Snake-Inspired FOTD with Urban Decay

Good afternoon lovelies!!

Been a bit of a barrage of lipstick posts on BBB lately and, i am one who likes to keep things a bit different and switch it up a bit. So today, when i was picking what i was going to wear i was very excited when i got a little bit inspired by my snake print leggings, and pulled out my 

Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV. 

I just think this palette is perfect for this particular look and colour selection. I haven't really mentioned it much since i did my initial post after getting it so it was about time it was given its moment of glory! I was going for a daytime look (cos it's daytime, duh) so i didn't want tons of eyeliner and wanted to let the shadow do the talking. 

FOTD:

Face: MAC Matchmaster Foundation (shade 4.0)

BeneFit Boi-Ing Concealer (shade 2)

Sleek Contour Kit in Medium

Cheeks: FashionistA blush in Butterscotch (from my palette)

Eyes: Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV 

Skimp (all over the lid)

Midnight Rodeo (in the crease with a fluffy brush and blended over slightly)

Cobra (applied right in the crease using a pencil brush, winging out slightly and along the lower lashline)

Zephyr (just in inner corners)

L'Oreal Lash Architect 4d Mascara in Black

Brows: Rimmel Single Eyeshadow in Brun Dusk

Lips: MAC Shy Girl (Cremesheen)

Avon Glimmerstick Lip Liner in Rich Ginger

MAC Shy Girl

I have no idea why i wasn't compelled to wear liner with this look, but i go through phases with it. Sometimes i'll go for liquid liner every day, but sometimes i don't fancy eyeliner at all. I was very pleased how Cobra came out under my lower lashes and didn't want it overshadowed by a thick black line. I did have a slight glitter fallout issue with Midnight Rodeo but nothing that a swipe of the foundation brush wouldn't fix. 

Please excuse my scouse-brow.... I tidied them up a little this morning, but had no desire to launch into a full scale de-fuzzing. Its my day off after all. 

All in all i'm really happy with my Snake-Inspired makeup and i just ADORE Shy Girl, nomatter what i'm wearing. Sorry if you guys were expecting something more dramatic but i just fancied something subtle, yet effective today. Off to the parents for tea later with the boy so thought i'd make a little effort at least. 

What inspires your makeup?? How do you use the shades from the UD palette?? 

Make Up Bag of The Week #2

Good evening ladies!

Late one tonight (i over-napped) but wanted a bit of blogging time to share with you all my makeup selections for the coming week. I have been trying really hard to rotate my makeup bag lately to get fuller use out of all my products. The last week or so was a bit of a fail because i have been a bit haphazard in the products i've been using due to special occasions and my visit to London for #ZOMGbloggersbash so it changed a bit through those weeks, but i'm narrowing it down again this week and plan to stick to the products i've selected. 

So there's the overview of this week's picks.

As usual my makeup bag staples (that i just can't do without) remain the same and will not be made a big fuss of in the main post. They are:

MAC Matchmaster Foundation (Shade 4)

MSFN (Medium Plus)

Collection2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer (Shade 3)

My last makeup bag post seemed to take on a 'bronzing' theme and this week i seem to have gone for more soft, pinky shades (maybe it's the approach of Valentine's Day). I don't do this consciously, but there always seems to be a trend in what products i pick from week to week. 

MAC Mineralise Skinfinish in Porcelain Pink

In addition to my regular MSFN i have actually selected ANOTHER for this week's bag. There's a bit of a story behind it actually. The other night on Twitter i was contemplating a blogsale and umming and ahh-ing about what to part with and what to keep hold of. And this product was a sure fire cert for the chop... Until i started actually TALKING about it with someone and studied it again and thought to myself "Y'know what.... I haven't given this enough of a chance and it really is rather pretty". I understand why MSF are so hard to part with as they really are beautiful. This one disappointed me somewhat when i first got it. It DOES have gold veining through it but it wasn't NEARLY as prominent when i actually got it out of the box when compared to swatches and photos i'd seen online. 

After swatching around with it again and wearing it yesterday i have decided that it works for me as a pretty pink-toned highlight which doubles up as lovely, shimmery eye shadow. So i popped it into this week's bag. 

