July 14, 2017

Kat Von D Shade + Light Glimmer Eye Contour Palette Review & Swatches

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

I don’t have to explain why I purchased the Kat Von D Shade + Light Glimmer Eye Contour Palette ($49) do I? Shimmer, glitter, yup, sign me up! This 12 shade neutral palette contains a host of shades with gorgeous glimmer finishes. As soon as it arrived I tore open the box with my teeth and as I opened the palette I had a vision of a glowing light shining on my face like Vincent when he opened the suitcase containing what might have been Marsellus’s soul. I can’t say if anyone’s soul is stored in the Kat Von D Shade + Light Glimmer Eye Contour Palette but it sure is damn pretty.

via GIPHY

Let’s check out my review and swatches of it below.

I actually never purchased or owned the original Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette so I can’t really compare the two palettes for you but from what I have seen the new Shade + Light Glimmer Eye Contour Palette has almost identical shades but with a shimmery, glittery finish. There’s 12 total shades here that range in size from 0.08 oz each for the top base shades and 0.04 oz for the contour, define, topcoat shades. There is no brush included with the palette but there is a Kat Von D Glimmer Effect Eye Brush you can purchase separately that was created for use with this palette which is $24.

This is beautifully packaged to say the least. The outer box is a matte black and the Shade + Light emblem is a shimmering copper gold. The compact itself is also black with Kat’s name in silver iridescent on the front and a raised 3D Shade + Light emblem decking out the front of the palette. Inside you’ll find a full-size mirror and the three large bases shades located at the upper part of the palette and the smaller contour, define, and topcoat shades located in trios below them. I was a little disappointed it didn’t include a get the look guide as I think it would have been helpful.

I’ll be the first one the admit that I actually don’t understand how to use the palette. Sorry!? I’m not an expert when it comes to makeup just a hobbyist! The entire contour and define eyes to capture light yada yada yada is lost on me. The extent of my knowledge is use the lighter shade to contour my crease and the darker to create definition on my lid or even use the lighter on the inner part of my eye and the darker on the outer to define. Seems easy enough my way right? I don’t want to get too technical here with application. One thing I did notice with this palette is it lacks transitional shades. The colors are quite rich but if you want a good transitional color there are very few options here. But the palette doesn’t have any handicap due to this because you still have a perfect selection of light versus darker shades to create a solid contrasting eye look easily enough. The colors are arranged in a way that makes it easy enough to create a single look using a group of four colors per an eye look or even three if you skip the glimmer top coat. I didn’t struggle with the shades and they all worked well together to create a variety of looks.

Kat Von D Shade + Light Glimmer Eye Contour Palette Swatches (Dusk, Cinder, Onyx, Glacier)

Kat Von D Shade + Light Glimmer Eye Contour Palette Swatches (Dune, Rust, Jasper, Quartz)

Kat Von D Shade + Light Glimmer Eye Contour Palette Swatches (Porcelain, Copper, Bronze, Sterling)

The finishes and formulas vary from shades to shade. You have three mattes here that are powdery but soft, silky, and easy to blend those are Porcelain Dusk, and Dune. You have three top coats which are sheer and have a very fine glittery texture that could be consider slightly gritty but still work well at adding a touch of beautiful shimmer to your completed look those are Sterling, Glacier, and Quartz. These shades remind me of Bobbi Brown Sparkle Eyeshadow in terms of texture but they are a little grittier. Copper, Cinder, and Rust have a satiny metallic finish with a gorgeous velvety texture that feels very creamy and applies flawlessly on lids with easy blending thanks to the soft, creamy consistency. And finally, we have three glittery shades which do have a good deal of fall out but look amazing on lids with a refined metallic sparkle finish that applies easily but as I said they do have some fall out woe. Those shades are Bronze, Onyx, and Jasper.

