My Top 3 Eyeshadow Palettes

I hold my hands up - I'm a bit of an eyeshadow palette junkie. I've built up quite the collection over the past 4 years or so because I just think there's just something about owning a palette that's so much more practical than having a line up of singular shades. I love having a number of looks all available in one place and they're so easy to store and travel with.  I find it so satisfying to see them all stacked in a row (surely I can't be the only one...) and I always enjoy choosing which palette I want to use depending on what sort of look I'm wanting to achieve.  As the festive season is well and truly upon us, I thought it would be a good time to introduce my favourite eyeshadow palettes and explain a little bit about why I love them so much and exactly what I use them for. Personally, I'm a bit of a neutrals fan - the majority of my palettes are all filled with brown hues and shimmery nudes and are all suitable for everyday wear. Of course, it's going to depend on what sort of shades/tones you prefer and what colours seem to suit your skin-tone, but hopefully this post might give you a little inspiration if you're after a new palette to treat yourself to this Christmas (I know it's getting quite late on now but there's still time - and of course, there's the inevitable post-Christmas sale treats...) I also have full reviews and swatches of all of these palettes so I've linked these posts in case you want to have a more in-depth look at any of them. So, in no particular order...

Stila //  In the Light Palette // £25.00 // Link // Full Review & Swatches

Stila's 'In The Light' palette is a stunner to say the least. I really enjoyed using it over the festive season last year and I've used it throughout the year since. I love the fact that there's such an amazing range of shades for all occasions - the addition of the midnight blue also makes for a nice little twist.  I absolutely adore the consistency of these shadows - the majority of them are super creamy to the touch and incredibly pigmented.  I also love the matte shades - sometimes, I find mattes can lack in the pigmentation stakes but the 2 in this palette are really impressive and make for a nice base for adding a bit of shimmer.  The palette also comes with a smudge stick eyeliner (not pictured) which has become one of my daily staples.  Its seriously one of the best eyeliners I've ever used.

Favourite shades: 'Kitten' - a gorgeous champagne shimmer perfect for the inner corners of the eyes .. 'Sunset' because it seems to work really well with my green eyes and it worked really well with a tan in summer .. 'Bubbly' is a gorgeous versatile gold shade which will suit everybody and 'Bliss' is such a stunning shade for creating definition in the crease.

Urban Decay //  Naked 3 Palette // £37.00 // Link // Full Review & Swatches

In true beauty blogger style, I own all 3 of the Naked palettes.  Although I really enjoy using the first one, I have to say I think the third has beaten it to the top spot.  I didn't think I'd get on too well with the rose gold hues but they really do seem to work with my skin tone - especially through the colder months.  I love the mix of shimmers and mattes and each one is amazing in terms of pigmentation - Urban Decay really do nail it every time when it comes to colour pay off!  I love the range of shades in here as there seems to be a little more choice in terms of colour compared to the other Naked palettes - there's everything from a neutral barely there look, to an antique gold or dusky pink, right the way through to smokey browns.  I love the brush that comes with this palette too - it's double ended so it's much more handy for on the go as you get a standard eye brush along with a fluffier blending option.  The mirror is also bigger in this palette too.

Favourite shades: 'Limit' and 'Nooner' are gorgeous crease colours and are probably my most used shades out of the palette simply because they act as a lovely base for further colour or work perfectly on their own. If I haven't got much time of a morning, a quick dusting of either of these and I'm good to go. 'Burnout' is the perfect everyday shimmer - it's not overly glittery and the pastel pink hue has a brightening effect on the lids. 'Trick' is also a really unique antique rose-gold sort of shade.

Jane Iredale // Daytime Palette // £39.95 // Link // Full Review & Swatches

Ok - so as the most expensive palette of the 3 you're probably thinking is it even worth it? I thought this too when I first tried it but I can hands down say that this is my most used palette ever - the first four shades are used on a daily basis (particularly the peachy shade - I reckon I'm going to hit pan very soon).  These matte shades are so pigmented and a complete dream to blend - the white shade has a slight bit of shimmer which makes it perfect for highlighting the brow bone and for using in the inner corners of the eyes. They all look so natural and are incredibly long lasting - I can apply these in the morning and my eyeshadow will still be in-tact at the end of a long day. This was the palette I took on holiday with me this year, and it's also come on a few UK breaks with me - it's just my ultimate 'go-to' and it's perfect to carry around in your handbag too if needs be because its so slim and lightweight.   I also adore the smooth rose-gold packaging.

