Urban Decay Naked Wild West Palette

 Urban Decay have launched their very first all vegan Naked palette in the form of the Wild West Eyeshadow Palette.

Inspired by California deserts and endless skies, the Urban Decay Naked Wild West eyeshadow palette contains cool nudes, warm glittering golds, burnt oranges, deep browns and elegant jade’s to enable you to create endless looks with soft shimmers, mattes and cool metallic finishes. 

The chunky palette features a mirror and double ended brush for on-the-go touch ups and is presented to resemble some kind of animal skin, snake or perhaps gator.

The warm, natural shades of the packaging hint at the jewels to be found within.

              Pop the lid to reveal a curated selection of 12 super-pigmented, blendable shades in an array of different formulas.

 

There’s creamy mattes, bold metallics and iridescent shimmer shades to take your breath away.

My first impression was that I instantly liked about 9 of the shades but questioned the inclusion of the jade/turquoise hues.

Somehow I just couldn’t imagine them working alongside their neighbours. 

Turns out I was wrong.

 

From left to right you’ve got Stand Off (a neutral matte porcelain) Spur (a richer, matte sand), Nudie (a matte warm neutral) and Hold ‘Em (a rich, metallic gold).

 

 Cowboy Rick offers an iridescent pearl, Laredo is a super cool, grey-brown, Bud is a cool, radiant jade and Rustler is a true metallic bronze.

Ghost Town is a matte, burnt orange hue, Whiskey is a warm matte deep brown, Tex, a deep soft teal and Pony Up is a silvery, cool charcoal.

 

The first six shades feature 4 matte, 1 metallic, 1 shimmer shade and are the ideal neutral base colours perfect for understated every day wear, whereas the latter 6 darker shades allow you to create depth and dimension to your eyes.

The shimmery, metallic shades are perfect for creating a highlight effect to make your eyes pop, while the silky soft matte’s create a long lasting effortless look.

I was surprised to find that I actually loved the jade/teal shades.

 

 Richly pigmented, velvety and silk smooth, together they create a truly show stopping look that’s guaranteed to get you noticed.

Prefer life in the background? The plethora of warm, neutral tones have got you covered here too.

I personally love the combination of Rustler, Laredo and Whiskey for creating a gorgeously sumptuous smokey brown look.

While the shadows are gloriously soft, creamy and super easy to apply and build, I did find I needed to put a little more work into the shimmers of Hold E’m and Cowboy Rick to get a really great pop of colour.

That said even these shades were far more easy to manage and manipulate than many other brands of shimmery shadows which can flake, crumble and disappear shortly after application.

While its not my favourite Urban Decay Naked palette it is undeniably beautiful and the inclusion of slightly quirky, more ‘out-there’ shades set it aside from its predecessors.

Plus, this is of course Urban Decay’s first completely vegan formula, meaning that it does not contain any animal-derived ingredients or by products.

Urban Decay’s new Naked Wild West Palette is available now and costs £45.

Thierry Mugler Angel Iced Star

 Angel Iced Star is the exquisite new fruity oriental scent from Thierry Mugler.

Perfect for summer, Angel Iced Star offers and intoxicating blend of tropical notes paired with Angel’s iconic gourmand facets to create a truly beautiful, exotic, light and refreshing scent.

 

This exciting new composition expertly blends ultra-refreshing notes with tropical fruits for a cool, uplifting fragrant experience.

A delicious, light-hearted scent where hot meets cool and exotic meets fresh, the bottle itself is a stunning representation of the duality of the notes captured inside.

 

The iconic Angel star has been reinvented, transformed into a multi-faceted, multi-coloured crystal glass star.

Featuring a new stand-up design with the bottom edge flattened to allow it to stand independently, the glass seamlessly blends from an emerald green, through to sunset pink which offers a sensual warmth before finally transforming into an eye-catching, glacier-inspired blue hue.

Its multi-faceted nature captures and reflects the light, dispersing its array of beautiful coloured reflections onto your dressing table and across your room.

Beautiful to behold and heavy and luxurious in feel, the vibrant shades of the star hint at the explosion of notes inside, ready to transport you to a tropical paradise, where the scent of sweet fruits cling to the warm breeze rustling through the palm trees.

 

Angel Iced Star opens with soft, milky notes of refreshing coconut water before a bold heart of sweet, juicy pineapple bursts onto the scene, creating an almost pina-colada esq scent.

Finally, familiar notes of decadent, rich praline and enticing patchouli envelop the fragrance to create an extraordinarily blissful scent.

 

Voluptuous, vibrant and sparkling, it is as if Mugler has captured the very essence of paradise.

Light and breezy, sweet and enticing, sensual and playful, it is a tantalisingly irresistible scent to brighten your day and lift your mood.

 

Thierry Mugler’s new Angel Iced Star is available now from The Perfume Shop and costs £50ml.

The Fine Scottish Soap Company Au Lait Collection

 As far as I’m concerned, there is literally nothing better than sinking into a warm, comforting bath after a long hard day.

