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Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette ($27.00 for 0.30 oz.) contains six full-sized eyeshadows: Venus (soft, off-white demi-matte), Foxy (very light yellow/beige matte), Walk of Shame (very light pinky nude matte), Naked 2 (rosy taupe matte), Faint (warm, dusty brown matte), and Crave (deepest, darkest brown/black matte).

You’ve been pleading with Urban Decay to release a matte version of the Naked palette, and Naked Basics is their answer. You may be familiar with shades like Foxy (available individually, also in Naked 2) and Walk of Shame (exclusive to Build Your Own Palette), which have shown up in other palettes.

Venus is a white-shimmered creamy white. It’s not a full-on frost, but it is more than a satin on me. When I used this on the brow, it added quite a bit of sheen against my skin tone. The color payoff was excellent, and the texture was soft, smooth, and buttery. Urban Decay Kinky is matte. bareMinerals Silhouette is more metallic.

Foxy is a yellowed beige with a matte finish. It had good color payoff and was soft and smooth to work with. Urban Decay Booty Call is a frosted version–a little more orange. bareMinerals Serendipitous is frosted. MAC Brule is more beige.

Walk of Shame theBalm Adagio is less pink. Urban Decay Virgin is frosted. Wet ‘n’ Wild Drinking a Glass of Shine is comparable. theBalm Matt Smith is similar. Inglot #390 is more beige.

Naked 2 is a soft taupe–a little brown, a touch of gray–with a matte finish. It had nice pigmentation and a soft, smooth texture. Giorgio Armani Moonlight Beige is shimmery. MAC Omega is darker. MAC Camo is browner, darker.

Faint is a medium-dark brown with a hint of warmth and a matte finish. The pigmentation was perfect, and it was very soft to the touch. theBalm Sultry has a satiny sheen. bareMinerals Namaste is similar, slightly grayer. MAC Wedge is warmer.

Crave is a dark black with brown undertones and a matte finish. It was very soft, smooth, and nicely pigmented. Le Metier de Beaute Fin has micro-shimmer, which isn’t very visible applied. Giorgio Armani #1 is very similar. MAC Dark Dare has micro-shimmer.

The palette itself feels and looks tiny. It’s minimalistic (and I don’t think I’ve ever described any packaging by Urban Decay as such!) and perfect for travel. It could fit in your wallet–it’s delightfully compact and lightweight. I couldn’t believe there were full-sized eyeshadows in it. The soft, almost rubberized (but not quite like NARS’ packaging) case should hold up well to travel abuse, and it is easy to wipe down.

Now, the only warning I have is if you already have both Naked palettes, you have one shade exactly, and then Crave is similar enough to Blackout (2), while Venus is similar to Bootycall (2) and Naked 2 is a tiny bit darker/grayer than Naked (1) and Faint is a bit darker than Buck (1). See individual shade descriptions above for dupes. There are also three light shades in the palette, though they each have a different tone so they’ll work differently for cool, warm, and neutral looks but can feel repetitive.

If you’re a fan of neutrals, OR you know someone who loves (or perhaps, has to wear) neutrals, this is a must-have palette. The texture of these eyeshadows is phenomenal; silky, smooth, finely-milled, but not even a smidgen powdery. They’re densely pigmented with true-to-pan color payoff.  I test-drove them over the weekend, and they lasted eight hours without fading and stretched into the ninth hour the same way–without a primer.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches

A+
10
Product
10
Pigmentation
10
Texture
10
Longevity
5
Application
100%
Total

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Venus Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Venus Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Foxy Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Foxy Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Walk of Shame Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Walk of Shame Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow PaletteUrban Decay Naked 2Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow PaletteUrban Decay Naked 2Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Faint Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Faint Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Crave Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Crave Eyeshadow

254 Comments

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Samantha Avatar

WOW Luckily i only got naked 1 and didn’t get naked 2 because i knew they are to have a new palette this holiday season….finally it’s a matte palette! I hope it can come with more colours tho 🙁

xamyx Avatar

It’s probably because they’ve *already* included mattes in both of the Naked palettes. Besides, UD has *always* been known for their shimmer/glitter shadows, and not so much for their mattes; it’s what the brand is about. I think this is a nice compromise, personally-they’re giving customers what they’ve asked for, without going against what they’re known for.

