Fake Naked Basics

I recently saw a rip off Naked Basics on eBay from China for £3.89 and thought I'd pick one up so I could compare it to my genuine Urban Decay Naked Basics. I am always very cautious buying eye make up from china since I had a bad reaction to one of the "88 palettes" a while ago but I thought I'd try this out just to see if it would be of a better quality.


Packaging:
The first thing you notice is the packaging, although it's a slightly darker shade this is the exact same as the genuine Naked Basics; the only difference is the lack of the code on the back of the palette in the bottom right hand corner. This also has the same mirror inside the length of the lid along with the six pans along the base with the names underneath, the fake does have slight spelling errors/faults in some of the names though. They have clearly spent a lot of time perfecting the copying of this packaging to trick people into buying their counterfeit products which isn't exactly something the should be proud of.

The shades:
In the pan the shades look exactly the same however when swatched a lot of the shades are very different, the two brown shades are a lot paler in the fake when swatched or applied to the eye and the black also isn't as dark or as much of a "true" black. The first three shades are pretty much the same as those in the genuine palette when swatched or applied to the eye but every single of one of the shades lacks the pigmentation of the genuine shadows.

Formulation:
This is where we notice the real difference, the fake Naked Basics shadows have a really terrible formulation and are super difficult to work with. The shadows are all very much powdery and don't blend well, when you do try to blend these they become patchy and messy. These also get a lot of fallout which makes applying them and blending for a smoky eye very difficult unfortunately, I do think they could have spend a little less time trying to rip people off and a little more time making a better formulation they could have come up with a much better palette.

Overall:
This palette truly is awful, I don't understand why these people would want to waste their time making a fake; never mind how the hell they thought they could get away with passing this atrocity off as an Urban Decay Naked Basics palette. You'd paid £3.89 for this which means for an extra 2p you could have got yourself a Make Up Revolution Redemption palette, obviously I bought this to do the comparison so I knew I could be wasting my money  but I had no idea just how rubbish this would be. I also ordered a rip off Too Faces Boudoir Eyes palette to see what the quality of that would be and I can say it's much of the same, a lot of effort put into copying packaging and no effort put into the eye shadows themselves.

Top Ten - Emily Machin

Next up in the top ten series is the lovely Emily Machin, she's always so vibrant and smiling; her focus is more on skincare than make up as she likes to let her natural beauty shine through which you can see clearly works for her. Although I have lured the girl into a few make up purchases since I met her!!

1. Tea Tree Face Mask from The Body Shop, it costs £10 and lasts a long time I've had mine a  few months and it's still going strong. You can get this from the Body Shop in store or on-line. It's a face mask to get rid of spots - Bright green, smells strongly of tea tree (which I like), matt finish when dried on skin. It actually gets rid of spots without majorly drying out your skin. I use it as a face mask once a week, then occasionally apply a small amount on spots to leave overnight in order to reduce the size of the spot/bring it out to get rid of it.

2. Revlon ColorBurst Lacquer Balm, they're £7.99 and doesn’t need constant re-application, it also doesn’t dry lips out. You can get these at Boots online or in store, Superdrug, I've even been in and bought it in another colour.I like these because I’m not experienced with lipstick, so this is pretty safe and idiot proof! I have it in Whimsical and Provocateur, they have a shiny, slightly glittery finish, a slightly minty taste, and makes your lips tingle when first applied. I like it because it stays on your lips for a good few hours without re-application, you don’t have to be too careful about eating and drinking and worry about it fading. I normally re-apply once, maybe twice during the day/evening when I’m wearing it.

3. Maybelline Foundation Dream Pure BB Cream , £6.99 from Boots, Superdrug etc.

This is a BB cream - I’ve never used foundation as I was worried about getting more spots due to clogged pores. This doesn’t clog your pores as it’s light when applied and blends well, I have it in Light as I have fair skin. It contains salicylic acid which, as recommended by a friend, helps to reduce irritation on your skin caused by spots. So whilst the BB cream is covering your spots, it’s helping them to go down too. My face feels soft all day when I have been wearing this BB cream.

I like it because it doesn’t feel like my pores are being clogged, and as far as I’m aware, it hasn’t caused me to have any extra spots! It doesn’t need re-application during the day. However, it does smell a bit strange on your face when first applied - I think this may be due to the SPF quality in it, as the smell reminds me vaguely of sun cream.

4. Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil from The Body Shop at £12, it is a little pricey for what such a little bottle, but it works well so I don’t mind paying that. This is an oil, which sounds weird to put on your face, especially if your face is oil like mine, but it sinks in well and moisturises your face overnight, leaving your skin feeling soft and refreshed in the morning. It has a smell characteristic of all Vitamin E products from The Body Shop (as with another product I will mention later) but it isn’t an offensive smell. I like it because it does what it says it does - it moisturises your face overnight and leaves it feeling soft in the morning and not oily!

