Review - NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Copenhagen

I'm probably super behind the times in reviewing this, considering I bought it when it first came out, and just wore it for the first time like four days prior to publishing this post. Oops. That's what I get for having a box of a ton of items I need to get around to wearing and not picking out of it!

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in
Copenhagen

Wrist swatch of Copenhagen

Is it just me, or does this color look somewhat similar to MAC Rebel? I'll have to swatch and see. I like colors like that. Anyway, I feel like the pigmentation could be better on this one, I had to build up the color a bit to get it to be pretty opaque. Pigmentation issues aside, the formula for this is good, consistent with the other lip creams NYX has put out - there's a reason I have like five or six of them. Application was smooth, and the formula remains a bit tacky while it dries. The packaging comes with a doe foot applicator, which was fine for application. There is a distinct vanilla scent, almost like vanilla frosting, which disappeared over time. I paired this with a clear lip liner due to the dark nature of the shade. I used a lip primer, but I found that the color did gather into my lip lines a bit.

Although this is a matte product, I did not find the formula to be drying, though this may be credited to my use of a lip primer beforehand. I did experience a little fading, as well as the aforementioned gathering, so a reapplication was necessary. It does stain the lips, so the build up for pigmentation was not as necessary as the first application.

Pros:

• Smooth application
• Pleasant scent, may not be your cup of tea, however, not overpowering. Disappears over time.
• Tackiness disappears once dry.
• Non drying

Cons:

• Color needs to be built up
• Gathers into lip lines
• Some fading

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Copenhagen - $6.00 for 0.23 oz

Review - 3.5/5

Review - Dose of Colors Matte Lipstick in Purple Rain

I received the following lipstick in a swap from the lovely Anna. I actually wore it to work like the badass that I am (hahahaha I'm really not though.)

Dose of Colors Matte Lipstick
in Purple Rain

Wrist swatch of Purple Rain

Car Selfie! I told you I wore it!

First of all, if you are looking for a blue toned purple, look no further. The color of this lipstick is fantastic. The pigmentation is great! However, I found the formula really lacking. The formula itself was really thick and stiff, so application was not easy. The applicator that came with the product is a doe foot, but I needed both the doe foot and a lip brush to get this to apply smoothly. There was no discernible scent to the lipstick. I did not experience any feathering or bleeding, and did not pair this with a lip liner.

They are not lying when they say MATTE, this lipstick was as matte as they come. So matte, and so DRYING! I even wore this over a lip primer, and it did not help. I tried adding a lip balm to the top of this, and it did not help. In fact, it broke down the formula and this is when I decided to take the lipstick off entirely. I slathered my lips in lip balm, but my lips were super dried out from this. I was very unhappy, as the color was so unique and fun. The other colors in the line looked awesome, and I may try and order one of them, but the formula was very disappointing. 

Pros:

• Highly pigmented

Cons:

• Extremely drying
• Difficult to apply

Dose of Colors Matte Lipstick in Purple Rain - $18.00

Review - 2/5

FOTD - 10.24.14

It's been a while since I posted my face! I was actually pretty happy with my makeup! I like to break out my loose glitters on Fridays, and I was actually really happy with this look!

Here are the products that I used:

Face:

• NYX Honey Dew Me Up primer
• Too Faced Primed and Poreless loose powder
• Maybelline DreamWonder liquid foundation in 15 Ivory
• NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla
• NYX Baked Blush in Sugar Mama
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit (Banana, Fawn, Vanilla, Sand)
• Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders in Dim and Diffused
• MAC Fix+
• Urban Decay De-Slick spray

Eyes:

• Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Dark Brown
• NARS Smudgeproof eye primer
• Inglot #353 eyeshadow
• Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics palette
• Lit Cosmetics glitter in Cher
• Lit Cosmetics Clearly Liquid Glitter Base
• Bobbi Brown gel liner in Black Ink
• NYX Cosmetics Wicked Lashes falsies in Bashful
• YSL Babydoll mascara

Lips:

• MAC Prep and Prime Lip
• Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk
• Charlotte Tilbury KISSING Lipstick in Bitch Perfect

Review - Kat von D Everlasting Love Liquid Lipstick in Outlaw

Disappeared for a bit - my bad! I picked up this lipstick due to the fact that I needed a red to wear with my Belgium National Team jersey while I was at Comic Con - a red I could put on and not worry about! I actually got complimented on it, made me very happy! I'm really getting into this whole liquid lipstick thing.

