Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette review

Too Faced recently gave the packaging of this palette a re-vamp and in Debenhams it was 10% off so I thought this was the perfect excuse to buy it! I've been testing it out for over a month now so I thought a review was probably due.

(Apologies for the messy state of this palette!)

As you can tell from the above photo, the Too Faced Natural Eye Palette comes with 9 shades. There are 4 mattes, 3 shimmers and 2 mattes with glitter. The shades are divided into three rows: Day, Classic and Night, making it easy to create looks.

Day - Heaven, Cashmere Bunny and Espresso

One thing I love about this palette is that there are enough mattes to create a whole look out of. Heaven is a creamy white (matte), Cashmere Bunny is a mid-toned brown (matte) and Espresso is a darker cool-toned brown (matte). These shades are all really pigmented and are great for an everyday look.

Classic - Silk Teddy, Push Up and Erotica

This is probably my favourite row. Silk Teddy is a champagne pink (shimmer), Push Up is a beautiful rose-gold bronze copper (shimmer) and Erotica is a dark cool-toned brown (matte with glitter) usually shades with this finish are quite dry and hard to work with but although Erotica is one of the drier shades in the palette it is still pigmented and easy to work with.

Fashion - Nudie, Honey Pot and Chocolate Martini

Nudie is a light brown (matte), Honey Pot is a neutral gold (shimmer) and Chocolate Martini is a dark warm-toned brown (matte with glitter).

This palette comes in a box with metal packaging and a magnetic closure. It also includes a handy guide as to how each of the shadows in the different rows can be used.

The pigmentation of all the shades is really great and they are all easy to blend and last well on the lids. The compact size of the packaging makes it great for travel and easy to slip in your makeup bag. I think the fact that nearly half of the shadows are mattes is a real plus point and really adds to the versatility of this palette. Mattes are notoriously hard to get right but these are all consistently easy to work with.

My only criticism would be the varying size of the eyeshadows. The smaller ones are 0.9g and the larger ones are 2g. For me personally this isn't an issue because I probably do use the bigger shadows more but this may be a problem if you get less use out of them.

My favourite look to do with this palette is Push Up all over the lid, with Nudie and Cashmere Bunny in the crease, Heaven as a highlight and Sexpresso on the upper lash line.

Overall I think this product is well worth the £32 price tag, the quality of the shadows is excellent and I'm sure I will get lots of use out of it particularly when travelling.

Have you tried this palette?

Thank you for reading!

Lily :) x

The Perfect Palette Tag

Palettes are definitely my favourite makeup item to buy because they are so pretty and I love trying out new looks with them! They also generally work out as really good value for money. I have bought quite a few over the past few months so I thought it would be worth doing this tag. (Sorry this is so picture-heavy!)

Best Packaging - Zoeva Rose Golden (£15.50)

1. Best Packaging

The Zoeva Rose Golden Palette is a fairly recent addition to my makeup collection but it was definitely love at first sight. The design of the packaging is stunning with the tan background and rose gold detailing - it makes it look much more expensive than it actually is! It's also really slimline and sleek so easy to store. The shadows themselves are also lovely.

Best Colour Payoff - Urban Decay Naked 1 and 2 Palettes (£38 each)

Swatches of some of my favourite shades - Naked 2 above and Naked 1 below

2. Best Colour Payoff

The Urban Decay Naked 1 and 2 are the only palettes I own which actually have consistently amazing pigmentation across all the shades. With just one swipe you get opaque swatches, even with the paler shades. They might be expensive but they do come with a double-ended brush and with colour payoff this good I can't see myself having to replace either of them anytime soon!

Best for Travelling - Too Faced Natural Eyes (£32) and Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 (£23)

Inside each of the palettes

3. Best for Travelling

The shade selection inside the Too Faced Natural Eyes is just perfect for travelling in my opinion because there are both mattes and shimmers with enough mattes to create a full look (hard to find in a lot of palettes). The three sections Day, Classic and Night make it easy to decide which shades to put together and make it easy to transition from neutral for the daytime to more intense and smokey for the night time. The packaging is also compact and sturdy. The Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 is perfect for a shorter break because, although there aren't as many shade combinations to come up with, it is still easy to create both day and night looks really easily. The packaging makes it easy to fit in your makeup bag and the large mirror always comes in handy.

