In the world of beauty, we’re always looking for a “dupe” of a product. Dupes are great for saving money when products can be expensive or trendy. So it keeps your look relevant without totally giving into peer pressure from your friends and favorite beauty blogger or guru. I am always looking for a cheaper alternative to a makeup product but do they always live up to the term, dupe?
In this first edition of Splurge or Save, the products up for review are Urban Decay’s Naked 3 and Maybelline’s The Blushed Nudes. Both of the eyeshadow palettes were made to create pink and rose gold toned nude looks, which looks great on all skin tones. Pink toned eyeshadows are great for everyday and super glam looks.
I got The Blushed Nudes from Ulta in August to save money. I desperately wanted the Naked 3 at the time, but my wallet had other plans. So I went with the more affordable option. I used this palette twice since August so that can be an indicator of how terrible it is…The colors weren’t pigmented and were very chalky. This is my biggest pet peeve when it comes to makeup, chalky products that literally just show up like white chalk make me cringe. The Blushed Nudes was about $12, less than a 1/3 of the more expensive comparison. I don’t have much more to say about this product, other than don’t waste your time. The colors all looked the same on me even with primer, with the exception of the black shadow with pink/red sparkles. This color was the best of the 12 shades, but not by much honestly. They shadows also don’t really last…my makeup looked dull soon after application.
In December, I bought the Naked 3. Safe to say it saved me from the other palette. I should’ve assumed it would be a great buy from Sephora because UD is known for their Naked line. (Because the Gwen Stefani x UD eyeshadow collaboration is terrible.) Naked palettes are a fan favorite and this pink toned edition was a great addition to the line up. It’s my second Naked palette and it was worth the splurge indeed. The colors are beautiful and pigmented and long lasting; which is all you need in an eyeshadow. It’s really worth the $54 price tag, it’s an investment. I recorded a tutorial that will be on the site soon featuring the Naked 3.
The Verdict: Splurge. The Naked 3 is beautiful on the outside with a powerful formula for the shadows while The Blushed Nudes are more so flushed so don’t waste your time with it. Not to mention, the Naked 3’s packaging is beautiful. Buy it.