Urban Decay’s Gwen Stefani palette includes 15 eyeshadows (8 matte and 7 shimmer finishes) in mainly neutral shades with three bright pops of color at the bottom of the palette. The eyeshadows are richly pigmented, most are easy to pick up on the brush and a majority are excellent in quality (including lasting power throughout the day). The eyeshadow I was most disappointed in is Pop; its finish is identical to Dust from UD’s Naked3 palette. As an additional comparison, if you’ve ever worked with any of MAC’s Lustre finish eyeshadows, that’s the finish you get with this one. Very sparkly/chalky, hard to apply, and when applied wet, the fallout is terrible. The fallout occurs during application and throughout the day. I also found Harajuku rather hard to apply; I had to apply two layers wet before I could get the color to show on my eyes. While the color selection in this palette doesn’t personally thrill me, I feel like if you enjoy neutrals and want a pop of color here and there, this is an excellent palette to consider. Maybe it’ll grow on me the more I used it. 🙂 What do you think of this palette?
Look #1
Eyeshadows used:
- Harajuku (inner half of lid)
- Danger (outer half of lid)
- Anaheim (crease)
Dena Mcclure
Zabrena these are very pretty looks. I do agree with you about the color composition so I will skip this one personally. Thank-you for all the work that you do on these postings. AWESOME!
Zabrena
Thank you, Dena! I’m so glad you found it helpful in deciding whether to get or skip! 🙂
Kasey McKee
This post came at a perfect time as I finally picked this up today! I am a huge Urban Decay lover (and huge Gwen lover at that!) so even though their shadows tend to be tempermental here and there, I’ve just learned to accept it for the most part. I can’t wait to try and recreate some of these looks this week! I loved how you used Danger on the lower lash line in look #5! Thanks for all you do, Z! You are beyond amazing!!
Zabrena
Thank you for your kind words, Kasey!
I know what you mean! UD can be temperamental with certain shades, but we make due for the love of makeup! LOL 😉
Cindy
I am impressed with your articles and presentations. I would like to request one – what about eye makeup for glasses wearers?
Zabrena
Hi Cindy! Thank you!
Here you go! 🙂 https://myeyeshadowconsultant.com/2015/02/14/video-makeup-tips-for-looking-gorgeous-in-glasses/
Michelle
Thanks for the detailed review. Great looks too! You helped me make my decision: I’m going to skip this one as I already have lots of neutral and bright colors (UD Naked, MakeupGeek and ColourPop). Best wishes and a Happy Spring to y🌺u!
Zabrena
You’re welcome, Michelle! I’m happy it was able to help you! 🙂 Happy Spring to you too, beautiful!
boops
After looking at these colors, reading your review, I will also pass on this.Your look#2 is beautiful tho. Thanks
Zabrena
Thank you! Glad it was helpful! 🙂
Mariella
I guess I’m getting jaded but the shades in this all look so dupe-able and not very interesting (and, as you probably know, I’m someone who generally gets very excited by neutrals). Is the Skimp shade in this at all the same as the ones in Mariposa and Naked2Basics (and several other UD palettes, I think). If so, I’ve already got 2 of those! On a totally separate topic, Zabrena, I asked a while back (after you “caused” me to buy the Spirit version of Stila’s Eyes are the Window palette) whether you plan to purchase/review/feature the Soul version. I got it after being so delighted with Spirit and Soul is really lovely too (it has one stinker of a shade but the others are so terrific and, as they’re a bit cooler, I tend to gravitate to them more naturally). Any plans to review that one?
Zabrena
Hi Hun! 🙂 Yes, Skimp is the same as in the other palettes you mentioned; I wondered the same thing when I first got it and there’s no difference there. Very dupable neutrals here, too! I will absolutely keep the Soul palette in mind for you as a future addition, yes! I must’ve gotten sidetracked with a rash of new palettes at the time and forgotten to look at the other Stila palettes. LOL You know! Thanks for the reminder!
Kellyjean Wilder
I actually just got this palette and brought only it for a weeklong trip. Anaheim is a great contour color (if you do that sort of thing. I always contour my nose) for pale girls. (I guess I’m like MAC NC7 maybe)
I really liked if for the neutral and smoky eye looks I usually wear, but I had to use a separate highlight color on the trip for my inner corner (my normal highlighter, Becca Pearl pressed powder) because none of these really were light enough.
I did a look with just 1987, Stark, and Blackout when I went to Harry Potter World in Universal studios for a Hufflepuff eye look and I got a lot of compliments!
Zabrena
Awesome! Thanks for sharing those amazing ideas!! 🙂
Staci Werner
I really enjoy this. At first I felt kinda meh about it, but I find myself reaching for it several times a week. I’d say right now this and shade and light are my most used palettes.
Zabrena
Awesome! I’ve really been enjoying the Shade & Light palette most recently, too!
Jacqueline Scanlan
I have it and it’s a boring palette in my opinion and very dupable.
Zabrena
I feel the same way
Patricia Tate
#5 is my favorite! can’t wait to try all of these looks! Thank you Z! Have you tried any of the lipsticks from this collection? I bought RockSteady and ExGirlfriend today <3 Love them!
Zabrena
Hi Patricia!
I haven’t! Hmmm, I’ll have to test them out next I’m in the store. Thanks for sharing your experience with them! 🙂
Rhonda Jackson
I absolutely love this palette. I was very meh! about it at first but once I picked it up and started working with it I was sold. But in all fairness I’ve been wanting to achieve a light neutral, shimmer mixed with satin look so this is the one for me. It’s all in one place and the only palette I’ve ever bought a back up for, as I can’t imagine not having it in my life.
Dolly Sumrow
IHello Zabrena, I just discovered you! I love all your videos and blogs. Normally I keep all the cosmetics I purchase even if I am disappointed with my purchase. This pallet I returned to Nordstroms because I had such difficulty applying some of the colors…as you said. I felt so bad for doing this……but how will the company know to produce better quality.
You are so inspiring and I love your use of color which is so sophisticated. I am platinum blond and my daughter is a beautiful ginger like you! We love color but we know must be tasteful. You have given us many new ideas! Thank you……
Zabrena
Hi Dolly!
Thank you so much for your kind words and welcome to you!
I’m sorry you had to return the Gwen palette, too. I had the same difficulty you described; I was surprised UD put out something so subpar for that collection. 🙁
So happy you and your daughter are getting some great ideas! 🙂
Marsheilah
I love this palette! I have a dark complexion and initially passed this one over because I thought the colors were not deep enough to work for me. However, when it went on sale for $25 I picked it up. I took it with me on an extended weekend along with a small palette of MAC staples; not once did I need my staple palette and I loved every look I created. I love neutrals with a pop of color and this has turned into one of my favorite palettes. Zabrena thanks for posting looks with this palette. I will have to try a few.
Amber Marquez
Look number 2 is just beautiful. Please do more looks with this palette.