Naked 2 Palette Review

 

The first step is admitting I have a problem

Ok, I confess.  I love Urban Decay eye shadows.  Having had an exceptionally phenomenal birthday in November, I also happen to be rolling in them.  Now that I have had time to try it out, here is my overview and swatch fest on my long coveted Naked 2 palette:

 Ugg, just look at that shiny beast.  The metal shell is bulky but durable.  It doesn't show fingerprints or make up smudges easily.  I especially like that for this palette as it adds to the aura of simplicity it exudes.  Also, I am a greasy slob.

 

Aww yeah, just look at that line up.  Everything matches everything else.  You can literally get halfway into an elaborate eye look, get bored and go watch TV and you would still look like a million bucks.  There is no point during application at which these do not look amazing.

There are three mattes and 9 fabulous shimmers & glitters.  Two of the mattes are a bust for me (Foxy, a no show with my coloring, and Blackout, which I just do not use).  That is why I love the all matte Naked Basics palette in combination with this one so much.

So much lovely shiny!  Starting from the invisible left, we have Foxy, a ninja matte that you can't actually see in the swatch, Half Baked - a glorious shimmer, BootyCall - a nice peachy sheen, Chopper - glitter city, Tease - a fantastic matte that I use as a base, and Snakebite - a dark shimmer perfect for smokey looks.

And for the second half we have Suspect - a basic, shimmery brown, Pistol - a grey shimmer that is a fantastic addition for those days when the brown shades start to grate on the nerves a bit, Verve - a perfect shimmery match for Pistol, YDK - exceptionally pretty mega glitter mauve, Busted - super dark smokey brown, and Blackout - ultra mega black matte.

I use these over a NYX primer, and they last all day with no creasing.  This is a pricey item at $50, although a good overall value vs buying independent colors (12 very usable shadows at $18 regular price = $216).  While I highly recommend this, anyone on a budget may want to stalk UD, Ulta & Sephora for Friends and Family 20% off sales to snag it for $40.  It may be a long wait, but this is part of Urban Decays permanent line up.  Very much worth the wait, and if I were to rate this, it would be a 10/10.

Beauty News 12/16/12

Good things come to those who wait

It looks like Naked Basics is launching early in stores.  Originally slated for February release, my local Ulta already has them on the shelf - great news for those who want to check out the colors in person first.  Also good news for those with a coveted 20% off Ulta coupon.  Yes, I am kicking myself right now.

Who doesn't like famous people?

Drew Barrymore is launching a cosmetic line called Flower in the spring of 2013.  This will be available exclusively at Walmart stores.  The idea is that the money saved not getting a bunch of stores on board will be spent on providing high quality products at affordable prices. Hopefully my Walmart will have something on the shelf that hasn't been heavily used, spilled, misplaced and generally destroyed, as I would love to try some of this out.

No. More. Polish...

For a very limited time Julep is offering a mystery box to Julep Mavens for $19.99, with an alleged value of at least $100.  That looks to be quite a bit higher than their usual special offerings.  One lucky Maven will even win an iPad mini.  With their 2012 first-box-for-a-penny code expiring soon, now is a great time to join.  The code is PENNY2012 (note, the code is only for the intro box, you would have to order the mystery box separately - but for $20 even you could end up with and awful lot of really great polish).  Dude, I want that ipad mini so. stinking. bad...

Best News Ever

Sunday night animation domination is not cancelled for a dumb sport game this week!  And new episodes!!!

NAKED BASICS by Urban Decay

Shut the front door, it's Naked Basics by Urban Decay!

 

This is Urban Decays newest offering in their Naked eyeshadow palette line.  Starting from the left, there is one Satin finish (Venus), and then there are 5 Matte finish shades (Foxy, Walk of Shame, Naked 2, Faint and Crave). 

Please excuse the messy look, my cat just strolled right over the whole thing with disdain.  She has no regard for quality cosmetics, the fuzzy little jerk.

You may notice this palette is primarily very light shades, and not all of the colors may work for you.  It turns out I am Foxy colored, and this shade is useless on me.  Although if UD wants to release a Foxy foundation, I will be all over it.

Swatch time!  The shimmery brown on top is UD's eye shadow pencil in Rehab, which I find complements this palette really nicely.  Crave and Faint are right below that, with Venus, Foxy, W.O.S. and Naked 2 on the bottom row.

I have been testing these out for 4 days now, and I find the quality and pigmentation is absolutely perfect.  I use these with a NYX eye primer, and once had minimal creasing on one eye after 12-14 hours of wear. I use and love Venus, Naked 2, Faint and Crave the most.

I do not use this palette on its own, I find an all matte look a bit chalky on me when I use multiple colors.  For a single color, natural look I would grab this in a heartbeat and slap on some Naked 2.  I find it best to pair this with a bit of shimmer, and it is a perfect companion to my very shimmery Naked 2 palette.

At $27 this is an amazing value.  UD eyeshadow singles are $18/ea, so even if you only like 2 colors it is a good deal.  I very highly recommend this pallet for easy, natural looks.  You can find it online now at Urban Decay, Sephora and Ulta, and in stores in February.

Ipsy December 2012

In addition to Birchbox, Ipsy was delivered yesterday.  This month they have a rather spectacular anniversary bag filled with really usable products.  It includes items from my two favorite brands, Urban Decay and NYX.

