Smoky.

Urban Decay -

Naked Smoky Palette

So, if you have been living under a rock, you may not have hear that there's a brand-new Naked palette coming your way. Feast your eyes on Naked Smoky, an entire palette devoted to crafting a totally amazing and perfect smoky eye. 

Now, I'm not usually someone who does smoky eye, however recently I have really been embracing it. I truly do think the main reason I never really did it was purely down to the fact I just didn't know how, and I never really knew what shadows to use to make it looks great. However, now that this little beauty is being realised (with cards which tell you exactly how to create different look), everyone will be able to achieve that fierce smoky eye look.

The newest addition to the Naked family lands on July 8 and has everything you love about Naked — wearable-yet-cool neutrals, gorgeous packaging, a amazing shade range, fantastic colour payoff — but with a few new twists in the format. Unlike Nakeds 1 through 3, which focused on specific colour stories e.g. Naked 1 was a bit more bronze-y, Naked 2 was more taupe-y, and Naked 3 was warm and rosy neutrals. Naked Smoky will span a range of colour families. It gives you a great range of neutrals — your basic matte shades, and then a mini collection of bronze, a mini collection of taupe, a mini collection of greys and blacks, and then the one eggplant. It's a variety of colour families you can dip into.

That's nine new shades and three exclusive ones, for those of you keeping track. The shadows are also arranged a bit differently too — instead of going from lightest to darkest, the brand has placed the mattes on one end and the shimmers on the opposite side (both going from lightest to darkest, but in opposite directions), meaning the palette has all the lighter shades on the outside and the darker shades on the interior. From what I can gather this has been done to make creating a smoky eye a bit more intuitive, grouping shades categorically rather than forcing you to think about your creation in terms of shades.

Also exclusive to the palette is a brand-new double-sided brush to aid you in your noble smoked-out quest. One side features the Tapered Crease Brush, which will help you apply shadow to the lid, define your crease, or blend out colours. The other side is the Smoky Smudger Brush, which is perfectly designed for highlighting the brow bone or inner corner of the eye, and great for smudging shadow on the lower lash line and even tight-lining.

I literally couldn't be more excited for this palette to come out. I was really hoping they would release a new Naked palette that a little different from the other three and I couldn't have asked for anything better then this beauty of a palette. 

Ultra Definition.

Urban Decay -

Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation 

So many new and amazing things from Urban Decay recently! This post is all about the brand new Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation. It can be used wet or dry and promises amazing, long lasting coverage.

“Want a foundation that delivers amazing coverage, lasts all day and works both wet AND dry? Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation delivers. Our advanced, velvety formula provides weightless, build-able coverage with a luminous, demi-matte finish for a Naked Skin feel.

While some traditional powder foundations might look dusty or even cakey on the skin, Naked Skin blends gorgeously and wears comfortably. Like the rest of our Naked Skin line up, Naked Skin Powder Foundation diffuses light to blur fine lines and wrinkles to make you look as if professionally retouched. It’s also ultra-forgiving: apply more in the areas where you need extra coverage and all you’ll see is beautiful, perfected skin. 

Enriched with coated, micro-milled powders and HPP (Highlighter Performing Pigments) technology, Naked Skin Powder Foundation has a creamy feel, rich, long-lasting colour, and a perfect level of coverage to even out the look of your skin tone.” – Urban Decay

Revolution and Moondust.

Right so I definitely think it is time to get excited about the imminent launches from Urban Decay.

First up is Sheer Revolution Lipstick. The news from the brand says this is all about “creamy, badass luxury meets sheer, pigmented colour”. I loved the creamy badass luxury of the original, however they were a bit too intense for me, therefore this sheer pigmented sounding great! I love a shiny finish to lip colour and as this promises to be all the power of Revolution with a sheer and shiny finish, I think they are going to be beautiful.

