Urban Decay

A Quick Look at the New Urban Decay Naked3 Palette: A Makeup Menage a Trois

November 18th, 2013 by Karen 24 Comments

Girrrrrrl, there’s so much nudity up in here right now, we must be breaking some decency laws.

Here’s a quick look at the new Urban Decay Naked3 palette to whet your salacious appetite. Please note the “Do not disturb” sign on the door, as I am current indisposed, otherwise known as getting better acquainted with the new palette. 🙂

Looks, swatches and impressions coming up soon…

“We’ve spent a LOT of time getting Naked the past few years. We’ve done bronzy and taupey neutrals, but we realized there was a whole spectrum of gorgeous, flushed pinks we hadn’t explored yet. Rose- based hues look great on every skin tone. With 12 new shades, it’s hard to choose favorites, but we predict that Buzz (the pinkest of all the shades) will be a fan favorite. We’re also partial to Nooner (a stunning pinky-brown matte) and Dust (a pale metallic pink shimmer with amazing iridescent glitter), which can be worn on the lids or used as a highlighter. And for an edgy, smoky liner, there’s the aptly named Blackheart — a super dimensional black matte flecked with red glitter.”

— Urban Decay

Naked3 contains

STRANGE — pale neutral pink matte-satin
DUST — pale metallic pink shimmer with iridescent micro-glitter
BURNOUT — light pinky-peach satin
LIMIT — light dusty rose matte
BUZZ — metallic rose shimmer with silver micro-glitter
TRICK — light metallic pinky-copper shimmer with tonal micro-sparkle
NOONER — medium pinky-brown matte
LIAR — medium metallic mauve shimmer
FACTORY — pinky-brown satin
MUGSHOT — metallic taupe shimmer with slight pink shift
DARKSIDE — deep taupe-mauve satin
BLACKHEART — smoky black matte with rosy red micro-sparkle

Naked3 also includes a new double-ended Good karma shadow and Blending Brush and an Eyeshadow Primer Potion sampler with resealable samples of all four formulas (original, Sin, Eden and new anti-aging). According to UD, each sample holds about a week’s worth of primer.

Naked3 (SRP $52) will be available later this month from Sephora, ULTA and select Macy’s stores. Or, online at sephora.com, ulta.com, macys.com, beauty.com and urbandecay.com. If you’d like to sign up to find out the exact date, you can do so here.

Everything’s a Little Brighter With New Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder for Face and Body

September 12th, 2013 by Karen 22 Comments

When I picture no-makeup makeup, as in makeup that looks “au naturale,” Urban Decay isn’t the first brand that springs to mind. I mean…the have an entire sparkly rainbow of glitter eyeliners living in their permanent collection (and they’re great!).

Lately, though, with new additions to UD’s Naked Skin product line, they seem bound and determined to get makeup lovahs thinking about them in that way.

But based on my first swatch of the new Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder for Face and Body ($29) on the back of my hand, I did not expect subtle. In the swatch I saw a silvery beige powder so frosty, so sparkly, that I pictured roller skating rinks and knee-high socks.

We’re talking disco ball territory.

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When Are Two Vices Better Than One? When It’s a Face of the Day With the Urban Decay Vice 2 Palette

September 12th, 2013 by Karen 33 Comments

In the not-too-distant future, the headquarters of Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC, also known as my condo, has been classified as a historical site — one of the must-see stops on the way to Wine Country — with a placard on the front door that reads, “Here lived Tabs the Cat at the height of his fame/infamy.”

But visitors, of which there will be many, will be sorely disappointed to learn that the world’s first plus-size kitty supermodel’s assistant was actually really, really boring.

Many of them will expect that a historical figure as influential as Tabs would have had a wildly eccentric, fascinating right-hand woman with bizarre yet endearing habits and vices.

Sadly, my biggest vice is porcelain cats…

Because I own many of them.

I suppose that one could also call my weakness for well-stocked palettes, like the new Vice 2 palette from Urban Decay, another vice…

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A Face of the Day With the New Urban Decay Anarchy Face Case, and a Not-So-Rebellious Yell

September 11th, 2013 by Karen 19 Comments

After delving into Anarchy, one of Urban Decay’s two new Face Cases, I kind of expected to feel the urge to kick garbage cans over, growl at strangers and swing chains over my head…

Urban Decay Anarchy Face Case 3 — The Urban Decay Face Case in Anarchy

Ooh! — or a mace, like from Game of Thrones, but only if I were in the mood to really do some damage.

Alas, no. I didn’t feel that rebellious at all after applying the eye, lip and cheek colors from UD’s latest holiday palette. Instead, I had a fruit salad and took a nap.

But it was a glorious nap fit for a king! 🙂

I look at Anarchy as the more bad-@ss of the two new Face Cases. Where Shattered is sweet, Anarchy is sassy, with sparklier eye colors, more vibrant blushes (so vibrant that I had to buff my cheeks down after my first try because I looked totally crazypants) and a more man-eater-esque lip color.

