Neutral Palette

Shopping My Stash January 2017

- Vicki 2 Comments
Shopping My Makeup Stash Jan 17

Shopping My Makeup Stash Jan 17

As I said in a previous post 2017 is the year I’m going to only keep products that I 100% love. So I thought shopping my stash would be a great way of rotating my makeup and either rediscovering old favourites or realising there is a reason you’ve not reached for something in a while and thats when it’s time to pass it on.

Vichy Dermablend 3D Correction Foundation

This foundation has such a creamy formula, although don’t be scared into thinking that it is going to be too heavy or greasy on the skin. It is lovely to blend and gives a medium coverage but you are able to build up to more of a full coverage. It covers all those blemish scars, redness and dark patches that you might otherwise use concealer on. This takes care of them all with ease. I’m pretty happy to have rediscovered this. I have the shade 25 Nude and that is a great match for my skin over the Winter months.

Shopping My Makeup Stash-17

The Body Shop All in One Concealer in 00

This is meant as a concealer but I have quite a peachy shade which I find  works really well to brighten my under eye area. It’s not the best colour match to use on blemishes but it can be good to brighten dark, old blemish scars and the coverage is very good. I like how creamy the formula is and because its so creamy it blends nicely. I always over look stick foundations / concealers but this one has made me think twice. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends these past few weeks so I am loving having this in my makeup bag to help me appear more awake and bright eyed. The formula also contains Vitamin E and Community Trade Marula Oil, so it is lovely and hydrating

Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil

2016 saw Benefit do a massive overhaul of their brow range and add so many exciting new additions to the collection & I have been using the Goof Proof pencil on and off for a couple of months. I do like the angled tip so you can easily sweep it across your brows filling in any sparse patches and It lays down a good amount of colour without feeling too overdone. I have started to get my brows waxed again as they were looking a little unkempt and so I’m excited to use this more in 2017. I might get a lighter shade too just for more of a subtle daytime brow

Rimmel Magnif'Eye Palette

Rimmel Magnif’Eye Palette in London Nudes Calling*

OK so this isn’t old but I haven’t used it since it was sent to me back in December. I haven’t been wearing too much makeup over the festive holidays but I have dug this out and I fully intend to use it a lot. This is full of rich neutral colours that are 100% me, you get 8 wearable shades and a mix of shimmer and matte shades. They apply with a little fall out but nothing that can’t be tidied up after.

Rimmel Magnif'Eye Palette

Shopping My Stash Makeup Swatches

Lacura Concealer Pen

This is part of Aldi’s makeup collection and it has almost run out, I have had it for quite a few months though. Its a click pen with a brush applicator (much like the cult beauty favourite YSL Touche Le Clait) I like to use it on my eyelids as a corrector and a primer and also under my eyes to brighten dark circles. I use a beauty blender as I find it gives a nice even finish and for a budget option the coverage is pretty good. I will be repurchasing it when it runs out.

Lord & Berry Crayon Lipstick in Prelude

I mostly wear lip crayons as I just find them so convenient and easy to apply. Lord & Berry do some beautiful lip products and I used this quite a lot during last summer, I am pleased to have rediscovered it. Its a gorgeous rosy brown shade, a perfect everyday colour. It has a soft, creamy matte finish and I love how long it wears. I have put this straight into my handbag and it will be my Jan / Feb lip option.

Rimmel The Kate Sculpting Palette

Rimmel The Kate Sculpting Palette in Coral Glow*

How pretty does this trio of face powders look? I love the touch of rose gold they’ve included around the edge of the lid. The highlight shade is a champagne shade but its a little on the light side, I think this could have been more radiant. However the contour and blush shade are more pigmented and although the contour is a little on the warm side all is not lost because I have been using it more as a bronzer and I its perfect for that. The blush shade is a gorgeous matte coral pink, very flattering colour. I am looking forward to using this a little more, I think this trio is idea for travel or your on the go makeup bag as the packaging is compact and sturdy.

  • PR Sample

Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette

- Vicki 1 Comment
New Urban Decay Ultimate Naked Basics Palette

Urban Decay Ultimate Naked Basic

Urban Decay have already released some incredible products during 2016, including their Moondust Palette, All Nighter Foundation and a whopping 100 Vice Lipsticks and they show no signs of slowing down. September saw them release the follow up to their hugely successful Naked Basics & Naked Basics 2 which both had six gorgeous neutral matte eyeshadows. The Naked Ultimate Basics Palette is the latest in the Naked line up and has taken the matte palette to a whole new level. The Naked Ultimate Basics Palette is BEAUTIFUL and it includes 12 all matte must have neutral shadows. This really it the ultimate matte palette and you need it in your life.

