For a high-performing, on-trend eyeshadow palette that’s easy to use, it’s hard to go wrong with Urban Decay. Since the launch of the original Naked palette in 2010, makeup fans have come to rely on Urban Decay palettes for foolproof looks, thoughtfully curated color stories and a workhorse eyeshadow formula.
For example, the warm browns and pops of turquoise in the Urban Decay Wild West Eyeshadow Palette blend well and add variety to go-to neutrals. Here’s how to pick out the best Urban Decay palette for your style.
What to know before you buy an Urban Decay palette
Palette size
Most full-size Urban Decay palettes contain 12 shades. Some limited-edition palettes may contain more. The “Basics” collection offers compact, pared-down palettes with six shades. Even among the larger palettes, the size of the palette and its contents can vary, with some palettes containing larger eyeshadow pans than others.
Color range
Most Urban Decay palettes belong in the “Naked” collection, which began as a series of versatile nude palettes but has since branched out into more colorful themes like Naked Cherry and Naked Heat. If you’re looking for a curated assortment of colors to make creating a look simple, a Naked palette may be right for you. If you prefer more color choices for experimentation, certain Naked palettes may fit the bill, but the brand’s limited-edition or movie tie-in palettes may be more to your liking.
Do you need an eyeshadow brush?
Many Urban Decay palettes come with a brush, but some don’t, particularly newer palettes like the Reloaded palette and compact versions of the Naked series. If you plan to bring your palette for travel or touch-ups and don’t want to have to bring a set of brushes with you, look for a palette that includes a brush.
Urban Decay palette features
Beginner-friendly
Many makeup fans own at least one Naked palette because the formulas tend to blend well and the colors allow for foolproof combinations. Smaller palettes are particularly beginner-friendly because they feature a condensed range of colors and shades, making it almost impossible to mess up. Plus, many larger Urban Decay palettes come with eyeshadow brushes, so you don’t have to worry about purchasing your own tools right away.
Urban Decay’s palette pedigree
Before the original Naked palette launched in 2010, the trend was for single eyeshadows. Nowadays, neutral palettes can seem ubiquitous, but it was Urban Decay’s formulation and color curation that paved the way for today’s palettes. Not every shade, or even every palette, knocks it out of the park, but the brand has a reputation for reliability, particularly if you use an eyeshadow primer.
Variety of textures and finishes
Full-size Urban Decay palettes contain a combination of matte, shimmer, satin and glittery eyeshadows. Matte shadows are good for daytime looks or for laying down color and defining the eye area. Shimmer and metallic shadows can be used for a bolder look, to highlight part of the eye or for evening.
Urban Decay palette cost
Six-shade Urban Decay eyeshadow palettes cost $29, while larger palettes cost $44-$65, depending on the number of shades and extra features like an included brush.
Urban Decay palette FAQ
Is Urban Decay vegan or cruelty-free?
A. Urban Decay is cruelty-free, but not all of its products are vegan. Check the ingredients list to confirm whether or not a palette is vegan.
Can Urban Decay eyeshadows be applied wet?
A. Applying eyeshadow with a brush that’s been dampened with setting spray or water can help intensify the color and shine, particularly for metallic and shimmer shades. This is a great way to create a bold look or highlight the eye with a foiled-effect metallic accent. This technique can also be used to transform any eyeshadow into an eyeliner. However, for eyeshadows that will need to be blended out, it’s better to stick with a dry brush.
Which Urban Decay palette should I get?
Best of the best Urban Decay palette
Urban Decay Naked Wild West Eyeshadow Palette: available at Sephora, Ulta and Amazon
Our take: If you missed out on the brand’s popular Born to Run palette, this option offers some of the same warm browns and teals with a Wild West-inspired twist.
What we like: The palette includes 12 matte, metallic and shimmer shades, half in warm tones and half in cool. Most colors glide on easily and don’t have much fallout. This Urban Decay palette is vegan and cruelty-free.
What we dislike: Compared to other Urban Decay palettes, this one seems lacking in pigment, requiring a few applications or a dampened brush to build up enough color. The pan sizes are smaller than past Naked releases.
Best bang for your buck Urban Decay palette
Urban Decay Naked2 Basics Eyeshadow Palette: available at Ulta and Amazon
Our take: These six taupe-hued neutrals are great for basic everyday looks or traveling.
What we like: It features cool-toned shades, which can be hard to find. It’s cruelty-free, gluten-free and paraben-free. The small palette is portable for travel or touch-ups during the day.
What we dislike: This palette contains matte shades only, and the shade range is not very wearable for medium to deep skin tones. It comes with a mirror, but no brush.
Honorable mention Urban Decay palette
Urban Decay Naked Reloaded Eyeshadow Palette: available at Sephora, Ulta and Amazon
Our take: Formulated to flatter a wider range of skin tones than the original Naked palette, these 12 matte and shimmer shades allow for greater versatility.
What we like: The shades in this compact palette are sized differently according to which shades get used most. The formula is paraben- and phthalate-free. Metallic and shimmer shadows can be intensified by applying with a wet brush.
What we dislike: This palette doesn’t come with a brush, and some users were put off by the use of cardboard packaging instead of plastic or metal. The shimmer shades may not perform as well as the mattes. Laura Duerr is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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