Shadow Wardrobe - Nudes and Neutrals

Seasons come, seasons go, but some colours stay all year round. Like most people my go-to day looks are based on more neutral tones on the eyes, that is, on the days I wear shadow. Most days it's just liner and mascara. The thing is, daylight is harsh and unforgiving, even more so in autumn/winter, so I've been reaching for my old fail-safes more than I have been in the last few months.

My number one eye colour, Benefit Creaseless Cream shadow in Birthday Suit (a lovely pewter -champagne hybrid) has unfortunately gone missing otherwise it would be here and I would probably have hit the bottom of the pot by now. The fact that I mourn it's loss every time I need to swipe something quick and pretty on my lids is testament to its performance and versatility. Nothing has quite replaced it and I will be buying this again as soon as I can find it

From top, clockwise: Sleek Storm palette, Chanel Nymphea quad, Jemma Kidd Eye Wardrobe (Brown), MAC Creamy Bisque, Body Shop 09 (now discontinued)

Anyhow, here are my other neutral beauties which by some miracle I haven't managed to lose.... yet.

Sleek Storm Palette

This is my desert island palette. Every colour is uber pigmented, smooth and just beautiful. The quality far outshines it's modest price tag (I think these palettes are about £5.99 / €8.50) and every woman should have one. My most used shades are the matte browns (3rd top row, 5th bottom row) and the golds. The black is also matte and can be used as a liner too.
The dark blue (4th bottom row) has suffered as a result of me dropping this on the floor on numerous occasions. Oops.

Nymphea (love that name) is my first and only Chanel quad. It's probably pushing about 8 years old now and it's still going strong. The beige shade is almost at the pan. These are very easy to use as they are not that pigmented. Anyone, no matter how cackhanded can put a wash of these colours on the lid and look more than fine. These are very flattering shades and the green and peach just give the other colours a bit of 'lift', plus they are so sheer that they can be considered almost nude. Pigment isn't everything though, and I do believe there is a place for sheerer eyeshadows as not everyone can cope with pigment-rich products. These are the European baked version whilst the Chanel quads in the US are pressed shadows and I've heard these are smoother with more pigment. If I go to the US again then I'll pick up another quad there for comparison. Sacrifices, huh?

This unassuming little quad is Jemma Kidd Eye Wardrobe in Brown. It was sent to me when I was a tester for the Beauty Bible a few years ago and I fell in love with it. It would be the perfect bridal make-up palette. The colours are satin and matte and there is a unique 'dirty' gold shade which gives this palette a lovely twist on the usual brown-nude combo. These shadows can be a little dusty in texture, especially the white one, but as you can see that hasn't stopped me from using it. I've always had compliments when I wear this. I really like the colour combinations of the other quads so they are definitely worth checking out. Available at lookfantastic.com . £24

Jemma Kidd Eye Wardrobe in Brown

MAC Creamy Bisque

This was a recent purchase on a quick visit to MAC a few weeks back and it's my favourite MAC shadow so far. This is so versatile and can be used all over the lid or as an inner-corner highlight. It makes my eyes look so fresh. Just this and a slick of brown liner has been my most worn look this month and definitely Mr P's favourite. It's basically a warm, pale cream-beige with a touch of shimmer. During the day it brightens the eye, and at night the shimmer comes to life and sparkles very subtly. Beautiful....

Very old Body Shop shadow ( 09)

Not very exciting, I know. But this old dull looking shadow has garnered more compliments than any other shadow I have! Everyone asks me what I have on my eyes when I wear this. It's a warm taupe with a subtle duochrome effect which leans lilac. Wierd I know, and I should probably have swatched it for you, but my camera is being pants and just to photograph this lot took me 15 minutes and wrangled my nerves completely so just believe me when I says it's really, really purrrrty. :)

What are your favourite neutrals? Has anyone got the Storm palette and the Urban Decay Naked palette..... how do they compare?

Cream Blushers - My stash

From left to right: Armani Blushing Fabric in Scarlatto, ELF Pink Lemonade, Maybelline Dream touch 07, MAC CCB in Virgin Isle

Technically cream blushers are nothing new to me but they are rediscovered classics with some newbies thrown in. 

With my skin playing up recently my make-up has had to change a bit. The irony is that the more blemishes, lumps and bumps I have, the LESS make-up I have to use, save for concealer. It's wierd, I know. It defies logic, but if I use a heavier foundation, plus powder bronzer, powder blusher and concealer then for some reason all my blemishes seem more obvious, or rather, obviously disguised.

The other weird thing is that although I've been breaking out more, my skin has been drier than normal, so everything has been looking a bit flaky on me and ever so slightly ageing.