Most Versatile - Sleek I-Divine in Storm (£7.99)

4. Most Versatile

The shades in the first row of the Sleek Storm are all really wearable neutral shades but it's the addition of the more interesting greens and blues in this palette which really make it so versatile. I don't tend to reach for these shades but they really help to set the palette apart from other neutral ones. I think the bottom left 4 colours and the cranberry/plum shade make this palette really nice for autumn as well.

Best Colour Names - Stila In The Light (£25)

5. Best Colour Names

This was a difficult category for me as it's not really something I've ever thought about! In the end though I settled for the Stila In The Light because of names like Bubbly, Kitten and Night Sky which I just thought were really cute and suited the colours well.

Biggest Regreat - H&M Smokey Nudes (£9.99)

6. Biggest regret

This was also a tricky one for me because I tend to do quite in-depth research before I buy a palette so I can be fairly sure I will like it but it has to be the H&M Smokey Nudes. For those of you that don't know, H&M have just rebranded and expanded their makeup line to give a much more luxury feel and a greater selection of products. I swatched several of their single eyeshadows in store and was blown away by the quality so assumed that would be the same for this palette. Unfortunately, all but 2 shades are terrible - really dry, rubbish pigmentation so really hard to work with. I was so disappointed with this because the packaging is really nice and the shade selection looked perfect for me. 

Least Used - Soap & Glory The Perfect Ten (£16 - limited edition last Christmas)

7. Least Used

I'd just like to start by saying the Soap & Glory The Perfect Ten is a faultless palette with amazing buttery shades and a great selection of colours. I honestly love every single shade and they're a dream to work with. The reason I barely use this is because it's limited edition which is so stupid but I just hate the idea of this running out and not being able to replace it :(. I'm sure if they were to bring this out in the permanent line it would sell really well because it is a great budget alternative to the Naked palettes. Definitely keep your eye out for the Soap & Glory Christmas collection this year because they regularly bring out little sets like this and if they sell this again this year definitely try and get your hands on it!

8. Most Used, Most Loved, Desert Island - Urban Decay Naked 1 (£38)

8. Most Used, Most Loved, Desert Island

Oh my gosh every time I use the Urban Decay Naked 1 or even just look at it I fall in love with it a little bit more. It is perfection in a palette. The shades are consistently beautiful quality and it is one of those palettes where you can wear any combination of shades and it will work. If I could only use one palette for the rest of my life this would be it. The shadows are mostly warm-toned but still work on every skin tone it would seem. I love that it also works throughout all the seasons and I'm particularly looking forward to creating looks in the next few months with shades like Hustle, Toasted and Smog which are really lovely and autumnal. The brush that comes with it is excellent and it is regularly the only brush I use for a look because you can do pretty much everything with it. If I had to pick my favourite shades they would be Sin, Naked, Sidecar, Smog, Toasted and Hustle but really I love them all. Some people hate the packaging but I love the feel of it - so luxurious! Probably easily my favourite makeup product of all time ever ever ever. Sorry this has turned into a mini review - I will stop rambling now!

What is your favourite palette? Have you tried any of these?

Thank you for reading!

Lily :) x

5 Products Worthy Of More Hype

Zoeva Naturally Yours Eyeshadow Palette - £15.95
I really cannot stop buying eyeshadow palettes - they're just so pretty and fun to experiment with! I bought this one having heard great things about the Cocoa Blend palette. There are 5 mattes and 5 shimmers which I think is a good split to have. The colours are mostly cool-toned with a beautiful wheaty-gold shade and a really unique lilac-gold-pink duo-chrome shade which is really unique. It's so easy to create a nice everyday look or an intense smokey eye for night time. The packaging is nice and slim and really pretty. My only criticism would be that two of the shades are really similar but apart from that I can't fault it at all.

Seventeen Stay Time Concealer - £4.49
I need to stop going on about this concealer but it truly is my absolute holy grail! I won't say too much because I did a full review a few months ago but it offers medium coverage (easy to build though), a really natural finish, lasts all day and works at concealing both spots and under-eye circles - so an amazing all-rounder concealer. A great alternative to Lasting Perfection.

