Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette Details

I for one am super excited about the release of the new Naked palette by Urban Decay.

The palette, which will be called Naked 3, will feature 0.05oz brand new and exclusive eyeshadows. Now you may be thinking: what's the difference between this and the previous two Naked palettes?

Firstly, the hues. The new offering has focused the eyeshadows around pink and brown hues in a range of both matte and shimmer finishes. Compared to the original Naked palette which had bronze hued neutrals and the second edition with taupe hued neutrals.

All of the eyeshadows in the new Naked 3 palette are completely brand new. What I didn't like about the second edition was how similar, and how many replicates, of the original palette were included. It was a bit pointless for people who already had the original, in my opinion. So I'm glad that Urban Decay have used twelve new shades in the latest edition. Also, there is wide range of finishes - perfect for all looks.

The shades:
Strange - a very light pink, almost beige (matte)
Dust - light metallic pink (metallic)
Burnout - almost peachy pink (satin)
Limit - pale dusty rose (matte)
Buzz - metallic light rose gold (metallic)
Trick - warm pink peach (metallic)
Nooner - medium pink brown (matte)
Factory - light pink toned mauve (shimmer)
Mugshot - metallic taupe (metallic)
Darkside - deepest taupe (matte)
Blackheart - almost black with red accents (glitter)

Freebies! With the original Naked palette came with a double ended 24/7 eyeliner and the second came with a mini lip junkie plus a double ended good karma brush. In the new Naked palette we are treated to a brand new good karma duo brush plus four mini primer potion samples of all the shades. I personally adore the Urban Decay brushes as they are of a really high quality and last forever.

So there we have it! The new Naked 3 palette will be available here in the UK mid December and will cost presumedly around the £36-£40 mark. Just in time and perfect to add to your Christmas wish list...

Dubai Sephora Haul

One of the shops I was most excited to visit at The Dubai Mall was Sephora. I had a long list of products only available there but I did struggle to find any of the brands. I did however pick up four things that I wanted anyway despite the fact you can buy them in England. The price was a little cheaper so all in all it was a good shopping trip :) Everything I bought totalled around 725 dirhams which sounds crazy but in GBP it is about £129. Not bad eh?!

Glam Glow Super-Mud Clearing Treatment: Probably the most expensive skincare product I've bought to date. It's meant to be the holy grail of mud masks. It can be used as either a full mask or as a spot treatment that works on pores, blemishes, acne, razor burns, in-grown hairs, problem skin and white/black heads. I can't wait to try this out!

Too Faced Boudoir Eyes Eyeshadow Collection: I've never seen this palette before but, omg when I saw it on display I needed to have it. It has an array of shimmery and matte colours that are super wearable and gorgeous. I'll definitely be posting up a review with swatches soon-ish.

Benefit They're Real Mascara: Soon becoming my favourite mascara, I just thought what the heck I'd buy it full size. I've been through numerous samples and, with the exchange rate, it made it a little cheaper.

Urban Decay De-Slick Oil Control Makeup Setting Spray: I like the original UD setting spray so when I saw the oil control version I thought I'd give it a whirl. I hope it lasts a while because it was kinda expensive for what it is. Nevertheless, with this crazy heatwave we're having in the UK and with my holiday to Cali coming up I knew I'd be in need of it.

So yeah! Four things but I'm proud of my purchases. I also went to Bath and Body Works but only picked up hand sanitisers and the warm vanilla sugar body spray.

Hope your enjoying the heatwave. Xoxo

PS. My holiday experience: Dubai post should be up soon!

June Beauty Favourites (+ randoms!)

I actually can't believe we're more than half way through the year. Before we know it it's gonna be Christmas, then new years, then 2014! I'm going to Dubai next week (ahh!) so expect a couple travel-type posts in the upcoming week :) Anyway, here are my June favourites - as always, links are at the bottom of the post!!!

