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Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo Review, Photos, Swatches

Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo
Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo

Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo ($18.00 for 0.05 oz.) is split down the middle and features two shades from the brand’s permanent range. Like the other duo, the quality of this one is on par with the quality of the individual eyeshadows. If you love both shades and don’t think you’ll use up individual pans, this might be a good way to spend a little less. I tried blending the two shades together, and it was a very warm-toned, peach shade with hints of pink. Both wore well for eight hours before showing signs of fading.

X Eyeshadow is described as a “peach shimmer with gold shift.” It’s a warm-toned, pinky-peach with gold shimmer. This is a shade that turns more and more golden as it is blended and worked into the skin, because initially, it looks rather pink. It had excellent color payoff, and the texture was soft and buttery. Dior Golden Flower #1 (LE) is warmer. Laura Mercier Guava (P, $22.00) is more matte, less shimmery. MAC Artistic License (LE, $15.00) is similar. MAC Dynamic Duo 1 #1 (LE, $15.00) is less frosted. See comparison swatches.

Half Baked Eyeshadow is described as a “golden bronze shimmer.” It’s a brightened, medium coppery orange with a frosted, metallic finish. It was intensely pigmented, and the texture was so soft and smooth that it almost felt like a cream eyeshadow. Tarina Tarantino Wonderful #3 (P) is darker, less metallic. Tarina Tarantino Amber (P) is darker, less metallic. MAC A Glimmer of Gold #3 (P, $21.00) is similar. MAC Exquisite Ego #2 (LE, $21.00) is also similar. Guerlain Crazy Paris #1 (LE) is more orange. Sleek MakeUP Sunset #10 (P, $9.99) is similar. MAC Creative Copper (P, $15.00) is a touch darker. LORAC Gold (P) is darker. theBalm Manic Maribel (LE, $16.00) is more muted. bareMinerals Bragging Rights (LE) is slightly more orange. bareMinerals Louder (LE) is similar. See comparison swatches.

Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo
Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo

Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo
Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo

Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo
Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo

Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo
Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo

Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo
Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo

Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo
Urban Decay X Eyeshadow

Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo
Urban Decay X Eyeshadow

Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo
Urban Decay Half Baked Eyeshadow

Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo
Urban Decay Half Baked Eyeshadow

Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow Duo
Urban Decay X/Half Baked Eyeshadow (Blended together)

78 Comments

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Ashley Avatar

Oh my gosh these are gorgeous together!! I’m not sure I’m a fan of half-baked on its own, but they are both very pretty. I have the first Naked palette, and while it’s pretty, I’m finding I don’t use several of the shades often enough as they’re too bronzy for me. I think I need a a more neutral to cool-toned palette. Do you think Naked2 or Naked3 would be better, Christine?

Christine Avatar

Naked2 is cooler, though I wouldn’t say it’s that cool-toned. Naked3 has some cool-toned shades, but it’s a lighter palette overall, and though not “bronzy” at a glance, it gives off a warmer, more springy/summery vibe to me, so I don’t know if you’d like that.

Sarah Avatar

As someone who also has a hard time with these super warm, bronze colors, I’d highly recommend Naked 2. I still can’t really pull off Half Baked or Chopper, but the rest of the colors are really lovely and don’t veer orange on me at all. While I really like Naked 3 in theory, a lot of the shades turn into a peachy-brown, old-bruise shade on me. And I wouldn’t even say I’m cool-toned.

Pami Avatar

I have UD Naked, and sadly, it’s mostly too warm and/or glittery (fall out!) for me. I got it when it first came out, so Naked2 wasn’t around yet or I might have tried that one. I really wish they would come out with a cool to neutral toned Naked palette. Naked3 looks warm as well.

I’ve been really happy with Too Faced Naked, and Boudoir Eyes Palettes. They are my HG palettes. TF Naked is too bulky for travel, so I’m so happy they added the much more travel friendly Boudoir Eyes.

xamyx Avatar

Or moms of small children, and have limited space to carry their *own* thinhs! I love this concept, and I don’t typically carry a purse, so my things go in the small pocket of a backpack that holds snacks & coloring books/crayons, so even if I have these shades, it could fit in a pocket if needed. I’m sure students will benefit as well; I wish we had something like this to touch up my makeup after a dance class!

Neeraj Avatar

It’s such a beautiful duo. Although I have 2 of the half baked eyeshadows, I’d buy this for ‘X’. A small and silly question? Does Urban decay sell ‘X” separately.

Brianna Avatar

The color when the two are mixed together is gorgeous! Is it similar to Blaze? I’ve been thinking about getting Blaze or X but haven’t tried either one, and Half-Baked is just a little too yellow on me.

