Urban Decay UD XX - 20 Years of Beauty with an Edge + My Favorite Urban Decay Products.

Can you believe that Urban Decay is celebrating their 20 year anniversary? It seems like just yesterday that the 'beauty with an edge' brand launched in 1996 with just 10 lipsticks and 12 nail enamels. I remember their early years and nail enamels that really shook up the industry with their edgy names. The brand has certainly grown over the years and has become adored by millions of women around the globe. I am one of them. In celebration of this milestone, Urban Decay has launched a really special vault called UD XX - 20 Years of Beauty with an Edge.

UD XX contains 20 shades of Eyeshadow and 20 shades of 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil that span the brand’s entire 20-year history which is pretty bittersweet. It includes everything from the brands best selling shades and new shades to vintage shades like UV-B along with cult classics like Covet and Lucky too.  The range in shades is astounding and goes from from neutral to bright and dark to light with an array of finishes that you can never be bored.

UD XX shades:

Eyeshadows: Oil Slick, Roadstripe, ABC Gum, Shattered, Grifter, Gunmetal, Polyester Bride, Baked, Mildew, Asphyxia, Mushroom, Midnight Cowboy, Smog, Lounge, Flash, Vapor, YDK, Roach, UV-B and Last Call.

24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils: Zero, Oil Slick, Gunmetal, Mushroom, Whiskey, Roach, Smog, Lucky, Midnight Cowboy, Underground, Stash, Mildew, Covet, Deep End, UV-B, Deviant, Asphyxia, Ransom, Last Call and Crash.

This vault is a super limited edition and only available at urbandecay.com and Sephora. It's pricey at $375 but it's the ultimate for the true Urban Decay fan.

My Favorite Urban Decay Products

I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite Urban Decay products in celebration of this special time. I use so many of them regularly.

Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette - I use this a few times a week. It contains all of the shadows I need to create the perfect eye look, from everyday to soft and smoky to full on smoky.

Urban Decay Primer Potion - This is my eyeshadow primer of choice. I think I have used all of the different formulas/shades. It's simply the best.

Urban Decay Liar Naked Lipgloss - I have this on my vanity and in my purse. It's the perfect shade of gloss for me.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil - I own multiple shades and just love this long-lasting easy to apply liner.

Urban Decay NAKED Basics Palette - Could it get any better than this basic eyeshadow palette? I think everyone needs to own this one. It's perfect for everyday and as a base to any shadow look.

Urban Decay NAKED on the Run - This palette is my ultimate travel palette and I bring it with me everywhere. It has just the right shadows, blush and bronzer shades along with a great gloss. My mascara has gone bad a long time ago, but the rest is perfect.

Urban Decay NAKED 3 Palette - Honestly, I could have all of the NAKED palettes on my favorites list, but this is the one I pull out the most. I just love the rose-hued neutrals and they are so versatile. I had to buy another because I hit pan on many of the shades in my original.

What are you favorite Urban Decay products?

UD | Gwen Stefani Spring Collection.

The UD | Gwen Stefani Collection is now complete with the release of the rest of the products that make up the spring collection. The second phase of this exciting collaboration with the singer and fashion entrepreneur has had us makeup girls chomping at the bit! Now that these items are here, which include a Blush Palette, eight must-have Lipstick shades and six coordinating shades of 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil along with a Brow Box, they are flying off the shelves. Get these limited edition makeup items while you can.

When I first saw that Gwen was teaming up with Urban Decay late last year, I knew there would have to be lipsticks. Gwen is known for her iconic lip looks. I fell hard for the 15-pan eyeshadow palette and I knew that the rest of the collection would be just as luxe and beautiful — it is!

The UD | Gwen Stefani Collection was a true partnership with Stefani who worked closely with the brand as she went over every detail of the collection. Gwen was involved in creating all of the shades and the packaging and I think it totally comes through. Urban Decay Chief Creative Officer and Founding Partner Wende Zomnir carefully crafted each product with Stefani so that the exact shades Gwen always wished she had in her personal makeup collection came to fruition.

The entire UD | Gwen Stefani Collection:

UD | Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette - $58

Filled with 15 must-have shades, this is a neutral girls dream. Add a pop of color with one of the three bold shades or line with Blackout. My complete review is here: UD | Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette Review + Swatches

UD | Gwen Stefani Blush Palette - $45

Filled with six shades to highlight and define, this blush palette is amazing. Made with Urban Decay's 8-hour Afterglow finely milled formula, these blush, bronzer and highlighting shades go the distance. I like that there are a mix of easy to wear shades here. The palette includes two blush shades, a true bronzer that I think will work well for light to medium toned gals and three shades that are great for highlighting and layering over the blush or bronzer.

UD | Gwen Stefani Blush shades:

• Cherry - Light Pink Satin
• Easy - Deep Rose with Gold Shimmer
• Angel - Champagne-Nude Shimmer
• Lo-Fi - Soft-Bronze Matte
• Hush - Medium Pink with Gold Shimmer
• OC - Soft Pink with Peach Shift

The Palette is itself incredibly packaged similar to the eyeshadow palette, but this one is all sleek white and gold. It opens to reveal the six larger shades of blush, bronzer and highlighter shades. I like Cherry and Easy pretty equally, but tend to use a little shimmer so I've been layering Angel over Cherry. Of course, I use both of these over Lo-Fi which I use first in the hollows of my cheekbones and where I would contour. 

