Nars Sheer Glow VS Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

Hello, My Gorgeous Beauty Bees, I hope you all had a great week :) I've sadly had a challenging one as Mr Flu has come to visit me with a vengeance! ☹

Word of advice...remember to wrap up warm and don't do what I did and pop to the shops with just a hoodie on during hailing winds.

So, I didn't include a favourite foundation in my Top 10 Holy Grail Beauty Items post as it was a year of trying out different ones, however, I thought it would be a good idea to review two higher end foundations that are loved by many, The NARS Sheer Glow & the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. As their names do suggest, both foundations are geared towards making your skin look glowy and luminous, which is something that I’m always aiming for due to my dry skin type. I'm going to share my honest thoughts on if I think they are worth the hype, some more affordable dupes I've discovered and which one I would repurchase again.

Let's start with the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk. I picked this up as I heard it's a favourite of the Kardashians and let's be honest, who doesn't want Kardashian looking skin? When the store assistant first tried it on my face, I was astonished on how healthy and flawless it made my skin appear! I was also impressed by the varied colour selection that caters to most skin tones. I went for the shade 3.5 and it was the perfect match for me!

The consistency of this foundation feels extremely lightweight and silky, gliding effortlessly onto my dry skin. As it has a lightweight formula, I hardly notice that I have foundation on which is perfect for everyday use. However, I have to say that I'm not blown away by the coverage as I have hyperpigmentation and prefer a bit more of a fuller coverage. I would definitely say that this is a light-medium coverage and I have to use a good two pumps along with a dense makeup brush to get a medium finish, which I don't mind so much for everyday use.

Although I'm not in love with the coverage of this foundation I do like the finish it provides as it gives me that gorgeous, almost airbrushed luminosity that the Kardashians rock so well. A few other things I enjoy about this foundation is that it doesn't separate or become patchy throughout the day so it's failsafe if you’re going to an event such as a wedding, plus it photographs beautifully too. It also has great lasting power, lasting up to 6 hours on me, although I do recommend you use a mattifying primer if you tend to get oily throughout the day. I personally like to pair this with Benefit The Porefessional Primer as I find they work well together.

You may be thrilled to know that I have found a pretty good dupe for this foundation, which is only a quarter of the price! Any guesses for what this could be? I believe Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation is a darn good dupe, so much so that I tested this out by applying both of them to each half of my face. I kid you not, that they looked identical to each other from the coverage to the luminous finish and even the colour match! (I got it in number 3). Of course, the Luminous Silk is longer lasting but would I rush out to repurchase it again? …Probably not, as I can't say I'm obsessed with it and I've found myself a cheaper dupe :)

Kardashians Favourite?

So you may have guessed that the one that I am obsessed with and will be repurchasing is the infamous Nars Sheer Glow Foundation. Honestly, I feel it should come in a gold bottle, as that's how amazing this foundation is! After seeing many YouTubers, including Tanya Burr who uses it in her makeup tutorials and it looks marvellous on her, I decided to give it a go. I chose to do the lazy thing at first and guess my colour to be 'Deauville'. How horribly wrong I was :( It made me look like I was doing my makeup for Halloween as it was way too light, so I ended up selling it on depop. 

I thought I'd try again as I actually enjoyed the formula so off I went to a NARS counter to get a colour match. Similarly to Luminous Silk, it has a great colour selection, which is always a good thing as I like to recommend products to Instagram followers, friends and family so I appreciate brands that cater to various skin tones. I was matched up to 'Punjab', which this time made me look human and yes, of course, I was also sucked into buying the notorious 'Nars Orgasm Blush (yes, we all cringe at the name). The combinations of these two products are beautiful! (like jam is to a fresh doughnut)…oh, don't I just have a way with words?! 

This foundation does not feel in any way sheer and compared to the Luminous Silk, it is a lot thicker in consistency. I would definitely recommend you buy yourself a separate pump for this foundation, as sadly it does not come with one and you can easily spill a bit too much out. This foundation is medium to full coverage, though as it's super pigmented, two pumps provide me with a full flawless coverage especially when I apply it with the Morphe M439 brush …what a dream team.