Favourite shades: All of them! The only shade I don't use so much is the black - I save this for nights out or for smudging under the lash line if I want a more subtle eyeliner look.  'Almond' - the peach nude shade - is my perfect blending shade. I use this daily and sweep from the crease up to the brow bone and it looks so natural and flawless. I then blend a little bit of 'Cappuccino' (the greyish taupe) through the outer crease to create a natural shadow, and sometimes blend in a bit of the dark brown, 'Dark Suede' into the very outer corners for extra definition. I often wear 'Oyster' all over the lid and sweep a little on to the brow bone to highlight and accentuate my brows. It's my perfect eye look in a palette and I adore them all - they compliment each other perfectly.

I really hope you've found some inspiration (if you don't own them all already - I know what us bloggers are like with our eyeshadows!) and of course, if you want to see swatches of each palette - don't forget I've linked them all within the post! 

What's your favourite eyeshadow palette? 

Urban Decay | 'De-Slick' Makeup Setting Spray

Urban Decay | De Slick Setting Spray | Travel Size - £9.00 |

When I realised I was jetting away on holiday early last month, it's fair to say I was in a state of mild panic (I jest...of course I was rather excited to say the least but it did mean a dash around the shops and a quick re-evaluation of my current summer wardobe). After all, for any beauty obsessive, packing a suitcase is more than just gathering a selection of SPFs and throwing in a few pretty dresses and trusty Primark flip-flops - it means re-thinking your entire makeup routine.  As well as a shift in foundation shades and the ever so tough task of condensing your rather sizable lipstick collection, all of a sudden you begin to think of the practicalities.  Makeup and a humid climate doesn't exactly equal the easiest combination and a perfectly applied face of makeup can go from 'smokey eye' to 'i look like I've just been walloped in the eye' rather quickly.  I took this as my excuse to finally purchase one of Urban Decay's Setting Sprays.  

Firstly, I'll say that I don't have the oiliest skin in the world - in fact, it can be quite dry at times and I don't struggle an awful lot with shine. However, when I'm on holiday or during the summer months in the UK, i do struggle to keep my makeup firmly in place and I often get home and find that it's basically evaporated from my face.  Never a good look. When I found the 'travel' sizes of Urban Decay's Setting Sprays online for £9.00 on a last minute internet shopping spree (got to love those last-minute panic buys!)  - I knew I had to give one a go.   I settled on 'De-Slick' over the 'All Nighter' version. To be honest, I couldn't really see a great deal of difference between the two and both received equally rave reviews.  I thought that 'De-Slick' might work better in warmer climates as it promised to keep skin looking matte and shine-free, whilst helping to control oil and keep makeup looking freshly applied.  As I was going away on holiday, anything that promised to reduce pesky 'flashback' shine in photographs was a winner for me.  Did it do the job though?

I have to say - i did notice a difference when I used this.  I put it through some tough tests, that's for sure! Before I went to Crete, I used this in London for a week where I was needing to keep my makeup in place from 7 in the morning until 10 at night some days.  It was also a bloomin' hot week and I spent the majority of it inside a huge exhibition centre (admitedly with the help of some rather breezy air-con but it was still a makeup nightmare!) It did a smashing job, I'll give it that.  I wouldn't say it looked freshly applied all day but it definitely helped to keep it in place and I didn't have to touch up my concealer as much. I was particularly impressed at how well it kept my foundation from smudging or disappearing from my face and when I went to top-up mid-way through the day, I found that my 'problem areas' (my chin and nose area) were still virtually in tact and there was minimal movement/fading.  In Crete, it kept my foundation in place without the need for over-powdering and I definitely think it helped to reduce shine in photographs. I didn't feel as much of a 'hot mess' - put it that way! I will point out that I always prime my skin before makeup and I always use a dusting of light powder - I used the setting spray as a finishing touch and didn't substitute it for my usual powder and primer. The travel size was just perfect and even though it's had a fair bit of use, I still have plenty left. It was the perfect suitcase companion.

