Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow Review: Are Single Pan Eyeshadows Worth It Still?

TL; RL: Are the Urban Decay Moondust eyeshadows worth it? Yes! Absolutely, the Urban Decay Moondust eyeshadows are totally worth buying and were fun to experiment some new looks with. If you’re looking for a new look, I’d say go for it!

As a professional makeup artist for the last 13 years, I have seen makeup products and brands evolve. When I started doing makeup, I built my professional kit by creating custom palettes. I’d get an individual eyeshadow from here and blush from there, and it took a lot of research and trial and error to find the perfect shades to keep in my kit.

Palettes with multiple curated shades were becoming very popular, and brands began to offer them as a way to give consumers more bang for their buck.

Makeup lovers started to experience the genuine fun of makeup artistry through these curated and colorful palettes. It allowed them to experiment and play with different colors, textures, and finishes, and this, alongside the rise of beauty influencers, created how we shop for the best eyeshadows and beauty products today.

I recently got my hands on two of the Urban Decay Moondust eyeshadows, and it made me question a lot about my purchasing habits as a beauty consumer. This product has actually been around for years, but ironically, it’s having a total moment over on TikTok right now. Newer beauty gurus and influencers are rediscovering these single-pan, individual eyeshadows for the first time, and I’m secretly loving it.

It’s not that I don’t love a good eyeshadow palette because I do.

The truth, however, is that I hardly ever use all the shades that come in an eyeshadow palette. I am sure I’m not alone in this, but more often than not, I will purchase an eyeshadow palette because I love maybe three or four of the shades.

So, over time, I’ve accumulated a ton of palettes I only have a little use for and ultimately have wasted my money on. That’s why the resurgence of the Urban Decay Moondust eyeshadows got me thinking.

Are Individual Eyeshadows Making a Comeback?

Is it worth it to spend money solely on one shade I really really love or continue to buy palettes for the same price? How much more beneficial or costly is it to have a palette that’s EXACTLY the shades and tones and textures that are wearable specifically for me versus for the general population?

Bottom Line Up Front:

Despite what the conclusion to those questions is, the bottom line is that for me, the Urban Decay Moondust eyeshadows are absolutely worth it. Suppose you’re a person who has a unique skin tone or can’t find palettes that really complement your features. In that case, it’s absolutely an excellent idea for you to hand-select the eyeshadows you use on an individual basis.

These UD Moondust shadows have inspired me to go back to only purchasing things I know I will use that work strictly for me. They have inspired how I wear my makeup, and they have inspired me to get creative and resourceful with my makeup application.

I’ve broken down all the great ways this product has single-handedly made me feel more empowered in my artistry and made me feel less wasteful and more sustainable.

For starters, it’s completely fine to continue wearing and buying full pre-made eyeshadow palettes if you choose to. Shining a light on this phenomenal eyeshadow shouldn’t discredit all of the great palettes that are out there and that work for most people. My goal in sharing my personal review of this particular product is to shed insight into just how much freedom you can achieve with one singular product!

So let’s get into it.

Key Features:

Price point

The Urban Decay brand is moderately priced. It’s a prestige brand but not considered luxury, and it’s relatively accessible to purchase for most people around the world. They’re well known for their All-Nighter Setting Spray ($36) and 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils ($25). The Moondust eyeshadows cost $24 each and come in 8 shades.

Is that a bit high for a single eyeshadow? Yes.

But it’s Urban Decay, and their average item costs around this same price, so I wouldn’t expect it to be much cheaper. With eyeshadows that are a bit more expensive, the formula is usually better, allowing you to be more versatile with it. Due to the price, I suggest considering just how often you’re genuinely going to use them.

These are shadows you can top off any eyeshadow look with, add to lipgloss, or use as a liner. They’re very versatile so you will get your money’s worth. They also sell these as quad palettes that feature four of the eight Moondust shades, which are $39 each. That’s also a pretty good deal, but remember that you may run into the issue of all the shades not complimenting your skin.

Quality

Glitter eyeshadows can be very, very tricky and messy to use. I have tried many of them and have mostly strayed from using them personally and professionally.

Usually, they’re a pain to use because of the amount of fallout or kickback they give. Oh, and let’s not talk about how when one breaks in your makeup bag and, glitter bombs over everything. Whew! Annoying, to say the least. That’s why these really surprised me.

They are buttery smooth and best applied when I use my finger or a synthetic brush. Also, the compact that they come in is exceptionally sturdy and aesthetically pleasing, with a clear acrylic case that protects the shadow.

If you’ve ever used glitter eyeshadow, then you know that they often tend to be chunky and feel heavy on the eye. The UD Moondust Eyeshadows felt super lightweight on my eyes and almost felt like I was lightly kissed by a fairy. Ha! The glitter gives a very ethereal look with just one swipe and easily layers. Therefore, your eyes will always look even and smooth.

Versatility:

To be clear, these are pressed glitter eyeshadows, not loose glitter eyeshadows. However, that distinct difference doesn’t negate all of the versatility that this product offers.

Using a few extra products and tools to help manipulate these eyeshadows, you can easily have an eyeliner, a highlighter, or a new lipstick or gloss at your fingertips with just one shade. I made a quick list of tips to show you exactly how to use this product in many ways.