If you want a palette that parties, call Anarchy.

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Prep for Parties in a Pinch With the Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliners

September 11th, 2013 by Karen 18 Comments

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in ACDC — Wearing Urban Decay’s Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in ACDC on my lower lash lines and Face Case in Shattered on my lids, cheeks and lips

I know it’s not even technically fall, but before you know it, that aisle at Target dedicated to floaty inner tubes and swimming pool toys will disappear, only to be replaced by the aisle overloaded with candy corn and snack-size Snickers bars (DAMN THOSE THINGS).

I’ll be thinking less and less about frozen yogurt and shave ice and more and more about turkey, side dishes and pie (I’m all about the pecan). And then, invariably, I’ll have to encase myself in a pair of sausage-y Spanx just to be able to fit into those form-fitting party dresses I can’t breathe in, but like to wear anyway, because they make me feel like I’ve still got it (she said, snapping in a Z formation).

My point, and I do have one, is that party season is almost upon us. 🙂

For some events, you’ll want to go all out with your makeup and really enjoy the whole process of getting ready. Those times are nice…

Other times, you’ll need to get ready NOW.

And it’s those times that Urban Decay’s Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliners really help.

The Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliners

UD recently relaunched this line of sparkly eyeliners, perhaps with parties in mind, because they’re absolutely fabulous for getting gussied up in a flash.

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner swatches — From the left: Junkshow, Midnight Owboy, Amp, Spandex, ACDC, Glamrock and Distortion

They come in seven fun colors, too, that once set, don’t budge for nothin’, so you can dance to Katy Perry all night long without worrying about your liner melting.

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A Face of the Day with the Urban Decay Shattered Face Case

September 10th, 2013 by Karen 35 Comments

Today was the first day in a really long time that I wore a sweater and long pants…

Bluh.

On the one hand, I’m gonna miss the hell out of summer. On the other hand, it’s nice when your office isn’t hotter than a sweat lodge.

I kid you not, yesterday it was so hot in hurrrrr that I had hallucinations! — including one with Tabs meowing to the tune of R. Kelly’s Ignition.

One of the coolest things about the cooling weather, though, is that it means holiday makeup isn’t too far away.

Yeah, boo. H-O-L-I-D-A-Y.

If you’re the type to pre-plan your Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year’s makeup months ahead of time, 1) you’re much more organized than I am, and 2) you might really dig the new $44 Urban Decay Shattered Face Case.

It’s one of a dynamic duo of recently released Face Cases from Urban Decay (now available on urbandecay.com and coming soon to stores and counters), with a mix of wearable cool-toned beige, gray and purple eyeshadows, and slightly warmer peaches and pinks for cheeks and lips.

When my neighborhood Fed Ex guy, who likes to joke around with me, noticed my makeup today, he said he’s seen me look “much crazier.”

I’m pretty sure it was a compliment. 🙂

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More Vice Is Nice: Bright Eyed Girls Will Heart Urban Decay Holiday 2013

September 9th, 2013 by Karen 55 Comments

Urban Decay Vice 2 — More newness from Urban Decay!

Bright look lovers, wondering where you can get your next fix? Answer: urbandecay.com, starting first thing tomorrow morning (Tuesday).

Their latest lovelies launch online September 10, with a focus on bold, bright eyes.

The release features a couple of new liner kits, some cute face palettes, a re-launch of the brand’s glitter liners, and a sequel to 2012’s wildly popular Vice palette (YES!!).

Oh, and there’s also a new pearly face and body highlighter, but to really check it out I have to tear my eyes away from all the pretty, pretty colors first… 🙂

Urban Decay Holiday 2013

Shattered Face Case, $44

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Oil Hides Around Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Pressed Finishing Powder

July 17th, 2013 by Karen 24 Comments

Simply beautiful, but not life changing. That’s how I feel about these new Urban Decay’s Naked Skin Ultra Definition Pressed Finishing Powders ($24 each) and their gorgeous packaging.

New additions to UD’s permanent line, the powders join UD’s Naked Foundation and Beauty Balm as products designed to produce flawless-looking skin that still appears natural.

Optical blurring pigments (which sound like something a sorceress might pull from her robes) create a soft-focus effect while mellowing out imperfections and controlling oil. The powders are oil-, paraben-, alcohol- and fragrance-free and come in five shades — Naked (works well with shades 0.5-3.0), Naked Medium Light (for shades 2.0-4.0), Naked Medium (4.5-6.5), Naked Medium Dark (6.0-8.0) and Naked Dark (8.0-12.0).

Lots of good stuff here, but by far my favorite thing about these is their ability to control oil. The shade closest to my skin tone, Naked Dark, keeps my oily forehead matte and shine-free for 6-8 hours. I barely even need to touch up when I wear it. Plus, it really does look like natural skin (versus heavy spackle).

Urban Decay Naked Light Naked Skin Ultra Definition Pressed Finishing Powder — Naked Light

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