I’m ecstatic to bring you this review on the Urban Decay Rockstar Eyeshadow because it’s my first Urban Decay eye shadow that I’ve ever worn.
Ever since I got into the brand and used their eye liners (which I love), I’ve been wanting to try their eye shadows because they have so many wonderful shades available.
However, I have an allergy to a certain ingredient (bismuth oxychloride), and it’s in a lot of popular eye shadows. My eyes will get all puffy, red, and itchy. (I learned it the hard way when I was in high school and experimented with my first CoverGirl and Revlon eye shadows.) So I was pretty bummed when I noticed that all Urban Decay shadows seemed to have that ingredient as well.
But, don’t cry for me, Argentina! I was able to find lots of great shadows that I can wear by NYX, Marcelle, and even some Kat von D ones!
Then Urban Decay reformulated a lot of their eye shadows. I checked the ingredients, and lots of them now don’t have bismuth oxychloride! Sooo…since I already loved using the 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Rockstar, it was a no-brainer that I’d want to get the eye shadow in the same shade. 🙂 (I practically rushed out to Sephora one evening after work to get this and was beaming the entire time.)
Urban Decay Rockstar Eyeshadow Pictures
The lining on the inside of the box looks like green foliage. 🙂 That gets the thumbs up from this greeeen fieeend and nature lover.
I love the packaging because it looks badass.
(In case you’re curious about the nail polish I’m wearing, it’s Zoya Song from the NYFW Collection. Click the link to see my swatches and review of it.)
This little groove makes it easy to pop up the lid.
Flash
A closer look at it in the pan.
Natural Light
A closer look at it in the pan.
Urban Decay Rockstar Eyeshadow Ingredients
Urban Decay Rockstar Eyeshadow Swatches
Flash Photo
Left: No Primer, Right: With Primer
Natural Light Photo
Left: No Primer, Right: With Primer
Claims: TRUSTED
√ Deep aubergine
√ Shimmery, dimensional luminous sheen
√ Blendable
Key Notes
- Name: Urban Decay Rockstar Eyeshadow
- Amount: 1.5 g (0.05 oz.)
- What I Paid: $22 CAD
- Where to Buy: Urban Decay website, Sephora stores & Sephora website (When I composed this post, it was out of stock on the website, but keep checking Sephora – they should restock it.)
Urban Decay Rockstar Eyeshadow Review
Colour
The colour is great for the fall because it’s a rich aubergine. This isn’t like a vibrant, dime-a-dozen purple. There’s something very neutral about it, so I’ve been wearing this quite a lot with many different outfits. But it’s not so neutral that it’s boring. There’s just enough purple shining through so you know that it’s not a brown. It looks like if you took a vivid purple and mixed it with a neutral taupe. Urban Decay Rockstar would be their love child.
For many years, I wore green, grey, black, and teal. Then, just this summer, I decided to chill out and just wear the Rockstar eye liner. Now that the weather will be getting cooler again, I’m feeling the itch to sport my eye shadows again, only this time, I’m getting more use out of the Rockstar eye shadow.
This aubergine is great to use all over the lids for a smoky look, but I find that it also works great in the crease. And I love how it corresponds with the eye liner because now I can set my eye liner with the shadow to increase its staying power.
A lot of times, purple shadows can make me look like I got into a fight and lost. Probably it’s because those purples have some pink undertones. Rockstar, however, I feel is more cool-toned, so it works with my complexion much better.
Finish
The finish is what makes Urban Decay Rockstar more interesting. It catches the light, but it’s not so frosty that it looks unnatural. There’s a wonderful sheen to keep the shadow from looking flat.
With shadows that have this type of finish, you can sometimes get away with using just that one colour all over the lids, but it’ll still give your eyes dimension. (I, however, have trouble using just one colour all over. Most times I feel compelled to at least add some black to the outer V or a medium grey to the crease because I like dramatic eyes even in the daytime.)
