Smoky and the Palette: Urban Decay's Naked Smoky Palette

If you are a girl, or boy, that wears makeup the chances are the announcement of the launch of this, Urban Decay's Naked Palette number four, the Naked Smoky Palette, caused you at least a little to a great deal of excitement. And you were not the only one...

These palettes are the makeup version of Beatlesmania - Nakedmania! People go just wilder and wilder for these with every release. This time Debenhams in Ireland had and 8000-strong waiting list a week before the release and were opening their doors extra early on the morning of the launch to accommodate the huge demand. So, here's a look at what all the fuss is about.

YSL's Saharienne Sun-Kissed Summer Collection

Yves Saint Laurent really know how to nail their seasonal makeup collections matching the latest high fashion catwalk trends with the perfect summer palette and this latest Saharienne range, fronted yet again by Cara Delevinge, helps you at least look like you've been summering in the Sahara without ever leaving this never-ending rainy summer.

The very first impression you get from YSL's latest Saharienne summer collection is of a palette of colours designed to give you the perfect sun-kissed glow. Inspired by the sunnier climes of Marakech, the range of golden sandy shades and warmer tones illuminate the complexion suiting those with pale to sun-kissed complexions.

An Armani Eyefull - Armani Eye Tints

One of Armani's latest launches, Eye Tints, features pure luxury eye shadows in the most dazzling and delicious range of colours. 

When it comes to makeup of the highest quality and most innovative formulas I have learned over the past couple of years that luxury brands like Armani and YSL etc really are a step above the rest and this new release from Armani featuring a rainbow range of eye tints is no exception. Featuring twelve gorgeous shades from a light coppery nude to a dark charcoal this eye tint line makes eyeshadow application quick and easy with a wet application that dries and stays put all day.

The Essie-ntial Nail Brand

I have heard so many great things about Essie over the past while so when I discovered this Essie Icons Mini Kit it was a great was to try out three of the most popular shades from the brand while also testing out the quality of the products to see what everyone was talking about.

I was rather pleased recently when I came across an Essie stand in the rather amazing and gigantic super Boots at Liffey Valley. Since I was on a very tight after-Christmas-pre-many-weddings budget I was even more excited when I happened upon this little Colour Icons set because it contained all three of the Essie nail polishes I have bookmarked and drooled over for some time now.

A Luxury Christmas Gift List with YSL, Lancôme, Giorgio Armani & Kiehl's

If you have a special someone in your life that you'd like to really pamper, here is a selection of the more luxurious, a tad more expensive but every so fancy, presents for you to peruse from YSl, Giorgio Armani, Kiehl's and Lancôme. I want it all Santa...

Christmas is a time for gift giving for the people you love so, if you have anyone in your life your want to give an extra fancy surprise to this Christmas, or you're looking for a luxury treat for yourself to use your Christmas bonus for something usually out of your price range, I've compiled a list of the biggest cosmetic treats around from YSL, Lancôme, Kiehl's and Giorgio Armani. If you're reading Santa, that Wild Edition Palette by YSL is something else!

Penelope's Bed's Definitive Christmas Beauty Gift List

I put together a list of the best beauty gifts from some of my favourite products over the past year featuring Kiehl's, L'Occitane, YSL, Lancôme,, Urban Decay, Benefit and Caudalíe.

I decided to compile a piece on the best beauty products I've found this year which are all go-tos for me for Christmas presents so I thought I'd share my ideas. All of these products have been tried and tested by me and either reviewed here on Penelope's Bed or are about to be reviewed. I vouch for all of them so, welcome to Penelope's Bed's Definitive Christmas Beauty Gift List!

Sleek and Chic to Make the Boys Weak!

Sleek MakeUP has finally arrived in Ireland, to much joy from makeup fans everywhere. This high quality, very decently priced brand is one to look out for from now on! I tried out a range of products from the brand to see what all the fuss was about.

I'm going to be honest here. When I opened the super sleek boxes of these Sleek MakeUP palettes for the first time I was sitting on my own and, before I knew it, I had gasped and said "oohh" out loud to myself. That's the affect these little boxes of lovely from Sleek MakeUP have on those who have a bit of a love for impressive makeup! I was so impressed from the off that I couldn't help myself, I tried on everything straight away and was covered in makeup by the time I'd calmed myself!

Provincial Christmas Collection: L'Occitane Arlésienne

L'Occitane's Arlésienne limited edition collection contains the most beautiful products, perfect Christmas gifts for the favourite ladies in your life, but also marks the most gorgeous new scent by the brand that's quite hard to resist buying for yourself too!

