Clionadh Cosmetics eyeshadow review: I was disappointed

Clionadh Cosmetics is a Canadian indie makeup brand with the reputation of a unicorn: rare, and sparkly. I decided to finally try their multichrome eyeshadows back in January when they had their last sale, because my resistance was worn thin by Temptalia’s swatches and Angelica Nyquist’s videos. So, here’s my Clionadh Cosmetics review.

Multichrome shadows are catnip to me. They’re the best one-and-done shadow you’ll ever have – I mean, three or four colours in ONE shadow? No brainer. Also, they’re ‘new’ and indie enough to melt my jaded heart that has about seen everything in the makeup world (and honestly, mainstream brands are BORING nowadays). I own some multichrome loose pigments from Dawn Eyes (nice, but not really convenient and quick, because pigment – review), and also Natasha Denona Chromium eyeshadows that’re multichromes in a cream formula and one of the best makeup products in 2020.

Multichrome eyeshadows: What I want

When I’m using a multichrome shadow, I’m not really doing a club or going-out look. (Hah, 2021! Good joke.) What I’m looking for is an interesting one-and-done look, because I’m basically a lazy person. Multichrome shades nearly always have a dark base which make them difficult to blend out, so either you do a graphic look, or use a blending shade. (Which I don’t mind.)

What I do mind, though, is using a special base, a blending shade, special tools and whatnot, because all of that is needed, I can easily do a conventional three or four shade look in the same time.

Clionadh Cosmetics

Founded by two sisters (short interview), the brand specialises in pressed powder products: they do mainly eyeshadows and highlighters. Their speciality is, no doubt, their colour shifting products in a huge range: their multichromes come in various finishes and minuscule colour changes that’re hard to parse for the first time buyer.

You can also expect for most of their multichromes to be sold out during most of the time. When restocks happen, their site is mostly solid (no crashes), but makeup mavens from all over the world swoop in and pick it bare, although their prices aren’t low (keep in mind that multichrome pigments are expensive). Turnaround time is long, and shipping expensive. It’s rather usual to wait about two months for your order. I tried to pick up a variety of finishes to test the range.

Clionadh Cosmetics eyeshadow review

Jewelled Multichromes – Sand Blast & Weld ($25)

(They) Feature a black base with ultra rich, highly metallic, colour-shifting reflects.
Sand Blast: Shifts orange-gold-lime.
Weld (Stained Glass Collection): Shifts grungy rose pink-antique gold-lime-teal-navy.

Clionadh

Clionadh’s most famous formula. You’ll be blinded by the in intensity of the colours when you look at colours online. The jewel tones! The richness of the colours! The shift! There was no doubt I’ll get some of those, and I’m maybe the most disappointed by this formula. The black base is strong, and very noticeable.

I wore Sand Blast over a primer and Too Faced’s Glitter Glue, and it creased after about three hours on me. Sure, I’ve got hooded lids. But still, that hasn’t happened to me for quite some time.

Weld also creases on me, and is the most disappointing shadow shift-wise: I only see a murky olive green with an occasional pink twinkle when I wear this.

Hybrid Multichrome – Rose Line ($17)

As the name suggests, are a fusion between our Jewelled and Glitter multichromes. Their buildable formula is great for a wash of sparkle over the lid or for full saturation.
Rose Line: Has a brown base with medium glitter particles that shift rose-orange-yellow.

Clionadh

Thankfully, this isn’t too glittery, and the base isn’t too prominent/gels well with the multichrome pigments that shift pink-gold. It’s the least problematic shade for me and one that applies and wears nearly hassle-free.

Pastel Multichrome: Cathedral (Stained Glass Collection) ($14)

(They) Feature a soft grey base with pearlized, luminous reflects.
Cathedral: A grungy olive-grey base that shifts pink-peach-gold.

Clionadh

I had high hopes for Cathedral and guessed it would be a neutral with a twist. It’s supposed to be: an olive-grey that shifts pink and green. On me, it’s a murky silver with an occasional pink and green shimmer. It also creases on me after a few hours, but my primer/Glitter Glue combo prevented shimmer fallout. (I used a flat paddle brush with all shadows).

Deep Iridescent Multichrome: Burnt Sienna ($20)

A multipurpose shadow featuring a tanned base. They are ideal as a highlighter for medium to deep skin tones and as eyeshadow for all:
Burn Sienna: A light, warm tan base that shifts hot orange-gold-lime.

Clionadh

The only shadow that blew me away when I swatched it initially. It’s incredibly shifty, and incredibly soft. And I mean that literally. It’s softer than a ColourPop SuperShock – a finger will leave a dent if you’re not careful. (I wasn’t.) It should tick all my boxes – you can layer it over a base to change its appearance. (Btw, tanned base?! No. This is a translucent shimmer for me.)

I wore it over just a primer, and that’s a mistake: I had not only the mother of all fallouts when I applied it (apply it with a finger to minimise hassle), but after about 5 hours my undereye area looked ridiculous – it was generously covered with glitter particles. They were ALL OVER. I could also feel them getting into my eyes – while Clionadh claims that their formula is eyesafe, it didn’t feel good.

Clionadh Cosmetics: worth it?

Lighting conditions matter a lot. I’m not moving around a lot during the day when I’m wearing makeup – I’m usually in natural light. And that’s the worst light imaginable for multichromes. For those, you need artificial light. I’m not going through my day with a ringlight attached to my face to enjoy my eyeshadows when I look in the mirror. If you’re wearing them for pictures/videos mainly, or for going out (again, hah!), I suspect you’ll like them.

On me, especially the Jewelled Multichromes look very murky and muddy due to their black base.

Also, their formula is very soft. Nearly every one of their shadows creased on my hooded lids after a short time, no matter the base.

They’re not a one-and-done shadow at all. You’ll need a primer, some glitter adhesive, maybe even another shadow to blend them. Also, fingers trump brushes, although fingers never give you a precise look and are better for a one-and-done look.

Fallout. Enough said.

Again, my biggest takeway from Clionadh was how my experience with wearing a shadow all day differs from a swatch pic or video. Those shots we all drool over online were done in special lighting conditions that I purposely didn’t try to recreate in my swatches, because, to repeat myself, I don’t wander around all day in special lighting conditions so my shadows might pop.

Please note that this review 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.