Save or Spurge #1: U.D Electric Palette Vs. MUA Poptastic Palette.

 

I've started a new series on My Pale Skin called 'Learning To Love Colour' and I'm hoping to break out of my 'boring make up' shell and experiment a little more with make up looks and be a little more daring. I recently picked up the Urban Decay Electric Palette, and had fun experimenting with it.  The Electric Palette is a thing of beauty, but if you're not sure if colour is right for you, then why not try out a dupe for a fraction of the price?

For today's Save or Splurge post, I'm seeing how the MUA Poptastic Palette measures up in comparison.

Splurge

Product: Urban Decay Electric Palette

Price: £38.00

Shadows: 10 

Save

Product: MUA Poptastic Palette

Price: £4.00

Shadows: 12 

Now the MUA Poptastic Palette isn't a like for like dupe of the Electric Palette as some shades differ, but it does offer a selection that are fairly close.

As you can see, the shades aren't perfect carbon copies but they do come fairly close... although with a downside. The MUA palette shades feel a lot different - the shades are much chalkier, have a coarser level of glitter throughout and do give a fair amount of fall out. I also found that they applied unevenly where as the Electric Palette shades apply so much more smoothly with barely any fall out.

One of the big differences I noticed between the two products is in the application and blending. The shades in the Electric Palette are more pigmented and blend out with minimal effort to create smooth transitions, where as with the Poptastic palette, you will have to work that little bit harder to get the colours to blend.

There's quite a big difference in price between the two palettes, with the Electric Palette coming in at almost 10x the price... which leaves me with the question - Is it 10x better?

Packaging - Yes. The Electric palette has the most satisfying magnetic 'click' when it closes, it feels a lot sturdier and well made. The Poptastic palette feels cheap and flimsy in comparison.

Colour - I'm not sure if I can say the colours are 10x better, but they are richer.

Application - As a colour newbie, I did find the Electric Palette much easier to apply. There was less fall out, and they blended more easily. However, does that justify a 10x price increase? I'd say that it depends on what look you're creating. If you're after a really smooth bright eye look, you'd find it a lot harder to get the same look using the Poptastic palette. If all you're after is a simple pop of colour, then I'd save and pick up the dupe.

Both of these Palettes have positive and negatives, and are both welcome additions to my collection. However, if you're really looking to add colour to your life and I had to recommend just one palette, in this instance I'd say to splurge and pick up the Electric Palette as it's worth every penny. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on these palettes! Have you tried either? let me know in the comments.

Em xxx

Why Life Is too short for matching socks... & other blogging musings.

Running a daily blog, numerous social media channels, being a girlfriend, friend and working a full time job all at the same time means something has to give at some point. For me that thing is matching socks, ironing and making my bed. Granted the previous sentence makes me sound like one hell of a slob, but I can safely say I'm only part slob.

Since I switched to posting daily on My Pale Skin, I've had to make some adjustments to my life, daily routine and schedule. When you work around 50 hours a week and then spend a further 30+ blogging, you learn (or attempt to learn) how best to manage your time and how to make time work for you rather than make yourself race against it.

Essentially, the decisions I'm in control of, in life, boil down to a few questions...

1. Will it make my life easier?
2. What could I be doing instead?
3. Will I get longer in bed?

Now, i'm not saying these three questions will change the world, boost your blog readership or make you queen blogger... but what they can do, is help you to reevaluate how you spend your time to make life easier and more productive. So as an example, let's try out those 3 questions - against the question and scenario of "Should I pair my socks?"

1. Will pairing my socks make my life easier?
In theory, if you like to show of your little sockles, pairing them will make your life easier. However, if like me, you constantly live in jeans and biker boots or ankle boots and can't remember the last time another human being (minus your bf/gf/roommate) even saw your socks, then why waste that time pairing them all up when you can be doing something else instead...

2. What Could I be doing instead of Pairing my Socks?
Writing a blog post, scheduling tweets, editing photos, taking your make up off... the list goes on...

3. Will I get longer in bed?
If you put your laundry away before you go to bed, then the answer is yes. The earlier you get your chores done, the earlier you get to bed. If i'm super tired and putting laundry away at midnight, and i have the decision of pairing a mountain of socks or getting to sleep earlier... sleep wins every time.

Now, i'm not saying you should judge every decision you make in life by these questions but instead to use them in situations where they could be applicable. If you're a long time reader of My Pale Skin, then you'll know that I often struggle to "get out more" and i'm doing my best to learn 'how to friend' as an adult. Sometimes you need to go against short term goals to reach the long term goals and if that means sacrificing a lie in on a Saturday to go to a blogger meet up, or going out for a few drinks after work instead of participating in the blogger chat that night, or vice versa, then don't worry about what the 'norm' is and do what works for you!

One of the things I often forget is that in order to truly write about and appreciate life, you have to live it for yourself and not just read about it. I've been trying my hardest to make the most out of life, and organize around it instead of making my life work against my organization. So far, this seems to be working, I haven't missed a day since I begain blogging daily and these 3 little questions have helped me.

So embrace the random things that life throws at you, go against what the 'norm' is and do what works for you. If that means an extra ten minutes in bed and socks that don't match? Do it. If that means staying in to talk to online friends rather than 'real life friends' do that too! 

If you had an extra 20 minutes each week to do something, what would you drop, and what would do with that time? Let me know in the comments as i'd love to hear!

Em xxx

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet - Grand Cru Review

If you're looking for a deep matte lipstick, then the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet* Lipstick in Grand Cru might just be the product for you! 

I have to say that I love how easy these lipsticks are the apply. They go on like a gloss and dry to a beautiful matte shade which isn't drying, but actually does feel like velvet on your lips. However, I would recommend the use of a lip liner to be worn with this shade to make sure you get a sharp edge around your lips as I did find it hard to get a clean line as the product is so dark against my pale skin.

The Grand Cru is a new addition to the Rouge Velvet Line, and it's deep tones make for a perfect date night lipstick. I think this shade would look gorgeous with a sleek ponytail and a little black dress. 

I look forward to experimenting with it and seeing what looks I can create with it!

Where would you wear this shade? Let me know in the comments.

Em xxx

Learning to Love Colour #3

As a 'Pale Kid' there's nothing that frightens me more than colour. If you've seen my previous posts Learning to Love Colour & A Bold & Gold Make Up Look then you may have seen the start of my little exploration into embracing pale skin and bright make up and my feeble attempts to not wear a 'boring' nude lipstick and a black wing every day...

I recently picked up the Urban Decay Electric Palette and after just staring at it for what seemed like ages, I finally picked up the courage to give it a shot. I admit, as soon as I put the first colour on my eyes, I thought 'what have I done?' However, I stuck with it and created this look. I don't think I've ever worn such bright colours before, and I certainly don't have the courage just yet to wear it outside on a daily basis... but i'm learning, experimenting and trying new things. That's all that matters... I hope.

Here's the Product list of what I'm wearing

Foundation: Nars Sheer Glow - Siberia 

Concealer: Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

Contour: NYX Taupe Blusher

Eyebrows: Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow Pomade - Taupe & Medium Brown

Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Electric Palette

Eyeliner: Bourjois Contour Clubbing Waterproof Eyeliner Ultra Black*

Mascara: Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde  Mascara*

Eyelashes: Eylure Texture 154

Lips: Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick - Pink Pong*

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this look! Let me know what you think in the comments!

Em xxx