Twice Naked

Being devoid of self-control, it was inevitable I'd cave in and buy the Urban Decay Naked2 palette. Let me just say upfront: I don't regret it. In fact, I kind of wish I hadn't held out for so long. I've purchased so many cheaper "alternatives" in the hope of replicating some of the shades in the palette, when really I should've just bought the real thing months ago.

It's natural to compare Naked2 to the original Naked palette. Naked2 comes in a far sturdier and heavier tin case, which I find a little thick and clunky. On the surface, the packaging seems a lot more impressive than the cardboard of the original, but when it comes to usability, I actually prefer the thinner and more lightweight design of the first Naked palette. The magnetic strip which satisfyingly clicks when you close the front flap makes the eyeshadows more readily accessible than the tin casing of Naked2, which requires a bit more effort to open and close. Included is a dual-ended brush which is quite stiff and synthetic-feeling. I'm not interested in using it as I prefer smaller and much softer, fluffier brushes. There's also a mini Lip Junkie gloss which has a nice cooling mintiness, though the travel size Primer Potion that came with the original Naked would've been a more popular inclusion.

Minor complaints about the revamped packaging aside, the colours of Naked2 are absolutely gorgeous. I dare say I prefer them to the the original Naked palette. I bought the first Naked palette two months ago and while I do love it, I find the overall shade selection to be on the darker side. For everyday wear I've been using a combination of Smog/Darkhorse or Toasted/Hustle, the lighter colour over the lid and the darker one closer to my lash line and blended out. Occasionally I'll use Sin and/or Virgin as an inner corner highlight or Gunmetal over the lid for a smokier eye. I basically haven't touched the two matte shades (Naked and Buck), Half Baked, Sidecar or Creep. Half Baked is repeated in Naked2, which has drawn understandable criticism. It's a pretty shade, but being a very warm, yellow-leaning, shimmery gold, it's not versatile enough to get much use on a day-to-day basis. It could just be the excitement of the new, but I just feel that there are more standout shades in Naked2 (Suspect, YDK, Snakebite and Busted) that are the type of colours I consistently find myself searching for, and that I'm truly glad to own in this palette. The colour selection is also more tailored for everyday wear.

Naked and Naked2 are sufficiently different to justify having both, especially if you're a neutral eyeshadow fan. If anything, rather than being a deterrent, one of the main attractions of these palettes is the price. You're looking at $50-60 for 12 superior quality eyeshadows in an array of wearable and more dramatic shades. Having both palettes would comfortably satisfy most of your eyeshadow needs.