Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eye Shadow Palette + Swatches!

I caved... I purchased this palette when Sephora sent out their 25 dollar discounts to VIB members. It is quite a pricey palette (C$70), so at least that made it seem a bit more justifiable. Believe it or not, I am just building my makeup collection compared to many of you. These eyeshadows might not be ideal for someone who already owns tons of nude colours to begin with... but for a pale/fair skinned person lacking basic shadows like myself - it's a dream.

This is actually quite a unique launch - the first time Urban Decay has every collaborated with a celebrity...and No Doubt just happens to be the first CD I bought (yes...I was from the era of cassette tapes).

The attention to detail is stunning! The packaging is very sturdy and well made...this is by far the nicest palette I own. You might be happy to know, Gwen designed every detail - from the bold graphic prints to the No Doubt tribute "Magic's in the Makeup" printed on the corner of the mirror. It is truly a special project that really reflects what she is all about.

Now for the inside... gasp. You're getting 15 x .04oz eyeshadows (Note: A regular size urban decay shadows are typically .05oz). 12 are brand new shades chosen and named by Gwen, and 3 are available in their permanent line (Blackout, Skimp, and Stark).

Here are some swatches so you can get an idea of pigmentation (All swatches are taken without a flash, and the photos have not been re-touched):

Blonde - described as a “pale beige/pink iridescent shift." Soft, smooth and blendable with a frosted finish. Very easy to work with.

Bathwater - described as a "pale beige with gold pearl." A very light gold, with a frosted finish. It is a soft texture, but not as richly pigmented.

Skimp - described as a "pale nude satin." This colour is quite sheer, and a bit more powdery (requires some building).

Steady - described as a "medium rose/metallic gold shift." This colour as great coppery undertones. Very smooth and dense, easy to apply (this one does not lose intensity).

Punk - described as a "reddish brown matte." The pigmentation is ok, it is not as soft (but it is matte).

Baby - described as a"cool metallic rose." A muted rose, with a metallic finish. The sparkle made it not as soft as others, but it still had a blendable texture.

Anaheim - described as a "light taupe-brown matte." Very soft texture with good colour pay off, you can tell from the swatch.

Stark - described as a "nude-pink matte." This is a very light colour, and would be a good transition shade. It is a bit more powdery and the colour pay off is not as good as "Anaheim."

Zone - described as a "medium brown matte." Finely milled, good consistency. More yellow undertones.

Serious - described as a "smoky gray with iridescent floating pearl." You can see the shimmers in this one, decent colour pay off.

Pop - described as a "pale coral with iridescent sparkle." A very light peach, with micro-glitters. Be careful of some fallout.

Harajuku - described as a "metallic blue-pink/iridescent micro-shimmer." This shade takes a bit to build up, it is very sheer. In the pan you would think it would be more intense then it is.

Danger - described as a "deep metallic royal blue/blue micro-sparkle." This shade really pops when applied with a dark base. It has a nice pearl sheen to it, but I did not find the colour pay off as great as what others are saying.

1987 - described as a "bright metallic yellow-gold." This one is very buttery, such a smooth texture. Excellent pigmentation.

Blackout - described as a "blackest black matte." Great pigmentation, and very blendable. Nice soft texture.

Hope this helps you guys out in your decision whether or not to buy this limited edition palette or not! If it does not suit you, your skin tone, or tastes I hear there are other Gwen collabs with UD in the New Year. xoxo!

#UrbanDecay #LimitedEdition #sephora