Eyes

Naked2, Bought & Sold

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naked2Urban Decay Naked2, $54

Urban Decay Naked was my second-ever palette. I still have it, and I baby the hell out of it because it is delightful. Last October, I bought Naked2. As far as I could tell, my collection wasn’t rife with dupes (except for Half Baked, but I’m okay with this).

Last Friday, I sold it. I never even took swatch photos for the blog because I hadn’t grown to love it.

I picked it up that same morning to do a look, thinking, “This hasn’t been touched this in months.” After doing my makeup and examining my work with the cooler, smoky tones, I decided I was over it. An hour later, I took usage photos, sanitized it, and listed it for sale. The palette was claimed within the next few hours, and mailed out to its new (excited to own it) home the next day.

The colors are pretty, but the majority of the cool shades aren’t pretty on me. That’s ultimately the deal-breaker here; I’m not a professional makeup artist, I don’t need to keep products that don’t flatter me.

What I Didn’t Love about Naked2

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Naked Basics vs Naked2 Basics

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I am not a self-proclaimed, “beauty guru.” I’m not here to convince you that I, “totally love,” or that you, “definitely need,” every damn beauty product under the sun. That said, I do enjoy neutrals quite a lot and (probably) own more than I need (insert excuse about variety being the spice of life here). When I was shopping, ages ago, for a small neutrals palette, I was disappointed to find new resources comparing Naked Basics vs Naked2 Basics.

Naked Basics vs Naked2 BasicsNaked Basics vs Naked2 Basics
bottom to top because I make sense

If you’re trying to prioritize Naked Basics vs Naked2 Basics and decide which (if either) to buy, take a look at the swatches from my archives.

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If I Lost All My Makeup

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Instead of the, “If you were on a deserted island and could only have one item of makeup, what would it be?” question, I’m examining a new one:

If I lost all my makeup in some tragic accident and had to replace it…

…what would I buy?

Inspired by tragic makeup losses everywhere, I sat down to reevaluate my collection. I’m giving myself a $150 budget. I am not including brushes in this, just the products themselves.

loracpro

Lorac PRO, $44 – Versatile, great quality.

Maybelline Gel Liner

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner, $8 – Inexpensive, performs amazingly well (including when you are irresponsible and forget to remove your makeup before bed).

telescopiccarbon

L’Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black, $7.50 – It’s a great drugstore mascara. It isn’t heavy on the drama, but it is perfect for work and everyday use.

maybellineinstantagerew

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind, $8 – Still my tried-and-true. I use Pro Longwear now, too, but Instant Age Rewind is what I reach for when I’m in a rush and or need to keep it simple…aka most days. I really like how Pro Longwear wears, but I don’t have time for beautyblender concealer buffing every day.

Foundation, $40 – Well, I can’t buy any more Ponds Luminous Finish BB+, so Naked Skin Powder foundation…or I’d try one of the new MUFE options. I listed the price as an average between the two.

luminosoMilani Luminoso, $9 – No highlight needed with this radiant blush.

Urban Decay All Nighter

Urban Decay All Nighter, $32 – Setting spray is one thing I found through learning how to do bridal makeup that I now cannot live without. It’s a splurge, yes, shoot me.

Did I stay within budget?!

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Sephora Play June 2016

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Sephora Play June 2016Sephora Play June 2016

Never having jumped on the subscription box bandwagon, in May I signed up for Sephora Play! I received my first box in mid-June, and finally have time to talk about it what I got!

Tocca Florence

I’m highly picky about fragrances. When I realized this was a floral, I nearly tossed it out without popping the cap off the vial. I decided that wasn’t fair, so I removed the stopper and…was pleasantly surprised! For the first time since the Marc Jacobs Daisy line, I’ve found a pleasant floral. That said, I’m not going to rush out and buy a full sized, $68 bottle of Florence. I will enjoy this sample vial, but juggling several bottles of perfume is not for me. I would consider buying a rollerball. If you like subtle florals and are in the market, give this a shot.

Tarteguard

I’ve always thought that the packaging for Tarte’s sunscreen was cute, but I didn’t give the product much consideration. If I was going to drop $32 on a sunscreen, I’d probably go Shiseido, Clinique, or Murad…or I’d go with a BB Cream product. So far, I’ve used Tarteguard on my hands and forearms only – where it has done a good job. I was reluctant to introduce change to my routine so soon after finding a routine that my skin is responding well to (plus I <3 my Biore one!). Furthermore, the reviews this sunscreen has received have indicated a high incidence of breakouts in relation to use. Unfortunately it isn’t going anywhere near my face anytime soon. It DOES has a faint, pretty scent that I can’t place and none of that nasty, “sunscreen smell.” For what it’s worth, a fellow, makeup-obsessed friend swears by this stuff and reports that it doubles as a good primer.

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Urban Decay Naked Basics

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So my approach with Urban Decay Naked Basics was a little backwards, having bought Naked2 Basics first. Don’t judge. I’ve really been feeling matte neutrals lately. My energy’s been zapped lately, so I need foolproof…and mattes are exactly that. Let’s be honest – you know what the packaging looks like, so let’s jump right into it.

DSC_0378Urban Decay Naked Basics

Urban Decay Naked Basics isn’t a new palette. I’m not going to hold your hand through it. But even though it isn’t new, I AM excited about it.

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