Chanel City Lights Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
City Lights
Chanel City Lights Les 4 Ombres Eyeshadow Quad ($61.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette for fall that features three neutrals and a soft, pale pink. As much as I liked the idea of this, the shades did not mesh as well together as I expected based on past experience with Chanel’s quads. I can see it working well for someone who tends to use one or two shades but found the undertones to be a little competing instead of harmonious when using three or four shades together, personally (this subjective observations had no impact on rating). The quality of three shades was quite nice–pigmented, easy to use, long-wearing–while the light pink was rather sheer.
Ingredients
CETEARYL ETHYLHEXANOATE | SILICA | GLYCERIN | CAPRYLYL GLYCOL | POLYSORBATE 80 | SQUALANE | ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN | 1,2-HEXANEDIOL | CALCIUM CHLORIDE | PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE | C12-20 ACID PEG-8 ESTER | CHONDRUS CRISPUS EXTRACT | XANTHAN GUM | DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE | SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE | TOCOPHEROL | [+ / - (MAY CONTAIN) | CI 75470 (CARMINE) | CI 77000 (ALUMINUM POWDER) | CI 77007 (ULTRAMARINES) | CI 77163 (BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE) | CI 77288 (CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS) | CI 77491, | CI 77492, | CI 77499 (IRON OXIDES) | CI 77510 (FERRIC AMMONIUM FERROCYANIDE) | CI 77510 (FERRIC FERROCYANIDE) | CI 77742 (MANGANESE VIOLET) | CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE) | MICA] | BS000076A Ingredient listing | CETEARYL ETHYLHEXANOATE | SILICA | GLYCERIN | CAPRYLYL GLYCOL | POLYSORBATE 80 | SQUALANE | ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN | 1,2-HEXANEDIOL | CALCIUM CHLORIDE | PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE | C12-20 ACID PEG-8 ESTER | CHONDRUS CRISPUS EXTRACT | XANTHAN GUM | TIN OXIDE | DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE | SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE | TOCOPHEROL | [+ / - (MAY CONTAIN) | CI 75470 (CARMINE) | CI 77000 (ALUMINUM POWDER) | CI 77007 (ULTRAMARINES) | CI 77163 (BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE) | CI 77288 (CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS) | CI 77491, | CI 77492, | CI 77499 (IRON OXIDES) | CI 77510 (FERRIC AMMONIUM FERROCYANIDE) | CI 77510 (FERRIC FERROCYANIDE) | CI 77742 (MANGANESE VIOLET) | CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE) | MICA] | BS000077A Ingredient listing | CETEARYL ETHYLHEXANOATE | SILICA | GLYCERIN | CAPRYLYL GLYCOL | POLYSORBATE 80 | SQUALANE | ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN | 1,2-HEXANEDIOL | CALCIUM CHLORIDE | PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE | C12-20 ACID PEG-8 ESTER | CHONDRUS CRISPUS EXTRACT | XANTHAN GUM | TALC | DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE | SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE | TOCOPHEROL | [+ / - (MAY CONTAIN) | CI 75470 (CARMINE) | CI 77000 (ALUMINUM POWDER) | CI 77007 (ULTRAMARINES) | CI 77163 (BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE) | CI 77288 (CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS) | CI 77491, | CI 77492, | CI 77499 (IRON OXIDES) | CI 77510 (FERRIC AMMONIUM FERROCYANIDE) | CI 77510 (FERRIC FERROCYANIDE) | CI 77742 (MANGANESE VIOLET) | CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE) | MICA] | BS000078A Ingredient listing | BUTYLENE GLYCOL | POLYGLYCERYL-3 POLYRICINOLEATE | ISOSTEARYL NEOPENTANOATE | CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE | SILICA | POLYGLYCERYL-4 CAPRATE | ZINC STEARATE | HYDROGENATED POLYCYCLOPENTADIENE | GLYCERIN | TREHALOSE | ISODODECANE | HYDROGENATED LECITHIN | CAPRYLYL GLYCOL | ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN | HYDROGENATED RAPESEED OIL | 1,2-HEXANEDIOL | POLYGLYCERYL-3 DIISOSTEARATE | CALCIUM CHLORIDE | CHONDRUS CRISPUS EXTRACT | XANTHAN GUM | TALC | TOCOPHEROL | [+ / - (MAY CONTAIN) | CI 75470 (CARMINE) | CI 77000 (ALUMINUM POWDER) | CI 77007 (ULTRAMARINES) | CI 77163 (BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE) | CI 77288 (CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS) | CI 77491, | CI 77492, | CI 77499 (IRON OXIDES) | CI 77510 (FERRIC AMMONIUM FERROCYANIDE) | CI 77510 (FERRIC FERROCYANIDE) | CI 77742 (MANGANESE VIOLET) | CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE) | MICA] | BS000079A
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Look Using this Product
City Lights
LELimited Edition. $70.00.
