Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

I don't think I've ever been so excited to write about a makeup product before! This palette is something that I've had my eyes on for a very long time and I legitimately can't believe I'm lucky enough to have my hands on it. If you watched my Winter Favourites video or saw my Instagram post you will know that my sister was kind enough to get me the Naked 2 Palette by Urban Decay. I've been after one for a while, (particularly this palette because it goes well with brown eyes) so she knows me well and I'm so very thankful that she brought it for me.

I've literally been using it every day since I've got it, and been trying it out so I could give an in depth review on the eyeshadows. So let's get started:

The packaging

I'm actually obsessed with the whole aesthetic of this palette. It's a metallic browny colour (soz I'm really bad at naming colours). The lid clicks shut so it's great for travel because you know it won't open by mistake. There is a mirror on the inside, and it's actually a good quality, clear one so you can really see what you're doing whilst applying the eyeshadow. 

The actual palette is on the top and the 

fancy card packaging it comes in is underneath 

The brush

Inside the packaging there is also an eyeshadow brush included, and this is literally the best eyeshadow brush I own. It has two ends, the first is a fluffy brush, ideal for applying the eyeshadow on the lid and blending it out. It also has a flat end which I find is ideal for applying colours onto the crease. This brush is honestly so soft and I just know that it will last a long time too. 

The fluffy end of the brush

The flatter end of the brush

The pigments

I think one of the reasons this palette is pretty pricey is because the colours are SO pigmented. You seriously just need to apply one layer of one colour and you'll have a bold eye look. Of course, they are also really blendable so you can soften the look if that's what you're going for. 

The colours

The Naked 2 palette comes with 12 lovely colours, 3 matte and 9 shimmery shades. What I really like about the selection of colours is that all of them work well together. There's no random colour that stands out and can't use with the rest of the colours. You can use different combinations to create either a natural or dramatic look, which I love because you can use it for any occasion.

The lasting power

To be completely and utterly honest I have mixed feelings about the lasting power of these eyeshadows. On the one hand the colours never fade and basically last until you remove your makeup. On the other hand, the colours do kinda crack in the creases of your eye after a few hours. I've heard that when you wear the primer they last perfectly well. But to be brutally honest, I think for the price they should be able not to crack without a primer. Don't get me wrong, the colours themselves do last all day though. 

The finish

I think my favourite thing about this palette (although there are many) has to be what the eyeshadows actually look like when on. They have a finish unlike any other eyeshadows I've tried. They appear so pigmented and the shimmery shades are just the right amount of shimmer so that you look elegant but not like a glitter ball impersonator. 

So there was my little summary of the Naked 2 palette which I'm so very lucky to have been given. This is no doubt the best makeup palette I've ever tried, and I truly think this beats every dupe for it I have. Overall I would rate this product a 9.5 (one of my highest ever ratings) because I really don't think you could improve this product much and I would definitely recommend it to a friend. Have you tried any Naked Palettes before, and if so, which is your favourite? I'd love to know in the comments, 

Izzy K xxx

Q&A With Elise Brown

I'm honored that my first post of 2016 on this blog is with the absolutely wonderful Elise Brown. I've been in touch with her for a while now and she's recently started a blog and I couldn't be more happy that she has. Elise's talent and passion for writing is already clear in her posts, and each one is just so much fun to read. You can just tell that she's an absolutely lovely and kind person so please show her some love on her blog, I-cant-think-help.blogspot.co.uk because she honestly deserves so much recognition. 

Here's the lovely girl herself!

Let's get onto the questions:

1. How long have you wanted to start a blog and for what reason?

I don't think I would be able to tell you exactly how long I've wanted to start a blog for- but definitely more than a year! I've seen a lot of blogs that I enjoy reading and I feel like it is something that is exactly the sort of thing that I would (and do) love! 

2. This time of year is perfect for binge watching TV. What are your favourite shows to watch?

My all-time favourite TV show is the 100- and I don't feel it gets the praise it deserves, too little people know what it is let alone watch it! Aside from that I love watching Orange is the New Black and (although it has finished for this year) I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! 

3. What do you do in your spare time and to relax? 

Whenever I have time to relax, I usually find myself asleep, but if I don't fall asleep I either read, listen to music (that is usually what happens most of the time when I fall asleep) or write.

4. I think most of us look to other bloggers for inspiration. Which bloggers do you currently read and how long have you been reading them for?

 I have been reading Zoella and A Sprinkle of Glitter for about three years now, but more recently I have started reading a lot of smaller blogs (mainly since I have joined Beau Bloggers).

5. Even though school isn't always fun, one of the best bits of it is going on a trip with your class. What is the best school trip you've ever been on? 