My favourite thing about this foundation is the gorgeous and unique finish that it gives. I usually find that thicker, fuller coverage foundations tend to be quite drying however, this foundation dries matte but still makes your skin look luminous and glowy...how amazing is that?! Even when I get it to a full coverage and due to the fact that it still provides radiance, my skin still looks like skin, which is hard to come by with fuller coverage foundations. 

I also feel it lasts all day on me too, which is perfect for taking you from day to night and I don't feel the need to touch up or powder throughout the day either. I haven't found a more affordable dupe for this foundation as it's all kinds of awesome, however, if I had to pick one then I'd say the L’Oreal True Match Foundation is similar in pigment and coverage. They also have a fantastic colour selection catering to most skin types. 

The Morphe M439 is the perfect brush for this foundation 

To summarise my review, I can see why both of these foundations are loved my many beauty gurus for different reasons. The Luminous Silk would be perfect if you don't like the feeling of not wearing foundation and if don't require a full heavy coverage, as the finish is lovely. The NARS Sheer Glow is a good all rounder, as you can build it up to the coverage you desire and I also feel it is suited for both dry and oily skin due to the glowy yet mattifying finish it gives your skin, pretty awesome if you ask me:)

Have you tried these foundations? Which ones do you love?

Lots of love

Elle N xx

MY CURRENT MAKEUP WISHLIST...

                             

       

                             

Hello my fellow beauty bees and a Happy 2017 to you all! I hope you're having a good month so far and are not too snowed under with work, college or uni!

I'm guessing that some of you may have made some New Year resolutions. One of mine is to spend my money wisely, which sadly includes not buying excessive amounts of makeup that I don't need, so I can save my money for the more 'important' things. However, a girl can wish and treat herself every now and then, right? After all, what's more important than a popping highlight? 

I’ve had this wish list for a while now, as I feel these items have subconsciously been stored in my brain due to constant Instagram worship...which is by no means a bad thing and must mean they are worth the hype…at least to some extent. Most of the items I mention are more on the higher end of the scale as I feel they are more of a luxury and less obtainable over affordable makeup. So without further ado let's get stuck in!

• As soon as winter comes around I like to go full coverage with my base and generally go all out with my makeup. Although my skin has been behaving itself lately, a full coverage concealer I've been lusting over since it was released is the Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer. I gave it a swatch while I was out shopping and love how blendable and pigmented it is! Although I'm currently using the NARS Creamy Concealer, which I must say, I am not a huge fan of (sorry to the fans out there) but thankfully it's almost finished so I will be purchasing the Naked Skin Concealer for sure! 

• Sticking with full on makeup, another product I have been rhapsodising over is the Becca Pressed Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal. In fact, the first product I used for highlighting was the BECCA Liquid Shimmering Skin Perfector, which I adored, so I'm surprised that I haven't yet bought any of the pressed versions. Although they have a selection to choose from, I'm set on Opal thanks to a beauty YouTuber that I adore ‘Jamie Genevieve’ who uses it in every makeup tutorial and it looks amazing on her! It gives you that extra shimmering wet skin look that everyone is going crazy for. I seriously recommend you to Google the swatches online or watch one of Jamie's videos as I'm sure it'll be added to your wishlist too!

• Another thing that I'm sure is on every makeup enthusiast wishlist is the ABS Modern Renaissance Palette . It’s constantly saved to my wishlist on Cult Beauty, as it always seems to be out of stock (crying face emoji). As I've mentioned in my ABH Contour Kit review, I’m not a huge fan of the contour kit formula as it doesn't sit right on my dry skin however, I'm hoping that the shadows are more blendable, and as the eyelids contain more oil I'm sure they will be fine. This palette looks like no other one that I own. If autumn could be a palette then it would be this one. It contains such beautifully, unique and rustic shades.

