Urban Decay's Glittering "Stardust" Eye Shadows

Beauty from Urban Decay is beauty with an edge; the name alone should give that away. But with its range of products, one of the largest of any brands, Urban Decay is a must-have for true beauty divas. Love the trendy names (like the lipstick, "Oil Slick"), love the highly pigmented color and the variety of types of eye shadows, lip colors, and foundations - not to mention the rainbow of color, and you'll end up loving the brand. These products allow every woman to be an individual, and to make a personal statement about her beauty styles.

If glitter and glam is your statement, then Urban Decay has the eye shadows and mascara for you. Many of the shadows have glitter, but none has more than the Stardust shadows ($20 each), with 40% more glitter than their next-sparkliest type! This glitter isn't going to fall off your eyes and onto your cheeks, though; the "Reflecks" and "Mirage Glamour" are very tiny bits of sparkle that turn the Stardust shadows into a wash of color that shines like new-fallen snow. There are 9 shades, ranging from neutrals like "Space Cowboy" (the champagne tone in the photo) to glam colors like "Griffith" (the green in the photo). Other shades include gray, black, brown, purple, and turquoise, each with a distinctive name. They go on like silk and stay put for a night on the town. Add Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On eye liner pencils, many of which also sparkle, or mix Stardust with other Urban Decay shadows, and you'll find a look that is all yours.

If you dare, finish off your eye make-up with Urban Decay's Heavy Metal Glitter Liner (see photo). Although it's not for everyone, and definitely a bold "night-on-the-town" sparkling liner, it might just make you a fashion icon!

A word of warning, though. The April 2010 issue of "Allure" magazine warns that women over 40 (or maybe that should be women who look like they're over 40?) should avoid sparkly, metallic, and frosted shadows. This type of shadow, says Allure, looks too harsh on us older women, and they highlight those fine lines that we wish would just go away. They tell us to "look for shadows that have a subtle sheen... not a full-on sparkle fest."

Lee says: If you love them, and don't care what other people will say (probably behind your back anyway), then go for the sparkle, and be who you are. Age happens to everyone, and we don't need to let it make us be people we aren't!

(Sources: Allure Magazine, April 2010; http://www.sephora.com/browse/brand_hierarchy.jhtml?brandId=Urban+Decay , http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P254101&categoryId=C10461 )