Is Urban Decay Worth It?

Are Urban Decay products worth it? UD has been a cult brand for as long as I can remember, and their iconic Naked palettes are still an everyday staple for many people. So you may be wondering if Urban Decay products are actually worth your money! Lucky for you, over the years I’ve built a little bit of an UD collection and am going to give you the low down on each product. Telling you which pieces of makeup you need and which you might be best to avoid!

What is Urban Decay?

Urban Decay is a cosmetics company that was founded in 1996 (making it just 2 years older than me) in Southern California. The brand’s tag line is ‘Pretty Different,’ and their aim is to inspire people to have fun with makeup and challenge the status quo. Starting with just ten lipstick and twelve nail polishes, the original products were inspired by the urban landscape. Hence the name. The brand is best know for its Naked Palettes which have been loved by makeup lovers for years.

Is Urban Decay Cruelty Free?

Having makeup that is cruelty-free is important to many and Urban Decay fulfils this need. The brand is PETA certified. so you can rest assured that no animals were used in the testing process of UD’s makeup line. Whilst not all of Urban Decay’s products claim to be vegan, they do have a large variety of vegan makeup and these products are highlighted on their site.

What are Urban Decay’s Most Popular Products?

It’s fair to say that Urban Decay is most famed for its Naked palettes. But there are so many other great products that people all over the world keep securely in their makeup bags! From their eyeshadow primer, to their setting sprays, there’s a lot to love!

Which Urban Decay Products are Worth My Money?

So which of Urban Decay’s products are worth your money? I’m about to walk you through my thoughts on every UD piece I’ve tried and whether I think you should pick them up too, or whether you should save your money instead!

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The Original Naked Palette

Let’s start at the beginning. When I first started watching beauty YouTube as a teen, the original Naked Palette was the epitome of cool. The simple neutral shades featured in almost every video I watched. Despite this, it wasn’t the first Urban Decay palette I picked up. In fact, I only bought this one when the brand decided it would be discontinued. I’m glad I bought it at that time as it was on offer, as they were clearly trying to get rid of the stock, and I’m a big fan of saving money.

Now I know you won’t be able to get this eyeshadow palette anymore, but for those who already have it, I’m sure you’ll agree this is an Urban Decay product that is most definitely worth it. This has become one of my everyday eyeshadow palettes and I find myself reaching for it a lot. The neutral shades make it super easy to create looks that are both appropriate for work and for more dressy events that call for a touch more glamour.

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Pink Hues: Naked 3 Palette

My first Urban Decay baby was this Naked 3 palette. I had been eyeing this one for a while before I bought it. I originally thought about buying it for my Year 11 leaver’s prom, but decided on a more affordable Sleek palette. However, I caved to temptation a little while after during my first year at 6th form and bought this beauty. This is also the first Naked palette that has a ‘clippy‘ lid, rather than a cardboard magnetic one.

Whilst I adore this palette, especially as it was the item that introduced me to Urban Decay, I will say the pigmentation is nowhere near as good as some of UD’s other products. This is especially so in the more shimmer/glitter shades. So if you opt for one I do suggest using a setting spray alongside it to make the eyeshadows pop! I often use Glossier’s LidStar in ‘slip‘ as a base when using the Naked 3 palette. If you want to know which Glossier products are worth your money, I also have a post all about that!

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The Perfect Night Out with the Naked Smoky Palette

Who doesn’t love a smoky eye on a night out (if we can even remember what those are anymore)! This gorgeous palette holds a whole host of shades ideal for creating a variety of smoky eye looks. Again like the Naked 3, there are a couple of shades in this palette that need a little help from setting spray to truly pop. However, this is still a lovely collection of eyeshadows.

Despite loving this palette, I’m not sure I’d repurchase it at this point. Primarily because the shades are that bit darker and so are more suited to evening looks so I normally tend to only reach for it on nights out. Although, for those who like to be a little more bold with their day to day makeup then I’d definitely say this Urban Decay product is worth it!

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Turn Up the Heat with this Naked Palette

I love this particular palette from Urban Decay. The Naked Heat palette is one I bought after a makeup class I attended at the Cardiff stall in Debenhams with Cardiff Uni’s Fashion Society. Fun events like that are exactly why I think everyone should join a society at university! The makeup artists taught us a stunning look using this palette and adding a pop of blue. I actually have a picture of the look on my Instagram.