• So, I've mentioned that I didn't get along with the ABH Contour Kit but the one I have always had at the back of my mind ever since contouring became a thing was The Sculpting Powder by Kevyn Aucoin. I admire the fact that it's a single product specifically designed to sculpt the face and give the illusion that you have Kate Moss-like cheekbones thanks to the greyish undertones that it has, without looking chalky or orange on the skin. I have also seen this in action during many online tutorials and yes it does fake rather striking cheekbones.

• Surprisingly, I’ve gone off applying wing liner recently and have just stuck to eyeshadow with lashings of mascara. I've wondered why this could be and figured it's because I have yet to find a staple liquid liner that I love. I tend to stick to drugstore liquid pen liners but I find that they dry out pretty quickly or are not as black as I'd like them to be. I started doing some research on pen liquid liners that are a little more expensive and the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner kept reappearing. I like the concept of it being Tattoo-like, which insinuates that it will be foolproof. You all know that I live for the Kat Von D liquid lipsticks due to the longevity, so I'm hoping that the Tattoo liner will be no exception. 

• Speaking of KVD Liquid Lipsticks, I cannot write a makeup wishlist post without mentioning liquid lipsticks. I was cleaning out my handbag the other day and counted that I had 6 liquid lipsticks in my handbag that were an identical shade! I believe I need liquid lipstick rehab! Anyway, although I adore the KVD ones another release I was excited about was the Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Lipsticks. I haven't yet tried anything from Huda Beauty but was drawn to these lipsticks as I love how simplistic and sophisticated the packaging looks and adore the beautiful, vintage inspired shade range. As I am a 90's child at heart, the shades I have my eye on are Spice Girl, which is a gorgeous retro brown shade and Venus which is very similar but much more of a nude tone, I'm pretty sure they'll be added to the growing collection in my handbag soon. 

I hope you enjoyed finding out what I'm currently lusting over and inevitably will be purchasing in the near future. Once I get my hands on the goodies I will be reviewing all of these products with swatches :)

I'd like to know what you guys have been lusting over and what is on your wishlist? 

5 THINGS I'VE LEARNT IN 2016!

Hello, and welcome to a slightly different post from me. It's 5 pm on New Year's Eve and I've decided to spend my NYE reflecting and documenting 5 things/lessons I've learnt in 2016. Do I desire to join the sounds of laughter that can be heard from the streets? ...No, I've made a conscious decision to dedicate my NYE to this post, while my salmon cooks in the oven and I sip away on my red wine. What better time to reflect than just before a New Year begins, right!?

2016 has definitely been the most fruitful year for self-discovery, self-progression and learning the concept of self-love! I've had amazing moments but, there have also been times where I've seen better days, which have ultimately prompted me to try to make those days few and far between. I'm happy to share with you ways in which I've made ME a better version and how you can too! I hope you gain some inspiration from this post :)

1) Stop procrastinating  

Although I'm a go-getter at the best of times, indecisiveness and procrastination are my biggest downfalls. Being indecisive in simple things such as whether to post that Instagram post or should I book a particular course, is something that would drive me crazy! I made it my mission to overcome procrastination or, at least learn how to control it. 

I quickly realised that it was primarily to do with the fact that I wasn't confident in my decision making, which was fuelled by self-doubt. I identified that the only way to overcome procrastination was to refrain from entertaining the uncertainty that comes along with decision making! Therefore, I started making decisions by disregarding any urge to ponder in self-doubt. As the old saying goes 'procrastination is the thief of time' therefore, you have to battle those demons and retrain your mind to be confident with your decisions! It takes discipline but the more you do it, the easier it becomes! 

2) Find a hobby you love

I feel like shouting this from the rooftops, as I believe it is super important for encouraging self-improvement! I'll use my situation as an example; I had a full-time job which was pretty demanding and my down time would include going out for drinks on the weekends or treating myself to a TV and duvet day, to unwind. There’s nothing wrong with having some downtime except, over time I felt that I was living for the weekend, which developed into feelings of emptiness and lack of self-worth. 

