Urban decay - Alice "Through the looking glass" palette

Urban decay UK

Now Urban decay are known for there impressive collaboration's through the year's, taking beloved tales and transforming them into what our makeup collections crave. A hint of magical wonder, now what better place to start then Wonderland ? 

About : Our story opens nearly 20 years ago, when pink, red and beige enslaved the prestige beauty market. Urban Decay released in 1996 with 10 lipsticks and 12 nail enamels, with groundbreaking names like Roach, Smog, Rust, Oil Slick and Acid Rain. 

When Disney asked us to jump down the rabbit hole again,of course we said yes. Inspired by Alice Through the Looking Glass,this limited-edition, pop-up palette is a tribute to our favorite characters from the film. A perfect mix of 20 ALL-NEW shades. From softer shades inspired by Alice to bold, bright shades like the Mad Hatter. Each Eyeshadow features our Pigment Infusion System™, the proprietary blend of ingredients that gives every shade its velvety texture, rich color, serious staying power and blendability. 

- Through the looking glass Palette 

This colourful, kaleidoscopic artwork woven out of flowers, butterflies and several quotes from the film. When inside, a three-dimensional butterfly springs up. Even included is a double-ended brush for the perfect application. 

Pull open the drawer to reveal the shadows,which are arranged by character. 

Alice,Mad Hatter,Mirana,Iracebeth,Time*

     \           \           /        /        /*

What you get:

-Alice:

Looking Glass (pale pink demi-matte)

Reflection (soft peach matte)

Dormouse (warm brown matte/gold MS) 

Metamorphosis (vibrant periwinkle blue).

-Mad Hatter: 

Hatter (vibrant green)

Gone Mad (aubergine/pink pearl)

Paradox (vibrant orange w/gold pearl) Cake (saturated blue-pink w/silver MS).

-Mirana: 

Lily (opal pink pearl)

Duchess (peach/pink shift MS)

Kingdom (copper-bronze pearl) Chessboard (medium brown matte)

-Iracebeth: 

Heads Will Roll (vibrant turquoise)

Bandersnatch (deep teal matte)

Salazen Grum (metallic crimson)

Royal Flush (pale beige shimmer). 

-Time: 

Time (black-navy satin)

Dream On (metallic purple-silver)

Chronosphere (metallic deep bronze)

Mirror (gray-taupe satin)

- Look book

A girly day in somehow managed to turn into an amazing day of makeup look's, with my sister-in-law Kristi. She did this amazing cut crease. 

My look using : 

A transition shade of chessboard blended within the crease along with Paradox. My inner corner highlight Lily blend's into Cake and defined the outer V using Salazen Grum, which I had also define the bottom of the crease. My under brow highlight is lily. My bottom lash is Cake bended into my smudged purple kohl.

- Kristi's make-up look

Kristi's look contain's :

On the lid we have Lily going into duchess going into paradox. The cut crease features Heads will roll, banded snatch and time. I used cake and Salazan grum blended on the lower lash line with Royal flush underneath the brow.

- Overall opinion

I love Urban decay and I'd say im a true collector. This reminds me of the old release palettes, the magical feeling you would get when using it. (Yes - I do use my LE item's, I just take care of them)

This was a must as while I must admit some review's had me a little nit picked, on quality of some colour's. Ultimately I knew I'd regret not getting this as a collection piece. I do believe that some shade's do take a little more work, however if your willing to just add a step then its totally worth the spend. I will say with those shade's that needed packing on, use a tacky base and white base for maximum opacity. Not a huge thing ... Plus there are more fantastic shade's in here that are unique and give amazing payoff on use. Paradox has to be a firm favourite, alomg with Salazen Grum and Lily. 

Urban decay - Vice 3

Urban decay UK

So we are treated to another Vice palette and new shades. Stunning packaging and this time we are given a beautiful bag to protect the palette. I love the Vice palettes and this one has become my favourite. 

They say :

You can never have too much of a good thing. Satisfy your eyeshadow vice with 20 velvety, Never seen before shades—from an amazing soft black and a stunning burgundy to a rich, smoky red-black. Even MORE covetable than Urban Decay’s previous Vice palettes, this mesmerising, jewel-inlaid case holds 20 All new shades, a huge mirror, and a double-ended shadow and crease brush. The perfect finishing touch to this palette, a gorgeous matching bag. 

With so many different finishes—matte, satin, sparkle and even metallic, this palette is made for experimentation. The shades are arranged in columns: neutrals on the left, jewel tones in the middle and smoky shades on the right. Pair up the vertically colour-coordinated quads or go wild and mix them up. Urban Decay’s Pigment Infusion System™ gives each shade its velvety texture, rich colour, serious staying power and blend ability. 

