Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Gallery Blush Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Gallery
Urban Decay Gallery Blush Palette ($34.00 for 0.60 oz.) includes two blushes, a bronzer, and highlighter. One of the blushes (X-Rated) is available in the permanent range, but the other three are new (and exclusive to the palette). All four shades were consistent in texture and overall quality of the brand’s Afterglow formula, though the X-Rated in this palette seemed richer and brighter compared to my single, so there was a bit of color discrepancy there. The Afterglow formulas are supposed to be sheer, and none of the four shades in this palette were sheer, which was the big “downside” to the palette–but if you like your products more pigmented, then you’ll probably enjoy the performance of the shades.
Gallery
LELimited Edition. $34.00.
Editor’s Note: While Basquiat’s state approached Urban Decay to create the collection, the collection is not without concerns from those who have been drawn in and inspired by Basquiat’s work. Some of the artist’s supporters have expressed concern over the commercialization of the artist’s work (generally) and the lack of a model of color in the collection’s campaign, both said to be inconsistent with some of the themes shown throughout Basquiat’s body of work. A third issue raised is with respect to Urban Decay’s usage of drug-related names (like Junkie, Druggie, Bump, etc.) when Basquiat died of a heroin overdose at 27 years old and how those two can be reconciled. Others who enjoy Basquiat’s work are excited for the collaboration and the acknowledgment of the artist’s influence, along with the possibility of making his work more widely known. As always, we invite thoughtful and critical discussion and debate but ask everyone to be respectful.
X-Rated
X-Rated is a light-medium, cotton candy pink with cool, blue undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation with a very smooth, velvety texture. It was actually a little thinner than I expected but very smooth–almost creamy in a way but still undoubtedly a powder-based product. The color stayed true for eight hours before fading on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- elf Bora Bora (P, $7.00) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- MAC Bubbles, Please (P, $29.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Viseart Rose #1 (PiP, ) is lighter, brighter, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Flower Power (LE, $12.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Anastasia Babe (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Patrick Ta She's a Doll (Powder) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Moira I Miss You (P, $8.50) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- MAC Well Dressed (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Pink Ombre (LE, $55.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Too Faced Justify My Love (P, $26.00) is darker, brighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$26.00/0.23 oz. - $113.04 Per Ounce
Urban Decay’s describes their powder blush formula as having “buildable color” with a “blendable, finely milled” texture that will wear for “eight long hours.” A lot of the shades have semi-sheer to semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation but a few have been more pigmented than buildable, though a lighter hand is always one route to take to get sheerer coverage if that's a must-have.
The texture of the blushes is smooth, silky, and finely-milled with a thinness that gave me pause initially, but it translated to a beautiful, satiny finish on my skin that was natural and lightly luminous. The majority of shades I've tried in the range are blendable, easy to use, and wear for eight hours.
Browse all of our Urban Decay Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Isoeicosane, Silica, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Methicone, Alumina, Laureth-4, Tin Oxide. [+/- (All Shades May Contain /Toutes les couleurs peuvent contenir): Mica, CI 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 / Iron Oxides, CI 77007 / Ultramarines, CI 77163 / Bismuth Oxychloride, CI 77742 / Manganese Violet, CI 45410 / Red 28 Lake, CI 15850 / Red 6, CI 15850 / Red 7 Lake, CI 77120 / Barium Sulfate, CI 19140 / Yellow 5 Lake, CI 75470 / Carmine, CI 77288 / Chromium Oxide Greens, CI 42090 / Blue 1 Lake].
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
X-Rated
DCDiscontinued. $26.00.
Now's the Time
Now’s the Time is a pale gold with warm undertones and a very subtle, peachy shift/shimmer. The consistency was smooth, blendable, and easy to work with, while it had mostly opaque color coverage (by no means sheer as the formula is described). It emphasized the texture of my skin just slightly. This shade wore well for eight and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Coastin' (LE, $10.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Iconic London Coral Glow (Right) (PiP, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Too Faced Warm Glow (Left) (PiP, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Smashbox Glow (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- OFRA Star Island (P, $29.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- LORAC Daylight (P, $23.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Becca Moonstone (P, $38.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Becca Moonstone (P, $19.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Anastasia Sunburst (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Too Faced Rainbow Strobe (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
Ingredients
Isoeicosane, Silica, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Methicone, Alumina, Laureth-4, Tin Oxide. [+/- (All Shades May Contain /Toutes les couleurs peuvent contenir): Mica, CI 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 / Iron Oxides, CI 77007 / Ultramarines, CI 77163 / Bismuth Oxychloride, CI 77742 / Manganese Violet, CI 45410 / Red 28 Lake, CI 15850 / Red 6, CI 15850 / Red 7 Lake, CI 77120 / Barium Sulfate, CI 19140 / Yellow 5 Lake, CI 75470 / Carmine, CI 77288 / Chromium Oxide Greens, CI 42090 / Blue 1 Lake].
