New In / Urban Decay Summer 2015 Collection

I know, we have all seen sneak peeks of the Urban Decay Naked Smoky palette but there are even more Urban Decay reasons to jubilate this summer!

The star of the collection are the new Urban Decay Afterglow 8-hour Powder Blush(es), in my opinion.

Coming in a healthy selection of 12 shades, this powder blush is finely milled - making it foolproof to blend and butter-like on the brush - and you can choose from a matte finish or a glowy look. 

Rapture* is a plummy, berry shade with a hint of golden shimmer. It reminds me of Nars' Sin but the Urban Decay quality is far superior; I find Sin disappointing regarding colour pay-off, whilst Rapture is extremely easy to modulate to the desired intensity.

It feels dreamy on the cheeks - lightweight and soft like a caress - and stays put for the whole day!

The packaging as always doesn't disappointing either: it comes in a gunmetal compact with fishnet detailing that reveals the colour inside; it closes with a magnet (which I also find extremely satisfying!) ;)

Urban Decay Revolution High Color Lip Glosses coat the lips with a generous helping of colour with only one swipe! They are extremely high pigmented and high shine, just as you can see in the tube. They come in 14 shades from neutrals to brights and - as per the blushes - they are now a permanent line of the UD family.

Vice* is a dark purple with cool-toned small glitters that help the teeth look whiter. 

It is very comfortable on the lips and contains Hilurlip™, which hydrates lips while making them look plumper and fuller.

The gunmetal cap and waved design compliment the Revolution Lipsticks and the flat shape is pocket-friendly too! Genius!!!

The collection also includes the Urban Decay Ultimate Ozone Multipurpose Primer Pencil - a multitasker to correct mistakes, prevent feathering or fill in fine lines - and 8 new Eyeshadow colours.

Yep, it is time for a summer treat... What are you going to pick up?

Review / New from Urban Decay 2014

The Urban Decay Naked range is ever growing and the latest additions come in the form of finishing powders and lipglosses.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder* comes in 5 shades to create a flawless base and to compliment the other products from the Naked Skin line - liquid foundation and beauty balm. Personally, I swear by Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Make Up and the powder is the perfect finishing step to achieve a semi-matte, yet luminous and flawless look.

I’m shade 3.0 (in the foundation) therefore Naked Medium Light works best for me – there’s actually a chart that you can refer to, so you can buy the ideal match for your base.

It can also been worn on its own on bare skin and, because it's so finely milled, it never ends up looking cakey or unnatural.

The powder has a blurring effect on a multitude of imperfections, pores and redness; I have never achieve such an impressive finish before and I swear, it looks like my skin has been airbrushed… it’s that good!!!

It feels amazing on the skin! Silky and soft to the touch and it contains microbeads that burst of hydration when applied to the skin... it is really quite addictive!

The packaging then, deserves a mention of its own: the sturdy round jar reveals a custom gunmetal sifter with the UD logo! In practicality, it's fantastic and the 4 holes dispense the right amount of product, without any mess.

The formula is also free of oil, parabens, alcohol and fragrances.

I think you can tell the difference in the picture below - of course, in person the results are even more impressive - but it’s undeniable that the skin on the bottom half of my hand looks more even, smooth and the redness has been toned down.

The Urban Decay Naked Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss* will convert even the most reluctant of beauty addict and lipstick devotee.

There are no bright colours in this lip range but they are 9 shades of nudes, bronzes and pinks - all gorgeous and sutaible of many skintones.

Again, the packaging is just stunning! They come in a polished, metallic bronze tube with the iconic 'Naked' cutout on the side.

Liar is a pinky mauve that has the power to brighten any make up look! It’s subtle but instantly beautifying and the super gloss finish is perfect to coordinate with an  high-impact smoky eye.

It's called nourishing for a reason: the formulation contains vitamin E, avocado oil and shea butter to hydrate and condition. Rosehip seed oil also provides an extra boost of vitamin A, vitamin C and antioxidants; it does feel very balmy and non sticky and like you're getting a treatment for your lips, at the same time. 

