Archived Post

Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad Review, Photos, Swatches

Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad
Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad

Chanel Fall 2011: Prelude Eyeshadow Quad

Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad ($57.00 for 0.24 oz.) contains four cool-toned shades for fall. According to Chanel’s fall press release, this is new and being added to the permanent range.  This is a lovely mix of colors that complement each other and will work together in numerous variations for soft, neutral looks to heavier, smokier looks.  The finishes are all slightly pearled or shimmery but not too shimmered or frosted.

The eyeshadows are soft and silky smooth; very finely milled without being powdery or chalky.  They apply beautifully and sit well against the skin, because they nearly melt once applied and blend with great ease.  There were no issues with texture or pigmentation in any of these four shades.  Soft where they should be soft, intense where they should be intense.

The upper left shade is a purple-tinged taupe brown with multi-colored micro-shimmer, and it has a shimmery finish. It reminded me of a shimmery version of Burberry Taupe, as well as a less metallic MAC Hint of Sapphire. Inglot’s #434 is much more intense, with a blacker base, and reads more purple. Giorgio Armani’s #1 Eyes to Kill is much more intense, but it has a similar multi-colored shimmer.

On the upper right, there is a warm, metallic-finished ivory gold. It’s subtler and less yellow compared to theBalm’s Devilish Danielle, while MAC Short Shorts is more similar, but it leans a little yellower (same with MAC Manila Paper.

The shade on the bottom left is a soft beige-taupe with a pearled sheen. I couldn’t think of any close shades to this, other than Estee Lauder Tempting Mocha, which appears a bit darker.

Our final shade is a blackened-brown purple with a satin sheen. It’s very intense and bold; it could work well as an eyeliner, too. theBalm’s Feisty Felicia was the closest shade I could find, and it has a very shimmered finish in comparison.

It is reminiscent of a few past Chanel quads, actually. It’s not quite Beiges de Chanel, though I heard a few wonder if it was. The only shade that is similar is the blackened purple. It’s a bit like Stupendous, but the purple-ish shade is much lighter and browner, but the beige-taupe shades are similar.

Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad Review, Photos, Swatches

A+
10
Product
10
Pigmentation
10
Texture
10
Longevity
5
Application
100%
Total

Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad
Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad

Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad
Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad

Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad
Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad

Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad
Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad

Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad
Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad

Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad
Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad

Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad
Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad

Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad
Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad

Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad
Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad

Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad
Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad

Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad
Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad

Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad
Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad

Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad
Chanel Prelude Eyeshadow Quad

79 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
snm Avatar

nice quad but even though I loved the colors,they look ordinary to me,as a fan of plummy-taupe shades.also I am not a big fan of Chanel eyeshadows so I can skip this:)

Faerie Avatar

This quad looks amazing! I wish there was an Inlot dupe for Prelude but I can’t think of any. I have so many highlighters it’s always hard to justify getting a whole quad especially with a Chanel pricetag.

Pandora Avatar

This looks so beautiful, and versatile too. The textures of Chanel eyeshadows (the quads) look so different in the US compared to Europe. In fact they look better in the US. I wonder why they only sell the baked versions here….

-lola- Avatar

Yes! This is so weird! I’m wondering the same thing. Why?! This is so disappointing. I love this quad but I already know I won’t buy it because the color payoff will not be the same at all here (France.

t_zwiggy Avatar

I didn’t even know about this until someone told me about a month ago. I always assumed that the shadows were exactly the same, only shaped differently in the packaging. But the European versions are baked and the US ones are not? Does anyone know why this is? It really bugs me, because I’m pretty sure they won’t swatch the same and definitely not work the same way either (the EU ones can be used wet and the US ones can’t :S) I guess I’ll have to try and get an American version of a palette I already have so I can compare the quality.

Josiane Avatar

The quads are baked here in Canada too. At first I thought the changed the formula, but I found out it is different ( and seems better!) in the US.

Ana G. Avatar

Really pretty colors for fall!! But I’m still getting started with summer feelings…I think I’ll leave this one for September 🙂

Cintiaitaly Avatar

Wonderful palette! It reminds me the Kaska beige by Chanel spring 2010.
And compliments to you Christine.
I love your blog! Bye!

Gabriella Avatar

I always love these products, unfortunately they totally disappear on my skin. This pigmentation looks pretty good though. Maybe I’ll try it in the store..

Élise Avatar

WOW. Just…wow. If I wasn’t against spending over $50 for such a small amount of product (that could be reproduced by someone for much cheaper, let’s face it – it’s not totally unique) I would totally be buying this as soon as it came out. Those colours are just perfect.

JJ Avatar

The quads are about $100 in Australia, and our dollar has been strong against the US dollar for some time which is definitely unfair!

Jill Avatar

I love the look of this quad! I wouldn’t normally spend so much on eyeshadow, but the shades all seem very wearable, so I think it would be worth it. I am definitely going to check this out!

Jennifer F Avatar

Beautiful quad. Christine, do you know why some of the quads have the shadows square shaped like this and others are round? I’ve seen the same quads in both formats before and I’m a bit confused.

xiao Avatar

my very (probably inaccurate) assumption would be europeans prefer a lighter wash of shadow since baked versions are less pigmented than the US ones?

Aysh Avatar

I just picked this one up yesterday and am hoping they let me return it. The colours are completely different in Australia. The palette is in grey tones! The shape and formula are not the only things that are different.

Aysh Avatar

I was able to return it, phew. I was so looking forward to it after your review. I will have to wait until I save the pennies for another trip to the US.