I can almost feel the stresses and strains of the day melt away as the soothing, warm water envelops my aching body and tired mind.

Traditionally I’ve always been a fan of highly scented, frothy bubble baths but from time to time I fancy something a little different.

Something softer, calmer, more soothing, and this is where The Scottish Fine Soaps company comes in.

They have the most exquisite range within their collection called ‘Au Lait’, which for those of you who don’t speak French simply means ‘milk’.

 

This understated yet decadent line up has been the company’s best-selling collection for over 20 years and its not at all difficult to see why.

Presented in cute, kitsch packaging which honours the key ingredient of organic milk, the beautiful line wraps your skin in a sensual softness and its delicate, sweet, soft scent envelops your senses in a cloud of comforting warmth.

I absolutely had to get my hands on their Au Lait Bathing Milk (£8.99).

 

Captured within an elegant, retro glass vessel which has been designed to resemble a milk bottle from yester year you’ll find the creamiest, most luxurious bathing milk.

Enriched with skin conditioning Vitamin E, sweet almond oil, soothing aloe vera and wonderfully softening shea butter, it has been expertly blended with the natural goodness of real, organic milk to bring a touch of luxury to your bath.

 

It has the most beautiful aroma, creamy, milky and yet deliciously light.

Poured under warm running water, it transforms your bath water into an indulgent, milky, nourishing bathing experience.

Better still, to my surprise this milk provides heaps of plentiful, soft, frothy bubbles!

 

Unlike many other bubble baths however, the Au Lait Bathing Milk doesn’t cause any irritation to my sensitive, eczema-prone skin.

It is ever-so nourishing, creating an invisible veil of moisture on your skin leaving you feeling clean and smelling incredible, while your body is left feeling wonderfully smooth and comfortable.

 

Another gorgeous product from this collection that I just had to try is their multi award winning Au Lait Milk Bath Powder (£14.99).

Marginally more expensive than the bath milk but still super affordable, this bathing powder is a real insta-worthy product!

Just check out the fabulous milk churn packaging!

Enriched with chamomile and featuring a cotton-fresh scent, it contains real milk powder to effortlessly condition and soothe your skin.

 

Finely milled and plentiful in quantity, simple pour a generous amount into warm running water and swirl to create a bath full of deliciously creamy, soft bubbles.

I adore the combination of the soothing scent paired with its skin conditioning qualities and delightful bubbles.

 

They really are the best bathing products to help you relax and unwind!

The Fine Scottish Soap company’s Au Lait collection is available online now.

Rodial Pink Diamond

 Think pink when it comes to your anti-ageing skincare with the Rodial Pink Diamond Collection.

This powerful anti-ageing range of treatments contains high-tech complexes to correct pigmentation and diamond powder to smooth away wrinkles and fine lines to leave a radiant, firmer, toned healthy looking complexion.

Supercharge your skincare regime with the Rodial Pink Diamond Lifting Oil (£75).

 

 

Described as a ‘facial in a bottle’, this luxurious oil has been infused with diamond powder to help reflect ambient light across your skin to create a natural lit-from-within look.

Vitamin E aids your skins elasticity, marshmallow root and Vitamin C get to work to brighten your complexion and rice bran oil conditions your skin, leaving it feel wonderfully pampered and soft.

The oil is fluid and light, glossy and silky in texture and glides across your skin effortlessly.

 

 

Instantly skin feels hydrated, soft and beautifully smooth, making it the perfect canvas for makeup application.

The diamond powder pigments help to lift a dull, tired looking complexion, creating the illusion of the best nights sleep ever.

Imperfections such as scars and pigmentation are blurred, as is the appearance of fine lines, particularly around my eye area.

 

 

Marketed as a piece of skincare, id happily use this oil as both an intensive treatment AND a primer thanks to its perfecting properties.

Speaking of perfecting, check out the Rodial Pink Diamond Lip and Eye Filler (£45).

 

 

This targeted treatment is housed within the cutest soft pink and silver tube with a cooling metallic applicator nib.

Inside, you’ll find a soft, nude coloured cream which has been created with hyaluronic filing spheres and radiance-boosting diamond powder to plump and nourish the delicate skin around your eye and lip area which can often be the places that reveal the first signs of ageing.

The hyaluronic spheres work by retaining moisture within the skin, creating a plumping effect while niacinamide conditions and firms the skin.

 

 

The decadently rich yet featherlight formula melts into your skin, softening the appearance of imperfections, plumping and restoring dry, dull skin and promoting an illuminated complexion.

Skin around the eye area is thinner than the rest of your face so targeted treatments are often required when it comes to ensuring that you are looking after your skin effectively.

 

 

Velvety and non-greasy, the pearlescent formula drenches your skin in hydration while the cooling applicator tip soothes and perks up your skin.

To use, apply sparingly to the lip and eye socket area before gently massaging the formula into the skin, focusing in upward, outward motions with the tip of the applicator.