Starting a beauty blog was something I always wanted to do but procrastination and self-doubt were stopping me. I figured that learning how to manage self-doubt would lead me to work on my self-worth and purpose. I came to a point in my life where I needed a new focus and was ready to put in the work. Not only has my blog diminished the feelings of emptiness that I had, but it has also added value to my life. Your hobbies may include painting, cooking or even bird-watching if it makes you feel good then make more time for it...you never know where it may take you :)

3) Be realistic with your expectations 

This may seem like a simple analogy though the amount of people I hear complaining that they are not losing weight fast enough or they are not as successful as they would like to be is astounding. Shall I tell you why they’re not reaching their intentions?...because they are not setting realistic goals and planning smart. A lot of us expect to reach our goals overnight and get frustrated and give up if we fail.

I'll explain how I like to plan smart to ensure that I'm doing everything I can to reach my full potential. I recently bought myself a notebook, and like the old fashion way, I write down a daily goal that I want to achieve. The goal may include writing a blog post or booking myself in for a body pump class at the gym. If I fail to achieve that goal then I'll go back to my notebook and write down why I failed and methods I can put in place to plan my time smarter to enable me to achieve them. Setting small, obtainable goals has made them more achievable and also, writing them down in a notebook has given me a sense of order. 

You also have to put in the work, don't expect to be successful if you’re not setting goals and pushing yourself to your full potential. Success doesn't happen overnight so patience is another thing you need to keep in mind when setting your goals, especially when setting long-term goals such as weight loss. Remember to plan smart, reevaluate failure, work hard and most importantly, have patience :)

4) Happiness comes from within 

You've probably heard this saying floating around quite a lot and it’s one you may see on many self-improvement or relationship advice forums but as cliché, as it may sound, I believe that it is 100% true. The only person that can make you feel fulfilled is YOU! You should never rely on anyone else to add value to your life or make you feel whole. Therefore, you need to ensure that you feel content and whole by investing in yourself above anything else. 

As I’ve chosen to live on my own, one of the things I've learnt this year is to get to a place where I'm content with my own company. It hasn't been an easy journey and one that I had to do a lot of self-evaluating for, but once you start exploring yourself and making changes, you begin to feel a sense of empowerment and worth. This is why I feel it's imperative to spend more time doing more of what you love and also set small, obtainable goals. Starting my blog has brought happiness and added purpose to my life, as it's something that I LOVE doing. I plan to continue to self-evaluate this year to reach my full potential, and so can you!

Take time to reflect 

5) Exercise more

This seems to be a popular New Year’s resolution that’s made by many, but normally for the wrong reasons. Exercise shouldn't solely be used to improve your physical form but to also improve your mental wellbeing. Studies show that exercise reduces stress and is a form of natural antidepressant, as your body releases endorphins, which provide a positive feeling and help decrease stress.

Recently, I joined a gym as I not only wanted to get physically strong, but I also desired to feel mentally strong too. The feeling I get after I complete a body pump class is one that I constantly want to chase. Yoga and meditation classes are also particularly helpful for fighting stress and anxiety, which Is why I try to attend at least once a week. Where I feel going to the gym and attending classes works for me, you don't particularly need this if it's not your scene. Taking a brisk 30-minute walk is just as good for your wellbeing too! Also remember to take a moment to breathe if you're feeling overwhelmed, as that also does great things for your psyche. 

In fact, you could try it now! …Take 60 seconds to gently breathe in and out, while reflecting on what you've just read. Perhaps, write down three things you’ve taken from this post and how you would like to incorporate it into your life this year! I hope you all had an amazing NYE and are feeling inspired and motivated to reach your full potential in 2017! Remember Shia LaBeouf’s, now infamous, words 'Just do it!'. 

I hope you have enjoyed reading this post, it was definitely worth staying in on NYE for :) I would love to know what lessons you've learnt in 2016 and what are your New Year’s resolutions? 

