The Sample: Pixi Fairy Light Solo Eye Shadows in French Lace, Nude Nouveaux, Boho Bronze and Warm Autumn Review & Swatches
4 Mar
Truth be told, I actually picked these shadows up during a sale at Target almost 7 months ago (…or longer??). I stashed them away in my little drugstore-makeup-to-be-reviewed-box and then promptly forgot about until now. Whoops! But really, when I rediscovered these the other day while cleaning, I remembered why I was so excited about them in the first place. Look at them–they’re so pretty! I don’t have any experience with Pixi cosmetics but the packaging was just so cute and the shades were so very “me” and they were on sale…so I went ahead and bought 4.
The 4 shades that I picked up are No.1 French Lace, No.3 Nude Nouveaux, No.5 Boho Bronze, and No.6 Warm Autumn. French Lace is a pale, creamy beige with a slight grey undertone (or a “complex beige”, as Gummy so eloquently put it 
). It has a very soft pearly finish. Nude Nouveaux is a light-medium taupe with a brown base. Boho Bronze is a medium taupe that is cooler and more greyed than Nude Nouveaux. Both Nude Nouveaux and Boho Bronze have a soft, frosty finish. Warm Autumn is a completely matte shade. It is a warm, medium brown with red undertones.
(click image to enlarge)
(click image to enlarge)
Each shadow comes in an adorable little pastel green compact complete with clear plexiglass lid. The compacts feel surprisingly hefty and well-made–I was impressed! The lid snaps shut securely and since the plastic is so thick, I really feel like these little guys can take a lot of abuse without having to worry about damage to the product. Each shadow is embossed with a fairy.
Ingredients: Mica, Magnesium Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Ascorbyl Palmitate, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil. May Contain: Black Iron Oxide (CI 77499), Yellow Iron Oxide (CI 77492), Red Iron Oxide (CI 77491), Mica & Iron Oxide (CI 77019, CI 77491), Mica & Titanium Dioxide (CI 77019, CI 77891), Mica & Titanium Dioxide & Tin Oxide (CI 77019, CI 77891, CI 77861)
•French Lace (click image to enlarge)•
•Nude Nouveaux (click image to enlarge)•
•Boho Bronze (click image to enlarge)•
•Warm Autumn (click image to enlarge)•
These shadows were all surprisingly soft. I was not expecting such soft shadows from–pardon me–”just” a drugstore brand. All the shades were soft but some were smoother than others. French Lace had the smoothest texture of all four–it was very soft and silky and pigmented. Nude Nouveaux and Boho Bronze were pigmented and soft but had just a touch of grittiness to it from the shimmer–Nude Nouveaux just a bit more than Boho Bronze. Warm Autumn probably was my least favorite. It was slightly powdery and drier than the others and was a little less pigmented, as well.
I did not experience any fallout from these shades–they applied easily and blended out nicely. They lasted all day on my eyes over a primer.
(click images to enlarge)
It seems that Pixi has recently expanded their offerings from 6 shades to 11–their new shades are only available on their website at the moment. All in all, I would say these were pretty good eyeshadows. They are certainly some of the best drugstore shadows I’ve found but you will have to pay a bit more that increase in quality…and for $15 you could just get a MAC single eyeshadow.
I will say, though, that Pixi’s shadows contain 0.03 oz. more than MAC’s shadows. It’s difficult to compare texture because MAC offers so many different shades and the quality really ranges from shade to shade but compared to the MAC shadows that I own, I would say that Pixi’s shadows are softer and smoother–not as dry. MAC’s shadows are a touch more pigmented. Of course, as stated before, MAC’s eyeshadow range is extensive while Pixi only offers 11 shades. So really, it just depends on what you’re looking for. But if we’re strictly talking about whether or not I like these shadows, the answer is yes. They’re not my favorite but they’re quite good (I feel the same way about MAC’s shadows, too).
