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Urban Decay XX Vice Reloaded*

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Whenever Urban Decay release a new palette, it’s almost as if you can hear the world’s intake of breath. There have been a couple lately, and I got my hands on the brand new XX Vice Reloaded Palette, and spoiler alert – it’s a good one!

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Packaged in a slick black compact, complete with jewelled logo, XX Vice Reloaded is something special to behold. It’s big, weighty thing, with a push button which releases the spring-loaded lid. I just love it, and it looks incredible. There’s no doubt about it, this palette is all about celebrating the best of Urban Decay!

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Inside there are 20 shades (to celebrate 20 years of the brand), some new, some classic, and some re-releases, as well as a double ended brush, and a huge mirror. At first I was a little daunted by the shades selection – there are some true jewel colours in there – particularly ones like Acid Rain and Asphyxia which are just breathtaking. But there is also a great selection of neutrals in there too! Perfect for using on a more regular basis.

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The beauty of XX Vice Reloaded is in it’s adaptability. Day looks revolve around the colours Suspend, Shallow and Midnight Cowboy. They’re a mix of matte and satin finish shades, which provide a subtle wash of definition without looking too dramatic.

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In the evenings, I’ve been smoking everything out with shades like Oil Slick, Smog, and Twice Baked. As we’ve come to expect from the brand, Urban Decay’s XX Vice Reloaded’s shadows are buttery smooth and apply like a dream. I’ve noticed that the matte shades do seem to have the very best colour payoff, whilst the shimmers and glitters are a touch sheerer, so when I want a really vivid look, I apply using a dampened brush.

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Like most of the brand’s palette, this one comes with a double-ended brush which is surprisingly useful. I just love that Urban Decay include real tools in their kits, rather than the usual sponge applicators which I throw out immediately!

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Since both ends have quite long and fluffy bristles, it’s a good tool for creating subtle blended looks – and what more can I ask for in the mornings?!

Urban Decay XX Vice Reloaded is priced at £43 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

Bobbi Brown Beach Glow Sunkissed Pinks Eyeshadow Palette*

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Whenever Bobbi Brown comes up with a new makeup collection, I start drooling over it pretty much immediately. I’m a lover of beautiful, neutral shades, and I don’t think anyone does those better than Bobbi!

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Right in time for summer, the Sunkissed Pink collection has been released, and the showstopper of the line has to be the Sunkissed Pink Eyeshadow Palette. Packaged in the most instagram-worthy rose gold casing, it’s a mix of four must-have shades which are just perfect for creating chic and easy summer looks.

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The four shades are just the definition of lust-worthy! A work-horse bone, a warm candy pink, the glitteriest copper which is shot through with pink micro shimmer and then a wonderfully matte and colour saturated cool toned chocolate which is just made for lining.

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It’s a rare palette which feels both subtle enough for daily use, but still fun, and importantly, it also feels new. I don’t have dupes of the pink and copper shades nestled in my collection, so it’s so fun to play around with the palette and create day and evening looks which are perfect for balmy weather!

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For day wear, I like to buff the nude shade into my brow bone as a subtle highlight, with a touch of the pink over my lid. It adds a subtle touch of colour and definition, which stays the right side of effortlessly pretty. For amping up the drama though, it couldn’t be easier – I work a touch more of the pink into my crease, blend the copper over the center of my lid, then line with the chocolate brown. It’s an incredibly easy, yet chic look, which looks like I’ve put in a lot more effort than I have (and that’s always a good thing!)

The palette is limited edition, and I can’t find it online. It should, however still be at Bobbi Brown counters.

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Eyeshadow Palette*

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Summer Glow Eyeshadow Palette

When it comes to summertime makeup, I’m a big believer in the more natural the better. I love when you have naturally glowing skin, and all you need is a lick of mascara and something a little shiny and you’re good to go. Thankfully, Estee Lauder has answered my summer glamour prayers in the form of the brand new Bronze Goddess Eyeshadow Palette.

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Packaged in the sleekest of golden compacts, the Bronze Goddess Eyeshadow Palette is pretty much summer in a nutshell. There are six shadows to choose from – a mix of must-have neutrals complete with a shimmering gold and jolt of marine blue.

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The shadows are well balanced mix of mattes and shimmers, and the balance of shades is enough to see you through the longest of vacations. The formulas for the shadows is buttery perfection – wonderfully pigmented with serious colour payoff.

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The left hand side of the palette is reserved for the three lightest shade. The bone shade on the far right is beautiful for highlighting the brow bone or as a blending shade. It’s perfectly matte, and I also like to use it in the inner corner of my eyes for a little brightness. Next up is the prettiest shell pink, which is perfect if you’re after subtle definition, or it’s also a stunning way to mix up my go-to brown smoky eye.

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Eyeshadow Palette review

The central golden shade might just be my favourite. It’s a warm shimmering yellow-toned gold which looks like molten metal on skin. For evening, I tap a little into my inner eyes for a sleek update, and a little tapped into the centre of the eyelid gives eyes a beautiful gleam. The brightest shade in the palette is the marine blue which sits in the centre of the palette. It’s a really beautiful true sea blue which has a  stunning metallic finish. The shadow is quite sheer to begin with, but it’s easily built up to a rather stunning effect.

