Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Review & Swatches
Oh yes, I am quite excited about the Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Eyeshadow Palette that’s an all new selection of all matte, naked eyeshadow shades. The Naked Ultimate Basics Palette arrives at us this September along with the rest of the Urban Decay Holiday 2016 Collection. I know, I can’t believe we’re talking Holiday either but I think the good news about this particular palette is it contains a selection of shades that transcend any one season. It’s packed to the gills with shades you’ll likely use daily for work friendly looks or even sultry evening looks when a little eyeliner and a few layers of mascara are applied.
Take the jump for my review and swatches.
The Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette arrives in plastic rose gold compact with a burst design that displays Urban Decay’s logo. Inside you’ll find a very generously sized mirror along with a double-ended brush for application. One side of the brush has a soft, densely packed eyeshadow brush you can use to layer eyeshadow on lids and the other side holds a shorter bristled smaller head which doubles up as either an eyeliner brush or can be used to soft diffuse shadow on your lower or upper lash line. Some people might miss the fact that this includes a blending side but I didn’t mind much so, don’t forget to BYOBB (bring your own blending brush). I like the packaging a lot as I’m particular to the customary “naked” shade that Urban Decay uses in their Naked Collection products. It’s a cross between a rose gold and a rose beige gold that’s very pretty! Someone needs to create a sparkly eyeshadow in this shade. The palette is light, travel-friendly, and should store easily enough as it is a little bit smaller than your average CD case. It holds a total of 12 eyeshadows which are 0.04 oz in size each.
Shades:
- Blow (Light Nude Demi-Matte)
- Nude (Soft Pink Nude Matte)
- Commando (Light Taupe Brown Matte)
- Tempted (Pale Brown Matte)
- Instinct (Medium Pink Taupe Matte)
- Lethal (Reddish Brown Matte)
- Pre-Game (Pale Yellow Matte)
- Extra Bitter (Burnt Orange Matte)
- Faith (Medium Warm Brown Matte)
- Lockout (Rich Neutral Brown Matte)
- Magnet (Smoky Gray Matte)
- Blackjack (Warm Black Matte)
I think it’s debating whether this palette has an assortment of brand new shades. Every single shade is brand new and exclusive to this palette according to Urban Decay but if you own Naked Basics, Naked Basics 2, and an assortment of the other Naked Palettes you’re bound to come across shades that look alike. According to their press statement the shades are “completely different from the shades in Naked Basics and Naked2 Basics”. I agree with that but they are variations of shades we’ve seen before and in some cases people might feel they are look a lot alike once applied on lids. So, it may or may not be a deal breaker for you when heading in for a purchase.
This palette contains a selection of both warm and cooler nudes. Some shades are going to play particularly nicely with darker skin tones and may come across a bit chalky or pasty. For example, Blow, Nude, Commando, Tempted, and Pre-Game, are just a few shades that come across as being a little too sheer for darker skin tones. I don’t think the shades are universally flattering to all skin tones but should fit in well with fair to medium tones. Darker tones might struggle a little some of the lighter shades. I happen to fit into the medium fair zone myself so many of the shades worked for me but some of the lighter ones we’re best used as highlighters or transitional colors.
One thing I did take note of was the fact that this palette was a bit deeper and richer in the shade selection range. I think Naked Basics 1 and 2 were very light and sheerer shades where as Naked Ultimate Basics touches on deeper shades of brown, orange, plum, and even purple. One of the fantastic things about the palette is there’s a good deal of variety here to create simple neutral eye looks, natural smokier ones, and even a plummy pink smoked out eye. It seems like a basic and simple range of colors but in reality Urban Decay has given you a selection of shades that are very .
Like many of Urban Decay’s matte shades these are dense without a ton of powdery kick up. Although dense the formula blends very well and looks smooth and even on lids. I personally like silkier mattes that are a bit softer in texture but I actually use my Basics Palettes quite often and never have issues blending or creating looks with the denser shadow range. One thing to note is they swatch very sheer and look very dry on my wrist but they actually apply considerably better. For those curious where this is made, it says that the palette is made in the USA and the brush is made in China.
It’s weird but I’ve come to appreciate mattes as I’ve gotten older and the Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette has a nice range of shades I can see myself using daily to create looks. It’s a palette that’s perfectly work friendly but can certainly be used to create sultry evening looks as well. If you’re a matte lover I think picking it up will prove a no brainer.
The Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette arrives this September at Sephora, Sephora.com, Ulta, Ulta.com, and urbandecay.com.
Will you be indulging?