Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Shade + Light
Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette ($46.00 for 0.60 oz.) includes twelve eyeshadows that are categorized into three “quads,” divided between neutral, cool, and warm (supposedly, at least). The formula is described as “blendable and buildable” with “high-pigment, long-wear” that “[delivers] rich color.”
For the majority of the palette, the eyeshadow formula is consistent: very soft, finely-milled to the point where the shades feel smooth and silky, but they can be powdery at times, which means that some shades aren’t fully pigmented or may be prone to sheering out or turning patchy when blended. It’s just the type of consistency that really benefits from a primer, as it creates a smoother canvas for the shades to blend on top of, and I find that it eliminates any blending issues. They wear well on bare skin, and they tended to build well when they weren’t opaque in two to three layers. I think the palette leans warm, though there are a few cooler-toned shades in it (I categorized four as cool, eight as warm).
Look Using this Product
Shade + Light
PPermanent. $46.00.
Laetus
Laetus is described as a “creamy nude.” It’s a light beige with soft, warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. It had semi-opaque color coverage with a soft, finely-milled texture that was a smidgen powdery but sat well on the skin. It wore well for eight hours.
Top Dupes
- Tarte Tiki (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Laura Mercier Buttercream (PiP, $23.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- NARS Cry Baby (DC, $25.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- LORAC Nude #1 (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Ciate My Tribe (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- bareMinerals Pacific Sands (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Naked Truth #2 (DC, $2.29) is warmer (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Damned (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Sephora Secret Boudoir (DC, $10.00) is brighter (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Entomology (DC, ) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
Laetus
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Lazarus
Lazarus is described as a “cool taupe.” It’s a light-medium, gray-leaning taupe with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish. It had good color payoff with a very soft, silky texture that was blendable on the lid and adhered well to bare skin (I wasn’t so sure, but I was impressed when I used it). It started to fade after eight hours.
Top Dupes
- NARS L'Amour, Toujours L'Amour #7 (DC, $25.00) is darker (90% similar).
- L'Oreal Café au Lait (P, $5.99) is lighter (85% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Unearthed (P, $6.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Buxom Trendsetter (LE, $12.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Chanel Blurry Blue #4 (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Mahe #2 (PiP, $19.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Epic (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Fossil (P, $8.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- bareMinerals Graceful (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Smoked Cocoa #2 (LE, $17.00) is darker (85% similar).
Lazarus
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Ludwin
Ludwin is described as a “peachy bronze.” It’s a muted, light-medium orange with warm undertones and a satiny sheen. It had fairly good pigmentation with a soft, lightly powdery texture that blended well but was prone to sheering out. It wore well for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Sephora Cream (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop I Spy (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- bareMinerals Shhh... (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Geek (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Viseart Beige (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Smashbox Custard (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Satin Ochre (Right) (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Sephora Thread (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Antique (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever Igneous (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Ludwin
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Samael
Samael is described as a “dusty fawn.” It’s a muted, medium-dark brown with warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. The texture on this one was more powdery than other shades, and it had only semi-opaque color coverage. It didn’t layer as well, possibly due to the powdery texture. It lasted for eight hours before fading.
Top Dupes
- Hourglass Neutral Brown (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M630 Sweet Chestnut (DC, $21.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Becca Ombre Nudes #3 (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Kevyn Aucoin Coco (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Laura Mercier Dune (LE, $23.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Viseart Grande Pro (Vol. 1) #4 (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Stila Being (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Sephora Flirt in a Skirt (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Cork (P, $17.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Jetsetter (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
Samael
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Solas
Solas is described as an “espresso brown.” It’s reddish, dark brown with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque color payoff with a lightly powdery, slightly thinner texture compared to other shades in the palette. I found this one to turn patchy when I worked with it, and it was difficult to really blend it out. It wore well for eight hours.
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Cocoa Mirage #4 (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Choco Cake (LE, $17.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Wolf (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Ground Brown (P, $17.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Too Faced Risque (PiP, $16.00) is more muted (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Delete (LE, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Anastasia Chocolate (LE, $12.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Smashbox Angles (PiP, ) is less pigmented, warmer (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Cocoa (PiP, $22.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Ithaca (DC, $25.00) is darker (90% similar).
Solas
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Lucius
Lucius is described as a “soft beige.” It’s a light beige with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had great pigmentation with a soft, creamy, and blendable texture that stayed on for eight hours before fading.
Top Dupes
- Make Up For Ever S522 Pinky Nude (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Laura Mercier Vanilla Kiss (LE, $23.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Chanel Quadrille #2 (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Blow (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Tarte Chantilly Lace (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Pretty Vulgar Pillow Fight (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Pretty (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Tarte In a Flurry (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Femme-Fi (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Girly (P, $6.00) is lighter (95% similar).