Christina Avatar

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…. true, their known for complex shimmer colours. But they’ve become much more widely known for incredibly good-value-for-money palettes with an astonishing range of colour all in the neutral territory. people loved Naked1 and Naked2 because it was exactly what most nude eye palettes were not: Exciting despite being neutral/wearable. They really worked their edgy brand magic on the neutrals, and got more widely loved than ever. This is a step away from their edgy innovative character, in my opinion. This is a matte palette I’d think Sephora can do (colour choice wise, not quality wise). Sad.

xamyx Avatar

However, the biggest complaints I read were (1) the “lack” of matte shades, and (2) the shadows were too dark. UD put this out as a “solution” to both of those issues, and as a “companion” palette, although it can still be used alone. I have N1 & N2, and I think both are perfect, and exactly what I would expect from UD. There are many other palettes available of equal or greater quality that include several matte shades, so why not skip the Naked palettes if they’re not “suitable”, instead of complain?

As for the quality of Sephora shadows, they’ve really stepped up their game. The Kat von D palettes are amazing, and are made by Sephora.

Vivien Avatar

I also have N1 and N2, and wanted an all matte companion palette, but this is definitively not it. People complain, because of the lack of color variation. They included 4 highlight color! in this tiny 6 shadow palette. That’s a lot.

Catherine (@bcrueltyfree) Avatar

Oh my gosh. I am SO excited about this! I was just this past weekend using my UD Naked palette and wondered whether they were going to release more Naked palettes. I feel like UD totally listened to customers on this too – I feel like I heard “more mattes” in a lot of Naked palette reviews.

Hana Avatar

I like the size & design of the palette but not the colors. I think it would actually be nice if they had more colorful versions in this same format. Or if the fun/feminine/dangerous palettes came in this compact format. Have the Naked 2 so I’ll pass for now

Alison Avatar

I would have LOVED a matte charcoal or a matte dove grey, but I’ve just got to be excited about a palette of neutral mattes WITH THIS FORMULA. Any Temptalia A+ is a must-see in my book!

evie Avatar

Random question did Makeup and Beauty Blog, Musing of a Muse, and yourself agree to all post this at the same time, or UD tells you when to post, or is it magical coincidence. Just curious because it blew my mind, like literally blew my mind. Its gone. My brain us gone. But the palette is purty.

Peggy Avatar

OH MY GOD. I am literally tearing up at how beautiful this is! I’ve been dying for a matte neutral palette from Urban Decay and this is literally EXACTLY what I want. oh my god oh my g o d.

Christina Avatar

I wish they had a matte darker brown and a matte gray. I would have bought this if they had replaced any of the the four white/beige shades. Too many of those. Like the idea of a smaller palette but won’t be purchasing.

Dana Avatar

I don’t understand the big deal about this, or why people are raving about it. It’s a 6 color compact, 3 are highlight colors which all end up looking exactly the same when blended out. One shade is light flesh, which might also be used as a highlight. One shade darker flesh (the only varied shade in this IMO) and a black??? That’s it? 3-4 highlight colors, a medium brown and a black. What a let down. Sorry but the lack of any variation in this palette is a huge disappointment.

CrawlingChaos Avatar

I couldn’t agree more. I’m one of those who would love a matte/satin UD palette, but I can’t see the point of having so many light shades basically without true difference in color. I also agree with who wrote this seems kind of a lazy answer. Very disappointing. For me the only positive thing here is the compact size.

Dolce Avatar

I have to agree as well. On my darker skin tone, the first four colors would all look the same on me – pale white. Faint, the dark brown, would disappear on my lid so I would really only be getting one color, the black, which – let’s face it – comes a dime a dozen. Naked Basics seems better suited for those fair beauties who prefer mattes and would like to add to their collection of Nakeds (IMO). And there’s nothing wrong with that…but this palette wouldn’t fare well on me.

Mae Avatar

I am super duper pale and I think 3 to 4 of these wouldn’t even show up on me. Fyi, most makeup tends to be aimed towards pale to medium skin tones. It’s the darker-skinned POC who get consistently shafted.

Nikki Avatar

I have mixed feelings about this palette. I was one of the many people pleading for an all matte neutral palette from UD, but as a woman of color (NC50 for reference) I’m not sure if it is very woman of color friendly, which is a bit disappointing. Christine, would you recommend this palette to a woman who is my complexion or darker?

Christine Avatar

Hi Nikki,

If you use the lighter shades on the lid, I think they could work. If you tried to use them as a highlighter, then it won’t work as well. Crave will work better in neutral looks for darker complexions, as it is really, really intense against lighter skin tones. The lighter shades are more readily differentiated between on darker skin tones than lighter ones (because they’re easier to see against medium or darker skin tones).

Nikki T Avatar

I have to respectfully disagree. I am a NC 45 and I bought this kit thinking it would be easier and more convenient than taking a bunch of other palettes. The lighter colors make my eyelids look ashy and chalky and the color difference between them was minimal. This was with and without primer. The only shades with an obvious difference were the 2 dark shades and at 27 dollars , this was too expensive to only have 2 usuable shadows.