Amanda R Avatar

Half-baked is pretty, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t understand the logic behind including it in a duo like this. It’s like Nars putting Orgasm and Laguna in their most recent face palette even though anyone who has any interest in the brand likely already owns them. Half-baked is already in Naked 1 and Naked 2, and it seems that any fan of UD probably has at least one of them already. Perhaps this is just meant to be marketed to people who are new to the brand as you suggest, Christine. Still, it’s a disappointment for me!

Christine Avatar

My hope is they’re seeing how much interest is in the duos before making more with different shades, though I wouldn’t be surprised if they stuck to most popular shades. (Also why we see repeats of the same 3-5 shades over and over in a lot of palettes!) UD seems to be more inclined to listen to customers, though, as more palettes have new/exclusive shades.

xamyx Avatar

All brands have to try to pull in new customers. If not, then those of us withmassive hoards, who can’t even get through what we have…, will eventially not buy as much, and sales will drop, driving prices up, sales to drop more, etc… Using the NARS Laguna/Orgasm as an example, while many of us who love NARS own these, or even those who dom’t want them, they are best-selling cult-classics. They also a flatter a very broad range, and are not specific to any season, while being always on trend. By putting them in nearly every palette, they can reach out to a wider range of new consumers, while counting on us long-time users to buy other shades on their own, which is better for sales. I don’t think any brands are doing it to irritate loyal customers, and I’d rather see a brand focus on the classics instead of releasing non-stop LE, sub-par products that can’t be replaced should one finish it, or it gets lost/damaged.

xamyx Avatar

However, not every counter/store carries the same products. I’ve never seen any duos at Nordstrom, and not every Sephora carries them year-round.

NARS also markets the palettes for “gifting”, so it only makes sense to include shades that are the most universally flattering (no shade in any product will span 100% of skintones). I guess they figure these are foundation pieces to build upon, and as people become loyal to the brand, they won’t mind buying separate pieces to build their collections. I have no palettes because my pet peeve is there are typically only 1 shade of a duo, and I just end up buying that, LOL. Also, the palettes are too large to fit with my other products…

Ayesha Avatar

Oh gosh, I’ve paired it with so many righter colors, particularly pinks and purples. It’s great when I’m in a rush too, since I can jut swipe on some eyeliner and be good to go!

kjhemeon Avatar

LOVE the moth! Christine does so much to support the blogging community. Don’t tell me I’m developing an interest in fabric art! Dios mio!

Marguerite Avatar

I have so much love for Half Baked that mine is getting low in my Naked palette. It’s the perfect colour for me! I would buy this and it would be great to travel with.

auroragyps Avatar

I kind of wish they’d put Last Call with X (of which look amazing together) instead of Half Baked. Yeah, Last Call is in a lot of palettes, but not as many as Half Baked I don’t think. Plus, the golden pink & plummy color wouldn’t be as close in color, so you could get more looks with just the two colors.

Natalie Avatar

I did not think about mixing them. They look beautiful together! I seem to be one of the few people who doesn’t get tired of Half-Baked, it’s such a beautiful fuss-free all-over-the lid colour for lazy days. And X is just <3

artemis Avatar

I liked them more when they were used separately 😀 a bit of blending where they meet would be nice, but not all the way as they lose their personality(especially the rose gold one)

R Gilmour Avatar

Hi Christine, was wondering if you could recommend a dupe for UD Half baked that is less shimmery and more matt, and as close to the colour of Hlaf baked as possible? Being over 40 I find lately that my signs of ageing around the eyes seems to be enhanced by the level of shimmer of HB but I love the colour so much. I found the dupes you recommended above still quite shimmery and not as good a colour. Any thoughts? Thanks

R Gilmour Avatar

Thanks Christine, I really like the Giorgio Armani #10 Eyes to Kill Eyeshadow Shimmer Palette Gold shade, your review of which suggests it could work with cool tones like mine, plus the colours are gorgeous! My only worry is that it is called a ‘shimmer palette’- I saw another review of it where an older reviewer said that the palette didn’t look too flattering on her eyelids though the swatches in your review don’t look to shimmery, she recommended Chanel Palettes. I also liked the golden orange shade of Guerlain Turandot but the other shades would not work on my N20 skin tone. Pity I don’t have an Giorgio Armani near me to try before I buy! It means I have drawers full of unsuitable and unused products! Thanks for the website though, I think it is one of the best.

Christine Avatar

You may still find the #10 palette shade to be too shimmery – it’s not as metallic or as frosted as Half Baked, but it’s not really matte, you know?

Have you tried dusting on a matte beige over one of the versions you already have? Sometimes layering a matte beige (or even if you have a matte peach, yellow, etc.) can tone down the shimmer!

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