My most worn products over the last week are a collection of both old favourites almost forgotten about and new discoveries which I'm loving, all of which I really couldn't be without in this heat.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural has seriously left me wondering why on earth I hadn't tried it before. For years and years I had avoided finishing powders as they took me back to those awful matte, pasty pale years of my teens. After struggling more than most years with controlling shine I decided to purchase this powder as it not only controls shine with a semi-matte finish but it also provides another light layer of coverage. When wearing you can barely tell you're wearing it, it doesn't cling to imperfections or to those fuzzy little hairs we ladies have, just a smooth natural finish. Love!

Another MAC favourite at the moment is their Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Soft Ochre. My usual favourite eyeshadow primers aren't keeping shadows on my oily lids, this stuff not only works great as a matte eyeshadow on it's own but also doubles up as a long wearing natural base that doesn't crease or fade. My Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette has made an appearance in my daily routine again, with the shade Stark being my everyday shade, I'm seriously gutted they don't sell this shade on it's own as I will be lost without it!

My Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer has made it's way back into my makeup bag, I'd almost forgotten how good this stuff is! I do suffer with a little creasing under my eyes so I make sure I tissue off any excess product and set with powder to avoid it settling into the creases, the result is much brighter and more rested looking eyes.

I do currently have a Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara open but when I saw Benefit release new shades of their They're Real Mascara I was instantly drawn to the brown shade, I have to say its pretty good. The mascara itself doesn't give me the most volume and lift I've ever had from a mascara but I am enjoying the more natural look of brown lashes apposed to my normal black. I'll post a more in-depth review of this one soon.

Last but my no means least we have my current favourite blusher from Clinique, Melon Pop Cheek Pop. This stuff looks so nice with my current tan, it gives cheeks the loveliest wash of colour but keeping them looking natural and not powdery. I have the coordinating lipstick, Melon Pop and when worn together it really pulls my whole summery look together.

See any of your favourites or anything you've been dying to try?

Most Worn | This Weeks Makeup Bag

I don't know about you but nowadays I am finding my makeup stash is becoming so large that unless I have a weekly rotation of products I never get around to using them! This week I've been loving copper tones on my eyes with a nude lip, here's the products I've been reaching for all week...

Urban Decay Naked Palette | RRP £38

I'm not an avid eyeshadow wearer so I go through the motions with this palette, I can go months without giving it a thought but then once I start wearing it again I can't put it down! This palette is perfect for girls like me who prefer neutral shades and with the palette having shades with satin, shimmer and matte finishes you can really switch up your look.

Illamasqua Powder Blusher | Allure | RRP £21.50

A gorgeous dusky rose-pink that has really been complimenting the bronzed theme I have gone with this week. As you can expect from Illamasqua this blusher is highly pigmented and extremely flattering. There's a subtle hint of shimmer that brings your cheeks to life which I love!

Lancome La Base Paupieres Pro | Beige Ivoire | RRP £21

My favourite eyeshadow primer at the moment, it offers a bare skin effect that enhances eyes and sets eyeshadows for all-day wear. This primer evens out the texture of your eyelids, is waterproof and doesn't crease or smudge.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream | Stockholm | RRP £6.50

This natural shade provides the perfect finish to the bronze hued look I have been sporting most of the week. A soft, buttery formula that leaves lips matte yet not dried out.

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Aura

I've wanted Naked Illuminated highlighting powder from Urban Decay ever since it was released and with all of the pre Christmas deals going on I decided to purchase it with some of my Christmas cash.

I was quite surprised by the size of it, it's huge and the packaging is just gorgeous, the whole thing is wrapped in a shimmering fabric that really sets the theme for the product itself.

I chose the shade Aura which is a gorgeous soft peachy pink highlighter with gold threaded through it, I know a lot of more tanned ladies have opted for this shade but it still works beautifully on my fair (NC15) skin.

There's a decent sized mirror and a handy little brush for application in a separate compartment, hallelujah! 

It's really hard to photograph just how beautiful this highlighter is. In the pan it looks like a disco ball, really glittery, but on your skin it gives the most beautiful glow with shimmers of gold, peach and pink.

Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 vs Naked Basics

Admittedly my post on Urban Decay's Naked basics 2 is not alone and quite late, however I just had to share this gorgeous bargain purchase (£15.70!) from Cohorted I made a few weeks ago. If you haven't heard of Cohorted or made a purchase from them yet then you really should check them out, they bring you big brands at tiny prices, the concept is simple...the more people that shop the bigger the price drop!

Matt neutral eyeshadows are my thang and loving my Naked Basics palette as much as I do I knew Naked Basics 2 would have to be mine! This palette has five never-before-seen matt shades that just like it's predecessor blend like a dream and wear so well.

The packaging and palette itself is very similar to the the first Naked Basics, I love the sleek yet simple design and the very generous size of the mirror inside.

Naked Basics 2 is cooler in tone than Naked Basics with these six taupe hued neutrals and compliments Naked 2 perfectly (which I don't own due to all the shimmery shades which aren't my thang!).

L Naked Basics 2
R Naked Basics

So here's Naked Basics 2 on the left compared to my well used and well loved Naked Basics on the right. I initially thought I wouldn't need Naked Basics 2 when it was released as I thought it was very similar to the first but when you have them together you can really tell the difference. I'm so glad I decided to add it to my collection, with Cohorted offering such an a amazing discount I'd have been a fool not to!

Do you own these palettes? What are your thoughts?

Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Collection Eyeshadow Palette

The Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Collection Palette rrp £17.50 is by no means a new kid on the block and after all the hype had died down surrounding this limited edition release I really wanted to try this palette for myself firstly because I love Urban Decay's palettes and secondly because I love the film Pulp Fiction!

I love the design of this palette, the fact the contents are housed in a sturdy cardboard body with a glossy finish and one of the infamous quotes from the film itself!

This palette has everything I need for my everyday look and to create Mia's dark, edgy look. Three of the shades in this palette are new and created specially for this limited edition release. As with all of Urban Decay's eyeshadows the formula is silky and extremely blendable. I love the fact it comes with a small brush and a decent sized mirror making it everything you need in one place.

There's even a 'get the look' card included with the palette to help you recreate Mia's smouldering look. The collection also includes the Mia Wallace nail polish and lipstick (which I can no longer find online) to complete the look, I decided not to opt for the polish and probably not the lipstick either if it was available as I have a ton of red lip pies and nail polishes.

All in all I love this palette and I think any girl that loves a natural daytime look as much as me will love it to. Do you own this palette? What are your thoughts?

Urban Decay Naked Flushed Compact - Streak

Ok so it's probably not the right time of the year to be buying bronzers but as I'm a sucker for Urban Decay and a good old sale I just couldn't resist! I picked up the Naked Flushed Compact by Urban Decay last week from Feel Unique for a bargain price of £16 and my purchase definitely feels justified as this palette is just as impressive as their eyeshadows.

There are four palettes to choose from in this range, I decided to go for Streak as it has the lightest, more olive toned bronzer out of them all and the blush is a very wearable coral/pink. Streak leans more toward peachy/coral hues and would be suitable for fair/medium skin tones, although Urban Decay claim each is versatile for any skin tone I feel Strip (which is on the mauve side) would be too dark. The matte bronzer is the perfect shade to apply all over for a healthy glow with just a touch of the coral toned blusher needed on cheeks to give a healthy glow. The highlighter is rose toned and looks more natural in my opinion than your regular yellow/white toned ones.

Urban Decay Naked Flushed in Streak

This gorgeous trio is are just as pigmented as Urban Decay's cult eyeshadows. The texture is feathery-light and you only need the smallest amount for great colour pay-off. This compact is everything you need to take with you on your travels or even just as a space saving product in you make-up bag. You get a whopping 14g of product and a very generous sized mirror inside the case, making it an even more fantastic space saver. 

There may not be much of the summer left but I will be using this product as long as I can get away with it for. The great thing about this product is you can use the bronzer, highlighter or blusher individually or you can swirl together for just the right effect. Even at the full retail price of £22 this compact is incredible value and really does not disappoint.

June Beauty Favourites

I think we'll all be in agreement when I say June absolutely flew by! June has been the best month so far this year weather-wise to get our pins out and start donning some beauty products more on the bright side. Along with some bright and beautiful purchases I have also discovered a couple of items to help maintain my make-up in this hot (and at times humid) weather. Here's my June beauty favourites...

