Favourite MAC Eyeshadows

As you will tell by the end of this post, pretty much all of my eyeshadows are neutrals; I love browns and golds as it think they suit me best and I also find them really wearable on an everyday basis. I always buy my MAC eyeshadow in the pans and put them in the palettes as they are then easier to use and carry around.

1. Carbon – This is an intense black which is great for creating a really smokey look or lining the eyes, it has a matt finish and the colour lasts all day. This is definitely an essential in my make-up bag and I think in Sophie’s too. 

2. Omega and Concrete – I’ve put these two together as I very rarely don’t use one without the other. Omega is a very light matt brown, MAC describe it as being a ‘soft muted beige-taupe’. I often blend it through the crease in my eyelid to create some natural looking shadows and softly run some through my eyebrows with an angled brush to form a stronger brow. I then take Concrete, which is also matt but a couple of shades darker than Omega and make the shadows stronger and the brows slightly more defined. One of my favourite looks is to use a neutral cream eyeshadow all over the lid (such as Bobbi Brown in Sandy Gold) blend Omega through the crease then blend Concrete over the top and finish with a thin line of dark brown eyeshadow along the lash line (such as MAC Brun). 

3. Print – This is a soft dark grey with shimmer and I find it perfect for created a smokey eye which isn't as intense as using black. I also like to use it on the bottom lash line to make it slightly more defined, but again, not as harsh as black. I've not used this on much recently but I am going to put it back in my make-up bag and start using it a bit more again. 

4. Retrospeck – This shade is a really sparkly glittery gold colour, MAC describe it as being a ‘beached blonde’ and I love it over the top of a neutral cream eyeshadow just to add a little sparkle to it. It also looks great right in the inner corners of the eyes and really opens the eyes up. This is my favourite eyeshadow to create a little bit of glamour and sparkle. PS - be warned, this little bugger makes your palette extremely messy!

5. Naked Lunch – I love this colour and I know Sophie does too;  the colour is a really light pink and is very shimmery- I often use it all over the eyelid then blend a small amount of Print through the crease as I think the colour complement each other perfectly. I use it for both casual and dressed up looks as I think the colour is super versatile and very buildable. 

6. Satin Taupe - Lastly is the newest kid on the block, well the newest eyeshadow to my palette. It is a dark, shimmery taupe-brown which MAC describes as a 'Taupe with Silver Shimmer' I know this is a cult favourite for many beauty bloggers- Sophie and myself included. Sophie persuaded me to buy this one and I love it so much, I think since I've bought it, it has been the eyeshadow I've been reaching for the most just for an everyday make-up look. 

What are your favourite MAC eyeshadows, are any the same as mine? Also, does anyone have any recommendations - I have 5 spaces left in my 15 palette and can't decide what to get!

Haul #2: Beauty

On Friday the 31st of January me and Jess went on a big day out to celebrate the end of our exams and to have a good catch up. We had such a good day in Nottingham starting off with some essential beauty shopping. Then we went to see The Wolf of Wall Street (which was so good!) and then we did a bit more shopping and then went out for a delicious meal at Piccolino's before going back to my house to watch The Great Gatsby on DVD. On our shopping trip we bought so many beauty products so both me and Jess decided to do a haul each (Click here to read Jess' haul). Here are the things that I bought:

MAC
MAC Eyeshadow in Retrospeck

The first product that I bought was a refill palette eyeshadow from MAC in the colour Retrospeck. I have a 15 eyeshadow palette and I had already filled 12 of the slots and I'm slowly building it up to complete it. Jess already has this shade and she recommended it to me so I thought I'd try it out. I absolutely love this shade, it's so glittery and I love a good neutral eyeshadow colour. It goes well with the other colours I have in my palette too, only 2 to go until it's finished!

John Lewis
YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in Rose in Tension

After MAC we went to John Lewis which has one of the best beauty departments in Nottingham, in my opinion. I had been wanting a new lipstick for a while so I thought I'd treat myself to a luxury brand lipstick. I decided on a YSL one because I love the gorgeous packaging and the texture of the Volupte Shine Lipsticks. I also really love the colour Rose in Tension. It's a really unique pink colour that can be worn both in the daytime and at night. I haven't stopped wearing it since I bought it!

