Blogmas Day twenty three - Essence Matt Matt Matt lipsticks

 

I love a good budget by and essence is one of my favourite brands for beautiful and affordable drugstore products. The Matt matt matt lipsticks are one of my favourite super budget lipsticks, they are incredibly comfortable, creamy yet look matte on the lips. They have a huge selection of shades as you can see from the swatches below. They are super pigmented and go onto the lips incredibly smooth. 

In terms of the lasting power of these they sit really well on the lips and wear evenly over the day. Don't get me wrong they aren't the most long wearing however I can get a good 6-7 hours wear before they really need reapplying. I love the fact that these are so affordable and offer such a huge range of shades. Even the blue shades are really bright and pigmented. 

02, 03, 04, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13

My favourite shades have to be number 02 which is a beautiful nude shade and number 06 which is a gorgeous classic red shade. I also love number 13 which is a stunning super current greigey purple nude. I love the packaging of these as it's coloured in relation to the shade making it super easy to see in my collection. 

Blogmas Day twenty two - Laura Lee x Violet Voss

Today I thought I would review on of my favourite palettes at the moment, Violet voss palettes are such incredible quality and after trying the Holy Grail palette I knew I wanted to give this one a go. The matte shades are super pigmented and creamy, they blend like an absolute dream and are potentially some of the best matte shadows I have ever tried. The shimmer shades are so highly metallic, they also look even more incredible when used wet. 

Basic - This is a matte cream shade, this is the perfect shade for setting my eyeshadow primer.  

Sugah - This is a beautiful highlight shade, it's a champagne shimmer shade which looks amazing on the brow bone.

Priss Pot - This is a fabulous transition shade, it reminds me a lot of makeup geek peach smoothie however it is a little deeper. 

Mama Bird - This is a stunning orange shade which makes a really great crease shade. I love a good orange so this for me is an amazing shade to have in a palette. 

Raga Muffin - This one is very similar to Mama bird however it is a little more muted and has more of a brown tone to it. 

LarLee - This is a vanilla metallic shade, I love this one all over the lid when I want something metallic but not super in your face. 

Tickled Pink - This is my favourite shade out of the palette, it's a pinky metallic shade which again makes a gorgeous lid shade. 

Hissy Fit - A warm toned, gold metallic shade. 

Bitty - A gorgeous red copper metallic shade. 

1988 - This one is a duo chrome peachy gold shade again with a metallic finish. 

Fleeky - A very yellow toned metallic gold shade, I have to say not one I have used at all but I may use to one day (maybe).

Britches - Warm toned matte brown, very similar to Makeup geek Cocoa bear 

Fried - A more neutral toned brown with the slightest grey tones. 

Yoshi - This is basically Mac Blue brown in shadow form. It's a gorgeous metallic brown with blue reflects. 

Rammer Jammer - A pinky toned cranberry shimmer shade. This one isn't as metallic as the other shades in the palette but is still beautiful. 

Alabama - A very warm toned matte brown shade. 

Wiskers - A much deeper brown with neutral undertones. 

Bubs - A very deep black toned brown shade.

Smash Lee - A stunning metallic jade green shade, this one looks stunning under the lash line.

Lou - This is the only shade in the palette which I feel like isn't up to the quality standard. It is more of a grey black than a true black. 

So that's it for todays post, as you can probably tell I absolutely love this palette and would highly recommend it. I'd love to know if you have tried the Violet voss palettes and what you think of them. 

Blogmas Day twenty one - Four palettes for the beauty lover in your life

Today I thought I would share with you some palettes which the beauty lovers in your life will love, and will hopefully not already own. All these palettes are currently available on beauty bay and they are delivering till 9pm tonight in time for Christmas. So without further ado lets get into the palettes. 

First off we have the Blank canvas Master series palette. I never see anything about this and I don't know why because it is such a beautiful palette. This is an almost completely matte palette and the shades are so incredibly creamy and blendable. For me this is the perfect basic everyday palette for a neutral lover. 

I know people have varying opinions about Jeffree Star however there is no denying that his eyeshadow palettes are really fabulous quality. This one would be amazing for someone who likes neutrals which are a little more out there. Purple and blue shades often lack quality however these all blend stunningly and look so nice on the eyes. 

