Winter Warmers

(L-R: Revlon CustomEyes in Naturally Glamorous, Maybelline EyeStudio Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Eyeshadow in Metallic Pomegranate & On and On Bronze, MAC All That Glitters & Soba)

I'm all for a bold lip colour but when it comes to eyes, I don't tend to stray far from the neutral spectrum.  Most of the shades pictured above are well-loved all year round, however I do think that they're especially apt at the moment.  As the weather gets colder and the nights close in, I find myself going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark - suffice to say my vitamin D intake is not currently at its best!  So, I use any opportunity to add a bit of colour to my paler than pale complexion.  I find that a tinge of warmth on the eye can really help and these are my top tones for doing just that. 

1. Revlon CustomEyes in Naturally Glamorous - This little palette is really affordable and brilliant for travelling as it holds everything a neutral eye lover needs - a few different brown options, a black and a champagne colour.  The only thing it's lacking is a matte shade, but then again who's going to say no to a bit of shimmer as the countdown to Christmas approaches?  My most-used shades are the pearlescent highlight and the deep reddish-brown.  I find that the latter is ideal when paired with...

2. Maybelline Color Tattoo in Metallic Pomegranate - You might remember a few posts ago I mentioned how I was having a bit of a love-from-afar thing going on with MAC Cranberry eyeshadow. The problem was, I just couldn't justify the price tag as a) I would only use it in the colder months and b) I was concerned that, due to my cack-handed application, I might end up looking like I was harbouring some sort of unfortunate eye infection.  Instead, I decided to save my pennies and plumped for this little beauty at a fraction of the price - the perfect wine-coloured cream shadow to create a dark, more dramatic autumnal eye.  I knew I was a fan of the formula already as I previously purchased...   

3. Maybelline Color Tattoo and On Bronze - A beautiful, burnished bronze shade which is as wearable in the day as it is at night - use it as a light wash across the lid or build it up into a strong smoky eye for an evening look.  These Color Tattoos stay put for ages, especially if you're using them as a base for powder.  Their buttery texture means that they're extremely blendable and simple to pop on with your finger if you feel like giving the brushes a rest.  I really don't see myself buying other cream shadows any time soon, which says something because I like shopping.  A lot.

4. MAC All That Glitters - A great every day option, this lies somewhere between a beige, a pink and a gold.  It does wonders to wake up tired eyes and creates a natural, pretty look without any effort whatsoever.  My kinda (lazy) make up.

5. MAC Soba - On Anna's recommendation, I picked this up due to its wonderful quality of adding definition where you need it and somehow giving the illusion that you've spent ages perfectly blending different shades to create a subtle, smoldering eye when in fact, you've slapped it on in about 5 seconds with one peeper still clinging on to the land of nod.   

You may have noticed a running theme here in that when I'm up early and contemplating the day ahead, the last thing I want to do is spend hours in front of the mirror looking at my fatigued face and piling it on with a trowel to try and convince the world that I didn't spend hours watching Breaking Bad when I should have been catching up on sleep.  I find that all of these shadows are a great option for a fool-proof eye look if you want to feel a bit more Kardashian than Worzel Gummidge, but stick to a 5 minute application window and also add a bit of warmth for winter.