Urban Decay: The Black Palette (with Toasted from the UD Show Pony Palette) on eyes, UD Hookup Blush on cheeks, UD Lipstick in Naked on lips
Did you ever read those Sweet Valley High books? I loved ’em when I was a kid. There’s like a billion in the series… Okay, not a billion, more like 181, but that’s still A LOT of books. They’re all about the trials and tribulations of two teenage twins, Elizabeth, the perfect little goody-two-shoes, and Jessica, the unscrupulous yet lovable bad girl, who live in the fictional town of Sweet Valley, CA.
I had a Sweet Valley flashback today while swatching Urban Decay: The Black Palette. The $36 set, exclusive to Sephora, came out for fall, but I wasn’t ready for its darker shades until now.
The six powder shadows strike me as shades a Jessica would like — naughty and smokey with a bad-girl edge.
She’s the girl who’d steal your boyfriend but then charm her way back into your good graces (without you even realizing it!). Despite how dark and moody they are, the colors are still flexible enough to wear to school or work.
The palette, with its five shimmery jewel-toned shades and black-as-night matte, are the stars of the show, but the set also comes with two of Urban Decay’s cult faves, a tiny bottle of Eden Primer Potion and a 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero, all for $36.
Shimmery gunmetal gray Barracuda, shimmery dark plum Jet, shimmery indigo blue Sabbath, shimmery black-and-gold Cobra (like a beefier version of the middle shade from the Clarins Barocco Eye Trio), shimmery blackish green Libertine and matte Black Dog round out the palette.
All of them pack hard core, intensely rich pigment; consequently, if I only had 10 minutes to do my entire face, this would NOT be the palette I’d grab. The shadows are just so intense that blending them can be tricky (also apt to be fallout), but for traffic-stopping smokey eyes, assuming you have the time for a lot of layering, The Black Palette would make an excellent choice.
On my eyes, these shimmery shadows broadcast both black and color. They’re more like interpretations based on black, rather than straight-up shimmery blues, greens and the like.
Swatches from left: Black Dog, Barracuda and Jet
Sabbath, Cobra and Libertine
Black Dog, Barracuda, Jet, Sabbath, Cobra and Libertine
24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero, Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden unblended and blended
Even if you’ve never attempted a smokey eye before, don’t be scurred! You could totally rock this palette. Maybe start with something easy, like pairing one of the shimmery shades on the lid with your favorite neutral shadow in the crease, which is what I’ve done here using Sabbath, and shimmery brown Toasted from the Urban Decay Show Pony Palette. Then…blend till ya can’t blend no more! 🙂
Oh, it might help to do your eyes before the rest of your makeup. That way you can clean up any fallout or fix any missteps before you move on to concealer, foundation, blush and/or powder.
PRICE: $36
AVAILABILITY: Exclusively at Sephora stores and online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Karen,
This is a great look for you! The smokey eye makes your peepers pop! Fabulous.
Hi Cindy,
Thanks, hon! 🙂 Do you think you might try this palette?
What are you doing to me!?!? 🙂 Sigh. Ordering this now, thank you very much. Oh, BTW Karen, francine Pascal is coming out with a modern Sweet Valley High Novel, in case you had not heart. Liz & Jessica circa 2011…even that Todd character is involved. Loved those books too. Had the entire collection, which I’m sure is up in my parents attic. 🙂
Hi Amy,
I wonder if Bruce Patman’s gonna be up in the mix!
OMG, I was a SVH junkie too! I’ll have to look out for the new book to relive my teenage years. Did you read the junior high versions too? And watch the TV show that was on sometime in the late 90’s I think?
I never got around to reading the junior high versions of the books; I think those came out when I was in college. I’ll have to see if I can find clips of the show on youtube…
Wondering what brushes you used to apply your eye makeup… especially for the shadow below your lower lashline. I can never manage to create a thin shadowing you’re sporting here.
Anyway, you look amazing! Thanks for the post!