Lots of Love Elle N xx

TOP 10 HOLY GRAIL BEAUTY ITEMS OF 2016!

Hello my fellow beauty bees, I hope you are all having a great month so far and not panicking over last minute Xmas shopping…I know I am!

So as I’ve previously mentioned, I'm a self-proclaimed creature of comfort so it will come as no surprise to you that I've already written about some of the products I am going to mention. I have a mixture of makeup, beauty and skincare in the mix...Go grab yourself a drink and kick back as it's going to be a chatty one :)

1) Anyone who knows me well knows I’m obsessed with the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish. I have been using this treasure to remove my makeup since 2014! Although I have dabbled in other makeup removers such as in the infamous ‘Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm’ (which was sadly a disappointing product) I always go back to my beloved Liz Earle. I have written a blog post on why it's my Holy Grail Cleanser (click here to read). 

2)Another cleanser that I would take on a desert island with me and have mentioned in the blog post above, is the ‘Ren Evercalm Cleansing Milk’. In conjunction to my Liz Earle, I use this every morning to give my sensitive and reactive skin a gentle cleanse. It leaves my skin feeling smooth, calm and ready to face the day!

3) If you love a good pamper evening like me then you will agree that a good face mask is essential! I have always been a fan of The Bodyshop skincare range and was super excited when they released their 100% vegetarian face masks.They have a marvellous selection to choose from which are catered to all skin types and concerns. I went ahead and picked up the Chinese Ginseng & Rice Mask as I wanted something to brighten and revitalise my dull skin. Let me just tell you that this little mask makes it appear like I've had a natural chemical peel every time I use it! An added bonus is that it also doesn't interrupt my sensitive skin. 

4) Although I love a good soak in the bath during a pamper evening, it does tend to dry out my skin. Another new release I was thrilled to try out was the Garnier Body Ultimate Blends Restoring Lotion. After twenty minutes of ogling over the various scents, I went for the honey treasures as, A) it smelt divine, and B) It is designed for very dry skin which is perfect as I like to feel extra nourished. Unlike other rich moisturisers, this does not make me feel greasy in the slightest, plus sinks into my skin in seconds!

Essential after a long soak 

5) Sticking to smelling delicious, a perfume I've enjoyed dowsing myself in is the Chanel Chance Eau de Parfum. I picked this up at the airport to be my summer/wedding guest fragrance as I knew it was favoured by many beauty gurus and as the scent is fresh and not too overpowering, I thought I'd give it a go. After receiving compliments and loving the way it settled on me, It became my staple everyday perfume. As well as smelling all kinds of gorgeous, it lasts all day too!

6) Let’s switch this up and throw in some makeup bits which I have to say, I found extremely difficult to shave down! The Morphe M439 brush was something I purchased at the beginning of the year and have pretty much used daily to apply my foundation. The quality of this brush is outstanding in comparison to the price! Amazingly, It has kept it's shape after vigorous washing. If you are a working gal like me who likes to whack on quick makeup that still looks flawless then this is your saviour…seriously I urge you to try this and thank me later:) 

Must have makeup brush!

7) Although I have not had a stand out foundation to complement my Morphe m439 brush, I have, however, discovered an amazing setting powder…any guesses on what this could be? Yes, you’ve guessed right...it is the infamous Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder. I inexplicably look forward to using this powder to set my under eye concealer and t-zone area as I could immediately notice how superbly it sets my makeup. It barely feels like you have anything on your skin as it is remarkably velvety in texture while being finely milled. I can imagine this being suitable for any skin type also!

8) To add some dimension and colour back into my face, I religiously reach for my Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess. I also picked this up at the airport as I had some extra Euros left over, and I must say it was the best thing I spent my Euro’s on! (even over the tasty calamari & cosmopolitans:). To sum it up, it's the perfect colour, not too red or brown, blends like a dream and makes you look 100% healthier. I am also a fan of the Estee Edit Bronzer- If your into a bronzer that has a slight shimmer then this is your guy.

Top Two Bronzers of this year!

