My Trip to Urban Decay & Build Your Own Palette!
5:12 AM
Hey lovelies! Today I am SO excited to share with you a project that I've been keeping quiet for a while now. A couple of months ago I had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with Urban Decay for their Build Your Own Palette launch and I cannot even tell you... It was seriously one of the coolest things I have ever gotten to be a part of as a blogger.
Urban Decay is relaunching their entire eyeshadow range with a brand new updated formula and some very thoughtfully-designed packaging as well. For this project, they invited myself along with Kandee Johnson, xsparkage, Temptalia, and Megan the beauty editor of Refinery29 to visit the notoriously rad Urban Decay headquarters in SoCal to each put together our own 6-pan palette!
The new shadow formula has a "pigment infusion" system in which the pigments have a new carrier agent that makes the shadows even butterier, more pigmented, and longer lasting. This updated formula was first launched in the Anniversary palette (no wonder I loved it so much) and is also in the Naked 2 palette but now you can buy them individually in a range of 68 shades!
UD recorded our process so I want to share my interview and my palette with you guys here:
An in-depth look at the shadows, palette, and behind the scenes after the jump!
Here you can see the center row has the full packaging with the subway token while the shades to either side are the "depotted" shadows popped out of the external case.
The Build Your Own Palette already comes with this creamy matte highlight shade, Walk of Shame, and retails for $18. Each individual shadow is $18 too so in this case you are basically getting the palette for free. It also has a synthetic eyeshadow brush and full-sized mirror. If you prefer taking a liner over a brush, the travel-sized 24/7 pencils also fit in the brush slot easily as well.
There were so many colors and shadow types to choose from, it was seriously difficult to decide what would make it into my palette!
Just a little behind-the-scenes peek, here were Leesha and Christine sitting across the table from me. :)
After millions of swatches, I cleaned off my arm and did "clean" swatches of my final choices. I combined my favorite shades that I could wear everyday and not get bored. Favorite "mini Naked" styled neutrals on top, and a golden melon-pink for brightening, purple for a pop of easy-to-wear color, and deep sexy green for an interesting smokey eye. You can actually buy my pre-built palette on Urban Decay's website here.
My little feature from Urban Decay's site!
Here are some pics with the lovely youtube/blog ladies who were also on the trip!
With the very gorgeous Leesha aka xsparkage.
With Kandee Johnson whom I got to meet for the very first time on this trip! She is the sweetest person ever and she's also very tall, skinny, and beautiful inside and out.
Christine of Temptalia, me, and Kandee. How bite-sized do I look? HAHA!
And here's a look at UD HQ. Very edgy, purple, sexy, and a dash of humor at every turn.
And did I mention puppies? Yeah, there were a few awesome dogs chilling there too like this cute little frenchie. What's up, little guy? :)
Hope you guys enjoyed coming along with me on my trip to Urban Decay! You guys know that UD is one of my favorite brands of all time so it was such an honor to be a part of this collaboration. Thank you so much to Urban Decay for letting my visit and of course, for my palette as well!
And thank you so much to YOU GUYS, my readers, who have loyally supported me from day one. It's because of you that experiences like this can come true. You don't know how much it means to me, not just that things like this can happen, but thinking about the process of what it took to get there. I don't forget it and I don't take it for granted. For your love and readership, thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Disclaimer: Thank you so much to Urban Decay for flying us out and gifting the 6-Pan Build Your Own Palette! This post was not requested, required, nor sponsored and all opinions are 100% my own. :)
59 comments
AWESOME!!! I would suffocate at the UD HQ if I were you!! congrats jen! you totally deserve it. <3
ReplyDeletep/s: can you please remove the captcha for commenting? it's quite bothering. thanks.. love you. :)
I can't wait to get my hands on these. I have been a huge UD fan since 2008. Their eye shadows are so pigmented yet they don't cost an arm and a leg to purchase. Congratulations on getting to visit their main office and I love the colors you put together.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being invited by UD to create your own palette! That's very exciting and I'm looking forward to seeing the colours you chose in person. Thanks for sharing such interesting photos about your visit.