City Lights #1
City Lights #1 is a medium, rosy brown with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had opaque color payoff that applied smoothly to bare skin and blended out with ease. The consistency was soft, smooth, and not too powdery nor was it too firmly pressed in the pan. It wore well for seven and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Le Metier de Beaute Champagne Shimmer (P, $28.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Pink Sensibilities #1 (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Chanel Les Indispensables #9 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever S606 Pinky Earth (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Coloured Raine Intergalactic (DC, $6.99) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty About Last Night No. 14 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty O Yeah (P, $29.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Cocoa Mirage #3 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Chocolate Brown #2 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Urban Decay 180 (LE, $19.00) is darker (90% similar).
Look Using this Product
City Lights #1
LELimited Edition.
City Lights #2
City Lights #2 is a soft pink with subtle, cool undertones and warmer golden pearl. It had semi-sheer pigmentation that was somewhat buildable dry, but I only had good luck getting full coverage out of it using it with a dampened brush. The texture was soft, a smidgen dusty, but it was blendable and easy to work with. It started to fade on me after seven hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- Dior Constellation (864) #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Chanel Signe Particulier #1 (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Sugar Plum (LE, $6.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty About Last Night No. 17 (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Dior Blazing Gold #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Ready to Party (P, $20.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- MAC A Party of Pastels #2 (PiP, $21.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Seductive Rose #1 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Dance Flowers Dance (LE, $23.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Too Faced Pink Pearl (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
Look Using this Product
City Lights #2
LELimited Edition.
City Lights #3
City Lights #3 is a deep, plummy brown with subtle, warm undertones and a satin sheen. The eyeshadow had rich, opaque color coverage that applied well to bare skin. I had no trouble diffusing and blending out the color on the lid. It wore well for eight hours on me before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- The Estee Edit Burn (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Tarte Sinful (LE, $14.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Layla (140M) (DC, $29.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Warm (Winter 2016) Eyeshadow #4 (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- MAC BLK (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, more muted (90% similar).
- Chanel Silver Pink (814) (P, $36.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- LORAC Pewter (PiP, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Rebellious (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Rebound (LE, $19.00) is darker (85% similar).
- Bad Habit Ursa (PiP, ) is lighter (85% similar).
Look Using this Product
City Lights #3
LELimited Edition.
City Lights #4
City Lights #4 is a light-medium, taupe with subtle, warm undertones and a frosted sheen. It had good color coverage, though it was not quite opaque, that was buildable to opaque coverage in two layers. The texture was a little dusty in the pan but it blended out well and did not appear dry or dusty on the lid. I did find that the undertone of this shade seemed to clash a bit against the warmer tones of the second and third shades in the quad. It lasted well for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- About Face Actual Ambrosia (P, $14.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- elf Galaxy (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- LORAC Chrome (PiP, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Rover (P, $6.25) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Smokey Quartz (LE, $34.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Chanel Vastness (32) (P, $36.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Smashbox Dusk (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Phytosurgence Crystal Constellation (P, $17.07) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Steel the Scene (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty First Frost #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
These are pretty but I can’t get excited about such colors.
Totally understand!
The shadows are really pretty but I do not find that they form a nice combination together. Not enough contrast for my taste.
I have no issues pulling mattes or a lighter/darker shade out of my stash but the quad has to provide at least two distinctive looks to be worth the investment!
I’m not surprised!
Very nice job with the eye look:). These colors look nice.
Thank you!
It’s beautiful on you, Christine. Subtle, and very classy.
Thanks, Anne!
As I commented in the earlier quad review (Road Movie?), this one reminds me a lot of a less terrific Tisse Rivoli. I’m such a fan of neutrals (what a surprise, eh?) that I thought I would be wanting this but it’s actually an easy pass because it does remind me so much of Tisse Rivoli but also because your review shows some of the shortcomings that aren’t really noticeable just looking at the photo.
Yeah, it does have a similar effect on the eyes as Tisse Rivoli, which was a lot better and more cohesive!
I was thinking along the same lines – if Tisse Rivoli and Subtils had a baby . . .
Pearl, I like to think that if they did, it would be a bit better than this quad.
? good point!
The colors are so beautiful. However my friend has said the Chanel eye palette is probably the most expensive eye shadow because it is $61 for only 2g.
Baked formulas are typically quite light in terms of weight!
This a pretty palette, but I can’t say I am going gaga over it.
Easy skip!
I like #3 and #4, but not the other two. It’s true there is something not cohesive about the colors despite them all being neutrals. I was afraid this quad would be irresistible to me, but I much prefer the neutral Chanel quads I already own.
I was a little surprised how it turned out!
Ginny, that was pretty much my reaction too – fear that I’d break down and buy it because I am a bit of sucker for Chanel neutral quads but then the realization that the ones I have are somewhat similar but also better all ’round.