Miss J Avatar

I definitely don’t have anything nice to say about this palette. I’m disappointed that this was their answer to the request for satin, velvet, and matte texture shadows to go along with the NAKED palettes. :/ I feel like they just took the less shimmery shades out of the existing palettes and put nearly identical shades in a separate palette… Am I the only one who thinks this was an incredibly lazy answer to the requests for a matte palette? Yes, people wanted a matte palette, but it seemed from feedback that customers were looking for a variety in texture and shades that could be used alone and in conjunction with the current palettes. I don’t think the customers are getting that from this.

Happy for anyone who is excited for this, though. The compact size is nice, I guess.

Tamara Avatar

I have to absolutely agree. Not only is this palette boring, but I feel like they gave no thought into what could actually be something amazing, and they just copied the colors that was in the best selling palettes. Even if they threw in a neutral olive color or a peachy creme. This palette is such a complete fail for them. I usually love each and every palette, but compared to other brands, this looks like it could be a imitator, not the actual same company that produced the infamous NAKED palettes. They need a new brain behind ideas, because this was a total flop. Even people that love the mattes, can get that in the NAKED palettes, because every now and then, I’m sure they would grab for the shimmers, just to shake it up. Ugh. This palette disappoints.

Christina Avatar

EXACTLY what I thought. I have Naked 1 & 2, treasure them, love to wear shimmers, but am also really into matte looks. I would have hoped for a matte format of Naked – great colour choices, complex matte colours, olive, different browns, maybe a black bordering navy, taupes, all very matte or velvet.. then more variety on the lighter side.. I am not getting this one, and I am also a bit disappointed. Why so few shades? there are a couple of small matte pallettes out there (Too Faced did a pretty good one last spring – to the shame of UD they had 9 small eyeshadow pans with WAY more interesting colours!!). Nothing like a full Naked palette, all in matte, and all in the original UD Naked slogan “non-boring” neutrals..

Kelsey Avatar

I have to agree. Incredibly lazy on their part. I appreciate them finally giving matte lovers an “all matte” palette (even though it’s not quite a matte palette), but I think they could’ve put a little more effort and creativity into it.

Stacey Avatar

I am glad UD came out with something like this….so I wont be compel to buy. Matte colors make me look washed out. I need some vibrancy. The Smoked Out palette works better for me. But I think this is a good answer for those who are looking for matte colors or just a neutral set.

kisha Avatar

ummmm eeeerrr yea imma have to pass on this too!! i got both naked palettes and the swatches are not appealing to me. YES i’d love a matte palette but im gettin deja vu now wit UD and MAC collections!!

Ivy Lively Avatar

Honestly, UD, what are you doing? 4 similar shades? Really?

As this is an all matte palette, they should have left out Venus (we all have a shimmering white in our collection somewhere), kept Naked 2 (Foxy & WOS is not new to us), added a medium taupe/greyish shade, added a dark dark brown, and kept Faint & Crave.

Like.. come on..

rebecca b Avatar

I think people who usually buy urban decay aren’t getting the point of a NEUTRAL palette, there isn’t suppose to be colors cause its suppose to look like you aren’t wearing eyeshadow aka NAKED palette. It’s suppose to be subtle!

HANNHUNG Avatar

don’t most girls into makeup already have a set of neutral shadows? There are dupes by mac for all of these and I’ve had them all for years. I want to be wowed by a palette, not bored to tears.

May Avatar

Damn… I’ve been hoping for UD to release an all matte palette, but now I’m rather disappointed with the outcome.
I don’t have use for all those lighter shades. The palette would’ve done better with darker and more varied shades than Foxy, Walk of Shame and Naked 2.

xamyx Avatar

I’m on the fence with this… On the one hand, it seems like a perfect “companion” to both Naked palettes, but I do wish they added in at least one more mid-tone shade, maybe a grey, as others have said.

However, I want this for Venus & Crave, and I also really like W.O.S., but I didn’t find buying the whole palette system just to get that shade.

Veronica Avatar

I love the matte finish and the general concept, but I’d have personally preferred more variation amidst the lighter shades. Even with my fair skin, I’d think the nuances between them would get lost on the lid. (Not to mention that it appears more neutral/warm toned than cool, which is an area where the Naked palette fell flat for me.)

So…it seems like a great execution for people who really love the subtle look, but it’s not anything that I’d consider necessary based on what I already own.

Ruthie08 Avatar

I’ll pass! I have naked 1 & 2. And I’m loving my lorac pro palette right now. I’ve been waiting for UD to come out with matte palette but this is way too disappointing. I’m usually NC 42 or 45. I’m gonna look washed out with this. Sorry UD but this is failed on my book.

