Butt why, NYX!? Why so cheeky? 🙂
I can’t say I ever expected to see the words “butt” and “naked” appear on a makeup palette, butt there they are — all saucy and snarky on the front of Butt “Naked” Eyes, NYX’s new $25 holiday palette for the face, eyes and cheeks.
Judging by the name at least, it looks like the line had fun putting together this two-tiered palette of eyeshadows, blushes, a bronzer and highlighters, butt about that name…
LOL! Okay, I’ll stop.
I couldn’t help but notice that the name shares a word in common with the recently released Naked2 from Urban Decay.
Would that mean it’s also a possible dupe for half the price?
Let’s find out!
NYX Butt “Naked” Eyes
In a word: nope. Beyond the brands sharing an apparent appreciation for nudity, neutral shades and a similar sense of humor, the two palettes are almost nothing alike.
Urban Decay Naked2
The bulk of Butt Naked’s shadows lean cool and sheer — much cooler than the shades in either Naked from Urban Decay — and being as sheer as they are, I really have to pack them on to be able to see them clearly on my NC42 skin. With these, lighter lovelies would probably have better luck.
Both new Naked palettes, NYX’s and Urban Decay’s, have all the right raw materials to create complete eye looks, but they take very different approaches in terms of pigment. The subdued shimmers and sheer shades in NYX’s nudist remind me of Bobbi Brown’s clean, classic style, while Naked2, with its bangin’ shine and intensity, has more in common with MAC.
As for the blushes, the bronzer and the highlighters, Kanye said it well: “Me likey.” They’re a little warmer and more pigmented than the eye shades and consequently better fits for me, but they do seem kinda like Contempo Casuals/Wet Seal/Forever 21 versions of products from higher end brands like NARS… Which is just to say that I think they could stand to be a little softer and less grainy. Thankfully, they still apply without streaking, and the pigments last all day long.
Swatches of the first row of eyeshadows from left to right
The second row of eyeshadows, also from left to right
Swatches of the third row of eyeshadows from left to right
The blushes, bronzer and highlighters from left to right
All in all, a proficient, well-priced palette that should be a great fit for pale pretties who like the way they look in cool-toned neutral shades.
Butt (I couldn’t resist!), if NYX can manage to ramp up the pigment in a sequel, perhaps called Butt “Naked” Eyes2, I’ll be one of the first in line.
PRICE: $25
AVAILABILITY: Available now at select beauty stores and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Whew! Glad we got Monday out of the way. Now things are lookin’ up. I’m just about to have a bowl of soup and salad with my boy Timothy Olyphant on Justified.
This is unrelated, but have you ever heard anything by Susan Werner before? I like listening to her music when I’m feeling stressed or out of sorts. It’s kinda mellow/folksy, and I just love her lyrics.
Say it with me now: “So long, Monday! Don’t let the door hit you in the…” 🙂
The NYX palette looks more day friendly because it seems to have quite alot of matte eyeshadows compared to the Urban Decay Naked palettes. However, I’m not really digging the sheerness of the NYX eyeshadows. =(
Boo! I’m biased – nothing can beat UD shadows in my opinion. I’ve tried a lot of NYX shadows and haven’t been impressed!
This might not be pigmented enough for you, but I’ve tried a few palettes and singles and some of them are really good! 🙂
How have you been? Is your week off to a good start?
This palette doesn’t look pigmented at all! And the colors kinda look all similar… I would pass.
Yeah, the shades look super sheer on my skin, but I bet they would pop better on lighter ladies.
How can I even look at swatches/any other photo and read words when you’re wearing such a STUNNING lip colour? I’m surprised I can even form coherent sentences right now. That’s quite irresponsible of you, Karen! :p
I with you here, please tell us what it is Karen, before my laptop gets completely covered in drool!
Eh…gonna hold on buying EITHER of them. Not completely sold yet.
I MUST know your lip color!! It’s amaaaaazzzzingly gorgeous on you.
I’m pretty fair-skinned, and I like cool-toned neutrals, so I’m thinking about picking it up, despite just getting Naked 2 AND the Balm’s Nude ‘Tude palette. It’s a sickness…
I do have to say, though, I agree that the name of this palette is so odd! And the superfluous quotation marks around “Naked” are bugging the heck out of me!
i totally agree about the quotation marks.
i’m definitely very cool toned, but there’s no way i’d get this. too dang sheer. i never use sheer shadows, too much work.
More bang for you buck but i still prefer UD eyeshadows to be honest.
Hated the name to be honest but I love your lipstick! What are you wearing? 😀
I like how there are a lot of matte shades but thats where it ends. I’ve always had problems with NYX’s matte formulation. I think the UD Naked 2 is worth the splurge =D
I’m still not sold on Naked2, and I am liking the cooler toned mattes here. I agree with the name, a bit ridiculous!
