Urban Decay x Basquiat Collection: Swatches and Review

 

This week I felt like I’m totally making it as a beauty blogger as I was able to test and review a highly anticipated collaboration line between Urban Decay Cosmetics and one of the most prominent artists of our times, Jean-Michel Basquiat. The line is officially scheduled to launch on April 20th at UrbanDecay.com but as of now all products from the line are available for purchase at The New Stand store on Union Square (it’s located underground at the Union Square subway station; on the left from the entrance if you pick one underneath the Capital One bank offices).

I learned about the launch from Emily and Abigail from TheWanderlustGirls.com who kindly invited me to preview the launch and helped me out to swatch and take photos of the collection right on spot. I came home with an artifact, a beautifully designed and extremely pigmented Tenant Eyeshadow Palette and here comes my review, swatches, and makeup tutorial featuring it.

Okay, without further due let’s get into the collection. The entire Urban Decay Jean-Michel Basquiat collection features 9 products: 2 makeup palettes, one highlighter and blush palette, 3 lipsticks, and 3 eyeliners.

There are also 3 makeup bags designed by the artist that are also a part of the collaboration. In addition to individual products, the entire line is also available as a bundle that comes in an easel style box decorated by the artist.

Urban Decay Jean-Michel Basquiat Tenant Eyeshadow Palette

That’s the palette that I decided to pick for my collection as it features some of the most unique and beautifully pigmented shades I’ve ever seen. From a breathtaking turquoise to cobalt blue and perfectly pink shades, it’s been a love from the first sight with this palette.

I love the urbanist look of this eight shade palette featuring a mirror and a brush and believe that it’s a pretty good deal considering the design of the product and the quality of shadows that it features. This palette is an absolute must-have if you are a makeup collector as the majority of colors in this palette are truly unique and creativity-inspiring.

Shades

Studio (light pink), 1960 (bright pink), Neo (purple), Les (black), Graffiti (deep green, shimmer), Exu (neon lime green; shimmery), Boom (turquoise), and Untitled (cobalt blue).

Value

$39 for 8 shades 1.2 g (0.04 oz.) each; available at UrbanDecay.com.

Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Gold Griot Eyeshadow Palette

This palette features eight shimmer and matte eyeshadows in a brown and khaki range that are suitable for everyday wear as well as for special occasion looks. This is a much more neutral palette that has everything in it to create different looks, from everyday classics to more out-of-the-box ones. Personally, I figured that I have dupes to the majority of those shades in my other palettes, but if you are a neutrals queen definitely go for it — the pigmentation of the shades in this palette is unbelievable.

Shades

Enigma (ivory), Levitation (light beige), Not For Sale (orange-brown), Suckerpunch (shimmery medium brown), Influence (shimmery yellow undertone light brown), BK (matte gray undertone brown), Pseudonim (dark navy blue), and Crown (shimmery light yellow).

Value

$39 for 8 shades 1.2 g (0.04 oz.) each; available at UrbanDecay.com.

Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Gallery Blush Palette

If you are a blush and highlighter lover, this four shades palette is something definitely worth considering. Each and every shade from the palette is super pigmented and feature some of the shades that I don’t personally have in my collection yet.

I’m talking about the Noho shade of burgundy blush that would work so great in combination with warm red and burgundy eyeshadow look that I’ve been so into lately.

While Now’s The Time highlighter shades feature more gold undertone than I usually prefer, I can totally see myself wearing it as a gorgeous eyeshadow.

Same goes for the Jawbone bronzer—it’s too dark for my pale skin, but it blends so beautifully that I would definitely wear it as a crease defining eyeshadow.

Finally, X-Rated pink blush is so incredibly soft and beautiful—I would purchase the entire palette just so I can have this particular shade in my collection.

Shades

X-Rated (baby pink blush), Now’s The Time (gold-champagne shimmery highlighter), Jawbone (medium bronze), and Noho (burgundy blush).

Value

$34 for 4 shades 4.25g (0.15 oz.) of product; available at UrbanDecay.com.

Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Lipsticks

If you read my blog for a while, you know that Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks are on the list of my all-time favorite formulas. So it’s a no-brainer that I am obsessed about this lipstick collab.

While two brownish shades are not really my cup of tea (I prefer brighter colors in general), I’m totally into the Exhibition shade.

I tested it in the store and the formula is incredible, not to mention that I’m all about this gorgeous shade of purple! I also love the idea of having a beautifully designed lipstick package as it would be an extra pleasure to carry this pretty little thing around for touch-ups.

Shades

Abstract (grayish nude; cream formula), Epigram (rusty brown; cream formula), and Exhibition (cool purple; comfort matte formula).

Value

$17 for 3.4 g (0.11 oz.) of a product; available at UrbanDecay.com.

Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils

I’ve been so into liquid eyeliners lately that I completely forgot how beautiful and incredibly buttery an eye pencil could be. The brand is promising a waterproof 24/7 extra-long wear. I swatched the pencils on my wrist though and the pigmentation is amazing! I can’t wait to get my hands on the bright neon green shade from the collection!

Shades

Post Punk (bright neon green; pearl formula), Anatomy (sienna; matte formula), and Vivid (bright teal blue; matte formula).

Value

$20 for 1.2 g (0.04 oz.) of product; available at UrbanDecay.com.

As you might have concluded, I’m totally into the products from the Urban Decay Jean-Michel Basquiat collaboration. I mean, how couldn’t I? The packaging and the concept of the collab is amazing. And the formula is in the best traditions of the brand. The brand offers to sign up for a waitlist for this launch. If you don’t want to miss out, I recommend grabbing it now at a physical store before it is sold out everywhere.

I wonder to hearing your thoughts about the collection. Which products you are most excited about and want to try yourself?

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8 Comments

  1. Michelle Gil Santini wrote:

    I’m planning on purchasing both the eye shadow palette of Jean-Michel Basquiat since hey it’s a perfect piece for those who love make up and art (also perfect gift for those who love to collect art pieces and or are fan of neo-expressionism.) Maybe I would also get the blush and bronzer but I need to swatch it first to see if it goes well on me and I love the pic that you took of yourself you look super adorable!
    Michelle| http://www.brokebutflawless.blogspot.com

    Posted 5.15.17
  2. Agreed! So excited about this new UD launch!

    Posted 4.17.17
  3. I usually use neutral shadows too, but it’s great to have something different in your collection! For instance, I’ve been using bright colors on the lower lid as a way to bring some color to otherwise neutral look.

    Posted 4.17.17
  4. Agreed! I’m totally obsessed with the idea, the design, and the quality of the products in this line!

    Posted 4.17.17
  5. Kylie Fineday wrote:

    Bullshit you met him a year ago. Basquiat died in 1988. You would have known that with your ‘art related background’ lmao

    Posted 4.16.17
  6. Hannah wrote:

    Oh wow, all of these palettes look stunning! The packaging is insane too, what a gorgeous collection xx

    Hannah | luxuryblush♡

    Posted 4.16.17
  7. MizzJ wrote:

    I’m surprised that I’m so drawn to that Tenant palette as I’m a big neutral shadow lover, but the colors in this one look so amazing!

    Posted 4.16.17
  8. Dressed With Soul wrote:

    The colours of the palette are beautiful!
    xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
    http://www.dressedwithsoul.com

    Posted 4.16.17

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