Guess I got in the mail today??? Urban Decay's Naked 2 palette!
Alright, so anyone who knows me or has ever read my blog or facebook posts know that I am ridiculously obsessed with this brand like no body's business. I'm not even kidding, I swear, Urban Decay is like my baby. And I must say, they have outdone themselves once again. I honestly didn't think it was possible for them to make something as amazing as the Naked palette, but Naked 2 definitely stacks up to the task very well. I will admit, I was a little unsure at first what exactly this palette was going to be like -- after all, I'd seen a lot of reviews where people said that it looked the same as Naked 1. And let me smash that idea now by telling you that while at first glance the colors may look quite similar, they are most definitely NOT the same in any sense. The colors are all very, very different (expect for 'Half-Baked', which is also found in the original Naked.) and they seem to be more on the cooler/neutral side, verse the much warmer tones of the Naked 1 palette. As somebody with a cooler skin tone, this is something I like.
When I ordered from Urban Decay's website (http://www.urbandecay.com/) I received a mini of their 24/7 eyeliner is the color "Ransom", which is a very pretty royal purple color. Quite lovely, actually. I normally don't mess around to much with wild colored liner (being a black, gray or brown liner sorta girl myself.) so I am looking forward to playing around with a little bit more color. Still though, I believe that I probably would have preferred to get one in 'Zero' or 'Gunmetal', or even 'Stray Dog'. But it was free, so who's complaining. Also, while Naked 1 came with a mini of their Shadow Primer, this one came with a mini lip gloss in the shade 'Naked'. Again, I believe I would have preferred another of the primer (maybe that's just because I'm too darn cheap to buy a full-size one?), but I suppose they where trying to mix things up, and the lippie does go amazing with every single one of the colors in the palette. I like it a lot. It also came with a double-ended shadow/crease brush, which I fell in love with.
But none of that is really what we're here to read about, now it is? So, lets just get back to the palette.
Starting with packaging. Because that was another thing I'd heard a lot about. User opinions seemed very spilt on wether or not they liked the new or old packaging better. I personally, I really like that the Naked 2's packaging actually snaps close, it looks like it'd be easier to clean and wipe down, and overall seems sturdier and less likely to be easily damaged. All that carefully taken in consideration, I have to say that I believe I still like the original's packaging better. It was sleeker, classy looking and I found it slightly more visually appealing.
Now onto the shades themselves. Going in order, starting with "Foxy". While very sheer in color, this matte shade is a wonderful creamy highlight or base color which I get the feeling I will be using quite often. I'm not going to write to much about "Half-Baked" since you probably already know what it looks like from my first Smokey Eyes tut. But incase you didn't, its a light-medium shimmery golden color with what I feel is a strong gold/yellow undertone's. One of my favorites in the N1, to be honest so I am surely not one to complain about the repeat of that one. On to "Bootycall", another great highlight color with a peaches-and-cream sort of base. A fast favorite. Then to "Chopper", which I am also familiar with from a different UD palette that I previously own; Its a glittery deep gold color with a barely-noticeable reddish base tone. Then there's "Tease", one of my new favorites. Its a sort of light matte taupe-y brown that almost (and when I say 'almost', I mean hardly even there.) dull gray undertones. Really lovely color though. Then "Snakebite", a shimmery deep bronze sort of color. I love this color already. "Suspect" is another lighter bronze-y, golden brown sort of mix with a slight shimmer. "Pistol" is a really lovely dark gray color, which I am loving. "Verve" is a very light taupe-y, white silver sort of color that would once again make a wonderful highlight or a very pretty accent color. "YDK" is basically the much darker, older sister of "Suspect" ... those two look fab together, by the way. My other new favorite is "Busted", which is a rich dark, dark brown with reddy-gold undertones. And finally, "Black Out", which is a deep, dark matte black.
(* Mind you, I could have some of these color descriptions slightly off, but that is the way they looked to me under the lighting in my living room at 3am since I really wanted to get this review up for y'all tonight.)
So what's the verdict? I am in love with this palette, plain and simple. Never the less, I think in the end my Naked 1 will still got a lot of use from me (I simply couldn't live without 'Gunmetal', 'Dark Horse' and 'Smog'.) but that Naked 2 has its own equally great uses (Have you seen 'Tease' and 'Busted'? Amaze, baby, simply amaze.) and I really love that it has a black matte shadow like 'Black Out' in this palette ... afterall, I always thought that N1 should have had one. So I think that N2 both complements N1, and can stand on its own as an amazing stand alone palette. So, which is better, you ask? I would have to say that I believe they are pretty much even, I couldn't really choose a favorite between these two, to be perfectly honest with you.
All in all, this palette was well worth the money in my opinion. It works great on its own to create some really stunning looks, but when paired with Naked 1 is a dynamic duo - warm tone, cool tones, neutrals. So if your a fan of the N1 (or just looking for a really great cool-toned neutrals palette), I would say grab this one up. You won't be sorry, I promise.
Bottom line: Urban Decay, you've reminded me once again why I love you so very much.
Enjoy!
Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kel-counting_blue_cars3-Beauty-Blogger/259084854155197
"Hi-Def" photo action courtesy of Jim over at Jibz Actions (http://www.actions4photographers.com/)
