Filed In: Urban Decay

Urban Decay | Afterglow Blush in Crush, Bittersweet & Quickie

July 13, 2015

Recently launched from Urban Decay, Afterglow Blush (CAN $31.00 available in 10 shades, 12 in the US) claims to provide 8 hours of continuous wear, in an innovative lightweight formula that comes in a variety of both matte and lightly shimmered hues. Urban Decay is a brand that continues to push the envelope, both in terms of formulation as well as the provocative product names, yet one thing remains a constant: quality, and from the 3 blushes I was kindly send to test, that last factor certainly holds true here as well.

Housed in gunmetal-coloured cases with a nice heft to them and a magnetic closure, each Afterglow Blush has a mesh window of the Urban Decay initials on the cover, so you can easily see the shade within. Bearing a new and exceptionally finely-milled powder formula that feels creamy to the touch, Afterglow Blushes are said to be sheer yet highly blendable; my experience with these three is that they are all certainly quite blendable and can be easily buffed into the skin for a seamless finish, but I definitely found them also quite pigmented – a fact to consider in order to avoid loading up your brush too much from the start. I also suggest not diving in too aggressively with your blush brush, in order to minimize any powdery kickback – but that’s nothing a quick tap of the brush couldn’t solve. Overall, the flawless application of colour these blushes provide more than offsets any drawbacks, and as to that 8-hour lasting claim? All true … and then some.

Urban Decay | Afterglow Blush compacts

Urban Decay | Afterglow Blush in (left to right) Crush, Bittersweet, Quickie

Urban Decay | Afterglow Blush

Urban Decay | Afterglow Blush swatches

Crush | A medium pink shade that leans warm and will be particularly suitable on light-medium to darker complexions. Highly pigmented, you’ll need a light hand to start with as Crush can pack quite a punch otherwise, but the colour blends so seamlessly into the skin that it’s almost difficult to overdo. The finish is matte but not of the light-absorbing variety; instead, all three shades shown here display an ultra soft shimmer that adds a beautiful radiance to the skin — without ever coming off as too glowy. Personally, I’m absolutely loving how Crush brightens my face and adds that lit-from-within kind of luminosity; think of it as the whoopee-flushed look, but without the exertion involved in getting it.

Urban Decay | Afterglow Blush in Crush

Urban Decay | Afterglow Blush in Crush swatches

Ingredients: Isoeicosane, Silica, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Zinc Stearate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Methicone, Tin Oxide.
May Contain:
Mica, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), CI 15850 (Red 6), CI 45410 (Red 28 Lake), CI 15850 (Red 7 Lake)]

Bittersweet | Not for the faint of heart, this is a strongly vibrant purple hue that is more suitable as an eyeshadow on my skin tone, than a blush shade. That being said, by using a light hand it becomes more wearable and can actually provide a nice contrast when paired with a brighter-coloured blush (sort of like ‘blush contouring’, if you will) but Bittersweet needs to be properly buffed into the skin to avoid any “bruised” appearance. I suspect this is one of those shades that will look amazing on darker skin tones but that should probably be avoided by those with the palest complexions (to eliminate above-stated bruised look), unless you’re going for a more editorial feel. Still, I can’t help but want to really make this shade work, mainly because it’s just so unique – both in my blush collection and experience.

Urban Decay | Afterglow Blush in Bittersweet

Urban Decay | Afterglow Blush in Bittersweet swatches

Ingredients: soeicosane, Silica, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Zinc Stearate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Methicone, Tin Oxide.
May Contain:
Mica, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 15850 (Red 6), CI 45410 (Red 28 Lake), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake)]

Quickie | A vivid blue based pink that definitely leans cool, but can also be made to work on medium skin tones – provided one’s undertone isn’t too yellow leaning (then you’ll be looking at a serious colour clash). Darker complexions can benefit from this shade as well, as Quickie will provide an impactful spot of colour without coming off as ashy. I am continuously drawn to electric pinks such as this, and while the majority fall short against my skin tone, Quickie (gotta love the name) seems to work like a charm, adding a youthful-looking flush and works best when I pair it with a smokey eye, a perfectly “sweet” counterpoint to a dark and/or edgy makeup look.

Urban Decay | Afterglow Blush in Quickie

Urban Decay | Afterglow Blush in Quickie swatches

Ingredients: soeicosane, Silica, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Zinc Stearate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Methicone, Tin Oxide.
May Contain:
Mica, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 45410 (Red 28 Lake), CI 15850 (Red 7 Lake), CI 77007 (Ultramarines)]

Other than mascara, few beauty products can give your face that instant boost quite like blush can – although one should never rush the process of application (hello, clown cheeks?). The new Urban Decay Afterglow Blushes are well worth looking into and investing in – especially if you’re a blush fiend like I am, as the quality (from what I’ve seen thus far) delivers on all its promises and there’s no doubting the sensual radiance your skin receives. Yes, sensual. Or even raunchy … depending on your which way your colour selections swing.

