Another "dupe" of the Naked Palette

   G's blog over at Nouveau Cheap really feeds my makeup addiction. I'll be the first to admit it. A few posts ago she wrote about a sighting for new Wet n Wild 8-pan palettes so I decided that I wouldn't go on a crazy hunt like I did with the last LE set and instead just be patient. I went to Meijer today to go grocery shopping and as I walked by the cosmetics I couldn't help but wander around and found an untouched display of the new palettes! I put myself on a no-buy because as I am trying desperately to pull my blog sale together and have too much makeup as it is but I just couldn't pass this up. Eh - I can try starting again tomorrow.
   Anyway, after seeing pictures of the palette online, I wondered if it was going to be another 'dupe' of Urban Decay's Naked. After picking it up, I can say that it's pretty darn close! The shades aren't EXACT dupes but they're extremely close and you'll find that you can create all the same looks you've been wanting to without having to pay a ton. I would say that some of these shadows aren't as smooth or pigmented as the original 8-pans but it's still an incredible deal at $5 for 8 shadows.

 All swatches were done over the Lorac Behind the Scenes eye primer.

Wet n Wild Nude Awakening Palette (Do you like how my Browbone color was put in upside down?... good thing I'm only a little neurotic or else that would drive me insane!)

Right end of original Naked palette from Urban Decay

Middle of original Naked palette from Urban Decay

WNW Definer - UD Creep

WNW Crease - UD Gunmetal

WNW Eyelid - UD Hustle

WNW Browbone - UD Toasted

WNW Definer - UD Darkhorse

WNW Crease - UD Buck

UD Sin - WNW Eyelid - UD Sidecar

WNW Browbone - UD Virgin

Good luck hunting down this little gem!

Urban Decay Book of Shadows Redux

   So, I'm sure you've heard of Ulta. They just sent out an email about how they are carrying an Ulta-exclusive "Liimited Edition" Book of Shadows from Urban Decay. I guess it's limited in the fact that they have been having all these sales to get rid of all their old-formulation eye shadows. I bought the BoS Redux during their Friends and Family sale a couple weeks back.
   It's possible that Urban Decay had to collaborate with Martha Stewart to have access to soooooooooo much glitter. If you're familiar with the older formulation of the UD shadows, you will know how gritty the glitter shadows are. Having said that, there are 16 shadows in this box and only 2 have unmanageable (to me) glitter: Oil Slick, Uzi and Midnight Cowboy rides again. It also comes with a mini primer potion in the old bottle and a mini 24/7 pencil in Zero.
    I'm in a rush to leave town this morning for work so only swatched on paper and not on my arm as I didn't want glitter showing up on my face in the middle of the day out of nowhere. I'm sure you understand... These are my standard, two-swipe across the pan without primer, swatches. I can offer color descriptions if you're interested - just let me know.

Pictures with the BoS V under to show size difference

Ah ~ New York

The whole palette

Just the colors

In order that the shadows are in the palette

Same stuff, less shadowy 

   The only colors I feel like aren't showing up that great in the pictures are Goddess and Ecstasy. Goddess is an almost grey/blue duo chrome with blue micro shimmer. Ecstasy is a very light, bright purple that leans a bit pink.
   I'll be honest and tell you that I really only bought this BoS because I wanted Haight, Goddess, Stray Dog and Rockstar and didn't mind the idea of having a back up of Sin and YDK. By the time I thought I was going to spend $6 a piece on six shadows, I figured I might as well make the jump and try this book out. It wasn't a bad decision (especially at 20% off the new $39 price tag) but be aware that there is a ton of glitter and that it will get all over your shadows. Also, I'm not sure if it's just mine, but you can't pull the part with the shadows out like you can in the BoS V. It's not a huge inconvenience but you need to clear space up on your vanity to use it and that might be a quirk that you just don't like. If you end up purchasing, let me know what your thoughts are!