Urban Decay | Vice 3 Eyeshadow Palette

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