This review dives deep into the Urban Decay Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation, exploring whether it lives up to its bold claims of 24-hour wear, transfer-proof formula, and weightless feel. We'll examine the foundation's packaging, shade range, and application process, comparing it to other Urban Decay foundations and a different brand to provide a comprehensive shade comparison and assessment. The review will chronicle the foundation's performance throughout the day, noting its wear, finish, and how it holds up under various lighting conditions. Key areas like creasing, longevity, and suitability for different skin types will be thoroughly discussed.This unbiased review is based on extensive testing, including both initial application and long-term wear tests. We'll explore the foundation's blendability with both brush and sponge application, evaluating its coverage and its ability to create a flawless, natural-looking finish. Ultimately, we'll determine if the Urban Decay Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation is a worthy addition to your makeup bag, considering its pros, cons, and suitability for various skin types and preferences. The verdict will consider its performance against its advertised qualities and offer practical advice for optimal use.
Pros And Cons
- Vegan
- Buildable medium coverage
- Real skin matte finish (described as satin matte by reviewer)
- Available in 50 shades
- Good shade match (for reviewer)
- No fragrance detected
- Looks good in flash photography
- Lightweight feel
- Can look patchy with brush application; better with sponge
- Emphasizes dryness
- Creasing on upper lip after several hours
- May require multiple layers for full coverage
- Doesn't maintain matte finish throughout the day; becomes dewy
- Looks slightly dry/cakey in certain areas after several hours
Read more: Hydrating Foundation for Dry Skin: Top 5 Picks
First Impressions and Packaging
The Urban Decay Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation arrived, and I was immediately struck by the sleek rose gold packaging. The box itself is eye-catching, promising a vegan, buildable, medium-coverage foundation with a real skin matte finish and impressive 24-hour wear. It also claims to be transfer-proof and waterproof – quite the claims!
I appreciated that the brand reached out for a potential sponsorship, but I declined. My goal is to provide unbiased reviews to my viewers, focusing on honest first impressions and long-term wear tests, not influenced by paid promotions.
Shade Comparison and Swatches
To provide context, I compared shade 20N of the Stay Naked foundation to other Urban Decay foundations I own (Naked Skin and One & Done), as well as my usual shade match from another brand (CUA Oh lifeproof). This allows viewers to see how the shade compares across different ranges and brands.
The swatches revealed that the Stay Naked foundation in 20N is a fair shade, similar to other fair shades, but has slightly different undertones, making it important to select the right one for your skin tone.
Application and Initial Thoughts
I applied the foundation using both a brush and a sponge on each side of my face. The initial application with a brush showed promising blendability, but also emphasized some dryness and texture, particularly on my cheeks.
Switching to a sponge dramatically improved the application. The coverage was more even and the foundation felt weightless, though still showing some redness and freckles peeking through – consistent with the claimed medium coverage. This would require building up coverage.
Full Makeup Look and Natural Lighting Check-in
After completing the rest of my makeup (eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, bronzer, blush, and highlighter), I reassessed the foundation’s appearance in natural lighting. The shade match appeared perfect, and the foundation’s satin-matte finish looked more refined in natural light than in studio lighting.
However, I did notice some creasing around my upper lip and areas around my pores. The matte finish wasn't as completely matte as advertised, and the foundation felt a touch heavy in certain areas despite the weightless claim.
Long-Term Wear Test and Final Thoughts
After five hours, creasing around the upper lip and a slightly dry, cakey look started to become more noticeable, particularly around the mouth. This suggested a need for additional prep products like primer.
Nine hours later, the foundation had become dewier, particularly around my pores and forehead, proving the matte finish wasn't entirely long-lasting. Despite this, the overall look was still presentable and the coverage remained good, suggesting this foundation might be better suited for those with dry or normal skin types, who need to use prep and possibly setting products.
Final Verdict
The Urban Decay Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation is a decent foundation with a mostly flattering finish and buildable medium coverage. The shade range is impressive and the shade match was spot-on. However, it requires some extra steps to achieve a flawless look, like using primer and possibly setting powder, depending on skin type and desired finish.
The foundation doesn’t fully live up to its claims of being totally transfer-proof or having all-day wear. It requires a bit of work, but for the right skin types and with the right preparation, it's a foundation worth considering. Those with oily skin should proceed with caution or potentially mix it with other foundations for better control of oil.