Smashbox Heatwave Palette

Heatwave Palette

Smashbox

£36 (Boots)

I bought this beautiful palette back in August with some birthday money and it has definitely become my go to palette

I've just checked the Boots website and this is still available but I'm not sure for how long as it isn't available on the Smashbox website

For the past 3 months I've reached for this nearly everyday

All the colours are so easy to work with and last amazingly well

There are ten shades included as well as an impressive double ended brush and I aslo got a deluxe sample of the photoready primer

It only works out at £3.60 for each eyeshadow...what a bargain!

They aren't small pans either, each one is easily the same size as a £2 coin

There are two matte shades with the other eight being lovely shimmers

In my opinion there are no dud shades in this palette

They are all super wearable and compliment each other beautifully

I use this both on days I do a quick look with just the peachy gold blended over MAC's paint pot in Rubenesque and also the days I can take a bit more time and use the champagney highlight in the inner corners and then choose a couple of other colours to build a gorgeous eye look

Again this can be used for both day and night and I've been reaching for this on both occasions

Perfect for a holiday where you'll find yourself with different makeup needs on a regular basis

My one little niggle would have to be the lack of shade names..I like palettes to have some kind of names for each individual colour but I can live with it in this case

Especially when the packaging is so nice, simple but nice, and the insides even nicer! 

After trying this palette out I would definitely like to try a few other bits from Smashbox 

The primer seems good so far so maybe a full size is in my future!

Have you tried anything from Smashbox?

Love

Belle

xoxo

Sleek Blush by 3 'Sweet Cheeks'

Sleek Blush by 3

Blusher Palette

Sweet Cheeks

£10.00

I'm not 100% sure if this is limited edition or now a permanent fixture to the Sleek line up but I do know I like it...

The Sleek blusher palettes are perfect if you're looking to add some new blusher shades to your collection but don't want to shell out too much hard earned cash

£10 for three full sized blusher pans is bloody good value, coming in it at £3.33 a blusher

They are extremely good quality for the price point and I highly recommend giving them a go 

In this palette you get a cream blusher in Cupcake, a matte blush in Dollymix and a shimmer finish blusher in Candyfloss

This is the first time I've ever tried a Sleek cream blusher and have to say I'm very much impressed, extremely pigmented, easy to blend, lasts well on the skin

everything you would want from a cream blusher in my eyes

The other two blushers are both powder, one a matte finish and one a shimmer

The shimmer shade, Candyfloss, is a bright pink leaning to more coral tones

As these are so pigmented a light hand is definitely needed when applying these blushers so as not to look like a clown! But that does also mean the product will last forever

The matte shade, Dollymix, is much more lilac and something I've never tried

This translates quite subtley to the skin, being matte it doesn't highlight any large pores unlike shimmer shades and is therefore very flattering on

I would imagine this palette would be good for all skin tones as the colours would look amazing on both fair and dark colourings

Have you tried any of the Sleek blusher offerings before?

Love

Belle

xoxo

MUA Undress Me Too Palette



MUA Eyeshadow Palette
£4.00
Superdrug

As you've probably guessed from previous posts I'm a neutral eyeshadow fiend!
I wear eyeshadow everyday and like to have options, either that or I'm a shopaholic
The MUA Undress Me Too palette is their answer to the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette only much more affordable
I have the Urban Decay palette and can say that all the shades in the MUA one are exact dupes for each UD shadow
For a £4 palette the quality of the shadows are amazing
Soft, buttery and blendable
Minimal fall out but there is some, like the UD shadows
The matte shades are the weakest in the palette but I think that's a formulation issue as MUA seem to have shimmer shadows down to an art, they just need to work on the matte ones a little more
I find these palettes perfect to chuck in my traveling make up bag as I don't feel too worried if they get broken as it's so cheap to replace whereas with the UD palettes I'd be pretty annoyed at having to shell out another £30+
The stand out shades for me are Wink, Tranquil and Exposed...there's something about them I really like and find them flattering on my skin tone
I would definitely recommend picking this up if you see it in your local superdrug

Love
Belle
xoxo

Diego Dalla Palma 'Snow White' Palette

Diego Dalla Palma

Snow White & The Huntsman Eyeshadow Palette

£9.99

Fragrance Direct

I LOVE anything to do with fairytales, it's always been an interest of mine and I even based my university final project around them

Al though I do draw the line with wearing princess themed clothes, I'm 22 a little old for that now lol! However I do like disney couture jewellery 

When I saw this gracing many beauty blogs a long time I go I was drawn in by the fact it was based around the new Snow White film (which was awesome) but not that it was £25 for a palette only housing 6 eyeshadows, I thought it was a bit much for what it was.

