Urban Decay Cosmetics Review: Are Their Products Worth the Hype?

Hey there beauty lover! If you‘re a makeup junkie like me, you‘ve probably heard the name Urban Decay floating around the beauty world for years now. This edgy and innovative brand has gained a cult following for their highly pigmented eyeshadows, budge-proof eyeliners, and complexion perfecting foundations. But with so many rave reviews out there, you may be wondering – is Urban Decay really worth the hype? As someone who has tested dozens of products from the brand over the years, I‘m here to give you my honest, in-depth take.

In this comprehensive Urban Decay cosmetics review, I‘ll be sharing:

• Background on the brand and its bestselling products
• Detailed reviews on must-have items with swatches
• Analysis of customer reviews and common feedback
• Pros and cons to consider before you buy
• My final verdict on whether Urban Decay is truly worth the splurge

So if you‘re ready to dive in and see if Urban Decay deserves a spot in your makeup bag, just keep reading!

The Story Behind the Brand

Before we jump into the products themselves, I think it‘s important to understand the ethos and mission behind Urban Decay as a brand. The company was founded in 1996 by Sandy Lerner and Wende Zomnir with the goal of shaking up the beauty industry. At the time, the cosmetics market was filled with bland beiges and conservative pinks. Urban Decay set out to rebel against the status quo with their bold color palettes and unconventional shade names like Smog, Roach and Oil Slick.

But Urban Decay is about so much more than just pretty packaging and punchy pigments. From the very beginning, this brand has been committed to cruelty-free beauty, long before it was trendy to do so. They never test on animals and are very selective about the ingredients they use. Urban Decay is also known for their inclusive shade ranges that cater to a wide variety of skin tones. The brand‘s ethos is all about celebrating individuality and giving makeup lovers the freedom to express themselves however they want.

Now that you have a better sense of what Urban Decay stands for, let‘s dive into some product reviews, shall we?

Urban Decay‘s Must-Have Products

Urban Decay has an extensive cosmetics collection with everything from eyeshadow to lipstick to setting spray. But today, I want to focus on a few specific categories and products that I think are absolute standouts.

All Nighter Setting Spray

If I could only recommend one Urban Decay product, it would hands down be their All Nighter Setting Spray. This stuff is magical! You simply spritz it on as the last step in your makeup routine and it locks everything in place for up to 16 hours. No melting, fading or smudging – even if you have oily skin or live in a humid climate.

The formula is oil-free and contains patented Temperature Control Technology that actually lowers the temperature of your makeup to keep everything looking freshly applied all day (or night) long. I‘ve put All Nighter to the test during sweaty summer days, rainy outdoor weddings, and even high-intensity workouts. And I‘m happy to report that this setting spray has never let me down.

With over 13,000 reviews and a 4.6 out of 5 star rating on the Urban Decay website, I‘m clearly not alone in my love for All Nighter. Many reviewers call it their "holy grail" and say they can‘t live without it. The only complaint I‘ve seen is that the spray nozzle can get clogged from time to time. But if you follow Urban Decay‘s instructions to clean it regularly with warm water, you shouldn‘t have any issues.

All Nighter Setting Spray retails for $33 which I think is very reasonable considering how well it works and how long a bottle lasts. You can also buy mini sizes for $15 if you want to test it out first. Plus, Urban Decay often runs promotions where you can score a free mini All Nighter with any purchase. Needless to say, I highly recommend snagging a bottle ASAP! It will change your makeup game forever.

Naked Eyeshadow Palettes

No Urban Decay review would be complete without mentioning their iconic Naked eyeshadow palettes. The original Naked palette debuted in 2010 and started the neutral eyeshadow craze that is still going strong today. Since then, Urban Decay has expanded the Naked collection to include 3 other core palettes – Naked2, Naked3, and Naked Heat – along with multiple limited edition versions.

Each Naked palette comes with 12 ultra-blendable shadows in a range of finishes (matte, satin, shimmer, and glitter). The shades are designed to complement each other and make it easy to create a variety of looks from subtle and natural to bold and smoky. I personally own the Naked, Naked3 and Naked Heat palettes and reach for them constantly.

