Palettes of the Past: Morphe 35O & Jaclyn's Favorites | Very Shady | X(elle)-Mas!

Hi!
This video is late because my computer sucks.
I hope everything processed ok with the video!
And I hope you enjoy my ramblings!
XOXO
ELLE

[@akbflo]

What if this series blows up and you become a famous beauty commentator? 💕

[@oliviajeanette1065]

I hope this happens for her!!!♡

[@cesca3968]

Elle deserves it honestly! 💜 She does so much work and research!

[@shadowsmoked88]

That sounds a little scary, haha!

[@blendofdays]

I want this for Elle! 😍🤩😍

[@brianaschino4903]

I hope so!!!

[@shandysawh3071]

I got in to makeup at the tail end of the Morphe era, so I never got sucked in, thank god.

[@badtothebrow]

Seeing that Gerard Cosmetics 25% off code in the JH screenshots, I would love to see a similar video done on them. They were also really hyped and everyone seemed to have a code with them. And 25% seems like a high discount code??

[@blendofdays]

Good point! That would make for an interesting vid for sure

[@ambergerhelper7852]

Would never buy from Gerard, and refuse to follow anyone affiliated with them.

[@Phoenixhunter157]

Jen Gerard hangs out with trash. It’s so weird. She boosts the worst of the worst people on KZbin. I dunno why she aligns herself with people like that. And she hangs heavily on her Christianity , talking about forgiveness....but the people she is friends with are truly horrible and don’t even try to be good people. It’s like she can’t make friends and is very desperate to befriend young people who are terrible. It makes me wonder what is wrong with her.

[@1015SaturdayNight]

I was super into makeup and KZbin but I considered Morphe to be an unknown "internet brand" and didn't try them because I didn't trust it. Later, I was proved right!

[@TheFaro2011]

It's screams CHEAP. We have a shop in our city, and genuinely in person it looks like China market makeup. I've only ever bought SUVA!

[@justynawisniewska1213]

I'd been suspicious of it for a while but didn't even consider purchasing as I live in Europe so it was not easily accesible to me at the time. Then I watched Stephanie Nicole's video on Morphe and I was like oooh this explains a lot lmao. I remember unsubscribing from the more major youtubers back at that time. I mean it's fine for them to make money but if you're an infomercial channel for subpar makeup what is it in it for me to keep watching your videos.

[@formerreplygirl3360]

I listened to how great it was for years then my cousin got a few palettes and said it was awesome so I ordered 4 palettes one of them being the JC drak magic vault palette I used that one first it was trash like LA colors or no name dollar store eyeshadow immediately opened and tried the rest of the palettes they were all trash I couldn't believe it I was genuinely shocked.

[@AmyPetrucci]

I love when you get your research hat on. I find this stuff fascinating! Also, Morphe wouldn’t be where they are without influencers peddling the brand. I’ve never seen a brand blow up so quickly - they were certainly one of the first to realize influence was cheaper than normal marketing.

[@jasminem812]

i somehow dodged the jaclyn hill bullet despite being HEAVY into beauty youtube literally since highschool and so i never fell for the morphe hype. I do remember specifically thinking that it was just another BH cosmetics or Coastal Scents type brand(aka private labelled but i didnt know there was an actual term for it back then LOL) with the big rainbow palettes that were popular in the OG beauty youtube days and i didnt get why people were acting like it was something different LOL

[@edwinamcmanus5633]

Bh have quality shadows at least

[@jaiafrica6112]

I got into the community when the hype had already exploded and i could have given in but luckily a few people made videos exposing their private labeling and crappy business practices. So I've stayed away entirely.

[@justynawisniewska1213]

Yesss same.

