Maybelline Colour Tattoos - Creamy Mattes

I feel like I have been waiting forever for this release! If your not already familiar with the Maybelline Colour Tattoo's, they are long wearing cream shadows that are in my opinion the best drugstore option out there. The range includes some very pretty shades such as On and On Bronze,  but has always lacked a matte, skin toned shade that can be used to even out the lid or as a base for shadow.

 Finally Maybelline have released Crème de Nude and Crème de Rose -  Crème de Nude a yellowy tone and Crème de Rose being a pale pink (surprise surprise). Think, MAC Soft Ochre and Painterly! They offer the same creamy pigmentation as the original shades, work great as an eyeshadow base and do a really good job at evening out my veiny lids. Crème de Nude has to be my favourite of the two as I prefer a yellow toned base, but I think the rosier option would work better for someone slightly darker than me.

Compared to MAC's Paint Pots, I would say the formula is far less drying and can be built up without looking cakey. As a religious user of Soft Ochre, this is a big claim from me but I can really say these are just as good, if not better than their high end equivalent. There seems to be a little confusion about the shade names, as I have also seen these talked about under the names 'Just Beige' and 'Nude Pink', so I think the name of the shade could depend on which country you live in. I believe these have been available in America for a while now and have just been released in the UK - so I strongly suggest you go buy these eyelid essentials!

Have you tried Maybelline's latest additions? Let me know!

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Smashbox 'Shape Matters' Palette

While wandering the aisles of Boots (a pretty standard post uni ritual) I came across this gorgeous Shape Matters Palette from Smashbox. A new release for Autumn 2015, this palette is currently on an amazing introductory promotion meaning I picked this up for just £30.00! This is really such a great deal, as it contains all three shades from the Contour Kit (which alone retails for £35.00), along with a second highlight shade, nine powder eye shadows, two brow shades and a wax.

This is a wonderful all round face palette, especially for Make up Artists like myself or anyone that travels frequently. The Contour Kit in particular is something I've been lusting after for a long time and the shades really lived up to my expectations. There is a bronzer, contour shade and two highlight shades: one matte, aptly named Highlight and one sheeny called Glow. The bronzer is very warming which I find to be a nice contrast to the cool undertones of the contour shade making it really easy to sculpt the face without leaving the skin looking dull. Highlight works perfectly to set cream highlighters and under eye concealer, or to just add brightness to the face, while Glow imparts a lovely subtle sheen which after running out of my Kevin Aucoin By Candlelight is something I've been lacking in my collection.

The two brow powders included would be wearable for most people and I've found them to mix together well to create the perfect shade. I would say the palest of blondes may even find Taupe (the lightest shade) a little too dark for them, but thankfully for me this isn't a problem. The one thing I'm yet to try is the brow wax as I find they never usually work on me, but its a good inclusion for people with unruly brows or to use as part of a kit.

The eye shades are very well pigmented and creamy in feel and although the shimmery shades are prone to a teeny bit of fallout, this is no problem for me as I prefer my shadows to have an easily blend able texture. Another thing I really like is selection of colours chosen, ranging from pale lid colours such as Vanilla to contrasting mattes like Sumatra to run through the crease, along with pretty purples Posh & Aubergine to keep things a little interesting. Platinum definitely deserves a special mention - its a stunning browny gold shade (that definitely does not do it justice) that I have found myself gravitating towards every day.

This palette is currently out of stock on the Boots website but there were loads on the shelf in my local store so its definitely worth checking out. I believe it retails at full price for £60.00 which I know is pricey, but if you are a fan of all the products inside or looking for a convenient addition to your make up kit, it still works out far cheaper than buying the products individually.