Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio Review, Photos, Swatches
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio ($36.00 for 0.24 oz.) contains three powder highlighters to “give skin a luminous look” that uses “sophisticated, microfine Naked shimmer” and can be used on face and body. As far as coverage goes, the brand says “the color payoff of a loose powder with the convenience of a pressed powder,” which suggests high pigmentation from my experience with loose vs. pressed products and resulting coverage. If you’re unfamiliar with Urban Decay’s Illuminated formula, it’s actually rather sparkly and would not use the word “microfine” to describe it–these are best for those who want noticeable sparkle on the skin, though the underlying finish is more subdued or in this palette, two of the shades just give random sparkle rather than adding luminosity to the skin. Two of the three shades were rather sheer in this palette as well. It is a baked formula, and I have found these to fade faster than traditional powder blushes.
Pyrite is a medium, golden brown with warm undertones and a frosted sheen and light bits of gold micro-sparkle. This was the least visibly sparkly on the skin, but it also produced the strongest sheen. The texture was soft, slightly dusty but smooth, applied well and blended out without much effort. The color lasted for seven hours on me before fading. Too Faced You Light Up My Life (P, $30.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). ColourPop Frosted (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Pat McGrath Bronze Nectar (003) (PiP, $60.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Tarte Park Ave Princess (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar). Maybelline Molten Topaz (P, $9.99) is darker (90% similar). Artist Couture Conceited (P, $27.00) is darker (90% similar). Rouge Bunny Rouge Goddess (P, $48.00) is warmer (90% similar). Becca Topaz (P, $38.00) is darker (90% similar). ColourPop On the Loose (PiP, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). MAC Glow, Baby, Glow (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Anastasia Sunray (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). CoverGirl Bronze (200) (DC, $9.99) is darker (90% similar). Melt Cosmetics Gold Ore (P, $39.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Tarte Idol (LE, $29.00) is lighter (90% similar). Phytosurgence Solar Sheen (P, $26.01) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Gold Bullion (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar). Tower 28 Gold Coast (P, $20.00) is less shimmery, darker, glossier (85% similar). Fenty Beauty Champagne Heist (P, $25.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Make Up For Ever 4 Golden Peach (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, lighter, less pigmented (85% similar). Pretty Vulgar Sparkling Sass (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Oasis is a very light beige with subtle, warm undertones and silver sparkle. The texture was firm, stiff, and difficult to get the product off of as a result. This impacted the color payoff, too, and it was extremely sheer (I could barely get any to show). Applied, I get a few bits of sparkle but almost no detectable luminosity on my skin, so I actually think it misses the mark completely as an illuminator! All the sparkles had vanished within six hours (that’s about all I could judge the wear from). Cle de Peau Bal Masque (LE, $120.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (90% similar). Urban Decay Luminous (P, $30.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Cle de Peau Delicate Pink (14) (P, $55.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Natasha Denona Icy Nude (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar). Laura Mercier Highlight 01 (P, ) is more shimmery, more pigmented (90% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight (P, $44.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (90% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Twilight is a muted, light-medium peachy-orange with an iridescent pink sparkle. (I was surprised at how similar it was to Aura, actually.) The powder was thinner and dusty to the touch, and it kicked up an excess amount of product in the pan, even with a light hand. I saw visible bits of the pink sparkle on the skin but little in the way of even illumination, so it looked matte in photos. The coverage was sheer to semi-sheer, and it was just barely visible on my skin tone in person (but not in photos). The softness of the powder made it easy to blend on the skin, and it didn’t emphasize my skin’s texture or pores. It seemed to wear for about six hours on me. Urban Decay Aura (P, $30.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Urban Decay Fireball (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar). Anastasia Hard Candy (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (90% similar). Cle de Peau Golden Apricot (P, $55.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). bareMinerals Joy (P, $29.00) is less shimmery (85% similar). Smashbox Gilded Rose (LE, $39.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Starlight (P, $44.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Naked
LELimited Edition. $36.00.
Pyrite
LELimited Edition.