5. Vaseline Lip Therapy with Aloe Vera, £1.99 - it’s definitely gone up in price since  I first bought it, but I think it’s brilliant so I don’t mind paying for it. I’ve lost count of how many tins of this I’ve bought over the years. It’s petroleum jelly, and you apply it to your lips as often as needed. It really helps in the winter when the elements are against you. I can’t use some of the other vaseline flavours as they are too scented or contain nut oil (which I am allergic too) so I just stick with aloe vera as it smells nice and works well for me. I like it because it has helped many a time when I’ve been suffering from dry lips, whether it’s in the winter or due to my job, where I work with a lot of harsh chemicals and materials that can dry your skin out (that’s not to say I eat or drink any of these materials, but being in their general environment isn’t good for dry skin!) You do have to be aware when applying vaseline though that you don’t over apply, as it will leave you looking shiny, and it is oily so it can stain clothes if you have too much on your fingers. I would swear by this product, I have been using it for so long!

6. Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter £7.99, I've had this for 2 months and I bought two at the same time as they were on 2 for £10! It looks a bit like a lipstick, but I don’t deal well with lipstick, so this is a step up from a crayon in application for me! It is moisturising and lasts quite a while, not as long as the lip crayon from Revlon, but still longer than some other products that I use. I have it in Sweet Tart and Candy Apple. It leaves a slight shiny finish, but not greasy, and smells slightly sweet which is pleasant. I like using it because it moisturises whilst you’re wearing it, and depending on what shade you’re wearing, gives a more subtle hint of colour to our lips compared to the lip crayon.

7. Tea Tree Concealer from The Body Shop -£7. It is a concealer stick, rather than standard liquid foundation, and you apply as and when you need it, to more specific areas of your face that require attention. It comes in two shades, I have 01 Light, and it blends well to my skin tone, but it does require proper blending or you are left with orange-looking smudges on your face! It does smell of tea tree, but not as strong as the face mask. I like it as I can use it alongside my other products, or rather than, if I only need to cover up one or two spots. Also, it doesn’t dry out the skin on your face, but helps draw out spots and reduce redness with the addition of the tea tree.

8. Aesop Control Anti-Blemish Gel, at £15 it is pricey for such a small tube (only 9ml) but it works for me so I don’t begrudge paying the price. I bought it from Beauty Expert online, but there are Aesop shops in London and some other large cities and other online stores sell it. It is a clear gel that you can wear with your make-up, or just on its own. It smells fragrant, and contains ingredients such as tea tree, aloe vera, salicylic acid and niacinamide. The salicylic acid helps get rid of spots with the tea tree, and the aloe and niacinamide soothe the skin and reduce inflammation. You don’t need much of this product on your skin. I like it as it has helped reduce some spots that I have had. You can feel it working as it soothes raised and inflamed skin almost immediately. It works with make-up as it’s clear. You do have to wait a minute or so to apply on other make-up as it has a habit of mixing with things like BB cream and making a slightly creamy mixture on your face.

9. Avon Glimmersticks Eyeliner for £6, I've used this for 5 years+ and I’ve re-purchased these a lot. I got it from my Avon representative at the time, however recently I bought it from the Avon website avonshop.co.uk. It is an eyeliner that you DON’T sharpen, it’s a roll up one. I have it in Blackest Black and Sugar Plum (which is from the Diamonds range). It goes on like a normal eyeliner and wears very well throughout the day/evening. It doesn’t look greasy when applied or when it is worn. I like it because it actually stays on and doesn’t leave horrible black lines on the top of your eyelids (unless you apply lots!), there’s no risk of getting shavings in your eye from sharpening the pencil, and it doesn’t snap off half way through application! I would recommend this, as it took me ages to find an eyeliner that does what I want.

10. Super Volume Mascara The Body Shop -£10. This is a mascara aimed at lengthening the look of your lashes. I have it in Black. It doesn’t clump on your eyelashes, it does actually lengthen them, especially if you have pale eyelashes like myself, it’s easy to get off and it doesn’t smudge much if you rub your eyes by accident. I like it mainly because it makes my eyelashes look longer, darker and fuller without the spider effect that a lot of people seem to be going for. Also, it doesn’t clump my eyelashes together to make them feel heavy, or leave big black lumps of mascara on the tips of my eyelashes.

Things I thought were over-hyped but that are actually amazing.

There are a few things I thought were over-hyped but that are actually amazing, I see a lot of people raving about products and when I try them I find out they're not exactly the amazing products that they were hyped up to be. Fortunately every so often these wonderful products turn out to be everything they were meant to be and become a part of my regime.

Tangle Teezer - 

I figured this was just a massive gimmick, £12 for a hair brush seemed ridiculous but since I bought this I haven't used any other of my brushes.  I'm not sure how or why this works but it does, this little brush de-tangles my hair even at it's worst. I used to have real trouble after washing my hair trying to brush it without losing half of my hair but this has stopped me having to struggle, all in all this is something I'd suggest every female needs.

Garnier Micellar Water-

I thought micellar water was some new over-hyped make up remover and would be equally as rough and abrasive on the skin/eyes as all the other make up removers I've tried but the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water is so gentle on my eyes and doesn't leave them stinging or sore. This is also super cheap which is a bonus, this removes every single bit of make up from my face; even a super pigmented eye look.

Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser -

This was a recent purchase that I'm glad I bought in to, using this in the shower helps to prevent the dry tight feeling I get after having a shower and even using this alone would be sufficient to keep my skin hydrated but I often go over this with another moisturiser once I'm out of the shower. This really is an excellent product and one I'd suggest everyone give at least one try, especially since it's under £5!

Vasaline Spray & Go-

This is another moisturising product I thought was just a gimmick but I actually love, as you can tell by these two products I'm lazy when it comes to moisturising. This is super easy to use; I just spray my whole body lightly and then rub it in, this removes the repeated picking up and putting down the bottle of moisturiser with slippy hands. Winner!

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner -

I heard about liquid exfoliators through the blog world and this is one that I've heard so many people rave about, I didn't see how liquid exfoliators would make any difference to my skin but boy was I wrong. This toner is amazing and really helps to keep my skin looking fresh and healthy, It's not exactly cheap at around £25 but it's totally worth is since it lasts for ages and really does make your skin look a lot better.

Origins Drink Up Intense -

I heard so many people blog about this mask and I figured it was just a rip off at £22 for  face mask but this is a real miracle worker. This is suggested for use when your skin is dry/dehydrated but I've found this also works wonders for breakouts, I use this whenever my skin is acting up and the next day it's looking perky again. This is another product that lasts for ages, I got this for my birthday in February and it's only just running out. This is something I will definitely repurchase again and again.

Holika Holika BB cream-

I tried a few western BB creams and quickly realised they were not for me but after trying out a few different Korean products I decided to give the Korean BB creams a try. I went for the Holika Holika BB creams in Clearing and Moisture and it was a good decision because these are amazing! These BB creams are everything that other BB creams promised and they seriously do blend to match your skin, they have a variety of types depending on what your skin type is; as my skin varies from oily to dry I got both types to mix and match to my needs.

MUA Pro-Base Fixing Mist -

I'd heard a lot of people rave about setting sprays but didn't see how adding more liquid to my face would help with controlling oil, I didn't want to splash out on the Urban Decay offering so I thought I'd try a cheaper alternative before committing. This really helps to keep my make up on all day long and means I don't have to powder or blot nearly as much and there's no separation of my make up. I definitely suggest trying this out before you buy any of the more expensive options.

Benefit The POREfessional -

This product gets raved about so much I always wanted to try it but the £25 price tag put me off so when I saw a free sample of this with a magazine I had to try it and I fell in love. I've tried so many matte primers and none of them can compare to this bad boy, this keeps the skin matte and blurs any imperfections which is what we're all looking for right? I think this is something definitely worth investing in if you get oily skin that means you require multiple touch ups during the day.

Urban Decay Naked 2 & 3-

Everybody and their mum raves about these palettes so I obviously I went around buying all the "dupes" I could find but eventually decided to give in and buy the real deal. I have many high end palettes but these are the ones I reach for most because the shade selection is amazing and the formula is buttery soft. I like that you get 12 shades for £37 where as with MAC for example you'd have to pay £45 just for 3 shades to put in your palette. I am planning on buying the original palette and I have the Naked Basics but I love these two palettes more than any other palette in my collection.

Urban Decay Primer Potion -

I've tried a lot of different eye shadow primers trying to keep my eye shadow in place but none of them have been what I was looking for, the one that I'd heard so many people hype up was the Urban Decay Primer Potion so when I got a free set of these with each of my Naked Palettes I couldn't have been happier. This truly is magic, I have super oily lids but with this my eye shadow stays on for hours compared to the usual hour wear I'd get. This is something I will be investing in when my samples run out, I've not tried all of them but Eden is my favourite so far.

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara -

I never used to wear mascara on my bottom lashes because because it always seems to smudge and flake so I end up looking like a panda/zombie. I figured all these people raving about the bottom lash mascara were probably drawn in by the cute tiny brush but it is the formulation that makes this mascara so amazing. This formula doesn't smudge or flake no matter what it is put through, it's seriously a magic mascara!

Wide Eyes Tips & Tricks

Let's face it, we're all looking for that wide eyed "I got my 8 hours last night" look. There are a number of things we can do to achieve this but I thought I'd share the tips and tricks I use to disguise my sleepy eyes.

Curlers
The most important thing you can do when trying to open up the eyes is to invest in a decent set of eyelash curlers, curling your lashes really is magic; I use the Eyeko curlers because I like the handles on these compared to the "scissor" style handles. Use light pressure at multiple positions down the length of the lashes to ensure that they're all curled evenly, I always do this before applying mascara as curling after mascara can cause the lashes to break.

Mascara
Follow the curling I like to go in with a mascara that lengthens and separates the lashes so I'm not left with the clumpy spider lash issue, I've done a post on my current mascaras here but my favourite of the moment is the George Lash Xtend. This mascara gives great length without any clumps and doesn't smudge throughout the day which can cause you to look even more tired. One other tip I'd give is to use a waterproof mascara as this holds a curl better than the regular formulas and also to use a special bottom lash mascara like the Clinique one to prevent bottom lash smudging.

