Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette Swatches, Photos, Review (Part 1)
Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches (Part 1)
This post is going to look at six of the fifteen eyeshadows (and the second post will look at the other nine). With the server issues we have had today, it’s even more essential than normal that I split the photos (50!) over two posts to make things more manageable. The review (and rating), however, encompasses the entire palette.
Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette ($55.00 for 15 x 0.05 oz.) includes fifteen brand new, never-before-seen shades in a limited edition palette. These shades are: Midnight Rodeo (brown pearl with silver), Tainted (pale matte purple with golden shimmer), Deeper (deep shimmery golden brown), Midnight 15 (oyster pearl with silver glitter), Junkshow (metallic bright pink with slight blue shift), MIA (dark velvet brown), Vanilla (creamy white gold), Omen (metallic bright purple with blue shift), Ace (dark gunmetal), Flow (soft peach shimmer), Evidence (deep metallic blue), Blackout (darkest, must saturated black), Chase (bright bronze), Deep End (bright teal), and Half Truth (deep greyish purple). It will be available on urbandecay.com beginning July 12th, and it will make its way to other retailers like beauty.com, Macy’s, Sephora, and Ulta in July/August. I do not have any specific dates for other retailers at this time.
- Midnight Rodeo is a sparkly taupe brown. It does have glitter, but it’s subtle and doesn’t seem as large as Urban Decay’s other glitter-finished eyeshadows. I thought Toasted might be similar, but it’s not–much browner, less of a taupe. theBalm Insane Jane is grayer (more cool-toned), while Inglot #402 is nearly indistinguishable from Midnight Rodeo.
- Tainted is a pinked lavender with a subtle golden sheen. I found this one a little powdery–almost too blendable (where it sheers out when you make any move to blend it)–and the sheen and lavender color don’t bind together entirely. It’s ridiculously more pigmented and leans more on the purple side compared to MAC Boy Crazy. Lancome Amethyst Glam palette has a shade that’s similar but purpler. MAC Lotusland is similar but seems a bit lighter.
- Deeper is a chocolate bronze with a subtle golden sheen. It is a warmer, lighter version of Urban Decay Darkhorse, darker and less warm Urban Decay Smog–almost like the two had a baby.
- Midnight 15 is a soft champagne with a hint of gray and frosted finish. There is a subtle amount of glitter which has a touch of fall out. Initially, I thought it might be similar to Urban Decay Virgin, but it’s grayer–looks taupe in comparison. It’s a little darker compared to the beige in Chanel Prelude and less yellow compared to Urban Decay Ruthless (this is the closest).
- Junkshow is a brightened fuchsia-purple with a fuchsia sheen. It’s similar (but brighter) than MAC Double Feature 7, while Urban Decay Woodstock is pinker, less blue-based, and has no purple. It has a more vibrant and obvious pink base compared to Urban Decay Fishnet, however the iridescent sheen is less apparent in Junkshow.
- MIA is a dark brown with a soft copper base and light sheen. It is lighter and doesn’t have the gold shimmer of Urban Decay Darkhorse.
Of the fifteen shades in the palette, Tainted and Midnight Rodeo were the ones I wasn’t sold on. Midnight Rodeo has subtle glitter, so there was just the tiniest amount of fall out (I tested all shades I thought might be problematic as soon as I finished swatching the palette!)–like two or three specks of sparkle, so nothing like the fall out from other glitter eyeshadows from Urban Decay. Tainted is easily sheered out; the matte lavender base doesn’t seem to bind with the golden sheen, and the result is that neither comes together to stand out. It is a shade that works better packed on and lightly blended around the edges. We are not talking about a terrible eyeshadow in either instance–those are just the two that I was like, “Hm, there’s room for improvement.”
The color payoff for nearly all of the shades was nice. Tainted sheers out easily but applies well initially, and Evidence (surprisingly!) felt a little stiff–it didn’t have the same buttery, dense texture that most Urban Decay eyeshadows have. Evidence works much better applied, and it still has decent color payoff when swatched, but the stiffer texture stood out immediately to me. The other thirteen shades were nicely pigmented and applied smoothly.
It’s possible to have too many similar shades to make the palette worth picking up, but overall, I think it’s an excellent palette that offers so much value. There are fifteen full-sized eyeshadows here, and Urban Decay’s full-sized eyeshadows retail for $17 each–that’s $255 worth of eyeshadow for $55. This is what I want to see when a brand puts out a value palette, set, kit, or what-have-you. It doesn’t feel like Urban Decay skimped on the quality, either, as some brands do when they put together a value palette. These eyeshadows feel just like singles and past palettes Urban Decay has put out.