Barry M Gelly Coconut £3.99 rrp

One nail shade that I just couldn't stop wearing in June was Barry M Gelly  in Coconut. Most of the month I have literally been removing when chipped (which is a good 5 days) and reapplying! Although I find you need 3 coats for a completely even finish it has not put me off wearing at all. Like all other Barry M Gelly polishes this one has a lovely gel effect finish and is incredibly durable. Coconut is the perfect creamy off-white, great on it's own or a fab base for nail art.

Urban Decay Setting Spray from £9 rrp 

Now the weather is warming up my oily skin is struggling on it's own to retain that freshly made-up look past lunch time. I have tried a couple of make-up setting sprays and so far Urban Decay's  All Nighter setting spray has come up trumps for aiding longevity of make-up. I apply 3-4 squirts over make-up first thing in the morning and it keeps my face in place well into the evening. At first I wasn't sure on this setting spray as I had been comparing it to MAC's Fix-it spray but the two give totally different effects to your make-up. Whilst MAC Fix-it will be my favourite for giving a dewy finish to foundation, Urban Decay's All Nighter is perfect for these summer months.

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Liner £12 rrp

My go-to daytime look will usually be a glowy base, bold lip and the classic cat-eye. The most durable eyeliner I have ever used has got to be Illamasqua's Eye Liner Cake & Sealing Gel however in this sunny weather I don't have time to spend 20 minutes applying eye liner with a brush, queue Eyeko's Skinny Liquid Liner. This liquid liner has the perfect sized and shaped tip for doing those classic cat-eye flicks. The formula is long-lasting and glossy and is perfect for a controlled quick flick of eye liner. I've been using my current one for a little over a month and it shows no sign of drying up or running out.

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick £15 rrp

One of my favourite lip product purchases last month was Urban Decay's Revolution Lipstick  in the shade Streak. The formula of these lipsticks is truly a treat for the lips. Streak is a gorgeous coral toned pink with an ever so slight hint of shimmer, this colour really warms up your complexion. Unlike most moisturising lipsticks the pigmentation is fantastic and it wears for a good 3-4 hours without the need of touch-ups.

Last but certainly not least in my favourite June beauty buys is Revlon's ColorBurst Matte Balm  in Showy. I adore Revlon's Balm range, I own pretty much all of the range and the matte finish ones have to be my favourite. Unlike most matte lip products these are totally non-drying on the lips and the colour lasts for hours. Showy is a bright fuchsia shade...totally perfect for a pop of colour on these sunny days.

Jodie

xoxo

Urban Decay Naked Palette Swatches and Review

This post comes a little late as I received it a little over a week ago, but today I am reviewing my bargain purchase from Cohorted...the Naked palette from Urban Decay.

Now I did a review a couple of months ago on Urban Decay's Naked Basic's palette in which I said shimmer and glitter eye-shadow's are not for me...I have been converted now I have this palette in my possession! I briefly deliberated on whether or not I needed to purchase this palette when I saw the Cohorts go live as like I said I never really wore or liked glitter or shimmer eye-shadow's but I hastily made the decision to purchase it...and at only £23.96 it was a bargain I couldn't resist!

I was very surprised at the size of the Naked palette, as I mentioned I have the Naked Basics palette and it's not even a third of the size of the Naked palette. What I really like is that it comes with a decent sized brush in with the palette saving the hassle of digging round for a brush when you're doing your face in a rush.

This palette has the perfect mixture of bronzed hued matte, shimmer and sparkle shadows in it. As with all of the other Urban Decay shadow's I've tried they are super pigmented, extremely wearable and they last all day. My favorite shades and the ones I've been wearing the most in the last week are the first 4 (Virgin, Sin, Naked and Sidecar).

L-R as shown in palette

Apologies for  the size of the swatches, I don't have much skin not covered in tattoo's! These swatches were just one swipe with my finger in the pan, as you can see they are super pigmented and the colors blend really well with each other. With having to use so little to get great color pay-off I see this as more of an investment than an expenditure.