Available now through Sephora and sephora.com, and select Shopper’s Drug Mart locations (Canada). Find more information at urbandecay.com

Press samples kindly provided for my unbiased consideration/Post may contain affiliate links

Urban Decay | Naked Illuminated in Aura

February 3, 2015

Urban Decay, the brand that has mastered the art of ‘naked-ness’, has recently released Aura Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder for Face and Body, a shimmery confection to help turn “faking it” into a good thing, and give you that patented ∗wink, wink∗ Naked glow – or just some strategically placed highlighting, if you prefer.

Aura Naked Illuminated (CAN $35.00)

The details: A rose-gold shimmery powder for face and body that is ‘baked on a terra cotta disc for 24 hours, then finished by hand – baking the powder gives it a high level of just-perfect shimmer and provides the colour payoff of a loose powder but with the convenience of a pressed powder‘. Generously sized and mounded for ease of use, the box is covered in a fabric that has a suede-like feel, closes securely with a magnetic clasp, bears a decent-sized mirror on the inner lid (along with a lovely marbleized pattern on the interior of the box) and has a separate compartment under the powder which houses a demi-lune synthetic haired brush.

What it does: This is an ultra-finely milled powder that is meant to be obvious; you can forget about any subtle highlighting here, as Aura is definitely an in-your-face type of product. But before dismissing this as “too damn sparkly”, I’m of the opinion that even shimmer-phobes can make this work – all you need is either a fan brush or a dual-fibred stippling brush, either of which can pick up a light amount of Aura’s fine powder quite easily (you don’t want to start with a lot), with the long & finer hairs that are typical of these types of brushes, and which effectively ‘trap’ the larger glitter/shimmer pieces. This method of application results in significantly less of the shimmery bits being deposited on your skin, a good tip to keep in mind if you own any other glittery face powders but have been avoiding using them for fear of the dreaded disco-ball effect.

My thoughts: I happen to be a bit of a highlighting fiend and love a touch of glow to my makeup look as I feel it opens & brightens up the face. That being said, the rose-gold colour of Aura works highly in its favour, as it provides a more natural-looking tone (sounds oxymoronic to describe shimmer as ‘natural-looking’, but that’s in comparison to cooler hued highlighters that can sometimes come off as too frosty). The powder itself is quite finely milled and magically does NOT seem to emphasize pores, and while the glitter pieces are visible, they are also the first to fade, all of which leaves the gorgeous glowy effect of the powder behind (TIP: you can also use a flat-topped kabuki style brush to buff Aura in and thus remove any large glitter pieces that way, as well as providing a more seamless look of this powder along the skin). Staying power was about right for this type of product, lasting about 8 hours before fading away.

Urban Decay | Aura Naked Illuminated

Peruse any beauty/fashion magazine, watch any red-carpet event/award show, or scroll through social media feeds, and you can’t help but be mesmerized by the artfully-placed glow certain makeup looks display, all courtesy of highlighting products. Cream, gel, and liquid highlighters are all perfect for giving a more subtle luminosity, but when a bit more emphasis is need, nothing works better than a light dusting of a powder as radiant as Aura. And while slightly more glittery than I usually prefer, it all still seems to nevertheless come together beautifully, most likely because of that gorgeous rose-gold base.

Available now at Sephora, Sephora.ca and select Shopper’s Drug Mart/Pharmaprix locations (Canada). Find more information via www.urbandecay.com

Product sample provided for my unbiased consideration

Urban Decay | Naked On The Run

January 3, 2015

Following in the footsteps of Urban Decay’s wildly successful Naked series, the brand has recently released Naked On The Run (CAN $54.00)- a limited edition palette which contains the essentials (minus foundation) needed to create a variety of looks, and all in a travel-sized format … that may require a slightly larger than average makeup bag to hold it, however.

There are several reasons why the Naked On The Run palette is a huge hit for me; to begin with, it’s priced extremely well, especially when you consider all that it comes with. The exterior casing of the compact is well crafted & strong (I’m not a fan of flimsy cardboard containers), with a gorgeous tortoisehsell-like design on the cover that can appear either more green or amber, depending on the angle and lighting. There is a full-sized mirror on the inner lid, and it closes securely with a magnetic clasp.

