Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box

Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box is a collection of the brand's nine best-selling deluxe formula shades (thank you S, for this). 

Above, packaged in its original see-through box. It comes with a travel-sized Eyeshadow Primer Potion.

The compact velvety case looks like a sequined clutch bag.

The eclectic mix of brights and neutrals in this collection certainly makes it my kind of palette.

Here they are swatched lightly.

All of them feel buttery soft and are very pigmented. It encourages creativity, what with the bright green, deep gold, and rich neutrals. Peace makes a good liner shade, for the color just pops. Overall, this makes a good starter kit for those wanting to experiment with bolder shades at an exceptional texture. 

Mirror, mirror.

The puny Potion.

As stated before, I have never been a fan of this eyeshadow base. It was also a challenge to scoop out any product from this bottle. 

Description.

Breakdown.

Urban Decay Naked Palette

After reading so many good reviews about Urban Decay's Naked Palette, I knew it was the nude palette worth splurging for. It is one of the more famous UD palettes as it meets many people's needs. Nudes, after all, are the most natural of colors on human skin and would be easy to pair with any look. In fact, I wanted this palette so badly waiting eight months wasn't much of an issue (thanks to S and F again for helping me get this one).

It comes in a plastic cover together with a mini Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (reviewed here). 

I like the "crushed" eyeshadow images on the back. Each shade is pictured and labeled like that of a magazine spread. Below that the ingredient list can be found.

The case is covered in velvet which feels luxurious but this kind of packaging attracts dirt easily. The lid closes with the help of a magnet. It also comes with a full-sized synthetic eyeshadow brush. It feels very soft and is tapered neatly, but I didn't find much use for it as it made application streaky (given my amateur skills). I prefer different brush cuts for eyeshadow application, such as MAC's 217 and 239. 

The Naked Palette totals one dozen shades. Here they are magnified in three batches. The first four look like light neutrals suitable for day. The palette is a mix-match of matte, satiny, and shimmery finishes.

The second segment comes with four medium to dark shades of neutrals and a grey tone.

The last four are smoky neutrals veering on plum and charcoal. They are more dramatic shades that deliver strong looks or intensifies softer ones. 

This practical box of shadows has all it takes to create any eye makeup look suitable with any outfit, thanks to its mirror, brush, and most importantly, 12 shades of well-thought-of colors. I think one of the reasons for its mass appeal is that it features classic shades which can stand countless fads (all in one palette at that). Each shade is distinct of the other and serves a different purpose. It looks like all skin tones can make use of this palette. The shadows have smooth texture and heavy pigment. Just a light tap of the brush delivers intense color on the lids. If you are looking for a go-to palette which gives bang for your buck, Naked is something worth considering. I can definitely see myself keeping and using mine for years to come.  

Swatches from left to right: first six shades.

Swatches from left to right: last six shades.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion is one of the most popular eyeshadow bases known to man. 

This mini tube came along with my order of Urban Decay's NAKED eyeshadow palette. It contains a measly amount of primer. I have to literally dig in and scoop at an angle to get enough of the product out.

The slanted applicator is made of fuzzy sponge material. 

It is a light flesh tone that disappears invisibly onto the eyelids upon blending. I have actually bought a regular-sized version of this primer before and disliked it. I couldn't help but try this one out again since it was already came together with the eyeshadow palette. I didn't find much help from it in terms of extending the staying power of other eye makeup products. The 24/7 Eye Pencil in Stash (reviewed here) still smudged on me with this primer on. Since it goes on transparent, it wasn't able to even out lid color. It didn't make other eyeshadows pop out or apply more vividly either unlike Lunasol's Eyelid Base. Honestly, I just don't get the hype coming from this product. It could be that UD's Primer Potion serves a different criteria altogether than what I look for in an eye base -- which is one that evens out lid imperfections, intensifies eye makeup, and prolonging their staying power at the same time. 

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Stash

Urban Decay used to occupy Bobbi Brown's space in Rustan's Makati many moons ago. I remember being drawn to and at the same time intimidated by that counter during my tweens. Not too far away was Kanebo's counter, which my mother frequented. While waiting for her, I would pass by Urban Decay, but never went too close, wondering what sort of rocker chick would buy and wear their makeup. Fast forward a decade and few more years, I learned that Urban Decay set itself apart from other brands by coming up with unusual colors never before seen during the 90s. What started out as a company churning out 10 lipsticks and 12 nail enamels in the U.S. is now a well-known name all over the world.

Its star products include their eyeshadows and selection of eyeliners. Being on my unfinished quest for the perfect, smudge-free pencil liner, I knew no one was stopping me from trying at least one of Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil. It didn't matter how long, or whether it will be phased-out (in fact there is now a 2nd-generation eye pencil released in the form of Glide-on Shadow Pencil). I've seen the great color swatches, read about countless smudge-free promises, and the pencil form of it. (Thank you, S and F, for going through high and low to get this for me.)

Urban Decay's eyeliner pencils are widely regarded as one of the best in the industry. I may not agree so easily.

The body is the color of the shade for easy reference. The cap is made of aluminum. I like the analog font of "24/7."

It's made in Germany (wonder why most eye pencils are?) with 1.2g of product.

Unused, in its clean stubby-point glory.

Stash is a dark mossy green blended with gold. Still, the green base and gold stand distinct of each other. It applies so beautifully as if the gold is run over the green separately. The line is drawn over three to four times in the above swatch. I was really hoping that this would stand my lids without smudging, having read about people who had no other pencil eyeliner work for them except this one. Sadly, with or without Urban Decay's Primer Potion, this smudged onto my under eye area and resulted to panda eyes. The wear was longer with the Primer Potion on, though. However, it still smudged on me after a good three hours. Needless to say, lids that can withstand most eye pencils should not miss UD's pencils. They apply easily without tugging on the eye area. The formula is creamy and the colors are to die for; way more dimensional and unique than Make Up Forever's Aqua Liners (which smudged on me too).

The ingredients: above and below pictures.