The bag has a bit of a barrel shape, which is a nice change of pace. The picture came out a bit dark, but it is a nice, shiny grey.


1. Might as well mention the epic item right off the bat, this bag contained an Urban Decay travel size 24/7 liner in zero.  I have really wanted one of these for a long time, but the regular full size retail is around $19.  For eyeliner.  Really. I did try it out, and it glides right on like a dream and sets quickly.

2. I also tried the NYX ultra pearl mania powder in sky pink pearl.  This is a beautiful color, and when I managed to get it all over my table I had to admit it the table had never looked better.  Unfortunately it is much to messy for me to use on a regular basis.

3. The Mirabella Primer is a full size product, with a $29 value.  I am really excited about trying it out.  I have used it... On my arm. I will need to maybe put it on my actual face before I form an opinion.

4. The Bombshell lip gloss in Hot Mess is a fantastic color - not nearly as scary red as it looks in the tube.  It wears very well throughout the day.  I reapplied once after lunch.  By the end of the day I  did notice slight feathering, but nothing noticeable without extreme scrutiny.

5. And that brings me to... The weird highlighter papers.  They are weird.  Fun though!  And there is a little diagram on where to use them in the back of the booklet.  Apparently, cleavage highlighting is a thing now.  Who knew?   The color (St. Barts) is a bit orange on my pasty skin, but it will make for a nice blush, especially in the summer with bit more color in my face.

In conclusion, unusually amazing bag!  It is special though, I wouldn't use this bag as the bar to set my expectations too. 

Edited to mention - Ipsy is $10/month, including shipping.  You can sign up at ipsy.com.

Birchbox December 2012

I must have won the beauty subscription service lotto today as both my BirchBox and Ipsy bag have been delivered early.  Birchbox is my favorite sub service - it provides the best variety of product types and is only $10 a month with shipping included.  They do ship using a service that is directly comparable to delivery via three-toed sloth, however it is worth the wait.

This month I received:

1. A nail file.  But you know, a fancy brand nail file.  Ok, so not a lot of wow factor, but it's a nice size to toss in my purse.  It can give me something to do while they are dragging the lake...
2. Juicy Couture perfume sample.  I really love Juicy Couture scents, and I don't wear a lot of perfume so this sample size is perfect for me. It has a spray top that shoots out like llama spit, which I prefer to the pour cap style.
3. No 4 Clarifying shampoo in a really nice deluxe sample size, 1.75 oz.  Really looking forward to trying this out.  I have no shampoo jokes to add.  I will work on that.
4. The Balms Hot Mama! eyeshadow/blush.  This is a really great brand, and I am loving the color and texture.  It is a peachy color with this amazing sheen to it.  The sample has a little magnetic closure, making this very purse friendly. 
5. And lastly Mox Botanicals lip butter.  This actually smells really interesting - it's pomegranate & fig.  It's a great texture, and I dabbed a touch of the Hot Mama! blush over the top, which gave my lips a really pretty sheen without the weight of lipstick or gloss.

This isn't really a sample, however there is also a coupon included in the box for $50 off rented evening wear from Rent The Runway.  Seems like a great concept for people that attend a whole lot of fancy parties, and don't want to wear the same dress over and over.

I really like this months Birchbox.  I subscribed in October, and have had really good luck so far.  The products are not always as glamorous on the surface compared to other sub boxes, but I really like the range of products, and the quality is always really nice.  The products tend to be quite expensive to purchase full size.  Fortunately, they have a really great point system for reviewing the products received.  Each box is worth around $5 in reviews, and the points can be redeemed in their online store.  Check them out at birchbox.com if you're interested. 

Starlooks Starbox December 2012

My Starlooks Starbox came in the mail today, and as always it did not disappoint.  This months box is a beautiful pink/mauve color, and it's a perfect size to reuse for Christmas gifts.

This month features a 15 shade eyeshadow palette in bold colors.  I love how Starlooks sends very usable products that are just a touch on the edgy and unique side.  It really makes them stand out as a beauty subscription service.

I did a quick set of swatches over a primer.  Most of the colors came out loud and clear with a single swipe, and there is a good mix of mattes and shimmers.  I have already slapped a few of the colors on my eyelids, and the yellow on the far right had some fall out.  It is worth working with as a color, it just requires a bit less haphazard slapping and a bit more patting. I also tried the two darker of the three greens, and did not notice any fall out despite my complete lack of regard for the delicate artistry of the eye make up process.

Overall if I were to rate this box, and pfft who's going to stop me, I would give it a 9 of 10. Two or three of the colors were slightly less pigmented, and despite the amazing value of the box I am bumping a half point for it.  The other half point is for the absolute mess that needed cleaning up from the glittery confetti that came in the box.  Don't get me wrong, it was gorgeous, I loved it, and I am glad they added the festive touch for the holidays.  I just wish I wasn't the one that had to clean the sparkles off of my table after I opened the box =)

Starlooks Starbox is a monthly beauty subscription service that sends 3-4 full size make up items from their own line.  The cost is $15/month, plus about $2 shipping in the US.  International shipping is available, but is subject to different shipping costs, and I believe you have to call to sign up internationally.  They do sell past boxes until they are out of stock at $25/ea, which is a great way to check them out before committing.  They are easy to find - just head on over to Starlooks.com