Swatches + Comparison: L'oreal Infallible 24 HR Eyeshadows (Part 2)

Pros:

• texture feels silky
• applies smoothly
• great pigmentation when used with a primer
• doesn't crease when used with a primer
• lasts at least 12 hours without fading

Cons:

• fallouts during application
• application can be a little tricky, depending on what tool you use
• these are not wrapped in plastic seal

Top: 557 Glistening Garnet ~ 556 Smoldering Plum

Bottom: 335 Golden Emerald ~ 800 Bottomless Java

(Do not discard the flattener!)

Packaging: Although the jars are made of plastic, I don't find them to look cheap. However, they don't have a plastic seal wrapped around them. So, it's difficult to tell if anyone has tampered them with their grimy fingers.

When you unscrew the cap, there's a little "flattener" that's supposed to secure the product in place and prevent it from going everywhere. Do not discard this because the product will get loose the more you use it and you will then have to use the "flattener" to re-press the eyeshadow. 

Application: The L'oreal Infallible eyeshadows are essentially pressed pigments with a creamy texture to them. They all apply smoothly and offer intense pigmentation when used with a dense brush, such as the MAC 239 brush (full review). I also tried applying them with my fingers and they do apply more smoothly and evenly, but the pigmentation was not as intense as when I used a brush. I still prefer to use a brush because it's more sanitary, it gives me better control and I get better color payoff. 

I find that the eyeshadows blend away easily and they turn into a "muddy" look on my NC35/37 skin tone if i use a heavy hand and a dense brush, such as the Sonia Kashuk blending brush (mini review). I end up having to reapply the product to bring back the intensity of the color. However, I didn't have a problem when I used a light hand and a fluffy brush, such as the MAC 217. 

I did experience some minor fallouts with Glistening Garnet, Smoldering Plum and Bottomless Java during application. Golden Emerald was the only one that was a little bit more troublesome to work with because it contains tiny gold sparkles. However, it's not a huge problem for me because I usually do my eye makeup before I apply my foundation. So, I can easily wipe away the mess with makeup remover. (To prevent major fallouts, use a dense brush and tap off any excess before applying and/or use a tacky base. Also, in order for the product to adhere better onto the lids and for a more intense, metallic look, spritz some MAC Fix+ or water onto the brush before applying.)

As for longevity, I didn't experience any creasing and they all last at least 12 hours without fading when worn with a primer underneath. (I have oily lids, so I never test eyeshadows without a primer.)

557 Glistening Garnet is a fuschia pink with a frost finish. Stars Makeup Haven Wine Not is more purple, MAC Cranberry is more red and Plum Dressing & Hepcat are less red-based.

When I saw other people's swatches, I thought it was going to look too light and disgustingly red on my NC35/37 skin tone. It definitely makes my eyes look swollen, sick and scary when worn as an "all over the lid" color. However, it looks lovely on my crease, especially when I wear a light champagne shade (MAC Jest or Urban Decay Sellout) on my lids and a dark brown shade on my outer v (MAC Embark). Using that combination, Glistening Garnet looks less garish (on me) and more sultry. 

556 Smoldering Plum is a dark blackened plum with reddish-purple shimmers. I love using it on my outer v and the gorgeous purple undertone really comes out when paired with other purple and pink eyeshadows. 

(picture taken during a sunny day under the shade)

800 Bottomless Java is an espresso brown with bronze shimmers. I thought this was going to be very similar to many other eyeshadows that I have, but I was wrong. As you can tell from the swatches, Bottomless Java is much darker and definitely different enough for me, personally, to warrant the purchase. (Maybe you have something similar to Bottomless Java in your collection? Let me know!)

(picture taken during a rainy day)

(picture taken during a cloudy day)

335 Golden Emerald is a forest green with tiny gold sparkles. The swatch picture does not do this eyeshadow any justice. When worn on the eyes, it looks VERY sparkly and almost like liquid metal. The glitters are not chunky; instead, they look more like tiny specks of gold shimmer. Urban Decay Mildew, MAC Humid and Inglot AMC Shine 44 are not as sparkly, wet-looking or eye-catching. I just can't stress enough how gorgeous Golden Emerald looks. This is my favorite of the bunch. I will definitely be wearing this during the holidays! 

(Because of the amount of fallouts with this eyeshadow, I strongly recommend using a tacky base or applying it wet. Be sure to use a dense brush and tap off the excess before applying. Also, cleanup will be much easier if you apply your eye makeup first before applying your foundation.)  

Bottom Line: I recommend grabbing these shades if you're a fan of metallic & frosty eyeshadows and don't mind dealing with minor fallouts because the pigmentation and lasting power are amazing, especially when used wet or with a tacky base. 

