Urban Decay | Naked Lip Gloss & Eyeshadow Duo | Review

Since my Urban Decay order finally came last week (yay!), I wanted to do a little review of some of their latest products!

So, here's what I bought!

Eyeshadow

Brand: Urban Decay

Name of Shade: Mushroom & Sin

Color: Gray & Nude Pink

Finish: Shimmer

Formula: Pressed Shadow

Fall Out: Minimal

Blendable: Yes

Lasts for: 6 hours without primer, 8+ with primer

(Without flash)

(With flash)

Pros: 

 Both shadows are very pigmented and glide on super smooth. They are easy to blend and the shimmer finish adds a little extra sparkle.  

These shadows are so pigmented, they apply exactly the same shade as they appear in the container, virtually no layering required (hello, time saver!)

Cons:

The container is a little small (1.5 g/0.05 oz.) and since the colors are spilt down the middle you really only get half of the already small container. 

However, it is a great way to try two shades for the price of one, and because they are so pigmented I can see them lasting for a while.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⋆ (4 out of 5)

Repurchase: Yes. 

(2019 Update: UD currently does not sell duo shadows, but both Mushroom and Sin are available in single eyeshadows 😉)

Overall:

I am a fan of both shades. I could definitely see myself buying a full size of Mushroom (grayish shade). It is perfect for smoky eye looks and even dramatic, sophisticated looks.

I do like the shade Sin (pinky-champagne color). It works well as a highlighter and I use it mainly to highlight my browbone. 

So, in my opinion, Mushroom is the more versatile shade, but both are lovely. 

Lip Gloss

Brand: Urban Decay

Name of Shade: Beso

Color: Plumy Mauve

Finish: Gloss

True Pigment: Very sheer, needs layers

Sticky/Drying/Smudges: Sticky

Moisturizing: Yes

Pros:

After dealing with several cons (see below) and wearing this gloss for several days, I noticed it provides nice hydration and moisture. 

So, I read some of the statistics on its box: "76% [of participants] had a significant improvement in volume and hydration." and "86% said their lips felt nourished". 

I have to agree, this gloss does the job of an intense lip balm with a nice sheer shade of color.

Cons:

So I jumped on the band wagon and joined the hype of "Naked" lip gloss. "Find your perfect nude".

I figured since the palettes are great, the lip gloss must be too, right? Not exactly.

As I applied it for the first time I looked in the mirror and thought 'Really? That's it?' 

The shade was nice, but nothing spectacular. It was a sheer gloss.

I was not super impressed. It is a nice gloss, but there are so many dupes for this color at cheaper prices. 

It is super sticky (like most glosses) and because it has no fragrance it has a strong chemical smell when first applied (which later goes away).

Honestly, I was feeling kind of ripped off for what I paid for this lip gloss ($20, yes, I'm sucker for a cosmetic hype), so I kept wearing it, everyday -- for some reason I thought this would somehow give me my money's worth, I don't know why. 

But then, after wearing it so much, I noticed how much softer my lips were feeling and more hydrated. 

Seeing as how it has been freezing and windy here in NY since November this seemed like an odd occurrence. 

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⋆⋆⋆ (2 out of 5)

Repurchase: No. A nice gloss, but not for the price.

Overall:

 It is not a bad lip gloss by any means, but it isn't anything special either.

If you really like the moisturizing and hydrating benefits, and have the cash, this is a lovely tinted gloss. 

But, you can get a gloss, in a similar shade for less.

That's my review, the good, the bad, and the ugly - okay there's no ugly with Urban Decay, but you get it 😁

Thanks for checking out my review.

What Urban Decay products have you tried and what are your feelings on them?

Let me know in the comments!

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Catch my last post on my Top 5 Celebrity Makeup Inspirations here

XOXO

Ultima Beauty

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My Top 5 Celebrity Makeup Inspirations

Since my Urban Decay order was delayed (ugh, snow storms), I can't review the UD products as I had planned. 

But I thought I would talk about some of the celebrities whose makeup inspires me everyday and where I draw from when I try to create new looks. 

In no particular order, here my top five celebrity makeup inspirations:

#1 Marilyn Monroe

 

No matter how you feel about her (I adore her!) there is absolutely no denying that Marilyn is a style legend.

Her Style:

With her signature red lipstick and winged out black liner, she always looked classically beautiful.

The interesting thing about her eyeliner is that it was not a thick black line, it was quite a thin line but very winged out.

Why I Love It:

She is one of the reasons I bought my first red lipstick (Maybelline SuperStay 24 Liquid Lipstick in All Day Cherry to be exact). And now red lipstick is a main staple of makeup routine.

Marilyn is timeless. 

#2 Audrey Hepburn

Breakfast at Tiffany's, My Fair Lady, Roman Holiday & many more, Audrey is a film legend. 

