Urban Decay Smoked Palette Review

I recently realised that I took photos and swatches for a review of my UD Smoked Palette last a p r i l  and totally forgot to do the actual review! I know it's very late, but I didn't want to let the photos go to waste, so here we are! 

The design of the case is definitely my favourite of the UD palettes. My Eyeshadows are snug and secure in a cushioned, zip up case, and it has the added bonus of being absolutely gorgeous! Smooth black satin with an embossed title. 

Kinky is a creamy white shade that is pretty much identical to my skin tone! Pretty useless for me, and any other ghosties, but on darker skin would be a lovely non-shimmery highlighter (rare!) 

Freestyle is a warm, almost peachy cream shade, works very well as a base shade. 

Mushroom was, if I'm honest, the only reason I bought this palette. It's a cool metallic taupe, verging on pewter. Initially, it doesn't apply incredibly pigmented, but it's impressive when used with a damp brush. Mushroom is an ideal crease shade for when I'm wanting a metallic shade. (Can you tell I love it? :D)

Backdoor is a lovely medium-dark brown, leaning towards a warm tone. It works very well with both Mushroom and Barlust layered over it, or used as a crease shade for a brown smokey eye. 

Blackout is an incredibly pigmented true matte black. It is perfect for a smokey eye, or as a crease shade for colourful shades. Definitely one of the best shadows in the palette.

Barlust is a delightful Baroque bronze shade, and is wonderfully pigmented. Again, works lovely and adds a certain richness when layered over the likes of Backdoor, or any warm brown or bronze shade. 

Rockstar is a cool metallic purple shade, works really well teamed with a true, matte black (Blackout, for example), especially when used with a black crease. 

Evidence is a cool metallic blue, which I have not used, and likely will never use. It has nothing to do with the eyeshadow, which is very well pigmented, and UDs typical buttery texture, I just really don't like blue eyeshadow. Oh well!

Loaded is a metallic hunter green shade, which, similar to rockstar, works really well with Blackout. 

Asphalt is the final shadow in the palette. It is a cool pewter shade, (similar to Mushroom, minus the taupe) and is a very buildable shade, though application with a damp brush will give a very pigmented effect. 

L - R Foxy, Freestyle, Mushroom, Backdoor, Blackout

L-R Barlust, Rockstar, Evidence, Loaded, Asphalt.

The eyeshadows are Urban Decay's usual top quality, buttery texture and wonderful pigmentation (with the exception of a few of the metallic shades) and although I usually stick with my Naked palettes, I'm definitely glad I own Smoked (if only for Mushroom! hah)

In addition to ten eyeshadows, the palette comes with a travel sized primer potion, a full sized 24/7 eyeliner in 'perversion', which is the most pigmented and long lasting eyeliner I have ever used, and a lookbook, full of ideas and ways of using the products included. For £35 I think this is a pretty amazing deal! 

New treats~

Hey! I thought I'd share a few things I've picked up recently, sort of as a sneak peak into what I'll be reviewing in the next few weeks! :) 

I treated myself to the Naked 3 palette when it came out (no regrets: prettiest palette ever <3), and got the Naked Basics palette as a Christmas present! I also got a Debenhams gift card for Christmas, and so I bought three things I've wanted for ever: Illamasqua's Raindrop and Jo'Mina nail polishes, and MACs Snob lipstick! Ahh I've not even taken them out of their packaging yet, I'm so excited to see them :D I'll be reviewing these (and maybe a few more things) in the coming weeks, so I hope you'll stay tuned :) 

<3

Haul and Reviews!

I swear, I only went in to boots to get cotton buds!! Of course, I couldn't help but notice that there is currently a 3-4-2 offer across all cosmetics, so of course, I had to indulge (twice over...)

I got two of Collections Cream Puffs in Cotton Candy (01) and Fairy Cakes (03). I'd wanted these for ages, as I wanted some more muted lip colours, but I rarely get along with Nude / muted lipsticks for some reason. On the tube, they are described as "Velvety soft, matt finish lip creme" (and also that they are a moisturising lip creme). I have since used both and can say that they are quite long lasting (3-4 hours), but not at all moisturising! The description of being velvety soft is accurate at the time of application, but after a few hours of wear, they become sort of sticky and horribly drying!  Another issue is that they are described as matte, but they have a slight shimmer or sheen to them, so they're a little off matte! 

Cotton Candy is a muted rose pink 

and Fairy Cakes is an orange-leaning coral.

Cremepuffs retail in Boots and Superdrug for about £2.99


Next in my haul was Barry M's Ultra Moisturising Lip Paint in Vicious Violet (156). Barry M's website claims that the Ultra Moisturising Lip Paint is "enriched with hydrating and lip nourishing Cocoa Butter for a soft and saturated finish" I have the Black Cherry (160) shade, and I definitely agree that the new lip paints are moisturising, but they also feel quite heavy after a few hours of wearing them. They are highly pigmented, definitely stain, and so last a very long time (over 6 hours at least!) They also have quite a shiny finish to them initially, but eventually dry to quite a matte finish (which is puzzling, as I would not associate matte finishes with moisturisation!) Overall, they are a nice addition to Barry M's already lovely selection of Lip Paints, and I'd definitely recommend checking them out! Vicious Violet is a deep, blue based berry shade, and feels a lot lighter than the Black Cherry shade, so if you don't have a colour like it, it's a definitely one to check out. (Barry M Lip Paints retail in Boots and Superdrug (and some Semi Chems) for £4.49!)

Next in my haul is a Natural Collection Blushed Cheeks blush in Pink Cloud. I never gave Natural Collection any attention until recently, when I discovered they held a modest collection of lovely pink based nude lipsticks (stay tuned for swatches and reviews!). I liked the look of this pinky-coral toned blush and thought I'd pick it up. The formula seems lovely, very smooth and not at all chalky.Natural Collections Blushed Cheeks range retails at £1.99 in Boots.

My final purchase from Boots was Barry M's Nail Paint in Cappuccino. In the bottle, Cappuccino looks like a browny-taupe colour, and it was one that I had my eye on for quite a while. On the nail, it looks different under different lights. Sometimes, it looks like a not-so-nice muddy brown colour, and in others, it looks like a gorgeous taupey-grey. Confusing! Barry M Nail Paints retail in Boots and Superdrug (and some Semi Chems) for £2.99 

Cruelty Free Makeup for All!

So, as you might know, yesterday (11th March 2013) marked the day from which it is illegal to sell cosmetics that have been tested on animals in the European Union.

~ f i n a l l y ~

I have never felt comfortable using products I knew had been tested on animals, and up until now, I have done my best to stick with brands I know never test; Urban Decay, Barry M, and Revlon. However, I would see new releases from different brands and was always a little peeved that they were out of bounds. No Longer! I am looking forward to being able to try out new releases from brands such as Maybelline, L'oreal and Rimmel, as their products always look really lovely. 

Are you happy the bill has been passed? (how could you not be!) To celebrate, here's some fuzzy bunnies (who will no longer ever have the misfortune of being a poor make-up tester)