Urban Decay The Feminine Palette Holiday 2012 Review & Swatches

Urban Decay The Feminine Palette ($36) is one of three new palettes introduced with the Urban Decay Holiday 2012 Collection. Why yes, that name probably does ring a bell! That’s because Urban Decay introduced The Feminine Palette last year with their Spring 2011 Collection.

But this is a rebooted palette with new shades and a new packaging!

Ready for this?

Although the shades are new, the color variation is quite similiar to the original Feminine Palette, not dupes mind you, but the colors are in the same ranges.

You’ll get six total shades in the palette one of which is a new color, Skimp. Other shades are new to the general catalog but not new to this palette so you might not own these. I believe I own all the old Urban Decay Eyeshadow shades so I was delighted this palette contained colors I don’t already own. I also loved they don’t appear in any other palette as of yet so they will be new to most folks.

Rather than go with a cardboard compact, this time around Urban Decay went with a reusable zippered makeup pouch. Inside is a full size mirror and a pop out cardboard compact that contains the shadows. You can pop the shadow compact out for easy application or when you reach pan you can toss this little insert and keep the makeup bag. Nifty eh?

Shades Inside:

• Bordello (mauve with gold micro-glitter)
• Skimp (light creamy)
• AC/DC (smoky purple)
• Gunmetal (metallic grey with silver micro-glitter)
• Hijack (metallic teal)
• Lost (metallic brown)

You’ll also get a Urban Decay Lip Junkie Lip Gloss in Wallflower (creamy nude tan pink).

Lost, Hijack, Gunmetal

AC/DC, Skimp, Bordello

I wouldn’t say the shades are exactly matchy match. If you wanted to combine a few colors and do a few contrasting looks this palette might be a little puzzling. Certain shades do go well together where as others are a bit mismatched. But considering the colors are dramatic on your own you can create a popping look with a single color no problem. This is exactly what I did for my look below using Lost on my lids (a little Skimp to highlight) and Wallflower on my lips. I LOVE Lost. What a great shade!

This is my first test out with the new Urban Decay Eyeshadow formula and I must say I’m impressed. Don’t get me wrong the original formula was quite pigmented and gorgeous to say the least. But this new formula is super velvety, easier to blend, and has incredible color pay off. The texture is so soft! They do kick up a fair bit of powder though and I noticed fall out is a little bit of an issue due to the looser formula. Although, some of the shades with micro glitter seem to have a more refined texture versus the older formula which was a glitter bomb.

Overall, I felt like the shades in the new Urban Decay The Feminine Palette were a little mismatched for me. If I wanted to create a variety of looks using these shades together I def was a little stumped. However, shades on their own pop enough to create looks with a single shade. This palette is an easy way to try out new shades of Urban Decay Shadow you might not already own. Plus you have the advantage of checking out the new formula if you haven’t already. It’s nice to see new colors in a palette release since many complaints revolve around the fact that UD includes too many of the same shades, I’m talking to you Midnight Cowboy.

A little red lipstick to make this look pop!

Worth a pick up.

If for nothing at all, get it for Skimp and Lost. Loving those shades hard!

What do you think of the Feminine Palette?

Have you tried the new Urban Decay Eyeshadow formula?

Love it?

Prefer the old?

Do share!

Available this September from Ulta, Ulta.com, Sephora, Sephora.com, and UrbanDecay.com