Naked 3 Palette Review and Swatches

IT'S HERE!

     Did anyone else see that coming?  I don't think I did.  I mean, we all know Urban Decay wouldn't just STOP the Naked Collection when it's become an incredible line . . . but I had no idea NAKED 3 was all ready to be released!  Maybe I'm wrong, but I think I was only notified one week before it was available for purchase!  Not much hype.  But I must say: This palette is well worth hype.

     If you know the story, then you know how it all started with the Naked palette 1 - the warm-toned neutrals.  That palette seemed to take the beauty world by storm.  It was THE palette.  As soon as we recovered from that excitement a couple years later came Naked 2 - the cool-toned neutrals.  The next palette, Naked Basics, began the craze of many brands including matte eye shadow into their palettes; but that doesn't compete with the 5 all-matte shades and 1 beautiful shimmer you get in Naked Basics! After Naked 1, 2, and Basics, Urban Decay took the neutral Naked idea into other areas than just eye shadow - Naked Flushed (Blush/Contour/Highlight palette), Naked 24/7 Glide-on Double Ended Eye Pencils, Naked Skin Liquid Make Up, Naked Skin Beauty Balm, Naked Illuminated (gorgeous highlighting powder), as well as Naked shades in their lip glosses and lip colors.  Just when I thought the Naked Collection had released all the amazing products they could dream up - Naked 3 popped up out of no where - 12 never-before-seen shades! The ROSE-TONED neutrals! 

     The Naked 3 comes with a double-ended eye brush that has a flat shader side and a flat blending brush on the other end.  It's different than the normal round-top blending brush that the Naked 2 palette had, but gives more control to the area you are trying to buff out.  This palette also comes with rather generous samples of each of the Urban Decay Primer potions: Original, Eden, Sin, and the new Anti-Aging formula.  Each little pod is said to come with a week's worth of primer - but I'm thinking they will stretch a little farther than that!

Strange: pale pink satin-matte

Dust: metallic champagne pink with silver micro-glitter

Burnout: peachy-pink satin

Limit: dusty rose matte

Buzz: metallic rose with silver micro-glitter

Trick: copper-peach with subtle glitter

Nooner: medium pinky-brown matte
Liar: medium pink-brown satin
Factory: Deep red-brown satin
Mugshot: pinky-taupe satin
Darkside: cool grayish-brown satin
Blackheart: matte black with red micro-glitter

     These shadows somehow seem even more butter-y than before!  All of the shades swatch wonderfully.  Even Blackheart (the black with red micro-glitter) is creamy and smooth as it applies.  I think this might actually be my most favorite of all the Nakeds!  There's just something about the metallics in this palette - they're extremely eye-catching and gorgeous but still wearable for every day!  This palette also has great mattes to really pull together any look you decide to put together.  Versatility, great formula, gorgeous shades, ability to create neutral everyday looks or glamorous evening looks - this palette is A+.  Sorry Naked 1 and Naked 2 - I think you've been outdone!

     Let me know if you plan to get Urban Decay's Naked 3 or if you already have!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Mani Monday: Vanilla Snowflake

     It's been quite awhile since I've done a Manicure Monday!  Since I've been wearing so many dark vampy colors for fall (if you caught my Autumn Nail Polish post, then you definitely know!) I was feeling inspired to switch into a pretty winter-y look.  My favorite candle from Bath & Body Work's winter collection this year - Vanilla Snowflake is what did the inspiring.

     I don't know what it is about that candle but I've been crazy about it recently.  Last year I was all about 'Tis the Season, but this year I can't get enough of the crisp, clean vanilla smell that has the tiniest hint of mint and coconut in it.  Vanilla Snowflake is so delicate and sweet, that's exactly what I wanted my nails to look like.  I started with Essie's Ballet Slippers - a soft sheer pinkish white and topped that off with a pearly top coat to give subtle sparkle and sheen.  Then I used a simple silver glitter from Forever 21 to create a "falling snow" effect.  I concentrated the glitter on my ring finger and working in light layers made it gradually fade out along my other fingers.

Essie Ballet Slippers, Glitters out of Forever 21 Sheer Opulence Set

Let me know in the comments if you have a favorite winter candle or what you're wearing on your nails!

Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Cream Bronzer Review and Swatch

     If you read my Top Ten e.l.f. Products post, then you probably know I really like cream bronzer.  For starters, cream bronzer tends to hold up better than a powder bronzer (kind of how most cream/liquid foundation hold up better than powder foundation).  You can also SET cream bronzer with a powder as you would your foundation (this is why it's a good option for oily skin) or you can use it alone and it isn't drying like a powder (making great for dry skin too).  What does this mean to me? Long-wearing contour/color.  The only problem? Most brands don't have a cream bronzer.  Until more recently, Chanel's Soleil Tan de Chanel was one of the only nice cream bronzer's out there.  It comes with a lot of product, but also a fairly high price tag.  Now, quite a few brands are coming out with some options in cream bronzers/contours.  But Sonia Kashuk's can be found at Target!  It retails for $10.99 and comes in two shades: Warm Tan and Rich Bronze.  I went with the darker shade, Rich Bronze, so that I could use it as a contour color.

     It's called "Undetectable" for good reason - the product blends very easily!  The formula smoothes right on creates a soft finish.  I love the way this product feels on my skin; it's a cream but is so lightweight it feels as though you didn't apply anything!  Because it's so smooth and airy-light it's extremely easy to blend in making it perfect for contouring during the day (but can also be built up for night).  Undetectable. 

My Tips:

♥ If you have oily skin: lightly apply it and then set it with your normal face powder.

♥ If you have dry skin: don't set with a powder if you don't normally.  

♥ Use either a stippling brush or synthetic-bristled buffing brush to apply. Blend in all the edges well.

Sonia Kashuk Undetectale Cream Bronzer in "Rich Bronze"

     I'm really enjoying this bronzer right now!  The Rich Bronze color is perfect to use as a contour - it doesn't come off as orange or overly warm as most bronzers do, there is no shimmer, and it's blend-ability makes it perfect! 

Do you have a favorite contour or bronzer for winter-time?