Lashes
Another thing that helps achieve the fuller lashes is to use a serum to increase lash growth, I'm a fan of the Mavala Switzerland Double-Lash serum which I find really helps give me fuller longer lashes and prevents the usual falling out of my lashes. I've also found that my lashes fall out most when I'm removing my eye make up so I'd also suggest being as gentle as possible, this will also help to stop any damage to the sensitive skin around the eyes.

Liner
Something that can help the lashes look fuller and the eyes look more open is to tight line the upper lashes, to do this I use The Body Shop Eye Definer in Black as I find this really does stay all day. The other eye liner that I find helps me to look more awake is the Rimmel Scandaleyes in Nude along the waterline, some people like to use white in the waterline but I find this too harsh so nude is a nice compromise.

Eye Cream
A good eye cream is the base of a good wide awake look, if your eyes are not well moisturised they're going to look tired and dull so eye cream is something I suggest investing in. I'm currently loving the Clinique All About Eyes Rich because it's super thick and moisturising but doesn't leave a greasy sheen like some eye creams do, this means my concealer has a nice base to adhere to but won't be sliding around.

Concealer
On the subject of concealers I want to talk about a couple that I really think do help to make me look more awake when I'm feeling less than perky, the first is the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer which gives good coverage and also has a radiant glow to it.  The other is the Soap & Glory Blur and Brighten crayon which is more of a highlighter but also gives some coverage, this is my go to when I'm looking extremely tired as it's long lasting as well as brightening.

Top Ten - Pauline Parkes

Ever since I first showed an interest in make up there has been one woman who's opinion I always trusted, my Auntie Pauline always seemed so fancy to me with her beautiful make up and constantly looking beautiful so when I decided to start this blog series she was one of the first people I thought of. This is a woman who has years of tried and tested experience of products so when she gives her opinion I am guaranteed it is a good product, so without further adieu here are her Top Ten

Olay beauty fluid – £5.99 per 200ml

This product is such a bargain! I have repurchased this repeatedly every 6-7 weeks, I buy it where ever it is on special over, Tesco, Boots, Superdrug, mostly at Tesco as I do my food shop there each week so it’s convenient to pick up. It is a beauty fluid for normal/dry/combination skin, this moisturiser is pink in colour and light in texture. It makes no big claims or promises it’s just a face and neck moisturiser which I have used since my late 20s, and it suites my skin and I like this very much.

Olay anti-wrinkle cream – 50m l £9.99 

I get this for £4.99 on a half price offer, you can usually get it at this price if you shop around which I do for this product as it’s only a small amount and I think full price it is a bit expensive . I’ve only just started to use this in the last few months but I like it already.  It’s an anti-wrinkle cream for sensitive skin to use at night, it’s not sticky and absorbs well into the skin. It is light pink in colour and has no smell, I like it as a night moisturiser as it is a cream instead of the above which I use to use both day and night.  I think as you get older to use a cream at night gives the skin time to absorb it without any other product to react against it.

No7 Stay Perfect foundation –£15 per 30m

I like this because it’s not expensive and it gives good coverage with a small amount. I have been using this for about 2 years, before that I used Clinque but I find that the colour match with No 7 suits me better. I buy it from boots and I like to buy it when I get the discount vouchers from boots for No7. I have the shade Warm Beige and its light and goes on nicely  with up to 24 hour wear; I’ve found it does come off in places but I think that is my skin rather than the product. This has an SPF 15 and it is the best foundation I have used as it does last longer on my skin than most other foundations, even high end products.

       Clinique Eye Concealer - £16 .33 fl oz.

 Although this is a bit pricey it does go a long way so it is worth it as it’s made by Clinque. I have used this for a number of years and I always come back to this product – not all shops sell this so I normally get it from Boots. As this is an under eye concealer, I like to use it because it is light on the delicate part of my eyes. This reduces the appearance of dark circles and puffiness around the eyes and blends well with my foundation; although it does not cure it does do what it says.

Brazilian Keratin Smooth shampoo - £6.99

I buy this from larger Tesco supermarkets as I have there and boots are the only places I can find it. This is a shampoo that isn’t too expensive and is one of the best hair products I have ever used.  I started using this shampoo in May 2014 and have bought multiple hair products from the range since realising how good this is. This is a shampoo for wavy/ curly hair; it comes in a bronze in colour and smells of coconut. This really helps to smooth and straighten my hair and my hair feels great after I use this and is easier to dry and stays straighter longer. I’ve had people commented on my hair since I started using this!

Brazilian Keratin Smooth Conditioner –£6.99

I usually pick this up at the same time as the shampoo because it’s often on 2 for £10. This is the conditioner counterpart of the shampoo and really helps to keep my hair feeling healthy and helps my hair to stay straight for longer.  

Brazilian Keratin Therapy Flat Iron Spray –£6.99

This is another product from the Brazilian Keratin range, I use this on dry hair with while I’m straightening my hair with my straighteners its brilliant; it does help to make my hair straighter and sleeker. I’ve found that this his makes it less of a hassle to style my hair than normal and leaves my hair looking sleek and smooth.

