What I'm Not Buying: Kylie Cosmetics Kyshadow Holiday Palette

Kylie Cosmetics has released the latest in her rapidly growing makeup line: the Kyshaodw Holiday Palette. And like everything released by Kylie Cosmetics, the palette is likely to be a huge success. 

But I won't be buying. 

The one thing I can always credit Kylie Cosmetics with is that their color selection for eyeshadow palettes is always really pretty. Unfortunately, they are not unique or of the highest quality, especially considering the price. 

I've mentioned this in my other two posts about Kyshadow palettes, but I feel it always merits a mention. This palette costs $42 plus $9 for shipping within the US and $15 for international shipping. That makes this basic, easily replicated nine-shadow palette a minimum of $51. 

I mention this price every time, and every time I am still astonished by it. It absolutely, without doubt does not cost $9 to package and ship a small eyeshadow palette. It costs a fraction of that. So the only reason Kylie Cosmetics charges so much for shipping is to make more money off of each sale. The shipping cost is so high that it actually feels extortionate. 

I've mentioned before how turned-off I am by hype-driven marketing tactics. Though I wasn't the biggest fan of the Modern Renaissance palette by Anastasia Beverly Hills, I loved how the brand handled the release of it. The first time consumers learned of the palette was the day before it launched. Anastasia Beverly Hills released good quality, color corrected images, provided the price, and said the palette would be released the following day. There is no question that Modern Renaissance is a good quality product that most people love, and Anastasia Beverly Hills relied on the quality of the product rather than hype tactics. 

Kylie Cosmetics could not take a more different approach to marketing. These are typically the first images released of a new Kyshadow palette:

I can't even articulate how enraged these images make me. It's almost to the point where if I see a brand releases images with a black and white filter, I not only don't want to buy the product, but it is a major turnoff on the brand in general. 

These images tell us nothing. Just that the brand has a product in the works and that the product can be swatched heavily on an arm. That's it. 

This kind of marketing is very frustrating because, as I've mentioned countless times, releasing "teasers" of products without any helpful information begs for the consumers to make a premature decision on whether they will purchase based on their own created idea of what the product will be. And then when the actual product is shown, along with the helpful information of price and release date, consumers are more likely to purchase because they've already had it set in their mind that they would. And the reality is that this kind of marketing is unnecessary if the product is good. Modern Renaissance is the most popular palette I've seen in a while, and the brand relied fully on the quality of the product and word of mouth. 

Like the other two Kyshadow palettes, the most interesting thing about the Holiday Palette is the packaging:

As I've mentioned before, I like the look of the soft-drawn eyes, and while the drips aren't necessarily my preferred aesthetic, I like how they show the colors within the palette. 

Let's take a closer look at the colors:

Here are some swatches:

In typical Kylie Cosmetics fashion, the swatches are clearly applied heavily and are finger swatches. Finger swatches will always show the colors more brilliantly than what they will be when applied with a brush. And these swatches specifically look as though they were applied heavily with at least two applications. 

And I'll admit that the Kyshadow Holiday Palette has a pretty color scheme. It gives the illusion of being somewhat unique since it doesn't look like most of the warm-toned neutral palettes flooding the market recently, but when you look at the colors as pigments away from the packaging:

You can see that this is an overpriced, run-of-the-mill jewel-toned palette with some matte shades thrown in. This palette is so unoriginal, in fact, that I've come up with several palettes that have an incredibly similar color scheme.

There's Urban Decay Smoked ($49):

Lorac Pro Metal ($28):

Zoeva Mixed Metals ($26.50 plus shipping):

Zoeva Cool Spectrum ($40 plus shipping):

Estee Edit Gritty and Glow ($58, includes blush/highlight palette):

Photo: Temptalia

And Viseart Bijoux Royal ($80):

Photo: Temptalia

Admittedly, I don't have personal experience with a Kyshadow palette. I have, however, seen and read multiple reviews, and I find the most trustworthy reviewers are all in agreement: the quality is similar to Costal Scents, BH Cosmetics, and Morphe. The price tag, however, especially for nine shadows, is incredibly inflated considering the quality. I have owned palettes from Urban Decay, Lorac, Zoeva, and Viseart, and I can say that buying any of the above palettes would be a much better purchase than the Kyshadow palette. 

The only palettes listed above that would cost more than the Kyshadow palette are Zoeva Cool Spectrum (once shipping is counted), which includes 15 shadows; Estee Edit Gritty and Glow, which has enormous pan sizes, a ton of product, and includes a blush/highlight palette; and Viseart Bijoux Royal, which is of incredible quality and has 12 shadows. 