The packaging is true-to-form for Urban Decay with the filigree edging and metallic finishes. Inside the cover of the palette is a full-sized mirror (spans the entire area of the lid), and the portion that holds the eyeshadows actually pops out to reveal a compartment below. You won’t be able to put much (maybe a few photos or something!) underneath, because it’s a rather narrow space with the insert on top. Urban Decay described it more as a way to make the entire box useful after you have used up all your eyeshadows, and once you recycle the eyeshadow insert portion, you’ll definitely have more room. It does hold fingerprints like crime scene, though!
Remember, you can compare all of these eyeshadows side-by-side in the Swatch Gallery!
Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette Swatches, Photos, Review (Part 1)
Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette
Midnight Rodeo, Tianted, Deeper
Midnight 15, Junkshow, MIA
Urban Decay Midnight Rodeo Eyeshadow
Urban Decay Midnight Rodeo Eyeshadow
Urban Decay Tainted Eyeshadow
Urban Decay Tainted Eyeshadow
Urban Decay Deeper Eyeshadow
Urban Decay Deeper Eyeshadow
Urban Decay Midnight 15 Eyeshadow
Urban Decay Midnight 15 Eyeshadow
Urban Decay Junkshow Eyeshadow
Urban Decay Junkshow Eyeshadow
Urban Decay MIA Eyeshadow
Urban Decay MIA Eyeshadow
Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette
MUST HAVEE!!!
Do you know if/when Sephora may carry it??
It will be available on urbandecay.com beginning July 12th, and it will make its way to other retailers like beauty.com, Macy’s, Sephora, and Ulta in July/August. I do not have any specific dates for other retailers at this time.
I live in Canada so UD.com doesn’t ship to us :'( They’re slowly approaching my name on the waiting list at my local Sephora for the Naked palette.. but I might need to save for this one instead.. or I’ll just have both haha. Thanks Christine for your hard work! Much appreciated =)
Where do you live? There’s some select Shopper’s Drug Marts that are carrying Urban Decay now and tend to have Naked Palettes in stock more often than sephora!
Nooooo way! I live in Kitchener, Ontario (if you know where that is lol). I didn’t know some Shoppers carried UD. I should call them to ask
I live in Kitchener, Ontario too!! 🙂 Would you mind letting me know which Shoppers carry’s UD so I can check it out? Thx 🙂
Wow really?! that’s amazing, but i highly doubt any of the Shoppers near me sell UD. ): have to go search around!
I live in Kitchener, Ontario too!! 🙂 Would you mind letting me know which Shoppers carry’s UD so I can check it out? Thx 🙂
I asked about the UD @ shoppers and there’s only (currently) a handful of locations that have it. Two of them are downtown Toronto…I’m not sure where the rest of them are. it’s kind of a polite…i’m hoping they bring it to more locations.
Seriously, I can get a Naked palette tomorrow at Shoppers!
I literally gasped. haha The colors are so pretty! I need this palette in my life.
NEED IT!
Your dedication is astounding, Christine. I hope you know how much we appreciate all that you do. <3
The browns are gorgeous and the overall packaging is very sleek 🙂 thanks for the swatches.
Love deeper, midnight and MIA!!!
Oh my god, I’m in LOVE.
I am so glad this will be on their website next month when I can afford it! <3
What does Junkshow look like next to Woodstock? Is it lighter or darker?
Please use the Swatch Gallery – http://www.temptalia.com/swatch-gallery
I just want the middle row now that I would buy it has too many neutrals for me bcuz Im buying the naked palette for that
I’ll pass on this. I’ve been really underwhelmed with Urban Decay lately, plus the packaging is bland and the colors aren’t anything spectacular or colors that I don’t already own from another brand.
..I’ll deft will be purchasing this. thanks for all the input/review/swatches you give all of us christina (and others that work w you) ^.^
Do I need this? No. Do I want it? Yes. Will I buy it? Probably. Actually, who am I kidding, of course I will.