Barry M Showgirl Mascara - £4.99
I was a bit hesitant to buy this mascara because I'd seen several negative reviews but for me it is one of the best mascaras out there. It has a plastic applicator with loads of tiny bristles ensuring you coat every lash. It does offer more in the way of length and definition than volume however this is what I prefer so it suits me perfectly. The packaging is really weighty which makes it feel like a premium product! Overall a great mascara for a great price.

Clinique Superprimer Universal Face Primer - £20
My skin is really weird in that it is oily but kind of dry and flaky at the same time (when I don't use the below product). This primer definitely helps both of these issues as it is moisturising whilst still controlling oil and making makeup last longer throughout the day. It has a creamy texture and a little goes a long way so although it is a little on the pricey side it should last a long time.

Boots Essentials Moisturising Cream - £1.50
Oh my gosh this is just the best moisturiser in the world ever (ok so it's the one of the only ones I've ever tried but I see no reason to try any other!). I bought this because I wanted a moisturiser that came in a pot because I think this makes it easier to apply. I sometimes get my friends asking me which moisturiser I use because my skin is so soft and they're always shocked when they hear it is from a value range. It really helps to hydrate my skin and makes my makeup go on soso much more smoothly. I love the cucumber scent too - really nice and fresh. This is definitely a product worth way more than it's humble price tag!

Thank you for reading!

Lily :) x

5 Products Not Worth The Hype

I'm not really one for writing blog posts with a negative vibe but I felt that a 'Products Worth The Hype' should really be posted with a 'Products Not Worth The Hype'!

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - £4.19
This is probably the most controversial inclusion to this post but I had to include it because it has had so much hype which unfortunately it does not live up to for me. Firstly, I am sort of in between the first two shades which doesn't help but the formula I find really hard to work with. It's too think for my under-eye area and is really cakey elsewhere on my face. It seems to oxidise really badly on me and creases terribly. For me the only good thing about this concealer is that is definitely is full coverage, but apart from that it's a big nono. Everyone else seems to love it though so I think it's me that's the problem not the product!

Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil in Hazel - £2.99
This was given to me by a friend who found the shade too light for her but unfortunately it is the complete wrong shade for me too! This is the first eyebrow product I'd ever tried and I'd heard great things about it so I was quite excited to try it out however I find it to be far too warm toned for my hair colour and it seems to look really un-natural (I'm not very good at eyebrows though so it was probably just my rubbish application that caused this!).

Maybelline The Rocket Mascara - £7.99
I was instantly drawn to this product when I saw pictures of the brush - if you read my 'Top 3 Mascaras' post you'll know I'm a big fan of plastic applicators. Even if I only apply a small amount it really clumps my lashes together and doesn't add the slightest bit of curl. If you like voluminous lashes then this maybe for you but for someone who prefers length and definition this mascara definitely isn't the one!

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - £3.99
I think this is probably the only drugstore powder which is truly raved about but I didn't get on with it at all. Firstly the packaging is awful, it's really delicate and just looks really cheap. I used to use a Seventeen powder which was the same price which came in foldable (if you see what I mean) packaging with a mirror and sponge so it can be done for the money you're paying! Also mine seems to have little shiny particles in it which is not what you would expect when buying a mattifying powder. It makes my foundation/concealer look really cakey and doesn't really perform well in terms of shine control either.

Clean and Clear Dual Action Moisturiser - £3.20
I bought this not to use as a moisturiser but because I heard it performed well at reducing spots overnight. I tried it out several times but it didn't do anything for me except make my skin all flakey.

Thanks for reading!

Lily :) x

5 Products Worth the Hype

Soap & Glory Solar Powder - £11
I had heard many Youtubers rave about this so I thought I should give it a go and I'm so glad I did! One half is a shimmery paler bronzer which would give you more of a glow and the other half is matte so could be used for contouring or a more natural bronzed look. I also love to mix both shades together to make my skin look more naturally sunkissed. I'm not the best at contouring/bronzing but although this product is nicely pigmented, it is still quite hard to overdo it so it's really easy to build it up subtly. My only criticism would be the packaging, however they have just redesigned this so it is now the same as the One Heck Of A Blot with sturdy plastic packaging.

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze £4.99
When the hype first came about surrounding this product I was a bit apprehensive because it seemed like quite a dark shade which I didn't think would be good for me as I was only just starting out with eyeshadow so was mostly going for barely-there looks. However it's actually really wearable for the daytime and can be easily worn more sheer for a wash of colour or built up to be more intense. It blends really well with other eyeshadows and lasts all day. It's so easy to apply as well - no brushes needed!

