Tuesday 29 January 2013

OZ has arrived in the UK


To celebrate the release of OZ Urban Decay are releasing 2 limited edition palettes

GLINDA                      &              THEODORA


Each palette has 8 shades in a build your own palette format.  There are 4 full size colours in each palette all new and exclusive and then there are 4 half shadows in 2 duo pans.  The great thing about these palettes is you can arrange the pans in the palette how you want and when they are empty you can replace the pans with new ones, so the packaging is something you can keep and update over the years.  

At first i was a little disappointed with the concept but I have definitely warmed to it and it will be interesting to see if this is a direction Urban Decay will take in the future.  

They cost £35 each and heres the breakdown of what they are worth if we take a closer look at what is included.

So first lets start with the palette, you can get a build your own palette for £14, which includes the palette and one shadow - WOS or walk of shame to give it its whole title, this was formerly exclusive to the build your own but is now available in the naked basics palette.

A single shadow costs £14 so therefore you get the palette free.  This is a clever little incentive, it lures you in with its seduction of something great free.... but once you have it you are going to want to fill it up and they have you hooked.  It would be nice at some point if you could pick the colour that you get 'free' because otherwise you could end up with the same colour a few times if you decide to buy a few.

What i will say is that in this case the packaging is an incentive and definitely worth more, i cant put a price on its value but im sure they will raise some serious money in the future on ebay, enhanced by the fact that this is limited edition and wont be a permanent part of their range.

Individual shadows retail for £14 each and i imagine if Urban Decay start to sell duos as part of their range then they would be more but for now we will price them accordingly which means that already the retail value of buying these shadows individually and the palette would be £84.  

Add in a mini liner, they dont sell these individually so for the sake of argument im just going to half the price of a full size and call the value of this £7 and the colours Rockstar and Zero are stunning colours which are very POP-U-LAR (see what I did there, if you havent seen Wicked or heard the soundtrack you may not get that, but youtube that song i love it).  I must admit i would rather have seen super intense perversion with the Theodora palette but its my fave eyeliner so i guess im biased.

The last item with the palette is a Super saturated high gloss lip colour pencil, which is essentially a lipstick in a chunky pencil format.  They have intense colour, and are super creamy.  The shades included do retail separately and are not exclusive but do retail for £14.  Im excited that they have added this lip pencil rather than a gloss or a brush (as much as i do love them its become a common staple in their palettes, alongside primer and eyeliners), i think its something different and i love their colour choices, F Bomb which is the one with the Theodora palette is sold out on Debenhams online and looks an amazing red.

FREE ITEM - You also get a guide on how to achieve a look using the palette.  Always a bonus i think, the booklet with the SMOKED palette is amazing and a lovely addition.

So adding all that up the contents of this palette come to an individual retail cost of £105, and thats not accounting any cost for the special edition packaging (undoubtedly worth something) which is a great piece of memorabilia to an Urban Decay collector and/or an OZ enthusiast.  I personally think £35 for all you get here is a steal.  Now im sure at some point Urban Decay will release the exclusive shades in this palette in some other format, whether its in another palette or as individual pans, but there is no guarantee of that, so if you like them then you might want to invest now while you can.


I cant wait for mine to arrive, and will be doing a haul and a separate detailed video on each palette, and of course some tutorials/looks as well.

So, heres a question for you all....

Which witch are you?


Live, Love, Laugh

And remember, the name of this blog is UNAPOLOGETIC, Im going to be honest with you always, you might not agree, but its good to hear every side of the story xx

*I do not own the copyright of the images I am merely sharing them so you can see just how amazing these palettes are. 

Monday 28 January 2013

Is there such a thing as too much makeup?


So, who watched Dulcecandys makeup collection video?  I was in awe, so organised and love the drawers, but it did seem quite reminiscent of a shop, nothing on display to enjoy, and I dont know if this is me being OCD but i almost wept at all that MAC all topsy turvy in that drawer, i was itching to tidy it..... why was the MAC drawer so messy?!

I think that sometimes we do have the tendency to not check our makeup and more to the point are reluctant to part with it even if its past its best.  Some of that is because of what it cost, the other is that that product or shade is no longer available - I loved Parisienne pink by Miss Selfridge, yes they used to have a gorgeous makeup line.  I had to accept begrudgingly that when the mould started to grow that it was time to say goodbye, sniff, sniff.  