For usage as an Eyeliner:

• Take your favorite liquid eyeliner in a similar or complementary shade and apply it as usual. (I personally have the Moondust shadows in “Space Cowboy” and “Lithium,” which both have a silvery, champagne undertone, so I used a black liquid eyeliner)
• Grab a pencil liner brush or angled eyeliner brush and dip the brush into the eyeshadow, tapping off the excess to prevent fallout.
• Lightly press the shadow on top of your liquid eyeliner and build to your liking.
• Seal with a spritz of setting spray to lock in place.

For usage as a Lipstick:

• Apply a complimentary lip liner and lipstick combo to the Moondust shadow of your choice! (Matte Lipsticks work best as the base for a DIY glitter lipstick.)
• Swatch the eyeshadow on your finger and tap the product into your lips, building to the fullness of your choice.
• Take a clean q tip and clean up the edges of your lips to remove any glitter that may have missed your lips. You can also use the q tip to apply to the outermost corner of your mouth to create a crisp edge.

For usage as a highlighter:

• Apply your favorite blush with a blush brush.
• Swipe the Moondust shadows onto your ring finger and lightly tap on the high points of your cheekbones. (I do not recommend using this down the bridge of the nose or middle of the forehead, as glitter doesn’t reflect well on these sections of the face.)

The Cons

Now that I’ve mentioned everything that makes this product a worthy purchase, I want to highlight some of the negative things that might make me look for a dupe or skip this altogether.

As mentioned before, the price point is a bit high for me for a singular eyeshadow. However, I am conflicted because it’s multifunctional and simply gorgeous. It’s not something I will reach for every single day or for every client of mine. But the color payoff, the range of shades, and the quality of the packaging and formula make it a reasonable purchase.

For the average person, this price is the main thing that may deter someone from purchasing it. However, eyeshadows last a very long time and take a while to expire. So you can get 2-3 years of use, and in the grand scheme of things, $24 for a single shadow ends up paying for itself.

Now, as far as the idea of buying one eyeshadow over a full palette, this may be a con for some folks. Many people prefer the freedom that an 8-pan or 12+ pan palette can offer them, which I understand.

I like the idea of owning things I genuinely love, will use, and feel good about sharing with others. For me, it doesn’t always make sense to buy expensive palettes upwards of $60 or more and only like 2 or 3 shades inside of it. In that case, it comes out to be the same cost to purchase the individual shadows you like.

They offer a decent shade range for neutral-toned glitter shadows. I would love to see them expand the colors and the shades like they did for their 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils. That would completely set this product apart from other pressed glitter shadows.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Aesthetic Appeal: I find these eyeshadows to be absolutely gorgeous, which, to me, justifies the purchase.
• Shade Range: The color payoff is impressive and the range of neutral-toned glitter shades is decent.
• Quality Packaging and Formula: The high-quality packaging and formula add to the overall value of these eyeshadows.
• Longevity: Given that eyeshadows take a long time to expire, I see the 2-3 years of use as making the price point reasonable over time.
• Individual Purchase Option: I appreciate the option to buy individual shades. It feels more economical and sensible to me, especially compared to investing in a full palette and only liking a few shades.

Cons:

• Price: I find the price a bit high for a single eyeshadow, which might deter the average buyer.
• Limited Daily Use: These aren’t products I would reach for every day or for every client, which may affect the perceived value.
• Preference for Full Palettes: Some might prefer the variety offered by an 8-pan or 12+ pan palette, though personally, I value the individual purchase option.

Alternatives to Try:

Speaking of other pressed glitter shadows, there are quite a few dupes for the 8 shades that Urban Decay sells. Currently, I only own two of them in the popular shade “Space Cowboy” and “Lithium.”

Therefore, the leading brands I am going to recommend and am personally familiar with are:

• Colourpop Supershock Eyeshadow ($7)
• Sephora Collection Colorful Metal Effect Eyeshadow ($10)
• Sephora Collection Colorful Glitter Eyeshadow ($10).

Colourpop Supershock Eyeshadows are the most affordable dupe and have a buttery soft feel similar to the UD Moondust. Some are more sparkly than others, but overall, they make an excellent alternative for the same key features mentioned above for the UD Moondust. They have a great color payoff and are very pigmented as well.

Sephora Collection is slightly higher in cost but still relatively affordable compared to the UD Moondust. The shade “Twinkle Twinkle” compares to the shade Space Cowboy and is comparable in overall tone, pigment, and sparkle.

These do have a bit more fallout, but that is to be expected from a cheaper version. Also, these are quite fragile because of the cheaper packaging. So, you will need to be extra careful with toting these around.

FAQs

Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow Review: Conclusion

If you’re anything like me and are attempting to do your part to be less wasteful, are trying to be a minimalist and have a love-hate relationship with glitter, then this is the right product for you.

If you’re still in a space where you’re experimenting with your everyday makeup look and have a maximalist approach to life, these are still a great option for you. However, I’d recommend you try the UD Moondust Palettes they offer. You will have the ability to play with more shades and tones, still save some money, and get the versatility of these multi-use eyeshadows.

I want to add more of these to my kit. They can be the extra pop or sparkle to an eye without being too much, and I can always intensify it if a client is really feeling it.

As I mentioned before, glitter can be very difficult to apply and can leave a mess everywhere. For that reason alone, plus the beautiful, sturdy packaging, I would purchase more of them. If you plan to keep them in a stationary place, one of the dupes I mentioned could be a better option.

Just be aware that they won’t travel as well and may shatter or break a lot easier.

So I’m curious to hear from you! Are single eyeshadows still worth it to you? Are you a palette girlie? Have other dupes you’d like to share or options you may want me to try for you? I want to hear your thoughts. Feel free to email me at [email protected], and let’s discuss!

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