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

Samaya Ayurvedic skincare

I absolutely love skincare and throughout my blogging journey have been blessed to work with some amazing brands and it has enabled me to get to know my skin a whole lot more. I now have more of an understand of what does and doesn't work for my skin and how to deal with break outs, dryness, oily tzone and how important a double cleanse is.

So let me introduce you to Samaya, a brand I have been getting to know and it is a new Ayurvedic skincare range. At the core of Ayurveda lies the concept of achieving harmony between the mind, body and soul. When these three elements are in balance with each other, you will be able to feel the positive effect on your health and wellbeing, and in the radiance of your skin. Founded on the ancient Ayurvedic principles of working with each bodies’ individual dosha be it Vata, Pitta or Kapha. A few short questions and you can then select the individual SAMAYA range that will work best for you – this is skincare that is specially formulated to work with your specific constitution type to help bring you into perfect balance. Within the range is a cleanser, facial oil and face cream for each of the Vata, Kapha and Pitta types.

My dosha s Pitta which tells me I am "Well-proportioned and compact build, with a focused mind and a love of order. Confident and passionate, enjoying challenges. Prone to anger and impatience when out of balance. Benefits from gentle skincare as skin can be sensitive and irritable, susceptible to wrinkles, sunburn and inflammation". For this there are three products Pitta Hydrating Cleanser, Pitta Anti-Ageing Cream and Pitta Anti-Ageing Treatment Oil. From those three, I have been using the cleanser and have absolutely loved it.

The Pitta hydrating cleanser is a unique formulation providing hydration while cleansing and purifying skin. Developed with powerful Ayurvedic botanicals such as Jasmine, Neem, Lotus, Turmeric, Saffron, Shatavari and Gotu Kola, this cleanser melts into the skin, helping to remove make-up and lift impurities, leaving skin feeling balanced, purified, softer and more radiant.  As you can imagine it smells just absolutely incredible and I find ingredients fascinating and always strive to find out why certain ones are used and in this instance there is a reason for everything.

• Jasmine Flower Extract - Beautiful aroma with proven mood-boosting effect; improves energy; reduces anxiety and stress; helps to balance moisture levels and increase skin’s elasticity while soothing mind and body; antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties help protect skin.
• Neem Oil - Promotes skin healing; helps reduce itching and roughness; purifies skin; neutralises damaging free radicals to help skin achieve a radiant glow.
• Saffron Extract - Valued for its skin toning abilities; can impart a natural radiance as it helps to reduce pigmentation; has mood-enhancing properties; is considered to be an aphrodisiac and is often used as a tonic to improve general health.
• Lotus Seed Extract - Sacred anti-inflammatory ingredient; contains zinc and anti-ageing enzymes which can repair damaged or sensitive skin while soothing and calming the mind; beneficial for blemish-prone skin.
• Manuka Honey Extract - Natural antioxidant and anti-bacterial; helps keep skin supple and toned; contains Lignin which is a natural organic substance that binds cells together.
• Saccharide Isomerate - A 100% natural, plant-derived, effective and long-lasting active moisturising ingredient; provides sustained hydration; protects against future damage; restores and replenishes skin.
• Gotu Kola Oil - Anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing herb; helps fight chronic skin conditions by repairing damage done to the skin; stimulates collagen production in the skin.
• Shatavari Extract - Considered in Ayurvedic tradition to be the female equivalent to Ashwagandha, Shatavari’s name in Sanskrit translates as ‘she who possesses one hundred husbands.’ It has long been used as a tonic for female health concerns and as a means of reducing stress and tension. Shatavari also has nutritive and rejuvenative properties for skin, contributing towards a renewed, youthful appearance.
• Aloe Leaf Extract - Antibacterial, anti-ageing ingredient; soothes and promotes healing; hydrates skin; contributes to the natural production of collagen and elastin in skin.

So you will find no parabens, no synthetics, just trusted ingredients that have properites to work on and with your skin.

This is a premium skincare range and the cleanser is on the pricey side at £69 for 100ml but it does melt into the skin like an absolute dream and it literally melts all the dirt, grime and makeup off your face in such an effortless way, it is a treat to use it. A little does go a very long way and there is absolutely nothing I don't like about it, I am simply fascinated by the whole concept of Ayurvedic practices and how it can use its ancient principles to create such a fantastic and beautiful skincare range.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Elizabeth Arden Always Red Femme Perfume

Elizabeth Arden Always Red Femme is described as being a "an intoxicating interpretation of the Always Red fragrance" which is a scent I went to track down and quite liked, but prefer Always Red Femme from the two.

The packaging is stark and noticeable with a black box covered in red florals and the words Always Red capturing your attention, whilst the work Femme, is written in a more feminine font. Inside the perfume bottle mimmicks the outer packaging before the back of the bottle hosts what is the famous Elizabeth Arden door.

Always Red Femme is a mixture of fresh fruits, delicate florals and warm woody tones and is a scent which you notice from the very first spritz, it isn't shy or light, but instead arrives with a punch to let you know it is there. With zesty top notes of the blackcurrant bud, lemon and green pear it lands quite heavy and takes a few minutes to settle before you are greeted with the heart notes of peach blossom, ily of the valley, davana and jasmine which take in most of my favourite scents together to create what is a beautifully refreshing scent which are beautifully crisp and light and dry down as Patchouli, moss, cedar and vanilla from the base notes finish off to leave a beautifully fresh floral and fruit scent.

Admittedly, I was expecting to find that this would be a scent perfect for my mum, but no absolutely not, it is mine and I am not willing to share it.  Priced at just £54 for 100ml it is a fantastic bargain and one which will look pretty on any make desk!

Save 15% when you spend £75! - 15OFF75 - here 

*this post contains PR samples/affiliate links unless indicated otherwise