Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette - Swatch and review!

Ok so I caved! My excuses are: It was my birthday and yes I absolutely DO need another eye-shadow palette (like a hole in the head!!) but this one was far too pretty to resist, that purple shade in the middle was calling to me!

Ok, so glad that's out of the way now I can get onto the fun stuff, swatches.... 

Warning - Lots of Photos coming your way!

 L to R: 

High - Champagne shimmer

Dirtysweet - Light Bronze shade

Radar - Taupe

Armor - Silver-taupe with a sparkle

Slanted - Light metallic shade of gray

Dagger - Charcoal with slight shimmer

Black Market -  Jet black with a satin finish

Smolder - Deep plum purple with satin finish

Password - Taupe with a matte finish

Whiskey - Rich brown matte

Combust - Soft light pink

Thirteen - Creamy beige

My favourite shades have to be 'Dirtysweet' which is a gorgeous light bronze shade, 'Radar' a taupe-y-brown blended into the crease as-well as 'Smoulder' which is a smoky plum purple shade - so pretty! I have also been using 'Thirteen' as an under the brow highlight and popping it in the inner corner of my eye to open and brighten.

I am really impressed with this palette, the eye-shadows are butter soft to apply and lovely to blend with each other. The double ended brush is great to use and is a really good quality. I much prefer this case compared to the Naked 1 as this one is a sturdy plastic with magnetic closure making for easy transporting in my make-up bag and wiping clean.

Think Urban Decay have done really well with this latest palette, including some divine shades which you can mix and match to your hearts content. I am glad I added this to my collection and I look forward to creating and experimenting with some new eye looks.

Stila One Step Correct Primer Review

Stila One Step 'Correct' Primer

I have been after this primer for  aggeeees! No really! Everytime I went into boots it was always sold out!!

A chance pop in to the m&s beauty counters before Christmas resulted in me snapping up the last one on the shelf!!

At last I could try this popular primer for myself.

Here's my thoughts;

First of all Can we just take a minute to admire the helix Dna shape to it inside the bottle! It is a super fun design and interesting to look at!

It has shades Green, Peach and Lavender...

Don't worry as they are actually very subtle once applied.

GREEN Is to reduce any redness, which I definitely need for my cheeks.

LAVENDER Helps to counteract any dullness or sallowness, adding a bit of illumination to your face.

PEACH Helps to brighten, illuminate and even out the skin tone.

Left is one pump, on the right it is blended in.

As this is a primer I find one or two pumps spread over my face helps to prepare my skin for the next stage of foundation. I like to concentrate mainly on the areas I know will get oily throughout the day such as my t-zone, chin and forehead first. Then I concentrate on my cheeks ensuring the redness is nicely primed. I would imagine you could also wear this alone as it helps to even everything out but I wouldn't say it was a full coverage more of a subtle preparation ready for the foundation. I has a green tint to it when blended in which if worn alone may make you appear ill? 

As for the primer itself, it feels lovely and nourishing once applied, it's light and not sticky at all feels like a slightly thicker green moisturiser. It gives a really good base for your foundation to cling to with the added bonus of helping with the colouring too.

Overall I am so glad I snapped this up, I have been using it every-time I wear liquid foundation and can see me getting lots of use in the future, especially during the winter when the cruel wind ensures my cheeks are permanently red!!

Have you tried Stila's Colour correcting Primer? What are your thoughts?

Take time for you. Take care and look after yourself.

Thanks for popping by luv acesparklestar xoxo

Urban Decay Full Frontal Revolution Lipstick Stash Swatches

I have said before how much I love the revolution lipsticks by urban decay. My review of the ' Turn On' Shade can be found over here: UD Revolution 'Turn on' Lipstick

So when I saw this mini set containing 6 of their shades, thought it would be a great way to experiment with different colours and as an added bonus it also came with a full size lip pencil! Win-win!

L to R

F-Bomb, Illicit, Liar, Gash, Ladyflower, Crush

F-Bomb, Illicit, Liar, Gash, Ladyflower, Crush

Now for the swatches on the lips...

Illicit

Liar

LadyFlower

Gash

F-Bomb

Crush

The lip pencil is their clear shade 'Ozone' 

This can be used with all shades, ensuring that the lipsticks not only stay in place but helps prevent feathering and smudging out of the lip area when applying.

I'm not sure if this set was a limited edition for christmas, but I thought either way it would be nice to share the swatches so if you like the look of any of the colours, you could head over to Urban Decay and pick up the full sized lipsticks.

They really are lovely lipsticks to wear, buttery soft and creamy to apply with the added pow of pigmented shades. Even the nude gives a lovely tone.

I think the clear lip-pencil is such a good idea and I can see me getting lots of use from it!!

Take time for you. Take care and look after yourself.

Thanks for popping by luv acesparklestar xoxo

Here's to stepping out of my comfort zone with MAC's REBEL

Here's to stepping outside my comfort zone......

Only a tiny step, mind!!

With none other than a bold and daring lipstick, that in the bullet literally scares me!

MAC's REBEL Lipstick

As promised in my October faves, this shade will be in my make-up bag the rest of this month and I am actually going to wear it outside the house too!

Rebel from mac is a Beauty blogger cult fave, what kind of blogger would i be if i didn't at least give it a try so here goes....

 As with all MAC lipsticks, has a scent of vanilla, lovely and creamy to apply.

The finish on this one is 'Satin' meaning it glides on and leaves a slight sheen finish.

Comfortable to wear and a fairly long wear time.