Application & Formula
The formula is great because it goes on easily and is very pigmented, but I noticed that there wasn’t much fallout compared to some other shadows I’ve used. Also, it’s highly blendable – I don’t have to work too hard to get it to blend, which is nice!
Longevity
I’ve only ever worn this shadow over a primer on my eyelids, so I didn’t test it solo. You see, my eyelids start off dry in the morning, but by the evening when I finish work, they become very oily and years ago when I didn’t know about eye primer, my shadow would always, always, alllwwaaaays crease. The only way I can wear a shadow without creasing is with primer.
During an 8-hour work day, with primer, the shadow held up perfectly, and it remained true from morning to night. 🙂
Packaging
I really like the packaging because, although it’s made out of plastic, it still looks really nice! And Urban Decay made it so you can de-pot it and put it in an eye-shadow palette.
The lid is easy to open – I’ve never had to struggle to pry it open.
I also like how part of the lid is see-through. The way they designed it, it reminds me of a picture frame. Very well-balanced design.
Value
This shadow was terribly expensive…at least for me! $22 CAD for just one eye shadow was a major splurge. I’m used to getting a lot more for that price, however, every once and a while, it’s nice to treat yourself…or “Treat yo’self!” as they said in Parks & Recreation. 😉
While I do like this eye shadow a lot, I feel like it’s way overpriced. The quality is great, but you’re paying so much for the packaging and the box, too.
Pros
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Cons
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Final Verdict: 8/10
I have no doubt that I’ll be hitting pan on Rockstar. It’s so easy to apply and blend, plus this shade really works like a neutral. That makes it highly versatile.
What is your favourite eye shadow to wear? Which is your favourite Urban Decay eye shadow and why? Do you like the new formula better compared to the old formula?
Yay! I’m so glad you were able to wear your first UD shadow! I can’t imagine the frustration of being allergic to an ingredient found in makeup. UD is one of my favorite makeup brands, but I haven’t bought any of their shadows since their rerelease and slight price increase. I have a few single shadows from before, but they were still kinda pricey to buy more than just occasionally. That’s why I stick with their palettes for the most part because its such a good value if you want variety. My fave is the naked palette for summer and my ultimate favorite for all year around is the Mariposa palette. My two fave colors in it are money and mushroom, but I’m not sure if they are available in singles..they might be.
Anyways, I hope you get to keep enjoying the wonderful world of UD shadows!
Frosso recently posted: My Lil’ Panda Mani
Hey Frosso!
You know, I really hope they reformulate ALL the shadows because I do want to experience the joy of owning one of the Urban Decay palettes. It seems that many of them still have shades with bismuth oxychloride!
I hear a lot of good things about Mushroom. Seems like a shade that can be paired with lots of different colours.
FYI, if anyone has been wanting to try the Urban Decay shadows but is not excited about the price, they are on sale at the Urban Decay website for $6. Mary–these shadows probably won’t work for you because they are the old formula (that’s why they’re on sale). But there are also some nice lip items on sale that you might like. 🙂
Hey Beth!
Oh, that’s good to know! Thanks for sharing it. What a steal. Heck, if I could wear the older formula, I would’ve snatched those up – $6? :O
I’ve always been interested in trying out the UD eyeshadows. I’ve heard nothing but good things about them. Good to hear that you’ve had a great experience with them, too! This just makes me all the more curious about them. I haven’t quite hit pan on any of the ones I have right now, though, so it seems frivolous to purchase more. I *will* keep Rockstar in mind when I cave! 😉 I wish you included an eye look using it. That would have been cool! 😀
Carmela recently posted: Polished Indulgence is turning 1! [GIVEAWAY!]
Hey Carmela!