So, how do we prolong the life of our makeup and know when we should throw it away... 

So how should we store it?

  • Keep your makeup in a dry place
  • Away from sunlight
  • And ensure that all lids, covers, caps etc are on tight
The bathroom or on a windowsill are not ideal locations.

How long to keep it

All beauty products will have a shelf life icon on them, its normally a little pot with the lid of and inside there is a number followed by M.  The M indicates months and the number is how many.  However, there are ways to extend the life of your product, and sometimes you have to wonder if they give some products a short shelf life because they want us to continue to repurchase.

GUIDELINES

  • Mascaras - throw out after 3 months use and never share or use other peoples mascaras.  We all have bacteria on our lashes unique to us and every time we use a mascara we are transferring bacteria back into the tube.  You can get all sorts of nasty eye infections from an old mascara so its best to err on the side of caution because none of them are pretty.

  • Foundations - Guidelines state that you should throw these out after 3-6 months, i think you can keep them longer, the signs that a foundation is past its best however, are, separation in the fluid in the bottle, thinning or thickening are also a good indicator.  So is your  foundation suddenly watery, or a lot gloopier? Its time it headed to the bin!  I think you can get a year out of a good foundation though.

  • Lipstick and gloss - Guidelines are a year at maximum 2 years.  An indicator that they are past it are a change in the appearance, drying and for glosses they do start to get a bit stinky!  You can make these last longer if you make sure you dont use lip products on sores or any infections, and if you do sanitise the item afterwards.  Also, ensuring they are closed correctly, using with clean hands and not lying open products down on your desk/dresser will minimise bacteria.  I have lipsticks that are 4 years old, they still perform well, smell fine and are fine. 

  • Powder products - Powder foundation can apparently last up to 2 years, but blushers and eyeshadows are no good after a year.  I strongly disagree with this as I think shadows if kept clean and used with clean hands and stored well can last way beyond that.  They will lose pigment and become crumbly when they are starting to deteriorate so be watchful of that.

  • Eyeliners - liquid liners have the same shelf life as mascaras, at 3 months its time to say goodbye.  Pencil liners are given 12 months but i think you can get longer, again its down to storage and maintenance.  A liner is continually renewing its surface when you sharpen so its one of the cleanest products you have, as soon as it starts to dry up and crumble though its time for the bin, but try sharpening down before you do that you might find you can salvage some of it.

  • Products dont actually start to deteriorate till you open them, so as anxious as you are to look at that new mascara wand or check a swatch of that new foundation... think twice.  Once you open it you really should start using it.  And keep an eye on it, thats not to say that you can keep it indefinitely.

Here are some donts, to extend product life:

  1. DONT pump the mascara wand in and out of the tube to get more out - forcing the air into the tube is also taking any bacteria in the air inside the product and causing it to deteriorate faster.
  2. DO sharpen liners that you havent used in a while to ensure that bacteria on the surface is removed.  And always keep the lids on them.
  3. DO try to limit how much you touch your makeup, and limit how many people touch it.  From now on im swatching with a brush!  The more you touch, the more bacteria, you can limit this by only touching makeup with clean hands.  So when you sit down, wipe your hands with a wipe before you start and keep your surface clean, this takes us to our next point.
  4. DO keep your brushes clean, if you arent deep cleaning weekly, then spot clean as much as you can.  Brush fibres are natural havens for beasties the eye cant see, so keep them clean and dont spread those bacteria around your products.
  5. DO store your makeup somewhere dry and clean, and make sure that you keep it clean.  Throwing things in a jumble in a drawer can cause lids to come off and is difficult to keep tidy and clean so use little empty boxes to make compartments and easier to keep clean as well as better organised.
Theres a lot of mixed messages out there in internet land about product life, i think that being sensible and honest are the best policies, so that mouldy lippy might be discontinued and expensive but you have to be brutal.  Also, to me, if it looks and smells okay then im okay to use it, whether thats wrong or right it works for me.

Im not an expert though, so please dont hold me to any of this or quote me on it! :  )

But going back to the question, is there such a thing as too much makeup?......................NAH, who am i kidding, did you really expect me to say YES.  I do think I am more sensible now though, I have downscaled what i have and i think before I buy.  

