Once known for their beauty with an edge, many of Urban Decay’s recent releases failed to make an impact in the beauty industry. The once trendsetting brand became a slow-moving maker of products that are p erceived as being two steps behind market leaders like Anastasia Beverly Hills. In fact, the Urban Decay Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette is the only release from the brand to make an impact in recent years. But is the 21-pan, travel-inspired Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette worth the hype?
About Urban Decay
Founded in 1996, Urban Decay aimed to fill the grungy and colorful void in the beauty market. With shades inspired by the urban landscape, Urban Decay launched with a line of lipsticks and nail polishes. Despite the brand’s original mission to bring unique, grungy colors to the market, the brand is most well known for its Naked Eyeshadow Palette Collection.
The Naked Collection, which launched in 2010, made Urban Decay the top-selling eyeshadow brand in the US for several years. In fact, the original Naked Palette remains a culturally iconic product for many American beauty fanatics. For many millennials, the Urban Decay Naked palette inspired a love for prestige beauty.
Urban Decay Born to Run Product Claims
According to Urban Decay, the Born to Run Palette offers consumers endless escapes in a travel-ready palette. This palette claims to include a mix of rich jewel tones, brights, and neutrals that promise to provide everything you would need to create a variety of looks. Urban Decay claims that the shadow formula is velvety and rich in texture and color, with impactful pigmentation that stays in place all day.
The Born to Run Eyeshadow palette contains 21 shades in a mix of matte, metallic, shimmer, and satin finishes.
Packaging & Price
The Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette comes in a sturdy, plastic packaging built to survive travel and fit in your suitcase. Despite the compact size, the package feels weighted and high quality.
Travel-inspired photography and postcard imagery plaster the on the outside. Internally, the palette comes with a large, full-size mirror. Also, each shade name is clearly labeled.
The Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette retails for $49.00 but is frequently included in 20-50% off sale promotions. Each pan contains 0.80 grams (total of 16.8 grams), which makes the price per gram $2.92. Thus, the price per gram is actually more affordable.
Urban Decay Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette
Ingredients & Cruelty-Free Status
Urban Decay is 100% Cruelty-Free which means that this palette was not tested on animals. Click here to learn more about what it means to be Cruelty-Free or here to discover inexpensive alternatives.
However, this palette is not vegan. The shades Breakaway, Drift, Hell Ride, Still shot, Stranded, and Wildheart contain Carmine.
Urban Decay Born to Run Eyeshadow Swatches
As always, swatches are not a perfect indicator of quality. However, they can provide clues regarding pigmentation and ability to blend. The below swatches of the Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette were done with my finger on my bare arm.
Swatches of the Urban Decay Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette
The majority of the shadows in the Born to Run palette swatched well. However, some of the mattes and one of the shimmers are dry. The dry shades include Still Shot, Hell Ride, Wildheart, and Punk. Of these drier shades, Still Shot was the only surprise. I expected the darker tones to be a drier formula, but not a light pink.
Also, the shimmer shades are not high impact metallics. Instead, the metallics are grungy, muted shades. In particular, Radio and Wildheart appear satin. Within the palette, there are a variety of finishes including matte, metallic, shimmer, and satin.
Matte Shades
- Weekender – light neutral beige matte
- Still Shot – bright peach matte
- Riff – brown-nude matte with floating micro-sparkle
- Good as Gone – deep brown with iridescent micro-shimmer
- Hell Ride – deep fuchsia matte
- Baja – burnt orange matte
- Wildheart – bright fuchsia matte
- Punk – red-brown matte
Metallic Shades
- Blaze – light metallic peach with pink shift
- Accelerate – reddish copper metallic
- Ignite – rose gold metallic
- Double Life – metallic rust
Shimmer/Satin Shades
- Breakaway – warm ivory shimmer
- Stranded – pale rose gold with tonal micro-shimmer
- Guilt Trip – smoky purple shimmer
- Smog – deep coppery bronze shimmer
- Wanderlust – forest green with gold micro-shimmer
- Jet – black with deep shimmering purple shift
- Drift – charcoal satin with tonal micro-sparkle
- Radio – deep emerald satin
- Big Sky – frosted green shimmer with iridescent micro-sparkle
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Palettes included repeat shades in the Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette. Punk, Riff, and Smog are available as singles. Meanwhile, the shade Blaze was originally created for the Urban Decay Beached Palette.
