Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette
Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette ($46.00 for 0.73 oz.) is a cool-toned eyeshadow palette that features twelve shades ranging from soft beige to purple to deep navy blue. There is a variety of finishes as well, so there’s a lot of versatility in combinations within the palette. The larger eyeshadows are 0.095 oz. each, while the smaller eyeshadows are 0.049 oz. each, which brings the cost of the eyeshadows to $63.36/oz. The 8-pan eyeshadow palettes are $36.00 for 0.40 oz. (also includes a mini Autograph eyeliner, though, which would add 0.028 oz.), which is a cost of $90/oz. It’s a good quality palette overall, though Kat Von D’s eyeshadow formula tends to be particularly soft, which makes for easier blending, but some shades can sheer out a bit, and the texture can also be powdery at times. If you use an eyeshadow primer, some of the powderiness is minimized and will not be as noticeable. The eyeshadows wore well from seven to nine hours, depending on the shade (wear time noted by each shade below). The palette is on the larger size (physically), though it’s slim and its cardboard packaging will absorb impact, so it should still work for travel.
Lifelike is described as a “matte cream.” It’s a pale, creamy ivory with a matte finish. It had good color payoff, was a smidgen powdery, and wore well for nine hours. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Hybrid Moments is described as a “matte deep purple.” It’s a medium-dark, red-toned, muted purple with a matte finish. It had decent pigmentation, but the texture was soft and powdery enough that it didn’t bind as well. It wore well for nine houors. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Mezzanine is described as a “sparkle violet.” It’s a medium-dark, pinky-purple with a frosted finish that did have some fine purple sparkle. It had good pigmentation, and it applied evenly and smoothly, but some of the sparkle fell out over time, though the underlying color lasted for almost nine hours. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Transition is described as a “pearl mauve.” It’s a light, muted pink-plum with a metallic sheen. It had really good color payoff, while the texture was soft, creamy, and buttery (but not powdery!). This shade wore well for almost nine hours before showing signs of fading. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Lunar Lights is described as a “pearl gray.” It’s a dirty, frosted, bright white with a frosted finish. It had rich pigmentation, and it had a really soft, smooth texture that was easy to apply and blend. This shade lasted for eight and a half hours on me. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Glasswing is described as a “matte caramel.” It’s a light-medium, muted yellowed brown with a matte finish and subtle warm undertones. It had excellent color payoff, and the texture was soft, blendable, and balanced–not powdery at all. It stayed on for eight and a half hours before it started to fade. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Melancholia is described as a “pearl silver.” It’s a metallic, pewter gold with warm undertones and a sparkling finish. The pigmentation was really intense, but the texture was slightly powdery, so it didn’t hold together quite as well. A little goes a long way, and if you use a primer, that should take care of the lingering powderiness! It wore well for eight hours on me, and then it started to fade around the edges. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Black Milk is described as a “matte gray.” It’s a light gray with neutral-to-cool undertones and a matte finish. It had fantastic color payoff, and the texture was soft, finely-milled, and easy to blend. This shade lasted for eight and a half hours on me. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Lucid is described as a “sparkle rose.” It’s a light pink with cool, blue undertones and white sparkle. The underlying base color had good, true-to-pan color payoff, but the texture was a little chalky, and the sparkle didn’t really stick to the eyeshadow, so they didn’t translate as well when applied. Some of the remaining sparkle fell out during the day as it wore on, though the pink base lasted for eight hours. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Graphic Nature is described as a “pearl charcoal.” It’s a dark gray with a satin finish. The color payoff was decent, but the texture was rather powdery, so the color didn’t bind together well, which gave it a drier, sheerer appearance. On the lid, it lasted for seven and a half hours. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Entombed is described as a “pearl blue.” It’s a dark, navy blue with a pearly sheen that leans just slightly purple. It had good pigmentation, and the texture was soft, blendable, and only a smidgen powdery. The color wore well for eight and a half hours. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Tornay is described as a “matte navy.” It’s a blackened blue with a matte finish. It had good color payoff, but the texture was somewhat dry, which made it stiffer to use, so the application was as even and the color was more difficult to blend out in the lid. It’s manageable, but it wasn’t as nice as some of the other matte shades in the palette. When applied, it wore well for eight hours before fading. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Chrysalis
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Lifelike
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Graphic Nature
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Entombed
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Tornay
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Hybrid Moments