Thanks Christine, I am always amazed at the number of reviews you manage to post.

pusteblume Avatar

chanel thinks in europe the womans prefer the baked eyeshadows but a lot of customers here are sad because we get less product for 47€ (that are 67$ today) and the us ones have a better qualality as well.

Lilac Avatar

haha.. in the forums I read everyone complains about the baked (round) pans and wishes we had the US-version 😀 If I want some sheer wash of colour I can just use some badly pigmented Drugstore-Shadow 😀 Even the non make-up mavens who buy Chanel for the name of it and don’t “research” in advance much write reviews on the Douglas-Website (something like Sephora, but a lot smaller) noting that these round e/s are not very good at all.

I have never heard of that there is a tendency in Europe for sheer washes of e/s 😀 I guess that is largely individual and the difference is more between people who like elaborate make-up and those that choose few neutrals which don’t take much time, or maybe select one eye-shadow colour only to wear. That does not influence the general preference for any kind of pigmentation or sheerness 😀 The round Chanel e/s have a wide reputation for being not particularly good.
Can’t comment from own experience, though, I am interested mainly in Chanel’s more “unusual” products such as the Rose Platine-liner or the new cream e/s, not standard e/s.

Beth Avatar

Christine, I’ve never purchased a Chanel quad. Is the mini-eyeshadow applicator they provide with the product of any higher quality than those you receive with lower end brands? Thanks.

virginiaisforluvrs Avatar

It’s funny that you describe these as more plummy, because on me, they pull more gray! I love it though because Kaska Beige was more plummy on me, and I didn’t like it very much.

Michelle Avatar

I can’t wait to get my hands on this quad! Christine, will you be getting the limited release quad from the Byzantine collection?

Carolina Avatar

This is gorgeous, def tempted to buy it, but what is the deal between US and EU quads that I’ve been reading about? What does it mean ‘baked’? Are the EU quads different somewhat? I never knew this… 🙁

Liv Avatar

Beautiful! When’s the release date?

As for the European Quads, I know many people here complaining about them and not buying them because of the poorer pigmentation. I prefer heavier pigmentation es well.

Christine Avatar

It’s available online at chanel.com for U.S.!

It’s not like the U.S. quads are SUPER intense or anything – the color is much like you see in the pan, and by nature, they are softer, muted shades, but not sheer. I know my limited experience with the baked quads showed they were usually on the sheer side unless used wet!

Nicole Avatar

I am so in love with these colors! And very relieved to hear it is not a limited edition product. I need to save money first for the Illusion d’Ombre cream shadows!!

Glowey707 Avatar

Hate to say it but Chanel comes out with the same quad. every. single. year. Nothing really changes but the packaging and the shape of the pans.

Jennifer A. Avatar

Christine, I know you do the single shot swatches to help with your swatch gallery, but for me, it would be really helpful if you could also include an unedited side-by-side for shades that are meant to work together (such as quads and duos). Just my opinion – I love your swatches and reviews.

This is a gorgeous palette – I got the Vernis right away, but I was waiting for your’s and Cafe Makeup’s swatches before committing to the rest of the collection. This is definitely on my list now!

Elizabeth Avatar

OY what is it with the American version having 6.8g / .24oz of product and the Canadian version having 0.04oz of product?! Please tell me this is a mistake?!!! It’s like that with all the quads, but how can they give SO much less in the baked quads?!

Elizabeth Avatar

ok that makes sense… it still bugs me though! I wish Canada sold the US version instead of the Euro version, I strongly prefer the formula!

Chubbie Avatar

Omg! Canada does? i was hoping for the US ver. that’s not fair! we’re right above the US in the same continent. ): booo
now i must wait until i go to the US. thank god it’s permanent. I’m such a Chanel virgin haha. i have nothing from them but lemming! And this seems like a good buy even though it’s nothing extraordinary!

Michelle Avatar

Christine –
Why aren’t you posting pictures of the swatches of the individual eyeshadows side by side anymore? I found that so much more useful. Thanks. 🙂

Maribeth Avatar

I purchased Prelude last Friday along with Khaki Platine. At first you think it’s nothing special just more semi neutrals but during the day when I saw my eyes I realized how beautiful it is. The shadows apply well, easily blendable and go perfectly together. The plum doesn’t look like a “plum” until you blend with the others. I love this quad – the highlighter shade, the crease shade, ALL of it. A must have for fall. And the Khaki Platine – to die for. Beautiful shimmery light khaki. Another Chanel winning collection.

Alexa K. Avatar

hey~christine! which quad do you think is more versatile? This one or Spices? I consider to buy one of them, it would be great to have your advice!

Melody Avatar

Takes my breath away! I’m glad it’s going to be perm though. I don’t think I can run out and buy it right now. That taupe!

JoanneP Avatar

Chanel eyeshadow palettes usually don’t tempt me. But this one is beautiful. I imagine using it everyday in the cooler months. I’m warm-toned and it looks great on me (or at least I think so :d).

Ekaterina Avatar

This palette reminds me of my 1st Chanel palette “Planettes”, the colors are really quite the same! It was released in 2004 or 2006 if I remember correctly and then discontinued. May buy this one because of nostalgia!

Trey Avatar

Thank you so much for reviewing this! Your review made me buy this as my first Chanel quad back in August and I still love it and use all 4 colors since they’re so flattering… holy grail quad *__*

Andreea Avatar

It is beautiful, unfortunately the europen/german baked formula is a worse quality.
It does not last and it is nit really soft and also not very well pigmented.

But I love the colour combination, one of the nicest I have seen the last years!

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!