The gorgeous gadgeteers at Urban Decay headquarters know that technology plus makeup equals fun, so they engineered a little something special for us with their latest limited edition Book of Shadows: Volume IV ($64).
This installment in the storied line comes with plenty of makeup, as well as five QR (Quick Response) codes that you can plug into your 
iPhone or Android phone to access five online video tutorials featuring products from the palette.
The Urban Decay Book of Shadows Vol. IV ($64) comes with…
- 16 eyeshadows (10 new and exclusive to the palette)
- One full-size 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion
- One travel-size Supercurl Curling Mascara
- One travel-size Eyeshadow Primer Potion
- One small external speaker that can be used in place of your phone’s internal speaker
- Card with the five QR codes and instructions on how to use them to access the five tutorial vids from your smartphone (I watched part of the “Naked” one featuring the palette’s neutral shades)
- Cables to connect the small speaker to your phone by its headphone jack
The palette’s a holiday release, so it won’t be available for a while (I’m trying to pin down the exact date), but here are a few pictures and swatches to wet your whistle.
Swatches from the left: Blue Bus, Gunmetal, Cobra and Baked
Bender, Gravity, Lost and Hijack
Midnight Cowgirl, Sin, Midnight Rodeo and Crystal
Bust, Missionary, Skimp and Zephyr
24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion, Supercurl Curling Mascara and Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Stay tuned for some looks and reviews over the next week or so, but until then, what do ya think? Trippy packaging, right? The colors seem very Urban Decay. The green shade called Bender reminds me of Futurama, yay! 🙂 I’ve also got my eye on shimmery teal Hijack (exciting!) and, of course, I love all of the neutrals along the bottom row.
Have you ever used QR codes on your phone before? For a makeup brand, it seems like an innovative idea.
Speaking of lovely things…
Have you seen or sniffed the new Narciso Rodriguez Essence in Color Eau de Parfum ($84 for a 1.6-oz. bottle)? It’s a warm white floral with notes of amber, tiare flower and musk — quite delicate and ladylike. I’m in love.
It arrives on Saks Fifth Avenue counters next month.
Anywho, how was the rest of your Wednesday? What are you up to tonight?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Not so interested in the palette but that perfume sounds right up my alley! I’ll definitely need to keep an eye out for that one :]
Hi Kayla,
The scent is gorgeous — very sophisticated and chic. I like that it’s a whie floral, but not stuffy, you know?
What other scents do you like?
Hey Karn! I hope you and the zinnia-munching Tabs are doing well!
To be honest, I’m not very excited about this palette. It’s a little too gimmicky for my tastes and all that gimmick just takes up much needed storage room. If I didn’t already own several Urban Decay palettes or couldn’t get my hands of the 15th anniversary palette, I might consider this. Isn’t it kind of sad that I’m actually excited i don’t need this? Haha, I send too much money.
But that perfume sounds amazing! I abhor most sweet scents so this one sounds more my style. Plus the bottle is gorgeous.
Hi Jessi,
Hee hee! Farmer Tabs is doing well. 🙂 He recently mowed down the excess catnip… he’s so helpful in the garden.
That’s cool that you’ve got a good stash of UD palettes. Which ones are your faves? I love so many of mine, but the one that probably gets the most use is Get Baked.
If you like non-stuffy whie florals then I think you’ll love the perfume. I’m wearing it right now, as a matter o’ fact.
LOVE the butterflies! kinda wish there weren’t as many neutrals though, since i already have the naked palette. bender and hijack are GORGEOUS, though <3.
I feel the same way. Too many neutrals for me!
Hi Vijaya,
Oh well! Maybe the 15-year Anniversary palette is more your style.
DYING for this palette. gorgeous, and i can already tell zephyr is my new highlight. ugh i need this noooowwwww. i’m just wondering how big it is compared to bos 2 and 3, given all the extra goodies. i am mega psyched that they replaced the 24/7 in zero with a liquid liner. i mean, what UD fan doesn’t already have a zillion zeros lying around?!