Another one I never hear anything about is the Pur Soiree diaries palette. This one contains four very metallic shades which remind me a lot of the makeup geek foiled shadows and eight super creamy matte shades. If you love a neutral smokey eye this is the palette for you. Again the shadows are beautiful quality, the metallic shades look amazing both wet and dry which adds a little bit of versatility to the palette. 

The final palette I wanted to mention is definitely the most popular out of the four however I personally don't think enough people own it because it is honestly amazing. It is the most beautiful mix of purples and oranges. The metallic shades are again beautiful both wet and dry. Ladyship which is the matte purple doesn't swatch well however on the lids it works beautifully. 

I'd love to know if you have tried any of these palettes and what you thought of them. 

Blogmas Day twenty - Rimmel lasting finish 25hr breathable.

I am a big fan of Rimmel foundation's in general so when I saw all the hype this one was creating I knew I had to give it a go. I have to say I don't love this little combo as much as I thought I would. Don't get me wrong it is in no way a bad product I just expected more. 

I love the applicator, I love it on the Clinique beyond perfecting so I was excited to find it on another product. I'm not the biggest fan of the concealer packaging as I find the sponge just tends to soak in all the product. I find the formula of the foundation is incredibly light weight which I definitely expected and I find it sits beautifully on my dry skin. However this product claims to be a medium coverage, it is definitely not a medium coverage. I find two layers, so four dips of the applicator leaves me with a very light coverage so lord knows how many dips you would have to do for a medium coverage. It does build well and doesn't cake however I am yet to get a medium coverage out of it. It does wear beautifully over the day, although 25 hours is pushing it. 

I have the same problem with the concealer as the foundation. It is light weight and it sits perfectly even on dry patches but it just doesn't offer any coverage really. I feel like if this offered a higher coverage I would use these as a pair and love them however with them both offering the low coverage, for me it just isn't enough. I've only really reached for the concealer to go over the top of colour correctors under my eyes as it just offers enough to cover up the peachy tones. 

Overall I don't dislike these, however if you want the coverage I wouldn't recommend these. I would love to know if you have tried these and what you thought of them. 

Blogmas Day nineteen - The one stop shop for lashes

I'm not one of these people that wears lashes everyday, I don't have the patience for it however I do love lashes and love an excuse to wear them! So when the lovely people over at falseeyelashes.co.uk offered to send me some I couldn't resist. They are basically your one stop shop for lashes. Ardell are one of my favourite lash brands and the Demi wispies* are mine and pretty much the rest of the blogging communities favourite from them. I also picked out the peaches and cream number 19's* as I'd never tried any of their lashes before. These are very comfy, look beautifully wispy and sit really nicely on my eyes which is all I want from a lash. I also got a pair of Doll beauty* lashes however I cannot remember the name and they are currently at uni whilst I am at home. I'm yet to try these but again they are from a brand which I have never heard anything about.

They also sell big brands like Eylure and Unicorn lashes. In terms of your budget they offer a huge range of prices and I'm pretty sure anyone could find a lash style to suit them on their website. I can't comment on the postage element as I got these through PR however you get free first class delivery on all orders which is a pretty good deal. Overall I would definitely recommend checking out this website if you want a large range of lashes. 

Blogmas Day eighteen - Jeffree Star Christmas collection 2017

I was so excited for this collection to be released, for a start the packaging is absolutely stunning, the glitter gradient is so beautiful and the holo uni-carton is just something else. Moving onto the shades, I'm going to go through them all individually and discuss the pros and cons to each shade. But I have to say overall I'm impressed. 

Poinsettia, Christmas cookie, Medusa, First class, Berries on ice, Human nature, Santa baby, Mermaid blood. 

The first shade is Christmas cookie which is a beautiful peachy nude. On me this is actually a fairly medium nude however on most skin tones this one is definitely going to come across as more of a light nude. It is heavily orange toned however still has a slight brown undertone too it. The formula on this one is very lightweight and opaque in one swipe. 

Human nature is a gorgeous purple toned, deep nude shade. I think this is my favourite shade out of the bunch as it is a nude but it's also something a little different. The formula of this one is very similar to some of the basic shades in the range. It is super thin and incredibly opaque in one swipe. 

