125 Years
Melt Cosmetics 125 Years Gel Liner ($19.00 for 0.088 oz.) is a medium-dark cement gray with neutral-to-cool undertones and a semi-matte finish. This particular shade seemed to take longer to dry down to more of a mostly matte finish than other shades I’ve tried in the same formula, though I didn’t have issues with it settling into fine lines as it did so.
The consistency was creamy, smooth, and emollient, which definitely made it feel more like a gel-cream formula, as it was very fluid but not prone to sheering out or applying unevenly. It wore nicely for 10 hours before fading a bit.
- MAC Midnight Snack (P, $16.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- MAC Palm Tree (LE, $17.50) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Smashbox Moody (P, $18.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
- Zoeva Mute (P, $7.50) is more shimmery, darker, more muted (80% similar).
- Colour Pop Timber (DC, $5.00) is darker, cooler (80% similar).
Ingredients
ISODODECANE, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, BEHENYL DIMETHICONE, STEARYL STEARATE, POLYETHYLENE, SILICA DIMETHYL SILYLATE, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, RHUS VERNICIFLUA PEEL CERA / RHUS VERNICIFLUA PEEL WAX, COPERNICIA CERIFERA CERA / COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX, MICA, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, ALUMINUM CALCIUM SODIUM SILICATE, TIN OXIDE. MAY CONTAIN: TITANIUM DIOXIDE CI 77891, IRON OXIDES CI 77491, IRON OXIDES CI 77492, IRON OXIDES CI 77499.
The Afterlife
Melt Cosmetics The Afterlife Gel Liner ($19.00 for 0.088 oz.) is a bright, chartreuse green with moderate, warm undertones and a matte finish. It had nearly opaque pigmentation in a single layer and built up well–when I applied it with a flat, eyeshadow brush, it seemed quite pigmented. The texture was smooth, fluid, and like a gel-cream, so it had the fluidity of a gel but the density and opacity of a cream. It was easy to use as an eyeliner or as an eyeshadow/base if desired. It stayed on well for 10 hours before fading a bit.
Ingredients
ISODODECANE, MICA, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, BEHENYL DIMETHICONE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, STEARYL STEARATE, POLYETHYLENE, SILICA DIMETHYL SILYLATE, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, RHUS VERNICIFLUA PEEL CERA / RHUS VERNICIFLUA PEEL WAX, COPERNICIA CERIFERA CERA / COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX, TIN OXIDE, ALUMINUM CALCIUM SODIUM SILICATE. MAY CONTAIN: TITANIUM DIOXIDE CI 77891, YELLOW 5 LAKE CI 19140, BLUE 1 LAKE CI 42090.
Utterly Alone
Melt Cosmetics Utterly Alone Pigment Paint ($19.00 for 0.084 oz.) is a vivid, inky violet purple with subtle, cool undertones and cooler pearl that gave it more of a pearly sheen. The pigmentation was semi-opaque and buildable; I noticed that as an eyeliner, it was more likely to need a second layer than when I used a flat, synthetic brush for more all-over application.
The consistency was smooth, creamy, and fluid (the gel aspect coming through), which made it easy to work with in a variety of ways and kept it from sheering out too readily. It lasted well for nine hours before fading/creasing slightly.
- Melt Cosmetics Hazmat (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Sephora Indigo (PiP, ) is more shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Empire (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Smashbox Nymph (P, $18.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Give Me Glow Ultra Violence (P, $7.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Fyrinnae Queen (P, $7.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Pat McGrath Blitz Purple (LE, $25.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Psychedelic Sister (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- NARS Blue Lotus (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar).
- Pat McGrath Purple Reign (DC, $25.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
Ingredients
ISODODECANE, CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE, BEHENYL DIMETHICONE, STEARYL STEARATE, POLYETHYLENE, TALC, SILICA DIMETHYL SILYLATE, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, RHUS VERNICIFLUA PEEL CERA / RHUS VERNICIFLUA PEEL WAX, COPERNICIA CERIFERA CERA / COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX, SILICA, TIN OXIDE, MICA. MAY CONTAIN: TITANIUM DIOXIDE CI 77891, RED 28 LAKE CI 45410, FERRIC AMMONIUM FERROCYANIDE CI 77510.
product is “not intended for use in the immediate eye area.” Brands in the US typically market these
products as “Pigments” (instead of “Eyeshadow”), and there is often a warning on the back of packaging or
the label. The product includes color additives that are not approved for usage on the eyes per the
FDA.
Some color additives in “Pigments” have no usage restrictions in the EU, per CosIng, and can be used on the
eyes. We recommend checking ingredients to confirm current safety assessment/restrictions:
FDA/CosIng.