Getting NAKED for the Summer

NAKED or NOT?! 

 Urban Decay Naked Palette ($44.00) is the latest must have for any makeup junkie, serious collector, or for someone who just needs a great go to palette. It contains twelve shades–eight are incredibly neutral, but four pack a little–much welcome–color punch. There are six permanent and existing shades, one repromoted shade, and five new shades.

If you like myself have found yourself lucky enough to get your hands on this palette, I congratulate you! Urban Decay has simply out done themselves with the creation of this palette that offers (in my opinion) the most bang for your buck!  Laced with some of the most pigmented, unique and most popular variations of colors, Urban Decay definitely manages to put a spin on the boring, played out neutral look. 

Packaging:

Wow! Talk about looking elegant & sleek...this palette oozes sophistication. Packaged in a velvet chocolate brown felt material with that infamous gold fold lettering I would have to say that this palette is unlike many of the other palettes I've seen from Urban Decay, setting it appart even more. It's closure is a nice sized magnet with great holding, it's not the strongest magnet I've ever handled (the magnets on the MAC 4 eyeshadow pans are much stronger which I somewhat dislike) but it undoubtably will do the job of keeping your palette closed. Also inclosed is a nice travel sized mirror, with the mini travel sized original Urban Decay Primer Potion (it's actually on the size of the palette packaging, not inclosed in actual palette), a double ended 24/7 eyeliner featuring the award winning color Zero and a deep brown color called Whiskey.


***Note: If you have purchased this palette as of or after February 15,2011 you will receive a Urban Decay Good Karma Shadow Brush (a $26 dollar value) INSTEAD of the double ended 24/7 eyeliners. The reasoning for that is because when UD originally launched the Naked palette the demand was greatly out reaching the supply because the materials needed to make the 24/7 liners was simply not in stock/available...so in order to keep the UD Naked palette on the shelves, they did away with the liners and gave you a brush instead which is still a great value. The original palette with the double ended 24/7 liners cost about $44 plus tax, this new palette with the Good Karma Shadow Brush cost $48 plus tax (still an amazing value).

Dissecting the eyeshadows:

• Virgin: a frosty,shimmer, pale beige. It makes for an awesome highlight color (although it does have some shimmer, if applied lightly and buffed out, it's perfect) and also great for the inner tear duct to open up the eyes.
• Sin: soft, frosty champagne color. 
• Naked: a matte medium-beige brown.
• Sidecar: shimmery medium brown bronze like color.
• Buck: this in my opinion is a darker hue of Naked. It's a matte dark beige-brown color.
• Half Baked: coppery-bronze like color with a frosty sheen but finishes almost like a metallic eyeshadow.
• Smog: a beautiful medium bronze frosty eyeshadow.
• Darkhorse: deep chocolate brown with flecks of gold shimmer and a slightly red undertone.
• Toasted: medium gold color with shimmers of pink.
• Hustle: deep plum-chocolate with soft,slight simmers.
• Creep: a deep black & blue based color with flecks of teal blue, gold and silver shimmers.
• Gunmetal: black and light blue based color that comes off as a metallic, it really is one of those colors that has to be seen to be appreciated...without that, it can be underrated.   

12 FULL SIZED eyeshadows total ($17 value each)

Urban Decay Primer Potion Mini ($8 value)

Double ended 24/7 eye liners ($18 value)

ALL these things bought individually would cost you about $248, of which $204 goes to the 12 eyeshadows! :)

All 12 eyeshadows primed with E.L.F Mineral Eyeshadow Primer in sheer

Left to Right: Virgin, Sin, Naked, Sidecar, Buck 

Left to Right: Half Baked, Smog, Darkhorse, Toasted, Hustle

Left to Right: Toasted, Hustle, Creep, Gunmetal

Light Skinned vs. Dark Skinned [WHO REALLY GIVES A FxCK]

"There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice." 

John Calvin 

To say that I'm shocked that being light skinned or dark skinned STILL matters in 2011 would be a lie. But nevertheless it still puzzles me that I find so many narrow minded people, mainly African Americans, who take pride in being lighter skinned & hold themselves on a pedestal as "prettier" than a darker skinned person. Let's be clear, having a lighter complexion doesn't automatically give you ownership to the title of being "pretty,cute, gorgeous" and neither does being darker skinned.


Beauty is truly an inner characteristic that reflects outward, not visa versa. When I hear black men who are no bright light themselves make remarks like "dang red you fine" or "hey sexy red" it makes me vomit a little. Not because as a darker skinned woman I find myself "inferior" in their eyes, but I've found that when people are so based on skin complexion...that's their own inner demons rearing their ugly heads.



Really though, who can blame them. Since the test of time, we as Black Americans, have been told that we aren't good enough.  The saying "If it ain't white, it ain't right" comes to mind & so does the old brown paper bag test. You know, where if you were darker than a plain old brown paper bag (basically the old school lunch bag) you weren't good enough to be included in certain groups, places, activities,etc. African Americans are brained washed into believing the the lighter and brighter the better. 


We have truly lost ourselves in this world, not as a whole but a good majority. Why are we so stuck on who's lighter or darker instead of focusing on some issues that might actually propel us into excellence instead of holding us down into damnation? Quit worrying about having "good hair" & focus on why African American woman are the #1 leading new cases of HIV/AIDS. You feel me? If not...it's ok hopefully we'll get there one day!

Let's be honest with ourselves here, if (as a black man or black woman) a white person, or non-African American, came up to you and called you out you name...there would be no discussion, arguments or justifications RIGHT? Then why would you demean your sister, mother, or grandmother by saying "BEAUTIFUL BLACK WOMAN, BUT I BET THAT BITCH LOOK BETTER RED." How can you compliment then demean in the same sentence, don't worry I'll wait for the answer....which is NEVER, you can't, SO DON'T! Love me for no & not my skin complexion #imjustsayingthough .