First class is not a shade I'm going to get a lot of wear out of it. It's an incredibly metallic gold shade which has a very thick formula. I find that this one needs at least two coats at the least as it can be very patchy. 

Poinsettia is definitely the most festive out of all the shades, it is a stunning metallic red with a gold sheen to it. Again like first class I find this one is again very patchy although it takes a little less messing around with than first class does. 

Santa baby is such a me shade, it is a beautiful deep purple toned red. This one takes a little finessing however I find I can get away with still only doing one coat. This one again is very thin so sits incredibly comfortably on the lips. 

Berries on ice is fairly similar to Santa baby, it's a little deeper and more purple toned. These are just one of my favourite kind of shade. This one again needs a little bit of finessing however it is such a stunning shade it is so worth the little bit of faff. 

Mermaid blood is one of the first shades that was revealed and it was actually the one that made me think, yes I need this collection. This is the most incredible deep teal shade which is so opaque in one swipe. If you are into blue shades then you need this one in your life. 

The final shade in the collection is medusa which is a deep grey blue shade. It reminds me of NYX stone fox which is one of my favourite weirder lip shades. Again like mermaid blood this one is very pigmented and opaque in one swipe. 

So that's it for today's post! I'd love to know if you have tried any of the shades from this collection. 

Blogmas Day seventeen - A festive makeup look

I feel like it's been such a long time since I have done a makeup look on my blog so today I thought I would share with you a makeup look I filmed last week. 

So starting off I used Benefit professional which is my favourite for when I'm doing a high coverage base as it does an amazing job at reducing the visibility of the pores. Foundation wise the Clinique Beyond perfecting foundation has the most amazing coverage, which is perfect for a full glam makeup look. Even though it is super high coverage I find it very comfortable on my dry skin. Moving onto concealer the Clarins instant concealer is incredible, it is so light weight but so ridiculously high coverage. I would have to say this is probably my favourite concealer of all time so if you haven't given it a go then you need too! 

Moving onto the cheeks I used my old trusty Nars laguna bronzer, this is just the perfect shade for me and I love the slight glow it leaves on my skin. Highlight wise I used a little bit of the Barry M Liquid chrome drops in Precious pearl which is a stunning white highlight with a pink reflect. I then topped that with a little bit of Urban Decay Afterglow highlight in Sin which is a beautiful champagne. Finally for the cheeks I used a little bit of Urban decay Afterglow blush in Fetish which for me is the most perfect everyday neutral pink, which is what I wanted as the eyes are pretty heavy. 

For my brows, of course I used Anastasia dip brow. If you follow me on any of my social media you will probably already know how much I love this stuff. For reference I use medium brown which is the perfect slightly ashy toned deep brown. 

For the eyes I started off with the Essence metal shock eyeshadow in Stars and stories which is the most beautiful rose gold shade which is just perfect for the Christmas season. I then popped a little bit of princess and ladyship into the crease just to add some depth and definition. Then for mascara I used the Urban decay Troublemaker mascara* just to add some length to the lashes and then I applied the Peaches and cream number 19 lashes* which are super beautiful and so fluttery. 

Finally for this look I used Mac Strip down lip liner to line the lips, this is a really lovely orange toned very pale nude making it perfect for under pretty much any lipstick. I then topped that off with Jeffree star Human nature, this is from the new Christmas collection and is the most stunning purple toned nude shade which I just felt like matched perfectly with the purple tones on the eyes. 

Blogmas day sixteen - Full coverage foundations for dry skin

As someone with dry skin high coverage foundations are hard to come by today I thought I would share some of my favourites with you. Now a little background on my skin, it is dry, like insanely dry. Foundations tend to not sit great on my nose or between my brows. 

First off I wanted to mention a new one from the drugstore, the Maybelline superstay 24hr foundation. This sits really beautiful on the skin, it's a full coverage with a slight satin finish. Something which I look for in a high coverage foundation is a finish which isn't completely matte. This one sits on the nose really nicely and doesn't separate which is a big problem I have. 

The other two I wanted to mention today are more high end, the first being the Lancome Teint idole. This one is the fullest coverage out of the three and also comes in a super super pale shade which is perfect. This one is the most matte of the three, however doesn't look powdery on the skin. This one is the foundation I reach for if I am set for a long day or if I am having a bad skin day. Even though this is matte it doesn't fall into any dry patches or look like the moisture is being sucked out of my skin. 

