Archive for the ‘Urban Decay’ Category
It would seem a lot beauty addicts are on a self-imposed spending spree. I think I am doing alright…only bought a few make-up products since the start of 2013…
Any way I am a fan of Urban Decay’s eyeshadows and their notorious palettes, so I had to buy their Naked Basics palette. This fun, miniature palette is an off-shoot of their Naked range and recognised for being small enough to fit into your handbag. It’s a selection of basic shades – 5 mattes and 1 shimmer to create a neutral look but also to smoke it up for something vampish.
Debenhams has a 10% off sale at the moment in stores and online with free delivery so I took advantage of this offer and bagged the Naked Basics for £18 (normally £20). Six shades for £18? Don’t mind if I do.
The packaging is wonderful – solid, slim, compact and beautiful. The eyeshadows by Urban Decay’s reputation are buttery and so easy to blend. It’s why I love using their eyeshadows.
Here’s a quick look using three shades – Naked 2, Faint and Crave with Urban Decay’s Primer Potion underneath. I was in a hurry (and running late for lunch with a friend) so it’s not as smokey as I had wanted it to be but it served me well for a daytime look. This is how the shadows measured up after about 7 hours wear:
I’ve read a few complaints on sites that the most of the shades are too light. Well it’s a basic palette of neutrals so don’t expect it to be replicable of the other Naked palettes, which go that extra further. The shadows from Basics are softer in comparison and collectively it’s a cute (and safe) palette for everyday use. Just don’t expect anything mind-blowing.
While we take a short break at Just Nice Things, I thought I’d share a list of personal favourite beauty products of 2012.
In no particular order, here are my most loved ones…
- Urban Decay Smoked palette
Super rich jewel colours and neutrals for the ultimate smoky eye palette. Urban Decay is second to none with their highly pigmented and easy-to-blemd eyeshadows. This is my most go-to palette at the moment.
http://www.just-nice-things.co.uk/2012/12/05/urban-decay-smoked-palette-2/ - Area H20 shampoo and conditioner
Now that I’ve discovered this I don’t think you will be able to drag me to another shampoo and conditioner. My hair is so sensitive to products laden with rich ingredients and Area H20 deals with this problem amazingly.
http://www.just-nice-things.co.uk/2012/11/28/area-h20/ - Bourjois’s Queen Attitude Kohl Kajal
No need to sharpen and easy to slip into my make-up purse, this beauty from Bourjois is a must-have.
http://www.just-nice-things.co.uk/2012/10/26/this-month-im-loving/ - Witch Anti-blemishing Skin Clearing Primer
Primers are mandatory if you value your make-up and Witch’s offering has 2 in 1 properties – preps the skin and keeps blemishes at bay.
http://www.just-nice-things.co.uk/2012/10/25/witch-anti-blemishing-skin-clearing-primer/ - Clarisonic Mia 2
An electric toothbrush for the face, this gadget has gently buffed my face for a clearer complexion and make-up blends and looks so much better. I wonder how I managed without it!
http://www.just-nice-things.co.uk/2012/10/23/clarisonic-mia-2/ - Balance Me Rose Otto hand cream
Made in Britain with organic ingredients, this hand cream has tended to my dry hands throughout winter, keeping them moisturised and conditioned for hours. I keep a tube of this on my desk at work.
http://www.just-nice-things.co.uk/2012/10/03/balance-me-rose-otto-hand-cream/ - Dr Lewinn’s Line Smoothing Complex S8 Super Hydrator
Does exactly what it says on the tin. My skin feels so smooth with a couple of drops of this.
http://www.just-nice-things.co.uk/2012/09/28/dr-lewinns-line-smoothing-complex-s8-super-hydrator/ - 17 Lacquer Liquid Liner
I hadn’t used a liquid liner since I first started wearing make-up and to be honest, I was nervous but this one from 17 is brilliant. So easy to use, gives a vinyl finish and even make-up artist Daniel Sandler was wowed by it.
http://www.just-nice-things.co.uk/2012/09/20/17-lacquer-liquid-liner/ - Clinique High Impact Volume Mascara
The BEST mascara! Big volume for luscious lashes.
http://www.just-nice-things.co.uk/2012/07/18/clinique-high-impact-extreme-volume-mascara/ - Collection Primed & Ready Smoothing Make-Up Primer
Another top primer and at a budget price – you don’t have to splash out for a decent primer.
http://www.just-nice-things.co.uk/2012/08/01/collection-primed-ready-smoothing-make-up-primer/ - Illamasqua’s Neutrals Palette
I used to think a neutral palette of eyeshadows had limitations but you can create a variety of looks for day and night with just a few colours, and you don’t have to spend hours of confusion deciding what shades to choose. Only four shades with Illamasqua’s offering and probably the tamest from them but sure to become a permanent fixture.
http://www.just-nice-things.co.uk/2012/05/01/eotd-with-illamasquas-neutral-palette/ - Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover
This pot of magic is brilliant for removing stubborn nail polish and conditioning your nails at the same time and you don’t have to deal with cotton pads clogging up your bin.
http://www.just-nice-things.co.uk/2012/03/27/bourjois-magic-nail-polish-remover/
Do any of these feature in your favourites of 2012? Perhaps you have discovered something else wonderful. If so, let us know by posting below.
You may have read my guest post about Urban Decay’s Smoked Palette on Rucksana’s Walking in a Beauty Wonderland blog recently. Well I won’t regurgitate my words so head over to Rucksana’s blog to read my review.
I just thought I’d share another look created from a few other shades from this brilliant collection.
Urban Decay’s eyeshadows must be my favourite ones to work with – beautiful colours that are pigmented and blend so easily.
For the look below I swept Freestyle across my lids and up to the brow bone before using Barlust up to the crease and Blackout in the outer corners. Very simple, quick and straight- forward! The kohl pencil the palette comes with is really soft and glides on without any trouble.
I think the Smoked Palette surpasses the Naked Duos. Yes, it contains the usual nudey suspects but the richer shades are absolute corkers giving Smoked that extra edge that Naked 1 and 2 don’t have.
Urban Decay’s Smoked Palette costs £35 and is available at all Urban Decay counters.
Hello! Today I talk about Urban Decay’s Smoked palette except it’s not here but on another blog. You see, I am a guest blogger on Rucksana’s Walking in a Beauty Wonderland and you can read what I thought of this eyeshadow collection here.
