Tag Archives: Urban Decay

Challenge Week: Urban Decay Afterdark

Makeup, Tutorials

Urban Decay Afterdark

Finally! I’m finally getting my Urban Decay Afterdark Challenge Week up!

Urban Decay Afterdark
Urban Decay Afterdark

Let’s state the obvious: this is not a standalone palette. You’re going to have to bring in some other shades/palettes if you want to create a cohesive look. For these looks I did my best to stick to the palette without adding much else, but since there are no matte shades, I beg forgiveness from you guys because I had to pull in a crease shade and a matte brow bone highlight!

Urban Decay Afterdark Challenge Week Looks

I wasn’t really sure where to start with this palette, so I opted to start with… a lot. It turned out very sunset inspired!

Eyes

  1. MAC Cork in the crease.
  2. Supersonic through the crease, layered pretty much on top of Cork.
  3. Sinful on the lid.
  4. Paralyzed on the outer corner.
  5. Alter on the inner corner.
  6. MAC Blanc type on the brow bone

On my lashes is Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious Full Fan Effect mascara.

Face

  • Foundation: THEFACESHOP Water Cushion in Apricot Beige
  • Bronzer: Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer
  • Blush: Cargo Mendocino
  • Lips: Bite Pepper

I really, REALLY like the mix of colours in this look. I put it together quickly because I was heading to work, so the look is a little unfinished in the end, but man do I ever love the way these colours look together!

Eyes

  1. MAC Cork through the crease.
  2. Backdrop through the crease.
  3. Lounge on the lid.
  4. Paralyzed on the outer half of the lid.
  5. MAC Blanc Type on the brow bone.

On my lashes is Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious Full Fan Effect mascara.

Face

  • Foundation: Maybelline Dream Velvet in 10 Porcelain Ivory
  • Bronzer: Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer
  • Blush: Urban Decay Bitter Sweet
  • Highlighter: Anastasia Beverly Hills Blue Ice
  • Lips: Urban Decay Ex-Girlfriend

ANOTHER solid colour mix! I’m also totally matchy-matchy because my shirt AND backdrop match the eyeshadow!

Eyes

  1. MAC Cork through the crease.
  2. Fringe through the crease.
  3. Backfire on the lid.
  4. Paralyzed on the outer half of the lid.
  5. Scene on the inner corner of the eye.
  6. MAC Blanc Type on the brow bone.

I created the wing with Kat Von D’s Tattoo Liner in Trooper and tightlined my upper and lower waterlines with the Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Crayon in Blacquer. I coated my lashes with Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious Full Fan Effect mascara and popped on a pair of Esqido false lashes (probably Lashlorette, but I didn’t write it down so not positive).

Face

  • Foundation: Too Faced Born This Way in Porcelain
  • Bronzer: Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer
  • Blush: Urban Decay Bittersweet
  • Highlighter: Kat Von D Alchemist – Blue Saphyre
  • Lips: Clinique Crayola Chubby Stick in Mauvelous

This one was a bit of an experiment. The palette does have some shades that can be used to make a neutral look… but I still wanted some colour in there so I threw the pinky-purple in the crease. The end result is still very neutral though!

Eyes

  1. Backfire through the crease.
  2. Scene on the lid.
  3. Off Duty on the outer corner of the lid.
  4. MAC Blanc Type on the brow bone.

I created the wing with MAC’s fluidline in Dipdown and coated my lashes with Maybelline’s Lash Sensational Luscious Full Fan Effect mascara.

Face

  • Foundation: Maybellime Dream Velvet in 10 Porcelain Ivory
  • Bronzer: The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01 Light Matte
  • Cheeks: Too Faced Papa Don’t Peach
  • Lips: Fresh lip balm in Rose

By the time I got to the fifth look in this Challenge Week I was seriously running out of ideas. So I tried to reverse the shades I would normally use in different areas and I think it turned out okay! (For example, I almost never put a red like that on the lid – I usually put in the crease. And vice versa for the purple!)

Eyes

  1. Druggie through the crease and used to line the lower lash line.
  2. Supersonic on the lid.
  3. Backfire in the outer corner.
  4. Scene on the inner corner.
  5. MAC Blanc Type on the brow bone.

I created the wing with Kat Von D’s Tattoo Liner in Trooper and applied Maybelline’s Lash Sensational Luscious Full Fan Effect mascara to my top and bottom lashes. I also lined my lower water line with MAKE UP FOR EVER’s Aqua XL Pencil Liner in M-92.