Autumn is the perfect time to be seen sporting this colour as it is such a daring but pretty purple berry.

I have to admit in the bullet, it really does look very bright and dark purple but honestly is a divine berry shade once on.

This lipstick can be worn 3 ways:

1. Full on lots of coats. 2. Dabbed lightly on as a sort of stain, rubbed in with fingers or 3. Applied then blotted with a tissue to create a medium shade, with optional lip-balm on the top or vaseline to give a more glossy lip-gloss look.

Full on coat of lipstick, as you can see doesn't look at all like the bullet, on the lips it is such a beautiful berry shade that is perfect for Autumn!

Have you been brave enough to try MAC's Rebel lipstick?

Take time for you. Take care and look after yourself.

Thanks for popping by luv acesparklestar xoxo

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in 'TURN ON' Review

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick 
in

'Turn on'

 Buttery soft and creamy a delight to apply!!

Since trying the Urban Decay lipstick from the Pulp Fiction collection 

in

'MRS MIA WALLACE' 

I just had to try another shade. 

The sheer creaminess and wear of the lipstick got me hooked!

MAC A Novel Romance - My picks

What I chose from the MAC A Novel Romance collection.... 

This collection was rather big but I was very good and narrowed it down to just 3 items!

MAC Chatterbox Lipstick Swatch & Review

MAC 
Chatterbox Lipstick
Swatch & Review

This is a really pretty bright pink lipstick but not a bold in your face more of a subtle pop of bright. 

Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer Review

Been on the look out for a matte bronzer without sparkles and glitter in.

I want to look tanned not like a disco ball!!

Saw that this bronzer had lots of rave reviews, so thought I'd give it a try myself and let you know what I think in a review.

First of all the packaging is so cute it reminds me of a giant chocolate coin!

Upon opening, the gorgeous scent of chocolate just hits you mmmmm!! 

Not in a sickly way just a subtle wave of sweetness.

I picked the colour Light/Medium which is just the perfect shade for my ivory / light skin tone.

Not orange, muddy or dirty looking. A healthy tan shade. That is matte and glitter-less!!

Has a mirror inside the lid, perfect for touch-ups on the go. 

Sleek sturdy, compact design just slips into a make-up bag.

This is such a lovely bronzer to use, it is so subtle can be used all over the face to add a sun-kissed look or built up for contouring the cheekbones.

The scent alone makes me smile when applying this. Not that noticeable once on the face though, more's the pity!

Next time you are at a Too Faced counter, smell this bronzer.. I challenge you not to smile when doing so!

If applying all over my face for a bronzed look, I use my real techniques powder brush or if contouring I use my real techniques contour brush.

Summer sunshine in a compact with an added bonus of a chocolate scent.

Take time for you. Take care and look after yourself.

Thanks for popping by luv acesparklestar xoxo

Glamour Latest in Beauty Box Summer Edit

The GLAMOUR Beauty Edit

Glamour magazine have teamed up with 'latest in beauty' for a seasonal beauty box available for £16.95 including p&p.

I have previously reviewed their Spring edition here

This is the Summer Beauty Box review.

I was excited to purchase this box simply because all the products really appealed to me.

I have never tried Illamasqua make-up, so the fact it included a full size lipstick was a plus. The magnifibre lashes sound interesting, plus a quick google I discovered that this alone is worth £16! Contains the new BB instant tan from Rimmel ... and lots more exciting products! So all in all fantastic value.

Inside the box you get:

 

Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick
'Starkers'

Satin finish and hydrating on the lips. A lovely creamy nude, full size lipstick. 

This is the first launch of the 'Glamore Nude Collection' lipsticks, which are available to buy from the 10th July 2014. Priced at £18.50! It is definitely worth picking up this box as the lipstick alone is more than the price of this beauty box delivered to your door!!

Magnifibres
Brush on false lashes

Basically these are false lashes without the glue and mess! 
Natural brush on fibres lengthen the lashes and make them appear longer and fuller.
Can be used with all types of mascara. This full size is worth £16 itself!!

Rimmel Sun Shimmer Instant Tan BB Cream

 

New from Rimmel their instant tan in a bb cream for an all over healthy glow and tan. With a matte finish and wash off formula.

Velvotan mitt.

 

A great way to ensure a streak free finish to your false tan. I'm excited to use this with my cocoa brown tanning mouse. Love the fact it is purple.. my favourite colour!

Hawaiian Tropic Sun Protection SPF 30

Have not tried this brand of spf before but smells just like a holiday in a bottle! 

Will be using this summer.

DHC Cleansing oil

Really enjoy using cleansing oils to clean my face, at the moment i have the body shop one on the go but will definitely be trying this one out as it contains olive oil. A nice size for travelling too!

Tony & Guy Volume Plumping Whip

Anything to add volume at the roots, will be giving this a try.

Crabtree & Evelyn Nail Varnish

in

'Apple/Rouge Sublime'

Didnt realize that this brand did nail varnish so will be nice to try it out. This shade looks like a nice one for my toes in this flip flop wearing weather!

Bourjois Cream Blush

in

Nude Velvet

Have never tried a cream blush....shocking i know being a beauty blogger!! 

So excited to try out this one and see how it fairs on my combination oily skin. 

It is a pretty coral nude shade which i think will work well with my complexion.

All in highly recommend you click this fantastic value beauty box, that's if they haven't already sold out!!

http://www.latestinbeauty.com/glamour/

Take time for you. Take care and look after yourself.

Thanks for popping by luv acesparklestar xoxo