Urban Decay didn’t really need to create a palette called “Naked on the Run”. Any palette they release under the Naked franchise causes a run on the palette market that mimics a run on the share market in bullish times. Or perhaps that’s their tongue in cheek reference to the very popular Naked range of products, in launching what they call their ultimate travel kit.
While a limited edition item launched about a month ago, I believe it’s still available, if not locally then online where intrepid types will be able to get their paws on it if they really want. I was quite privileged to be gifted this Naked on the Run palette, and I wasn’t quite planning to write a review, but I was requested to on Instagram and so here I am.
For a travel palette, I must say I was very surprised to see that it’s large and bulky. Yes, it’s sturdy but it’s also heavy and thick and altogether unwieldy. Personally, I just keep this on my dresser top. It’s not going anywhere with me simply because it’s just far too bulky and takes up far too much space in my travel bag. I’d have preferred if the powder products had been placed in a slim, compact palette, and the tube items just packed separately. After all, once you are done with the lipgloss, liner and mascara, what else are you going to place in those holes? They only fit UD items and if you use only UD lipgloss, liner and mascara then it’ll come in handy. For myself, since I use neither of them, it’s a waste of space. I never like palettes that include these products within the palette because it is just poor planning to me.
So, as you can guess, just from the initial overview, the Naked on the Run palette had an uphill task to impress me 😛 Oh but I’m in the minority, trust me, because most people love it 😛
The palette includes the Perversion mascara in blackest black, 24/7 Liner in Stag (deep brown) and Naked Lipgloss in Sesso (pink with shimmer). I believe all 3 items are full sized products. I did not test the Perversion mascara because I no longer wear mascara (it’s a story for another day!) so I have no idea how it performs. So feel free to tell me if you use it!
I also did not test the 24/7 eyeliner pencil because contrary to most popular raves for the Urban Decay eyeliners, the 24/7 pencil liner smudges on me. I know, I’m strange haha! 😀
I did test the Naked Lipgloss in Sesso because I was curious about it. I wish I hadn’t. The lipgloss is a wearable pale creamy rose pink with shimmer that I feel lives up to the Naked theme, but isn’t the right pick for this palette because it can potentially wash you out unless you wear a heavy smokey eye with it. It was fairly pigmented for a gloss, and not terribly tacky, but there was a sweet scent my nose hated. So it was a waste that I tried it because now I can’t give it away 🙁 All in all, I wasn’t impressed with the top half of the Naked on the Run palette.
Moving on then, to the bottom half of the palette which is where the powder products are housed. There are 5 eyeshadows in neutral shades that tend to the warm, a bronzer and blush combination and a highlight shade.
I liked how they provided shimmer and matte eyeshadow shades, because it allows for a greater variety of looks, and that is useful in a travel palette. I did find however, that the quality of the eyeshadows weren’t as good as that found in the regular Naked eyeshadow palettes. It’s not to say they are bad, but they just weren’t as good.
I found the shades a bit warm for me personally and when you couple it with the bronzer and blush, I’d stick my neck out and say that this palette will suit those with a warmer skintone better. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that it would work best on someone with a warm and medium skintone. Swatches will be helpful at this point, I know, so here they are.
In terms of pigment and quality, I’d say the shimmer shades were more impressive than the matte ones. They do work better when you use a brush and you can create quite a variety of neutral looks so it is quite user friendly. I do think however, that it might have been nice to have one dark shade in there, either a dark espresso brown or black to deepen eye looks for the evening. Granted, you can create something using the eyeliner as a base but a shadow would have been nice.
My favourite shade is 5050, the pale cream highlight. You can use it for the eyes or on your face and I like the subtle highlight it gives without being shimmery and glittery. It also has the smoothest and finest texture and for me, is the star of the Naked on the Run palette.
The Bronzer and Blush were a bit garish, I felt. The Bronzer in particular is fairly deep and quite orange when swatched. I don’t use bronzer at all, and I particularly stay far away from shades like these on my face.
The Blush too was a bit of a strange shade for me, because the vibrant pink with its slightly warm rose tone isn’t terribly flattering to everyone. This bronzer-blush combination is what prompts me to think that this palette is more suited for someone with a medium and warm skintone because colours like these just look better on them. For myself, I had to use a very light hand with the blush and even then, the shade was not very flattering. If you have pigmentation on cheeks, colours like this enhance the discolouration so it’s just not too flattering at all.
I actually wasn’t going to include a look, but I suppose it would be helpful to see how I wore this palette. Despite my whiny, complaining tone all throughout this post (yes, I did notice it), it actually didn’t turn out too badly, I feel.