[@juliacunningham8039]

I'm obsessed with these types of videos. You're so good at investigating and gathering research! I admire your commitment hahaha

[@Katie_Woo]

I have always been wary of the brand and how influencers basically turned into school yard bullies if anything was said about Morphe that they didn’t agree with. The second an influencer made the comment- “if you can’t make a Morphe shadow work then you can’t do makeup!”- I wanted nothing to do with them. I just thought- ‘I made Subculture in the original formula work- I know what I’m doing!’ At times it was like the influencers lips had almost fused to the brands butt

[@shadowsmoked88]

Yeah, that was Manny who said that. And it was so cringe-y. He was so defensive. And Sam said that about Subculture... But she was always really defensive of ABH. Her comments about dipbrow always annoyed me.

[@Katie_Woo]

@@shadowsmoked88 I had to unsubscribe from so many people because of how they got ridiculously defensive and argued in the comments over eyeshadow of all things. They went from being beauty reviewers to basically being info-mercials

[@halo2d]

Lol yeah not to say there isn’t a way to try and defend your fav but like insulting people isn’t the way to do that. Old school Manny was so messy lol, if anything it’s nice to have seen him grow as a person and not get so upset when someone comes for his favorite brands 😂

[@AnnetteA85]

As someone who lives in Delaware i have to say, The only good things about Delaware are no sales tax and low property taxes lol

[@Kittichanlove]

Here for the stellar investigative review 🕵🏾‍♀️🔍

[@stampinprn]

I fell for a lot of stuff on youtube back in the day. I bought the 35O palette and barely used it and also bought so much that KZbinrs “recommended” not having a clue about affiliate links. Here for the tea changed my whole perspective on all of that!

[@shadowsmoked88]

I'm really grateful for the people who encourage transparency!

[@Bethsbeautydiary]

Your makeup looks stunning 🤩

[@shadowsmoked88]

Thank you so much 😀

[@Jenninka]

I’m nostalgic for the days of makeup communities where it was just sharing your collection and chatting about products. Feels like a more pure era because no one was shilling

[@canta_toca_2023]

Wow, that thing with Jaclyn Hill's palette constantly "selling out" was a really aggressive sales tactic! But maybe I am naive when it comes to sales tactics in general...

[@agingophelia9812]

Everyone not in marketing is naive about sales tactics.

[@edwinamcmanus5633]

It is called creating urgency and when people feel like they are going to miss out they tend to pull the trigger and purchase.

[@angelapennington4724]

The burgundy eyeshadow makes your eyes pop Elle! You look stunning as always! I fell for the Morphe hype too. I declutterd my Morphe 35O.

[@lunacarmin]

Love your blush 😍

[@Soleils]

Fascinating stuff.

[@madisonholman2368]

You need to continue to do this series it is so informative ❤

[@ChicGeekMakeup]

This was fun to watch! I remember watching videos at that time and it took me awhile to realize they were affiliate codes haha!

[@Violetfrays]

Oh goodness how much I relate to the loving research in all areas of life [as I look at a pile of notebooks upon notebooks full of detailed research on whatever my pet subject was that quarter].

[@shadowsmoked88]

I have the notebooks too!

[@doraalicia3493]

I found this video very fun and interesting to watch.

[@shadowsmoked88]

Thank you!

[@nere1771]

I didn't want this video to end hahaha great content Elle 🥰🥰

[@bean3537]

So the Delaware thing is because of a tax loophole to avoid paying income taxes but also the laws are generally favorable for corporations. Corps can avoid jury trials and the laws of DE apply to any legal issues

[@daisycate]

Wow, thanks Anna!

[@shadowsmoked88]

Yes! Thank you for explaining it so well!

[@squirrelwithtoomanyhobbies]

I'm from Delaware and this is such a thing, it's become a statewide joke. Its basically the Cayman Islands of the US.