Oasis
LELimited Edition.
Twilight
LELimited Edition.
See more photos & swatches!
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio
Wow, such a disappointment. Thanks so much Christine. You just saved me some money.
Happy to help, Nina!
Why would they not have just made a trio palette of their existing highlighting shades that are more popular and better quality than these things have been in the past? Wouldn’t that have made more sense?
I’ve always been a little confused by the marketing on these in general, as they’re not a super, crazy intense pigmented highlighter, and they are sparkly/glittery – as far as highlighters go, it has a lot more visible particles than the majority of highlighters (I think that should be played up, because it can surprise people… in a bad way, but it is a point of differentiation).
Not that I was interested in this one due to the shades being to dark for me, but OASIS is soo cringe worthy which is not what I would expect from a baked UD product.
Texture was definitely off on Oasis!
I was watching several youtubers on SnapChat open these in PR boxes and their first impressions were basically the same as this. Most said they were just “OK” and that because of the overt sparkle they were more likely to use these on the body rather than the face. That bronzey color does look really pretty on you, though. Would love to see you reviewing some Jouer products, Christine! Their liquid lippies are gorgeous, and the new highlighters they just released look DIVINE!
I don’t know that I’d even use these on my body – two of the three are just so drab on the skin.
El baddo! Basically no excuse. But Oasis in the pan certainly doesn’t look “F.” Lots of folks will be taken in by this. Thank god we have you. But there’s always a good takeaway. I had better rethink the UDs in the Ulta 21 days…..Firebird looks interesting. It’s mix and match highlighters/blush,right? Some of these are virtual no shows in your looks! Great LdeP and lip shade.
I think it’s just the blush on sale, but I could be misremembering!
Yikes!!! What the hell happened to Oasis and Twilight??? They look awful. I like Pyrite but have the CoverGirl dupe already, so I’m good. Easy skip on this one
Oasis in particular is oddly bad!
Oh my. This was disappointing.
It was!
Well, this is just sad. I always wonder how a major brand such as UD can produce a product and not have tested it extensively. Surely they would know that their claims are an exaggeration or just plain garbage. I just don’t get how this happens repeatedly to brands. Good news, not even tempted!
I have no idea, to be honest 🙁
This seems to be a trend lately for UD. It’s pretty shocking!
I saw this on youtube and thought “nah”. I would prefer if it was their 3 highlighters that was in the box.
That would be better!
I’m a UD girl but these didn’t even look good to me in the palette! I’m surprised that did as poorly as they did though given that some of their highlighters are pretty good. I’m also surprised at the shade palette they used for this. The whole package just seems kind of meh.
It seemed like the least thought out of all their holiday releases to me – a very basic, bland highlighter trio and then lacking in quality to boot!
Welp, guess I’m skipping the UD holiday releases this year – that was easy!
Aw, bummer!
Pretty! But not the kind of palette I’d use much.
Oh, I see! 🙂
I had a single of this type of product from US. Hated it, swapped it away. It was such a glitter bomb. Who wants glitter all over them?
It’s bizarre to me that they don’t talk about how glittery it is (but in an awesome way, you know?), because it is not at all microfine!
Ugh, what a shame! That first shade, Pyrite, is so pretty and I’ve been obsessed with highlighters lately. (Hello, Lorac Light Source stash from the Ulta 21 Days sale.)
But the second two shades? My $10 Ulta brand highlighter performs better than that. My $6 Makeup Revolution highlighters perform better than that. From a brand like UD, there’s no excuse for such poor quality.
Better to stick with the LORAC highlighter 😉
How the heck did they screw this up so badly??? You have to wonder how the heck stuff like this makes it to the shelves. Don’t they test their finished products??
Good question! I am curious if anyone else experiences the hardness of the center shade!
Glad I didn’t fall for the hype-machine. So many others talked about how good it was.
I don’t mind glitter (though I don’t think it’s apparent from their description that you’d get that), but I don’t know what’s up with the textures!
Thank you…one down
Happy to help!
