Review -- Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette

(My apologies for disappearing for the past week or so. I've gotten caught up in holiday-related craziness. 

To make up for my absence, I'm going to try to have reviews up everyday this week for some of the more exciting palettes that are available at the moment  -- so if you've got some last minute holiday shopping to do or you're putting the finishing touches on your own wishlist, hopefully you get some ideas.)

Right off the bat, I have to confess that I've always been a pretty big No Doubt fan.

Back in the day, I had all of their albums and could recite pretty much all of their lyrics from memory. Even today, I have "Just a Girl" and "Spiderwebs" on one of my favorite playlists for running.

And while Gwen Stefani's style is not really something that would ever really work for me, I've always admired it.

So when I heard that she was working on a palette with Urban Decay, I knew I was going to buy it.

It didn't even matter what it looked it -- it was going to be mine.

And I've got to say, I'm totally in love with the UD Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette. I've used it almost exclusively from the day I got it.

But that said, I feel pretty confident saying that this palette won't be everyone -- particularly if you're expecting the usual bold, bright shades that UD is famous for.

If you're someone who likes natural or neutral shadows (so you can easily pair them with dramatic winged liner and a bold lip as Gwen herself often does) and maybe just a pop of color, though, you'll probably want to check out this palette.

Let's start with the packaging -- it comes in a sturdy plastic compact that features a cool black-and-white cutout design under clear plastic for a polka-dot effect and gold accents, including an antiqued metal label with the palette name.

UD Gwen Stefani Palette

Inside, there is a decent size mirror that stays open by itself. The mirror has some subtle gold writing in the corner which reads "Magic's in the Makeup," the title of one of my favorite No Doubt songs.

The palette has 15 shadows: Blonde, a pale beige with a pink iridescent shift; Bathwater, a pale beige with gold pearl; Skimp, a nude satin; Steady, a pale rose gold; Punk, a matte reddish brown; Baby, a pale shimmery pink; Anaheim, a matte light brown taupe; Stark, a matte pale pink; Zone, a matte medium brown; Serious, a smoky gray with an iridescent pearl; Pop, a peach with iridescent sparkle; Harajuku, metallic pink with iridescent sparkle; Danger, a deep metallic blue; 1987, metallic yellow gold; and Blackout, a matte black.

UD Gwen Stefani Palette

From l. to r.: Blonde, Bathwater, Skimp, Steady, Punk

From l. to r.: Baby, Anaheim, Stark, Zone, Serious

From l. to r.: Pop, Harajuku, Danger, 1987, Blackout

With the exception of Harajuku, Danger, and 1987, all of the shades in the palette follow a neutral or natural sort of color scheme. That makes it an ideal option if you're a fan of pin-up inspired makeup, with a light shade on the lid, a matte brown or taupe through the crease, and some winged liner.

You might look at the palette and say, there are so many similar shades -- and they certainly do look alike in the pan. However, when you apply them, there are subtle differences that really do allow you to create a variety of looks.

I love the mattes in the palette as well -- Anaheim and Zone are just good basic brown shades, while Punk has that hint of red that can really take your look up a notch.

And if you really want to stand out, you can always work in a little of the bright pink, blue, or gold that are in the palette.

There are a few shades like Pop, Harajuku, and 1987 that have a slightly chunky texture which can lead to fallout. However, if you use a sticky base under them, I find that they work really well -- and look quite pretty.

I absolutely love this palette and am getting so much use out of it. So if you're a fan of more neutral, subtle looks, I definitely recommend it. If you're someone who's looking for a unique, out-there kind of palette, you'll probably want to pass.

The palette retails for $58 at Urban Decay, Sephora, and Ulta.

Have you tried the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette? What's your favorite look to do with it?