[@callioscope]

I did not start watching beauty videos or IG Stories until the day after the election in 2016. Honestly, I’d stopped this spring until ... a month or ago before the 2020 election when I turned to 24/7 eyeshadow declutter videos. I assume that I will be able to resume my regular pandemic life after January 20th. Anyway, I hate warm colors so the 35O craziness never impacted me other than that once it was in full swing, every frigging palette for three years was warm. I would show my husband each successive palette I saw in videos that led to more and more videos with “sunset eyes” tutorials, as he called it ... unwearable browns and reds and yellows and oranges that were often unflattering. It all had an Emperor Wore No Clothes feel about it but I didn’t know why. I had heard about Morphe being sketchy, but didn’t put two and two together until now. Thank you for connecting A to B to C. Also, I have never been a Kathleen Lights fan and while I own a few Colourpop palettes, I decluttered most everything from them as not worth the hype. Interestingly, if you watch a thousand or so declutter videos, 900 will lead to the conclusion that Colourpop must never be decluttered ... and the same with Juvia’s Place. As for me, I’ve noticed that most of my favorite palettes are rarely those that get hyped. And after decluttering my two JP palettes because I looked like a clown when I wore them, I know why. Again, thank you for fascinating content (and I’m not just saying that because I’m anxiety-ridden at the moment).

[@whititah]

What’s jp?

[@callioscope]

whititah Juvia’s Place, although as a pale, pale white person, I realize these eyeshadows are made for people with actual melanin in their skin. I did buy The Violets because I heard it was less pigmented, and indeed, I can leave my house without looking ridiculous because the shades are buildable.

[@MyReflectionLucretia]

I love the Fleetwood Mac album cover on the wall. Hands up! 💕(And your lipsitck colour is lovely!)

[@shadowsmoked88]

Thank you!!

[@janelles5444]

I started watching beauty youtube right after this whole debacle. I remember the Morphe 35O being really hyped up, but I wasn't watching the big you tubers. I found it through declutters, actually, then discovered the truth of affiliate links. I'm actually glad I came at that time. As always, love this series. I'm hoping for a Kathleen Lights and Colourpop version even if it's not as drama filled. just the truth behind Kathleen's blow up of the brand. Thanks for your time on this!

[@shadowsmoked88]

I sort of covered Kathleen and ColourPop in my CP video, but I can certainly look more in-depth!

[@celestecelestial90]

I didn’t fall for the Morphe hype hard like other people because I saw Stephanie Nicole’s video about how they are or were a private labeled formula. Now I see tons of small influencers push private labeled makeup because they have discount codes or are the PR list. Although I know that they usually aren’t as pushy as the bigger influencers who were pushing Morphe back in the day. 🙈I don’t know if they are still private labeled. I don’t mind private labeled makeup but I’m not going to pay top dollar for makeup that is so cheap to produce. I’d rather get something on sale than to use a discount code because the sale is usually a better deal. I have 2 Morphe palettes but got them on sale with free shipping from ULTA.

[@xamyx2205]

I don't have strong feelings either way about "private label" products, but I do feel strongly about brands not being truthful about it...

[@celestecelestial90]

@@xamyx2205 if I can get it on a low sale price then I don’t mind buying it. 😁 I think it can be a good stepping stone for indies starting out because it’s cheaper to do private labeled products during the infancy of the brand. I agree about not liking when brands aren’t truthful about it. I also know of one indie that no longer exists that would block people or argue with them on IG for even asking if their brand was private labeled. I think it would have been more professional to have ignored those questions than to get defensive.

[@MoonlitSunflower]

I didn't get in to watching KZbin till 2018 when JH and Morphe were already being side eyed. Orange just really doesn't work for me. It has to be just right. BUT I have enjoyed orange in the past and i started watching YT because i wanted to see reviews to get the scoop on what was really GOOD makeup so... I could see myself falling for it. I have fallen hard for some MLM makeup prior to 2018 for the same reason.

[@cloeshmoroz4512]

I find it funny that a brand calling itself Morphe, which I'm guessing comes from with Morpheus god of dreams, is now only dreamy in the sense that the beauty community people regularly qualify their releases of being a "snooze-fest" x)

[@shadowsmoked88]

HA I love that!

[@minooverdi5459]

You are right. I watched this from start to finish without messing with my phone because it was interesting. Would you still do the odd makeup video on IG? I miss them.

[@shadowsmoked88]

Yes! This month has been very busy. But I will do more in the new year!

[@wendyxkuma]

Is this a wig? I really like it!