Overall, it was a fabulous buy. I'll definitely be taking it away on holiday with me again and I've been enjoying using it through the warmer weather.  Don't expect miracles from it - but it definitely does do what it claims to do and I noticed a good bit of difference in the longevity of my makeup.  It's not cheap, and I'm still unsure if I'd actually buy the full version - I haven't tried any cheaper alternatives on the market so I'm undecided as to whether or not the price-tag is completely justified. However, this being said, I'd definitely consider buying another bottle next summer - it came in so handy on my recent holiday and I was suitably impressed at how well it performed.  You can't find the travel sizes everywhere, so if you fancy giving the smaller bottle a go before you part with the cash for the full-size, you can buy the £9.00 version from Debenhams website here and also on Feel Unique here.

Have you tried Urban Decay's setting sprays?

Urban Decay | 'Freelove' Eyeshadow

Urban Decay | Singular Eyeshadow in 'Freelove' | £14.00 | Link

Hold the phone...Beth has made yet another impulse purchase. Say hello to my newest addition to my eyeshadow wardrobe - Urban Decay's 'Freelove'.  Urban Decay are without a doubt my favourite brand to go to when it comes to all things eyeshadow related - whether it be their selection of palettes, their amazingly pigmented eye liners or their primer potions - I adore them all.  I'm yet to find a collection of eye shadows that are so consistent with their pigmentation, consistency and overall quality.  'Freelove' isn't a shadow I've heard much about on blogs - it isn't one of those famous blogger shades and it isn't your run of the mill standard neutral either.  It's a beautiful shimmery peachy coral shade - described on the website as a 'golden, vibrant peach'. I'm usually quite scared of anything coral going near my eyes - but i love the fact it isn't too 'out there' and it still has a sort of neutral vibe to it - it brings warmth to the eye area and makes a nice change from your typical bronzes and gold tones.  It's a baby step outside my strict browns and golds neutral comfort zone and it's a rather unique little shade that has made a welcome addition to my collection.

Needless to say, 'Freelove' is velvety soft to the touch and blends onto the eyelids with ease.  It's highly pigmented and applies smoothly.  The colour isn't for everyone - although it isn't overly bright it's not your typical neutral shade and I don't own anything else like it in my collection.  Personally, it was love at first sight for me - i loved it when i saw the swatches online and I loved it even more when it arrived on my doorstep and I saw it in the flesh.  It's such a gorgeous shade that's perfect for every day wear and can be used for warmer smokey eye looks to create a pop of colour.  I have dark green eyes and I always find that warm shades such as reddish bronzes and orangey golds suit me quite well - and this one is no exception.  It looks stunning on the lids and really does bring out the greenish hues in my eyes - that being said, I can imagine this would suit most eye colours - especially those who tend to lean towards warmer tones.

Overall, I'm so glad I've added this little beauty to my collection. Admittedly, it's not one I'd adorn when I'm a little worse for wear or haven't quite racked up enough beauty sleep as I can imagine the coral tinge might not do me any favours, but it's a lovely one to use when I fancy a little bit of something different.  I wore it yesterday (seen above) blended into 'Sunset' from the Stila 'In The Light' palette (post here) and it looked really striking with a touch of Mac's Smoulder eye pencil on the lower lash line. I also ran it underneath the lash line with a smudging brush just to add an extra pop of colour. As I've said before, it's probably not everyone's cup of tea - and I must be honest and say this is pushing the boat out a little bit for me as I'm usually very, very picky with what I wear on my eyes.  But you can't beat throwing caution to the wind sometimes and trying something outside of your comfort zone, can you?

Do you own any shades similar to this? What's your favourite way to wear warm tones like this?

