One of the hardest things about blogging is that there's no official guide or handbook, filled with all the rules and guidelines that you have to comply to. People may have different views on how things should be handled and what rules should be in place, but nothing is official or set in stone. However, blogs have been around for years now and many more people have been creating them, causing a blogging etiquette to be established. What you should and shouldn't do is much clearer as people are getting a better idea of what blogging is and how it affects their world.

Despite this, there are still many people who don't know about this and are unsure how they should react in certain situations related to blogging. I thought I'd identify some of these and determine the rules that you should follow, which is now widely agreed on by many bloggers.


"Should I reach out to a brand or wait for them to contact me?"

This is a commonly debated question and has no right or wrong answer, so it all depends on your personal opinion. On the one hand, it may appear selfish if you're asking for products and opportunities without doing anything for them, creating an impression of being greedy or begging. This definitely isn't how you want to present yourself in front of a brand, and since many PR companies talk you could be hindering yourself in any future collaborations. I definitely think that if you do want to go down the route of contacting a brand, it's best to be polite and professional, carefully choosing your words so you don't come across like you're pleading for free products.

On the other hand, you may be a newbie blogger and need a place to start. It can be hard to get started and you may feel as though you'll never get recognition from brands with so much competition. In this case, I'd gather some quotes and testimonials from other bloggers, as well as your follower count and blog analytics, and present them to the brand in a formal yet friendly way. This way, brands have everything they need to know about you, and may consult you in the future if you were the perfect fit for an opportunity.

An alternative to this is asking the company if they have a bloggers database or directory that you could join. Many will have one of these in place, and by being included you will be notified about future offers and opportunities. By being included in this, they'll always have your details and are therefore more likely to reach out to you, and asking to be in a database is much less demanding than asking for them to send you products.


"Do I need to comment on a blog if they comment on mine?"

Although it's never compulsory to comment on someone else's blog, I definitely think it's a nice habit to get into, as it shows that you're caring and appreciate the hard work of others. Also, if they comment on your blog and take the time out of their day, the least you can do is visit their blog in return and show it some love. I've found some of my favourite blogs through comments, and so returning the favour by commenting back is definitely a great way of letting them know that they're doing something right. Plus, I'm pretty sure all bloggers will know the warm, happy feeling that they get when receiving a really nice comment, so why not instigate that yourself and comment on other blogs?

If you are going to comment on a blog, there's definitely a right way to do it. Put thought into what you say and make your comment heartfelt or personal if it's called for, as this will show your true feelings and passion towards whatever you're praising. You should aim for your comment to stand out and really connect with the blogger, and maybe even give them a recommendation or ask a question to spark a conversation. I'd advise you not to write anything that looks spammy or generic, showing that you hardly even read the post or just care about the self-promo. 


"I was sent a product by a brand, do I have to lie and say that I love it?"

One of my biggest pieces of advice when blogging is that you should never lie about a product, ever. Whether it's something you were sent or not, being untruthful is a quick way to lose trust from your audience and will make you look fake and unreliable. If it's a PR sample it's especially bad, as it creates the impression that you care more about the free products and treats than your readers, who are the ones taking your advice and listening to your recommendations. Honesty is the best policy in this situation.

You've also got to consider the fact that if the brand has sent you something, it's likely that they want feedback on it, and so giving some constructive criticism and improvements will definitely be valued. However, don't be rude and ensure that you're not just hating on the product, as this could really tarnish your appearance in front of a brand.

If you do find that you really dislike a product that was sent to you, still search to find some positives. Even if it's only the super-cute packaging or the fact that it's travel-friendly, the little things will make a difference and show that your views aren't just one sided. Especially with makeup, which can work differently for everyone, it may help to include a note about how products may suit different skin tones better or isn't the best for your skin type, so something that doesn't work for you may be perfect for someone else. Just because you hate it doesn't mean everyone else will, so remember to target your reviews towards everyone and not just yourself.


"When should I credit someone else for an image or post?"

As a rule of thumb, if you find a photo on Google Images (or anywhere on the Internet for that matter) then chances are you aren't free to use it. Some people may choose to include it anyway and display a link to where it's from, but this may still not be enough and could anger the initial creator, so I'd be careful if you do this. You should never steal an image, whether you're using it for a blog post or on social media, as it's likely that a lot of hard work went into making it and it isn't fair on the initial creator. If you really need to use an image that isn't yours, I'd advise looking for some CC0 images, meaning you are free to use and edit them without permission.

As for posts, if you got an idea from a certain blog or website, it doesn't hurt to mention it. This shows that you appreciate their content without copying it, and it also gives your readers a separate source of information that may be useful for them. Why not ask the author if you could link to each other's posts if they're about similar topics and that way you can drive traffic between both of your sites. If you're worried that your post is very similar to someone else's and you're not sure what to do, the safest option is to drop them an email. Ask them if they're fine with the post being similar to their own or if anything in yours should be changed, and it's also a nice touch to let them know that you will give them credit for inspiring the idea or adding another perspective to your post.


"I didn't win a giveaway, should I unfollow that blog?"

Many people notice that after hosting a giveaway, their following starts to slowly decrease as people who didn't win leave. The most common case of this is where people follow as they like the giveaway item, only to realise that they aren't interested in the blog's topic or content at all. Although I don't think you should follow a blog if you aren't a genuine reader and support them, I strongly believe that unfollowing a blogger after you don't win their giveaway is the wrong thing to do.

First of all, the blogger hosted a giveaway as a way of giving back to their followers and showing how much they are appreciated. If they start to see their followers decrease afterwards, it may create an impression of their readers not being as loyal as they initially thought, and can cause a lot of future distrust. You have to remember that not everyone can win a giveaway and the blogger didn't purposely choose someone other than you, so you shouldn't take out your anger by unfollowing them. By sticking around, you may also find that you really like their content anyway and enjoy reading it, which is something you wouldn't know if you unfollowed them.

My advice is to only enter giveaways from bloggers that you either already follow or from those who you really like their content and want to support. This also ensures that you aren't reaping the benefits when you actually show no interest or passion towards the blog. If you absolutely can't stand following the blog and don't want to constantly be updated with their new posts, I'd say to at least wait a few months, as things could change and their content could actually start to grow on you. If you do win the giveaway then you certainly shouldn't unfollow, as this could come across as being ungrateful for the prize, and is particularly unfair if a lot of money was spent on it and hard work was put into organising the giveaway.


"If I'm sent a product or sponsored for a post, do I have to declare it?"

Advertising laws vary between countries, so it can be hard to determine whether you have to declare it or not. Personally, I'd say that it's best to be on the safe side and always include a note if you've been sent something or sponsored. This won't cause any harm to your or your blog, yet does avoid any future legal troubles that could occur if you don't mention being sent something. If you're worried that saying a product is a PR sample will affect your credibility or reliability, I'd recommend including a statement saying that all opinions are 100% your own and haven't been persuaded by the brand.