Same here! When I saw this look popping up I was ready to jump and sell one of my other Chanel quads (one new in, one old out, unless it’s really really something completely different, that’s the rule now) to allow myself to get this one. But I compared swatches and it looks like a cooler version of the Jardins Eclatants from last spring, which I got and never regretted. Phew! Money saved.
ouineque, I recently bought Jardins Eclatants. Is there a particular look or set of shades you quite like wearing from this palette?
hey Tracey, do you like it as well as I do?
I love putting the pink all over the lid, the midtone beige in the crease (with a blending brush like Mac’s 217; I can use almost any shade in the crease I found out, it’s all in the brush/application), the deep brown in the outer V and/or as a liner and the light highlighter creamy color in the middle of the eye, just above the eyelashes, kind of like a liner but only there. This is so gorgeous, makes your eyes light up!
I also like just putting the midtone beige all over the lid with just a little of the darker coppery brown in the outer V and/or as a liner. You can also go very simple: the lightest shade all over the lid, the midtone beige just a little on the outside of the eye (outer V), I did this just with the applicators and it looked good as well. These shadows are so creamy… anything looks good! Hope this was helpful! Do you have a favorite combination of these shades?
Love the colours in this palette! Whenever I start seeing CHANEL collection and quads, it almost signifies a change in season or something! Love it 🙂
It does, haha!
I agree with what you said about these shades not exactly going well with one another in an eye look. Because, even though you were able to get a very nice smokey eye out of it, I already know I would never put my MAC Sable with Fall In Lust together in the same look! That cool taupe just doesn’t fit, and the pink shade has pretty bad quality, so nope.
So glad you can dupe this 😀
I love that #3 shade! How gorgeous is that?
It is pretty!
They are quite wearable everyday shades, but I am not wowed by this quad. It seems a bit meh to me. If you have any of the Lorac Pro palettes, you pretty well have these shades.
Oh, yeah, it is infinitely wearable but also dupable!
An easy pass ! I don’t have a particularly large eyeshadow collection compared to many of you but know I have dupes for these colors .
Thank goodness for dupes!
Well, I’m relieved. Chanel quads have become a go to for me and I figured I would buy both on principle but I can dupe both quite easily. City Lights reminds me of Tisse Rivoli and Codes Subtils. Let’s be honest – if the sheer pink shade would have been a better fit, I probably would have bought at least that, though.
Yeah, I was surprised they didn’t knock this out of the park – I expected to enjoy it more!
I love this
Yay!
Your look is lovely, Christine. I love Fall collections and I love neutrals, but I, too, will be passing on this quad. It’s so disappointing, especially after seeing vibrant shades in collection’s other quad.
Thank you so much, Tracey!
My first thought was “Nude Dip”. Except for the undertone issue I could see wanting to just have this quad because it would always work in an understated yet polished way. It is one of those that doesn’t grab me and say Get This! so by the time I have mulled it over it will be gone (being LE). Problem solved! Lol.
Haha! 😉
I love these colors but was wondering if these would end up a murky mess when combined on the lid.
As you said Christine, these would only work in simple looks using 1 or 2 shades.
I’m curious as to what Chanel means by ‘multi-effect’?
Some shades are more shimmery and others are more satiny? I’m guessing that’s why they called it that?
Eh, it’s ok but not very exciting colors, have tons of dupes already
It’s super dupable!
I was tempted by this quad at the weekend but something made me walk away. After reading the review, glad I did.
Phew!
Looks like a gorgeous everyday quad! I like how Chanel mixed both warm and cool shades all into one palette. But I have to agree with Marie-Estelle. The colors are pretty but not cohesive. Unless you put the lavender in the inner corner, it just seems random. This would have been perfect if it was replaced with a matte brown instead
I really didn’t expect cohesiveness to be an issue here!
Your eye makeup looks beautiful here, though. I was initially interested in getting the dramatic one from the collection (Road Movie) but now I think I can get more use out of this quad as I see it as two duos in one palette. 🙂
Thank you, Lena! 🙂
I generally have a hard time combing shades with different undertones. I can pair neutral with cool colors/undertones or neutral with warm colors/undertones. Do you (or anyone, really!) have any tips or is combining warm/cool hard to jive together? Appreciate any and all advice!
Hey Agona!
I think practice helps a lot, and then I find that some just work better than others. You might find contrast helpful – e.g. light gold with a cool purple is easier to work with than light gold and cool lavender.
Thanks for the tip!!
Oooooh, I’ll look for that, too. Thanks Christine! Great question, Angora!
I wish they were better quality.
While the shades are totally up my street and would be a regular “go-to” palette; I have it in too many other quads, etc, in much better formulations. I use Nude Dip way more than Tisse Rivoli because the TF formulation is so much better. I used to go so nutso over Chanel, but it doesn’t get it done for me anymore sadly.
The last chanel quad I had was a long time ago when they used the square pan. I think they discontinued. Are these containing the same amount of product like the square pan or less ?
Hmmm … this looks quite nice, but I’m not sure I’d go for it ….
I am probably one of the few but I really love this palette!! It makes my green eyes pop whereas wth Code Subtils my eyes looked murky and the green pulled more grey on me. Nice everyday palette!!