Revlon Colorburst Balm Stain in Honey - £7.99
I really struggle to be adventurous with lip colours as I've mentioned in previous posts, so when I heard this was a great MLBB product I was instantly drawn to it! Despite being balm-like in texture it's actually got great pigmentation and lasts really well. I love the mint scent it has and that it is twist up so no need for sharpening. All-in-all my favourite lip product and great for an everyday look.

Urban Decay Naked Palette - £38
I was definitely late on the bandwagon with this one - I only picked it up at the end of last year but I have to say it is probably the best investment I have made beauty-wise. It really is just as good as everyone says. The colour selection is perfect, the shades are beautifully pigmented and sososo easy to blend. Some people aren't fans of the packaging but personally I love it - it feels so luxurious! It may seem expensive but the brush it comes with is worth around £15 meaning each eyeshadow only costs around £2.30 so it's actually pretty good value for money! Having said that there are some great dupes around so if you can't afford to splash out definitely go for one of those instead. If you have the money I would say buy it ASAP because they keep putting the price up by a pound every so often.

Sudocrem £2.99
Ok so this is a bit of a random one but I've heard many bloggers/Youtubers swear by this for getting rid of spots and I definitely do too. I had tried many different spot treatments over the years, including more pricey ones, but none ever worked so I gave this a go and it worked wonders! There's definitely a nack to applying it (rub it in well but so you can still see it on the skin) I like to apply it over night. In the morning I can clearly see that my spots have significantly reduced in redness and size - all thanks to a really affordable product!

Thank you for reading!

Lily :) x

Top 3 Mascaras

I will start by saying what I look for in a mascara. My ideal mascara gives lots of length, definition and separation. I'm not too keen on super voluminous lashes as I don't think it's a look that suits me for day-to-day. I also like my lashes to have a curl and sort of fan out if that makes sense :)

Seventeen Doll'd Up (£6.29)

If I could only use one mascara for the rest of my life, this would be it. This mascara is my absolute favourite. The brush is a plastic applicator (the same as the other 2) with a slight curve to it which really enables you to coat all the lashes with one swipe. It doesn't smudge or flake at all, never makes my lashes clumpy and has really pretty packaging! I like to try a new mascara every few weeks or so but I always seem to come back to this one in the end. I honestly can't recommend it enough.

YSL Babydoll (£25)

This is my most recent mascara purchase and was quite the splurge (although I did get it in duty free so saved a bit!). I like the fact that this one has both short and long bristles so I can adjust which I use depending on how natural I want my lashes to be. The packaging is so luxurious and you can instantly tell it's a high-end product. I tend to use this one on special occasions (due to the hefty price tag!) and due it making my lashes a bit more voluminous without being OTT. My only complaint is the really weird smell which is like chemically-fruity - not nice!

Collection No Clumps (£2.99)

From a very high end to a very high street product! In terms of how it makes my lashes look, this one is my favourite. It gives me the most perfect lashes ever every time - just the right amount of length, definition and curl. The price tag is a real plus point too! The problems start when I've been wearing it for a couple of hours and it starts to flake like crazy :( I've tried numerous things to try and help this including putting waterproof mascara on top, underneath and putting face powder on my lashes (I read somewhere that's supposed to work!) but nothing stops it. I've read other reviews and no one else seems to have the same problem so I really don't know what I'm doing wrong! It's such a shame but I had to include it in my top 3 because of how amazing it makes my lashes look.

If you have any mascara recommendations please let me know!

Thank you for reading!

Lily :)x

in my makeup bag #2

I have bought quite a few new makeup items recently which has led to many changes in my makeup bag so I thought I would do an update.

Face makeup

The Clinique Superprimer Universal (£20), Superdefense CC Cream (£28, Light) and the Stay Matte Clear Pressed Powder (£23.50, 02) have been working great as a trio for me recently. I have especially been loving the primer which gives a lovely smooth base for the CC cream. My concealers of choice have been the Benefit Erase Paste (£20.50, 01) and, of course, the Seventeen Stay Time Concealer (£4.49, Medium) along with the Smashbox Under Eye Primer to help the coverage last on my under eyes. I have rediscovered the Seventeen Skin Wow Highlighter (£5.99) which gives a lovely subtle glow to the skin. The matte side of the Soap and Glory Solar Powder (£11) is great for a light contour and the Zoeva Luxe Colour Blush (£6.95, Gentle Touch) I have been loving too.

