Just when I thought Urban Decay would add another type of Naked Eyeshadow palette this season, it didn’t occur to me that they would completely redo and update their first Naked palette at all. For me, it kinda came as a surprise because I love the first Naked eyeshadow especially its color scheme. I was gonna skip on this one but seeing how beautiful the colors looked in-store, I decided to try it and see if it can keep up with the first ever popular Naked Palette.
The Urban Decay Naked Reloaded Eyeshadow Palette ($44) has 12 shades that are meant to be universally flattering for everyone, just like the first Naked Palette. The two outer pans on each side are slightly wider which are composed mostly of neutral mattes and soft shimmery shades. These are the shades a lot of us typically use the most as base colors on our lids. The rest of the colors are a mix of wearable mattes, earthy metallics, and micro-shimmers. There is one standout shade that looks like a salmon-matte color called Retro.
The packaging of this eyeshadow palette feels satiny to the touch but it could get stained easily because it’s pretty much made of cloth. It has a vintage look that I don’t like much because it’s not really eye-catching.
Application-wise, first of all, unlike most UD Naked Palettes, this doesn’t come with a brush, which would have been so useful right? And I do like most of the brushes that came with the Naked Palettes, so yeah. I find the mattes of this palette to be soft and pretty much easy to blend and apply, and also surprisingly very pigmented, even more so than the original Naked Palette. The metallic shades have mostly no fall-outs and are really pigmented as well. The shimmery ones as I expected, are not that pigmented but they can be worked on the lids easily, especially if you use your finger to apply it and pack the colors. There are also minimal fallouts from the shimmers as well, but they’re so fine that you probably won’t be bothered by it.
My favorite colors from this palette are Bucked (warm basic bronze matte), Burn (copper), Reputation (shimmery rose gold), Blur (creamy light neutral brown), Distilled (bronze), and Boundaries (terracotta). I was a bit worried about the Retro shade which is the most standout color of this palette that looks like a matte salmon-pink at first glance. I thought it may not look great on me, given my light-medium skin tone, but it actually turned out to have a pink terracotta-ish finish on me, which doesn’t look totally bad at all.
I did notice that after using this palette a couple of times, my skin started to react to it. I managed to catch it on time and had stopped using the palette since then, but it was enough to make my eyelids look puffy, red, and super itchy. I had to apply an antihistamine cream on my lids because it was starting to burn quite a lot. My lids normally don’t react like this to most powder eyeshadows, especially not with Urban Decay or with most UD Naked eyeshadow palettes at all, but this Naked Reloaded got to me, unfortunately. So, I won’t be using this from now on. It’s a pity because I really love the color scheme of this palette. I feel like this is such a fresh take of the original Naked eyeshadow that is so timely for this Spring and coming Summer.
Overall, at first, I thought this update to the first Naked Palette was not necessary but I must agree that the colors and pigments of this Naked Reloaded Eyeshadow will make you think otherwise. While I’m not quite sure if the color scheme of this palette is really universal since most of the shades may be too deep for lighter skintones, I do think that this is worth a try, but be wary that this may cause an allergic reaction for some.
Have you tried palette already? What do you think?
The Urban Decay Naked Reloaded Eyeshadow Palette is currently available at Sephora, Ulta,ย QVC, and Nordstrom
I’ve always wanted to test this particular Pantene haircare line because I had such a great experience with their Micellar and the Charcoal shampoo and conditioner. Also, with all the latest trend in skincare nowadays, the rose water is definitely having its moment. So, if it’s good for the face, it must be good for the hair as well. Why not? Right?
According to Pantene, the Rose Water Collection is meant to “help soothe and rehydrate hair so you can look your best with moisturized, petal soft hair”. It contains no sulfates, no silicones, no parabens, and definitely no dyes nor mineral oil. Packaging-wise, it’s really beautiful with its pinkish rose petal bottle that is totally Instagramable. For its price, well, it’s very affordable and it’s relatively easy to find.
However, I do have mixed feelings about this particular Pantene haircare line. First off, let’s start with the scent. This line smells pretty much like the rest of the Pantene Pro-V Blends, there is not much distinction fragrance-wise between this and the Micellar ones. The Charcoal ones smell the same too, but at least you could discern a hint of charcoal in it. This one doesn’t smell like a rose at all. I feel like Pantene could do a much better job at developing the fragrance of this.
The Rose Water Shampoo (10.1 oz: $5.99, 17.9 oz: $9.99) has a gel-like consistency and it’s meant to be a moisturizing shampoo. While it does feel moisturizing on my hands and right when I applied it on my hair, I seem to notice that this doesn’t lather very well compared to most moisturizing shampoos I’ve tried before, and even more so when compared with most core or regular Pantene haircare. I don’t know what’s in this, I know this feels really moisturizing while I lather this on my strands, but this feels like an oil slipping through my hair. It’s like my hair is not getting a thorough cleanse. As I kept lathering, I did kinda notice a very very faint scent of something earthy and rosy, but it’s almost hard to notice.
