Makeup

My Favourite Neutral Palettes

- Vicki 20 Comments

As much as I try to step outside of my comfort zone and try wearing some colourful eyeshadows I just feel a little 80’s. I don’t posses the skills needed to make fun eyeshadows work, they end up looking like a mess. So I always retreat back to my beloved neutral shadows where I am comfortable. I thought I would share with you a few of my favourite Neutral Palettes.

Neutral Palettes

So first up is the Vivo Colour Block Unprotected Palette – This has 12 shades and has a good mix of matte & more shimmery shades. You will need to wear a primer with these shadows for them to last throughout the day. I have worn every shade in this palette but I especially like the 2nd row, that has seen alot of love. This Vivo palette is a bargain and you can pick it up for £3.99 in their online store

Wet n Wild Comfort Zone Palette $4.99 – This is one amazing palette. The shadows are very pigmented and soft, they are easy to apply and blend. There are no matte shades in this palette but it does have pretty metallic and shimmery colours. You get eight shades in this palette and once again every shade is wearable. I haven’t used the light green as much as the other shades but I have worn them all at some point. The left hand side shades get the most wear & in particular the 2nd shade from the top I wear all over the lid on days I want to wear as little makeup as possible. It’s like a rose gold shade and is very pretty. This is an American Brand, but often you can find it on Amazon or eBay.

Naked 1 Palette – Since my collection has grown this old faithful doesn’t get as much love as it used to. Its such a trusty palette and you can achieve so many looks with it. You get 12 shades and I love all of them apart from Creep, which I never seem to wear. I love Smog & Toasted the most out of the twelve shades. You get two good matte shades a few metallics and some shimmer so a little something for everyone. Now I’ve blogged about it I’m going to use it a little more and fall back in love with it.

5 Neutral Palettes

BarryM Natural Glow Shadow & Blush Palette £6.49 – This is the newest addition to my palette collection and although it says it has a blush in, the blush is not good at all and I never use it. It is chalky and has very little colour pay off. The shadows on the other hand are nice. You get six eyeshadows and there are two good matte shades. There is a little fallout but nothing you can’t work around. I just wish the blush wasn’t in this palette.

Last up is the MUA Undress Me Too Palette £4 – This has 12 shades in and has been compared to the Naked 2 Palette, I don’t own that palette so can’t say if it holds up as a dupe but I love this palette. The packaging might feel a little cheap and plastic but it is thin and easy to travel with. I have never used the black shade but it is SO pigmented (it scares me). You get some good mattes and a mix of metallic finishes and shimmers. A primer is well worth using as these shadows are not the longest wearing and would benefit from a little help. Everytime I use this palette I can’t believe how little it cost. For £4 everyone should own this palette.

So they’re my 5 most used neutral palettes – I’d love to know if you have any favourites.

#NYXinNEXT

- Vicki 10 Comments

A couple of weeks ago I took part in a twitter party hosted by NYX & Tattooed Tea Lady, where we all shared our from desk to disco tips. It was so much fun hearing how everyone takes their makeup from day to night. I like to add a bold lipstick. Never fails to glam up a look & that way you can leave the eye quite neutral. I also curl my lashes & add lashings of Mascara.

It was to welcome NYX Cosmetics to selected NEXT stores & also learn about their makeup and products that would glam up our party make up. If you search the hashtag #NYXinNEXT on twitter you can read back through our tips & tricks

I was fortunate enough to win a jam packed NYX goodie bag. So I thought I’d share with you all the gorgeous products.

NYX Cosmetics NYX Roll on Shimmer Mega Shine Lip Gloss

I love what NYX sent me, so very generous, I can’t wait to try everything. That Mega Shine Lip Gloss has Christmas written all over it. Have you used any NYX products? I’d love to hear what other products you’d recommend.

A big thank you to NYX & Tattooed Tea Lady x

NYX in NEXT

Eco Tools Brush Set

- Vicki 12 Comments
ecotools1

Whilst on a Christmas present mission last week, I totally caved and bought this gorgeous Eco Tools Fresh & Flawless Brush Set. I saw it & just had to have it. For a start the brushes have pretty patterned bamboo handles, and they’re travel size, I know right – PERFECT!

Eco Tools Fresh & Flawless Brush Set Eco Tools Brush Set Eco Tools Brushes

These brushes come beautifully packaged in a book style box, on the inside cover you get a run-down of each brush and a description on how best to use them. Very handy! You get 5 brushes in this set,

Flat Concealer Brush – Ideal for Covering blemishes.

Buffing Concealer Brush – Perfect for under the eye area. This buffs concealer in like a dream.

Precision Foundation Brush – This is tapered for getting a flawless finish in those awkward areas, like around the nose & eye area.

Complex Blending Brush – This can be used for foundation but I have been using it to contour & apply bronzer as it fits perfectly into the hollow of my cheekbones.

Full Powder Brush – This is perfect for applying blusher or your setting powder. Its fluffy and dense but the brush head isn’t too big and so you can apply just the perfect amount of product.

Eco Tools Brush Set

These are soft, very, very soft brushes that are brilliant quality. They wash well and dry back to their original shape. Although they have a guide on how each brush should be used, like all brushes you find how they work for you & they’re multifunctional.

The Buffing Concealer Brush (blue) and the Complex Blending Brush (bronze) are my stand-out brushes from this kit, I have used them both everyday since I bought them. Saying that, I would be more than happy to only take these 5 brushes away with me on holiday & know that I had everything covered, as the Flat Concealer Brush (green) could be used for eyeshadow. They really are 5 brushes worth buying, for £11.99 you’d be mad not too.

This kit has stolen my heart & has been overshadowing my other brushes. They’re lovely to use and look very pretty, so that makes them perfect in my book. Do you own any Eco Tool Brushes? I’d love to hear your suggestions. Oh, & you NEED this pretty kit in your life, yes you do!

*this post contains affiliate links

YOU BEAUTY DISCOVERY ADVENT CALENDAR DAY 11, 12 & 13

- Vicki 6 Comments

See what was behind doors 11, 12 & 13 in my You Beauty Discovery Advent Calendar*

Steamcream

Behind door 11 was this gorgeous tin of Steamcream, I have never tried this moisturiser before but I know lots of people like it & their tins are limited edition and very collectable. How sweet. This moisturiser is handmade using natural ingredients fused together by a shot of steam. Very hi-tech. This tin is full size £12.95

Stila Lip Glaze

Behind door 12 was this pretty Stila Lip Glaze. I have had a couple if these over the years & really like them. They’re not hugely pigmented but give a nice gloss of colour and look cute on! I like the brush applicator on these, very easy to apply when you’re out & about. This will get alot of love from me over Xmas. Pucker Up! This is also full size 2.4ml for £15.00

Dermalogica Set

Behind door 13 was the Dermalogica Ultra Calming Set – you get to try 4 products from their Ultra Calming Range. In this set there is a Cleanser, Masque, Face Mist and a Serum. Again this is a brand I have never tried but I’m excited to use this set.

This Advent Calendar has been so good at introducing me to some new brands & products, its been wonderful & I still have 11 doors left to open.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.