Eye makeup

I have been loving placing the Maybelline Colour Tattoo (£4.99, On and on Bronze) all over my lid with a some shades from the Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 (£23) to complete the look. The shade Primal is the perfect brow shade for me too and I keep this in place using the Eylure Brow Control and Shape Gel (£7.45). I'd heard rave reviews about the Collection 24 Hour Extreme Felt Tip Liner (£2.99) so I decided to get it but recently mine has been leaking really badly so I think I must have got a dodgy one :(. The MAC Paint Pot (£16, Painterly) creates a great canvas for my eyeshadow and really evens out discolouration in my eyelids - I am in love with this product! Finally for mascara I took the plunge and bought the YSL Babydoll Mascara (£25) which I'd had my eye on for ages. I loved it from the first time I used it so it went straight in my makeup bag! As for my bottom lashes it's an old favourite - the Natural Collection WaterGuard (£1.99).

Lip makeup

I'm still struggling to be brave with lip colours so it's another subtle colour in my makeup bag at the moment - No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick (£9.95, Mulberry). This has been working really well with my slightly tanned skin but to be honest I'm more likely to just leave my lips completely bare. If any of you have any nice natural lipsticks you recommend please let me know! :)

Thank you for reading!

Lily :)x

MAC All That Glitters Dupe

Seventeen Eyshadow trio in 'Nude Smoke' (left) and MAC eyeshadow in 'All That Glitters (right)

'Nude Smoke' (left) and 'All That Glitters' (right)

I feel like I'm on a roll with blog posts at the moment after not posting for a couple of weeks - long may this continue!

If you've read my post 'Little High End Beauty Haul' you'll know I recently made my first ever purchases from MAC, and one of these was their eyeshadow in 'All That Glitters' (£10 - pan form). When I got it home and swatched it I realised it was amazingly similar to one of my Seventeen Eyeshadow Trios in 'Nude Smoke' (£5.49). As I'm sure you can tell from the above photos, they both look identical in the pan with the Seventeen eyeshadow translating slightly darker in tone onto the skin. They are both beautiful though, worn alone or with any other eyeshadow colour it would seem! The other two shades in the trio are beautifully pigmented as well so I would highly recommend purchasing this trio whether you own 'All That Glitters' or not.

Thank you for reading!

Lily :)x

High Street Makeup Haul

I have been buying a few bits and bobs from Boots and Beauty Bay over the past few weeks so I thought I'd do a little haul :)

The Zoeva Luxe Colour Blush in Gentle Touch (£6.95) has been my go-to for blusher ever since I got it. It's a satin finish I think but the shimmer doesn't really translate onto the skin. It's a perfect pale pink colour but I still think it would suit darker skin tones.

I definitely fell for the hype of the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze and it's everything I hoped it would be. It's beautifully pigmented, lasts forever and can be used either as a sheer wash of colour for the daytime or built up for a more intense look. One of my favourite ways to wear it is with Urban Decay Sin over the top.

I decided it was time to invest in a new bronzer because all I'd been using was my Soap & Glory Solar Powder. I chose this one from Rimmel - Sun Shimmer Compact Bronzing Powder in Light Matte (£5.61). So far it's been good but not great. It's not actually matte - there is a light shimmer running through it which I was disappointed with and it's a little too pale for me really because I'm slightly tanned from holiday. Definitely a great one for those of you with paler complexions though.

Two products which I bought which don't really need expanding on are the Seventeen Stay Time Concealer (£4.49) and the Natural Collection Water Guard Mascara (£1.99). If you've read my review on the concealer you'll know I'm a massive fan but I decided to pick up the shade Medium so I had something to match my tan. As for the mascara, it's all I wear on my bottom lashes as it never flakes and is fully waterproof so perfect for holidays.

There's been huge hype over the past year or so about the Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner (£2.99) and (from my experience so far) rightly so. It's so easy to use, fully opaque, dries really quickly and DOES NOT BUDGE until you remove it at the end of the day.

When I first purchased the Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stain in Honey (£7.99) I really loved it because it is the perfect shade to just enhance my natural lip colour whilst still remaning subtle for an every day look. However since I have tanned a bit it looks purple on my lips for some reason! I will definitely be using in regularly again though once my tan fades.

