Urban Decay Naked Ultraviolet Palette

I received a PR sample of the Urban Decay Naked Ultraviolet Palette back in the middle of July and I've been playing with it a lot since. I wanted to put together a comprehensive review of the palette as makeup testers are not available at the moment so I think reviews on social media are more important than ever before. If you're going to spend €50 on a palette that you can't try out first then I think it's important to be able to have as many photos as possible of looks and swatches of the palette. 

I'm fully aware the blogging isn't what it once was and people now use Instagram a lot more than blogs but when it comes to spending my hard earned money I will always look up blog posts reviewing products in depth as you can't get that kind of detail on Instagram. I wanted to take as many photos and try out lots of different looks so that anyone thinking of spending money on this palette can get a good idea of what it can do. 

There are a LOT of photos in this post so I want to try and keep the text to a minimum, but I do want to share a few thoughts on the palette for anyone who might be interested in buying it. When I first saw this palette I was a bit confused as it felt very different to the other Naked palettes in the Urban Decay repertoire. It seems like half neutral, half colourful and I was trying to imagine the type of makeup lover who would want to buy this. Then I went back through my blog and my Instagram and I realised how many purple eye looks I have posted myself over the past couple of years and it was more than any other "colourful" shade. 

I'm a huge lover of purple eye makeup as I've always found it quite complimentary to green eyes. I've done looks with purple glitter, purple liner, lilac and smoky purple looks. I liked how it was half neutral and more "wearable" shades and then half different shades of purple for anyone who wants to experiment but doesn't want an all colourful palette. 

I loved the look of the palette as I could see straight away so many different looks that I could create with it which isn't always the case with palettes. However admittedly I probably wouldn't have bought it straight away as I already have so many palettes in my collection and my brother just bought me the Huda Beauty Amethyst Obsessions Palette for Christmas which I need to play around with some more. When I received the PR drop though I was obviously delighted as I knew I would definitely get lots of use out of it. I know it's probably quite polarising and you'll either love the purples or you'll know it's not for you and you'd never wear them. 

I love the packaging and the shade selection. I was really drawn to the shade VR, Lucid and Optimized at first. When I really examined the shades I realised they were mostly quite unique in my collection. I swatched it as soon as I had taken photos and I was admittedly a little disappointed with the pay-off from some of the metallic shades. However I would never judge a palette on swatches alone and I'm glad I didn't with this one as once you're willing to play around a bit you can get the shadows to look amazing. I always wear eye primer as I find it just works really well on my eyelids. I know not everyone uses it but I definitely think this is a palette that benefits from using a primer first. I was running out of my Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion and since I've actually never tried any other eye primer I decided to buy the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Amplifying Eye Primer as I had heard great things about it. I find that it makes the mattes blend so easily and makes the colours look much more pigmented. I also used the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray and a flat brush to apply most of the metallic shades and the difference was amazing. It really made the metallics stand out and I even used it to make a liquid liner in the last look you'll see here. I made a paste on the back of my hand and used a thin artist paint brush to create a thin purple liner and because I mixed it with All Nighter it didn't budge. 

Like I said this post is quite photo heavy so I'll let them do the talking. But I think you'll agree that the palette is much more versatile than you might think at first glance and although the shadows are not as easy to work with as the Naked Honey palette, once you put in a bit of effort they really do look incredible. I loved the looks I created so far and I'm so excited to use this palette more especially now that we're all wearing masks, I've been really enjoying playing up my eyes. 

Without Primer

With Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Amplifying Eye Primer

Good Molecules Silicone Free Priming Moisturizer
*Glossier Futuredew
*Urban Decay Stay Naked Foundation (10NN)
*Urban Decay Stay Naked Concealer (10NN)
Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Skinstick (Amber)
Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer (Baked)
Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler
Glossier Brow Flick (Brown)
Soapbrows
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Amplifying Eye Primer
*Urban Decay Naked Ultraviolet Palette (Lucid, Optimized, Warning, Cyber Punk, Euphoric, Purple Dust)
*Glossier Pro Tip
*Clarins Wonder Perfect 4D Waterproof Mascara
Glossier Cloud Paint (*Beam, Dusk and Puff)
Kevyn Aucoin Glass Glow Face (Prism Rose)
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder (1 Fair)
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
Pixi Glow Mist
Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Lipstick (Bitch Perfect)

