Dupe Alert: Stila “Magnificent Metals Glitter&Glow” vs Essence “Metal Shock”
Stila’s “Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow” liquid eyeshadows are one of the newest and certainly hottest trends in the beauty world.
Taking your look to the next level with this extra kick of glow would be spectacular, but the price point may make you re-think it. 24$ is no joke!
You know what I love? Cheap, kick-ass drugstore dupes. Could Essence “Metal Shock” eyeshadows be a cheap alternative to Stila’s ones, but be just as good?
Let’s find out!
GENERAL SPECIFICS
Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow
- 24$ | 23£ | 27€
- 4.5 ml
- 12 months shelf life
- 17 shades
- Glitter-y/shimmer-y finish
- Cruelty-free
- Does dry down
Metal Shock
- 5$ | 5£ | 4€
- 3.5 ml
- 6 months shelf life
- 7 shades
- Metallic/glitter-y finish
- Cruelty-free
- Does dry down
PACKAGING
Packaging is no indication of how a product will perform, we all know that; however, there are quite a few details here that make guessing which one is the drugstore item quite easy.
Firstly, Stila’s aesthetic reminds me a lot of the KKW’s “Ultralight Beams” glosses. They both have a square form and a light beige cap, and generally look aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The bottle is clear, so you can see all the beauty going on inside; the formula looks delightfully sparkling even through the glass.
Another detail I like is the font in which the brand’s name is printed with; it’s always in gold, which doesn’t stand out as much on the lighter shades, but the old-school typewriter font gives the overall product something more.
The “Metal Shock” packaging, on the other hand, has a much more ‘drugstore’ look to it – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Much like Stila’s, the bottle is clear and allows you to see the product inside, but it does have a lot more writing on it. All the general specifics are printed on a sticker, while a brief description of the eyeshadow is printed directly on the bottle.
I prefer the black and silver packaging way more than the all-black one, and I also find these two alternatives to suit the colors better than Stila’s choice to only put the writing in gold. However, these writings look and feel a little bit more childish than the expensive brand’s ones.
Lastly, a word on the applicators.
Stila’s one is completely flat, assuring you a smooth, controlled and precise application even without picking some product up with a proper brush. The “Metal Shock” one is quite similar, but it has a curvature meant to hug the curve of your lid and deposit as much pigment as possible.
PRODUCTS’ FORMULATION
The two liquid eyeshadow formulas share the following ingredients:
- Water
- Mica
- Glycerin
- Silica
- Iron Oxides (CI 77491)
- Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)
- Tin Oxide (CI 77861)
You can find the full lists of ingredients at essence.eu and cultbeauty.co.uk.
SWATCHES
FINAL THOUGHTS
Ok, here we are!
In conclusion, would I consider Essence “Metal Shock” eyeshadows a dupe for Stila “Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow” liquid eyeshadows? I certainly would.
The two formulas present little differences here and there, above all their payoff on the eye. I am not saying that Stila’s eyeshadows are less pigmented than Essence’s ones, but they offer two finishes; while the more expensive brand has a more glitter-y finish, the drugstore product offers a more metallic, almost wet one.
One thing I also noticed in regards to this is that the darker shades have a little bit more pigmentation to them, as opposed to the lighter ones that look like straight up liquid glitter. You may want to use a base with the light ones, maybe reinforce them with a proper shimmer eyeshadow; but the “Metal Shock” are good to go right away! Also, both formulas dry down, meaning they don’t actually need to be set with other powders.
Lastly, I am by no means telling you to ditch Stila for Essence: in fact, I encourage you to spend your money however you want and support whichever company appeals to you the most. All I want to say is: the “Metal Shock” eyeshadows by Essence are a good investment, if you want to try them out!