NARS Powder Foundation (Fiji), Model Co Ultra Shine Lipgloss (Strip Tease), Urban Decay Naked Basics, Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Concealer, Rimmel Exaggerate Eyeliner, Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

Long, Defined Lashes

Elf Brow Comb & Brush, Clinique High Impact Mascara, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion, Tweezerman Eyelash Curlers, Benefit They're Real, Tweezerman Tweezers, MAC Eye Kohl in Smolder

I'm someone who literally spends 20 minutes applying mascara in the morning. I don't wear falsies everyday so I like to make my mascara as though I am wearing them. Sometimes I like the clumpy look, other times I like the long and defined looked.

bareMinerals READY Touch Up Veil

bareMinerals READY Touch Up Veil in Translucent

I bought the Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder back in May of this year, and have recently finished it completely. That's five months of using it daily: you can judge for yourself whether spending £23 (at time of purchase) was worth it. Anyway, I loved that powder and it did what it was meant to do perfectly. But instead of repurchasing, I wanted to try something new.

Enter the bareMinerals READY Touch Up Veil with SPF 15.

bareMinerals are famous for their loose mineral powders. I've tried it before and really enjoyed it, but always thought it was a hassle to use every day so I never repurchased it. So when I found out they were introducing a pressed powder version, I was excited.

The bareMinerals Ready Touch Up Veil is said to diffuse the look of imperfections whilst reducing shine to create a flawless finish throughout the day. Sounds brilliant.

And it is.

I've been using this powder ever since I got it and have been in love. I got mine in the shade translucent, yet there is a slightly tinted version available, and it doesn't look cakey at all. In fact, it's invisible. It also feels weightless, yet reduces shine completely. I also don't have to re-apply the product throughout the day which is what I had to do with the Urban Decay De-Slick.

It also comes with a really nice powder puff, perfect for on the go use.

Overall, if you haven't tried this product, and if you're already a fan of the bareMinerals range, then I definitely recommend you try this product. At £22 it can seem a little steep at first, but for 10g of product, and for the quality of the product, then it's worth it.

Have a good day :)

Suzanna xoxo

August beauty favourites

I never do favourite posts mainly because, 9 times out of 10, the products are generally the same. This month I have some new products and as always, I include non-beauty favourites too! I know it's cliché but this year has seriously whizzed past; I start my final year of school next week, my birthday is in a month and then we have Christmas in 115 days! Before we know it, it will be 2013. Anyway, let's get started.

Maybelline One by One Volum' Express Mascara, Urban Decay De-Slick, Nars Laguna, Clinique Airbrush Concealer, Ted Baker S'lip Liquid Lip Colour and imPRESS Nails

These are the products that I've used pretty much every day this month, especially when I was in Italy. I love trying new mascaras and I think I've found my new favourite in the Maybelline One by One Volum' Express. It doesn't clump, it nicely separates the lashes and gives a decent amount of length. I would say it gives that much volume, but layered with another mascara would do the trick. I opted for the non-waterproof, and it still stays on all day. The powder I've been using every day is the Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder - it's perfect. It doesn't leave a white cast, it keeps my skin matte all day, it comes with a puff for touch-ups (if needed) and the packaging is awesome. I love it so much I have even hit pan. At £20, it is decently priced yet I do think it's worth it. Another product I've hit pan on is the infamous Nars Laguna bronzer. I was sceptical about taking this abroad as I've heard all of the horror stories about it breaking but mine was perfectly fine. I love this bronzer, it works for all skin-types and is perfect for those with pale skin tones as it doesn't make you look muddy or orange. My favourite concealer this month has been the Clinique Airbrush Concealer as it's easy to apply, blend and is very natural looking. It also works as a good highlighter for the cheekbones. I've been loving the new Ted Baker Liquid Lip Colour in light rose. It's a shimmery blue-tone pink and is perfect. It lasts for a really long time and smells amazing, too. My final favourite are the imPRESS stick-on false nails. The first pair I bought was in "Starstruck" and I loved them so much I bought another pair (I can't seem to find the name of these, but they're leopard print). They last a long time, look great, are easy to apply as well as easy to take off. They are on the pricey side, but I do think they're worth it for those special occasions!

Now for the non-beauty favourites.