I feel you. xD
Tainted, M.I.A. and Deeper are especially gorgeous. Junkshow just reminds me of Woodstock. The whole palette looks great, though. I love that this one has a good amount of neutrals to pair with the brighter shades. Sometimes UD palettes have too many brights/dark shades that are difficult to wear together (at least in my opinion). I like a pretty pop of color, but I’m not one to wear more than one bright shade on my eyes.
What? No glitter in the shadow? That is the main reason I buy UD…otherwise, these colors could just be from another brand. Even the box is not spectacular. Cant carry this box with you when you travel like the Naked Palette….too cumbersome. The colors are like having YSL, Bobbie Brown and MAC all combined into one box. If you dont open the box, you think inside is a box of chocolates.
i need this, ughh. I’m a sucker for urban decay eyeshadows, i bought one palette and now I’m hooked and can’t stop. :/
I know how you feel I’ve got BOS 1,2 and 3 and my husband just doesn’t understand. I skipped the Naked Palette but I have been eying for sometime but do I really need that many eyeshadows?!
Amazing ♥ !!!
i need this!
The packaging is just amazing! I’m not sure I really need the shadows though… but since they are exclusive to this palette, I might splurge!
Oh my. I squeeeeeeeeeeeeed. Lol. I need this. Like, really bad.
I can’t believe you have these up already. You’re awesome. Hopefully if I get to the US in October, I may still be able to find one 🙂
I think I need this palette! 🙂 It is 2:05 a.m. making it officially July 12th and no sign of this palette on the Urban Decay web site. I’m afraid to go to sleep because I know it will be sold out when I wake up later today. Such a dilemma!
Really really hope we are getting this in the UK! We never got the Rollergirl sets, so I had to buy one off eBay, which was fine, but I have a feeling that this will be another Naked/Alice in Wonderland craziness on eBay and I’m not prepared to pay loads to get it.
I think BoS 3 is still available, so it’s possible it won’t sell out quite as quickly!
Debenhams had the Rollergirl sets up online for about 3 days, if that. Never seen them at a counter though 🙁 My local counter is pretty good at having at least one left by the time I get there 😛
Okay so this NEEDS to be in my life.
Likely to be around 2 months before it’s in the UK though… :'(
Aww I know I don’t need it, but I really really want it. At least I don’t have 5 of the shades already-I don’t even know how many smogs I own. Thanks for the review, Christine. 🙂
How do you think Blackout compared to Black Dog from the Black Palette? Not urgent, just wondering.
gorgeous! As an avid UD fan, this is a must-have! I have so many palettes like BOS II, III, Feminine, etc. that it’s SO nice to have one with completely new shades (even if they are similar or dupable). I skipped on NAKED bc it seemed too warm for me. I’m NW20-25 to be more specific. Do you have any advice or ideas about how this will work for cool-toned gals like myself? Thanks for the great swatches!
The neutrals tend to be a little warm, though a couple are taupe-ish, which should flatter either way. The brighter colors seem to lean cooler. Try pairing a warm shade with one or two cooler shades or something with high contrast 🙂
It would be nice to see you post a few looks with this palette.
lovely colors…though I wished they came in sleeker, long palatte like Naked Palette. would had been easier to stack.
I know that I have too many UD Eyeshadows, and I’m still drooling over this since this post went live. I will ultimately purchase this, I just don’t know how long it will be that i hold out. I’m trying to convince myself that with Naked and Roller Girl, I have all the neutrals a girl could ever need, but then I see colors like Midnight 15, Vanilla, Deeper, MIA, Flow Chase, Deep End – and I can hardly contain myself. Plus, there is something that pulls at my very being when “limited edition” is mentioned. If I don’t do it now, I’ll never be able to! GAH! *shaking fists at UD marketing crew*
“almost like the two had a baby” LOL
Yes I’m sure the palette is not that unique, but it’s limited edition and I’m a sucker for LE!
Holy shit it’s fucking gorgeous! I dunno how you feel about use commenting with such colorful language – but surely it’s ok this time. 🙂 It’s seriously the prettiest palette I’ve ever seen. And all the shadows look good too! I’m definitely going to get this one. I love that they have new shades for it (since I’ve got a few others I tend to get repeats like MC, MCRA, etc…)….Holy crap I need it. Thank you so much for swatching it and all the additional photos to show it off!
JUNKSHOW is gorgeous! AH… the temptation to buy is so strong!
must have this…!!!!!