That one in the middle looks like the press was absolutely insane. I have been experimenting with homemade pressed powders, and I used to think you were supposed to press everything as HARD as you can, but it’s not always the case. The powders that I have pressed too hard in the past end up flaking off in chunks to expose the area underneath (as it appears above) and when I tried baking the powders, it only made matters worse. I can only imagine how unpleasant this was to use if it was a baked formulation AND a heavy press. I hope you get to review a product soon that just blows you away and makes up for this unfortunate event. LOL
LOL! Even though it rated bad, something like this is easy to test and has no real effects on me, you know? A really drying lipstick is a little more annoying 😉
Ugh. I was really hoping that this would be a good lower-cost alternative to the new Hourglass palette, but this is terrible.
🙁 Definitely not!!
I knew this would be a skip. I hated their other 3 illumintors. Too bad though, it looks so pretty.
Even easier, since the finish is like the others!
Christine, what lipstick are you wearing in the pic? I love it.
Urban Decay Pallor
This would be an affirmative: NOPE.
Ugh, those 2nd two shades are pathetically underpigmented. How sad, considering how nicely their permanent highlighters and blushes have performed.
Sad indeed!
I know most people prefer to not be negative and try to look at things in the positive but can we just this once say this is a crap product? This items to me, is more suited towards very young girls who are looking for that glitter ball look. Not someone like me who it 53 years old but loves wearing a good highlighter. Nothing wrong with putting makeup out for tweens and teens but maybe jazz up that packaging to appeal to that age range.
I heard good things about UD Illuminators a few years ago and went into Sephora to try them before I bought one. So glad I did. One swipe and I was like yeah, I think not.
I don’t think that age should define whether one wears glitter or not – I don’t mind it myself, but I do think it should be more apparent in the description that these are rather sparkly! 🙂
A disappointing performance, but I guess I can’t complain much about the money I will save! Thanks for the helpful review, Christine.
Glad I could help!
I will absolutely save my money on this one. I thank you, my wallet thanks you and the dog would probably thank you if he knew what a highlighter was 🙂
Haha 😀
Wow, thanks for the review! I was about to buy it after seeing how pretty the packaging is and how promising UD’s products usually are. I’ll skip this one!
No problem, Viki!
Crud, this looked like it might be nice. :/
I don’t know what happened 🙁
It’s so disappointing that they are as bad as they are because the colours are pretty!
I know!
Despite loving UD in general, I wouldn’t bite on this. I have LM #1 already. That’s enough to last 20 years. The review puts it in the casket. Thank you.
Happy I could help!
I don’t know why UD even still makes the Illuminateds when the Afterglow formula is so much better. I wish they had expanded that line instead of making this trio. Or even offered the three they have out now as a set.
Ohh, an Afterglow trio!!
I don’t know why companies add sparkles to their products. Really annoying. So many great products are unusable due to sparkles – such a waste.
Different strokes for different folks 🙂 Some people like sparkle and glitter.
i thought they would definitely make improvements to the formula considering the drastic increase and interest in using highlighters since their last release. i’ve swatched their old illuminator multiple times and find it lacking pigment and chalky… so while i’m not surprised these are the same, i thought UD would make improvements!
I thought they’d actually discontinue these since they did the Afterglow ones!
This makes me sad, I really wanted this to be awesome! Glad you reviewed it before I picked it up. 😉
Awww!
Not interested in these. Is it me or Urban decay seems to be losing quality since the take over?
I don’t think so – they have put out some great formulas, like their blushes and lipsticks – since they were bought out.
oh wow. i loved the idea of a UD highlighter palette as i like the singles but can’t decide on one…good thing I looked up swatches before throwing my money at it. thank you for the review.
If you like the singles, maybe swatch it in store to see if the middle shade is better in other palettes!
These have been on sale for $21 (for the holidays, presumably) at basically every retailer that carries UD. The UD website even has it at an extra 30%, so less than $16 – tempting for gifts. They didn’t look that great in person and I’m glad that your review confirmed that!