Urban Decay Game of Thrones Collection | Review and Swatches

There’s probably a zero chance you will ever see me shedding tears of joy, mascara running down my face, when a new Apple product is released and you will never find me camping out for hours to catch the latest Star Wars movie. But if there is one thing I have in common with people who engage in the above is my excitement levels when a new makeup launch is announced. Enter the Urban Decay official Game of Thrones Makeup Collection, aka THE biggest launch of the year! To say I’d never been so happy to see the mailman would be an utter understatement. Because this limited-edition Game of Thrones Collection is ready to rule the beauty world!

The collection was kindly sent to me by Urban Decay under no obligation to review. Yet I’ve been so smitten with this incredible collaboration, the attention to detail put into the presentation and the thoughtfulness with which this collection has been curated, that I felt compelled to bring it to you on the blog. The collection will be available on April 14, same day the eagerly-awaited final season of Game of Thrones (GOT) returns to HBO.

Advance warning: this is a photo-packed post!

So, grab a cup of… (insert here the name of your favorite drink), snatch a blanket, curl up on the sofa and feast your eyes on these incredibly offerings from Urban Decay!

Urban Decay Game of Thrones Collection

Urban Decay partnered with the Game of Thrones franchise to create a makeup collection inspired by what is now HBO’s most successful show to-date. First, I’ll give you an overview at all the products featured in the collection. Then I’ll break it down, swatch everything and give you my thoughts. The collection includes:

• Eyeshadow Palette with 20 new shades featuring mattes, shimmers and metallics ranging from cool to warm tones
• Two eye brushes inspired by the swords of Arya Stark and Jon Snow
• Highlighting Palette with 3 new shades
• Lip and Cheek Stain
• 24/7 Glide-On Pencils in 4 unique and mesmerizing shades
• Vice Lipsticks in 4 new shades

All Eyes On Victory Eyeshadow Palette

When I initially saw the palette on Urban Decay’s Instagram page, I must confess I wasn’t much impressed. While I thought the shades were beautiful, versatile and unique, the cardboard packaging did not speak to me in the slightest. Then I got to hold it in my hands and properly unbox it. And let me just say, the Urban Decay design team have really outdone themselves!!! The palette is incredible! Truly a collectible and a must-have, whether you just like makeup or are a Game of Thrones fan. I highly recommend checking it out in person and seeing for yourself.

The palette looks more like a beautiful hardcover book. It is sturdy and very well-made. The outside cover displays a snapshot of the swords that make the much-coveted Iron Throne. The inside shows a map of Westeros, the mythical world featured in GOT. You open it and you see a good-size mirror on the left and a quote from Daenerys Targaryen on the right.  The side with the quote has a little black satin tab. When you pull it, a 3D depiction of the Iron throne in all its glory envelops your view. Beneath the throne, there is another quote. This time from Tyrion Lannister.

There is another black satin tab along the right side of the packaging. It looks as if you’re about to pull a drawer from a box. It seems well secure and you have a exert a bit of pressure to pull it out. And finally, you’re feasting your eyes on the Urban Decay x Game of Thrones Eyeshadow Palette. Pledge your allegiance to House Targaeryen, House Lanister or House Stark, or even the White Walkers with an arsenal of 20 new shades. Each house features 4 matte or shimmery shades and 1 holographic transformer shade (can be used on its own or layered over the other colors). Each shade represents the intensity and diversity of these power players.

Let’s take a closer look at each of the shades:

House Targaryen: jewel-toned shimmers

• Dothraki – metallic gold
• Bend the Knee – shimmery lilac with blue shift
• Stormborn – metallic purple with iridescent micro-shimmer
• House Targaryen – pale metallic rose-gold
• Bay of Dragons – sparkling pink this is the transformer shade

House Lannisterster: regal mattes and neutral shimmers

• House Lannister – matte neutral peach color, works great as a transition shade
• Lannister Red – matte chestnut, perfect to deepen the crease and outer corner
• Red Keep – metallic warm copper, one of my personal favorites from the palette
• Casterly Rock – metallic dark bronze, another absolutely stunning shade
• King’s Landing – pale gold transformer shade, looks beautiful in the inner corner

House Stark: smoky mattes and neutral shimmers

• Weirwood Leaves – satin deep plum
• The Sight – metallic green with iridescent micro-shimmers
• Nymeria – matte slightly warm terracotta, the perfect crease color
• Winter is Here – dark brown with iridescent micro-shimmers, looks more like a satin when blended
• Winterfell – transformer shade, antique gold

White Walkers: cool, icy shimmers

• Frozen North – deep teal with iridescent micro-shimmers
• Free Folk – metallic silver
• Take the Black – jet black with iridescent blue/silver micro-shimmers
• White Walker – shimmer light blue
• Hardhome – transformer shade, sparkling white, looks gorgeous in the inner corner and along the browbone

Urban Decay eyeshadow formulas have always been among THE best on the market. The 16 regular eyeshadows have a velvety texture, rich pigment and effortless blendability. The formula is very similar to the shades from Urban Decay’s Born to Run palette, previously reviewed here. The color seems to stay put for a good 8 hours depending on how hot or humid it is. I love the mattes included in this palette. There is a universally flattering transitional shade (House Lannister), the perfect crease color (Nymeria) and a beautiful tone to deepen the crease and outer corner (Lannister Red). Some of my favorite shimmers include: Stormborn, Red Keep, Casterly Rock, Weirwood Leaves, Winter is Here and Frozen North. In terms of an everyday, no-fuss look, the shades from House Lannister are your perfect ‘no need to think about’ go-to’s that will help you create a polished daytime look.

