The Kat Von D Monarch palette consists of 12 eyeshadows, broken down into 3 separate quads, with one bold warm option and two others that lean more cool in tone. This is one of the first palettes from Kat Von D that I’ve been disappointed with in terms of quality, which is surprising because I know there are so many who love it. I expected better eyeshadows, based on other palettes I’ve used from her in the past, quite frankly. I found some of these to be chalky and the middle quad in particular was hard to get it to show on my eyes as it looks in the pan. The pink shade (Killing Jar) swatches beautifully and I expected it to be a real winner. Instead, it was very sheer on application and full of glitter. I tried layered it over a white base at one point to see if that helped, and it did, but it made the eyeshadow look scaly in a sense. I liked the Innerstellar palette much more by comparison (and I usually love warm palettes!).
I’m also saddened by the fact that I had another allergic reaction with this palette, which is what took me a little longer in putting this post together. It was worse than my reactions with any of her palettes before. More shimmer and glitter in this one, maybe? I’m not sure. If you have a different opinion on this palette, please feel free to share it below! Would love to hear your thoughts on it! I personally feel like there are better palettes out there.
boops
You did a great job with the shadows, however just looking at the palette itself, I’m not impressed with it. Usually looking at the palettes you put up on the site, I want to go buy them, not this one.
Zabrena
Thank you! 🙂 Yes, I agree. I was a bit underwhelmed at the color selection when I first purchased it, to be honest.
Mariella
Oh rats, Z! I was hoping that since the Shade+Light palette was okay for you, that this one would be too. I bought this when it first came out, thinking it was LE but it isn’t (or maybe it was and then it was made permanent). I’m so sorry to hear that the palette disappointed you generally, performance-wise (I really like it but I tend to go for more subdued looks most of the time so perhaps that’s why I find the pigmentation to be fine for my needs) but even more sorry to hear that it’s caused you major eye problems – that’s a real concern! And I feel really bad for encouraging you to get this one. It really seems like KvD is pretty much “off limits” for you, based on all the bad experiences you’ve had. I really appreciate you “taking one for the team” by making these beautiful looks despite the fact that you had trouble with it. Will you return it? You certainly ought to, to get your money back. I just picked up the Stila Soul palette early today. I haven’t even tried it yet (we’ve had company all day) but your rec. of the Spirit palette was so successful that I decided to go for Soul also. Are you planning to give it a go?
Zabrena
Aw, don’t feel badly! It was a highly requested palette here on the site, so I wanted to add it 🙂 I will be returning it though, along with the Innerstellar one. I just can’t wear them, and I’m so bummed because I do like the Innerstellar one! I do want to try more of the Stila palettes! I’ve heard bad things about the Body one; how are you liking the Soul one so far?
Mariella
I absolutely LOVE the Soul one (and Spirit too – I’ve worn it regularly, almost every day in fact, since I got it; it’s only last week that I sort of moved away so I could play with all my MAC Extra Dimension purchases). I had no interest in the Body one – the colours aren’t those I gravitate to very much and also the swatches at Temptalia looked REALLY bad. Christine from Temptalia, in whose reviews I set a LOT of store, didn’t like the Soul one either (though it did rate higher than Body) and when I went back to look at the review and the swatches, I honestly couldn’t see what she didn’t like about most of them. Like I say, I totally love her site and her objective way of rating products and generally (like 99% of the time, if not more), I totally agree with her (though our colouring is different so many lipsticks or blushes she loves are ones I’d never buy because of the colours). But I have found the Mind palette to be spectacular. She’s never reviewed Spirit (though I think she did purchase it or receive it – when she did the initial announcement of the new palettes, I thought she said she had all 4) but I’d be very interested to know what she thought of it.
Roz Dufty
Should you be putting this on your eyes if you keep getting reactions. We don’t want you to be hurt! I don’t care about knowing about this product if it hurts you! Please don’t use them anymore? Are you ok?
Zabrena
Aw! Thank you so much for your concern, Roz! Yes, I’m okay! 🙂 I don’t think I’ll be trying out anymore KVD palettes though! LOL 😉
beautywithin
Look #1 is my favorite! I was playing with this palette about a week ago with a friend and couldn’t bring myself to purchase it I just felt like I’ve seen the shades before and have similar shades to most.
You’ve done a great job and thank you for all the work you do to bring us these awesome combos
Zabrena
Thank you so much! 🙂 That’s how I feel about the shades in this palette, too. I feel like it’s been done too many times before, and with better pigmentation 🙁
Ocdee4
This is my most fav palette right behind her shade and light. I have a lot of shadows too. Sorry this didn’t work out of you.
Mariella
Zabrena, I am wondering whether your reaction is to something in the more frosted shadows. Shade+Light is the only one that didn’t give you pain and grief and it’s the only all matte collection. I wonder if you would have a reaction to this one if you only used the matte shades in it (certainly no reason to keep it since half the palette, I think, has frost or shimmer of some sort). But it’s certainly something to think about. I wonder if contacting KvD and explaining to them which palettes gave you a bad reaction vs the one that didn’t might lead to them telling you what the problem ingredient might be but I’m seriously thinking it’s whatever they use to create their shine/frost/glitter. I feel so bad, still, that this palette was such a fail (in a really serious way) for you.
Marsheilah
Any thoughts on Mac dupes for the shadows in KVD Monarch Palette? I love some of the looks, but don’t own the palette.