Review; Urban Decay Naked Palette

Urban Decay Naked palette



I don't normally wear neutrals, but since work has a "minimal or subtle" make-up rule now I have started to dabble, as normally I like brighter colours. This palette I absolutely fanatastic, I don't even know where to start. I suppose the bottom line is that it has made the Too Faced Natural eye kit & Too Faced Smoky eye kit obsolete. This one palette can do both neutral and smoky so it is less bulk to carry, and I find that the quality of these shadows are a little better quality. I also like how there are a mix of neutral colours, some more pink, gold, bronze or just pure brown-y colours, so you can do many different neutral looks. There are also the black and silver for smoky eyes.

I had a few complaints with the NYC BoS III (although in general I liked it) due to lack of textures, the bulky box and the OTT packaging (though I do love the artistry of the pop up, just not the LEDs bulking it out.) This naked palette eradicates all of these complaints. It has a mix of textures, matte, some with minimal shimmer, ones that are a bit more shimmery, no matter what texture you prefer there will be something there for you. It is a much more sleek box, yet it only has 4 fewer colours, although in saying that the 12 colours it has are bigger in quantity. It still has the mirror, and the two 24/7 eyeliners still, so it hasn't really compromised on the content to get slimmed down! It is a very simple but well packaged palette, which is a lot more suitable for travel then the BoS' that they produce. The drawback of this palette, which is both a pro & a con is the velvety feel of the box. Yes it is lovely and soft, and when it is in the purple velvety mould it just oozes luxury (especially with the gold lettering). However at the same time it is just asking to get dirty with foundation and eyeshadow, and it would be hella difficult to get it out! Also at the end of the day all these palettes are cardboard and paper, so they will be bound to get a little dog-eared.

This also has the same benefit as the BoS III as it also has exclusive limited edition colours in the palette, which in this case are Virgin, Buck, Darkhorse and two others which I forgot, so I apologise!

If you are more interested in shaking up a smoky eye then keeping it neutral, you may be glad to see the new palette they are bringing out, it's called the black palette, take a look!

I know I will be getting my mitts on it when it arrives in the UK!

Review; Urban Decay NYC Book of Shadows vol.III Bordello

Bordello (Limited Edition NYC BoS shade!)



This shade is a purple more on the pink side in the pan, it appears to be more of a shimmer, however when applied it goes on an almost nude light purple, it isn't a strong colour on the lid. It also has quite a bit of glitter as I experienced some fall out which I find standard for glitter Urban Decay shadows, and this to me is a negative, noone likes glitter that isn't supposed to be there all over their face. The colour is unusual and very nice, if it wasn't for the glitter I'd say it would be very work safe as it doesn't stand out a whole lot, but it adds a bit of colour.


I used the purple 24/7 liner "Ransom" that came with the palette for the waterline and lower lashline.

Too Faced Natural Eye Kit "Classic Look"

Too faced Natural Eye, Neutral Eye Shadow Collection.


Classic Look




These colours were so much easier to use then the mattes from the day look, though I really don't like the colour going to the brow bone, as I have mentioned before, I feel like a clown wearing it as it seems so OTT to me. The colours are very soft and pigmented, but not so powdery that they go all over your face, and they were very easy to use to do the look. The colours are also very different in shade unlike the mattes so it is so much easier to blend, and the colours compliment each other so well. I would definitely use these colours again, maybe even on their own, I really like silk teddy on the lid as it is a more pink champagne colour when you pack it on, but I would also do the neutral eye again as well.

The colours are gorgeous and this look reminds me of the Georgio Armani Prive Autumn/Winter 2010-11 make-up (though a considerably toned down version).

Review; Too Faced Natural Eye Kit "Day Look"

Too faced Natural Eye, Neutral Eye Shadow Collection.


Day look;


I am no good with mattes anyway, however I found this particularly hard to work with, mainly because of the matte finish, but also because Heaven and Velvet Revolver go on so similar in colour that it is difficult to see the difference between them when on the eye, so it looks like you are only wearing 2 colours. I tried to do the look on the card but 1) I hate putting eyeshadow up to the brow bone as it makes me look like a clown and 2) the last colour sexpresso wasn’t pigmented enough or easy enough to use to be able to line the eyes with it, I tried but it just went on too light! I like the effect it gave my eye, and I like the neutral look and how wearable this is, but the shadows were just so difficult to work with and similar in colour for me to try it again and practice with it. I think I will give up and move on, or mix up the shadows a little!