Urban Decay Book of Shadows Volume 3 Review + Swatches

For Christmas, one of the best presents I got was the Urban Decay Book of Shadows Volume 3 palette. 

I've really been loving it, so here is my in depth review of it. 

Urban Decay Book of Shadows Volume 3: NYC Edition

This palette is designed to look like a book from the outside... duh, BOOK of shadows. When you open up the upper part, out pops a really cute design with lights (I wonder where they put the batteries for those lights...), with pop up paper cutouts of buildings and people and a mirror in the background. It also has a cute UD <3 NYC graphic in the front. For practicality, this definitely isn't a palette that is travel friendly, but I love this cute addition to the palette to keep at home.

The actual eyeshadows pull out like a drawer style. The palette itself is a very sturdy cardboard, so I'd say the packaging is okay. Again, for practicality, not the best. It has 16 shadows that, as you can see, have a lot of variety.
I will now do swatches and reviews of each individual shadow by going by each quadrant.

Top left of palette: Oil Slick, Uzi, Midnight Cowboy Rides Again, SWF

Swatches (without flash, l/r): Oil Slick, Uzi, Midnight Cowboy Rides Again, SWF

Swatches (with flash, l/r): Oil Slick, Uzi, Midnight Cowboy Rides Again, SWF

Okay so this first quadrant has the most of the glitter eyeshadows in this palette. Glitter adds variety and glam to the palette, but I'm glad they only had only these three obvious glitter eyeshadows in this palette. I personally do not like glitter eyeshadows, but let's get into deeper detail with the individual eyeshadows...

Oil Slick- This is the only black of the palette, and I was quite dissapointed that it was a very glittery black. You can't see it much in the above pictures, but doesn't have an all-over shimmery finish or very small microglitter, but it's pretty chunky awkward glitter that you can actually pick up off the shadow.. which means that it creates fallout. It's not very pigmented as a black shadow, and very hard to control, so I'd have to say this shadow was a dissapointment. However, if used in the right way, I think it can add some bold edginess if paired as a smokey eye in the outer crease with a matte pop of color on the eyelid.

Uzi- This color is supossed to be a glittery silver color. It looks like a perfect night out color, perfect for New Years especially, in the pan. However, it doesn't have great pigmentation, and you have to swipe on quite a few layers which creates more glitter buildup, which creates fallout. On the skin, it looks like a white cast with silver sparkle, so maybe if you're really fair this could look like a pretty sparkle on the eyelid, but on a medium or darker skin tone it could look pretty silly.

Midnight Cowboy Rides Again- Of the glitter eyeshadows, I like this one the best. It's a little more wearable, as its a neutral color with glitter. For a not too crazy but slightly glammed up look, this is a nice wash on the lid, though it's not very pigmented. It literally blends into the skin- a nude, rather than a gold which you might expect from a sparkly nude.

SWF- In this glittery first quadrant, this is the only shadow that isn't glittery, but more of a frosty finish. In the swatches, it's not very pigmented, but on the eyelids it's pretty when combined with a neutral color to add a slight finish of frosty pink that's not overdone.. as you guys know, it can sometimes be very hard to pull of a light pink, and this is perfect for not overdoing it!

Top right of palette: Stray Dog, Mildew, Last Call, Rockstar

Swatches (without flash, l/r): Stray Dog, Mildew, Last Call, Rockstar

Swatches (with flash, l/r): Stray Dog, Mildew, Last Call, Rockstar

This second quadrant is AWESOME. Oh by the way, the pictures I did without flash aren't great quality, I'm sorry.. I don't know why my camera doesn't pick it up as well haha.  I think this fourth quadrant just has a lot of similar finishes that are awesome.. I haven't gotten all my eyeshadow finishes down, so I'm not exactly sure which ones this would be.. so if you guys know, then please let me know! :) It's definitely shimmery, but I know that's not an actual technical eyeshadow finish.
Anyways..

Stray Dog- One of my favorites from this palette! It's a gorgeous taupey brown neutral color that I love to use as an all over lid color or a crease color to add dimension.. it's just a great unique color that is very versatile at the same time. It's very pigmented and a staple color for every girl! It's a pearly, shimmery color that is suitable for everyone and since it's an all over shimmer without individual microglitter (at least, none that can be detectable when put on) it adds dimension without fallout!

Mildew- I haven't had a chance to wear this color very much yet, but it's a gorgeous forest moss green. Emerald has been stated the color of 2013 from Pantone Universe, so green will definitely make a comeback this year! It's a gorgeous color that I think will be an awesome pop of color.

Last Call- This is a beautiful cross between a magenta-pinky-reddish-purple... In other words, a very romantic color that I can't wait to use as a crease color with SWF and another neutral color on Valentine's Day (tutorial!). It's a great unique color that is soo pigmented and smooth..