9) No makeup look can be complete without lashings of mascara. If you have read my previous blog posts then you'll know that I'm a massive fan of the Benefit They’re Real Mascara however, I may have discovered a mascara that is more price friendly and just as good! The Loreal Feline Mascara is one that doesn't get enough credit in the blogosphere. It lifts, curls, lengthens and volumizes the lashes superbly without any clumps or smudges. Do you know how many times I get asked if I’m wearing false lashes when I have this on? I even had someone try and pull on my lashes when I Insisted they were my own..yes it did hurt but I had to prove them wrong:)! 

10) Last but by certainly no means least how can I write a blog post and not include some form of lipstick? I have to say that this year has certainly been the year for matt liquid lipsticks! So many brands including high street, have released some fantastic formulas, though, the one that stood out to me are the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick's . I adore everything about these lipsticks, from the undetectable formula to the unique shade range and most impressively, their impeccable lasting power! 

These are perfect for an evening out or if you're lazy with reapplying lipstick like me. I also love how precise the applicator is, diminishing your chances of making any mistakes. My favourite shades are ‘Bow n Arrow’ and Lolita’ as they are both beautifully unique with a slightly cool 90's retro feel. 

My Two favourite shades 'Bow N Arrow' & 'Lolita'

There are one million other things I can mention from hair tools to eyeshadow palettes, except I will be writing this post for another year. I hope you've enjoyed my top 10 selection and gained some inspiration of what you'd like to add to your collection, perhaps during the January sales?!

I would love to know what have you've been enjoying this year? Please let me know have any hidden gems:)

MAKE IT MORE THOUGHTFUL WITH JOHN LEWIS GIFT IDEAS

One of my favourite things about the festive period is taking the time to select personal, thoughtful gifts for my loved ones. Seeing a smile on their faces is worth the time spent choosing a present that I think they will cherish. So in partnership with the John Lewis 'Make it more thoughtful' campaign I have created some quick gift duos that will make your loved ones feel truly special this Christmas!

John Lewis is a luxury British brand and as such is the perfect place to browse for gifts or even just gain some inspiration, browse in store or online at 
John Lewis.

Baby's First Chrismas

This trio pack of neutral John Lewis Baby Grows is a helpful addition for any new parent as they can never have too many 'grows' (see what I did there?). Why not liven up your gift with John Lewis's beloved 'Otto the Fox' - if you haven't already seen the awesome advert (starring Otto) then Click here.

Friday Night Lights

Make staying in the new going out with an Amazon Fire TV Stick, boasting a wide selection of entertainment. Also, gift a Personalised Beer Trio for them to enjoy as they kick back after a long day.

Fresh New Year

Give your loved one the gift of clear skin this Christmas. A Clarisonic Facial Skin Cleanser paired with the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish kit will whip unruly skin into shape before the New Year! Perfect for any age.

Suited & Booted 

Like every woman needs an LBD, every man needs a classic, black leather shoe (handy for any occasion!). Why not add a shoe shine kit to keep them looking pristine and ready for action. 

Travel in Style

Gift a beautifully crafted, brown holdall for the dapper gent on the go and add a Thermos Leakproof Beaker so he can enjoy a hot drink en route. This duo is perfect for anyone who is partial to a plane, train or long car journey! 

The Magic Bullet

For the stylishly healthy spouse, friend or family member who enjoys experimenting in the kitchen. Pair a NutriBullet with a chic La Rochere Bee Long Drink glass for them to enjoy their delicious creation in. 


I hope this post has given you some inspiration on how choosing gift duos (that compliment each other!) can demonstrate that you have put extra thought into how your gifts will be used by your loved ones in the new year. Also, who wouldn't want to receive two gifts instead of one!?