The palettes that are less expensive than the Kyshadow are Urban Decay Smoked, which has 10 shadows; Lorac Pro Metal, which has eight shadows but is less than $20 cheaper; and Zoeva Mixed Metals, which has 10 shadows. So, the palettes that are more expensive than the Kyshadow palette have significantly more to offer, and the palettes that are less expensive either also have more to offer or are substantial cheaper. When looking at the Kyshadow palette through this lens, it's really apparent how overpriced it is. 

Personally, out of all of these options, I would go with the Viseart Bijoux Royal palette. It wasn't marketed as a holiday palette, was released months ago, and isn't limited edition. And while it absolutely can be used any time of year, it also reminds me of the holidays in the best way. I think it's a gorgeous palette, and the reason I passed on it when it was first released was because of the inclusion of colors. At the time, I wasn't interested in much outside of gold and bronze, but now it is absolutely something that has caught my attention. I certainly don't need it, however, and will likely not purchase it. But it sure is pretty. 

Though limited edition and marketed as a holiday palette, the color scheme of the Kyshadow palette can be found in multiple permanent options. The limited edition "holiday" nature of this release is just another marketing tactic, making this palette feel as though it is seasonal and if you don't purchase it now, you won't have the perfect eyeshadow for the holiday season. But there is nothing innovative or exclusively holiday about jewel-toned shadows. And the Kyshadow palette is just an overpriced, mediocre quality jewel tone palette. I've mentioned before that arguably the biggest pull for consumers to the Kylie Cosmetics brand is the person behind it. And for young fans, it won't matter how overpriced or low quality an item is, if their favorite celebrity puts their name on a product, they will find a way to buy it. And as I've said, that's specifically why I am so annoyed at Kylie Cosmetics prices, specifically shipping costs. I imagine there are many young fans out there begging their parents for this palette, putting it on their holiday list, or saving up all their money to buy it. And for that effort and fan support, the palette should be amazing quality. Charging an exorbitant shipping fee on an already overpriced palette is therefore a really low, crappy move. It's taking advantage of mainly young fans, and I think that's pretty awful. Though pretty, the Kyshadow Holiday Palette is really nothing special. And I won't be buying. 

What I'm Not Buying: Kylie Cosmetics Kyshadow Burgundy Palette

Kylie Cosmetics is releasing another eyeshadow palette, and based on how every other release has gone from this brand, I expect this palette to be a huge success. 

But I won't be buying. 

As far as tones are considered, I think this palette is really lovely. I'm a huge sucker for warm-toned berries and bronzes, and this palette is full of them. 

My main problem with this palette, which is my main problem with everything from Kylie Cosmetics, is that it is grossly overpriced, especially for the quality. I'm assuming—based on the cost of the Bronze Kyshaodw palette—that this will also cost $42 with $8.95 domestic shipping and $14.95 international shipping. 

I'll just say it—in no way whatsoever should shipping of incredibly lightweight items cost $9. That is a blatant ripoff and I don't understand why this brand is choosing to gouge on shipping when the cost of the product is already incredibly inflated. Based on reviews I have seen of the Kyshaodw formula as well as swatches, this product in no way is worth $42, let alone $51 with shipping. 

The swatches were no doubt done with very heavy finger swatches and several layers of product, especially the matte shades. 

What really frustrates me about this business practice is that the majority of Kylie's fans are minors. And those are excellent customers because typically they don't really care if the quality is good or not, they just want something with their favorite celebrity's name on it. I can tell you that when I was fourteen or so, if Justin Timberlake came out with anything—even power tools—I would have saved all my birthday money to get it. But because of this easy customer base, Kylie Cosmetics knows they can gouge prices, and I think that is really in poor taste. Some of these fans will save everything they have to buy an overpriced mediocre eyeshadow palette. 

Like the last Kyshadow palette, the most interesting thing about the Burgundy iteration, in my opinion, is the packaging: 

Although I'm not a fan of the "drip" aesthetic Kylie Cosmetics is known for, I do like the use of colors in the palette and think the overall design is new and different. 

But that's as far as I'll go for positives about this product as I really think there are much higher quality items that can be purchased in the same or similar color scheme. 

Upon first glance, the Burgundy Kyshadow palette reminded me of the Makeup Geek MannyMUA palette:

Makeup Geek has one of my absolute favorite eyeshadow formulas, and I am confident that this palette has far superior quality to the Kysahdow palette. This retails for $45. 

Personally, I don't recommend this palette because I do not support MannyMUA, and a portion of the proceeds go to him. There is ample information available online that detail negative things MannyMUA has done and who he associates with, and all of it combined is why I personally don't want to support him and won't buy this palette. 

As an alternative, however, the Burgundy Kyshadow palette also looks very similar to the Autumn Glow eyeshadow bundle from Makeup Geek:

It is important to note that this bundle does not come with a palette. It is a bundle of nine eyeshadows, and palettes are sold separately. This bundle retails for $49.

