Review: Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Shadow Collection

Ever since I saw the first of the pictures popping up on blogs about this palette, I knew it had to be mine. I found out it was going to be released in the US before my trip to Atlanta but my counter in the UK wasn't expecting it until after I got back.

SparkleCrack and I both arrived in Atlanta on the Tuesday, and Wednesday was the shopping day we'd spent a year planning. One of the first places we stopped at was Ulta. I gleefully made a beeline for the Urban Decay stand and grabbed one of the many that were in stock. $55 later, I was a very happy owner of this palette (well, there was a great deal more than $55 spent in that shop!).

This is also available in Sephora, but it was sold out in each of our (3? 4?) visits despite a restock. In the UK, check Debenhams and House of Fraser.


All 15 eye shadows in this palette are new and created specifically for this palette. However, knowing Urban Decay as we do, expect some of these shades to start popping up in other palettes. The shadows are almost full sized at 1.3g (full sized are 1.5g) so I think you are getting very good value here!

The packaging is very elaborate and is a complete fingerprint magnet. I tried to keep it relatively clean for my photos and the review video I did though! There's a huge mirror in the lid which has absolutely no distortion so it'll be easy enough to use for make up application. Also, the palette comes in a purple velvet case which is actually pretty sturdy. Mine lives in that case as the lid does not connect to the base at all. That's pretty much the only major design flaw as far as I'm concerned. It makes it pretty much impossible to travel with as there's always the risk that the palette will come apart.


You might notice the little dent in the corner of your palette.


Urban Decay have made this palette usable even after you've finished the shadows (like that's ever going to happen). There's a purple velvet lined compartment under the palette so you could use it for jewellery or something.

Most of the eye shadows have quite a lot of shimmer in them. Blackout is a very deep, matte black which is proving to be quite useful as a liner shade or something to really create a smokey look. Evidence is still shimmery but doesn't have the same high amount as others. The pigmentation of 14 of the shades is very high, up to Urban Decay's usual standards. However, Tainted is a bit sheerer than the others. Midnight Rodeo does have some glitter in it, but not the obnoxious level that some other Urban Decay shades have had!






I decided to go for this over the new Book of Shadows as I felt the colours in this palette were much more the sort I'd get plenty of use out of. I actually got to test the Book of Shadows on my last day in Atlanta as the Ulta we visited had them on display. I think I probably would have bought it if this palette hadn't been released.