MAC Sheertone Blush in Pink Swoon

I don't know many who don't LOVE this blush! It looks stunning in the pan, but is so sheer and gives such a pretty wash of girly pink (that can also be built up for more drama). It goes great with the MSF highlight i picked. I'm going to be sporting a fabulous girly pink glow this week!

I've plumped for two lippies again this week. I decided to give my beloved Shy Girl the week off in favour of two other equally effortless and soft colours from my MAC collection.

Creme Cup (Cremesheen)

Well one of the lipsticks was going to have to be pink wasn't it. This is the newest addition to my MAC lippy stash and i'm so glad i finally have it. I'd heard so many great things about it and it really does seem to be a fab all round 'suits-anyone' kinda shade. I do rather like a Cremesheen finish, although i know there are a few who aren't as keen. 

Viva Glam Gaga 2 (Amplified)

The second MAC/Gaga Viva Glam collaboration was always going to be a hit with me. I'm always on the lookout for the ultimate nude lip and this one really is FABULOUS!! I'm going to be so gutted when this runs out as it was an LE shade and will no longer be available. I have heard that a good dupe for this is GOSH 'Darling' but have yet to test this theory. Until then i have this badboy and i love it!! 

Sleek iDivine Palette in 'Oh So Special'

The first of my eye choices this week is one that i have been neglecting recently. I've got myself into a comfort zone of reaching for either my MUA Heaven&Earth or my coveted UD Naked palette and have pushed thoughts of my other palettes to the back of my mind, which is so wrong of me because i do LOVE every Sleek palette i own. Oh So Special was the obvious choice for this particular bag, given the other shades in the mix, but i picked it more for the contour shades than for the pinks (you'll see why in just a sec). The matte brown shades are also fine for filling in my brows, so no need for a seperate brow product.

BeneFit Creaseless Cream Shadowliner in 'Sippin'n'Dippin'

I own three of these shadows which i bought from a blogsale quite recently. I've always been a bit of a sceptic about cream formulas but am really coming around to them now. This shade in particular has a lovely warm goldy sheen to it which is a bit lighter than my skintone and when applied all over the lid makes my eyes pop right out!! My everyday staple look has now become this shadow all over my lid, followed by a contour shade (applied with a fluffy brush) into the crease and finished off with black liner. It stays on like a dream too and also doubles as a base for other shadows. The other shades i own are RSVP and Bunny Hop. You will probably find a post on these from me in the very near future.

VIVO Lengthening Mascara in Black

This is possibly my FAVOURITE budget mascara. It's by VIVO who sell through Tesco's but i picked this up at the October TOWIB event along with a few other bits, which was lucky for me as i live nowhere near a Tesco. This mascara contains fibres GALORE and i love that the brush doesn't pick up a truckload of product. I get no clumping from this product at all and it really is quite decent at adding length and colour to the lashes. I'd highly recommend it if you're popping down Tesco and in need of a new mascara. 

Liners for the week are as follows.....

Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

Not a lot for me to say about this product other than i LOVE it!! The brush is super easy to work with, it goes on a treat and it DOESN'T BUDGE!! This is one of the only liquid liners i've tried that gives me a perfectly smooth line and i dont always have to pull my eye around to get it either. I got this as part of my Book of Shadows IV but i will definitely be repurchasing!

Avon Glimmerstick Lipliner in Rich Ginger

I usually feel like i want a lip liner when I wear my Gaga 2 just because it is so nude and i like this one just to bring out my lips a little. It's not a bad colour for eyebrows either. I love Avon Glimmerstick products (not just because i am a rep) and the eyeliners are another favourite of mine. 

So those are this week's product picks. 

I realised that i haven't actually included a bronzer AT ALL this week, which is possibly a mistake. I have fake tanned though so my only issue will be for contouring and i can grab my Sleek Contour kit for that if i need it. 

If you have seen an item in any of my makeup bag posts that you would like more information on or to see me write a more detailed review of, do let me know and i'd be happy to oblige. 

What's in your makeup bag this week?? Are you getting all pink and romantic too??

Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV: First Impressions

Evening my lovelies!!! 