Alec however, would answer this question with a resounding YES!

Live, Love, Laugh

And remember, the name of the blog is UNAPOLOGETIC, im going to be honest with you always, you might not agree but its good to hear every side of the story xx




THE GREAT SLIMMING CLUB DEBATE


Slimming clubs aren't for me, there i said it.  Not always a popular statement, particularly among those who enjoy them and that they work for.  So lets make this clear, good for you if they work for you.  I find that I have a lot going on in my life as it is, and with family life, and all the other things I do I do not have time to go to classes every week.  I think part of me resents someone telling me what i should eat, I know what I should eat but I don't, also i find diet alone does not work for me.  Also diet alone is not enough, if you dont exercise when that excess flab falls off you are left with a lot of work to do to get toned.... for me I need to diet and exercise.  And you would be amazed at just how much difference and the inches that you can lose with exercise alone.

So for me, slimming clubs are money making schemes, here are the negatives:
  • Cost - the weekly fees you pay
  • What to eat - most plans expect you to eat salad, salad and fruit - IBS and fruit are not a great match for me and I dont eat salad - yes i know its not all about salad, but as a really picky eater diet plans are not always friendly to me or my illness
  • Social element - I want to lose the weight for me, i do not want to rely on other people to lose it, it will feel more of an achievement if i do it for myself
  • You get one life its too short to waste on not being able to eat what you like, not go out for that celebration meal, or be able to eat at a party..... its all about knowing how much of something you shouldnt eat, and showing restraint, you can have that cake just dont eat the whole box!
  • Good food is there on the shelves, dont shop hungry, and make sensible decisions
  • A LOT of  people lose the weight, leave the group and then put the weight back on - so for some its a life long commitment which is that really convenient forever, 'cant go the concert tonight i have a slimming class' 'sorry cant come to your leaving party tonight i have a slimming class and i couldnt eat the food anyway'

The positives, oh yes even me who thinks they are a rip off can see the benefit
  • Some plans now teach you how to eat and give alternatives so you dont need to cut out everything you like 
  • Being part of a team all striving for the same goal is motivating and can help you see the prize of working so hard
  • You get books that will help you make better eating decisions and become more disciplined (not impossible without those books though)
  • Your being part of a slimming class and sharing your success can motivate others to take action

I think that we are all entitled to our opinions about EVERYTHING, we are all individual and all feel differently, so please dont judge me and dont think I am dissing you because you are a slimming club fan, I am most definitely not.  I just think that if you want something, its so much more rewarding to do it yourself.  I have weight to lose myself, I am currently in a situation where that is not working for me right now due to ill health but it will because I know that I can do it, but i want to do it my way.

Follow my journey here on this page with weekly updates and posts.

And remember make healthy choices, we drink skimmed milk, eat low fat mince and bacon and enjoy jacket potatoes and beans, but it doesnt stop us having that biscuit if we want it.  You get one life LIVE IT because you never know when it might be over.

Live, Love, Laugh

And remember, the name of this blog is UNAPOLOGETIC, Im going to be honest with you always, you might not agree but its always good to hear every side of the story xx



URBAN DECAY Pleather pencil in Perversion Review





After watching the lovely Vinny of LITTLEMISSSTYLEGURU on YOUTUBE use this pencil in her gorgeous ombre lip tutorial I had to get my hands on one to.  So I headed straight for the best place for make-up bargains EBAY.  There the little beauty was, and at the amazing price of £5.75 I had to snap it up. 
It arrived 2 days after I ordered it, well packaged and with great customer service.  The item was new and boxed and in perfect condition.  The bonus was the pencil sharpener that came with the pencil, large pencil size and embossed with URBAN DECAY, very smart and I highly rate Urban Decay sharpeners the Grindhouse is one of my favourite sharpeners.  
The packaging is Urban Decay Vintage-ness and I love it, it has the classic sexy lady on it, but other than that it is simple and stylish as always.  
From first swatch I was in love, instantly creamy and glossy and a dreamy vampy berry colour.  It didnt disappoint when applied to the lips either.  Coating my lips with ease, it glided on and gave a rich glossy colour.  It lasted a good while on the lips and it felt lovely and silky, no stickiness and no nasty smell.  A great addition to my growing Urban Decay collection.
What I will say is that it smudges around the lips easily, so a lipliner and primer are essential if you are going to wear this, just to make it last that bit longer.
Overall, i have to say i love this pencil shaped lipstick, and would highly recommend it to those not faint of heart where it comes to vampy shades such as this, its just a shame there arent more available in different colours.
Love as always
Spacey
xx
P.S Love the name, also the name of my favourite UD eyeliner.