Application & Wear-Time
Despite a few dry shadows, the shadows in the Urban Decay eyeshadow palette apply with ease. Also, the formula is pigmented, and long-lasting.
From an application standpoint, the shimmer and metallic shades apply best with a flat brush. For an amped-up metallic sheen, apply with a finger or with a damp brush.
Meanwhile, the matte shadows blend and build pigmentation easily. For intense pigmentation, particularly with the drier shades, use a dense brush to stamp product into the lids.
In terms of wear-time, the shadows astounded me. After thoroughly testing out every shade in the palette, I experienced no creasing, fading, or transfer when worn over primer. Even on days when I wore my makeup for 12+ hours, these shadows stayed in place!
Shadows used: Weekender, Riff, Punk, Big Sky, and Radio
Demo
First, I worked the shades Weekender and Riff into the crease using a fluffy brush. Then, I stamped Punk into the outer corner. Third, I packed Radio onto the center of the lid. Finally, I worked Big Sky into the inner corner.
The blue-green shades used to create the above look impressed. These colors that typically crease on my oily lids. If you were interested in the Melt BluePrint Stack (full review here), I’d suggest picking up the Urban Decay Born to Run Palette instead.
Where can you buy Urban Decay?
- US: Urban Decay is sold at Macy’s, Nordstrom, Sephora, Ulta, Urban Decay’s online shop
- Canada: Urban Decay is sold at Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Urban Decay’s Online Shop
- UK: Urban Decay is sold at Boots, Selfridges, and Urban Decay’s online shop
Urban Decay’s Beauty JunkieBrand Loyalty program encourages super fans to shop exclusively through Urban Decay’s online shop. Perks include a birthday gift, special access to limited edition launches, exclusive invites to brand events, advance notice to product launches, extended returns, as well as the potential for rewards and free shipping.
Final Thoughts on the Urban Decay Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette
I am genuinely shocked by how much I’ve LOVED the Urban Decay Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette. Not only do I love the color selection, but the performance impressed me.
However, the Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette is NOT a colorful palette for colorful eyeshadow lovers. The Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette is a colorful palette for people who typically wear neutral shadows. Colorful eyeshadow lovers should consider the Born to Run Palette a more expansive neutral eyeshadow palette. The shadows are muted versions of bright colors.
Is this palette rad? Without a doubt, the Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette is one of the best releases Urban Decay has launched in recent years. (P.S. the Naked Honey Palette exceeded my expectations, too). Nevertheless, I recommend waiting until a sale to pick up this palette given how frequently it goes on sale.
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Are you an eyeshadow junkie like I am? Check out my in-depth review of the ColourPop Sweet Talk Palette, Huda Beauty Smokey Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette, Juvia’s Place Nubian Eyeshadow Palette, Milani Cosmetics Soft & Sultry Eyeshadow Palette, or the Persona Cosmetics Identity Palette.
Interested in beauty collections? Check out my review of the ColourPop Disney Villains Collection, the MAC x Disney’s Aladdin Collection, or the ColourPop x ILuvSarahii Collaboration.
Have you purchased anything from Urban Decay Cosmetics or are you interested in the Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
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Thank you for this review!! I love the look of this pallete. I don’t wear bold colors so this might be perfect for me!
ooo if you wait, sometimes this goes on sale for $25 which is a total steal!!