Finally I bought the Eylure Brow Control and Shape Gel (£7.45). Since I found my perfect (I think) eyeshadow to fill in my brows (UD Primal), I decided I needed to invest in a clear brow gel to try and keep the colour in place all day. I haven't tried it out yet but I'm a big fan of the packaging - navy's quite an unusual colour for makeup packaging!

If you would like to see in-depth review of any of these products please let me know!

Thank you for reading!

Lily :)x

Little High End Makeup Haul

I've collected a couple of bits from the high end world of makeup over the past few weeks so I thought I'd share them with you :)

I'd had my eye on the Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 palette (£23) for quite a while and when I saw Feel Unique had 15% off I decided now was the time to get it. It quickly made its way into my daily makeup bag because it's just so perfect for creating a subtle neutral eye for the day time. The colours are all matte except the highlight shade, which initially I was a bit concerned about because matte eyeshadows are notoriously hard to work with but thankfully the formula of these makes blending a dream. My go-to look is Skimp all over the lid, with Frisk and Cover in the crease, Skimp as an inner corner and brow bone highlight and a tiny bit of cover on my lash line. Primal is the perfect eyebrow shade for me as well!

Today I finally made my first ever MAC purchases. I'd heard many good things about their eyeshadows and after looking through many swatches I decided All that Glitters and Satin Taupe (£10) as a duo would be perfect for me. I bought them in pan form and bought a duo palette (£5) because it worked out slightly (£1!) cheaper and I thought this would be perfect for travelling. £25 for two eyeshadows does seem quite expensive (it's the same price as the Stila In the Light palette) but the quality is incredible and they're so pigmented so I'm sure they'll last me a long time. The palette has a magnetic closure which is really secure and the pans are held with a magnet so shouldn't fall out! The two colours can be worn alone but also look really pretty together, with All that Glitters all over the lid and Satin Taupe in the crease and outer corner. I think soon I will be purchasing two more pan shadows and a quad palette so let me know which shades you think would complement these two well :)

I have quite obvious veins on my eyelid which can make it look as if I haven't blended my eyeshadow properly - not a good look! Painterly Paint Pot (£16) is raved about on the blogosphere and there doesn't seem to be a drugstore dupe for it so I went and bought it. I haven't had a chance to try it out yet but so far the colour seems like just the right shade for me to even out my eyelids and help my shadows stay on a bit better. I can't wait to try it out with some of my new eyeshadows and see how well it performs!

Thank you for reading!

Lily :)x

Current Favourites

I decided it was probably a little late to do a May favourites now we're well into June so I'm going to talk about my current favourites instead. I have included several beauty favourites as well as some random ones I've been loving too.

Beauty
The Soap & Glory Lid Stuff quad in What's Nude (£10) has been my go-to for a neutral eye this month. I love the combination of shades, they all work so well together. Sometimes I use the shades individually though, like Aubersheen all over the lid and blended up into the crease or Pink T just to make my eyes look a little more polished. I just can't get enough of Soap & Glory Solar Powder (£11) at the moment (I won't go into detail because I raved about it enough in my last post) but it really is my dream bronzer and until I find a better one, I can be fairly sure I won't be turning to anything else. I have been particularly enjoying Solar Powder with my Real Techniques Duo Fibre Contour Brush (part of a £23.99 set) as it applies just the right amount for a natural look. It's also great with blusher and concealer. Seventeen Doll'd Up mascara (£6.29) really is my all-time favourite mascara. It gives me just the right amount of length, volume and definition. I've tried many different ones but I always end up coming back to this one. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (£4.19) is an absolute holy grail among beauty lovers and although I don't rate it as a concealer (it creases really badly on me and looks very cakey) I find it's great for applying over a vein I have on my eyelid, so I have a better canvas for applying eyeshadow. Finally for skincare Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (£4.19) removes my makeup with ease.