Lucius
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Saleos
Saleos is described as a “smoky brown.” It’s a muted, dark taupe brown with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque color coverage with a soft, but thin, consistency that wasn’t as blendable as I expected. The color itself wore well for eight hours.
Top Dupes
- MAC Persuade (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Drama in the Snow (LE, $17.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Viseart Ghiradelli (Cool Mattes 2 #9) (P, ) (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M619 Espresso (P, $17.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty O Snap (610) (LE, $29.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Kevyn Aucoin Dark Chocolate (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Too Faced Sexspresso (PiP, $16.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty The Free Spirit No. 20 (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Henna Sea (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Too Faced Smoked Sea Salt (LE, $16.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
Saleos
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Shax
Shax is described as a “jet black.” It’s a darkened black with cool undertones and a matte finish. The consistency felt silky, but it was dry and a little powdery for me, and in turn, it was harder to blend out. Once on, it stayed in place for eight hours.
Top Dupes
- Too Faced Wanted (LE, $16.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Nocturne (P, $8.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Guerlain Crazy Paris #6 (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Devotion (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Tarte On a Good Notre Dame (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Sephora Black Lace (DC, $10.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Tarte Black Velvet (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M100 Black (P, $17.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Perversion (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- theBalm Serious (P, $16.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
Shax
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Liberatus
Liberatus is described as a “pinkish ivory.” It’s a cool-toned white with a hint of beige and a matte finish. It was lightly powdery but managed to adhere decently to bare skin. On my skin tone, it is chalky, but it should work on lighter skin tones better. It lasted for eight hours before fading.
Top Dupes
- Too Faced Jingle All the Way Eyeshadow #10 (LE, $16.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Thirteen (PiP, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Three's a Party #1 (DC, $2.29) is lighter (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Smoke (Highlight) (PiP, ) is brighter, cooler (95% similar).
- LORAC White (PiP, $19.00) is lighter, brighter (95% similar).
- Too Faced Let It Snow (LE, $16.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- LORAC Tails & Top Hats #1 (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Makeup Geek White Lies (DC, $6.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Smashbox Snow (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Tarte Vintage (PiP, ) is brighter (95% similar).
Liberatus
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Succubus
Succubus is described as a “rich rust.” It’s a muted, medium-dark coppery brown with warm, red undertones and a mostly matte finish. It had decent color payoff with a soft, silky texture that was a little powdery and prone to sheering out (it seemed more pigmented initially!). It wore well for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Tarte Crisp (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Tarte Van Gogh With It (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Makeup Geek Bake Sale (DC, $6.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Sleek MakeUP Propose in Prague (LE, $9.99) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Viseart Montaigne (Golden Hour) (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC Soft Brown (P, $17.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Ciate On Fire (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Ciate Unconditional (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Viseart Nutmeg (Warm Mattes #10) (P, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- Too Faced Hookup (PiP, $16.00) is darker (90% similar).
Succubus
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Sytry
Sytry is described as a “chocolate brown.” It’s a dark brown with warm, yellow undertones and a mostly matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation with a lightly powdery, silky consistency that blended fairly well but needs a little extra work. It started to fade after eight hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Cocoa Mirage #4 (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Too Faced Knock Out (LE, $16.00) (100% similar).
- Tarte Powerful (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- LORAC Tails & Top Hats #2 (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- LORAC Corduroy (PiP, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Wolf (PiP, ) (95% similar).
- Tarte Edgy (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Buxom Big Spender (P, $12.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Shea (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Tarte Yule Be Surprised (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
Sytry
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Latinus
Latinus is described as a “golden bisque.” It’s a yellowed beige with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had good pigmentation and a really soft, silky texture that was only a tiny bit powdery in the pan, but it didn’t look powdery on the skin. The pearly finish gave it a really luminous look blended out on the skin. It wore well for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- MAC Her Mistress (LE, $17.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever S516 Sand (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- bareMinerals Solace (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Frosted Fizz (LE, $17.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
I ended up ordering this like 3 hours ago with the VIB sale. I think it will make a better contour and eye palette for me with my fair skin. lol
Hope it works well for you! Keep me posted 🙂
I just got this and I LOVE it! My pan of Succubus seems a lot more pigmented though…
Happy to hear you’re loving yours, Estefania! Any must-try combos?
It’s a beautiful palette for sure and I love the selection of colors. I am not sure if it’s a must have palette though. I am really torn, lol.
