They say good things come in small packages, and in the matter of Urban Decay’s Face Case, it’s true.
Well… mostly.
The small price for this cutie pie initially caught my eye — a mere $14 for a complete makeup palette for eyes, lips and cheeks! Gotta love a steal of a deal. 🙂
Face Case comes stacked with a nice mix of work and play shades, including…
- Eyeshadow in Midnight Cowboy Rides Again: a shimmery gold with glitter,
- Eyeshadow in Grifter: a shimmery light purple with glitter,
- Eyeshadow in Twice Baked: a shimmery dark brown,
- Blush in Hookup: a shimmery peachy pink,
- XXX Shine Lip Gloss in Naked: a sheer, shimmery rose,
- XXX Shine Lip Gloss in Love Junkie: a sheer wine and
- XXX Shine Lip Gloss in Carney: a sheer, shimmery pink
Top row: Midnight Cowboy Rides Again, Grifter, Twice Baked, Hookup; Bottom row: Naked, Love Junkie, Carney
A few quick notes about the products:
- My two favorites are the brown shadow and blush; both offer ample pigmentation and blend easily
- Both glitter shadows apply with plenty of glitter fall out, so be prepared to do some cleaning up around your eyes
- The texture of all three glosses feels thick and non-sticky on the lips
Wrapped up in a slim, stylish purple package, Face Case fits neatly into my purse without weighing me down or taking up too much space.
As much as I like the colors, portability and price, Face Case comes with one major design issue.
It’s really difficult to keep the products from what I like to affectionately call “cross pollination.”
The products lay really close to each other, so when I swipe a brush across one pan, it sweeps product into whatever’s nearby; eyeshadow ends up in the blush, blush in the gloss, etc. etc.
Wearing Naked gloss
Wearing Love Junkie gloss
Wearing Carney Gloss
Twice Baked eyeshadow on the lid, Grifter in the crease and Midnight Cowboy Rides Again in the inner corner. Hookup Blush on cheeks.
Using a brush to pick up the product slowly and carefully seems to help decrease the mess, but man, it takes forever and a day.
And not only are the pans postioned closely together, they’re also small — almost too small for a full-sized brush head.
Case in point: I tried using a regular blush brush to apply Hookup. One side of the brush head ended up with gloss all over the bristles, the other with eyeshadow. Neat freaks, can you see how this could easily push one over the makeup edge?
I like Face Case, but I would love it more if I didn’t have to worry so much about the cross-pollination issue. If you’re watching your pennies and just want a little something to tide you over, it’s alright for $14. Things get messy, though, so be prepared to deal with product getting everywhere. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B
Annie’s rules!
I have a new snack addiction: Annie’s Homegrown Organic Bunny Classics Butter Rich Baked Organic Crackers. Have you tried these yet? They’re like the organic, baked version of Ritz crackers.
I think they might be laced with cracker crack because I can’t stop craving them, om nom nom! 🙂
What’ve you been snacking on lately?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Jenny says
someone really has to explain why midnight cowboy rides again is in almost every single UD palette. Almost every comment I’ve ever read about this eyeshadow has people complaining about the fallout. Why UD why?
Karen says
Yeah, I don’t quite get it either. It’s a pretty color, but not necessarily one I’d feel compelled to bring to a desert island, ya know?
Molly says
*Drooling*I will totally pick that up; the cross pollination (I like!) is an issue in a lot of the little face cases, but it comes with the portability territory, if you will. (Too Faced glamour to go? So good, but there’s blush all up in my gloss!)
Karen says
LOL, it’s a left over term from my science days. 🙂 Funny how the only time I use my degree now is when I kid about makeup…
Anywho, if you like portability, Face Case certainly brings it!
Hedy says
I hit up trader joe’s over the weekend, so I’ve been through root veggies chips and bakes cheese snacks.
.-= Hedy’s last blog post… Penny for my Thoughts Review: Local Collection =-.
Karen says
Have you tried their hazelnut chocolate biscotti? OMG… SO GOOD!
Shelby says
I understand what you mean about cross pollination. I have the same issue with my Coastal Scents 88 palette. I’ve been thinking about picking up the face case as a gift for a friend who has recently started getting into make-up.
Karen says
Oh, it might make a nice gift just so she can start playing. Maybe warn her first about the inevitable messiness?
Do you know if she has brushes? A travel brush set would probably complement this nicely.
Paris B says
I love the price and it looks good. BUT the major flaw as you pointed out would be the cross pollination. I always skip mixed palettes because they all get grubby and messy in no time 🙁
.-= Paris B’s last blog post… La Prairie Platinum Rare Serum and Platinum Cream – A luxurious affair =-.
