Urban Decay Primer Potion vs. NYX Proof It! - eyeshadow primer comparison & swatches

Hey, beauties! I'll start this post off with a little makeup confession - until a few months ago, I never used an eyeshadow primer. I didn't really believe it was needed, that is, until I discovered Urban Decay's Primer Potion. A good eyeshadow primer can really transform your entire makeup routine - it makes the application smoother and more even, brings out the intensity of the colours, and makes your eyeshadow last a lot longer. Urban Decay's Primer Potion is the best eyeshadow primer I've tried to this date, however, it is also quite expensive (£16, Debenhams). I've been on the lookout for a cheaper alternative for a while, but most of the available drugstore options are very disappointing (namely, Rimmel's Undercover Shadow Primer, or L'Oreal's Color Riche Base). However, in my recent drugstore haul, I've discovered something that could be a worthy competitor - NYX's Proof It! primer (£5.50, Boots). My first impressions of it very extremely positive; plus the fact that it is over ten pounds cheaper is definitely a bonus. Today, I will compare the two primers in a little more depth, and see whether this budget-friendly alternative can hold its own against Urban Decay's renowned Primer Potion. Hope you enjoy!

L'Oreal La Palette Glam eyeshadow palette - review + swatches!

Hey, gummy bears! I hope that you're all having a beautiful week so far. Today, I am really excited to talk to you about the La Palette Glam eyeshadow palette by L'Oreal (£12.99, Boots). This is a summer limited edition of the original La Palette, featuring ten vibrant, unusual colours. L'Oreal describes this palette as a 'unique selection of ten pop summer shades, which will help you unleash your creativity'. I have actually tried both the original La Palette and the Nude Rose edition, and wasn't impressed with either of them because of the poor pigmentation and longevity (full review here). I probably wouldn't have bothered with this new edition, but I was quite intrigued by the unusual selection of colourful shades, and decided to give it a try. Hope you enjoy!

Share a little happiness with Happiness Boutique jewellery

Hey, jelly beans! First of all, I wanted to thank you for all your lovely birthday messages on Twitter. I had an absolutely wonderful weekend away with my better-half - we spent the day at the beach in Weymouth, which totally surpassed my expectations. Turns out, England has some beautiful beaches, too! We got quite lucky with the weather, so we spent the entire day enjoying the warm sand and the clear blue sea. I only wish the weekend had lasted longer, but we're definitely making the trip again next year!

Top 10 prettiest perfume bottles! Part 2 of 2

Hello, beauties! It's time for part two of my top ten prettiest perfume bottles, and I couldn't be more excited! In the last post, I asked you lovelies about what you think is the importance of packaging, and whether a pretty bottle is enough to make you want to buy a fragrance. A lot of you seem to agree that the scent itself is always more important than the bottle, although lovely packaging is definitely a welcome bonus. I've been known to buy perfumes just for the bottle, but at the same time, some of my all-time favourite fragrances come in pretty unattractive packaging... But, that is a post for another time! Today is all about the most beautiful bottle designs - make sure you check out part one of the post here!

Top 10 prettiest perfume bottles! Part 1 of 2

Hey, gummy bears! Today, I'd like to do a little 'show and tell' of some of the prettiest perfume bottles in my collection, so prepare for a photo heavy post! I often get asked about my collection - if you've been reading Shoes and Glitter for a while, you've probably seen quite a few of my bottles in various recommendations posts. I currently have over 160 different perfumes, as well a stash of miniature fragrances and samples. I've been collecting them for about six years now (contrary to the popular belief, fragrances can keep for decades if stored properly), and at least a third of my perfumes are gifts from family, my boyfriend, etc. A lot of people see collecting fragrances as an expensive hobby, and whilst it can be heavy on the wallet  - I actually can't remember the last time I paid a full price for a bottle of perfume. Thanks to things like online sales, tester sizes and TK Maxx, most fragrances can be purchased for a small fraction of their original prices. But, that is a post for another time! Today is all about the prettiest bottle designs, and I'm really excited to show you my favourites. Perfume bottles can be like little art pieces in themselves, and I enjoy looking at them just as much as I like to actually use them. Hope you enjoy!