But on a recent browse over on Fragrance Direct I noticed that it was reduced to only £10, I couldn't resist!

As the palette comes under the Urban Decay heading on the website I'm guessing Diego Dalla Palma might be a sister company to UD? Maybe anyway... 

But that would explain the quality of the shadows, their smooth and extremely pigmented with little fallout.

There are three matte shades and three shimmer shades

And for a change I quite like the matte shades!

Probably because they're neutrals... 

As you can see from the above swatches all the colours are decently pigmented but as usual with eyeshadows the shimmers are the most pigmented and striking

Even the matte shades are pretty decent, I really like the brown Battleground

I love the way the shades are all named after something to do with the film

In the palette there is also a red lipstick and black eyeliner so you can achieve the perfect look 

I'm quite tempted to depot these shadows though as the packaging is so bulky and I'm trying to minimise my makeup as much as possible. 

I can't quite bring myself to rip apart my UD Alice in Wonderland palette though..

Love

Belle

xoxo

No7 Eyeshadow Palette

No7 Eyeshadow palette

Boots

I received this for Christmas from my fiance's parents and was pleasantly surprised

I'm quite difficult to buy make up for, I either have my wish list which my family stick to or I buy it myself

This wasn't on any of my wish lists but I really like it

I can't find it on the website anymore but I'd reckon it was around the £15/£18 mark

The eyeshadows are housed in a super cute patent black quilted clutch style housing

If I could find a clutch bag like this I'd be one happy bunny!

So chic and simple..I seem to be really liking simple, investment pieces at the moment

Annoyingly the eyeshadows have no names

I hate it when companies don't name their products (MUA I'm looking at you!) 

I like it when brands layout their palettes in this way

With the colours which go well together lined up together

Makes it easy to put together a nice look without too much effort in the mornings, or should I say too much thinking!

The first three in the swatches are quite subtle and pale, perfect for an everyday neutral but glowing look. I can see these looking great with a tan in the summer, dreaming of the sun already

Out of the middle three swatches the second shade in is quite possibly my favourite

I love brown eyeshadows, they complement my blue eyes, and this one has a hint of sparkle...I like sparkles I do. I think I'll name this one chocolate glimmer (!) Think I'll stick to the day job.

The final three shades are the perfect smokey eye look

The next time I have a night out I'll be trying these out properly

With a decent primer these have a good wear time and don't crease which is good considering they were only around £3 for each shadow

I quite like the No7 range, I know it's aimed at the slightly older woman it has some gems in the collection.

Are there any No7 products you really like?

Love

Belle

xoxo

Too Faced 'Shadow Bon Bons' Eyeshadow Palette

Too Faced 'Shadow Bon Bons' Eyeshadow Palette

£33.00

Boots

Once again I've been suckered into purchasing another eyeshadow palette

They should have addict groups for makeup obsessives!

But this little pretty was too gorgeous to resist.

It's my first time trying out Too Faced Eyeshadows, I've heard such great things about them I wanted to see for myself

I found this little beauty in my local Boots just before Christmas and knew I had to have it

To be honest £33 for 12 Eyeshadows, Eye Primer and a Mascara is pretty good value in my books

My Mum must have got the hint from my incessant twittering about it and it was waiting under the Christmas tree for me

The eyeshadows are lovely and soft, not quite as smooth as the Urban Decay shadows but they're lovely to work with and have minimal fall out.

The way the palette is laid out is meant to indicate what four colours work well together 

I've been wearing the neutral colours for work but dabbling in the purples for a bit of fun

I'm determined to be more adventurous in my makeup this year

I love the name of all the colours too, very romantic and reminded me of weddings

One thing I don't particularly like is the packaging

It's a pale lilac, velvet box which will attract so much dirt but I'm keeping it in a drawer away from too much crap.. 