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Mezzanine
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Transition
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Lunar Lights
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Glasswing
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Melancholia
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Black Milk
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Lucid
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Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette
Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette
Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette
Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette
Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette
Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette
Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette
Kat Von D Lifelike Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Lifelike Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Hybrid Moments Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Hybrid Moments Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Mezzanine Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Mezzanine Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Transition Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Transition Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Lunar Lights Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Lunar Lights Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Glasswing Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Glasswing Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Melancholia Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Kat Von D Melancholia Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Black Milk Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Black Milk Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Lucid Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Lucid Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Graphic Nature Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Graphic Nature Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Entombed Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Entombed Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Tornay Eyeshadow
Kat Von D Tornay Eyeshadow
Kat Von Lunar Lights (inner lid), Melancholia (middle of lid), Graphic Nature (outer lid), Tornay (crease)
Kat Von Lunar Lights (inner lid), Melancholia (middle of lid), Graphic Nature (outer lid), Tornay (crease)
A few nice shades here!! I won’t be buying though.
Any particular reason you’re passing?
Just personal preference I guess. It didn’t stand out to me as a must have, though I like the overall look of it, especially the darker blue. Also I have so many palettes at this point -I have two that I bought on sale weeks ago that I still haven’t even touched -UD’s Ammo and Too Faced’s A La Mode -so if I’m at a point where I have too many palettes to even use at all, then I definitely have to practice restraint 😀 Sure some people will love the Chrysalis palette though!
I hear ya! I’m also that person who doesn’t reach for palettes very often. BUT palettes/quads are what I travel with for sure.
I love the packaging and the deep blue colour. I won’t be getting this though, at least not anytime soon.
How is the no-buy going?
Oohh Glasswing and Melancholia are gorgeous, I would get the palette for those two shadows alone! hey Christine, how would you compare Melancholia to the golden shade in the Kauai duo from Nars?, thanks, and have a lovely weekend! 🙂
Kauai is darker! Warmer.
It might be time for me to take a closer look at Kat Von D. This palette appeals to me A LOT!
Worth checking out for sure 🙂
I thought I was really going to like this palette, but on second lookey look, I think there are too many matte and satin pale shadows in the mix. I typically do not wear lighter coloured eyeshadows–I use a cream concealer to highlight and more shimmery shades to highlight inside third of eye– so yeah, I think this is a pass. I would end up rarely using the larger pan shadows, if at all.
I can see that the lighter shades may be really well-loved or go more unused! I think I fall more in the latter camp as well.
Love this palette. One of my favorites currently. 🙂
What looks have you done?
This may be my favorite purchase of the year so far. I’ve been reaching for this almost every day since I got it a couple weeks ago. Entombed is just beautiful. I love the sizes of the three shades at the top because I get a whole lotta use out of them. Transition and Melancholia are favorites as well.
That’s awesome, Callie! What is your favorite combo so far?
Trying to decide if I want this and the monarch palette or if I want some of the bite lip pencils…. Decisions decisions!
Let me know what you end up deciding!
Well I’ve decided to go with the lip pencils since they are LE. I’ll probably pick up the palettes some other time! I got clementine, blood orange, kumquat and satsuma!
she discontinued her old palettes for these right? Darn it! I should’ve bought the older ones :/
I didn’t know she discontinued anything in place of these!
the only one she discontinued that i know of is the ladybird palette!
Very nice colors. I actually got a chance to see this palette at Sephora the other day. Thanks =)
How did you like it?
LOVE Melancholia! I’m completely obsessed with pewter eyeshadows, though, just can’t get enougj of them. I might actually get this palette even if the quality isn’t perfect. I really like the combination of shades.
It has enough good shades that I still think it’s worth it!
I thought I wanted this, but it turns out I need it. Gorgeous!