Liz Avatar

This is a non-event for me: very similar light shades, plus similarities with matte shades of other Naked palettes…
And the fact L’Oreal is about to buy UD doesn’t help.

Nicoco Chanel Avatar

I really, really like this. It’s not the most innovative palette ever – but really, UD’s palettes are generally pretty interchangable – but it’s just adorable. I love the packaging – it’s so chic – and matte neutrals always have a place in my heart. There’s a lot I *wish* they’d done with it, but I am incredibly taken by it anyway!

… That said, would a little more variation in shade have KILLED them? 4/6ths of this palette could probably be used in place of each other without anyone telling the difference.

HANNHUNG Avatar

Totally. What about a matte cream, matte soft brown, matte mid-grey, matte dark grey, matte dark navy and matte deep black? I mean… shake it up a bit.

xamyx Avatar

They already did Blackout, which garnered its share of complaints, in N2, N1 had Buck & Naked, W.O.S. & Foxy have “cream” covered, and navy might be a bit of a stretch. However, I would have rather Foxy not be repeated, and instead a dark grey-brown at the very least.

Also, I believe the intention was for this to be primarily a “companion” palette to both Nakeds, in response to all the complaints about them being too intense for fair skin (hence all the paler shades), and not “enough” matte shades. Apparently, there were those who felt too put-out to use other shadows, which most people have already. For me, personally, this is just a “bonus”; I already have these shades, but I like the idea of not having to “mix” brands, although I’m willing to if necessary. The fact they’re all in one place is even better.

Ana Lucia LZ Avatar

Just sayin… The Lorac pro palette is awesome! 🙂 you really won’t regret it! Plus, you are getting the shimmer option if you ever want to use it, and many more matte options 🙂

Chrissie Avatar

Looks pretty, but might look too pale or too cool for me. Wish they added a matte taupe and matte gray. Still, I’ll check this out once it reaches sunny Singapore! 🙂

Cat G Avatar

I’m disappointed. I wanted more of a range of 12 eyeshadows and more pigmented ones too. I like that UD released something people were requesting, but I think they could have put more effort into it and made it a hit. I think perhaps this palette will be great for people with very light, cool toned skin though.

Sophie Avatar

this is sooo cute!!! but i have question, in terms of what you get from the price. Isn’t it better to buy the naked palette? it seems to me that the naked palette is more bang for your buck! the naked palette costs 40Euros and this one will be probably around 30-35Euros.

Julie Avatar

I think this is a beautiful palette. I won’t be getting it because I have both the Naked palettes and the Vice Palette, but I do think it is gorgeous. I would have liked it to have some beige/mauve shadows like Tease and Laced, as I feel that would have completed the palette. Foxy is a staple in my collection as it matches my skin tone perfectly, in fact I just had to buy a full-sized pan of it.

Alicia Avatar

YAY! I have enough shimmery eyeshadows and need something more neutral!. Although I don’t think I will wear a plain neutral eye, this will help with blending and creating looks. Also as a professional I can’t wear bold looks at work or even eyeshadows that are too shimmery. This is a great solution for when I work. (lawyer).

resham Avatar

this is such a cute palette. The colors won’t work for me, because the browns would blend with my skintone. Other colors pretty much will work like MAC nudes I have. A great palette though.

stephanie Avatar

All-matte palettes never do it for me, but I guess there are a lot of people that will go nuts for this one. This one seems like it would make a good gift for someone who doesn’t have a lot of neutral eye shadows. It is not butterin’ my toast, but I can see why this will probably be just as popular as the other Naked palettes.

furandlace Avatar

I’m not a particular fan of UD but I have to say that it’s one of the few companies that sticks out in my head as one that listens to customer feedback. I think that’s pretty cool.

As for the palette itself, I don’t find it appealing at all. The first 3 shades are redundant…one highlight colour would have sufficed. They could have thrown in a couple of other matte shades instead like a grey and a warm, mid tone brown or something.

Michelle Avatar

OMG! Secret Service is the most amazing color! Buttery matte perfect deep neutral brown… its my staple for adding depth in the crease and it goes with anything!

Lauren Avatar

That looks great for matte lovers. I’m not a matte lover myself, but I do love the small size. The UD palettes that get the most love from me are the ones with the smallest packages – Feminine, Rollergirl, and Naked 1 whereas I am loathe to bring out BOS IV. I do like the 15th anniversary palette but it’s so impractical for travel. I hope UD does more palettes this size!

