Review: Makeup Academy (MUA) Undressed And Comparison With Urban Decay Naked

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Makeup Academy (MUA) is a UK based cosmetic company that is available in Superdrug Stores in the UK and online.  As mentioned in a previous post MUA was having a 40% off everything sale (in lieu of 40k+ Facebook fans), and I knew I had to try the Undressed palette as it us toted by many UK bloggers as an Urban Decay Naked Dupe!

Undressed comes in a black, sleek, plastic, professional looking casing.  There are 12 shadows in the palette.  This palette retails for £4 ($6.32 in the US) for 9.6 grams of product (0.8 grams per shadow).  This is slightly less product when comparing it to Urban Decay's Naked Palette which contains 15.6 grams (1.3 grams per shadow) and retails for $50.00 in the U.S.

Let me first off say that this is the best drugstore dupe for Naked that I have ever come across.  For the most part, each shadow is pigmented, creamy, and very blendable.  I was very impressed by this palette, as I have tried many dupes for the Naked palette and this is the only one that I think could actually replace my Naked palette.

Okay, let's describe the shades.  The shades aren't named like they are in the Naked palette.  On the back of the palette MUA labels each shade:  "Shade 1, Shade 2...".

• Shade 1 is a frosty nude beige.  It is very pigmented and a complete dupe of UD Virgin.
• Shade 2 is a champagne with pink undertones.  UD Sin has silver microglitter and Shade 2 has chunkier glitter, but otherwise it is a dupe of UD sin.  The pigmentation is wonderful.
• Shade 3 is a matte beige.  The pigmentation isn't great, but in my opinion Urban Decay Naked's pigmentation isn't either.  It is a complete dupe of UD Naked.
• Shade 4 is a pigmented frosty bronze.  It is a complete dupe of UD Sidecar.
• Shade 5 is a matte medium brown.  The pigmentation, again, isn't great like Shade 3 (the other matte).  UD Buck is more pigmented and darker.
• Shade 6 is a gold bronze.  The pigmentation is amazing.  I've had such a hard time finding a good drugstore dupe of UD Half Baked.  This shade is identical to UD Half Baked.
• Shade 7 is a bronze shade.  The pigmentation is good.  It has a slightly more red undertone when comparing it to UD Smog.
• Shade 8 is a chocolate brown.  The pigmentation is good, UD Darkhorse is slightly darker and slightly more pigmented.
• Shade 9 is a pink brown.  The pigmentation is great, but again it's slightly lighter/pinker than UD Toasted.
• Shade 10 is a dark frosted brown.  The pigmentation is wonderful, and is an exact dupe of UD Hustle.
• Shade 11 an almost black with silver glitter and blue undertones.  I am very impressed with the pigmentation of these.  The pigmentation is better than UD Creep.
• Shade 12 is a frosted gunmetal color.  It is a touch more silver than UD Gunmetal, but almost an exact dupe!  The pigmentation is again, amazing.

MUA Undressed - Without Flash

MUA Undressed - With Flash

MUA Undressed - Without Flash

MUA Undressed - WithFlash

Now for the swatches comparing with the Urban Decay Naked Palette:

Without Flash

MUA:  Top

Urban Decay: Bottom

With Flash

MUA:  Top

Urban Decay: Bottom

Without Flash

MUA:  Top

Urban Decay: Bottom

With Flash

MUA:  Top

Urban Decay: Bottom

Overall, I am very impressed with this palette.  I have been taking it with me when I travel because I am always afraid my more expensive makeup will break or get damaged while getting lugged around.  The mattes could be more pigmented, but otherwise I was very happy with the overall pigmentation in this palette.  As far as longevity, I have found that these last just as long as the shadows in my UD Naked Palette over primer.  I just wish shipping wasn't an arm an a leg to the U.S.!  Great job Makeup Academy!

Final Impression of MUA Undressed: 

• Pigmentation: 4.5/5
• Longevity: 5/5 
• Formula: 4.5/5
• Packaging: 5/5

BeautyTribune Rating: A