Primark's £4 Naked Palette Dupes

I have mentioned a few times now that I don't own a single Naked Palette and whilst that isn't any criticism of the brand, one I absolutely adore, I just haven't felt the need to rush out and buy them and to date I haven't been to swatch them.  To that end whilst on an endless trip to Primark, a friend asked me if I could pick her up one each of the 'Primark Naked Palettes' and I thought I would give them a go myself along with a few other pieces, which will appear on the blog soon.

At £4 each they are not going to break the bank and I wasn't holding out much hope that they would be any good, infact I expected no pigment, no colour pay off and absolutely no staying power.  Well these palettes just go to show that you never should judge and just because it is cheaper, it doesn't mean it will be awful.

So first up we have the Smoky palette and whilst the packaging is made from cardboard and not overly fancy, it does the job it is intended to do. It looks alright and houses ten different shades, all of which are designed to be able to help you create that smokey eye whether you like you nude smoky or your more dramatic one.

 As you can see from left to right, the shades are actually quite nice, nothing too over the top and a mixture of Matte and Shimmer shades, again, I think there will be something for everyone on this palette and I happen to also like the shadow names too.

When it comes to using, ive done some basic swathing below, the end result is of each finger moving up and down in the shadow, nothing to heavy or multiple swiping to get these colour pay-offs. What you see is exactly what you get.

 From left to right there is Conclave which I use as a base powder for the application of my eyeshadow. It isn't worth using for very much else in my opinion.  Then we have Winter Mist, Even Tide and Smoulder.  Smoulder is one of the shades I absolutely adore but am not yet brave enough to wear and for me Winter Mist is the weakest shade on the whole palette and doesn't give the best colour payoff, but as you can see, it does have a grey tone to it.

 Next we have from left to right Leaded Lights which has a slight gold shimmer to it, Midnight Velvet which is the most incredible blue shade and it almost reminds me of the colour my Mum used to wear and then next to that is Fire Pit and Blood Magic.  Blood Magic is one of the most pigmented shades on the palette and Fire Pit I find is an odd shade but I like it a lot, ive just not braved wearing it outside the house.

The final two shades are Grey Wind and Darkness and both really good colour payoff and both work really well for smoking out that dramatic eye.

There is a bit of fall out, but nowhere near as much as I was expecting and when wearing I get around 6 hours wear time, using both a primer and setting spray.

I love my Nude palettes so this was always coming home with me. The packaging is exactly the name as the Smoky palette, only this one represents the nudey neutral shades.

As with the Smoky palette there are again ten shades which again has something for everyone and if like me you love the nudes, there are quite a few that you can use and again there is some fall out when you use the shades, but not as much as I was expecting.

From left to right we have Panacotta which actually works well for the inner eye and isn't a shade I would want all over my lid, but I can't help but like it. Beached Blonde is a really light rosy pink shade and it works so well with the shade next to it which is called Barely Berry and it definitely isn't a berry shade, it is a light shimmery pink. Finally there is Skinny Dipping which has a rose gold tone to it and it is such a pretty shade.

The next lot of swatches feature quite a myriad of shades. Starting with Café Crème which is one of my favourite shades on the palette and it is a gold toned shimmer shade which is just so pretty. Brown Bare is a nice matte shade and perfect for the everyday eye shadow, it gives good colour coverage and is one that can be built up for a night out. Wood Nymph is the first of two shades which surprised me the most on this palette because it is a bold brown shimmer shade and there is next to no fall out, it lasts much longer than everything else. Finally there is Summer Solstice which is quite an odd shade, it is matte but the colour is quite hard to describe as it is neither a brown or gold but is like a murky taupe.

The final two shades on the palette are Under dressed which is a matte black shade with reddish undertones and finally is Caught Red Handed which is a copper brown shade and my second favourite one on this palette. 

So there you have two palettes which at £4 each are not going to leave you penniless and they are proof to me that you shouldn't judge something by its price. 

Have you tried any of the Primark make up collection?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

NIOD One Day Only QVC Special

By now it is no secret that I absolutely love the brand of the moment - Deciem! If you haven't got The Ordinary Foundation yet, you need too!  Anyway, one of their other brands is NIOD whom I have featured a few times now and there is another incredible offer coming to QVC (here) featuring the NIOD Dermal Science Radiance Skin Collection (which has an RRP of £110) and it can be yours for just £40 but you will need to grab it quickly as the offer will be available for 24 hours only as of 19th July! However, if you are quick the set will be available as a pre-sale on the QVC website from 10am today, Monday July 17th - HERE.

The set includes:

NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum (15ml) - An intense anti-ageing skin treatment designed to rejuvenate your skin's health, this serum offers a novel approach to target all signs of skin ageing indirectly. It is infused with a high intensity of skin-loving ingredients that work to keep the skin in what is called 'a heightened state of self-repair' and the Copper Amino Isolate Serum 5.00% is the fast-track to a more youthful appearance. With this serum, you have two parts which you mix the two together before use and they are:

• 5.00% Pure Copper Tripeptide-1 -  This works to boost a number of skin health functions such as collagen productions, blood flow and healing.
• Hyaluronic Acid Cross Polymer - This helps to boost the skin's water retention.

NIOD Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex (15ml) - This is a skin plumping treatment which is designed to result in a refreshed and rejuvenated complexion. Formulated using twelve forms of hyaluronic acid that all work at different rates and levels, the Multi Molecular Hyaluronic Acid is described as being a one-stop shop for a more youthful appearance. The serum-textured complex penetrates the epidermis to deliver a thirst-quenching hit of hydration - resulting in the skin looking and feeling both plumper and smoother.

