Lethal Cosmetics Dark Matter Tutorial

Hello beautiful people! Today I’m sharing a Lethal Cosmetics Dark Matter Tutorial. I created a BYOP (build your own palette or bring your own palette, depending who you ask) with several Lethal Cosmetics single eyeshadows. I used the shades Dark Matter (metallic multichrome black that shifts red, orange and teal), Bismuth (ultra metallic holographic silver), Unity (deep plum matte, but my eyes always see this as a wine matte) and Moonbeam (neutral ivory matte).

Everything purchased by me. All opinions my own.

About Lethal Cosmetics

Lethal Cosmetics is an indie (independent) vegan and cruelty free beauty brand located in Berlin, Germany. They were founded in May 2016 and launched their first products in January 2017. The current team is comprised of 18 makeup lovers spanning 12 nationalities. I first tried Lethal Cosmetics in 2020 and have loved my eyeshadows and blushes that I’ve purchased from the brand.

See my first Lethal Cosmetics Indie Makeup Haul.

Lethal Cosmetics Dark Matter Tutorial

Here’s the Lethal Cosmetics Dark Matter Tutorial on Instagram. You can also watch it on my YouTube!

Product Listing for the Dark Matter Tutorial

Below are all of the products that I used to create my look in the Lethal Cosmetics Dark Matter Tutorial. Apologies for the extremely yellow kitchen lighting. I still don’t have an office set up because of our move to Europe.

BROWS
Nyx The Brow Glue Crazy Lift (cf)

EYES
Sigma Beauty Bubbly eyeshadow stick primer (cf)
Karla Cosmetics Eclipse black liquid eyeshadow (v)
Lethal Cosmetics Dark Matter, Unity, Moonbeam, Bismuth single eyeshadows (v)
Em Cosmetics  Baroque blush (v)
Thrive Causemetics Brynn Liquid Lash Extensions (truly the best vegan tubing mascara I’ve ever tried)(v)
Kaleidos Scarlet Striker eyeliner (v)

FACE
Iconic London Prep Set Glow spray (v)
Idun Minerals Hydra Soft Mineral Foundation in Jorunn (v)
Silk Naturals Nougat stick contour (code CORDELIA) (v)
Em Cosmetics  Baroque blush (v)
Kaleidos Star Surfer highlighter (v)
Huda Beauty Pound Cake Loose Easy Bake powder (cf)
Haus Labs Triclone Concealer 01 (v)

LIPS
Black Moon Cosmetics Armageddon Liquid Lipstick (v)

FASHION
Black Milk Clothing Wine Flouncy Top
Black Milk Clothing Burned Velvet Wine Palazzo Pants

V denotes vegan and cruelty free, while CF denotes cruelty free.

Lethal Cosmetics Eyeshadow Swatches

If you’re new to Lethal Cosmetics, let me share some of my indie makeup eyeshadow swatches with you!

Why Would You Buy Single Eyeshadows?

Why would you buy single eyeshadows over a premade palette? I would recommend purchasing single eyeshadows because you can create your own palette and customize it perfectly to your taste, as well as to flatter your skintone.

What are the best brands for single eyeshadows?

What are the best brands for single eyeshadows? In my opinion as an indie makeup expert of two decades who had tried many brands, the best brands for single eyeshadows include Lethal Cosmetics, Clionadh Cosmetics, Devinah Cosmetics, Sugarpill Cosmetics, Karla Cosmetics, Sydney Grace Co, and Bellabeautebar Cosmetics. I recommend these brands because I have not been disappointed in my single (or palette) purchases from these brands. In the Lethal Cosmetics Dark Matter Tutorial video, you can see my byop eyeshadows, along with my stackable makeup palette.

Lethal, Sugarpill, Devinah, and Sydney Grace Co carry lots of matte options in addition to shimmer shades. Clionadh, Bellabeautebar, Karla, and Devinah carry lots of multichromes, duochromes, and shimmer shades.

Before Makeup Geek went out of business, I would have included their eyeshadow singles too because they were a great affordable cruelty-free alternative to big name brands like MAC. I did not include Colour Pop because the eyeshadow singles I had from them were not the best quality (unlike the awesome Super Shock Shadows) and would fade even on primer. Even though the Colour Pop are inexpensive, because of the inconsistent quality and wear time, I don’t think they’re a good item to spend money on.

Against AI Art?