L’Oreal Paris Elvive smooth Intense - £6.99

This lasts forever, I buy this where ever it is on special offer, although it’s not expensive compared to other brands it is still nice to get a bargain. I have used this for a good long time; maybe 6 years!!  This is an Anti-Frizz serum which you put on wet hair, as I have fizzy hair I like to put this in to give my hair some oil, it helps when I am drying it. It is clear in colour and has no smell.

Garnier Body – Intense 7 Days

You can pick this up at Superdrug for around £5 –I’ve only been using this for about 6 weeks but I really like it, smells of coconut and I have used this on my body and have noticed it was great on my feet; dry skin has really improved. It’s not too greasy on the skin and absorbs really well.

Glimmer Stick - eye brow definer in Blond - £3.99

This is made by Avon and is a bargain at £3.99 – I have been using this for years because it is super easy to use, you just twist up and use; the colour is great and it’s not too dark for my skin tone. 

Palette Madness

Hello, my name is Kerry and I'm a make up addict. Palettes are my biggest fix, eye shadow to be precise. High end or budget I go crazy for these compact little beauties which is why I've built up a bit of a collection.

The first high end palette I got was the MAC Cool Neutral palette, a collection of 15 mac eye shadows and all neutrals with a cool tone for £65. This was a big investment but I figured it was worth it for 15 MAC quality eye shadows, unfortunately I don't actually think these are the same quality as the single MAC eye shadows; don't get me wrong they are aren't bad quality but they're just not the high quality I've come to expect. This was my most reached for eye shadows but since building up a bit of a collection I have found this going slowly to the back of the pile, mainly because the colours are beautiful but I just can't get the pigmentation I need from these.

On the other end of the price scale are the Make Up Revolution Redemption Palettes, I've got three of these £4 palettes and I have to say I love them. I have the Iconic 1, the Iconic 2 and the Romantic smoked but I'm planning on getting a few more. These are such good quality for the price and there is a bit of fall out from these eye shadows it's no more than any of the other more expensive eye shadows I own. These also have a nice mix of mattes and shimmers which makes a change from the majority of budget palettes which are mainly shimmers that I find difficult to wear in the day time.

The Stila In The Know palette has to be my favourite of all the palettes I own, it's a palette of ten matte eye shadows ranging from deep browns and greys to oranges and pale muted shades. The was £25 and is one of a number of palettes from the "In The" range, these are the best quality matte eye shadows I have come across; there is no chalky texture and no fall out whatsoever. I find that these shades also blend beautifully with shimmer shades from other palettes which I have found to be a problem with a lot of other matte palettes.

Another high end matte palette that I own is the Urban Decay Naked Basics, this is a brown toned neutral palette it has 5 mattes and 1 shimmery white highlight shade at £22.  Most of these shades are wearable but the black shade I find isn't one I ever reach for because it is so matte and chalky it doesn't blend easily enough to make it wearable. I do find the palette good for all over base shades but unlike the In The Know palette these don't blend easily with other types or finishes.

On the slightly more expensive end of the budget palettes are the Sleek i-Divine palettes, these are £7.99; I have Oh So Special and Original. These are mainly shimmers but the mattes they do have aren't the chalky kind, most of these shades are a bit to bright for day time looks but for a super pigmented night time eye these are a delight. I find a lot of these palettes are a bit to in your face for my daily make up so I don't think I'll be buying any more.

Next up is The Balm NUDE'tude palette which is a mixture of mattes and shimmers for £26, this is a beautiful neutral palette ranging from pinks to deep purples and browns. This palette is one that I absolutely adore because it's got some real stand out shades but it's also really wearable, I put off buying this for ages because I thought it would be difficult to wear but it truly is one of a kind and one of my ultimate favourites.

Another set of super budget palettes are the MUA range, these are £4 and they have a huge selection  of colours including their dupe of the Urban Decay Naked palette. I have the Ever After, Starry Night and the Undressed which is the dupe. These are mostly shimmer except for the Ever After palette, these aren't the best quality but if you're on a budget they're a great option for £4 and with the variety there will always be something for everyone.

The ultimate neutral palettes are the Urban Decay Naked range, many companies have duped them but these are the ultimate according to most bloggers. I have the Naked 2 palette which I do think is really expensive at £37 considering there are a lot of good dupes out there but this is a beautiful palette so I don't mind the price. This has to be up there on the top palettes list along with the dupes that haven't quite got the colours right, my favourite shades are Pistol and Busted. The shades are beautiful and the shadow quality is pretty good with minimal fall out so I do find myself reaching for this palette a lot because the shades although mainly shimmer are easy to wear during the day.

The final  eye shadow palette in my collection is a Naked 3 dupe from the brand W7, this is a collection of rose gold and purple shades which I really love; although these shades aren't high end quality they are great quality for the £7 price tag. I do find myself reaching for this over some of the high end palettes I own, I find that the shades are slightly powdery but I think the colours more than make up for it. This palette along with the Make Up Revolution are the closest dupes to the original Naked palettes and for a fraction of the price, They have a dupe for the original Naked palette that I'd suggest if you're looking for a cheaper alternative.

