Product Spotlight - Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette Review

I am very excited for today's post on the long anticipated addition to the Urban Decay Naked collection. I have an obsession with all things Urban Decay, especially their eyeshadow, so naturally the Naked palettes are a staple in my makeup collection. I've had this palette for a few days now, and wanted to have some time to play around with it before writing about it. 

First thing is first, how gorgeous is the packaging?! The monotone smoky theme is right up my alley, and totally fits my aesthetic. I also love how the corners aren't rounded, although it drives me crazy how they don't all have the same packaging, but it's still so good looking! This is one sexy palette, that's all I can say!

There is a wide variety of colour in this palette - of both cool and warm tones. 

1. High - a shimmery champagne

2. Dirtysweet - a bronze colour (similar to the half-baked family)

3. Radar - a taupe with iridescent glitter

4. Armor - a silvery taupe with glitter

5. Slanted - a light metallic grey

6. Dagger - a shimmery charcoal 

7. Black Market - a black with a hint of sparkle

8. Smolder - a sparkly plum

9. Password - a matte taupe

10. Whiskey - a matte chocolate brown

11. Combust - a pink taupe

12. Thirteen - a light beige 

A cool thing about this palette is the colours are arranged most to least shimmery, as opposed to in order of colour. Some of my favourite shades are: smolder, high, dirtysweet,radar, whiskey and combust. The texture of the shadows feels less silky than previous palettes, or UD eyeshadow in general, and definitely need a primer. I also love how the shimmery colours aren't but chunks of glitter, but a nice smooth glitter. The wear of the shadows is phenomenal. I've made it through an 8+ hour shift in some of the more neutral shades, as well as a good 14 hours out and about and at the bar, aka a high success rate. Fallout is minimal, which is obviously amazing. I didn't have much of any from the top, but on my lower lash line I noticed a bit, but nothing too dramatic. Overall, it lives up to the Urban. Decay eyeshadow name. I would definitely recommend this one mainly for the sake of colour variety. I can confidently say there is something for everyone in this palette.

Will you be picking up the Naked Smoky palette? What is your favourite UD Naked palette? Leave me a comment down below, send me an email (glalamorous@gmail.com) or a tweet (@LBechkos17) and let me know!

xLB

Naked3 - Swatches & Review

Hello hello! I am thrilled to be sharing this post with you all - the much anticipated Naked3. Follow up to the coveted Naked and Naked2. The Naked3 features rose toned hues perfect for everyday neutrals, to more bold looks.

So far I'm loving this palette, however the Naked2 is still my favourite of them all. The colours are all very wearable, but a lot of the ones I'd reach for in the Naked3 aren't super pigmented, and you have to build them up quite a bit. The colours on the 2nd half of the palette are very similar to the ones in the Naked2 palette, with a bit of a twist to them. I really do like this palette however, and it will be a new staple to my collection!

L-R: Strange, Dust, Burnout, Limit, Buzz, Trick, Nooner, Liar, Factory, Mugshot, Darkside, Blackheart

Swatches L-R: Strange, Dust, Burnout, Limit, Buzz, Trick, Nooner, Liar, Factory, Mugshot, Darkside, Blackheart (from black line to black line, as some are sheer)

Look for it in stores 12/16!

xLB

Ipsy Bag -- May 2013

Ipsy is wonderful with shipping, before I even had received my tracking information my bag was in my hands being played with! I have to say this is quite possibly my favourite Ipsy bag to date - the products were amazing and the chevron bag was too cute!

This month's theme was 'Spring Fling' - adorable!

This months contents: 

