Review: Urban Decay Build Your Own Palette

URBAN DECAY BUILD YOUR OWN PALETTE £14.00 reduced to £11.90

"Complete with a custom Good Karma Shadow Brush and the perfect nude shadow (exclusive to this palette), this mirrored palette includes five empty places for you to pop-in your eyeshadow favorites and create your own collection! Color coordinate your way to beauty bliss with the ability to create unlimited palettes that fit your beauty need of the moment. Pick your color, pop-out the shadow platform, and insert it into your Build Your Own Palette."

Vivi in Stile in Glasgow

Hi everyone. Last weekend me and my husband went out to test out a  new, interesting app called Vivi in Stile by Peroni. The app was designed to keep you up-to-date with must see places and events in your city. The guides cover London, Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool, Glasgow, Birmingham and Leeds.

I am glad that Glasgow is one of the locations in the app, because I really enjoy browsing through all the interesting articles and I found a couple of places I want to visit. 

Some high end gift ideas

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, a little guide/wishlist won't hurt anyone :) I picked a couple of things from Chanel, Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs and you can see them on the photo above.  

Get Fit, Feel Epic Competition Ending Soon!

Hi everyone.  Just a quick reminder about the Get Fit, Feel Epic Competition. I got 20 amazing entries so far and I loved reading all of them. All entries will be featured in a post at the beginning of February and the winning post will be published on my blog so all my readers can read it and get inspired to Get Fit and Feel Epic. If you submitted an entry via email, I am sure I already replied to you, if not, make sure to send me your entry before the 31st of January. 

Xen-Tan Luminous Gold Gel review with before and after pictures

Xen-Tan Luminous Gold Gel*  148ml £24.99

"A revolutionary MAGIC TAN – as if by magic, apply this clear gel and leave it to transform and within 3 hours it will develop into a deep golden colour before your eyes! Skin is also enhanced with a healthy, dewy finish thanks to a gentle, iridescent sparkle. Xen-Tan's fastest-drying and longest-lasting formula coupled with a simply WOW colour, makes Luminous Gold Gel one of the best products yet!

Pink pretties

Hi everyone! Before I start, I have to admit that.... I used to hate pink with a passion. I was always the one dressed head to toe in black and grey was the only colour I would consider if black wasn't an option. One thing I always loved is Dr Martens Boots. Oh my... I literally lived in my black Docs! I definitely need a new pair and I will be investing in the iconic British Brand Dr Martens again. You might ask, why I don't have my Docs anymore? They last a lifetime, don't they? Well... I moved too many times and I had to leave many things behind, including some of my favourite clothes and shoes.

Urban Decay Oz The Great and Powerful Palettes: Glinda and Theodora

As a massive Urban Decay fan, I am super excited about Oz The Great and Powerful Limited Edition Palettes. I am sure that you have seen the images already, but I wanted to share all the info with you, just in case. The palettes are now (29.01) available to buy in Debenhams here.  They cost £35 each, so a bargain in my opinion! If just like me, you are an eyeshadow addict, make sure to get the palettes asap, because they will definitely sell out quickly.

Panache lingerie

I love wearing beautiful lingerie, so when I was asked if I would like to review a lingerie set from Panache , I had to say yes :) Panache is a leading D+ lingerie specialist that has built its reputation on 3 core values: Fit, Support and Comfort and their designs are simply beautiful! 

I wanted something colorful, to wear under thick winter jumpers, but the set I originally picked wasn't available in my size. I got a classic design instead - a Tango Plunge Superbra* and Brief*  set and I am very happy with my choice. The set is very comfortable and the Superbra gives great support.

I always treat myself to new lingerie when I am updating my wardrobe for each season and I go for colorful prints for spring/summer and classic colors for autumn/winter. My favourite winter colours (of underwear) are definitely burgundy, red and dark purple, but I think that white lace  has a winter feel to it as well. All the colours I mentioned would look really lovely on tanned skin and if I am showing my decolletage, I always use self-tan to add some colour and a nice glow to my skin. I don't like being pale. A little bit of tan and a lovely lingerie set always lift my mood and give me a confidence boost! 

What colours do you go for in winter? Are you more daring with patterns etc?  

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My exclusive January advertiser is Coco from The Beauty Milk

Too Faced Color Drenched Lip Cream - Juicy Melons

Too Faced Color Drenched Lip Cream - Juicy Melons 

"Indulge your lips with rich creamy color, drenched with luscious, hydrating moisturizers including white lotus flower and power peptides. Moisture has never been so pretty! Hydrating, soothing and lip-conditioning, smoothing and firming for the delicate lip area. Pigment-saturated, one-swipe formulas drench lips with sexy, pure color."

