The Body Shop Colour Crush Eyeshadows

I bought two eyeshadows from The Body Shop back in November last year. During the Christmas season I bought one more and I have to say I really like them.  They're part of the Colour Crush range and these three are pearlescent. They also have some matte colours. These can be used wet or dry and are really easy to blend and really pigmented. Steel My Heart is a beautiful silver metallic colour and is really great for the inner corner. Grape Expectations is like a cranberry colour which works well blended out for a subtle smoky eye. Melt My Heart is a beautiful gold with a hint of peach shimmer which I wore frequently over the Christmas period.

Light application

Heavier application

I actually really love these three colours, although perhaps not together, but there are still some shades I would like to get that compliment them. I personally feel that these can rival MAC if you're on a budget costing £7. The packaging is simple and clean looking, very easy to store due to being slim and the lid is clear making it easy to see the shades. Love, love love!

Any shades you've tried?

Rachel xx

MAC Eyeshadows ~ Sable, Greensmoke & Retrospeck

On a recent visit to the big smoke that is Cardiff (I live quite rural) one of the first stores that I wanted to go to was Debenhams for the MAC counter. I was wanting to purchase three shades that were Sable, Greensmoke and Retrospeck. I had already chosen these colours prior to my Cardiff trip when I was in Birmingham in November, but were unavailable in pan format. Although I also bought a quad I didn't choose a fourth to fill it as the counter was extremely busy and people were just pushing and shoving, and generally being rude!
I have been using the shades quite a lot with my Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette which I blogged about here.
It's very easy to get carried away when it comes to MAC as the products are amazing and has quite a cult following. I have another MAC quad that I use quite often and the four colours compliment each other so well. Future blog post??

Any recommendations for a shade to fill my new quad so I have another excuse to go to MAC.

Rachel xx

Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette in Rosewood

This palette by Clarins is one that I've had a few weeks but have only started to use it. I walked past the counter in Boots and the soft colours caught my eye.

The palette consists of four mineral eye shadows that can use used wet or dry.

The shades blend really easily and compliment each other so well. On the back of the box is a picture to show where to apply for easy application.
The palette in Rosewood costs £32 for the four shadows from Boots and it is becoming my new go-to eye shadow set. The only downside is the shiny case which leaves finger prints and makes it look quite messy, otherwise I love it and might swatch some of the other quad colours in the mineral range.

Rachel xx

NARSissist Palette - A Must Have

While browsing the world wide web for all things new and tempting I found this beauty - NARSissist by NARS. OMG what a palette this is and I have to have it. With its soft neutrals and gradient dark smokey eye hues, this palette would easily slip into the handbag to transform your look from day to night.

The colours are All About Eve I, Madrague II, Fez, Bali, Coconut Grove, Madrague I, Nepal, Ashes to Ashes, Brousse II, Mekong, Bellissima I, Lhasa, Deep Pewter, Dogon II and Pandora II.

This palette is available right now on the Nars USA website here, and through my research it should hit the UK around the last week in January. It's retailing in the USA for $79 so I reckon it may be about £50, which is very expensive so I may have to save up for it in the meantime and hope that it won't be limited addition.

Rachel xx

PS Sorry for the long absence.

***UPDATE***

18th January

NARS UK now have this in stock for £55 here

I have ordered mine as I don't want to miss out!

BYS Eyeshadow Palette ~ Budget Friendly Make Up

BYS or Be Your Self is an Australian  make up brand. I'd actually never heard of it so I didn't know if it was any good.
I was recently in my local Store Twenty One which sells clothes, homeware and other nik nak type stuff just having a nosy about, when I noticed a make up stand by BYS. The products were nicely displayed and like an magnetic pulse, I was drawn to it.
Displayed were eyeshadows, nail varnish, lip sticks, glosses and eye liners. I picked up one of the metalic eyeshadow palettes in 15 Natural Glam. I wasn't able to swatch it but I didn't mind as it was cheap enough to take a chance. (I'll tell you the price later).

The colours aren't individually named but basically start with a dark brown colour then gradually get lighter to a shimmery gold colour.

The staying power is actually quite good but I did find that they were a bit difficult to blend despite using my two usual eyeshadow brushes. The above close ups are just a basic application.

The packaging is nice and simple but it comes with one of those rubbish sponge applicators that I never use.

So overall, not bad at all and I think I will go back and buy some nail varnish (for research purposes of course) but the totally best thing about this palette...it only cost me £1...bargain.

Any bargain make up brands that you've been impressed with? Do share.

Rachel xx 

Urban Decay ~ Oz The Great And Powerful 'Glinda' Palette

When I first heard that Urban Decay had launched two palettes to tie in with the film 'Oz the Great and Powerful', I couldn't wait to check them out.

Unfortunately, my local Debenhams doesn't have an Urban Decay counter so I had to wait until I went to the big smoke to visit one that did.  I really wanted to see for myself how great they really were; and boy, I wasn't disappointed.  After looking at the two palettes, 'Theodora' and 'Glinda', I decided that 'Glinda' was the one for me.

The Palette has eight shades, as two of them are duo shades, and all are highly pigmented.

Each of the eye shadows applies easily, blends superbly and stays on all day, even without a primer.  It really is hard to pick just one favourite as they all are beautiful.

The palette also comes with a Super Saturated High Gloss Lip Colour (top) and a 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil.

Unfortunately, at present you can't buy the eye shadows singular, so if you use one more than the others, it can't be replaced, but you can add another colour to the palette from the permanent collection.

I have already worn the lighter shades in the day time and have had a lot of compliments, so I am keen to wear Tornado and South for a smokey evening look.

The palette costs £35 which I think is very good value for money, seeing as though a single eye shadow normally costs £14.

Which colour do you like the look of, and have you tried the Theodora palette?

Rachel xx