[@stadees]

Wonderful 👏👏 I love your in- depth research.

[@shadowsmoked88]

Thank you!

[@g1ng3rsn4ps]

I'm a Delawarian (currently living in NY!)! My sister still lives there though, and I visit often enough 👀 I'll try to keep this in mind and try to hook you up with some documents if possible lol! (Also, I love my state but we're never talked about even though we're kind of important and have a rich history...plus First State! Lol Thanks for mentioning us as much as you did 😭😂😂)

[@icedlavenders5699]

Would love to visit Delaware lol

[@Ivana_M]

I'll try to recreate this look with my own stuff tomorrow. It's so beautiful on blue eyes and wearable! It looks great with this shade of lipstick.

[@doctorajaguar]

Loving this videos!! Elle, you look amazing. I still remember one my fave videos of you: Morphe = Duuuuuusssttttt in the wiiiiinnnddd!!

[@shadowsmoked88]

OMG! I wish I could do those kind of videos again! KZbin is so strict with music usage.

[@andieho6200]

These peeks behind the curtain are killer.

[@agingophelia9812]

Interesting! I got Nature Glow last year just because I liked it, and I really enjoy it, along with the Stunning Vibes; but there's lots of wasted pans of similar shades in all of them. However, I have no problem with the formula-- it's easy to use. I didn't even watch YT back when all of this mess happened, but it's nothing new in the world of marketing. No one is immune to all sales tactics, but it's good to know how far any company will go, and it's always farther than any decent person would imagine.

[@shadowsmoked88]

Yeah, there is no real formula issue with what I've tried from Morphe. It's very similar to a lot of brands.

[@mvmontaner]

I never got into morphe or coastal scents eyeshadows/makeup because I always wondered what type of quality of ingredients are used to make them. They were cheap even before discount code; will I end up sick in the future? I think the same of luxury products, I feel you pay for the name not necessarily the quality of the makeup. Great video.

[@NatashaStewartBeauty]

These research video are so intriguing! I hope you continue to create them ❤

[@shadowsmoked88]

That's the plan!

[@AMFibers]

I love these videos so much (I'm currently binging them lol). I haven't finished this one, but just wanted to say that the reason why corporations incorporate in Delaware isn't for tax reasons. In fact, there are definitely other states where they'd pay less in corporate taxes. The reason they incorporate in Delaware is because Delaware lets corporations write their bylaws however they want - they don't have a lot of regulations on what has to be in the bylaws like some other states do (for instance, California). Also, the Delaware corporate courts of chancery are some of the best in the country and have really robust caselaw for things like shareholder and derivative suits.

[@AppalachianAllegory]

Omg I just came back from Dover. My aunt works in the capital there.

[@JustSheilz]

LOVE this!!! I think you are 100% correct!

[@MidnightMajesty]

the first palette I ever bought was the original Morphe rainbow palette, 35B I think? I still have it, it's been like 6 years?

[@MsAlyssaJM]

I think that was the one they used for their new Lisa Frank collab

[@emailleundschmuck-marianne2062]

I didn´t fall for the Morphe hype😊. Back then, Morphe didn´t sell in Europe and wasn´t shipping to Europe either. I remember German beauty youtubers reviewing the Jackline Hill palette and telling their audience how much they paid for shipping. It was ridiculous expensive to get the palette to Germany, about 60 Euro.🙄 And then you must pay taxes, too. Hell no!🙄 I couldn´t afford such prices.

[@ld7256]

i was heavily into makeup when morphe came out, i didn’t fall for the 35O palette because i don’t like the tones in it BUT i did get the 35T palette along with some brushes. the brushes were scratchy and shedded like crazy, the palette was so bad i used it twice and threw it away. the colors were muddy and NEVER stuck to my eyes & a friend of mine got 2 morphe palettes and had the same complaints. that’s when i knew Jaclyn was starting to be a little disingenuous about her claims with morphe, i know we all have different tastes but the quality was so bad there was NO WAY it worked the way she said it did.