Note: Each L'oreal Infallible 24 HR eyeshadow contains 3.5g of product and is available at Ulta, Target, and drugstore.com for around $7. As with any drugstore product, I would definitely wait for a sale because there is always a "buy one, get one half off" or even a "buy one, get one for free" sale.

*This post also contains affiliate links. None of the products mentioned are sponsored.

Please click here for a review and swatches of Part 1.

Do you like to wear them dry, wet, or over a tacky base?

Swatches + Comparison: Urban Decay New Reformulated Eyeshadows 2012 (Part 1)

From Top Left, Clockwise: Urban Decay Chase ~ Tease ~ Verve ~ Gravity ~ Psychedelic Sister

Please check out swatches of Part 2 and Part 3.

From Top Left, Clockwise: Urban Decay Chase ~ Tease ~ Verve ~ Gravity ~ Psychedelic Sister

Pros:

• texture feels buttery smooth (Chase, Verve, Psychedelic Sister)
• great pigmentation when layered & used with a primer (Chase, Tease, Verve)
• applies evenly (Chase, Tease, Verve)
• blends easily (Chase, Tease, Verve)
• does not look chalky
• doesn't crease when used with a primer
• lasts at least 12 hours without fading when used with a primer
• no fallouts during application (Chase, Tease, Verve, Psychedelic Sister)
• no chunky glitters
• can be depotted and the pan fits in the MAC and CS empty 28 pan eyeshadow palettes without needing a magnet
• the depotted pan can be placed back into the container

Cons:

• blends away too easily (Psychedelic Sister, Gravity)
• applies patchy & lacks pigmentation when used without a tacky base (Psychedelic Sister, Gravity)
• minor fallouts during application (Gravity)
• refill pans are not available

Urban Decay Suspect Eyeshadow Depotted

The plastic insert can pop back into the container even after the eyeshadow has been depotted.

The depotted eyeshadow can be placed back into the plastic insert.

The container can close without damaging the depotted eyeshadow.

bottom side of the container after the eyeshadow has been depotted

The Urban Decay plastic insert is thicker than the MAC one.

Packaging: The new packaging allows you to pop out the eyeshadow and put it into the Urban Decay customizable palette, which holds 4 eyeshadows. I do not travel light, and I prefer to depot all my eyeshadows and store them in my Empty 28 Pan Eyeshadow Palette, which holds 28 eyeshadows. For this reason, I wish Urban Decay sold refill pans, which would also cut down on the plastic, be more eco-friendly, and reduce the cost.

In order for the eyeshadow to fit in my palette, I have to depot it using a hair straightener, similar to the way that I depot my MAC eyeshadows, except it just takes a little bit longer to depot because the plastic insert is much thicker than the MAC one. However, the thickness allows the plastic insert to retain its shape much better than the MAC one; therefore, it can pop back into container and be used for storage when you're travelling light. The containers can also be used to store any depotted MAC, Stars Makeup Haven or Inglot eyeshadows!

(To depot the Urban Decay eyeshadow, (1) pop out the plastic insert, (2) place the plastic insert on a hair straightener for about 20 seconds and then remove the label using a tweezer, (3) place the label on the table, sticky side up, (4) place the plastic insert back onto the hair straightener for about 1 minute and 30 seconds, (5) remove the plastic insert from the hair straightener, (6) turn the plastic insert upside down and push the pan out onto a soft surface, using a tweezer, and (7) finally, place the label on the back of the pan. You do not need to place a magnet on the back of the pan because the pan magnetizes to the palette. I have depotted over 50 eyeshadows and have never experienced them cracking. The key is to not overheat them. Also, please remember to wear gloves. I will not be responsible for any injuries incurred during "depotation." ^_^)

Reformulation: The original formulation of the Urban Decay non-glittery eyeshadows had a very buttery texture and they were super pigmented & long-lasting. The new formulation (of the non-glittery eyeshadows) is basically the same, but it just feels slightly more smooth. 

(Some people have mentioned that the colors are slightly different than the original formulation. So, I will be comparing the exact same shade of Urban Decay's original glittery eyeshadows to the new formulation in another post.)

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Chase (1.5g for $18) is a medium warm bronze with a gorgeous gold sheen and metallic frost finish. Suspect (new formulation) is more muted, less golden and not as intense. Half Baked (original formulation) is more golden, Woodwinked has a more coppery undertone and Romp is more brown. The texture of Chase feels buttery smooth and it has intense pigmentation when layered & used with a primer. It also applies evenly without any fallouts as long as you use a dense brush and tap off the excess. However, it does turn slightly orange on my NC35/37 skintone when I blend it. So, I prefer to wear it all over the lid and then blend it with a cool-toned brown shade in the crease to hide the orange. It lasts at least 12 hours without fading and it doesn't crease. 