My previous approach to declaring that I was sent a product would be to place an asterisk (*) next to the name of the product, with an explanation for this being in the PR section of my blog. However, most people now believe that if a reader has to click a separate page to find out something was a PR sample, it's not clear enough. It needs to be evident on the same page as the product mentioned. There are many ways that you could go about this, whether it's by simply saying that you were sent the product or by writing the word PR or gifted next to the product when it's first mentioned in the post. My personal approach is to place an asterisk next to the product name and explain that it was sent to be at the end of the post (although if you do this you've got to ensure that it's clear and not in tiny writing, otherwise it's useless).



I hope that this post was useful for you and if there's anything important that you feel as though I've missed out, make sure to mention it down in the comments for everyone else to see. Thank you very much for reading and for the continual support, and I'll see you next Sunday as usual with a new blog post.

Love from Daisy x

Basics of Blogging Etiquette - What You Should and Shouldn't Do

Sunday, August 28, 2016 •


One of the hardest things about blogging is that there's no official guide or handbook, filled with all the rules and guidelines that you have to comply to. People may have different views on how things should be handled and what rules should be in place, but nothing is official or set in stone. However, blogs have been around for years now and many more people have been creating them, causing a blogging etiquette to be established. What you should and shouldn't do is much clearer as people are getting a better idea of what blogging is and how it affects their world.

Despite this, there are still many people who don't know about this and are unsure how they should react in certain situations related to blogging. I thought I'd identify some of these and determine the rules that you should follow, which is now widely agreed on by many bloggers.


"Should I reach out to a brand or wait for them to contact me?"

This is a commonly debated question and has no right or wrong answer, so it all depends on your personal opinion. On the one hand, it may appear selfish if you're asking for products and opportunities without doing anything for them, creating an impression of being greedy or begging. This definitely isn't how you want to present yourself in front of a brand, and since many PR companies talk you could be hindering yourself in any future collaborations. I definitely think that if you do want to go down the route of contacting a brand, it's best to be polite and professional, carefully choosing your words so you don't come across like you're pleading for free products.

On the other hand, you may be a newbie blogger and need a place to start. It can be hard to get started and you may feel as though you'll never get recognition from brands with so much competition. In this case, I'd gather some quotes and testimonials from other bloggers, as well as your follower count and blog analytics, and present them to the brand in a formal yet friendly way. This way, brands have everything they need to know about you, and may consult you in the future if you were the perfect fit for an opportunity.

An alternative to this is asking the company if they have a bloggers database or directory that you could join. Many will have one of these in place, and by being included you will be notified about future offers and opportunities. By being included in this, they'll always have your details and are therefore more likely to reach out to you, and asking to be in a database is much less demanding than asking for them to send you products.


"Do I need to comment on a blog if they comment on mine?"

Although it's never compulsory to comment on someone else's blog, I definitely think it's a nice habit to get into, as it shows that you're caring and appreciate the hard work of others. Also, if they comment on your blog and take the time out of their day, the least you can do is visit their blog in return and show it some love. I've found some of my favourite blogs through comments, and so returning the favour by commenting back is definitely a great way of letting them know that they're doing something right. Plus, I'm pretty sure all bloggers will know the warm, happy feeling that they get when receiving a really nice comment, so why not instigate that yourself and comment on other blogs?

If you are going to comment on a blog, there's definitely a right way to do it. Put thought into what you say and make your comment heartfelt or personal if it's called for, as this will show your true feelings and passion towards whatever you're praising. You should aim for your comment to stand out and really connect with the blogger, and maybe even give them a recommendation or ask a question to spark a conversation. I'd advise you not to write anything that looks spammy or generic, showing that you hardly even read the post or just care about the self-promo. 


"I was sent a product by a brand, do I have to lie and say that I love it?"

One of my biggest pieces of advice when blogging is that you should never lie about a product, ever. Whether it's something you were sent or not, being untruthful is a quick way to lose trust from your audience and will make you look fake and unreliable. If it's a PR sample it's especially bad, as it creates the impression that you care more about the free products and treats than your readers, who are the ones taking your advice and listening to your recommendations. Honesty is the best policy in this situation.

You've also got to consider the fact that if the brand has sent you something, it's likely that they want feedback on it, and so giving some constructive criticism and improvements will definitely be valued. However, don't be rude and ensure that you're not just hating on the product, as this could really tarnish your appearance in front of a brand.

If you do find that you really dislike a product that was sent to you, still search to find some positives. Even if it's only the super-cute packaging or the fact that it's travel-friendly, the little things will make a difference and show that your views aren't just one sided. Especially with makeup, which can work differently for everyone, it may help to include a note about how products may suit different skin tones better or isn't the best for your skin type, so something that doesn't work for you may be perfect for someone else. Just because you hate it doesn't mean everyone else will, so remember to target your reviews towards everyone and not just yourself.


"When should I credit someone else for an image or post?"

As a rule of thumb, if you find a photo on Google Images (or anywhere on the Internet for that matter) then chances are you aren't free to use it. Some people may choose to include it anyway and display a link to where it's from, but this may still not be enough and could anger the initial creator, so I'd be careful if you do this. You should never steal an image, whether you're using it for a blog post or on social media, as it's likely that a lot of hard work went into making it and it isn't fair on the initial creator. If you really need to use an image that isn't yours, I'd advise looking for some CC0 images, meaning you are free to use and edit them without permission.

As for posts, if you got an idea from a certain blog or website, it doesn't hurt to mention it. This shows that you appreciate their content without copying it, and it also gives your readers a separate source of information that may be useful for them. Why not ask the author if you could link to each other's posts if they're about similar topics and that way you can drive traffic between both of your sites. If you're worried that your post is very similar to someone else's and you're not sure what to do, the safest option is to drop them an email. Ask them if they're fine with the post being similar to their own or if anything in yours should be changed, and it's also a nice touch to let them know that you will give them credit for inspiring the idea or adding another perspective to your post.


"I didn't win a giveaway, should I unfollow that blog?"

Many people notice that after hosting a giveaway, their following starts to slowly decrease as people who didn't win leave. The most common case of this is where people follow as they like the giveaway item, only to realise that they aren't interested in the blog's topic or content at all. Although I don't think you should follow a blog if you aren't a genuine reader and support them, I strongly believe that unfollowing a blogger after you don't win their giveaway is the wrong thing to do.

First of all, the blogger hosted a giveaway as a way of giving back to their followers and showing how much they are appreciated. If they start to see their followers decrease afterwards, it may create an impression of their readers not being as loyal as they initially thought, and can cause a lot of future distrust. You have to remember that not everyone can win a giveaway and the blogger didn't purposely choose someone other than you, so you shouldn't take out your anger by unfollowing them. By sticking around, you may also find that you really like their content anyway and enjoy reading it, which is something you wouldn't know if you unfollowed them.

My advice is to only enter giveaways from bloggers that you either already follow or from those who you really like their content and want to support. This also ensures that you aren't reaping the benefits when you actually show no interest or passion towards the blog. If you absolutely can't stand following the blog and don't want to constantly be updated with their new posts, I'd say to at least wait a few months, as things could change and their content could actually start to grow on you. If you do win the giveaway then you certainly shouldn't unfollow, as this could come across as being ungrateful for the prize, and is particularly unfair if a lot of money was spent on it and hard work was put into organising the giveaway.