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Beside the blue is possibly my most used shade – a stunning metallic taupe. Again, it has quite a highly reflective finish, and it’s so pretty worn sheered out over the lid as a wash of colour. It’s a perfect choice for everyday makeup too! It’s quite a warm-toned brown, so it’s great when you have a little colour! Last up is the palette’s deepest shade – a warm-toned chocolate brown which is super matte and super creamy. It’s just the thing for adding a little to drama to your eye makeup, and I just love to use it as a liner, as the colour payoff is so wonderful.

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In addition to the six shadows, the Bronze Goddess Eyeshadow Palette also includes a nifty double ended applicator. With one end as a foam-tipped applicator, and the other a soft acrylic brush, it’s never going to be my first choice to use, but if I’m out and about and have forgotten my regular brushes, it does well in a pinch! The palette is pretty much a must-have if your jetting off anywhere this summer. The mix of colours and finishes of the shadows feels so well thought out, I’ve been reaching for it most mornings. It makes creating a multitude of looks so easy, and it doesn’t hurt that the packaging is to die for too!

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Eyeshadow Palette is priced at £40.00 and is available here

Maybelline Master Sculpt Contour Kit*

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For me, summer skin is all about really beautiful natural looking skin that’s got a golden glow. Basically I like to look like I haven’t really tried too hard, but, as usual, it’s looks like this that require a little extra attention to appear really effortless!

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So, in the hopes of looking naturally bronzed and defined, I’ve added Maybelline’s Master Sculpt contour kit into my everyday kit. Packaged in a dinky little compact, it contains everything you need to sculpt modelesque cheekbones – a pan of colour containing both a defining and highlighting shade, a mirror, and a little half moon brush.

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Using the kit itself really couldn’t be simpler. After applying my usual base and concealer, I sweep a light dusting on the contour shade in the hollows of my cheekbones, around my temples and around my chin, then blend. I’m after a super natural finish, so I only use a touch of the colour, but it’s so easily to build up if you’re looking for something a little more dramatic.

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I then add my bronzer like normal, then get to grips with the highlighting shade. It’s perfect if you’re after a natural, believable glow that looks like you’ve been on the green juice all weekend. Again, I use a light touch of it, focusing on the tops of my cheekbones, brow bones, the bridge of my nose and cupid’s bow. If I want to build up my highlight, I then go in with a different formula to add some sheen – although I keep this just to my upper cheekbones. Maybelline’s kit makes contouring feel so easy and effortless, and the formula is beautifully silky soft. It’s perfect for most skin tones too, as there are two colour ways to choose from!

Maybelline’s Master Sculpt Contour Kit is priced at £6.99 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

 

 

Urban Decay Alice Through the Looking Glass Eyeshadow Palette*

Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland Palette

So yesterday I shared the rather stunning collection of lipsticks that Urban Decay had released to celebrate the new Alice Through the Looking Glass movie, but I think that the piece-de-resistance has to be the rather stunning eyeshadow palette.

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I kind of feel like calling this an eyeshadow palette is kind of like calling a Rolls Royce a run-around. There’s just something so special about this, and it’s the perfect mix of whimsy and much loved colours, and the packaging really is jus to die for!

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Absolutely every inch has been covered in triply, kaleidoscope-esque images and quotes from the book. It does feel a touch magical! Also, the absolute clincher for me was the rather magical 3-D butterfly which pops up under the mirror. I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite like it in a makeup product before.

Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland Palette Detail

It seems to right that Urban Decay have aligned themselves with a film all about the odd, and not-quite-right. They are such an inclusive and forward-thinking brand, it seems like a wonderfully natural fit!

Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland Eyeshadow Palette

When I realised how in love I was with the packaging, I was skeptical about how much I would like the palette. By nature, I’m rather boring when it comes to makeup. I can’t tell you how many brown and beige shadows I have, so I was so happy to see a great balance of neutrals alongside some really rather stunning colours.

Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland Palette review

Each column is designed to represent a character from the book, from left to right, they’re Alice, The Mad Hatter, Mirana, Iracebeth, and Time. It’s just such a novel little palette, I’m completely smitten! For daily use, I’ve been sweeping a light dusting of Reflection (a warm apricot) over my lids for a touch of definition, smudging Chronosphere (a warm, very metallic chestnut) into my lash line, and dotting Royal Flush (perhaps the most beautiful champagne shimmer highlight) into my inner eyes.

Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland shadow palette

As we’ve all come to expect from Urban Decay, the formulation of the shadows is pretty wonderful. They’re super smooth and creamy, with the most wonderful colour payoff. Shades like Dormouse and Chessboard are the perfect daily browns for me, and I wish I could buy a backup Royal Flush as it’s jus the most divine silky-smooth highlight. There are some surprises too! Lily looks like it should be a basic slightly yellow toned beige, but it’s shot through with pink micro-shimmer which gives the shade a beautiful fairy-dust quality. Dream On is another surprise – in the pan it looks like a deep cool toned shimmer mauve, but on the eyes it’s a wash of sheer sparkle. It’s stunning! The brighter colours are just dreamy too! I’m waiting for colder weather to rock the ultra pigmented and shimmering  Salanzan Grum, whilst I’m currently working up enough courage to wear the inky Time as an alternative to black liner.

Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland palette brushUrban Decay Alice in Wonderland Palette brush end 1

The palette also comes with a double ended brush tucked in amongst the shadows. It’s decorated with the same colourful patterning as the palette. I’ve not really tried it out too heavily yet, but it’s lovely and soft and is a great little blender!

Urban Decay’s Alice Through the Looking Glass Palette is priced at £43 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

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