More than just Naked Palettes: Urban Decay Naked Blush & Bronzer & Highlighter & Lipgloss

Every month the Canadian Beauty Bloggers have a featured brand.  And every month, until this one, I have managed to *just* miss it.  But for Urban Decay?  Couldn't miss that for the world.  Now, coming up with what to post about Urban Decay was actually a bit of work, because I wanted to do something a little different than the standard Naked Palette post (which, spoiler alert: the palettes are ah-mazing and I literally own all five of them).  Other than eyeshadow, Urban Decay does in fact, make other things.  Two products from their Naked line that I adore are Naked Flushed in "Naked" and Naked Lipgloss in "Naked".  Each of these products come in a selection of colours, but I personally find these to be the most flattering on me.

Contents: Pretty Important Stuff (IPSY May 2015)

With the understanding that subscription boxes are always a bit hit & miss, I must say that IPSY has been constantly impressing me over the last few months.  Not only have the contents of the bag been great, but the bags themselves have been enjoyable to use.  While this month's contents were good...the bag?  The bag was great.  

New Product: Naked Basics 2

I remember when I was excited about Naked Basics and Naked 3 coming out...well not I have another beautiful matte neutral palette to put on my wish list!

Urban Decay has just announced their Naked Basics 2 palette.  Cooler in tone, and more taupe-brown based than Naked Basics, this is effectively what Naked 2 would be if it was mini and matte...which really is what they were probably aiming for.

Similar in size and packaging to Naked Basics, this new palette will contain 6 shades.

Photos from UrbanDecay.com

Naked Basics 2:

Skimp, Stark, Frisk, Cover, Primal, Undone

For Comparison

Naked Basics:

Venus, Foxy, W.O.S, Naked 2, Faint, Crave

I can't wait to get my hands on this product!  It looks lovely, and will compliment my collection of neutral palettes.  I have a bit of an Urban Decay Naked addiction, so without question I will be snapping up this as soon as it hits shelves.  I can't wait for Sephora to stock it!

Urban Decay Pulp Fiction

Urban Decay has recently launched a limited edition Pulp Fiction line in celebration of Urban Decay's 20th birthday.

The line includes a neutral eyeshadow palette ($41), a red lipstick ($26), a red lipliner ($24), a red nail polish ($18) and a glittery liquid eyeliner ($23).  It is available at Sephora in store and online.

Yesterday Sephora at the Eatons Centre had an Urban Decay event in store to promote the new line.  Sorry for the poor quality photos!

I was most interested in the eyeshadow palette and the liquid liner.  While I loved the quality and the look that the Pulp Fiction palette was able to create I was not convinced that it was significantly different from the other neutral palettes I own.

The palette has a pale pink, a matte warm brown, a shimmery darker warm brown, a shimmery white and a matte-ish black.  In general this palette runs warmer than the Naked Basics palette.  For a make-up fanatic, or a Pulp Fiction fan this palette is significantly different from Naked Basics to merit ownership.  However, the average person would manage just fine with one or the other.

I came very close to purchasing this palette.  However, I am convinced that I could create a similar look using Naked Basics with some help from the original Naked palette.  In addition, I don't love how big the palette is compared to how little eyeshadow there actually is.  If I bought it I would really want to depot it, which would defeat the purpose of purchasing a limited edition item.  I still want it, but I have made enough purchases for a while with the points promotion.  If this item is still around in September then I will make room for it in my collection.

I did however end up buying the glitter eyeliner.  It is a black and silver glitter held in a black gel.  Layered over top of black eyeliner it looks really sharp.  I think it is the perfect way to wear glitter on a daily basis.  Enough of a "pop" to be noticed but not so much that it looks childish.

Final verdict:  This is a great line of products.  If I had to choose this palette over Naked Basics I would choose the Pulp Fiction palette, but I do not think the average person needs both.  The lipstick, liner and nail polish are all nice, but not terribly unique.  For mr the real winter was the glitter eyeliner which I am delighted to have in my collection.

What do you think of the Pulp Fiction line?  Will you be picking anything up?

Ipsy: August 2014 Spoilers

I haven't even been home to open my July bag, and August spoilers are already on the way? Crazy!  I will be back home next Thursday and have been told that I literally have a pile of boxes waiting for me.  Can't wait to open them, enjoy them, and share them with you!

For my August bag I am hoping for some fun stuff.  In a dream world, the bag would be navy canvass with a rustic looking anchor or ship wheel, and the bag would be full of end of summer goodies that just border on the fall.