Karen says
Mine is already pretty gross, and I’ve only worn it about three times. 🙁
Meghan says
ahhh i love the color grifter, because i have pale skin and green eyes i think it brings out my eyes, but the glitter fallout is HORRIBLE. ughhhh i can just imagine there must be glitter all up in ur lipgloss in this kit! thanks for the review karen!
Karen says
I love Grifter too! It’s surprisingly pigmented and looks fantastic on a wide range of skin colors… and yup, there was HELLA product all up in the gloss.
Rachael says
Those colors look so lovely. I can deal with a little cross pollination, as long as its blush in lip gloss. I can’t stand dark shadows in my lip glosses.
Have you tried Annie’s mac and cheese? The white cheddar flavor is more tangy than savory. I love it! I haven’t had those crackers. I might have to pick up those on my next grocery run. Now I’m hungry and will make my paper break much longer. sigh.
.-= Rachael’s last blog post… License to Thrill: I Wanna be a Bond Girl =-.
Karen says
I looooove Annie’s mac and cheese. I leave the butter out (gives me a tummy ache) and it still tastes rich.
Have you tried their cookies? So yummy!
Rachael says
They have cookies!? What? I have got to investigate this.
.-= Rachael’s last blog post… License to Thrill: I Wanna be a Bond Girl =-.
Jen says
I love Grifter (sans glitter fallout). The base color is so pretty. And Carney was my favorite from their XXX shine lip gloss line, but I lost it. Sadness.
I’m gonna pass on this one though, because I own almost all of the products. Haha. Hello, my name is Jen and I’m addicted to Urban Decay.
Karen says
Hi Jen,
Grifter is kinda rocking my world right now. What do you like to pair it with?
Jen says
I like to use it all over the lid, and put Last Call in the outer V and crease. Normally I can’t wear Last Call by itself; it makes me look sick. But layered on top Grifter, it’s really really pretty!
Amber says
Bummer. I love UD’s colors, but I have always found their shadows a little crumbly for my sensitive contact-wearing eyes. I still wear them sometimes, but I apply carefully. Seems like this would be a fun gift for a girl who is just getting into makeup.
Love the eye you did!
.-= Amber’s last blog post… A little more Lake Charles =-.
Karen says
Thanks! 🙂
So, did you get your Crushed Glow Palette yet?
Amber says
USPS says it’s in the mailroom…I should get it by the end of the day! 😀
.-= Amber’s last blog post… A little more Lake Charles =-.
lexi says
I bought those Annie Rabbit crackers in White Cheddar for my daughter – I ended up eating more than she did. Mommy is so bad!
I had a feeling that’s what would happen with a palette that small containing a shadow that is notorious for it’s glitter fallout. I don’t even own it because of that!
Karen says
Those White Cheddar ones are next on my list. Methinks I could easily finish a box off while watching a SATC DVD, heh!
lexi says
Oh man that box + a marathon of Jerseylicious on Style Channel is heaven to me…obviously I have to be alone for this combo!
Rae says
The Face Case looks cute (and cheap! I could deal with cross-pollination at that price.)
But more importantly… ♥Annie’s! Our faves are the White Cheddar & Shells mac and cheese and Annie’s Naturals Shiitake and Sesame Vinaigrette (mixed in a 3:1 ratio with apple cider vinegar to create the most amazing dressing ever.)
(No, seriously. I haven’t bought any other dressings since trying it.)
(Which was over two years ago, if my memory’s correct. We LOVE it.)
.-= Rae’s last blog post… I’ll stick with you, Nars! =-.
Karen says
That dressing sounds YUMMY! Making a mental note to give it a go. 🙂
Karen4 says
That dressing is also great on Trader Joe’s frozen dumplings (the veggie ones are excellent, as are the shrimp and chicken ones!)
Rae says
Ooh, that does sound really good. I don’t have a TJ’s (up in Canada,) but I’ll try this dressing the next time I have dumplings!)
.-= Rae’s last blog post… A blur brush, in a jar =-.
Kate & Zena says
Lol, I love “cross pollination.” I think I’m going to pass on this one one.
I very rarely have “cross pollination” problems with palettes. The magic secret? You push the brush into the color (kinda like if you want less glitter fallout on your eyes, you push the glitter onto the lid. I’m starting to sound like Sam from Pixiwoo. AHH!). DON’T go sweep happy or you end up with a mess. My Show Pony (UD), Jane Iredale, my Muse (smashbox) and stila pro palette no.1 have very little residue on the covers and stuff because of this. I’m Autistic which means I REALLY hate things out of place and find this method most effective. I can’t stand little bits o’ eyeshadow dust flying everywhere. It. Drives. Me. NUTS. I probably resemble Tabs flying up a tree to catch a bird or something.
