Jane Iredale | The Daytime Palette

Jane Iredale | Daytime Eyeshadow Kit | £39.95* | Link 

Just recently, I've been very much in favour of the 'barely there' look.  As soon as summer rolls around, I really do take my make-up back to basics - a dewy base, a subtle dash of bronzer, a smudge of shadow on my eyelids and lower lash-line with a quick sweep of mascara and I'm pretty much done and dusted for the day.  I'm a neutrals girl through and through - nothing tickles my fancy like a good 'everyday' palette and I'll often just wear a matte shade swept into the crease of the eye as opposed to spending ages applying my shadow in layers (ain't nobody got time for that!) The past few weeks, I've really been loving this little beauty from Jane Iredale. 'The Daytime Palette' consists of 5 neutral hues and is the perfect size for travel - its slimline exterior and lightweight feel make it the perfect companion for on the go.  It's simple, understated and pretty - everything a neutrals girl could wish for when it comes to this time of year.

My favourite shades have to be the first 3 - 'Oyster' - a gorgeous creamy white which is lovely to use on the inner corners of the eyes, 'Almond' - a peachy yellow/beige which works well across the entire lid and 'Cappuccino' - a stunning light taupe shade that is just perfect for using in the crease of the eye for some definition.  Texture-wise, these shadows are lovely and blendable - they're soft to the touch and apply really smoothly.  I've even used 'Oyster' on my cheekbones (it's also perfect for the brow bone) - it has a lovely bit of dimension to it but it isn't shimmery or glittery so it makes for a really natural looking highlight shade. The only shade that doesn't seem as pigmented and one that can be a little chalky is 'Charcoal' - the black shade in the palette.  Personally, I don't tend to reach for blacks that much anyway so this doesn't fuss me - I actually find it applies more grey - which makes it a nice option if you're smudging colour under the lash-line for a subtle smokey effect.  It actually works in the palette's favour and the fact it's not an intense black means it fits in very well with the 'daytime' theme - but it's well worth baring in mind if you prefer a strong black as it's quite difficult to work up colour with.   The brush that comes with the palette is a nice little extra - I prefer to use it for blending instead of packing colour onto the lid as it's quite fluffy, but it's a very welcome addition nonetheless - i do like it when palettes include a little brush! Also, it's worth mentioning that the shadows are formulated with minerals and botanical extracts.  

If you're a fan of the natural look then it's well worth looking at this palette. At £39.95, I have to say it really isn't the cheapest to say you're getting 5 shades - I shan't sit here and tell you that there aren't cheaper options on the market that probably do a similar job.  I own 3 Naked palettes by Urban Decay and it's easy to achieve a similar look with those (it seems very similar to the Naked 'Basics' - which fortunately happens to be the only one I don't own!) - but I must admit I do find this palette much easier to use for daytime because it's so simplistic.  I can even pop it in my handbag and carry it around with me all day because it's so small and slim - It's lightweight yet sturdy, and the rose-gold frosted finish tops it off nicely - very understated and simple.  The 3 lighter colours have to be my favourite eyeshadow shades at the minute! I do love a good matte... If you travel a lot, or just fancy trying something new or branching out from your usual daytime options, it's worth looking into these palettes. They also do a smokier version for those of you who prefer a darker look.

Overall, a really lovely addition to my collection and one that I feel is quite different from the rest. For me, the 3 lightest shades really are stunning - I've been reaching for them one heck of a lot just recently!  You can find Jane Iredale makeup on Feel Unique - the 'Daytime' palette retails for £39.95 here.

What do you think to this palette?  Have you ever tried anything from Jane Iredale before?