Urban Decay Full Spectrum Palette swatches and review
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Color junkies: it’s obvious that the new limited edition Urban Decay Full Spectrum Palette ($55) is for you. 21 shades of bold color straight from a rainbow; pinks, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, purples. I mean…duh.
But what might not be entirely a given is that even the most conservative of eye shadow wearers can benefit from this palette. Because I know even the most straight-laced beauty lovers like to occasionally let their freak flag fly. This is your chance. (More on that at the end of the article.)
Bigger than 2015’s Spectrum palette (21 shades vs. 15) and brighter too, Full Spectrum is a gorgeous sight to see. It has seven vertical rows of three shades, grouped by color family, housed in a sturdy plastic palette with a rainbow-gemed UD icon, a HUGE mirror and a double-ended brush (the Tapered Crease Brush for blending and the Shadow Brush for intensifying color.)
The shades themselves all have shimmer or glitter in them that’s visible in the pan (except for the stark white matte Bump). Some of that sparkle does get lost in application as a handful of these tend to look matte. Some are a bit on the dusty and chunky side, too. But overall, there’s A LOT of pigment in this beaute. And a lot to love.
18 or 17 of the shades are brand new, depending on if you believe Sephora (18) or Temptalia (17, I believe Temptalia!)
Let’s get into it, shall we? (FYI, I’m going to CAPITALIZE my favorites, though it will probably be obvious from the swatches!)
Urban Decay Full Spectrum Palette swatches
Alchemy – dirty fuchsia rose shimmer
Gossip – bright pink shimmer with silver micro glitter
Paranoia – cool bubble gum pink shimmer
Warning -coppery orange metallic shimmer
SEIZE – pink-shifting coral shimmer (such a unique shade!)
Jones – golden orange shimmer
Midnight Blaze – blackened khaki with gold pearl (I wanted to love this shade but it was dry with very little color payoff)
CALAVERA – BRIGHT yellow shimmer (looks matte on, but oh, that pigment!)
Goldmine – metallic yellow-gold (really soft consistency in the pan)
HUNDRED – blackened emerald green with golden shimmer
Hatter – bright grass green shimmer (looks matte on)
MEAN – bright chartreuse shimmer
MINX – blackened denim with bright blue shimmer
BLINDSIDED – pure cyan shimmer (looks matte on, this is probably my favorite shade in the whole palette!)
Metamorphosis – cornflower blue (I wanted to love this shade but it was sheer with very little color payoff)
Delirious – dirty plum shimmer
Sketch – bright cool grape shimmer
Faded – lavender with gold micro glitter (Again, wanted to fall in love but it has patchy color)
Platonic – black matte with iridescent silver shimmer
Iced – oyster silver shimmer (Like Goldmine, this has chunky, soft texture)
Bump – white matte
So, it’s obvious how to wear this palette if you’re a color lover: you can almost just close your eyes and plant your brush! Ombre looks are cinch too with the way they’re already grouped for you. But, how do you work this into a look if you’re a more conservative eye shadow fan? Just pick one shade and pop it in the inner corner of your eye or use the darker shade as a liner. Don’t be scurred!
we heartsters – what shade is grabbing you the most?
Stef is many things. Amongst them: editor-in-chief and co-founder of we heart this, photographer, condiment connoisseur, Philly girl in the California desert, borderline hoarder and a hardcore beauty junkie.
skin tone: NC 25/30
skin type: oily with a fear of rosacea
favorite beauty product: high end skincare and lip products