I think it depends on how many matte neutrals you already have 😉
Christine, you posted a quick shot of your VIB Rouge haul on instagram, and I was just wondering if you would be able to share what you picked up on the site! I’m stumped on ideas! Thank you for all you do!
I got this palette, six of the Sephora Ultra Shine lipglosses, skincare replacements for my husband and I – nothing in particular! Mostly anything that was new/LE to review and then replacing anything I was out of/running low on!
This is a nice set if you’re new in makeup and don’t have too many neutral palettes – all of the colors look very wearable, and I think some can double as contour shades, but I already have enough neutral palettes to go through
Definitely — it’s pretty dupable if you have a lot of neutrals, but if you don’t, it’s a nice option!
I am *SO* glad to see that this is too warm for me / didn’t get an A rating 🙂 I spent way too long debating whether to get it or not during the Sephora sale and when I didn’t get it, I was immediately struck with “but wait.. should I?”
Glad I didn’t buy it! I will keep my fingers crossed for a cool tone all matte palette in the future.
Let’s hope they do a really cool-toned version!
A cool toned version would be awesome
Yes!
I would prefer this were quads, for example (at a third of the price then) with the neutral, warm and cool tones separated.
How wrong is it that I just want this for Lazarus…? I can dupe most of the shades among other KvD palettes alone, and a few are far too warm, yet I’m willing to pay nearly $50 for one shade, LOL!
lol!
Nothing about this catches my attention 🙁
Aww! 🙁
I really don’t need this but dang, it looks beautiful!
It is pretty!
Beigge, brown, dark brown, black, cool brown, warm brown, taupey brown….heard it all, seen it all and bought it all! If this had come out 5 or 6 years ago, I’d say “yay, I need this” but I would imagine I’m not alone in really not needing this and not finding it all that exciting (and I’m someone who generally loves “boring neutral palettes”).
…..I meant to add that I wish KvD would put the NAMES of the shadows right on the front of the palette. It is something I really prefer.
I think the marketing bit about this being some secret technique finally being made accessible was funny, since we’ve seen so many neutral (and even neutral matte) palettes that essentially are highlighting/contouring the eye.
Is this limited edition or permanent?
I asked a worker at Sephora and he didn’t know..
I believe it’s permanent!
Thank you for review this palette !
Do you think LAZARUS shade perfect for contour on nc15-20 skin? How’s it compare to Kevyn aucoin sculting in medium in term of texture and color?
Medium is going to be darker and a bit warmer. The texture if KA is even silkier and more blendable.
I have the males basic 1 and 2, this might be worth buying ?
How often do you wear those?
I picked this up last Sunday and it has since been returned. There wasn’t one out on display in order for me to swatch it but a friend of mine went crazy for it and we have similar tastes so I said why not. I have plenty of other palettes and single shadows that are close enough where I can create the same looks. I agree with other posters that if you don’t have a neutral palette this may work for you.
It’s definitely dupable if you have a lot of neutrals!
Oh, that’s what I saw in your recent picture of Sephora haul. These matte shadows look ideal for work. I do not own any of Kat von D palettes yet. Which one would you recommend for a neutral kind of girl, this palette or the Innerstellar one?
If you want cooler tones, then Innerstellar, but if you don’t mind slightly warm tones, then I think this one performs a bit better.
I like UD’s Naked Basics so much more than this, but I see how it could be a good choice for a lot of people.
At least you’ve found the neutral palette that works for you 🙂
I love the look you created with this palette; FAB~U~LOUS!
Thank you!
I’m torn between need and don’t need..
I can totally understand that! Do you feel like you use a lot of neutral mattes? Or maybe there are enough shades here that you don’t have already?
Which do you think would be best to purchase this or the Tartlette palette? I’m warm toned with medium to light skin. I just don’t want to purchase two matte palettes!
If you want something a little cooler, Tartelette; if you want something warmer, this one. I also like that the highlights in this have a little sheen to them–not true shimmer.
I ordered this the first day of the Sephora sale on a whim. It just arrived yesterday and I’ve not yet had a chance to play with it. I’m glad it performed pretty good!
Keep us posted on how you like it, Nicole 🙂
I’m not in the market for a matte neutral palette, but I’m glad to see this one is good. I really like Succubus; I wish it were available as a single.
It would be great if KVD did more singles!
I LOVE THIS, even though I’m not the kind of person that loves neutral palettes. HOWEVER, I have three neutral palettes already: Stila’s (Eyes are the window) in Mind, NYX’s Nude on Nude and Benefit’s Worlds Most Glamorous Nudes. Do you think I should buy this one ?
