Byredo Fetes Noires Eyeshadow Palette Review & Swatches
Fetes Noires
Byredo Fetes Noires 5 Colours Eyeshadow Palette ($70.00 for 0.28 oz.) is all about black eyeshadow with five takes on it–though the lightest shade is more of a dirty sage green or antique pewter kind of color. It’s not for someone who wants anything but darker, smoky black eyeshadows, though, but I don’t think that it was done at the highest level of quality as a few shades had issues.
The color story worked best in duos rather than using more than that together, and it would work well as a complementary palette to other shades of shimmer that are no doubt in our collections.
Ingredients
Fetes Noires
LELimited Edition. $70.00.
Gothique
Gothique is a medium-dark black with neutral undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had mostly opaque, buildable color coverage with a firmer, slightly stiffer feel in the pan. For a palette that seems to be celebrating black eyeshadow, it seemed like it should have been more blendable, especially along the edges. It lasted well for eight hours before fading visibly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Dior Smoky Sequins #5 (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Dior Celebrate in Gold #5 (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Lights Out #3 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Kevyn Aucoin Blackout (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Bonnie (LE, ) is less shimmery, more muted (95% similar).
- Makeup by Mario N12 (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Tarte Ink (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Dancin' Shoes (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Dose of Colors Finders Keepers (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Hourglass Black (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
Byredo's eyeshadow formula is supposed to be "easy to blend," "long-lasting," and have "rich colour pay-off." They have a generally firmer feel than most eyeshadows have on the market, so using a firmer, moderately dense brush and moderate pressure are necessary to pick up product evenly when using a brush. The brand does indicate that they're "especially" blendable when using fingertips, though the narrow pans may not suit everyone's fingertips. I did not find using fingertips was necessary to achieve coverage or blendability overall.
Some of the brand's eyeshadow palettes include a glittery "top-coat," and these have a transparent base chocked full of fine glitter particles (which, by the ingredient list, appear to be Bio-glitter rather than plastic, or PET, glitter, but there's no callout about it when it seems like it would be a selling feature). The texture of these top coats is lightly tacky, and they work best with a fingertip and then patted exactly where one wants, as they don't really spread out at all.
The eyeshadows were typically pigmented, smooth to the touch, and blendable, with some of the low-sheen shades "melting" on the lid a bit for a very seamless finish. They wore around eight hours before fading visibly.
Browse all of our Byredo Eyeshadow swatches.
Gothique
LELimited Edition.
Wrath
Wrath is a medium-dark black with neutral undertones and a matte finish with flecks of silver sparkle scattered on top. The consistency was soft, smooth, and more firmly-pressed into the pan, but the underlying powder remained blendable on my lid. The issue I had was that the sparkles did not seem to bind as well with the base, so there was fallout during application and little that translated so it was less distinguishable from Gothique in practice. It stayed on well for eight hours with slight fallout over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Lisa Eldridge Lamp Black (P, $16.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- About Face Dream Syndicate (P, $14.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Guerlain Imperial Moon #1 (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Dose of Colors X-Ray (P, $20.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Full Metal Black (LE, $28.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Onyx (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Friskie (P, $6.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Viseart Royal (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Illuminaughty (P, $20.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Chanel Noir Lamé (908) (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
Byredo's eyeshadow formula is supposed to be "easy to blend," "long-lasting," and have "rich colour pay-off." They have a generally firmer feel than most eyeshadows have on the market, so using a firmer, moderately dense brush and moderate pressure are necessary to pick up product evenly when using a brush. The brand does indicate that they're "especially" blendable when using fingertips, though the narrow pans may not suit everyone's fingertips. I did not find using fingertips was necessary to achieve coverage or blendability overall.
Some of the brand's eyeshadow palettes include a glittery "top-coat," and these have a transparent base chocked full of fine glitter particles (which, by the ingredient list, appear to be Bio-glitter rather than plastic, or PET, glitter, but there's no callout about it when it seems like it would be a selling feature). The texture of these top coats is lightly tacky, and they work best with a fingertip and then patted exactly where one wants, as they don't really spread out at all.
The eyeshadows were typically pigmented, smooth to the touch, and blendable, with some of the low-sheen shades "melting" on the lid a bit for a very seamless finish. They wore around eight hours before fading visibly.
Browse all of our Byredo Eyeshadow swatches.
Wrath
LELimited Edition.
Mysteres
Mysteres is a dark, sage green with cooler undertones and flecks of larger, gold sparkle throughout. There was light fallout during application with this shade as the base didn’t have quite enough binder to capture all those larger sparkles when applied to bare skin, so I’d recommend using a fingertip and/or pairing with an adhesive base/spray to help improve overall application and wear. It had mostly opaque pigmentation that wore decently for eight hours with some fallout over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- NARS Filth and Fury (LE, $25.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- L'Oreal Gilded Envy (755) (P, $7.99) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Chanel Éclat Énigmatique #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Morphe Diva (LE, ) is darker, cooler (80% similar).
- JD Glow Fairy Acid (P, $7.50) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
- Natasha Denona Glam Green (18M) (PiP, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar).
Formula Overview
-
Byredo's eyeshadow formula is supposed to be "easy to blend," "long-lasting," and have "rich colour pay-off." They have a generally firmer feel than most eyeshadows have on the market, so using a firmer, moderately dense brush and moderate pressure are necessary to pick up product evenly when using a brush. The brand does indicate that they're "especially" blendable when using fingertips, though the narrow pans may not suit everyone's fingertips. I did not find using fingertips was necessary to achieve coverage or blendability overall.
