Urban Decay Backtalk Eye and Face Palette | Review and Swatches

Excitement levels always run high whenever I get the chance to check out new Urban Decay releases. I’m getting a bit sentimental now, but the brand holds a very special place in my heart. To this day, I still remember how as a young adult working my first real job out of college, I saved money from my first paychecks and after a thorough decision process, I decided to treat myself to the cult-classic Urban Decay Naked Palette (the original).  Although those days are long gone, my undying love for the brand and the products they create still runs strong. So imagine my excitement when this month I received a PR package from Urban Decay containing not just one new product, but an entire fresh collection to discover!

I hope you enjoyed my recent introduction to Urban Decay’s extensive Hi-Fi Shine Lip Gloss range. In case you missed it, I have reviewed and swatched all 20 shades here. Continuing my coverage of their spring 2018 launches, today I’d like to turn your attention to another striking release, the Urban Decay Backtalk Palette.

Urban Decay Backtalk Palette

This stunning palette is inspired by their No. 1 selling Vice Lipstick shade bearing the same name, Backtalk. It’s comprised of a collection of 8 eyeshadows and 4 coordinating shades of blush and highlighter. The color selection features a universally flattering, all-new range of nude-mauve pink, soft berry and muted rose shades for eyes and cheeks.

Formula

What I’ve always loved about Urban Decay shadows is that they’re formulated for literarily everyone out there! From beginners just starting out, to beauty aficionados and makeup artists alike, regardless of age and skin tone, anyone can easily use Urban Decay shadows. How is that possible? By creating an incredibly finely milled formula with outstanding pigmentation, easily blendable and long-lasting on the lids.

All the colors included in the Backtalk palette pair beautifully together. Thus, taking the guesswork out of figuring out which shades to select for eyelids and cheeks. The finishes range from mattes to shimmers. But rest assured. Urban Decay shimmers are sophisticated and done in a very modern way: glitter-free and adding just the right amount of sparkle to your look.

Packaging

The Urban Decay Backtalk Eye and Cheek palettes are housed in one super-sleek case with magnetic closure. The eyeshadows are on one side with the blushes and highlighters on the other side, separated by a double-sided, removable mirror. I really like the idea of a removable mirror that allows for quick touchups on the go. Although the case is made from cardboard, it appears sturdy and seems to protect the products well. Unlike my Anastasia Beverly Hills Master Palette by Mario reviewed here, the magnetic closure on the Urban Decay Backtalk Palette seems very strong. Thus, keeping the palette shut without the sides flopping around the magnet. This palette is perfect for travelling and can be stored either laying flat or upright.

Backtalk Eyeshadows

The Urban Decay Backtalk Palette includes 8 brand new eyeshadows from neutrals to soft pinks, mauves and rich browns. It’s the kind of shade selection where I know I’ll be using every single one of the shades! The size is perfect! It’s not as small as a 4-shadow quad and not as big as a 12-shadow palette. So there are plenty of options in terms of the looks that can be created, without feeling limited or overwhelmed.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these colors:

• 3 Sheets – matte, ultra-light soft baby pink that can be used all over the lid or to highlight the brow bone and inner corner
• Bare – shimmer, neutral champagne peachy shade
• Curve – shimmer, cool-toned soft rose with ultra-fine silver shimmers
• Backtalk – matte, neutral-toned medium mauve that can be used to define the crease
• Shade – satin, cool-toned medium berry shade
• Attitude – satin, warm-toned medium color rose-gold copper with ultra-fine bronze shimmers
• WTF – matte, medium brown, THE perfect crease shade
• 180 – satin, cool-toned dark brown with ultra-fine silver and copper shimmers running thru it

The colors swatched very well on my arm and translated very well on the lids as well. I didn’t have any trouble blending any of them. These shades truly come together to create looks that are incredibly flattering, adding sophisticated definition to the eyes.

Backtalk Blush and Highlighting Powders

I was glad to see that the Urban Decay Backtalk includes 4 shades of blushes and highligthers, designed to coordinate with the eyeshadows. There are 2 blushes and 2 highlighters. The shades are incredibly pigmented, so use a light hand. A little goes a long way!

The swatches top to bottom and corresponding to the shades in the palette from left to right are:

• Cheap Shot – cool-toned berry blush with a satin finish and ultra-fine multi-dimensional pink/blue/silver shimmers running thru it.
• Double Take – neutral rose-color blush with a satin finish and ultra-fine multi-dimensional pink/peach shimmers
• Low Key – warm peach highlight, one of my personal favorites for spring and summer
• Party Foul – champagne highlight with soft pink and silver shimmers

The shimmers running thru the two blushes are so incredibly finely milled that these powders look almost matte when swatched. I have used each of the 4 shades from the cheek palette individually, but have also mixed the blushes with the highlighters, to create a customizable sheeny shade that brings a dainty pop of color and healthy luminosity to the face. This is something I typically do on those rushed mornings, when I keep my makeup minimal yet I still want to look polished.

So here’s a makeup look I wore to dinner last Saturday night. I started out by applying 3 Sheets all over the lid. Next, I used a mix of 180, WTF and Attitude on a flat brush to line my lower lash, extending just a bit past the outer corner of my eye. I blended WTF into the top of the crease to add some definition. Using a flat brush, I added 180 to the outer third and popped Attitude in the center of the lid. I buffed Bare onto the inner third of the eye. Finished the eye look by placing a dab of Party Foul on the inner corner of the eyes and onto the brow bone. I’m wearing Double Take on the cheeks to add a healthy flush of color and Low Key to subtly highlight the cheekbones and add some luminosity to the face. On the lips, I have the Backtalk Vice Lipstick with a dab of Backtalk gloss.

I have been incredibly drawn to this Urban Decay collection and have used the Backtalk Palette every day since I got it. It’s the kind of palette that has the power to take you out of a makeup rut and inject liveliness into your day-to-day look. The shades are so easy to work with and pair so beautifully together. You can mix and match as you please, taking your look from understated daytime to full on glam in a matter of seconds.

Do you have any Urban Decay palette favorites? What are your thoughts on this new Backtalk Palette? Did it catch your eye?

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