Merry Chrismas to you all and I wish you a prosperous 2017!
Love Elle N xx

ZOEVA COCOA BLEND PALETTE REVIEW

I've always seen Zoeva as a brand that specialising in makeup brushes rather than makeup, and can write until the cows come home about how much I love their 224 blending brush! However, I kept seeing this eyeshadow palette pop up on my Instagram feed and knew that I had to see what all the hype was about. Whilst browsing their eyeshadow selection, I have to say that I was immediately drawn to the caramel melange palette as I was captivated my the gorgeous caramel shades but sadly it was out of stock so bought the cocoa blend palette which I was initially intending on but as a true beauty enthusiast my eyes wondered.

I've brought up countless times on my Instagram and in previous blog posts that the urban decay naked palette and too faced chocolate bar palette are my top two eyeshadow palettes of all time and ones that I religiously reach for. However, the hysteria around the 'cocoa blend’ was definitely worth listening to as it has joined the list of my top 3 favourites! 

Firstly let me take a minute to talk about the ravines packaging. I know that urban decay did a similar theme with their chocolate bar palette which smells delightful, but there is something about this chocolate inspired brown and gold foiled packaging, that gives it a sophisticated and luxurious feel. This is not just appealing to the eye but taste buds too as you can mistake it for a big chocolate bar (yum!). I also adore how the names of the shadows where inspired by warm truffle colours, delicate nougat shades and notes of shimmering marzipan’. Each shade is gorgeously unique and wearable.

Gorgeous chocolate inspired gold and brown packaging

Although the packaging is good enough to eat, my favourite thing about this palette is the impeccable formula and pigmentation of the shadows. I recently created a makeup look to post on my Instagram as I wanted to try out the shadows and I must say I was blown away by the pigmentation! There is something about the super soft and buttery formula that gives the most amazing metallic payoff. I would defiantly say that these shadows are far more pigmented and blendable than the ones in the chocolate bar palette...sorry to any chocolate bar palette fans out there.

Another thing I discovered whilst creating this look was how incredibly long lasting these shadows are. I created a look in the morning and I kid you not, it looked exactly the same as I applied it in the evening. Although I do advise that you prime your eyelids beforehand, especially if you have annoying oily eyelid syndrome like me:(

The palette contains ten shadows, four of them are matte and the other six I wouldn't say are shimmery, but give a beautiful metallic, foiled finish.  As this is a recent purchase, I haven't had the opportunity to play around with all the eyeshadows but, I do have some favourite shadows that I’ve used already, or see myself wearing which I will share with you:)

Gorgeous, wearable rich tones

Pure ganache- I used this in the centre of my eyelids for an autumnal makeup look and now I can’t stop wearing it. Every eyeshadow palette has a bronze shade, albeit, this is nothing like any other bronze shadow I've tried. Although it is described as being a metallic gold, I would say it is a perfect mixture of burnt copper and gold. I can see this complementing every eye colour too!

Substitute for love- Is quite similar to bittersweet in the chocolate bar palette but I would say this has more of a deep toffee undertone to it. This is a perfect crease colour and I could see it working with every shade in this palette.

Warm tones-I haven't so far used this shadow, although I'm dying to create a berry toned purple smokey eye with it along with tonnes of black eyeliner..watch this space:) This is described as being a glittery cranberry purple which I can imagine will look great on its own or with a smokey eye.

infusion- Zoevea describes this as being a matte dark brown infused with golden glitter, although,  I can certainly detect purple undertones in it. I  created a halo eye makeup look using this shade where I  placed it across my eye crease and inner lid to create the ‘halo effect’ and then went ahead and placed pure ganache in the centre of my eyelid. I must say that these colours surprisingly complemented each other well:)

Halo effect using 'pure ganache' and 'infusion' 

To sum up this review, I would 1000% recommend this palette if you're an eyeshadow palette lover like me. The pigmentation, impeccable formula and lasting power compete with some of my higher end palettes. You would think this it is priced higher than £18 which is a complete steal for the formula  and also comparing the urban decay too faced palette, which is priced at £38.50 and is just as good if not better! This palette will be a perfect if you are looking to spend more than a drugstore one, but don’t want to go the full hog.

I certainly do intend of growing my collection going with the caramel melange next! What's your favourite eyeshadow palette?

