What is it about eyeshadow palettes? Maybe it’s just me, but I have never seen an eyeshadow palette I didn’t need immediately. None more so than the OG of wearable eyeshadow palettes (think muted tones and not the type of rainbow circles your aunt used to get for Christmas) Urban Decay Naked Palette (£55). With its mix of pale matte hues, shimmery metallics and deep shades it’s no wonder this makeup item had the majority of millennials in a chokehold since it launched in 2010.
Recently I decided to go through my makeup drawers, as I started to panic about some very old makeup being well past its expiration date, and case in point I stumbled across not one, but three Urban Decay Naked Palettes, including the Original, Naked 3 and Naked Smoky. Even though I can count on one hand how many times I have worn eyeshadow in the last decade – even after working with some of the best MUAs in the world and listening to their tips and tricks I still have zero eyeshadow application skills. But they are so pretty! I’ve even been known to take them on holiday, where I never wear more than a slick of mascara and lip gloss, just because.
For some reason during this major decluttering session I decided I would throw away the original palette and keep the other two. For the life of me I have no idea why, especially as I have had Urban Decay Smoky since 2015, now discontinued, and it has only been used three times. Urban Decay Naked 3 (£49) has seen me through a lot of weddings. It came out in 2013 and this was the peak wedding period in my life and I don’t know why but these muted, pinky tones just seemed to scream wedding guest to me.
It was like the universe saw me throw away such a pivotal makeup item and thought not on my watch (I’m aware this is starting to sound a tad narcissistic, but stay with me) because the next day, yes the NEXT DAY, I got a PR blast with the news that Urban Decay was bring back the original and it would be available to buy from September. It took every ounce of willpower to not search through the bin and dig out the old one so I could do a comparison. Once a beauty journalist, always a beauty journalist.
And I am not alone in my excitement, Rhiannon Evans PS UK Interim Content Director shares my enthusiasm. “The news that Urban Decay have re-released the original Naked palette caused a stir in my (geriatric) Millennial friendship group,” she tells me. “Straight away, we all thought of one thing: smog, the eyeshadow that defined our late teens and early 20s. If you wanted a smoky eye (and, sorry, who wouldn’t want a smoky eye with their going out top and jeans?) there was only eyeshadow brand being shared around every University house during pre-drinks, and that was Urban Decay.”
She even managed to out-hoard me with this butterfly special edition palette, “I actually cannot remember when I got it, and looking at it, I think it must have come as a later addition in my smoky eye days, because these are all way too intact,” she tells PS UK. “The great thing about the good old eyeshadow palettes like this one and the Ammo, was the range of colours, so as you advanced into your wedding-every-weekend era, there was always an eyeshadow look to match your dress. Sometimes if I’m going all out, I still reach for this palette – and I probably still will for a long time to come. Though now I’m wondering if the new/old Naked needs to go back on my Christmas list this year…”
According to the brand, our love for these iconic shades is echoed around the globe and the brand is bringing back this much-loved palette after fans spent years demanding its return. Sadly it is only for a limited time, so this is your sign to run, not walk, before it is gone again.
But is it as good as I remembered? Let’s get into it.
About Urban Decay Naked Palette
What I Like About the Urban Decay Naked Palette
What is not to like? But seriously it looks so pretty, it contains really useful shades, even if you just about manage a one colour wash like me ( with a touch of shimmery sidecar in the corners, because let’s face it I am still a millennial), then this is for you. The pigment is so high, it doesn’t need layers for you to see the colour on your skin. I love that I can use the darker shades with a wet brush to give it more of a liner effect and I have missed that dual-ended brush for years now. It is ideal for those of us not blessed with blending skills, as it does all the hard work for you. Buck is the ideal neutral for everyday to add definition to your eyelids and Smog and Toasted will see you through an array of social occasions.
How to Use the Urban Decay Naked Palette
As stated above I’m not the best for this one as I don’t tend to create multiple makeup looks, but you can literally create a million different combinations of eyeshadow looks depending on your mood. I find the most beginner-friendly rules are to always start with a matte finish all over the lid, add a touch of a darker hue in the corner and blend outwards, use a similar shade under the lash line and then a hint of shimmer (Sidecar) in the corners for a failsafe can’t-go-wrong look.
What to Consider Before Buying the Urban Decay Naked Palette
*Whispers in a low voice* Do you really need it? I will let you think about that, but also suggest that Christmas is coming up, it’s limited edition and the cost per use is very low, if like me, cough, it sits at the back of your makeup drawer for over a decade. Just remember to spray some makeup sanitiser after every use, like Beauty Hygiene Plus Quick Dry Makeup Sanitising Mist (£5) and you’re good to go.
Where You Buy the Urban Decay Naked Palette
You can buy Urban Decay Naked Palette at Lookfantastic, Cult Beauty>/a>, Boots and John Lewis.
Lauren Ezekiel is an associate editor at PS UK, where she writes about all things beauty and wellness. With a degree in journalism and 12 years’ experience as a beauty editor at a leading Sunday supplement, she is obsessed with skincare, hair and makeup, and is often found offering advice to innocent bystanders. Her work has been published in Grazia, OK, Health and Beauty, The Sun, ASDA, Dare and Metro.