Monthly Favourites | January

Happy February folks! I do hope you've all had a spiffing start to the new year.  Mine has certainly been a busy one to say the least and I've had a tough time keeping all the plates spinning at once - juggling blogging along with final year uni work and actually managing to maintain having a life is a task and a half! This being said, I wouldn't be a blogger unless I'd managed to make time to scout out a few new beauty favourites, would I? January is always big on the discoveries for me - so many new releases make their way into the shops before Christmas and I often rack up a few new purchases (don't we all?!).  Anyway, without further ado - I shall introduce you to my January love interests... Grab a cuppa - there's quite a few!

Urban Decay | Naked 3 Palette | Full Review

Discovery of the month goes the the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette.  I shall be honest and say I didn't expect to love this as much as the second one, but I must admit I've fallen head over heels for its rose gold gloriousness! The shades seem to really suit my skin tone at the minute - I find the rose-gold hues work really well with my eyes and I've been wearing it pretty much every day this January.  My favourite colours at the moment are 'Trick' - a beautiful rose gold and 'Factory' - a mid-toned brown.  I've also been using the matte shades 'Limit' and 'Nooner' as transition colours and for creating definition in the crease of the lid.  I have a full review including swatches and detailed photographs in this post all about the palette.

Bumble and Bumble | Thickening Hairspray |

In terms of hair products this month, this little spray has been a firm favourite of mine.  After wanting to try it for ages, I received a small bottle from my Mum for Christmas and have been blown away by it's volumising capabilities! I'm usually a mousse girl through and through, and if I'm honest I wasn't expecting this product to live up to its hype at all.  However, I've been proven wrong.  I can really see why this product received so much blogger hype.  It's amazing.  Usually, I don't find volume sprays provide that much texture or lift to the hair, but this one surely does!  I spray a little under my fringe and through the root area and after I've finished blow drying my hair looks and feels amazingly swoopy and voluminous.  I will be investing in the big bottle as soon as I run out of this miniature size as I can't stand to be without it on my dressing table at the moment.

Neal & Wolf | Heat Protection Spray |

Heat protection spray is pretty much a standard product isn't it? I don't often get excited about it at all and tend to opt for whichever one is on offer in Boots at the time.  However, I've recently been loving Neal & Wolf products (their conditioning treatment is amazing) and have found myself becoming addicted to the scent of their range.  I've mentioned it before - it's not to everybody's taste but I personally love it.  Their products have a sort of 'musky' smell to them that reminds me of being in a posh salon - if I've used Neal & Wolf on my hair I can smell it the day afterwards without fail every time I 'swish' my barnet! This is why I invested in their heat protection spray. Not only does it do an amazing job of smoothing out the hair and helping it to stay soft to the touch, it means that my hair can smell like Neal & Wolf all day long without fail! Perfect. It will be a definite re-purchase for me.

Jimmy Choo | 'Flash' | Full Review

I won't harp on too much about this little beauty as I've already written a full post on it this week which you can read here.  It's become my new every day fragrance and I adore it.  It's such a gorgeous, unique scent and it's really sophisticated and soft without compromising on staying power.  

Champneys | Skin Comforting Bath Milk (not individually pictured)

Oops. Somebody was a numpty and forgot to photograph one product out of the whole bunch - slap my wrist and call me a bad blogger! I've spoken about my love of luxurious bath products on my blog many a time before.  Through the colder months, there's nothing I look forward to more than a long, relaxing soak in a hot bath with a magazine and a candle or two. This bottle of Champney's Bath Milk has become my new favourite and I've been reaching for it loads just recently.  I must admit, when I first smelt it I wasn't instantly sold - it's quite a 'soapy' sort of smell. I'm aware I'm really not selling it amazingly well here - but it really is such a gorgeous, perfumed 'spa-like' scent. It fills the bathroom with a beautiful aroma within seconds and it always leaves me feeling all pampered and relaxed.  Its milky consistency fills the bath with moisture and leaves your skin feeling silky smooth to the touch when you step out of the bath. 