ReplyDeleteThe second photo from the top probably wins the prize for being the most funny. I can imagine the staff sitting at the desk ducking her head under so that you could take a photo.
Hahaha, you caught her! She was trying to hide on purpose. LOL!
Deletecool, I really wanna try this pallete. but I think this gonna be quite expensive o.O hehe. love you jen .
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Yeah I agree, if you buy everything all at once it's definitely pricey. What I would do is just buy one at a time since you can use the palette even if it's not filled all the way. It took a LONG time for me to fill my MAC palette too. ;)
Deletewhat an awesome opportunity!! you're palette looks lovely :)
ReplyDeleteHey i also watched Kandee's video on building your own pilate for urban decay, and I loved urs. I like they way you presented the 5 colours u've chosen and sort of sharing your tips on how you apply them. Love u, and I'm following you!
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing! I bet you had an awesome time! I love your blog and I don't think they could've chosen a better person to give this opportunity to :)
ReplyDeleteWow Jen! That is absolutely amazingg! I can't wait to see these!
ReplyDeleteCongrats Jen!! This is an amazing opportunity and UD couldn't have picked a better person to put together the palette! I'm so excited for you, and can't wait to pick up the palette you put together myself!! Keep up the great work :D
ReplyDeletewww.fabuloustuesdays.com
I love your choices - the mix of neutrals and colors is really perfect!
ReplyDeleteLove love LOVE your palette! What an AMAZING experience that must have been. I hope you purchased a ton of your own palettes to have as keepsakes :)
ReplyDeleteLooks amazing :D
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Your palette looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteomg you're so lucky! I so wana check these out, I wonder when theyre getting released in the UK
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing opportunity! Your palette is beautiful Jen! Congrats! =)
ReplyDeleteI love your color selections! <3
ReplyDeleteSimply amazing Jen! That looks like it was such a wonderful experience and thanks for sharing it with us! The colors you chose are amazing!
ReplyDeleteYou arebso gorgeous in this video as always ofcourse;) i like all the colors you chose;)!! Thanks fr sharing your trip at UD.
ReplyDeletewow awesome opportunity. your pallette holds some of my fav eye shadow colors frm ud. and the video looks great too ㅇㅅㅇ)b
ReplyDeleteCongrats congrats!! I watched this video today while eating noodles on my lunch break : ) What an incredible opportunity.
ReplyDeleteWow the UD office looks awesome! I also love the palette you made, you chose the best of both worlds, smokey eyes, pop of color plus neutrals!
ReplyDeleteCool!! I love those customizing kits that many make up companies are implementing. This Urban Decay technique actually utilize their singles which is a great plus~ Can't wait to see them in stores!!
ReplyDeleteLove your eyeshadow colors! I just notice that you gain more weight in the picture, aren't you? ;)
ReplyDeleteOmg the colors are so gorgeous, love it especially the part where u can pop the individual shadows out and create your own palette colors on the go...Hope UD will be bringing in this range soon to Asia countries like Singapore...Can't wait to get it...:D
ReplyDeleteThis is pretty cool!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the great opportunity! Love the colours you chose. What colour nail polish were you wearing in the interview video? Love!
ReplyDeleteI was using Incoco nail strips in the glittery pink.
DeleteAwesome! Love your palette :) Do you know when they will appear in stores/at Sephora?
ReplyDeleteI'm actually not 100% sure. I think early April?
Deletethis is so cool!!!!!
ReplyDeletecongratulations for being invited from big and good brand company!!
im so excited
Looks nice, but I just noticed the price... good god, couldn't they have offered a discount for filling a whole palette at once or something? x_X Also it's bulkier than I would have wanted...
ReplyDeleteI know, I was disappointed about the price too. Hopefully in the future they can sell just the inner "popped out" part for less.