The final product I wanted to mention today is the Clinique Beyond perfecting foundation. Out of the three this is definitely most like the foundations I normally go for. The finish isn't dewy however it is a lot more satin than the other two. I would say coverage wise this is in-between the Lancome and the Maybelline. The only issue I have with this is the shade is too dark for me so I have to blend it all the way down the neck. For me this is the one which is best for an everyday wear on me. 

I'd love to know what your favourite high coverage foundations are! 

Blogmas Day fifteen - A quick festive pamper session

I love a good pamper, however being at uni doesn't make it so easy as this year I don't have a bath and that tends to be my go too for a good pamper. Today I thought I would share with you some of my favourite products to use for a bathless pamper. 

Starting off I wanted to mention the Janina whitening trays* now I'm not going to linger on these as I know a lot of people aren't into teeth whitening but I did put up a full review yesterday should anyone want more information. I know for me having white teeth just makes me feel good and these are just easy and pretty much mess free. 

I also love a good face mask, I have tried so many recently and some I'm really loving are the soap and glory ones. You can pick masks up for such low prices, some from primary are 80p which is just crazy. I would also definitely recommend the Garnier sheet masks which are beautiful for dry skin and the Boots sheet masks are also lovely. 

In any pamper post lush have to be mentioned. I think something I really love to do which takes about two minutes is to give my lips a good scrub and moisturise. The lush lip scrubs are my favourite, the one I am currently using is the sugar plum fairy one which is part of the Christmas range. Once I've scrubbed I always like to put on a super thick balm like the Nuxe Reve de meil.

Another lush product I'm loving for a quick pamper is the Snow fairy body conditioner which is just perfect for anyone who hates moisturising as it can be done in the shower in the warm. I know a lot of brands have these in shower moisturisers however I find this is the only one that leaves my skin feeling like it has had a proper moisturiser on it. Also it smells amazing especially when layer with the Snow fairy shower gel. 

So that's just a couple of quick and easy ways to pamper yourself over the festive season. I'd love to know what your favourite quick pamper products are! 

Blogmas Day fourteen - A white (smiley) christmas

I have naturally quite yellow teeth so any products which claim to whiten my teeth I amp up for trying. When Janina reached out to me and asked if I would like to try their products I knew I wanted to review them for you.

First off we have the ultra whitening toothpaste* which is £11.50. This has an incredibly gritty texture and a pretty extreme mint flavour. I have to say I have seen some gradual improvement in the staining on my teeth however when it comes to actual whitening it hasn't helped so much. I believe this one would be amazing for someone who smokes or drinks coffee and has stained teeth rather than naturally yellow teeth. 

Moving on the other product I was sent over are the teeth whitening tray* which retail at £30.00 which isn't the cheapest however it's a lot more affordable than some whitening products on the market. This pack contains 5 sets of ready filled trays which you literally just pop on your teeth and leave for around thirty minutes. I am honestly so impressed with these, there was visible results after day one and after the five days my teeth really have improved. The only thing I will say about these is due to the fact they aren't fitted to your teeth the whitening power tends to be focused on the front four teeth. I personally find my canines are the worst for staining, however after the five days they were definitely less yellow the effect wasn't quite as strong than on my front teeth. 

Overall I am really impressed with these products and I would definitely recommend them. The whole Janina line currently has a third off so if you are looking to give these a go this is definitely the time! 

Blogmas Day thirteen - Festive reds

I love a good red lip and if there is any time to wear one it is the festive season. Today I thought I would go through a selection of my favourite reds at the moment. 

Maybelline Super stay Matte ink in Pioneer - 

These are a sort of hybrid lip product. They are somewhere between a gloss and a matte liquid lip eventually drying down to a matte finish. This is a stunning pink toned red which is just really easy to wear. With it being a strange hybrid type product it stains so well meaning the lasting power is amazing. 

Rimmel Kate moss lipstick in 107 - 

This is such a blogger favourite and for good reason. It's a gorgeous berry red with a satin finish. This is one of those lipsticks that's just so comfortable to wear yet requires minimal faff which is what I need from a lipstick. 