Hi JJ,
For the lower lash line I used the MAC 214. It’s great for getting really tight, thin lines: MAC 214 Short Shader Brush.
The font on the outside of the palette confirms for me that UD loves Led Zeppelin!
I like this palette a lot, but I think I’m close enough on several shades I already have. I always love seeing your ideas for inspiration, though.
I just woke up from a really weird dream. In part of it I was reaching for something under my desk and found a bunch of makeup I’d dropped there, including that 3-color Clarins palette you reviewed the other day. I was so excited, haha.
Hi Amber,
You’re such a font nerd! I love it.
I’m sort of jealous of your dream, btw. I can’t remember the last time I had a makeup dream!
Not so much a font nerd as a classic rock nerd. 🙂
btw:
http://thedailywh.at/post/1553807336/very-important-science-experiment-of-the-day
Um… AWESOMENESS.
I’m wondering if that would work with Tabs. Hmm.
I used to love Sweet Valley High books. I thought I had read all of them, but I only remember reading about 50 of them. I’m not sure if I’m ready to be a bad girl, but I really like the makeup on you!
I read a few of them multiple times… I was all about Playing With Fire, haha.
And you have just reminded me of my Black palette that I haven’t swiped! You did a lovely look and look lovely 🙂
Hi Paris B,
Ah! You must let know what you think of it after you swatch it. 🙂
I’m loving your complexion! What foundation are you using in these pics?
Hi LC,
I used my usual combo for photos — Laura Mercier Oil-Free Foundation and MAC Prep+Prime Powder on the face and Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener and MAC Pro Longwear Concealer beneath the eyes.
I also took these pics in the morning, which is when the light happens to be really good in my place! Good lightening can make a big difference in how makeup photographs.
Give yourself some credit, my dear. You’re a lovely chica as well!
Thanks, LC. 🙂
Happy Saturday, btw. What are you up to this weekend?
My sisters and i grew up reading Sweet Valley series too. 😀 Even though we are half way across the world.
The EOTD is very pretty….I think I have some similar shades from my stash….need to dig them out and play with them.
Have a great weekend, Karen!
Hi Vonvon,
That’s so cool! It’s neat to know that the same stories are loved all around the world.
You have a great weekend, too!
I just orded this palette from Sephora today. I love Urban Decay so I had to pick it up. I’m a little nervouse about the fallout that these colors may have….we’ll see how things go.
Hi Chanel,
The fallout’s a little annoying. You could always try doing your eyes first so you can clean up any stray glitter before applying foundation, etc. That’s what I usually do.
i was seriously thinking of buying that last thurs @ the sephora event but i feel like i have shades that will approximate those colors… maybe i should rethink LOL!
Hi Nina,
Do you wear smokey eyes often? If you do it might be worth it. The different shades would be a nice way to spice things up!
quite a bit during winter – just a simple, quick one … ill probly order this online. 🙂
Hawt! Let me know what you think of it when you get it. 🙂
This smoky eyes is beautiful on you !
I love the black shade with gold glitters…
Thanks, Jasmine!
That black shade with gold might be pretty layered on top of a gold base.
I never read Sweet Valley High books but my sister and older cousin collected them together.. they were obsessed! I kind of want to read them now…
I kind of want to attempt a smokey eye look too.. I’ll choose reading since it’s much easier!
Hi Ashley,
Smokey eyes don’t have to be hard. Maybe try smudging different colors on top of black eyeliner? That’s the fastest, easiest way I know to bang out a look! 🙂
When this was first released, I wasn’t impressed. Then, today, during my break, I went over to Sephora and swatched it… and fell in love. This post isn’t helping, either! I waaant!
Hi Jen,
You’re so cute! Maybe put this on your holiday wish list?
I love this pallette. The packaging rocks ;), and so does it’s high intensidy colors. A great deal if you don’t have simalar colors already.
PS:: I love the look you did here 🙂 It’s very pretty on you
Hi Shauna,
Thanks, hon! Did you pick this one up already?
