I showed you some preliminary pictures of the upcoming (for us) Urban Decay 15th Anniversary eyeshadow palette over the weekend (see the close ups of the case, and size and fingerprinted glory here) Everyone’s baying for swatches and yes, we have them! Hurrah! 😛 I have a very quick sort of eye look but had no time to do anything dramatic because I’m going away, and I wanted you to know that this palette is very friendly despite the bright colours, and that yes, I predict many of you will be liking it very muchee!
Before I start with all that malarkey, I wanted to just correct myself in my previous post. I noted that the palette comes in a metal box sitting in a plush velveteen “gift” box. And I was correct.
However, I thought that that velveteen box was the “free gift” and that’s where I was utterly wrong. Urban Decay was not pulling your leg when they said that you can remove the eyeshadows and use the box as a keepsake box. You literally can remove the eyeshadow tray. The velvet lined bottom layer is then for your use as you want it. Honestly, I’m not sure what you’d do with it. Where would you put the eyeshadow tray to start? Good question eh?
So what you essentially get in the Urban Decay 15th Anniversary eyeshadow palette is 2 “free gifts” and 15 brand new eyeshadow colours.
You get a big plush royal purple velvet box, and a metal velvetlined box. What you do with your eyeshadows remains to be seen. As I am boggled by that last thing, I chose to keep my shadows in the UD box. Makes a heck lot of sense to me 😛 Maybe I can hide brushes underneath or primers, or various makeup bits so this case becomes my travel case? Food for thought.
So anyway, here is quickly an overview of the palette before I get into the swatches.
Many people have opted to swatch the palette in 3 rows, top to bottom. I have chosen to swatch mine across, left to right. It will make it a little confusing, but as you will see, it throws up an infinite number of possible colour combinations that you may not think about 🙂
Names are by Urban Decay. Descriptions are my own based on how I perceive them.
(1) Midnight Rodeo (glittery silver-gold brown), (2) Tainted (satin pink-gold), (3) Deeper (Shimmer golden brown), (4) Midnight 15 (glittery silver-pearl), (5) Junkshow (satin fuchsia pink)
Midnight Rodeo and Midnight 15 are reminiscent of the texture of that infamous Midnight Cowboy and Midnight Cowboy Rides Again, 2 highly glittery shades with a lot of fall out. I personally find that Midnight Rodeo and Midnight 15 do not have spectacular fall out which is great, but are colours you will reserve for evening makeup or just for a touch in the inner lid for a bit of highlight. All shades were swatched with fingers just once and the textures are in the main, smooth and very pigmented.
(6) M.I.A (shimmer dark brown with warm tones) (7) Vanilla (shimmery cream-gold) (8) Omen (duochrome lilac purple that flashes blue) (9) Ace (satin dark blue-grey) (10) Flow (shimmery peach with gold tones)
The colour I was most excited about is Omen and I’m happy to note that it does not make me look bruised! It in fact applies on me looking lilac and it is most definitely cool toned. It is a bit of a duo chrome shade so it can look quite different as the light hits. Vanilla and Flow are packed with shimmer and make great highlight shades, but can also be worn on their own without fall out of looking glittery. The colour that surprised me most is Ace which looks a dull grey in the pan, but swatches a very pretty blue-grey with a satin feel. All colours are swatched just once. See the pigment!
(11) Evidence (satin navy blue) (12) Blackout (matte black) (13) Chase (shimmer golden bronze) (14) Deep End (satin teal with golden tones) (15) Half Truth (shimmer deep purple)
There is only 1 matte shade in the palette which is Blackout. It is dark, but I had to swatch it twice to get the intensity you see here. A let down for me was Evidence which is a gorgeous navy blue shimmer as you see here. But I had to layer it 3 times before it showed up looking anything as pretty. Applied with a brush, it shows up even less pretty. So I’d use my fingers for Evidence and as a primary colour instead of as a contrast or smokey shade. The other colours were swatched just once, which tells you something about quality.
I will note that all the swatch photos were taken in natural light. That should give you an idea of how shimmery they really are. If they are this vibrant under natural light, imagine how they’d look under lighting!
And here’s a very quick look I threw together. Just the eyes I’m afraid. I just could not make it look any better than this 😛 The whole face shows up in a different review to come so you will get to see it all then.
Omen on outer lid, Midnight 15 on inner lid and blended, Evidence on outer most lid and “crease” (does not show up well) and Vanilla to line lower lid. Used sparingly, Midnight 15 whilst glittery does not look super sparkly for the day (quite understated in fact) and I experienced no fall out.
In a nutshell
If you don’t have an Urban Decay eyeshadow palette, and found Naked way too boring, then you will like the 15th Anniversary palette. It has a good mix of neutral and colourful shades which can throw up an infinite number of combinations. Textures of eyeshadows vary in the palette as does quality. In the main, the shadows are pigmented and swatch smoothly barring 2 shades – Evidence and Blackout. Perhaps I’m just picky. A point to note however is that this palette does tend towards being cool toned so if you are neutral toned or can handle cool colours well, as I can, then you will like this palette. If you prefer warmer colours (yellow golds, browns, warm greens) you are better off waiting for another palette because you will not maximise the use of this one. I’m quite happy with this, but there is room for improvement.
Pros: Smooth pigmented colours mostly, Cool toned shades that work well for my skintone, A good mix of neutral and bright jeweled eyeshadow colours
Cons: Bulky case, Inconsistent texture of eyeshadows, Glitter shadows may have fall out, Predominantly cool toned
As I previously noted, I purchased mine through a friend (Hi S) in London. I am told its coming into Sephora locally in early September (try September 1st) so look out for it then.