 

 

Using the applicator ensures even, thorough distribution while the cool sensation helps to wake up your skin.

I always knew that diamonds are a girls best friend but I never imagined that they’d help me create a more luminous complexion!

Rodial’s Pink Diamond Collection is available online now.

L'Occitane Pressed Fruity Lipstick

 Say hello to your new favourite summer go-to lip products from L’Occitane.

Meet the gorgeous new Pressed Fruity Lipstick collection.

 

Housed in the cutest little vessels, the bottle itself features the colour of the lipstick inside while the radiant, silver lid reflects the light and bares the brands name.

The base of each bottle has been shaped in such a way that to me, the bottles resemble petals from a beautiful flower of some sort.

 

Remove the lid the reveal the soft, sponge applicator with an angled tip to allow for precise, effortless application.

As you may have noticed, despite their name, these little lovelies are actually liquid lipsticks.

Highly pigmented, glossy and silky soft, they offer a long-lasting, satin finish.

 

Free from silicone, mineral oils and vegetarian-friendly, the fluid has been enriched with nourishing Vitamin E along with a blend of fruit and vegetable extracts to offer up to 8 hours of staying power paired with a hydrating, comfortable wear.

Whether you’re after soft petal hue or a bold, vibrant shade there’s a colour for you.

The softest, pinkest shade is Pomelip, a fresh, spring pink hue that is universally flattering.

Slightly deeper pink, tiptoeing on the edge of red is Spring Sunrise, a radiant luminous pink with red undertones.

 

By contrast, Carrose offers a vibrant coral shade, perfect for sunny, summer days while Pomelove, a deep and intense cherry red is one of those dramatic, eye-catching shades which will never go out of fashion.

The liquid lipsticks offer a really impressive colour payoff, even with just the one application.

Lightweight and silky in texture, the fluid glides across your lips, hugging them tight.

Unlike some liquid lipsticks which feel like they literally suck all the moisture from your lips, these actually leave your lips feeling soft and supple, comfortable and hydrated.

Once in place, they create a beautiful satin finish, creating the illusion of a fuller pout as the light catches the sheen and reflects back.

In fact, these bottles of joy seem to have the staying power of a lipstain, paired with the intensity of a lipstick and the delicious soft shine of a gloss.

Silky, non-sticky and offering fabulous coverage and colour, I have fallen head over heels for these little bottles of summer sun.

 

I only hope that they eventually expend the range to include a wider range of shades in the future.

L’Occitane’s Pressed Fruity Lipstick’s are available now and costs £20 each.

Dermalogica Biolumin C Eye Serum

 Say goodbye to dull, tired looking, puffy dark eyes with Dermalogica’s Biolumin C Eye Serum.

This powerful eye serum has been supercharged with an impressive host of ingredients to outsmart the visible signs of skin ageing caused by daily eye movements and environmental stress.

This luxurious, targeted serum delivers a highly-bioavailable Vitamin C complex to the skin around your eyes to dramatically brighten and visibly firm.

 

 

Suitable for all skin types, there is no time like the present to call ‘halt’ to the ageing process.

As you know, the skin around the eyes is thinner than on the rest of your face, making it more delicate and prone to revealing the signs of ageing.

Because of this, it is important to use a product specifically for your eye area in the fight against ageing.

 

 

This sleek, chic little tube of sunshine is about to become your new skincare BFF, for so many reasons.

Housed within a white tube with a vibrant, orange tip, the serum itself is wonderfully silky, light and features a nude hue.

Top of the list of key ingredients is of course, a powerful vitamin C complex which fends off oxidative stress while illuminating the appearance of dark circles.

 

 

Vitamin C and Arjun Tree Extract (both powerful antioxidants) get to work repairing the damage caused by environmental aggressors such as pollution and sun damage while chia seed oil helps to reduce under-eye puffiness and provides antioxidant protection from free radicals.

Mushroom Extract delivers nutrients to the skin, with poria mushroom helping to boost luminosity and increase your skin’s own hyaluronic acid production which results in keeping the delicate skin well hydrated.

Tremella mushroom and micro-algae locks in moisture and papain, from the Papaya plant, gently exfoliates the skins surface to reveal a brighter, healthier looking complexion.

 

 

Together, this impressive blend of botanical ingredients improves elasticity, reduces the appearance of fine lines, de-puffs and improves the look of dark circles.

The serum is lighter than a traditional eye cream but no less nourishing.

Quickly absorbed, your skin feels instantly quenched and pampered and you’re left feeling brighter and lighter somehow.

My eyes have been my trouble spot for the last 8 years or so in that I’ve really begun to notice the fine lines and crow feet creeping in.

 

 

However, since using this decadent serum I’ve also noticed that my dark tear troughs have faded and the puffiness I experience of a morning goes down much more quickly than had I not used the serum.

Free from artificial fragrance, artificial colour and parabens, it is great for those of us with sensitive skin.

Dermalogica’s Biolumin C Eye Serum is available now and costs £63.