They promise that they will be;

- Buttery smooth application

- Long lasting

- Creamy feel

- High shine finish

- Sheer yet pigmented colour

- Pigment Infusion system for even colour and long wear

- Maxi-Lip defines, hydrates and plumps

- Blend of oils and antioxidants

…And there are 10 shades available:

 SHEER LADYFLOWER – sheer rose-pink

 SHEER STREAK – sheer coral-pink

 SHEER F-BOMB – sheer red

 SHEER LIAR – sheer pinky-brown nude

 SHEER RAPTURE – sheer dusty rose

 SHEER ANARCHY – sheer fuchsia

 SHEER SHAME – sheer berry

 SHEER SLOWBURN – sheer orange-red

 SHEER OBSESSED – sheer baby pink

SHEER WALK OF SHAME – sheer pale nude-pink

Second up is the new Moondust Eyeshadows. I am so excited because I absolutely adore Urban Decay eyeshadows, especially this line of them and now we have new shades!!

They will be releasing 4 new shades;

ETHER – light purple with pink-blue 3-D sparkle and shift

SCORPIO – matte black with gold 3-D sparkle

SOLSTICE – metallic pink-red with green 3-D sparkle and shift

COSMIC – metallic white with iridescent 3-D sparkle and shift

The Moondust sparkle is so pretty. Rather than chunky glitter, you get an intense dazzle that literally just lights up the eyes. I am a massive fan of this formula even though I sometimes find shimmer a little on the scary side, especially those with massive fallout, however I have never experienced much of that with these eyeshadows. It is so easy to apply – I often use my fingers – and the effect it creates is just stunning. It uses super fine iridescent sparkly metallic 3-D pigmetns for a “luxe, upscale vibe and a gorgeous, diamond-like effect”. It is a powder but it really feels like cream as you apply it, which is why I like to use my fingers. To increase intensity, I apply it wet and it twinkles like you have never seen! Just like all the UD eyeshadows, Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadows come in little compacts you can pop out to build your own palette. They are pale silver rather than gunmetal.

The Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipstick retail for £15.50 and the Moondust Eyeshadow new shades Ether, Scorpio, Solstice and Cosmic are £14.50 and will be available at www.urbandecay.co.uk from 29th January 2015.

Dear Santa...

When it comes to Christmas presents I’m rubbish. If I see stuff I want I have a tendency of just buying it, therefore creating a list of things I want can be really tricky. Every year I try my hardest, but it’s always a small list. Therefore I thought I would share it with you, it’s a mix of beauty and non-beauty things. So lets begin.

November Wish List.

As it’s coming up to November I thought I would create a little wish list of what I have my eye on for the following month...

UD New Releases.

Firstly is Urban Decay Naked Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss. Like a luxe gloss and a rich balm all rolled into one, it’s supposedly unlike ANYTHING you’ve ever tried. Made up of a painstakingly crafted formula. Even the firmly gloss averse will become hardcore addicts when they try Naked Lipgloss. It not only looks and feels amazing on your lips, it’s also really nourishing. And they have the claims to prove it! With its creamy texture and gorgeous, high-gloss finish, Naked Lipgloss is the perfect gloss to complement any makeup.

Next up is Urban Decay Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder. This silky, weightless formula provides all the benefits of their pressed powder—including the luminous, demi-matte Naked finish. Set makeup, cut shine and blur flaws. Designed to be virtually invisible on your skin, their high-tech, light-reflecting formula “fools” the eye with optical blurring, seemingly airbrushing away imperfections and creating a soft-focus effect that looks professionally retouched. The creamy, build-able formula applies beautifully, never looks chalky or cakey and won’t settle into fine lines. Wear it to set your makeup and help it last, or use on bare skin.

Lastly, they have added 2 new shades to the Naked Skin Beauty Balm, Naked Light (light tint) and Naked Dark (dark tint). All three shades blur flaws in seconds and provide serious anti-aging benefits. Naked Skin Beauty Balm diffuses light with high-tech pigments to give you amazing, natural, NAKED-looking skin as it perfects, protects, treats, primes and hydrates. Moisturising but never greasy, it hydrates skin instantly and improves hydration over time. Makeup goes on beautifully and stays put. 

I'm really excited about this release. Especially the loose finishing powder, which from reviews done already it is meant to be fool proof and unbelievably incredible. Alongside this, the lip-glosses also look really good, however before your pigment loving ladies get your hopes up, they are the totally opposite of Urban Decays newest lipstick releases last year. These don't have that much pigment, and from the swatches I have seen, there isn't that much difference pigmentation wise between them all. However I definitely think I'll be picking up one of them to give them a try. The beauty balm however wasn't my cup of tea when it first come out, it doesn't really give enough coverage for me, and I don't really think I would buy it to under a foundation, as I prefer more pore minimising aimed primers.

