When it comes to highlighters, Anastasia Beverly Hills has it nailed. From their Illuminators and four-pan palettes which are forever sold out, it will come as no surprise that everyone went into a tizzy when the Ultimate Glow Kit was released. And with such admiration for the brand and my weakness for highlighters, I swallowed the price tag, took the plunge and purchased the limited edition palette. But before I ramble on, I must admit I have mixed feelings about this palette. In short; it's a sparkly one! 
Each ABH palette has previously catered to different tastes and skin tones and the Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in 'Ultimate Glow' £44.00 is no exception and features 6 limited edition gold-hued highlights, bar the shade 'Snow' a true pearly white. It's the first Glow Kit with a mirror and has the same sleek cardboard packaging and outer sleeve as the previous Glow Kits. And like ABH's Glow Kit in 'Moonchild' the pans cannot be removed (which is a real bummer!). However, ABH doesn't skimp when it comes to their highlighters and each shade is 0.16 oz, meaning they'll easily work with your biggest powder brush and will last forever.
The ABH Ultimate Glow Kit doesn't match the quality and pigmentation of other ABH Glow Kits. Sadly, the formulation of this Glow Kit is a tad too glittery to make my love list and is better suited for someone who likes to sparkle. If you like a natural, lit-from-within kinda highlight this palette isn't the one for you. I also find a few of the shades are a little problematic, as they can accentuate my skin texture, especially the shades 'Golden Dawn' and 'Hot Sand' which has a copper sparkle. But the shade 'Snow' a beautiful pearly white, is the only shade in the palette that I find has a truly smooth creamy consistency that doesn't emphasise my pores or my skin's natural texture and looks flawless on the tops of my cheekbones. To be honest, it's unfortunate this shade isn't sold alone! Overall, I find the highlighters are a little dense and as a result I find the base colour doesn't translate onto my skin without a little extra work and the help of a flat synthetic brush. 
Personally I find these highlighters are easier to use on the eyes and work well mixed in with my blusher. But I'm not convinced it's worth purchasing the £44.00 kit alone for eyeshadow. If you have a medium to dark skin tone, I can imagine these highlights would look beautiful and are ideal for a night out. But it's not a palette I'd recommend for fair faces and I wouldn't class this product, as a definite makeup must have for all ABH obsessives. 
Snow: a truly pearly white with a metallic sheen.  White Sand: champagne gold with warm undertones and metallic finish.  Golden Dawn: warm gold with a sparkly metallic finish.  Sunray: peachy-bronze with a copper sparkle.  Amber Gold: rosy gold with a yellow and gold sparkle and shimmer. Hot Sand: medium-dark copper with orange undertones and copper sparkle. 
Have you tried the Anastasia Beverly Hills Ultimate Glow Kit?  Emily

January - the time of year where we all commit to cut out carbs and up our fitness regimens. But for many, it's a month full of broken promises and come February 1st all resolutions have fallen by the wayside - sound familiar? So this year, instead of depriving my body of Five Guys Burgers and Fries, I've compiled 9 attainable beauty goals that I'll actually want to keep. Here's to the prettiest year yet...
1. I will... get more sleep Come 1am you'll usually find me clicking aimlessly around the World Wide Web. I love to sleep, but I also love to procrastinate. And the phrase "you look tired" is one I need to kick to the curb in 2017. A bedtime routine needs to come into play. Even going to bed one hour earlier makes a big difference, better mood, better motivation and younger looking skin. And they don't call it beauty sleep for nothing! Not getting enough hours sleep can exacerbate acne, dryness, and other skin problems. And if all goes to plan, I'll require less concealer and a smaller cup of caffeine come 9am. 
2. I will... book monthly waxes Whilst I have a pretty decent at home-facial routine, waxing is a whole other ball game. And having another person carry out a bikini wax on you is difficult to replicate. Trust me. And without taking the TMI route, I've been getting waxed for a good few years now. Why? Because it simply makes me feel more pulled-together. But with 7 week intervals (the perfect amount of time required to almost forget the minor pain experienced), I would like to wax monthly, as it's the secret to less pain and better results. And to be honest, a razor just doesn't cut it! 
3. I will... detox my makeup bag  The idea of starting a new year with a fresh, uncluttered makeup bag fills me with joy (the little things). So much so, I've even purchased a new makeup bag from ASOS. It's time to chuck out ancient mascaras and streamline its contents, as it seems I hoard multiple lip products, hairbands, tampons and things I've found, like Pret plastic spoons! And if your purse is a little dry this January, just pop it in the wash, or give it a good ol' wipe down with a Dettol wipe.
4. I will... use my clarisonic weekly I love my Clarisonic. The device, which some have steered clear of (in fear it will break them out), is actually a brightening, acne-fighting machine that when used right, works wonders. Having said that, I don't use it enough and would like to use it at least twice a week. I notice a big improvement in my skin texture and tone. It also reduces clogged pores, blackheads, can be used on my bod, makes products work more effectively and quickly removes makeup. 
5. I will... treat my feet Confession: During winter months I forget my feet exist until a girls night out when I slip my feet into heels and then realise (a little too late) that I'm in dire need of a pedicure. It's like they tut at me every time I take my socks off. But jokes aside, whilst it's natural for pedicures to be less of a priority during winter, I can't go on catching dry foot skin on my bed sheets - eww. So it's about time I treat myself to a professional pedi, plus I quite like the massage chair...
6. I will... religiously moisturise my body Something I quite often forget to do is moisturise. And dry skin is never good, but nor is standing in the cold after a long hot shower! I really don't fancy cracked elbows and knees and I'm currently seeking a softer, silkier version of me. So I'm on a mission to invest in a lotion I love and moisture daily post-shower. 
7. I will... clean my makeup brushes regularly  Brushes are high maintenance and washing them will forever be a tedious task (even if I a Simple bar of soap is all it takes). We are all well aware that bacteria can lead to possible breakouts and that brushes don't work half as well when coated in dirt. So here I am, making a promise to regularly deep clean my makeup brushes and use a spray mid-week even (if it is the lazy-girl solution). I know my skin will thank me!
8. I will... stop picking my face Picking spots is BAD. But I can't stop the compulsion to pick. I've stood in front of the bathroom mirror many a time, prodding and poking my bare face to only have to answer the door to the postman five minutes later and resemble someone who has just put their head in a beehive. Picking blemishes (even when I've had none) has resulted in multiple scars and ugly red marks. I know if I don't touch they will clear up. I can do this... maybe. 
9. I will... upgrade my barnet I'm not talking about weekly deep conditioning hair treatments (although that wouldn't go a miss!). I mean a good old hair overhaul. I've been rocking the same parting, style and hair colour for far too long. And I've lost count of how many times I discussed visiting a salon in 2016. I must shell out money and see a stylist. Any recommendations? 
Happy New Year beauty addicts!  What are your beauty resolutions? Emily