I have been desperate to lay eyes on the Gwen Stefani Urban Decay Collection – it’s been getting rave blogger and consumer reviews (it’s already launched) – so I really wanted to see it properly for myself. If you read this blog regularly, you’ll know that when it comes to celebrities, I’m pretty clueless (sorry, Michelle who, for Revlon?) so my way to look at celebrity collaborations is to take the celeb bit out and see if the products still stand on their own two feet. I do at least know who Gwen Stefani is and what she looks like.
Of the blush swatches, the second from bottom, is the most interesting because it’s a gold hit raspberry shade – I’m wearing it now and it’s really pretty. But, going round the palette (in the swatch bottom to top) it’s Cherry (baby pink), Easy (raspberry gold), Angel (warm gold), Lo-Fi (light warm bronze matte), Hush (shimmery peach champagne) and OC (matte pale peach with pink undertones). This one hasn’t launched yet – I’m waiting for a store date and then I’ll do an additional post. As someone who greatly prefers creme blush to powder, UD has got this formula right because it feels almost creamy even though it’s actually powder.
Next up is the Gwen Stefani Urban Decay Collection eye palette. Oh, my! On the face of it, it looks very much nude and neutral focussed, but Row 3 is where the rockstar happens and that’s what lifts this palette.
So, I’m swatching each row individually, starting with Row 1 left to right, below.
From bottom to top: Blonde, Bathwater, Skimp, Steady, Punk. The colours are coming out more realistically on iphone than my camera today so I’m chopping and changing according to which is the best representation. Of course, the light is horrible today! Each shade has a nuance to it – so peach, gold or pink tones and all but Punk at the end are shimmery.
Row 2, apart from the first shade and last, Baby (beautiful amost bronze gold) and Serious, is matte, so following Baby is Anaheim, Stark, Zone and Serious.
Away from the more neutral shades, Row 3 has the colour smack-downs. This row is where it starts to feel more Urban Decay and less Stefani. Shades from bottom to top are: Pop, Harajuku, Danger, 1987 and Blackout (matte).
In terms of versatility, it’s obvious that there is plenty of that with mattes, shimmers, neutrals and booms of colour. The one shade I had a problem with at intensity is Punk – it was patchy and required a lot of blending. Otherwise, the quality is all there. The palette has actually launched (HERE).
I have some other bits and bobs from the collection to show you tomorrow.
Transparency Disclosure
All products are sent to me as samples from brands and agencies unless otherwise stated. Affiliate links may be used. Posts are not affiliate driven.
10 comments
I’m a massive Gwen fan (I’ve had everything else beauty-wise she’s done: perfume, nail polish), but I admit the eyeshadows haven’t really hooked me. The bottom row is a bit scary for someone who considers grey eyeshadow a bit rogue! I’m interested in the blushers though and I’m watching to see what else is coming out.
Looks amazing. Would love to try it
Kisses from http://poshnessary.com ❤
Definitely going to grab the blush palette to add to my collection. The lipsticks and the eyeshadow palette have stolen my cold, dead heart.
Kiran | http://www.alittlekiran.co.uk
Ever since I first spotted the blush palette from Gwen Stefani for Urban Decay I have been in love, it just looks so pretty. I really love the variety of colours, and from what you have said the formula also sounds amazing.
Kristy | http://www.thevioletblonde.com
This palette seems to have divided the community. People either love it or were underwelmed. Glad you liked it though Jane, makes me feel better about picking up mine at the post office this weekend 😉
I think as a little bit of everything it’s a success but I can see it isn’t quite ‘tidy’ enough in the colour edit for some.
I’m not a fan of gwen herself to be honest, but these palettes look amazing. I really like the look of the blush palette!
http://www.justmylook.me
I absolutely love Gwen – she’s been one of my idols since I was a kid and she always looks flawless! Exciting to see the blusher palette – I’ve already got the eyeshadow palette and can’t wait to get my hands on more when it launches in the UK. Ready to read your next post already!
JH | http://www.hellojenniferhelen.com
I think this a lovely palette if you don’t already own many that are neutrals. Great to see a combination of mattes and shimmers and the pop of colour is a welcoming addition. I already have many neutrals, so this palette leaves me uninspired but looking forward to swatch the blusher one. Thanks for sharing Jane.
I have this eye palette and I love it! It’s so versatile! I wasn’t too bothered about the celebrity endorsement because the pallette itself is so gorgeous!