Naked Again

 

My Mum usually buys me practical gifts for my birthday but this year Lee was in her ear and advised that this might just be the only thing I'd want. He was right. I have been remarkably restrained  to not have rushed out and bought it before now as I absolutely could not wait for it to launch but I have been trying to save my pennies to spend in Vegas and with my birthday approaching I thought it best to 'wait and see'.. it paid off.. yay!

Ok so...

The palette is comprised of 12 neutral (duh) shades from the pale base shade of Foxy to the incredibly pigmented Blackout. Having worked for the company some time ago I was tipped off there was to be a sequel to the naked. I was understandably giddy and now I have it I'm pleased to see some of my old favourites are in there...Chopper, YDK and Half Baked (the only repeat from the first Naked).. all fabulous golden tones. I also like that they've kept two matte shades, I'm wearing tease today in my crease over my foxy base and loving the simplicity. The whole palette is encased in a tin and the lid opens to reveal a huge mirror and a double ended shadow/crease brush. You also get a bonus mini lip Junkie gloss in Naked - how appropriate.

Now on to the swatches.. I always love this part...

And now of course I would be remiss if I wasn't to compare the new Naked with the original. I read/watched a LOT of reviews and comparisons and the general consensus is that the new Naked is generally cooler toned which I would agree with but I can see more to it than that. 

On the whole the palette offers a variety of paler shades and unfortunately in my opinion those that aren't repromotes are not the quality I'm used to from Urban Decay. They lack the payoff and longevity I would expect. They're still very nice don't get me wrong but the brand has set the bar high and I was disappointed with the new shades in this set. The packaging.. well, what can I say? I loved the original chocolate box velour but yes its looks beaten up after a year and a half so I guess the tin is an improvement and I do love the full sized in-lid mirror. When the Naked was first released in 2010 it was produced with a double ended 24/7 liner, it was said liner that made it the must have item that nobody could get hold of. The manufacture of the pencils was difficult and slow and so eventually they replaced the liner with a shadow brush. Many loved the amendment.. I'm glad I got the pencil. In the new palette they've created a new double ended brush (I appreciate the symmetry) and I think it's a lot more appropriate. I'm a huge fan of blending and with just this 'one' brush you can lay down a base, define your crease and under your eyes and blend blend blend. Love it!Lastly this is one of the only UD palettes I've known come without  primer and I for one miss it. It comes instead with a mini Lip Junkie lipgloss - Naked of course! I am already a fan of these, love the cooling, tingly sensation and they smell deliciously like After Eights so I've made my peace with the missing primer. It doesn't give a lot of colour but it will make a nice handbag gloss to jazz up what ever lipstick I'm wearing.

When you compare the two side by side I have to say I think I still prefer the original palette, there's more depth and I've loved it for so long it's hard to replace it with something new. I do like the new one and I'm sure it will also get a lot of use but I would have liked to see some deeper shades. 

Do I Need Both?

 So many bloggers have remained on the fence about this but I'm going to put myself out there and say YES! If you are a neutrals girl (or boy..hey.. it's 2012) I think so... They are very very different so yes it is nice to have both and what I do like about my new addition is that between them I now have a neutral range that spans the palest nude to the darkest black.

Available online and in store at Debenhams now

£36.00 (link)

There's something very beautiful about an untouched eyeshadow.. you almost don't want to use it!

I said ALMOST!

Miss BB

My 2012 Wish List

My wish list for the coming year is not long but it's compiled of items I am desperate to get my hands on. The Moroccan oil is a last minute amendment as I recently purchased the 25ml and will certainly be needing the larger size. The 25ml was on my wish list you see but I just couldn't hold it in any longer. Another thing to mention would have to be the Clarisonic which I am likely to receive next week but that's still technically 2012 and I have waited a whole YEAR to get it so it' still going on the list. The Naked 2 does not hit the UK until January 1st where I will be banging down the door at dawn to get mine so again.. it will be an early check off for that one too but I consider it an absolute MUST-HAVE! The Babyliss Big Hair has seen some major blogger buzz over the past few months and since I'm trying to lay off my straighteners I am loving anything that can leave me looking "done" while avoiding them and the reviews I've seen of this are amazing. Lastly, I'm not sure a haircut can really go on a wish list but I consider any trip to the salon a luxury. I've coloured my own hair for years and haven't had a professional cut in at least 3.. maybe 4 so it it kind of a big deal. I hate to pay for someone to cut my hair when I really don't want it doing but come January "Project Hair" takes effect and the dead ends must finally come off *sob*

 I am on a self imposed spending ban (all but for the Naked 2 which I am allowing myself as an early birthday treat) from now until our trip to Vegas in March. I have the wedding to pay for in January and then all my spare cash will go towards our spending money. It's going to be tough but I'll appreciate it when I'm throwing dollars around our hotel room and cleaning out Sephora (these are the mental images I've chosen to get me through this difficult time)

Watch out for my second annual Budget Beauty Awards post coming very soon where I round up the years most used and favourite products. I've switched a lot of my hair and skin care in the past month so many of my beloved staples have taken a back seat in my regime but they still have their place in my heart and I'm sure I will find my way back to them.. I always do!

What's on your 2012 wish list?

Miss BB

Something Naked This Way Comes

At the start of 2011 I was working for Urban Decay and we were told there was going to be a Naked 2 in the fall. They said it would be in a tin and that was all we were allowed to know so when the 15th anniversary palette was released I thought perhaps they were talking about that. I assumed they were expecting to be as popular as the Naked. I was mightily disappointed that we weren't going to get an actual new Naked.. until this morning. I've never had a more exciting reading list appear in front of me! 

Now I didn't want to go pinching pictures from those lucky few that have the palette in their possession so I will point you in the direction of Charlotte at Lipglossiping who has some fab up-close shots and promises swatches later today (can't wait) here's the link to her review post. I love that it's in the same format as the first Naked but it's in a wipe-clan tin. Much as I thought the chocolate box velvety finish looked great on the first it's not worn well over time. There's also a useful double ended eyeshadow brush included at launch as opposed to the double ended pencil that was so hard to manufacture and made the first palette so tricky to get hold of until they replaced it with a shadow brush. Lastly the mirror is the size of the whole lid so more usable and rather than the mini primer potion that is usually included with UD's sets they've put in a mini Lip Junkie Lipgloss.. I can tell you these smell and taste delicious.. nothing like the disgusting pocket rockets (eugh) So that's a nice to have.

I have no idea the price point or the uk launch date but rest assured as soon as I do, you will!

This is one item I will be rushing to the shops for, how about you?

MissBB