Nylon magazine, Union Jack sunnies, Contagion, sketching pencils and my iPhone

I'm a magazine hoarder. Each month I buy at least ten different monthly magazines - keeping in mind they are roughly £3-£4 each! But I just love them. Anyway, this month I found American magazine Nylon with the gorgeous Ashley Greene on the cover. It's such a good magazine, check it out. Even though the Olympic fiasco is over, I've still been wearing my Union Jack Sunglasses that my dad bought me on eBay. They're in the style of Ray-Bans which, he knows, I love. My favourite movie this month has been Contagion. Brief synopsis: a deadly disease infects civilisation and a team of doctors have to deal with the outbreak and conjure up a cure. It's f**king amazing. It stars famous actors like Matt Damon, Kate Winslet and Jude Law, so it's a definite must-see. I'm just annoyed that I didn't go and see it at the cinema! I've been getting much more into art recently - hence the representation by the two sketching pencils. My dad bought me a really lovely leather sketching book which I've been constantly drawing in. Then we have my iPhone, sneakily disguised by, what I think, is the best case in the whole world. It looks like a Nintendo Game Boy! I don't know what I would do without my phone - I listen to music, play games, surf the web, read e-mails, call, text, set reminders, take pictures and so much more. #TeamiPhone

No favourites post would be the same without a run-through of my favourite songs!

• Little Talks - Of Monsters and Men
• All I Want Is You - U2
• Family Friend - The Vaccines
• Some Nights - Fun
• Baba O'Riley - The Who
• Where I Belong - Building 427
• Runaways - The Killers (best song ever, hands down)

YouTube them all, and then fall in love.

Suzanna xoxo

What's in my travel make-up bag?

This time tomorrow, I'll be boarding the plane to go to Rome! I am so excited as I've wanted to go to Italy ever since my dad came back from a business trip and told stories of how wonderful the atmosphere is there. Plus, we're going for my mum's birthday which makes it extra special.

Considering I've never done any "what's in my ___" posts, I thought I'd start with showing you what I am taking in my make-up bag for Rome. The make-up bag that I am taking with me is see-through so I can use the products on the plane if needed. It also makes it easier for me as I know where everything is!

This is everything I'm taking...

Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara, Maybelline One by One Mascara, Clinique High Impact Mascara, Garnier Eye Roll On, MAC Eye Kohl in Smolder, MAC Eye Kohl in Fascinating, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion, Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner, Clinique Eyeshadow Duo in Victorian Pink, Avon Glimmersticks Brow Definer in Dark Brown and Blonde, MAC Brow Set in Clear, MAC Paint Pots in Bare Study, Nubile and Rubenesque, Benefit High Beam, Benefit The Porefessional, MAC Mineralise Skinfinish in Semi-Precious Crystal Pink, Nars Bronzer in Laguna, Urban Decay De-Slick Translucent Powder, MAC Powder Blush in Harmony, Revlon Lip Butter in Strawberry Shortcake and Carmex!

(Underlined items link to reviews)

It sounds like a lot, but trust me, it's not!

I hope you're having a great summer and I'll be back towards the end of the week!

Suzanna xoxo

PS. I've mentioned this before, but I'm going to New York in October for my birthday. I've planned to do several posts before then including what I'm taking for skincare and what I'm taking for haircare. I might also do a whats in my bag post - if interested :)

Cat-eye makeup tutorial

Products Used
MAC Paint Pot in Nubile http://bit.ly/Lj7d3p
MAC Paint Pot in Idylic
Clinique eyeshadow duo
Maybelline Master Precise liquid eyeliner
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On eye pencil in Perversion http://bit.ly/JuyRiP
Avon SuperSHOCK gel liner in Blackest Black
Maybelline Illegal Length mascara http://bit.ly/Ju8e83
Maybelline The Falsies Flared mascara http://bit.ly/K2xyq8
MAC Mineralise Skinfinish in Semi Precious Crystal Pink
No7 eyebrow pencil in Espresso
MAC Brow Set in Clear