Mac Matte lipstick in Chilli - 

Chilli is a slightly different red, it's a more orange based making it a more terracotta shade. This one is perfect if you don't want something so bright red and want a deeper shade. This is one of mac's more comfortable matte formulas however the lips do definitely need to be well prepped. 

Pioneer, 107, Chilli, 06, Wifey

Essence Matt Matt lipstick in 06 - 

This is a stunning very classic red shade, I have mentioned these lipsticks in a couple of posts recently as for the price they are absolutely incredible. They are creamy and comfortable similar in texture to the Rimmel matte lipsticks. If you are wanting to branch into red lips but don't want to spend too much yet want good quality this is the one to go for. 

Jeffree Star Velour liquid lipstick in Wifey (LE Family collection) -

Wifey is a darkened almost true red and I am a little obsessed with it at the moment. It is ever so slightly blue toned meaning that it makes the teeth look super white. You will probably all already know how much I love the formula so I want go on about it but if you are looking for a red liquid lipstick I think this is the one to go for. 

Blogmas Day twelve - Being vegetarian

TodayI thought I'd write about something I'm pretty sure I haven't mentioned on my blog before. I've actually been veggie for almost a year and a half now and today I just thought I'd have a little ramble about it and give some tips on how the switch over was and the things you have to watch with a vegetarian diet. 

Now first off I am 100% completely vegetarian meaning that I don't eat any meat or anything containing meat such a sweets containing animal gelatine. My first tip would definitely be if you are wanting to go full vegetarian then there are so many things which you wouldn't think have meat in them like haribos. I know not all vegetarians are this strict so it is completely up to you. I more decided to be strict as it also helped me reduce my sugar intake as sweets I can have are very limited. 

If you are going veggie you need to be ready prepared for the "but don't you miss meat?" question. This is one that I get asked regularly when I first tell someone I'm vegetarian. For me this really isn't something I struggle to explain as me going veggie was more about the fact I didn't enjoy eating meat rather than the ethical implications of it. Don't get me wrong the more ethical implications have become more important to me over the time, however my initial decision was based purely on my tastes. 

I do think you definitely need to be a little more aware of the foods you are eating in terms of their nutritional value. For me I have always been a big believer in taking supplements to ensure I am getting everything I need however if they aren't for you I would always suggest taking conscious choices and thinking about things like how much iron you are consuming. For me I think taking vitamins means I don't have to worry about any of it so I think before going veggie it is something that needs to be considered. 

Another thing I wanted to mention is that you can pretty much make vegetarian versions of a good 95% of meals you love. There are such a huge variety of meat free proteins out there now that most dishes can be converted to meat free. If you are going veggie I would suggest incorporating these proteins into your diet before making the switch completely as not everyone loves them. I personally love cooked quorn but hate the fake ham they do, whereas others love it. if you know what you like before you commit to it you are much less likely to be disappointed and end up switching back. 

So that's it for today! I hope you enjoyed this post, I know it's something a little different for my blog! 

Blogmas Day eleven - Makeup revolution x soph

I'm not normally that into youtuber collabs however when I saw that Sophie from Sophdoesnails was releasing a collaboration with Makeup revolution I knew I wanted to give the products a go as she is someone who I have followed since she was a pretty small channel. When I first saw the shadow palette I fell in love with the colours and I knew it was something I had to try.

I have to be honest I really like some of the shadows in the palette however some of them I was a little disappointed by. Normally makeup revolution shimmer shades are super pigmented however I find some of these are just not quite up to the quality I have come to expect from the brand. Don't get Mme wrong some of them are beautiful and the majority of the mattes blend like a dream but as you can see from the swatches some of them just aren't great. 

Some of the pink shades really are gorgeous and I can get some really nice eye looks out of the palette. I do find it is mostly the lighter shades that I have issues with, however the last three shades in the swatches which are the three darker shades I find don't blend great and As long as I work with this I can use it however it isn't one I reach for all the time. 

Moving onto the highlighter palette I am definitely more impressed with this one. It has a really beautiful range of shades and I think it could definitely work for a huge range of skin tones. My favourite shade out of the palette is the lilac as it looks so stunning on my super pale skin. These highlights are incredibly metallic and look beautiful. They can be sheered out however I tend to pack them on for a super intense glow. 