Should you get the 15th Anniversary Palette or the Naked palette?
I personally find the Naked palette warmer in tone. If the colours there suit your skintone better, go for the Naked palette. If you can handle these shades and prefer a palette that allows you to mix neutral and colours, get this one. I must note that it is limited edition. So er… you know what to do then. Don’t everyone go stampede Sephora all at once yes? 😛
Are you eyeing this palette? Do the colours grab you or do you prefer if they had a better mix of warm and cool shades? 🙂
Paris B
Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette is limited edition and was purchased by me from the UK for £37. Local availability is in September 2011 at Sephora and priced at RM180price is unknown for now.
OMGee I want this!!!
I really, really want this, particularly after swatching the UD palettes in Sephora. >.<
However, from your swatches it seems that I already have most of the colors in my current stash in one form or the other. Haih…. dilemmas dilemmas.
Well the colours you have aren’t Urban Decay! Justification enough? 😉 its a nice handy palette but I’m not sure of its price locally. Maybe wait for the price then decide if its worth it? Or wait for the Book of Shadows 4 🙂
you mentioned swatching in different order to explore the possibilities… ting ting ting! the colors matches well when combined in diagonal order… either way, left to right or right to left… makes several trio combinations! 🙂
Yay! I’m glad you agree with me 🙂 they do have quite a few nice combis in there!
I am strangely attracted to Omen… they don’t have this particular color in e/s singles do they?
Not yet 🙂 These are supposed to be brand new UD shades.
Then I’ll just be patient and wait for it to be released as a single… 😛
And I’m sure it will be, knowing these brands 🙂
I’m so loving mine! You can create so many looks from just this one palette. Though, it’s quite bulky to take it to travel, no? Love the packaging as well, not the finger prints. Heh 😉
Definitely not a travel palette. I find it a hassle although at home where you have luxury of space, its not bad 🙂
the color Ace is catching my eye. and also the midnight rodeo. as i said, it may be pretty on the dresser, too bulky for anything else, or even to hold. just like my book of shadow ;P
Yup! Its about the size of the Book of shadows I think. Bulky!
That’s it. I’m getting this by hook or by crook. Loving the jewelled tones!
Haha I do hope you like it if you do get it. The colors do swatch very prettily!
Wow I love how it’s SUPER pigmented. Such gorgeous colors. I’d pick one up if my bank account permits *runs off to check Maybank account*
Haha I don’t know the local price but I think we’re looking at RM200 or a little below.
I so want this palette. It has a nice mix of colorful and neutral shades and they are so pigmented! Love the look you did with it.
I think you’d rock it Gio, since you love colors! 😀
I am staying away from this palette because of all the cool tones. I am investing in other brands this autumn, like Tom Ford!
Ah Tom Ford! I don’t hope to see it here anytime soon 🙂 But I do think you’d suit a warmer palette of colors too
Hello! Thank you for doing the swatches! <3 I am so lemming this palette right now! Omen looks gorgeous on you, which means I should probably get this palette, right? 😀
I think it’ll look as gorgeous on you! 😀 if budget permits and you don’t have a palette of colours, this is a good palette.
nice review you have! im still waiting for it to come to my place, cant wait to try this by myself, but this post really gives me some pictures of how this palette works =]
I do hope you enjoy it as much as I do mine 🙂 Glad to help give you an idea of it.
GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!
Yup, I found UD Naked Palette overrated and very yawnsome but this baby is the bomb! Or from what I have read and seen on blogs! I want so badly!!!!
P.S. You rock purple eyeshadow Ms Paris 😉
“Yawnsome” I like that word 🙂 I didn’t think Naked boring but people do have to realise that its not all that 😛 Still can’t beat the value though 🙂 Hope you get to check this out soon. And thank you! Its the first time anyone told me that 🙂
The colors looks gorgeous! Something different from your usual EOTD.
Thank you Lavender – I didn’t realize it till you pointed it out! 🙂
Hmm something new on you Paris… Waiting patiently for the full picture… 😛 I should wait I should wait… haha 😛 the pocket can wait…
Is it new? I guess I haven’t been pulling out the colors in the looks I’ve been doing eh? 🙂 I hope you liked what you saw in the final pic 🙂
the swatches are so pretty and pigmented. i dislike the bulkiness as well. take up too much space.
Yep it does take up way too much space. I would have preferred if UD had skipped the hype and packaging and just put all the colours together in one compact palette because I think its a great palette, just not travel friendly.
So pretty. I want this. 😛
Hope you pick it up when it launches where you are!
already in Sephora for RM180.
i tried swatching few colors (junkshow, evidence and other colors i cant rmbr) and finds it abit chalky.
or is it the tester/temperature i’m not sure..
Thanks for the price update Jengae. Mine doesn’t apply chalky though if you really dig in with your fingers it can crumble some. With a brush, its all good 🙂
dear!!!! found ur blog n ive been reading ur posts for the past 24hrs!!! btw is UD available in MSIA..??
Hi Ailee. Yes Urban Decay is available in Malaysia at Sephora stores at KLCC and Starhill 🙂
Hi gal~ wanted to seek your opinion about this palate~
how’s was the palate? nice to use? will it easily fade out? tempted to buy it because now is available at Sephora Malaysia~ heheheh..
My thoughts are above in the post. I think reading the nutshell bit may help 🙂 On my non oily lids, they last all day but I can’t say the same if you have oily lids although a primer will help.