I have two other palettes that I'd like to share and they're blush palettes, one palette is cream and the other is a powder palette. I picked up the Stila Convertible Colour palette on offer for under £10 recently and I'm really enjoying it, this is a palette of four lip/cheek shades and one highlighter shade which are creamy and easily blendable. These have high pigmentation and last for hours, the four colour shades are actually easily used for both lip and cheek colour and they cover pinks and reds in both natural and more vibrant shades. The other blush palette is from Make Up Revolution for £6 and contains six powder blushes and two highlighter shades, these shades are super pigmented and require only a touch or your brush to pick up colour. These have pinks, corals and more natural shades; one of which is a dupe for MACs Tenderling. The two highlighter shades from this palette are a beautiful silver toned and a pinky shade, these give a lovely sheen when used lightly and stay on for hours.

So there you have it, my dirty little secret is out. I have put myself on a spending ban but I have no doubt I will end up buying many more beautiful palettes in the future.

Top Ten - Victoria Cragg

This is the first in a series of blog posts on the top ten products of various women in my life to give a cross section of what products women of all ages enjoy. I thought I'd start with one of the most beautiful women I know, Victoria Cragg; this woman could make anything look good so I know her beauty choices must be awesome. So in no particular order here they are:



Elf Flawless Finish Foundation - Eyeslipsface.co.uk - £7.50 – Easy to apply with a dewy finish. Leaves you looking natural and not cakey. Cheaper and better coverage than most “drugstore” foundations.

MUA Heaven and Earth Palette - Superdrug - £4.00 – My go-to neutral pallet. Great pigmentation and 12 colours for £4, what’s not to like?

Tresemme Platinum Strength Shampoo and Conditioner - Boots - £4.99 Each - Claim to repair up to 2 years of damage. My bleached, straightened, over processed hair was softer and healthier looking after just a few washes. I'm definitely experiencing less frizz and breakage and will continue to use.

Sleek Blush in shade Rose Gold – Superdrug – £4.49 – Real pretty pink with gold shimmery bits. Almost like a blush and highlighter build into one. The packaging is nice and it comes with a little mirror. It’s a great dupe for Nars Orgasm.

B. Renewed Night Cream 50ml – Superdrug - £5.97 usually £11.99 – Cream is really thick and smells amazing. The quality is like a high end product but without the huge price tag. Lots of good ingredients and leaves my face feeling super soft in the morning. I also love the fact they’re a vegan brand.

Enrapture Extremity Heated Rollers – Amazon.co.uk - £65.00 – Priciest thing on the list but well worth it. The easiest and fastest way for me to curl my hair. The rollers heat up in seconds; I put them in, do my make up, and take them out. Big bouncy voluminous celebrity style curls every time. No messing around and burning myself with curling tongs… Too bad I just cut all my hair off.

Superdrug Vitamin E Skin oil – Superdrug - £2.99 – This range smells amazing. I especially love the oil though. Super soft and easy absorbs into the skin. Sinks in, in seconds so that you can apply make up. Not greasy at all. I mainly use it on my face as it keeps dry patches hydrated and seems to stop me getting dry lines/wrinkling under my eyes.

Quick fix facials Anti Blemish Mud mask – Boots - £3.33 – Does what it says. After using my skin looked clear and blemish free. I love the fact it contains Tea Tree so seems to keep my breakouts at bay and has a cooling feeling when it’s on your skin.  I even use it in the morning as a regular face wash.

Tangle Teezer Hairbrush – Amazon.co.uk - £9.99 – Super gentle on my over processed damaged hair. Completely gets tangles out of wet hair without any tugging, pulling, stress or damage to the hair. I didn't get what all the fuss was about, but seriously, everyone should own one of these.

Hoola Bronzing Powder – BenefitCosmetics.co.uk - £23.50 - Really adds colour to the face. Great for contorting cheeks and forehead area.  It has a matte appearance but still gives you that sun kissed, healthy glow. I use this every single day and it last forever. Probably my all-time favourite product ever.

July Favourites

This is my first attempt at writing a monthly favourites and it's been a bit difficult picking just a few products as my favourites as I tend to have a lot of products that I love on rotation constantly so there's a huge list.

I'll start off with my favourite lip products this month; the first is a lip balm that I got free with a magazine last month and that's the Rodial STEMCELL Superfood Glam Balm. This lip balm is amazing, it's so moisturising and it last for hours on the lips; it is pretty expensive but I can definitely say I'll purchase is when this one runs out. Next up is my ultimate Mac Lipstick in Up The Amp which is beautiful purple shade in an Amplified finish, I find this is a way to wear a striking lip shade that is also  easily wearable  and I get so many compliments when I wear this.
The other two lip favourites are from L'oreal one is the Glam Matte in Zip It Rouge and the other is Glam Shine Stain Splash in Milady, I only got these late in the month but I haven't stopped wearing them since they both give a lovely colour to the lips and last for hours. The Glam Matte is also not drying and I would say is more velvet in finish that the flaky mattes you usually get.

