Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette & Beauty Favourites

This past month I’ve made a couple wonderful discoveries in the beauty industry.  In today’s post I will be sharing a few make up products, brushes, skin care essentials and hair care products.  If you’re a beauty junkie like I am, you’ve found yourself in the right place 🙂  

For starters, and I have never been more excited about a product in all my life, I have to share my love for the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette.  This is my first Urban Decay product and I’m simply crazy about it.  The Urban Decay Naked 3 palette has a beautiful selection of 12 shades in a fantastic mix of shimmer and matte shadows.  The shades are beautifully pigmented and vary from nudes, pinks, taupes and a gorgeous deep purple.  With this colour palette it is really easy to create a simple, natural, daytime look or a very dramatic, bold, smoky eye which is quite impressive.  To me, the Urban Decay Naked 3 is the only palette you will ever need purely because of its wonderful versatility.  Other than the shades in the palette I was very impressed with the packaging.  It’s very solid and sturdy that separates it from any other palette I’ve come across.  The rose colour packaging, the high quality, double-ended makeup brush and large mirror makes it easy to understand why this palette is a luxury product and its reputation precedes it.  I was not disappointed with this must-have makeup essential. 

I’ve also discovered a new foundation brush that I’ve fallen head over heels for.  As you know, I’ve been absolutely obsessed with my Sigma Beauty F80 Flat Top Kabuki foundation brush for the past few years (read my review here).  I have used it nonstop at least once a day since it arrived on my beauty desk.  Unfortunately, though, it has retired and desperately needed replacing.  I was on the verge of buying a new one when I came across this Flat Top Kabuki Brush by Kandy Kane.  It’s only R120 and looked like a perfect dupe for the Sigma Beauty F80 so I decided to try it out and I’m so glad I did.  It buffs my foundation into my skin so flawlessly and it does it so quickly.  It is just as incredible as the Sigma version which is super impressive.  Another great foundation brush I’ve been using is the MAC 196 which you may have seen me using in a couple makeup tutorials.  Its bristles are shorter and stiffer and it does take me a little longer to do my foundation but the result is just as beautifully buffed and flawless which is why I would recommend trying this brush too.

(Also pictured: MAC Pigment in Kitchmas, Bobbi Brown lipgloss in Almost Nude, MAC False Lash Extreme mascara, Bobbi Brown blush, Juicy Couture watch)

Lóreal Paris have just launched their Extraordinary Oil range which is absolutely wonderful.  Last year I was introduced to the wonders of using oils in your beauty regime but this year I’ve really embraced them.  I use oils for cleansing and hydrating as well as for sheering out my foundation or creating a dewy, healthy look in my skin.  The Lóreal Paris Extraordinary Facial Oil is designed specifically for combination to oily skin to balance and tighten the skin.  What I love most about this oil is that it contains a very impressive list of essential oil ingredients including camomile, lemongrass and lavender.  To compliment this facial oil Lóreal has produced the Extraordinary Oil Radiance Cream-Mask which provides intense hydration with key ingredients of lavender and rosemary oils which are wonderful to help you relax and unwind while the hydration takes place which I think is marvelous.

In terms of hair care I have two ranges to share with you.  For starters I’ve been using the Matrix Total Results High Amplify volumising range.  Comprising of shampoo and conditioner and a root spray this range really sees results.  I love the volume it creates when I blow dry and style my hair.  While all the blow drying and styling can really have an impact on my hair I love to use the Lóreal Professionnel Pro Fiber Revive range.  I first experienced this Pro Fiber treatment at my hair salon and have since been trying out the at-home treatment kit and it’s definitely made my hair stronger which I have never experienced before.  I use the Pro Fiber shampoo, which has a beautiful rose fragrance, the masque as well as the individually packaged hair treatments that I use every four washes for the best effect.  It’s absolutely wonderful to be able to use such a high quality salon treatment in the comfort of my own home which I love.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this round up of all my new favourite beauty products.  I hope you find something you’re looking for in this post.  Please let me know in the comment section below which products you’re most excited to try.  Thanks so much for reading!