[@kelseywaffle6606]

I wish I lived in Delaware! I love your research videos!!!

[@shadowsmoked88]

Thank you!

[@AFFTFOMSICHTS]

I was never interested in the 35O or any of morphes makeup. I was such an eyeshadow snob.

[@edwinamcmanus5633]

Their palettes gradients are a hair different in the pan they all look the same on the eye

[@jaiafrica6112]

Im so proud that i dont own anything from them.

[@edwinamcmanus5633]

@@jaiafrica6112 I bought the Jefree Star collab palette, it sucked big time, but the brushes were good, the non shiny ones that look a little like Fenty. I have buyers regret now though. I gave my young niece the palette to play with

[@edwinamcmanus5633]

@@MeowMeow1938 Yeah it was a mistake to buy that palette, my niece loves it because it is like bubblegum colours plus it has pressed glitters and I hate pressed glitters.

[@Jenninka]

@@edwinamcmanus5633 yeah I was surprised the 35O was such a hit because all the colors look similar and like they’d be the same on the eye

[@bradengrasmick1935]

I live very close to Delaware! Let me know how I can help because research is fun and yours is top notch🙂

[@TheAmwaters]

Your blush is amazing. I'm new to the channel, do you have a "how to"?

[@shadowsmoked88]

I don't for this specific look- but I have done a lot of blush focused videos in the past!

[@TheAmwaters]

@@shadowsmoked88 thanks! I went searching last night and found your Igari (sp?) video...that helped. Also, thanks for the reply, love your channel!

[@dawno5656]

Interesting

[@Poeticnsoul]

The way they did Stephanie Nicole never sat right with me. At the time they were a private label company and I don't understand why people knowing that offended them. They were just nasty and I have never supported them.

[@shadowsmoked88]

I'm really suspicious of them. I think they're hiding a lot.

[@whititah]

What did they do to Stephanie Nicole ?

[@emilyj9034]

You’re so pretty!

[@jesscorner6381]

You look so good!!!

[@k_pufflz]

I’ve given all my old 35 pan palettes from morphe (like the old old morphe brushes logo and cheap private labeled packaging) to my fiancé to use on his war hammer miniatures I fell into the morphe hype big time and stopped using them like 3 years ago so at least they get some use now with my fiancé lol ETA: spelling and grammar mistakes

[@shadowsmoked88]

Way to re-purpose them!

[@MsAlyssaJM]

The affiliate program, if it is like that, sounds like an MLM

[@eLgRoUcHo78]

Exactly what I was thinking

[@glitterberserker1029]

Not really, it would be like an mlm if Jaclyn also wanted you to sell morphe or if Jaclyn was actually the one buying all the palettes. Affiliate programs are just commission. Every business has tiers unless it's really tiny and doesn't have any employees.

[@edwinamcmanus5633]

She did Make up Geek and Sigma wrong. Always went on and on about Sigma then like a light switch it was Morphe, Morphe, Morphe.

[@shadowsmoked88]

I wouldn't be too quick to defend Sigma tbh

[@edwinamcmanus5633]

@@shadowsmoked88 I don't know much about Sigma and their company I think I have one of their brush from a sub box but when I used to watch Jaclyn Hill , she constantly sang about the Sigma brushes and how awesome they were and then she stopped and never talked about them again like that. They all sellout in the end it is inevitable if you want to be at the top of the beauty community, she could least be honest about it. Like if someone wrote me a cheque for a couple of mill to pick a formula and a colour story for a palette I would probably take it tbh 100

[@kimberlyhacker3334]

Love the thumnail!

[@RockIoana]

I love your bluuush omgg

[@shadowsmoked88]

Thank you!

[@DMK48906]

I wasn't here for the beginning but I can say I wouldn't follow anyone who has a morphe code! I saw shading right away and am proud to say I've never bought a morphe anything!

[@joywalker4918]

Why would they be shipped in from boats and not aircraft?

[@shadowsmoked88]

Sorry I missed this comment earlier! It's because it's significantly cheaper to ship large quantities by boat instead of by air!

