Velvet Honey

If you've read my last couple of posts you'll know I've been playing around with the new Urban Decay Naked Honey palette over the last few weeks. I wanted to document my use of this palette because, as I mentioned in my last post, there has been an overwhelming amount of new makeup products released this year and I want to see how often I find myself reaching for Naked Honey. If I think it's worth the money in comparison to the huge amount of other palettes that have been released this year. 

On Sunday I had some extra time to do my makeup so I decided to go all out Autumnal glam and do a gold eye look complete with individual lashes and a dark berry lip. I've wanted to try a look like this with the palette since I got it. I love how these shades look together. I didn't want it to be too much so I decided against liquid liner but instead went for a very small amount of brown pencil liner just on my outer corner and blended it out for a slightly more defined lash line. Instead of liquid liner I winged out the shadow so that my eye still had that flattering, elongated shape but a little softer. I added about four individual lashes on the outer corner of my eyes to add to the winged out shape. I applied them with the dark Duo Eyelash Glue as I didn't want to have to go over the glue with black liner. 

I've been trying out the new formula of the L'Oréal Paris True Match foundation. The original formula has been given a makeover and now includes more skincare ingredients like Aloe Vera, Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin so that it's doing more than just giving you coverage. I haven't used True Match in years but I do remember really liking it. I was so surprised by this foundation, as you can see from the photos below it looks quite natural and luminous, it also blended easily and had great staying power. I'll have to try it some more but after a few uses I'm very impressed. It also comes in 40 shades which is great for such an affordable drugstore brand. 

I also tried the new Maybelline Tattoo Brow Waterproof Gel which seems quite similar to the L'Oréal Unbelieva'brow that I received back in April. I find this a bit quicker and easier to use and less is definitely more. It comes with an applicator but you could also use a fine brush if you wanted more precision. However I don't know how well it would work on anyone with thinner brows, unless you had a very thin brush to apply the formula with, it could get messy. I'm going to buy a super thin brush from an art supply shop and see how that works. 

I'm finally getting to wear my Lisa Eldridge Velvet Jazz lipstick. My sister bought it for me as a birthday present during the Summer but I wanted to wait until it was properly Autumn to wear it. It's such a stunning vintage inspired shade, I know I'll wear a lot during the Autumn and Winter months. I can't believe I didn't get it earlier. Luckily if anyone wants to get their hands on the original True Velvet collection, they are going to be restocked (along with some new shades) on lisaeldridge.com this coming Sunday, November 3rd at 3pm. I'll definitely be setting an alarm!

I always finish my makeup with a little powder on my t-zone and I love this L'Oréal Infallible loose powder because it's brightening. I've been using it so much over the past six months, however when I want extra glowy skin but still want my makeup to last I apply the powder just on the areas that tend to get oily throughout the day, then I set everything with Urban Decay All Nighter and to bring back the glow I've been using the Pixi Glow Mist. It's honestly such a game changer if you want some extra radiance. I got it as present a few months ago and as you can see below I've almost used it up, I actually went to buy it the other day but the place I went were out of stock so I'll definitely have to try somewhere else. I think it's going to be great for the Winter if my skin is looking at all dull. I took photos of the look in and out of sunlight so you can see how everything looks both ways. 

*Glossier Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen + SPF 30
*L'Oréal Paris True Match Foundation (1.N Ivory)
*Maybelline Tattoo Brow Waterproof Gel (04 Medium Brown)
Glossier Boy Brow (Brown)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Anti-Aging
*Urban Decay Naked Honey Palette (Flyby, Sweet, Hive, Drip, HBIC, Sting)
*Urban Decay Perversion Mascara
*bareMinerals bareSkin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer (Fair)
*Urban Decay Stay Naked Concealer (10NN)
Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Skinstick (Amber)
**Glossier Cloud Paint (Storm and Dusk)
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter (1 Fair)
*Glossier Play Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate (Platinum Rose)
*L'Oréal Paris Infallible Magic Loose Powder
*Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
Pixi Glow Mist
Lisa Eldridge Plush True Velvet Lipstick Colour (Velvet Jazz)
Primark Beauty Individual Lashes (not available online, similar here)  
Duo Eyelash Glue Dark 

*Press Sample
**Storm is a press sample, I bought Dusk myself

What do you think of the Naked Honey palette? Are you excited by it or do you prefer the brighter palettes that have been released this year?


Emma x

Urban Decay Naked Honey Palette

A couple of weeks ago I attended the launch of the latest addition to the Urban Decay Naked family, the Naked Honey palette. There have been so many new makeup products launching recently that it's difficult to keep up with them. I was just watching a video from RawBeautyKristi where she addressed this topic and basically said the same thing that I'm feeling, all of the new releases just make me not want to buy anything because people aren't getting time to actually try each one out properly before the next one is released so you don't know if it's worth buying. Anyone who is into makeup feels like they can't keep up and the average consumer is overwhelmed with options. There are certain brands that seem to be releasing new palettes every week and I find it so off-putting.

