How to apply almost every single shade from Urban Decay's Naked 3 Palette. Almost.

The palette in question

The palette in question

Urban Dacay's Naked 3 palette happens to be my most-loved and used eyeshadow palette ever and I have no qualms about recommending it to others. But what do you do whence confronted by all twelve shades; some might tuck it away, curl up in a ball and call it a day. Others, like myself, will rise to the challenge and find a way to use them all.

Mersaedes, this one's for you.

Let's get started.

Tools of the trade

Tools of the trade

Here's what you need:

  • Primer, preferably one without shimmer
    • NARS Smudge Proof Primer - appears white, dries clear
    • Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (Original) - beige in colour
    • Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer - beige in colour
  • A foundation brush and Q-tips for post-application clean up
  • Spooly brush to rid your lashes of any mascara clumps
  • Eyelash curler
  • Mascara
  • Brown Eyeliner - I'm in love with Marc Jacob's Highliner Gel in Ro(Cocoa)
  • A blending brush or you can use the double-ended brush that comes with the Naked 3 Palette. I used UD's brush to prove that it's possible to execute these looks with a mediocre brush.

Steps 1 & 2:

  • Grab your brown liner to tightline. I can't evenly apply eyeliner to save my soul, so I prefer to do this method as a cheat for fuller lashes.
  • Apply Limit on your eyelid and blend out any harsh edges just above your crease.

Steps 3 & 4:

  • Highlight your brow bone with Strange.
  • Next, apply Burnout to the outer corners.

Steps 5, 6 & 7:

  • Highlight the inner corners of your eyes with Dust
  • Apply Mascara
  • Clean up any fallout

Now, you can stop here or skip steps 6 and 7 to take this look a bit further.

Step 8:

  • Contour your outer crease with Factory to add a bit of dimension
    • Be sure to blend like it's your job

Steps 9 & 10:

  • Lightly dab Trick on the centre of your eyelid for a pop shimmer.
  • Starting from the outside and working your way in, line your lower lash line with Darkside and blend into Dust. 

Steps 11 & 12:

  • Load the smaller end of the brush with Blackheart to define the outer v.
  • Smoke things out some more by layering Mugshot over Blackheart and Trick

Steps 13 & 14:

  • Build up the shimmer factor at the centre of the eye lid by layering Buzz over Trick.
  • Finally, paint on a healthy helping of mascara and be sure to clean up eyeshadow spillage from the under eye area.
Close up of the final look

Close up of the final look

Jush your hair, pucker your pout and grab your dancing shoes because it's a three day weekend.

What sort of eye looks have you put together with UD's Naked 3?

This is not a Twilight fix: Chanel's Illusion d'Ombre in New Moon

Chanel's New Moon

Chanel's New Moon

I feel like a broken record whenever I review Chanel's Illusion d'Ombre. This particular eye shadow is a huge guilty pleasure of mine and I only splash out so long as the colour is especially unique. 

Let's take a closer look at New Moon (limited edition), one of three new Illusion d'Ombre shades from Chanel's Summer 2014 collection.

Close up of New Moon

Close up of New Moon

New Moon is like a super fancy layer cake or even a fruit-infused molten lava cake. Rich browns mixed with golden flecks and peppered garnet captivate, tempt and truly leave me salivating from all this talk of cake and eyeshadow.

Swatch of New Moon

Swatch of New Moon

New Moon on closer inspection

New Moon on closer inspection

For all of its gloriousness, New Moon isn't without its shortcomings; we're talking hellah fallout. But if you're ok with post-application clean up, well go forth, wield your mightiest brush and prepare yourself for top-notch sparkle and shine. 

Wearing New Moon on my eye lids atop Urban Decay's Limit

Wearing New Moon on my eye lids atop Urban Decay's Limit

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The rest of the look. Yep, I'm wearing MAC's Patisserie, too.

The rest of the look. Yep, I'm wearing MAC's Patisserie, too.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Chanel's New Moon:

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

  • 9 out of 10 bags — Fallout can be really annoying.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

  • I thought I was going to purchase more, but I managed to restrain myself.

Inglot Eyes

Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection..the lovers, the dreamers and me

Rainy day, not so much.  But I did get around to playing with my palette as promised.  The colours strike me as Mardi Gras - I'm a few days shy and bare no beads (get your mind out of the gutter)!

Here's how I accomplished this look:

1. On my lids I started with NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base and then followed it up with Inglot's Eye Makeup Base in 01

2. With MAC brush 217, I applied shade #46 from lid to brow

3. Again, with brush 217, I blended shade #16 from my lower lid to my brow bone

4. Then I took MAC brush 239 and applied shade #407 and gently smudged that all over my lower lid only

5. With the help of Inglot brush 8OHP, I lined the inner corner of my upper lash line and then followed along my crease and winged it out with shade # 473

6. I then went back to brush 239 and lined my lower lash line with shade #441 from the inside and worked my way out in order to create a mirrored wing

7. Last, I grabbed MAC brush 266 and MAC Blacktrack and lined my upper lash line and aimed for the cat eye effect

8. To wrap up the look, I applied individual lashes to the outer corners of both eyes

9. On my cheeks I am wearing NARS Gilda and on my lips I patted on some clear lip gloss

img_2531_med

img_2531_med

This is definitely a more adventurous look, but I had so much fun experimenting.  I've been wearing the Inglot shadows and lashes for close to four hours and still have yet to see any creasing.  By pairing two bases, I think I've cracked the code for what works best on me.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for my latest Inglot splurge:

  • $109.50 AUS

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

  • 10 out of 10 bags - Colour me happy, this girl's an Inglot addict

Likelihood to purchase:

  • Until I really get the hang of using the shades I recently purchased, I fear that I will have to stear clear of Inglot for quite sometime