For someone who wears eyeshadow once or twice a week (at the very most), I'm very aware that my little stash is a bit over the top. All of this for just two little eyelids? Yes, I know it's ridiculous. It's not even that there's so many, it's also the fact that many are SO similar. I have a problem.
Eyeshadows, whilst not my highest priority in the mornings, are one of my favourite things to buy. I get drawn in by all of the different colours, and the shimmers, the satins, the mattes.. Oh a light brown? Yes, I have about 5 already.. but this one is different, I swear!
I wish I could use them on a daily basis, but I'm not the greatest at getting up on time, so find that I usually don't have time to pat on a pretty colour. ..And I'll always choose eyeliner over eyeshadow if I'm pushed for time.
My first venture into 'sensible and wearable' eyeshadows (goodbye 13 year-old me's blues, purples and shimmery whites..!) began with these little 'Color Tattoo' pots from Maybelline. With a promise of 24-hour-colour, these drew me in, and I used to use them a fair amount. The colours shown above are 35-On and On Bronze, 65-Pink Gold, and 40-Permanent Taupe.
I spent a few weeks trying to track down Permanent Taupe to use through my eyebrows.. I'm not sure how that went in the end, as I can't remember ever trying it again! I'll have to give it another go on the brows soon, as I remember the colour doesn't quite suit my lids.
Pink Gold is one that I love to use as a base pinky-toned shades from Naked 3. This is such a beautiful shade, but you only need a tiny touch of this.. a little goes a long way.. (so don't cover your entire lid in pink!)
On and On Bronze is the first one I picked up. A beautiful colour which gives just the right amount of shimmer.
You've all seen these before, Naked 2&3. I feel like writing about Naked palettes is some sort of beauty blogging right of passage. I don't think I've ever mentioned these on my blog before, but I was lucky enough to receive both as a gift from Ben at the beginning of the year. Beautiful palettes, beautiful shades. The overwhelming temptation to try the original Naked is too much to bear! I'm thinking I might pop it on a christmas list or something.. I'd feel far too guilty if I bought it myself.
Favourite shades from Naked 2: Bootycall, Suspect, Verve and Pistol.
Favourite shades from Naked 3: Strange, Burnout, Liar and Mugshot.
Another thing to point out, the samples of eyeshadow primer that you get with these palettes are amazing.
TOP TIP: Rather that ripping off the top of the sachet, or cutting the corner off, just pierce them with a pin and they won't dry out as fast! :) This goes for all sample-sized sachets. (Thank you to the lady at Kiehl's for telling me this!)
And finally, the Naked Basics palette, and two MAC shadows.
I snapped up the Naked Basics with a 20% voucher from Debenhams right as I started this blog. 'Naked 2' is my most used shade here. When I was fully blonde, I used this shade through my brows every day. Every single colour in this palette has it's use, and it's a fantastic one to take away with you on holiday, as it doesn't take up much room either!
The MAC shadows I only picked up a couple of months ago (if that). Spurred on by Rebecca's post
HERE, I went on a quest to find Shroom, as another friend had also mentioned in the past, so I was keen to give it a go. A lady at MAC offered to put some on for me before I bought it, and then asked if there was anything else I'd like to try. At this point I mentioned Naked Lunch.. and well, the rest is history.
Let me just say one thing. Being on an eyeshadow-spending-ban and having a half full MAC quad is hard...
Thanks for reading, and I'd love to hear what you think down below! :)
Also I'd love to take the time to say a massive thank you to all 700 of you readers!! I didn't even notice that number creep up, it's such a joy seeing that so many of you enjoy what I do on here, so thank you!