Zainab Avatar

I’m so, so tempted to depot my BOS4. I like how the packaging looks, but it is so effing bulky and hard to open. The only thing really stopping me is the worry that the shadows will either break in the magnetic palette, or when I gouge them out of the cardboard (and it wouldn’t be hated Gunmetal that breaks but something awesome and irreplaceable like Blue Bus or Crystal).

xamyx Avatar

I depotted BoS IV, and it was quite easy, and no breakage. I just wasn’t using it in the original box, so I took a chance. I started with shades I had dupes of, or didn’t really care for, but once I saw how easy it was, I was no longer apprehensive.

As for them breaking in a magnetic palette, I don’t know. I don’t travel with mine, or carry it anywhere, so it pretty much stays in a drawer when not in use.

Caroline Avatar

I’ve depotted all of mine apart from the Alice BoS into magnetized pallets and haven’t had any breakage issues. The trick is to peel the cardboard bottom of the drawer off in layers until you get to the underside of the pans 😉

Jessica Avatar

so pretty but I already bought all the matte shades i wanted from Mac. lol it would make a good gift for my mom though maybe. they are pretty colors. just unnecessary, even for makeup. haha

yellowlantern Avatar

Well I have wished for a matte palette from urban decay, but their color choices here are not the greatest. With only 6 shades you need to make those shades count. Three of these are way too similar and I really don’t like that they’re reusing foxy. I’m disapointed. This could have been so much better if they didn’t insist on having 50% of the palette be highlight shades.

Anne Avatar

This one looks great for neutral office-appropiate looks. Seems it could be a great gift for friends who barely use makeup and sometimes need some for their works.

However, this is not a palette for makeup junkies that already own both Naked 1 & 2. I just feel I would be getting backups of what I already own.

Oona Avatar

Hi, Christine! Do you think this would suit very fair and cool toned skins? I’m NW10/NW15 and I’m pretty sure Faint would be too warm, but the other 6 shadows look promising! 😀 Thanks!

Wwendalynne Avatar

I like this palette, but feel they concentrated far too much product on the lighter side of the equation. There is only really one, possibly 2 mid tone shades depending on your skin colour. The Pro palette by Lorac offers a lot of similar colours and also has the benefit of having more than one matte mid tone shade to choose from. Plus, the palette has half matte and half shimmer shades with fantastic quality and greater versatility. I’ll pass on this one.

xamyx Avatar

Have you tried the LORAC Pro, yet? I’ve only been able to swatch it, but it’s up next on my “to buy” list. I’ve been reading mixed reviews, but from what I’ve tried from LORAC has been amazing.

Sara Avatar

I also wish we could trade one of the three light shades for either a medium or dark shade. However, I’m super pale so overall I’m very excited that my bestie is getting it for me for Christmas.

kaitlin Avatar

This was a good idea but not executed in the best way. The first three colors seem too white and chalky even for my pale skin; it’s a shame that UD is pretty much ignoring that their customers have a wide range of skin tones.

Diana Avatar

You have it down exactly, a good idea but poorly executed. This are highlight colors and one liner color and a very, very dupable brown, one we all have in our stash somewhere. This is not UD at it’s best, and at it’s best is great for me, love the e/s like scratch, bordello, etc. and the Naked fdtn is my true love (THOSE are great colors for skintones). Why push this palette? No one is going to be thilled execpt maybe someone just starting out at 17, and even then why not go with a BB make your own palette if you want mattes? Her’s are more interesting, like Cocoa, Stone, etc. Those are neutrals with depth, not dupable really.

Mariella Avatar

I think I’m sort of “naked-ed out” but if I didn’t have those palettes, I’d probably consider this, although it’s a bit lacking in the excitement department, even for a neutral/naked collection. But I like the size and practicality of this palette – easy to toss into your bag and tote to the gym or office. As others have said, it’s also a bit heavy on the very light shadows. Two light/highlight colours would have been more than sufficient. Still, I like it quite a bit.

Michelle Avatar

This would probably be perfect for lighter skinned girls, as most of Urban Decay’s products seem to be made for light skinned/tan at best girls. I like how compact it is but if I were to travel I’d probably end up having to bring another palette in addition to this due to the lack of variety in this palette. I like the second three colors. It needs Wedge, Soft Brown, or Brown Down type of colors. Make it a full 12 shadow palette and it might be worth buying.

Liz Avatar

Definitely wouldn’t work for me. I’m not very fond of the look you created either, Christine. It’s not your fault, but the colors aren’t that flattering to me.

Amanda Avatar

As a dark-skinned person, I’m not going to be buying this product because of its lack of variety. Sure, the first 5 colours could work for me on the lid, but I’d have to mix Faint and Crave just to get a decent colour for the outer V or crease. I’ve bought the first two Naked palettes and I am incredibly disappointed in this one.

