Urban Decay Nocturnal Shadow Box Review & Swatches
Urban Decay Nocturnal Shadow Box ($29) is a new, Ulta exclusive eyeshadow palette that launched for Spring 2017 which includes 8 permanent Urban Decay Eyeshadows and 4 which have been released in prior palettes.
Here’s my review and swatches.
Urban Decay Nocturnal Shadow Box comes housed in a small rectangle cardboard palette that holds a generously sized mirror and a total of 12 eyeshadows that are 0.01 oz each totaling 0.12 oz. The palette also includes a dual-ended brush which has a bushier blending brush on one side and a shorter, denser eyeliner brush on the other. The brush is well made with a sturdy handle and soft bristles that do not shed.
Although tiny, the palette is a nice way to grab up more Urban Decay Eyeshadows you might not already own or to try out the brand for the first time. The palette is made in the USA which I think speaks for the quality here. I’m typically not judgemental when it comes to palettes Made in China but I do notice more and more that when comparing Tarte or Urban Decay Palettes made in the US versus ones in China, I find the US palette is the superior formula. That’s displayed in the Nocturnal Shadow Box which has quite a good formula that are similar in texture and formulation to the larger individual shades.
Urban Decay Nocturnal Shadow Box (ABC Gum, Midnight Cowboy Rides Again, Baby, Half Baked)
Urban Decay Nocturnal Shadow Box (Lounge, Armor, Heroine, Blackout)
Urban Decay Nocturnal Shadow Box (Riff, Delete, Fireball, Backfire)
All in all, the palette was very consistent across the board in terms of pigmentation and formulation. They blended well, packed plenty of pigment, and wore quite nicely on my drier eyes. If you don’t already own some of these shades or you’re just trying Urban Decay for the first time this is a nice place to start. It’s also a nice travel size palette that’s lightweight as well as easy to store. I’m a terrible packer and I tend to want to take everything with me, this has a nice assortment of shades to tote around with me. On that note though, I will say although it offers a variety of shades there isn’t a lot of rhythm or reason behind those shades. It’s a bit of a mismatch of shades so, you have to really use put on your thinking cap to create good combos. Or at least I have to. I always like my palettes to bit cohesive and easier to use versus throwing me some warmer shades mixed in with some bolder blues and greens. On that note I will say it brings together a good assortment of colors so if you want bold you can get it here and if you want a more natural look that’s here too. The whole first row are definitely shades I love. There are a few misses here like Heroine which was a bit sheerer and I thought Fireball was a little less pigmented and smooth as the original shade which I love.
Wearing ABC Gum, Riff, and Blackout
Although lovely in theory, I think the Urban Decay Nocturnal Shadow Box can be disappointing for hardcore fans of the brand if you were expecting new shades. This is suitable for someone who wants a travel friendly palette or for someone who doesn’t have a lot of Urban Decay in their makeup stash already. None the less, the formula doesn’t disappoint thankfully as I’m seeing too many palettes from Urban Decay lately that I wasn’t so inclined to rave.
The Urban Decay Nocturnal Shadow Box is available now at Ulta.com.