Her Style:

She too, wore black eyeliner, but her liner was much thicker and a bit less winged out than Marilyn's. She generally kept her lip color more nude, so her eyes really stood out.

Why I Love It:

Whenever I am unsure of what makeup to do for an event, I default to a classy, Audrey-esque look, and I never regret that choice.

Her makeup always looked sophisticated and perfectly put together. 

    Perfect for true Hollywood Royalty

# 3 Sofia Vergara

Jenn Deering Davis, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Colombian bombshell. 

Her acting success can only be matched by her spectacular style. Her makeup is usually pretty full on but, never to the point where it looks as if she's wearing too much

Her Style:

She often wears a soft brown or gold smoky eyeshadow with some brown/black liner on her top lash line, slightly winged out, but not much liner on her lower lash line.

The lashes really make her look stand out; they are always long and defined. Her lip color is usually a red or berry color.

Why I Love It:

Not just one of my style icons, but one of my confidence icons as well. Whenever I need a boost I check out some of her inspirational quotes or interviews. She is so comfortable with herself, it inspires me to be too, especially on days when I feel anything but.

Beautiful, talented, and inspiring -Oh, and she is hilarious as well!

#4 Lucy Hale

JJ Duncan, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

She portrays the role of  Aria Montgomery on Pretty Little Liars and is becoming one of the most famous stars on  TV.

Her Style:

Her makeup look is always well put together. 

She usually lines the top and bottom lash lines with black or dark brown liner. And her top lashes are also very defined. 

The lip colors she wears most are a berry shade or a nude color.

Why I Love It:

Her makeup inspires me so much that I did a tutorial of her look from the opening credits of Pretty Little Liars. You can check out the tutorial here

It's no "lie" -- she is lovely.

#5 Gwen Stefani 

RumorFix, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The No Doubt singer herself.

 She has been know for her unique makeup looks. Sometimes, no one but Gwen could have pulled those looks off. 

Her Style: 

It's hard to describe her "signature" look because she does try new things quite often. 

I think her most iconic look is similar to this one on the left: black liner on top lash line and red lips. This always looks fierce next to her fair skin.

Why I Love It:

I dare you to put on candy-apple-red lipstick while blasting Gwen's 'Hollaback Girl' and not feel like a boss. 

(No? Just me?)

Fierce, fun, fabulous, and one fantastic singer, Gwen is an icon.

There you have the celebrities that have inspired me most, all for different reasons and with different styles. 

Everyone's style and taste changes as the age but these are my current loves.

(looking back at my 12-year old self wearing Avril Lavigne ties makes me cringe 😆)

These five have influenced my style the most as a teenager and now into my early 20's.

What are some of your favorite celebrity makeup looks? 

Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for checking out my celebrity inspirations!

If you missed it, catch my previous post reviewing Maybelline's Master Glaze Blush

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XOXO

Ultima Beauty 

Want more makeup fun between blog posts? Check out my social media pages! 

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Maybelline | Master Glaze Blush | Review

This review may be a little bit shorter than usual (I have a law test this week), but it is a review of Maybelline New York's Face Studio Master Glaze Blush Stick.

What made me really want to try this product was the commercial. 

If you haven't seen it, it is really quite spectacular; the models have glimmering, dewy glows that are beautiful, shimmering, and iridescent. 

Achieving that look is very possible BUT, not with just a swipe of this one blush.

In reality this is just a cream blush.

Quick Stats:

Brand: Maybelline

Product: Blush

Name of Shade: Pink Fever 20

Color: True Pink

Formula: Cream

Finish: Pearl

Lasts for: 4-5 Hours

Pros: 

It is a very nice cream blush that is easy to apply and goes on smooth. It blends well and give a nice flush that can last for several hours.

Cons:

It does not create the shimmering, iridescent finish that the commercial implies. 

It is simply: a pink blush.

 The cream is soft and requires a light touch while blending because it can rub off easily. 

It doesn't have a lot of product in the stick (see picture below), although a little does go a long way. 

It does not live up to the hype of the commercial, or the "glaze" in the title on the tube.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⋆⋆⋆

Repurchase: Unlikely

I like the shade I bought, Pink Fever 20, because the pink works well with my super fair skin. 

It comes in 6 shades that are all very lovely as well.

Final Thoughts:

Overall it is a nice product with a slightly misleading ad. 

After the hype from the commercial the actual blush was a tiny let down itself, but I will still use it.

If you're in the market for a cream blush at an affordable price, this is a great option.

Did this blush live up to your expectations? Let me know in the comments.

Also, feel free to subscribe via email to stay up-to-date on my latest posts 😉

Check out my previous post of my January Products of the Month

Thank you for checking out my short review!

XOXO

Ultima Beauty 

Want more makeup fun between blog posts? Check out my social media pages! 

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