The Kyshadow palette also looks like the new Ciate London Chloe Morello palette:

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance:

And Lime Crime Venus:

Frankly, if you were interested in the Burgundy Kyshadow palette, I would recommend just buying some singles of the few somewhat unique shades, like MAC Cranberry:

Photo: Temptalia

Make Up For Ever Morello Cherry:

Photo: Temptalia

And MAC Red Brick:

For the exception of those three eyeshadows, everything else in the Kyshadow palette is so ordinary that most people are bound to have it in their collection already. 

I have to admit that I'm really getting fatigue over these internet brands that gouge their prices for mediocre quality. I find that disrespectful to consumers. I'm much happier to purchase from brands that either have high price tags for exceptional quality or low price tags for mediocre quality or less expensive ingredients. 

I'm sure the Burgundy Kyshadow palette will be a huge success, but I have all the colors already in my collection at a much higher quality. It will be interesting to see if, as the brand grows, the quality will drastically improve without raising price tags. Until then, I won't be buying. 

What I'm Not Buying: Kylie Cosmetics The Bronze Palette | Kyshadow

As a makeup enthusiast, I have been fascinated by the growth and hysteria (not even hype) surrounding Kylie Cosmetics. This was the first time I had ever seen people set alarms on their phones for a makeup release, refresh their browser as if once-in-a-lifetime concert tickets were on the line, and then see an entire stock of product sell out within minutes. 

And I have to say, as controversial as this statement might be, I think all the hype has to do with mega-famous Kylie Jenner and not at all about the quality of the items. 

So, when Kylie Cosmetics released a Kyshadow palette, I was less than impressed. 

And I won't be buying. 

This eyeshadow palette features nine fairly basic neutral shadows. They are so basic that I have every single one of these colors in my collection already, a few times over. In fact, the only thing that I find even a little bit interesting about this palette is the box it comes in. 

Now that is some cool and beautiful packaging that I haven't seen before. 

But that's about as far as my interest toward this palette goes. 

What I can say is that I think the selection of colors here (again, not this exact palette) would be great for a beginner who doesn't yet have any staple neutral shadows. Considering most of Kylie's fanbase is younger, I think the color selection here makes a lot of sense. 

But I think this palette is too expensive for what it is. 

The Bronze Kyshadow palette costs $42 before shipping, which is a whopping $8.95 for domestic and $14.95 for international. 

I'm sorry, WHAT?? That means this palette is $51 for anyone in the US and $57 for international buyers. And without even touching these shadows, I can tell you that price is exorbitant. 

The Kyshadow palette has been compared a lot to the BH Cosmetics Shaaanxo palette, which features nine eyeshadows and nine lip colors. 

Shaaanxo palette

Photo: Glamupgirls

Comparing the two palettes, there are similar colors, but I would not say they look the same (color-wise) by any means. But, the layout of the packaging does look exactly the same, which looks pretty inexpensive. 

For reference, the Shaaanxo palette (which includes the nine lip colors as well) is $12.50 before shipping. That price difference is pretty steep. 

Reviews of the Kyshadow formula have not been generally favorable. The quality seems to be comparable to BH Cosmetics and Morphe, whose prices are considerably cheaper. 

It is also worth noting that the Kyshadow palette does not come with a mirror, which is uncommon for a palette with such a high price tag. Yes, the packaging has a really pretty design on the box and on the front of the palette, but it is still made of thin cardboard and is not very substantial. 

When thinking about palettes with a similar color scheme, the first that came to mind (obviously) was the Morphe 35O palette. 

The Morphe palette includes 35 shadows, likely of comparable quality to the Kyshadow palette, for $23. 

In my own collection, I found a few palettes that have similar color schemes, all for similar or lower prices. They are:

Kat Von D Monarch palette (discontinued). This was $46. 

Zoeva Cocoa Blend. I paid around $35 including shipping from Germany to the US. 

Too Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly palette. This is $36. 

Kat Von D Shade and Light Eye palette. This is $46.

For the exception of the Too Faced palette, all of these palettes contained more shadows than the Kyshadow palette and were around the same price. And I can guarantee that the quality of all of these palettes is better. 

But, the one thing I cannot take away from the Kyshadow palette is that it has Kylie Jenner's name on it. And for some people, that name means everything. When I was younger, if my favorite celebrity came out with an eyeshadow palette (or anything, really) I would have purchased it in a heartbeat (as long as my parents let me, ha) no matter the quality. I wouldn't have cared at all if it was the best thing on Earth or the worst. My fandom would have blinded me to it all. So, I definitely understand that aspect of this brand. 

But, for people who are drawn to these colors, I hope they can see that there are many other options out there for either less money or much better quality. And for me, I have grown out of that phase in life when I am blinded by fandom, and I can evaluate products objectively and based on quality. This palette is just way too basic and expensive for what it is, and I have better things in my collection. So, I won't be buying.