Jodie

xoxo

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick - Streak

A couple of weeks ago I did a post on Urban Decay's Revolution lipstick in Naked, today I have for you Streak. 

I absolutely love UD's Revolution lipsticks, the range of colours are gorgeous, the texture is creamy and nourishing and the packaging is just beautiful! 

Streak is a gorgeous coral pink, with an ever-so-slight touch of shimmer. It's a really flattering colour for most skin tones, so creamy and wearable you'll not want anything else in your handbag!

I honestly can't find any fault in the Revolution lipsticks. As with Naked I got around 3-4 hours of comfortable wear, lips were left feeling hydrated and colour didn't cling to any dry patches on my lips. Highly pigmented, infused with nourishing lip-loving ingredients and housed in sleek, expensive feeling packaging they truly are gorgeous! 

Jodie

xoxo

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick - Naked

Now I know Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick's aren't exactly new kids on the block but I had to share a gorgeous shade I picked up earlier this week. 

As I was googling make-up stuff online I happened across some swatches from the Revolution line and fell in love with tow of the shades...one of which I will review now...

Naked is a gorgeous, slightly more brown 'better than lips' shade on me. The colour pay-off is immense with very little applied and has a comfortable creamy texture. The finish is a creamy sheen, not quite gloss but more skinny than your regular lipstick.

Upon first use the lipstick did tug a little at my lips but after a few uses it went on with ease. You really can tell that these lipsticks are infused with nourishing oils such as avocado and jojoba as they leave lips cushion soft, moisturised and plump and they wear like a dream! I did purchase another shade called Streak, I will pop up a little post on that gorgeous shade soon...

Jodie

xoxo

Urban Decay

Yesterday morning I received my Urban Decay All Nighter rrp £9 setting spray from Cohorted for the bargainous price of £6.52! I really only bought it as I already use MAC's Fix-It Spray and I have been wanting to compare the two for a little while. The packaging is practical and the pump dispenses just the right amount, sometimes I feel that MAC's Fix-it can dispense a bit too much and you can end up looking a little slick in area's...something that after using for a while you can master avoiding.  I used the UD setting spray yesterday morning, the weather was vile outside so it's arrival was perfect timing! The spray feels pretty weightless and doesn't affect your make-up underneath the only thing I will say is that it made my skin feel a little tight, the sensation subsided after a few hours though. I found that the UD didn't give as much of a dewy finish as MAC Fix-It but as much as it pains me to say this as I adore MAC products...it does keep my make-up in place a lot better! All Nighter features temperature control technology which lowers the temperature of your make-up keeping you looking flawless in even hot or humid situations. Suitable for all skin-types, even oily and combination this is the perfect setting spray for summer. Jodie xo

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette Review and Swatches

For a little while now I have been looking for an eyeshadow palette containing a variety of neutral colours all of which I would wear. I have other palettes lying around in which I will just use a couple of the colours and end up throwing the rest of it away. I tend to only use matte neutral shades on my eyes as I'm more of a lipstick kinda gal, for now my search is over...enter Urban Decay's Naked Basics Palette rrp £22.

I know people go nuts over Urban Decay's Naked 1, 2 and 3 but I have never reached for one as they contain shimmery eyeshadows, which just isn't for me, so I had never given thought into purchasing one of their palettes as I thought they were all pretty much the same. In my opinion Naked Basics is the best palette of them all, it contains 6 very versatile shades which every woman needs in her eye make-up arsenal. All but one shade (Venus) are richly pigmented matte shades, not at all chalky or powdery they go on beautifully and the staying power (with a good primer) is fantastic.

Top L to R: Venus, Foxy and Walk Of Shame
Bottom L to R: Naked 2, Faint and Crave

You can't really tell from my photo but Venus has a touch of satin to it so it's the perfect shade for highlighting. This palette is loaded with Urban Decay's full-size shadow pans and every shade features their Pigment Infusion System for colour that holds tightly to pigment and gives the formula it's glide. The shades blend easily and seamlessly together and as they are so richly pigmented a little goes a long way meaning this palette will last you a long time.

I haven't given my other eyeshadow's a look since purchasing this palette, it gives me every colour I need in one place.

Jodie

xoxo