 So that's it for today, I'd love to know if you have tried these and what you think of them! 

Blogmas Day ten - Leighton Denny Colour Soiree collection

Leighton Denny Colour soiree collection* 

I love this time of year as you can get so many cute little sets like this. Leighton Denny polishes are some of my favourites, they are beautifully opaque and are just one of those polishes that are easy to use. The colour soiree collection contains 4 5ml polishes. It contains a clear top and base coat, crushed grape which is a deep cream burgundy colour, butterfly wings which is a a beautiful iridescent baby pink and finally twinkle twinkle which is a stunning silver glitter. 

I love the packaging of this, and for someone who likes nail polish but has a lot of it these little bottles are perfect. One thing I like about these mini bottle is that the brush is still a decent size making it easy to paint with them. I feel like this set has a really nice mix of shades and is just a brilliant little gift set. Leighton Denny polishes are really high quality and don't chip super quickly like some high end brands *cough* Chanel *cough*.

Overall I really think that this is a beautiful little Christmas gift and I would definitely recommend it. 

Blogmas day Nine - My kind of nude

I love a good nude lipstick so today I thought I would show you some of my favourites, there's a bit of everything in here from concealer lip shades to much more pink based nudes. So without further ado lets get into the lipsticks. 

Essence Matt Matt lipstick in 03 - 

This shade is one of the deepest I picked out, it's a much more brown toned pink nude than I would normally go for however I feel like it is one if those shades that is just so easy to wear. The formula of these are incredibly comfortable, I would definitely say they are on of my favourite drugstore matte lipsticks. 

Primark matte lipstick crayon in Mushroom - 

Another incredibly affordable matte, nude lip that I love. The primary crayons are incredibly creamy and although they don't move about they don't feel completely set when you rub your lips together. The shade mushroom is a beautiful orange toned nude. I think some might find this one a little too pale, however on me I really love it. 

NYX Lip lingerie in Lace detail - 

This is definitely the palest shade I've picked out. Its a very white based peachy nude which I think a lot of people will find too pale however on me it is the perfect almost concealer lip but not quite the same as my skin. The lip lingerie formula is slightly drying however I do find that I can get away with it as long as I have a little balm underneath. 

Jeffree Star Velour liquid lip in I'm nude - 

This is another pretty pale shade, it is more cool toned than Lace detail. This I have to say would probably make it into my favourite lipsticks of all time category. The formula on the Jeffree star liquid lipsticks is incredibly comfortable and not too drying. 

Essence 03, Mushroom, Lace detail, I'm nude, Terra, Bourjois 03, Truffle, Yash, Berry blush. 

Jouer Long wear lip creme matte in Terra -  

Terra is a stunning terracotta nude shade as the name may suggest. I love this one for when I want a really sophisticated lip shade. The are one of the most hydrating and long lasting liquid lips I have ever tried and I would definitely recommend everyone gives them a go. 

Bourjois Rouge edition the lipstick in 03 - 

These are fairly new to my collection however I have fallen in love with them 03 is a stunning berry nude shade which is just perfect for this time of year. The formula of these is very creamy but sets down to a more matte finish, although there is a slight satin finish to them. 

Dose of colours matte lipstick in Truffle - 

This is a cool toned pinky nude which is super similar to the actual colour of my lips. The Dose of colours matte lips are one of the most velvety liquid lips I've ever used and are definitely ones to try if you love a super matte finish. 

Mac Matte lipstick in Yash - 

Another pale nude Mac Yash is a very basic brown nude with a white base. Some Mac matte's can be super drying however this one is definitely one of the more creamy ones. 

Collection lip colour in Berry blush - 

This is the only true glossy lip in this line up so I wanted to mention it as I have been wearing it a lot when my lips have just felt too dry for a liquid or matte lip. This formula has a beautiful shine too it and the shade is a really lovely berry toned nude similar to Bourjois's shade 3. 

Blogmas Day eight - Anastasia Prism palette

I love the quality of the Anastasia shadows so when this was released I knew I needed it in my collection. I have to admit when it first arrived I had no idea what to do with it. It isn't the most cohesive palette in the world and I wasn't sure how to use the more blue/green shades in it.  