I know next to nothing about makeup, but this review makes me what to try it out. I find your picture of the color swatches particularly helpful as I am a similar skin tone.
I’m so glad you found the swatches helpful – I think it is helpful to see how colors look outside of the pan since the pans tend to look more vibrant!!
I don’t really do makeup, much less eyeshadow, but it is definitely something I want to try doing at least once in my life. This palette looks gorgeous!!
I totally understand – makeup for me is like my own form of art and self-expression and has been a big part of my life since before I was even a teenager. There are so many high quality, affordable options if you ever decide to give makeup a go!!
Oh, I love this palette, LP! I loved your thorough review too and I’m happy to hear it stands up!
I was happy, too. UD holds such a fond place in my heart because they were the first high-end brand that I purchased from, so I’m always rooting for them to succeed.
Yay, Urban Decay is one of my favorites brands, and I take a look at this palette everytime I stop by Ulta/Sephora. It looks really pretty, but I don’t think it would add much to my collection color-wise. Maybe if I catch it on sale I’ll give it a try as it does seem to be a nice palette! I also loved the look you created with it!
Totally understandable – def not something super new but I was so happy when I realized that Punk was in this palette since it was my favorite eyeshadow from the UD x Gwen Stefani Palette!! If you ever feel tempted, for sure what until a sale since this regularly goes for 50% off!
Honestly out of all of UD’s recent releases, this eyeshadow palette always pops up as something that I would actually be interested in purchasing. I’ve heard mostly good things about it, and from your review it seems the things I’ve heard are correct! The fact that you said that this palette is a colourful palette for people who typically wear neutral shadows also appeals to me greatly as I undoubtedly fall under that category! I think I’ll take your advice though and wait until it goes on sale, great review as always!! xx
Yes I totally stand by that – so many reviewers who wear really bold colors felt let down by this, but this is a very muted/smokey colorful palette that I think would be good for anyone just dipping their toes into colorful shadows or who prefers a more neutral look. Seriously, you can for sure get this at $25 if you’re willing to wait!!
The swatches look great and I love the look you’ve made with the palette. I haven’t bought this palette but I still think it’s so beautiful everytime I see it!
I finally gave into the hype… although I have to confess that I’m BITTER because a week after I bought it, the palette was 50% off. X_X oh well, you live and you learn lol!
Lmao ohhh nooo 😂😭
At the start of my beauty journey, I had 4 Naked palettes and I loved them. However, when I started trying other brands I realised that they really weren’t worth my time! There are a few UD products I still use from time to time but I don’t actually think I’d buy anything from them unless I was absolutely in love with it now! The shades in this palette do look gorgeous though 🙂
Alice Xx
http://www.blacktulipbeauty.co.uk
Totally fair – UD holds such a special place in my heart because they were the first high end brand that I remember purchasing from but I had stopped buying from them for a while. I was excited that this palette called to me and then held up to the positive reviews that I had seen online.
A great review I have always been interested in this palette as I love the colour story I just have never been able to go into store to see it. Great swatches and honest review thank you
I’m glad you found this helpful – if you do like this palette, it does on sale so often!! Hopefully you will get a chance to see it in person.
Great review! I’m glad you’re enjoying the palette! I totally agree with everything you said too, they used to be THE brand then just seemed to drop off. And my first palette was the Naked 2 so the Naked series always makes me smile. The pigmentation of the shades seems pretty good overall. These aren’t the colours I usually go for but it seems like a really good palette overall x
Sophie
What a great review! I don’t have this palette, but I just got their Honey one and I LOVE it. I think it is my favorite one so far. I may have to try this one out too!
Wow love the shades!
This seems interesting product and the fact it’s an old which has more experience in the makeup field. I will recommend your post to my family and I’m sure they will like it.
I started getting into eyeshadows lately and WOW! The color range in this palette is amazing for so many different moods. The packaging looks cute too. The last thing we want is a weak packaging that can break the powder apart. The palette is super affordable when you really count down to the grams. I love the shimmer of the eyeshadow! Thanks for sharing your experience with this!
Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me
This has got to be one of the best reviews of Urban Decay I’ve ever read. My daughter is getting into make up and I’ve been tempted to buy her one of these.
Ooo def get this during a sale if you’re interested!! This past year they were selling this for $25 at a bunch of retailers!!
Really great review – I like that Urburn Decay is cruelty free so I think I would definitely try this palette x
Me too – I love how so many brands are CF now! 💜
12 hour eyeshadow days are impressive!
I love this review — it’s so in depth! This palettes colour scheme isn’t quite my type but I can tell by your review exactly what this product would be like. It’s so interesting now that you mention it — in high school my makeup collection was dominated by Urban Decay, but now all I purchase from them is their setting spray. It’s interesting how stuff like that happens! Thanks for sharing love ❤️
I say this everytime but I just LOVE reading your reviews of products, I love that you go in depth with the background of the brand, how best to use the products and also whether they’re worth the money. I love the look of this palette and I think your description of it being a colourful palette for neutral lovers is so true because they are more muted and neutral toned colours. I love that you include where you can buy the product in different countries too! That look is so gorgeous on you, I don’t know why you don’t wear blue more often!!
Alex xx
https://alexandriakaywrites.wordpress.com/
Thank you, gal! 💜 I think with (most) products reviews honestly come down to expectations. Like there are FOR SURE duds, but sometimes I see people slamming products for what they ~wish~ they were rather than what they actually ~are~ .. ya know? Like many of the people who hate this palette were expected this to be more of rainbow palette when it isn’t.
And thank you!! I wear a lot of blue, purple, and red shadows IRL but I’m shite at taking pics. Gotta teach me your ways with you remember to snap so many killer shots of the looks you create! 💜
Yeah that’s so true, I love that you’re just upfront from the start about what to expect so people aren’t disappointed. You definitely need to take more pictures of them and share them, because every look I see of yours are always gorgeous but hardly very see them! Aw thank you, I just love doing my makeup and love sharing the looks I create🧡
Aw yay!! I’m really happy to read a positive review on this palette from you. I totally agree this is more of a colorful palette for neutral lovers, not color lovers. Like you said, the shades are all gorgeous yet muted. Such a shame that certain ones were dry though & kind of annoying that they include a lot of old shades.
But really, UD shadows are super impressive when it comes to how long they last. I’ve also never experienced creasing with their formula.
Love the look you created, the blue looks so pretty & vibrant. Great review, as always! ♡
I agree with you about longevity of UD shadows…. both on the eyes but like in get real. Like ABH shadows are so easy to apply at first, but they are the only formula I’ve owned where I’ve seen a significant decline in quality the longer I’ve owned a palette.
Oh wow! Yeah, I’ve had my one UD single eyeshadow for almost 2 years & it still performs the absolute same as when I first got it.
Also, thanks for telling me about the ABH shadows! I always wanted one of their palettes but maybe not as much anymore. 😛
So I do not think they are bad palettes at all… like the Modern Renaissance & Soft Glam are two of my all-time favorite palettes. BUT if you have a super large collection, it is just good to keep in mind the shelf life of the products. MR is the only one that I’ve noticed went off badly so far.
The shades hellride and wild heart are absolutely stunning and I love the look of them! I like that it some shades that are a little bit bolder and some everyday shades x
Kayleigh Zara 🌟 http://www.kayleighzaraa.com
I think that’s what really makes this such a versatile palette, so I totally agree! 💜
Beautiful pictures as always! And I agree! The initial launch seemed so unappealing but I remember seeing it in stores and being kinda amazed by it! I still haven’t taken the plunge yet though cause I’m so not used to wearing eyeshadows haha! But this reminds me how absolutely gorgeous and versatile it is!
As soon as I swatched this – I was taken back by how nice it felt!