»»Pricing: $15/0.08 oz. (2.29 g.)
»»Availability: Dermstore.com, Target.com and PixiBeauty.com
»»Recommended for: anyone looking for good quality drugstore shadows
»»Overall Rating: B+/A-
I haven’t tried anything from Pixi, but these are the colours I’d pick myself
I think I like Boho Bronze most!
I know–I’ve always heard good things about the brand but I had never tried anything for myself, despite it being so easily accessible to me! I am impressed though–these shadows were really good for a drugstore brand!
I love the idea behind Pixi Cosmetics. I have frequently checked out their website and their offerings in Target but I haven’t bitten the bullet yet. The shades are very limited on seem to focus on the fair to light and I have enough problems as is looking for flattering shades on my light-medium yellow-greenish skin. But these eyshadow shades are truly gorgeous.
Yeah their shade offering was very small but maybe some of the newer shades would be more flattering on you? There is a gorgeous new shimmering olive green as well as a darker brown shade…but all neutrals though, which I like but some may find boring
Boho Bronze is really gorgeous. I used to always overlook Pixi – there’s something about how it’s priced so much higher than the rest of the makeup in Target that makes me ignore it – but thanks to a Drivel About Frivol post I recently bought some of the eyeliners, which are fantastic, so I’ve also swatched some of the other items, and been impressed with a lot of them! I love the texture of the lip & line lipsticks, but not the shades, or I definitely would have bought one.
I know I have been DYING to try those liners after reading Kate’s review too (I really wanted those THREE liners after she reviewed them but they’re SO dang expensive so when she said the Pixi liners were comparable, I flipped!
). Which shades did you get? I can’t wait to read your review on them! I already want them but if I read another good review then it will just seal the deal 
Boho Bronze is PRETTY! It kinda reminds me of Satin Taupe, judging from the swatches.
Actually they’re very different! I would say Satin Taupe is MUCH more warm/brown with a gold shimmer while Boho Bronze is much softer, cooler, and more grey with frost finish. I am very glad I own both!! You should try it if you have access to Pixi–you would love it!!
Oh my gosh I’ve never seen anyone post about these – I’m soooo happy you did!! French Lace is one of those few eyeshadows that I actually used up, it gives the most natural looking subtle nude glow to the lids (well, I would say it would look nude on skintones up until about NC37 or so). I recently picked up a darker shade and I’m a little disappointed that it’s more shimmery than French Lace, I expected the same finish, but now since they added the new shades, their site also says the finish of each shade, and there is a couple different finishes. I do still love it, but it’s not as magically-brightening-without-looking-like-makeup as French Lace. Oh and the price point is just really high so in my mind, they need to be delivering quality like high end brands… that’s the price they go for!
I know when I first bought them, I remember searching for swatches and there are barely any reviews for these. I’m surprised because they are actually really good quality! Yes they are pricier than most drugstore brands but I can definitely see why–the quality is greatly improved from your average drugstore eyeshadow. I really like French Lace too–it’s such a great subtle highlight for the brows and inner corner!
I like Nude Nouveau and Boho Bronze! These are priced a bit high for drugstore eyeshadows, but the quality seems good and the portion is generous. I really want to try their eyeliner after Kate at Drivel about Frivol raved about them. It’s really time to go to London
Haha me too–Emi was talking about buying some of the liners too after Kate’s review and I know I want some so looks like Kate was really successful in convincing all of us!!
Are you not able to get Pixi there, Sunny?? Let me know if you need help getting anything! It’s carried at Target which is about 10 mins. away from my house 
The colors look very pretty, especially Nude Nouveau and Boho Bronze. It’s great that the quality of these eyeshadow is good but the packaging does not really sold me
Yeah it definitely doesn’t look expensive but it IS very sturdy and well made!!
These look pretty, but I think I’d rather spend my $ on MAC.