This is definitely one of my top Urban Decay products, and one I think is well worth the money. The shades are all very pigmented and make for beautiful warm eyeshadow looks that can be worn all year round!

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Sweet Like the Naked Honey Palette

Moving on to some of the palettes I’ve received as gifts. The Naked Honey palette is one of my favourite items in my makeup collection. Primarily because my boyfriend bought it for me for the first Christmas we were together. I’d been lusting at the Naked Honey palette for a little while but had decided not to get it – on the basis I probably owned enough makeup already. So when I unwrapped this I was over the moon!

This UD eyeshadow palette is really beautiful, it has rich warm yellow and gold tones that are ideal for both day and night looks. Again this is a collection of eyeshadows I reach for often when doing my makeup in the morning! If you’re looking for truly versatile eyeshadow, then this Urban Decay product is so worth it!

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Backtalk Palette

Another gift, the Backtalk palette is one I was given for my 21st birthday. This is the perfect palette for taking on holiday as it is a hybrid containing both blush and eyeshadow. I love the tones in this palette, they’re warm pink and red hues with a touch of warm browns too.

An interesting aspect of this palette is that the centre mirror actually detaches from the main body of the palette. Which again is great if you’re travelling as it means you can move the mirror around super easily to find the right lighting! So for those loving for their next travel buddy, UD’s Backtalk palette is definitely one to take along for the ride.

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Getting that Afterglow with Urban Decay

Another purchase made after an Urban Decay class in Cardiff is the Sin Afterglow face palette. This has everything you need to create a gorgeous face look. Including 2 bronzers, 2 highlights, and 2 blushes. Again this is a great one to take on travels as there’s so many products in one palette! As you can tell from the notable dip, I love the bottom right highlighter!

Whilst I do use this blush palette pretty often, it’s not at the top of my must-haves from Urban Decay. I think it’s definitely down to personal preference if you think this Urban Decay product is worth your money.

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UD Beached Bronzer

I’ll be real with you here, I bought this bronzer purely for the packaging. The palm trees give me LA vibes, having lived in LA for 6 months during uni I’m a little bit of a sucker for anything that reminds me of the sunny city! I do however like this bronzer, although I tend to only reach for it when I’m tanned as it’s a little warm on pale skin.

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All Nighter Setting Spray

Time for the pièce de résistance! If you’re a makeup fan I’m sure you’ve heard the many claims surrounding the Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray. And let me tell you this product most definitely lives up to the hype! In my first year at university I swore by this on nights out. I’ll admit to falling asleep in full makeup and waking up in the morning with it still pretty much in tact! So if you’re looking for a setting spray that won’t let you down, this one from Urban Decay is worth every penny! (I’ve repurchased this guy many a time)!

Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner

For those wanting to add a touch of sparkle to their look, then Urban Decay’s Heavy Metal Eyeliner is for you. For me, this eyeliner is something I use for night’s out, I tend to use it as a topper for other eyeshadows as the formula is glitter particles rather than a solid smooth line. For this reason I probably wouldn’t use it as an eyeliner on its own as it would be very difficult to get one sleek line.

I do really like this product but I do think there are other options on the market that are just as good but come in at a much lower price.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

One of Urban Decay’s staple products is their eyeshadow Primer Potion. This is a eye primer that’s meant to make your eyeshadow stay looking flawless for longer. If I’m completely honest, I’m yet to be sold on any eyeshadow primer, including this one. I think I need to do some side by side tests with one eye having primer and the other having none. So I’d love to hear your thoughts on this product, as I’m really not sure if it’s worth the purchase.

UD Brow Gel

I haven’t seen anyone else talking about Urban Decay’s Brow Gel, and in all honesty I don’t have too much to say about it either. I have the clear version of this product and whilst it works well, it hasn’t blown me away. I far prefer my Glossier Boy Brow and would recommend that over the UD version!

What Urban Decay Product Should I be Rushing to Buy?

When it comes to recommending just one Urban Decay product that I think is worth your time and money, I’ll have to go with the Naked Heat palette. I love the shades of eyeshadows in this palette and can’t wait until places start opening up again and I can create evening looks with it!

About Katie May

I’m a recent English Literature and Philosophy graduate, currently working in digital marketing. On my blog, you can find everything from beauty, to travel, to my experience with a chronic illness. From my favourite beauty products of 2020, to my ultimate guide to Los Angeles, I hope you enjoy your time here!

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