Urban Decay Ultimate Naked Basic Palette

Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette* 

From the get-go, this palette gets my seal of approval because of its rose gold, very sturdy and for a 12 pan palette its sleek and slim. There is also a very decent sized mirror in the lid which always comes in handy. This also includes a mini double ended brush which is great quality and is actually a brush that you can use and I have been using it to apply these shadows.

This palette has 12 wearable, pigmented, neutral shadows

  • Blow (Light Nude Demi-Matte)
  • Nude (Soft Pink Nude Matte)
  • Commando (Light Taupe Brown Matte)
  • Tempted (Pale Brown Matte)
  • Instinct (Medium Pink Taupe Matte)
  • Lethal (Reddish Brown Matte)
  • Pre-Game (Pale Yellow Matte)
  • Extra Bitter (Burnt Orange Matte)
  • Faith (Medium Warm Brown Matte)
  • Lockout (Rich Neutral Brown Matte)
  • Magnet (Smoky Gray Matte)
  • Blackjack (Warm Black Matte)

New Urban Decay Ultimate Naked Basics Palette

The two lightest shades Pre Game & Blow are quite pale and although not very pigmented they work well applied all over the lid & up to your brow to neutralise redness, add a little brightness and as a base for the darker shades.

The other 10 shades are very pigmented, long wearing & easy to blend. They never apply patchy and have minimal to no fallout. You can achieve so many looks using this palette so if like me you tend to wear a neutral eye most days then you have so much choice in this palette. It’s handy having 12 matte shadows in one place and the colours are so versatile, I like that you can achieve a subtle look or go all out with a smokey eye using those beautiful rich darker shades.

Favourite Matte Eyeshadow Palette

The quality of this palette is fantastic, as you’d expect from Urban Decay, I mean this is a brand that knows how to do fantastic, pigmented and very long-wearing eyeshadow. I am not surprised that It lives up to the hype and I would say its a palette well worth investing in, I’ve been reaching for it almost daily.

What I also like is that the 12 shadows in this palette are all new colours and exclusive to this palette, which is exciting. I’m in love with everything about this latest Urban Decay release and I know it will be a firm favourite for a very long time.

UD Ultimate Naked Basics Palette

Bottom Row: Pre -Game / Extra Bitter / Faith / Lockout / Magnet / BlackJack

Ultimate Basic Palette Swatches

Top row: Blow / Nudie / Commando / Tempted / Instinct / Lethal

What is your favourite Naked Palette and are you tempted to add this new Naked Ultimate Basics Palette to your collection?

Naked Ultimate Basics £38.50 is available at UrbanDecay.com / Debenhams / Selfridges / John Lewis

*PR sample

ZOEVA The Spectrum Collection

- Vicki 6 Comments
New Zoeva Eyeshadow Palette

Zoeva have just released The Spectrum Collection and it almost took my breath away, it’s that beautiful. The packaging is sleek, slim and luxurious whilst the products are equally great quality and the two palettes I’ve tried from this collection are amongst the best products I’ve ever used. Yes they’re that good!

The Spectrum Collection is made up of three eyeshadow palettes (each containing 15 shades) – Warm Spectrum, Nude Spectrum, Cool Spectrum as well as three blush palettes (each containing 4 shades) Pink Spectrum, Nude Spectrum, Coral Spectrum.

New Zoeva Eyeshadow Palette

Zoeva Nude Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette* £28.50

This without a doubt is one of the most beautiful palettes I have ever used, the shadows are ALL perfect for me and it’s just utterly gorgeous. The palette is a mix of matt, satin, and pearl finishes, all of the shades are pigmented and are ideal for the neutral, earthy toned fans. There is a real mix of colours but the copper and browns for me are so exciting. I haven’t stopped wearing this palette since it came.

The shadows are easy to blend with minimum fall out and they have very good staying power with & without an eye primer (I’m lazy & rarely wear a primer).

Zoeva describes this palette as ‘Reminiscent of the wild breathtaking beauty of the desert, the ZOEVA Nude Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette unveils a perfectly synchronized assortment of mesmerizing earth-toned and subtle sandy shades. Invigorated with gold, bronze and copper reflections, the iridescent hues waft shimmering effects on the lids – just like a mirage in the endlessness of the Sahara. Create luminous down to earth daytime as well as fascinating evening makeup looks, flushed by a haze of heat’.

All 15 shades in this Nude Spectrum palette are beautiful and wearable, I’ve forgotten what eyeshadow I was even using before this landed on my doorstep & I know It’s going to continue to get a lot of love.

The Nude Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette is formulated with Vitamin E and is free from Parabens, Mineral Oil and Fragrance.