"If I'm sent a product or sponsored for a post, do I have to declare it?"

Advertising laws vary between countries, so it can be hard to determine whether you have to declare it or not. Personally, I'd say that it's best to be on the safe side and always include a note if you've been sent something or sponsored. This won't cause any harm to your or your blog, yet does avoid any future legal troubles that could occur if you don't mention being sent something. If you're worried that saying a product is a PR sample will affect your credibility or reliability, I'd recommend including a statement saying that all opinions are 100% your own and haven't been persuaded by the brand.

My previous approach to declaring that I was sent a product would be to place an asterisk (*) next to the name of the product, with an explanation for this being in the PR section of my blog. However, most people now believe that if a reader has to click a separate page to find out something was a PR sample, it's not clear enough. It needs to be evident on the same page as the product mentioned. There are many ways that you could go about this, whether it's by simply saying that you were sent the product or by writing the word PR or gifted next to the product when it's first mentioned in the post. My personal approach is to place an asterisk next to the product name and explain that it was sent to be at the end of the post (although if you do this you've got to ensure that it's clear and not in tiny writing, otherwise it's useless).



I hope that this post was useful for you and if there's anything important that you feel as though I've missed out, make sure to mention it down in the comments for everyone else to see. Thank you very much for reading and for the continual support, and I'll see you next Sunday as usual with a new blog post.

Love from Daisy x
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On Thursday 18th August, I attended my first ever blogger event in London. As soon as I received an invite to the Seventeen Bloggers Network Event, I knew that it would be an unforgettable experience and really worth going to. Being invited to an event isn’t an everyday thing, and since London isn’t close to where I live, both time and school constraints have stopped me from attending other blogging occasions in the past. Since it was the summer holidays and Seventeen is a makeup brand that I really like, my mum and I decided that it would be beneficial to attend, and so decided to plan a mini-break away to London around it. I had the most amazing time seeing the city and really wanted to share it with you, from sightseeing to shopping and of course my experiences with Seventeen.

Sightseeing

We decided to head down to London on Tuesday evening, and travelling through the night really added an element of excitement to the trip and made us even more eager to get there. We arrived in the city at around 8:30am, meaning we had the entire day ahead of us to explore and enjoy our time away. Despite being extremely tired after only a couple of hours of sleep, we didn’t want to waste our time in London and so jumped straight into sightseeing. We made the smart decision of hopping on an open-top tour bus, as the city is extremely large and this proved to be the quickest and easiest way to see all of the major sights, which we couldn’t have done just by walking. We had the opportunity to get off and take photos if we wished, but it was also nice at times to relax and absorb all of the surroundings from the comfort of the bus. Below you can see some of the places that we visited whilst sightseeing.

Buckingham Palace was our first stop and I feel as though it was a great way to start off the trip. It honestly felt surreal to be stood outside the Queen's home but it was an absolutely beautiful location.


I definitely had to stop and get a photo outside Downing Street, which is where the Prime Minister lives and also contains the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government.

Elizabeth Tower, or Big Ben as it's more commonly known, is one of the most notable tourist attractions and is famous around the world, so even just walking past it felt insane and surreal.


We also visited the Victoria and Albert Museum, which is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design. There were many different exhibits here, all of which were beautiful and definitely worth seeing.

Below you can see some of the other sights we saw, including St Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey, as well as some beautiful photos that I took of some buildings in London.



Shopping

The event on Thursday didn't start until the late afternoon, and so we decided to spend the day shopping and browsing the streets of London. We ventured to Oxford Street, which was incredibly busy but it was a must on our list of places to visit. We browsed in quite a few shops and there was also an inevitable Primark haul. I also bought a lovely shirt from H&M, which is quickly becoming one of my favourite shops, as well as a few makeup bits and pieces.

You can see everything that I hauled in the image below, and if you'd like me to talk about any of the clothes or products in more detail, just let me know.



Seventeen Event

I arrived at the Red Consultancy, the venue for the #SEVENTEENBloggerNetwork event, and was honestly very nervous. However, my mind was soon put to ease as I was welcomed by some lovely bloggers and shown into the gorgeous venue. All of the makeup was displayed in a beautiful way, complete with some Hollywood-esque mirrors that added a classy yet fun feel. We were free to pick up and try all of the products, and I definitely discovered some beautiful items that immediately made it onto my wishlist.  





The first talk that I attended was by Katie Snooks, as she shared her experience with blogging and included her top tips. All of these were super helpful and I’ll definitely be putting them into use here on Daisies and Delights. I’ve read Katie’s blog countless times and really admire her content, so seeing her in person was a great opportunity and definitely didn’t disappoint! She was really down to earth and seemed like just a normal girl fulfilling her dream of blogging full-time. I also had a little chat with her after the talk, and I can honestly say that she was one of the sweetest and most helpful people ever.


The next talk was by a Google and YouTube professional, Rollo Goldstaub. Although I don’t make videos myself, a lot of his advice was relevant for blogging also and I was blown away by his immense amount of knowledge on the entire subject. I also had a chat with him afterwards, and he provided me with some useful advice and was really funny, so I definitely think his talk was a great addition to the event.

There was also a live makeup demonstration by professional makeup artist, Vanesa Guallar. She used Seventeen products to create a 'Glamorous Goth' look perfect for this autumn, with a stunning bold lip that was from their new launch of Mega Matte Lipsticks. The look itself was easy to create and suitable for everyday wear, yet it looked lovely and I really liked how it was simple yet effective.


One of the best parts about attending the Seventeen Bloggers Network Event was meeting lots of other bloggers who all share the same interests and passions as myself. I chatted to some lovely people about makeup, blogging and just life in general, and I feel as though I’ll definitely stay in contact with all of these people. Everyone was great company and it was amazing to be surrounded by bloggers like myself, all of us testing out the makeup and having a great time.

At the end of the event, everyone also received a goody bag containing numerous Seventeen products. I definitely wasn't expecting this and it was a very generous touch from the brand, which I'm appreciative for. I actually haven't tried any of these items before, so I'm looking forward to using them in the near future. You can see all of the products I received in the image below, but if you'd like to know more about them then let me know, as I can always review them or create makeup looks using them in the future.


I hope that you enjoyed seeing what I got up to in my two-day break to London. I had an absolutely amazing time and I'm so thankful to Seventeen for inviting me to the Bloggers Network Event, as I massively appreciate it. I know I don't usually write about trips, visits or my days in general, but if you'd like more posts like this one then let me know. Also, I'll be preparing some future posts including the Seventeen products shown above, including reviews, makeup looks and more, so make sure you follow my blog to ensure that you don't miss out on those. Thanks for reading and I'll be back again next Sunday with a new post.