TRUE THAT, Xmissxandristx! I’m actually relieved that they switched teh liner up!
AUGH why does Urban Decay come out with new palettes that I want like every two days?! I’m never gonna be able to buy that NARS blush i’ve been wanting forever if I keep spending it on the UD palettes!
LOL, Margherita. Well, you have some time before this one actually hits shelves — it’s not slated until Holiday 2011. (If you live in NYC, though, you can still pick it up this weekend at Sephora Times Square on 8/20 from 1-7pm).
Wow, such a technologically advanced palette! 🙂
I know! It’s so very Jetsons, LOL!
That’s a gorgeous palette! I love the butterfly design. But I wish it included more colorful colors as I don’t use neutral ones often.
I figured that might be an issue for you, Gio. I know you <3 your brights!
A great idea, but I have my pc to listen to music, so this would probably work when on a vacation only 🙂
Hi Eli,
Great idea! I wish I had a vacay lined up so I could take it with me…
Wow that is really amazing! They have thought of everything
Hi Emma,
They really did! Are you a UD fan?
i love how they have such naughty names :)) same w/ nars
LOL, me too! 😉
I love anything Urban Decay, but this is definitely gimmicky. The colors are beautiful, and I love them all. However I am deaf, and paying $64 for a palette that COULD just sell for $55 for speakers that I’m never going to use is silly! Karen, is the video mostly silent or does it have a lot of spoken instructions? That is something I probably can’t access too. Pointless for customers like me 🙁
Hi Betty,
It has spoken instructions, but you could probably follow along by watching the visuals. Would you like me to pass onto UD that it would be nice to have close captioning for their deaf customers?
Oh, good. Some instructional videos have spoken instructions that you really need to know, and it’s not “shown”. If there is more showing than telling I could probably deal 🙂
Oh please do! All of my friends are deaf, and three of them are die-hard UD fans! I am sure there is more. Please tell them think about us 🙂
Meh….. The concept is kinda neat but I am not going to be purchasing this. I just bought the 15th anniversary palette so I think I’m good on UD palettes for the rest of the year! 🙂 Thanks for the swatches!
Hi Jessica,
You’re welcome!
How are you liking the 15-Year Anniversary Palette?
I have to say that I’m almost speechless with how cool this is. Makeup totally aside (you know I’m a total packaging geek), I think this is incredibly clever. So many people ask for tutorials on eyeshadow and UD is giving 5 options, on your smartphone, hands free. I just think this is an amazing idea. I guess it won’t be for everyone, but I think the concept is genius. 🙂
Hi Kim,
I agree; it’s very clever! I like that the phone has a little stand next to the mirror so you can follow along while you’re applying the product. 🙂
Totally! I forgot to mention that but it was definitely a big part of my “wow” moment when I saw this package. 🙂
Blender and Hijack look so pretty!
I love, LOVE Hijack, Chris!
I hope the kittehs stayed out of the pantry last night. 🙂
They are hiding in the closet. 🙂
I’m so torn on this! I don’t want to want it. I think the gimmicky tech stuff is tacky and useless. But I kinda dig the shadows and (cosmetic) extras. Oh what to do, what to do?
Hi Erin,
Hmm, maybe check your shadow stash? If you don’t have shades like these, it might be a good investment.
I do kind of want this for Bender/Futurama, heh. And just to collect UD palettes. But this speaker gimmick reminds me of the Stila Makeup Player which I really just use to store makeup and never use the speakers. Maybe makeup application is more of quiet, zen experience than a dance party for me?
Hi Sarah,
Maybe it is. 🙂 Makeup application as a form of meditation — I like it!
the perfume bottle is gorgeous! <3
well would you look at this palette — all fancy schmancy and stuff …. the colors are lovely!
Hi Nina,
I like it too. I’ve been keeping it on my desk so I can stare at it and spritz it whenever the mood strikes. 🙂
I can’t remember — are you into Urban Decay shadows?
sorta. i have a 2 BOS palettes and love em. but my true great UD love are the UD 24×7 pencils. 🙂
This palette is awesome, I’m not to crazy about the eyeshadow colors but everything else is so cool!