I do want to point out that Devinah has been caught using AI to create art for their premade palettes at least twice. It is deeply disappointing when indie brands refuse to pay artists to create unique art for their products and instead rely on AI. I know it influences who people shop with. The last palette I purchased from Devinah was Phantasia. Devinah makes a lot of cool toned shades that work well on cool toned and olive skintones. I thought Devinah stated they were no longer going to use AI for art, but people on reddit state otherwise. I’ve decided not to purchase from them for now but I love the products that I own.

To make it completely clear, I am against using AI for art or anything creative. Pay artists! AI art is soulless. I was so disgusted at Nomad Cosmetics recently for sharing some AI art. AI does not belong in music, art, writing etc. I want AI to cure cancer, climate change, and do household chores, not steal from artists.

Are single eyeshadows more cost effective than palettes?

Are single eyeshadows more cost effective than palettes? The real answer is, it depends. If you will use every single eyeshadow in a premade palette, the premade palette may break down to being more cost effective than buying a bunch of single eyeshadows. However, if you won’t use every single shade in a palette, or only half a palette, it’s most likely more cost effective to build your own palette with single eyeshadows.

As a very fair neutral cool toned individual (Bright Winter in color season analysis, high contrast, naturally dark hair, light cyan eyes, and light skin), many palettes are too warm toned for me. So many browns pull orange against my skin in an unflattering way. I find it more cost effective in many cases to build my own palette with singles, especially when I can do it with cool tones that flatter my coloring instead of clash with it.

Singles vs. palettes for people with specific skin tones or eye colors?

Singles vs. palettes for people with specific skin tones or eye colors? This was an interesting question. In the makeup world today for premade palettes, I feel like most Western makeup skews very warm toned, while much of the Asian makeup skews cool toned. It entirely depends on where you’re shopping and what you’re shopping for. If you’re cool toned or olive toned, I think you’re better off shopping for single eyeshadows. If you’re warm toned, the Western makeup world is your playground.

See the Best Eyeshadows to Enhance Your Eye Color.

How do I organize and store single eyeshadows?

How do I organize and store single eyeshadows? My favorite way, and I would argue the best way is the Adept Cosmetics Stackable Magnetic Palettes are my favorite way to hold my eyeshadow and blush singles. The stackable magnetic palette holds 28 standard sized eyeshadows. This is what houses my Lethal Cosmetics, Clionadh, Devinah, Sugarpill, and other indie eyeshadows. I also use one to hold my Lethal Cosmetics blushes.

You can depot premade eyeshadow palettes into these Adept Cosmetics Stackable Magnetic Palettes to help save space or if you only use a few shades from the palette. I depotted my Melt Cosmetics Smoke Sessions greens into one, as well as my Lime Crime Venus palettes.

In my Lethal Cosmetics Dark Matter Tutorial, you can see one of the Adept Cosmetics Stackable Magnetic Palettes.

Can you build a custom palette with singles, and how?

Can you build a custom palette with singles, and how? Yes, you can! I’ve built many DIY palettes over the years. You can create your own DIY custom palette with singles by looking at existing palettes and finding the shades that are a better match for your skintone or tastes. Or you can take your inspiration from nature or art that you see. Below are some DIY custom palette inspirations for you!

DIY Custom Palette Inspiration

I used to make a lot of DIY single eyeshadow palette content!

Are single eyeshadows better for unique or rare shades?

Are single eyeshadows better for unique or rare shades? Yes! In my personal experience indie single eyeshadows are better for unique and rare shades. Just go take a peek at Lethal, Clionadh, Bellabeautebar, etc. They will have high quality multichromes and duochromes that you will never see in more mainstream brands. Even when similar shades show up in mainstream brands, they’re often so diluted with filler as to barely have a shift.

Are singles better for a minimalist or low-buy makeup approach?

Are singles better for a minimalist or low-buy makeup approach? In my opinion as a two decade makeup expert, singles are definitely better for a minimalist or low-boy makeup approach. If you purchase single eyeshadows, you’re buying the exact shades you need and will use, rather than using only 4 from a palette of 18 shades.

Why do I never finish the colors in a palette?

Why do I never finish the colors in a palette? People often ask this, unless they’re working on a project pan, where they work to finish every single color in an eyeshadow palette. The truth is, most of us gravitate towards the same shades in a palette over and over, often neglecting other colors. This neglect is eliminated if you choose to buy single eyeshadows.

One of the things I love the most about the colors I used in the Lethal Cosmetics Dark Matter Tutorial is that they are colors I want to use all the time. Moonbeam is the PERFECT my skin but better shade for me, which allows me to blend out the edges of other shades. Unity, which my eyes classify as a wine burgundy shade, is a favorite for making my eyes pop. Dark Matter and Bismuth make the goth in me so happy!