Love from Daisy x

Visiting London and the Seventeen Bloggers Network Event

Sunday, August 21, 2016 •


On Thursday 18th August, I attended my first ever blogger event in London. As soon as I received an invite to the Seventeen Bloggers Network Event, I knew that it would be an unforgettable experience and really worth going to. Being invited to an event isn’t an everyday thing, and since London isn’t close to where I live, both time and school constraints have stopped me from attending other blogging occasions in the past. Since it was the summer holidays and Seventeen is a makeup brand that I really like, my mum and I decided that it would be beneficial to attend, and so decided to plan a mini-break away to London around it. I had the most amazing time seeing the city and really wanted to share it with you, from sightseeing to shopping and of course my experiences with Seventeen.

Sightseeing

We decided to head down to London on Tuesday evening, and travelling through the night really added an element of excitement to the trip and made us even more eager to get there. We arrived in the city at around 8:30am, meaning we had the entire day ahead of us to explore and enjoy our time away. Despite being extremely tired after only a couple of hours of sleep, we didn’t want to waste our time in London and so jumped straight into sightseeing. We made the smart decision of hopping on an open-top tour bus, as the city is extremely large and this proved to be the quickest and easiest way to see all of the major sights, which we couldn’t have done just by walking. We had the opportunity to get off and take photos if we wished, but it was also nice at times to relax and absorb all of the surroundings from the comfort of the bus. Below you can see some of the places that we visited whilst sightseeing.

Buckingham Palace was our first stop and I feel as though it was a great way to start off the trip. It honestly felt surreal to be stood outside the Queen's home but it was an absolutely beautiful location.


I definitely had to stop and get a photo outside Downing Street, which is where the Prime Minister lives and also contains the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government.

Elizabeth Tower, or Big Ben as it's more commonly known, is one of the most notable tourist attractions and is famous around the world, so even just walking past it felt insane and surreal.


We also visited the Victoria and Albert Museum, which is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design. There were many different exhibits here, all of which were beautiful and definitely worth seeing.

Below you can see some of the other sights we saw, including St Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey, as well as some beautiful photos that I took of some buildings in London.



Shopping

The event on Thursday didn't start until the late afternoon, and so we decided to spend the day shopping and browsing the streets of London. We ventured to Oxford Street, which was incredibly busy but it was a must on our list of places to visit. We browsed in quite a few shops and there was also an inevitable Primark haul. I also bought a lovely shirt from H&M, which is quickly becoming one of my favourite shops, as well as a few makeup bits and pieces.

You can see everything that I hauled in the image below, and if you'd like me to talk about any of the clothes or products in more detail, just let me know.



Seventeen Event

I arrived at the Red Consultancy, the venue for the #SEVENTEENBloggerNetwork event, and was honestly very nervous. However, my mind was soon put to ease as I was welcomed by some lovely bloggers and shown into the gorgeous venue. All of the makeup was displayed in a beautiful way, complete with some Hollywood-esque mirrors that added a classy yet fun feel. We were free to pick up and try all of the products, and I definitely discovered some beautiful items that immediately made it onto my wishlist.  





The first talk that I attended was by Katie Snooks, as she shared her experience with blogging and included her top tips. All of these were super helpful and I’ll definitely be putting them into use here on Daisies and Delights. I’ve read Katie’s blog countless times and really admire her content, so seeing her in person was a great opportunity and definitely didn’t disappoint! She was really down to earth and seemed like just a normal girl fulfilling her dream of blogging full-time. I also had a little chat with her after the talk, and I can honestly say that she was one of the sweetest and most helpful people ever.


The next talk was by a Google and YouTube professional, Rollo Goldstaub. Although I don’t make videos myself, a lot of his advice was relevant for blogging also and I was blown away by his immense amount of knowledge on the entire subject. I also had a chat with him afterwards, and he provided me with some useful advice and was really funny, so I definitely think his talk was a great addition to the event.

There was also a live makeup demonstration by professional makeup artist, Vanesa Guallar. She used Seventeen products to create a 'Glamorous Goth' look perfect for this autumn, with a stunning bold lip that was from their new launch of Mega Matte Lipsticks. The look itself was easy to create and suitable for everyday wear, yet it looked lovely and I really liked how it was simple yet effective.


One of the best parts about attending the Seventeen Bloggers Network Event was meeting lots of other bloggers who all share the same interests and passions as myself. I chatted to some lovely people about makeup, blogging and just life in general, and I feel as though I’ll definitely stay in contact with all of these people. Everyone was great company and it was amazing to be surrounded by bloggers like myself, all of us testing out the makeup and having a great time.

At the end of the event, everyone also received a goody bag containing numerous Seventeen products. I definitely wasn't expecting this and it was a very generous touch from the brand, which I'm appreciative for. I actually haven't tried any of these items before, so I'm looking forward to using them in the near future. You can see all of the products I received in the image below, but if you'd like to know more about them then let me know, as I can always review them or create makeup looks using them in the future.


I hope that you enjoyed seeing what I got up to in my two-day break to London. I had an absolutely amazing time and I'm so thankful to Seventeen for inviting me to the Bloggers Network Event, as I massively appreciate it. I know I don't usually write about trips, visits or my days in general, but if you'd like more posts like this one then let me know. Also, I'll be preparing some future posts including the Seventeen products shown above, including reviews, makeup looks and more, so make sure you follow my blog to ensure that you don't miss out on those. Thanks for reading and I'll be back again next Sunday with a new post.

Love from Daisy x
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I'm definitely the type of person who has a small selection of products in a makeup bag and use these for my daily makeup, yet often forget to venture into the rest of my makeup collection. This usually results in me using the same products continuously, whilst others that I love and have potential are cast aside. I decided that it was time to mix things up and vary the products in my makeup bag, including some items that don't normally see the light of day or get featured on my blog. Rather than talking you through the entirety of my makeup bag, which would no doubt take forever, I'll simply share with you some of the newest additions. Each product mentioned below also features a link to where you can buy it, so hopefully by the end of this post you'll be persuaded to try some of them aswell!

     FACE     


Although primers are an important part of any makeup routine and are the key to longlasting makeup, I usually forget to apply them. To break this bad habit, I decided to add the Maybelline Baby Skin Primer into my makeup bag, in hope that I'll reach for it on a regular basis. This silicon primer is the perfect option for keeping my makeup in place all day, promoting a long-wearing finish. It claims to erase any pores without being too heavy on the skin, leaving you with a smooth, fresh feeling face. I've been testing out this product recently and I have to say that so far I've really enjoyed using it and I've definitely noticed a difference in the longevity of my makeup.

Blusher is definitely one of my favourite makeup items to experiment with and I really enjoy trying new ones, especially since adding a lovely flush to my cheeks is an essential in my makeup routine. A recent addition to my makeup bag is the Too Faced Love Flush Blusher in Love Hangover, which is a rosy pink shade that is both ideal for my skin tone and is also a lovely, vibrant choice for summer. It's creamy and soft in texture and the pigmentation is definitely something to be proud of, as well as this blusher having a blendable formula. Since I only have this as a sample size and it's therefore quite small, it often falls to the bottom of my makeup stash and goes unnoticed, so hopefully by keeping it in my makeup bag I'll reach for it more often and be able to appreciate its beauty.