UD | Gwen Stefani Lipstick - $18

After trying over fifty shades, Gwen settled on eight must-have lipstick shades for her collection and I think they are very well suited to her and the collection. From the packaging to the shades themselves, everything about them are exquisite. Featuring Urban Decay's proprietary Pigment Infusion System™, the lipsticks are super creamy in texture with rich color payout.

UD | Gwen Stefani Lipstick shades:

• Ex-Girlfriend - Sheer Nude-Rose with Pink Shimmer
• Firebird - Deep Fuchsia Cream
• 714 - Bright Red Mega Matte
• Rock Steady - Deep Wine Red Cream
• Spiderweb - Satin Red Cream
• Wonderland - Dark Pink-Red Cream
• Phone Call - Sheer Bright Pink (UD exclusive)
• Plaid - Sheer Deep Berry (UD exclusive)

Of course, my favorite is Ex-Girlfriend, but I have been rocking Phone Call just as often (I'm really trying to break out of my nude lip shell!). All of the colors are fabulous and you really can't go wrong with any of them. I have all but the Urban Decay exclusive Plaid which is currently sold out.

UD | Gwen Stefani 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil - $20

To go along with the lipstick shades, Gwen helped to come up with six 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencils. These lip pencils are dreamy as they are creamy and waterproof and seriously last. They line and prime to help lipstick stay in place while helping to maked lipstick go on more smoothluy and prevent feathering.

UD | Gwen Stefani 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil shades:

• Ex-Girlfriend - Nude-Rose
• Firebird - Deep Fuchsia Pink
• 714 - Classic Red
• Rock Steady - Blood Red
• Wonderland - Dark Pink-Red
• Phone Call - Bright Pink (UD exclusive)

UD | Gwen Stefani Brow Box - $30

This is a limited edition Brow Box packaged to match the rest of the UD | Gwen Stefani collection. Made like the rest of the brands Brow Box, this contains two brow powder shades, but these were made just for Gwen so they are called Bathwater Blonde and are a dark and light blonde. The box also includes a wax, mini tweezers and two mini angled brushes to apply the brow powders. What I really like about the brow box, that you might have not known, is that there are two mirrors inside and one is quite magnified. These blonde shades are actually like taupe and pretty universal for medium brown hairs as well.

The entire UD | Gwen Stefani is available now. Buy it at urbandecay.com, Sephora, Macy's, Nordstrom, beauty.com and Ulta.

UD | Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette : Review + Swatches.

I teased you with the news of the Urban Decay X Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette last week and now that I have it, I just had to show it off. This palette is nothing short of spectacular — every detail! From the case that truly represents Gwen's lifestyle to the shadow's themselves, it is a true collaboration between Gwen and the Urban Decay brand.

Gwen and Urban Decay spent hours together at Gwen's hours. They talked makeup and design; the palette is a true representation of Gwen.

The case and box are stunning! I love the gold and white stripes on the box and it makes it giftable for the holiday's. The case is sleek and heavy and it really surprised me. It feels very custom and is quite detailed. It features a black and white graphic dot print and has a antique gold plaque that features the UD | Gwen Stefani logo. It's very rich feeling.

Upon opening, the palette is filled with 15 must-have shades — all made with Urban Decay's great formula that are pigment last and very long-lasting. 12 of the shades are brand new and were created just for Gwen and three are from the UD shadow collection that Gwen handpicked. They are overall pretty neutral. If you look at Gwen, her eye looks are mostly neutral with a bold liner or pop of color, like you you see from the hot pink (Harajuku) or bold blue (Danger) which makes an amazing liner or crease color for a smoky look. I really love the shades and the names are really Gwen!

• Blonde (because Gwen is) - pale beige with pink iridescent shift
• Bathwater (a No Doubt song) - pale beige with gold pearl
• Skimp (a favorite of Gwen's from the UD line up) - pale nude satin
• Steady (after the No Doubt album "Rock Steady" - medium rose with metallic rose gold shift
• Punk (the music genre Gwen got started in) - reddish brown matte
• Baby (an homage to her fashion line L.A.M.B.) - cool metallic rose
• Anaheim (where Gwen grew up) - light taupe-brown matte
• Stark (another of Gwen's favorite shades) - nude-pink matte
• Zone (after the song "Danger Zone") - medium brown matte
• Serious (another of Gwen's songs) - smoky gray with iridescent floating pearl
• Pop (like her current music) - pale coral with iridescent sparkle
• Harajuku (one of her style influences) - metallic blue-pink with iridescent micro-shimmer
• Danger (because we like a little danger) - deep metallic royal blue with blue micro-sparkle
• 1987 (the year No Doubt formed) - bright metallic yellow-gold
• Blackout (Gwen's favorite black shade) - blackest black matte

The UD X Gwen Palette is available now on urbandecay.com and it's at Sephora for Rouge and VIB members. It will be available for all, any day at Sephora, Ulta and Macy's. Buy it for $58.