The Rose Water Conditioner (10.1 oz: $5.99, 17.9 oz: $9.99) on the other hand, feels much better than the shampoo version above, but it isn’t as creamy as I would have wanted. It does condition the hair but the scent is pretty much the same as the shampoo, and I feel like this pretty much feels like a standard conditioner. I feel like some other drugstore conditioners could do a much better job than this.
With those being said, a couple of minutes after washing my hair, my strands felt dry, especially at the roots. I have never experienced this with any moisturizing shampoo before. I had to literally use a leave-in conditioner in order to add more moisture to my strands. It’s kind of a bummer because this Pantene Rose Water Collection is meant to restore or add moisture to the hair, but I feel like the Micellar Collection and the Charcoal Collection (my most favorite) can do a much better job than this. So, if you’re looking for a good drugstore moisture shampoo/conditioner, I’ve had a good experience with L’oreal Evercreme Deep Nourish Shampoo and Conditioner. For the high-end ones, I like the Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Shampoo + Conditioner (reviewed HERE), as well as the Kerastase Discipline Sulfate-Free Smoothing Shampoo (seen HERE).
The Pantene Rose Water Collection is currently available at Amazon, Target, and Walgreens.
Have you tried this already? How do you feel about this collection?
It’s been quite a while since I posted my latest favorites in beauty and skincare. As I mentioned in my previous post, I will be rounding up the products I’m currently loving, so this post is all about these items. Actually, some of the products I will be featuring below are not just the ones I’m currently using this Spring. I will still be using some of them for this coming Summer. In fact, I’ve been using some of them since last Winter as well. So, if you’ve been wondering what I’m raving lately, well, here now are my current favorites in beauty, haircare, and skincare.
HAIRCARE
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Body Builder (2.8 oz: $15, 7.3 oz: $29) – I first got this when I was checking out some products to volumized my fine hair. I saw that this has really good reviews at Sephora and I was eager to test it ASAP. True its glowy raves, I was blown away by how this made a difference in my usually flat fine hair. This adds real volume and drama to the hair and it goes on clear without leaving any whitish or sticky residue. The nice thing about this is the packaging where you can adjust the nozzle’s opening and it can release either less or more product depending on how much volume you’d want for your hair. This works for just about any hair type and this definitely works for my fine hair. The scent can be too much at times, but it’s not a bad scent, so it’s pretty much tolerable.
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray (2.2 oz: $22, 8.5 oz: $46) – I’ve mentioned before that I’m currently obsessed with texture hair sprays. I feel like they work so well at not just adding volume to my fine hair, but they also add a nice texture to my strands. I think this Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray might just be the best if not one of the best I’ve ever tried. I like this a lot because this goes on clear, light, and it makes my hair look clean, fresh, and fab. Oh, and the scent’s gonna get you swooning too. ๐
Moroccanoil Treatment (0.85 oz: $15, 1.7 oz: $34, 3.4 oz: $44) – I wanted something that would make my stands look healthy and vibrant post styling, so I heard good reviews about this but I was kind of hesitant at first because I thought this may make my hair oilier and may add more weight to it. But I did give this a chance anyway, and I really love it! This has a nice scent that is not overpowering and it doesn’t weight the hair down. It’s great for adding hair shine especially to the roots after a blowout or after any heat-styling. It’s kinda like a lightweight finishing treatment.
SKINCARE
Supergoop! Super Power Sunscreen Mousse Broad Spectrum SPF 50 (3.4 oz: $19, 7.2 oz: $34) – For this Spring and for this coming Summer, this is still one of my sunscreen of choice because this is so lightweight, non-sticky, and it doesn’t leave any white residue. A small container/packaging of this can last a long time, and its mousse texture is very easy to apply on the skin.
Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream (0.5 oz: $64) – I’ve always wanted this eye cream ever since its release because I really like its ingredients especially its Vitamin C potency, but I read some reviews that this caused contact dermatitis for them. However, I was adamant to try this anyway and see it for myself. Well, good news friends, I’ve been using this for several weeks now and I never had an issue. I apply this on my dark undereye circles and it hasn’t gotten worse, in fact, my undereyes look vibrant and I look less fatigued even when I don’t get enough sleep. I usually don’t apply this on the thin skin around my lids, but when I did it a couple of times, I never had an issue as well.
Peter Thomas Roth Firmx Peeling Gel (3.4 oz: 48, 6.8 oz: $89) – Ahhh! my favorite instant peeling product. Ever since I received a sample of this from Sephora a few years ago, I knew I have got to have this product for life. From then on and nowadays, this is my go-to if I want immediately facial smoothness. I use this two or three time a week to get rid of some dry patches and rough skin that doesn’t go away with extreme moisturization alone. This preps the skin for a smooth and easy application of any primer and foundation. You could literally feel and see your facial skin particles sloughing off while you massage this gel on the skin.
