Palette Love: Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette

I’m lucky to have lots of lovely palettes to play with at the moment and I know we’ve got some more corkers coming later in the year, so I thought it was about time I put together a series.  To start the series off, it had to be the stunner that is the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette, which is part of the ideally suited collaboration between the quirky brand and the even quirkier pop star.

I’ve been a fan of Gwen for years – I remember being obsessed with her crop top and jeans look that she sported for the Don’t Speak video (that was 21 years ago. Oh. My. God.) and thinking that one day I’d have a stomach flat enough to wear the same (never happened) – but I will admit that I wasn’t overly excited about the collaboration and I couldn’t understand the hype…until I got my hands on the palette.  Of course, with this palette, you get the amazing eyeshadow formula that Urban Decay are known for, but what’s quite amazing is that it is, for all intents and purposes, a mostly nude palette, yet it’s got just enough colour and different finishes to make nudes feel fresh and exciting again – you gaze upon the 15 shades and see such potential for colour play; it really is a nude palette for those who are bored of nudes.

You can really feel the Gwen vibe in the colours too, as she’s a truly ideal celebrity to collaborate with, as her looks are fun yet sophisticated, playful yet wearable and most importantly, fresh, interesting and just different enough, but not so different that they feel out of reach.  All of that is found in this evocative palette, that really does feel like it’s a way to use colour amongst the neutral shades, so you can adapt it to a level that you feel comfortable with.

In the palette, you get nine mid-toned, easy nudes, with a good mix of shimmer and matte.  Three deeper, darker shades for definition – they are so pigmented that they work really well as liners – and finally the three that add a little more colour, with a bright lilac, a royal blue and a gold-leaning yellow, all of which are shimmery in finish.  As I’ve said, the pigmentation is extremely strong, the formula is buttery and velvety and all shades work together and blend together like an absolute dream.  There really is so much potential here and, whilst I hate to use a cliche, the only limit is your imagination; this is genuinely one of the best palettes for grown-up colour, with gorgeous nudes alongside.  You also get a sample of the newer Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Lipsticks, which is a handy way to try before you buy.  The Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette is available now for £40 here – link – or in-store, including at the very exciting, newly launched standalone store at Brent Cross, North London!

*PR Sample