1. Yaby Concealer - I quite liked the formula of this concealer, it goes on smooth and has great coverage, but the colour I received was a bit too orange toned for me to wear to conceal blemishes, but it works great for under eyes I've found! Ps, I have the shade 'honey'!
2. Zoya Nail Polish - Zoya is a great brand for nail polish, great range, great prices, great staying power. I love when Ipsy includes it, but unfortunately this shade makes me hands look a little sickly.. So I graciously passed this one along to my sister who loves all of my beauty rejects :~) I love that the brand is vegan and 5free, and also while being a pastel shade it goes on very opaque which is rare! Love Zoya. Shade is Blue.
3. Nume Finishing Serum - Immediately after receiving my bag I decided to pair this serum with my trusty Josie Maran Argan Oil (received initially from a prior Ipsy bag, ps!) and WOW, the results were amazing! My hair was so soft and shiny, I've never received so many compliments on my hair! Not sure if its just due to the two of them together, but I'll definitely have to try it solo to see if I get the same results. So far, in love! Very lightweight and non-greasy, and effective. 
4. Mirabella Colour Sheers Lipstick - I haven't gotten too much wear out of the lipstick yet as I've really just been working a lot and haven't had the chance yet to swap out work-friendly lipsticks . but that doesn't mean I love it any less! The colour appears exactly as it says - sheer. Which I quite like. The formula is very light and balm like, with a bit of gloss to it. I received the darkest colour, Posy, so I'm not sure how the lighter colours work out but I love the effect this one has. Colour appears almost like a 'your lips but better' shade as the lipstick is a sheer. So far, love! I couldn't help but notice online that they offer a shade called Peony.. *grabs credit card*
5. Pacifica Roll-On Perfume - I wish I had gotten the other scent, Tahitian Gardenia, instead of Island Vanilla as I'm not a fan of the scent of vanilla for perfumes (I'm a floral kinda girl) but I do love the Pacifica brand and if I did like vanilla I'd love this perfume. The scent has great staying power and rolls on with ease. 
6. BONUS: Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow - I also received a bonus for being me (if you're an active member of the Ipsy community they'll occassionally throw in a little somethin' somethin' extra as a thank you) so I was quite pleased! While I'm not much a fun of anything cool toned this is still a gorgeous shadow that I'll definitely use for inner corners or a dramatic look, or accents.. I'll figure it out! I would have preferred one of the more bronze-y shades, but I received Moonspoon and feel like I will like it once I find more a use for it since it's not an everyday shadow for my complexion. Very happy to have received this however!

And a little price breakdown:

1. Yaby Concealer - retails 5.23$ (5.23$)
2. Zoya Nail Polish - retails 8$ (8$)
3. Nume Finishing Serum - retails 29$ (5$)
4. Mirabella Colour Sheer Lipstick - retails 22$ (22$) 
5. Pacifica Roll-On Perfume - retails 12$ (12$)
6. Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow - retails 20$ (20$)

Bringing the grand total to 53.23$ + 20$ bonus = 72.23$/10$ as always, a great value :~)

xLB

FOTD | 4 December 2012

Hello hello my lovely beauty bunnies! Hope you're all well. Just a quick little FOTD post. All pictures are from my mobile hence the not so hot quality. BUT better than nothing right?!

Face:
❤ Smashbox Primer
❤ Makeup Forever HD Foundation (117)
❤ Sephora Concealer Stick
❤ Mac SS Pressed Powder (nw20)
❤ Smashbox Bronze Lights (sun tan matte)

Eyes:
❤ Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer
❤ Shadows from Urban Decay's Naked2 palette (Tease all over, Busted in crease, Blackout as eyeliner, Bootycall under brow bone)
❤ Makeup Forever Smoky Lash mascara

It's harder than you think to take close up pictures of your eye in good quality! haha

Some cheeky selfies ;)

annnnnd the grand finale!

xLB

A brief OOTD & FOTD | 3 December 2012

Hi lovelies hope you're all doing super duper! It's that time of year again.. Finals :|
That being said, finishing up assignments and studying for finals is starting to take over my life.
So in the meantime, a very quick OOTD/FOTD!

OOTD:
❤ top: wet seal
❤ skirt: express
❤ belt: H&M

FOTD:
Face:
❤ Makeup Forever HD foundation (117)
❤ MAC select sheer pressed powder (nw20)
❤ Sephora concealer stick (medium)
❤ Smashbox bronzing lights
Eyes:
❤ Urban Decay shadows in baby doll and foxy
❤ Rimmel liquid eyeliner (001 black)
❤ Makeup Forever smoky mascara
Lips:
❤ Kate Moss for Rimmel lipstick (101)

xLB

Mini FOTD? | 1 December 2012

Just a very minuscule and brief FOTD since its now 2am and majority of my makeup has faded..

I just thought my eyelashes looked rather nice

Eyes:
❤ smashbox full exposure mascara
❤ urban decay eyeshadow in tease

Lips:
❤ mac lipstick in pink nouveau

<3

xLB

FOTD | 29 November 2012

Please bare with me as this is all from my mobile haha. Also it is currently midnight, so a lot of my makeup has faded/come off and I didn't feel like doing my makeup again and wasting the product so just a forewarning (for mainly the face..) anyway! Enjoy xx

Face:
❤ Smashbox - photo finish primer
❤ Makeup Forever - HD foundation (117)
❤ Sephora - concealer stick (06)
❤ MAC - select sheer pressed powder (NW20)
❤ Smashbox - bronze lights (suntan matte) used as bronzer & blusher

Eyes:
❤ Snakebite in crease
❤ Tease on lid
❤ Foxy all over
* all from Urban Decay, Naked 2 palette
❤ Bare Escentuals brush (tapered eyeshadow)
❤ Bare Escentuals brush (crease defining)
❤ Smashbox - full exposure mascara
❤ Rimmel - brow brush (001 dark brown)

Lips:
❤ Smashbox - lip enhancing gloss (illume)

Again, sorry for the rubbish mobile quality!
Xx

xLB