Urban Decay have added a few gems to their line up and I thought I’d show some of them off. First up, let’s take a look at their mooi limited edition highlighting palette, Naked Illuminated Trio (R650).

Each of these shades – Pyrite, Oasis and Twilight – is new, new, new and you won’t be able to buy them separately.

Of the three, Pyrite and Twilight are my favourites as they stroke on and build like a dream, especially Pyrite that could easily be used as an eye shadow too. Oasis has a fair amount of glitter in it and if you build the ‘base colour’ to a point where it’s truly visible you end up with a lot of glitter on your skin and that’ll go down well with the younger set but fine-line riddled ole’ me will have to stick to ye plain old glimmer, thanks.

Usually, I toss any brush that comes with a kit as they’re notoriously kak but this one gets props. It’s just the right size for a targeted stroke but for even more ‘impact’ I suggest you stroke the powder on with your fingers and then use the brush to blend.

Another kit you’ll want to know about is new ‘Blackmail’ Vice lipstick palette (R699).

Half of the shades are nude and half are bont so to truly benefit you’d have to be a girl who can play on both sides of the fence.

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But even if you only use a few of the hues, you’re still scoring as one Urban Decay lippie costs R230 so the palette saves you cash and allows you to experiment. I was super impressed by how ‘soft’ each of the colours are. I thought I was being gentle when I dipped my brush into the first colour I tried, Sheer Shame, but managed to gouge a lekker hole in it.

Again, the brush that’s supplied, a tapered lip brush that extends like a telescope, is a real winner as it allows you to apply each shade with precision.

Speaking of which, that’s the other joy this palette. You can embrace your inner mixologist which is how I’ve created a new favourite shade – a blend of the shimmer bomb that is Big Bang mixed with orchid-coloured Firebird. (I call it Birdie Bang Bang ‘cos I’m ridiculous like that… Also, I’ve just realised my pic came out super blurry so I’ll update this later today when I’m done motoring through my ten thousand e-mails.)

You’ll also want to know about new Liquid Moondust (R320), a metallic cream shadow that delivers a pigment bombs of note that wears like a total boss. If you’ve got oil-prone eye lids like me, ensure you use a primer  first. (Urban Decay’s original primer potion is still the best I’ve ever used and still the number one product I recommend you first buy from the brand. Even over and above their Naked palettes, although you would have to pry my beloved Naked 1 palette from my cold, dead hands.) Using a primer will ensure that, even at the end of a long, crazy day, your shadow still looks as though you put it on five minutes ago. I’m serious!

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Last, but not least, I was super-duper impressed by Urban Decay’s Razor Sharp water-resistant longwear liquid eyeliner (R300). The colour I was given, Fireball*, isn’t something I’d wear out and about but I rocked the shizzle out of it while going about an in doors day (doing a mountain of laundry – including the curtains – to the tune of Belinda Carlisle, if you must know) and was impressed with how its super fine tip allowed you to go as fine or thick as you’d like and then, once it dried, it was basically like a blerrie tattoo. Still, a good oil-based make-up remover will loosen its grip with ease and then it almost kind of ‘rolls’ away like foil.

See anything you want, want, want? All of these goodies are in the Urban Decay store in Sandton City as I type. If you’re a non-Jozi girl and don’t have a Urban Decay mule to do your bidding in the big smoke, don’t despair. The brand will soon be stocked in selected Foschini stores with the first being in East Gate as of the 25th and that means you’ll soon be able to get your fix via Foschini’s online beauty store. When is this happening? I don’t know. But soon, my darlings. Soon…

Love, love

Leigh

*Really, Kyle? More coral? I thought we’d gotten to a good place, you and I. Why you do me like that, dude? Kidding. Kidding! I love you! #injoke