Here‘s a quick breakdown of each one:

• Naked: The OG neutral palette with bronzes, browns and taupes
• Naked2: Similar to the original but with cooler, taupe-based shades
• Naked3: Rosy-hued neutrals with pink and mauve undertones
• Naked Heat: Warm amber-hued neutrals with pops of burnt orange and rich red

No matter which Naked palette you choose, you really can‘t go wrong. The shadows are hands down some of the best I‘ve ever tried – buttery soft, richly pigmented, and a dream to blend. Even the glittery shades have minimal fallout! Another huge plus is that these palettes are extremely versatile and work for any skin tone or eye color.

The only slight downside is that the Naked palettes are a bit of an investment at $54 each. However, I think they are absolutely worth the price tag considering the outstanding quality, generous pan sizes (1.3g per shade), and sturdy packaging. Not to mention, one palette will easily last you years with daily use. I‘ve had my original Naked palette for almost 5 years now and have yet to hit pan on any shades!

If I had to play favorites, I would say the Naked Heat palette is my personal ride-or-die. The fiery color story is stunning and I‘m a sucker for warm eyeshadows. But again, all of the Naked palettes are fab and I wouldn‘t hesitate to recommend any of them.

24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils

Eyeliner junkies, this one‘s for you! Urban Decay‘s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils are hands down the creamiest, most pigmented, and budge-proof pencil liners out there. Once these babies set, they do not move. Seriously, I‘ve fallen asleep in them multiple times (I know, I‘m bad) and woken up with my liner still perfectly in place.

What I love most about these eye pencils is how effortless they are to use. The ultra-soft formula just glides across your lash line without tugging or skipping. You can easily smoke them out for a sultry look or draw a precise wing in seconds flat. And with an insane shade selection of over 35 colors from neutrals to brights to glitters, there‘s something for everyone.

My personal favorite shades are:

• Perversion (blackest black)
• Bourbon (warm brown with gold shimmer)
• Rockstar (deep eggplant purple)

But honestly, I have yet to try a 24/7 liner shade that I don‘t love. They‘re all incredible quality and last all day without smudging, fading or irritating my sensitive eyes. The only tiny critique I have is that you do need to regularly sharpen these pencils to keep the tips precise. A small inconvenience I‘m more than happy to deal with for such amazing liners!

Like most Urban Decay products, the 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils are a little pricey at $22 each. But considering how long they last (I‘ve had some for years) and how flawlessly they perform, I think they are 100% worth the splurge. If you‘re new to the brand, I highly recommend picking up a few shades of these liners. I promise you won‘t regret it!

What Are Customers Saying?

Of course, you don‘t just have to take my word for it when it comes to Urban Decay products. The brand has thousands of loyal fans who rave about their cosmetics all over the Internet. So I did a deep dive into Urban Decay reviews on sites like Sephora, Ulta, and the brand‘s own website to see what real customers have to say.

Spoiler alert: the vast majority of Urban Decay reviews are overwhelmingly positive! Here are some common pieces of praise I noticed:

• Pigmented, high-quality, and long-lasting formulas
• Iconic, versatile eyeshadow palettes
• Budge-proof eyeliners and setting sprays
• Inclusive shade ranges for complexion products
• Fun, edgy color selection and packaging
• Cruelty-free and vegan options

Some of the brand‘s most popular and highest rated products include:

• All Nighter Setting Spray (4.6 out of 5 stars, over 13,000 reviews)
• Naked Heat Eyeshadow Palette (4.8 out of 5 stars, over 3,000 reviews)
• 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils (4.7 out of 5 stars, over 8,000 reviews)
• Perversion Mascara (4.4 out of 5 stars, over 6,000 reviews)
• Born To Run Eyeshadow Palette (4.8 out of 5 stars, over 1,200 reviews)

While the feedback was overwhelmingly positive across the board, no brand is perfect. Here are a few of the most common complaints I noticed in Urban Decay product reviews:

• Some eyeshadow palettes have a lot of fallout
• Certain shades in palettes can be patchy or less pigmented
• The All Nighter foundation can cling to dry patches
• Eyeshadow primer potion dries out quickly if you don‘t use it often
• Lip products can be drying
• Higher price point

However, I will say that many of the negative reviews seemed to be one-off issues rather than widespread problems. For every complaint, there were dozens of glowing reviews raving about that same product. Overall, the vast majority of customers (myself included) seem to be extremely happy with their Urban Decay purchases.