Rockstar- This is a slightly deep purple color, but its a purple in such a way that when applied, it doesn't look someone just punched you in the face. I think it's a gorgeous color as well that is just very royal. :)

Bottom left of palette:  Haight, Maui Wowie, Goddess, Sin

Swatches (without flash, l/r): Haight, Maui Wowie, Goddess, Sin

Swatches (with flash, l/r): Haight, Maui Wowie, Goddess, Sin

Haight- A blue/teal color that's gonna be perfect for summer! For those of you intimidated to wear blue eyeshadow, this is slightly darker than what it looks like in the swatches so it's acceptable as a pop of color, or a liner for summer/springtime!

Maui Wowie- Basically a much more pigmented version of Midnight Cowboy Rides Again. Glittery, but has a neutral tone so it's acceptable to wear as classy glam. Very pretty neutral. A little bit of fallout should be expected though, as with all glitter eyeshadows.

Goddess- A very pretty royal dark blue with silver sparkle. Again, fallout could be a problem. This is a truly pretty color though. It's quite pigmented and since its a dark royal blue, it's more acceptable and easy to work with. To switch it up for summer, I suggest using a dark blue eyeshadow/liner for liner instead of black to spice it up. :)

Sin- The most perfect highlight color ever. So natural and gives a nice sheen. I use it always on the inner corner and as a browbone highlight, but as an all over lid color, it is perfect if you want a candlelit glow! A staple color! A favorite of this palette!

Bottom right of palette: Aquarius, Smog, YDK, Ecstasy

Swatches (without flash, l/r): Aquarius, Smog, YDK, Ecstasy

Swatches (with flash, l/r): Aquarius, Smog, YDK, Ecstasy

Aquarius- Such a pretty baby blue!! This would look so pretty if you're fair. Be careful not to pair it with a bold lip. For medium to dark skin tones, this color is something you have to be careful with.. Blue eyeshadows are always hard to work with because they can be clown-ish, but this is so beautiful and looks like a MAC Lustre finish eyeshadow, so it gives a bit of leeway because it's not a vivid matte. Honestly, I think this is a perfect color for spring as long as its worn carefully!

Smog- GORGEOUS GORGEOUS crease color!! It adds sooo much dimension and its suchh a rich color. ENOUGH SAID. Beautiful neutral. One of my favorites of this palette!

YDK- This might my favorite color from this palette, no joke. When I wear an all over lid color, I'll most likely go with YDK. It's such a universal neutral that adds a great rich glow thats a bit more mature than a regular champagne. It's so smooth and pigmented (well.. most of the eyeshadows in this palette are.). If I ever hit pan, I definitely am repurchasing this as a single eyeshadow. It's so beautiful and all of you should check it out!

Ecstasy- Would look so pretty paired with rockstar! A light purple that you have to be careful with, again, same thing goes as with Aquarius. But still very pretty.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Zero

I got an Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Pencil in Zero, which is very dark black along with the palette, which is a very decent size! It's basically a creme pencil, and my camera definitely blurred out the swatches... it's a very dark pigmented creamy black that's very easy to control. If you're looking for a black creme pencil, UD 24/7 Glide on Pencil!!

I also received a mini of the original Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion.
I have to say it's not the greatest thing ever. I've not an eye primer before, so I really don't have anything to compare this to, but it makes my eyelids feel very oily. Maybe thats what it's supossed to do... anyways, other than that, it does do its job, and keeps the eyeshadows on all day! However, it does not make the eyeshadows very pigmented- if I want more pigmentation, I will use my NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk.
Anyways, it's okay, but honestly, I'll stay with my NYX "primer"!

Swatches (with flash, l/r): Sin, YDK, Smog

Awkward myself. Ignore the fact that I'm not wearing any other makeup than the eyeshadow.. it was to emphasize the eyeshadow ;)
Anyways, I wanted to finish up this review by showing my favorite eyeshadow combo from the palette! This is an everyday makeup, which I might do a tutorial on soon. Anyways, I basically use Sin on the inner corner, YDK as an all over lid color, and smog on the outer corner. As you can see, it definitely makes my Asian eyes look like it has more dimension. It also looks more mature than a regular champagne wash. I think it's a perfect, super easy neutral eye!

Anyways, I really like this palette. Definitely reccomend it! It has a good amount of neutrals to work with (some are actually in the Naked/Naked2 palettes) while still having a great variety of other colors to add some fun to the look when you want to. Overall, a great beginner palette and a way to test out Urban Decay products. Yup, this was actually my first Urban Decay product! Surprise, surprise. Also, this was my first beauty review post, so hope it was decent :P
They sell the single eyeshadows of the palette, so if you saw something you really liked or want to try out, you can purchase them on the Urban Decay site or even buy the palette if you would like to.

I'm very grateful for being able to get this palette, as I love it :) I definitely can say YES to the Urban Decay hype, their eyeshadows are one of the smoothest!

-Angela.