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Tease (1.5g for $18) is a medium mauvey brown with a matte finish. Haux is more rosy, while Wedge is more brown. The texture of Tease feels a little bit dry and it doesn't have intense pigmentation like the other eyeshadows do. However, the color builds up easily (without any fallouts) and offers great pigmentation when used with a dense brush and a primer underneath. Also, it does not look chalky and lasts as long as Chase. I love using it in the crease and pairing it with a light champagne shade on the lids for an everyday neutral eye look. 

(heavily swatched)

(blended)

Urban Decay Psychedelic Sister ~ Urban Decay Gravity ~ Urban Decay Verve

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Psychedelic Sister (1.5g for $18) is a medium red-based purple with a violet sheen and a metallic frost finish. Inglot Pearl 446 is darker and has a more red undertone. Gravity and Stars Makeup Haven Plum Crazy are blue-based.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Gravity (1.5g for $18) is a blue-based purple.with a shimmery finish. The texture does not feel as buttery smooth as Chase, Psychedelic Sister or Verve because it contains microglitters, which look like tiny sparkles, but they are not chunky. However, I did experience some minor fallouts during application. Plum Crazy does not contain any glitter and is more blue-based & richer.   

Psychedelic Sister and Gravity were the only shades that I had trouble working with. They swatch beautifully on my fingers, but they apply patchy on the lids and lack pigmentation if i don't use a sticky base. They both need to be applied when the primer is still tacky and need to be layered to get intense pigmentation. They also blend away too easily and end up looking muddy even when I use a light hand and a fluffy brush. I end up having to reapply the product to bring back the purple tone and the intensity of the color. 

I haven't had much luck with Urban Decay's purple eyeshadows. I had the same issue with Rockstar. There must be something wrong with the formulation of their purple eyeshadows or they just don't work well on my skin. Keep in mind, I don't have any issues with Plum Crazy and it's much more pigmented than Psychedelic Sister and Gravity.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Verve (1.5g for $18) is a light beige grey with a metallic frost finish. Vapor (original formulation) is lighter and more silvery, while Maui Wowie (original formulation) is more beigey gold and it contains microglitters. The texture of Verve feels buttery smooth and it has great pigmentation when layered & used with a primer. It also applies evenly without any fallouts as long as you use a dense brush and tap off the excess. Also, it lasts just as long as the other Urban Decay eyeshadows. I love using it as an inner corner highlight or all over the lids and pairing it with blues, golds or browns.

Bottom Line: The quality of each Urban Decay eyeshadow is not consistent across the board. The ones with the metallic frost finish have amazing pigmentation and they apply evenly & blend effortlessly. The matte one is more on the sheer side, but it builds up easily. The purple shades are a little tricky to work with and requires more effort & time. Nevertheless, I still recommend checking out Urban Decay's eyeshadows because they offer over 60 shades and most of them are excellent quality.

Note: The new formulation of Urban Decay's eyeshadows are available for purchase on Nordstrom, Beauty.com, Ulta and Sephora for $18 each. The original formulation of Half Baked, Vapor and Maui Wowie are being discontinued and are currently on sale for $9. Woodwinked contains 1.3g, while Wedge, Haux, & Romp each contain 1.5g. All 4 MAC eyeshadows are permanent and are available at MAC and Nordstrom for $15 (pot) and $11.50 (refill pan). Inglot Pearl 446 contains 1.6g and is discontinued in the round pan, but is available in the square pan for $6 at Inglot. Stars Makeup Haven Plum Crazy contains 1.3g and is available at Suite7Beauty for $6. The empty 28 pan palette can be purchased from Coastal Scents for $9.95.

*This post contains affiliate links. None of the products mentioned are sponsored.

Have you tried the reformulated Urban Decay eyeshadows?

Swatches & Comparisons: NYX Nude Matte Eyeshadow in Skinny Dip + Confession

I purchased 2 NYX Nude Matte eyeshadows during Ulta's 20% OFF Friends & Family Sale last week. They also had a Buy 1, Get 1 50% off promotion. So, my total came up to $5.99 and I absolutely regret not getting more NYX products. 

The 20% off sale is still going on right now and ends July 28, 

but the Buy 1, Get 1 50% off promotion has expired. 