My favourite trip was when I went to Spain for a week last March. It was so much fun and I created friendships I never thought I would.

6. What is the best decision you've ever made and how has it affected your life? 

That's a tough one! I honestly can't think of 'the best' decision but an great decision I made recently was to drop my music GCSE. It had caused me so much stress and anxiety which I free of now and I am so much happier!

7. Bit of a random question here but if you had to choose one colour and the whole world would turn that colour, which one would you choose? 

I feel like I would choose a calm (I'm not sure if you can describe a colour and calm but oh well) green colour- possibly the same colour as my room. Green really keep me calm and I feel so much more relaxed when I'm in my room- though I have no doubt I would get bored of it after a while!

8. I personally find that blogging has many perks. What makes you the most excited about blogging?

 I just love sharing what I have to say. I have always spent a lot of my time writing and I know when I was younger I used to write out snippets of my day as if someone was reading them (but trust me, you wouldn't want to). Writing is one of my favourite hobbies and I just enjoy doing it so much!

9. If you got to be in a celebrities shoes for the day, who would you be and what would you get up to? 

Argh! There are so many people I would love to be! I don't think I would be able to choose one (you may be able to tell already that I am a very indecisive person!) but probably either a quite-famous actress and have an experience filming for a film or a singer and have the experience of performing to a large crowd! 

10. What's the ultimate message that you're trying to get across with your blog? 

As I haven't been blogging for long I don't feel like my blog really has a 'message'. But I feel like I want people to just have fun and if they enjoy reading my blog that would be amazing!

I really enjoyed getting to know Elise better and I seriously think one of the reasons we get on so well is because we have a lot in common! Thank you so much for taking part Elise and thank you so much to anyone who's reading,

Izzy K xxx

Festive Makeup Tutorial

It's been a while since I've done a makeup tutorial so I thought I'd make one for this festive season. This is only my second makeup tutorial and to be honest, when they go to plan, I quite like doing them so I might make a few more. 

The makeup look I went for is a white eyeshadow look that's blended with some nude colours in the crease, a bold eyeliner look with fake lashes, light blush and of course bright red lips. I felt like this look is dramatic and ideal for any parties you may have coming up this Winter. 

Although I loved doing the actual makeup in this video, I did have a bit of trouble with the actual video itself. First of all the lighting is a mess and this video was the final little push I needed to buy lighting equipment because I'VE HAD IT WITH THE LIGHTING ALWAYS CHANGING NOW! Secondly my eyelashes went horribly wrong, starting with them being stuck on the wrong eye and then the fact that the glue wouldn't dry and was visible. And thirdly I got really awkward because people were walking past my house and could see me filming myself and my neighbours could hear me talking to myself through my wall which made me feel self conscious and awkward. And finally by the end you can just see the frustration in my eyes!

But I'm hoping it's just one of those things where only I noticed it but I thought I'd do a little disclaimer in case you did notice them anyway. I hope you like the makeup look regardless and enjoyed the video because despite all that I really did try hard. What's your go to makeup look for Winter?

Izzy K xxx

Q&A With Kim Petersen

I'm so excited to share today's post with you because it's with a true blogging friend of mine, Kim Petersen. She is the writer behind The Thirty Something Life which is a wonderful lifestyle blog, filled with fashion, reviews and general life updates. I sincerely love reading what she's been getting up to and her warm heart shines through in her blog. I'm honestly so honored that she agreed to take part in this Q&A :)

She's so gorgeous and her style is amazing. This is from her Thanksgiving Day Outfit's post

1. Is this the first ever blog you've had, and if not what were the other's like?

The Thirty Something Life is my first ever blog. I thought for years about starting a blog but never had the courage (or knowledge) to do it until recently. 

2. What is the biggest milestone you've achieved in your life so far and how has it changed you? 

The biggest milestone so far for me has been riding Salt to Saint this year. It's a 425-mile bike race done across my home state. I did relay style in a team of 8 so I rode roughly 60 miles. It was such a game changer for me in how I thought about myself and what I was capable of. I wasn't the fastest person ever, but I felt so good knowing I accomplished something like that. 

3. If you were only able to listen to 3 music albums for the rest of your life, which ones would you choose (it's a hard choice I know!) 

This is a really hard one. First would have to be Fun.'s album Some Nights. That whole album is amazing. Second would have to be Rilo Kiley's More Adventurous, another great album. And last would be Weezer's Blue album, only because that literally was my life throughout high school.

4. If you had £1000 to spend in any shop, which one would it be?

This is hard. Practical me would say somewhere like Target because you can get anything from groceries to clothes to makeup; basically anything you could possibly want. But dreamer me would say Ted Baker because I LOVE the aesthetic of his products because they are so beautiful and well made. 

5. I feel like starting a blog is either a spontaneous decision or one that takes lot's of planning. What was your process like for starting your blog?

It was definitely a lot of planning, mostly because I'm not tech savvy in the least, so I had no idea where to start. I was scared to even talk about it because it seems like something a lot of people find ridiculous. Luckily, my husband really supported the idea and really helped me get the whole thing going. He found a host (I didn't even know what a host was!), brought my domain name, worked with me to create a banner and set up my entire blog. I basically just had to start posting, so I was very lucky to have so much help! 

6. Blogging opens so many opportunities, what is the best thing that's happened to you through blogging so far? 

I think the best thing about blogging has been getting to collaborate with so many other bloggers, even across the world like you with this Q&A! It is also amazing to be able to connect with so many people, whether it's working on a blog post together or simply supporting each other. Blogging's opened up a lot of doors so far as working with and meeting so many people from different places, it's amazing. 

7. Since it's getting closer to Christmas, I couldn't resist asking this: At what time of the year do you start to get into the Christmas spirit? 

October. As soon as October hits and the weather starts cooling down I go in full Christmas mode. I start planning, sorting through decorations, drinking all the Christmassy drinks, baking all the Christmassy goods and listening to all the Christmas songs I can. 

8. Would you rather travel 5 years into the future or 5 years into the past, but you couldn't change what was happening when you were there either way. 

This is such a good question. I would rather travel 5 years into the past. Even if I couldn't change anything, I think I'd rather relive that time with the knowledge of where I am now, then go into the future and see where I will be. I'd be too afraid it would make me live my current life differently. Like knowing where I would be in 5 years I would make different choices either leading to or away from that. I believe that what's meant to happen should happen. 

9. It's always nice to gather advice from other bloggers when you're on a blogging journey, so what advice would you give to any aspiring bloggers reading this? 

I would just say do it because you really enjoy it. Whether you have 1 follower or a million if you don't love it, it's just really hard work. If you love what you're doing your content will show that. Also, comment and support other bloggers and really get into the community. It makes a big difference when you do have those down times, as all bloggers do. 

10. And finally, what is the main message that you're trying to get across with your blog?

I wanted to start a blog that is just for every person who loves makeup, fashion, food and fun as much as I do. I like to think of it as a place you go when you want to talk to your best friend about something, to share something fun you bought or that you learned. It's basically just a meeting place for friends. 

Please do yourselves a favor and get to know Kim through her blog if you haven't already, you can tell she puts a lot of time and effort into it. I'm so happy to have her feature on my blog and I know I'd get on well with someone if they like Ted Baker. I agree, the aesthetic of their designs are perfection. Thank you for reading,

Izzy K xxx

Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lipliner

Being the lippie enthusiast that I am, I'm always looking for ways to keep my lipstick on for longer. After looking around the internet for a while I found out that loads of beauty gurus swear by lip liner so I was intrigued to try it myself and see if it makes a different.

Naturally, I went straight to my favourite makeup brand, Rimmel London, to pick up the 1000 Kisses Lipliner. This bad-boy was a mere £2.99 which I think is a pretty decent price, and I picked the shade Black Tulip 63 because I have many lipsticks that will go with that shade.

I want to start off by saying that the colour is incredibly pigmented. You only need to apply one thin layer onto your lips and there you have it, complete coverage!

Rimmel's lip products are known for their lasting power, and I have to say that this lip liner is no exception. It's no exaggeration when I say that this lip liner lasts for hours and even when your lipstick has come off, this product still leaves a coloured stain on your lips. 

The one thing I'm a bit unsure about is the fact that it is fairly drying. I would compare applying this to using a literal pencil to draw a lip colour on your lips. Basically, it's not a very smooth product but I suppose it can't be if it's not going to budge off your lips.

Overall I would have to rate this product a 8.5/10 and I will most definitely be picking up a few more in different shades. If you're looking for a trusty lip product that would last all day this is the one for you, it most definitely will not let you down. What is your favourite lip liner? Let me know in the comments

Izzy K xxx

Essence Anti-Spot Compact Powder

As you guys know I'm so obsessed with my Rimmel Stay Matte powder, and well, just powders in general. A few weeks ago I decided to branch out and try a different brand and picked up the Anti-Spot Compact powder by Essence. Here are my thoughts on it:

The first thing I'll have to mention is the consistency of the product. I would say that compared to other powders I've tried, this is rather creamy in comparison. With that said, it's still a pretty powdery product that leaves your face looking extremely matte, which afterall is what you look for in a good powder. 

Something that really impressed me with this powder is that it has really good coverage. I find that on lazy days where I really can't be bothered for a full face of foundation, I can get away with just a bit of concealer and this powder on top. And then Bob's your uncle, you have an airbrushed finish to your skin. When you wear this over foundation, it does a fantastic job of making everything look even. I feel like it sets my foundation really well and stops it feeling cakey on my skin. 

This product claims that it is "anti-spot" since it has antibacterial substances in it that are supposed to fight any potential spots that may appear. I'll be honest, if you suffer from severe acne, I don't think this powder will be the cure to your problems. I don't think that this product has made my skin any worse, but I haven't seen a huge improvement in my skin. But with that said, every little helps and I appreciate the effort that Essence have made to help those of us who get the occasional bad spot. 

One thing that disappointed me with this product was the fact that it was almost hollow in the packaging. When I first saw it I was like "Yay, there's loads of this product" but after a while of using it cracks appeared. It just made it really hard to apply because it started to crumble everywhere which was a bit of a hassle. 

But overall, I would say that considering it's a really affordable product, it does the job well. I would rate this little product a 7/10 and it's the best alternative to the Rimmel Stay Matte powder I've found so far. Have you tried this powder before, and if so what did you think of it? 

Izzy K xxx

Q&A With Morgan Gifford

Hello everyone! Today I'm really excited to share a blog post with my lovely blogging friend Morgan from the blog The Rad Wife. She writes a lifestyle blog filled with what she's been loving lately. You can honestly tell that she has a passion for writing, and a love of life so if you're looking for a great quality blog to read, go check her out because she won't let you down.

Isn't she beautiful!

Here are the questions I asked her:

1. Do you remember what it was that inspired you to write your first ever blog post?

Growing up I idolized bloggers and YouTuber’s. I thought it was so cool that you could put your own content out there without needing a publisher or a producer. Then when I was 18 I found out I was pregnant and turned to writing as a way of coping with what was going on and I turned those thoughts into a blog. It was amazing to see the responses from people I didn’t know who read my posts, left comments and followed me, and while I no longer write on that blog, it left me inspired to keep doing what I was doing.

2. We all have those guilty pleasure songs that we secretly jam out to when we're alone. What's yours?

Either Shoop by Salt N Pepa (I know all the words and jam out when it comes on…don’t question it), or Beyonce’s Drunk in Love.

3. What is your favourite topic to talk about on your blog?

I don’t really have one; I like sharing most things. If I had to pick something though it would probably be personal life stories. I love reading them, and I love writing them.

4. Throughout our lives we all get handy bits of advice given to us. Do you remember what the best piece of advice you've ever been given was?

Since I was little my mom’s been telling me the one thing my grandpa used to say to her and her siblings when they were little: “Work hard, waste nothing, and make the most of your opportunities”. I think that’ll stick with me forever.

5. Let's face it, we're all either cat or dog people. Are you more of a cat or dog person and why

I’m more of a dog person. And more than that, I’m a big dog person. I love cats, but dogs are so much more affectionate and have much more energy. I’ve grown up my whole life with dogs, and while we’ve had cats sporadically, dogs will always have a special place in my heart. Even if they do drink out of the toilet.

6. Is there a particular event in your life that you think has changed you the most?

Definitely getting pregnant the summer after I graduated high school. I had to grow up and make a lot of decisions really quickly. I had to learn how to tell people “no” and to be independent because for a while I was a single mom. I grew up a lot and gained so much more self-confidence because I wasn’t relying on someone else to make my decisions for me, and I think that’s made me a stronger person.

7. If you could swap lives with any blogger for a day, who would you pick?

Probably Helene from Helene In Between. She’s so down to Earth and cool, and she seems like she really makes the most out of her life.

8. If you could change one thing about your blogging experience so far, what would you change?

Well, I’m only a month in so far, but I’d say I really want to work harder on growing through my various social networking platforms. And maybe be better organized.

9. Do you still remember the first blogger you ever started reading, and if so who were they?

I don’t remember, but I wish I did. It was some fashion blogger girl who always dressed so cool and I always thought “wow I’d love to do that”.

10.What are you hopping to achieve with your blog in the next year?

I want to keep putting out content that people are enjoying, and I’d love to have several hundred more followers, and at least quadruple my monthly page views. I’d also love to start monetizing my blog and maybe incorporate vlogging into my blog as well.

Thank you so much for taking part Morgan, it was a pleasure to have you feature on my blog. I absolutely love your aspirations for your blog. And I really hope everyone else enjoyed reading Morgan's lovely answers. Thank you so much for reading,

Izzy K xxx