I'd heard mixed reviews of Revlon's Illuminance Cream Shadow and I just had to try them myself. I picked up a palette of Not Just Nudes, 4 colors of browns and beiges. I found them at a local Walgreen's, but you can find these at any drug, grocery, or discount store.

The Claims
According to the packaging, this product will brighten eyes, and the "weightless color glides on smoothly and easily with fingertips." It also says that the 4 shades will layer and blend well.

The Product
I paid $5.89 for mine. The total weight is .12oz, and the 4 round pads of eyeshadow are in a black rectangular container with a clear lid that is deceptively difficult to open, and especially challenging the first time. I can't open these if my nails are even remotely wet from polish, but at least I know it won't accidentally open in a purse or something. In the container, these look somewhat waxy and not as creamy as most cream shadows. The packaging lists the ingredients as:

octyl palmitate, dimethicone, talc, tribehenin, magnesium carbonate, trimethylsiloxysilicate, cyclomethicone, hydroxylated lanolin, silica sililate, nylon-12, pentahydrasqualene, sorbitan trioleate, silica, candelilla wax, phenyl trimethicone, polyethylene, BHA, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, phenoxyethanol, isobutylparaben. May contain: titanium dioxide, mica, bismuth oxychloride, iron oxides, carmine, ultramarines, red 40 lake, yellow 5 lake, blue 1 lake, chromium hydroxide green, chromium oxide greens, ferric ferrocyanide, ferric ammonium ferrocyanide, manganese violet

In Use
The first time I tried these, I figured I'd use my finger, since that's what the packaging said I could do. I began by using a darker shade, with the intention of blending a lighter shade over it.

I dipped my finger in and was surprised to find it less waxy than it looked, more light than anything, with a bit of creaminess. Let me tell you, a very little amount is all that is necessary to smooth over quite a bit of area.

I used far too much on my first try and found that out the hard way. I also found that using a finger is not nearly precise enough with this product, so after getting both shades all over my lids and eye sockets, I used an applicator.

Take Two
Next time around, I was armed with a fresh, clean applicator sponge thing and the knowledge that I would need little product. I put my first shade on, then my second. They did blend together exceptionally well for creams. With the applicator I was able to get the shadow only where I wanted it, so I would say that it applies well and with ease.

Appearance
These really made my eyes look nice. They were brightened, i suppose, though I think that word is kind of vague in this usage. They were dewy, the color looked great and the blending was seamless.

There is sufficient pigment in these, which surprised me due to their waxy nature. The problem is that they fade, but I'll get to that later. In the beginning though, they are exactly the color you see in the package.

The Wear
The lightweight feel was a plus. Many creams weigh my lids down, but these really don't. I am aware that they are there, but barely.

Inevitably though, this is how the story goes from there:
I've applied my beautiful eyecolor and I set off on my day. I look in the mirror an hour later, since my lids are starting to feel greasy, and half the shadow is gone. The half that remains has either creased or gathered into weird greasy little ball type chunks, like creasing but in a thicker, shorter shape. I blame this on the waxy quality that Illuminance has. And the color has faded. The lighter beige is not even visible, save for a few creasy greasy looking patches, and the darker brown has become a pale flesh color.

I always wear these over a base, but I have tried without that, and this makes no difference at all. I've also tried dusting them with a transulscent powder, to no avail.

Overall
I'm really torn on whether to recommend this or not. It was not a success for me; I continue to wear these occasionally, always hoping they'll do better, but they never do. I won't buy again, but it was fun to try and some people love them. For $6 I guess I say go ahead, but do it in the spirit of experimentation, and not when you need a reliable eyeshadow, and bear in mind that there are probably 100 other $6 drugstore products that are better.

Recommended: Yes