The Naked Palette: Is it really worth it?

     Everyone thinks that diamonds are a girl's best friend, but personally, I prefer makeup. When I was younger, I used to be obsessed with bright colored makeup products. But as I grew older and as makeup began playing a bigger role in my life, my preferences changed. I began to opt for more neutral colors that I could wear everyday. All makeup junkies know that if you are looking for neutral colors, there is nothing better than the Urban Decay Naked Palette. This palette has a wide range of neutral colors, from a satin highlight to a shimmery black (and every shade of brown a person needs). It's sleek, portable, and on top of it all, it has great packaging! The only down side? It costs $50.00 (U.S. dollars). For me, this palette was not easy to buy. Even though I read so many good reviews on it, I still couldn't justify the cost. I contemplated buying it for several months and all the while I thought to myself, is it really worth it? or isn't there a cheaper alternative? Since then, I have bought the Naked Palette and loved it. But recently, I picked up a very similar neutral palette from Walgreens for only $4.99! It has similar shades to the Naked Palettes, and even several dupes. So why buy the high end product when you can find similar products in the drugstore? 

"It all depends on how often you will use the product and how much you are willing to pay"

              Naked Palette by Urban Decay                                                           Sultry & Neutrals Palette by Profusion

     As you can see, both palettes have a wide variety of neutral colors. There are even several dupes, for example: Virgin + 1st Profusion color, Naked + 7th Profusion color, and Buck + 9th Profusion color. The Naked Palette comes with a flat shader brush and a mini Primer Potion. The Profusion palette comes with a black eyeliner and a sponge-tip applicator. Now here are the main differences. The eyeshadows in the Naked Palette are much better quality. They are highly pigmented and have a smooth formula. In contrast, the Profusion shadows are very chalky and powdery. Also, the lighter colors have very little pigmentation. Both shadows stay on a long time, but they do require primer (I would recommend adding a base and primer before applying the Profusion shadows).   
     If you are looking for everyday eyeshadows, I would recommend making the investment for a higher end product. It might seem hard to justify the price, but trust me, these products pay off. But, if you are only going to use the shadows once in a while, I wouldn't make the investment.  It all depends on how often you will use the product and how much you are willing to pay. But if your on edge about buying the Naked Palette, I would say go for it. You won't be disappointed.

The Beauty Belle