Are you a fan of the Urban Decay Naked range?
The new products are now available in Debenhams, House of Fraser nationwide and online.

Review / Paul & Joe Make Up

When talking about Paul & Joe make up, you can't help but thinking about their unique packaging. Every collection is beautiful in its own right and both boxes and cases are decorated with themed illustrations.

We have seen oniric unicorns and cute cats in the past and I love this chrysanthemum motif on a light blue background; the art-nouveaueque floral pattern will certainly appeal to a wider range of customers, too.

The muted shades of this collection are bang on trend for colder months and are also going to adapt to many different skin tones.

  

Paul & Joe Lip Pencil Duo in 02 Dual Cedar* offers two different textures in one; in fact, I was surprise to discover that the two shades have different consistency. The darker colour is your typical lipliner, matte and kind of waxy - perfect as a all-over-the-lips base that doesn't bleed in fine lines; the light shade instead, is glossy and can be used to top up the other end, add volume to the centre of the lips or on its own as a low maintenance hint of colour.

Paul & Joe Lip Gloss G  in 06 Sheer Bliss* is a gorgeous coral with gold shimmer; the lip gloss is very light on the lips, non-sticky and I was impressed with longevity (lipglosses usually don't last more than half an hour on me!). The finish is super shine and transparent; I really like the brush applicator that can pick up quite a lot of product and give a more intense pop of colour to the lips.

This shade also works really well with the nudes of the lip duo!

Paul & Joe Pencil Eye Liner WP in 05 Aubergine* - as the name says - is a deep purple with a pearl pinkish, barely there shimmer; it hasn't got any huge chunks of glitter, mind you, so it can be used on the waterline too. It's waterproof and surprisely smooth on application. I love this colour: it's not your typical  bright purple, it's quite warm too with a brownish undertone.

Paul & Joe Eyebrow Liner in 01* is your ideal ally if you do your brows on a regular basis! The product comes in a slim, retractable pencil and it has a super fine tip: it's perfect to draw every single hair and the results are very natural. I love bold, statement brows but - since I have a fringe - I don't do them daily;  even for a novice like me, I found it incredibly easy and quick to use. The colour is also a good match, not too brown with ashy, grey tones.

Have you tried Paul & Joe make up yet? xx

Introducing / Stila

I got my eyes on the Stila palettes for a while. There are a few different ones on the market, all based around pretty neutral shades but with few variations.

Stila In The Garden Eye Shadow Palette* also includes a couple of brighter colours and, if you're not too sure how to incorporate them, the set includes a booklet with ideas and tips.

All eyeshadows are extremely pigmented and smooth to blend together.

My personal favourite combination is with Moss & Jupiter. I use the neutral colour all over the lid and then the teal as an accent in the crease.

Rosette - the purple shade - is also fantastic with Breeze and Freesia, used as a liner.

l-r: chinois, breeze, bark, freesia, rosette

l-r: nectar, honey, sage, moss, juniper

You also get a full size of Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in Moray with this set; I have used this liner before and actually managed to finish it! It's a beautiful khaki green with silver shimmer and impressive staying power.

To summarise, I'd definitely recommend this beauty if you are not looking for your typical (and maybe a bit boring) neutral palette and you're not afraid to experiment with colour shadows.

Stila Stay All Day Vinyl Lip Gloss are lacquer lipstick with an impressive punch of colour. I love the super shiny finish - great to add volume to fine lips, like mine - but still with the creamy texture that I prefer in lipsticks. 

They are extremely comfortable on the lips, non-sticky or drying; they are also enriched with seaweed extract and organic green coffee oil to keep the lips moisturised throughout the day.

Nude Vinyl* is a beautiful dusty rose that compliments beautifully the eyeshadows from the In The Garden palette, actually. It's still into the neutral spectrum I think, and it's the ideal finish touch to complete any look.

It's such a pretty shade and I've fallen in love with it that I can see myself rocking it well into Spring too!

So, what do you think of Stila make up? Any recommendation/must have items? :)