I've been really needing to stay matte in this ridiculous heat so I've been relying on a few matte heroes to help, for primers I've been loving the POREfessional and I've just picked up a brand new full size but I find it's a bit too expensive for every day use so even though it is my all time favourite I do like to use something a little more budget friendly for day-to-day use. The two products I like to use on a daily basis are No7 Beautifully Matte Make Up Base and Rimmel Stay Matte Primer these both work as well as the POREfessional but I find these do dry my skin out a lot more so they require my skincare to me more hydrating than usual, none the less these are the best budget matte primers I have come across.
The other step I take to keeping my skin matte is a setting spray I've got two that I'm currently using and loving and they are the MUA Pro-Base Fixing Mist and the Pretty Make Up Setting Spray, both of which are budget but still do the job right. These both keep my make up in place and keep me matte for at least triple the time I would usually get out of my make up.

Next up is my newest base love the Holika Holika Petit BB cream, this is an original Korean BB cream and I can see that they definitely got it right before the western versions all got spewed out. This really is perfect it gives a flawless finish and blends in seamlessly with the skin, I've since made an order for more Korean make up and skincare as I want to see what else they have to offer. This also contains SPF30 and I got the clearing version which I'm hoping will help me clear up my skin whilst also hiding the blemishes I already have.

I've also been loving the Makeup Revolution Viivid Blush Lacquer in Rush, this is so easy to apply and blends like a dream which really helps my 5am make up application a lot quicker, it also gives an amazing finish and a lovely wash of colour. The next step in my make up that's been creeping up the favourites list is a product I've been using not for it's intended use, I'm a rebel what can I say. I've been using the Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Shadow Stick in Trespassing Taupe to contour, this is a matte taupe shade that works excellent as a natural looking contour and blends out wonderfully but is pigmented enough to stay around. I did have a difficult job getting my hands on this as most stockists don't seem to have it and those that do just have half used testers.

I picked up the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara after seeing everyone rave about it and having smudged mascara under my lashes one too many times, they were right to rave because this stuff is a God send. This mascara has a tiny brush that gets the little lashes and the formula is sturdy enough to resist all weather. This has quickly become a staple and definite favourite closely followed by Benefit's Speed Brow, while everyone was shouting their love for Gimme Brow I was slowly falling in love with this little beauty. This gel sets my bushy brows for the day and I never have any problems with them going astray, this also helps to shape my brows into the shape I like them; an absolute blessing.
Another brow product that I've been getting a lot of use out of is the Mavala Switzerland Double-Lash serum which uses snail gel to encourage growth in the lashes but I use it on my brows as well. This really does work, it gives me fuller lashes and brows which is why I've repurchased it multiple times. I tried using different products but nothing works as well as this, this is a total staple now.

A skincare favourite is the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner which I got as a replacement for my Alpha H Liquid Gold but I have to say I actually prefer this, it's got a tingle to it which makes me feel like it's actually doing something. This has really helped get my skin back on track this month and I'm so grateful for it, I can see this being a constant repurchase in the future. The other thing I've been loving that is a little bit gross is an extractor, this has helped me deal with blemishes without causing a lot of damage to the skin; it also helps remove all the tiny blackheads that develop around my nose.

I've been loving this next product for ages, it's the Boots Expert Build Up Removal Shampoo which I've  currently been using to remove the coloured semi-permanent dye from the ends of my hair. This get's rid of product build up and dye from your hair without stripping it, to help with any dryness this might cause I like to go in with the John Frieda Miraculous Recovery Intense Masque which helps to keep my ends looking glossy and healthy; I've tried a lot of different hair masks and this is the only one that actually helps repair the damage I've done to my hair.

The final product is a Body Mist from The Body Shop in Vanilla, this actually smells like real vanilla as opposed to most of the fake vanilla fragrances you get. This is a fine mist that stays with you all day, I often get a whiff of this when I'm getting ready for bed hours after I first applied it. I often reach for this body mist over most of my more expensive fragrances because of it's lasting power and heavenly vanilla scent.

The rest of the items on my favourites are not make up items but random favourites, I'll start with my favourite blogger which has to be Gh0stparties because she just has the best writing style and covers a variety of subjects. Favourite Youtuber has to go to Caroline Hirons for her amazing videos full off great advise and her utterly beautiful personality. TV show of the month has to be Prison Break which I'm watching on Netflix from the beginning and cannot get enough of, plus there are so many hotties I can't even cope. Book of the month is The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides which I finished his month, I've been looking to read books that movies I loved are based on and this was one of them; the film starred Kirsten Dunst and was a favourite of mine in my teens. Last but not least is Barry, my ultimate favourite.

Bad Week = Good Haul.

