Review and Look: Urban Decay Naked on the Run

I purchased the Urban Decay Naked on the Run Palette the first day it came out, so now I've had almost  two months to play with it and give you my thoughts.

According to Urban Decay, this "ultimate travel kit for Naked junkies... comes with everything you need for a complete Naked look", and I must agree with that statement. Aside from items such as concealer, foundation, and setting powder, you can easily create a complete look using only items from this palette.

Naked on the Run comes housed in a metal compact that measures approximately  5.5 x 5.5. It is rose gold in color, with "mesmerizing artwork" on the top of the case. The artwork sort of reminds me of those Rorschach tests - not really my style, but I guess it's a cool effect.

The included mirror is huge - essentially the size of the compact itself.  If you are traveling and this is the only mirror you have available, you shouldn't have any issues with seeing your entire face.

Naked on the Run comes with 6 "never before seen shades" of eyeshadow, a blush, bronzer, lipgloss, eyeliner and mascara. Many people think that the large white product on the lower right corner is a highlighter, but it is in fact an eyeshadow, which UD dubs "the perfect all-over shade"; however, being a slightly shimmery cream color, it can double nicely as a highlighter if needed. 

The shades of eyeshadow are: Dive (metallic rose with golden micro-shimmer), Fix (soft taupe matte), Resist (medium metallic taupe), Dare (medium brown matte), Stun (metallic bronze with light gold micro-shimmer) and 5050 (cool bisque satin). The Blush and bronzer do not have any names, but the website describes the bronzer as being a medium bronze matte and the blush as a vibrant pink with light shimmer. 

The palette also comes with a travel size Perversion Mascara, a travel size 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil in Stag (a deep brown satin) and a full sized Naked Lipgloss in Sesso (rose with pink shimmer). On the website, UD emphasizes the fact that the gloss is full sized:

"With a lot of all-in-one palettes, you run out of lip color long before everything else. Not so with Naked on the Run, because the Naked Lipgloss is FULL-SIZE"  

It is a nice feature to have in the kit, and it allows you to swap out shades with other UD glosses you might own. You can also swap out eyeliners (if you have other travel sized shade, or you have used enough of a full sized shade that it will fit into the slot). The only thing that you might have trouble replacing is the mascara... unless you're like me and have a bazillion mascara samples. Out of all the small mascaras I have, one or two are bound to fit....right? 

Now for some swatches:

 L-R: Dive, Fix, Resist, Dare, Stun and 50/50

L-R: Bronzer, Blush, Eye Pencil in Stag and Lip Gloss in Sesso

 All powder products are nicely pigmented and blendable, with the texture and consistency I've come to expect from Urban Decay. While there is some fallout, that is no big surprise as many  UD shadows have a little fallout, especially those with shimmer. The lipgloss is absolutely lovely - a "your lips but better" shade great for everyday. The liner included in the palette is my all-time favorite liner color - a deep blackish-brown shade that works for all occasions.

For this look, I used everything in the palette: face, eye and lip products. I began with my regular foundation routine, then used the bronzer in the palette to lightly contour and add a little warmth to my face. The bronzer is a little warm for my skin tone this time of year, but if used sparingly I think it creates a nice glow; in the summer this shade will be perfect! The blush is super pigmented, so it's easy to go overboard when applying. To avoid clown-face, gently dab the brush in the blush and tap off any excess, then apply with a light hand. It is easier to build up the color than try to take some away. 

For the eyes, I started off with a primer, and then applied 50/50 from lashline to brow bone. I used Fix as my transition color, blending it into the crease and up toward the brow bone. I then pressed Stun onto the lid, keeping it below my crease. I added Dare to deepen the look, concentrating on the outer crease area, and then used Resist on the outer V to add dimension. To add a pop of light, I tapped Dive onto the center of my eyelid.  Lastly, I used 50/50 again on my inner corners to brighten things up, and applied Dare to my lower lashline using a pencil brush. I used the 24/7 liner in Stag  on my upper lash line, making the line thicker on the outer edge and thinning it out toward the inner eye. I also applied the liner  to my lower waterline. Two coats of Perversion mascara completed the look. 

On my lips I used the naked gloss in Sesso by itself to give you an idea of what it looks like. While it adds a nice hint of color on its own, this would be beautiful layered over a nude or mauve shade of lipstick. 

Naked Lipgloss in Sesso

Completed look

It should be noted that the shadows also work very well when used wet. The shimmer shades take on a foil effect, which really adds some oomph when you want a more glamorous look. To use a shadow wet, first dip the brush into the desired shade, and then mist the brush itself with water or setting spray. Do not wet the pot of shadow directly, as it may form a crust that will make the shadow harder to use in the future. 

This is just a little peek at what the shade Dive looks like when applied wet - I did a quick look with Dive all over the lid, Fix lightly placed in the crease and 50/50 as a highlight. Applying the eyeshadow wet gives the look more depth and sheen; the other two shimmer shades, Resist and Stun, also look amazing when applied wet. 

Final Thoughts

I think this is a truly great palette. I am very happy with the colors UD included - they are all very usable, and while the shades are neutral, there is definitely enough interest added to keep them from being boring (not to mention, the shades are fabulous for any time of year). The ability to wear the shades wet or dry gives you more combinations, making it a very versatile palette. The only item it is lacking, IMO, is a deep matte brown or black shade to add drama and depth. I can understand their reasoning for making 50/50 so large, but they should have made it the same size as the other shadows and added a darker matte color. If need be I can always use such a shade from another resource, so it's  not a  deal breaker...it just would have been that much more convenient if it was included.  

While the packaging is slightly bulky, it houses a lot of product, so I can't complain too much. All I really need to do for a quick getaway is throw this compact in a makeup bag - along with foundation, concealer, powder and maybe a lip liner - and I'd be good to go. Easy peasy. In conclusion, I am more than satisfied with the Urban Decay Naked on the Run Palette, and I know it will be getting a lot of use this summer on my weekend beach escapes.

Have you tried out  Naked on the Run? What is your take on it? 

Thanks for spending some time with me today - live a beautiful life!

~Jessica