I feel like cream products are my weakness when it comes to makeup. Don't get me wrong, I love to use them and find them actually quite easy to apply, but I often don't put in the effort, particularly with cream bronzers and blushers. Hopefully, by placing one in my makeup bag, I'll hopefully be persuaded to use it opposed to a powder alternative. My cream bronzer of choice is the Essence Soft Touch Mousse Makeup in Matte Honey, which is meant to be a cream foundation yet works wonderfully as a dupe for the Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzer. Applying even just the slightest of this product adds warmth and a slight glow to the skin, yet its cream formula means that you're in full control and can easily blend it out. I definitely love this product and want to use it often, so by seeing it every day in my makeup bag I'll hopefully resort to it more frequently.

EYES


Personally, I really like how my eyes look when wearing eyeliner, yet (like a lot of the things I've mentioned in this post) I don't usually go for it and instead just wear eyeshadow and mascara. The eyeliner in my makeup bag isn't your standard black or chocolate brown, however. I've instead opted for the Essence Gel Waterproof Eye Pencil in Urban Jungle, which is a metallic emerald green. I think that this will look lovely if I'm wanting to create a statement eye and really draw focus, opposed to my usual neutral looks. I decided on this gorgeous colour as I wanted to play up the more green tones in my eyes, so I feel as though this will be perfect for doing so. I also love the formula of these pencils, as they glide on incredibly softly and also don't smudge, which is amazing for such an affordable brand.

The next product I'm surprised I haven't talked about much, if at all on my blog. The Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara has been a firm favourite of mine for quite some time now, despite not being what I'd usually go for in a mascara. I'd normally choose a product that is quite separating, but despite being the complete opposite I've fallen in love with this mascara and now use it on a daily basis. It is incredibly voluminous and also adds some length to the lashes, although some people might say that it's too clumpy for their liking. I've been keeping this mascara in my makeup bag so that it's easy to grab whenever I do my makeup, and therefore creating a gorgeous false lash effect has never been quicker.

LIPS


Liquid lipsticks are the latest makeup craze, and so it's only right to have at least one in my makeup bag. Furthermore, nude lipsticks are definitely in style and it's been said that brown lips will be making a comeback. I decided to bring these two trends together and put the Too Faced Melted Liquid Lipstick in Melted Nude in my makeup bag. Despite not being a true brown, this nude lipstick definitely has a brownish shade and is thus right on trend. I love how this product sets to be completely matte and doesn't budge afterwards, meaning it will definitely stay in place throughout the day. I haven't used this liquid lipstick that much but after all the amazing reviews I've seen online, I'm definitely looking forward to trying it.

 To mix things up and add a more colourful lip option into my makeup bag, I decided to opt for something pink. At the moment, I've loved using the Essence Velvet Stick Lip Colour in Nude Hero, which is a pretty baby pink that looks really flattering. I love using lip crayons like this one as it's really easy to add a quick wash of colour yet they're sheerer than an actual lipstick. I love having products like these in my makeup bag as they're really versatile and can create many different looks, whether you want to just apply a tiny bit for a subtle wash of matte colour, apply a thick layer for a bolder look or wear it with gloss for some added shine. I've been reaching for this product practically every day that I've applied makeup, and so it definitely deserves a place in this post.

For days when I just want a quick wash of something on my lips, I'll opt for a lipstick that is quite pigmented. I definitely rotate which lipglosses I use on a regular basis and go through phases of loving different ones, with this one being my current favourite. The product I'm talking about is the Tanya Burr Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Afternoon Tea, which is actually the first product from her makeup range that I've tried. This lipgloss is incredibly glossy and has a high-shine finish, yet isn't at all sticky like you might think. The colour is quite sheer after just one wash but can definitely be built up to something with more pigmentation if you want.

Thanks for reading this post and I hope that you've enjoyed seeing the latest additions to my makeup bag. I'd love to know what products are in your daily essentials, so make sure you let me know down in the comments! Thank you very much for reading this post and I'll see you next Sunday as usual with a brand new post.

Love from Daisy x

New Inside My Makeup Bag - Summer 2016

Sunday, August 14, 2016 • ,


I'm definitely the type of person who has a small selection of products in a makeup bag and use these for my daily makeup, yet often forget to venture into the rest of my makeup collection. This usually results in me using the same products continuously, whilst others that I love and have potential are cast aside. I decided that it was time to mix things up and vary the products in my makeup bag, including some items that don't normally see the light of day or get featured on my blog. Rather than talking you through the entirety of my makeup bag, which would no doubt take forever, I'll simply share with you some of the newest additions. Each product mentioned below also features a link to where you can buy it, so hopefully by the end of this post you'll be persuaded to try some of them aswell!

     FACE     


Although primers are an important part of any makeup routine and are the key to longlasting makeup, I usually forget to apply them. To break this bad habit, I decided to add the Maybelline Baby Skin Primer into my makeup bag, in hope that I'll reach for it on a regular basis. This silicon primer is the perfect option for keeping my makeup in place all day, promoting a long-wearing finish. It claims to erase any pores without being too heavy on the skin, leaving you with a smooth, fresh feeling face. I've been testing out this product recently and I have to say that so far I've really enjoyed using it and I've definitely noticed a difference in the longevity of my makeup.

Blusher is definitely one of my favourite makeup items to experiment with and I really enjoy trying new ones, especially since adding a lovely flush to my cheeks is an essential in my makeup routine. A recent addition to my makeup bag is the Too Faced Love Flush Blusher in Love Hangover, which is a rosy pink shade that is both ideal for my skin tone and is also a lovely, vibrant choice for summer. It's creamy and soft in texture and the pigmentation is definitely something to be proud of, as well as this blusher having a blendable formula. Since I only have this as a sample size and it's therefore quite small, it often falls to the bottom of my makeup stash and goes unnoticed, so hopefully by keeping it in my makeup bag I'll reach for it more often and be able to appreciate its beauty.

I feel like cream products are my weakness when it comes to makeup. Don't get me wrong, I love to use them and find them actually quite easy to apply, but I often don't put in the effort, particularly with cream bronzers and blushers. Hopefully, by placing one in my makeup bag, I'll hopefully be persuaded to use it opposed to a powder alternative. My cream bronzer of choice is the Essence Soft Touch Mousse Makeup in Matte Honey, which is meant to be a cream foundation yet works wonderfully as a dupe for the Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzer. Applying even just the slightest of this product adds warmth and a slight glow to the skin, yet its cream formula means that you're in full control and can easily blend it out. I definitely love this product and want to use it often, so by seeing it every day in my makeup bag I'll hopefully resort to it more frequently.

EYES


Personally, I really like how my eyes look when wearing eyeliner, yet (like a lot of the things I've mentioned in this post) I don't usually go for it and instead just wear eyeshadow and mascara. The eyeliner in my makeup bag isn't your standard black or chocolate brown, however. I've instead opted for the Essence Gel Waterproof Eye Pencil in Urban Jungle, which is a metallic emerald green. I think that this will look lovely if I'm wanting to create a statement eye and really draw focus, opposed to my usual neutral looks. I decided on this gorgeous colour as I wanted to play up the more green tones in my eyes, so I feel as though this will be perfect for doing so. I also love the formula of these pencils, as they glide on incredibly softly and also don't smudge, which is amazing for such an affordable brand.

