Founded in 1996, Urban Decay has gone from being a small company with just 10 lipsticks and 12 nail polishes to the cosmetic powerhouse it is today. Known for its high-quality eyeshadow and variety of colors, Urban Decay has produced a number of best-selling eyeshadow pallets over the years, most notably, the ‘Naked Palette’ series.
The original Naked Palette is considered by many the “holy grail” of eyeshadow palettes thanks to its versatility and array of handy neutral shades. Find out how to apply Urban Decay eyeshadow to rock your makeup.
Making the Most Out of Your Urban Decay Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Naked3 eyeshadow palette features 12 rose-hued neutrals in ultra-smooth mattes, gorgeous pearls, and glimmering metallics that work with every eye color and skin tone.
An Urban Decay palette is an investment, so to make sure you get the most bang for your buck, we’ve pulled together a number of looks you can do to get the most out of your Naked Palette.
How To Apply Urban Decay Eyeshadow
1. Dramatic Gray Smoky Eye
Part of the Naked Palette’s appeal is the ease in which you can create a smoky eye. The shades are specifically selected to help you blend with ease.
To do a dramatic gray smoky eye, start with the lighter shades first. You’ll first want to take the shade “Sin” and apply all over your eyelid. You can also go ahead and highlight your brow bone with “Virgin.” Then, apply “Toasted” to the middle of your lid. Blend out using small circular motions with your brush. After that take “Dark Horse” and apply it to your outer corner in a “V” shape.
You can always clean up the excess shadow with makeup remover later, so don’t worry about keeping it too neat. Then, apply “Hustle” into the crease and be sure to blend well. To soften the transition from the crease to the eyebrow highlight, add “Buck” above your crease and blend as well. Lastly, if you desire, apply “Half Baked” on your lower lash line and in your tear ducts. Finish off the look with your favorite eyeliner and mascara.
2. No-Makeup Makeup
Some days, you just want a clean, fresh-faced look. These looks don’t take a lot of time yet keep you looking polished.
A wash of subtle shimmery eyeshadow in a neutral tone is the perfect complement to your natural makeup look. Just take a shade close to your skin tone (like the shades “Naked,” “Toasted,” or “Buck”) and apply it all over your lid. Take a shade slightly darker than your skin tone such as “hustle” and apply and blend into the crease. Then, highlight your brow bone and inner eye with a lighter shade such as “Virgin” or “Sin.” Blend where necessary. If you want, use “Hustle” as eyeliner on the outer corner of your upper lid.
3. Cut Crease
This classic eyeshadow look is neutral yet glamorous. To get this look, start with a wash of “Sin” all over your lid and “Virgin” on your brow bone. Then, apply “Buck” into the crease. Don’t over-do it; start on the outer corner of your eye and blend towards the inner corner. When you’re satisfied with your blending, add a bit of “Naked” as a transition shade. Blend well. Apply winged eyeliner and mascara and complete the look with a touch of “Sin” on your lower lash line.
4. Gold Smoky Eye
The shade “Half Baked” is a shimmery gold that can be used to create a neutral, gold smoky, or bronze look. You can get this look by highlighting the brow bone and inner eye corner with “Virgin” and using “Half Baked” all over your eyelid. Then use “Dark Horse” on the outer corner of your eyelid and blend well. Take the shade “Smog” across your crease for definition, and blend out with “Naked.” For ultimate glamour, apply liquid eyeliner and false eyelashes.
5. Smoky Cat Eye
Using “Creep,” “Darkhorse,” “Hustle,” “Smog,” or even “Gunmetal” from the Naked Palette, create a pretty smoky cat eye look by using an angled brush to apply the eyeshadow as eyeliner. Smudge out your cat eye using a clean blending brush.
Brown Smoky Eye
This smoky eye has less contrast than the first smoky eye one the list, but it is still dark and dramatic. To start, highlight the brow bone with “Virgin” and apply “Sidecar” all over your lid. Define the crease with “Naked,” and smoke out the look by applying “Creep” in the outer corner of your eyelid. The key to this look is blending: you’ll want to take your brush in small windshield wiper motions (always in the same direction) until the colors transition seamlessly. For the finishing touch, add “Sin” to the tear duct. Apply eyeliner and mascara as desired.
More Than Just Eyeshadow
You can create a lot more eyeshadow looks with the Naked Palette than what we’ve just shown, but don’t stop there. The matte eyeshadow shades like “Buck” and “Naked” can even be used to fill in your eyebrows. Depending on your skin tone, any of the shimmery shades could also be used as a highlight, whether on your cheekbones or cupid’s bow. “Virgin,” “Sin” and “Half Baked” seem ideal for this use — just be sure to blend out the shadows.
Lastly, you could use any of the Naked Palette shadows for eyeliner if you wanted. Just wet your brush with some setting spray for extra pigmentation and staying power.