Kat von D Everlasting Love Liquid
Lipstick in Outlaw

Wrist swatch of Outlaw

Like the other lipsticks in this line, this product comes in a thin, plastic tube with a doe foot applicator. The product itself is thin yet pigmented, and has a smooth application. After applying, the lipstick is slightly tacky while drying, but dries quickly to a matte finish. There is no discernible scent, at least nothing added to give an added scent.

The lipstick wore well and was not terribly drying to the lips. I wore this with a clear lip liner and lip primer, but by the end of the day (it was a LONG day, about 12 hours) I did experience a little bleeding and feathering. I reapplied 2-3 times throughout the day just to ensure my color was fresh. I did experience some fading towards the inside of my lips, but I was also drinking and snacking. The lipstick also left behind a nice stain, so the fading didn't make itself terribly obvious.

Pros:

• Highly pigmented
• Non drying
• Long wearing

Cons:

• Can bleed/feather
• Some fading on inner lips

Kat von D Everlasting Love Liquid Lipstick in Outlaw - $19.00 for 0.22 oz

Review - 4/5

Personal By Terry brand consultation from Beautylish!

Ready your wish lists - By Terry is coming to Beautylish on October 22!

I received an email from Beautylish yesterday announcing the availability of By Terry at Beautylish, as well as the opportunity to have a personal consultation via phone with a Beautylish MUA concerning the brand. Father my wonderful experience last week at their Charlotte Tilbury release event, I immediately signed up for a slot. I filled out a form stating I was familiar with the brand, my skin type and concerns, and a photo of myself for reference. 

I received my call today and spoke with Trisha, who was amazingly sweet and helpful. After introducing herself and complimenting the picture I uploaded (so nice of her!) we got down to business. She asked what I knew of the brand, and we immediately started gushing about the Ombré Blackstars, the cream eyeshadow sticks of the line. We both agreed that they offer superior blendability and application to the close yet no cigar Caviar Stick offered by Laura Mercier, and lamented the price tag. 

I brought up the Hydra Powder as a product I had heard a lot about and had been wanting to try, and she let me know it was definitely worth trying. I let her know I had just finished up a jar of Urban Decay Naked Skin loose powder and I liked it, but I was open to something new. Trisha described making the switch to the Hydra Powder as "trading in your Honda, a car you know and love, for a Jag." She went on to explain that during their training, the brand rep had the warm the powder up and apply with their fingers as a different application method, and it really made a difference. I'm definitely going to be giving this a shot. 

I asked a few more questions about Beautylish and what they'd be carrying, and found out the following info:

• They will not be carrying the By Terry brushes. With the recent Wayne Goss line, as well as the Chikuhodo boutique, the buyers are focused on Japanese made brushes for the time being. 
• The entire skincare line from By Terry will not be carried. However, the Baume de Rose will definitely be carried. 
• Future releases from By Terry will come to Beautylish as they are made available to the US, and at the buyer's discretion- Trisha tells me they are trying to curate a collection of the best of the best at Beautylish.

Trisha also talked to me about the Hyaluronic Sheer Rouge lipsticks, which she likened to the Fresh Sugar lip balms in formula, yet a highly pigmented lipstick concerning color. I'll probably end up picking up one of these, as I've heard a few too many horror stories of people having their Rouge Terryblys break when applying it!

I'm really happy I had the opportunity to speak to Trisha about the By Terry release, especially because it felt like I was just gushing to one of my girlfriends about things we were excited to buy! I'm not exactly sure what I've done to get in with Beautylish's good side, but I'm incredibly thankful for the opportunities they've extended to me lately. This customer appreciation paired with their amazing customer service and shipping has really made an impression!

