Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics Versus Naked Basics Original: Do you need them both?

So Urban Decay have released another palette in their Naked line. You can tell that they didn’t intend to extend their Naked Basics range beyond the original, as there is a shade called “Naked 2” in the original palette. If there were foresight involved, surely they would have kept that one for Naked 2 Basics. Oh well, a cash cow is a cash cow, you gotta milk it till it runs try eh?

Perhaps I’m being unfairly cynical, as the Naked range has turned out some excellent performing products, for not too extortionate prices. Anyway, today I’m taking the new addition to the line, Naked 2 Basics, through its paces. Wanna know if it’s worth buying if you already have the original Naked Basics? Read on.

Naked 2 Basics on top, Naked Basics original below

Swatches: Naked 2 Basics above, Naked Basics original below

I think immediately we can see that the shade selection in the Naked 2 Basics palette is much more balanced in terms of light-mid-dark tones than the original. One of my bug bears with the original is that it contains three very similar light shades, and mid tones are almost non-existent. Naked 2 Basics rectifies this. In fact, if you look at the shadows from both palettes, and put them in order of lightest to darkest, you have quite a nice, well balanced matte neutrals selection. First argument towards getting them both.

Taking Naked 2 Basics on its own merits, it’s billed as a more taupey version to be used alongside the Naked 2 palette. It’s definitely cool toned, though not strongly so. I found the shadows to be a little bit powdery, kicking off when I tapped my eyeshadow brush into them. This doesn’t translate to the lid thankfully. They have no fallout, and don’t appear overly powdery when applied. Nice, soft, and pigmented. But do you need it?

Naked 2 Basics on one eye, Naked Basics on the other. Can you tell which is which?

Did you guess right? In the above pic I’m wearing Naked 2 Basics on the right, and Naked Basics original on the left. The only real giveaways are the much brighter highlight shade on the inner corner (Naked Basics original) and the slightly darker outer-v/crease (Naked Basics original). While I much prefer the lightest and darkest shades of the original palette, Naked 2 Basics gives a slightly more blended/seamless look thanks to the colours being much closer to each other on the gradient/spectrum. On the eye though, really, it’s not hugely noticeable unless you’re scrutinising. In my opinion, if you already have the original, you don’t really need Naked 2 Basics.

If you’re going to buy it, do it for those gorgeous mid-tone shades that the original doesn’t have. I guarantee they’ll be workhorse shadows. If you have neither palette and you’re picking one over the other, I’d recommend Naked 2 Basics for that reason. Though really, it’s a close call.

Naked 2 Basics is available at Urban Decay counters and on Debenhams.ie now, priced at €29.

What do you think ladies, will you be picking up the latest in the Naked franchise? Or are you tired of the whle thing altogether? Let me know in the comments!