(This is not a sponsored review. Both brands were purchases with the writer’s own money.)
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER dupe: brands are continuing to try and emulate Stila when it comes to their liquid eyeshadow. At nearly €30 a pop for a relatively small tube, is it any wonder? They’re pricey AF.
Now, Penneys A/W collection offers a few shades of their own brand of liquid glitter eyeshadow, for only €4. Bargain, right?
But just how do they actually compare?
Let’s start with the packaging.
Size-wise, they’re fairly comparable and the packaging itself is a dead ringer for each others. However, there is something about the lid of the Penneys offering, with its foiled finish, that makes it feel that bit more luxurious.
Then, there’s the swatch test.
It’s important to note that no eyeshadow will ever swatch the same on your arm or the back of your hand as it will on your eye. With that said, there was a significant difference between the two shadows upon initial swatching.
While they both have silver names, the Penneys one isn’t a true silver. There are identifiable strains of brown, gold and taupe glitter throughout.
The Stila one swatches more pigmented and more opaque. The Penneys liquid eyeshadow definitely swatches more sheer.
Right, how does it look on the eyes then?
You’re going to have to excuse the overall application, as I ended up doing my entire face on Dublin Bus. However, I think the results of the shadows speak for themselves.
On my right eye (your left, if you’re looking directly at this photo is the Stila shadow, applied over a light application of the brown shadow you see in the crease. On my left eye (again, right if you’re looking at this photo), is the Penneys glitter eyeshadow applied in the same way. I applied it straight out of the tube and blended it out with the shader/shading (tomato, tomato) brush that I used to apply the brown shade.
Again, the Stila one definitely comes up more pigmented on the eye.
Final verdict?
I definitely don’t think the Penneys shadow is a comparable dupe: not this shade anyway. I’d describe it as more of an eyeshadow topper than anything else. It’s not a bad product, by any means – I still think it looks pretty on the eye, and it blends well despite the formula. However, it will not serve the same purpose as the Stila eyeshadow.
That said, if you’re just looking for a pop of glitter, Penneys’ offerings are only €3.50 a pop, whereas a single Stila shadow costs €29.