I made a little purchase that i shouldn't have last week. Okay okay, so it was a pretty MAJOR purchase (given my current budget) but i'd spied it whilst shopping in Meadowhall the previous day and, although having previously been EXTREMELY pleased with myself for just picking it up, fondling it for a couple of minutes and then putting it BACK, I just couldn't stop thinking about it. Anyhoo, to cut a long story short i ordered the bugger from the House of Fraser website the next day. Queue MUCHO GUILTO! I adore it, but my Mastercard has now condemned me to HELL for it....

And it was THIS.....

Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV

Ain't it a BEAUT!! This is the first Book of Shadows i have ever purchased. My only UD palette up until now is my beloved Naked palette. However, i am GUTTED i never purchased the Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows as i am just in LOVE with that story. 

Unlike my Naked palette, this set not only contains 16 beautiful shadows but ALSO a full size 24/7 Liquid liner and travel sizes in the Supercurl Curling Mascara and the much loved Primer Potion, which comes in a squeezy tube this time rather than the screw top vial as featured in Naked. I think i prefer it in this as i feel that there is a lot of potential for waste with the previous packaging. This will be so much easier for squeezing out every last precious drop. And i just cant wait to try out the mascara and liner. I've been scraping by on a dodgy liquid liner for a while now and 24/7, when i swatched it briefly on my hand, would not wash off!! Can't wait to test its staying power. 

This palette contains 16 shades and 10 of those are brand new, never released with any other palette. It does contain the shades Sin and Gunmetal which are included in the Naked palette but i will forgive Urban Decay for that because i am just so EXCITED to start playing with the other shades!

When i was cooing over this in Debenhams last week i was originally taken with the Blue Bus and Gravity shades and intrigued by Cobra and Bender. I feel that purple/blues and dirty greens are very much missing in my eyeshadow collection. I do have a tendency to stick to taupes, browns and golds (which this palette does also contain), but that just means that this palette will be even more LOVED!!

I haven't touched the shadows AT ALL yet. Not one swatch. This is because i wanted to wait until i have at least a couple of hours where i feel well enough, and focused enough to devote my attention to playing with it. And i can't wait to post about it!! 

LOOK!! Pop up BUTTERFLIES!! 

What i don't really get is the whole QR reader/speaker/video/USB thing they've done with it. I think its a nice idea but it all seems a bit faffy and gimmicky to me. Maybe i'll give it a bash one day if i get bored. 

Look out for a more detailed post on this beautiful item with full review, swatches and an eye look VERY soon on this blog!

Do you own this Book of Shadows?? What are your favourite shades/products?? How do you wear them?? 

Shadow Showdown!! MUA Vs Urban Decay

Evening ladies!! 

So we're getting very used to the hype surrounding the MUA Professional Heaven & Earth palette, and we've heard no END of comparisons between it and, darling of the shadow world, THE Naked Palette from Urban Decay..... But, it's all good playing "Spot the dupe". It needs to be put to the true test. 

So can YOU spot the difference between them?? 

So here's how this is going to work... I've taken Sin, Smog and Hustle from the Naked Palette along with (in my opinion) almost IDENTICAL shades from the MUA palette and applied them to one eye a piece. 

So here are the swatches...

Left - Hustle. Right - MUA

Left - MUA. Right - Smog

Left - Sin. Right - MUA

In my opinion, the MUA shades all seem to lean slightly purple with the exception of the bottom one. The pigmentation and consistency of both palettes can't be grumbled at. Both produce a little fallout at times. The disadvantage of the MUA palette in my opinion is that there are no matte shades. Naked and Buck are my no1 used shades from the Naked palette but there are no dupes for them in the MUA palette, so it IS justifiable to have both (plus H&E is only £4 so why the hell NOT have both??). What i am getting at here is, don't despair that you do not own the Naked palette when you can pop to Superdrug and pick up the MUA palette for peanuts. 

Okay so, here's the test.... Can you tell which eye was done with which palette?? 

Both of these palettes are wonderful, everyday palettes with so many possibilities. The look i did here was as follows...

On ONE eye.....

Sin - All over the Lid

Smog - On the outer part of the lid and blended inwards

Hustle - Applied into the crease and outer corners

All shades were then blended together for a smart, but subtle, wearable look. 