NIOD Photograph Fluid Opacity 12% (30ml) - I have been using this for some time now and it is just amazing. Described as being a novel approach to creating a foundation for skin that reflects even radiance in life and very specifically through the camera lens, this instant treatment is serum-textured but contains a wide array of light refracting prisms, tone and hue correctors and topical photo-finishing technologies to offer even radiance within seconds. You can apply it under or instead of liquid foundation and it can also be mixed with other products for subtle hue correction.

NIOD Mastic Must (90ml) - This is a daily cleansing pore treatment which works to refine pores and impurities.This is a transparent masque for efficient, yet innocuous, cleaning and visible refinement of pores and impurities, resulting in immediate and maintainable visible reduction in both the number and the size of pores. Mastic Mud uses a highly-densified sap from Greek mastic trees which is a dense gum that binds to congestion and in doing so it purifies and shrinks the look of pores without drying. The sap is also a powerful antibacterial and anti-fungal.

So there you have 4 amazing products which do incredible things to the skin. What you get is what you see with Deciem, there is a bit of science in the explaining but there are never any open-ended promises, it is all factual and to date, I have not had a product that hasn't done exactly what it has said it will do, which in the world of beauty is quite something.

Have you tried any products from Deciem and their brands?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Patisserie De Bain Body Mists

Body Mists seem to be the in thing right now with different brands bringing them back to life, re-inventing them or introducing them to their range. For me, I am transported back to my Teens when Impulse 02 was the fragrance to be associated with. Since then, I haven't given them another thought until this cute bundle from Patisserie De Bain landed on my doorstep.

If you have never come across the brand before, then I do think you need too because the creators behind Patisserie De Bain have somehow managed to bottle up these nostalgic scents, which transport you back to your childhood.

For the Body Mist range, there are four incredible scents to choose from and each and every one of them smells exactly as the name suggests:

Sweet as Cherry Pie is just stunning. It smell reminds me of fresh ripe cherries that have just been cooked in a pie and this is my favourite scent of the four because it is the one which smells the freshest.

Sugared Violet this one for me definitely is a reminder of my childhood and back to a time when a 10p mix meant you got 10 1p sweets in a white paper bag and those sweets came from jars and in this case, it is the Purple Violet sweets which came wrapped in a small packet.

Strawberry Cupcake takes on the scent of the very British tradition of Strawberries and Cream and true to form, it does remind me of strawberries and cream, which as you read this, I might well be enjoying as I am at Wimbledon!

Cranberries and Cream is the sweetest scent of the four mists and like other products that have the same scent, it is again much sweeter than I had anticipated and the fruity scent you associate with Cranberries is most definitely present with the cream part being much more dominant than it is in Sweet as Cherry Pie.

Each mist comes in a 150ml bottle and is priced around £6.99 and you can grab them and other products from the range in Superdrug and they are so cute, they make an amazing gift or treat!

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

Summer Romance: Tips

In this article want to talk about summer flings and romances. According to the international sociological surveys, almost half of adults have flirted or had more intimate contacts during their summer vacations. Only one-third of them cherish the hope of bumping into their true love at some beach bar. Others think of a summer romance as a great way to spend time with pleasure. What should you do to get the most out of your summer affair? There are certain rules to keep in mind.

Image Credit - Goodreads

1. Be different but be yourself

Your vacation is a perfect occasion to finally let your hair down and do the things you like. If you are fond of museums and theatres, there is no point in suffering in the company of the man who calls it boring. And vice versa. On the other hand, it’s not necessary to run to an extreme. Revealing outfit, such as minis, and bright makeup is possible but optional. If you don’t feel comfortable, it will be difficult for you to enjoy anything including flirting. So, don’t try to impress, but be yourself.

2. Leave your worries at home

It’s unreasonable to go on a vacation and hope to meet a prince charming if you are depressed and have a baggage of negative thoughts. You should be psychologically ready even for such casual affair. You should decide what will be better for you. Perhaps, you just need to rest and recreate and focus on yourself. 

3. Seduce and allow yourself to be seduced

There are many restrictions and conventions in our everyday life. A lack of time often prevents us from listening to our desires and trying to fulfill them. Take advantage of freedom your vacation gives you. Don’t be afraid of meeting men and taking the initiative if you feel like it.

4. Don’t be too picky

Of course, you have a set of requirements for your long-term partner. But the advantage of a summer romance is that you can have it even with anyone you feel attracted to without thinking about any perspectives. If you used to date serious and successful men, you can meet a local guy who can offer you nothing but his charisma and home-made wine.

5. Focus on the present

If you meet a guy, don’t picture your future with him immediately and don’t use him to recover from a bad previous relationship. The beauty of a summer romance lies in that you can live in the now without looking back or ahead. It’s easy not to think where it may lead you. Just liberate yourself from expectations and obsessions.

6. Fulfil your fantasy or dream

A summer romance is not a regular affair. It’s a kind of improved reality otherwise it wouldn’t be considered as a special type of relations. That is why it should be a different experience that you’ll remember or be proud of. Focus on your desires and dreams. Maybe, you want to have a romantic date night with a sea captain on a yacht. 

7. Let it develop gradually

Even though it’s a short romance, it should go through all stages of a regular romance. The first stage is flirting. The second step is a kiss inspired by a beautiful landscape. The first physical contact (touching) will happen when he’ll apply sunscreen on your back. The main question whether to have or not to go further should be left for you to answer. Remember that spontaneity is the main rule of a summer romance. Relax and go with the current.

8. Part easily

You should realise that your summer romance has its time limits. You’ll miss that adventure but you need to understand that you will miss not your admirer but the way you felt during your romance. So, keep those memories and draw conclusions but wave goodbye with ease.

Thanks to BridesBay for providing this article.