Nars Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow Palette

I seem to have turned into a real eyeshadow palette hoarder, a recent-ish addition to my collection is the Nars Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow Palette. To me it's definitely not an everyday palette, it's more something I get out when I want more of a 'statement eye'. In all honesty, I've only worn it a handful of times in the past couple of months that I've owned it and as you can see in the picture above, a few of the shades are still untouched. This always seems to happen when I get two new eyeshadow palettes around the same time! (The other is the Marc Jacobs Palette which I reviewed here, I've been wearing that one constantly!)

All of that said, I'm still glad I got it! It's just such a unique palette. Used dry the shadows are really pretty but nothing massively out of the ordinary, but used wet they really come into their own. They turn into what I can only describe as liquid metal and deposit a level of pigment that I've never achieved with other shadows. The finish really is beautiful too, super high shine that leaves lids with a 'wet look'. Now you know why I haven't been whipping it out everyday! 

Unfortunately I found it really difficult to capture any good wet/dry swatches on camera, it just wasn't doing them any justice so I'm planning on using them in a video soon so keep your eyes peeled if you want to see it in action! 

What do you think of this eyeshadow palette?

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Lightweight Summer Base

I've been switching up my base products a lot more recently, with lightweight, tinted moisturisers coming into the rotation a bit more in favour of my usual foundations. It's as a result of two things, the weather, which has finally warmed up properly, meaning the last thing I want is a face caked in foundation. Secondly, my skin has been looking a lot better recently (fingers crossed it stays that way!) I haven't had a breakout in quite a while and the pigmentation I have from old ones are fading rapidly thanks to my arsenal of skincare products.

I mentioned the Laura Mercier Radiance Primer in my Everyday Spring Makeup Video but since then I've switched to their Radiance Bronze version, which is a much better fit for my skintone as well as giving me a sun kissed summery glow. I've been applying it all over with my fingers and then following with the Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser in Annapurna which gives a decent amount of coverage, enough to even out the skin. It does still leave the darker pigmentation marks and the dark circles under my eyes visible so to conceal those I go in with the MAC Select Cover Up in NC45 which looks very natural and skin-like. Not the highest coverage concealer in town but it definitely packs enough pigment to cover my everyday needs! 

What base products have you been using recently?

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Objects of Desire: Nars x Christopher Kane Collection

I'm not usually one to be drawn in by limited edition collections but this one from Nars and Christopher Kane has well and truly caught my attention. The eye shadows are particularly beautiful, they impart a sheer wash of colour that's filled with iridescent glitter. You have to swatch them to truly appreciate them. The blusher is highlighter pink in the pan and seriously pigmented when swatched, it translates surprisingly well onto the cheeks and seems to look very flattering on a range of skintones. The lip glosses bring the collection together really nicely, the bright pink and orange are the stand outs to me. Usually there's one stand out from a limited edition collection, but all of these products have quickly shot to the top of my wishlist.

What do you think of the collection?

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Everyday Spring Makeup

All products mentioned are listed in the description box on youtube. Thank you for watching!

Valentine's Day Gift Guide - For Her

Kate Spade - Cedar Lane Lacey Wallet

Both pretty and practical. 


Jo Malone - Oud & Bergamot Cologne Intense 

Fragrance always goes down well on valentine's day, wether it's an old favourite or something new and exciting. 


Diptyque - Rosafolia Candle

I know I've mentioned this candle before but I couldn't help mentioning it again! It smells amazing and comes in the prettiest jar that will be useful long after the wax has burnt away.


Rosie for Autograph - Beau Silk Lace Underwear Set

By far my favourite set from the collection.


Peonies 

Or any flower that she loves, tulips are a great option at this time of year. Stick to single flower bouquets for a more modern feel.(image from pintrest) 


Nars - Dual Intensity Eyeshadow Palette

If she's a makeup lover, I guarantee this is on her wish list! It contains a great range of versatile wet and dry eye shadows. 


Monica Vinader - Riva Rose Gold Plated Diamond Ring

A beautiful ring in a timeless design that will work well on it's own as well as layered with other jewellery.



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January Favourites

It's favourites time again, but for the first time ever, I'm going to talk you through them in a video. I'm so excited to now be doing my favourites posts as videos so I hope you enjoy watching them as much as I enjoyed filming them! You can also check out my last video, my Morning Skincare Routine, here and don't forget to subscribe to my channel over on YouTube!