The transformer shades are more like pressed pigment. There’s quite a bit of powder kickback, which you can also see in the swatches. So, make sure you tap the excess off your brush before applying the color on the eye.

My favorite transformer shade is Winterfell. It’s such a unique color and looks beautiful on the mobile lid. Bay of Dragons was the hardest to apply. It’s a bit drier than the other transformer shades. I like to use Harhome to highlight the brow bone. King’s Landing looks gorgeous in the inner corner.

Eyeshadow Brushes

The collection includes 2 eyeshadow brushes inspired by two famous swords featured in the show.

• Jon Snow’s Longclaw Large Eyeshadow Brush – works great at laying down color and blending out eyeshadow
• Arya Stark’s Needle Flat Eyeshadow Brush – is a smaller brush, perfect for applying eyeshadow and for lining the eyes

The brushes are synthetic and cruelty free. They’re very similar to the ones typically included with other Urban Decay palettes.

Mother of Dragons Highlight Palette

This beautiful face palette includes 3 new highlighters, each named after the 3 dragons.

• Drogon – frosted cool-toned pink
• Viserion – metallic golden nude
• Rhaegal – metallic bronze

The formula is lightweight, finely-milled and blends like a dream. You can use the shades individually or mix them together to create your own custom color. I don’t typically venture out of my comfort zone when it comes to highlighters (my comfort zone for day-to-day is the Charlotte Tilbury Film Star Highlight), but I found these shades quite wearable. My favorite is Viserion. It imparts the most beautiful, sun-kissed glow to the skin.

Urban Decay Game of Thrones Lip & Cheek Stain

This is a universally-flattering red color that gives a natural flush to the cheeks and lips. It seemed a bit tacky when I swatched it initially. But I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it feels quite weightless on the skin. Although it looks intimidating in the bottle, the formula blends effortlessly and you can easily layer to achieve the desired intensity. The best way to apply is to place 1-2 drops on the back of your hand. Then use a stippling brush, such as the Real Techniques one here, to blend onto the cheeks. I typically use my fingertips to lightly pat it over the lips.

In the photo above, I’m wearing the stain on the cheeks, as well as on the lips. I must admit I’m loving the stain and use it on most days. It’s like revealing the kind of healthy-looking, rosy glow you get when you work hard at the gym, but of course minus the sweat!

24/7 Glide-On Pencils

There are 4 new limited-edition shades joining the award-winning, waterproof Urban Decay eye pencils:

• Lannister Gold – metallic gold
• Winterfell Snow – iridescent white
• Dragon Smoke – smoky holographic black
• The Night King – shimmery dark teal

I love ALL four shades and have been using them almost every day. The formula of the Urban Decay Glide-On pencils is one of my favorites. The creamy waterproof formula stays soft for blending for about 30 seconds, then dries down to a long-lasting finish that will NOT budge. And this is very important for me, considering I live in Florida, aka Humidity Central.

I use Lannister Gold in my waterline, Winterfell Snow to highlight the inner corner, Dragon Smoke to line my upper and lower lash line and The Night King to accentuate the lower lash line, going over Dragon Smoke. I absolutely love the combo of Dragon Smoke and The Night King.

Vice Lipsticks

The collection also features 4 new Vice Lipstick shades:

• Daenerys Targaryen – firey metallic red
• Cersei Lannister – bright metallic bronze
• Sansa Stark – warm peachy nude
• White Walker – deep, berry wine with a luminous finish, very similar to Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Cherry (reviewed and swatched here)

The formula is creamy, kind on the lips and intensely pigmented. The staying power is about 5-6 hours, which I personally feel is really good considering this is a moisturizing formula. The shade I’ve been reaching for the most are Sansa and Daenerys, both perfect for Spring and Summer. I do like White Walker as well. But I feel it’s a color suited better for the colder months.

Final Thoughts

Excitement levels always run high whenever I get a 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 paycheck and after a thorough decision process, I decided to treat myself to the cult-classic Urban Decay Naked Palette (the original).

So, imagine my excitement when this month I received the Game of Thrones Collection. I am a huge fan of the show as well. It’s actually the only show I still watch on TV. If I had to pick and choose from this collaboration I would definitely recommend the eyeshadow palette, the eyeliners (favorite shades are: Dragon Smoke, Night King, Lannister Gold) and Vice lipsticks in the color Daenerys Targaryen and Sansa Stark.

The full collection will be available on April 14 at Sephora here, Ulta here and on Urban Decay’s website.

What are your thoughts on this collection? Did anything catch your eye?

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