I think you’re 90% likely to be pretty covered. How often are you wearing neutral mattes?
I use them pretty much every time I use makeup, they are a wonderful base to make other colors pop (for example, I tend to do a neutral eye and make it different with blue eyeliner or colored mascara).
I didn’t wait for the VIB sale, unfortunately, but I did recently get this palette and I’m loving it so far! I was on the fence, but I was really lacking in neutral colored shades so now that I have it, I feel like I’m set!
I’m really loving Saleos for my crease and lower lash line. That shade seems unique compared to what other shadows I own.
Happy to hear you’re loving it, Brittany! What combos have you tried?
i couldn’t wait for this to arrive. I received it today and afte swatching I realize it is very very close to the Sonia kashuk eye on neutral palette which I own as well. I’m thinking I may return the Kat Von d but I did get it with my VIB 15% discount. I’m torn.
Do you wear neutrals a lot, Donna? I think if you wear them a lot, maybe you can justify keeping both.
The thing I don’t like about this palette is the honking huge pans along the top. And no, I’m not OCD. I just think it looks incredibly ugly. Same reason I don’t like the layout of the Too Faced palettes. I hope she rethinks her palettes in terms of design. I realize that highlighting shades will likely get used up before others, but there’s gotta be a better way of making these palettes functional AND improving the layout. The shades themselves…..I see a few I’d like to have but it wouldn’t be something I’d waste my money on. I’ve got an obscene collection already, so this is rather redundant for me.
She used to have those palettes that were all the same size, but I’m not sure if this is the go-to format going forward.
I love that this palette isn’t a shimmer fest. It’s refreshing to see a neutral palette without tons of glitter everywhere. I’m glad the quality is good too. I’ve never tried any of her palettes but I’m tempted by this one a little
I like that they had some more satins, too, especially for your “highlight” shades!
The slight sheen to these is what sold me on it!..My older eyes look better with Matt or a slight sheen..I tested it at Sephora and love the colors.I have one other Matt palette from Paulas choice which i like to.Thanks for the swatches!I always look to see if you posted on whatever i am buying online and really appreciate that you do this!
Always my pleasure 🙂
I actually like this so much more than I expected.
Yay! 🙂
If only this had come out maybe 2 or 3 years ago, I’d have been all over it. Would have snapped this up! However, I think that between my MAC Pro pan eyeshadows (Brown Script, Kid, Orb, Folie, Handwritten, etc.) and various shades across my Lorac, UD, even some Nyx palettes, I figure I’m literally swimming in neutrals! But this is a really nice palette though!
So true, Nancy! While it’s nice, we have seen SO many neutral palettes!
I’m glad this isn’t limited edition and that it performed so well. It’s definitely something I’d be interested in purchasing… after I use up enough of the neutrals I already own to be able to justify it! 😉
By the way, I just wanted to thank you again for such an awesome website! I’ve been using the dupes function a lot lately and making new discoveries. Also, the wishlist is perfect for someone like me who tends to make a list of things I’m interested in… then proceeds to lose the list within a week. :-/ LOL
Thank you so much, Cat! 🙂 So good to know that the dupes are helping you!
I really wanted to be able to love this palette, but the ‘neutral’ neutrals look warm to me, too. And with the darker cool neutrals being difficult to blend, I’m not sure how much I’d use this. Oh, well, I am enjoying the Interstellar palette for having some cooler neutrals, and the Viseart neutral matte palette as well… although of course *most* of that palette is warm. It just thankfully has a few shades in it that look like me!!!
Warning: rant ahead:
I’m starting to feel like the industry has turned against people with cool undertones, thinking our skin needs to be ‘warmed up’. No, I want to look like myself, thank you! It reminds me of the way curly hair got turned into some kind of horrible thing that no one could possibly want a few years ago, and people were killing their roots with relaxers or spending 45 minutes every morning blow-drying and flat-ironing their hair before they felt like they could leave the house. Like there’s something ‘wrong’ with the way I came out of the womb. It’s really beginning to bug me. ‘Cool’-toned cosmetics often turn out to be pink. Pink is the color of my rosacea and my sun damage, it’s not my undertone! Can’t anyone make a truly neutral or ever-so-slightly blue-leaning beige, tan, brown? Is that impossible? Or do they just think it wouldn’t sell, get called ‘ashy’? I know it’s probably just the fashion pendulum swinging back and forth, but the anti-curly hair thing got really destructive before it started to get corrected, and I really hope they don’t try to eliminate cool-toned skin the same way they tried to get rid of curly hair. It just goes too far.
