Gwen Stefani and Urban Decay.... Yay!!

Birthday gifts galore!

She's got some wicked style. Yes, she does. I've been a fan of No Doubt and Gwen Stefani since I was a teen.  Tragic Kingdom was our high school anthem.  I'm a So Cal girl myself, just about seven miles west of Anaheim.  But, I am no doubt, not nearly as cool or as stylish, as Gwen. Now, with her collaboration with Urban Decay, women everywhere can try to be at least half as chic and fashionable as Gwen.  




I'm "in love" with the new Urban Decay Gwen Stefani eyeshadow palette. I hinted to my husband that I would love to get this for my birthday. Guess what?  He came through with this surprise and a few others!!!

I love the colors. They're more on the neutral side. Some of the colors look the same in the palette, but when applied they are distinctly different.  Many reviewers don't like this. From what I understand, they thought she didn't go bold, vibrant or varied enough with color. She's known more for her vibrant, bright lip, muted eyeshadow,thick liner and lashes, not for crazy eyeshadow colors. 

There are fifteen colors in the palette, three of which are Urban Decay relaunches. The Urban Decay website describes the colors as:

Top row:
Blonde:  Pale beige with pink shimmer
Bathwater: pale beige with gold shimmer
Skimp:  Pale nude satin
Steady: Medium rose with metallic gold
Punk: Reddish brown matte

Top Row

Middle Row:
Baby:  Cool metallic rose
Anaheim:  Light taupe-brown matte
Stark:  Nude-pink matte
Zone:  medium brown matte
Serious:  Smokey grey with iridescent pearl

Middle Row

Bottom Row:
Pop:  Pale coral with sparkle
Harajuku: Metallic blue-pink with iridescent sparkle
Danger:  Deep metallic royal blue with blue sparkle
1987:  Bright metallic yellow-gold
Blackout:  Blackest black matte

Bottom Row

My absolute favorite color in the line is 1987. I haven't be drawn to golds in the past because I'm more cool toned, but as I get older, I notice that my formally dark brown eyes are lightening up to a hazel hue and the golds look good on me.  I've already used 1987 and many of the colors in the palette.  The only colors I haven't used yet are Harajuku, Danger and Blackout.  I may use Harajuku and Danger tonight, New Year's Eve 2015.  It is the night to go bold and daring with makeup, right?

The colors go on like butter.  They're so creamy.  I've heard that Pop and Harajuku have a lot of fallout. I've heard the best way to use those two colors is with a wet brush.  

Adorable box

OK palette case

The packaging is just cute.  I thought the box it came in is nicer than the actual palette case. The only issue I have, and this is with ALL eyeshadow palettes, is the shadow that gets on the case. It's hard to clean. I love the large mirror that comes with the palette. The little the message, "Magic's in the Makeup"  happens to be my favorite song from Return to Saturn (I find myself singing it in the shower a lot).  So that was a nice added touch. It doesn't come with any brushes, which is fine because most brushes that come with eyeshadow palettes are cheap and suck. 

I can't wait to continue to play "dress up" and "paint my face" in 2016, especially with the launch of the new line of lipsticks Gwen is collaborating on with Urban Decay. Did I mention that this palette comes with a few samples.  I may have lost those, I'm not sure, but I know I can't find them right now (sad panda, I know, but I don't really like lipstick samples).

"I think women should wear whatever makeup they want for themselves. Makeup should be fun." Thank you Emma Stone for that, thank you!

The Urban Decay + Gwen Stefani Collaboration gets 5 out of 5 Pink Gerber Daisies.  

Beautify yourself tonight and enjoy ringing in the new year! I can't wait to kiss my handsome husband at midnight. We've been celebrating New Year's together since 2005. Cheers to a fabulously beautiful 2016!!