I can’t say any one shade didn’t work for me. I had some fall out yes but aside from that all 12 shades were beautifully textured, easy to blend, and very, very pigmented (topcoat shades being the exception as those are considerably sheerer as they should be). It’s the perfect evening out eyeshadow palette as it create a gorgeous yet elegant sparkly eye look that isn’t crazy discoball-like in finish.

It deserves that I own all of Kat’s older True Romance Eyeshadow Palette and as much as I love them I really feel like this formula is much, much better. I find metallics can be quite frosty but this palette has a very refined shimmer that doesn’t look cakey, heavy, or frosty. Considering the metallic trend is flowing into Fall looks this palette will come in quite handy should you wish to embrace the trend.

All in all, the Kat Von D Shade + Light Glimmer Eye Contour Palette is fabulously formulated and didn’t disappoint me. It was very well done and is a sterling addition to the Kat Von D Makeup Collection.

Muse Approved.

Don’t hesitate picking this one up!

Muse Approved.

Kat Von D Shade + Light Glimmer Eye Contour Palette is available now at sephora.com.

Own it already?

Please share your thoughts on it!

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

  • Maria

    Muse. I am still debating on this one. Btw you look great. What shades did you use?

    • Isabella Muse

      Don’t debate get it haha 😀 I used porcelain to highlight, cinder all over the lid, bronze in the crease, and copper patted on top.

  • Emily

    You look BEAUTIFUL! I love the look you created, so flattering. Enjoy!

    • Isabella Muse

      oh gosh thanks Emily you’re way too kind 🙂 xoxoxo thank you!

      • blee

        ITA with Emily! I have the matte Shade Light. I think I’ll add some of my metallic colors to my pallet and skip getting this one. I did get KVD Rock Candy mini lipstick set this week from Sephora. I love this matte LS. It does not hurt or dry my lips out 😀 Thanks for your review, Musey girl! <3

  • Christina D.

    I used to have KVD’s True Romance palettes but the Shade & Light series is IMO far superior. I have this and, although I prefer the original all matte version, I’m thrilled with the Shimmer version: shimmer I can actually use and make work! So glad you like it and it’s Muse Approved.

    P.S. One of these days, you should get the original version. If I wasn’t such an eye shadow palette junkie and continue to collect all the ones I like, I could probably get by with just these two.

    • Isabella Muse

      I don’t have the original because it launched at a time I wasn’t feeling mattes so I skipped out on it ;-D but now I kinda want it. I agree. They are SO much better than the True Romance Palettes. Those were so very frosty. This is a more refined shimmer and like you said one that you can make work even on aging, drier eyes like my own 😀 I’m def going to get the original now 😀 Because I like these shades so I wouldn’t mind have matte versions of them 😀

      • McRachel

        You may find the transitions you were looking for. I found Ladybird to be on the “grabby” side but the S&L palette isnot at all that way. Fantastic mattes.

  • Dora

    Pretty but I think too much shimmer (for me) — although have been considering the original (for eons). Is it too much to hope that she puts out some kind of combo Shade & Light? Although why would she? Then fewer people would buy these two.

    • Elise

      I would! They will work great together and with other palettes. And yes, this will work for medium to darker skin ladies. 😉

  • Melissa

    Would it work for dark skin tone? Seems like it is for the lighter skin tones

    • Isabella Muse

      sure, the colors are very deep and rich I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for darker skin tones.

  • Christina

    I love the lid color on you! LOL! I don’t know if it’s unique enough for me to get, as I own so much eyeshadow now, but it’s always nice to be inspired by palettes and try to recreate the colour combinations.

  • Jenn

    Any thoughts on this versus the Naked Heat palette? Trying to decide which I want (need) more!

    • Isabella Muse

      It’s hard to compare the two. They are vastly different. Apples and oranges 🙂

  • kjh

    I always like some, but not all of the shades. I’ll take everyone’s word that this formula, both the matte and the shimmer, is better than true romance. But monarch is the only brown-based palette that ever worked for me. N1 sits neglected. Your swatches always make anything look good! It looks fab on you. Think this is a pass, but hope she rereleases pastel goth. That’d be a good xmas go, for those of us who missed it.