With Vice3, UD pulled out all the stops. The extra slim case features hypnotic new artwork in an abstract stripe design, topped off with a bright, neon-green jeweled “Vice” icon to match the highly metallized green base. Use the coordinating bag to keep your Vice3 palette protected, or as a place to store your UD brushes and other essentials. 

Vice3 contains 20 shades of Eyeshadow: 

So below i have done swatches of each row to show the graduation of the colour.

Row 1 (from top to bottom on picture)
Revolver (soft black satin w/subtle floating iridescent pearl)
Defy (smoky taupe satin)
Angel (light taupe w/silver micro-glitter)
Last Sin (shimmer w/silver micro-glitter)
Beautiful row of neutral shades.

Jewel tones and Pink shades 


Jewel tones (from top to bottom)
Bobby Dazzle (metallic white w/pale gold micro-glitter)
Reign (rich brown satin)
Lucky (metallic bronze)
Vanity (smoky metallic eggplant w/multidimensional micro-glitter)

I love metallic colours to give my looks a pop of colour. So i can see myself using this  row alot. 
Pink shades (from top to bottom)
Sonic (metallic red-copper) 
Bondage (deep, smoky burgundy shimmer)
Alchemy (deep fuchsia satin)

Alien (pink-peach w/golden shift)

Nude shades and Jewel shades row 2 

Nude shades (from top to bottom) 
DTF (taupe matte w/subtle floating pearl)
Downfall (warm light brown matte)
Undone (pink-beige matte-satin w/subtle floating tonal pearl)
Truth (pale pink-nude matte)

Jewel shades row 2 (from top to bottom) 
Brokedown (metallic golden brown shimmer w/gold micro-glitter)

Heroine (deep navy blue w/subtle floating tonal pearl)
Freeze (metallic medium blue w/multidimensional micro-glitter)

Dragon (bright metallic green shimmer)

My Look using Vice 3

My look above is using a mix of Sonic, last sin, Alchemy and a small amount of  bondage. All blemded together and graduated to have last sin on the inner "V", then take sonic and alchemy lightly working them onto the lid. I only use pinks on the lid, as to graduate it up too the crease can look like a bruise. So to use more sonic for blending and then work the outer "V" with bondage. Defines the look more and keeps the look sharp. 

The Vice 3 shadows are buttery and creamy as all urban decay can be. Lovely array of neutral with colourful shades within this palette. Plenty of options to choose from. I cant wait to try more looks with this palette. 

Wow, never seen these before !

So I have recieved a parcel from a dear friend whom knows I love my makeup and also USA brands. So when I recieved  a box of Christmas presents, I was just amazed at how many USA items there were.  I was so lucky to be blessed with a dear friend, who treated me beyond words can describe. So I wanted to show you them all, as I've never seen these items before and was really amazed. 

Okay so firstly I know the brand Revlon and colourstay products, however I've never seen these lip colour collection kits.  It comes with 6 shades and they are so smooth and glided on when I was doing swatches. They are highly pigmented and some shades I have never seen, like "Ice" is amazing. 

"Ice" and "Mauve" are two shades I will be using for spring, as they are so stunning.  As you can see in the swatches (left side T-B, Burgendy, brick and red - Right side T-B, Mauve , Ice and Sienna ) the colour payoff is amazing. They are so creamy that I just love them and the stylish black with gold indent tube they come in. They are slimlined lipsticks. 

So the next items I recieved were Urban decay : Gem rocks. Now I've seen these and was going to purchase them to do some more spring ethereal looks etc. So these may not be unknown to me but they were just so appriciated. I can't wait to use them. 

Now Hard candy is a brand I've been dying to try and also get my hands on Tiki. I love there packaging and I didn't realise till a short while ago that I had a baked eyeshadow of there's. So then when I saw these in the package, I was over joyed. I love green eyeshadow and purples too which is no shock, but these cream stick bases are amazing. I am just dying to use these in a over the top look and I'm having the brain tic-tock overload with ideas. I mean the pigment for starters is a fantastic base to make my greens and purples pop.

Do you have any products that are from the USA or un-usual gifts ? Il be using these items in coming months and hope to show you. 

Urban Decay - Naked 3 Palette review

So there was hushed whispers just before Christmas, about the new Urban Decay : Naked 3 palette. A palette of pinky, rosey gold tone shades. They are the usual Urban Decay quality, creamy and buttery plus ease to blend.  It also comes with sample "sachets not tubes like usual" of all 4 shades of Primer potion.

