Before you’re thinking that colourful eye makeup isn’t for you: read my multichrome pigments review and have a look. You might be surprised.
Multichrome pigments come (surprise!) from the automobile industry (fun fact of the day, here it is). The paint changes colours depending on the light and viewing angle. It’s been around the beauty world for some time, and has come to the fore mainly in nailpolishes. Nevertheless, it’s not (even in nailpolishes) something you see on the highstreet: IF makeup brands really go out, they do duochromes (where a colour flashes between two shades) – Pat McGrath Labs for example sometimes includes duochromes in her 12-pan palettes.
Indie brands have been the forerunners of multichrome nailpolishes and also of multichrome pigments that you can use on your face.
Why Dawn Eyes Cosmetics (DEC)
I found Dawn Eyes Cosmetics via Instagram, but the company got quite a boost when it was mentioned in Allure in 2018. I would’ve preferred to buy from a European brand, but had no luck in finding one, so DEC it was. (Also, Dawn is as far removed from the usual makeup influencer as possible, something I really dig.)
Her store offers regular pigments in various finishes, glitters and the line we’ll discuss here: The Premiums, multichrome pigments in various finishes and colours. (There’re also two kinds of primer.) The Premiums right now include 30 shades, which I find confusing, because some shades are incredibly similar and I’ve a hard time to determine their difference. Also, and I know this is a sacrilege: some aren’t really multichromes but duochromes (ducks).
Packaging and sizes
What also played into my decision to order: she offers three different packaging sizes, which is great if you want to find out if that multichrome life is for you. (Last point in favour: she from time to time does sales with up to 40% off.)
The little ‘clamshell’ samples are incredibly annoying to open (be careful, or your precious sample will end up all over the floor) and gives you 1/8 table spoon of pigment for $6, a mini jar (3/8 ts) is $12 and a fullsize jar is 3/4 ts for 20$. How many grams that is? Haven’t the foggiest.
Look for different swatches!
I’d suggest to not only look at IG swatches, but at videos and blogposts before deciding which one you want. The reason behind this is simple: A filtered IG pic won’t help you that much, and it will blow your expectations up.
I’m a nailpolish addict (recovering), and am no stranger to disappointment – but let me tell you, even non-filtered pictures still are specifically lighted to get the most shift out of shades (the pics you see here aren’t filtered in any way). And in real life, sadly, nobody follows you around with a lamp/ring light to make sure your eyeshadow pops. That said, there’re ways to make these babies pop even without a lamp attached to your browbone.
Different finishes
Sadly, the homepage doesn’t exactly state the finish of each shade. From the four I own, purple-based Fantastical is the most matte with a silky satin-like finish, while Alluring is the most shimmery one. Ravishing and Tantalizing fall both in the middle between the two.
The FDA doesn’t consider the Premiums lip-safe, while EU regulations do. All are considered eye-safe.
Ordering and shipping (CS)
I find the shop generally easy to navigate and didn’t have any ordering problems. My last order was during Black Friday, and even although they claim their turnaround time to be 8-10 days, my order arrived in Germany after three weeks. After that, it landed at customs, where I had to pay import tax, which bugged me to no end.
What bugged me more was that my questions to their CS went unanswered every time. They don’t provide an email-address for customers, so you’re supposed to contact them via social media which clearly doesn’t work that well and usually turns me off from a brand.
Multichrome pigments review
Alluring: green to burgundy, with a flash of bronze between. Shimmery. Official description: Shifts from cranberry to bronze, from antique gold to rich forest green. Highly metallic finish.
Fantastical: Violet to tarnished gold, with a bit of pink between. Satin finish. Official description: Shifts from vivid violet to deep magenta, from burgundy to antique gold.
Ravishing: Pink to green, with a flash of gold between. Shimmery. Official description: Shifts from brightened magenta to new copper, from warm gold to cool green. Highly metallic finish.
Tantalizing: Duochrome that shifts between antique pink and a greyish soft purple. Gently shimmer. Official description: Shifts from gentle pink to soft blue violet; soft brown base. Soft metallic finish.
Best application methods
Primers/bases
Different base products will give you different results. I swatched over four different bases: Nars’ Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base gave the weakest result. Too Faced Glitter Glue was my favourite: the sticky formula made sure there was no fallout whatsoever and gave me a strong, shifty finish that made the mulichromes pop. The cream coloured eyeshadow stick (Kiko Long Lasting stick eyeshadow in 28) was disappointing and gave me similar results to Nars’ primer. My black base (Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil in Zero) was the most surprising in that it didn’t do anything extra, made the blue shimmer in Tantalizing REALLY pop.
Brushes
You can use your fingers, but my application tool of choice is a synthetic paddle brush. Hakuhodo’s i-127 (review) is the best, but my arm swatches turned out very well with Urban Decay’s shadow brush (my version is discontinued). Opt for something firm and synthetic and build up colour slowly.
How to wear multichrome pigments
You may think that you’re too old, too conservative, too non-girly to wear multichromes on your eyes. You are not. Lisa Eldridge, never known for exactly colourful or ground-breaking makeup looks, used them on Cara Delavigne, and a more discreet and restrained many-coloured eye look you’ve never seen. Whenever I wear a multichrome pigment, I apply it generally in the same way: use it all over the lid and blend it out with a neutral shade: something like Malt or Kid by MAC. Done. Another way would be using it as a liner.
Sustainable?
Not particularly. The thing is, though: I LOVE innovative beauty products, I love when I find a product with a twist, and I love duochromes, multichromes and holographic products. Especially I like it when I can pimp up my makeup really quickly. And that makes me love DEC multichrome pigments. Whenever I’m tempted by a freshly released eyeshadow palette, I find myself thinking ‘can it be better’? For my taste, very likely not. Apparently I found the product that fills a hole in my collection, and that prevents me from buying new stuff again and again.
And now over to you: would you try?!
Please note that this post is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods or money for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
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