Urban Decay Loose Pigments Review, Photos, Swatches

A few weeks ago, I purchased all of the Loose Pigments available on HauteLook, which was twelve, and it seems to be all that are (at least, currently) in existence. They were $5, so they were such a steal, I couldn’t resist…

Loose Pigments are just that – loose eyeshadow or loose color. Urban Decay’s tend to be finely milled, so they’re soft, easy to blend, and apply smoothly. They all look and work better when used wet or with a slightly adhesive base like MAC’s Mixing Medium.

• Asphyxia is a pop of light fuchsia-pink with iridescent fuchsia sheen.
• Baked is a metallic copper bronze with a high sheen.
• Goddess is a smoldering black base with flashy teal flecks strewn through it. This one had a little more tendency to fall out, even when used wet, compared to the others.
• Graffiti is a medium grassy green. It didn’t seem to go on quite as bold or pigmented as I would have liked.
• Gunmetal is a silvered dark gray.
• Protest is a dark forest green base with flecks of silver shimmer. It has the same texture as Goddess.
• Rockstar is a darkened purple with an electric violet edge and shimmer.
• Shag is a gilded bronze with a metallic flash. Works pretty well dry, even though I’d still use these wet at all times!
• Shattered is a brightened aqua-blue with a frost finish. This one worked really well wet — very pigmented and intense.
• Smog is a darkened bronze with a copper edge.
• X is a peachy-melon with a gilded gold metallic finish.
• Yeyo is a shimmery white with a very frosty finish. I found the texture of this one to be the weirdest–a little chunky–so it didn’t apply as smoothly as I would have liked.

One of the reasons I’m not a huge advocate for these loose shades is that Urban Decay as all these shades available in eyeshadow-form, which are often easier to work with and more practical (easier to travel with). The other reason is they’re pretty expensive as compared to MAC Pigments — you only get 0.04 oz. for $20 (MAC is 0.15 oz. for $19.50). The packaging is just okay — a lot of the pigment sticks to the applicator and the edges of the applicator, so it can be pretty messy. I think I prefer the open-jar format of most loose color in comparison.

If you can nab these on sale, I think they’re totally worth it. (Hello, $5 each? More than worth it!) I don’t think I’d fork over $20 for these–might as well just buy the eyeshadow version (0.05 oz. for $17.50!). I believe Protest and Rockstar may be the only ones that don’t have eyeshadow counterparts.  While the product is good, the value of these is poor and the packaging bulky (considering how little you get), plus wasteful–I found myself cleaning up a ton of pigment that fell off the brush just getting it in and out of the jar.

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 27/30
• Value: 6/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 3/5

Recommendation: These are nice shades of loose pigments, if you don’t mind paying the price.

Availability: Urban Decay

See more photos & swatches!

Asphyxia, Baked, Goddess, Graffiti

Gunmetal, Protest, Rockstar

Shag, Shattered, Smog, X, Yeyo

Applicator

Urban Decay Asphyxia Loose Pigment

Urban Decay Baked Loose Pigment

Urban Decay Goddess Loose Pigment

Urban Decay Graffiti Loose Pigment

Urban Decay Gunmetal Loose Pigment

Urban Decay Protest Loose Pigment

Urban Decay Rockstar Loose Pigment

Urban Decay Shag Loose Pigment

Urban Decay Shattered Loose Pigment

Urban Decay Smog Loose Pigment

Urban Decay X Loose Pigment

Urban Decay Yeyo Loose Pigment

Makeup You Wanna Eat: Pinks & Purple

This look reminded me of cupcakes or maybe ice cream. Either way, I was like, “Mmm, I want some food!” (Preferrably something sweet, much to the dismay of my thighs…) For those who follow me on Twitter, *this* was the look I just wasn’t lovin’. Encouragement from my girl Pursebuzz made me OK enough to post this anyway   Though I totally meant to post this early this morning, but between studying for my final tonight and writing a final paper… it all kind of got lost in the mix!

By the by, I also tried out wearing MAC Blooming Lovely Lipstick + English Accents Lipglass, and I can see it working much better on someone with cooler undertones or even a paler complexion. I don’t always post looks that are most suitable to me, because I know not everyone who reads the blog is warm-toned and may prefer to see some cooler looks that may look better on them than I

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), MAC Fuchsia Pigment (medium bright pink), MAC Give Me Liberty of London Eyeshadow (pastel pink), MAC Free to Be Eyeshadow (matte coral), MAC Dame’s Desire Eyeshadow (medium-dark iridescent purple), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Urban Decay Lust 24/7 Liner (purple), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Setting Powder
• Cheeks: MAC Prim & Proper Blush (nude-pink), MAC Shell Pearl Beauty Powder (peach champagne)
• Lips: MAC Petals & Peacocks Lipstick (bright pink), MAC English Accents Lipglass (light medium pink with lilac)
• Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush), 165 (tapered blush brush)
• Substitutes: Give Me Liberty of London = Girlie (Pen ‘n Pink, if you have it – it’s discontinued now!); Dame’s Desire = Creme de Violet; Prim & Proper = Tenderling; Shell Pearl = Soft & Gentle; Petals & Peacocks = Girl About Town; English Accents = Cultured

For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. With the 239 and water-based mixing medium (or water), apply Fuchsia pigment all over the lid area. Using the 239, apply Give Me Liberty of London eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Free to Be eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Dame’s Desire eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Lightly blend Dame’s Desire eyeshadow, with the 239, on the outer corner and lid. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Lust eyeliner on the lower lash line and Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow lightly patted below the lower lash line with the 219 brush. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Prim & Proper blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.  With the 165, gently tap Shell Pearl beauty powder on the cheek bones to highlight.