Zoeva Nude Spectrum Swatches

Zoeva Spectrum Collection

Zoeva Pink Spectrum Bush Palette* £15.00

This has made me fall head over heels in love with blush, I’d started to skip this step in favour of using just bronzer but now I can’t wait to put blusher on. This has four gorgeous pink shades ranging from a soft light pink to a much bolder, intense pink. These all need a light hand because they’re incredibly pigmented and you don’t want to go OTT.

Zoeva Pink Spectrum Blush Palette

You get a mix of satin and matte shades and as you can see all four shades are beautiful.

  • PK010 – Apricot pink nude
  • PK020 – Soft pink with peachy beige undertones.
  • PK030 – Dusky rose pink with soft mauve undertones.
  • PK040 – Pop of fuchsia pink

Zoeva describes this palette as, ‘A hymn to rosy cheeks, the ZOEVA Pink Spectrum Blush Palette is the ultimate essential for a natural-looking, radiant complexion. As fresh as morning dew, it provides a range of blossoming pink and rosy shades for a crisp appearance. The soft matte and shimmery powder formulation blends smoothly and adds a vibrant pop of colour to the cheeks that can be layered from medium to high coverage for innocently sweet to flirtatious looks’.

Zoeva Blush Quad Swatches

This is such a girly, feminine palette and the blushers give you that pretty pinch of colour, which of course you can build up to be as intense as you like. The packaging it exactly like the eyeshadow palette  – sleek, elegant and I think quite sexy. It has a rubberised finish and a magnetic close. These are the ideal size to travel with because they’re so slim and they’re that beautiful you won’t want to leave home without them.

The formulation of the blushes is enriched with vitamin E and is 100% free of parabens, mineral oils, perfume and phthalates.

Its love & I can’t recommend them highly enough. There is not a bad word to say about this collection, you must check out the collection and let me know what palettes you fall in love with.

*PR Sample

Five products under £5

- Vicki 16 Comments

Five products under £5

Bath & Body Works Hand Sanitisers – I know these are quite hard to get hold of in the UK & I tend to stock up if I go to America or if anyone I know goes on holiday there I ask them to get a shed load of them because they’re 5 for $5 (bargain). I was down to my last bottle & there is no USA trip on the horizon so I bit the bullet & took to eBay, there are quite a few UK based sellers & although you won’t get them for anywhere near as cheap as US prices, they’re still so fun to have. I bought three sweet scents & I’m so pleased with them all. So if you’re looking to order a couple I bought mine from this

Collection Eyes Uncovered Eyeshadow Palette £3.99 – I just can’t say enough good things about these Collection Palettes you get 6 great quality eyeshadows in each palette & there are 3 palettes to pick from. I have 2 out of the 3 but the Nude Bronze is the one I have been using the most, if you love gold, bronzy shimmers then this is the one for you. This Nude Bronze palette is beautiful and for an affordable brand the colours are pigmented and very good quality. All the shadows in this palette have some shimmer in them, so if you want a more matte palette then the Nude Palette might be the one for you. I have used this palette so much since I got my hands on it. If you haven’t checked these out you really should!

MUA Sweet Sheen Lipbalms* £2 – These were released as part of their Spring / Summer 2015 collection there are 6 pretty shades available and these 2 colours are my current favourites. They give your lips a light wash of colour and feel hydrating and comfortable. These are handy to have in your handbag for applying a pinch of colour on the go. All 6 shades are perfect for the warm weather & look glossy and pretty on the lips. I have been alternating between these two colour this month and love them both.

Essence Gel Waterproof Eyeliner £2.30 – I wasn’t too fussed at first that these were waterproof, I initially loved how creamy, soft and pigmented they are. They glide on without any tugging and the colour is even and looks vibrant. If you want to smudge these out to create a smokey eye then you best be quick because after a few minutes the colour isn’t going anywhere. This liner will last all day on your lids & looks as fab after 8 hours as it did when you first applied it. There is no need for a pencil sharpener (they’re so 1999, these are twist up). Now on to it being waterproof, yes it might be a pain to remove but it means your liner won’t smudge, transfer or end up halfway down your face & if you need a liner for your summer holiday then this is a really affordable option. They come in 6 colour options & I have brown & black but if you’re looking for something more colourful then you can get blue, green & purple.

Origins Facial Brush* £5 – First off can we address how cute this is! Also it is so very soft, the bristles are not abrasive at all so if you’re worried about it being damaging or a little harsh on your skin it really isn’t. This manual hand held facial brush is perfect for gently exfoliating your skin, I have been using it mostly on my nose & chin & its the perfect size brush for those areas. You use it with a cleanser & I have been using the Origins White Tea Cleanser, this brush helps buff away the dead skin & build up of the days grime & dirt to reveal glowing healthy skin. Its so lightweight & compact that it would be ideal to take away with you on holiday & for £5 I think its a bargain. This gets two thumbs up from me, I love it.

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.