Review: Kat Von D True Romance Pigments

I'm a fan of bright, colorful eyes. So when Sephora promised "nothing gets an eye bolder," I had to try Kat Von D's True Romance Pigments (Sephora, $16.)

Let me say right off the bat, if you use these the way they're packaged, you'll go mad trying to get the product out. The pigment tends to clump in small balls, which don't go through the sifter. And if you dip your brush in it, you'll get quite a bit of fallout; you can use a brush, but be sure to use a small, tightly packed one (like Sephora's Smudge Brush), and smash up the shadow in the lid a bit first. My modus operandi when I buy a new True Romance pigment (oh yes, I've been collecting them): pry off the sifter and toss it in the trash, then apply the shadow with a pinky finger.

This sounds like a hassle. It is. But you do get some pretty results:

Kat Von D True Romance Pigments:  Torment, Johnette, and Conquer Eyeliner: Lorac Front of the Line PRO Mascara: Urban Decay Lush Lash

Pros:

• Amazing colors
• Can be used dry or wet
• Great blendability

Cons:

• Shadow gets clumpy
• Hard to get out of sifter top
• Hard to apply with brushes

Verdict: I'll be honest. If I could find a better formula with Kat's bright colors, I'd ditch True Romance in a second. They're a pain in the posterior. But until then, I'll put up with the clumps.

(Also, if you're thinking about getting some, there are more colors inside Sephora stores than they show online. In addition to the ones online, they carry Rooftop, a dark maroon, and Conquer, the green pictured above).

Chime in: what's your favorite loose eyeshadow?