Only time will tell if the velvet starts to fall off and the packaging looks tatty, if it does then I'll de-pot and have a streamlined palette

Love

Belle

xoxo

Too Faced Complexion Perfection Kit

Too Faced Leopard Love

Complexion Perfection Kit

£12.50

Boots

I remember seeing this around before but never purchased as I don't really like buying make up online without having a play to see the quality of the brand

Too Faced has only just come into my local Boots, al though I think it was only for Christmas, and I got to have a closer look at their products and the quality of them

I saw this on the Boots website in the online offers section and it was only £12.50 (I think, it's not on there anymore) and I had to snap it up!

That only works our to around £4 for each product, pretty good for Too Faced really.

I love anything cute, pretty and girly and the packaging of this is just that.

All pastel colours and girly touches 

I was also drawn in by the fact that each product was a mixture of a few colours in a leopard print pattern

In the kit you get a bronzer, blusher and a highlight, so everything you need for a glowing look in one place

Perfect for travelling with

The swatches show that the colours are gorgeous

The bronzer is the only product not to have a huge amount of shimmer running through it which is ideal as you don't want to be spreading glitter all round your face...not a good look

I have to say though I'd say to use the bronzer with a light hand as it's easy to over do and look a bit on the orange side.

The blusher is a lovely, subtle pink colour which isn't too frosty and baby pink but is different from my usual coral colour 

I like how the highlighter isn't your usual icy champagne kind of colour

It's more warm and could even be used as a shimmery bronzer if you so desire, I think it would make a lovely eyeshadow colour

I'd definitely recommend picking this up if you can find it at half price

Love

Belle

xoxo

Sleek i-Divine Palette in 'Sparkle 2'

i-divine Eyeshadow Palette

Sparkle 2

£7.99

Sleek

Sleek are always bringing out new eyeshadow palettes with gorgeous colours in

The formulation is spot on and the colours on trend

The price is pretty good too considering you get twelve eyeshadows 

Al though they used to be a little cheaper, it nearly feels like each new release is marked up a little higher

I doubt I'd pay over a tenner only as I remember when the palettes only cost £6

This newest addition has an array of sparkly, shimmery shadows

I picked it up just before Christmas so it was the perfect festive offering when a glitter overdose is encouraged

Being that all the shadows are glitter and shimmers there is a definite lack of matte shades but for me that's absolutely fine as I don't really use matte eyeshadows much

The glitter is quite prominent in the pan but once blended slightly into the lid it's much more subtle and wearable

Of course if you pack it on the glitter packs a punch

I like the fact that there are still some neutral colours included (being favourites)

But they have a lovely shimmer, almost duo chrome effect in some cases, and are great everyday shades.

Chocolate Penny is a lovely warm gold and looks lovely paired with Truffle

I've also been loving Illusion and Mulled Wine as something a bit different to my normal look and have been incorporating them into my work eye look

The shadows in the bottom row are a bit cooler in tone 

Especially Tinsel being a cold silver, this looks great as a liner

Starry Night is great for a smokey eye with a hint of glitter

A matte black is included in every Sleek palette and this one with a hint of sparkle gorgeous

As with all Sleek palettes the shadows are all pigmented well and are super smooth

For some reason I like that the eyeshadows don't have the usual criss cross imprint on them, I like the way they're smooth.

Would you wear a glittery eye for everyday?

Love

Belle

xoxo

Pixi Early Bird Kit

Early Bird Kit

£16.00

Pixi

My first Pixi purchase

Super cute packaging

I love how cosmetic companies are putting so much effort into the packaging of their products

The colours and bird print on this palette is gorgeous

I'm a sucker for anything with a bird or floral print

The gorgeous packaging houses a palette of equally gorgeous products

Three Blushers

Two Bronzers

One Highlighter

4 Eyeshadow Bases

16 Eyeshadows

All of this for only £16, quite the bargain

I'd seen this kit in the Boots Christmas book and was interested in tracking it down

My local Boots doesn't stock the good stuff and it was never stocked online

Yesterday I went up to London to shop and visit Winter Wonderland so I decided to go to the Pixi store on Carnaby Street 

I also picked up two of the Pop Nail Polishes which I'd been looking at for a while 

The above swatches are of the blushers, bronzers and highlighter

The three blushers are lovely colours, not hughely pigmented but easily buildable

Sometimes its nice to not have a super pigmented blusher as it's easy to over do it

The same with the bronzers, I'm guilty of over doing it with bronzers easily and have been caught looking like an oompa loompa before...

