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Urban Decay Holiday 2013 – Blackheart and Zodiac Nail Polish

By on December 11, 2013
in Brown, Duochrome, Green, Holiday 2013, Urban Decay
Urban Decay Holiday 2013 - Blackheart and Zodiac nail polish

Urban Decay Holiday 2013

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I really have to applaud Urban Decay’s current approach to nail polish. When they relaunched the nail line, they decided on a less is more concept. Instead of overwhelming us with color, they are only releasing two shades per season and it’s really working well. I would much rather have two knockout, well-made polishes than a large collection that includes a few unique shades and a lot of dupes or recycled colors.

Just as I was head over heels for the Urban Decay Fall 2013 nail polish shades, the Urban Decay Holiday 2013 nail polishes have captured my heart as well. Like I seriously never want to take off Zodiac. Which is saying a lot!

Formula & Application:

Urban Decay nail polish is 5-Free (Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP, Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor). The weighty, round glass bottles are topped with a chrome cap with the brand name embossed on the side and a raised skull on top.

The brush is round, thick and dense with firm bristles. Due to number of bristles, it picks up a lot of polish and does fan out some on the nail. I found the brush to be easy to control, making precise, even polish placement a breeze.

Urban Decay nail polish brush

Urban Decay nail polish brush

Even though they have different finishes, both shades have excellent pigmentation. I only needed two coats with each to achieve full coverage.

Urban Decay Blackheart has a warm, dark brown base. It’s filled with red grape and gold shimmer that creates a shade shifting duo-chrome effect, transitioning from aubergine to chocolate brown to a golden green. The shimmer is fine, creating a lot of depth and interest. It’s a totally unique shade to my collection so I have nothing to compare it to.

Urban Decay Blackheart nail polish from Holiday 2013

Urban Decay Blackheart

Urban Decay Blackheart nail polish from Holiday 2013

Urban Decay Blackheart

Urban Decay Blackheart nail polish from Holiday 2013

Urban Decay Blackheart

Urban Decay Zodiac is a blackened emerald green packed with tiny blue, gold, green and purple metallic flecks. The base is a bit jelly-ish and sheer but it builds very fast. Again, I have no shades that can match the intense richness and sparkle of this shade.

But Michelle, what about China Glaze Glittering Garland or Orly Meet Me Under The Mistletoe? Hey, I hear you, and they’re both much brighter without Zodiac’s glitter color diversity. Okay, but remember Sally Hansen Insta-Dri In A Flurry? It has a ton of multi-colored flecks. True, but In A Flurry is a blackened teal and has nothing on Zodiac’s pigmentation.

Urban Decay Zodiac nail polish from Holiday 2013

Urban Decay Zodiac

Urban Decay Zodiac nail polish from Holiday 2013

Urban Decay Zodiac

Urban Decay Holiday 2013 nail polish

Urban Decay Holiday 2013

Bottom Line: Considering how easy it is to capture Blackheart’s shade shifting on camera, only demonstrates how strong it is in person. It’s going to be one of those shades, like UD Cult or Toxin, that you will lament not getting when it’s gone. And Zodiac, well, I can’t sing its praises enough. The green lover in me can’t get over it’s gorgeousness and if you love green polish too, you’ll want to get on it!

Urban Decay Blackheart and Zodiac are available now in limited edition at UrbanDecay.com, Macys.comSephora.com and ULTA.com. Urban Decay nail polish retails for $15/ea for a .3oz (10ml) bottle.

Are you as over the moon for these new UD shades as I am? Which ones do you plan to snag? What current UD makeup colors would you love to see made into nail polish?

Disclosure: Product samples were provided by reps for Urban Decay. Affiliate links appear in this post. When you purchase through an affiliate link, you help support this site. For more info view my Disclosure Policy
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There Are 15 Brilliant Comments

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  1. Lorraine says:

    I’m happy that you found a polish that makes the green polish lover’s heart sing. I say, if it is a green polish that ALU’s Michelle is praising, it must be one worth considering. Plus, so festive for holiday. I have to admit, Blackheart’s duochrome has me more intrigued. Must check these 2 out.

  2. Phyrra says:

    Zodiac captured my heart. It’s amazing. Love it to bits. It’s definitely my favorite green polish because the blue and gold in it.

  3. Ava says:

    Zodiac really does look a LOT like butter Londons Jack the Lad to me,tough ;-) I would go as far as calling them dupes.

    • Michelle Mismas says:

      I can see why you’d say that Ava and it’s probably the closest match to Zodiac and I completely forgot about it. I swatched them side by side and Jack the Lad is less pigmented, a bit lighter, brighter and has larger flecks so the glitter is more pronounced. They’re both gorgeous but I prefer the formula and overall look of Zodiac.

      • Ava says:

        Funny,your post inspired me to put on Jack the Lad and in comparison to your pictures I can see that Zodiac looks more saturated. And right,there are no bigger flakies. But both gorgeous :-)

        • Stregalice says:

          Thanks for reminding me of Jack the Lad… Had it for ages and never got around to wear it until you mentioned it, now the hard decision if I should get Zodiac as well (have to order online, not chance to see it in person before purchasing :( )

  4. Miss Louise says:

    I think I’ve fallen in love with blackheart!

  5. Vanessa says:

    I am dead of beauty! Love love love Blackheart. How unusual and dynamic and just plain fabulous! I missed out on the gorgeous fall colors, so I have to snap this one up!

  6. moeysullivan says:

    I was kind of thinking Zodiac looked a bit like China Glaze Smoke and Ashes from the Hunger Games collection…

  7. Becky says:

    Is Blackheart close to Essie’s Sable Collar from its winter collection for this year?

  8. Suzanne says:

    Totally gravitating towards these colors this season. Just beautiful.

  9. Linda says:

    Wow! I’m impressed with both of these! Very different and I love both!

  10. hey hun just wanted to say i love your blog and i think the giveaways are awesome thank u for the chance

  11. Angie Lee says:

    Love the packaging and the colors look amazing. Can’t wait to get my hands on atleast one of them.

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