Urban Decay Smoked Palette~Review and Swatches~

When I first herard about this palette, I really had no interest in buying it.  Sure it was pretty and Urban Decay has great shadows, but I did not think I would wear it.   Well, I was wrong.  I have used it everyday since I have gotten it.  It is much more versatile than you would think.  And when it comes down to it, jewel tones are just gorgeous.

Top Row: Kinky, Freestyle, Mushroom, Backdoor and Blackout

Bottom Row: Barlust, Rockstar, Evidence, Loaded and Asphalt.

Perversion                                                         
Shades:
TopRow:
Kinky: matte beige
Freestyle: matte light peach
Mushroom: shimmery taupe
Backdoor: matte medium brown
Blackout: matte black
Bottom Row:
Barlust: shimmery bronze
Rockstar: shimmery violet
Evidence: shimmery royal blue
Loaded: shimmery emerald
Asphalt: shimmery grey
24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Perversion: blackest black eye pencil.
Pigment and Texture:
This is Urban Decay we are talking about, so the pigment is great.  A little bit will go a long way.  And the same goes for the texture.  Very smooth and creamy.  This palette has a pretty good mix of matte and shimmery shades.  There are a total of 4 neutral mattes and 6 shimmery shades in neutrals and jewel tones.  None are powdery, I did find the mattes to be a bit chalky.

Packaging:

In typical Urban Decay fashion, the packaging stands out.  It actually zips instead of snapping shut like the usual palette.  At first, I was concerned about this being a pain.  But it has not been an issue.  The zipper has not gotten stuck and everything is made really well.  The palette is not bulky, but more on the slim side,  That, and the fact that it cannot pop open makes it very travel friendly.

Staying Power:

Wonderful. I had no problems with creasing and only a smidge of fading.  I have just accepted that my oily eye lids make it impossible for me to wear shadow without any fading.  Perversion did last all day without fading, and I actually had a hard time getting it to come off.

Price and Overall Impression:

This palette is $49 for 8 shadows.  Normally, I might consider this a bit steep, but the quality of the shadows is great.  It also comes with a full size 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in "Perversion" and a 25 page lookbook with detailed instructions.  The look book has a mix of darker, bold looks and more that would be considered safer for everyday wear.  I like this palette far more than I thought I would.  The jewel tones are gorgeous and perfect for fall.  The quality is excellent, too.  If you do not have any of these colors already, I would reccommend it.

Look Book