MAKEUP
Clรฉ De Peau Beautรฉ Radiant Cushion Foundation in O20 Light Ochre ($99) – I tend to reach out for my cushion foundations whenever the weather starts to get warm and the sky starts to look bright. Since these foundations are very light on the skin, they’re not prone to cakeyness and they look more natural on the face. Since I want my friends and neighbors to recognize me this warm and bright season, lol, the radiant cushion from Cle De Peau Beautรฉ makes me look more like me, ha! See this product’s swatch HERE.
Shiseido Eyelash Curler ($22) – I only love three brands of eyelash curler in my life (yeah, for real :-)), one is from Shu Uemura, the other one is from Japonesque (seen HERE) which I use during my travels, and the third one is this Shiseido lash curler. This is very similar to the Shu Uemura one and it’s the kind of eyelash curler that suits well for those with short/baby lashes, small eyes, and even downturned eyes, as well as Asian faces and features. I will tell you more in my upcoming posts whether this is better than the Shu Uemura one or not.
Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen in 01 Deeper (0.03 oz: $58) – The day that Tom Ford will discontinue this product is the day that I will never leave the house, LOL! This is pretty much the only eyeliner that seems to really work out of all the eyeliners I’ve tried in several different brands and stores lately. I used to like the Stila one but I think their formulation had changed. Once applied, this doesn’t smudge and it’s pretty much waterproof. It stays on no matter what the situation, weather, or any event calls for. It’s super reliable especially for those with oily lids. There is only one shade though, and its pigment is the blackest black.
Dr. Brandt Needles No More, No More Baggage Eye De-Puffing Gel (0.5 oz: $42) – I got this from my FabFitFun Box and I was really impressed by it. It qualifies as both skincare and makeup and it works by tightening the skin along the undereye area, making it depuffed, and it’s got a nice salmon shade that color corrects the dark circles. Use this for an immediate dark puffy undereye relief. Read more about this product HERE.
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original (0.16 oz: $13, 0.33 oz: $24) – Whenever Spring and Summer comes and you have oily lids, it’s always a good idea to prime them. You’ll never know what could happen next, come rain or shine, you need to have your eye makeup on point. Racoon eyes are a no-no. This Urban Decay Primer in original formula gets the job done. I’ve been using this for years now and even last Winter, and I no longer have to worry if my eyeliner was creasing or not. A small size of this primer can last a long time.
Pat McGrath Labs FetishEyes Mascara (0.27 oz: $28) – I didn’t really plan to buy this mascara so soon because I was waiting for some constructive reviews about it. But when I got a sample of this, I was like whaaat?! Is this thing for real?! LOL. I literally saw my short lashes lengthening as I was applying this, and all the while I was thinking “Is there some black magic in here?” Haha! I don’t know how PMG did it, but guys, you have got to try this. This is on my holy grail list now and it makes my lashes look long and volumized. On top of that, this doesn’t smudge and this doesn’t irritate my eyes.
Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer in 29N Light-Medium (0.33 oz: $27) – This is my concealer of choice as of the moment because I seem to be getting some post-zit dark spots lately, and I need something that gives more coverage. The type that really covers my age, LOL. So yeah, the shade 29 N is light-medium with neutral undertones and it works to make me look flawless and youthful even for just a few hours. ๐
Laura Mercier Flawless Lumiรจre Radiance-Perfecting Foundation in 2C1 Ecru (1 oz: $48) – I’m a big fan of Laura Mercier foundations because of their lightweight next-to-skin feel. This new Flawless Lumiere foundation in Ecru (light with neutral undertones) definitely lives up to the Laura Mercier foundation standard. It is quite similar to the LM Candleglow (my other fave, reviewed HERE) but it’s not as super dewy and it doesn’t slide as much. It still feels creamy and lightweight, and it has medium coverage with a natural radiant finish that still feels like a second skin. I love this formula a lot because it gives a soft-focus radiant look, and it stays on even longer if you set this with a nice setting powder. My favorite setting powders are HEREย and HERE.
Fenty Beauty
Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in Thicc (0.06 oz: $18) – Sultry Natural Mauve. This a long-wearing comfortable matte lipstick and it makes the lips look full. This mauve shade is not just great for everyday wear, it’s also great as a transitional lip shade as you approach another season.
Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color in Uncuffed (0.13 oz: $24) – Rosy Mauve. This is more like a liquid lip color version of the Mattemoiselle Plush lipstick above, though the mauve color of this Uncuffed shade seems to be a bit darker than the Thicc lipstick above, but still perfect for everyday daytime use. This lip color feels very lightweight, it’s not that drying, and though it slightly emphasizes the lip lines, it does stay on the lips for a long period of time.
That comprises my faves this Spring. Have you tried any of these products before? What are the beauty/skincare/haircare items you’ve been loving lately?
