Urban Decay XX Vice LTD Reloaded Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay XX Vice LTD Reloaded Eyeshadow Palette includes twenty eye shadows that celebrate the brand’s 20-year history.  From vintage shades that go WAY back (like Gash, Acid Rain and UV-B) to must-haves from the current collection, it’s all here.

Now as you would expect with Urban Decay, this palette is stunning.  With a jewelled 3D UD logo clearly visible it stands out against the black lid.  Opening is easy peasy with a click button and inside, the entire top half is a mirror, which is handy to have plus the inclusion of a double ended brush, which is actually a really good eyeshadow brush.

Urban Decay state that each Eyeshadow in this limited-edition palette features their Pigment Infusion System™, the proprietary blend of ingredients that gives every shade its velvety texture, rich colour, serious staying power and blendability. SO what you see, is what you get. Now all of the shades are just beautiful and some I have used more than others, but this is how they are described:

• Suspend is described as a “greige-brown matte.” It is definitely a muted, medium-dark taupe brown with a matte finish. Easy to blend and 
• Oil Slick is described as a “black matte with silver micro-glitter.” This is a stunning shade and it will be perfect for anyone loving Halloween. It is quite a medium black that has a silver sparkle.
• Roadstripe is described as a “iridescent white with blue-violet shift.” It’s a bright, iridescent white with a bluish-violet sheen. I find it works quite well as a base shade as well as being wearable on its own.
• Gash is described one of those shades which makes you go wow! Described as being a “metallic brick red” it is has orange undertones and is incredibly pigmented. Again a shade which is perfect for Autumn and one I am trying to learn to work with.
• Midnight Cowboy is one of my favourite shades on the palette and it is described as a “pink champagne with shimmer with silver glitter.” A light beige shade which has a slight addition of silver glitter but not too much that it takes away from the shade, it instead gives a bit of a shimmer. 
• 501 is described as a “deep metallic blue with copper micro-glitter” and it is just that. The blue is a deep blue with a slight smattering of glitter which as with Midnight Cowboy, doesn't detract from the beauty of the shade, but instead adds a little something.
• Shallow is described as a “pale taupe-silver satin.” and it definitely does have a silver tone to it when it is caught in the light. As well as a eyeshadow it also works well as a highlighter. 
• Laced is described as a “pinky-taupe matte” and it is a muted light pink shade which gives really good colour payoff and as its description states is a matte shade. This is one of the shades I have not yet worn. 
• Hot Pants is described as a “pearly medium pink.” In the pan it looks as though it will be an incredibly hot pink shade, and it is bright but with warm undertones there is a slight shimmer to it and again, not one I have yet worn.
• Mildew is described as a “deep metallic green shimmer.” and for me it is more of an olive green shade which a shimmer.  A beautiful Autumn shade or one for Halloween, im just not convinced it is for me as I have blue eyes.
• Smog is another one of my favourites and one I have worn a lot of. It is described as a “deep coppery bronze shimmer.” and it is incredibly rich with a coppery bronzed effect giving great colour payoff. 
• Misdemeanor is described as a “deep olive green matte with green micro-shimmer.” which is exactly what it is though it does have coll undertones, the matte finish is really pretty but as with Mildrew, I am not sure it is a shade I can pull off. 
• Freakshow is described as a “bright purple satin.” though I would have used the word violet ove purple. It is stunning shade which has amazing pigmentation, it blends like a dream and is perfect for autumn. 
• Asphyxia is described as a “hyacinth shimmer with blue shift.” It definitely has a touch of Lavender about the shade with the colour and for me, this is the one shade I found disappointing.
• Acid Rain is described as a “pale yellow-green shimmer with green shift.” It definitely has a slight green undertone and it is one of those shades which could look yellow or green in certain lights.  This is one I haven't got a clue how to use but it is pretty.
• Moonflower is described as a “metallic rose-gold with gold micro-shimmer.” For those of you loving your rose golds, then this is an amazing eyeshadow to have. It has warm undertones but amazing pigmentation and I absolutely love it.
• UV-B is described as a “bright blue with violet shift.” and it is a shade which at first glance reminds me of the shade my mum used to wear as I was growing up.  On a swatch it is more of a violet blue that has a slight sheen to it.
• Goldmine is described as a “bright metallic gold.” and it is an incredible shade, though much like Acid Rain, I have no idea what to do with it.  It is bright an it is yellow with a metallic sheen to it.
• Twice Baked is another one of my favourite shades and it is described as a “rich brown satin with gold micro-glitter." It is a medium brown with a slight red undertone and a really fine shimmer which you notice when it is picked up in direct light. 
• Anonymous is the final shade in the palette and it is described as a “pale peachy cream matte.” It does have a matte finish and is light and creamy with a slight peach hint of colur too it.  This shade, like Roadstripe does make a great base shade.  

Rather than swatch all 20 shades I have done a mixture of my favourites and then some of the more out there shades which I love but am yet to be comfortable wearing:

From left to right here there is Midnight Cowboy, Twice Baked, MoonFlower and Smog. These are the shades that I wear a lot of from the palette and yes they do fall into the neutral/nude category.

From Left to Right here we have 501, Mildew, Gash and Oil Slick which are all pigmented and stunning shades.

This palette costs £43 and is available via Urban Decay and Debenhams. It is one of those palettes everyone who loves eye shadow should have, on colour payoff alone it is exceptional and if you dare to try some of the more brighter shades, then this is the palette to do it with.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

John Frieda Salon - Mayfair

A year on from my last visit, I found myself back in the chair at no.4 Aldford Street in Mayfair in the amazing John Frieda Salon. A salon that I absolutely loved the first time I visited and even more so now after my second visit.

Why do I love it so much? To be honest it is the atmosphere inside the Salon. Set back from the busy shopping streets of the West End, what looks like a snug little salon is so far removed from that, it is actually quite big.  But big doesn't mean too in your face, it isn't crowded and they have certainly made use of the space, it is comfortable and you are made to feel like one of the family. Everyone in there knows their stylist, the girl washing their hair, the lady who so kindly takes your coat to the receptionist who takes your name, you are more than just a customer, you are a friend.

Sitting down with Andreas, who was to sort my hair out, he didn't look too perplexed when I said 'I don't know what to do with this, what do you suggest' meaning my hair. Seconds later, I am in a rather comfy chair having my hair washed chatting about current affairs and London Fashion Week.  I love having someone wash my hair, if I won the lottery this is the kind of treat I would gladly pay for.  At John Frieda my hair was washed, conditioned, my head was massaged and I managed not to fall asleep...just!

Back in the chair and Andreas and I continue chatting about life, politics and weddings as he gets to grips with my unruly hair.  I have fine hair but a lot of it, a phrase I hear a lot and one I repeat a lot. It means I have lots of hair on my hair which is fine and it is naturally wavy and I never really know what to do with it.  You should never be afraid to ask your stylist for hints and tips on what to do with your hair and how to do certain things, even washing your hair is a handy tip to have.

So the decision on how to have my hair cut and styled was left to Andreas, not as scary as it sounds, after all he is the professional and knows what he is doing. I just mentioned that I hate having hair on my face, so a fringe will always be a no no, but other than that, off you go. So having bushy hair that hadnt been cut for over 6 months (oops) turned into this:

My hair is now shoulder length, it is manageable, it is a delight to style and I just love that the very few layers that have been added give my hair some movement and that swishy feel when I am ready to go out. My highlights grew out some time ago, so some roots have begun to appear but for now, I am totally chuffed with my hair.

John Frieda for me is more than just an experience, it is everything a salon should be and I can see why everytime I am fortunate enough to go that the regulars in there keep coming back, it is just so friendly, warm and welcoming and nothing is ever too much trouble.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise