Monday 31 March 2014

Urban Decay Naked 3 Alternatives/Dupes

The Urban Decay Naked 3 is, undoubtedly, a beautiful pink gold eyeshadow palette, which perfectly complements cool undertones and ash hair. These rosy shades allow blue eyes, green eyes and grey eyes appear to be more distinctive. Click here for a full review. 
Top image: Rose gold casing of the Urban Decay Naked 3.
Middle image, left to right: Strange, Dust, Burnout, Limit, Buzz, Trick, Nooner, Liar, Factory, Mugshot, Darkside, Blackheart.
Bottom image, from left to right:: 
Strange, Dust, Burnout, Limit, Buzz, Trick, Nooner, Liar, Factory, Mugshot, Darkside, Blackheart.

As of yet, I have not seen an entire palette that is an exact replica for the Naked 3, unlike the previous two Naked palettes. Inspired by Emily Noel's feature on the rose tone trend, I decided to select some make-up I already own in order to see what alternatives I could put together.  This is an inspired idea for those who may want to try the suitability of these hues, without the need to commit to the Naked 3 and its eye-watering pricetag of £37/$52 (keep in mind that Naked 3's net weight is 15.6g, making each shadow 1.3g. Some shades that I have discussed are not identical dupes but they can be viewed as substitute palettes, singles and glitters. These are shades which I feel closely resemble the  colour ideology behind the Naked 3. I encourage everyone who reads this to inspect your make-up collection as you may already own similar shadows, so essentially, you can try before you buy. 
Urban Decay Naked 3 surrounded by rosy alternatives. In no particular order they are: ELF '144 Neutral' palette, Sleek 'Oh So Special' i-Divine palette, Wet n'Wild 'Petal Pusher' 8 pan palette, Pink Tease Glitz Eye Quad,  Make-Up Academy 'Chocolate Box' eyeshadow trio, Make-Up Academy 'Shade 24 Pearl' and 'Shade 22 Pearl Single Eyeshadows, Catrice 'Golden Roses' liquid metal eyeshadow, Revlon 'Pink Innocence' Single Eyeshadow, Accessorize 'Grace' Silk Baked Mono Eyeshadow, MAC 'Beauty Marked' Eyeshadow, Maybelline 'Pink Gold' / 'Inked In Pink' 24hr Color Tattoo, W7 'Pink Space Debris' Loose Glitter, and Lit Cosmetics 'Oprah' S2 Glitter.
ELF '144 Neutral' Palette
ELF '144 Neutral' Palette contains every neutral colour you could imagine including cranberries, burgundies and pink toned browns as well as other cool and warm colours. This palette is versatile in texture as they range between matte, satin and shimmer finishes. When layered on top of an eyeshadow base these colours can last all day. It is a perfect palette to take your look from day to night. Click here for a full review. 
  • Random sampling of shadows made up of the ELF palette to resemble the Naked 3 is coming soon.
RRP £20/$30. 
Available from EyeLipsFaceAmazon UK and Amazon US
Top: random sampling of swatches from ELF '144 Neutral' Palette.
Bottom left: 
ELF '144 Neutral' Palette.
Bottom right: 
ELF '144 Neutral' Palette open.
Sleek 'Oh So Special' i-Divine Palette
Sleek 'Oh So Special' i-Divine palette is affordable, compact and contains exceptional quality pink and neutral shadows. This palette is virtually a condensed version of the Naked 3 and has a good mixture of matte and shimmer shades. There are 12 eyeshadows that each contain 1.1g of product, 6 of which stood out as Naked 3 shades. These are: 
  • Bow -  white cream, matte finish (matte version of Strange).
  • Organza -  pale iridescent pink, frost finish (similar to Burnout).
  • Gateau - pale golden mauve, shimmer finish (similar to Dust with more of a gold iridescence).
  • Gift Basket - pink bronze, shimmer finish (deeper version of Trick).
  • Glitz - pewter mauve, shimmer finish (blue-toned grey version of Darkside).
  • Celebrate - blackened plum, shimmer finish (similar to Blackheart).
The remaining shades in this palette are Ribbon (matte pink), Pamper (shimmering pale pink), The Mail (matte beige), Boxed (matte chocolate brown), Wrapped Up (deep matte mauve), and Noir (matte black).

RRP £7.99/$11.99
Available from Sleek,  Superdrug (on-line only as Sleek have been removed in-store), Amazon UK and Amazon US
Top image: Sleek 'Oh So Special' palette.
Middle image: Sleek 'Oh So Special' palette open.
Bottom image left to right: Bow, Organza, Gateau, Gift Basket, Glitz, Celebrate. 
 
Wet N' Wild 'Petal Pusher' 8-Pan Palette
Wet N' Wild 'Petal Pusher' 8-Pan palette contains 8 purple and pink eyeshadows. Emily Noel's eye for colour detail is what reminded me that I even had this palette. The net weight of this palette is 8.5g making each shadow just over 1g. Barely used, the right side of the palette emulates the rosy tones of the Naked 3 with four warm variations of plum. This is a beginner friendly palette as each shadow is embossed with lettering such as 'Browbone,' 'Eyelid,'Crease,' and 'Definer,' which are:
  • Browbone - pale pink, frost finish (somewhere between Strange and Dust)
  • Eyelid - mauve with copper iridescence, shimmer finish (no Naked 3 shade is similar but much darker than Buzz
  • Crease - plum burgundy, shimmer finish (sheerer version of Blackheart).
  • Definer - charcoal grey, shimmer finish (darker version of Darkside).
The left column of the palette is cooler than the right as it contains 4 variations of violet and blue-based purples. These are Browbone (white shimmer), Eyelid (hibiscus pink), Crease (dark purple shimmer) and Definer (shimmering blue-violet). 

RRP £6.99/$4.99
Not readily available in stores throughout the UK and Ireland as yet but can be bought on-line from Amazon. Available from Walgreens, Walmart, CVS (where I got mine), K-Mart and Ulta
Top image, from left to right: Definer, Crease, Eyelid, Browbone - all from the right side of the palette.
Bottom left: Wet N Wild 'Petal Pusher' palette.
Bottom right: Wet N Wild 'Petal Pusher' palette opened.

Pink Tease Glitz Eye Quad
If this rosy quad from Pink Tease mated with Sleek's 'Oh So Special' palette then a more affordable Naked 3 would be born. Regrettably, there is no name for this palette other than what is stated and likewise, there are no shade numbers. For the purposes of this post I will name them according the their position in the quad and swatches. This palette is a must-have for fans of bronzed pink and rosy brown shades. Once the light glitter cast on the surface rubs off after one application, you will see that these are unbelievable dupes  for four shades from the Naked 3. Creamy, easily blended and rich in pigmentation, these quads are not to be missed. Each colour has 1.2g of product making a net weight of 4.8g. 
  • Top Left - light metallic pink-copper, shimmer finish (similar to Trick).
  • Top Right - mid-tone metallic mauve, shimmer finish (similar to Liar). 
  • Bottom Left - mid-tone pink brown, shimmer finish (similar to factory).
  • Bottom Right - metallic purple taupe, shimmer finish (similar to Mugshot).
RRP between £2.99 to £1.99 to £1
The other unfortunate aspect of this palette is its limited availability. If you are from the UK and have discount stores near you such as Home Bargains, B & M Bargains (where I got mine from - Connswater, Belfast), Poundland and Poundworld, you may have noticed Pink Tease cosmetics, so chances are this palette could be convenient to you. It's also worth intermittently checking MyBoxStock which sells small boxes of Pink Tease products so you may be able to purchase a few there at a wholesale price. Of course you could always trawl through eBay and Amazon
Left: Swatches.
Top right: Pink Tease quad.
Bottom right: Pink Tease quad opened.

Make-Up Academy 'Chocolate Box'  Eyeshadow Trio
Make-Up Academy 'Chocolate Box' is an eyeshadow trio that has pink undertones. This product contains three raised, domed-shaped baked shadows with intense pigmentation when applied wet. Each colour has a metallic sheen, making them glisten on the eyes. Each shadow contains 2g of product, making the net weight 6g. For the purposes of this post I will name them according the their position in the swatches.
  • Top - mid-tone pink brown, frost finish (similar to Factory). 
  • Middle - metallic pink-copper, frost finish (similar to Trick).
  • Bottom -  mid-tone metallic mauve, frost finish (similar to Liar). 
RRP £3
Available from Superdrug
Left: Swatches of Make-Up Academy 'Chocolate Box' eyeshadow trio.
Top right: 
Make-Up Academy 'Chocolate Box' eyeshadow trio. 
Bottom right: 
Make-Up Academy 'Chocolate Box' eyeshadow trio open.

Make-Up Academy 'Shade 22 Pearl' and 'Shade 24 Pearl' Single Eyeshadows
Make-Up Academy 'Shade 22 Pearl' and 'Shade 24 Pearl' are single eyeshadows that are in the same pink toned family of the Naked 3.  They are inexpensive quality eyeshadows at a more than reasonable price. These are intense colours with a buttery soft texture. Each shadow contains 2g of product. 
  • Shade 22 Pearl - pale pink, shimmer finish (less iridescent than Burnout).
  • Shade 24 Pearl - mid-tone pink brown, shimmer finish (hybrid of Nooner and Liar).
RRP £1
Available from MUA and Superdrug
Left, from left to right: Swatches of  MUA Shades 22 and 24.
Top right, from left to right: MUA Shades 22 and 24.
Bottom right, from left to right: MUA Shades 22 and 24 opened.

Catrice 'Golden Roses' Liquid Metal Eyeshadow
Catrice 'Golden Roses' is a high shine metallic shadow from Catrice's liquid metal range. Click here for a full review. 
  • Golden Roses - true pink gold with a high gold iridescence (more pigmented and bound together than Buzz).
RRP £6
Availibility from Mueller Penney's / Primark and eBay.
Left: Swatch of Catrice 'Golden Roses' liquid metal eyeshadow.
Top right: Catrice 'Golden Roses' liquid metal eyeshadow.
Bottom right: Catrice 'Golden Roses' liquid metal eyeshadow opened.

Revlon 'Pink Innocence' Luxurious Color Eyeshadow
Revlon 'Pink Innocence' is a single shadow.  This is a pretty highlight shade, ideal for inner corners and brow bones. This shadow feels like suede upon application but can look a little chalky when swept across the entire lid. This contains 2.4g of product.
  • Pink Innocence - pale pink, matte finish (more pink than Strange and a matte version of Dust)
RRP £5.29/$4.99
Available from eBay although I bought mine for the bargain shelves in Boots for £1. 
Left: Swatch of  Revlon 'Pink Innocence.'
Top right: Revlon 'Pink Innocence.'
Bottom right: Revlon 'Pink Innocence' opened.

Accessorize 'Grace' Silk Baked Mono Eyeshadow
Accessorize 'Grace' eyeshadow is a silky smooth baked product. This make-up brand is the cosmetics concession of the accessories shop which is a branch of FB Beauty (who also own Make-Up Academy). This is a high shine shadow and becomes more pigmented when applied using a dampened applicator. This shadow contains 2.5g of product. 
  • Grace - muted cranberry with silver and pink iridescence, frost finish (deeper version of Buzz).
RRP £3.99
Available from Amazon and Superdrug
Left: Swatch of Accessorize 'Grace' baked shadow.
Top right,: Accessorize 'Grace' baked shadow.
Bottom right: Accessorize 'Grace' baked shadow' opened.

MAC 'Beauty Marked' Eyeshadow
MAC 'Beauty Marked' eyeshadow is a velvet shadow that is disappointingly patchy. It is buildable but unless applied on top of dark cream base, it can look flaky. If you do take the time to do a smoky eye and build layers of this colour, it does look stunning blended out as it can appear as if there are multiple colours on your eyes, when in fact, there is just one. The pan contains 1.5g of product and is not as pretty, nor as wearable as it's Naked 3 sister Blackheart. 
  • Beauty Marked - blackened red with red and copper pearl, velvet finish (similar to Blackheart). 
RRP £12.50/$15 for the consumer packaging, £10/$10 for the pro-pan refill. 
Available from MAC UK, Debenhams and MAC USA.
Left: Swatch of MAC 'Beauty Marked.'
Top right: MAC 'Beauty Marked.'
Bottom right,: MAC 'Beauty Marked' opened.

