, brighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Bankroll (LE, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Wanderlust (PiP, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The formula is supposed to be "powerfully pigmented" with a "butter-soft" texture that "glides on like a dream." The majority of the eyeshadows are on the drier side, sometimes feeling loosely pressed and other times more chalk-like and truly dry to the point where a primer became a must for getting good adhesion and wear out of the formula. Most of the matte shades were quite pigmented, and I found they actually applied better to bare skin than some of the shimmers, which often appeared faded and muted in practice compared to how they appeared in the pan. The pigmentation varied from decent to mostly opaque depending on the shade, and the wear was typically between five and seven hours on me.
I did not keep most of the previously-released trios and palettes from the brand as mine, but when I compared 2018's formula to the prior one (and mine are likely five or more years old), the previous formula was far better for their shimmers--slightly more slip, creamier in feel, and typically more pigmented and true-to-color on the lid. I think the mattes, overall, are improved as they are more blendable and pigmented on the lid.
Browse all of our Wet 'n' Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow (2018) swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Ethyl Macadamiate, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Silica, Nylon-12, Magnesium Myristate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polybutene, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Lauroyl Lysine, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, o-Cymen-5-ol, Water/Eau, Tin Oxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, [+/- (MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): Iron Oxides/CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Mica, Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891, Ultramarines/CI 77007].
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.
Since this was one of the quads I was most excited for (murky, smokey greens are my jam!), this leaves me feeling a bit sad. For the super low price, it could be worth it still, if only for the last 2 shades making a kick-butt smokey eye. But I do have UD Protest….?
Awwww….this looks so promising but that C+ rating makes me wonder if this is even worth trying to track down (most places I’ve seen in Canada only have a very scanty collection of WnW products). I was hoping the transition shade would be a winner but it’s not. Nice colour though so maybe I’ll settle for a better quality dupe.
Not a really bad little quad – love the green and the overall colour scheme. Beautiful eye look Christine.
Darn, I had my hopes up here. I need a nice smoky quad or quint for next to nothing 😛