The fact that the Sesso Lipgloss (which is a full-sized version, I might add) comes in its own separate container, is something I consider is a huge plus as well, since palettes that hold lip/cream products alongside powdered ones, tend to have quite a bit of cross-contamination – something that is totally avoided in this case and which therefore keeps the integrity of all shades hygienic and intact.

The 5 eyeshadows of this palette, are in a word: superb. From the selection of totally wearable shades (which will suit a broad spectrum of skin tones) to the quality & pigmentation, Urban Decay has created something really special. Even the eyeliner is impressive, with its rich hue that veers close enough to black for drama, but with just the right amount of tint for a bit of colour – and I really do hope that it ends up becoming part of the permanent lineup.

Looking at the bronzer and blush in their respective pans had me a little skeptical as to whether they would suit my complexion, but once again I was happily surprised to find how well each shade complimented my skin tone. There’s even a highlighter, and in a shade that has just the right amount of colour in its base to work well with a large variety of skin tones, as well as a finely ground shimmer that will provide a beautiful glow and not anything overt or glittery. Lastly, the travel-sized tube of the Perversion mascara (previously reviewed here), is of a relatively good size and quantity, while the mascara itself bears an excellent formulation – as well as being one of the deepest black shades I’ve come across.

Urban Decay | Naked On The Run

Urban Decay | Naked On The Run, all products watched (except mascara)

Urban Decay | Naked On The Run

Dive – rose gold, shimmer
Fix – camel/tan, matte
Resist – rich taupe, shimmer
Dare – milk chocolate, satin matte
Stun – bronze, golden shimmer

Each shade is beautifully pigmented and applies well, with very little powdery kickback upon swirling my brushes through the pans. Their velvety texture (even the ones with more obvious shimmer) also provides excellent blending capabilities, and worn over primer, staying power is easily 9-10 hours before any fading.

Urban Decay | Naked On The Run, eyeshadow swatches

Bronzer – warm toned, slight orange tint in the base, satin matte
Blush – cool toned, barbie pink with peach hints in the base, light overall sheen

The bronzer shade leans more warm than cool (those with very fair complexions might find it a bit difficult to work with), and there’s a unique satin-like finish to this shade, which adds a beautiful overall luminosity, and prevents it from looking flat upon the skin.

The blush shade is a study in contradictions; what appears to be a blue-based and cooler leaning hue, also seems to bear a shot of peach in the base, helping this shade work equally well on warmer (as in more yellow-based) complexions, while its finely-milled shimmer gives just the right touch of glow to the skin.

Urban Decay | Naked On The Run, Bronzer swatch

Urban Decay | Naked On The Run, Blush swatch

5050 | An oyster coloured highlighter that leans rather warm, but one that will also suit fairer/cooler complexions with equal ease. This is more of subtle-type of highlighter, making it perfect for those who wish to softly spotlight the high points of the face (upper cheekbones, cupid’s bow, temples), without coming off as overly ‘glowy’.

Urban Decay | Naked On The Run, 5050 swatch

Stag 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil (travel size) | Deepest brown with eggplant/ruby hints in the base that add warmth and extra dimension. As with other 24/7 Glide-On pencils I’ve tried from Urban Decay, the application here is smoothly applying and velvety in feel, and you never need fear it tugging or pulling along the sensitive skin around the eyes. Once applied, you also have the option of blending it out for a smokey look – although once the colour sets, you can forget about trying to move it in any way: it wears like iron, and will stay put until removed (which will require an oil-based remover, at that).

Urban Decay | Naked On The Run, Stag swatched

Perversion Mascara (travel size) | Intense black shade – originally reviewed here. The quality of the mascara here is comparable to the full-sized version, with the only difference being the size/girth of the brush head – slightly narrower and shorter in the palette version, but which manages to work in its favour as this mascara is quite rich and the reduction in brush head size provides an easier application with less chance of any accidental smudges … all without sacrificing any of the original’s quality.

Urban Decay | Naked On The Run, Perversion Mascara brush head comparisons

Sesso Naked Lipgloss (full size) | Warm rose hue with ultra-fine pink shimmer, in a non-sticky formula that applies semi-sheer, but still provides enough colour to give a plush & natural overall tint to lips. There is a slight plastic-like scent that I detect upon initial application, but which seems to dissipate upon the wearing – still worth mentioning for anyone with sensitivities. Lasting power is about average 2.5 – 3 hours, leaving a hydrated and nourished feeling behind upon the lips, once the colour has faded. I’m not sure if it’s just me, but I also feel a slight cooling sensation upon first applying this gloss (which I experienced more distinctly on my arm swatch, than on the lips).

