April 17, 2014

Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette Review & Swatches

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette2

The Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette ($46) is one of two new Kat Von D Eyeshadow Palettes for Summer 2014.

I’m unsure if this palette is limited edition but I think it might just be permanent. It’s actually a completely new variation of palette compared to the True Romance Palettes as it is considerably bigger in size. I’m both delighted and somewhat meh about the new packaging. For one thing it reverts back to cardboard! Recently many of the True Romance Palettes were repackaged in plastic compacts and I’d have loved for this to have a similar packaging. None the less it is a sturdy cardboard compact with a very generously sized mirror and some fantastic art on the cover and inside the palette. I actually placed my Ladybird Palette on top of it so you can get a feel for the dramatic size increase.

Kat Von D Chrysalis Eye Shadow Palette

Let’s take a look!

Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette6

The Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette is the cooler of the two palettes and not typically a shade range I’d go for. This is more of a purple, blue, and smoky eye palette for those who like more richer eye looks. It’s made up of a total of 12 eyeshadow colors. Three are larger base shades which you can use to highlight, blend with, or to use as an all over base to prep lids. The other nine shades are dubbed transformative accent hues….Um, yeah, so I’m not going to even tackle what they are talking about there! Let’s just stick to eyeshadow 🙂

I think the palette is beautifully arranged with plenty of shades to mix and match. The nice thing about shadows is they are arranged in trios so it does take the guest work out of matching up shades. Each shadow grouping has three contrasting shades that work well together. Of course, you can match and mix and cocktail shades in anyway you choose but I can always use a helping hand putting colors together so setting up in trios is welcomed by me!

Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette

Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette4

Kat Von D Chrysalis Palette

The three largest shades are 0.095 in size with the other nine weighting in at 0.049. There are a few that are labeled “cream” on the Sephora website but ALL the shadows are powder.

Shades include:

  • Lifelike (matte)
  • Lunar Lights (pearl gray)
  • Lucid (sparkle rose)
  • Hybrid Moments (matte deep purple)
  • Mezzanine (sparkle violet)
  • Transition (pearl mauve)
  • Glasswing (matte caramel)
  • Melancholia (pearl silver)
  • Black Milk (matte gray)
  • Graphic Nature (pearl charcoal)
  • Entombed (pearl blue)
  • Tornay (matte navy)

I’ll be honest you’re going to hear a TON of raves about how wonderful this palette is and I agree! But I’m also jaded enough to admit it isn’t without issues. I find the shadows are nicely pigmented with a smooth, almost creamy-like texture that’s super buttery. However, they are pretty damn powdery! Mind you that doesn’t translate as chalky, it simply means they kick up a good deal of powder when a brush is swiped into them! I find this wasteful sometimes as you’re tapping off excess and just wasting a good deal of eyeshadow just during the initial application process. There’s also a bit of fall out here and there. Some of the shades are also patchy like Hybrid Moments. I just think palette isn’t without fault with some of the shades. They do need a primer to look and wear their best. Without one I find the color fades and I get a bit of creasing around hour five of wear. With a primer color stays true, doesn’t crease, and wears way better at around nine hours without creasing or fading.

Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette9

Kat Von D Chrysalis

Kat Von D Chrysalis Eye Shadow Palette Swatches

Lifelike, Incid, Lunar Lights Swatches

Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette swatches

Black Milk, Melancholia, Glasswing Swatches

Kat Von D Chrysalis Palette swatches

Tornay, Entombed, Graphic Nature Swatches

Kat Von D Chrysalis swatches

Transition, Mezzanine, Hybrid Moments Swatches

Overall, the Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette is a very lovely palette but I think it falls into the trap of being slightly over hyped. You’re going to read raving reviews which it does deserve but also I urge you to go to Sephora and get a feel for the palette for yourself prior to dishing out your $50 as some of the shades aren’t without issues!

Did you purchase the palette?

What are your thoughts on it?

Do share!

Available now at Sephora and Sephora.com.

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Janelle

    I really love the third trio of swatches! I am half tempted to get this just for those colors…Irrational I know, but yeah makeup addict

    • Isabella Muse

      lol never irrational when it comes to makeup, it’s all justified 😀

  • Christina

    I agree with you, Muse. The eyeshadows are so soft and smooth, but they are just crazy powdery. I feel like I’m wasting so much product; plus, I have a white carpet and just imagine it’ll be covered in all that excess powder soon! o.O

    I haven’t had too much exposure to Kat von D.’s products, but I think the powders are so soft they disappear on my oily lids, even with primer. It fades on me quite quickly.

    I bought both palettes, but I’m finding Monarch the lovelier of the two, which is strange, considering I LOVE all things purple.

    • Isabella Muse

      thank god not on my carpets but on my bathroom tiles eep! I have dry eyes and I have issues with these shades fading fast so I do need primer to keep them looking great so don’t fee bad! Monarch I’m currently testing and I think I feel the same way christina, it seems the better of the two shade selections!

  • Michelle

    I swatched this when I was in Sephora and loved it! Yes, there’s a little bit of fallout, but I didn’t find it any worse than my UD Naked2 pallet. In fact, I think this had less issues with fallout, but ymmv. Maybe a sponge applicator would help cut down on the powdery-ness and fallout? Hummm, I’ll have to try that out tomorrow. 🙂

  • sara

    I agree with you Muse! I wore this palette today and experienced both fallout and powder kick up, luckily neither is a deal breaker for me. I

    • Isabella Muse

      same here 🙁 It kinda faded on me as well! But primer does help in a major way so not a bad thing 😀

  • Phyrra

    So I bought this palette because I was suckered in by the packaging. I love the packaging. The purples in it, on the other hand, are boring. I love the grey shades. I don’t think it’s amazing, but I do think it’s nice.