Thank you so much to Trisha and Beautylish! I'm excited to order some By Terry soon!!

Review - Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre in High Society

I recently posted about the Beautylish Charlotte Tilbury event that I attended last week, and I mentioned that I picked up a lip gloss while there. It's been a while since I bought a new lip gloss, since I've recently been converted into a lipstick addict. (Once upon a time, I thought lipstick was for old ladies. How wrong I was...)

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre in High Society

Wrist Swatch of High Society

Now, I will admit, this was 100% an impulse purchase. I was two glasses of champagne in on an empty stomach, plus add in the exhaustion of a day at comic con and a two hour train ride...let's just say I was thankfully on a tight budget! Happily, I am thrilled with this purchase. The gloss is light and non sticky, which is a super A+++ when it comes to a gloss. Your hair will get stuck to it, of course, but that's about it. The formula is nicely pigmented, and is not gloppy when applied. The applicator is a small doe foot, and two-three swipes will get you good coverage. I did not experience any feathering or bleeding of the color, and I found the formula to be non-drying. There was no noticeable scent.

I like that the color is sheer, yet still quite noticeable, if that makes sense. On me, it comes to a very nice pinky-nude. So far, I have only worn it alone, but I look forward to wearing it over other nude lipsticks to really enhance the color. I definitely plan on picking up another one or two of these!

My only disappointment is that compared to the Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks, the packaging on these does not feel luxe at all. The top of these has that rose gold shine, but it's just plastic, which is upsetting. considering the price, and the amount of product, you'd think the top would be a bit more durable. But alas, at least the product is worthwhile.

Pros:

• Light texture
• Non-sticky
• Easy to apply formula

Cons:

• It's a gloss your hair will stick to it
• Color will need to be built a bit
• Packaging feels cheap

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre in High Society - $22.00 for 0.12 oz

Review - 4/5

Review - Lorac Mega Pro Palette

I was one of the lucky few to snag a Lorac Mega Pro when their site hiccuped on October 1st, showing the palettes as in stock and for sale a week early. It arrived right after I finished doing my makeup the day I left for NY Comic-Con, so I didn't get a chance to use it til I returned. Now that I'm back, I've gone ahead and tried it out, swatched it out, and taken some pictures!

The following photos were taken with no sort of eyeshadow base, everything is over bare skin. I made these swatches with a Hakuhodo G5523 BkSL brush, and all swatches were done dry.

Charlotte Tilbury Release Event in NYC - 10.08.14

I was lucky enough to be invited to a private Charlotte Tilbury release party that was hosted by Beautylish! I was able to reserve two tickets, one for myself, and one for my boyfriend. My boyfriend wound up taking my bags (we made our way over right after we left New York Comic Con for the day!) and hanging out in the hotel lobby - not his scene. I was able to sip some complimentary champagne and take some pictures, as well as ask some questions.

I apologize for the so so pictures, it was a dark-ish room, and I was only there with my phone!

Review - Sugarpill Chromalust loose eyeshadow in Lucid

I am a sucker for limited edition items, especially Sugarpill ones! I am so sad I missed out on their olive toned Chromalust shadow, so I made sure to snag this sparkly minty shade as soon as it went on sale!

Sugarpill Chromalust loose shadow in
Lucid

Wrist swatches of Lucid - no base
on top, over NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
on bottom

Sugarpill describes this shade as "a shimmering mint shade with subtle violet highlights and twinkling flecks of gold." If you enlarge the photos, you can definitely see the gold flecks! The shadow actually doesn't perform half bad on its own, but it is a definite stand out shade when layered over a white base, such as NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk. To apply, I tapped off excess shadow, and patted it onto the lid, and blended out. The shadow blended nicely when not on the Milk base. I experienced a little fallout, mostly those teeny gold sparkles!