1. Start with priming your eyelids, for this I used MAC's Paint Pot in Nubile however a similar alternative would be MAC's painterly paint pot or Urban Decay's primer potion.
2. Apply a dark plum shade to your crease; I used MAC's Paint Pot in Idylic to do this. Make sure you blend it so you see no harsh lines.
3. With a light brown, run it through the crease. Then with a light frosty champagne colour, apply it all over the lid with a flat shader brush. Go back with the light brown to blend any edges and to define the crease that extra bit more. Using a matte white shade, put this under the brow-bone and blend it into the crease colour. The eyeshadows I used are all from Clinique. Then with a champagne colour, I used MAC's Mineralise Skinfinish in Crystal Pink, put this in the inner-corner to brighten your eyes.
4. Using a liquid eyeliner, for this I used Maybelline's Master Precise, run it along the upper lash line. Start with a thin line and then build it up to a more thicker line. Create a cat-eye effect by continuing the eyeliner above your eye (see picture) as far as you wish.
5. Tight-line using your favourite black eyeliner and then line your waterline. I used both Urban Decay and Avon liners for this as I find they have the best staying power.
6. Curl your lashes and apply mascara to the top and bottom. I used Illegal Length for the bottom lashes and The Falsies Flared for the top lashes.

Hope you liked this! :)

Suzanna xoxo

(A rather late) April favourites!

1. Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman powder brush
2. MAC 129
3. Colgate Wisp mini portable brushes (life saver!)
4. Nails Inc nail polish in Tate*
5. Moroccan Oil
6. LO'real gel eyeliner
7. Garnier Anti-Puff Roll On*
8. NARS bronzer in Laguna
9. Avon Supershock Gel Liner in Black
10. MAC brow set in Clear
11. Revon Lip Butter in Strawberry Shortcake
12. MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study
13. Clinique Anti-Blemish moisturiser*
14. Moov Massage Cream*
15. MAC Blot Film
16. Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder

★ 

Non-beauty favourites
- The song Payphone by Maroon 5 featuring Wiz Khalifa. To me, it's the best song I have heard this year, I absolutely love it. I've never really liked Maroon 5 before, but I do now!
What do you think of the song?  Have a listen here!
- Instagram for iPhone. It's the best app there is.
- Magazines! My favourites this month have been Company and Elle.
- Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Yes, it's one of those books everyone hates because they've studied it at school and yes, I am studying it at a school but I really like the story!
- My YMCMB grey hoodie. It's perfect for lounging which is what I love to do.

That's it! I hope you all have a wonderful May :)

Suzanna xoxo

24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion by Urban Decay

Yes, another Urban Decay product review. Sorry!

Eyeliners are my favourite makeup product and with Urban Decay being one of my favourite brands, I thought I'd give their re-vamped black shade Perversion a try. I got mine from House of Fraser (where I buy pretty much all of my high-end makeup from) for £13.

To me, that's pretty expensive for an eyeliner, but I decided to buy it anyway...

Urban Decay claims that it is "creamy and brilliant been waterproof" - that doesn't make sense, but they do say its waterproof. I agree that is is creamy but I wouldn't say that it's waterproof. The online description also goes onto say that it "dries down to a long-lasting finish that will not budge". I do agree with the whole 24/7 concept behind the product.

When swatched, it looks really vibrant and pigmented. Note: I did try and take a picture but the footage crashed and it looked blurry and crappy. Google other images. Anyway, the swatch looks really pigmented and black. I had high hopes. When I applied it - to my waterline mind you - it didn't come across as vibrant and pigmented as it did when swatched. Perhaps it's because you're meant to put it on your lash line or maybe it just doesn't work with me. It's a shame really. I'm going to try it on my upper lash line and I'll let you know what I think. In addition, I love the range of colours on offer. From neutrals such as black, brown and white to metallics such as silver and tropical hues including blue, green and yellow, their is definitely a shade for everyone. I don't think, however, the quality justifies the hefty price tag. I've just looked and it's nearly $20 in American which is insane. I will probably try out a few more shades as I love the feel of them and they apply really nicely.

What are your thoughts and opinions on the 24/7 liners?