Clinique | Bottom Lash Mascara
Now then, now then.  Where do I begin with this little beauty?!  I don't want to say too much as I'm planning on dedicating a full post to it soon - it deserves it's own space on the ol' bloggles that's for sure!  I really have no idea why on earth I never purchased this before.  For so many years, I have struggled with mascara leaving black smudges and flecks underneath my eyes.  I have quite long bottom lashes and always like to use mascara to show them off to their best potential - but I always felt as if it was a wasted effort because an hour later I'd resemble a panda. Not in a cute way either.  Clinique's Bottom Lash mascara has solved this problem and I haven't experienced any smudging whatsoever since I started using this.  The teeny-tiny brush is amazing at picking up every single individual lash and my eyelashes have looked a million and one times better since I bought this. Honestly - if you're in the same boat as me I urge you to give this a try. 

Mac | Sculpting Cream in 'Accentuate'
Mac Sculpting Creams have become a firm favourite in my routine just recently - which is a bit of a shame since you can't pick them up anymore.  I actually bought this off Lisa's blog sale a while back now and have been using it ever since (I also bought the shade 'Coffee Walnut' which is gorgeous for a strong contour look!). This shade is a perfect highlighter! I'm not one for shimmery highlighters and very rarely feel the need to add one to my face on a daily basis (I go through phases with them) but this little pot has been the perfect solution for me.  I apply this to the tops of my cheekbones, my brow bone and my 'cupid's bow' area and blend in with a brush on top of my foundation before adding powder and it provides such an amazing, flawless finish.  Because it's a cream it doesn't look powdery either - it blends into my Nars Sheer Glow with ease and gives such a professional effect.  It looks so natural because of the lack of shimmer and sculpts the face really well.  I might have to do a tutorial on how I use cream products to contour - do let me know if it would be of interest as I find it looks much more natural than relying on powders all the time!

Benefit | Porefessional Primer | Full Review
Again, I've spoken about this product in depth on my blog over the past couple of weeks so I won't harp on too much.  It really is an amazing primer. It's one that I've maybe overlooked in the past and I have no idea why! It really does smooth out the skin and provides that 'high def' finish to your foundation.  It minimises pores (yep, it does what it says on the tin!) and gives a baby-soft feel to the skin making it the perfect base for your makeup.  My foundation has never lasted so long! Honestly, if you're going to invest in a primer and are fed up of your foundation slipping off your face or moving during the day - it's well worth the pennies.  It will make the world of difference. You can read my full review here.

And there we have it.  My January beauty preferences wrapped up in a post.  It was quite a task picking favourites this month - I've really found myself switching up my routine recently and have been using a whole array of different products.   

What have you been loving this January? Do you share my love for any of these products?

The Urban Decay Naked3 Palette | Review, Swatches & Photographs

First off, a big Merry Christmas Eve to you all! I hope you've all had a fabulous day and are now enjoying some good ol' festive telly and the first pickings of the Quality Street tin.  I've had a little walk around a local garden centre today (sounds rubbish but I'll have you know it's one of the best garden centres I've ever been to and it always looks amazingly Christmassy!) I ended up slipping a couple of decorations into my basket and realised when I got home that they were all bird themed in some way shape or form. Woops! Anway, I did have a jolly good festive post planned for today but it didn't quite work out how I'd imagined - so, instead, I thought I'd post about my newest addition to my palette collection - the Urban Decay Naked3 Palette.  If you were thinking of treating yourself to it after Christmas, then hopefully this post might be of some use.  I could just end the post here because it doesn't really need any words, does it? Just look at it! In all its rose gold, sparkly, glittery glory...

I told myself I really didn't need the third palette. Although, when they started selling out everywhere online and in-store (released just before Christmas - brilliant timing ;)), I couldn't resist any longer and snapped one up at House of Fraser with student discount as quick as humanly possible.  I use my Naked Palettes to death - I don't think there's a single day I've done my makeup and not used at least one shade from them.  I even take them on holiday with me.  Yep. It's love! If you've never tried Urban Decay eyeshadows then I really recommend them. They're hands down my most favourite shadows ever - in my opinion - they're hard to beat! I preferred the Naked2 ever so slightly over the first Naked palette, and so when I saw the third version with its rose gold tones and similar taupes - I had to snap it up.  Rose gold tones can be difficult to wear, but these ones aren't overly pink and are much easier to wear than what I first thought they would be... So what are the shades I hear you say? Here goes:

 

I won't provide a run-through of every single shade - as you can easily see for yourself in the photographs above (and there's been plenty of posts about this palette all over the bloggosphere already), but I thought I'd mention a few of my instant favourites! I adore the shade 'Half Baked' from the first 2 Naked Palettes, and am a massive fan of 'Chopper' from the second (a lovely antique gold) so I was instantly taken by 'Trick' - a stunning true rose gold colour.  'Buzz', 'Burnout' and 'Dust' all stand out to me as perfect everyday shades and are perfect to wear for uni with either 'Limit' or 'Nooner' - the two matte brown shades - blended into the crease.  The 2 matte brown shades in this palette seem to have a plummy undertone to them, compared to the taupe and warmer brown tones included in the first 2 palettes - so bare this in mind if you struggle to get on with plum colours and tones on your eyes! It's not always the most flattering! The other star of the show for me, has to be 'Blackheart' - it's unlike any colour I've seen in the palettes before. It's a beautiful deep brown/almost black colour with purpley-red flecks of glitter running through it (you can see it more clearly in the photographs below).  This will definitely be a main component in any smokey eye I decide to create over the festive season! I love it!

I have to apologise that my swatches are hard to decipher - but it's incredibly hard to photograph an arm full of swatches (although I think I deserve a gold star for managing not to twist my arm in the process...) I thought I'd pop them up there anyway so you can see how all the shades work together and compliment each other. The lightest shade in the palette (a matte creamy white called 'Strange' which can't really be seen on the swatches) doesn't show up too well on my arm anyway and isn't too noticeable on my eyelids - but it would make a lovely subtle highlight.  All the shadows are incredibly pigmented and creamy - and only require a quick dab of a brush in order to achieve a good colour pay off. I didn't expect anything less from Urban Decay - they always get it spot on!

As well as the palette (which comes packaged in a lovely box - always important!), you also get 4 weeks worth of different eyeshadow primers to try (not pictured) - I love their primer potions so this was a welcome addition into the box for me!  The brush is also the best one I've received in a palette so far.  It's double-ended and very similar to the Naked2 brush, but less dense and easier to use for blending.  It also seems slightly softer to me.  I also have to mention the tin the palette comes in - I much preferred the sturdy packaging of the Naked2 over the Original so I was really happy to see they'd continued this through the the Naked3.  It contains the same big mirror and is still fairly lightweight if you tend to travel with palettes. The interesting wavy shaped indentations over the lid make it even more unique and help set it aside from the Naked2.

Overall - I'm so glad I bought the Naked3 palette.  I wear their shadows on a daily basis so for me, it really is a fabulous purchase and one I know I'll get plenty of use out of!  I can see myself using the left-hand side more than the right (but i guess this is true for all 3 of the palettes) but I must admit I do love the darker shades included in the Naked 3.  On first impressions before I bought it, I did wonder whether I'd be wasting my money - in photographs - it does seem very similar to the Naked2.  But when viewing it in the flesh - it's very easy to see obvious differences and it actually has to be the most unique of the collection! The shades are undoubtedly more pink and plummy than the other two palettes - but definitely not so much so that they're hard to wear and I can see this palette suiting a lot of skin tones and eye colours. If you're a fan of Urban Decay shadows like myself, it's worth having a look into. I still don't know whether it has the potential to knock my current favourite, the Naked 2, off the top spot - but we shall see!

If you quite fancy rose-gold hues, pretty neutrals and plummy browns - I'd definitely recommend this palette.  They still have them in stock on House of Fraser for £37.00 here - so head on over if you fancy snapping one up! ( you can also grab discount with UniDays if you're a student) Or - keep your eyes peeled for some boxing day discount - you never know!

Have you given in to the lure of the Naked3 Palette yet? Which has been your favourite palette so far?

Urban Decay Singular Eyeshadow Pots | My Current Daily Duo

When it comes to eyeshadows, Urban Decay have to be a clear winner for me.  I use my beloved Naked Palettes on a daily basis and find their shadows to be best in terms of pigment and velvety consistency.  Buttery soft and easily blendable, they really are the cream of the crop for me and I think they're worth every penny.  Although my palettes get a lot of use and are ideal for taking abroad with me, I also have a selection of their singular pots.  I thought I'd introduce you to my current favourite duo - one shade of which most of you will probably be quite familiar with...