I don’t really know why there aren’t as many cool-toned neutrals out there — it is a mystery.
Thanks for putting up with my rant! The scarcity of truly cool-toned makeup is strange.
I went and got a VIB Rouge makeover yesterday and she used this palette!
The look was amazing on my pale skin.
She used mostly Succubus and it turned out as a lovely, deep, terra cotta shade on me.
I do have a picture I can post if anyone likes.
Ooh, nice!! 🙂 Please share!
I have a ridiculous number of neutral palettes (Naked 1 & 3, Naked Basics 2, MAC warm neutrals palette, MAC 15 pan of neutrals, Inglot 10 pan) but I wanted more matte neutrals. These perform well, but after playing with this a few days I’ve decided that most of the shades just aren’t different enough from what I already have to justify keeping a large palette.
I absolutely adore the KVD Monarch palette, but this one wasn’t as much of a standout to me.
I’m glad you at least felt like it was a good palette, even if it was too overlapping!
It’s a nice palette, I might buy it if KVD products are restocked here in Brazil… But what’s really interesting is the name scheme – shading colors starting with ‘s’ and highlighting colors starting with ‘l’. That’s the kind of thing I love xD
I didn’t even notice that! Very cool.
I love my Shade+Light Eye Palette as the only other neutral matte palette I have is the Naturally Pretty Vol. 1 Matte Luxe Transforming Eyeshadow Palette, (Mouthfull!) and it’s not terribly pigmented. It still works to subtly blend out most of my eye looks, but to use on it’s own its not up to par.
I can get some amazing looks out of the Shade+Light Eye Palette on it’s own and that makes it all the worth while to me, my only wish was for more cooler toned shades, but I have some mattes in her Innerstellar Palette to make up for it. Thanks for the review!
So glad to hear that this is working so well for you, Venn!
I purchased this palette a few days ago & wore it yesterday for the first time, I am very happy with my first Kat Von D palette. This is a good everyday palette much better than the two faced natural matte palette (which I will be returning because it’s not very pigmented). I like all of the colors except for Lazarus because it does not appear taupe to me, it looks like a very pale grey; I wish it would have been a shade of beige like Kid by MAC but with a slight sheen.
Happy to hear you’re enjoying your new KVD palette!
Aww man, was really hoping I would like this, but looks like it will pull orange on me ( like mac Samoa silk and soft brown- horrible!) I think I may go for one of the UD basics palettes… Not sure if lll get 1 or 2 though…
Christine, do you think this palette would be a good addition for someone who has KVD Ladybird and KVD Monarch?
I don’t think it’s a must-have, but I’m sure you’d like it!
I am really disapointed in this palette.
1) I found these shades really hard to blend.
2) The colors did nothing for me. I found that this was a very cool toned. I am really disapointed because I am on the hunt for an all matte warm/neutral toned palette to replace my favorite matte shades in the TF Cholocate Bar palettes.
I agree that many of these shades are very dupable, but I am really glad that I purchased this palette. It’s actually the only eye palette that I have ever gotten RIGHT when it was released before I had read or seen much about it. Generally, I tend to go for cooler toned shades (brown eyes, dark brown hair, light to medium skin with yellow undertones), but I love the warm shades (especially the rusty ones) though Lazarus is probably my favorite. I also agree that there are other palettes that perform better than this one…all that being said, I am still very happy with this purchase. My boyfriend always seems to notice my eye makeup when I use this palette and I enjoy having this mix of shades in one palette. It has been great to take along on the 2 mini trips I have been on since I have gotten it. The shades work well for a toned down day look and transition well to a smokier night look with a little eyeliner added. I can see how this palette would not be for everyone…but if you’re on the fence, I’d say give it a try (Sephora has a great return policy if you are not happy).
*Also, I LOVE the look you created. I am going to give it a try. 🙂
CHRISTINE!!! I NEED TO KNOW! Is this worth buying if you have the Meet Matte Nude palette from The Balm? They’re both matte palettes with a lot of browns, and I’m wondering if I’ll get use out of them both or if they’ll be redundant in my collection.
I think it is!
Hi Christine!
First, I’d like to say that you are my go-to for product reviews. So thorough and so honest!
I had a question – between this palette and the Tartelette Amazonian Clay Matte Eyeshadow Palette, which would you choose?
I’ve never tried Kat Von D or Tarte before. The Tarte palette looks like it has more pinkish shades compared to the Kat Von D one. Also, I already have Naked 3 which is very pinkish as well. Do you think I should go with Kat Von D?
I do prefer the Tarte palette personally, but if you want more true neutrals, then this would be more useful, I think.