Is Urban Decay Cruelty-Free and Vegan?

Yes, Urban Decay is proudly cruelty-free! The brand doesn‘t test any of its products or ingredients on animals, nor do they allow any third parties to conduct animal testing on their behalf. Urban Decay is also certified by PETA and Leaping Bunny, two of the leading cruelty-free organizations.

In addition to being 100% cruelty-free, Urban Decay does offer some vegan options. While not every product is vegan (some contain beeswax, lanolin, carmine, etc.), the brand has a wide selection of vegan-friendly makeup. And they are very transparent about which products are vegan on their website. Everything is clearly labeled in the shade description and you can even shop by the "vegan" filter.

Some of my favorite Urban Decay vegan products include:

• Eyeshadow primer potion
• All Nighter Waterproof Setting Powder
• Stay Naked Threesome Blush, Bronzer and Highlighter Palette
• Vice Hydrating Lipstick
• 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils (most shades)

I truly appreciate Urban Decay‘s commitment to being cruelty-free and offering high-quality vegan makeup options. They are one of the few mainstream brands that I feel good about supporting from an ethical standpoint.

Promotions and Where to Buy

If you‘re looking to save a little cash on your Urban Decay haul, you‘ll be happy to know that the brand runs promotions fairly often! I always recommend signing up for the Urban Decay Beauty Junkies loyalty program. It‘s free to join and you‘ll earn points on every purchase that you can later redeem for discounts. Beauty Junkies also get access to exclusive sales, early access to new launches, and a birthday gift.

Urban Decay also has a Sale section on their website where they mark down discontinued shades and products. And if you sign up for the brand‘s email list, they‘ll send you info on secret sales and promo codes periodically. You can usually find some variation of a free gift with purchase, discount on palettes, or deal on a full-price item.

As for where to buy Urban Decay, you‘ve got options! Of course, shopping on the brand‘s website is a great choice because you‘ll earn Beauty Junkie points and have easy access to the full collection. They also offer free shipping on orders over $50 and free returns within 60 days.

However, Urban Decay is also widely available at major beauty retailers like:

• Sephora
• Ulta Beauty
• Macy‘s
• Nordstrom
• Beautylish

So if you prefer to shop in-store and swatch products in person, you can find Urban Decay at all of those places. Just keep in mind that selection can vary between retailers.

The Final Verdict

Phew, you still with me? This Urban Decay cosmetics review ended up being a doozy! But I wanted to cover all the bases and give you a really comprehensive look at the brand.

So, is Urban Decay worth the hype? In my opinion – absolutely! The brand knocks it out of the park in terms of product quality, shade selection, and packaging. Every single item I‘ve tried from them has been a hit and I consistently reach for my Urban Decay makeup over other brands in my collection. Yes, they are a bit pricey. But I truly think you get what you pay for with this brand.

While I‘d honestly recommend Urban Decay to any makeup lover, I think they are an especially great fit for anyone who:

• Wants bold, pigmented, and long-wearing formulas
• Is looking for a one-and-done eyeshadow palette
• Needs makeup that can withstand hot weather, sweating, or long days
• Prefers to shop cruelty-free and vegan when possible
• Appreciates edgy and colorful makeup with fun shade names

Personally, I can‘t see myself ever not having Urban Decay in my collection. All Nighter Setting Spray and the 24/7 Eye Pencils are ride-or-die staples that I will repurchase forever. And I know I‘ll always get excited when the brand launches new eyeshadow palettes and lip products.

So if you haven‘t given Urban Decay a try yet, I highly encourage you to do so! Start with a couple of their cult-favorite products I mentioned and I think you‘ll quickly become obsessed like so many of us are.

I hope you found this brutally honest Urban Decay cosmetics review helpful! Let me know in the comments what your favorite products are from the brand or if you have any questions. Always happy to chat makeup!

Until next time, beauty besties!