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.

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• 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

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