A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

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

Well, it’s reached our shores… the Urban Decay 15 Year Anniversary Eyeshadow Collection* has arrived in the UK and is currently available online at Debenhams on a limited edition run.

Released in celebration of Urban Decay’s 15th Anniversary, the eyeshadow collection features 15 never-seen-before full size shades.  These aren’t re-releases of older shades in palette form, you’ll find no MCRA in this palette.

It’s gonna get a bit picture heavy…

demonstrating the reflective finish, not flipping a ‘V’ – promise!

You can’t really hold an Urban Decay palette in your hands without having some thoughts on the way it’s been presented.  The 15 Year Anniversary Eyeshadow Collection waves goodbye to the cardboard packaging of old in favour of plastic.  It’s better than it sounds, I promise!  The high shine finish, jewelled UD logo and beautiful filigree edging ensures that this is one hunk of plastic that is definitely dressing-table worthy.

Invert the lid and you’ll find a large mirror that stretches from corner to corner.  Lift the platform that the eyeshadows rest upon and you’ll find a ‘velvet’ lined (shallow) compartment below which will give some extra life to the packaging even after the shadows have long been used or even depotted.

Is any of this necessary?  Of course not and I hope the addition of things like the ‘secret’ compartment didn’t bump the price, especially when the packaging of the relatively austere Naked Palette had been so well received.  However, with an extra three shadows on the Naked Palette and only a £4 difference (the price of the NP has risen), it doesn’t seem too out of line from a pricing point of view.

Tomorrow I’ll be focusing on the eye shadows and on Wednesday, those all important swatches.

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

So, come on lovely people… you never hold back opinions on the UD Palettes.  First impressions?

oh… and here’s a bonus picture for the OCD among us… FINGERPRINTS! *throws arms up and acts like world is ending*

* press sample

I was at an event last night that showcased some of Laura Mercier’s A/W collection and upcoming releases.  I have to say that although the A/W didn’t do much to whet my appetite, these little sticks of dynamite colour certainly got my attention focused.

The Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colours will be released next month across counters nationwide in a total of eight shades though only 4 were available to view last night so bear with me while I show you these for now.  They’re reminiscent of the MAC Shadesticks, if you’re familiar with those… you’ll recognise the concept.  It’s simple: a cream shadow/liner in twist-up crayon form.  The formula feels soft (unlike some of the MAC Shadesticks) and is incredibly pigmented.  The swatches shown below are maximum two/three passes against my skin.

from left to right: smoke, steel, amethyst & cocoa

They set after about 20 seconds into what is claimed to be a creaseproof, smudgeproof finish.  I did indeed have trouble removing the swatch of the darkest shade and needed the help of some heavy-duty scrubbing and a baby wipe to do the job.  I haven’t tried these on my eyes so can’t offer any opinions on longevity or blendability but I’m totally flagging them up as something to look out for, the colours on display were quite beautiful.

The complete shade range will include:

♦ Plum
♦ Amethyst
♦ Steel
♦ Sapphire
♦ Smoke
♦ Jungle
♦ Khaki
♦ Cocoa

They’ll retail at £20.50 a piece and can be used alone, over primer or under shadow to create a host of versatile looks.

Will you be interested in checking these out next month?

£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!

In honour of the hottest day of the year which we ‘enjoyed’ on Monday… I wore the Wet n’ Wild Color Icon Trio Eyeshadow aptly called “I’m Getting Sunburned”.

I wasn’t sure WHAT THE HELL I was gonna do with a frosty pink browbone shade… infact, so far I’ve only worn the suggested browbone shades on the browbone once.  I only ever really wanna wear skintone shades in that area… it’s not Mardi Gras yano?

I ended up packing a little on in the inner corner… it doesn’t work badly.  This is a really nice combo for green eyes.

The crease colour in particular is stunning, it reminds me of MAC’s Teddy Kohl but in powder form… a rich, chocolate brown with copper flecks.  I’ll be wearing this as a liner for sure.

Sorry the photos aren’t so clear on the colours here… I couldn’t take standing around snapping pics in the window for too long, my smile was looking more forced by the second thanks to the greenhouse effect!

Do you like this one?  Next one up has a hawt pink in it – god knows what I’m gonna do with that!

* lipstick is MAC Creme Cup while I remember!

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.

I do all my best online shopping late at night… when no-one else is around.  Those two facts may or may not be connected.

I made a long-overdue Shiro Cosmetics order a few weeks ago and frankly, couldn’t be happier with my choices!  I don’t know about you but when it comes to posts like these… I just wanna see the swatches, so without further ado – here’s what I bought with official descriptions included.  These have all been applied with a damp brush.

Team Rocket: Shimmery red-toned purple (I get more of a muted greyed purple with a red undertone)

There Will be Cake: Shimmery chocolate brown with cherry sparks

S.S. Anne: Universally flattering, shimmery, subtle-yet-rich champagne with a peachy-copper tinge

Rattata: Vivid opaque bright purple with shimmery blue undertones

Party Escort: Shimmery blackened silver with lots of red sparks

Master Sword: Super-glittery pale taupe – a blend of silver and gold, with bright silver sparks

Veran: Super-dark blue-black loaded with aqua and purple sparks

Because We Can: Super-bright shimmery hot pink with flashes of silver

Mewtwo: Sheer, shimmery, medium purple with blue tones

Unsatisfactory Mark: Pure bold crimson with light shimmer

Golem: Rich, opaque brown with strong silver-gray shimmer

Still Alive: Cool, bright shimmery green with a subtle green-to-pink duochrome shift and lime glitter

Everything Is Bears: Rich, dark brown packed with gold glitter and red sparks

Beta: Shimmery blackened emerald

Your Best Friend: Shimmery grey-pink with strong pink glitter

Ganondorf: Velvety black with strong dark red shimmer

Weepinbell: Shimmery chartreuse with subtle green duochrome

Midna: Shimmery medium gray packed with bold aqua sparks

Oshus: Dark ocean blue, with boatloads of gold glitter

Test Subject: Bold, shimmery burnt orange

Epona: Soft velvety brown with a misty cream overlay

Outright Fabrication: Soft shimmery white with bold flecks of red and brown

It’s nice to be back playing amongst my piggies… I haven’t made a big order like this since the She Space had their closing down sale!

