Urban Decay Naked Palette | Review

I finally managed to get round to getting the famous Naked palette by Urban Decay, I must have been like the only person who didn't have it. I have to say I am now head over heels with it, I wish I didn't wait for so long and it's definitely by far the best palette I've ever used. It contains 12 eyeshadows and an Urban Decay shadow brush, plus a sample-sized Eyeshadow Primer Potion and comes in a chocolate-brown case. I've not had a chance to use the brush yet as I'm using Real Techniques brushes at the moment and they are pretty amazing. Naked contains beige, brown and grey shades which are my go-to eyeshadow colours but kinda better and it's easy to go from a day to night look. The pigmentation and staying power is to die for, they go on smoothly and you don't need to use much product at all (even with the matte shadows). They don't crease or fade even without a primer after the whole day of wearing them, I'm so impressed. My favourites are Toasted, Sin and Sidecar but I also love Virgin since it can be used as a highlighter as well as an eyeshadow. All I would say, is that you should get it if you don't have it yet and are wondering whether to get it or not (like I did for ages and ages), it's so worth it. Naked palette might be on the pricey side but then again, you get 12 brilliant eyeshadows, a brush and a primer. I'm now thinking about Naked 2, but I've been hearing so many people saying it's not as good so I might stick to this one for a while.

Love it, love it, love it!

Have you tried the Naked palette? Which shade out of the 12 is your favourite?

Urban Decay Naked: £36

xoxo

Lumiere Cosmetics | Review

A few weeks ago I was kindly sent a few Lumiere Cosmetics products to try out and review. I actually haven't heard much about the company but was very interested as they specialize in mineral makeup, which I've never tried before. I was sent a couple of sample sized blushes, three eye pigments and a mini lipgloss. I  really like the tiny pots I got the products in, I like tiny things in general actually (weird, I know). I was most excited to try out the eye pigments - I got Cream Soda (which I use as a highlighter as well), Creme Brulee and Soft Brown from Lumiere's Brown & Natural collection.They are great as an everyday look and they kind of complete and compliment each other. Pigmentation is amazing so you don't have to use loads of product, I wasn't expecting this I have to say and I wish I had tried mineral eyeshadows before. The staying power is great as well when used with a primer and you don't have to touch up during the day. Plus Lumiere has got an impressive range of colours. While the eyeshadows could have been picked, the blushes I got were selected randomly by Lumiere - I received Autuumn which is a nice shimmery pink and Magnolia, a violet shade. They have quite a nice pigmentation too but unfortunately don't last long on me at all and fade quickly. Also, I need to get quite a bit of the product and it needs building up bit by bit. Last but not least, I got a sample of one of their lipglosses from the Lumi Lips collection in Siesta. I'm not a fan of lipglosses to begin with but this one is actually alright, it's got a smooth formula and feels more like a lip balm once applied on the lips - I absolutely can't stand sticky lipglosses and that's what put me off of them so I'm quite impressed with this one. It doesn't last long but I don't mind re-applying.

I fell in love with eye pigments thanks to Lumiere and I'm thinking of getting a few of their full sized products. Also the lipgloss was really good, I already ran out of so might get a couple different colours. I don't think I will be using the blushes. I'm so happy I had a chance to try out mineral cosmetics for the first time and will definitely be getting out of my comfort zone when it come to makeup. You can go and check out Lumiere Cosmetics and their prices here: Lumiere Cosmetics - Mineral Makeup.

Have you tried mineral makeup or Lumiere Cosmetics?

xoxo

L'Oreal Color Infaillible Eyeshadows | Review

I know I am so behind with these but I finally got them and they might just be my new favourites. I have read and seen so many people rave about L'Oreal's Color Infaillible (or Infallible as it says on the packaging in other countries) that I convinced myself I needed a few just to try them out and see what the fuss is all about. I got four shades: Time Resist White, Sahara Treasure, Flashback Silver and Eternal Black, and they are all absolutely gorgeous. I was looking to get a couple more but neither Boots nor Superdrug had a good selection, which is disappointing but what can you do. Anywho, the eyeshadows come in nice, see-through pots with a powder protector to keep the product in place. They are kinda like pressed pigments, they feel creamy and powdery at the same time. They apply smoothly with fingers as well as with a brush, I personally prefer fingers first and then a brush as it gets more product on the eyelids and then blends easily. The eyeshadows last about 7-8 hours before they start to fade a little, so it's still fine - the colour payoff is amazing. I normally put them on before going to work and when I get home they still look fine. They are very pigmented and don't crease like so many other eyeshadows do. I tried them on with and without a primer and it lasts, and looks better with primer on, while for example Maybelline's Color Tattoos look gorgeous without a primer for hours and hours (but I always tend to put primer on anyways so I don't mind). Overall, I love these and will be looking for more shades, hopefully I will find some more that I like.

Have you tried L'Oreal Color Infaillible? Do you prefer them or Maybelline Color Tattoos?

L'Oreal Color Infaillible Eyeshadows: £6.99 (each)

xoxo

Nail Art #2

Since I had crazy shifts at work when I came back from my little Scottish holidays I didn't really have time to write a review. So I thought I could post some of my nail art I did in the past year or so, plus my first nail art post got quite a bit of hype. I am planning to get back into nail art once I move flats next month, I will live a few steps away from my work place which means I will have plenty of time to do more blogging too. Can't wait. Anyway, hope you like them. All of the nail polishes I used are from a drugstore, mostly Rimmel, Maybelline and Miss Sporty.
Do you like nail art? Would you rather have natural or fake nails?

xoxo

MAC Lipstick in Crosswires | Review

After picking up Vegas Volt I decided to get another summery lipstick, well actually I was going to MAC with Ruby Woo in mind but decided to get something less 'red' as I'm just not brave enough for this one. I found Crosswires and fell in love with it, the colour caught my eye straight away, I was surprised I haven't noticed it before. The lipstick is a nice pinky-coral shade, it's quite bright but not neon-ish or in your face. It's good for going out as well as completing an everyday makeup look, it's a perfect statement lipstick. It also has a nice golden sheen to it, which you can see in the last photo. The lipstick is buildable, two swipes are enough to get an opaque look but you can apply less or more depending on how strong you want the colour to be. It's well-pigmented, smooth and long-lasting, usually 3-4 hours, however it leaves a pretty stain on my lips so I tend to re-apply only once or twice. The product doesn't dry out my lips or settle into liplines, which I've noticed some people complained about, it works just brilliant for me. I absolutely love the creaminess of this lipstick and how comfortable it feels on my lips. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a statement lipstick but are afraid of a full-on red lips look. This one is a winner for me.

Have you tried Crosswires? What's your favourite MAC lipstick?

MAC Crosswires: £14

xoxo