Jenny Avatar

This seems like a weird purchase to me. if you’re going to wear something so neutral that it doesn’t look like you’re wearing makeup, why wear it at all?

KENDO Avatar

What a poor choice of colors. There’s a difference between subtle and invisible, and four of these would be invisible and/or indistinguishable on my medium skin. The other two are very easy to dupe. *yawn*
And I liked the size and layout of the palette until I realized there’s no brush, or even a place to keep one. That doesn’t do me or my purse any favors, seeing as I’m not toting around a separate brush.
Nice try?… Maybe? I’m so over this Naked trend, though at least they *attempted* a matte palette.

Serena Avatar

Agreed! I’m olive-toned, and half of these won’t do anything for me. I didn’t expect this palette to be so minimal. I supposed I could reapply shadows with my fingers, but who really wants to do that?

Vivien Avatar

I agree too…and I don’t even care about the brush. It’s the colors. I have NC 20 skin tone, but there are too many highlight colors in this palette. If only they included 1-2 more browns or grays, that would have been better. Almost everyone has foxy, so I don’t really care for that either..I’m waiting on a better color choice, I’m glad to hear about the excellent formula though and the Naked2 + Faint looks good as well..

DT Avatar

Hi Christine. I was wondering if you could recommend an eyeshadow palette for a beginner. I want to experiment with colours but I’ve not tried blending colours yet.

Alicia Avatar

its called Naked Basics for a reason people. It was supposed to be a little end of the year surprise to end the holidays not a huge production like Naked 1 and 2. BASICS…good shadows that are nude and work well with lots of other colors.

Lana Avatar

Finally a palette with more lighter shades than darker ones – I always use up the lighter shades in my palettes before the darker ones and I don’t like it, because it makes the palettes look off if only one or two shades are used up and I just don’t use them as much anymore.

I always need a lighter colour in the inner corner and as a highlighter – so of course I use them the most. Definitely going to buy that on my next trip to a country that has Sephora 😀

An Avatar

I think the shades are nice and they’ll be a match for me, but they might not work for darker-skinned people.

I would like to have a better collection of matte neutrals and long-lasting ones too.

This palette isn’t exciting for me. I’d get it if it was on sale though.

kk Avatar

Something about this seems to boring, or basic :). I am just not feeling this palette. Venus as a highlighter would be the only thing in it for me. These colors are nothing more than junk colors that are easy to find in any other leftover palette. I just feel like this is such a wasted effort.

Alison Avatar

I like it, but I agree with everyone about it needing extra shades. Where are the taupes, greys, olive/khakis, charcoals? Again, I like this but I would LOVE it if it were more like the other two palettes in variety/number, only… matte!

Alice Avatar

I love the concept of this, but as a medium-dark skinned girl here and I’ll be passing on this. Only two of the shades would work as a “neutral” on me, the rest would just be ashy. I’d love to see a palette exactly like this that is friendly for ladies (and gents!) like me.

Elisabetta Avatar

I’m really happy for the launch of this new UD palette. I especially love their matte eyeshadows, which in my opinion are one of the best: silky but not powdery. In my experience I’ve tested only poor pigmented or powdery ones, and I loved naked and buck from the original palette. Plus I don’t own the naked2, plus I have a light skintone (nc20-25) so all the colours should show up really well on me, right? 😉
A question for you Christine: in your opinion Faint is comparable to Mac Espresso?? I find them really similar, so I can easily use faint instead of espresso, which I own but I’m not a fan of mac matte shadows (poorly pigmented and gritty). I also think that from now on I’ll use Crave instead of Carbon, which I hate from the same reason!! 🙁 (by the way I love mac shadows but hate their matte finish and also the lustre one for the fall out).
Tell me what do you think.
P.s.: sorry for the possible English mistakes but I’m Italian 😉 I hope you’ve understood everything though xD

Kayla Avatar

My biggest problem with my other UD palettes (the first Feminine palette and Vegan palette) is that there aren’t light enough colors to be all-over lid colors or highlights, so this is perfect! Also, I’m really fair so even something like Half-Baked is too intense to be an all-over lid color for me. As a palette on its own its kind of dull, but it will be an amazing addition to the palettes I already own! I can’t wait to get this! (:

Sabine Avatar

I absolutely LOVE this. I have a very pale complexion and most colors are just simply too dark for me. On top of that, I absolutely prefer mattes and I have such a hard time finding nice ones. I’m just floored that someone made such a perfect palette for me. I hope it’s launched in France…

Ester Avatar

Love the how-to at the bottom, Christine! I like the size and price of this palette. Not sure I need it, and glad that it’s permanent so I have time to figure it out.