Inglot '50' AMC Pure Pigment
Inglot '50' AMC pure pigment is the most stunning, multi-faceted rose gold eyeshadow I have ever used. It glistens on the lid and even makes a beautiful lip and blush colour. When it is applied, it becomes more opaque and last for hours on the skin. 
  • 50 - warm coral-pink with a strong golden iridescence, shimmer finish (the rosy coral sister of Dust)
RRP £12/$14. 
Available from Inglot UKInglot IrelandInglot USA and Beautylish.
Left: Swatch of Inglot '50' AMC pure pigment.
Top right: Inglot '50' AMC pure pigment.
Bottom right: Inglot '50' AMC pure pigment opened.
 
Maybelline 'Pink Gold' / 'Inked In Pink' 24hr Color Metal Tattoo
Maybelline 'Pink Gold' (UK)* / 'Inked In Pink' (USA) 24hr Color Tattoo is a metallic cream gel pink gold and one of my favourite bases for the Naked 3 and Sleek's 'Oh So Special' palettes. It can be worn alone as sheer wash of colour but I like to layer matching powder shadows on top for longevity and make powder shadows look more pigmented. This a pretty, smooth, wearable pink that lasts for hours without creasing on me. The colour is intense without being overpowering and is very comfortable on the lid. You get 4g of product. 
  • Pink Gold / Inked In Pink - cool pink mauve with gold iridescence, frost finish (cream version of Burnout). 
RRP £4.99/$6.99
Available from Boots and Superdrug. For US customers, go to  Maybelline and Ulta
*The UK name for this gel cream eyeshadow  varies between 'Pink Gold,' 'Eternal Pink,' and 'Persistently Pink.'
Left,: Swatch of Maybelline 'Pink Gold' color tattoo.
Top right: Maybelline 'Pink Gold' color tattoo.
Bottom right: Maybelline 'Pink Gold' color tattoo opened.

Avon 'Blackberry' Supershock Gel Eyeliner Pencil
Avon 'Blackberry' gel eyeliner is a soft, waterproof pencil which is extremely long-lasting. This is beautiful colour to add definition and so this can be used to define the lash line and waterline in order to prevent pink and rose tone shadows making your eyes look tired. 
  • Blackberry - deep blackened red with microshimmer (gel pencil sister of Blackheart). 
RRP £6. 
Available from eBay and Amazon as it was limited edition when released.
Left: Swatch of Avon 'Blackberry' supershock gel pencil.
Top right: Avon 'Blackberry' supershock gel pencil.
Bottom right: Avon 'Blackberry' supershock gel pencil open.
W7 'Space DebrisPink' Loose Glitter
'Space Debris Pink' loose glitter is from the discounted cosmetics company W7 (Warpaint Cosmetics. It comes in a sturdy, almost glass-looking cube. When you unscrew the top you see such a sparkling assortment of pink-gold and silver glitter. The size of the glitter varies too, giving the eyes more dimension, making it an ideal lustre effect product. It is the perfect accompaniment to rose toned shadows if you want to have an added twinkle to your eyes. It does need a glitter glue, as without it, it will fall down on to your cheeks more noticeably. I would normally use this in conjunction with Lit Cosmetics clearly liquid base and use as my inner corner highlight. That may be a bit much for some wearers but for me, the more drag, the better. It looks especially good with deep pink browns and blackened reds.
  • Pink Space Debris - mauve pink-gold sparkle with chunky silver glitter particles (the glitter sister of Buzz). 
RRP £4.95 (£1.25 from the Amazon seller - see hyperlink below). 
Available from local pharmacies throughout the UK and Ireland as well as AmazonXtras, Peacocks and W7 Beauty Outlet. Click here for more information on where you can buy W7 products.
Left, from left to right: Swatch of W7 'Space Debris Pink.'
Top right, from left to right: W7 'Space Debris Pink.'
Bottom right, from left to right: W7 'Space Debris Pink'opened.
My eye with W7 'Space Debris Pink' on the inner corner.