The next product I'm surprised I haven't talked about much, if at all on my blog. The Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara has been a firm favourite of mine for quite some time now, despite not being what I'd usually go for in a mascara. I'd normally choose a product that is quite separating, but despite being the complete opposite I've fallen in love with this mascara and now use it on a daily basis. It is incredibly voluminous and also adds some length to the lashes, although some people might say that it's too clumpy for their liking. I've been keeping this mascara in my makeup bag so that it's easy to grab whenever I do my makeup, and therefore creating a gorgeous false lash effect has never been quicker.

LIPS


Liquid lipsticks are the latest makeup craze, and so it's only right to have at least one in my makeup bag. Furthermore, nude lipsticks are definitely in style and it's been said that brown lips will be making a comeback. I decided to bring these two trends together and put the Too Faced Melted Liquid Lipstick in Melted Nude in my makeup bag. Despite not being a true brown, this nude lipstick definitely has a brownish shade and is thus right on trend. I love how this product sets to be completely matte and doesn't budge afterwards, meaning it will definitely stay in place throughout the day. I haven't used this liquid lipstick that much but after all the amazing reviews I've seen online, I'm definitely looking forward to trying it.

 To mix things up and add a more colourful lip option into my makeup bag, I decided to opt for something pink. At the moment, I've loved using the Essence Velvet Stick Lip Colour in Nude Hero, which is a pretty baby pink that looks really flattering. I love using lip crayons like this one as it's really easy to add a quick wash of colour yet they're sheerer than an actual lipstick. I love having products like these in my makeup bag as they're really versatile and can create many different looks, whether you want to just apply a tiny bit for a subtle wash of matte colour, apply a thick layer for a bolder look or wear it with gloss for some added shine. I've been reaching for this product practically every day that I've applied makeup, and so it definitely deserves a place in this post.

For days when I just want a quick wash of something on my lips, I'll opt for a lipstick that is quite pigmented. I definitely rotate which lipglosses I use on a regular basis and go through phases of loving different ones, with this one being my current favourite. The product I'm talking about is the Tanya Burr Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Afternoon Tea, which is actually the first product from her makeup range that I've tried. This lipgloss is incredibly glossy and has a high-shine finish, yet isn't at all sticky like you might think. The colour is quite sheer after just one wash but can definitely be built up to something with more pigmentation if you want.

Thanks for reading this post and I hope that you've enjoyed seeing the latest additions to my makeup bag. I'd love to know what products are in your daily essentials, so make sure you let me know down in the comments! Thank you very much for reading this post and I'll see you next Sunday as usual with a brand new post.

Love from Daisy x
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A good dupe of an expensive product is something that you simply can't turn down, so when I found out that Freedom Makeup had their own version of the infamous Naked 3 palette, I knew that I had to try it. The shades included are practically identical and I'd also heard promising words about the Freedom palette in terms of formulation and durability, so I was eager to compare the two palettes and see how they measured up to one another. In this post, I'll be comparing many different aspects, from the pigmentation to the packaging and everything in between.

Packaging

Upon appearance, it's clear that one of these palettes is luxurious and expensive, whereas the other is a budget alternative. The rose-gold metal casing of the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette gives an initial vibe of being lavish, as well as being sturdy and providing protection for the eyeshadows. The huge mirror is also a nice addition and is perfect for on-the-go application. The double-ended brush is surprisingly of a high quality, which is something that you don't often find with these type of products. I'm absolutely in love with the packaging of the palette, and so I simply had to include a photo of it.


The Freedom Makeup palette, on the other hand, is made of black plastic, which isn't incredibly sturdy yet still protects the eyeshadows inside. The large transparent rectangle in the front means that there's no space for a mirror, yet I like how it allows you to preview the eyeshadows without opening the palette, so this could either be positive or negative. One thing that I did find with this palette, along with other products from the brand, is that they can be quite difficult to open and I've been close to breaking my nails on various occasions, so this is something to watch out for.

Eyeshadow Colours and Pigmentation

The most important part of an eyeshadow is the colour of it and its pigmentation, so whether it shows up well on the eyes or is sheerer. I found that the easiest thing to do was to compare the palettes eyeshadow by eyeshadow for this category, to give you a thorough view of which one performs the best. Below I have listed each eyeshadow from the Naked 3 Palette and compared the qualities of these to the Freedom palette. For the swatches which you can see below, this is how the eyeshadow looks when my finger was swiped in them twice. I kept this the same for each eyeshadow in both palettes so you can get the most accurate view of how they compare.


The Freedom Makeup Pro Audacious 3 swatches are on the left and the Urban Decay Naked 3 swatches are on the right.

Strange - This is a pale peach eyeshadow that is verging on white, looking lovely as an inner corner and brow bone highlight. It's really pigmented for a pale colour and it shows up very well on my skin. The Freedom palette counterpart is almost identical, if not slightly more peachy. This one definitely isn't as pigmented and needs a considerable amount of product to reach the same shade, but it's still impressive for a drugstore eyeshadow to be this packed with colour.

Dust - This is a pale pink eyeshadow that contains iridescent micro-glitter. It's probably the least pigmented in the palette, but still shows up really well and has a decent amount of pigmentation. The Freedom equivalent to this eyeshadow is mostly shimmer, opposed to a base eyeshadow as well, meaning it's less pigmented but also has more shimmer to show up on the eye.

Burnout – This is a rosy pink satin that looks absolutely gorgeous on the lids and is very complimentary, especially for blue and green eyes. It has a smooth and even texture, but I honestly feel as though the Freedom version won in terms of pigmentation, as it’s much more visible on the skin.

Limit – This is a neutral, dusky rose that is matte. It’s perfect for warming up the crease and I often reach for this as my transitional shade. It appears to be even and not patchy on the skin, but yet again I found that the Freedom palette had the more pigmented version, although the Urban Decay palette did win in terms of having a creamy formulation.

Buzz – I’m in love with this rose gold pink shade, as it’s almost like a richer, more intense version of Burnout that looks beautiful on the eyes. It has a soft and buttery texture with little-to-no fallout. However, the pigmentation isn’t comparable to the vivid shade that the Freedom palette produces, which is definitely clear by the swatches.

Trick – This eyeshadow is very similar to Buzz except it has more of a burnt copper appearance, with the addition of gold micro-glitter. Yet again, it’s very soft and creamy to touch, applying like a dream on the eyelids. The Freedom version has a more vivid orange tone and is also much more pigmented in comparison.

Nooner – This is the final matte eyeshadow in the palette, being a medium rosy plum colour that I love to work into the crease. It’s pigmented and blendable, applying in a thick and even layer. The Audacious 3 version of this eyeshadow is almost identical in colour and may contain a bit more pigment, but I do find it to look a bit patchier at times and not as even as the Naked 3 eyeshadow.