L'Occitane don't do things by halves and the inspiration for this Arlésienne collection was a group of women from that Arles district in France who represent the essence of ethereal femininity and encompass the beauty of Provence. These iconic women also inspired designer Christian Lacroix to do an exhibition in tandem with the release of this collection, also inspired by the women of his home town, Arles, which you can read more about here.

Get Real! Benefit's They're Real Push-Up Liner

A little late to the party here I know but I had been dying to try Benefit's They're Real Push-Up Liner since its mega launch this summer after reading the endless rave reviews about the product and, I'm delighted to say, it was worth the wait. Here's what I found out about the most lusted after makeup product of the year and its kick ass - and very handy - companion, They're Real Remover.

A lot of expectation lay before San Francisco super-brand Benefit on the eve of the release of They're Real Push Up Liner and, after the huge and extremely well deserved success of the original They're Real Mascara, it was quite exciting to see exactly where the brand was going with this new product which promised to be a liner with a difference. And they certainly kept their word. I've never seen anything like it and it certainly does all it says it will which I was very impressed by since finding the perfect liner is a constant search for me. I just love a good cat eye.

Just Browsing: Benefit's Gimme Brow

Thanks in many ways to the world's most popular model right now, Cara Delevingne, brows made a big come back in the past few years - emphasis on big. And it was about time. After years of girls plucking their eyebrows into obscurity, the shapely brow is finally hopefully here to stay. Given how much structure your brows give your face they are so important and Benefit's Gimme Brow - Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel is the perfect tool to give you the brows you want as naturally as possible.

There are very few ladies that didn't go a little tweezer-happy in their lifetime. When I was a teen, having very dark hair, when my eyebrows started to take shape boy did they expand. They were huge! And this was not any kind of look back then so, of course, I discovered the tweezers, read every teen mag I could find to instruct me what to do with these beasts and then I went a pluckin'.

Everything is Illuminated

There is nothing like an illuminating cream to turn a very bad skin day around and give you a healthy glow on the outside even if you're not feeling too hot on the inside. It's a makeup must-have for me and these three illuminators by Benefit, Urban Decay and Yves Saint Laurent are at the top of my illuminating list and are also some of my favourite beauty products ever.

YSL, Benefit and Urban Decay all have a habit of creating products that are a little bit special and unique to themselves but they also make such superior versions of everything from eyeliner to concealers and these three brightening products are no exception.

A Peep Inside Penelope's Bed #1

Here at Penelope's Bed I am always trying out new skincare, makeup, books and lots more to find the best products to recommend to you, the readers. Here's a little peep at some skincare treats I'm currently trying out.

Elemis Hydra-Nourish Night Cream (€51.50 for 50ml)

This is a little gem I just started using after hearing a lot of good things about both it and the brand itself. This Hydro-Nourish Night Cream feels so wonderfully silky on application and your skin feels immediately smoother and softer. It works as an anti-oxidant and also replenishes the skin's much-needed moisture which helps your complexion look really revitalized and a lot clearer and smoother.

Handy Tips to Moisturise Your Mitts!

Isn't it funny, the minute October appeared today the nip in the air got just that bit little sharper and the feeling that winter may well be on its way, sadly, became a little more of a reality. In the same way we will have to get our hats and scarves out, an essential skincare addition heading into the colder months has to be a good hand cream to battle the effect the sharp drop in temperature has on our much-used mitts. After many years trying and testing dozens of hand creams, these three by Clarins, L'Occitane and Kiehl's are my favourites by miles.

Hand creams are a dime a dozen and I'm sure most of you have received many over the years as part of Christmas presents or picked up one after the other over the years; I certainly have. But, like a moisturiser for your face or body, a lot of hand creams are just so blah and mediocre and don't really ever do much to change the moisture of your hands or are any better than water when your hands face the biggest challenge of the year: bitterly cold temperatures one minute followed by central heating or open fires the next.

Formula for Perfection: Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips

American brand Physician's Formula has been around a long time and is known for the innovation and effectiveness of its products but it is only now arriving on Irish shores to much excitement in the beauty world! I tried the brands Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Eyeliner Trio to see what all the fuss was about!

Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Eyeliner Trio come in three ranges of to enhance every eye colour so they are available in different sets for brown, green and blue eyes. Matching eyeliner and eye shadows to complement your eye colour is an important lesson to learn and you could be surprised with what colours enhance your eyes. I have both green and brown eyes so some colours make the green pop while others make my eyes look simply brown. The collection I'm reviewing here is made for brown eyes so contains brown itself, black and purple (which is actually a surprisingly good shade for both brown and green eyes).

Urban Decay's Pulp Fiction Collection

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release Quentin Tarantino's cult classic Pulp Fiction, a very appropriate collaboration was formed with Urban Decay with a line of makeup designed in homage to the iconic look of Uma Thurman's extremely memorable character in the movie Mrs. Mia Wallace.

Urban Decay's Pulp Fiction Collection is all about blood red nails and lips and sultry smoky eyes to replicate the look that inspired a thousand bobs and sold a thousand lipsticks. The style has been emulated so many times over the years but this line by Urban Decay couldn't be more perfect in terms of timing and the brand itself is so Pulp Fiction in so many ways.

French Pharmacy

French Pharmacy has been creating quite a stir as a well kept secret that has been gently told to a select few friends gradually over time. It's no secret , however, how women around the world have for so long looked with awe at the style and beauty of their French counterparts and the very slowly growing availability of these French skincare products allows everyone to drink from the chalice of French beauty.

The major draw of French Pharmacy is the quality and effectiveness of the well known brands to tackle any skin problem in a dermatologically friendly way. These brands featured here all have a reputation for being made not to just promise something but to actually do it. From acne to severely dry skin and everything in between, these brands have tried and tested solutions which I can attest to. After many months' research, here's my pick of French Pharmacy must haves, whatever your skin type.

YSL's Fall Fetish

This latest collection from Yves Saint Laurent, fronted by darling of the fashion world Cara Delevingne, mixes autumn's hottest shades with the season's new beauty favourite: texture.

The Black Fetish Collection by YSL was inspired by leather - the most fetish inspiring materials - and contains a range of colours and textures that not only go perfectly with this theme but are also spot on trend for this autumn/winter. The palette for the range as a whole is extremely autumn-y, containing gorgeous navy blues, rich raspberry reds and earthy browns and golds.

Lancôme's La Vie est Belle Illuminating Fragrance Oil

A brand that constantly produces some of the most exciting products in the beauty world Lancôme has done it again with this gorgeous La vie est belle fragrance oil. Mixing their renowned perfume with a nourishing body oil, this will definitely make your vie very belle!

I must admit that when I got this beautiful bottle of Lancôme's La vie est belle Illuminating Fragrance Oil in my hands and realised what it was I was extremely excited. I have mentioned here before about my huge love of face and body oils but this is the first time I've used one that combines a specific fragrance with a nourishing oil and it makes so much sense.

La Vie en Rose - YSL Rose Glow Collection

I am going to be perfectly honest here and admit that when I first saw the three items I'm reviewing here from Yves Saint Laurent's Rose Glow Collection I just squealed with such girlish excitement and put all of them on together immediately... It wasn't my finest moment! I can safely say it's the most beautiful makeup collection I have ever come across. It's just so wonderfully feminine before you even start using it but the best bit is that when you put it on it's a million times better. Prepare to glow!

Let me just say from the outset that the traditional Touche Éclat is a classic and is on every single beauty must have list for so many years for a very good reason. It livens up the dullest parts of the dullest complexion and just works wonders on its own or with other makeup. I absolutely love it and haven't always been able to afford it once I get through another tube of it so when this collection came with a rose gold version of the traditional Touche Éclat I was intrigued and excited. And for good cause! It might even be better than the original and just leaves you with this lovely, subtly rosy illuminated glow.

The Velveteen Eyeliner - Urban Decay

The first thing that drew me to Urban Decay from the get go was their eye products. Their eye shadows are the best in the business but the clincher for me was their 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion. It was the blackest eyeliner I'd ever come across and I could not believe how long it stayed in place for and, since black eyeliner is number one in my makeup essentials, the brand won me over big time. When I came by this gorgeous collection of eyeliner-come-eye shadows with the loveliest velvet texture I couldn't wait to give them a try and 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencils did not disappoint. Like most of Urban Decay's products, they really make putting on makeup fun and creative.

The 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencils come in a selection of colours to suit every shade and I've actually been using a couple of them at once. The pencils are really soft so the texture allows you to use them as an eye shadow while the shape and the nature of the pencil itself gives you the control to lines your eyes with them too so it looks like you're using a lot more makeup tools than just one pencil.