This smokey eye looks great on you, Karen! Very pretty =) What foundation are you wearing in these pics? Your skin looks amazing for reals!
Hi Shirley,
It’s the combo I usually wear for pictures — Laura Mercier Oil-Free Liquid Foundation topped with MAC Prep+Prime Powder. 🙂
I like the colours but I think that the packaging kind of looks cheap and nasty because it looks like shiny cardboard embossed with the silver lettering. I’m too much about really nice packaging to buy this one.
I can see where you’re coming from, Emma. Maybe the Clarins Barocco collection is more your style?
Totally! I love the packaging and the lip colour and face powder. You’re so great to be sharing all these wonderful products that I for one would never find on my own 🙂
I loved Sweet Valley High (I even had the board game!), I want this palette, and I adore this blog. Also, great look for you! Enjoy your weekend 🙂
Hi Allie,
I adore you right back. 🙂
Oh, and I’m pretty jealous that you had the board game…
Sweet Valley series were my life those days! I’d slog and slave, just to have some money to buy these babies every month, every book that was out! (I started reading in 1995, so have to scour for the older books) Gosh, those days have really gone by eh?
I love your look 🙂 and you made me thinking again about purchasing this….
Hi Jessica W,
Amazing, isn’t it? What’s really cool is how the stories still resonate with young women now. 🙂
Wow, that looks GREAT on you…and not the least bit overdone. I looked at that palette briefly in Sephora the other day and in a million years, I wouldn’t have thought you could make a tasteful, daytime smoky eye from those colors. Can’t tell you how cute it looks with the new bangs, too; the lipstick is also super-flattering.
Hi MKDallas,
A lil’ bit of contrasting shadow in the crease works wonders! 🙂
How’s your weekend going? Doing anything f un?
Well, I just bought a new giant jar of Nutella, lol. Actually, the Mr. and I are going to a fun charity dinner in Austin tomorrow night. Dennis Quaid will be playing piano (he’s pretty good, too) while we eat & drink way too much. Wonder if I should ask him wassup with his crazy brother, lol. Hope you and your 2 boys have a joyful weekend.
Cool palette! I need to check this one out. BTW, your eyebrows look really great in these photos, Karen! Lol, sorry if that’s wired to say 🙂
Hi Polish Earthgirl,
Totally not weird to say. I compliment women (and men) on their eyebrows all the time. Here I’m wearing a product from Benefit called Instant Brow! I reviewed it a couple of weeks ago —
Benefit Instant Brow: I Ain’t Afraid of No Ghost…Brows
Sounds cool! Thanks for the link!!
You so purty!
Thanks, Lindsay! 🙂
Hey Karen. I de-lurked last weekend but realized there are so many “Stephs” so I’ll now post as anothersteph. Dull but I’m tired and not creative at the moment. You said in your review of the NARS Follow the Boy set that you used 3 of the shades in the Black Palette over UD Zero on your eyes. You looked amazing and I’d love to know which ones you used so I can be a copy cat! 🙂 How’s Tabs today? Mr. Sun is sleepy and calm for a change.
I will have to check out that palette. Ive yet to get the naked one.
I loved the Sweet Valley High books, also loved the sweet dreams books too 🙂
Yes, on you. There are not enough ways to say “NO” on me. I literally got itchy just thinking about it. Sweet that it comes with one of your fave primers, though. 🙂
omg, i LOVED Sweet Valley High!!! I seriously had almost all of them…i was obsessed.
Oh, the palette looks awesome.
Hi Karen,
have you tried those eyeshadows over Fyrinnae’s Pixie Epoxy Base? This base truly bring out all the lovely glitter of the shadows.
Have a look at this review, this is so amazing:
http://www.lipglossiping.com/2010/08/25/urban-decay-the-black-palette-photos-swatches/
LG Jennie
PS. No, it’s not my blog (I don’t have one) and I don’t know the person from the blog. I just think she’ve done a fantastic jobs by taking this pictures! 🙂