Random
Firstly, apologies for the photo I could not find a great way of photographing these items together. Stripy Tops have always been a staple in my wardrobe, but I've found myself increasingly reaching for them recently because they're just so easy to wear and great for days when I have exams and can't really be bothered to make an effort with my outfit. I just throw one on with some jeans and I'm away. They really help to pull an outfit together. Some of my favourites are from Oasis and Asos but you can find them everywhere. This watch from Swatch was a gift at Christmas and think it is a great one for the summer months as it's nice and bright, however the white colouring means it also goes with most outfits. For music, I've been listening to an old favourite X&Y by Coldplay. Some of my favourite songs are Swallowed in the Sea, Square One and, of course, Fix You (which I'm sure many of you are familiar with). 

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed!

Lily :)x

Soap & Glory Powders - Review

So my first exam is on Monday and I thought what better way to procrastinate than to write a new blog post!

The first thing that drew me to Soap & Glory makeup was definitely the packaging - it's just so bold and instantly recognisable. I've ended up with quite a good amount of their products and for good reason! They might be one of the more expensive high-street brands out there but from what I've tried so far I can say that their products are definitely worth it. I am a particular fan of their powders so I decided to do a review on the ones in my collection :)

One Heck of a Blot has become an absolute staple in my makeup bag. I love that it is translucent so doesn't appear cakey on the skin at all. It comes with a a mirror and a little sponge but I prefer to use my Real Techniques Duo Fibre Face Brush as this just gives a light dusting of powder on the skin. Although it doesn't keep me matte all day (what does?!) it definitely does the job until about lunch time when I can easily re-apply it. It's great for under-eye concealer too as it helps prevent creasing and somehow makes the concealer less visible which I really like. I've been using it regularly for a few months now but from looking at the pan you would think I'd had it for about a week! At £12 it's not the cheapest but the packaging is great and it seems as though it will last me forever - you definitely get your money's worth with this one.

I initially decided to purchase Kick Ass Instant Retouch Powder (£12) because of how much I loved the Kick Ass Concealer but I was quite disappointed with it initially. For me it really depends on whereabouts on my face I use it. When used on my nose it leaves a yellow-ish cast and doesn't really control my oil at all, however this is not it's intended purpose so I shouldn't really complain. It is designed as almost like a blurring primer in powder form - when used on the pores around my nose it works really well, disguising them instantly. The packaging is the same as One Heck of a Blot and it also comes with a sponge. I occasionally use this combined with One Heck of a Blot - the two work really well together. Overall I would say this is great if you have normal or dry skin and it does live up to its claims for me, but I don't think I would buy it again just because oil control is a priority for me with powder.

I'm sure many of you have heard this raved about - and rightly so! Before I discovered this I was not a bronzer person at all. The only ones I'd tried were MUA, and although I absolutely love their lipsticks and eye shadow palettes, their bronzers (or at least the ones I tried) are not the best unfortunately. Solar Powder (£11) is just the perfect all-around bronzer. The left shade (matte) can easily be used for a gentle contour, or built up to be more intense. The right shade is great for giving your skin a nice glow (S&G's claim for this to be 'the greatest glow on earth' may well be true!). When used together, both shades give your skin beautiful warmth and make you look naturally sun-kissed which I love. The packaging is very satisfying to open and close (weird I know..) with its magnet, although I'm slightly concerned about the fact that it's cardboard because I'm quite clumsy... This is definitely my favourite of these powders and I think you should all go out and buy it if you haven't already! (This has been out of stock for a good few weeks on Boots now, I really hope they're not discontinuing it :( )

Lastly, Glow All Out (£11). This was one the first highlighters I bought and has remained a firm favourite since then. The packaging is the same as Solar Powder, with the cardboard and magnetic closure. It has a lovely pinky tone to it which disappears once blended in to give a gorgeous, subtle sheen. There is no visible glitter in it and it's really pigmented so a dream to work with. Definitely a one to try if you're into highlighting.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Feel free to comment with any suggestions or if you'd like to see more in-depth reviews of any of the products mentioned.

Lily :)x

My Favourite Eyeshadows - Pinks/Champagnes/Peaches

Sorry for not posting for ages I am a very bad blogger! I really am going to try and get into the routine of posting at least twice a week once exams are over :)

For today's post I decided to do something a little different which I haven't really seen anyone else do before (correct me if I'm wrong!!). When I first ventured out into the world of makeup and started using more than just mascara and powder, eyeshadow was one of the first things I decided to buy. I was always drawn to the more pinky shades as I found them so so easy to wear and apply, and I still reach for them frequently today. There's just something about them which brightens up the eye and I love that they can easily be worn on their own for a more subtle look, or built up with a darker shade in the outer corner and a soft matte brown through the crease (one of my go-to looks). Below I have listed some of my favourite ones, with both high-end and high street included. I will apologise now for the quality of the photos, some of them look very different on here than they do in person!