Some of the brand's eyeshadow palettes include a glittery "top-coat," and these have a transparent base chocked full of fine glitter particles (which, by the ingredient list, appear to be Bio-glitter rather than plastic, or PET, glitter, but there's no callout about it when it seems like it would be a selling feature). The texture of these top coats is lightly tacky, and they work best with a fingertip and then patted exactly where one wants, as they don't really spread out at all.
The eyeshadows were typically pigmented, smooth to the touch, and blendable, with some of the low-sheen shades "melting" on the lid a bit for a very seamless finish. They wore around eight hours before fading visibly.
Browse all of our Byredo Eyeshadow swatches.
Mysteres
LELimited Edition.
Eternite
Eternite is a deep black with neutral-to-cool undertones and fine sparkle throughout. It had a lightly emollient texture that was slightly thin and more firmly-pressed into the pan, but it wasn’t stiff to work with, just needed a bit of firmer pressure initially to pick it up. The product applied evenly to bare skin with minimal fallout during application and had opaque coverage. It lasted well for eight hours with faint fallout over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Linda Hallberg Cosmetics Void (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Tarte Steel the Show (P, $22.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Nippy Platinum (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Dior Black Bow #5 (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Victoria Beckham Beauty Onyx (P, $36.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Dose of Colors Game Over (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- City Color Oh So Naughty (P, $6.99) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Tarte Beat Drop (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Smash It Up (LE, $25.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Revival (DC, $8.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
Byredo's eyeshadow formula is supposed to be "easy to blend," "long-lasting," and have "rich colour pay-off." They have a generally firmer feel than most eyeshadows have on the market, so using a firmer, moderately dense brush and moderate pressure are necessary to pick up product evenly when using a brush. The brand does indicate that they're "especially" blendable when using fingertips, though the narrow pans may not suit everyone's fingertips. I did not find using fingertips was necessary to achieve coverage or blendability overall.
Some of the brand's eyeshadow palettes include a glittery "top-coat," and these have a transparent base chocked full of fine glitter particles (which, by the ingredient list, appear to be Bio-glitter rather than plastic, or PET, glitter, but there's no callout about it when it seems like it would be a selling feature). The texture of these top coats is lightly tacky, and they work best with a fingertip and then patted exactly where one wants, as they don't really spread out at all.
The eyeshadows were typically pigmented, smooth to the touch, and blendable, with some of the low-sheen shades "melting" on the lid a bit for a very seamless finish. They wore around eight hours before fading visibly.
Browse all of our Byredo Eyeshadow swatches.
Eternite
LELimited Edition.
Whisper
Whisper has a transparent base chocked full of fine, black glitter. The formula felt somewhat tacky and performed that way as I had to pat it into place and then pick up more if I wanted to keep going, as it did not spread from wherever it was initially placed–this minimized fallout opportunities during application but did require one to be precise about application. It had light fallout/migration after eight hours of wear.
Full disclosure, I did not wear it on my eyes as I am not comfortable with the particle size in this quantity near my eyes at this time. I tested longevity as a cheek product to see migration/fallout of the glitter over time.
Top Dupes
- Natasha Denona Full Metal Black (LE, $28.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Danessa Myricks Cosmic (P, $18.00) is less shimmery, more pigmented (90% similar).
- elf Black Magic (P, $6.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Black Metal (PiP, $25.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Golden Age (LE, $6.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty SS18 (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, lighter, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Make Up For Ever D104 Black Diamond (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, more pigmented, cooler (85% similar).
- Viseart Eclipse (GPV2 #7) (P, ) is lighter (80% similar).
- ColourPop Iced Latte (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- L'Oreal Eternal Black (P, $7.99) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar).
Okay, so I do love me some great black eyeshadows, this is not that. I only love 3 out the 5 shades, so it gets a big 👎🏼 from me.
And *again* with the chunky, potentially dangerous glitter???
I’ve also never seen a matte with glitter specks that actually looked great. They all fall off, and are already sparse enough that it can be indistinguishable from a regular matte.
Agree, adding the glitter seems a lazy attempt at something 🤦♀️ I’m always on the hunt for interesting black shadows.
I’m certain this palette would look great on s.o. Not sure my vision is sufficiently acute to see the differences if more than 3’ away. It looks like a palette of deepeners to me, if that makes sense. We’re pretty much all in agreement about the inclusion of PET glitter products in palettes. But these? With both Byredo palettes, the glitter is also just plain weird!
I don’t really like an all black kind of eyeshadow palette – no greys to soften it at all. And with so many black shades living in numerous palettes, it’s overdone and unnecessary. The only interesting shade is Mysteres, which I think, should have been in yesterday’s palette.
Look, I’m not going to drop byredo money on eyeshadow palettes anymore (just have SO many), but between the two this is a gorgeous classy goth color story and I’m here for it. Too bad it’s not as stunning as it should be coming with this name and price tag slapped on it.
I love black eyeshadow. I got hooked years ago on MAC Black Tie and went through a ton of them. When I saw this I was excited but seeing the swatches they are too comparable in color other than the one. I wish they’d stayed with the black but tweaked a few. For that reason I’m passing. Lovely, but too identical.
Gothic is a cake liner. I think the one next to is as well.
Byredo’s website doesn’t note any of them as eyeliners or cake l iners – just refers to them as eyeshadows.
From Byredo:
“A limited edition in the Eyeshadow 5 Colours collection, Fêtes Noires is a harmony of five deep shades of black in five unique finishes.
Housed in a limited edition gunmetal version of our treasured ‘raindrop’ compact, the long-lasting, non-creasing formula gives perfect coverage with rich colour pay-off. Lightweight, creamy and blendable – especially with the fingers – Fêtes Noires is a multi-dimensional spectrum of anti-colour. “
Alluring! Thanks for the review.