What if…
What if my neighbors saw me naked today? What if it should have been totally weird, but it was actually pretty great?
What if I strolled, all gloriously nude, past a group of them in our little circle on my morning walk with Tabs (gotta get that Vitamin D, yo!), as the sun beamed down on my cheeks?
What if I said, “Hello,” smiling and waving at all the neighborhood kids and their parents? “Nice day for a walk.” 🙂
What if —
Uh…DUDE. You do realize that I’ve been referring to wearing Urban Decay’s new spring 2014 collection, right? I wouldn’t actually walk around my neighborhood in the buff.
OK, where was I going with this…?
Oh, yeah! Urban Decay’s latest launch. It’s all about — you guessed it — more nakedness! And skincare benefits.
This time the focus is on naked skin and lips. This spring, the line is getting even more nude (nakeder?) with two brand new products lines, and two new Beauty Balm shades.
First things first, the most exciting stuff (well, at least to me): the brand new Naked Ultra Nourishing Lipglosses.
Naked Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss ($20 each, nine shades)
As if I needed another excuse to hoard sheer neutral lipglosses… Yeah, these are totally up my alley. Sheer, smooth, non-sticky and super hydrating, the formula contains skin-friendly ingredients like avocado oil, shea butter, Hyaluronic Filling Spheres, rosehip seed oil and vitamins A, E and C.
According to Urban Decay, these are also supposed to dramatically improve the appearance of lip lines and wrinkles, lip volume and hydration, to which I say…OK.
My lips have been flaky and dry lately (it has a lot to do with the heater being on 24/7), but they do feel a little better when I wear these. My lips also feel refreshed, as the formula faintly tastes and smells like mint (just a little; it’s not obnoxious).
There are nine shades in the release, all of them wearable nudes, bronzes and pinks.
I suspect that a few of the lighter nudes, like Walk of Shame, Nooner and Naked, will look quite alike on very pigmented lips, but that’s where the sheer brights — Lovechild, Liar and Streak (my faves) — come in.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-
Naked Skin Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder ($34 each, five shades)
I did not expect to “ooh!” over a loose powder sifter, but that’s exactly what I did when I saw the one on these new Naked Skin Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powders.
They’re really cute!
The etched logo? Nice touch. 🙂
Like the glosses, these are also the first entries in a new product line, and they look like UD’s regular pressed Naked Powders, but in loose form.
There are five shades — Naked Light, Naked Medium Light, Naked Medium, Naked Medium Dark and Naked Dark — and without my summertime tan, I appear to be a Naked Medium…
LOL! I just pictured a nudist clairvoyant.
Anywho, the powders are super silky and soft. Worn atop bare skin or face makeup, they’re designed to leave skin luminous with a demi-matte finish (which I think is like a semi-matte finish, only it sounds cooler).
So far, I’ve worn them a few different ways — on their own, on top of UD’s Naked Skin Beauty Balm, and on top of NARS Radiant Cream Compact Foundation — and if I were in my teens or early 20s, back when my skin was hella oily, I’d probably favor wearing them on their own, because back then I didn’t really need/want a lot of coverage.
These are beautifully sheer and control oil like a mo-fo.
But I’m not in my teens or early 20s anymore, and my skin is now a combo platter of oily areas and dry. I even have some flakes on my cheeks at the moment, and when I wear these bare, they catch on the flakes, which I’m not too crazy about…
I do, however, like these on top of other face products. Worn with sheer products like UD’s BB cream, I get very sheer, natural-looking coverage where my freckles peek through, which I like well enough, but with medium-to-full coverage foundations, I think they look absolutely beautiful. I wore one the other day with NARS Cream Compact Foundation, and I swear my skin looked airbrushed — not powdery or heavy at all. They photograph beautifully, too.
Now I just hope they don’t give me breakouts (she said, crossing her fingers and knocking on wood)…
All told, we have a nifty sheer powder here with preternatural oil control powers, but it might not be ideal for super dry skin.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+
Naked Skin Beauty Balm ($34 each, two new shades)
Lastly for spring, two new additions to UD’s Naked Skin Beauty Balm line (bringing the total to three). We’re getting two new colors this time in Naked Light and Naked Dark.
Super sheer, they’re almost like not wearing any makeup at all (your skin will still look like skin), and the tomboys in my life (hi, Mom and Cindy!) will probably love ’em.
How sheer are they?
Well, they’re much sheerer than tinted moisturizers, so when I want just the slightest semblance of coverage for something casual (like a beachy vacation), I might reach for these. They let my freckles peek through, which, ya know, at times, I like. Looks very natural.
But for everyday use, I usually like a little more tint and pigment to even things out and slightly conceal the spots around my mouth and cheeks.