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Now's the Time
LELimited Edition. $26.00.
Jawbone
Jawbone is a medium-dark, red-toned brown with warmer undertones and a mostly matte finish. It didn’t have shimmer, but the finish looked more natural on the skin and not flat or dry. It was richly pigmented–a little went a long way!–and had a very silky, finely-milled texture that was blendable and easy to work with. There was slight fading visible after nine hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- NARS Samoa (P, $38.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Nooner (Bronzer) (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty The Afternooner (Bronzer) (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Zoeva ND040 (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Dior Amber Bronze (06) (P, $48.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Casino (LE, $38.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Becca Sweet Pea (P, $32.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- L'Oreal Deep (03) (P, $14.99) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Aphrodisiac (P, $8.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Tantalize (106) (P, $49.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
Ingredients
Isoeicosane, Silica, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Methicone, Alumina, Laureth-4, Tin Oxide. [+/- (All Shades May Contain /Toutes les couleurs peuvent contenir): Mica, CI 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 / Iron Oxides, CI 77007 / Ultramarines, CI 77163 / Bismuth Oxychloride, CI 77742 / Manganese Violet, CI 45410 / Red 28 Lake, CI 15850 / Red 6, CI 15850 / Red 7 Lake, CI 77120 / Barium Sulfate, CI 19140 / Yellow 5 Lake, CI 75470 / Carmine, CI 77288 / Chromium Oxide Greens, CI 42090 / Blue 1 Lake].
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Jawbone
LELimited Edition. $26.00.
NOHO
NOHO is a medium-dark, pink-plum with subtle, cool undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had intense, opaque color payoff with a single tap of the brush–the very opposite of sheer! The blush was smooth, finely-milled, and incredibly silky to the touch. It applied beautifully to the skin, blended out with minimal effort, and wore nicely for nine hours.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Viseart Violet #2 (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Happiest Cruise (LE, $12.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- LORAC Chroma (P, $23.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Morphology (P, $15.50) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Night Bloom (Left) (LE, $38.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Smashbox Bitten (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Rare Beauty Faith (P, $23.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- NARS Candid (LE, $30.00) (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Mauvember 2017 (LE, $24.00) is brighter (90% similar).
- Dior Confident (783) (LE, $48.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$26.00/0.23 oz. - $113.04 Per Ounce
Urban Decay’s describes their powder blush formula as having “buildable color” with a “blendable, finely milled” texture that will wear for “eight long hours.” A lot of the shades have semi-sheer to semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation but a few have been more pigmented than buildable, though a lighter hand is always one route to take to get sheerer coverage if that's a must-have.
The texture of the blushes is smooth, silky, and finely-milled with a thinness that gave me pause initially, but it translated to a beautiful, satiny finish on my skin that was natural and lightly luminous. The majority of shades I've tried in the range are blendable, easy to use, and wear for eight hours.
Browse all of our Urban Decay Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Isoeicosane, Silica, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Methicone, Alumina, Laureth-4, Tin Oxide. [+/- (All Shades May Contain /Toutes les couleurs peuvent contenir): Mica, CI 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 / Iron Oxides, CI 77007 / Ultramarines, CI 77163 / Bismuth Oxychloride, CI 77742 / Manganese Violet, CI 45410 / Red 28 Lake, CI 15850 / Red 6, CI 15850 / Red 7 Lake, CI 77120 / Barium Sulfate, CI 19140 / Yellow 5 Lake, CI 75470 / Carmine, CI 77288 / Chromium Oxide Greens, CI 42090 / Blue 1 Lake].
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
I am wondering what the story is on the “permanent’ Afterglow blushes. It seems like UD may be phasing them out. They have been marked down to around $15 at Ulta and Sephora for a while now, but they are still full price on UrbanDecay.com.
Sorry, I don’t have any information on that!
I’ve been wondering the same thing! It’s exactly what they did last year with their revolution lipsticks before discontinuing them!
Oh geez – I sure hope they’re not phasing them out. I love them. Of course, on the Canadian Sephora website, they’re not even marked down (or I’d get one or two more). I looked at them on the weekend; maybe they’ve been marked down since then.
Other than Jawbone this is a palette I could use with my fair skin.
I think maybe duos would have worked better in the launch to reach more skin tones!
I have the Fairest of the Fair Skin. I’m talking Nars ‘Chantilly’ Concealer, Nars ‘Terre Nueve’ Tinted Moisturizer, Tarte ‘ROTS Water Foundation’ in ‘Porcelain’, Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless (Used to be ‘110, but with the New Shade Releases I’ve found ‘105 Fair Ivory’ more Suitable.) Anyway, Now that I’ve Sufficiently Described how Pale I am lol, I just wanted to say that I LOVE Everything Single Color in this Palette, ESPECIALLY ‘Jawbone.’ I was a little Frightened by it at first, As it is a Deep, Very Pigmented Bronzer, But, Something about the Beautiful Red Undertone to it, works Really well on my Cool/Neutral Toned Fair Skin. I Absolutely love It, and I was able to get the Whole Blush Palette at Ulta for $18 (Half Off.) I actually went in that day for the Benefit ‘Cheek Parade’ Blush Palette, and just Grabbed the UD Basquiat one as well Because the Girl was like “It’s only $18.” And im like “Urban Decay? $18? Sold.” Long Story Short…I ended up Returning the Benefit Palette and Keeping the UD Basquiat Blush Palette because I liked it so much better and Never reached for the Benefit lol. I’m a little Confused as to why this Scored so Low on ‘Pigmentation’ though, because I find it to be almost ‘too Pigmented.’