Enjoy, Jenn!
I got this palette, and I really like it!
Awesome! What’s been your go-to look using it?
Nice mix of shades though I wish few of the shades were more on the pigmented side!
I only wish they were slightly less powdery!
Transition, Melancholia and Entombed would make this palette worthwhile for me, even if the other shades weren’t also decent! Heck, Mezzanine can go on that list too 😉 I wonder if I can get hold of her stuff here…
I hope there’s a way for you to get it!
Oh dear! I didn’t think I’d want this at all but Melancholia alone is enough to push me over the edge. Modern Pewter was sold out everywhere when I went to get it (MAC, please bring back these fabulous LE shadows!) so that alone is enough reason. Graphic Nature and Transition also really caught my eye. Now I have to try to dissuade myself from getting this. I really have SO MUCH eyeshadow!
I find it so hard to resist pewter in any shape and form!
I already have quite a few blue and purple eyeshadows so I cannot justify purchasing this, but I wish I could! Melancholia looks incredible.
I may procure the Monarch palette instead if possible; looking forward to the review!
Review for Monarch is coming soon!
Have you tried all these shades yourself?…if so, which one did you personally like the most…like which one would you say worked best for your complexion?
I think this palette works well in general with my complexion! I didn’t find any shades to be really weird or anything personally.
I will never buy from Kat Von D because of her fooling around with Sandra bullocks ex. She is a bad person and I refuse to support her.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Personally I don’t support her either, but I am very aware that that is my personal choice…as I’m sure you are too 🙂 too many other fabulous brands to support… For me at least.
I’ve been looking for a good cool palette for travel since I find it SO HARD to wear any kind of warm. This might be it!!
I hope it is the one, Liz!
Hmm. As pretty as I think the colours are, I feel like if I did buy this, I’d only buy it for Glasswing and Black Milk. The more I look at the swatches, the more I think I already have similar colours or I wouldn’t use those shades at all.
If it’s just two shades, definitely not worth it!
Ummm I’m super excited about using that dark midnight blue for a smokey blue-black eye!! Is there any purple shade palette you can recommended for this hazel-eyed yellow-toned girl?!
I can’t recall a very purple-dominant palette (that’s permanent, at least)!
I’m so happy that someone came out with a mostly cool-toned palette! I’ll definitely be picking this up!
Me too!
I’m not usually one for purple and blue shadows, but there are a couple of really nice shades here! I still prefer the warm palette, though.
Did you pick up Monarch?
Too bad there are some under performers here, most of the colors are great!
If only it was a wee bit better!
I don’t know if I like the packaging but I am digging the color selection!
It’s a surprisingly large palette!
I was so convinced I’d love monarch more…. But chrysalis has really caught my eye. The only shades I can’t see myself using are the two blue shades because I have light green eyes, and I’d look like a hooker from the 80’s… but everything else looks gorgeous. Especially the purples and that matte brown, it looks like nothing I gave in my collection.
With as many eyeshadows as there are in this palette, two that you won’t use often is pretty good!
The set of deep pinks and blues eye shadows looks appealing to me!
I bet it would be gorgeous on you!
This palette is absolutely stunning – I adore purples and this palette just looks and feels right up my alley! Love love love!
I hope you get a chance to check it out, Stephanie!
I’m ridiculously excited to play with this palette! I’m supposed to get it in the mail today. I’m most excited for the blue and grey colors. :-]
Enjoy!! xo
The description says that it comes with a mini Autograph eyeliner, am i missing this from mine? I bought it online from Sephora or was it a special time deal thing?
Also, the Chrysalis palette is amazing. The texture of the eyeshadows are amazing and i tend to go for it more than any of my other palette’s. I haven’t had any issue with the colors wearing off quickly. Definitely worth the price
Hi Jen,
I referred to other Kat Von D palettes for price comparison: “The 8-pan eyeshadow palettes are $36.00 for 0.40 oz. (also includes a mini Autograph eyeliner, though, which would add 0.028 oz.)…” This is not the 8-pan eyeshadow palette!