When I saw the first images of the Naked Honey palette I wasn't dying to get my hands on it but I think that's because most of what we've been seeing lately in the beauty world is colour, neon and glitter. For the past few years we've seen warm palette after warm palette and it does get tiring after a while because there's only so many warm toned palettes you actually need.

Of course like most makeup it's all well and good sitting in the comfort of your own home scrolling past the photos on Instagram and saying I don't need that. Seeing it in person is another story (my Glossier Showroom experience is a prime example). When I saw the Naked Honey palette it really reminded me of the excitement of getting my first Naked palette. I didn't have a lot of expendable income at the time but I had to have it and I used it constantly. I wasn't too pushed on the Naked Reloaded palette even after seeing it in person but the Naked Honey, despite being quite neutral at first glance, has something different for me. I'm a huge fan of the seventies trend that's been seen in fashion and beauty over the past few years. I absolutely love the glitter is so big at the moment, it's brought the fun back into makeup for me. As soon as I saw this palette I didn't see neutrals and nude lipsticks, I saw Jerry Hall in Bryan Ferry's video for Let's Stick Together with sculpted cheekbones, winged out gold eyes and vinyl red lips. I was so excited to play with it.

Would I have bought it myself had I not received it as a press sample? Probably not, but that's mostly because I have so many palettes from over the years and I find it very hard to justify buying more now unless it's something completely different to what I have. The only palette I've actually been tempted by recently (apart from the Diego dalla Palma one I bought recently on sale) is the bPerfect Cosmetics Stacey Marie Carnival XL Palette but even at that I already have the original one so I haven't rushed to buy this new one (although I probably will eventually because it has almost every bright shade you could want and the formula is so good).

I want to try this palette some more before I give any kind of definitive opinion about it, as it stands I've used all of the shades except Honey and Queen. I've had no issues with the formula so far, to me it performs just as well as the other UD palettes I own. I haven't had any of the previous three Naked palettes, Reloaded, Cherry or Heat so I'm not sure how the quality compares but each shadow I've used has blended with ease and lasted well on my lids (I always use the Primer Potion underneath).

I decided to post quite an old school, wearable look first as I'm sure that's how most people will wear these shadows. I added some brown and bronze liner and some of the Bodyography Glitter Pigment in the shade Bubbly just in the centre of my lid to add dimension. There's no denying it looks gorgeous on, I've really been enjoying using it since I got it. I think at first glance it doesn't look all that inspiring but there's actually a lot you can do with it. I'll definitely be trying more of a seventies party look with it next, I'm especially looking forward to trying the shade Honey.

As much as colourful palettes are inspiring and beautiful, they aren't for everyone and that's where a palette like this comes in. I'll play around with it and report back for anyone interested. I'd love to know what Naked palettes you've tried and what your favourite one is. Are you fed up with all the new releases or do you still get excited by them?

*Urban Decay Stay Naked Foundation (10NN)
*Urban Decay Stay Naked Concealer (10NN)
Soapbrows 
Glossier Brow Flick (Brown)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Anti-Aging
*Urban Decay Naked Honey Eyeshadow Palette (Flyby, Sweet, Hive, Drip, HBIC and Sting)
KIKO Milano Glamorous Eye Pencil (401 Golden Hazelnut, Discontinued, similar here)
Revlon So Fierce! Vinyl Eyeliner (Mighty Mocha)
Bodyography Glitter Pigment (Bubbly)
*Urban Decay Perversion Mascara
Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Skinstick (Amber)
**Glossier Cloud Paint (Dusk and Beam)
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter (1 Fair)
*Lancôme Long Time No Shine Loose Powder (Translucent)
MAC Lipstick (Velvet Teddy)

*Press Sample
** Beam is a press sample, I bought Dusk myself

Emma x

Noir Et Blanc

At the beginning of September I saw some images of the new Chanel Beauty Autumn/Winter Collection from Lucia Pica, Chanel's Global Creative Make up and Colour Designer. The collection is called Noir et Blanc de Chanel and consists of the usual deep shades in eyeshadow quads, lipsticks and liners contrasted with fresh skin, white nails and iridescent lip glosses, top coats and gels. In the imagery for the collection there are monochromatic burgundy looks and icy, shimmery looks as well as full on drama with dark eyes and lips together. 

I found the whole collection so inspiring despite it having a lot of the components of a typical Autumn/Winter makeup collection. There's something for everyone whether you love fresh, dewy skin and gloss or if you prefer smoky eyes and deep burgundy lips or a combination of both. 

I was particularly taken by this look with the "dégradé" cool, smoky eyes and dark lips. There's something a bit 1920s about it to me, which is fitting seeing as we're a few months from being in the twenties again. It could be too much and for some it probably is, but I think keeping the rest of the skin free from any noticeable blush, bronzer or contouring means it's not over the top. I used both Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter and Glossier Haloscope in Moonstone to highlight certain parts of my face since part of the collection is very glossy skin, eyes and lips, I wanted to incorporate some of that into this look to contrast with the strong colours and keep my skin looking fresh. 