They say ; 

Experiment with 12 never seen before (and insanely beautiful) rose-hued neutrals—from pale, shimmery pink to deep black matte with rosy red micro-glitter.

Shades ;

Strange - Matte cream 

Dust - Pink sparkle 

Burnout - Light rose golden 

Limit - Matte light Pink/brown

Buzz - Rich bronzey pink

Trick - Bronze with pink sparkle

Nooner - Darker Matte mauve

Liar - Dark bronze 

Factory - Bronze/taupe shimmer

Mugshot - Light golden/bronze with slight taupe shimmer

Darkside - Grey with mauve mix shimmer 

Blackheart - Black with red/pink shimmers 

Now this is my run-down of the shades as I saw them whilst swatching. 

So firstly Strange is a matte shade of cream which is a perfect brow highlight or inner base for a highlight shade. I use this also if I need a light colour to defuse some darker shades. 

Then with Dust which is a pink shimmer shade. It really speaks its namesake as it's literal dust. You will need a cream or sticky base to get any colour payoff or show on this shade. It's one of the most disappointing shades in the palette. 

So Burnout is where things start to pick up with a going back to Urban decays great eyeshadows. Good pigment and ease to work with.  Nice light rosey golden shade that builds well and perfect inner highlight colour. 

So the next matte shade is Limit which is a light almost mauve colour that's perfect  to transition. Having a palette with bronzes, golds and browns mix in with pinks, Limit is a perfect shade which takes tones from the shades to make them merge. I love this shade as if you want a matte day look with not heavy shimmer, then this with just some liner can look fantastic. Or even take some Nooner to the outer V to add some dimension for a variety to day matte looks. Beautiful texture like silk and blends fabulously. Glad to see some workable mattes within the palette. 

So then we come too Buzz and Trick which are two of my favourite shades within the palette. Now they are similiar but Buzz is more the brown side and Trick is more golden. They both have tints of rose under them and also very creamy to work with. They apply to the lid beautifully with very little product and effort needed. I love to pack these colours onto the lid, as the feature to make my eyes pop. Blend perfect and excellent colour pigment.

So Nooner is a darker version of limit, matte transition colour to darken the crease. Fantastic creamy and workable shade. Favourite for day time looks and just adding depth, without shimmer. 

Liar is another favourite and I know they are all shimmers, the colours are what I've been craving. They make any eye colour pop and just are amazing to work with. Liar is going into the darker rose golds with more bronze tones to add. It's a stunning colour to use as a sweep of colour, across the lid with cat flick eyeliner. Creamy and high pigmentation.

Factory is more on the Bronze with taupe infused shade and shimmer. Again a high pigment, creamy shade that is workable. Blends well and also gives you an alternative to black to do a smokey eye. I love the last shades in the Naked 3 palette, as they are much more versitable in my opinion. 

Jealous on the inner corner, Trick on the lid then Darkside on the outer V. 

The next shade is Mugshot which is very taupe on first glance. However with all the shadows, you get with different lights the changing shimmers. It's why this palette is so versatile as you can mix them with shades, featuring tones of taupe/rose/golds and bronzes.  This definatly has a golden/bronze undertone which is highly pigmented and creamy. 

Darkside is a beautiful Grey/Taupe shade and also fantastic shade to do a quick smokey eye. Just taking you inner lid with a colour of choice, then add this too the outer V and blend out add a touch of liner. Amazing colour which has no bounds. Easy to blend and high pigmentation. 

Blackheart is a black shade with red/pink shimmers through it. It's beautiful and the shimmers are very beautiful. I just wish that the red was somehow also threaded in the black shadow, to make that shimmer pop more. It's very unusual but a perfect colour for valentines, so with a red base this could make the shade pop.  I'm going to try this myself for valentines day.

So overall I really am enjoying the Naked 3 palette. I have taken a while to write this review, as I did want to check the colours fully and use them over Christmas. I managed to use them and found that I was mostly disappointed with, Dust and also Blackheart in a way. I think Blackheart would be amazing if they had made the reds more prominent within the shimmer. It's so unique and I just wish it was a bit more punchy. Other then that it's an amazing palette with workable and creamy shadows. Rose golds are what everyone has been screaming for and Urban decay delivered. 

British beauty blogger - Beauty box 2

British Beauty Blogger Blog

We have the second beauty box brought to use from British beauty blogger. The first box was amazing and I was over the moon with the quality offered. The second promises to be just as exceptional. So shall we run down the contents to this amazing offering ? 