Clarins Spring 2013 Collection - Iris Blossom Eye Quartet, Face Palette and Water Lily lip gloss / Four makeup looks

Clarins must be my favourite brand when it comes to limited edition makeup products. They always WOW me and I find myself looking at their beautiful palettes for ages, before I can actually swatch them :) I am sure you can related to this if you love pretty, embossed designs. The Spring Collection is even more beautiful than the Christmas one and it is inspired by the beautiful Iris flower. 

Hydraluron and Nanoblur Review

Hi everyone! I hope you are having a lovely weekend! I have been trying out two products from Indeed Laboratories for the past 3 weeks and I am ready to share my thoughts. I know that Hydraluron has a massive fanbase, but Nanoblur doesn't get much love. So... wanna know my verdict?

Winter and baby :)

Look Beauty Loud Lips Lipstick in Petal Nude

LOOK BEAUTY Loud Lips Petal Nude £7.00 

"Your one-coat route to a super-hot pout. The creamiest, on trend shades to take your look up a whole other notch - best stock up on your one-coat route to a super-hot pout! Tip: One coat should do it, but ensure even more staying power layer up two or three, blotting in between, then dust loose powder over a tissue over the top."

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle - review and swatches

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Soft & Gentle £21.50

"A luxurious velvet-soft powder with high-frost metallic finish. Smoothes on: adds buffed-up highlights to cheeks, brows, anywhere on the body: provides an ultra-deluxe polish to the skin."

This product has been reviewed a thousand times or more... I know... But I have to share my thoughts with you. 

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle is a must have product in everybody's makeup bag. 

Once you start using it, you will know why. I can't imagine my makeup collection and my everyday makeup routine without it now. I use it every day, unless I am having a makeup free day, which doesn't happen very often.

Matte Pink Lips

Bourjois Aristo Clash Collection -with swatches

Enrapture Extremity Heated Rollers review

Bourjois Rouge Edition lipsticks - Thumbs up!

Updating your look with a lipstick?

For the first time in my blog's history, I have a guest post for you! :) I think that it is quite an interesting read :) Oh, and because I can't imagine adding a post without photos, I am using this opportunity to add some photos of my pretty handbags and gorgeous lippies :)

Brits feel stuck in a ‘style rut’

If you find that you’ve picked up some bad fashion habits over the years, don’t worry: you’re not alone!

According to a recent survey commissioned by voucher site Groupon, half of British women wear the same clothes and make up every day, despite the fact that 52% wish that they could give their appearance a shake-up, whilst 44% admitted to being stuck in a ‘style rut’.

With style icons like Kate Moss and Alexa Chung leading the way for British women, why haven’t we learnt to take heed from the women who do get it right? According to the same survey, 48% cite a lack of funds as a major obstacle to change, whilst 21% blame time constraints. It seems that these style habits also come down to a lack of body confidence, with 20% of survey participants confessing that they’re not self-assured enough to make the change.

So what can we do to give ourselves that much needed style makeover? Most people will agree that refreshing the way you look on the outside can have positive effects on the way that you feel on the inside. However, change doesn’t always mean that you need a complete wardrobe transplant. Whether it’s budget constraints, a lack of energy or lack of confidence that get in the way, it’s best to take things one step at a time.

With that in mind, here are a few ideas that can help create a new look by introducing small changes to your wardrobe or make-up bag.

Handbag

Your handbag can affect your whole outfit; take it from handbag queen Sarah Jessica Parker, who is often seen wearing loose jeans, neutral knits and flat shoes, twinned with a Chanel quilted handbag or Fendi classic. Try going for a bold design that you wouldn’t normally opt for, such as animal or monochrome print. Lots of high street brands offer a large range of gorgeous print designs, and there’s also a great selection of ladies handbags at isme.com.

Lipstick

Throw out your old lipstick and try something new. Changing your lipstick is an easy way to change your look. Take your time at the make-up counters in your local department store and ask a member of staff to help you pick out the best colour to suit your complexion and skin tone.

Lingerie

Dress from the inside out to give yourself real body confidence. Try investing in some well-fitting underwear in silk and lace, and ensure you regularly go for a bra fitting to ensure you’re getting the right support.

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My exclusive January advertiser is Coco from The Beauty Milk

Back to neutrals

NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil: Silver Factory

Sexy Hair Big Volume Shampoo and Conditioner

Review: ELF HD Blush in shade Headliner

Urban Decay NAKED Basics Palette review

URBAN DECAY NAKED BASICS PALETTE* £20.00 

"Urban Decay's first MATTE palette, featuring six gorgeously Naked neutrals to build on or wear alone - including four never-before-seen shades. Naked Basics is more than just the long-awaited, multipurpose MATTE companion to Naked. It's the palette EVERY woman needs in her beauty arsenal. With six stripped-down, Nakedly neutral shadows, it has everything you need for the perfect neutral matte eye. It all comes in a sleek compact (embossed with a pretty, metallic "NAKED" on the front) that has a slight sheen and a suede-like feel. Best of all, the slim design is perfect for travel - while this palette is perfectly travel sized, it is loaded with full-size shadow pans, just like Urban Decay's other Naked palettes."