I used black pencil liner and a mixture of black, grey and silver eyeshadows on my lids going from dark along the lash line blending up to the lightest shade and then lightly pressed some of Bodyography Halo glitter pigment on top for some iridescence. You could try this with any colour, it would be beautiful with browns or burgundy and reds. On my lips I used the colour Lucia used in the campaign images, Rouge Allure Velvet Extrême Lipstick in Rouge Obscur. I probably have a few lipsticks similar to this one but I saw it in the airport in Nice on the way home from our holiday and I couldn't resist it. I wear these kinds of colours a lot in the Winter, they look amazing as the main focus of a makeup look with just mascara and some pink toned blush. 

I also took some photos wearing this look with a more nude lipstick just so you can see how it might look pared back slightly. I love it both ways and the second is definitely more easy to wear during the daytime. Let me know what you think!

*Lancôme Prep & Hydrate Illuminating Make-up Primer
*Urban Decay Stay Naked Foundation (10NN)
*Urban Decay Stay Naked Concealer (10NN)
Soapbrows Kit
Glossier Brow Flick Eyebrow Detailing Pen (Brown)
Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Skinstick (Amber)
*bareMinerals bareSkin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer (Fair)
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter (1 Fair)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Anti-Aging
Sephora Collection Mixology Palette (Sweet & Warm)
Urban Decay Born to Run Palette (Jet and Drift)
Sephora Collection 12hr Colorful Contour Eyeliner (02 Clubbing Stilettos)
Bodyography Glitter Pigment (Halo)
L'Oréal Paris Paradise Mascara
Glossier Cloud Paint Cream Blush (Dusk)
Glossier Haloscope Face Highlighter (Moonstone)
Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Extrême Lipstick (130 Rouge Obscur)
Estée Lauder Pure Colour Crystal Lipstick (Crystal Baby) (Discontinued, similar here)
*L'Oréal Paris Infaillible Magic Loose Powder

*Press Sample

Emma x

Into The Wild

If you follow me on Instagram you might have seen this look that I posted during the week. I bought the Into the Wild palette from Diego dalla Palma earlier this week. I had been eyeing it up for a while as I thought it was such an unusual combination of quite unique shades. I found it in the M&S Beauty Hall on sale and I couldn't resist picking it up despite the fact that I have more palettes than I could probably get through in a lifetime. What can I say, I'm an addict. 

This palette was part of their limited edition 2019 Cruise Collection which had beautiful tropical/safari inspired products. It's still available on their website if you fancy a look. Diego dalla Palma is an Italian brand and I've only tried one product from them before now, their Ciglione Mascara which I really liked. Italy is known for manufacturing a lot of beauty products, so many brands have products that are made there. I definitely want to try out more from this brand as they seem to have a great reputation. 

I went to the launch of the Urban Decay Naked Honey palette during the week and as it's inspired by the seventies, it got me researching the makeup of that era. This look was obviously subconsciously inspired by the seventies looks I saved during the week (Jerry Hall in particular). I was incredibly impressed by how these eyeshadows performed, they're so pigmented and blend with ease. I didn't think I'd be able to do a look with all four of the shades and make it work but I love how it turned out.  I also went a bit more heavy handed on the blush and bronzer than I usually would to keep with the seventies feel. I used a lip combination I hadn't tried before, the Primark PS Lip Liner in Foxy Nude which is a great warm toned nude for fair skin all over my lips and some of the Alex Steinherr X Primark Plump & Glow Lip Gloss in the centre for some dimension. I'm excited to try more looks with this palette, each shade is beautiful in its own right. 

I had a few breakouts this week including a huge painful one on my chin so I brought out the bareMinerals BAREPRO Foundation and it worked a treat at covering what I wanted it to without looking too heavy. It's my go-to foundation for when I need more full coverage. I think pairing it with earthy toned colour makeup helped a lot as I avoided bringing out the redness in my skin and drawing attention to the blemishes. 

Glossier Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen SPF 30
*bareMinerals BAREPRO Performance Wear Liquid Foundation (Fair)
*bareMinerals bareSkin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer (Fair)
Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Skinstick (Amber)
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz (Medium Brown)
Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Gel (Medium Brown)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Anti-Aging
Diego dalla Palma Into the Wild Eyeshadow Palette
L'Oréal Paris Paradise Mascara
KIKO Milano Glamorous Eye Pencil (401 Golden Hazelnut) (Discontinued, similar here)
YSL Beauty Touche Éclat (1)
Glossier Cloud Paint Cream Blush (Dusk)
Becca Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter (Moonstone)
Fenty Beauty Killawat Freestyle Highlighter (Hu$tla Baby)
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Travel Size (Dim Light)
Primark Beauty PS Lip Liner Pencil (Foxy Nude)
Alex Steinherr X Primark Plump & Glow Plumping Lip Gloss

*Press Sample

Have you tried Diego dalla Palma? What do you think of seventies makeup?

Emma x