Hi Amanda,
Are you an Urban Decay fan?
From the pan, I thought I would just like Bender and Hijack, but even the other shadows are very pretty. Thanks for swatching them. 🙂
You’re welcome! 🙂
Hmmm. I’m a bit underwhelmed by this palette. I have the naked & the 15th anniversary palettes so this bos is not worth purchasing. As someone else said earlier, it does seem a bit gimmicky. :/
Hi Kat,
How are you liking the 15 Year Anniversary Palette?
I’m really liking Gravity and Hijack, but I’m not going to buy the whole set just to get them. It’s a package designer’s dream, but for the end user (me, anyway), once I get over the “ooh, aah” factor, the bulk and decor is wasteful and inconvenient. I wish they at least designed the eyeshadow palette to pop out and convert into its own compact.
BTW, I do enjoy using QR codes and was able to scan the ones right off my computer screen from your photo. Ha ha!
I love the colours in this palette, even though I already own Naked I think there are enough different neutrals as well as cool colours in here to still make it worth buying. However, I wish that they did a version of this without the tech stuff (about $55 like Betty said) for people who don’t have Iphone or Android (there are some of us).
I also agree with Betty that video is kind of useless when you’re deaf and can’t hear it. I think it would be really wonderful of you if you could let UD know that their deaf customers would appreciate captioning, Karen.
I still really want to buy this palette even if I won’t use the tech stuff. That and Smashbox Glam box 9 are going to HAVE to be the last makeup that I purchase this year… really, they honestly are 🙂
I don’t know Emma…the new year is still over 4 months away 🙂
I never said it would be easy! 4 whole months, and holiday collections too. Better freeze my debit card 🙂
haha! Yeah, I still want this palette despite some addons I won’t even be able to use. I do own an android, and Karen mentioned it was easy to follow along with the video despite not accessing the spoken instructions… But I really have to think about this too LOL
I have Naked & 15-year palettes and I wonder if Karen could do comparisons with Naked/15-year versus the Book of Shadows, and see if the people who have both *need* the Book of Shadows. 😀
I think in regards to the Naked v BOS IV comparison it might depend alot on one’s skin tone. I feel that as I have such a pale skin tone that some of the colours in Naked aren’t really that neutral on me because they show up quite dark. If one had a deeper skin tone then the colours probably look more neutral. With that in mind, I think that the BOS IV is worth getting because the neutrals in that look like they’d actually be more neutral than the Naked palette is on my skin tone. Food for thought.
Karen should definitely do a comparison.
I’m more excited about the fragrance than the palette. I LOVE Narciso Rodriguez’ first scent, very sexy!
The technology aspect of this palette is genius! So cool! I think the liquid liner looks like something I need to try too. It’s hard to think that black is pretty but I like the way it catches the light.
As far as Narcisco Rodriguez, I have the perfume “For Her” and love it. I’m interested to smell this new one!
I love the look of this! And love the speaker idea 🙂
But I don’t know about the colours, I feel as if there’s too many neutrals in there and not enough colour. I just recently bought the Naked palette so I’m not sure if it would be a good idea to buy this too but it definitely looks interesting.
Wow that palette looks really nice..
LOL, Bender! Hopefully the shadow doesn’t BEHAVE like Bender, though — it’d be way too hard to work with.
I wonder if those speakers work to play anything other than the five tutorials. If it does then you’re getting a sick travel speaker in addition to eyeshadow!
I’m seriously torn right now to buy or not to buy… that is the question. Is it worth the buy if I don’t have the naked palatte orrrr should have save my mula and get the Too Faced Holiday collection. Talk about a piece of art!!! I need to buy like shadow boxed to store them on the wall!!!!!!!
i have this and the 15th anniversary palette but i haven’t touch it yet,by the way,where did u download that cute iphone smiley/icon whatsoever?i wanna know it’s so damn cute <3
I’ve always wanted to get volume 4 but its just so expensive. I do love Midnight Rodeo so much though. I like how its not overly glittery. Great review chick x
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