Liar – This is a medium-toned brown with warm undertones and a metallic finish. I find it to be quite powdery in both palettes, but the finish is definitely more even from the Naked 3. The pigmentation is an equal playing field, although I feel as though the warm tones are more evident in the high-end palette. Either way, this is a beautiful eyeshadow from both palettes.

Factory – This darker brown also has warm undertones, being a more intensified version of the previous shade. Both eyeshadows are incredibly pigmented, with the Naked 3 version being slightly more concentrated. However, I feel as though the Freedom version had a more even application, whereas the Urban Decay one looked heavy in some places and lacking in others.

Mugshot – This is a silvery taupe that has warm undertones and a metallic finish. I definitely find that the Urban Decay eyeshadow is more on the taupe side, whereas the Freedom eyeshadow seems to be slightly browner, so the shades don’t exactly match up. However, the pigmentation of both is amazing, and neither are patchy or powdery in formula.

Darkside – This rich, purpled taupe is definitely bold, but from both palettes it is also extremely blendable. I was quite let down by the Urban Decay version of this, and you can see from the swatches that it fails to match up to the intensity that the Audacious 3 eyeshadow provides. This one has much more intense pigmentation, whilst still boasting a lovely formula.

Blackheart – This eyeshadow is a deep burgundy that appears to be almost black, lit up with the addition of vibrant red micro-glitter. It’s truly a unique shade and I feel as though both Urban Decay and Freedom’s eyeshadows looked identical in colour and pigmentation. Both felt quite powdery, but it’s visible in the swatches that the Naked 3 alternative had a more even finish.



Formulation

Despite the appearance of the eyeshadows in each palette being virtually the same, there are a few minor differences in the formulation. I find that the Naked 3 eyeshadows are all really creamy in texture, feeling smooth and buttery to apply. The Audacious 3 eyeshadows are by no means rough or separated, but you can definitely tell that they aren't from a high-end palette based on the texture. However, this could just be due to the patterns embossed on the eyeshadows making them less soft to touch. Also, the glitter is chunkier and less finely-milled in Freedom palette.

Durability and Appearance on the Eye

To make it a fair test, I decided to test out both eyeshadow palettes with the use of a primer to gain an insight on the lasting power. A lot of eyeshadows tend to crease and fade on me after wearing them for a few hours, so I was eager to see how these two palettes would measure up. As you can see below, I tested out both eyeshadow palettes by creating an eye look. The eyeshadows that I used are listed below, with them being called by their Naked 3 names since the Freedom palette doesn't name the eyeshadows.

  • Strange on the brow bone and inner corners of the eye
  • Dust across the centre of the lid
  • Limit as a transitional shade through the crease
  • Buzz from the centre of the eye towards the outer corners
  • Nooner lower down in the crease
  • Darkside and Blackheart in the outer corners
You can see the eyeshadow look that I created below. On the left is the eyeshadow look created by the Audacious 3 palette, and on the right is the identical look that I creating using the Naked 3 palette.


        

I found that both eyeshadows lasted on my eyes really well with a primer, which is definitely better than I expected considering that eyeshadows don't last the best on me. They stayed intact throughout the rest of the day, except with the shimmer faded slightly. I was amazed by this, especially for the Freedom palette, as I was never expecting such an affordable palette to stay in place for so long.

Amount of Product

In the Freedom Audacious 3 Palette, you get 12 eyeshadows, all of which contain 1g of product. Therefore, the total amount of product in this affordable palette is 12g, which is great value for money. The Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette also has 12 eyeshadows, yet each one contains slightly more product at 1.3g each, with 15.6g of eyeshadow in total in the palette. Despite the high-end palette having more product, there isn't a considerable difference.

Price

Although the price of the Naked 3 palette may vary depending on where you buy it from, it tends to retail at around £38.50 in the UK, which is definitely expensive but expected from a high-end palette. It tends to be sold in any store that carries the brand, such as Debenhams, House of Fraser or a freestanding Urban Decay store just to name a few places. The Freedom palette, on the other hand, costs a mere £4, which is hardly breaking the bank and is therefore much more appealing to buy. Their brand is predominantly sold in Superdrug, meaning it's also easy to get your hands on this palette.

Overall, I'd say that both palettes are incredibly similar and you'll have a tough decision to make if you're choosing between them. The Naked 3 definitely has a luxury feel to it and you can't deny that the quality is amazing, but on the other hand the Audacious 3 has amazing pigmentation and is only £4! I guess I'll have to let you decide which one is the best since I think I'd take forever to make my mind up! If you'd like to buy the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette then you can do so from the Debenhams website. The Freedom Makeup Pro Audacious 3 Palette is sold in Superdrug.

Thank you very much for reading this post and for all of the continual support, as I honestly appreciate it very much. I'll see you next Sunday as usual with a new blog post, so bye for now!

Love from Daisy x

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette Vs Freedom Makeup Pro Audacious 3 Palette

Sunday, August 07, 2016 • ,


A good dupe of an expensive product is something that you simply can't turn down, so when I found out that Freedom Makeup had their own version of the infamous Naked 3 palette, I knew that I had to try it. The shades included are practically identical and I'd also heard promising words about the Freedom palette in terms of formulation and durability, so I was eager to compare the two palettes and see how they measured up to one another. In this post, I'll be comparing many different aspects, from the pigmentation to the packaging and everything in between.

Packaging

Upon appearance, it's clear that one of these palettes is luxurious and expensive, whereas the other is a budget alternative. The rose-gold metal casing of the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette gives an initial vibe of being lavish, as well as being sturdy and providing protection for the eyeshadows. The huge mirror is also a nice addition and is perfect for on-the-go application. The double-ended brush is surprisingly of a high quality, which is something that you don't often find with these type of products. I'm absolutely in love with the packaging of the palette, and so I simply had to include a photo of it.


The Freedom Makeup palette, on the other hand, is made of black plastic, which isn't incredibly sturdy yet still protects the eyeshadows inside. The large transparent rectangle in the front means that there's no space for a mirror, yet I like how it allows you to preview the eyeshadows without opening the palette, so this could either be positive or negative. One thing that I did find with this palette, along with other products from the brand, is that they can be quite difficult to open and I've been close to breaking my nails on various occasions, so this is something to watch out for.

Eyeshadow Colours and Pigmentation

The most important part of an eyeshadow is the colour of it and its pigmentation, so whether it shows up well on the eyes or is sheerer. I found that the easiest thing to do was to compare the palettes eyeshadow by eyeshadow for this category, to give you a thorough view of which one performs the best. Below I have listed each eyeshadow from the Naked 3 Palette and compared the qualities of these to the Freedom palette. For the swatches which you can see below, this is how the eyeshadow looks when my finger was swiped in them twice. I kept this the same for each eyeshadow in both palettes so you can get the most accurate view of how they compare.


The Freedom Makeup Pro Audacious 3 swatches are on the left and the Urban Decay Naked 3 swatches are on the right.