Face

  • Foundation: MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD liquid in Y225
  • Bronzer: Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer
  • Blush: Stila Convertible in Twilight Rose
  • Highlighter: Kat Von D Alchemist Holographic Palette – Ultra-Violet Amethyst
  • Lips: Tarte Color Drench in Happy

Let me know if you picked up this palette and what colour combinations you’ve come up with that you’ve loved!

If you want to snag it, the Urban Decay Afterdark palette is $59 CAD on sephora.ca and $49 USD on sephora.com.

Post contains affiliate links.

Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadows (Review & Swatches)

Makeup, Reviews, Swatches
Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadows
Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadows

The Urban Decay Moondust shadows were introduced… oh man, how long ago was it now? Two years ago? Maybe three? Anyway, they’ve been around for a little while, but I never picked one up because the price was exorbitant (I really struggle with forking over $25 for an eyeshadow when I could get a palette with ten times the number of shadows for only double the price). BUT, I was gifted four of the Moondust shadows at the Urban Decay Square One launch party in Mississauga (vlog of that here!) and I was REALLY excited to try these out. Even cooler was these four shades were Urban Decay store/online exclusives!

Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadows
Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadows

Sadly, upon trying them, my excitement vanished into thin air. I was so, so sad at the results I got with these shadows that I debated not even posting about them at all. But, a negative review IS helpful to consumers, even if hurts my soul to do so about a brand I’ve loved immensely over the years.

Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadows
Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadows
I. Just. Don’t. Like. These.

I know a lot of people do, but I’m one of the unlucky few that doesn’t. The Moondust shadows I tried out are beautiful shades: Chem Trail is the kind of subtle pewter glitter that’s so fun to add to a look. Interstellar is a beautiful pale gold. Vortex is a super pigmented mossy green. And Crux is an INSANE blue-green mix that looks incredible in the pan.

Urban Decay Moondust swatches - Chem Trail, Interstellar, Vortex and Crux
Urban Decay Moondust swatches – Chem Trail, Interstellar, Vortex and Crux

On the lids… they just fall apart for me. (Apologies for the lack of eye looks, but I tried two different looks, hated them both and kind of figured I’d never post about them so I never bothered to take pictures.) They do apply decently – I had no issues with the application… but over the course of the day the glitter particles smear EVERYWHERE. Even worse is that those glitter particles are embedded with coloured pigmented which just makes a bloody mess. I ended up with silver sparkles and blue pigment all along the tops of my cheekbones as the pigment just dropped off my lids throughout the day. I freaking LOVE glitter, so it’s a bit of a struggle for me to say that I looked wretched with glitter everywhere because it’s something I never, ever thought I’d say.

It’s pretty rare for me to walk away from an eyeshadow  – usually I can make the colours or the pigment work in some way (and truthfully, the only other time I’ve really done this is with the Morphe 35B palette), but I don’t want to work with these eyeshadows anymore. It’s too much hassle and I can’t rely on them to not make me look like I doused my face in glitter.

So, sad to say, but I’m done with these – despite how beautiful they look in the pot, I know that I will 100% not be reaching for these at all. If you do decide to use these, I’d suggest trying a glitter adhesive of some sort which is not something I did (I did try them wet – which had no impact on fallout). That being said, I don’t think Urban Decay even makes a glitter adhesive, so it’s not like they thought it would be necessary to use one with these eyeshadows either. 🙁

The products in this post were given to me at a PR event for consideration. Post contains affiliate links.

Challenge Week: Urban Decay Full Spectrum

Makeup, Tutorials
Urban Decay Full Spectrum
Urban Decay Full Spectrum

I’m finally getting this Challenge Week up! I’ve had the Urban Decay Full Spectrum for over a month now and it was definitely one of the releases I was looking forward to the most this holiday season! Even better? It’s still currently available at Sephora!

Urban Decay Full Spectrum
Urban Decay Full Spectrum

A rainbow palette… be still my heart! I used no other palette with these looks, so if you need neutrals to flesh it out, you’ll need to grab something else! If you’d like to see swatches of this palette, please see my Swatch Sunday post here.

Urban Decay Full Spectrum Looks

Please note that in all cases, I did use a white eyeshadow base to help amp up the colours. This says nothing of the pigmentation of this palette as that is just my habit with any and all bright eyeshadows.

I wanted some kind of rainbow-y, sunset look for my first look, so I that’s exactly what I did! Want to see it live? I wore it in my November 201 Favourites video.