MY CURRENT MAKEUP ESSENTIALS

As soon as winter comes along, I find my entire makeup routine changes. Bring back the summer, when my makeup routine was minimal, quick and out the door! Although I find that I have to put in more effort on my makeup application during the winter months, I have discovered life savers that make it easier and add that much-needed life and radiance back into my skin and I will share them with you :)

- Benefit The Porfessional primer is one of those products that I love but put to one side during the summer months. It wasn't until recently where my skin was misbehaving and my foundation wasn't sitting right that I dug it out and rekindled my love for it. Not only do my pores look 1000% smaller, but I also find that it adds that much-needed moisture and suppleness back into my skin. Although it does have the obvious silicone, silky texture, the plus point is that it’s oil free and doesn't break out my sensitive skin, unlike some other primers I have tried. 

- Porefessional also makes my current favourite foundation L’oreal True Match last for ages too! I have been wearing this foundation for a month straight and have absolutely been loving everything about it. Now, I still adore my Bourjour Healthy Mix but I feel like True Match foundation is longer lasting. It has a wonderfully velvety texture which is a dream to blend onto my face in no time at all using my Morphe M439 brush. It provides flawless coverage and I would confidently say you can build it up to a full coverage. I find that it’s a perfect winter foundation due to the radiance and silky texture it has. It also keeps any unsightly dry patches at bay too! 

This foundation adds life to my winter skin!

- To add some colour back onto my face after applying my foundation, I like to use my favourite bronzer of all time ‘Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess’. I departed with this treasure for a while as I misplaced it in my room (makeup hoarder problems), So I went out and bought the Estée Edit bronzer as I trusted the brand. I enjoyed that bronzer as it did give me a gorgeous healthy glow, but I was still fixated on my Bronze Goddess and knew I needed it back in my life. I believe my neighbours on the other side of the road heard the sequel I made when I finally found it in my house! There is nothing that beats the colour it provides, as it’s not too brown or red, and is incredibly easy to blend, merging beautifully on the skin making it appear like you’ve just been on holiday :)

My ride or die bronzer

- No makeup look is complete without a good ol’ highlight and I have discovered not one but two must haves for this winter. One that I love to grab when I’m in a rush is the Maybelline Master Strobing stick. Now, I have never gravitated towards liquid highlighters but there’s something about the golden, nude glow that when I swatched it, it made me buy it. Holy Moses am I glad I did! This little stick makes you look like you have natural Victoria Secret Model Skin in 60 seconds. I find the most effective way to apply this product is with a flat foundation brush as it really emphasises the gorgeous nude glow without it looking too shimmery!

- If I really want to make my highlight pop then I go ahead and dust my new favourite highlight Laura Geller Guilded Honey at the top of my cheekbones. It’s perfect on its own or on top of other highlighters such as the Master Sculpt and another one of my faves, the classic MAC Soft & Gentle. I adore the fact that it’s so finely milled yet extremely pigmented providing a gorgeous glow. It’s hard not to want to smear this all over your face, although I also tend to dust this at the bottom of my brow bone and in my inner tear duct to open up my eyes. It took me a lifetime to get hold of it as it was always out of stock but it was worth the relentless hunting. 

Must have highlighters

Last but not least, let us talk about brows. Yes, of course, you want to get your highlight on fleek, but you also want your brow game to be strong right!?...Oh Instagram, what have you done to my vocabulary? Although I’m loving my ‘Anastasia Beverely Hills Dip Brow Pomade’, it can sometimes be time-consuming to apply. An inexpensive wonder product I've discovered is the Maybelline Brow Satin. It is duo sided containing a pencil and a powder. I hardly use the powder but I am amazed by the pencil. Not only is it the perfect colour for me but it has a precise and waxy pencil, making it easy to draw on your brows. I would advise using a light hand as it is super pigmented and for £5.99, you can’t really go wrong, right?!

I’d love to hear what your current favourites are and what winter wonders you’ve discovered?