New on my desk: Lumie Desklamp Touch SAD light

NARS Larger Than Life Lip Gloss - International Velvet

NARS Larger Than Life Lip Gloss: International Velvet* <direct link>  £19.00

"Brilliant shine and intense colour, the new Larger Than Life Lip Gloss provides lustrous shine that stays in place for hours, while lips feel protected and moisturised.  This innovative and unique formula is infused with ingredients to nourish lips and fight free radicals, while natural lip enhancers provide volume. The texture glides on evenly, won’t feather, and stays on throughout the day. A new, shorter bristle brush delivers a precise application to define and shape lips. The new, clear packaging is indicative of its overall effect: bold, brilliant and luxurious."

NEOM Real Luxury Organic Body Wash

NEOM Real Luxury Organic Body Wash <direct link> 240ml £18.00

"Gently cleanse yourself with this softening organic body wash, packed with soothing Aloe Leaf, Chamomile flower & Apricot Fruit Extract, it will leave your body feeling clean & fresh, ready for the day ahead. As the aromas mix with the steam in the shower, your chosen treatment scent will get to work. 71% certified organic ingredients; 29% natural ingredients. Real Luxury - Lavender, Jasmine & Brazilian Rosewood. Known as the 'cashmere blanket' of our scent library, Real Luxury is a sophisticated but light and calming scent. The most precious Jasmine is combined with a little French lavender and the soothing, spicy tones of Brazilian Rosewood"

NARS New York Dolls Nail Polish from the Andy Warhol Collection

NARS Nail Polish- New York Dolls* via www.hqhair.com £12.60 

"This New York Dolls nail polish by Nars is inspired by the iconic pop artists Andy Warhol, boasting popular colours used by the artists in many of his most famous works. Put a bold slick of colour on your fingernails and glam yourself up with this eye-catching shade. This Nars Nail Polish is a fabulous and glamorous way to make your nails the centre of attention, boasting a brilliant sheen and rich colour. Get a truly enchanting finish on your nails and tantalise your fingertips."

Spending ban update #1

My Urban Decay Eyeshadow Obsession

Nude and gold glitter polka dot manicure

Next SPA Purifying and Exfoliating Sugar Body Scrub

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation and Touche Healthy Mix Concealer review

Chatham Marine Andalusia Chelsea Boots

Get Fit, Feel Epic Competition/Giveaway

Hi everyone. 

I am sure that most of you know about my weight loss plans. I mentioned it before and I also co-run a weight loss blog and blog there twice a week, updating on my progress. When I got the opportunity to be one of the guest judges in the "Get Fit, Feel Epic" Competition, I couldn't say no. Getting fit is very important to me and I thought that giving my readers a chance to win some amazing prizes to help with getting fit is a wonderful idea!! SO.... You can win a FitBit activity tracker and a set of smartscales worth £49.99 and £99.99

On top of that, I am adding another prize to this giveaway :)

 Why? If I get enough of my lovely readers to get involved and enter the competition, I can win an iPod Nano or an  iPod Touch or an iPad3! There is no harm in trying and since most of you are beauty addicts, I decided to add the Naked Basics Palette as a prize from me :)

To enter all you need to do is write a post on your blog about how you've managed or are planning to "Get Fit and Feel Epic"

In your post, you will have to mention:

- the ‘Get Fit, Feel Epic competition'

-the MoneySupermarket.com brand name

-The Black Pearl Blog and link back to this post

If you decide to enter the competition,  after publishing your post email me at theblackpearl2012blog@gmail.com before the 31st of January with a link to your blog post.

The competition is open to UK residents only. 

The winner will be chosen by me. I will read every single entry carefully  and pick the most inspiring post and the winner will receive all the prizes pictured above.

I also decided to publish the winning post on my blog (with authors permission) and feature all the entries with links to your inspiring blogposts, to give my readers a chance to read them and discover new blogs.

Good luck!

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My exclusive January advertiser is Coco from The Beauty Milk

NOTD: Lilac gradient nails with glitter

January Advertisers

The prettiest bag - blue pony satchel

What? My blog is 1 YEAR OLD today? Yes it is!

My secret obsessions

NOTD: Mint and musical notes

A Groupon Bargain

Yellow gold and purple smokey eye

Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist Review