A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

I’ve posted about the packaging and I’ve posted individual close ups of the eyeshadows alongside their official descriptions.  This post will document the swatches from the new Urban Decay 15 Year Anniversary Eyeshadow Collection* alongside my thoughts on each eyeshadow.

Midnight Rodeo is as Anitacska has been warning me, the love-child of MC/MCRA.  A beautiful base colour, spoiled by chunky glitter that will be ALL over your face in minutes if you’re not very careful about tapping off as much glitter as possible.  Urgh.

Tainted is a disappointment to me too.  A slightly amped up lilac yet it looks more dirty mauvey in the pan, less… prissy and simply more exciting!  Still, the texture is nice, the gold shimmer is a pretty touch and it could well be a grower.  No glitter.

Deeper is a ridiculously well-pigmented shade of awesomeness.  Copper with a firey gold sparkle (not glitter), it’s like a big beasty teddy bear and will make a fantastic liner on green eyes.  It looks a touch ‘grainy’ in my swatch (like Mignight Rodeo) – it’s not… that’s my bad.

Midnight 15 is a velvet-smooth, pale silver taupe.  A great inner corner highlight or an allover wash to brighten the area.  It has some (not too many) silver glitter particles.

Junkshow is a shocking pink with violet flashes.  Smooth shimmer with no glitter, I can see this one getting a lot of use on days when I’m feeling a little brave!

M.I.A is one of the most buttery eye shadows I’ve ever swatched.  It’s a deep chocolate shimmer with no glitter.  Hugely versatile.

Vanilla, the obvious highlighter is a smooth pale gold.  No glitter.

Omen is a violet with strong blue flashes.  Clearly, it’s stunning and builds up with great intensity though you’ll find a dupe (albeit a more greasy version) for a £1 in MUA’s eyeshadows.  Glitter free.

Ace is a graphite that is a good shade lighter than my swatch suggests (sorry).  A nice alternative to black for darkening the crease colour with a good texture.  No glitter.

Flow is a beautiful, neutral lid shade.  A shimmery peach that doesn’t pull too warm for cool skin tones.  Very pretty if not hugely exciting.  No glitter.

Evidence is a cracking midnight blue with some great vivid flashes.  It benefits from some building up and has a slightly hard texture.  No glitter.

Blackout, it’s matte black.  Move along.

Chase almost looks foiled right?  Another ridiculously buttery eyeshadow with a high-metallic finish.  Very pretty and glitter-free.

Deep End is a beautiful green/blue mix that leans slightly more green to my eye.  It’s a pretty shimmer with impressive pigmentation.  No glitter.

Half Truth is a smoky purple with multi-coloured shimmer.  Probably the most unique shade in the palette and my favourite!  Tres jolie!

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My top 5 shades:  Half Truth, Deeper, Chase, Evidence, M.I.A

The Urban Decay 15 Year Anniversary Eyeshadow Collection is available to buy online at Debenhams.com, priced at £39.00

Have your favourites changed now you’ve seen the swatches?

* press sample

The new Urban Decay 15 Year Anniversary Eyeshadow Collection* offers fifteen new shades, that’s one for each year they’ve been around.  Fifteen years huh?  I wonder when they launched the brand to the UK market?  I can probably remember back to around 2005/6 but don’t quote me on that… as I think I’ve said before, it was their nail polishes that used to catch my attention back then.

Anyway, 15 years… 15 new shades.  Let’s take a closer look at them.

Midnight Rodeo (medium metallic brown w/silver and gold glitter)

Tainted (pale matte purple with golden shimmer)

Deeper (deep shimmery golden brown)

Midnight 15 (oyster pearl w/silver glitter)

Junkshow (bright pink w/fuchsia shift)

M.I.A. (soft shimmery dark brown)

Vanilla (shimmery white gold)

Omen (shimmery metallic bright purple w/blue shift)

Ace (dark gunmetal shimmer)

Flow (soft peach shimmer)

Evidence (deep metallic blue)

Blackout (darkest, most saturated black)

Chase (metallic bright bronze)

Deep End (bright teal shimmer)

Half Truth (shimmery smoky purple)

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As far as the range of shades go, I think Urban Decay have taken a good line with this palette.  They seem to have placed a focus on the usable, a term which shouldn’t be confused with neutral.