Deleteone of the coolest thing ever! congratulations jen, i couldn't think of a more well suited and deserving beauty blogger to be involved in such a fun project x
ReplyDeletethis is an amazing experience! congratulations :)
ReplyDeleteI randomly saw a YouTube commercial for UD and I was like is that JEN?! I was Very pleased to find out that is Was you! Congrats! =D
ReplyDelete(and I'm going to have to check out the new eye shadows, shouldn't have a problem finding a good color ;)
Oh that's so cool! I haven't seen it yet!
DeleteJen, this is amazing! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThese palettes are so cool and edgy XD
LOL @ the 3rd pic! I have a picture like that from my 21st b-day where I'm in between my two amazonian friends (5'9" and 5"11) 0_o it looks too funny with little 4'10" me in the middle...
Congrats congrats Jen!!!! You look amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteWow I believe this is such an amazing experience for you! Congrats Jen! =D
ReplyDeleteThe Urban Decay eye shadow colours are so so beautiful, I want one! And I love your accessories Jen. :)
ReplyDeletecongratulations on such an accomplishment! just wanted to say that ive been following your blog and thanks to you i feel confident enough to do my own makeup for my engagement shoot and my wedding day as well. i constantly refer to your tutorials, especially the everyday looks. ive been going to sephora way too much lately, but i just keep telling myself its all for the wedding :) i hope more awesome opportunities come your way.
ReplyDeleteI MUST HAVE X! :D
ReplyDeleteGreat video! Thanks! Can you tell me where you purchased the ring that was on your pointer finger??
ReplyDeleteThe blue ring is from YSL. :)
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ReplyDeleteI just wanted to know that on urban decay's website, is it just selling the palette for $18 or with the palette and with the 68 shades for $18? Please, Im really confused because on their website it doesnt let you pick the 5 other shades. THANKS ! :)
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to let you know that it's really cool that you got to do this, and you totally deserve it! Urban Decay is one of my favs too! =)
ReplyDeletehttp://worldtag.us
Jen I just saw an ad for UD new eye shadows with you in it :)
ReplyDeleteHey Jen! I just went out to Sephora tonight and snagged their LAST Naked2 pallette & UD eyeshadow primer, so exciting! Also, the sales girl told me you can use the pallette in quadrants something like the first four are for day, then the last four are for a night look. She also prefers the Naked2 > Naked1 because of the pigment and less shimmery colors.
ReplyDeletehi jen! love the UD tutorial. This is kind of going off on a tangent but wanted to ask you were you got your ring from (not the Arty ring) but the dainty rose gold square-ish cut out one you're wearing on your index finger in the video at 1:53. TIA! :)
ReplyDeleteI bought it from Hautelook and the designer was Adina Reyter. :)
DeleteHi Jen!
ReplyDeleteI was just wondering what color lipstick/ gloss you were wearing in the YouTube video of you at Urban Decay. Absolutely love the color
I believe it may have been a Revlon Lip Butter but I honestly can't remember 100%!
DeleteHi Jen! First off, thank you for your awesome reviews/tutorials, especially for us with monolids. You have been amazingly helpful and inspirational!
ReplyDeleteSecond, with UD changing 24/7 liner colors, which discontinued colors are must-haves to grab before they are gone?
Aww thank you so much! Sadly, a few of my favorite shades are being discontinued. Lucky was my old HG for lower lash line. Really great on tan skin!
DeleteBinge, Covet, Flipside, and Ransom were also loves for when I wanted a colored liner. Check them out if you can find them! :)
Hi Jen! I rarely put on makeup, but your tutorials make me want to jump right in and experiment. You make it look so easy! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat foundation/powder and which eyeshadow palette(s) do you suggest for a thirty-something Asian with monolids. I, too, have sensitive (combination) skin. My skin is yellowish (and pinkish in some areas of the face). I'm not sure what my "undertone" is -- my veins are both purple and greenish. Thanks!
The basic palette I think everyone should have is the original Naked palette. It's still one of my favorites and looks great on most people! It should work well with your skintone. :)
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