There's a great range of eyeshadow colours and they all have a decent colour pay off too

The top row are lighter highlight colours and the bottom row are lovely colours

There really is everything you need in one palette and would be perfect for travelling with

Have you tried anything from Pixi before?

Love

Belle

xoxo

Benefit Peek a Bright Eyeshadow Set

Peek A Bright Eyes 

Eyeshadow Set

Benefit

£24.50 

Another gorgeous product from Benefit

They don't seem to be able to put a foot out of line in my books

The packaging is always stunning and the product inside is always top quality

I've never really dabbled in Benefit's eyeshadows but the MUA used this on me a little while ago and I loved it.

She was saying how the brown shade comes out slightly different on every person

The kit contains one nude base eyeshadow, one brown contour shade, a shimmery pink highlight shade, creamy eyebright, and two brushes.

I think the set would be perfect to travel with as it has everything you need in, as far as kit brushes go the ones included are also pretty good, I'd rather use my own of course but when caught out and about they would do fine.

Benefit describe this as an eye illuminating kit and I definitely agree

The shimmer highlight shade is gorgeous and definitely illuminates, I've been loving wearing these shadows to work everyday.

The perfect balance of neutral and smokey.

As with most Benefit products there are instructions included to create a make up look

This time the perfect neutral smokey

If you were giving this as a gift and the receiver wasn't that confident with eye shadow looks then these diagrams are easy to follow and will help them achieve what look they like

My Mum always comments on my eyeshadow, this kit would be great to get her into make up a little more

As you can see from the swatches above the shadows are pigmented well and have just the right amount of shimmer in them without being too much like a glitter ball.

The brown is a gorgeous mid to dark colour and is perfect for use in the crease.

My favourite colour has to be the pinky highlight

It's gorgeous and looks stunning and eye opening...love it!

Have you tried this set from Benefit?

Love

Belle

xoxo

MUA Undressed Palette

Undress Palette MUA
£4.00 from Superdrug
MUA is a fantastic British drugstore brand with all the products amazingly cheap but still great products
Being an eyeshadow fiend, especially nude colours, I was drawn to this palette instantly when seeing it all over beauty blogs but everytime I was in a Superdrug they always had no stock available. 
All the colours in the palette are dupes for the shadows in the Urban Decay Naked palette

Top Row swatches
The shimmer finish shadows are really well pigmented whereas the matte colours are a bit on the subtle side, luckily only two out of the twelve shadows are matte
The pigmentation is great considering the palette only costs £4

Bottom Row Swatches
I kind of wish I'd waited for the inevitable dupe palettes to come out before buying the Urban Decay Naked palettes but then again it's nice to indulge in a bit of premium beauty sometimes...
I can definitely see this little wonder coming with me to New York next year, perfect shades for both daytime wear and evening 

Oh and if you have any recommendations for must sees in New York let me know!

Love
Belle
xoxo

Sleek Blush by 3 in 'Pumpkin'

Blush by 3 Blusher Palette

in 'Pumpkin'

Sleek ~ £10.00

(L-R) P Pie, Squash, Lantern

The colours and names of the three blushers seem so apt for this time of year

I love autumn and all the colours and textures associated with it

In all honesty I meant to pick up the 'Lace' version of this compact and may have to return and purchase it

Three blushers for £10.00 is a bargain in my eyes, around £3.33 for each shade and they are all full sized

Same order as in pan

As with all Sleek products all three blushers are highly pigmented and you don't need much to achieve a good colour

I'm very heavy handed when it comes to applying blusher so use a very very light hand when applying these

I've never used an orange blusher and have to say find it quite intimidating in the pan

'P Pie' is my favourite of the three colours, it's coral in tone and I love corals

My blusher collection is brimming with corals but I stand by the fact they are all slightly different :P

Love

Belle

xoxo