Good Molecules Silicone Free Priming Moisturizer
*Glossier Futuredew
Estée Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Makeup (1N0 Porcelain)
Uoma Beauty Stay Woke Concealer (White Pearl T1)
YSL Beauty Touche Éclat Illuminating Pen (1 Rose Lumiere)
Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Skinstick (Amber)
Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer (Baked)
Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler
*Urban Decay Brow Beater (Dark Drapes)
Glossier Boy Brow (Brown)
Fenty Beauty Prop Filt'r Amplifying Eye Primer
*Urban Decay Naked Ultraviolet Palette (Trippin, Mind Slip, Dazed)
*Clarins Wonder Perfect 4D Waterproof Mascara
Glossier Cloud Paint (*Beam and Dusk)
Kevyn Aucoin Glass Glow Face (Prism Rose)
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder (1 Fair)
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
Pixi Glow Mist
*Urban Decay Vice Lip Chemistry (Low Key)

Good Molecules Silicone Free Priming Moisturizer
Glossier Mango Balm Dotcom
*Glossier Futuredew
Estée Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Makeup (1N0 Porcelain)
Uoma Beauty Stay Woke Concealer (White Pearl T1)
YSL Beauty Touche Éclat Illuminating Pen (1 Rose Lumiere)
Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Skinstick (Amber)
Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer (Baked)
Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler
*Urban Decay Brow Beater (Dark Drapes)
Glossier Boy Brow (Brown)
Fenty Beauty Prop Filt'r Amplifying Eye Primer
*Urban Decay Naked Ultraviolet Palette (Trippin, Hacked, VR, Lucid)
*Glossier Pro Tip
Glossier Colorslide Eye Pencil (Pretty Penny)
*Urban Decay Lash Freak Mascara
Glossier Cloud Paint (*Beam and Dusk)
Kevyn Aucoin Glass Glow Face (Prism Rose)
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder (1 Fair)
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
Pixi Glow Mist
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat (Pillow Talk)
Beauty Bakerie Lip Whip Gloss (Drive Me Glazy)

Farsáli Unicorn Essence
Beauty Bakerie Wake and Bake Baking Oil
Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation (160 Shell)
Uoma Beauty Stay Woke Concealer (White Pearl T1)
Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Skinstick (Amber)
Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer (Baked)
Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler
Glossier Brow Flick (Brown)
Soapbrows
Fenty Beauty Prop Filt'r Amplifying Eye Primer
*Urban Decay Naked Ultraviolet Palette (Cyber Punk, Euphoric, Purple Dust)
Glossier Glitter Gelée (Phantasm) Discontinued
Lemonhead LA Spacepaste (Houdini)
*Urban Decay Lash Freak Mascara
Glossier Cloud Paint (*Beam, Dusk and Puff)
Kevyn Aucoin Glass Glow Face (Prism Rose)
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder (1 Fair)
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
Pixi Glow Mist
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat (Pillow Talk)
Lisa Eldridge True Velvet Lip Colour (Velvet Fawn)
Nude By Nature Moisture Infusion Lipgloss (7 Dusk)

What do you think of Naked Ultraviolet? Would you wear these shades? What's your favourite eyeshadow palette, Urban Decay or otherwise?

Emma x


*PR Samples

**Glossier products are affiliate links, if you choose to shop via those links I will receive a small percentage of the sale but it won't cost you anything extra.

Ice Cream Kisses

If you follow me on social media you'll know I'm a huge fan of makeup artist Jo Baker. I'm constantly inspired by her work and how she merges red carpet with editorial to create the most unique and beautiful makeup looks for her clients. I'm especially enamoured by her work with actress Lucy Boynton. Obviously Lucy is stunning but I love how the makeup seems to suit her style so much, it doesn't take away from her outfits or overpower her delicate features. It's so refreshing to see such different red carpet makeup and I always look forward to seeing her posts on Instagram and the inspiration behind each look. 

One of the recent looks that blew me away was at the Vanity Fair Oscar party where Lucy wore a pastel Miu Miu dress and the makeup was incredible. You can see it here. It was quite simple but went perfectly with the overall look and I immediately wanted to try my hand at recreating it. Jo used a lot of Chanel Beauty products and the glitter under the eyes was Lemonhead LA Violet Hour Spacepaste. I didn't have this one but I did have Mulholland which is a rose gold. On my eyelids and on the lower lash line I applied a mixture of two shades from the Fenty Beauty Snap Shadows Pastel Frost palette, a pink called Ice Cream Kisses and a Lavender called Lady Pimp. I then added a touch of the Bodyography Glitter Pigments in the shades Eclipse and Halo just in the centre of my eyelid. 