However it may suffer from being a little non-commital, I’ve already heard grumbles from neutral-lovers saying that it reminds them too much of the Naked Palette (I guess there’s only so many variations of Bronze out there) whilst the brights fans may feel a little ignored with this release.

I’ve also read a couple of grumbles that there are no mattes in this palette which I have to agree is a real shame as Urban Decay have released some incredible and under-rated matte shades over the years.

Before swatching (my opinion may change!), the initial stand-out beauties for me are: Tainted, Midnight 15, Ace, Evidence and Half Truth.  I hope they don’t disappoint.

Swatches tomorrow but in the mean-time… Best shade there?  How about the worst?

The Urban Decay 15 Year Anniversary Eyeshadow Collection is available to buy online at Debenhams.com, priced at £39.00

* press sample

£6.49, Superdrug… if you’re lucky.  If you’re not so fortunate… there’s always the Sleek website or eBay but if you know you’re going that route, grab it now before it becomes ‘rare’ and about 3x the RRP.

Have you noticed anything odd about my palette yet btw?

How about now?

I appear to have a duplicated shade… not that I’m massively bothered because the missing “The Mail” shade looks a bit turdy judging by other swatches I’ve seen.  I appear to have doubled up on “Gift Basket” instead.

Having said that, I bought my palette off eBay ‘cos my local Superdrug doesn’t stock the brand…. it probably fell off the back of the conveyer belt.

Have you got this palette yet?  Trying to?  Or just plain not interested?

The final Wet n’ Wild Color Icon Trio palette!  Don’t forget, I’ll be giving you an opportunity to win all of the ones featured.  For a quick reminder of the other palettes, read on…

I’m Feeling Retro
I Got Good Jeans
Silent Treatment
I’m Getting Sunburned

But today is the turn of a proper party-looking palette, Spoiled Brat.  I may have ‘eeked’ a bit when I saw this.  Silver, black and hot pink…

…really not a combination of colours I’d normally attempt.  Some of you ladies are like ‘pfff, what’s the big deal?’.  And quite rightly… I’m just an unimaginative wimp to be fair.

But what I lack in imagination, I try to make up for in ‘not afraid to put myself out there for guidance’.  So let me have it and give it to me straight.  Just don’t tell me you hate my site layout again.  We’re talking about the makeups today right? 😉

I think I would have preferred the flash of pink on my lids… just a peek when I looked down.  I fear I’ve gone a bit retro-futuristic weird with this one.  Still, truth be told, I’m not sure my application skills are up to the job of keeping a vibrant pop on my lid without muddying the crap out of it.

So… Wet n’ Wild Color Icon Trio Eyeshadow in Spoiled Brat… another win?  (not on me… just in general!)

I feel like a big fat cam whore with these FOTDs… I don’t think I’ve done as many FOTDs this entire year as I have this/last week.  I’m nearly through with all the trios now, I think there’s one more after this one… and then I’ve only got a bloomin’ awesome GIVEAWAY of all the ones I’ve featured so far.  Get in!

So today’s is the Wet n’ Wild Color Icon Trio Eyeshadow palette in I’m Feeling Retro.  On paper, it’s my least favourite… at least half of you will agree when you see the shades and the swatches.  Check it out.

Knowing that it was slightly sheerer than the rest, I did the usual thing of packing it on… if I’d had a trowel to hand, I would have happily used it.  The pink/purple needed more persuasion than the blue which went on surprising pigmented.  The highlight is very sheer and adds more of a luminescence than anything else.

Here’s the FOTD alongside Accessorize Merged Blush in Starlet and Lanolips Lip Ointment in Dark Honey.

For something that I was honestly expecting to hate… I, well…. don’t hate it!  Yeah, it’s a bit out of my comfort zone but it’s less clashy, clashy than I anticipated and certainly not too fancy dress.  At least, I hope not seeing as I did leave the house looking like this.  Application is a bit rubbish because I really thought I’d be scrubbing it from my face once I’d applied it!

So, come on… did you hate it then like it?  Like it and then hate it once you saw it on me?  Hate/Hate?  Like/Like?  I neeeeed to overanalyse the makeups!