Products mentioned:

Nars Narssist Palette

Estee Lauder Pure Colour Stay on Shadow Paint in Chained

MAC Select Cover Up in NC45

Nars Multiple in South Beach

By Terry Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur in 3. Cherry Bomb and 4.Bloom Berry

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella

Soap & Glory Archery Pencil in Hot Chocolate 

Aurelia Miracle Cleanser

Time Bomb Youth Juice Secret Oil

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me and Other Concerns by Mindy Kaling

Another Little Haul

Another haul, I know, shoot me. It's been barely a week since my last one and here we are again. I really wanted the Nars Digital World Lip Pencil Coffret when it came out and as usual I dilly-dallied and they quickly sold out. Story of my life. Luckily they came back into stock and I quickly snapped one up. (As I write this they're still in stock online). I'm so glad I got it as I just love all of the shades, there isn't a single dud. 

When I'm in Boots, the Essie stand always manages to draw me in, their polishes are so pretty and I'm a sucker for anything arranged in colour order. I decided to go for a barely there pinky nude called Not Just A Pretty Face, which made it onto my nails in record time. I'm already certain this is going to become a long term favourite.

The last thing I got was the Nars Multiple in South Beach which is just a ridiculously beautiful colour. It looks really orange in the bullet but doesn't transfer that way, it applies as a sheer coraly-bronze that does wonders to warm up dull skin. I've been using it as a blusher/highlighter hybrid and I love it. 

Have you bought any new makeup recently?

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Mini Beauty Haul

I've not been buying a huge amount lately in an attempt to use and make the most out of things I already have. One product aside, I've bought products to replace the ones I've used up recently.

Fushi Organic Sweet Almond Oil

I've always used Coconut Oil for a multitude of beauty tasks, mainly as a hair mask. I've become slightly bored of it so decided to have a bit of a change and give sweet almond oil a go. Fushi make a good selection of organic, cold pressed oils which I'm planning on trying more of in the future. I love the fact that I won't have to melt this oil everytime I want to use it as a hair mask!

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Extreme 

I tried a sample of the original Elasticizer a while ago and thought it was brilliant, when I decided to buy a full pot I went for the extreme version instead as it's designed for thick, coarse hair that's quite damaged. I'm desperately trying to get my hair back to a good condition and I hear this is the stuff for the job!

Soap & Glory Archery

I usually fill in any gaps in my brows with powder and an angled brush, it gives the best finish but it's definitely not the quickest method. I also unfortunately lost my spoolie between a crack in the floorboards so an eyebrow pencil with a spoolie on the end was a necessary purchase! I really love this one, the pencil is very thin and so looks very natural it also has a wind up mechanism so it does't need to be sharpened.

Soap & Glory Supercat

I've been wearing winged liner a lot lately so when my Avon SuperExtend liner ran out I needed another one pronto. I had read good reviews on this one and I'm really glad I got it, the pigment it super black, the point stays sharp and the formula stays put.

Nars And God Created the Woman Palette

Late to the party, I know. I finally caved and bought this palette after lusting after it for the longest time. I'm so glad I did because I absolutely love it and have been getting a lot of use out of it. I know it will be my go-to palette for traveling as it's a great edited down selection of every colour I need. 

Have you tried any of these products?

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Nars Narsissist Palette

I think it's safe to say I'm late to the party on this one, the Nars Narsissist Palette came out around this time last year and I knew I instantly wanted it. I'm ummed and ahhed over wether to buy it as it was so expensive and of course being limited edition it quickly sold out. I instantly regretted not buying it and felt a little sad every time I saw it pop up on a blog with rave reviews. Sad, I know. But all was not lost as I was lucky enough to receive it for my birthday in december. Obviously, I was over the moon even though it wasn't a surprise and I've been using it non stop ever since. If you missed out on it too I'd recommend keeping your eye open on ASOS and Urban Retreat, the come back in stock every now and then only to disappear again at the blink of an eye. 

If you're a keen reader of beauty blogs, as most people who read my blog seem to be, you've probably already read multiple lists of the shades names and seen multiple arms covered in swatches so I won't make you sit through it again. Instead I thought I'd give a shout out to a couple of my favourite shades/combination of shades.