Pretty colors!
FANTASTIC! I am really liking how richly pigmented, yet blendable these shades are. Jawbone is the perfect bronze-blush type of shade for me, and I can picture it looking wonderful with the highlighter dusted over it for a sunkissed summer look!
Happy to hear you’re enjoying this set of shades!
I thought I was going to get this palette, but I played with the tester in Ulta yesterday and thought it was only so-so. The highlighter was too glittery for me. Ended up buying the single UD Afterglow blush in Rapture instead, and it was on sale, so I’m happy. 🙂 Thank you for the review.
What a pretty palette. I like all of the shades and the highlighter is beautiful. Pity I don’t need any blush/highlight/bronze palettes 🙂 I might just get this even though I don’t need it, I don’t have any UD cheek products.
Jawbone is prettier than I thought it would be!
Hubby and the kids are giving this and the two eye palettes for me for Mother’s Day. I’ve been wanting X-rated, and the highlighter is absolutely beautiful. This very fair lady is going to have to go extremely light handed with Noho, but I think it’s gorgeous. I don’t know what I’m going to do with Jawbone: It’s beautiful, but much too dark for me. I’ll probably repurpose it as an eyeshadow.
Awesome review. I own some of the items from this collection and I love the packaging and I like the idea of paying homage to him and his art with the color schemes and shade names and his art that adorns the packaging. I love these as collectors pieces for makeup collectors but what I really most appreciated about this review was the care you put into writing the disclaimer about the misgivings some people have had about the collaboration as a whole regarding the commercialization of Basquiat’s art especially by a company that seems to not be taking into account the sensitivities that come up regarding the circumstances of his death (naming their shades after aspects of drug addiction and trendy elite drug cultures). There also seems to be a small unshakeable impression left behind that maybe during product development stages not enough moments were taken to step back and try to place the focus on paying homage to what a significant figure he was for the art world as a whole but also distinctly as a BLACK artist who did not shy away from weaving racial politics into his work at a time when it was less palatable to do so. I think that Urban Decay’s emphasis on white models for this campaign seems to betray a lack of understanding on their part of the wealth of contextual material needed for understanding in a fuller and more rigorous sense Basquiat’s life, his work, and his values as an artist but also the real obstacles and experiences he faced as an individual as a result of how these values, beliefs about racial politics, and personal experiences intertwined. I struggle to see how the company’s first impulse (if they were really trying to take his legacy and what he stood for as an artist into account) was to choose white models to be at the center of the campaign.
Anyway all this being said, I’m very happy that this collaboration exists because I love, as a big admirer of Basquiat and his work, being able to own something small that I can use every day that reminds me of him and his work and that feels special and connected to his work even in small ways (like shade names). Maybe this is just consumerism at its most insidiously powerful speaking through me but owning these items really does seem to leave me with the (maybe deeply mistaken) impression that I have bee given the ability to feel close to an artist I never knew personally by buying consumer items emblazoned with his name and art all over the packaging. Is this just the most diluted stripped down version of Basquiat that’s being commercialized and quickly compacted into easy to digest, palatable sound bites and images that allow us to remember him in the simple 2-dimensional ways we conveniently wish to? Are we just celebrating compacted little morsels of a man and his art as they’ve been packaged in order to be made appealing to self-proclaimed Basquiat fans while also walking the lucrative line of being able to bring on board (and importantly not alienate) a lot of people who’ve never heard of Basquiat but are willing to buy a new and interesting funky UD product line about an artist that they admittedly don’t know very much about and for whom it would not have made much of a difference were the artist at the center of the campaign suddenly been swapped out for Warhol, for example. I’m not asking that everyone who buys from this collection be a die hard Basquiat acolyte (because that would be unrealistic and silly) but I do wish that maybe somehow along the line during product development and the early stages of marketing that those working on the UD side would have taken more time to infuse more of Basquiat himself and what he believed in into this product line (especially given the current political/racial climate in this country) and maybe put extra effort into exposing people a little more to the artist himself and his ideals instead of using Basquiat the brand, the idea, just as other makeup collabs in the past have utilized movie characters and cartoons as mascots. Basquiat the man cannot be relegated to the role of mascot. He was too big and his ideas too all encompassing for that. I hope that larger than life quality can continue to be part of his legacy.