The Urban Decay palettes always look incredible. But it seems like they always mention “May Contain: Bismuth Oxychloride”…Even that ‘may contain’ makes me steer clear of it. I really don’t want to suffer again with horrible red, puffy, itchy eyelids again. (Had it happen maybe 5 times, and it was enough. It literally takes my eyelids a full week or more to recover and look normal if I expose them to that allergen!) Strangely, if that ingredient is in nail polish, it doesn’t affect me (at least not that I noticed).
Another great Urban Decay eye shadow is Loaded! If you go to Sephora, take a look at it. It’s sooo pretty. I want it so badly, but I may wait a little while later before I get it. I’m enjoying Rockstar right now!
Hi I was wondering what eyeshadows or eyeshadow palettes do you like that don’t contain bismuth oxychloride I think I may have an allergy to the ingredient? I had a reaction to bare minerals when I was younger and maybe possibly chanel but I’ve heard they reformulated everything for chanel since 2011 or 2012 it maybe the bismuth oxychloride but I’m not sure also I had another question for you can u help me
Comprehensive, well-structured review. Just what I needed to make my decision on this one!
M (@crumbsncashmere) recently posted: Me & My Boyfriend (jeans)
Hey M!
Thank you so much! Glad that you found my review helpful!
Hi Mary,
We don’t have Urban Decay over here. But I’d like to try the Primer Potion someday. Always reading about it on other blogs. But I don’t use eyeshadow that often and I have plenty so maybe that’s ok.
I like the colour of Rockstar It reminds me of a colour I have which is from Rimmel.
I’m searching through my stash, maybe I find it and can tell you how it’s name is.
Back after half an hour ^^ And I was so wrong, the colour I own is Tribute and I remembered it waaaay different. It is much browner. Well Ok I thought I had something similar. Happens.
Have a nice day
Hey Akima!
Thanks for checking anyway. 🙂 Hey, if you ever find an eyeliner that matches Urban Decay Rockstar, please let me know. I’m trying to find a less expensive alternative for that. It’s my ultimate favourite eyeliner, but it’s so expensive!
HI, how did you find out that specific ingredient was an allergen? I have had trouble off and on with reactions to certain cosmetics, but no one will help me pinpoint what it is. “Just stop wearing any eye make up,” is what the doctor suggested. I find it hard to believe there is no way to test common ingredients, as they did for a respiratory allergy. I’ve used loads of things with carmine, so I’m sure it isn’t that. But I’ve no clue what else is safe, or isn’t. Thanks!
Hey M!
Sorry to hear how your doctor just seemed to sweep the issue aside instead of investigating it. Then again, I know that allergies are very hard to pinpoint, but especially so when you have one that’s not as common.
They can do allergy tests where they prick your skin with an allergen like milk, fur, etc. Then they look for which areas develop hives. Yeah, no fun!
When it comes to makeup, I found out my allergy because eye shadows used to make my eyes swell, turn red, and get itchy. The reaction would last for a full week, which was awful.
Then, one day, I decided to check the ingredients on all the shadows that gave me the worst skin irritation. That’s how I noticed some common ingredients. And then I went shopping and bought lots of shadows with different ingredient lists. Then, I was basically a guinea pig. Haha! I had to wear the shadows to see whether or not the allergy would arise. (For me, it happens in seconds, so it’s easy to tell.)
I did a process of elimination by testing out a shadow without bismuth oxychloride. I was fortunate that the first ingredient I ruled out seemed to be the one that I was allergic to it. (Carmine was going to be next on my list because I had heard that others were allergic to it. But turns out that I didn’t need to conduct that test.)
Strange thing, though, is that when the ingredient is in nail polish, I’m fine. It’s only in eye shadows and face products that it causes an allergic reaction.
Hmm, I’m not a doctor, but I think that even if you’re okay with some things with carmine, you could still be allergic to it. It’s like with bismuth and me. I have no reaction when it’s in polish, but I have severe reactions when it’s in a product that I put on my eye or face. Some areas are more sensitive…especially the eye because the skin is thinner and delicate.