[@joywalker4918]

@@shadowsmoked88 Oh ok, I understand now, but thank you, sweetie, I appreciate it and you don't have anything to be sorry about you have a awesome night.

[@bansheemuse4794]

I learned about Morphe from Samantha Ravendahl, she made a trip to California also and did a video on the 2 dollar eyeshadows. JH very soon made a video on the eyeshadows. I stopped watching Samantha Ravendahl due to a horrible lipstick collab and a video she did about police brutality, which she took down.

[@shadowsmoked88]

I hadn't heard about that video! And what lipstick collab?

[@kirstennicholas2691]

Why do people even like Jaclyn hill or morphe they r soo shady it’s gross

[@celestecelestial90]

I think some people feel nostalgic towards her and miss the circa 2015 JH where she would post often and do a lot of tutorials. Now that’s she shown her true colors and dishonesty, people are aware of her shadiness but don’t want to let go of what she used to be for them. I used to follow a small influencer who would say that despite everything she still “loves” JH. Love is a strong word for someone who sold her contaminated lipsticks and doesn’t know she exists.

[@honoratagold]

JH's early tutorials have a really fun, likeable vibe. Unfortunately, she turned out to be shady AF, but those early videos really do have a charm where I understand how she got popular.

[@seb61709]

I thought morphe was ok given the price and the quality. But I never understood the need for a giant palette of 87 variations of the same shade of one color. And hindsight I’m like damn Jacky and morphe are such horrible people omg 🤣

[@tinythingy4]

im getting a little bit of an mlm/culty vibe from morphe

[@shadowsmoked88]

There's definitely a cult-y vibe for sure!

[@rayperez8162]

You’re are so beautiful

[@ambergerhelper7852]

Do you have an Instagram? I’d love to see close ups of your makeup looks. 🤓

[@shadowsmoked88]

Yes! @shadowsmoked. It's also in my description box!

[@ambergerhelper7852]

@@shadowsmoked88 Thanks! It wasn’t in this one- but I should’ve checked other videos! ☺️

[@mrspokitstheriot477]

You look so much like Atleeey

[@anitahendricks]

[@cloeshmoroz4512]

Your example of a sponsorship contract with the tiers and everything sounds very MLM-y to me

[@shadowsmoked88]

I thought the same! Something just doesn't sit well with me

[@ralphandleosmom9075]

I came to KZbin as a makeup snob who used nothing but luxury makeup so Morphe always looked like cheap crap to me. Glad to say I have never tried it or anything by Ms. Hill.

[@PanPanPanit]

Something tells me you're a big fan of Emily D Baker. 😂😂😂

[@shadowsmoked88]

I'd never heard of her! But a quick search tells me I will be, haha

[@PanPanPanit]

@@shadowsmoked88 shes amazing!

[@paillette2010]

Jackyn Hill’s fame went to her face. Morphe is Chinese private label crap.

[@Kay-vf8wu]

Sigma.....?

[@stephaniestewart312]

I don't know why people like this brand or the people 🙄🤮🙄🤮

[@Ieat2much]

Ok you are the True Crime of Makeup. They too have to pay so much for public information case files😛 too. (FOYA? FOA?). Your investigative trip to Delaware would be fun! Got into makeup KZbin late in my life, 35+, so was not emotionally into any influencer ( not even Tati or Emily Noel in those days) or FOMO so never bought any of these brands. Living outside the US the access to ‘good’ makeup was Bobbi Brown and MAC or YSL Dior and the like. So moving to the US I went nuts for drugstore makeup actually. Could not believe drugstore also catered to my skin tone!! Life after Bobbi Brown/MAC so as to speak. Now I only watch smaller YTers and appreciate off the wall tutorials (Pompberry) , MU commentary like yours TinaFF, JenLuvs or indie makeup like AmyLoves or Katie Marie. And Theresa.

[@shadowsmoked88]

It just so interesting to me. Influencers + affiliate marketing have really changed the whole beauty industry from what it used to be!