NOW IF YOU ENJOYED THIS WHY NOT WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW BELOW, INCLUDING APPLICATION AND PHOTOS



Live, Love, Laugh

And remember, the name of this blog is UNAPOLOGETIC, Im going to be honest with you always, you might not agree but its always good to hear every side of the story xx


BLOG SALE - COMING SOON

Its time for my first blog sale....

Theres more to add so its not live yet, and photos or a video will also be added to this post once the sale goes live.


For sale


Mythic OIl milk conditioning spray £7
Soap and Glory righteous butter travel £2.50
Models Prefer eyeliner black (new) £4
No7 Eyeshadow Innocence (ivory) £2
MAC royal tour eye trio dame edna (used once) £17
Clinique palette (gold plum eyes & peach/coral blush) £3
Accessorise baked duo - pick up line - blues £2
Flick tip liners 1 pair used £1
Accessorise single eyeshadow plum £1
Gosh single eyeshadow aqua £2
BLINK bright eye palette with 2 peachy blushers (swatched) £3
Revlon photo ready foundation in 002 vanilla - one pump used £7
Bourjois nail varnish tangerine fatal (coral used once) £3
Stila lip glaze stick berry (swatched) £4
Virgin Vie mint condition foot/leg gel £7
Bourjois bronzing block (new) £4
MAC lipgelee tube in coral (new) £8
Studiomakeup black pen eyeliner £4
Astor 3 tone blush (swatched) £1.50
No7 Summer of dreams bronzer (surface swatched with brush) £8
17 even tone green corrector stick (new) £2
Milani liquif eye liner in turquoise £3
Models Own baby pink pencil £2
L'oreal infallible eyeshadow eternal black (new) £4
Yves Rocher lipstick in deep plum/burgundy (swatched once) £5
Toni and Guy soft curl cream £5
Hello Kitty fuschia irridescent nail polish (new) £3
Garnier BB cream original in light (new) £5
MAC lipstick in ARCHETYPE ltd edition (lightly used) £10
MAC venomous villains lipstick in Sinister (lustre) as above £12.50
ltd editioneyeshadow aqua £2
BLINK bright eye palette with 2 peachy blushers (swatched) £3
Revlon photo ready foundation in 002 vanilla - one pump used £7
Bourjois nail varnish tangerine fatal (coral used once) £2
Stila lip glaze stick berry (swatched) £2
Virgin Vie mint condition foot/leg gel £4
Bourjois bronzing block (new) £3
MAC lipgelee tube in coral (new) £7
Studiomakeup black pen eyeliner £3
Astor 3 tone blush (swatched) £1.50
No7 Summer of dreams bronzer (surface swatched with brush) £6
17 even tone green corrector stick (new) £2
Milni liquif eye liner £2
Models Own baby pink pencil £2
L'oreal infallible eyeshadow eternal black (new) £3
Yves Rocher lipstick in         (swatched once) £4
Toni and Guy soft curl cream £4
Hello Kitty fuschia irridescent nail polish (new) £2
Garnier BB cream original in light (new) £5
MAC lipstick in ARCHETYPE ltd edition (lightly used) £7
MAC venomous villains lipstick in Sinister (lustre) as above £12.50
ltd edition


i also have some brushes to add, and some more MAC items including Wonderwoman, lipsticks, glosses and an eye duo and some larger items, and look out for a nail blog sale soon to xx
Postage is item dependent, larger items will be weighed so you pay exact postage, and smaller items are flat rate of £3 each MAC is £4 recorded delivery only.  I will post internationally but would have to get you a postage price on request. (These prices include packaging and paypal fees) Additional items are 50p each up to 3 items then any items after 3 are free postage.
Payment via paypal
No returns all sales are final