1. Sin from the Urban Decay Naked palette

2. Shade 2 from the MUA Undressed palette 

3. Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in RSVP

4. Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Pink Gold

5. Kitten from the Stila In The Light palette

6. Perfect Storm from the Sleek Storm palette

7. Toasted from the Urban Decay Naked palette

8. Collection Work the Colour Eyeshadow Pencil in Vintage Blush 3

9. Minky from the Soap & Glory The Perfect Ten palette (was limited edition at Christmas but you can still get it in the Lid Stuff quad in Off The Wallflowers)

10. Shade 3 from the Makeup Revolution Iconic 3 palette

If I had to pick my favourite out of these it would probably have to be the Benefit one just because I am a huge fan of cream shadows, I love that they are so easy to apply, need no primer and no brushes either. The Maybelline Colour Tattoo is a great budget alternative to this though, although it is slightly pinker and darker in tone, it's still really pretty. 

I hope you all enjoyed this post :) Let me know if you would like to see my favourite eyeshadows of any other colours or any other suggestions for posts I could do.

Thanks for reading!

Lily :)x

in my makeup bag #1

Instead of committing to doing monthly or weekly favourites I've decided to start posting 'in my makeup bag' with the idea being I post whenever there are significant changes to my daily makeup or a few new products. Hope you like this idea!

Face makeup

Recently I have rediscovered the Benefit Porefessional (£24.50) to nicely prep my skin for the Seventeen BB Cream in Light (£6.99) which provides a fair amount of coverage and seems to stay on well throughout the day. To even out any flaws which the BB cream does not cover, I have been using Seventeen Stay Time Concealer in Fair (£4.49) on any spots and redness (if you read my recent review on this you will know how amazing I find it!), and Benefit Erase Paste in 1 (£20.50) to cover my horrific dark circles! As for powder, to set my Erase Paste I have been using the Natural Collection Loose Powder (£1.99) in Neutral Translucent and for the rest of my face I have been loving Soap & Glory Kick Ass Powder (£12) which is brilliant for helping to perfect any areas my concealer and BB cream may have missed, but is not the best for oil control unfortunately. Finally, a recent purchase which I showed in my last post 'Beauty Haul', Sleek Face Form (£9.99) in Fair. I have been tending to avoid the blusher as it is a little too glowy for my oily skin, but the highlighter and contour powder seem to finish off my face very nicely.

Eye makeup

Currently my eye daily eye makeup consists of a couple of old favourites and a new purchase. Firstly mascara: I have tried many a mascara since discovering Seventeen Doll'd Up (£6.29), but can safely say not one has lived up to this beauty of a mascara. It lengthens, defines and curls, with a little volume which is just how I like my lashes. A real holy grail for me. On my bottom lashes I must use waterproof mascara otherwise my under eye area is smudge and flake city and I find Natural Collection WaterGuard (£1.99) does the job fine. As for eyeshadow, I have been love love loving the bottom two shades of the Miss Sporty Studio Quattro Eyeshadow in Smoky Rose. The taupey colour is a definite dupe for Urban Decay's Sidecar and I think I may even prefer it as it doesn't have the stupid glitter in it! I just wack some of that all over the lid then blend the darkest shade into my outer corner and I'm good to go. I would highly recommend this quad especially with the £2.99 price tag! Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner (£13) in Brown has been great for me. It makes applying a nice thin line really easy and definitely is waterproof but I don't struggle to get it off at all. The colour means it is nice and subtle but still has an impact without being OTT.

Lip makeup

Last but by no means least, Collection Cream Puff (£2.99) in Fairy Cake. This is a beautiful natural-looking coral pink which seems to go with any makeup look and is perfect for every day. The doe-foot applicator makes for easy application and although it has a matte finish, it hasn't dried my lips out at all. I've used it so much it's nearly run out though :'(

TOTAL MAKEUP BAG COST: £107.72 

That's it for my current makeup bag contents. I hope you enjoyed reading this post and as always don't hesitate to comment below with any comments/questions you have!

Thanks for reading!

Lily :)x