Continuing with my Wet n’ Wild palettes, today’s show is Silent Treatment.  I knew I’d like this one but well, this is just silly beautiful.

The browbone shade is gonna see a lot of use… it’s a lovely match for me to blend out harsh edges.  I applied the crease shade higher than I would normally and left my outer v lighter.

I think I like the effect… I’m not brilliant at applying eyeshadow but this seemed to open my eyes a little more though the overall effect was more dramatic than I’d usually wear during daylight hours!

Weird angles… but it shows the eyeshadow FAR better than my usual attempts!

These palettes are a little dusty with a degree of fall out but boy, am I loving them nonetheless.  We’re missing out on a trick here UK ladies.

My lovely friend Allyson sent me a selection of Wet n’ Wild palettes from across the pond and I’m working my way through them slowly.  Some of the colour combinations are frightening for a neutral-loving lady like me but they’re all pretty damn fantastic nonetheless and I’m enjoying breaking my safe boundaries!

Considering we can’t get these in the UK, I thought I’d work my way through the palettes and torture you a little with some photos of their goodness.

how hot is that blue?

Poor blue, I haven’t done it justice AT ALL!

Do you own any of these Wet n’ Wild Color Icon palettes?

Another one of my IMATS purchases from earlier in the year was this Yaby Freestyle palette… ‘freestyle’ because it holds any shape of pan in the same way the more well-known z-palettes do.

Being a Yaby palette, it’s not exactly large… at around 15cm (longest side), it’s smaller than MAC, Z-Palette, Unii and MUFE palettes but as my end goal is to fill it with Yaby products (which are teeny tiny too), I don’t have a problem with the compact sizing.

Mine is currently filled with a few randoms (5 Yaby eyeshadows, a Yaby brow powder, 1 MAC eyeshadow, a Yaby blusher and a Stila eyeshadow to be precise!).

The palette is well-constructed with solid hinges, strong magnets and sturdy housing.  The mirror is large and without any obvious distortions.

It’s pretty much a delight to take away on holiday and I can’t wait to fill it with more baby Yaby goodies!

I bought my Yaby Freestyle Palette from The Makeup Artist Boutique (who were exhibiting at IMATS).  It is priced at £10.99 from their web store.

I love to get my teeth stuck into a new beauty infatuation, not that I need another one… so the fact that it’s an affordable obsession makes it all the more appealing!

I bought an empty 12 pan palette from Cocktail Cosmetics and 4 blush pans to satisfy my initial cravings.

From Left to Right: Mocha, Coral Spice, Pink Velvet & Misty Plum.  The pans are 36mm, each holding a generous 5.5g of product which cost me a measly £2.95 per pan.

These blushes are deeply pigmented and I wouldn’t apply without using a stippling brush for the lightest dusting on my fair skin.  I’ve been tapping the surface gently with the brush before stippling along my cheek and then blending with something a bit fluffier.

Three of the four I own are matte, Coral Spice is the only sparkler of the bunch with just a light dusting of glimmer that’s completely wearable.

L-R: Mocha, Coral Spice, Pink Velvet, Misty Plum

Aren’t they gorgeous?  With the exception of Pink Velvet… the above photo shows a single swatch of each shade.  Pink Velvet is a little less pigmented than the rest and I swatched it twice.

The blush lasts for most of the day, easily equal to the majority of my NARS shades.  The only negative I have is that they suffer from some fallout, they’re a little ‘dusty’ in the pan.  When I tap the surface of Mocha… I need to blow the dust from the surface of the pan before I can close the lid.

If you can see past the bingo wings (I know I can’t), this shows a cheek swatch of Pink Velvet which is the perfect pop of pink.

I also purchased the La Femme Twelve Pan Empty Palette (£10.95) to hold my goodies in which is one of those sturdy cardboard numbers .   It appears to be well constructed with strong magnetism and now scrappy corners.  I’m also pleasantly surprised by how lightweight and slimline the palette is.

I’m so pleased these are finally available to pick up in the UK!  Get your bums over to Cocktail Cosmetics and commence hauling immediately!

I’m already the proud owner of Sueded Brown’s little sister, Velvet Plumtones so I couldn’t help but pick this one up too when I saw it in the ‘sale’ box on counter in John Lewis.  I paid half price for this little palette.  A total snip a £12.50!