Eyes

  1. Calavera on the lid.
  2. Seize on the middle of the lid.
  3. Gossip on the outer corner of the lid.
  4. Sketch through the crease.
  5. Delirious to deepen it up the outer corner.
  6. Iced on the inner corner.
  7. Bump was used lightly on the brow bone to highlight.

I lined the inner lower lash line with Hatter and used Blindsided on the outer half. I lined my lower waterline with the MUFE Aqua XL Eye Pencil in M-26 and applied Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara to my lashes. I also have a pair of House of Lashes Bombshell falsies on.

Face

  • Foundation: Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo in 10N Cream
  • Bronzer: Soap & Glory Solar Powder
  • Blush: BECCA Flowerchild
  • Highlighter: Anastasia Beverly Hills Marshmallow
  • Lips: Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lovesick

A more red/warm toned look to watch my lips and the ever-present holiday season! To see it in action, check out my Beauty Empties for Q4 2016 video.

Eyes

  1. Warning on the lid.
  2. Alchemy through the crease.
  3. Delirious on the outer half of the lid (also used to line the lower lash line).
  4. Platonic to deepen up the outer corner.
  5. Jones on the inner corner.
  6. Bump on the brow bone.

I created the wing Kat Von D’s Tattoo Liner in Trooper and applied Charlotte Tilbury’s Legendary Lashes mascara. I also have a pair of Sephora Collection Plush falsies on.

Face

  • Foundation: Revlon Colorstay Liquid in Buff with Illamasqua Skin Base in 6.5 mixed in
  • Bronzer: Soap & Glory Solar Powder
  • Blush: NYX Bright Idea in Coralicious
  • Highlighter: NYX Bright Idea in Chardonnay Shimmer
  • Lips: Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Plath

I didn’t notice it until I rounded up my looks, but I’m really focusing on gradient lids with a different lower lash line colour with this palette! You can see this look in my December 2016 Makeup Favourites video.

Eyes

  1. Mean on the lid.
  2. Hatter on the outer corner.
  3. I tried to blend Hundred in, but it wasn’t working, so I added in Platonic to the outer corner.
  4. Goldmine on the inner corner.
  5. Bump on the brow bone.

I applied Jones to the lower lash line and some of Warning to the very outer corner. I created the wing with Kat Von D’s Tattoo Liner in Trooper and applied Charlotte Tilbury’s Legendary Lashes mascara. I also have a pair of House of Lashes Siren falsies on.

Face

  • Foundation: Revlon Colorstay Liquid in Buff with Illamasqua Skin Base in 6.5 mixed in
  • Bronzer: NYC Fire Island Tan
  • Blush: Physicians Formula Butter Blush in Rose Plum
  • Highlighter:
  • Lips: Bite Beauty Pepper with NYX Butter Gloss in Cherry Pie on top

Again… one colour on top, and one on the bottom! I wore this one in my 2016 Beauty Favourites!

Eyes

  1. Blindsided on the lid.
  2. Minx on the outer half of the lid.
  3. Bump on the brow bone.

I lined the lower lash line with Jones and a touch of Warning. I created the wing with the Too Faced Sketch Marker in Black and applied Charlotte Tilbury’s Legendary Lashes mascara. I also have a pair of House of Lashes falsies on, but I’m not sure which particular pair it is.

Face

  • Foundation: Revlon Colorstay Liquid in Buff with Illamasqua Skin Base in 6.5 mixed in
  • Bronzer: Soap & Glory Solar Powder
  • Blush: BECCA Songbird
  • Highlighter: Anastasia Beverly Hills Mimosa
  • Lips: Revlon Snow Peach with Clinique Melon Drop Pop on top

And for my last look, I was inspired by what I was wearing: I had a dark purple sweatshirt on that says “Look Me in the Eyeliner and Say That” that I got from the Urban Decay Square One Launch Event last month and I was wearing a neon chartreuse sports bra. Perfect colour combination in my opinion!

Eyes

  1. Faded on the lid.
  2. Sketch through the crease.
  3. Delirious to deepen up the outer corner.
  4. Iced on the inner corner.
  5. Bump on the brow bone.

On the lower lash line I have Mean on the inner portion and Hatter on the outer portion. I created the wing with the Too Faced Sketch Marker in Black and applied Charlotte Tilbury’s Legendary Lashes mascara.

  • Foundation: ARTDECO Nude Foundation in 70 Neutral Vanilla Chiffon
  • Bronzer: The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01 Light Matte
  • Blush: BECCA Flowerchild
  • Highlighter: Anastasia Beverly Hills Sassy Grape
  • Lips: Urban Decay Ex-Girlfriend

And there we have it! Five fun, colourful looks using the Urban Decay Full Spectrum palette! Did you pick this one up?? If you didn’t, it’s currently on sale at sephora.ca for $57 CAD or on sephora.com for $39 USD.

Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks (Review & Swatches)

Makeup, Reviews, Swatches

Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks

In 2016, for some unknown reason, Urban Decay discontinued their rather large (and relatively NEW) Revolution lipsticks. It was a weird move since the lipstick range really wasn’t all that old (circa 2013) and yet it was completely wiped out with Urban Decay‘s Vice Lipstick launch.

Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks
Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks

The Vice lipstick launch was ENORMOUS. UD unleashed 100 shades of lipstick onto the unsuspecting beauty community and it caused a bit of uproar. There were people who loved the Revolution formula and were pisssssed that that formula was now gone. However, beauty junkies know how to find excitement in turmoil, and with 100 shades of lipstick to choose from, how could you NOT be excited?!

Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks
Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks

But for me, when the UD Vice launch happened, it was so overwhelming I personally just went “NOPE!” and never looked at them again. I now know how some newcomers to makeup feel when they walk into Sephora for the first time – where do you even BEGIN?

Thankfully, UD got me started gently. I went to their Square One launch party in Mississauga, (there’s a vlog of it here if you’re interested!) and in their swag bag for the event were two lipsticks. I subsequently ordered a third with a PR gift card for Beauty Boutique online (which I highly recommend by the way) because I wanted to pick a colour that was very ME.

Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks
Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks

The UD event furnished me with Jawbreaker (a mega matte) and Ex-Girlfriend (sheer shimmer). I chose Tryst (cream) because that colour is everything I ever lust for in a lipstick.

Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks in Jawbreaker, Tryst and Ex-Girlfriend - swatches
Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks in Jawbreaker, Tryst and Ex-Girlfriend – swatches

Swatched up, you can definitely see the variety in the finishes. The Mega Matte, Jawbreaker, can only be described as “matte AF”, the Cream Tryst was, aptly, very creamy, and the Sheer Shimmer Ex-Girlfriend was all sheer gloss with zero shimmer.

Wearing Urban Decay - Jawbreaker
Wearing Urban Decay – Jawbreaker

The first shade I tried was Jawbreaker, and sadly, I was not a fan. It was difficult and stiff to apply. I could only keep it on my lips about 15 minutes before I said “enough” and took it off . It pilled along my lip line, gathered in the corners of my mouth… not a win for me.

Wearing Urban Decay - Tryst
Wearing Urban Decay – Tryst

However, Tryst was an absolute freaking winner! It’s a cream, but there’s less slip to it than most cream formulas out there (this makes me happy as I prefer a tackier cream finish as opposed to a slippery one). It feels like the more  comfortable mattes that are on the market right now – highly pigmented, easy to apply and just overall completely beautiful. This was one of the more comfortable formulas of lipstick I’ve worn on my lips as of late.

Wearing Urban Decay - Ex-Girlfriend
Wearing Urban Decay – Ex-Girlfriend

Ex-Girlfriend is beautiful and even more comfortable to wear that Tryst. It’s a very faint “my lips but better” shade, but don’t expect it to last an exceptionally long on your lips simply because of it sheer, high shine finish. The bullet is also very soft and within the first use I was already cramming the back of the lipstick bullet against the back of the tube. I like this one for easy application on the go. It’s an easy to wear shade that I dare say will match anything else you could possibly put on your face.

Final Thoughts

There’s no denying how daunting 100 shades of lipstick can be! I mean really, go to the Sephora site and tell me that that wall of lipstick doesn’t make you go “holy crap”. However, for those looking for variety, you really don’t need to look any further. Although I tried out three different finishes, UD does offer even more as well (such as Comfort Matte, Sheer, Metallic, Shimmer and High Shine) which will help you figure out what kind of shade to go for if you know what kind of finish you like.

For me, the Mega Matte wasn’t worth my time, but the Cream and Sheer Shimmer finishes were downright delightful. Tryst is an astonishingly pretty shade – the kind that makes me SUPER FREAKING HAPPY to wear it. Ex-Girlfriend is also a winner because it’s 100% failsafe on me. I’m really happy with how they wear too – comfortable and zero issues with odd fading, etc.

Even better? I like that the price tag isn’t astronomical! The Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks will set you back $17 USD on sephora.com or $21 CAD on sephora.ca.

The products featured in this post were sent to me for consideration.