Lit Cosmetics 'Oprah' S2 Glitter
Lit Cosmetics 'Oprah' S2 Glitter is a small cut of glitter particles which lasts for hours when applied on top of Lit's liquid base. I like to wear this in the very centre of my lid for a glistening effect and it's an ideal glitter for bolder brides. This pot comes with 4g of product. 
  • Oprah - copper (the glitter sister of Trick). 
RRP $12.95
Available from Lit Cosmetics and Beautylish
Left, from left to right: Swatch of Lit Cosmetics 'Oprah' glitter.
Top right, from left to right: Lit Cosmetics 'Oprah' glitter.
Bottom right, from left to right: Lit Cosmetics 'Oprah' glitter opened.
My eye with Lit Cosmetics 'Oprah' glitter on the centre of the lid. 
As well as the alternatives mentioned in Emily Noel's video, other substitutes to the Naked 3 include:
  • Coastal Scents '88 Warm' Palette - a plethora of warm neutrals including rose tones. RRP £15/£19.95. Available from Coastal Scents, eBay,  Amazon UK and Amazon US.
  • Sleek i-divine 'Vintage Romance' Palette - a pink and purple based palette with a range of warm and cool colours. RRP £7.99/$8.99. The net weight of this palette is 8.5g making each shadow just over 1g. Available from Sleek and Superdrug
  • Make-Up Revolution Redemption 'Iconic 3'  Palette - an exact replica of the Naked 3. Currently waiting on mine arriving so will add in net weight later. RRP £4/$6.60. Available from Make-Up Revolution and Superdrug
  • Make-Up Revolution Redemption 'Romantic Smoked' Palette - appears to be a rosy toned palette with mauves, soft pinks and neutrals. RRP £4/$6.60. Available from Make-Up Revolution and Superdrug

Urban Decay Naked 3

I become a little manic when new palettes are made available and I was especially delirious when I heard rumours way back in October 2013 about the possibility of an Urban Decay Naked 3 being released. Cue more make-up lunacy when it actually was available for purchase and I realised it was unlike the two previous neutral Naked  palettes. 
Beautiful rose gold detailing of the Naked 3 case.
My fiancé clearly paid attention to all the bombs I dropped, furiously hinting for it to be mine in time for Christmas past. Not only did he generously buy me one as a stocking filler, he also bought one for my mum in order to complete the Naked trio. Did Colm (fiancé) understand the vast differences between Naked, Naked 2 and Naked 3? Nope, not one iota. Like most people ignorant to cosmetics , he thought they all looked exactly the same without even the slightest hint of a colour variance. Unsurprisingly, I disagreed, as Naked 3 is jam-packed with pink based browns, bronzes and mauves, making this palette my favourite of the Naked range. Note that Naked is full or warm neutrals and Naked 2 is made up of cool neutrals. 
Left to right: Strange, Dust, Burnout, Limit, Buzz, Trick, Nooner, Liar, Factory, Mugshot, Darkside, and Blackheart.
The packaging is similar to Naked 2 as the eyeshadows are encased within a tin holder, this time in an embossed rose gold metal. It comes with a dual ended synthetic brush perfect for laying down the product on one end and blending out with the other. Naked 3 does not disappoint with 12 blendable, never seen before velvety shades all centred around rose gold hues. There is a mixture of matte, shimmer and glitter shades. The colours are Strange, Dust, Burnout, Limit, Buzz, Trick, Nooner, Liar, Factory, Mugshot, Darkside, and Blackheart which resemble the metallic cast of a certain infamous Michael Kors watch. 
Left to right: Strange, Dust, Burnout, Limit, Buzz, Trick, Nooner, Liar, Factory, Mugshot, Darkside, and Blackheart.

Strange - pale neutral white/pink, demi-matte finish.
Dust - pale metallic pink with  white gold micro glitter, frost finish. 
Burnout - light peachy pink, pearl finish.
Limit - light dusty rose, matte finish.
Buzz -  light silver pink with silver micro glitter
Trick - light metallic pink-copper with a gold sparkle, frost finish.
Nooner - mid-tone pinky brown, matte finish.
Liar - mid-tone metallic mauve, shimmer finish.
Factory -  mid-tone pink brown, pearl finish. 
Mugshot - metallic pink taupe, shimmer finish.
Darkside - deep taupe mauve, pearl finish. 
Blackheart - matte black with red micro glitter, shimmer finish.

Urban Decay Naked 3 retails at £37 from DebenhamsHouse Of Fraser and Feel Unique. For customers overseas, it costs $52 from Urban DecaySephora and Ulta. An expensive palette, however each shadow weighs 1.3g each, making you receive 15.6g of shadow altogether. Compare that to individual 1.5g eyeshadows from MAC which cost £12.50 /$15 for the consumer packaging and £10/$10  for the pro-refill pan and consider how much you would spend to re-create a palette similar to the Naked 3.  Considering that perspective, the Naked 3 is worth every (of Colm's) penny. 