Strange - This is a pale peach eyeshadow that is verging on white, looking lovely as an inner corner and brow bone highlight. It's really pigmented for a pale colour and it shows up very well on my skin. The Freedom palette counterpart is almost identical, if not slightly more peachy. This one definitely isn't as pigmented and needs a considerable amount of product to reach the same shade, but it's still impressive for a drugstore eyeshadow to be this packed with colour.

Dust - This is a pale pink eyeshadow that contains iridescent micro-glitter. It's probably the least pigmented in the palette, but still shows up really well and has a decent amount of pigmentation. The Freedom equivalent to this eyeshadow is mostly shimmer, opposed to a base eyeshadow as well, meaning it's less pigmented but also has more shimmer to show up on the eye.

Burnout – This is a rosy pink satin that looks absolutely gorgeous on the lids and is very complimentary, especially for blue and green eyes. It has a smooth and even texture, but I honestly feel as though the Freedom version won in terms of pigmentation, as it’s much more visible on the skin.

Limit – This is a neutral, dusky rose that is matte. It’s perfect for warming up the crease and I often reach for this as my transitional shade. It appears to be even and not patchy on the skin, but yet again I found that the Freedom palette had the more pigmented version, although the Urban Decay palette did win in terms of having a creamy formulation.

Buzz – I’m in love with this rose gold pink shade, as it’s almost like a richer, more intense version of Burnout that looks beautiful on the eyes. It has a soft and buttery texture with little-to-no fallout. However, the pigmentation isn’t comparable to the vivid shade that the Freedom palette produces, which is definitely clear by the swatches.

Trick – This eyeshadow is very similar to Buzz except it has more of a burnt copper appearance, with the addition of gold micro-glitter. Yet again, it’s very soft and creamy to touch, applying like a dream on the eyelids. The Freedom version has a more vivid orange tone and is also much more pigmented in comparison.

Nooner – This is the final matte eyeshadow in the palette, being a medium rosy plum colour that I love to work into the crease. It’s pigmented and blendable, applying in a thick and even layer. The Audacious 3 version of this eyeshadow is almost identical in colour and may contain a bit more pigment, but I do find it to look a bit patchier at times and not as even as the Naked 3 eyeshadow.

Liar – This is a medium-toned brown with warm undertones and a metallic finish. I find it to be quite powdery in both palettes, but the finish is definitely more even from the Naked 3. The pigmentation is an equal playing field, although I feel as though the warm tones are more evident in the high-end palette. Either way, this is a beautiful eyeshadow from both palettes.

Factory – This darker brown also has warm undertones, being a more intensified version of the previous shade. Both eyeshadows are incredibly pigmented, with the Naked 3 version being slightly more concentrated. However, I feel as though the Freedom version had a more even application, whereas the Urban Decay one looked heavy in some places and lacking in others.

Mugshot – This is a silvery taupe that has warm undertones and a metallic finish. I definitely find that the Urban Decay eyeshadow is more on the taupe side, whereas the Freedom eyeshadow seems to be slightly browner, so the shades don’t exactly match up. However, the pigmentation of both is amazing, and neither are patchy or powdery in formula.

Darkside – This rich, purpled taupe is definitely bold, but from both palettes it is also extremely blendable. I was quite let down by the Urban Decay version of this, and you can see from the swatches that it fails to match up to the intensity that the Audacious 3 eyeshadow provides. This one has much more intense pigmentation, whilst still boasting a lovely formula.

Blackheart – This eyeshadow is a deep burgundy that appears to be almost black, lit up with the addition of vibrant red micro-glitter. It’s truly a unique shade and I feel as though both Urban Decay and Freedom’s eyeshadows looked identical in colour and pigmentation. Both felt quite powdery, but it’s visible in the swatches that the Naked 3 alternative had a more even finish.



Formulation

Despite the appearance of the eyeshadows in each palette being virtually the same, there are a few minor differences in the formulation. I find that the Naked 3 eyeshadows are all really creamy in texture, feeling smooth and buttery to apply. The Audacious 3 eyeshadows are by no means rough or separated, but you can definitely tell that they aren't from a high-end palette based on the texture. However, this could just be due to the patterns embossed on the eyeshadows making them less soft to touch. Also, the glitter is chunkier and less finely-milled in Freedom palette.

Durability and Appearance on the Eye

To make it a fair test, I decided to test out both eyeshadow palettes with the use of a primer to gain an insight on the lasting power. A lot of eyeshadows tend to crease and fade on me after wearing them for a few hours, so I was eager to see how these two palettes would measure up. As you can see below, I tested out both eyeshadow palettes by creating an eye look. The eyeshadows that I used are listed below, with them being called by their Naked 3 names since the Freedom palette doesn't name the eyeshadows.

  • Strange on the brow bone and inner corners of the eye
  • Dust across the centre of the lid
  • Limit as a transitional shade through the crease
  • Buzz from the centre of the eye towards the outer corners
  • Nooner lower down in the crease
  • Darkside and Blackheart in the outer corners
You can see the eyeshadow look that I created below. On the left is the eyeshadow look created by the Audacious 3 palette, and on the right is the identical look that I creating using the Naked 3 palette.


        

I found that both eyeshadows lasted on my eyes really well with a primer, which is definitely better than I expected considering that eyeshadows don't last the best on me. They stayed intact throughout the rest of the day, except with the shimmer faded slightly. I was amazed by this, especially for the Freedom palette, as I was never expecting such an affordable palette to stay in place for so long.

Amount of Product

In the Freedom Audacious 3 Palette, you get 12 eyeshadows, all of which contain 1g of product. Therefore, the total amount of product in this affordable palette is 12g, which is great value for money. The Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette also has 12 eyeshadows, yet each one contains slightly more product at 1.3g each, with 15.6g of eyeshadow in total in the palette. Despite the high-end palette having more product, there isn't a considerable difference.

Price

Although the price of the Naked 3 palette may vary depending on where you buy it from, it tends to retail at around £38.50 in the UK, which is definitely expensive but expected from a high-end palette. It tends to be sold in any store that carries the brand, such as Debenhams, House of Fraser or a freestanding Urban Decay store just to name a few places. The Freedom palette, on the other hand, costs a mere £4, which is hardly breaking the bank and is therefore much more appealing to buy. Their brand is predominantly sold in Superdrug, meaning it's also easy to get your hands on this palette.

Overall, I'd say that both palettes are incredibly similar and you'll have a tough decision to make if you're choosing between them. The Naked 3 definitely has a luxury feel to it and you can't deny that the quality is amazing, but on the other hand the Audacious 3 has amazing pigmentation and is only £4! I guess I'll have to let you decide which one is the best since I think I'd take forever to make my mind up! If you'd like to buy the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette then you can do so from the Debenhams website. The Freedom Makeup Pro Audacious 3 Palette is sold in Superdrug.

Thank you very much for reading this post and for all of the continual support, as I honestly appreciate it very much. I'll see you next Sunday as usual with a new blog post, so bye for now!

Love from Daisy x
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