Suzanna xoxo

Ps. I just got back from my mini-weekend break. I went with my friend Grace and her family to the New Forest (the south of England, right on the beach) and it was such a fun trip. I did take loads of photos and had some funny and interesting experiences that I might do a separate blog post on if you're interested. Let's just say we explored a legit haunted house...on our own...at night...in the middle of nowhere. It was fun! More blog posts are coming soon :)

Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder

Urban Decay are one of my absolute favourite makeup brands and when I found out they had a powder (yes, I'm late on the bandwagon here) I knew I had to try it.

The De-Slick Mattifying Powder claims that "the lavender shade applies invisibly" to blot oil and keep shine at bay. In addition, it says that it's translucent, meaning that it works with every skin tone. I've always had a problem with translucent powders: they always leave a slight white-cast to the face! This is why I normally go for coloured powders (such as the MAC one review here). Yet, because Urban Decay are one of my favourite brands and despite the several negative reviews I'd read on the product, I thought I would give it a try. I was hesitant to pay the £22, but in the end I resisted. Damn.

I applied it with my Real Techniques powder brush and it instantly removed the shine I had on my face. The best part is that you can't see it! It actually is translucent. It wouldn't bother me if it did leave a white residue (because I'm as white as paper) but it's nice that Urban Decay doesn't lie. And is great for those with darker skin tones. You can kind of see it in the photo, but the powder comes with a lovely powder puff which can be used for touch ups throughout the day. It doesn't pick up too much product which is a good thing as you don't get that "over-powdered" feeling! I definitely recommend this for those with combination/oily skin!

The packaging is gorgeous which is a bonus :)

Suzanna xoxo

Ps. I'm going on a mini weekend break tomorrow, so my next post will be on Monday. Have a great rest of the week, weekend and bank holiday!

Top 5 Eyeliners For Your Waterline

Different eyeliners work for different people. Your friends absolute must-have might not necessarily work for you and vice versa. It takes a long time to find the perfect eyeliner that suits your specific needs, whether it be tight lining, for your waterline, lower or upper lash line etc. 

Today I'm going to talk about my top five favourite - black - eyeliners that are waterline safe. Please remember that these are just suggestions for you to try, not everything works for everyone. 

*These are in no specific order*

1. MAC Eye Kohl in Smolder

Described as an "intense black", for me this eyeliner has a slight green tint to it. Despite this, it's one of my all time favourites for the waterline. It's too draggy for the upper lash line however it's the perfect consistency for the waterline. It's creamy but not so that it smudges once applied.

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2. MAC Kohl Power in Feline

Another MAC eyeliner! As a cult favourite, this eyeliner is commonly compared to Smolder yet they are different. Feline is much more creamy and more black that Smolder. I find that this one lasts slightly longer than Smolder but does take longer to settle. If it's used on the upper lash line I wouldn't recommend closing your eyes fully to prevent smudges. However, it's a great eyeliner.

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3. Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Zero and Perversion

Zero is decried as black whereas Perversion is described as the blackest black. It's all down to personal preference when it comes to the UD eyeliners. Personally, I find the Zero more natural (well, for black eyeliner anyway) and less harsh especially for day time. Switch to Perversion if going out as it is much more vivid and in-your-face. They are both great, and last for about 6 hours (on me).

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4. Chantecaille Kohl Pencil in Black

This is probably the most expensive eye-liner in the world (slight exaggeration? maybe), yet it is amazing. If you want to define your eyes with a creamy, rich black colour then definitely choose this. Chantecaille are known for their luxurious products and their eye kohl's are no exception. They are available in many colours, but the black is my favourite.

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5. Rimmel London Soft Kohl in Black

For a drugstore/high-street product, this eyeliner is brilliant. It doesn't drag, doesn't smudge and doesn't leave those annoying lines on your eyelids after application like some eyeliners do. I use this probably more than my high-end eyeliners simply because if it runs out, then I can repurchase without making a huge dent in my wallet. It's around £7 in Boots and compared to the £32 Chantecaille and the £14.50 MAC eyeliners, it's worth it. 

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I hoped this helped! Leave me a comment and don't forget to follow my blog!

Suzanna

XOXO