Urban Decay Jean-Michel Basquiat Collection – Gold Griot Eye Shadow Palette Review

Urban Decay has had some fabulous makeup collaborations over the years and the new Jean-Michel Basquait Collection is no exception. The American born artist was a pioneer for the neo-expressionist movement and his graffiti was a fixture around lower Manhattan. Jean-Michel’s iconic art is still exhibited all over the world and his use of varied texture and intense color has inspired a beautiful array of vibrant makeup. The range includes 3 lipsticks, 3 eye pencils, a multipurpose blush palette and two shadow palettes – bright and neutral. The packaging is wrapped in canvas to make the artwork pop and each palette has a cutout at the back so you can hang them on the wall. I will be reviewing the collection in three separate articles to emphasize the beauty of each piece but you can also purchase all of the items as a set in the UD Jean-Michel Vault for $299.00.

Last week I featured the beautiful Tenant Eye Shadow Palette (which you can check out by clicking HERE) and today I’m showcasing the neutral side of the collection for those who prefer something less dramatic. Gold Griot contains a mix of warm hues including sparkling bronze and golden tones offset by deep navy and grey. The finishes range from matte, metallic, shimmer and satin to create interesting textural contrast.

The first 5 shades are perfect for everyday wear and you can deepen them for evening events. Earthy undertones are great for summer and they look beautiful on sunkissed skin. The buttery mid-tone brown with orange tinge is one of my favorite crease contour shades while the pale nudes are great for transitioning and highlighting the brow bone. I love the smooth texture and the mattes have a lovely creaminess that blends well, feels luxurious and offers rich intensity with no creasing or fading.

I find the artwork on the box is a little spooky but in a fun, graffiti art kind of way. 

The last few shades in the palette are wildcards since they don't quite mesh with the coppery-neutral theme. That being said, the navy and grey combine beautifully to create a stunning smokey eye and the metallic gold emits brightness that amps-up your entire look. 

All of the shadows have amazing color payoff so you can enhance the saturation without much effort especially when used with UD’s Primer Potion. This palette is simple, pretty and highly usable so if you need these shades (and let’s face it, we all do) the quality is fantastic!

You can find Urban Decay Cosmetics at Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart, UD freestanding stores and online at urbandecay.ca plus sign up for the Beauty Junkies Rewards Program to gain and redeem points for special rewards!