The other eye (I'm not telling you which is which yet) was done with the MUA dupe shades. 

Soooooo can you tell your Steal from your SPLURGE?? Answers on a postcard pls (or just in the comment box). I have a feeling you ladies are pretty on the ball when it comes to spotting the Naked palette. Like me, you all have impeccable taste. Even i struggled to remember which eye was which after a while as they really ARE soooooo similar!! 

Which wins for you?? MUA or UD?? Or, like me, do you love them both for different reasons??

August Favourites 2011

Another month where i don't know where it's gone! 

This year is swinging by so fast! 

I've  had a few exciting new things in August, despite being on a shopping ban. In all fairness a lot of the stuff i have aquired this month has been the result of a credit card balance transfer which actually left my previous card in CREDIT!! Red rag to a bull or WHAT!! There were other things i received that i had ordered in July (and so they dont count towards an August shopping ban. HA!).

So here are my favourites for this month. It is not necessarily all NEW stuff, but stuff that I have really been reaching for lately.

August was the month that i FINALLY got the chance to own the Urban decay Naked Palette. Like so many I had been lusting after it for such a long time and when the lovely Ms. Red mentioned that she was planning to sell hers, i handed over my paypal details fast as lightning! And it hasn't let me down. I've really enjoyed using it and there are firm favourites emerging. Naked and Buck are perfect for everyday and Half Baked is just BEAUTIFUL as are Smog and Sidecar. Who am i kidding... the whole thing is FABULOUS! 

There are TWO lip products in this month's favourites. Mainly because i just couldn't choose between the two of them. I have been reaching for one of these two products EVERY day without fail. 

Elf Matte Lip Colour in Natural - I got this as part of a little haul i did from Elf and i love it! Its kind of like a lip pencil and lip colour in one and really does allow for a precise application. The shade is just a lovely natural pinky nude and I bet it would suit almost ANYONE! For a matte product it's not TOO drying, unlike some. I do sometimes pop a little Carmex over it but I don't find it to be an issue. I recommend that EVERYONE pick one of these up next time you order from Elf. At £3.50 it really is a little GEM and comes in a range of colours. 

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in (700) Nude Delight - This has been a feature in my make up bag for several months now, but it wasn't until it went MISSING earlier this month that i realised just how much it meant to me! Off i trotted to Boots to buy a replacement. It's just such a perfect Nude and feels GORGEOUS on the lips. I find it very peachy in tone, which is always a winner for me as i looooove my peachy things. I used this lipstick in my previous FOTD post as well as in my Halo post so if you would like to see what it looks like in all lights do check them out. LOVE LOVE LOVE. 

Rimmel Day 2 Night Mascara - This was a bit of an impulse purchase on my part back in July. I'd popped into Boots with the sole intention of purchasing cotton buds (woooo exciting) but, as usual i entered through the make-up end and was greeted with a £2 off promotion on this mascara. I'd heard good things so i sneakily snapped it up. Great purchase! I'm particularly impressed with the lengthening wand (the slimmer of the 2) because it doesn't pick up as much product and is perfect for bottom lashes as well as a subtle lengthening effect on the top. The fatter volumising wand is nice as well but does tend to pick up a LOT of product. i suspect this will be a mascara that works better as it dries up a little. I really like it. Winner!

I can't do my favourites for this month without mentioning my new Elf Studio Brushes. I picked up the Stipple brush, the Blush brush and the Contour/Crease brush. These have really made my life easier. I'm especially in love with the Stipple brush and it's been BRILLIANT for applying my foundation. The Taklon bristles are VERY soft and because its got different length bristles is distributes and holds on to the product brilliantly and i find i actually need LESS product when i use this brush. 

Last but not least is the new Garnier BB Cream (Medium). I'm not gonna lie, i heard the hype about this product and after playing with it in Boots and putting it back, the next time i went in i just HAD to get it just to see what all the fuss was about. And i do REALLY like it! It makes my skin feel GORGEOUS all day and does actually cover rather well! I find i do need to powder my nose with it as i gives a dewy finish and certainly isn't mattifying but if. like me, you're within spitting distance of 30 and want a product that will take care of your skin as well as giving you the colour and coverage, I'd definitely encourage you to at least TRY it. It doesn't break the bank at £9.99 either. Full review Here 

So those are my little gems from the last month. Hope everyone had a great August and those who went on holiday had a FAB time (JEALOUS!!)