For dupes and alternatives, click here

Catrice Liquid Metal Eyeshadows

Catrice is a German cosmetics company which creates premium quality products for high street prices and is the sister brand of Essence. For me, LetzMakeup is one the most influential make-up artists around. Siobhán enjoys budget and luxury products and utilises a mixture of both in her tutorials and it was from her show and tell videos that I first discovered Catrice cosmetics (and the W7 'In The Buff' palette - a replica of the Urban Decay Naked 2). In particular, the Catrice liquid metal eyeshadows caught my eye and so I purchased the majority of the collection.

Top row left to right: 'Golden Roses,' 'Mauves Like Jagger,' 'Petrol Pan,' 'Gold Leaf Me.' 
Bottom row left to right: 'We're The Purple People,' 'Nougat Right,' 'Under Treasure,' 'Look Me In The Ice.'

Top row left to right: 'Golden Roses,' 'Mauves Like Jagger,' 'Petrol Pan,' 'Gold Leaf Me.'
Bottom row left to right: 'We're The Purple People,' 'Nougat Right,' 'Under Treasure,' 'Look Me In The Ice.'
These eyeshadows have individual names, reflecting pop culture which also correspond to their own chroma. The first four are shown below. These aptly named 'liquid metal' eyeshadows are evocative of colourful molten ores. They are high shine colours with a metallic chrome effect. They are silky smooth to touch and have good pigmentation. They can be applied dry or wet, and do intensify once dampened.  I like to use these shimmering shadows as inner corner and middle lid highlights to offer dimension and texture variance to matte smoky eyes. Depending on your skin tone and personal preference, some can be doubled up as cheekbone highlighters ('Golden Roses,' 'Under Treasure,' and 'Look Me In The Ice'). 
Top row left to right: 'Golden Roses,' 'Mauves Like Jagger,' 'Petrol Pan,' 'Gold Leaf Me.'
Bottom row left to right: 'We're The Purple People,' 'Nougat Right,' 'Under Treasure,' 'Look Me In The Ice.'
The first four colours featured include:
'Golden Roses' - pink gold - and my favourite of the lot.
'Mauves Like Jagger' - silver lavender.
'Petrol Pan' - petrol teal blue.
'Gold Leaf Me' - antique golden green. 
Top row left to right: 'Golden Roses,' 'Mauves Like Jagger,' 'Petrol Pan,' 'Gold Leaf Me' - natural light.
Bottom to left to right: 
'Golden Roses,' 'Mauves Like Jagger,' 'Petrol Pan,' 'Gold Leaf Me' - with flash.
The next four include:
'We're The Purple People' - iced true purple.
'Nougat Right' - warm copper brown.
'Under Treasure' pale neutral gold.
'Look Me In The Ice' - cool white silver.
Top row left to right: 'We're The Purple People,' 'Nougat Right,' 'Under Treasure,' 'Look Me In The Ice' - natural light.
Bottom row left to right: 'We're The Purple People,' 'Nougat Right,' 'Under Treasure,' 'Look Me In The Ice' - with flash. 
The ninth one, which I do not have is 'We Are The Champagnes,' (champagne gold). See swatches for each eyeshadow below.
Top row left to right: 'Golden Roses,' 'Mauves Like Jagger,' 'Petrol Pan,' 'Gold Leaf Me.'
Bottom row left to right: 'We're The Purple People,' 'Nougat Right,' 'Under Treasure,' 'Look Me In The Ice.'
German residents are lucky enough to be able to access Catrice products easier than other European members as this brand is readily available from Mueller stores. In Ireland, availability depends on which county you live in but can be bought from local pharmacies as well as Penney's / Primark. In the UK and Northern Ireland, Catrice is a little bit harder to get a hold of as it doesn't seem to be available, neither on-line nor in-store but you may be lucky enough to buy from the same eBay seller that I purchased from. This seller was advertising the eyeshadows for £6.39 + £1.99 p&p but I talked him down to combining postage, making the overall price 20% cheaper for me. Each pan of shadow contains 3g of product.