Do you have any favourite Shiro Cosmetics shades?

Following my pledge to suffocate the makeup snob in me that threatens to overwhelm, I spent a little while swatching at the Maybelline stand in my local Tesco the other evening.  OK, I swatched at all of them, I’m a quick healer.  Infact, I was gone for so long (just popping out for a pint of milk dear!) that Mr. L looked slightly white-faced when I returned home after 10pm having forgotten to take my phone.  Oops.

I thought I’d share some photos of my favourite purchase of the evening, Maybelline’s Eye Studio Mono Eye Shadow in Silken Taupe (£4.09)…

Alright, so it’s not exactly the Show Orchid of the eyeshadow world.  It’s taupe.  But damnit, I like my taupes… and I like them a lot.  Wanna know how much?  Well… here’s some potential dupes I pulled out…

From left to right: Maybelline Silken Taupe ♦ Shu Uemura M810 ♦ Helena Rubenstein Dark Ebony Duo ♦ NARS Ashes to Ashes ♦ Estee Lauder Tempting Mocha

Swatched from left to right: Maybelline Silken Taupe ♦ Shu Uemura M810 ♦ Helena Rubenstein Dark Ebony Duo ♦ NARS Ashes to Ashes ♦ Estee Lauder Tempting Mocha

Wait… there’s more…

From left to right: Maybelline Silken Taupe ♦ Chanel Safari ♦ MAC Style Snob ♦ Paul & Joe #23 ♦ MAC Satin Taupe

Swatched from left to right: Maybelline Silken Taupe ♦ Chanel Safari ♦ MAC Style Snob ♦ Paul & Joe #23 ♦ MAC Satin Taupe

Last one, I promise…

From left to right: Maybelline Silken Taupe ♦ Stila Cloud

Swatched from left to right: Maybelline Silken Taupe ♦ Stila Cloud

The moral of this post of boring eyeshadows is…

a).  Go and buy Maybelline’s Silken Taupe right now.

b). Count your neutral shades and work out just how many millenia it will take to use them up.

c). If you want to borrow a taupe, you’ll have to ask elsewhere… I don’t seem to have very many, must rectify this.

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* estee lauder’s tempting mocha was a pr sample

Well, I wasn’t gonna get sucked into the hype.  Oh no, not me!  But then I thought “oooh just one little look to see what everyone’s going on about… *swoon*, *thud*, *kerching*”

Sucker.

Priced at £24.50, I believe this makes the Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Intense in #3 Purpura, the most expensive single eyeshadow I own, roundly beating my Le Metier de Beaute spangly silver that I bought on impulse and have barely worn to this day.

So first things first, is it worth that horrendous price tag?  Of course it’s not… but like my Tom Ford lippies, the numbers that ring up on the till matter less once I’ve fallen head over heels.  All that matters is finding ways to justify why I require at least one more from the range.  Sucker.

The Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Intense range of 12 shades incorporate multi-faceted pigment with impressive colour payoff and a rich, creamy formula.

I initially approached the counter with Lust Red in mind after seeing Temptalia’s swatch of the blackened-red shade… but a quick check at the alternatives available had me lusting after something a little lighter for Summer.  Don’t worry Lust Red… I’m coming back for you in the Autumn!

Purpura, #3 is a beautifully blended mix of purples and gold that combine to create a violet-toned charcoal that dances with a golden glimmer.

I wouldn’t class this as sheer when applied dry but it’s definitely more ‘buildable’ (that’s a diplomatic way of putting it!) than some of the other, more intense shades.  This is actually one of the reasons I purchased it as it felt “airier” and more befitting for hot days when a ‘made up’ face just looks a little too much.

The three swatches above show Purpura applied dry, ontop of primer (Urban Decay original) and with a damp brush.  There’s not a great deal of difference between using a primer or simply applying it with a dampened brush so I’d imagine the question of preference will come down to longevity.

As for longevity, well I don’t have any opinion on that yet seeing as I only bought this yesterday.  All reports sound good so I’m looking forward to decent wear from this really, rather expensive but ultimately flippin’ gorgeous eyeshadow.

Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense eyeshadow in #3 Purpura is priced at £23.50 and available to buy on counter if you can find stock.  As of yesterday (31/5), Selfridges in London was out but Harvey Nichols came up trumps!

What do you think?  Like or no-like?

And so my MUFE Aqua Cream collection grows because I wasn’t able to help myself when I saw a swatch of Aqua Cream #19 and couldn’t stop thinking about it for weeks afterward!

MUFE Aqua Cream in #19 is a blue-toned purple with an almost electric quality.  Like most Aqua Creams, it can be a bit tough to blend and I’d recommend applying it more as a base than an independent eyeshadow.  Unless you got the skillz of course.  And if you have?  Come show me how to do it!

Look, ain’t she purdy?

Lasting power is more than adequate on my lids, without any primers I get around 7/8hrs before creasing… the more heavy handed I am with it, the faster the product heads for my creases.

I particularly enjoy pairing this one up with NARS Ashes to Ashes eyeshadow, creating a KILLER violet-taupe from the combo.

MUFE Aqua Creams are available to buy online from Guru Makeup Emporium and PAM priced ar around £16.75

Do you own any MUFE Aqua Creams?