Kat Von D Alchemist Holographic Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Alchemist
Kat Von D Alchemist Holographic Palette ($32.00 for 0.20 oz.) contains four shades that can be used on the eyes, lips, or face and are designed to be used over other products as transformers. The formula is supposed to be pigmented. Three of the four shades have real shifts, so depending on the viewing angle, can appear more like one color or another distinct color. One shade was more iridescent in its effect.
The texture of the formula was dustier, a little drier to the touch, and I found they layered best over still-drying cream products or shimmery eyeshadows but did not work well over a dried, matte cream eyeshadow. The dustier formula made them very blendable as a cheek highlighter, though, and of all the ways I tried the product, they were easiest and had the most noticeable shift applied as highlighters, whether alone or layered over another cheek color. They layered best over matte and satin finish lip products, as they seemed to get absorbed and muted by more emollient formulas.
The pan size is that of a standard eyeshadow (MAC, Urban Decay, Anastasia, etc.), but there is good spacing between each shade to use them as cheek highlighters as well. The palette itself is unusually shaped, and that extra space means that it seems unnecessarily large, though I felt like the whole palette ended up being rather small.
Alchemist
PPermanent. $32.00.
Emerald
Emerald is a pale, greenish-white that shifted from pink to golden green. It had good color payoff with a soft, lightly dusty texture. The product lasted for seven hours as an eye product and eight hours as a cheek product.
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Lucid (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery, more muted (95% similar).
- Sephora Julie T (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Ocean Breezy (PiP, $4.50) is warmer (95% similar).
- Chanel Delicatesse #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop The Big 3 (P, $4.50) (100% similar).
- ColourPop Snuzzle (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Brixton (LE, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Moira Stardom (P, $8.50) is cooler (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Astral Blue Star (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Viseart Moon (GPV2 #4) (P, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Emerald
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Saphyre
Saphyre is a bluish white with pink base that shifted to a cool, bluish sheen. The pigmentation was mostly opaque, while the texture was a touch dusty but blendable and easy to use on the skin. It wore well for eight hours as a cheek highlighter and seven and a half hours as an eyeshadow.
Top Dupes
- Viseart Moon (GPV2 #4) (P, ) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop GRLFRND (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Lumi (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Disney by Sephora Sick of Swimmin' (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Clionadh Current (P, $12.50) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Idol (P, $6.50) is warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Snuzzle (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Urban Decay White Walker (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever 6 Frozen Turquoise (P, $21.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Sydney Grace Blue Mist (P, $6.25) is less shimmery (95% similar).
Saphyre
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Amethyst
Amethyst is a light-medium lavender with cool undertones and a bluish-violet sheen. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that applied well to bare skin, both on the eyes and on the cheeks, as well as most products I attempted to layer it with (but it seemed dustiest over cream eyeshadows that had dried down completely). It wore well for eight hours on as a highlighter and eight hours as an eyeshadow.
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Brilliant (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Cake Walk (LE, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Astrological (LE, ) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Looxi Beauty Luna (P, $7.50) is cooler (95% similar).
- Sephora Moonstone (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Ghost Story (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Mystery (P, $6.25) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever 5 Frozen Purple (P, $21.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Sugarpill Supernova (PiP, $13.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Guerlain Les Nuees #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Amethyst
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Opal
Opal is a muted, dirty beige with a pink to violet shift paired with a pearly sheen. The consistency was soft, blendable, and just a touch dusty. I felt like it looked drier on my bare eyelid, but it was fine over another product. On cheeks, I did not notice any dryness from the product itself. The product lasted for eight hours as a cheek highlighter and seven hours as an eyeshadow on me.
Top Dupes
- Smashbox Sparkle Pony (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Sydney Grace Red Mist (P, $6.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop GRLFRND (LE, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- Anastasia A1 (Norvina Mini Vol. 3) (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Cuddle Close (LE, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Illusion (423DC) (LE, $29.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Milk Makeup Mars (P, $30.00) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Ripe Plum (Left) (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Too Faced Le Marais (LE, $16.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Linda Hallberg Cosmetics Serein (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Very original palette and cool effect. I love the way you worked it into that eyeshadow look!
Thank you, Kira!
I like that it looks less glittery/chunky that the Moonchild palette. The pan sizes are kinda small but the packaging is really gorgeous. I’m looking forward to receiving mine. I like to do my cupid bow with unusual highlighters.
Yeah, it is not quite as intense/metallic (and definitely lacks glitter) compared to the Moonchild palette.
That’s what I was hoping for with this palette the lack of larger shimmer/Glitter in the formulas.