I wore Fix, Resist + Stun on my eyes, with 5050 as a brow highlight. The Blush was applied with a very very light hand and that’s Sesso on my lips. All in all, a fairly neutral, and dare I say, Naked look. However, after I took this picture, I wiped off the lipgloss (needed to get rid of the scent!) and applied a bright coral-pink lipstick (Nars Audacious Kelly) which brightened up the look and made me look SO MUCH BETTER! No more nudey lips for me. I look dead or sick or just washed out. Blergh! 😛
IN A NUTSHELL
The Naked on the Run palette is the limited edition Urban Decay travel palette that contains almost everything you need for a full face look. It doesn’t include a base nor brushes which doesn’t make it the ultimate travel palette it claims to be, but it passes. However, I find it far too bulky to travel with and would have preferred for the palette to have been slimmed down and the tube items placed separately. No one needs to have their mascara, pencil liner and lipgloss INSIDE a palette. It’s just unnecessary bulk. However, the 3 items appear to be full sized items so you can replace them when you’re done. The powder colour products offer fairly good pigment although I’d have preferred for there to be one deeper shade of eyeshadow included. The highlight shade is lovely and for me, the star of the palette. On an overall basis, I’d say that this palette doesn’t tick my travel palette boxes, but some of the items work well. I’m personally not sold on it, although I don’t mind using it, but it might be because I feel it works better on a warmer skintone and perhaps even someone with medium skintone.
PROS: Possible to create a multitude of looks with the combination of matte and shimmer shades, 5050 the Highlight shade is lovely without being too shimmery, A good combination of neutral colours, Full sized mascara, pencil eyeliner and lipgloss included
CONS: Heavy, Bulky, Takes up too much space in a travel bag, Blush shade isn’t suitable for everyone, Bronzer is far too orange, Could have done with a deeper eyeshadow colour for contrast
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who is a fan of the Urban Decay Naked series, Anyone who wants an all in one face makeup palette who does not mind the bulk and heft, Anyone who will use most, if not all the items in the palette
LIMITED EDITION: Yes
For this to be a more well rounded travel palette, brushes, even the most basic of them ought to have been included. While most people could be quite capable of using their fingers to apply and blend eyeshadow, bronzer and blush is quite beyond mere fingers. You definitely need a brush for that! So, more points docked.
Did you run for the Naked on the Run palette? Does it tick all your boxes?
I think it’s an OK palette, but because it’s being sold and touted as the ‘ultimate travel palette’ (UD’s words, not mine!) I do find a lot of holes to poke in that claim. I don’t regularly depot palettes, but this is one to depot, definitely. Perhaps you want to dissuade me? 😉
Paris B
Urban Decay Naked on the Run travel palette Price: RM188 | US$54 Availability: Sephora stores, while stocks last Limited Edition: Yes
This is the one palette from the Naked range that I can firmly say that I don’t need, don’t want and just wouldn’t work for me. Cos I don’t need the extra mascara, lip gloss and eyeliner. But the biggest reason is the bronzer since I don’t even wear one.
Oh, and I’m very glad that you’re back at blogging. Really miss your everyday posts 🙂 and hope this year is your best year ever!
Yes, yes and YES! I honestly didn’t think a lot of this palette although I have to admit that in pictures and from preliminary views, it was quite enticing. Just an anticlimax in person. Oh and thank you for the welcome 😀 I hope your 2015 is an amazing one too!
I think you look lovely Naked LOL LOL! Sorry, couldn’t help myself hahaha!
I wanted this for awhile, but I’m over it now. 😀 It’s so warm. And orange. And not for me. I don’t know, I guess I’m just not a huge UD fan!
LOL! LOL! It was just calling to be said Tracy 😀 Yes, it’s very warm and although I think you could pull it off (you do amazing things with colours that don’t seem to work but do) it isn’t worth pining over 😉
I have the same idea about it too, that is why it does not excite me when it launched..for me I particularly dislike the bronzer and the blush shade..
Me too, Fatimah! I didn’t find them flattering 🙁 But I”ve found them a new home so I’m happy it’s not going to waste 🙂
I don’t know what but the first time I saw this in pictures, I WANT IT. I wouldn’t call it the ultimate travel palette either because even though I haven’t seen it in real life, I’ve seen photos of it and it’s just too bulky to be that good of a travel palette. Having said that, the warm eyeshadows really appeal to me. I think UD’s shimmer eyeshadows work much better than their mattes; a lot of the mattes to me are quite dirty for our skin tone.
Hopefully I’ll be able to get this when I’m back for CNY. If not, oh well, not meant to be. Will move on to better things. 🙂
I think you will definitely be able to get this when you’re back for CNY 😉 hehe It’ll look good on you, I just know it!
After swatching this palette at the store, I felt that it would have been more aptly named Barenaked.