Boots and Superdrug
Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Celeste

I bought the Apocalips Lip Lacquer because I had heard so much about these lip glosses and I've heard a few good reviews about them so I thought why not try one of them out? (I think they were on offer too which helped me to decide to get one). There were so many colours to choose from but I thought I'd go for a more natural colour and ended up choosing Celeste. I love the pink colour and the wand is such a good shape for application too. The Apocalips Lip Lacquers have some gorgeous shades but the smell of them is quite distinct so if you don't like strong smelling products I wouldn't recommend these.

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

When we were in Boots I picked up the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Transparent because my current one has smashed and the lid had broken too so it was impossible to carry it around with me on the move. I decided to get transparent because I use the powder to set my foundation and minimize shine rather than using it for coverage. I love this powder because it looks light and natural on the skin and works so well for the amazing price of £3.99!

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara

I am such a mascara lover, so love experimenting and trying new ones out all the time. I love trying both high end and drugstore mascaras and I've had many favourites over the years including the YSL Babydoll mascara, Diorshow mascara and Lancome Drama Hypnose mascara. I have to say that the Maybelline The Falsies Mascara is among those favourites. It really elongates and separates my lashes but also thickens and volumizes them at the same time and it is relatively cheap at only £7.99. If you are looking for a new mascara then definitely try this one out!

Essie Nail Varnish in Shearling Darling

I have blogged before about how much I love Essie Nail Varnishes from how long they last to the colours, I can't get enough of them. I also love the limited edition shades that Essie releases on a regular basis. The most recent limited edition collection was the Winter 2013 collection. I loved all the colours from a sparkly pink to a lilac colour but I decided on a dark purple called Shearling Darling (I also love the names of Essie Nail Varnish). This nail varnish is so pretty and it dries really quickly too.

Nivea In Shower Body Moisturiser

I bought this moisturiser from Boots because I love the idea of a moisturiser you can use in the shower and wash off without having to apply moisturiser once you've gotten out of the shower. Although I love some normal moisturisers like various Soap and Glory and Laura Mercier ones, I hate having heavy moisturiser on my skin that I have to wait for ages to dry meaning sometimes I have to not bother at all when I'm in a rush, however this Nivea moisturiser is the perfect solution! I got the one for normal skin and when I got out of the shower my skin felt so smooth and silky after just one use. It was also on offer in Boots with a third off the original price for the 400ml bottle. The scent is sea minerals and isn't very strong or distinct but it is a lovely fresh smelling moisturiser. Overall I would definitely recommend this product for those who are always running out of time in the mornings like me!

Soap and Glory No Clogs Allowed Deep Pore Detox Mask

Recently I have been having problems with my skin and even though it has been clearing up I've been trying to discover new products to help clear my skin and keep spots away without spending too much money, as I already use a few Dermalogica products that can add up to quite a bit of money. After watching Youtuber Fleur De Force, I came across the No Clogs Allowed Deep Pore Detox Mask which intrigued me. The formula heats up when applied and turns blue when you apply it to the skin. You can feel it working as soon as you apply it and my skin felt clean and refreshed after one use. Also Soap and Glory was also a 1/3 off in Boots which encouraged me to try it out.

House of Fraser
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers

I didn't buy the products from House of Fraser on our shopping trip but I thought I'd include them in my haul anyway because I ordered them online around the same time. I bought these eyelash curlers because I'd lost my previous ones and I've heard so many good things about the Shu Uemura ones. Although they are a little pricey at £20 they are supposed to be THE eyelash curlers to have and my first impression of them is that they are amazing! I can't wait to carry on using them and trying them out, especially with my new The Falsies Mascara.

Jo Malone Perfume in Peony and Blush Suede

This has to be my favourite purchase from the entire haul. I have wanted this perfume ever since I first smelled it in Selfridges over Christmas and I haven't stopped thinking about it since! Finally I decided to stop obsessing over it and I actually bought it, and I'm so happy that I did. The fragrance is floral with notes of Peony, Suede, Apple and Rose and it is the perfect spring fragrance. It is one of the most recent fragrances from Jo Malone and has had some raving reviews since its arrival. It came in such a cute box with a nice bow and black tissue paper inside too. I will proudly display this bottle on my vanity table!