Urban Decay knows a thing or two (or three) about getting Naked; first there was the original (and by now cult-fave) Naked palette which went on to spawn 2 more in the series, then came the pocket version: Naked Basics – a travel friendly/purse-sized palette with 6 wearable nude shades, and now the latest in the lineup to hit the shelves, is Naked Basics 2 – six new neutral shades to ooh & aah over. And collect. Perhaps even, to covet.
How perfectly does this photo of Marilyn Monroe (below) capture the essence of the Naked Basics 2 palette? Smouldering, sensual, playful, elegant and except for the chiffon scarf, basically naked.
One of my style icons: Marilyn Monroe circa 1953 for Playboy Magazine (source)
Urban Decay | Naked Basics 2
Urban Decay | Naked Basics 2
Naked Basics 2 (CAN $35.00) | A portable palette comprised of 6 neutral shades ranging from pale to deep. The outer casing has the same rubberized finish and raised lettering as the original Naked Basics, and both are exactly the same size as well, with a good-sized mirror on the inside lid. Below, a breakdown of the hues:
- SKIMP – sheer peachy nude with a satin finish (perfect for under the brow bone & highlighting/inner eye corner)
- STARK – matte flesh tone
- FRISK – pale taupe with mauve undertones, matte finish
- COVER – milk chocolate, matte finish
- PRIMAL – mink taupe, matte finish
- UNDONE – charcoal grey, satin finish
For a fan of neutral shades such as myself, you can never have enough nudes in your makeup wardrobe. What Naked Basics 2 really represents, is a streamlined version of colours every woman should have – and then the entire concept goes one step further, by shrinking it all down to portable proportions (and eliminating annoying extras, such as those dinky little brushes you get with other palettes).
Compared to the original Naked Basics palette, Naked Basics 2 leans a touch cooler and I’m happy to say that there are no repeats in the shade selections either. The lightest shade, SKIMP, is almost unnoticeable against my skin tone right now except for a light sheen when the light catches it, but should be more visible when my Winter pallor sets in (which it inevitably will). The four middle matte shades are all creamy and blend well, even if they fall a touch light on my skin tone, but also happen to be the perfect neutrals for those with fairer complexions. The last shade, UNDONE, was a surprise, applying much sheerer and with a light satiny sheen to it than what appears in the pan, but I actually like that it gives a nice smoked out edge to a look, is super easy to blend out, and will never come off as too harsh or stark. On my primed lids, staying power was pretty good, with the lightest hue predictably being the first to fade, but overall lasting about 8-9 hours.
Urban Decay | Naked Basics 2
Urban Decay | Naked Basics 2
Urban Decay | Naked Basics 2
Urban Decay | Naked Basics 2
The main differences that I note between the two palettes, is that Naked Basics is a touch more warmer leaning than Naked Basics 2, although both palettes have colours that can be made to work on a variety of skin tones. There appears to be slightly more pigmentation of the shades in the original palette as well, but I also noticed that they tended to have more powdery kickback when swirling my brushes through them – a factor that’s not as apparent with Naked Basics 2.
All in all, there are enough shade differences between the two palettes to justify owning both *happy dance*
Urban Decay | Naked Basics 2 (top) & Naked Basics (bottom)
Urban Decay | Naked Basics 2 (top) & Naked Basics (bottom)
Urban Decay | Naked Basics 2 (top row swatches), Naked Basics (bottom row swatches)
There is much to recommend the Naked Basics 2 palette; the shades are all totally wearable, the size is just right for tossing in your makeup bag, and the price is relatively decent considering you get 6 good-sized eyeshadow shades (not huge, but not teeny either). For anyone with a skin tone darker than mine, you may find these will be too muddy and in that case, the original Naked Basics palette should be a much better option. For those with rather fair complexions that have a hard time finding the right neutrals, look no further. For those days when I want an understated makeup look (an undressed nude? Oxymoronic, perhaps?), then this palette fits the bill like a charm, with the matte shades keeping everything cohesive (nothing like glitter or shimmer to ruin a good naked look). Happily, this is not a limited edition item – props to Urban Decay for that.
Available now through Sephora and Urban Decay’s website. Find more information via:
*Disclosure: Press sample provided by the company/PR for my unbiased consideration
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