Has anyone played around with Sonia Kashuk’s neutral matte palette? It’s all matte and seems pretty amazing. Still need to try that one, seems more up my alley. So hard to find mattes these days! Karen thanks for posting swatches, and I am also loving the lip color!
The eyeshadows look too sheer for my taste. I’d rather get the UD palette tbh.
OMG – I almost just had a heart attack when I thought that I missed a new episode of Justified. Whew! New episodes air in January – yay!
I don’t know about this palette – I kind of don’t mind having sheer eyeshadows cause I’m really more of a nude eye look with a pretty eyeliner anyhow. And the blushes look lovely!
Errr, I always thought that NYX has very pigmented eyeshadows! Sigh, save my money!
Butt Naked Eyes 2? I love you, Karen! Most NYX palettes I’ve tried are on the sheer side although their single eye shadows are crazy pigmented. Maybe some natural butt naked makeup lovers might enjoy it butt I shall take a pass.
I’m just having too much fun with the name, can you tell?
the name of the palette slays me!
the eyeshadows seem a bit sheer but still pretty!
At least the case isn’t butt-shaped (that wouldn’t matter anyway to me)! 😛
Your lip color reminds me of the red lipstick in my bag that I’ve ignored all day long. Should wear this tomorrow! I need some spirit-lifting 🙂
Hello Karen and congratulations in getting featured in UD´s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/urbandecaycosmetics?sk=app_202540879780784
(great lipstick by the way!)
Vaie
I had to comment and mention that I received an email from Urban Decay saying Naked2 is back in stock, and at the bottom is a banner inviting fan photos. The example fan photo shown – is Karen! I love this blog; keep up the good work! 😀
Karen! I just saw you in a recent Urban Decay e-mail w/ your Naked 2 palette. You looked so good I just had to let you know :P!
Although I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t include a pic of Tabs too… Heehee.
I saw it too! I was like hey it’s Karen!
What are you wearing on your lips?
YOU’RE IN THE URBAN DECAY EMAIL!!!
Thank you Karen! You just saved me 20.00. I don’t like the sheerness of the colors. I have the same skintone as you and these just look chalky on the swatches. You rock!
I definitely prefer the UD (from the pics) and you know you’re old when you keep saying to yourself “but, it’s BUCK Naked…”. 🙂
Sorry to be so out of touch – it’s been crazy busy! I missed the Monday poll but my goal was to at least get here for a couple of minutes every day to say Hi!
Hi Kim,
I figured you were swamped, no worries! We’ll have time to catch up soon and you can tell me all about your Disney trip. 🙂
Bummer. I think most nyx eyeshadows and blushes are really super pigmented. Why did they have to take down their quality with this palette. I totally would have bought it.
Hi everyone,
Thanks for all the shout outs re: the Urban Decay email today! What a surprise. 🙂
There’s been some questions about the lip color I’m wearing here. It’s the new NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in 03 Spicy. 🙂
These shades are way too sheer for me and they look a little chalky. I think I’ll pass – and what on earth is with the name?!
Thank you for doing swatches of this particular palette. I’ve seen it on the NYX site, and wondered how these looked.
As a pale-skinned lass, I will say that I constantly run into frustration when it comes to lighter shades in palettes. I’m so pale that when a pale neutral shadow shade isn’t highly pigmented, it doesn’t really show any contrast on my skin, either. Although I love the pigments in most of the bright NYX shadows that I’ve purchased, I prefer pale shadow colors from MAC, UD, and others.
Karen, you look so pretty and you’re totally rocking the red lipstick 😉 This review was really helpful, because I love neutral palettes [[why yes I did buy both Naked 1 and Naked 2…]] and was wondering how the NYX palette compared. Since I’m NC40, I’ll probably give it a pass.
I just picked this up tonight at Ulta on sale for 20 bucks. I am decently impressed with the pigment/color payoff of the shadows. There are a few color dupes of some Too Faced shadows I have. The pink in the second row, second shadow in is very similar to Satin Sheets. I am really rather fair in the winter and these colors appear nicely pigmented on my eyes. The textures of the shadows are smack in the middle of Maybelline and Urban Decay. I am very much reminded of Isa Dora shadows in the “softness” of them. Haven’t got to wear them yet so can’t comment on longevity. I haven’t played with the blushes/bronzers yet. I encourage the fair skinned gals to try this out! (Especially if you can get it on sale as I did.)
I bought this palette last year, without having read your review. And I’m glad I did. Mine was perfectly pigmented (not sheer at all but for 2 colours which are sheer) and the colours are longlasting with my regular primer. I do not know how there can be such a difference between your palette and mine. I have Chanel quads that are much sheerer than the colours of this palette (regard perlé I’m looking at you!)