Wish List:

1. Perversion Mascara
2. Dr. Brandt Pore No More Pore Refiner
3. None.  But the Absolute New York You're the Balm in Grape looks like it is the least awful?
4. Glamglow
5. Maana Kadar Sheer Glow

My Anti-Wish List:

1. J Cat Flying Solo Eyeshadow (oh please no.  I have hated every J Cat product Ipsy has sent me)

2. Costa Scents Blush/Bronzer (Meh.  I already have more than enough of this stuff to keep me happy).

3. I don't want literally any of the lip balms.  

Interesting to Note:  The Dr. Brandt primer is found in both spoilers 2 and 4.

Spolier #1 - Urban Decay

I found this spoiler floating around the internet.  Ipsy subscribers will receive either Perversion Mascara or the 24/7 Glide on Velvet Eyeliner in a deep purple shade, Plushie.  My fingers are crossed for the mascara, but honestly, I would be happy with either.

Spoiler #2 Back To School

Best news ever.  This September is my very last "Back To School".  Graduation here I come!

Everybody will be getting one of these.

Dr. Brant Pore No More Pore Refiner (primer)

Lord and Black Black Eyeliner

Costal Scents Eyeshadow Quad (from Wineberry set)

Maana Kadar Sheer Glow

J Cat Flying Solo Eyeshadow (oh please no.)

Costa Scents Blush/Bronzer

I'm hoping for either the Dr. Brandt or the Manna Kadar product.

Spoiler #3 - Lipbalm

Everybody will be getting 1 of these 4 lip balms.

Jersey Shore Sun Monogongo Lip Balm
Bee All Natural Organic Grapefruit Lipbalm
Absolute New York You're the Balm in Green Apple or Grape

Ugh.  I wish IPSY would remember that most of their subscribers aren't 12.  I'm totally not pumped for any of these. BusyI guess the grape balm would be the least awful?  In all honesty this will either be included in my cousin's Christmas gift or donated to a shelter.

Spoiler #4 Beauty History

1. Dr Brandt Pore No More (also in spoiler 2)
2. Paula's Choice Skincare Clear Ultra-Light Daily Mattifying Fluid SPF 30+
3. GLAMGLOW Youthmud
4. Free Your Mane Reviving Spray
5. StriVectin Present Perfect Antioxidant Defence Lotion
6. Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk
7. Cali Cosmetics Evulacano Body Lotion

Fingers crossed for Glamglow!

What's on your August Ipsy wish list?

Naked Basics by Urban Decay

Naked Basics by Urban Decay $32

Packaged in a pretty matte copper coloured case with 3-D text, the Naked Basics Palette contains 5 matte colours and one shade with a slight shimmer.  The packaging, similar to Naked 2 includes a mirror.  However lacks the high quality brush that are included in the larger Naked series packages.  I understand that this is probably a cost and spacing measure, but how sweet would a mini Urban Decay brush be?  Or, in general, a set of Urban Decay brushes.  Anybody know where to find those?

On the lighter end of the palette, Venus (slight shimmer), Foxy (Yellow-nude matte), W.O.S. (Pale pink matte) and Naked 2 (Matte light taupe).

On the darker end of the palette Faint (Matte medium brown) and Crave (Matte black).

                                      

In all of its glory!

Swatches from light to dark.

Currently I own Naked and am really hoping to get Naked 2 for Christmas.  I love, love, love Naked.  But always hesitated to get Naked Basics due to the matte shades.  Last time I went to Sephora, with my $20 holiday promotion gift card (for VIB Rouge) an Urban Decay Artist was in.  I asked her to create a smokey eye for me with this palette because I was unsure about the matte.  With a touch of black in the crease, and a whole lot of blending she created a deep and complex smokey eye (which was rather Adele-like).  The best part was being able to recreate it at home.  

This palette really surprised me.  The mattes are sophisticated and grown-up with out being too "mature", and the shades are easy to blend.  If you have fare skin like me, be careful not to use too much at once as the eyeshadows are quite pigmented, like other Urban Decay products.  This product is best done in layers.

I wish the shimmer was a touch more shimmery.  These colours are also fun to play around with with the other Naked shades.  I am gearing up for a 10 day vacation at the start of January, and am keen to take this with me.  I love products that are easy to travel with, and this one takes up next to no space.  My goal is minimize the amount of make-up that I bring with me as I often over pack (isn't there a saying "Home is where the make up is"... no?  Well there should be.) 

For $32 you can't go wrong with this little palette.  I can't wait to keep playing around with it and seeing what else I can do with it.