1. First up is Fez (top row, middle), my absolute favourite of the palette. I love this one simply washed all over the lid with nothing but a few coats of mascara. It looks simple, understated but like you've put in a bit of an effort. 

2. Fez on the lid, Mekong (middle row, right) on the outer corners and a little bit under the lower lash line with a touch of All About Eve (top left) under the brow bone and in the inner corners.

3. Mekong all over the lid with Coconut Grove (top row, right) in the crease is my go-to combo for a dark, smoky evening look. It's a great way of glaming up my makeup really quickly.

4. Bali (top row, 2nd from right) and Coconut Grove work really well for me as brow shades and of course Pandora (bottom right) is great as an eyeliner.

I've only used the other shades a couple of times so far so I'm still experimenting with them. I'm thinking of putting together a post with a few pictures of me wearing my favourite looks but I thought I needed a bit more time to experiment first! It is in the works though so keep your eyes peeled!

Do you have the Nars Narsissist Palette? What is your favourite shade or combination?

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Favourite Eyeshadow Brushes

I promised an edit of my favourite eyeshadow brushes here on the blog a while ago but for some reason it was a post that I kept putting off. I think I felt I should wait until I had all the brushes I wanted but then I realised that I'm actually quite happy with the ones I've got. You'll probably be quite surprised to see that this edit does not feature a MAC 217! I know, shocker! I just never got round to getting it as I have a few quite similar brushes that work well for me. That said, I'm sure I'll end up picking it up at some point! Anyway, here are my favourites and what I use them for!

(Clockwise from top left)

1. Real Techniques Accent Brush (available as part of the Eye Starter Kit)

This brush is great for precision application. I use it mainly for an inner corner highlight or to apply shadow under the lash line for when I want a bit of subtle definition. 

2. Nars #40 Eye Shadow Brush

This brush has had a makeover since I got my hands on it but the newer version is essentially the same brush with a nicer handle. It's the biggest eye brush I have and I think it's great at blending and softening out edges. I never actually ever put any eyeshadow on it! I just use it clean to make sure there are no harsh lines and everything looks well blended out.

3. Space Nk Eyeshadow Brush

This flat number is great for packing on colour, particularly high shimmer shadows, pigments and even cream shadows. 

4. Nars #43 Wide Contour Eyeshadow Brush 

A recent purchase that is very quickly becoming my favourite and most used. It's just so easy to use, works with so many different eye shapes and makes eyeshadow application unbelievably quick. In my opinion this is a seriously underrated brush! I use it to apply shadow all over the lid and the outer corner, it hugs the eye contour really well and does all the work for you.

5. Kiko 207 Blending and Contouring Brush

I don't use this one quite as often as the others but I love it all the same. It's great for applying lots of shadow under the lower lash line for a grungy, smoky look or for getting really precise definition in the crease. Both looks I love but don't wear that often.

6. Sephora Pro Blending Brush #27 

I love sephora makeup brushes, I think they're great quality for their price range. This one is a great all rounder, at a push I can do my entire eye make up with just this, for that reason it's usually the one that makes the cut when I'm travelling. It's similar to the MAC 217 but a bit bigger and fluffier, the hairs aren't as tightly packed. I use it to apply shadow to the lid, in the crease, blend out and to add a brow bone highlight. As I said, it does a bit of everything.

7. Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush (available as part of the Eye Started Kit)

Another great does-a-bit-of-everything brush. Similar to the sephora one but smaller and more densely packed. I tend to use this one if I want to build up more pigment and it's probably my favourite for blending shadow into the crease or for creating a smoky eye. 

With these brushes I pretty much have all my eyeshadow needs covered, I hope this post was useful to you if you're on the hunt for some new brushes. What is your favourite eyeshadow brush?

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Christmas Gift Guide - Under £50

1. Nars Digital World Lip Coffret £32

This brilliant little lip crayon set contains 2 velvet matte lip pencils and 3 satin lip pencils, both have excellent formulas and lasting power. There's a great mix of shades that any makeup lover would be very happy with. Alternatively you could always split the set up and use the individual pencils as stocking fillers/mini presents, a great budget option as if you buy the set they work out to just £6.40 each!

2. Kate Spade Le Pavilion Laptop Sleeve £40

Kate Spade do lovely accessories and this laptop sleeve is no exception. To me the white polka dots on a black background strike the perfect balance between chic and sophisticated and cute and girly! Just make sure it's the right size for the recipient's laptop!