Pros:

• texture feels slightly silky & buttery
• great pigmentation when layered & used with a primer
• applies evenly
• blends easily
• does not look chalky
• doesn't crease when used with a primer
• lasts at least 12 hours without fading 
• no fallouts during application
• no chunky glitters
• affordable
• can be depotted and the pan fits in the MAC and empty 28 pan eyeshadow palettes
• containers are wrapped in plastic seal

Cons:

• both shades are not truly matte (This is only a con because NYX claims that they have a matte finish. I personally do not mind that there is a slight sheen to them.)
• gets dusty in the pan

Packaging: The NYX Nude Matte eyeshadows are housed in a black container with a lid that flips open, which look quite similar to MAC's packaging. The only difference is that the NYX ones have a glossy finish and feel lighter. I'm also glad that they're wrapped in plastic seal because it's easier to detect whether anyone has tampered with them with their dirty fingers.

The pans are the same size as MAC's eyeshadows and they fit perfectly in my empty 28 pan eyeshadow palette. (Keep in mind, you need to put a magnet behind the pan for it to "stick" to the palette. I use the thin round ones that MAC uses for their refill pans. They can be purchased at craft stores or on ebay.) I also depot the NYX eyeshadows the same way that I depot my MAC eyeshadows, which is super easy and quick. The only problem is that the label on the back of the pot is slightly larger than the eyeshadow pan. So, I had to cut the label to the size that I needed and the results looked ugly. (I'm not crafty and I don't know how to cut out a perfect circle without butchering it.) However, I don't mind the way that it looks because the label is on the back of the pan, where no one can see it and it's only there for reference.

(To depot, flip the lid open, pop out the plastic insert by using a tweezer, scissor or butter knife, place the plastic insert on a hair straightener for 20 seconds to 45 seconds, wear gloves & remove the plastic insert from the hair straightener, turn the plastic insert upside down and push the pan out onto a soft surface, using a tweezer, scissor or butter knife. To remove the label on the back of the pot, place the pot on the hair straightener for 10 seconds and then remove the label using a tweezer.)

From Top Left Clockwise:  NYX Skinny Dip depotted ~ NYX Confession depotted ~ MAC Carbon refill pan ~ MAC Copperplate depotted

Application: Both of the NYX eyeshadows apply evenly without looking chalky. They have a slight buttery texture to them and they feel softer than MAC's eyeshadows. For this reason, they can get really dusty and messy in the pan, but they also blend alot easier. 

I didn't experience any fallouts during application. (Just make sure you use a dense brush and tap off any excess before applying.) They also last at least 12 hours on my eyes without fading. (I have oily lids and never test eyeshadows without using a primer underneath.)

NYX Nude Matte Eyeshadow in Skinny Dip (1.6g for $4.99) is a medium burgundy shade with a hint of purple and a satin finish. It is not a true matte shade because it has a slight sheen to it. Taz is more intense and has a more reddish undertone, while Sorcery is more brown.

The pigmentation is not as great as the other eyeshadows, but it's easily buildable and offers great pigmentation with 2 layers. I love using it in the crease or in the corner, right above the over v for a pop of color and to spice up a neutral eye look.

NYX Nude Matte Eyeshadow in Confession (1.6g for $4.99) is dark grey shade with a satin finish. It is not a true matte shade because it has a slight sheen to it. When I swatched it at Ulta, it looked slightly forest-green. However, when I went home and applied it onto my arm and eyes, I couldn't see any hint of green in any lighting, including artificial and natural.

If you find black to be too dark and dramatic for the day time, then I highly recommend Confession as an alternative because it looks less harsh and it still creates depth and dimension to the eyes. I absolutely love using it on my outer v. Also, the pigmentation is just as great as MAC's eyeshadows!

(Outdoor Natural Lighting)

(Indoor Natural Lighting)

Bottom Line: Generally, I find that drugstore eyeshadows are inferior to the mid-range and high-end brands. However, the NYX eyeshadows have exceeded my expectations and I highly recommend getting both because the quality is amazing. They apply evenly, blend like a dream and last all day without creasing or fading. Also, they are very versatile and can be applied sheer or layered for a more intense look. I hope NYX plans to expand their color range because I'll definitely be picking up more.

Note: The NYX Nude Matte eyeshadows are available for purchase on their online store and at Ulta for $4.99 each. Sorcery is limited edition and has been discontinued. Taz contains 1.3g and is available at Suite7Beauty for $6. Copperplate & Carbon each contain 1.5g and are available at Nordstrom for $15 (pot) and $11.50 (refill pan). The empty 28 pan palette can be purchased from Coastal Scents for $9.95.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Have you tried any of the NYX Nude Matte eyeshadows?
Do you prefer matte, satin or shimmery eyeshadows?