Urban Decay | Naked On The Run, Sesso swatched

For me, everything about the Naked On The Run palette is a huge hit and I have found myself reaching for it over and over again since the day it arrived, creating a variety of day (read: easy), as well as more dramatic evening looks. The only downside I can find, is the bulky size of the palette itself, although even that flaw is offset by the quality (which is quite sturdy, in fact) and well crafted details of the packaging (that PATTERN). I just wish that this palette wasn’t limited edition, because when products are this good, they need to be available year round – so much easier than stockpiling palette boxes, no? Urban Decay, I sure hope you’re listening.

Available now through www.urbandecay.com and Sephora.

Press sample provided for my unbiased consideration

Urban Decay | Vice 3 Eyeshadow Palette

December 12, 2014

Product sample provided for my unbiased consideration

Having a vice is not always a bad thing; case in point is Vice 3 (CAN $70.00), the latest eyeshadow palette to be released from Urban Decay, which contains 20 never-before-seen shades (fun fact: 50 new hues were created — 20 made the cut) in a slim metal compact that also comes with a dual-ended synthetic fibre eyeshadow brush, AND a matching zippered fabric sleeve. Not too shabby, huh?

Created with Urban Decay‘s Pigment Infusion System™, this is a proprietary blend of ingredients that lends these shades “velvety texture, rich colour, serious staying power and blendability”. The slim profile metal tin bears a mirror-like surface with a hypnotic colour wash and lime/green/neon jewel-like raised lettering in the middle, while the inside lid actually holds a full-sized mirror. The matching zippered fabric case is not only perfect for storing the palette, but also makes for a cool-looking makeup bag. The included synthetic fibre dual ended brush works surprisingly quite well, although I always prefer using my own brushes with all eyeshadows.

With the entire array of colours clearly depicted on the back cover of the box, it should be stated that the colours of the photo do NOT do these shades true justice, as they are so much more intense, vibrant, and rich when viewed in person.

The majority of textures fall towards the shimmery side, with only 2 true matte shades, a few satin-mattes, some pearl, and even a few micro-glitter, although what Urban Decay calls micro-glitter seems to me more of a reflective (and even close to duo chrome-like) sheen, definitely far from the chunky variety one usually associates with that term. The shades have been arranged vertically in user-friendly colour groupings (5 columns) but we all know by now that there are no rules when it comes to eyeshadow: let your imagination be your guide – mix & match at will. All are highly saturated pigment-wise and display excellent blendability, with overall staying power (on primed lids) lasting easily 9 hours + before any fading; the darkest shades all wear like iron – truly outstanding.

Urban Decay | Vice 3 Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay | Vice 3 Eyeshadow Palette, dual-ended brush

Urban Decay | Vice 3 Eyeshadow Palette

Truth – light Barbie-skin pink, matte
Undone – nude/tan, satin/matte with subtle tonal floating pearl (huh?)
Downfall – light brown/camel, matte
DTF – taupe/mink brown, matte with subtle floating pearl

Dragon – emerald, metallic shimmer
Freeze – teal, metallic shimmer with multidimensional micro-glitter (which I don’t see)
Heroine – blackened navy, satin/matte with subtle floating tonal pearl
Brokedown – gold/bronze brown, metallic shimmer & gold micro-glitter (LOVE)

Vanity – smoky violet, metallic shimmer & multidimensional micro-glitter
Lucky – gleaming copper, metallic
Reign – milk chocolate, pearlized satin
Bobby Dazzle – icy white with a golden gleam, metallic & pale gold micro-glitter

Alien – true pink, pearlized satin with a subtle peach/gold shift
Alchemy – berry, satin
Bondage – blackened burgundy, shimmer
Sonic – fiery copper/pink shift, metallic (unbelievable pigmentation)

Last Sin – champagne-nude, shimmer with silver micro-glitter
Angel – light taupe, satin shimmer (& silver micro-glitter)
Defy – smoky grey-brown, satin/matte
Revolver – soft black, satin & subtle blue iridescence

I’ve never been a fan of large eyeshadow palettes, probably because of the potential for shades to transfer into each other, but every now & then I’ll make exceptions. Having made their stamp in the world of beauty with their Naked palettes (and all the accompanying spin-offs), Urban Decay has upped the ante with the introduction of this new formulation, and what makes the Vice 3 palette so interesting (at least, to me), is the wide range of colours – from subtle & understated, vibrant & jewel-like, to smoky & sultry, enabling you to create a variety of looks with literally just one palette. Plus, it makes a really awesome Christmas gift, no?