3. John Lewis Lace Print Pyjama Set £35

It's always nice to receive a good pair of pyjamas, especially when they feel a bit luxe. These ones are 100% cotton, feel super soft and have such a beautiful lace print that's right up my street. Make sure you click though so you can have a look at the print close up, this picture really doesn't do them justice! 

4. River Island Black Split Front Bowler Bag £40

When it comes to handbags, I like mine black, minimal, boxy and with gold hardware. This one fits the bill exactly and would be liked by most people as it's such a classic design that would go with any outfit. A particularly good choice for a professional or anyone who likes to look smart.

5. Urban Decay Naked Palette £37

This is a product that every beauty lover either already has and loves or really wants. It's a classic for a reason, it's most people's favourite eyeshadow palette! Also a great option for someone who's just getting into makeup.

6. Aromatherapy Associates Miniature Bath & Shower Collection £35

These bath oils are wonderful for anyone who loves a bath, they're just so incredibly potent. You only need a few drops and the entire bathroom is filled with the wonderful scent. The bottles may look small but you actually get quite a few uses out of them. This set is a great way to try lots of their fragrances rather than having to chose just one.

7. REN Sensitive Gift Set £32

I love these skincare trial sets that brands bring out at christmas, they're such a great way to try out lots of high end skincare without having to part with lots of cash. This set would be great for anyone but particularly those with sensitivity. I've previously had full sizes of 3 out of the 4 products and thought they were fantastic. 

8. Ottoman Hands Rose Quartz Delicate Necklace £40

Have I mentioned I like delicate, understated jewellery? Maybe a few (hundred) times! This piece is particularly beautiful, it's a great choice if you want to give something that can be kept and treasured forever but don't have a massive budget. It's a great price considering it's gold plated and has a semi precious stone.

9. Liberty London Black Leather Notebook £45

This would definitely be the ultimate gift for a stationary lover. The notebook is beautifully bound in leather embossed with an elegant Art Nouveau Liberty design. It also comes in lots of other colours and designs. 

10. Diptyque Epice Candle £45

I love scented candles at this time of the year, particularly with the christmas tree up, a hot drink in one hand and a good book in the other. This is one of Diptyque's limited edition christmas offerings and it smells of candied plums, cinnamon and nutmeg, absolute perfection! Of course any Diptyque candle would make an exceptional gift but I think this one looks extra special in the festive red and gold jar.

I hope you liked my gift selection, if you want to see my under £25 guide you can see that here. Will anything from this guide be making it's way onto your wish list?

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September Favourites

The products I've been loving the most this month, alongside old favourites, are all relatively new additions to my stash. For skincare I've been loving IndeedLabs Pepta-Bright, I don't think a single skincare product has ever made more of a difference to my skin. It really is the best product for fading marks and evening out skin tone. Another skincare product I've been loving is the Good Things Manuka Honey Radiance Face Mask, you can see my full review on it here. It's a great 3-in-1, it draws out impurities, exfoliates and hydrates skin and has quickly become my go to mask. I've been using it about twice a week and my skin has been feeling really fresh!

With makeup it's been all about complexion this month. I always think if you get your complexion looking good the rest doesn't really matter too much! I've been using the Revlon Photoready Skinlights Face Illuminator in Bronze Light under foundation to give my skin a bit more of a glow and the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Caramel (full review here) under my eyes and on any blemishes. It's heavy enough in coverage to cover anything but still manages to feel really lightweight on the skin. My new favourite concealer for sure! I've been using the Real Techniques Large Shading Brush to buff it into the skin and I find this works really well, it blends the product right in and looks so natural. 

What have you been loving this month?

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Mini Beauty Haul

I bought a few new products recently so as usual I thought I'd share my thoughts on them so far with you! 

Good Things Manuka Honey Radiance Face Mask

I love a good face mask and seeing as I ran out of all of mine at once I thought I'd go for this one which seems like a great all rounder. It contains papaya extract to brighten and exfoliate, white clay to draw out impurities and unclog pores and manuka honey and beeswax to nourish and moisturise the skin. I'll definitely be doing a full blown review on this once I've used it a few more times.