For lips, apply Petals & Peacocks lipstick first, and then layer English Accents lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

See, MAC Blooming Lovely + English Accents… better on paler/cooler skin (and I’d also pair it with a rosier cheek).

Bright Makeup: Hot Pink Smoky Eyes

Go fierce or go home! Dark, sultry smoky eyes with a hot pink edge paired with equally in-your-face pink lips.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), MAC Fuchsia Pigment (fuchsia), Sugarpill Dollipop Eyeshadow (matte fuchsia pink), Sugarpill Bulletproof Eyeshadow (matte black), MAC Stars ‘n Rockets Eyeshadow (fuchsia-purple), MAC Beautiful Iris Eyeshadow (iridescent icy purple), MAC Blacktrack Fluidline (black liner), Urban Decay Lust 24/7 Liner (purple), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Setting Powder
• Cheeks: MAC Sculpt Sculpting Powder (dark nude), MAC Shell Pearl Beauty Powder (soft champagne-peach)
• Lips: MAC Petals & Peacocks Lipstick (hot pink), MAC True Babe Lipstick (hot pink)
• Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 168 (fluffy angled brush), 165 (tapered blush brush), 130 (flat stippling brush)
• Substitutes:  Shell Pearl = Soft & Gentle; Petals & Peacocks = Girl About Town; True Babe = Pink Poodle

For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. With the 239 and water-based mixing medium (or water), apply Fuchsia pigment all over the lid area. Using the 239, apply Dollipop eyeshadow on the entire lower eyelid area. Darken the outer third of the lid with Bulletproof eyeshadow with the 226, gently brushing it into the outer crease. Lightly blend Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow, with the 226, in the crease. Lightly tap and brush Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Beautiful Iris eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone and inner tearduct. Bring everything together by applying Lust eyeliner on the lower lash line and Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow lightly patted below the lower lash line with the 219 brush. Finish by applying Blacktrack fluidline to the upper lash line with the 208, and then sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Sculpt sculpting powder to the hollows of the cheeks to lightly contour and blend onto cheeks with the 168. To highlight, apply Shell pearl onto the cheekbones with the 165.

For lips, apply Petals & Peacocks lipstick first, and then layer True Babe lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted a look, yeah? The reason behind that is I’ve really been trying to get my skin back into shape ever since it went wacko after using Smashbox Photofinish Primer. From around July or August of ’08, I had amazing, clear skin for the first time in my life. Around December, I used the primer, and then my skin went in reverse–tiny flesh-colored pimples on my cheeks accompanied by larger, painful (and more noticeable, unfortunately) ones, as well.

I saw a dermatologist at the end of January, who pretty much told me to stop doing the blog or my skin would never get better. (Among other reasons, I will not go back to see her.) She did give me two prescription products to use, but they rang up to be $400, so I said, “Let me exhaust some other alternatives!” LOL.

I’ve been using Mario Badescu products for the past three weeks now, and I can tell you that my face is on track to normal (review of amazing MB products forthcoming). I have some post-acne marks that are fading, and then just two or three (on my *entire* face) that I have to deal with. Part of the skin regimen was to avoid makeup at all costs, just because I wanted to give my skin time to breathe, heal, and recover. It will also help me assess whether anything I’m using regularly is a culprit. I expect to start doing more full looks soon, but clearer/manageable skin is priority numero uno for now. I know you all understand

For the Hello Kitty event on the 3rd, I did sport full makeup for the first time in at least two weeks, so this look is what I wore to the event! BTW, does anyone else feel really awkward and rusty after not doing any eyeshadow in *weeks*? Because I felt like a two year old with a paint brush in my hands, LOL!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Fuchsia pigment (hot pink base), Firespot eyeshadow (orange), Passionate eyeshadow (hot pink), Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow (fuchsia-purple), Contrast eyeshadow (dark purple), Hush eyeshadow (neutral beige-pink highlighter), Urban Decay Ransom 24/7 Liner (dark purple), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Petalpoint blush (pink-raspberry)
• Lips: Lavender Whip lipstick (lavender-lilac), Crystal Rose lipglass (light fuchsia-purple)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Firespot = Melon; Petalpoint = Dollymix; Lavender Whip = no dupe; Crystal Rose = Cultured

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Fuchsia pigment all over the lid as the base with the 249. On the inner lid, apply Firespot eyeshadow using the 239. Apply Passionate eyeshadow to the middle of the lid. Darken the outer lid using Contrast eyeshadow and drag into crease using the 239. Overlay Contrast with Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow using the 239. Sweep Hush underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Firespot eyeshadow on lower lash line, Urban Decay Ransom Liner on lower water line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Petalpoint blush using the 129. Apply Lavender Whip lipstick to lips, and then top with Crystal Rose lipglass for color and shine.

Check out more photos!

Over the top? Oh, yes, I think so! I used a tiny, tiny angle brush to apply Blacktrack to my upper lash line to see if that still irritates it… we shall see. I’m not loving upper lash liner on me, but it’d still be nice to do every time and again!

I used Soft Ochre paint pot all over lid, Primary Yellow pigment all over lid, Going Bananas eyeshadow on inner lid, Fab & Flashy eyeshadow on middle of lid, Romping eyeshadow on outer lid and crease, Fuchsia pigment on outer crease and above crease, Going Bananas eyeshadow above crease, Motif eyeshadow on brow, Blacktrack fluidline on upper and lower lash lines, Going Bananas eyeshadow on lower lash line, and Plushblack mascara. I had Fleurry blush on cheeks with Daisydust beauty powder to highlight. I wore Show Orchid lipstick (PRO) [lightly] with Totally It! lipglass on my lips.

And who doesn’t love passed out puppies? I’ve never known a dog who spent more time on his back, seriously.

(And if you want to see more of his photos, since he is a camwhore, www.flickr.com/photos/temptalia)