Getting Naked (finally)

I’m pretty bad for missing out on the hype as soon as they happen. Fancy
fashion collaborations, makeup launches, TV shows – you name it! My
finger tends to only be on the pulse for the few things I quite like to
geek out over, and there’s only a handful of events in recent years
which I can say I’ve got myself worked up about or in the queue for
early (most notably… Adventure Time X Dr Martens, Katy Perry tour
tickets, and new episodes of The Walking Dead) While I am absolutely
rubbish at staying ‘down with the kids’ (I apologise immediately for
saying that) I recently got my hands on a product from a few years back
that is definitely worth the hype. A classic makeup staple, if you will!

The first Naked Palette by Urban Decay was launched in 2011, and is one of the best selling palettes of all time! 1 is sold every 5 seconds globally, and now I can understand why. The 12 bronzed hued shadows are pretty much everything I need when it comes to eye makeup, and I’ve been able to create day to day plus night out looks with this palette – easy peasy. Naked 2 followed in 2012 which is more taupe-hued neutrals, then in 2013 they released Naked 3 which contains more flushed pinks. I don’t think I will need to invest in a second or third just yet, but it’s good to know that there are other options if this collection of shadows above didn’t suit me and my skin tone.

The first eyeshadow palettes I ever bought were actually from Urban Decay, and it became a tradition for me to get one at Christmas every year in my late teens. I still have the palettes although I don’t use them (not really sure if eyeshadow goes out of date?) and I don’t know if you remember the purple one with a sort of chain mail panel across the front? That seemed to be the one I got most use out of in my teens, and some of the colours in it are crazy and brilliant! So bright with an insane amount of glitter. Perfect for my younger emo years…

Now there’s a throwback for you! 19 year old Ayden rocking some old school Urban Decay. I’ll need to check the name of these colours when I get back home from Shetland, as I said I’ve still got these palettes sitting in my makeup box. Going back to the Naked Palette, for the everyday look in the first photos I have used Virgin, Sidecar and Buck – and I was really just making it up as I went along! I’ll need to continue experimenting with more combinations and perhaps watch some you tube tutorials to create some different looks. They all go on like an absolute dream, highly pigmented with very little fall out, and the brush you get with it is brilliant! Does anyone ever actually use those little padded eyeshadow applicators you normally get with these sort of sets? I like the fact that you get a sample of some different coloured Primer Potions with it too. It’s the best eyeshadow primer I’ve ever used and keeps your makeup completely intact. No big eyelid creases after a couple of hours like I’ve experienced with other brands. Urban Decay are also launching 4 week masterclass at their flagship Debenhams counters nationwide, which consist of 2 hours a week where you can get to grips with everything from the basics of creating flawless skin, or how to rock a pop of colour (just like 19 year old Ayden tried to!) Haha. I’ll need to keep an eye out for the classes as I could really do with brushing up my skills.

 I was a bit late to the party, but now that I own a Naked Palette I know that it will be a staple in my makeup bag for years to come. You can get your hands on one at Urban Decay, online or at any of their stores/makeup counters. Do you have any products that you absolutely swear by?