If you were looking forward to the recently-released Urban Decay Naked Ultraviolet but are put off by quality concerns or loved the idea but not the execution (in terms of the actual color story)… this post is for you! These are not designed to be 1 for 1 dupes of each shade; they’re about getting the vibe of the palette–so pushing toward various takes on purples (lavender, plum, purple, and so on). I did a few that were more of a peach/purple combo (which is what the actual Naked Ultraviolet is, in totality, but I know some readers were disappointed by the peachy twist to it!).
I pulled eight shades per Color Story with the idea being that they’re the “core” colors that create the overall palette’s theme, but then you can anchor with your desired transition and brow bone kind of shades. I pulled three versions using Sydney Grace Eyeshadow singles, and then I pulled shades from various palettes that were in a purple/plum theme. Just for fun, I pulled from Pat McGrath’s entire catalog (there’s not a particular palette that leaned purple enough otherwise).
If you are looking for all-purple palettes, though, ColourPop’s Lilac You a Lot, ColourPop It’s My Pleasure, and Coloured Raine Power are all very much in that vein. Natasha Denona Love is warmer and more of a pink/red based palette but would work for someone who wants both warmer tones overall. Natasha Denona Lila is also a nice mix of rose and mauve with pops of brighter berry/purple shades (but at the price point, it’s over double UD).
About This Series
Each look idea is centered around a “quad” of four shades with the expectation that one might bring in the appropriate brow bone or additional transitional shade based on skin tone. I know that I tend to use more like five or six shades in a typical look, but I think that four is a happy medium to give a good idea of the “core” color scheme of a look while giving you the ability to lighten/darken as desired. I have listed the colors in this order: inner lid, middle of lid, outer lid/crease, and crease/above crease.
You might see combinations that seem slightly repeated but placement will vary (e.g. a halo placement where the lightest and more shimmery shade is placed on the center) as placement can also create a different effect/look! You might also want to consider incorporating your favorite matte/shimmer shades (as applicable) to increase the versatility of certain palettes. Consider these ideas a jumping off point!


Create a Color Story
Feeling inspired? Share your own color story using this palette or create a color story from scratch.
Sydney Grace Eyeshadows
Totally Worth It, Magic Act, Pandora, Regal, Below Zero, Flannel, Rushed, Officer
Sydney Grace Eyeshadows
The Greatest Gift, Blaze, Ladies Dancing, Fierce, Mythical, Midnight Amethyst, Beyond, Winter Wonder
ColourPop Lilac You a Lot
Cloud, Wake Me, Ghostin’, Filtered, Trainwreck, Fluff, Iffy, Zoned Out
Sydney Grace Eyeshadows
Troops, Golden Rose, Saturn, Plummet, Spring Fling, Magenta Dreams, Golden Peach, Faithful
Viseart Eyeshadows
Pink Quartz (Amethyst #4), Sterling (Amethyst #5), Calypso (GPV2 #15), Bougainvillea (Grande Pro (Vol. 1) #20), Moon (GPV2 #4), Interstellar (GPV2 #25), Zeus (GPV2 #20), Carbon
Natasha Denona Lila
Magentic (142M), Amethyst (141M), Per Se (135CM), Layla (140M), Helio (149M), Livid (146DC), Viola (136M), Nude Vino (139CM)
ColourPop It’s My Pleasure
Earthshine, Do or Dough, Bare Minimum, Kittenfish, Mr. Sandman, Chick Lit, Sleeper, Fan Fiction
Natasha Denona Purple-Brown
Glaze (12M), Smoky Plum (23P), Aubergine (24V), Electric Violet (28V), Golden Rose (60M), Maroon (22M), Nina’s Orchid (82V), Deep Slate Gray (32P)
Coloured Raine Power
Legacy, Truth, Alibi, Deception, Revenge, Respect, Snitch, Testify
Natasha Denona Love
Valentine, Giving, Pure Love, Heartbeat, Dream, Trust, Passion, Commitment
Anastasia x Jackie Aina
Wiggalese, Lituation, Credit, Edges, Supreme, Pinker, Big Wig, Shookington
Anastasia Norvina
Love, Rose Gold (Norvina), Drama, Passion, Wild Child, Celestial, Soul, Volatile
Pat McGrath EYEdols
Astral White, Night Creature, Purple Reign, Xtreme Aubergine, Astral Ghost Orchid, Blitz Violet Orchid, Synthetica, Blitz Amethyst
Natasha Denona Sunrise
Aster, Azalea, Poppy, Glory, Laurel, Awakening, Morgan, Clove
Bonus
Here are some of the best single shades available to get the more “eye-catching” shades from Naked Ultraviolet!
Single Eyeshadows
Fault Line, Sky Lights, Posh Purple, Below Zero, Synthetica, As If, Fierce, Zeus (GPV2 #20), Flannel, Queen, Purple Reign, Enchanted, M924 Purple, Power to the Purple
Single Eyeshadows
Seattle Fog, I918 Lavender, Plum, N-sane, Totally Worth It, Starchild, Magenta Dreams, Volatile, Neutrino, ME912 Orchid, Two to Mango, Lotus, Aurora, Borealis