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in 'Naked' | Matte | £14.00 | Link

Yep, you're right. This is the lighter of the two matte shades featured in the Original Naked Palette.  I adore this colour and ran it down to the pan pretty sharpishly. I wasn't exactly keen on the idea of re-purchasing another Naked Palette purely for the sake of one shade so I was jolly well chuffed that they sell a singular version of it.  I guess you could say it's nothing special - but I really do love it to bits and it's just the perfect blending shade for use in the crease of the eye.  It's not too dark, so it doesn't look too heavy for during the day - a light dusting of it blended slightly up towards the brow bone provides a lovely, subtle bit of shadow and definition without going over the top. It's slight grey tinge helps to create a more natural look.  It's also a good shade for blending harsh lines and for wearing purely on it's own across the lid.  Urban Decay admittedly don't offer a great deal of matte shades - they're very much known for their sparkle and shimmer, but the matte offerings they do have are all very usable and great for neutral, everyday eyes. I use this without fail almost everyday - and I've even been known to use it to fill my eyebrows in so it really is quite versatile (my eyebrows are quite ashy so its the perfect kind of grey/brown shade). If I ever want a little more definition in the crease I simply blend the darker matte shade from the Original Naked Palette through the outer 'v' with a fluffy brush and I'm good to go.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in 'Easy Baked' | Shimmer | £14.00 | Link

I was lucky enough to win this little beauty in a giveaway hosted by The Sunday Girl a while back (thankyou Adrienne!) and it's fast become an everyday 'go to'. It is without a doubt extremely similar to the famous 'Half Baked', featured in both Naked original and Naked2 palettes, but I find it to be slightly lighter and a little more yellow toned.  It is described as a warm toned, golden copper with a frosty finish.  I love the texture of this one - like the majority of Urban Decay shadows, the formula is amazing and lasts all day without creasing or a great deal of fading - and gives a wonderfully smooth, seamless finish. I simply sweep this across the lid of a morning and take it slightly under the lower lash line for that extra 'pop' of gold.  Alternatively, I apply 'Half Baked' across the lid (slightly darker and more of a true gold colour) and then dab a little touch of this in the centre of the eyelid for a subtle eye-opening effect.  

I cannot recommend the Urban Decay shadows enough.  If you still haven't got your mitts on the Naked Palettes I'd recommend grabbing one or the other as a starting point - I promise that from then on you'll be hooked like me!  Or if the palettes aren't your thing, it's worth having a nosey at their singular pots - there's something there for everyone and I find each shade to be incredibly pigmented and amazing quality for the price. 

Do you love these eyeshadows as much as me? What's your ultimate favourite Urban Decay shade?

Monthly Favourites | July

July has been such a lovely month for me.  As well as enjoying some scorching weather at home (the sun has most certainly got his hat on just recently, hasn't he?!), I've also been away to Crete for a week of Pina Coladas and relaxation with the fam, and tottled off to London for 6 days with my uni course to exhibit some of my work. Cor Blimey ;) What a month! As well as this I've also been to an interview for a placement and am now building up for my birthday weekend. It's fair to say I've had a lot of chances to discover new products and re-vamp my makeup routine, and I certainly have found a lot of new cosmetic favourites this month. So much so I've actually had to cut them down! I settled on a few that might tickle your fancy. Far to often I bombard you all with my lipstick favourites but I figured I've had about 4 I've been wearing constantly this month so I'd better save those for a summery post soon...  Anyway, I shall kick off with a selection of July's favourite products...

Victoria's Secret | Body Spray Fragrance in 'Sensual Blush' |

If you saw my recent holiday haul, you'll have seen this little beauty sitting amongst the things I bought. It smells amazing. It's so light and fresh and so summery - and looks really pretty sitting on my dressing table.  Just a few sprays drenches you in the fragrance and for a body spray it actually lasts pretty well. In fact, i've had people ask me what perfume I'm wearing! It also lingers in my bedroom once I've spritzed it so it's also doubled up as a handy room fragrance this month for me - it's safe to say I am addicted to it. I'm slightly gutted that when this one runs out I'm going to struggle to get another... unless I fancy booking a flight to America solely for the purpose of stocking up my fragrance stash, that is.