You may have already said this and I missed it, but what is the box made out of? Is it cardboard?
oh damn I really want this!! the colours are so pretty- but I’m so broke right now and I wanted to get canyon sunset from laura mercier plus the new mac collections out…. oh God…
Each eyeshadow is full sized? Holy shadows fairies, dude.
I *love* UD, but one thing about their palettes is that they barely ever put matte shadows in and if I use all shimmer on my eyes it just looks like a hot wet eyelid mess. I guess it’s preference rather than unbiased review though.
Totally – and depends on your use, too. Like many of us have plenty of other eyeshadows and products, so using the palette and only the shades in it may not be necessary – but those who don’t own many or want to travel with it may find the lack of mattes more troubling.
I am lemming this palette big time. I got my release notice of it in my UD email this AM. For me, it’s really a good mix of shades. But UD is one of my fav shadows so I have a bias I guess. I had a hot pink years ago from Lacome when they had a super event, rented empty space in a mall and had about 25 stalls going at one time. I let the makeup artist have her say – did not give her any directions as I knew she would be thrilled. I came home with a hot pink shadow – used it a little and then donated it about 2 yrs later. So that’s the only one in this palette that will get slow if any use from me.
I want. It looks like it would be good for travel b/c you could do “neutral” looks or more bold, fun looks from the same palette.
can’t believe this is already sold out, ha, I was going to order it when I got home. grrrrr.
UD said they will be restocking, plus other retailers haven’t put theirs up for sale yet 🙂
I love the beautiful shades of color!
Is Midnight Rodeo a dupe for MAC Style Snob?
First, thanks for the heads up when this was going in sale. I was one of the lucky ones who managed to get one before UD sold out. I wouldn’t have been able to do that without you keeping all of us informed. And thanks for the swatches and the review, especially the comparisons with other UD colors. I know I’ve made a good decision to purchase this palette.
Yay!!
Yes I totally agree with that, thank you for your review since I also snagged up one of these deliciously tempting palettes in the nick of time before it sold out….just got my shipping confo on it today! Thanks again!
I got my palette today and I’m in love! Thanks again for all your hard work.
Hi Christine,
I haven’t picked up UD’s Naked Palette yet, and was wondering which one is better? I mean I know they’re different, but if you were to recommend getting only one, which would you prefer?
If you only wear neutrals, Naked. If you like neutrals and colors, then probably this one. This is LE, Naked is permanent – which means you can always grab it at a later date, too. It really is about your preference, neither is better/worse.
Hi Christine! Thank you for all the work that you do. I don’t know if this has been asked already and if it has I apologize but how easily depotable do you think this palette is? I have depoted all my other UD palettes and would like to do this one but am unsure of the packaging. What do you think?
I’m sure it’s possible, but I’m sure it’ll be harder than most UD Palettes, since this isn’t cardboard.
OMFG, the swatches are even more gorge than I expected. I knew I wanted this thing b/c I usually buy the biggie UD palettes and love them all to pieces, but I pass if I have most of the colors (aka “reruns”). I wonder if this will be released *instead* of a BoS4? I do fear how hard this will be to get though….it was sold out on the UD website on the 1st day. I absolutely cannot pass up 15 FULL-SIZED SHADOWS WITH NO RERUNS!!! I. Need. This. Period.
UD always seems to have lower stock on their own website – lots of retailers still to launch – and UD said they’d be restocking 🙂
Do you know when it could be the european launch?
Hey 🙂
Was just wondering if you knew when this paleete will be released in the UK? I haven’t been able to find anything online, but it was like that with the 15th Anniversary Eyeliner set too, Urban Decay in the UK are sneaky xD
I work at the Sephora inside JCPenney and we got ours yesterday and I bought it today, It sometimes pays to be the operations girl, anyway we have them but they are not sending very many at a time we only got 6
:3 I love the color of Junkshow but don’t want to spend the money on the whole thing.
Beautiful colors! I love the mia, ace, omen, evidence, deep end, vanilla, midnight rodeo, half truth, junkshow, chase, flow, tainted aaaaand midnight 15. :))))))
will this palette be limited edition?
Hey Christine,
This palette is tempting. So, I’ve been looking for a palette. Which do you have any recommendations?
I like this one 🙂
Thanks for your review! I just ordered it. Can’t wait for it to arrive!
I see this a whole 6 months later 🙁 does anyone know if they are still being sold?
hi christine! as a staple for a makeup starter kit, would you recommend this over the naked palettes? thanks!
Naked 1 should work!