I'm going to start this haul off with the big guns, I'd been eyeing this up for the longest time since seeing so many bloggers rave about it and when I saw it in Blush Beauty Loughborough I had to have it. This is The Balms NUDE'tude Eyeshadow Palette, coming in at £26 this was my "splurge" of the day; a  beautiful 12 shades of mattes and shimmers. Let's address the packaging, what a beauty; although I'm not a fan of the cardboard packaging the design is absolutely lovely. I have swatched the shades and I have to say most of them are shades I'd use over other mattes from my collection as these are all more "stand out" shades. I'll probably do a full review at a later date.

Next I'll do the round up of my bargain lipsticks (also from Blush Beauty), I got one full lipstick and they also had "testers" on sale for £1 so I thought I'd pick up a couple of shades I wouldn't usually buy to try out before purchasing the actual product. The full lipstick was the Rimmel Colour Show Off Lipstick in Shake-Up Pink which is a beautiful pale pink that's not quite matte but also super creamy. The packaging again for this is so sleek and beautiful, I have to say I think Rimmel are pretty close quality to Mac but half the price. Now for the "testers" I got Rimmel Lasting Finish in Heart Breaker which I wore as soon as I got out of the shop and am now 100% in love with. Next up was Rimmel Lasting Finish Kate Matte in 110 which is a matte bright pink which is still really creamy and doesn't feel like it will dry out the lips, I'm super excited to wear this out. Last but not least is the Rimmel Moisture Renew in Nude Delight which is something new for me as I'm not a nude lip kind of girl but I'm looking forward to trying out and seeing if I can make it work.

I then picked up three (yes three) brow pencils as I've been looking to switch up my eyebrow routine so I grabbed up three of the darkest ones I could find. After doing some research I knew already I wanted to give the Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil a go, I got the Black/Brown which comes with a little brush on the lid that could come in handy. Next I got the La Femme Eyebrow Pencil in Black which is probably the closest match to my eyebrows and the Laval Twist Up Eyebrow Pencil in black, I've not worked out how to work these yet but I'll be trying these out over the next few weeks.

I then grabbed another Kaeso product from Blush Beauty as I am in love with most of their range, they're both good quality and affordable. I got the Hydrating Balm Mint and Cotton face mask which I have on right now and it's bloody lovely. I'll see how this compares to my Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask.

I then nipped in Boots and got a few hair bits because recently my hair has just been letting me down. The first thing was another Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery Mask because I cannot be without this, it is the best hair mask I have ever tried and it helps treat my bleached and damaged ends. With that in mind I also picked up another mask in the form of the Herbal Essence Soft Waves Intensive Mask as I do like to try a new mask every now and again just in case it brings something new to the table. The final thing I picked up was the Charles Worthington Volume and Bounce Texturizing Spray as I've heard so many bloggers rave about this and it's been compared to the Orbie product, plus it was on offer so obviously I had to get it.

Then there was part two, I went to Debenhams and picked myself up the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette. I've been wanting one of the Naked palettes since I got the Naked Basics and my love affair began, these are the holy grail of palettes as far as most bloggers are concerned and I couldn't agree more. The shades are buttery soft and although there is slight fall out from some shades it's very minimal compared to a lot of more expensive brands, I think £37 is really reasonable price for 12 beautiful shades considering MAC shades are around £15 each. This also came with 4 samples of the Primer Potion in Original, Eden, Sin and Anti-Aging which I'm all too excited to try as I seem to have tried every eye shadow primer under the sun and my eye shadow always ends up creased within 5 hours.

Whilst at the Urban Decay stand I also picked up one of their lipsticks in Rapture which is a beautiful your lips but better shade, this is so creamy and pigmented but doesn't transfer when you're eating or drinking. I can tell this is a shade that I'll get a lot of wear out of and that will definitely be worth the £15 price tag.

Next up I grabbed Benefits The POREfessional as I have a sample size of this but I figured I pick up a full size so that I'd never be without this bad boy. This is the only primer that gives me the flawless finish while keeping me matte longer than 5 minutes, there are a few budget primers that do almost as good a job as this  but for special occasions I like to have something a little more fancy.

I also stopped in at Superdrug and picked up the Sleek i-Divine Palette in Oh So Special because it has some beautiful pale pink shades and some stunning buttery shimmers all for £7.99. I have another of the Sleek Palettes that is more bright shimmery so I wanted to try out another of their more wearable palettes, this is a palette that I can see myself getting lots of wear out of.

Then a couple of items I'd ordered turned up, I got the La Femme Liquid Blusher which I tried out as soon as I got home and the formula is absolute perfection; it's creamy and blendable whilst also being super pigmented. I can tell me and this blusher are going to get along just fine. The other item that turned up was the Indeed Labs Pepta-Bright which I've been wanting to try for a while, this is a brightening treatment which I'm hoping will help reduce the hyper-pigmentation caused by acne. I'll probably do an update post on this once I give it a good few weeks.

The final product I got was a huge bargain, I had a little sniff of this the other week and fell in love; this is the Primark He Loves Me Eau De Toilette which smells remarkably like a certain Marc Jacobs Fragrance but for £6. If you can ignore the super tacky lid on this then it's a lovely fragrance, it's light fruity and floral which is perfect for the summer months. I'd definitely suggest giving this a try as it's £6 for 50ml so you can't really go wrong.