In comes cream blusher.

After applying the lightest layer of base (BB cream, tinted moisturiser, or my Armani foundation samples (I will seriously cry when these run out)), I've been adding a touch of cream blush with my Real Techniques Contour brush to the tops of my cheekbones, blending outwards and slightly down onto the cheek. This has been giving me the most natural of flushes and a gentle glow which has been enlivening my poor dull skin.

Cream blusher wardrobe: MAC, Armani, Benefit, Maybelline, ELF & Prescriptives

Real Techniques Contour Brush - my tool of choice for seamlessly blending cream blushers

So in the spirit of usefulness I thought I'd share my collection of cream treats and do mini-reviews on each.

MAC Cream Colour Base in Virgin Isle

Virgin Isle, swatched heavily

This is not sold as a blush but in MAC stores it's quite often with the blushers. This can be used pretty much anywhere on the face or body, but its vibrant bright coral lends itself particularly well to the cheeks and lips and I use it for both. It's very very pigmented and bright, so a little really does go a along way. It's not as smooth and easy to blend as some of my other blushers in my stash, but it's by no means a pain either. This is strictly a summery colour though and looks fabulicious with a tan. Extra marks for versatility as it makes a stunning coral lip colour. Virgin Isle is available in MAC pro stores only (I think!) though.  £13.50 / €19.00

Maybelline Dream Touch blush 07

Maybelline DTBlush 07 swatched

Now this is a discovery. I LOVE this stuff. I believe every girl should have one of these in her make-up bag. The texture is like butter, smooth and firm and it goes onto the skin beautifully. I like to use a brush (for preference Real Techniques contour brush) to apply this but fingers would work well too of course. The only thing is that finger application can often remove foundation and concealer and can be a bit uneven so I generally prefer using a brush. The colour is pigmented enough to make a difference but not so much that you end up looking like Aunt Sally if you whack on too much. There is some shimmer but not enough for it too look shiny or tacky. 07 is a deep woody rose colour with warm undertones. Perfect for my pale olive skin. £6.49 / €8.95

Prescriptives creamy cheekcolour in Nubile (02)

Prescriptives Creamy cheekcolour in Nubile, swatched

This is a good few years old and I've seriously hit pan on it. It was once a most beloved item in my make-up drawer and I"m trying to use it up again as part of Project Pan. I should have brought it out a few months back in the summer as the colour is a very warm, orange based bronze. Gorgeous with a slight tan. At the moment I'm in need of a bit of rosiness so it's been neglected again. Unfortunately I think Prescriptives is not available in Europe anymore so big cry for that. Such a shame as they had a really great product range and this blush is of such a lovely quality.

Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric in Scarlatto (07)

Armani Blushing Fabric in 07, swatched heavily below, lightly above

The cream blusher to end all cream blushers. I think this is as good as it gets with a price tag to match. But hey, class like this don't come cheap. This is for that expensive looking flush that is undetectable. Are your cheeks really blushing or is Giorgio making you blush? There is no shimmer or shine. This is skin-like matte which melts into your face like velvet (probably why they call it 'fabric'). When you touch it it feels like it's about to disintegrate into nothingness but blends out into the most incredible natural colour you've ever seen. Giorgio, you've stolen my heart. Holy Grail blusher status achieved. £28 (sorry)/ €40 (even sorrier). 

Benefit Cheekies cream blush in Gotta Crush on You

Benefit Gotta Crush on You swatched

Another oldie, as you can see from the photo it's very battered and well-loved. I dug this out recently but like Virgin Isle it's very much a summery colour so will hibernate until then. Very creamy, perhaps the 'creamiest' of all the cream blushers I have, and very pigmented. Also very discontinued. Sorry. The photo doesn't really show the colour that clearly but it's a very bright pale tangerine coral. 

ELF All Over Colour stick in Pink Lemonade

ELF Pink Lemonade swatched

I've not really used this that much on account of the colour being a little too cool for me. It's a bluer toned pink shimmer that doesn't look as natural as the Maybelline for example. I also detest the smell, it's like it's gone off already and has a bitter, greasy stench of old stage make-up! So this might end up in the bin. I bought it in the US for $1 so no tragedy there really. It's not a bad product but it doesn't match up to the quality of the others by any means. The smell for me is the real killer though. Eugh! 

I'm sure I'll get back into powder blush again soon (not that I'm fickle or anything ;)) but at the moment the Maybelline and Armani are making me swoon every time I sweep them on so they're getting some serious love.

What are you all wearing on your cheeks this autumn?