Rare Beauty Essential Neutrals Eyeshadow Palette
by Rare Beauty · makeup
Editor's Take
A silicone-and-ester base gelled with modern copolymers for creamy payoff, though the synthetic dyes and persistent polymers keep it from cleaner territory.
Four-pillar formula scores
- Efficacy: 8.2 / 10
- Modern Tech: 7.0 / 10
- Clean Beauty: 7.0 / 10
- Sustainability: 5.9 / 10
The Verdict
The formula is built for performance: Dimethicone and Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate create the slip and cushion, while styrene copolymers deliver the creamy texture that makes powder-cream hybrids work. Lauroyl Lysine adds the glide, and optical modifiers like Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate give the shades dimension. The preservative system is modern and paraben-free, and the pigment suspension is strong. The trade-off is sustainability; persistent silicones, synthetic polymers, and petrochemical emollients dominate the base, and synthetic organic dyes like Red 40 Lake sit outside stricter clean frameworks. Worth it for blendability and payoff; skip it if you're chasing a mineral-only palette.
Full INCI list
Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Octyldodecanol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Decylene Glycol, Synthetic Beeswax, Lauroyl Lysine, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 40 Lake (CI 16035), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Zinc Stearate, Dimethiconol, Propanediol, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Tin Oxide, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate.