Palettes That Flopped And Those That Slayed
Eyeshadow has the power to transform a look instantly, turning everyday makeup into something unforgettable. Yet not every palette that hits the shelves lives up to the hype, and some even spark legendary debates in the beauty world. This list looks into unforgettable launches—those that had makeup lovers buzzing for all the wrong reasons and those that redefined artistry. Let’s begin with the worst palettes ever released.
1. Anastasia Beverly Hills’s Subculture
When Subculture hit shelves, excitement quickly turned into chaos. Shades oxidized unpredictably, fallout clung under eyes, and blending became a nightmare thanks to overwhelming pigment. Reddit exploded with swatch comparisons to prove that no two palettes looked the same.
New Anastasia Subculture Palette | SWATCHES by MakeupByDianis
2. Urban Decay’s Naked Smoky
This palette promised drama yet left users puzzled. Cool tones blurred into dull looks, while shimmers repeated themselves with little variety. The sturdy magnetic case ended up overshadowing the formula. Fans soon agreed this palette simply failed to capture the spark.
Urban Decay Naked Smoky Eyeshadow Palette|| Review, Live Swatches, Comparisions by GlamourZen
3. Too Faced’s Peanut Butter And Jelly
Few palettes looked as fun as Peanut Butter and Jelly. Unfortunately, purple shades disappeared after a short time, and the scented formula also irritated sensitive users. What people actually remembered were cheeky shade names like “Extra Creamy” instead of performance.
Too Faced Peanut Butter and Honey Palette VS Peanut Butter and Jelly Palette by Natalie Camila
4. Kat Von D’s Pastel Goth
Pastel Goth caught attention with bold packaging and a daring theme, but the shadows applied dry and demanded layers. The missing transition shades made blending harder, too. Ironically, resale prices skyrocketed once the palette was pulled from shelves.
REVIEW + SWATCHES ⭐ Kat Von D ⭐ PASTEL GOTH & ALCHEMIST HOLOGRAPHIC Palettes by The Fancy Face
5. Elf’s Opposites Attract
With eighteen shades, Opposites Attract looked ready to deliver endless variety. On the eyes, the promise collapsed. Colors blurred into each other instead of standing out. Even primer failed to keep the shimmers bright. What started as bold quickly became disappointing.
ELF OPPOSITES ATTRACT PALETTE | Three Looks + Review by Nicole Quinn
6. KVD Beauty’s Edge Of Reality
Edge of Reality sounded futuristic enough to spark curiosity. Sadly, humidity bent its flimsy cardboard, and those stubborn shimmer pans barely budged with a brush. However, it was one of the first palettes marketed as “fully recyclable.”
KVD Vegan Beauty Edge of Reality Eyeshadow Palette (First Impressions) by SullenxRiot182
7. Revlon ColorStay’s Maverick
The “Looks Book” design drew plenty of curiosity at launch. Once opened, the excitement faded. Transition shades were nowhere to be found, which made blending awkward. Shimmers also hardened after minimal use, and the orange-heavy color story ended up lacking depth.
Revlon Looks Book SWATCHES! ALL Palettes // DRUGSTORE MONTH by Space Case
8. Tarte’s Icy Betch
Fans begged Tarte to release Icy Betch after its prank debut, though the final product didn’t meet expectations. Blues applied patchy and layering them only made things worse. With no neutrals to ground the palette, most eye-looks felt incomplete and frustrating.
Tarte ICY BETCH Review/Swatches+Tutorial & Thoughts by Makeup Molly
9. CoverGirl’s TruNaked Jewels
The promise of jewel-toned sparkle quickly turned into frustration. Glitter shades scattered everywhere and refused to stick, while the absence of mattes left looks incomplete. Pigment varied wildly from pan to pan, and even the budget price couldn’t make up for the disappointment.
COVER GIRL JEWELS PALETTE | Review & Tutorial by Emily Noel
10. Makeup Revolution’s Unicorns Unite
Revolution leaned into fantasy with Unicorns Unite, releasing it alongside Mermaids Forever and Dragons Dare. The idea sounded magical until you tried to blend them. The packaging also cracked with ease. Instead of whimsical artistry, the palette delivered a cheap-feeling experience.