Look forward to the Canadain site restock.
What a curious palette… a lot of people are comparing it to ABH’s Moonchild, but I think I really prefer this for eyeshadow. That eye look you created is beautiful.
I think the texture and finish are a bit different – they can do similar things, but I think the finish is where they differ a bit.
I’ve been eyeing this for a bit, but I keep telling myself I have very similar indie dupes to some of these (Fyrinnae in particular), as well as that silly little elf Eye Transformer Palette they released a long time ago.
I do love me some duochromes, and I have been considering getting Moonchild, or this….
Horrible conundrums.
I feel like Fyrinnae would do these colors justice better, particularly if you don’t mind using loose product!
What kind of finish/usage are you after? I think I’d start there to decide which makes more sense for you!
I don’t have too many problems using loose pigments (in some ways I prefer them), and I have several of Fyrinnae’s Ghost shades (Crimson Ghost, Jade Ghost, and Sakura) as well as an NYC iridescent sheer blue.
In reality, this palette looks like it would work best over super dark looks, which I don’t often do. I would use this as highlighter in a heartbeat- I love an unusual color for highlighting. 🙂
Yeah, I remember the elf Eye Transformer Palette, but that was soo thinned out with their white base the iridescent colour was minimal. 🙁
They Naked Cosmetic Ivory stack was the best loose formula I have and I’m looking forward to getting this one and comparing the shades like I did with my ABH Moonchild and other Aura Pigment eyeshadows I have.
Finally, a product where our swatches are almost identical 😉 I was disappointed in this palette. I agree, the product works best as highlighters. Still, I felt that the price didn’t reflect what was provided by way of product volume, quality, and multi-use ability. I’ll use it, of course, but it wasn’t as good as I had hoped.
I think the fact that I struggled to layer them over a black base the first time I tried them (as a layering eye product) made me less impressed.
I hadn’t tried it over a black base – although really great idea! I hope this isn’t a sign of what we can expect from Pastel Goth!
I dunno – this just seems like too much work for me. I don’t particularly like products that are “add ons” in the sense that they really don’t work that well on the eyes on their own.
Maybe the best way to think of this as a highlighting palette? I feel like it’s more often than not that one reaches and applies a highlighter on or with other products vs. alone.
I tend to reach for these types of products to highlight the inner tear duct/corner of the eye (layering a little on bare skin and then blended on my inner lid color) or layered over a blush to give it a different look and tone.
I like the idea of this as a highlighter, particularly the lavender shade. I like unique highlighter colors.
There’s been so much hype about this palette and it feels kind of meh to me! It’s unique but not a palette that can be worn on its own! The shades are really lovely though!
I think if you shop indie at all, it won’t be so unique either!
I like this more now that I see it in use. I’m not sure it’s for me but I really love the effects over the eye tint.
It is fun to play with! I did not like it over a black base (I tried MAC Blacktrack, which is what I’ve used in the past), but it seemed to be OK over the Eye Tint, since it wasn’t as dark and had more shimmer.
I am conflicted on whether or not I would purchase this palette myself, but your eye look makes for a great selling point! While not perfect to work with on the eyes, these colors are beautiful and have great staying power, which is always nice. Plus, I love that finish.
Thank you! For me, I did not like them much as an eye product – I think there are better options out there, like indies.
I would have liked to see the ‘transformative’ effects of this palette on lipstick and other eye shadows.
Hi Lily,
I showed how it transforms an eyeshadow in the look posted above! 🙂
I must have missed it bc it didn’t look very ‘transformative’. Just like any other duochrome layered eyeshadow. Too bad!
I ordered this impulsively a few days ago during a brief instance of retail therapy. I’m excited to play with it to find out how it might work for me. Wonderful swatches, as always!
Keep us posted, Rachel!
These shadows look a bit disappointing. I know that this type of duo-chrome shift is hard to capture in photos, so they may look a bit different in person, but the shades really all look too similar to me to justify buying the palette. If they were available as single I’d potentially buy one.
Saphyre vs. Amethyst are a little more similar, depending on what they’re layered with – if you go with something that leans bluer or purpler, then they are most different then.
They are not shadows though, are they? I thought it was for highlighting & transforming dark colored makeup.
YAAAYYY!!! Goes on my wishlist! This one doesn’t have as extreme a coolness as the ABH Moonchild palette, so I do feel fairly confident that even I could get plenty of use out of this one instead! ???❤
Yay!
Hey Christine! If you had to choose one out of ABH Moonchild or the KVD Alchemist, which one would you choose?