Is there anything that's caught you eye?

Naked 3.

Urban Decay -

Naked 3 Palette

Urban Decay Naked3 Eyeshadow Palette includes twelve eyeshadows, (equivalent of a full-sized eyeshadow), in hues of pink and brown. It also includes a dual-ended eye brush, and a week’s worth of samples of each of their primers. The case is a rose gold metal with “waves” indented across the exterior.  

These are how I would describe each shade (in order of palette)

Strange is described as a “pale neutral pink matte-satin.” It’s a pale, neutral-to-warm white-pink with a satin matte finish.

Dust is described as a “pale metallic pink shimmer with iridescent micro-glitter.” It’s a light-medium pink with warm undertones and a white and gold micro-glitter.

Burnout is described as a “light pinky-peach satin.” It’s a rosy, medium peach with a pearly finish.

Limit is described as a “light dusty rose matte.” It’s a mauve-y, medium pink with neutral-to-cool undertones and a matte finish.

Buzz is described as a “metallic rose shimmer with silver micro-glitter.” It’s a warm, coppered rose with a frosted, metallic sheen.

Trick is described as a “light metallic pinky-copper shimmer with tonal micro-sparkle.” It’s a medium copper with brownish tones and a gold sparkles over a frost finish.

Nooner is described as a “medium pinky-brown matte.” It’s a medium-dark, rosy plum with neutral-to-warm undertones and a matte finish.

Liar is described as a “medium metallic mauve shimmer.” It’s a medium brown with subtle warm undertones and a slightly gray-ish cast on top. It had a very frosted, almost metallic, finish.

Factory is described as a “pinky-brown satin.” It’s a medium-dark brown with warm, reddish undertones and a soft, pearled finish.

Mugshot is described as a “metallic taupe shimmer with slight pink shift.” It’s a medium-dark, warm-toned taupe with a frosted, metallic finish.

Darkside is described as a “deep taupe-mauve satin.” It’s a cool-toned, purpled taupe with a pearled finish.

Blackheart is described as a “smoky black matte with rosy red micro-sparkle.” It’s a deep, blackened burgundy with warm, reddish-brown undertones and ruby red micro-shimmer.

Overall, it’s a really lovely palette filled with eyeshadows that are highly pigmented, soft, blendable, and easy to use. 

What do you think?

Favourites of 2013.

Firstly, I'm super sorry about there being no pictures in this post, my phone for some reason won't link to my laptop, therefore I can't upload them. 
Never the less, here are my 2013 favourites!

Make-Up

Best Primer – Too Faced Primed and Poreless Pure Primer

Best Foundation - Dior DiorSkin Nude BB Cream + Giorgio Armani Maestro Foundation

Best Concealer - Dior DiorSkin Nude Skin Perfecting Hydrating Concealer

Best Bronzer – Jouer Sheer Matte Powder and Bronzing Duo (only the bronzer)

Best Powder – Still on a mission to find the perfect powder (however I may have found it…watch this space)

Best Highlighter - YSL Touche Eclat

Best Contour - Still on a mission to find the perfect contouring product!

Best Blusher - Dior DiorBlush Vibrant Colour Powder Blush in Rose Cherie

Best Eye Primer - Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden

Best Eyeshadow – Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette (I was going to say Naked 3, however I thought as its only come out, it wasn’t fair to take the spot light away from the amazing Naked 2 Palette)

Best Eye Pencil - Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Liner in Nude

Best Mascara – L’oreal False Lash Telescopic Mascara

Best Brow Product - Benefit Brow Zings in Light

Best Lip Balm - Dior Addict Lip Glow

Best Lipstick – Dior Rouge Dior in Rose Trafalgar 565 (now renamed as Vogue)

Best Lipgloss – Lancome Gloss in Love Pink Pampille 341 (definitely need to add more of these glosses to my collection)

Nails

Best Nail Colour – butterLondon Polish in Disco Biscuit + Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Taboo

Best Base Coat - butterLondon Horse Power Nail Fertiliser 


Best Top Coat – I really want to say Seche Top Coat, however I’m not going to because I find it has a tendency of peeling/lifting, therefore I’m on a mission for the perfect top coat.

Best Cuticle Product – Burt's Bees Cuticle Cream

What are your favourite products of 2013?