What am I snacking on? Tillamook Colby Jack Cheese, apples (mmm, precut granny smith apples) and Mrs. Cubbisson’s Seasoned Croutons (particularly when they’re BOGO Free at Jewel).. I’m always a cheese and crouton fiend, but spring is when I go Apple Crazy.
Oh, and Zena has been snacking on grass lately. Particularly when it’s tall, green and has dew drops on it. We lovingly say, “Zena is making herself a salad” when she does this. Just wait until June and she adds June Bugs to the salad. Yes, she actually likes snapping them out of the air and eating them. Can I just say, “Ew?” Ewwwwwwwwwww.
Karen says
I use that trick for eye palettes. It’s kinda hard with the blush in the middle of this one though… I wish they put it off to the side!
Kate & Zena says
I wish they did too. Or they could include a brush with a smaller head for the blush. Or they could have made the spaces for the pans deeper so you have a little barricade around each color (alternatively, one could say each color would have it’s own fort.) 🙂
Lindsay says
The palette looks great on you! BTW If I bought those rabbit crackers I’d eat them all in one sitting. I have like zero self control.
.-= Lindsay’s last blog post… April Favorites =-.
makeup morsels says
14 bucks?? dang that’s the best deal ever. I like the little imprint in the blush 🙂
.-= makeup morsels’s last blog post… Miscellaneous Monday Morsels 5/3 =-.
Housee of accessories says
I’m a big fan of Cheddar Bunnies !!!!!
.-= Housee of accessories’s last blog post… Red and White Fringed Baby Hammock Afghan Throw Blanket Photo Prop is 28×59 with Peppermint Stripe Tassels =-.
gio says
That’s a pretty palette, the blush looks gorgeous! And at $14.00, I think iit is a great deal. I can stand some cross pollination, but it’s when the pans are too small to fit the brushes that ireitates me.
.-= gio’s last blog post… Product Review: Senna Mineral Mix Cover & Finish Foundation =-.
AtelierGal says
I’ve been wanting to get Grifter! I really detest UD’s glittery es 🙁
And they will cost 5x the amount when they eventually get here sigh
.-= AtelierGal’s last blog post… [Reviews] Skinfood Rice Mask & Revlon’s Tropical Temptation =-.
Nina says
First off – Annies crackers and mac and cheese – pure LOVE! Glad you like `em too!
I was eyeing that face case…but I did have concerns that the produtcs seem cramped inside the palette. I love the glosses though …. and at $14 — cannot beat the price.
I do have some slight issues w/ UD eyeshadows in that they are a bit chunky and glittery … nothing that cannot be fixed w/ some … Fix. 🙂
Lisa S. says
I bought this case so I could finally dip my toe in the UD waters without risking too many gold pieces. “Love” Twice Baked and Hook up. “Really Like” Grifter and the glosses. And I’m “Frenemies” with Midnight Cowboy Rides again. I will be buying Twice Baked and Hook up again and if I’m in the mood I might get the Naked and Love Junkie glosses and Grifter. Cowboy is a pretty color but I’m just afraid he’s a bit “disco ball” for me. All in all this was a good buy for me. I’ve worn Hookup everyday since I got this and on that alone it was a great value.
Amanda says
I totally get what you mean about cross pollination! In general that’s why I don’t buy a lot of palettes, and the ones i do buy tend to be only eyeshadow/blush ones….I don’t like lippies in pan form. Plus then it is much harder to reapply your lippie during the day-you have to take the whole dang thing with you! (which, yeah, I know it’s small but still…..) The bobbi brown palette I have has this same problem-the blush pan is too small and right next to a pan of lipstick…..
Trude says
Thanks for the review! I was so close to adding that to my cart but I hate the cross-pollination factor too much. 🙂 I prefer Annie’s version of Goldfish, so yummy!!
.-= Trude’s last blog post… A Collaboration =-.
Stef says
Oh my god, I ate like half a box of Annie’s cheddar Bunny crackers last night!
.-= Stef’s last blog post… Living Proof – blinding us with hair science =-.
Karen says
I could see how that’s totally possible.
Leslie says
I think I might pick up the UD Face Case, despite the cross-pollination issues. All of the eye shadows here are included in my UD Alice palette and are some of my faves! I don’t have a portable blusher right now & I could stand to 86 the many various glosses in my purse in exchange for this little number! ^_^
diane says
It is very nice! And the brushes from the kit look good too!
.-= diane’s last blog post… Pink and purple. The ultimate obsession =-.
Sexy Sadie says
I do not understand why the glosses are bigger than the eye shadows.
.-= Sexy Sadie’s last blog post… Total perfeksjon =-.
holly says
midnight cowboy is very nice you just have to apply it wet with fix+ or charged water it really makes this shadow awesome 🙂
.-= holly’s last blog post… My latest Mac Haul =-.