Haha yeah I figured many people would want to. I’m glad that I own these 4 but now that I do, I probably wouldn’t buy Pixi over MAC unless they came out with new shades again that really looked interesting!
I didn’t know they were paraben-free! Thanks for posting the ingredients, Becca
These are pretty neutrals. I don’t know if I would pick these over MAC, but then, I don’t know that I consider MAC to be the end-all of eye shadows, either. But $15 is a bit much for a drugstore brand!
I agree! But the quality is definitely there…and they are much softer and creamier than the all the MAC shadows that I compared them too. But I guess there’s just something about MAC…:P haha
These shades are beautiful! I’m gals you shared them with us. I lam not familiar at all with pixi but now I am intrigued. I love the little fairy
Thanks Taylor! Yeah, I don’t see very many reviews for these shadows online. But I HAVE heard good things about Pixi, so I’m glad I finally tried something from the brand. I plan on buying a few of their liners next (on Kate from Drivel About Frivole’s recommendation)!
LOLOL!!! You really did use my ‘complex beige’ description!!! I feel special *blushes*
This looks like such a very useful palette. I think the color that most catches my eye is the Boho Bronze…beautiful swatch on you!! The fairy on each shadow is so cute and girly too! Thank you so much for the shout out in your post – you ROCK!!! xo!!
Haha I sure did–it was pure brilliance, I tell you!
hahaa
These look lovely! Boho Bronze is definitely my favourite, it’s so pretty. The price seems slightly higher but hearing from your experience they seem worth it
.
I guess if I’m being picky, I would say $12 would be a bit more reasonable but still, the quality is definitely there and these are shades I would wear often, so I guess it’s worth it
I love the look of Pixi too! A year ago, many British bloggers/ YOutubers talked about the brand and has such pretty packaging and products. I have see them at Target in the US but perhaps they don’t have the ful range or are not stocked well, but their palettes look so cute and easy to travel with. Would love to try this brand one day…
Whenever I go to Target, the line doesn’t seem like it’s ever fully stocked either. I thought it was just my Target but I guess it’s a common thing :/ I really want to try their liners though so I am off to Target sometime this week to check
I’ve tried a few Pixi things and they were pretty decent! I know that these shadows look amazing on you, wifey.
Ah thank you, Liz my darling!!
What Pixi items have you tried? I really want to try their liners after reading Kate from Drivel About Frivol’s review, but I am also kinda worried it won’t work for me like it did for her because she has dry lids, I think, and I have the oiliest of the oily :/
I am SUPER excited because the brand will be available here with Target Canada! SO EXCITED. I think I’m going to clean them out LOL. These look so pretty!
Oooh yay, that is good news!! What will you try first??
These are beautiful, thanks so much for this review…I really like the Nude Nouveaux, very natural looking. Actually all the colors are very pretty…didn’t realize you could buy them at Target.
Of course–I’m so glad you enjoyed the review!
Yes, Pixi has been at Target for quite a while but I had never tried anything from them either. But I have been hearing a lot of good things lately so I was curious to try! I hope you get a chance to check them out soon and let me know what you think! 
gosh becca your swatches!! I think I need Boho Bronze in my stash!
Aw thanks Jenni! Yeah I really do like these shadows. They are definitely nice and a major step up from the average drugstore eyeshadows! Try them if you can!!
It sounds like there were pretty impressive, Becca! I’m sadly a bit of a snob and try to avoid drugstore brands because once I have them home I’m just wishing they were used up already LOL. Unless they have really sleek packaging, then I don’t mind as much – unfortunately, these aren’t doing it for me in that area! I’m sort of ashamed of myself for it, but there it is!
Haha there is nothing wrong with that! I have a bit of makeup snobbery too, don’t worry
There are a few drugstore items that peak my interest from time to time but for the most part, I will never be as truly excited about buying a pieces (or pieces) or drugstore makeup like I can be about even just buying a single eyeliner or balm from a higher end brand. Hey, at least we can admit it!! 