The craze for MAC makeup has definitely died down a lot, as of late. Rewind a few years and I'm sure you were just as obsessed as me, desperate to snap up every shade of lipstick and eyeshadow or entire limited-edition collections as soon as they launched. Whilst I still adore the iconic brand, the urge to open a pop-up shop in my bedroom isn't quite as strong as it used to be and I've significantly downsized my collection. That doesn't mean I'm not tempted by some treats every once in a while, though; I just tend to restrain myself and avoid any purchases that I know I'll regret. Viva Glam Gaga ring any bells? My recent MAC marathon was solely focused on new eyeshadow pans to spice up my much-loved, but same-y, palettes, after having them for so long. Surprise, surprise - I plumped for four, neutral shades, all of which are permanent.

Everyone loves a neutral eyeshadow palette. There are so many in my collection already, yet I'm always suckered in by a new one. Admittedly, I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to eyeshadow, as high-street formulas always used to disappoint in terms of pigmentation, texture and blend-ability. To avoid wasting my money, I'd always opt for premium palettes. In the past couple of years, though, cheaper brands have really upped their game and now you can achieve stunning looks for a fraction of the price. At just £4 each, the Essence All About Eyeshadow Palettes are some of the cheapest out there, but can they perform as well as the likes of Urban Decay, MAC or even L'Oreal?

If you take a peek at my beauty collection, there's one makeup item that takes over - eyeshadow palettes. From the heady heights of Tom Ford to the blogger-enabled UD Naked palettes, I've always been suckered in by pretty compacts, especially when they contain golden tones. Being a neutral lover, I've amassed enough to sink a ship, so I thought I'd share a few of my favourites with you, featuring some that won't break the bank and a couple worth splashing out on.

As soon as September arrives, I get all excited. Not only is it my birthday on the 6th, but the season starts to transition from summer to autumn, which is my favourite time of year. Layering up in chunky knits, the crisp air, cozy nights in, burning candles and the festive cups from Starbuck's - I love it. Best of all, I of course adore the beauty trends and, predictably, my favourites from last month reflect the changes that I've been making when it comes to my makeup.

Usually, I switch up my makeup on a daily basis, choosing different products to cater to my change in mood, the weather or how my skin is feeling. Falling into bad habits recently, the cooler climate has made me want to stay in bed past my regular, 7am wake-up call, so I haven't had as much time to rifle through my collection every morning. Instead, I've filled my makeup bag with a variety of staple products and, for once, I've been happy to stick with them for longer than a week.

Although L'Oreal released their take on the perfect, eyeshadow palette last year, I restrained myself and gave it a miss. Full of pink and purple tones, I just couldn't warrant adding a palette I may not use often enough to my already overflowing, makeup drawers. Then recently, a brown-toned version hit the shelves and I decided to add them both to my collection. I just can't help myself!

After wearing thicker foundations, darker eyeshadows and berry lips for the past, six months, I'm so excited to pare my makeup back and give myself a fresher, glowing look. Spring makeup is all about radiant skin, rosy cheeks and some brighter hues and I've found a great selection of affordable products to deliver just that.