Wet ‘n’ Wild Secret Garden Rendezvous Color Icon Eyeshadow Quad Review & Swatches
Secret Garden Rendezvous
Wet ‘n’ Wild Secret Garden Rendezvous Color Icon Eyeshadow Quad ($4.99 for 0.17 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette where only one shade was easy to use and the other three were varying degrees of frustration. It’s too bad the quality wasn’t there because the color combo could have been quite stunning!
Secret Garden Rendezvous #1
Secret Garden Rendezvous #1 is a soft, muted gold with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had good pigmentation applied dry as well as wet, though the dampened application yielded a bit more depth and a higher shine finish. The texture was soft, a little dry and dusty, but it applied without too much difficulty. The downside was more that it was prone to fading faster than average–six hours–on my skin, so primer would be an absolute must-have for longevity.
Top Dupes
- Charlotte Tilbury Starlight #1 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Giorgio Armani #10 (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Too Faced Spiked Eggnog (LE, $16.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Hot Pants (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Chantecaille Seashell (P, $34.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Smashbox Flirt (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Tarte Escape (LE, ) is lighter (85% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Gold Ashes (12) (P, $39.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Viseart Petit Pro #5 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury The Rebel #1 (PiP, ) is lighter (85% 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, Silica, Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Magnesium Myristate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Lauroyl Lysine, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Tin Oxide, Sorbitan Stearate, o-Cymen-5-ol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Water/Eau, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polyacrylamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Tocopherol, [+/- (MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): Iron Oxides/CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Manganese Violet/CI 77742, Ultramarines/CI 77007, Red 40 Lake/CI 16035, Ferric Ferrocyanide/CI 77510, Mica, Carmine/CI 75470, Blue 1 Lake/CI 42090, Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891, Black 2/CI 77266].
Secret Garden Rendezvous #2
Secret Garden Rendezvous #2 is a light-medium taupe with neutral-to-warm undertones and flecks of gold micro-sparkle over a matte finish. The consistency was very powdery, which resulted in sheer coverage and a fair amount of fallout during application. It did not work well with a dampened, as that turned it into a stiffer consistency that was difficult to blend out but was still sheerer; it also led to hard pan on the shade itself. This shade stayed on well for six hours before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- Colour Pop Americano (LE, $5.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Kat Von D Ashes (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Relax (P, $5.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Gucci Beauty Tuscan Storm #2 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- LORAC Navy #5 (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Viseart Cool Matte #4 (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Chanel Deep #4 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- theBalm Flawless (P, $16.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Tarte Power Player (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Deluxe Edition #15 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (80% 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, Silica, Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Magnesium Myristate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Lauroyl Lysine, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Tin Oxide, Sorbitan Stearate, o-Cymen-5-ol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Water/Eau, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polyacrylamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Tocopherol, [+/- (MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): Iron Oxides/CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Manganese Violet/CI 77742, Ultramarines/CI 77007, Red 40 Lake/CI 16035, Ferric Ferrocyanide/CI 77510, Mica, Carmine/CI 75470, Blue 1 Lake/CI 42090, Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891, Black 2/CI 77266].
Secret Garden Rendezvous #3
Secret Garden Rendezvous #3 is a medium-darkk purple with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. It had sheer coverage, which was the best I could get to show after jabbing and pushing at the surface; it was just so stiff and did not want to pick up with fingertips, brushes, or even sponge-tipped applicators! I had real trouble getting the powder to apply to my lid, and what little I did apply did not want to diffuse or soften much. I tried using it wet as the brand said I could, and it only made it harder to move/blend out and caused the surface of the pan to harden. From what I could gather, it wore well for four and a half hours before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- MAC Queen Patrick (LE, $17.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Viseart Cool Mattes 2 #12 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Gone Mad (LE, $19.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Nearing Dark (LE, $17.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Surratt Beauty Glamour Eyes (Cream) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Kat Von D Venom (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
- MAC Indian Ink (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
- Stila Tanzanite (PiP, ) is warmer (80% similar).
