You remember the lines. It was 2018, and people were literally camping out in front of Morphe stores like they were waiting for a new iPhone or a kidney. The hype was suffocating. Every time you refreshed YouTube, there was another "Sister" thumbnail with a blinding ring light reflection. Honestly, it’s hard to overstate how much the james charles palette morphe collab shifted the entire beauty industry, even if the brand itself eventually crumbled under its own weight.
Is it still around? Not really. If you go to a Morphe store today—the few that are actually left—you won’t find it. But go on eBay or Depop and people are still selling "barely used" palettes for way more than they’re worth. It’s a piece of history. A messy, colorful, dusty piece of history.
The Palette That Broke the Internet (Literally)
The launch was a circus. Morphe was already the "it" brand for influencers because they gave out affiliate codes like candy, but James was the crown jewel. When he dropped that 39-pan monster, he called it the "Artistry Palette." It wasn’t just eyeshadow. It was a manifesto. He wanted one palette to do everything. He wanted you to throw away your other 50 palettes.
It didn’t quite work out that way, but for $39, you got a lot of product.
The layout was smart, actually. You had the neutrals on top, the big pans in the middle for the shades people hit pan on first (smart move, honestly), and then that bottom row of pure rainbow chaos. It looked like a painter's tray. That was the point. James was always pushing the "artist" narrative, and this was his primary tool.
What was actually inside?
- Row 1: Mostly base shades and shimmers. "Ringlight" was the standout—a pearl shimmer that was so bright it was kind of aggressive.
- Row 2: Transition shades. "Punch Me" became the go-to crease color for an entire generation of teenagers.
- Row 3: The big boys. White (Flashback), Black (Spooky), and the tans.
- Row 4 & 5: The rainbow. "Skip" was the neon pink that eventually got the brand in trouble because it stained everyone’s eyelids.
People complained about the quality. Some shades were "patchy." Others were "pressed pigments," which is just industry code for "don't put this near your eye or it'll stain." But if you knew how to work it, the results were incredible. You had to pack the color on. You couldn't just sweep it across the lid like a Clinique shadow from your mom's purse. It required effort.
The Morphe Fallout and the End of an Era
By 2021, the vibe had shifted. Heavily. Between the Tati Westbrook "Bye Sister" drama and the much more serious allegations that followed, James became a liability. Morphe, which was already struggling with its own identity crisis and massive debt, eventually cut ties.
It was a cold break. They didn't just stop selling it; they tried to erase it.
Then came the bankruptcy. Forma Brands, the parent company of Morphe, hit a wall in early 2023. They closed all their US stores. It was a total bloodbath. James even mentioned in a 2025 interview with Paper Magazine that the brand still owes him millions of dollars from that bankruptcy. That palette bought his house. It bought his parents' house. And then, it just vanished from the shelves.
Why are people still talking about it?
Because for a lot of people, the james charles palette morphe was the first time they felt like they could actually do "artistry" makeup. Before this, rainbow palettes were expensive. You had to go to brands like Sugarpill or Viseart and spend $80. Morphe made it accessible.
It taught a whole generation about color theory. It taught them that you could use a blue shadow and not look like a 1980s flight attendant.
Fast forward to 2026, and James has his own brand now: Painted. He basically remade his own version of the Morphe palette with the "Artistry Canvas." It’s better quality. It’s more expensive ($55). It’s vegan. But it doesn't have that same "lighting in a bottle" feel that the original collab had. That original palette was a moment in time when the beauty community was the biggest thing on the internet.
The Controversy You Might’ve Forgotten
Everyone remembers the drama, but do you remember the "red" shade controversy? James claimed he created the "world's first" true red eyeshadow. Every other makeup artist on the planet collectively rolled their eyes. Red is notoriously hard to formulate without it turning pink or orange, but he wasn't the first to do it.
And then there were the "unsafe for eyes" labels.
Because of FDA regulations, several shades—mostly the neons—weren't allowed to be called "eyeshadow." They were "pressed pigments." If you used "Skip" (the hot pink), you’d wake up the next morning with pink stains on your eyelids that looked like an allergic reaction. Most fans didn't care. They just wanted the pigment.
Is the palette worth buying in 2026?
Honestly? No.
If you find a new-in-box one on a resale site, the formulas are probably starting to expire. Shadows lose their "oomph" after a few years. They get dry. They don't blend. Plus, the technology in makeup has moved so far past what Morphe was doing in 2018.
If you want that look, his new brand Painted is the way to go. Or just buy a palette from a brand that isn't currently a ghost of its former self.
The james charles palette morphe legacy isn't about the powder in the pans. It's about the shift from "makeup for beauty" to "makeup for art." It was the peak of the Influencer Era. We'll probably never see a single product dominate the conversation like that again. The market is too crowded now. Everyone has a brand. Everyone has a palette.
But back then? It was everything.
If you’re still holding onto your old crusty palette for nostalgia, that’s fine. Just maybe don't put those neon pinks on your eyes anymore. Your eyelids will thank you. If you're looking for that same vibe with 2026 quality, check out the Basic Canvas or the Artistry Canvas from Painted. They’re basically the spiritual successors, minus the Morphe corporate drama.
Clean out your vanity. Toss the expired stuff. Keep the memories, but upgrade the pigments.