After all those letdowns, let’s shine a spotlight on the palettes that truly delivered.
1. Pat McGrath Labs’ Mothership V: Bronze Seduction
This palette delivers the drama Pat McGrath is known for. The hybrid gel-powder shadows explode with color, while metallic and duochrome finishes create editorial-worthy looks. Even the packaging feels luxe with its heavy mirror-backed case.
Pat McGrath Labs Mothership V Fall Bronze Eye Look| GirlBossBeauty by GirlBossBeauty
2. Hindash’s Monochromance Palette
Consider this palette where makeup meets art studio. Gradient pans let you custom blend shades right in the compact. Pigments are rich yet easy to build, and the versatility stretches from eyes to cheeks. Hindash designed it to mimic a painter’s palette.
5 LOOKS 1 PALETTE | HINDASH MONOCHROMANCE PALETTE by Patty Alonso
3. Chanel’s Les Beiges Natural Eyeshadow Palette
Soft, natural beauty has never looked this chic. The satin finish smooths texture, making it especially flattering on mature lids. A dual-tipped brush is also added inside the case for easy use. Inspired by the French Riviera, the shades glow like sunlit skin.
CHANEL - Les Beiges Collection 2020 by Michele Wang
4. Natasha Denona’s Glam Palette
Beginners and pros both rave about this palette, and it’s easy to see why. Each pan is labeled for placement, so looks come together with zero guesswork. Crushed pearl brings luminous depth, while the cruelty-free, paraben-free formula makes it guilt-free glam.
NATASHA DENONA GLAM PALETTE // REVIEW, SWATCHES & TUTORIAL by Morgan Turner
5. Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Palette
Pillow Talk brings dreamy, romantic vibes in every pan. The finely milled shimmers glide on without highlighting texture, and the “pop” shade instantly adds dimension. Universally flattering across undertones, it started life as a simple lipstick.
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Quad | Easy eye look tutorial | Is is still worth it? by Serena K
6. Dior’s Backstage Eye Palette: Warm Neutrals
Straight from the runway to your vanity, this Dior palette keeps looks fresh. A primer pan boosts pigment and wear, while the shadows layer seamlessly without turning muddy. Sweat-resistant and long-lasting, it was literally tested during runway rehearsals to prove its staying power.
Dior Backstage warm neutral swatches by phoenixb3auty
7. Makeup By Mario’s Master Mattes
Mario created this palette to feel like real skin tones, so every shade blends seamlessly. The formula is enriched with vitamin E for smooth payoff, and it works both dry and damp. In Mario’s famous masterclasses, he used it to demonstrate contouring.
MAKEUP BY MARIO THE NEUTRALS EYESHADOW PALETTE | REVIEW + DEMO by By Kristina Studio
8. Florasis’ Floral Engraving Phoenix Palette
This palette feels like a work of art before you even dip in. Each pan is hand-engraved with Chinese motifs, and the formula glides on thanks to rice extract. Between pressed glitters and satins, the looks shine as brightly as the ornate design.
USING THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MAKEUP BRAND | FLORASIS MAKEUP FIRST IMPRESSIONS by By Kristina Studio
9. Patrick Ta’s Major Dimension Palette
Patrick Ta gave this palette a clever twist with creams resting under protective flaps. The warm and cool browns sculpt effortlessly to layer without creasing. It became iconic the moment Gigi Hadid wore it in campaign shoots.
Patrick Ta MAJOR DIMENSION 3 Palette - Review, Swatches, Comparisons & Demo 🤩 by Fabi Madeup
10. Viseart Paris’ Love Letter Palette
Romantic and versatile, this palette balances warm and cool tones beautifully. The talc-free formula makes it gentle on sensitive eyes, while magnetized pans allow easy refills. With that combination of practicality and artistry, it’s no surprise Viseart palettes are loved backstage at Paris Fashion Week.
viseart paris love letter etendu palette // swatches + tutorial by bonnelivie
