Rant: Urban Decay Naked Line

Oh my god. I know I've talked about it before but I absolutely hate the Urban Decay Naked obsession. Now the Naked Smokey has come out and I'm (metaphorically) slamming my head into my vanity.

Seriously??? SERIOUSLY?!?! Another Naked palette. Does anyone else remember when Urban Decay was a makeup company that provided makeup to a more alternative clientele. I understand the need to branch out, really, I do. But in that they seem to have left their old customers behind.




Despite still using the tagline "beauty with an edge", there's such an obvious lack of "edge" in the new line of products. Almost everything in the past year or so sporting the name "Naked".

With the launch of the Revolution High-Colour lipgloss and Afterglow 8 Hour Powder Blush I thought that the company was starting to (re)broaden their horizons. I was let down of course when the Naked Smokey launched.

Please can we go back to the Urban Decay of the past, when palette's like the Deluxe shadow box, Fun palette, and Bamboo palette existed. To those of you insisting that you need to own four different palettes with muted nudes, great, you have it.

I can even appreciate the variety of nudes. It's a type of all inclusive collection that a lot of brands lack. What I don't appreciate is the complete focus on this line.

Urban Decay, please take a minute to look at a different business model. Too Faced cosmetics has become pretty much known for the Cocoa collection. And they do frequently release new products to that line. But at the same time, Too Faced is still releasing some very exciting Limited Edition products (Color Pop palette), new innovative products to their permanent line (Born This Way foundation), and spins on their old products (Metallic Melted Lipstick). As much as I used to ADORE Urban Decay, I've found myself drifting to other lines like Kat Von D, Too Faced, and even drugstore brands like Maybelline and Covergirl to get the kind of variety in makeup I've been looking for.

What are you thoughts? Are you getting fed up with the Naked obsession like me? Or are you a faithful lover of the endless neutral trend.

My Shameless Obsession With Urban Decay: The Naked Palette

Today's in depth discussion and review is on the Naked palette.

Which I've discussed already, so to be honest I'm not super excited to be doing it. But a promise is a promise so a review is going to happen. Let's jump right in (this was another one that was gifted to me)!

The Naked Palette

Year Sold- Still available for purchase

Year Received- 2014

What the brand new palette looked like.

Packaging- I have to say while I like the size of this palette I do not like the material on the outside. It's an odd velvet type fabric, and I feel like it just picks up and keeps any extra product that may be in your makeup bag. I've seen it where other bloggers have it and the gold of the letters has worn off and honestly while it is a very versatile palette, the outside is just... inconvenient. If it weren't for the fact that part of having an Urban Decay collection is the packaging (well in my opinion), I'd definitely depot this palette.

Swatches and Color Reviews!

(From left to right) Sin, Virgin, Naked, Sidecar.
All swatches without primer.

Sin- Definitely the best under brow bone color.

 Some people might say Virgin is best for that but I prefer

 one without so much shimmer. Sin is a very pretty peach 

color with a slightly more matte than Virgin finish.

Virgin- This wants to be my favorite color. 

It's a light pink and you will find out that I am

kinda obsessed with light pink eye shadow.

It has a very shimmery finish, but unfortunately on 

my eyes none of the pink comes out, just the shimmer.

I've tried layering it over a white base but I just

find it makes it look a little cakey.

Naked- The most versatile color in this dang palette. 

This is the perfect natural color for me. I like

to put Naked all over the lid and Buck in the

crease for a "no makeup" makeup look.

Sidecar- Sparkles! Oh the sparkles! This is one

 of the shimmery colors that I actually enjoy wearing.

I don't mess around with the darker colors in the palette really

but this is an almost pink based neutral with some shimmer

and I love it.

(From left to right) Buck, Half Baked, Smog, Dark Horse, Toasted.
 All swatches done without primer

Buck- Second most versatile color. Chocolate brown.

It's a great crease color and lovely matte.

Half Baked- You know what? Everyone is insanely obsessed

with this color and I am not that impressed. Its

a really yellow gold which is not my color which 

probably explains my lack of enthusiasm.

Smog- Dark brown with gold shimmer/duochrome. 

It's a more unique color from this palette and while very

pretty, more on the warm side. 

Dark Horse- I went to write this and all I could

think about was the stupid song. This is a 

pretty color with a matte base and gold glitters in it.

I like to use this color as a liner (wet with half a drop
of eye solution).

Toasted- I spent a good week doing a look that
heavily used this color. If you know me, that's
a big deal because I see everyday as an
opportunity to try something new. This
is a very shimmer pinky bronze shade.

(From right to left) Hustle, Creep, Gunmetal.
All swatches done without primer.

Hustle- A more cool toned brown for this palette.

It has some shimmer but not straight up glitter.

I can't remember actively deciding to use this

color, though I have probably used it on my lower

lash line.

Creep- Yeah I've never used this color on myself.

It's a shimmery "black" which really only comes off

as a grey. Overall it's not very exciting and I will

always choose a matte black over a shimmer wanna-be black.

Gunmetal- Another color I've never used on myself. 

Metallic/shimmery dark greys never really inspired me

much so I don't ever reach for it. I just find it to be

a blah color.

Over all is this a "holy grail" palette? Yes. Does that make me super excited about owning it? Not really. Since my cannon ball into the beauty world I've found I prefer a wider array of options than just neutrals, and am more likely to use this palette in combination with another than just it on its own (though it is absolutely possible to do that no problem).

Disclaimer: I really wish Urban Decay were sponsoring this post but alas they are not. I'm just a girl with an obsession.