Singles vs. palettes for travel: which is better?

Singles vs. palettes for travel: which is better? I’ve had this question asked of me a lot because I always travel with makeup! Most of the time, I travel with singles in a small magnetic palette if it’s a short trip. That saves me a lot of space. But when I went to New Zealand for six weeks, I brought two Bellabeautebar palettes: Dead Roses and Morally Grey. Dead Roses is what I used for fun, colorful looks. Morally Grey is what I used for neutrals. When I went on my honeymoon for two weeks to Las Vegas, I created my own DIY palette for travel.

What eyeshadow singles are worth hitting pan on (repurchasing)?

What eyeshadow singles are worth hitting pan on (repurchasing)? Ooh this is a good question! If it’s a daily wear shade, I recommend repurchasing. One of the first eyeshadows I repeatedly hit pan on was Urban Decay Walk of Shame, a light matte that I used similarly to Lethal Moonbeam. If it’s a multichrome that you want to wear over and over, I’d repurchase that too.

What about single loose eyeshadows?

What about single loose eyeshadows? I love them! You can find stunning single loose eyeshadows from Bellabeautebar (my favorite is Fairie Tears), Silk Naturals, Aromaleigh, Karla Cosmetics, Sugarpill and more. I often recommend using a glitter primer or sticky base with loose or extra glittery eyeshadows.

Why haven’t you featured (insert brand here)? Are they any good?

Why haven’t you featured (insert brand here)? Are they any good? The truth is that I cannot buy and review every brand that exists. Even if I have not featured a brand, they might be awesome. And some past brands I have featured now suck. I no longer feature Anastasia Beverly Hills or Terra Moons, for example, even though they have had lovely single eyeshadows in the past.

I have been on a low buy since my divorce and have gone on no buys at different points too. I’m not interested in collecting every single makeup item out there, I’m out of the Pokemon ‘Gotta Catch ’em All’ mindset with makeup. I don’t want to promote overconsumption or engage in it myself. So I love to do things like shop my stash, and more recently, collab with other makeup lovers to create looks with older palettes.

How do you do the math on palettes vs. singles?

How do you do the math on palettes vs. singles? Here’s how I do the math on palettes vs. singles. I take the price of the eyeshadow palette and I divide it by the number of eyeshadows. Let me give you some examples. I purchased the Danessa Myricks Mini Pastel Dream Freedom palette for $48 for 6 eyeshadows, which breaks down to $8 per shadow. The Cosmic Brushes Angelic palette was purchased for €25,95 for 12 eyeshadows, which breaks down to €2.16 per shadow. Now, I struggle to wear 1 shade in the Danessa palette, so if I break it down by $48 for 5 wearable colors, it’s $9.60 per shadow. I’m guessing I will struggle to wear 1 shade in the Cosmic Brushes palette, so if I break it down by €25,95 for 11 wearable colors, it’s €2.36 per shadow.

Do you have any affiliate codes?

I do have a few! Coupon and Affiliate codes pay Phyrra.net a small commission that is used to keep my blog and social platforms active. Discount codes let the brand know you heard about them from me. Thank you so much if you choose to shop via my links! If you are a brand and would like to be added, please contact me via email. My Affiliate Codes page has the full list of beauty and fashion codes available to you for use.

• Aromaleigh coupon code CORDELIA 15% off (loose mineral makeup)
• Axiology discount code CORDELIA 20% off (plastic free makeup)
• Bellabeautébar coupon code CORDELIA to save 10% (singles and palettes indie makeup)
• My Pretty Zombie discount code myprettyphyrra 15% off (loose mineral makeup)
• Salt New York discount code get 10% off bundles (cream makeup)
• Silk Naturals discount code CORDELIA for 10% off (loose mineral makeup)
• Thrive Causemetics get $15 off your first order of $50
• VE Cosmetics  use code CORDELIA to get 10% off (indie makeup)
• Vettsy get 20% off Hema-Free gel nail polish with my code CORDELIA 

Final Thoughts

I hope you love my Lethal Cosmetics Dark Matter Tutorial & Why I Buy Single Eyeshadows feature and that this information from an indie makeup expert helpful to you. If you’re trying to decide between buying eyeshadow singles or a premade palette, I recommend doing the math and seeing how many shades you would use, what the cost breaks down to per shadow, etc.

Which do you prefer – single eyeshadows or palettes? Let me know!

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