Urban Decay Naked Skin

Urban Decay Naked Skin 

I really like the fancy packaging although the only thing that really matter is that it has a pump.  I find foundations without a pump more difficult to use, and I tend to make a mess with them (yes I'm clumsy lol).  I also like how little it takes, I use about a half a pump for each side of my face so one pump total.

Urban Decay's Claim

Coverage without compromise.  Our weightless formula blurs imperfections for a flawless finish that feels invisible, but looks professionally retouched.



How it stacks up to the Claim

I really do think this foundation lives up the hype and so much more.  I love how light it feels once its on and how it truly does disappear into my skin.  Another big selling point for me is the large selection of shades (I'm so fair that I have a hard time finding a good foundation match).  With 18 different shades I was hoping to find just the right shade and I was able to do so with shade 1.0. I normally wear the lightest shade or next to lightest shade if it super light with pink or cool undertones, so I thought .5 would be my match.  I decided the get a Ulta rep to match me though just to be sure and turns out that 1.0 is a better match for me.  According to Urban Decay's website 1.0 is for very fair (yep) skin with soft warm undertones (I'm pretty sure I'm cool) so I wouldn't have picked this one for myself but indeed its the best match I've had so far.  I really could go on an on as to how great the match is (that such a huge deal to me--I"m also most always slightly off in the match).

Consistency 

Sorry that the picture is a little blurry, I was trying to keep the foundation from sliding off my hand.  It is very runny (for lack of better term) but I find this to be a nice quality.  The extra liquidity of the formula helps it live up to the claims about how feel and how well it blends into skin.

Coverage

  I would consider it to be medium coverage as it does cover up a good bit, but not everything.    For those like myself that have acne or redness you may want to use a concealer to cover up redness that shows through (as coverage is sheer but does even out complexion well) or any acne that needs additional coverage.   This foundation does have a nice finish, therefore, powder if not necessary to seal up the foundation but you may want to use some if you require additional coverage.   Even though my complexion is uneven I have worn just the foundation for days I'm not wanting to use the whole nine yards (concealer, and powder etc) and felt fine doing so.

Primer

I always use a primer before putting on my foundation because my skin is very oily.  I've been using this primer for a while and think it works very well.  Even when it was extremely hot (I'm late doing this review) my make up would still be in place at the end of the day.  I've also found the primer does hold up to its claim that it fills in pores and smooths out complexion.  

Urban Decay Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush

I've just recently gotten into brushes (aside from my bare mineral brushes and a few eye shadow brushes that I have), this was actually my first foundation brush.  The ulta rep helping me select a shade suggested I get the brush also, I was skeptical at first so she let me try it out.  I love how it helps to blend the foundation evenly and easily into my skin (this foundation really does disappear as promised). I usually use a sponge and my fingers to apply foundation so this is a big change, but definitely a great one. I'm really loving having this foundation brush and the idea of using it over a sponge.  I'll also have to get some other kinds to try.  I'm open to suggestions if you have one that you love.

Before Vs. After 

Sorry about the lighting difference in the before and after pictures.   Its a little harder to see any specific unevenness of my complexion/redness or any acne marks current or past but it does give a little bit of any idea of the over all improvement.  I can not safe enough about how awesome this foundation is with evening out skin tone without being heavy.  It seems many foundations can do this but they end up being cakey or requiring what seems like coat after coat, and then it doesn't look natural.

Notice how it helps take out the redness on my lower chin.  If I were going for a "more polished look" I might add a little bit of concealer to finish covering  these spots, but I am very happy with coverage as is for foundation only. 

I look really mad in the after picture haha.  It's a challenge for me to take my own photos without a front facing camera.

I really like this angle/picture because it shows my complexion being evened out.  This is probably more true to most people's skin needs--as I feel many need their complexions to be evened out some but may not have acne as well. Lighting is off a bit--my face isn't as red as it looks but it was a bit red from me playing with make up (I took off my make up  after work--the Revlon Naked Skin makeup and then put this on--hence the same shirt and necklace lol).

Full Face/ Pictures from other days for comparison

I'm still working on lighting (I know you all are tired of me saying that) so my skin looks a little splotchy that its not in real life.  I think the extra light does help to show how well it blends into my skin and just how natural it looks.

These are taken back in the summer, hence why my skin is clearer.  The acne comes and goes, but never seems to stay gone forever.  I like these pictures because they were taken outside and give a better look of how it looks outside.  I should have written this review a while back since I've had this foundation since not long after it came out.  Revlon's release of naked skin gave me the idea to do the review (I'll compare the two in another post).


Bottom Line

I LOVE this foundation, it truly is the holy grail foundation for me, while it is not full coverage (closer to medium) I prefer it to other full coverage foundations because of its natural look.  I really do like  that it blends in to look like skin, thus looking more natural than other foundations.  In my opinion full coverage foundations are nice (don't get me wrong they are a girl with acne's best friend, especially when its really acting up) but they aren't as natural looking, as I feel it can be seen that they are being worn (not that its a bad thing but not as natural looking for lack of better words).   I'm not even sure if my rambles make sense to anyone outside of my head (ha) but I saw all of that to say that it goes on very easily and provides great coverage while still having a natural finish.

If would love to hear what you all think.

Thanks for reading.


Em :)