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