What were your favourites for August? Link me to your posts/videos cos i love reading them

UD Naked Palette: Black & Gold

Evening girlies!!

Since I coloured my hair back to my usual dark brown/black shade (that blonde thing was never gonna last long with me), I've been looking forward to wearing dark, smokey eye looks again. I just didn't feel it went with my fairer hair and had gone for more subtle shades as a result. 

So when i was having a little play around with my Urban Decay Naked Palette today i decided to try and create a darker, more vampy look with it compared to the everyday looks i usually go for when using it (i usually use the neutrals and gold shades). And here's what i came up with!! 

I stuck with my love of gold... but i wanted to create a dark, smokey eye so i went for Creep, which is the darkest shade in the palette. I just love the little flecks of light that run through it. I kept the base of the look gold and went for (one of my favourites) Half Baked, which i put all over the lid. I then applied Creep over the top. I did it that way because i still wanted the Half Baked to show a little through the dark shade. I took Creep out into a subtle flick and finished it with a sweep of liquid eyeliner and Rimmel Day-to-Night mascara.

I did not line my lower lids. However i did apply the same two shades along the very lashline, meeting in the middle. In the inner corners and on the browbone i used the lightest shade in the palette which is Virgin. 

I think this is about as dark as i dare to go so far.... I might get braver over the winter, you never know. I really like this for a summery evening look. It has the dark drama AS WELL as the gorgeous golden shimmer. 

I'm no pro at applying make up so some of you will probably think i've made a complete hash-up of it. I'm still learning. But i like it and it was relatively easy for me to create so maybe others without all the tricks and know-how of an MUA might be able to as well. 

How daring have you gone with the Naked Palette?? 

I finally got NAKED (with Urban Decay)

Good evening my lovelies!!

I have an apology to make to you all. I have been away from my blog since MONDAY, which is the longest i've been quiet probably since i started this page. My reason is that work (and indeed, Bakewell) has been CHOCKA this week with tourists clamouring to attend Bakewell Show this week. A lot of rushing around has been done and I've, honestly, been just too EXHAUSTED to blog by the end of each day. I've hardly even touched the laptop. I'm also pleased as punch to return to find i have new blog followers! Thank you for following girls and i will do my best not to disappoint!

 So I'm very very very sorry girlies and I'll get on with this post now....

I GOT ME A NAKED PALETTE!! 

I'm aware that Naked Palette posts are ten a penny at the moment but this isn't just ANY Naked palette... It's MY Naked palette and I'm DESPERATE to share it's prettiness (even though you've probably all seen it a MILLION times before). 

Isn't it pwettyyyyyyyy!!!! I've been after one of these for AGES and when the Lovely Ms Red mentioned that she wasn't getting along with hers i jumped at the chance to own it and handed over my paypal details without hesitation. 

The colours in this palette are just so beautiful and I totally believe the hype on this one. They are a perfect mixture of matte and shimmering shades that can be worn every day or glammed up to the MAX!! A couple of clear favourites emerged straight away in Sidecar and Smog along with the GLISTENING Half-Baked. The matte shades are so wearable too for daytime (even in my job) or as a base for the other colours. I haven't played around too much with it yet as i am hoping to document my adventures with this palette in further posts. I hope you will enjoy seeing what i can create with it because the possibilities are ENDLESS!!

This palette comes with a miniture version of the trusty Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (affectionately nicknamed UDPP by my lovely tweeps), which i am also loving, and a great quality brush. No useless sponge applicators with THIS baby! I just can't tell you how pleased i am with this item! 

I'm not going to go into major detail on this palette as yet as i intend this post to be, mainly, an interlude to my further experiments with the colours. Hopefully now it has calmed down a little in Bakewell i will have more time and energy to get back to normal as far as my blog goes. I have really been trying to stick to my pledge to blog every day (when possible) and I've been lagging this week. Well, NO MORE I tell yee!!

Do you own the Naked Palette?? Which are your favourite shades?? What looks have you created using them??