Urban Decay | Waterproof Eye Liner in 'Demolition' |

I won't say too much about this as I dedicated my most recent post to this little beauty (you can have a read here if you're interested). In summer, I much prefer a brown eyeliner as opposed to black.  I tend to kick the liquid out for a few weeks and settle on a more subtle, natural option for my peepers.  This one is a dream to apply, stays put all day and makes my eyes stand out without looking too smokey. 

Collection | 'Work the Colour' Eyeshadow Pencils |

I've never been intrigued by eyeshadow crayons before up until my Motherbear let me borrow one of hers on holiday.  As soon as I arrived home I swiftly popped out and bought the 3 colours I liked - including the Vintage Pink shade that I'd loved so much in Crete (thanks, Ma!) For the price they are absolutely amazing and are bang on the mark with pigmentation and application.  Once they're on, they're on - they last ages on my eyes and are so fuss-free and simple. The brown colour is perfect for a subtle smokey look for daytime whereas the lightest shade (a gorgeous yellow/white colour) is perfect for the inner corners to brighten up your eyes. LOVE.

Bourjois | Bronzing Primer |

Okay. This is product has fast become my favourite product of the whole month and I'm sure it will remain one of my favourites well into next summer. The consistency is so unbelievably blendable and smooth and it looks so natural buffed in over my foundation.  I also like to apply some underneath my foundation as it helps to smooth the skin and help your makeup stay in place, at the same time as adding a soft, bronzed glow.  It's kept my holiday tan going all month - I often lose colour on my face first so it's been handy to have in my makeup bag for a bit of a boost (it's not a good look when your face is paler than your body is it?!) I'll definitely be buying another pot as soon as this runs out - it's so versatile and I'm determined to make it work for me through autumn/winter too.

Harley Street Skin Care | Spot Less Buster Solution |

I have a full review of this product here if you want to have a nosey, but this spot treatment is now a staple in my skin care routine.  I was actually sent this to try and I've already ordered another bottle for myself.  It treats any blemishes you have really quickly, but without the horrible dry appearance that other treatments tend to leave, meaning that this one is perfect for underneath your makeup.  It can be used as either a topical treatment or used over an entire problem area, meaning that it's more versatile than other treatments I've tried.

Mark Hill | Holiday Hair Cover Up Protection Spray |

This little mini has been a suitcase essential for me this month! My hair often gets a little frazzled in the sun and I often end up battling with a load of frizz towards the end of a holiday. This little spray came in so handy for sunbathing - simply spritz over the ends of your hair and over the scalp area and it helps to protect hair from the heat of the sun.  It smells beautiful and I found it helped my hair to remain softer and frizz-free for longer.

Mac | Paint Pot in 'Rubenesque' |

I have a full review of this paint pot here, but it's been my go-to eyeshadow base this month.  I use it constantly and am totally obsessed with the peachy-gold colour it gives.  It looks beautiful both with or without a tan and looks amazing both on its own or with powder shadow over the top.

Seventeen | Wild Eyes in 'Wild Purple' |

I often get a little scared of applying any form of colour to my eyes - I'm very much a neutrals girl. However, I thought I'd give this purple shade a whirl just recently and I have to say I love it! I have green eyes and it really helps them 'pop'. I put a little in the outer corners for a subtle flash or colour and then use a liner brush to apply some under the lash line.  I'm definitely tempted to grab a few more shades!

And so there we have it - an edited version of this month's favourites! I really struggled knocking them down to 8 so I hope I didn't ramble too much! I didn't post any favourites last month so it's been even tougher choosing them this time around.  I'm currently planning a few things for my birthday at the weekend - I turn the grand old age of 23 so I'm thinking a round of bowling (got to be a little childish!) and a night on the tiles is in order!

What have you been loving this month? Anything here take your fancy?