These are also somewhat limited compared to something like NARS Tinted Moisturizer, because I’m not able to build them up in layers. They’re just so sheer…
All in all, I’d say these are pretty average from a strictly appearance point of view, but they do make some very bold anti-aging claims (like, after an 8-week clinical study, “93% of participants had significantly firmer, more lifted skin”), but I haven’t used them long or regularly enough to test that. I should also say that they do contain SPF 20, which is a plus.
If you and I were shopping at Sephora together, I’d still probably try to steer you toward NARS Tinted Moisturizer instead, depending on your needs, but if you told me, “Karen, I’m looking for the absolute faintest coverage possible,” I might suggest these.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: C+
The Urban Decay spring 2014 collection will be available online at urbandecay.com on January 14, and at Sephora, Ulta and select Macy’s stores this spring.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Erin says
I’m definitely interested in those loose powders!
Shikha says
Have to get myself some of the lipglosses 🙂
MJ says
The powders look great! Also I think I have to have a lipgloss called “Rule 34” just because. XD
Chantelle says
The glosses are all so pretty, and love the look of the powders too! 🙂 x
The Girl In The Tartan Scarf
Ankita@corallista says
I like Streak, Beso and Rule34!
Sylirael says
I was going to be all: ‘Those glosses are basically identical on’, but then they are part of the ‘Naked’ collection, so I guess it fits! 😛
Andee says
Oooooh I wonder if these are going to end up replacing their current lipglosses??Since it also happens to have the same shade of naked….
Iram says
Sorry if it’s already been mentioned but do you know the release dates for these in the UK.. or even just anywhere? I really want to pick up a loose powder 🙂
Fabulous review Karen, I can tell you put a lot of work into it.
Alison M says
Do you know if the new Naked lipglosses are replacing the Lip Junkie glosses? Given that each line has a shade called Naked, I wonder…? I haven’t found a BB cream I like yet, but UD’s has been tempting. Especially with a powder over the top.
hanna says
Everything looks fantastic!
Samantha M says
Definitely a fan of all the nakedness! Those lipglosses look super intriguing and every shade looks lovely on you! (So jealous). I think Beso might be my favorite. Thanks for all the great swatches and reviews xx
Kim says
This looks like a great collection for natural looks, which I definitely prefer. 🙂
I’m so bummed that I’ve now confirmed beyond pretty much any doubt that my Hourglass Ambient Powders break me out. It’s not crazy bad but it’s noticeable. I really wanted to love them. 🙁 Like you, I really like the UD sifter logo in this collection.
PS Happy Monday! We’re expecting a balmy high of 42 degrees today. People will probably be wearing shorts. HAHA!
Tiffany says
UD is taking this Naked thing all the way to the bank! The packaging of the glosses and powders is to die for! I really like the look of the glosses but I’m afraid they might be too sheer for my pigmented lips 🙁 Oh well… and I’m always on the hunt for a good setting powder. I’ll definitely check these out!
Madeline says
When does the collection become available for purchase? I gotta have that Naked gloss.
sarahc says
I love the packaging and I can’t wait to give the bb creams a try!
thebeautybadger says
The packaging alone looks stunning. I’ve never tried an Urban Decay lipstick but those lippies make me want to pick one up!
Agata says
I love the new releases. These glosses look fantastic, I think I will get Lovechild and Naked and I also want to try this new powder.
Natalie says
This looks like some nice additions to the whole naked family. Though the glosses look very similar.
gio says
Those lipglosses look lovely!
Kiss & Make-up says
Hee hee, loved the intro, Karen 🙂 And oh my gosh, how pretty is the lid of that powder, with the UD printed on it! Cute!
Natalye says
The glosses look nice
Katherine M says
I would probably try the glosses and the powders but not the BB cream. I like my BB and CC creams to work as my foundation, so they should be able to do a lot of things for me to like them. I like Garnier’s BB cream right now in oil-free (it has a nice mattifying effect), and Olay CC cream (just because I haven’t tested out any other CC creams yet. Olay’s can be a tad oily at times but great in the winter).
Nikki says
Urban Decay’s packaging just gets to me even if a huge part of me says I don’t need a new gloss or loose powder. But thanks for the review!
fancie says
I was curious to try the dark BB cream but it looks like it’ll be too light for me and even though it’s sheer there’s a pretty good chance it’ll look ashy. Pass. I do like the glosses though! I do wish they weren’t on the sheer side but I really like the packaging! Really cute. Urban Decay has really been impressing me lately!
Marilyn @ Lipgloss+Spandex says
I looove the look of those glosses. The powders and BB don’t interest me as much though.
Vanessa says
Ah Karen. Love your beautiful smile 🙂
Erin says
Beso looks great on you!
Amy B. says
I love how they are expanding their range. What really caught my eye was the cheek color that you have on! It is a blush or bronzer? What is the name? It looks fantastic on you and totally pulls the whole “Naked” look together = )
Rachel says
Just got the lipgloss in Streak. I love it, might be my new favorite lippie.