Indeed Labs Pepta-bright

I've read so many rave reviews of this product, it's supposed to be great at fading acne scars and pigmentation and generally making the skin look brighter and more even toned.  It was on a £10 off offer at boots so I though now was a better time than ever to give it a try. I've been using it a few weeks so far and can definitely see an improvement, again I'll do a full review once I've been using it a bit longer. 

MAC Lipstick in Syrup

I recently found myself in the airport on my way home with some leftover holiday money, so naturally I headed straight for the MAC counter! I was on the lookout for a 'my lips but better' shade that I could throw on with any look without the need for a mirror. This shade fits the bill exactly inspite of it being a bit more cool toned than I'd usually go for.  

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

I've been coveting this concealer ever since it came out last year but being somewhat of a concealer hoarder I decided to restrain myself, until now that is! I recently finished up another concealer so allowed myself to replace it with this one. One in, one out and all! I haven't given it a proper try yet but from what I can remember of having tried it on counter it's soon to become a firm favourite!

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Beauty Wishlist

Stila - In the Light Palette

Chanel - Les Beiges Powder

Nars - Radiant Creamy Concealer

Indeedlabs - Peptabright

Ecotools - Fresh and Flawless Brush Set 

Bourjois - Rouge Edition Velvet

Nars - Bronzer

Alpha H - Liquid Gold 

A few products that are currently topping my beauty wishlist! What's on yours?  

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NOTD #28

When it comes to makeup, Nars is by far my favourite brand. In spite of that, this was the first time I've tried one of their nail varnishes. I think it's safe to say I had very high expectations! The shade I'm wearing is TV Party, a really bold, juicy orange. I love brights any time of year but particularly in the summer. Unfortunately the polish isn't as pigmented as I'd hoped, it took 3 coats to get the colour looking opaque and in the end it still looked a tad streaky. 

Good news is that this is one of their older polishes which have since been reformulated, so if you were to buy a Nars polish now, the quality and performance would be a lot better. I'll definitely be giving the new formulas a go as they have some lovely, individual shades. 

Have you tried any Nars Nail Varnishes? What did you think of them?

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Car Boot Sale Haul

Last sunday when the sun was shining we decided to head to our local car boot sale in search of a few bargains. Often with car boot sales I come away feeling like I haven't really found much but this time I really hit the jackpot!

Starting off with homeware, we got this huge mirror for only £10! I thought this was a brilliant bargain as mirrors are usually very expensive. I love the vintage French Country look that the frame has and I think that gold and cream looks lovely together. I've put it on the mantelpiece in the living room and I love the way it looks, it really opens up the room! (Please excuse the bare light in the pictures, the house is still a work in progress!)

Another item I instantly fell for was this vintage metal trolley with removable trays. I really like the gold circular pattern that trims each tray and I thought it might come in handy as I can never have enough storage items! I'll definitely be giving this piece a bit of a makeover, I was thinking of covering the bottom of the trays with some pretty cream or pastel paper. 

When it comes to storage, I love wicker. It keeps everything out of eyesight and looking tidy but in my opinion looks a lot better than having plastic storage everywhere.

I also got a really pretty mint watering can to water my new veg patch with but I've since discovered it leaks! I'm not too disappointed though as I only paid £1 for it and I can always use it to plant some pretty flowers or herbs in.

 

Some packets of seeds! I'm going to attempt growing some carrots in the garden this year as well as some cacti in pots indoors. I also got a wildflower seed mix which you just sprinkle and leave to do it's own thing, leaving you with lovely low maintenance flowers.

I picked up an old, well loved copy of Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie which I've been wanting to read for a very long time. It's been added to my 'to read' pile!

 

I managed to find a girl selling lots of lovely clothes, she was the same size as me and lots of her stuff was brand new with the tags still on! I had a rummage through and found a White Topshop Cami, which I love, some Gap Super Skinny jeans which are lovely but unfortunately a bit big for me, a white River Island shirt and Red Herring print top.

My biggest bargain by far was finding the stall of a manicurist who had tonnes of new high end nail varnishes! It seemed like too good a deal to pass up so I picked up quite a few by Nars, Illamasqua, Dior, Butter London, Nails Inc and Barry M. I'll be featuring them in upcoming NOTD posts so keep your eyes peeled if you fancy seeing them in action. I also got a Revlon Photoready Skinlights in the shade Bronze, a product I've been on the hunt for for a while but could never seem to find!

Do you ever go to Car Boot Sales?