Before we go onto the shades I do want to mention the formula, now don't get me wrong this palette isn't quite as dusty as the Subculture palette but the shadows just aren't quite as intense as the modern renaissance. The metallic shades are absolutely beautiful and have a very metallic finish on the lids. The mattes aren't quite as nice as the ones in modern renaissance however they have good pigmentation and other than the black blend really nicely. I do find the black goes a little patchy if blended too much however I tend to have the same problem with most matte black shadows. 

The shades are beautiful but they aren't the most co-hesive in the world. I find to use some of the blue shades I do need to reach for some more purple shades to put in the crease. Other than the black the matte shadows blend beautifully and are no way near as loose in formula as the mattes from subculture. This means that there isn't too much fallout however you do still get some. I do find that the metallic shades do have a bit of glitter fallout so I would definitely suggest that this palette is used before makeup. One thing I do like about the metallics is unlike the subculture palette they haven't sealed which was one of my biggest issues with that palette. 

Moving onto a full breakdown of the shades - 

Lucid - duo chrome white gold shade which looks beautiful in the inner corner. 

Eden - Peachy orange matte shade. 

Unity - Yellow cream matte. 

Sphinx - Beautiful bronze metallic. 

Osiris - Very pigmented metallic purple with pink glitter. 

Sphere - Neon yellow, for me I find this one definitely lacks pigmentation. 

Obsidian - Matte black, again another that I find lacks pigmentation and blends a little patchy. 

Dimension - Grey based medium purple metallic. 

Parallel - Warm brown matte shade. 

Pyramid - Yellow toned gold metallic. 

Throne - Forest green metallic. 

Saturn - Deep orange brick matte. 

Eternal - A more orange copper than sphinx. 

Lure - A gorgeous matte grey toned pinky shade. 

So that's it for today I'd love to know if you have this palette and what you think of it. 

Blogmas Day Seven - Juvia's Place Nubian palette

Is this palette the perfect palette for someone who loves warm eyeshadows, I think it may possibly be. When Beauty bay first announced they where going to be stocking Juvia's place I was very excited. I had heard incredible things about the products and was very excited to give them a go. 

I have to say that I was not disappointed, the pigmentation is beautiful and they blend like a dream. The shade selection is so lovely, although I do find that it is missing a transition shade for paler skins. That being said with Juvia's place being a black owned brand I didn't expect it to be perfect for my skin tone. The shimmers are super foiled and work stunningly both wet and dry. The shadows blend really nicely and aren't pigmented to the point that they are The only think I don't love about the palette is the packaging. I find it is just a little bit flimsy and isn't something I would travel any distance with. I think the shade selection is amazing and there are so many looks that can be created using the palette. I feel like this one would be great for people who are just dipping into the world of eyeshadow and want something good quality but not super expensive!  

Overall I really love this palette and would definitely suggest that you check out Juvia's place if you haven't already. 

Blogmas Day six - Dior Forever foundation. Worth the hype?

I feel like this foundation has such a good reputation within the beauty community, especially with so many youtubers I love who have dry skin so it was a product I was very eager to try. As you probably all know I have incredibly dry skin so I am very careful who I take my foundation recommendations from. Usually I stick to a few people and normally they work out for me however in this case this foundation most definitely didn't work for me. 

Starting with the packaging it is gorgeous, the frosted glass and sleek black lid monogrammed on the top for me is just the ultimate expensive looking packaging. The pump dispenses a nice amount of product. Unfortunately the packaging was the best thing about this foundation. The shade, which is the lightest offered, is incredibly orange toned and pretty dark for the palest shade. I find it does also oxidise throughout the day so the shade match only gets worse. In terms of the texture it is incredibly liquid and is the kind of texture I would normally love however I find this seems to dry matte the second it is applied to the skin and it only gets drier through the day. 

I expected a more satin finish however this is most definitely very matte. Unfortunately it enhances every bit of dryness on my face, so pretty much my entire face and just looks patchy as my skin seems to try and drink it up. I find it offers a medium coverage upon first application however it seems to break down very quickly no matter how I set it. Overall I think this would be a good one for people with oily skin however with my experiences I would definitely avoid it if you have dry skin. 

I'd love to know if you have tried this foundation and if you got on with it any better.