It really just depends on what you would use your palette for and what finish you prefer! You might also prefer the shape or value of one over the other. I’m not really a fan of this palette, so I think I’m the wrong person to ask!
Understood! Thank you for responding.
IDK, this product just isn’t wowing me at all. It looks kind of similar to Looxi highlighters and ABH Moonchild, feel like this isn’t all that new or transformative. And I would be afraid to use the same palette for eye/lips/cheeks, as it’s too easy to double dip (like from lips to eyes) and end up with an eye infection.
At the moment, I like the MUFE powders a bit more (though they only have two that really overlap). Though those are more expensive!
I love the palette, but you are right about ti being similar to Looxi highlighters. I have both & they are very similar.
it*
I love the concept but it’s a miss for me considering they all lean very cool. Btw Christine, that eye look you created is GORGEOUS!
Thank you, Nathalia!
This is a very interesting product that works well on both eyes and cheeks and your eye look is beautiful.
Thank you, Genevieve!
I had made a final decision that I did not want this palette, and then I see your BEAUTIFUL eye look that you have done with it. Now I have to have it!! You should seriously be paid a commission from all these companies for the amount of sales they make just from people seeing your beautiful work with their products!!
Do you have anything similar in your stash though? Maybe an iridescent white? You could try layering over a cream base and trying to recreate with what you have! 🙂
I love this palette! It is really original. By the way i like your lip color in the photos, super pretty! Can i ask you what is it?
Makeup Geek Beach Bunny
Love that eye look you did, I do like the colours but I think Moonchild looks better for me.
Thank you, Claire!
I know this theoretically has several uses but I also know once the novelty wears off it would get pushed to the back of a drawer to spend its life waiting for a declutter. But then again I’m probably not the target demographic.
It’s definitely not ideal for everyone!
These really are super-pretty! Can’t believe it’s sold out on Sephora’s web site already, with no ’email me when back in stock’ button. If I’m lucky, I’ll get to a local store that has it before it sells out there, too!
That’s a surprise!
I thought this was LE. I’m so happy to see otherwise, because I really, really want this. It’s just too pretty.
I’m worried that it is actually LE given that there’s no notify button on the page now… but Sephora listed it as exclusive/new (normally “limited edition” also accompanies those tags)… though they seem to have dropped the ball a few times this spring.
Here’s what I could find from KVD Beauty on social media:
“It launches on 12/22 to everyone at Sephora.com and 1/5 in stores! Don’t panic, If it sells out, it WILL restock! “
Thank you for the additional info. I’ve heard mixed things on whether it’s LE or not. I ordered ABH Moonchild in case I can’t get this one. The KVD website had a place to sign up for restock notice, but the last I looked Sephora did not.
I feel like this is very similar to the old Sebastian Trucco Holographic Color Collection.
That’s good to know!
Interesting! I wasn’t interested in this until I read your review. I’ve been hankering after the ABH Moon Child palette, but the heavier shimmer kept me from pulling the trigger on that one. (If I’m going to use an unusual highlight color, I don’t *also* want it to be glittery!)
I like the idea that these are more blendable and less glittery–this may go on my wish list!
Definitely the better between the two for a softer, smoother highlight on the cheeks, particularly if you are really not in the glitter/high-shimmer of Moonchild. Obviously, Moonchild is going to be the better bang for your buck since it is much larger!
Interesting. Not sure it’s something I’ll get though, on my low-buy year of 2017.
It’s skippable, IMO!
I’m really pleased that this reviewed decently. I loved the look of Moon Child, but I’m really trying to avoid Made in China, so the fact that there is even a kind-of substitute is great for me. Also, I like that the packaging is unusual/attractive. Until I move and can get my studio/lab set up, the primary daily roll that makeup plays in my life is decorative.
Between KAT VON D
Alchemist Holographic Palette and kevyn aucoin neo limelight highlighter ibiza what would u prefer? I have to choose one but I’m not sure which one will suite me 🙁
If you want more color, the Ibiza palette will have a stronger base color. Alchemist is more of a transformer palette.
!Hola, Hola! Hi there,
Do you think that this would be something you would repurchase? I just bought it today and am now kind of iffy about it.
I didn’t like the palette to begin with.
I have been obsessed with this palette since it first came out, and now that I got my little paws on it I couldn’t be more pleased. I have used three of them so far as highlighters — they are perfect for going-out looks. I can’t wait to try each for eye looks over a black or brown base. “Alchemist” was such an apt name, I feel like a magician! So interesting and well worth the value.