14 Years Later, Editors Still Swear By This Iconic Eyeshadow Palette

If I could revisit any makeup era, it would be the 2010s. We had thick, carved-out brows; excessive highlighter; and the most elaborate eyeshadow looks, created using none other than the iconic Urban Decay Naked Palette. Back in the day, I watched countless smokey-eye tutorials from my favorite YouTubers and used this palette to re-create them in real time. Despite the vast changes in makeup trends and aesthetics over the past 14 years, this palette—with its long-lasting formula and array of neutral, yet versatile shades—has a timeless quality that beauty lovers still crave today. Luckily, we no longer need to reminisce—Urban Decay finally answered our prayers and relaunched The Original Naked Eyeshadow Palette ($59).

Back by popular demand, the limited edition release of this nude palette includes the 12 iconic original shades in a variety of finishes ranging from mattes and metallics to shimmers and satins. Honestly, it’s been a while since I blended multiple shades to create an eyeshadow look, but as soon as I received this palette, I was right back to my old ways. (Don’t be surprised when I walk down the aisle with Buck and Half Baked on my lids). Whether you’re a makeup novice or a certified MUA, these highly pigmented and blendable shades work for just about every occasion. This is truly the only eyeshadow palette you need. We’re all huge fans of this comeback here at Who What Wear, so my fellow editors and I were more than happy to create eight eyeshadow looks for you below.

“I was a staunch Naked Palette girl back in 2010, so I was psyched to rediscover my all-time favorite shades. Unsurprisingly, I gravitated toward the more neutral-leaning shades instead of the sparkly heroes I once adored. (No shade to Half Baked—you’ll always have a place in my heart!) I started with a wash of Toasted all over my lids, then used the fluffier side of the brush to buff the shade Buck into my outer corners. Finally, I swiped my finger into the shade Sidecar (the formula is so creamy!) and pressed it into the center of my lids. This is a tip I learned from celebrity makeup artist Kelli Anne Sewell; it’s quick, but delivers such an eye-opening effect. I used the blending brush to soften the edges around the lighter shade, and I had a soft, neutral eye look in seconds. ” — Jamie Schneider, senior beauty editor

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been around a Naked palette, so I truly forgot what the shades even looked like, let alone how they performed. But when I opened it up, I audibly gasped. Memories of 2016 beauty gurus flooded my mind, and I recalled the iconic shade names Naked, Sidecar, and Half Baked. I first applied Virgin as a wash of color to my lid, then Naked in my outer crease, Sin (my new favorite shade) as a pretty shimmery topper, and Hustle to create a soft wing. I’m not joking when I say I’ll be keeping this in my already-stuffed makeup bag—it’s aged like fine wine.” — Emma Hughes, social media editor

“Ah, the Urban Decay Naked Palette. As soon as I opened it up, I was taken back to my going-out days in college (in the best way). I hadn’t used the palette since then, but when I put my first swipe of eyeshadow on I had myself wondering why! These colors still pop off. In college, I opted for shimmery shades like Half Baked and Smog, but today I’m more into the subtler shades of Naked and Buck. But don’t get it twisted: Those shimmery colors will make an appearance soon enough. I appreciate that the palette comes with an eyeshadow brush, as well. I love convenience.” — Anneliese Henderson, senior fashion editor

“You don’t need to own any other eyeshadows if you have this palette. It’s that good. It’s full of every shade you could possibly need, and the staying power is truly unmatched. I’m not a big eyeshadow girlie to begin with, so I kept things pretty minimal. I started by using the shade Naked as my base and layering Hustle on top. I added Darkhorse to my crease to add some depth and finished with Sidecar in the center of my lid for a touch of shimmer. This is the type of look I’d happily wear to work and add a few extra coats of mascara for a night out.” — Caitie Bellamy, executive group director, branded content

“I haven’t been using a lot of eyeshadow lately, but if you see me wearing it, you can assume it’s this iconic Naked palette. It has all the right neutral shades along with some fun shimmery ones to use on your inner corners daily, or even on your whole lid if the occasion calls for it. I used the included eyeshadow brush to apply Buck as my base and then layered Smog on top for some dimension. I topped everything off with Half Baked and achieved the perfect evening eyeshadow look.” — Aniyah Morinia, fashion and beauty editor

“The original Naked Palette was my go-to in high school and college, so when I opened this palette and took brush to powder, it felt so nostalgic. These days, I prefer a more subtle eye makeup look, so I didn’t dabble in the darker side of the palette—I stuck to the lighter end instead. First, I dusted the shade Naked all over my lids, then defined the outer corners with the slightly darker shade Buck. Finally, I added some shimmer—the shade Sidecar—onto my inner corners. I wasn’t surprised to see that the palette held up to my modern-day standards. The pressed powders are silky, blendable, and lightweight. Plus, the shades are as on-point as ever. I’ll never stop being a fan of the original Naked Palette.” — Kaitlyn McLintock, associate beauty editor

“Using this palette was a deep throwback to my dance competition days. Back then, I was doing a black smokey eye (I’ll spare you the details) but today, the more subtle shades are the heroes. They have just the right amount of pigment, so an eyeshadow novice like myself can’t overdo it. The versatility of this product is unmatched and I’m so glad it is back in my life. For this look, I used the shades Naked and Smog.” — Natalie Gray Herder, editor

“If there was an It beauty item to own in the 2010s, it was the Naked Palette. There’s so much nostalgia associated with this iconic palette—it was one of the first prestigious (AKA not from Target) beauty products I bought. It was a cherished part of my getting-ready routine for years, but then I kind of fell out of love with eyeshadow—that is until they brought back this gem. As soon as I opened the brown velvet case, all the excitement from my early teenage years came flooding back. I wanted to create a natural look with a mix of shimmery champagne-and-gold hues and matte neutrals. I started with Virgin all over my lid. Next, I highlighted the inner corner and brow bone with Sin. I contoured my crease with Naked, then deepened the outer crease with Buck. I added Half Baked (one of my faves) on the center of my lid to bring out my blue eyes. The finished look really made my eyes pop, and I think I just fell back in love with eyeshadow.” — Emma Walsh, associate beauty editor