  • McRachel

    Got it!!!!! This exceeds my expectations. For all you folks worried about fallout: go right now and get some Too Faced Glitter Glue. It will keep those lightest sparkly shades in place. Also, pat don’t swipe. So my thoughts: colors aren’t quite identical, but close. They’re going to play very nicely together. The top middle shade is so beautifully pearlized! It may be my favorite. The metallic shades are so silky that they don’t get “gator skin” on my lids. I really need everyone to jump on the bandwagon and get KVD to re-release the True Romance palettes in this formula. It’s much improved.

  • Elise

    Hey mama! I have and have loved to death the original L&S. I can tell you you are spot on about this not being a stand alone palette per se. I purchased the original to work with all the shimmery stuffs I have. So to me this stands as a shimmery transition palette to use in conjunction with other palettes. It’s on my must have list. 😉

    • Isabella Muse

      😀 hey Elise, yup to true you need an additional palette to complete look! I don’t blame you for having it on your must have list well worth the $$!

  • Tippy6

    Muse, this is a stunning look on you. Your eyes are beautiful made up like this-they’ve got that sparkle and just right hint of mischief. Those shades are perfect but I’m extremely partial to muted neutral shades.

  • Deb

    Thank you so much for this review! I always trust your opinions. And I agree with the other comments, you look beautiful. Now I have to get this AND Naked Heat. However, I find myself using the original Shade and Light palette more then any of my UD Naked ones. But I can’t help myself in collecting them! Damn you Urban Decay! ❤️

  • Brenda

    I know this may not be a popular post, but I received my palette on Friday, have been playing with it and well here it goes, I am not a huge fan of this. I was disappointed with the first version as well. I self tan, and I just feel like these colors just dont look good on my brown, tanned eyes. It seems to me I have been disappointed in her Metal Matte palette as well so maybe it is just KatVonD? The colors look amazing in the palette, they go on well, they are really pretty, but it just gets lost in translation for me. I bought the brush, will arrive Monday, lets see how that is, sorry.

    • Isabella Muse

      aw sorry Brenda 🙁 that stinks! Return it?! I’m sorry you hated it girl that sucks!

  • Brandy

    This is so pretty on you Muse! I was wanting the matte one but I like this one too. Ugh .

  • Carolina

    I love the matte version, maybe I’ll pick up this one too!

  • genevieve

    I really like a lot of the shades, but the glitter ones with the fall out put me off. Those colours look beautiful on you.

  • JL

    I’m so enthralled by colors this summer (and let’s be honest, all the time) that seeing this causes me some grief. I know a great neutral palette is a essential staple in a makeup kit, but this one just isn’t calling me. Why, because it’s neutral and even if her shades are excellent pigment wise, I just can’t see paying another 50 bucks for a neutral kit. Is it just me? Perhaps. Second, I would have liked a matte, non shimmer at all, mid-tone with each quad to make this the perfect travel neutral kit, so I think I’ll be passing this one up. That said, they do look very well on you! And the swatches are, ahhh!

  • kel h.

    the colors are pretty but they look hard to work with. i’m sticking with my too faced glitter bomb! by the way, is there a good brush you (or anyone) could recommend to use with that?

    • Isabella Muse

      I use a sponge tipped eyeshadow applicator, packs on color well and less fall out 🙂

  • Brenda

    Muse, Just received the #50 brush that goes with this palette, I love the brush! Does what it says it does. Tried it with a few other brands glittery shades, works well with those as well. If you use Fix+ it is even better, worth the money Muse

    • Isabella Muse

      awesome! I have to get one Brenda 😀 Thanks for the mini review!

  • Rachel

    I’m trying to decide if I need this since I already own the original shade + light with the same colors and I prefer matte, but these would just be so dang pretty mixed with the mattes haha thanks for the review!