Pros:

• Highly pigmented
• Blendable

Cons:

• Sparkle fallout
• Limited Edition :(

Sugarpill Chromalust loose eyeshadow in Lucid (Limited Edition) - $12.00 for 5 g

Review - 4/5

Review - NYX Wicked Lashes in Jezebel

Last time I was in Ulta, I decided to raid (okay, buy two pairs...) the NYX Wicked Lashes display because they are not sold on the Ulta website, and NYX has molasses shipping. I've already reviewed the other pair I got, and I finally got around to wearing the second style I picked up.

NYX Wiched Lashes in Jezebel

Close up of Jezebel lashes

To start, I really must say I prefer the Wicked Lashes line to the Fabulous Lashes line NYX also has. Clear bands are always ideal when it comes to false lashes, so you can wear colored liner and not worry about the band being super evident. For these lashes, the band is not thick enough to support the weight of the lashes, so when you remove the lash, it's a bit floppy. I had to trim mine down, but I have teeny eyes. I only had to remove two bunches of lashes, though.

I found that these lashes are better for a more dramatic, but not totally IN YOUR FACE look. I paired them with Sugarpill Lucid eyeshadow and a nice black wing and they accented nicely. The tips of these lashes are not tapered, and due to the design not having as many staggered lashes in between, the bluntness of the edges is very evident. Personally, I'd have preferred a more varied length of lash in between for a more natural feel (think Ardell 120 demis.) I also feel that the inner corner lashes are a bit long, and a better overall length taper from outer to inner corner would look better.

Pros:

• Clear band
• Easy to apply

Cons:

• Band a little too thin
• Blunt ends on lashes
• Most lashes are one length

NYX Wicked Lashes in Jezebel - $3.50 for one pair

Review - 3/5

Review - Sugarpill Chromalust loose eyeshadow in Lumi

For some reason, it took me about a century to pick up this eyeshadow after having it on my wishlist for AGES! I'm so happy I finally picked it up!

Sugarpill Chromalust loose eyeshadow
 in Lumi

Lumi wrist swatch. No base on top,
over NYX Jumbo Pencil in Black Bean
on bottom

Just look how gorgeous this is! I don't think my camera was properly able to capture the magic of this shadow. Sugarpill describes the shade as "Snow white with turquoise sheen and flashing bursts of blue and green." You can definitely see this when swatched over the black base!

When applying, I applied over a somewhat tacky base, such as the NYX Jumbo Pencil or a Laura Mercier Caviar Stick, to help the shadow stick. When picking up shadow, I would gently touch the brush tot he product, and then tap off the excess. I then patted the eyeshadow on, and once it was on the lid, gently blended it out. I did not experience any fallout while using this method of application. 

Pros:

• Blendable
• Little to no fallout

Cons:

• Best performance over a base shade

Sugarpill Chromalust loose eyeshadow in Lumi - $12.00 for 6 g

Review - 4.5/5

Review - Too Faced Melted Liquefied Long Wear Lipstick in Berry

It's fall, meaning it's time for vampy and berry lips. I picked up this lipstick when it was first released a few months ago, part of the second wave of these Too Faced Melted lipsticks (I HATE ridiculously long names for products, so don't expect me to use that big long name!) These were released as a Too Faced website exclusive at first, but you can find them at other retailers now. 

Too Faced Melted lipstick in Berry

Wrist swatch of Berry

Too Faced describes this shade as "berry red" - berry I can definitely agree with, red...not so much. It's a solid berry for fall though, and it looks beautiful! The shade is true to tube, with good pigmentation on first application. Another note about application - the applicator for this tube is an attached fuzzy jumbo doe foot, which actually makes for a really nice, smooth application! I did not need a lip brush with applying, as the applicator was easy to work into the curves of the lip line.

I wore this with a clear liner and lip primer, and did not experience any bleeding outside of the lip line. After about 4-5 hours, I noticed a slight gathering into the lip lines, but re-application smoothed everything over. I found the product to be slightly drying, even with the use of a lip primer. The product left a nice stain, and aside from the slight gathering I mentioned, did not really fade. However, I had read some reviews that the product wore off quickly. I guess my use of a lip primer played in my favor, once again!