Vera Avatar

They could have used ABC Gum instead of Foxy and I would have been happier, but I will still get it. I just bought the little $18 build your own palette, and a couple singles but I haven’t opened yet so I guess I will return and get this. This palette will work for me….I have several Urban Decay Palettes and all the glittery shadows don’t work for me anymore (it will happen to everyone one day, believe me)-as you get older the glitter/shimmery stuff isn’t real attractive. I didn’t buy the last Naked Palette because I need more matte. I almost just ordered another The Balm “Meet Matte” palette a few minutes ago since my purse was stolen last month and my awesome Meet Matte palette was in it :o( but I guess I’ll give the UD Naked Basics a try !

Elena Avatar

UD could have put a mini UDPP in it. but that doesn’t matter. I need to have this palette. I don’t like all the shades of Naked or naked 2, but Naked basics is my dream UD palette.

Catherine Avatar

Oh my my!!! The perfect palette for my neutrals and mattes addictions! Do you know when it is supposed to came out in Canada? I’ve called to my sephora and the ”didn’t know” ! But I am pretty sure they perfectly know it 😛 !

MM Avatar

I was wondering if you could do a comparison of this palette and target’s Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral palette. Heard of it? I am interested in getting a matte neutral palette and both look great! I have brown eyes and hair. Also, I’d be willing to spend either amount of money. Which do you think is worth me buying?

JillianPS Avatar

As a girl who travels a lot for work, I originally bought the Naked palette to be my go-to palette for traveling. But I kept only using the same few shades, which were the matte ones (i.e. Buck, Naked) for work. I’ve gotten onto this matte kick, and I’m in LOVE with this palette for my traveling needs! I can definitely see how this wouldn’t be for everyone, but I’m really in love with the “not-wearing-any-makeup” makeup looks. And I can’t get too crazy with my makeup for work, so this is great for me! Hopefully it’ll make its way to Sephora soon!

Vivien Avatar

How I wanted an all matte palette to go with my two Nakeds, because they can get a bit too shimmery for everyday use, but these colors are just too light; I would only use 2 (faint and naked 2), but I won’t be buying the whole palette just for two shades. 🙁 ..maybe they’ll come out with another basics that have more mid to darker tone basics. I don’t know why they had to include so many light colors. 1 or 2 highlight would have been enough. But it’s great that UD listened and did an almost all matte palette…maybe they’ll nail it next time.

Gina Avatar

I definitely understand the appeal, but I can’t help but feel like they put zero effort into this palette. Two of the colors are already available, and three are essentially the same shade with different undertones. And ANOTHER matte black? Naked 2, Smoked, and Vice all had matte blacks. It’s a bit overkill.

BooBooNinja Avatar

I was waiting for your review on this! I’m happy it passes your standards with flying colours. I have similar shades in my stash already, but I love how compact this little palette is. I’m putting this on my wish list as soon as I hit pan on one of my neutral eyeshadows.

As for this matte formula, how would you say it ranks among the best of Inglot and Too Faced? And MUFE? I’m open to comparisons with other good matte eyeshadow formulae.

Ariel Avatar

Christine, I was thinking of getting Mac’s soft brown, brown script, and handwritten. Do you think I would be better off getting this palette instead? I like warm shades.

Thanks! 🙂

junie Avatar

i would have liked it without this many highlighting shades. If they got rid of foxy and venus and put in buck and echo beach, this would have been fantastic. I do like the size of the palette, but the color choices will make it a skip for me.

Jools Avatar

I’m definitely getting this palette. I especially recommend it right now because Urban Decay and NYX are possibly the only two cosmetic companies who don’t do the archaic animal testing required by China to sell there. Warning: Many companies that used to refuse testing are now doing it to get into the China market. I’m looking at you, Clinique, Estee Lauder, MAC, and others. Check out the PETA site for more information.

Camille D Avatar

I *might* pick this up because I was really tempted to buy Naked2 especially after I got to swatch my sister’s and really inspect the colors; only I felt bummed and never bought it because neutral colors with shimmer and satin finishes look HORRIBLE against my pale-ish light yellow/beige skin. And so when I do neutral looks (Iighter shades look better on me), I stick to mattes and only a light shimmery highlight, so I’m glad to see that both a black and an off-white highlight are included in this palette because it would relieve some clutter in my purse and when I travel. Ha, who am I kidding with “might”? I just convinced myself to buy it on my next trip to Sephora! 😀

For those of you that don’t want this palette for whatever reason but you still want a set of matte neutrals, I suggest Sonia Kashuk’s “Eye on Neutral” 12-color palette for $20, it has a really BLACK black, one gray, light colors, and deep browns for the ladies who wouldn’t get any use out of the Naked Basic’s light neutrals. I like the palette a lot, for $20 it’s worth a shot. 🙂

Nancy Avatar

How funny, I saw this pallet on on Dec 1st and almost picked it up. I didn’t have time to look at it and try the colors and such. But I’m definitely going to go back and check it out.