I used the Glossier silicone detailer brush to apply the Spacepaste under my lower lashes. I brought it down lower than I usually would with eyeshadow but I think it works because you can really see the glitter and it makes it into more of a feature. I applied a couple of coats of Le Volume de Chanel mascara, I definitely don't have Lucy Boynton's amazing lashes but this mascara gives me lots of volume although not as much length as I'd like. 

My friend very kindly picked me up the new Bite Beauty Changemaker Foundation when she was in New York. I've only tried it a couple of times but so far I love the finish, I think I just need to figure out what way to best prep my skin before using it. I've also been using the Kevyn Aucoin Glass Glow Face since I got in the The Loop Duty Free on the way to Paris. It's such a gorgeous multi-use product. I've tried it under foundation and on the high points of the face which is how I used it for this look. It really does give that glass skin look without much pigment. It does have some micro glitter in it but that doesn't bother me.

On my lips I wanted something with a light pink hint to it that wouldn't wash me out so I used the Bellàpierre Cosmetics mineral lipstick in the shade Catwalk and a little bit of my beloved Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector on top. I recently repurchased my favourite Glossier Cloud Paint shade Puff which is a light pink that works really well for this tonal look. 

Kevyn Aucoin Glass Glow Face (Prism Rose)
Bite Beauty Changemaker Supercharged Micellar Foundation (L15)
Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Skinstick (Amber)
*bareMinerals bareSkin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer (Fair)
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat (Rose Lumière)
Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler
Glossier Brow Flick (Brown)
Glossier Boy Brow (Brown)
*Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Fenty Beauty Snap Shadows (8 Pastel Frost, Ice Cream Kisses and Lady Pimp)
Bodyography Glitter Pigments (Halo and Eclipse)
Lemonhead LA Spacepaste Glitter (Mulholland)
Chanel Beauty Le Volume de Chanel Mascara
Glossier Cloud Paint (Puff)
Bellápierre Cosmetics Mineral Lipstick (Catwalk)
Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector (05 Candy Shimmer)

What do you think of this look? Would you wear it?

Emma x

*PR Samples
**Glossier products are affiliate links, if you choose to shop via those links I will receive a small percentage of the sale but it won't cost you anything extra.

Mulholland Drive

I've been wanting to try Lemonhead LA glitters for the longest time so when I saw that they were stocked on Cult Beauty before Christmas I had to make an order. They also happened to be offering a free Mulholland Spacepaste with every purchase so that made it even sweeter, two for the price of one. I was so excited to try them out myself after seeing lots of different people using them. 

I decided to go for a sort of tonal look based on the rose gold shade of Mulholland. I used Bodyography Eclipse Glitter Pigment as a base as it's the same shade as the glitter and then NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment in the shade American Woman which is described as a chestnut rose. I used Glossier Cloud Paint in Storm on my cheeks to bring the rosy colour onto my face and tie the look together. 

I'm still loving using Glossier Futuredew under my foundation, particularly with more long lasting or full coverage foundations like Double Wear Light or the IT Cosmetics CC Cream which is what I did for this look. As you can see despite it being full coverage it doesn't look heavy at all. 

I love how this look turned out, I think the different shades of rosy pink worked really well together. I was so impressed with the Lemonhead Spacepaste, it's such an easy product to use as the glitter is suspended in a kind of gel so you can either apply it with a flat brush or your finger for a lighter application. I also really enjoyed wearing the NARS Powermatte for the first time. I bought one of the Studio 54 sets on sale at Christmas with three shades in it. I blended out the edges slightly with a pencil brush for a softer look. 

*Glossier Futuredew Oil Serum Hybrid
*IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream (Fair)
*IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Concealer (Light/Ultra Fair)
*bareMinerals bareSkin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer (Fair)
Soapbrows
Glossier Brow Flick (Brown)
Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Skinstick (Amber)
Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler
Bodyography Glitter Pigment (Eclipse)
Lemonhead LA Spacepaste Glitter (Mulholland)
*Glossier Pro Tip
*Urban Decay Perversion Mascara
*Glossier Cloud Paint (Storm)
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter (Fair)
*Glossier Play Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate (Platinum Rose)
*L'Oréal Paris Infallible Magic Loose Powder
*Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
Pixi Glow Mist
NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment (American Woman)

What do you think of this look? Are you over glitter or were you ever into it?

Emma x


*PR Sample
***Glossier products are affiliate links, if you choose to shop via those links I will receive a small percentage of the sale but it won't cost you anything extra.