Another note, the product has a slight fruity scent to it, which is not overpowering and fades quickly. If you are sensitive to scents, you may want to do a sniff test first, but it is nowhere near as strong as some other lip products (lookin' at you, YSL Rouge Volutpe.)

Pros:

• Smooth application
• Easy to use applicator
• Highly pigmented

Cons:

• Slightly drying
• Gathers into lip lines
• Scent may be an issue for some

Too Faced Melted Liquefied Long Wear Lipstick in Berry - $21.00 for 0.4 oz

Review - 4/5

September 2014 Favorites

Happy October! I'm so glad that it's finally autumn and that the weather is cooling down. I hope you enjoy my shoddily crafted together favorites image for this month's favorites post!

1. Lit Cosmetics glitter in Champagne Wishes - I've got five Lit glitters hanging around my vanity, and I seemingly never reach for them. This month I've played with them a lot more to try and see how I can work them into an everyday look. Champagne Wishes is just that - a champagne gold, and it looks great mixed in with neutral looks.

2. NYX Cosmetics blush in Angel - This blush is one of my go to "Don't know what to wear" blushes because it is such a versatile color. The color is described as a "matte soft pink," but can come off as almost peachy on the skin (well, mine, at least.) It's the perfect blush to pair with a bolder eye or lip look, since it is so understated.

3. NYX Cosmetics Wicked Lashes in Bashful  - If you read my earlier reivew, it was pretty easy to tell that these would end up on a favorites list sooner or later. I've worn them pretty much every day this week, and have opened up my second pair. Definitely give these a try if false lashes are your sort of thing!

4. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Smoke - I've really been digging defined, yet not using black liner to do it eye looks, if that makes any sense. Reaching for a gray liner gives that definition, finishes a look, but doesn't scream EYELINER! I love the UD pencil liners, and Smoke gets the job done for that liner look. It's matte and not too dark, which is perfect!

5. Bioderma Sensibio H2O - I received this in a lovely package from a wonderful friend in the UK. This micellar water is fantastic. I love how it picks up any spot of makeup leftover on my face after cleansing, and makes my skin feel refreshed. I have this teeny baby bottle pictured here, but I can see bribing overseas friends with Pretzel Flipz for more bottles of this.

Review - YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick in #34 Rose Asarine

So I've really been trying my best to get a couple of posts up a week, and I've been staying on top of it! What I have not been staying on top of, however, is making sure I put up content I had planned and taken pictures for months ago. Today I'm reviewing a YSL lipstick I picked up a month ago. Reason I'm reviewing it? I wore another YSL lipstick and remembered I had taken photos for this one. Anyway...

Wrist swatch of Rose Asarine

YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick
in #34 Rose Asarine

I've recently become a big fan of YSL lipsticks. I'd even dare to say that they have some of my favorite formulas (Rouge Volupte and Rouge Volupte Shine.) (I will never forsake you, Bite Beauty, don't you worry!) For how much you end up paying for one of these lipsticks, the fomula better be spot on. I have found all the ones I've tried to be pigmented, smooth, and non-drying. Plus, the packaging feels and looks pretty damn luxe.

Rose Asarine is a cooler toned hot pink. When applying, I found that the first swipe gave true to tube color, and it could be built up to be more intense. Application was smooth directly from the tube, and I did not feel the need to go in with a lip brush. The lipstick has quite a bit of slip to it, but not TOO much slip. When applying, there is a HEAVY synthetic fruity scent that fades (though not entirely!) but it doesn't taste like anything. The lipstick did not feather or bleed, but I did pair it with a lip primer and a lip liner. The formula did not dry out my lips one bit.

For longevity, I find that the lipstick did transfer a bit onto my teacup, but faded evenly throughout the day and left a nice stain. I only needed one swipe to build the color back up. 

Pros:

• Highly pigmented
• Smooth application
• Non drying
• Luxe packaging

Cons:

• VERY heavy scent upon application, if you are sensitive to scents, you may want to pass on this formula.

YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick in #34 Rose Asarine - $35 for 0.14 oz

Review - 4.5/5