I’m unimpressed by the barely-there impact of all the shades and products. It almost does nothing at all to anyone that I’ve seen it on. Even you, I’m afraid, Ms. P.
It really is the cosmetic version of the Emperor’s New Clothes for all the hype (it did not live up to) preceding its release.
For the same price, I could very well be doing some running away to plenty of more amazing dupes by other brands.
I passed on this one although perhaps I could have been one over had there been a less naked blush and lip product.
LOL! Barenaked indeed! To be fair, the blush does impart quite a lot of colour, hence my need to tone it down a lot. Otherwise, it’s just ok ok only lah, as I’d say in local parlance 😛 There was a crazy hype wasn’t there? I was surprised – not even their shadow palettes get that sort of hype (and they are at least of fairly decent quality!) It was a good idea to pass – there’ll be others 😉
I agree, why would they make a TRAVEL palette so bulky? I think the Naked Basics palette are the perfect travel size.
I have Naked 1 & 3 and don’t really use them as much as I thought I would. I like the quality of theBalm single eyeshadows way better (never tried their palettes); they’re smooth, pigmented and buttery soft. Having said that I still like the look of the Vice 3 palette, the colours look fun!
I agree with you wholeheartedly on the Basics palette, Anis and I really like the Basics 2 even if it is very naked haha 😀 I only have Naked 2 and I like it a lot actually, which surprised me. Vice 3 is fun! I opted not to try it because at my age and presently, I’m just not that into all the colourful looks anymore. Sigh. I’m so boring 😛
I had spare change in my pocket and this palette accidentally fell into my shopping basket… 🙂
I have not really tested the upper parts but the lower ones work great on my skin tone. Since i started using the colours to work, I have quite a few people compliment me on my make up. I am not a bronzer person either, but it appears that this one simply worked on my skin…Ditto the blusher. I do not use the highlighter as they are too powdery , IMO.
Previous outings with UD eye liners were failures, then again i can say that to everything out there….Ditto for all sorts of mascaras too. I have not had eye liners or mascara not smudge on me. So there is no winning anyway. BUT i am now using By Terry’s Kohl eyeliner , the crayon Kohl Terrybly and i found that not smudging is in the application. I need to let the eye liner dry before i blink. So mayhaps, i can give the UD eye liner a go another round with the new found knowledge.
And agreed, it sits snugly on the vanity and does not go gallivanting with me around the world.
In conclusion, the NOTR does get some wear so thats not too bad a use for spare change in pockets.
Accidentally? Hmm… 😉 But you know, this just goes to show that one woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure. I put it down to skintone because I do really think this palette more suited to someone with a warmer skintone. With the highlighter, I find you do have to tap off excess but I only use it for the brow bone area so it didn’t bother me too much.
The only think I like is the blush. The other shades are just meh… and that bronzer is way too orange!
Yes, that bronzer. I don’t know what they’re thinking 😛
I only have one word to say after seeing this palette. “Meh”.
Haha but it got so many raves and people queueing up in the rain for it! 😛
I was not enamored with this release. The set looked quite ordinary haha. Maybe I am not with the pack, hence I don’t get the hype. On a separate note, I thought the Urban Decay The Vice LTD Palette 2014 looks more intriguing. Let’s see 😉
Well, they did say Naked hehe… But you know, I didn’t get the hype either mostly because I wasn’t paying attention. I did think it was a clever idea on paper, but after seeing it in real life, I was quite underwhelmed. That said, on the right skintone, this would work. But not for travel. The bulk is just stupid 😛 Oh and Vice 3 is definitely a good buy! I passed because I couldn’t handle all those colours – too old 😛
Hmm..I don’t own any Naked palettes (eventhough I have attemptet to buy several times). And this one also doesn’t hit the right notes for me..
From the swatches the colours do look very pigmented, but like you said may not match everyone..i will say Next! 🙂
Of the 3 Naked palettes, I only liked No. 2 which I do use quite often. But I think it’s a matter of finding the shade/palette that suits your skintone because they’re all a wee bit weird if you ask me LOL! Not exactly perfect for every skintone but then most people don’t really care I guess 😉
It is a little bit too bulky isn’t it? I think for travel, the Naked Basics and the Naked Flush palettes would be more suitable. When I looked at this at the store, I thought it was a good value for money to have so many products in one box but then again, I decided not to get it because I just don’t think I will ever need a neutral toned palette. The palette is more for everyday wear and I don’t wear a lot of make-up for everyday wear so I thought it would be a waste to get it just for the sake of getting it. I am interested in the Stila holiday palettes though. They look amazing and they are still in stores. But then again, how often would I actually use it? I don’t go out to parties and I definitely do not have weddings to attend (especially fancy ones at hotels and banquets) and of course, I don’t work.