Contents are as follows : 

Alterna - Bamboo volume spray

Bourjois - Eyeliner (2 in 1) 

CND vinylux - Top coat/ nail polish

Indeed labs - Hydraluron

Loccitane - Angelica cleansing gel

Loccitane - Angelica face toner

Loccitane - Cherry blossom hand cream

La Roche posey - Redermic R anti wrinkle

Mandara spa - Bath milk 

Maybelline - Rocket mascara 

Rituals - Car fragrance 

REN -Glycolactic radiance renewal mask and invisible pores mask

Rouge bunny rouge - lip gloss 

Urban decay - Moondust in Zodiac

Roger & Gallet - D'orange Huile sublime

Vichy - Smoothing and illuminating cream

Washi - Hot cloth 

An amazing 17 products of which most were full size, the ones that aren't are most defiantly duluxe samples. There was an adorable Union Jack stocking included for the impending holiday season. Priced at £27 including postage, I would say this was an absolute steal of a box. I'm so impressed and happy I purchased this second edition, that I'm already excited to see the next. 

The products I'm most excited to use are without doubt the Urban decay Moondust in zodiac. It's absolutely stunning on the swatch I did, with its mixes of greens and shimmers giving it a amazing unique colour. Very apt choice with Christmas approaching and shimmer being a must when in celebration mode. 

Urban Decay - Zodiac

So I can't explain how much I love this edition and whilst it was a little more expensive, it was worth the additional amount. The value far out weighted what I paid plus had products I'd been pining for as a blogger over the year. I finally have them and can use decent samples sizes. I will be looking out for the next edition with trepidation and excitement. 

Urban Decay - Naked Skin Ultra definition Pressed finishing Powder

Well wow we all knew the Urban decay Naked range, but never did I see this little beauty popping up in my wildest dreams. I'm so glad I did purchase this. 

They say

It’s the next evolution in Naked Skin. Designed to be virtually invisible once applied, our high-tech, jet-milled powder has an insanely silky texture that feels amazing on your skin. Optical blurring pigments instantly minimize imperfections, diminish shine and create a stunning soft-focus effect that looks professionally retouched.  Unlike powders that leave skin looking chalky or cakey, Naked Skin Finishing Powder gives you a radiant complexion and NATURAL-looking Naked coverage. (And just wait until you see how it enhances the already-luminous finish of Naked Skin Beauty Balm and Naked Skin Liquid Makeup.) 

Our gorgeous gunmetal and champagne custom compact is so luxe, it even has a Naked-embossed push button. The top compartment includes a full-size mirror—perfect for on-the-go touchups—and a separate compartment underneath holds the applicator sponge. When you’re done applying, just slip the case into the pretty carrying pouch to keep it protected in your bag. 

In light of the Naked skin and Beauty balm it only made sense that a powder followed. This is packaged beautifully firstly, inside you expect just a compact but no not Urban decay. They don't do "just" makeup they make it so your purchase is one of consistent awe. The bag it comes within is just something we come to expect of high end powders. Then I think why ? Maybe other companies should take note and yes a fancy fabric maybe just that but it separates it from its rivals. Now I know that the product is just as important however the thought to see the consumer is not disappointed you can see in this product, from start to finish. 

So there is a fair selection but I did see that swatches showed it does come up lighter so I did go for the medium light instead of light. As I didn't want it to make me look ghostly. 

Again its buttery to the touch and a lovely fine milled powder that applies lovely and I really like the poof for touch ups. So I've left it included in the compact, I don't feel like this would shatter easy in my bag and even thought the purple bag is lovely. If that was to happen my bag wouldn't be ruined as it would be contained in this bag. So its so unique in its concept that I really do prefer this to my Mac sheer pressed powder, I feel its a better powder for my skin in texture and just look wise. I don't find the colour match too easy is my only critasism as I feel if they have a naked skin foundation surely the colour matching should be to the foundation produced. It just makes sense in my book, but it probably will come in when more shades are released. 

I find my MAC is good but needs more touching up and can go cakey if I overuse, so while the naked can come across being more yellow then the MAC NC25, I don't know I just feel I haven't needed to touch up at all and it also with the naked had the buttery nature to offer another layer of coverage. If you don't want a heavy cream foundation then you can go for a light-Medium coverage and use this to add additional coverage.