- Anastasia Violet (P, $12.00) is less shimmery, darker (80% similar).
- Surratt Beauty Violaceous (P, $20.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (80% 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, Silica, Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Magnesium Myristate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Lauroyl Lysine, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Tin Oxide, Sorbitan Stearate, o-Cymen-5-ol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Water/Eau, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polyacrylamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Tocopherol, [+/- (MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): Iron Oxides/CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Manganese Violet/CI 77742, Ultramarines/CI 77007, Red 40 Lake/CI 16035, Ferric Ferrocyanide/CI 77510, Mica, Carmine/CI 75470, Blue 1 Lake/CI 42090, Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891, Black 2/CI 77266].
Secret Garden Rendezvous #4
Secret Garden Rendezvous #4 is a medium-dark berry with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-sheer coverage that was buildable to medium coverage or semi-opaque coverage applied over a primer. The consistency was very powdery and drier, which resulted in a lot of fallout when I tried to diffuse and blend out the shade on my skin. As expected based on trying this with the other shades, it did not perform better wet; it was more pigmented but was challenging to diffuse or blend out as it just stuck to wherever it was initially applied and did not want to budge. It wore well for six hours before I noticed fading.
Top Dupes
- Too Faced Figgy Pudding (LE, $16.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Ciate Phlox (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Hell Ride (PiP, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Spanked (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Dedicated (P, $9.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M842 Wine (P, $17.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Risque (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Blank Canvas (PiP, $5.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Ishta (P, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Bad Habit Persephone (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (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, Silica, Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Magnesium Myristate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Lauroyl Lysine, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Tin Oxide, Sorbitan Stearate, o-Cymen-5-ol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Water/Eau, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polyacrylamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Tocopherol, [+/- (MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): Iron Oxides/CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Manganese Violet/CI 77742, Ultramarines/CI 77007, Red 40 Lake/CI 16035, Ferric Ferrocyanide/CI 77510, Mica, Carmine/CI 75470, Blue 1 Lake/CI 42090, Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891, Black 2/CI 77266].
Good grief WnW!!! Just why even bother making such cute flower embossed pans when the product they contain is utter bane pieces of CRAP?!? Even Pepe La Pew would be disgusted by these Flower’s 😫
Two Fs within a week, omg! The purple deserves (your first?) F-! Too bad you did not dare show the look. The WnW purple makes the Surratt and Classic MAC look like national treasures.
No Wet N Wild noo! I was rooting for you!!
While I haven’t yet tried this particular quad, I have worn the other 2, and with a primer/base, and a neutral transition shade (I just used one from another WnW palette), the mattes blend out beautifully. That said, longevity is lacking, but for the price & color combinations, I don’t mind having to touch up midday, or use them on days I’m not doing much.
Is there a grade below F!! Looks like a couple of these could have used it. You couldn’t even get it to blend so you don’t know how it lasted? That is really, really bad. Seems like you have been taking the bullet a lot this week so thank you. I imagine your eye lids could use a rest.
I had this in my cart at Walgreens the last time I was there, but decided it was too many shimmer shades for my age. I’m thinking I’m glad I passed! 😉
What a disappointment. WnW is definitely hit or miss, although I saw someone else using these palettes and she enjoyed them. Makes me wonder about it, now. I’ll have to go back and look at the colors she chose.
Could also be primer + base helping – I know that I’m often the odd one out not testing with primer 🙂
While colour-wise, this would never be a quad I’d choose, like CatG, I was rooting for (and always root for) WnW. And, as Nancy said, why bother making something so pretty and then releasing it when it’s such garbage??? I remember WnW’s Colour Icon palettes of old and how spectacular they were!
This makes me so sad. WnW used to have one of the best DS eyeshadow formulas. Now: Two F palettes, and in a LE collection, no less. 🙁
So glad I didn’t buy this. So sad it’s so terrible.
Ooooooh, it’s an F! Nooo, it looked so cute… I suspected the purple wouldn’t be good because it’s the kind of shade that every brand always misses the mark on, but the rest of them could have been so much better!