Absolutely way too bulky! And no brushes! How to be a travel palette, I ask you? 😛 I agree with you about the Basics palette. I have one and I quite like it, which surprised me. Haha you know Hani, you remind me of me when I was a student. I didn’t wear a scrap of makeup back then! Only started wearing when I started work and even then, it was just powder foundation (then called 2-way cake ugh!) and lipstick. I graduated on from there as you can tell, but you have lots more time to indulge in makeup if you want to 😀
LOL at Tracy’s comment! I think I am Naked-ed out a long time ago 🙁 That said, this palette looks good as a gift to someone who is just starting out in makeup though.
Good call on the gift possibilities, Lily. I think it just bugged me how so many people were pushing it as a travel palette when in reality, I doubt anyone would actually bring this anywhere!
I love these sort of sets because it gives people like me an opportunity to try multiple items from the brand at one affordable price.
I was really curious about this palette. Granted, I don’t wear much makeup right now, but I figure once I am working full-time, I will wear my face and eye makeup.
I’ve heard some great things about their gloss too! It’s a shame it’s rather sticky. Not a fan of that anymore.
I ended up passing on this palette. I picked up this sephora vip 12 shade palette instead. $12 CAD!
That’s a good point Joann, especially the full sized tube items. However, I felt that it was a rather poor representation of what the brand has to offer. But then, maybe it’s just me. Most people are very happy with it 🙂 The gloss has a funny sweetish scent I dislike and it has a slightly goopy texture too. Just not for me, but again, most people love it so erm… take my thoughts with a pinch of salt eh? 😉
I’ve got terrible dark eye circles now because of your blog, Paris! I stumbled onto your site recently and have been reading old posts late into the night on weekdays and waking up early on weekends – I got up at 5am today to read old posts! That said, thank you for your interesting coverage of topics and truly enjoyable and witty writing 🙂 I’ve never really used much make up or skincare (gasp) in the past but as I near my mid-30s (boohoo), I’ve realised I can’t be lazy anymore if I don’t want to scare people when I go out. Am looking forward to your next post!
Oh yikes! Here, try the NARS Creamy Radiant concealer hehe 😉 Thank you so much Leafling for your lovely comment, you truly made my day and made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!
It was on a moment’s weakness that I picked this palette up before Christmas. It was a toss up between this or the Naked Palette 1 (or was it 2?) Limited Edition blah blah won for the simple reason it’s a LE. (yes – shoot me sometimes!) I have not used it yet. I was still relishing my acquisition of x2 Chanel Les Ombres. After reading your blog, the 2nd shoe landed – *thud* it is indeed bulky. *duhh*. Would I really carry this on a holiday? Pause, reality check – nah. Takes up wayyy too much space in the toiletries bag. And I realised that when I go on holidays, I hardly ever wear (heady duty) make up. Eyeliner and lipstick, that’s about it. Maybe some blusher.. And all that in separates take up less than 1/4 the space of this palette.
Lily’s comment above sounds good. My daughter has been eyeing the palette.
Haha JK you crack me up 😀 I think your daughter will love it – it’s a nice introduction to decent quality makeup 😉 p/s and you can go back to enjoying your Chanel hehe… Which did you get?
The LE Tisse Poesie first and then Tisse Venitien. (Had not learnt to NOT fall for the LE pitch – but absolutely no regrets for succumbing to this LE acquisition) Yesss
Ah you picked 2 very very pretty palettes! Good choices! 😀
i had to give myself a stern lecture on not buying this because i do love the shade Dive and i love the look of the packaging, though not the bulk! i agree that the blush and bronzer they choose to include in their face palettes are often not universally flattering. for myself, i prefer to travel with slim palettes that have a variety of color options (i hate traveling with nude palettes) and my brushes of my own choosing. i’m just not skilled enough to use included brushes without looking like a panda.
Oh yes, brushes included in palettes are rarely of decent quality nor do they suit everyone, but I think having a brush is better than not having one just for the sake of completeness. But still, like you, I prefer something slim and compact to travel with. We are starved for space in our luggage after all, and I’d rather save that space for souvenirs and new purchases than taking up the weight and space with a makeup palette! 😉
Dear Paris,.
I’m curious with Naked3 because of the rose gold. But I wondered with its’ pigments and fall-out. I noticed you reviewed the Naked 1 and 2. How is the quality?
Do you have other brands to recommend for rose-gold neutral eyeshadow ?
Thank you for your time :)))
Tina
Hi Tina, I’m afraid I don’t know of many other rose-gold eyeshadow palettes as it’s not a shade I use so I don’t pay a lot of attention, sorry! Both Naked 1 and 2 are pretty decent. I don’t use them much anymore but when I do, I like them. I don’t own Naked 3 so I can’t share any thoughts on it, sorry.
Lol. I like that color on you!