I love these Color Intrigue palettes… I mean, OK, they’re not hugely exciting in shade selection but they’re wearable, high quality shadows that are hard to screw up.  They blend beautifully, last forever on my lids and have a beautiful satin sheen without being too metallic.

4 shades ranging from a pale highlight through to a v. dark charcoal brown which I”m addicted to using as a liner.

Aren’t they rich?  The highlight shade *is* there by the way, it’s just pretty damn close to my skin tone as a colour match!

So, that leaves one palette left to collect…. the Neutral Cashmeres.  I know I can get it in the ‘ordinary’ packaging but I’d quite like to complete my set of 100th Anniversary ones!  I will have to keep my eyes peeled!

Do you own any Elizabeth Arden cosmetics?

Metamorphosis… was the first big word I learnt to spell.  I think I was 8 or 9 and I delighted in telling anyone who couldn’t get away from me quick enough exactly what it meant.  You would have hated me.

Something you might like a little better though, is this Spring Chinese-inspired palette from Estee Lauder, available exclusively at Harvey Nichols.

Metamorphosis, Tom Pechaux’s creation is described as an ethereal combination of five metallic shades: Glistening Gold, Lavender Star, Pink Drama, Glacial Blue and Black Crystals.

Looking much brighter in the pan than when translated onto skin it promises to give a look that is soft yet sophisticated, a look that is reminiscent of a butterfly at night, with its fluttering dark wings of delicate pearl and effervescent mystery. Right-o then!

I think a picture illustrating that (rather flowery) description might be more my cup of tea…

Doesn’t Liu Wen look beautiful?  Sophisticated, powerful and delicate all at the same time.

I think it’s a striking palette but sadly pastels look so pukey on me that you’d call an ambulance if you saw me wearing those shades.

The Limited Edition Pure Color Five Color EyeShadow Palette in Metamorphosis is priced at £34.00 and available exclusively at Estée Lauder counters in Harvey Nichols only from 3rd January 2011.

Are you a pastels kinda girl?  Or are you like me and holding out for Lauder’s Spring release (the Wild Violet palette looks stunning!)

I bought this little palette from ASOS a few weeks ago.  There were three to choose from and I couldn’t decide between Sueded Browns and this one, Velvet Plumtones.  So I did the only sensible thing I could do…. I googled for reviews! (you thought I was gonna say “buy both!” didn’t you… tsk.)

It wasn’t long before this video by Sam from Pixiwoo came up and I clicked through to watch.  I didn’t actually have to get that far… because as soon as I’d read “Especially good on green eyes” in their title… it was in my basket.  Be aware though, that if you do watch the video… you can probably kiss goodbye to the £25 you need to get this in your hot little hands.

Ugh, I love… love… LOVE the illustration on the front.

The palette is beautifully made, one of the best I own in terms of packaging quality.  I know that’s no great shakes… but when it feels good enough to make you take notice, it’s worth a mention.

I’m getting into a bit of a bad habit of swatching then photographing.  Or in this case… using about 3 times, then photographing.  Sorry!  I like to photograph pristine palettes for you guys but I just can’t help myself!

Four satin shades are included… none of them shimmery, just smooth with a slight sheen.  The ‘most’ matte is the darkest shade in the top left and most satin-y, the palest in the top right which has a slight iridescence to it.

Each shade applies super smoothly and blends very well indeed.  A fact that was visually noticeable for someone like me who isn’t completely shit at application but has a tendency to realise halfway through the day that she could probably have benefited from a couple more minutes blending.  Does that make sense?

On with the swatches…

Clearly a cool-toned palette, each shade has a hint of plum about it… it’s subtle but coherent and makes them work beautifully together.  It’s not hugely pigmented, the above swatches show around three swipes each but the pigmentation is buildable.  Applying over the top of UDPP extracts more vibrancy from the shades but I quite like the subtle muted tones that I get without it.

So would I recommend?  Yes, yes and yes again.  I really want the other two palettes for my collection… but Lord knows I don’t need them.  Perhaps (as they’re limited edition) ASOS will discount them if they don’t sell out first.  If anyone spots them at a cheaper price before I do – I would really appreciate a heads up!

Like the look of the Elizabeth Arden Limited Edition Color Intrigue Palettes?