Hi friends!
This October I’m spotlighting cruelty-free and/or vegan beauty products on the blog with a new review every Friday. If you missed last week’s review on the Lune + Aster Supermoon Bronzer & Glow Palette, do make sure to check it out! Today I’m taking a very close look at the Kosas 10 Second Eyeshadow, an innovative completely-liquid formula. You may remember that I included indie brand Kosas in my post on beauty brands that excited me, so I’m very happy to finally be trying them out! I have three beautiful neutral-to-warm shades called Element (warm chestnut), Globe (neutral champagne), and Copper Halo (warm coppery rose gold).
An important note: Kosas is Leaping Bunny certified but not entirely vegan. However according to Ethical Elephant, the 10 Second Eyeshadows have a vegan formula.
Let’s get into the review!
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Your eyeshadow game is about to change. 10-Second Eyeshadow is a clean, water-based, fast-drying and crease-resistant formula for buildable, high-impact color that stays all day. It’s meant to be worn as a wash of color for the most modern take on a fresh eye. The formula is carefully crafted with skin benefiting ingredients to smooth and tone — that’s skincare for your eyelids.
PRODUCT BENEFITS
APRICOT KERNAL SEED OIL – Restorative Skin Soother
ROSEHIP SEED OIL – Brightening & Clarifying
JOJOBA SEED OIL – Soothing & Balancing
Kosas is Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free and made without Parabens, Phthalates, Mineral Oil, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Synthetic Fragrance, and is never tested on animals.
From left to right: Kosas 10 Second Eyeshadow in Element, Copper Halo, Globe.
MY THOUGHTS ON PACKAGING
These come in small-ish, slightly-frosted plastic tubes that are quite lightweight. Everything about it is sleek – from the tube, to the font on the front, to the black cap. I really like it, no complaints here at all! You could easily throw this in your makeup travel bag with no issue.
RATING: 5 / 5 ⭐️
MY THOUGHTS ON APPLICATION
As I mentioned briefly in the intro, this is straight-up liquid formula so you need to shake these really well before applying. Like, you could easily spill product out of the tube if you knock it down on your vanity, so be careful! It’s got a slightly longer doe-foot applicator that kinda reminds me of a tiny paddle. I just apply straight from the applicator, don’t bother decanting onto the back of your hand or anything like that. These set quite quickly; they don’t call it 10 Second Eyeshadow for nothing!
Initially I was having trouble blending these products out with my fingers, but then I switched over to the Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush; oh my goodness what an amazing difference! It takes all the hard work and hard edges out. I’d definitely recommend using a dense, synthetic blending brush to help apply these.
I do want to mention here that I always apply my beloved MAC Paint Pot as a base before I apply this product onto my lid. Here’s why. The first time I applied the 10 Second Eyeshadow onto my bare lid I could almost feel the shadow on my eye for a good half-hour afterwards. Almost like a stiffness or something, it was very weird! I think it had something to do with the dry-down. So after that I decided to lay down a primer first – which essentially acts like a barrier here – and luckily I’ve never experienced that feeling again. Thank goodness!
RATING: 4 / 5 ⭐️
Read this: MAC Paint Pots – my most used products of all time
From top to bottom: swatches of Kosas 10 Second Eyeshadow in Element, Copper Halo, Globe.
MY THOUGHTS ON PIGMENTATION
All three shades that I own have serious pigmentation. I definitely agree with Kosas’ “high impact” description on color, but definitely not with the “buildable” part, nor the “wash of color” part. These go on with full, intense pigment from the start; you really don’t need to build them up! I once tried to pat on the shade Element to see if I could get a different finish by using my finger, but the pigment was still quite intense even then.
Just a quick note on finish here: Element, Globe and Copper Halo are all quite metallic. Globe also contains glitter particles. Definitely nothing matte or satin here.
RATING: 5 / 5 ⭐️
MY THOUGHTS ON WEAR
These are super long-wearing, there’s no doubt about that. After 9+ / 10+ hours of wear, these are still going strong with very little signs of wear-and-tear. And interestingly, there’s not much fall-out from the sparkle or glitter throughout the day. That’s a big bonus in my book.
RATING: 5 / 5 ⭐️
Showcasing Globe, the sparkly neutral champagne shade, on my eyelids here.
MY THOUGHTS ON SHADE RANGE
The 10 Second Eyeshadow formula is currently available in eight shades, ranging from neutrals to plums and blues. I have nearly every neutral tone available except a gold called Supreme. I think it’s a nice core collection of colors for now, but I would love to see them branch out into pinks, reds and greens which are now completely absent from the range.
RATING: 3 / 5 ⭐️
MY THOUGHTS ON PRICE
These are a bit pricier than most liquid shadows on the market – $28.00 for 6 ml of product. But you are getting much more product than, say the Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow which is $24.00 for 4.5 ml of product. Or the MAC Dazzleshow Liquid Eye Shadow, which is $22.00 for 4.6 ml of product. So it’s all relative really, but it depends on how much you’re willing to spend for high-pigment, high-performing shadows. For the amount of product and quality you get, I personally don’t have a problem with the price.
RATING: 4 / 5 ⭐️
Showcasing Element, the warm chestnut shade, on my eyelids here.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Despite some early issues with the texture and blending, overall I think these are lovely shadows that offer amazing color and longevity. They apply rather quickly once you understand the formula and how best to work with it (I still recommend a brush!). Are they my new favorite, go-to obsession? Hmm, probably not. I still think I prefer my cream shadow sticks, cause I can apply those in my sleep! But I do really, really like these, and will gladly continue to use them.
Showcasing Copper Halo, the warm coppery rose gold shade, on my eyelids.
Have you tried the Kosas 10 Second Eyeshadows yet? If so, what do you think? I’d love to know!
xo, Erica
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