ProperIntro Avatar

ehhh i’m a bit disappointed on this… i’m already satisfied with my naked palette… i kind of see this for people with money to blow off on or just for traveling

…thanks for the review though

Bella Avatar

Christine! I love the finished look and the idea of a neutral matte palette as I am a neutral lover! However, if i have the two naked palettes already, would u recommend this one as well?

lacezinc Avatar

Even as a neutral eyeshadow addict, (and beyond that, I prefer mattes) I wasn’t even considering this…but then I read your review and it convinced me. I picked it up about a week ago and am totally in love. Thanks for the review, Christine!! 🙂

Shelby Avatar

Great review! I love the look you recreated with the pallet, what colors in what order did you use to Achieve this look? Thanks so much!

Lauren Avatar

I think this would be great for my purse! I do have naked 1 and 2, but I love neutral palettes and I think the size of this palate would be great in my purse for touch-ups and such.

Briana Avatar

There’s a great tutorial on YouTube featuring this palette. Her name is ArielHopeMakeup on YT. She’s a mix of Mexican, Italian, and Portuguese, so her skin tone is medium and she’s created beautiful looks!

This is by no means an advertisement. I just watched her video last night and saw this review today. Just hope people see this that are doubtful of the palette so they can check out the video to see just how versatile it actually is.

Hoping to get this palette soon! I have both Naked palette’s and I feel like this would only add to it, since both palette’s have a lot of shimmer.

Alyson Avatar

i love this.. this is the only naked pallet i am interested in buying.i think a lot of these comments are harsh.. i know these colors are light, boring, etc. but the first two were much much much too dark for me. honestly, extra fair women have the same problems and complaints as extra dark skinned women.. it is hard to find products that work. as much as i love the concept of a pallet that will work for everyone, it is just not realistic. so therefore i do not understand the backlash of making something that will work for light skin tones.
urban decay was the first brand i ever fell in love with. i eventually moved on to other brands though because even though i love their eye shadows the color selection and excess glitter were not practical to take over my whole collection. mind you i LOVE glitter but there are times when these plain, boring colors are necessary (and of course it is a NAKED pallet.. the first two were honestly not really neutrals)

Christine Avatar

The “backlash” is coming from the fact that Urban Decay said this is universally wearable, that it is for every single skin tone, not just one. If it was for just one – Urban Decay would serve their customer base by releasing multiple palettes that would better suit, at the very least, light, medium, and dark

Eva Avatar

I use Faint for contouring my face, my lower eyelid, and in the outer half of my crease. I use Crave for my eyebrows, to create a double eyelid, and along my lower lash line, slightly winging the outer corners. I use Venus on my browbone and the inner corners of my eye. As the final touch I blend one of the 3 remaining shades onto my eye between the crease and browbone, then gently blend the whole lid beneath Venus. I like Foxy for something sophisticated or classic like a attending a baptism at church or work meeting, I use WOS for fun like a party or drinks, and Naked2 for lunch and coffee dates with mom, friends, even a guy. I love this palette, and I use 3-4 brushes for it, 2 of them slanted. I don’t use any eyeliner except for MAC white on my waterline, and I use one coat of MAC black mascara on the upper lashes, beginning in the middle and going out. It’s the best. The poster’s look isn’t well done.

Angela Avatar

I love the packaging, but I can’t justify purchasing this palette. The lighter shades are too similar and it makes the palette kind of boring. I’ll stick with Meet Matt(e) by The Balm for my matte eyeshadow needs.

KV93 Avatar

Out of Naked 1, Naked 2 and the Basics, which one do you think is the most “worth it” for the money? Have been wanting to get a UD palette just not sure which one is worth investing in. I prefer shimmer but usually stick to brown-ish shadows.

Riri Avatar

You always my 1st choice of searching swatches, the best swatches ever <3
It will be my 1st time buying a palette, and I think it must be Naked <3 I have asian tanned skin and love pink-tone make up, and I still not know which one to order between Naked 1,2 and basic…

Nancy Newman Avatar

Lets all remember that this is the Naked Range. These are meant to be like in the previous palettes; neutral, tamed, soft colours mixed in with some essentials like blacks and dark greys with shimmer. Neutral is always bold and bright. It tends to be the opposite.

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