Overall I can't say which I prefer as I love my MAC powder for reasons (doesn't break me out, less yellow and easier to shade match)  and I love the naked by Urban decay for other reasons. (Buttery, extra coverage, compact and easy to use, more sturdy packaging) Being of the same price range the only way I can say which il prefer is now, value for money to which I hit pan on and which one makes my skin not dry out as much. I will probably move from the MAC NC25 to the Prep and prime blot powder when I do hit pan as I have the NARS which I love but it's not a blot powder so I will probably invest in that. I hoard compacts as I love them lol it's my thing ... I'm bad I know.... 

Urban Decay - Vice 2 (Winter 2013 collection)

Urban decay - Vice 2 Palette

So the most awaited palette has arrived, for the winter season Urban decay have graced us with Vice 2. 20 new shades of beauty with a double ended brush included, there is also more additions to the collection and I'm hoping to grab the Anarchy face case to review.

They say 

Experiment with insanely cool brights, not-your-average neutrals, and sexy hits of smoke, all in our decadent, revamped formula. In case you weren't around for the frenzy of the original Vice Palette, here's the deal: yes, Vice 2 is limited edition and it WILL sell out. (With 20 EXCLUSIVE shades you won't find anywhere else, what would you expect!?) Every shade features our Pigment Infusion System™, the proprietary blend of ingredients that gives the formula its velvety texture, rich color, serious staying power and blendability. Even the case is luxe. It's drenched in a pretty-but-edgy, abstract orchid design that's applied with a special process-so no two palettes are exactly alike - and topped off with a gunmetal jeweled UD icon. With the touch of a button, the case opens slowly, seductively, to unveil all those gorgeous shadows, along with an oversized mirror and a double-ended, cruelty-free shadow/crease brush.

So as you can see the outer casing is just so impressive, I'm loving the marbled effect of the butterflies and the urban decay mix they do with there palettes. Its had so much thought put into it and when i opened it, magical. Seriously magically i took a deep inhale as i marvelled at the magic. Its embellished in crystal Urban decay initials, even has a protective foam around it. Then the biggest change is the button to open this palette, you know the cars that have the button and the boot opens slowly.... this is the Urban decay new High-end top spec palette with the works. 

So now we come to colours and lets saviour this together my fellow Urban decay lovers as its like fine wine it needs inhaling and just a pure appreciation of all the shades in depth and also which are the standouts of the palette. Sorry Matte lovers this has 2 only so if your hoping for a equal distribution then unfortunately this will not be your cup of tea. 

Ok so we have : Smokeout, Lovesick, Shellshock, Coax and X-rated 

Now the colours that make this row are Shellshock for sure is a lush buttery silver not to unlike the silver in Glinda palette. So glad to have another of this colour. Then coax and X-rated are two shades of purple mauve with Coax having a shimmer jewel tone to it and X-rates being the lighter shade. Now the first two colours Smokeout is almost black with a brownish tinge to it and Lovesick is a black with silver sparkle inside. Both don't have the greatest payoff but I did have a better effect with them wet so il show that in my Halloween looks.

So the second row : starts with the blue of Prank, Madness, Strike, Stash and poison.

This row consists of amazing jewel colours in the rich blues of Prank and Madness then transitions into the most amazing gold of Strike. Stash has a gold to green tone with it and just looks amazing then poison is a dark purple almost dark brown shade.

Third row : Radar, Damaged, Voodoo, Betrayal and Derailed.

So the third row starts with the amazing bronze of Radar which just is stunning mixed with the reddish browns in the palette. Then my personal favourite Damaged is just stunning as I love greens and this just screams amazing to me and what I was drawn too the most. 

Then the two standout purples Voodoo and Betrayal are just stunning urban decay at its best, Voodoo is shimmer shimmer and purple again working better being packed on with a mixing medium. Again il show this again in a look. However betrayal is just wow a lush amethyst colour that's just unique. Again the last colour Derailed is a darker brownish with green that almost looks like a taupish colour. 

So lastly the last row : Dope, Toxic, Habit,  Ambush and Rewind. 

So dope is a lovely off pink shimmer inner highlight tear duct colour and I would probably use habit too light under my brow. Toxic is the most amazing peachy light brown colour that's amazing with the deep red tone of Ambush. Perfect colours for the season ahead, I cannot wait to use these. Rewind is a matte taupe colour and great base for these bright looks.

So this palette is an amazing addition to the Urban decay family. It is a perfect mix of golds, reds and bronzes for the autumn season and then pop colour for the party's ahead with the Christmas festivities. So below is my first Halloween look with this palette and well you can see how amazing the colour payoff is and blend ability.

Did you buy the Vice 2 ? What colours do you love ?