FOTD - Sunset Eyes Or The Perfect Summer To Autumn Makeup

A few weeks back I visited Barcelona for a few days with my family. We did all the usual touristy things, of course, but I also took advantage of the fact there was a Sephora a short walk from our accommodation, because they are annoyingly not in the UK for some reason. Most of the brands were things I had access to back home, but one was not, that being Kat Von D, which excited me SO much. Her products are stunning and I've wanted them for ages, so, as a result, I bought an eye shadow and a liquid lipstick, which is showing extraordinary restraint.

The eyeshadow is called Thrasher and it is the most perfect gold I have ever seen. The swatch I took of it just made my heart fill with joy. I wanted all the eyeshadows, but I felt this would be the most versatile. I created this look a little while back on a beautiful Summer's day, which was incredibly hot, hence the visible sweat in these pictures (it passes as dewiness, right?).

I started by priming my eyes with Too Faced Shadow Insurance. I then used Red Ochre from the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette in the crease (I use a few shades from this palette). I then used Cyprus Umber from the aforementioned palette to deepen the crease, pulling it in to the outer third of the lid. I then used Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Gold on the rest of the lid, setting this with Kat Von D's eyeshadow in Trasher.

I then used So Susan's Haute Light Highlighting Pencil on my waterline and in the inner corners of my eyes, setting the inner corners with Primavera from the Modern Renaissance Palette. Next, I used Cyprus Umber from the same palette underneath the lower lashes, extending it a little under the tear duct. I finished by applying mascara and creating a cat eye with liquid liner.

 For my skin, I first primed with Benefit's Porefessional. I then used Mac's Mineralize Concealer under my eyes and around my nose and mouth, setting this with Mac's Studio Fix Powder Foundation. I then used Benefit's Hoola to contour with and Sleek's Life's a Peach as blush. I highlighted with Subsolar from Sleek's Solstice Palette, and sweat, a lot of very attractive sweat.

For my lips I first lined them using Mac's Boldly Bare. I then used a nifty new product from MUA called Colour Enhance Lacquer, which is basically a white liquid lipstick. I applied a layer of this to my lips (which looks so odd), then immediately layering over a liquid lipstick of my choice, I used Mac's Dance With Me, which creates a lighter version of the colour, and it's looks super good with so many colours and still dries matte. I finished by using Make Up For Ever's Mist and Fix Setting Spray.

I was super happy with how this look came out, I think Thrasher is just incredible and really makes a statement.

Urban Decay's Moonstone Palette - The New Prettiest Thing I Own

So I turned 22 recently, which is a little depressing, because turning 21 is supposed to be becoming a real adult, but that's not true. I was still at University when I turned 21, and everyone knows that Uni students aren't real adults. Now I have to pay council tax and I don't have the government lending me money anymore. Regardless, I got this beautiful palette for my birthday, which is the one bright spot in my otherwise dreary, adult existence. I am joking, sort of.

Urban Decay's Moondust Palette is the newest in their long line of beautiful, beautiful things that I have to own. They have created another box of jewels that is a marvel to behold.

As per, the packaging is gorgeous and on point, with this dope galaxy design on the box.

The back of the box shows a hint at the pretties inside and it's all sparkly and great.

The actual palette is sturdy, but not too large. It's also so incredibly sparkly. Practical and pretty.

It has a proper hinge with a good sized, decent mirror.

And then the jewels. The goods. The best bit. Hey there, gorgeous eyeshadows, what are you up to later? (Being applied on my face, obvs).

From the Left: Specter, Element, Magnetic, Lightyear, Granite, Lithium, Vega, Galaxy. Photographed with Flash.

From the Left: Specter, Element, Magnetic, Lightyear, Granite, Lithium, Vega, Galaxy. Photographed without Flash.

First off is Specter, a sheer pale pink absolutely brimming with silvery glitter.

Specter is less pigmented than all the other shadows, but this works in its favour, as it looks great as a wash of sparkles over other shadows, or as an inner corner highlight. If you want it to really pop, use it over a like coloured eye pencil.

Element is such an exciting and beautiful colour (which is saying something in this palette). Element is sort of an orange with a pink duo-chrome and silver glitter. The orange only appears in certain lights (not in flash photography apparently), but it is there and thus makes this a great and individual eye shadow.

This is an ideal lid shade that is by no means subtle, but is more wearable than the other shades in the palette.

Magnetic is a purple with a blue duo-chrome, which is the best kind of duo-chrome. Again it is filled with silver glitter.

This shadow will change based on what base you use, you can leave it bare (like in the pictures), or use a sticky white or black base, both will look stunning.

Lightyear is a friggin cool Emerald shade, which exemplifies the term 'jewel tone'.

It swatches beautifully, and will make an eyeshadow look if used on the lid, or as a pop of colour underneath the lower lash line.

Granite is such a cool shade, you want a smokey eye, look no further than this eyeshadow. It's a gunmetal eyeshadow on glitter crack.

It's so buttery, just smudge this around your eyes and go to a rock concert - the only truly appropriate location for this shadow. Apply it over a black cream base for more of a punchy look.

Lithium is a topaz shade with silver sparkles and it's perfect.

Want a neutral look with a bit of a kick? This is your shade. I predict myself deviating towards this shadow a lot this Autumn.

Vega is a royal blue with a turquoise glitter. Another glorious jewel tone.

Much like Lightyear, this is a look in itself. Put the two together in a look and you have some mermaid goodness.

To finish is Galaxy, which is a shadow with a dark base with a blue and green shift. If you think about the colours in anything galaxy print, this has them. It's beautiful.

For real impact, apply over a creamy black base. But play around with other cream bases for different effects (like a shimmery blue base to bring out the blue sparkles).

This is a look I created using Element on the lid and Specter in the inner corner. I applied Element over a concealer, which really muted the shadow, making it more wearable. I really want to try this shadow over a creamy, shimmery eye pencil, I think it will really pop.

I created this look using Galaxy over a creamy black pencil, with Specter in the inner corner again (I told you it worked well there). Galaxy just explodes over a creamy black base, this looked so good in person.

So, this palette is bomb, I love it and am so excited to play with it more. All the shadows apply really well and are pigmented even without using a base - but I would really reccomend playing with different coloured creamy bases. The Moondust Palette retails for £35, which is pricey, but if you - like me - have a birthday coming up, or simply want a payday treat, I would so reccomend it. And there's always Christmas (this would work so well for Christmas and New Year's looks).