Urban Decay NAKED Palette!!!

Yes, I caved. Yes, I had to make it mine. Yes, it's worth every penny!

What is there to say about this palette that hasn't already been said?? Urban Decay came out with their Naked palette this summer, and it was an instant hit amongst all make-up lovers, blogs, and youtube videos alike. Even though this is a permanent item, it sold out quickly...and is still apparently difficult to get a hold of? I know that when I first started to become interested in it a few weeks ago, I checked every Sephora within my area, and none of them had it in stock. The palettes are even sold out online! I just went to Sephora again yesterday, and yup, still out of stock.

Coincidentally, I happened to stop by my nearest Ulta for the first time a few weeks ago and came across an Urban Decay display. Lo and behold! THREE Naked palettes left! I grabbed one for myself, and notified my friends who have also been looking for it. Unfortunately, I must have gotten lucky that day because by the time one of them got there, they were all sold out--and still are. I checked the Ulta again yesterday, too. Lol.

I've been putting off this review for as long as I have because I didn't want to swatch the colors. Does anyone feel this way?? Whenever I have a pretty palette, I take the longest time to use it because I don't want to disturb its original state!


So for the past, oh, 3 weeks?...my Naked palette has been in its plastic package, only taken out occasionally for me to admire but not use. :P

And admire it I have. This is the most sophisticated-looking palette that Urban Decay has put out to date. It looks very sleek with its brown velvet-feeling cover and gold font. It just feels and looks very luxe and elegant!


The description on the back


The set comes with the actual eyeshadow palette and UD's cult favorite Eyeshadow Primer Potion on the side


Isn't the mini bottle absolutely adorable??


Typical Primer Potion wand

And now, the moment of truth....


...The inside!!!


Left side of the palette


Right side~

Now for the swatches! I hesitated a bit before I dipped my finger into the shadows, but now that I have, I can't wait to start using them!

I'm sure you've already read a lot about this palette on other blogs, so I'll keep it short and sweet. Like always, Urban Decay eyeshadows didn't fail me. The colors are rich, pigmented, blend well, and are extremely wearable. I really really love this palette, even though they're all neutrals, because it's something that I'll actually use. Usually their other palettes have bright colors that I wouldn't use, but I see myself utilizing every shade in this palette for both day and night time looks. The palette is both office-appropriate and, with a little more shadow packed on, good for a night on the town.

Look!

From left to right: Virgin (nude satin), Sin (champagne shimmer), Naked (buff matte), Sidecar (beige sparkle), Buck (brown matte), Half Baked (bronze).


Smog (golden brown shimmer), Darkhorse (bronze-plum shimmer), Toasted (taupe-bronze), Hustle (mocha shimmer), Creep (near-black metallic, Gunmetal (dark gray metallic).


The set also comes with a dual-sided 24/7 liner in Zero (black) and Whiskey (reddish-brown; this is a new shade). Urban Decay's liners are great (wide range of color choices, good opacity and staying power), so I was happy to have this included.


The shade that's in almost everyyyy Urban Decay palette. It's ok, but I prefer my Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes.


This is Whiskey. I have a 24/7 liner in Bourbon, which is a more cool-toned brown with sparkle. I think I like Bourbon more.


Swatches of Zero and Whiskey


Swatch arm :P

There's no denying it, this is quite possibly my favorite palette that I own. For once, the product is worthy of its hype. Good thing it's a permanent item! Urban Decay, you need to hurry up and ship out more of these babies. The people are waiting!

And while you're doing that, do you think you could ship out a couple hundred more Alice in Wonderland palettes too?? :)

Brown Smokey Eyes

Here's a look I did for a night out with my girls. I made my eyes the main focus and kept the rest of the face pretty bare, with a light gloss and some bronzer/highlighter. I'm not a very experimental person when it comes to my eyeshadow (instead, I venture outside of my comfort zone with lip and blush color); I tend to stick with browns and greys, but hopefully that will change the more I blog! For now, here's a little something something ;)

I started by moisturizing my face with Philosophy Hope in a Jar (my new favorite!), priming with Make Up For Ever HD Primer, and concealing small spots with Laura Mercier Undercover Pot number 2

Although I love this MUFE lavendar primer, I find that it works best with my skin in the winter, when I'm a little paler so my face matches the rest of my body. However, there's no denying that it does its job of brightening my skin!

Used my favorite powder foundation, Laura Mercier Mineral Powder SPF 15 in Real Sand, then set everything with Guerlain Meteorites in Mythic 01

Prime eyes with Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, then put on Paul and Joe Eye Gloss in 05 on the eyelid, just up to the crease, then blend well

I used Dior 2-Colour Eyeshadow in 565 Nude Look this time. It includes a matte reddish-brown and a beige golden shimmer

Put on eyeshadow just up to the crease, then blend blend blend, concentrating on the outer corners. Keep repeating and building up color until it's the shade that you desire

Tightline and line eyes with MUFE Aqua Eyes liner in 0L

Using black liquid liner, draw a slightly winged line, flicking it up gently at the end. Not going for a cat eye here, just very subtle slant

This is what it looked like for me. You could continue adding more of the matte brown shadow if you want to go darker. I also used the shimmery shade on the inner corner of my eye and also on the browbone

Time for falsies! I used Revlon Fantasy Lengths in 91002 Intensifying. Cut to fit your eye length, then follow the directions included in the box to put them on :)

I'm actually a newbie at the whole false lash thing, so it took me a while to get this part right :x

Curl lashes to make your real lashes blend in with the falsies, apply a layer of mascara (I used Diorshow Iconic Extreme Waterproof), then darkened my brows with Bare Escentuals brow powder in Brunette. I also lined my bottom lash line with brown pencil, used the brown shadow to smoke it out, and used the shimmery shade to line the inner bottom lash line and dabbed some on the inner corner of my eye (not pictured here)

Contoured with Dior bronzer in 001 Healthy Tan, highlighted with Mac Mineralized Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle, and made my lips shiny with NARS lipgloss in Orgasm

Ta-da! (again :P)

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Now, for the outfit!

Sequined top from H&M

Belt from....I don't remember where

Studded leather cuff and leggings from Forever 21 (LOVE that cuff!)

Heels from BCBG

Full outfit in front of my parents' (kinda dirty) mirror again. Mostly black with a pop of white and plenty of gold, haha

That's it! :)