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Auric Defiance Smoke Reflect eyeshadow duo ($ 39.00 for 0.23 oz.) Contains one sparkling, gold powder eyeshadow and one darker, bronze, cream eyeshadow. This was the best performing duo of the three launched at the time of the review as the sparkling eyeshadow was intense, glossy and sparkling with a little more slip resulting in better adhesion and wear and the cream colored eyeshadow was mixable, pigmented and long lasting.
As an FYI, my product will eventually be replaced, but the product is selling quickly so it may take a while to get the replacement. Though the texture of the off-white eye shadow was different – more putty-like – I found it to wear well (I personally prefer putty-like creams, ha!). I will update this review as soon as I get a replacement, but I didn’t want to keep it running too long as I know some are looking for dupes and the like. AURIC said they would take care of this to make sure it was a one-off and not an issue (this was before launch).
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Defiance (powder)
Defiance (powder) is a light, peach-colored gold with an intense, sparkling finish that was particularly shiny. As marketed, it had a translucent base that gave a medium-sized buildable cover that was applied dry and semi-opaque, a buildable cover that was applied with a dampened brush. The texture was slightly pliable, smooth to the touch, but was thinner and not heavy / thick at all, which kept it from highlighting the lid structure. There were almost no failures during application or mixing. It stayed for a good eight and a half hours with light rainfall over time.
MORE READING: Formula overview for details on general performance and properties (such as fragrance).
- Too Faced Shimmering Pearl (LE, $ 16.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Visionaire # 1 (PiP,) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Morphe Stonewall (LE,) is less shimmering, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop 24K (LE, $ 6.00) is less shimmery and warmer (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Astral Pink Moon (LE, $ 25.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Rio de la Plata (P, $ 22.00) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC The Naked Time (LE, $ 21.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Urban Decay King’s Landing (LE, $ 19.00) is less shimmery and cooler (85% similar).
- Juvia’s Place Aziza (P,) is cooler (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Golden Mink # 1 (PiP,) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
Formula overview
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It should be a “light-reflecting” eye shadow with “high-gloss pearls” that can be used alone or as a topcoat. The brand describes them as “micro glitter” even though only one of the colors tested contains plastic (PET) glitter.
They had more translucent bases as described, but there was a lot of sparkle / shimmer so the result was medium to opaque depending on the shade. The consistency was slightly drier, overall tighter packed into the pan, and glided more than a denser, thicker silicone-like feel (like some more intense metallic formulas these days). One shade was noticeably drier / tighter pressed until it appeared to affect application / coverage compared to the other two shades.
They were applied with minimal precipitation and adhered well to bare skin. However, they are best applied with a fingertip or a damp brush with a push / tap motion for the least amount of precipitation and the most even product placement. I found that I had to be careful to fade out the edges with a fluffier, drier brush, as it was more likely to cause fallout. They lasted about eight hours and had slight breakdowns over time.
Based on the lineup at the review, they should work on their own, rather than being packaged as a standalone powder eyeshadow or tapped over the coordinating cream eyeshadows they sit on.
Browse all of our Auric Smoke Reflect Powder eyeshadow swatches.
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Auric Defiance (Creme) Smoke Reflect Cream eyeshadow
Auric Defiance (Creme) Smoke Reflect Cream eyeshadow
Auric Defiance (Creme) Smoke Reflect Cream eyeshadow
Defiance (cream)
Defiance (cream) is a light-medium bronze with subtle, warmer undertones and a pearlescent sheen. It had an opaque pigmentation that was evenly applied to bare skin and diffused well around the edges.
The one I received appeared to have a slightly loose cap and the product was drier, although it didn’t feel dry to me, but it had a noticeably different texture and application. AURIC is replacing mine, but as it sells out quickly I’m not sure when a replacement will come. I haven’t found it really affecting application, coverage, or wear and tear. If I hadn’t had the other two cream shades, I wouldn’t have known it would have felt “off” at all.
It had a more putty consistency that you could press and see an indentation, and it was less pliable. It also didn’t have as noticeable drying time as it was more powdery when it came in contact with my skin, making it easier to apply and preventing it from wrinkling like other hues during the early drying period. It stayed with me well for nine hours before it faded a bit.
MORE READING: Formula overview for details on general performance and properties (such as fragrance).
- Hourglass color swatch No. 3 (PiP) is more shimmery and lighter (90% similar).
- Dior Fascinate # 4 (LE,) is more shimmery and darker (90% similar).
- Givenchy Palette Ors Audacieux # 2 (LE,) is more shimmery and warmer (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Enigma (PiP, $ 25.00) is more shimmery and lighter (90% similar).
- Estee Lauder Metal Saffron (LE,) is shimmery, lighter and warmer (90% similar).
- Dior Poncho # 4 (PiP,) is more shimmery and darker (90% similar).
- Guerlain Les Precieux # 4 (LE,) is more shimmery, lighter and warmer (90% similar).
- Kat Von D Copper (LE,) is more shimmery and lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Tinker Time (LE, $ 4.50) is shimmery and warmer (90% similar).
- Smashbox Beach House (PiP,) shimmers more (90% similar).
Formula overview
/ 0.17 oz. – – $ 0.00 per ounce
It should be “smooth, durable”[ing], [and] creaseless “cream eyeshadow. The texture was a cross between a traditional cream eyeshadow (which can feel wetter and thinner) and a more airy, heavier whipped mousse. It was an intensely pigmented formula that didn’t take a lot of product to get even Achieve effect product layer on the eye.
They had a moderate dry season; They dried off to a powdery finish that wasn’t stir-proof – I could still soften the edges a bit – but tended to get stuck in my fine lines on the inner lid area as it dried so I had to polish the product again to get it balance. Once I did that, it stopped wrinkling after it dried out. If I applied and polished the product as a sheer layer of product, it wasn’t a problem as fewer products were more likely to dry out quickly compared to a more opaque layer of product.
The consistency dried out but wasn’t thick, heavy, or inflexible, so it went well with other powder eye shadows (not just the ones included) and could also be used as an eye shadow base or eyeliner. Aside from the initial wrinkles (which I was able to mix / polish) during drying, I didn’t get wrinkles for eight to nine hours after drying.
Browse all of our Auric Smoke Reflect Cream eyeshadow swatches.
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