Available now but limited edition, find more information by visiting www.urbandecay.com

Urban Decay | Mrs. Mia Wallace 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil & Revolution Lipstick, Pulp Fiction Collection

October 15, 2014

Wrapping up my review of Urban Decay‘s Pulp Fiction Collection (find earlier reviews here & here), are the Revolution Lipstick and 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil, both in the shade Mrs. Mia Wallace – an intensely voluptuous shade of red, and definitely one that’s not for the weak-hearted. Seeing as how this year red lipstick, in all its unapologetic glory, is gearing up to reign supreme – and with the holidays around the corner, where a red lip is almost mandatory – this duo will ensure your lips get noticed. Dangerously, so.

Worth noting with this collection, is the packaging; the exteriors all bear the iconic Pulp Fiction logo and even the interiors have not been neglected, printed with a bullet-riddled/blood-splattered design, along with excerpts from the film. The lipstick case for Mrs. Mia Wallace has also been given a new look, now in a shimmery gunmetal finish instead of the usual pewter. It’s the little details like this, that always just get me.

Urban Decay | Mrs. Mia Wallace Revolution Lipstick & 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil

Urban Decay | Mrs. Mia Wallace Revolution Lipstick

Urban Decay | Mrs. Mia Wallace Revolution Lipstick (ingredients list)

Urban Decay | Mrs. Mia Wallace Revolution Lipstick

Mrs. Mia Wallace Revolution Lipstick, Limited Edition (CAN $26.00) | A blue-based deep red hue in a formula that’s incredibly rich, highly pigmented and colour saturated, and somewhat dense – but still very easy to apply, bearing a luxurious shine at the finish. This is not a shade you can slap on in a jiffy; something this luxurious needs attention and a steady hand, but the end result is just oh-so-worth it. There are reds and then there are reds; Mrs. Mia Wallace is RED. As in blood red, vixen red, don’t mess with me red — oozing the perfect mixture of cool sophistication and a lush carnal sensuality. Relatively non scented, you need to take make sure that your lips are properly exfoliated beforehand, or risk this shade catching on any stray bits – definitely not a good look with something as saturated as this. The formula here is thicker than what I’m used to, and while not emollient, neither is it drying so that it’s still able to lay down smoothly. Staying power is like iron – I get easily 12 hours +, lasting well even through eating & drinking, leaving lips lightly stained when the majority of colour has finally worn off. Another bonus, is that unlike other lipsticks that are this densely pigmented, it does not dry your lips out by the end of the wearing and when worn in conjunction with the matching lip liner, you get the added benefit of no migration or bleeding into surrounding lip lines.

Urban Decay | Mrs. Mia Wallace Revolution Lipstick

Urban Decay | Mrs. Mia Wallace Revolution Lipstick & 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil swatches

Urban Decay | Mrs. Mia Wallace Revolution Lipstick

Urban Decay | Mrs. Mia Wallace 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil

Urban Decay | Mrs. Mia Wallace 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil (ingredients list)

Urban Decay | Mrs. Mia Wallace 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil

Mrs. Mia Wallace 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil, Limited Edition (CAN $24.00) | A creamy and waterproof formula lip pencil in the signature Mrs. Mia Wallace blood-red hue. I appreciate how the barrel of the pencil shows the colour you’re reaching for – makes it easier to find when fishing around a makeup bag (like I usually do). The texture is smooth without turning too soft, bearing just the right amount of ‘give’ for an effortlessly gliding application, but not so hard that it tugs or drags along the lips. Wear time is nothing short of phenomenal and I actually tried the waterproof test on my arm – it literally does not wash off, even through showering. Worn as a traditional liner, you get the added benefit of it performing ‘guard duty’, preventing your lipstick from feathering or bleeding out into surrounding lip lines. Another way to wear this liner, is applied all over the lips that have been prepped with a bit of balm first to make application even easier – as well as aiding in thinning the product out a touch – then topped with a gloss (either clear, or coloured) for extra shine and juiciness.

Urban Decay | Mrs. Mia Wallace 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil

Red lipstick and I haven’t always gotten along; that being said, I have an inordinately large collection of red lipsticks just the same – which I hardly ever wear – primarily because there is more effort involved (red is so NOT a swipe & go kind of colour), but even more importantly, I don’t like worrying about migrating/bleeding issues. Thankfully, there are options; one is in using a clear waxy pencil/liner such as No Bleeding Lips (previously reviewed here) that works phenomenally well at keeping everything in place, as well as not breaking the bank while doing so. Another even easier option, is in investing in a duo such as these two: colour that looks rich & luscious, and actually behaves – until you don’t want it to. Mrs. Mia Wallace would be proud.

These limited edition products are still available – find more information by visiting www.urbandecay.com