Review: NYX Round Lipgloss Swatches on lips

*Numbers correspond to those in the review below*

♥ *~REVIEW~* ♥

NYX Round Lipgloss

I am a big fan of NYX - loads of color choices, excellent pigmentation, and affordability are just a few reasons why I love these products to pieces. I throw out my glosses after a year or so since they get goopy and also for hygenic purposes - I always feel a huge twinge of sadness when I have to throw out my MAC glosses since they not only cost me a pretty penny, but there is usually about 80%+ of the product left in the tube. *sigh*

No more tears - NYX is a perfect candidate to supply my lipgloss needs!

I will let my lips do the talking for most of the review :)

*Without flash*

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1. Honey

Sparkly flecks of gold - sheer & subtle

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2. Natural

Pretty muted opaque nudey-mauve

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3. Real Nude

A pretty YLBB (Your-lips-but-better!) - the name says it all!

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4. Whipped

A milky pinky-nude, more nude than pink

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5. Sorbet

Another milky pinky-nude that is more pink than nude. Everyday wearable and work appropriate!

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6. Pinky Natural

LOVE this color -sorry for sloppy application ;_; - More subtle than "Pink" - an opaque bright & cheerful pink

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7. Kiss

A shimmery, sparkly mauve - a pretty color for the Fall!

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8. Baby Pink

A glittery porn star pink ~ not for everyday wear. -_-

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9. Ballerina Pink

A girly pink with sparkles

*oops I think the number is actually #36?

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10. Pink #03

A bright opaque poppy barbie pink

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11. Peach

A pretty glimmery peach - subtle & natural

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12. Sparkle #05

A sheer sparkly YLBB (Your Lips But Better!)

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13. Soap Opera Queen

Not as dramatic as I thought -

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Overall

I loved the packaging, the slightly angled sponge-wand applicators, the sorbet flavor and the colors. (My picks are Real Nude, Natural, Pinky Natural, and Sorbet) The staying power is average for a gloss, but for the price you can keep one on your bathroom counter and pack another in your purse for reapplication! Dryness wasn't a real problem, but I always use Aquaphor as a base to keep my lips moist. (especially in the drying winter months...)

Tip: The opaque lipglosses have more coverage/pigmentation than the sparkle/shimmer lipglosses so keep that in mind when purchasing.

Again, no animal testing with any NYX products!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ (5/5)

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I cannot rave enough about these lipglosses!

CHERRY CULTURE is having a sale - everything is 20% off!

You can nab these glosses for a little more than $1 a pop!

Code:

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Sneak peak: Dolly Wink Review & Fall/Winter Fashion Update!

♥ Irene!

Review: NYX Tinted Lip Spa Swatches on lips

Hi guys! My NYX haul from Cherryculture.com arrived a few days ago!!! I'm a newbie to the line - after seeing it everywhere with huge comparisons drawn to MAC (right up to the stylish black packaging)...I couldn't resist!

Again, Summer is here and my lips are in desperate need of some TLC!

♥ *~REVIEW~* ♥

NYX Tinted Lip Spa

The lids are clear so you can see the color right underneath!

Here they are all swiveled up - they look pretty drastically different with/without flash

And swatched on my skin with and without flash

** On the lips **

Spirit - a light pink

Sake - a mauve pink

Jewel - a coral pink

Vintage - a reddish pink

**OMG just noticed the colors almost look exactly alike on the lips! (well on me at least) LOL...well, that's a tinted lip product for you hahaha I promise the colors are actually slightly different though***

Overall

The name itself makes these tinted lip balms seem so luxurious - according the the site, they have been formulated with "Vitamin E and extra moisturizing properties to nourish and condition lips while adding color." They do wrap your lips in a temporary layer of moisture and feel very smooth once applied. There is a strong minty sensation, akin to the feeling you get when you apply a product like "Burt's Bees" lip balm. However, nothing to the point of tingling aka E.L.F. plumping lip glaze. I hate lipstick normally and these were incredibly easy to wear! The only gripe I have with these lip spas is that at the end of the day (with no in-between applications), my lips felt rather dry.

Pros: Affordable ($5.50 a pop on NYX site, $3.75 on cherryculture.com), large selection of pretty colors, feels good on the lips, color noticeable, sturdy & stylish packaging

Cons: Temporary moisturizing effect, may dry out lips if you already are prone to dryness, colors can look similar on lips, Sensitive to heat so don't leave in your car in the middle of the Summer heat!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ (3/5)

At first I was tempted to buy the whole set, but now I am CONTROLLING my spending much better. (At least I like to think...) I was upset that CherryCulture was sold out of the Cococabana color at the time, but in the end, I was pleased with my choices. If you are planning on purchasing these, you should wait for a good sale to come along! Sometimes they can be up to 50% off. Also I would recommend you go with a just a few colors as these are tinted lip products and the color payoff is exactly that of a tint so you really don't need the whole set. I think I prefer my Maybelline Moisture Extreme lipstick over the Lip Spas because they provide more moisture for my lips and don't dry them out as much...however, these are still a good option for ladies who might not suffer as much from dryness.

Although the tinted lip spas didn't end up in my HG of lip products, so far, I have really been impressed with NYX. (which btw, means "Goddess of the Night") It's just a shame they don't sell this line at most drugstores. The color selection is amazing, the quality is impressive, and all at an affordable price! After tossing about 5-6 MAC lipglosses that were past their prime (I should really start throwing out my old makeup more often, for hygenic purposes), I wondered why I was blowing all this money on products that I would have to toss in a year or so. NYX just makes cents. (hahaha sorry, couldn't resist... ;D)

I have purchased some of their Black Label Lipsticks, Round lipsticks, Round lipglosses, eyeshadow palettes and pearl pigment powders which I will reviewing/swatching in future posts! ♥

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I am so very lucky to have so many gorgeous and sweet followers...thank you all for your support. I plan on giving back again soon in a fun way! :D

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I hope you ladies had a fabulous week, please go on and enjoy the weekend! :)

♥ Irene

Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick Swatch Update + Combo falsies

So much has been going on these past few days...busy volunteering and running around doing errands. :P

Still, I have time to squeeze in an update on the Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick swatches from my previous post! Summertime is basically here and although my lips are even more chapped/dry/parched in the winter, it still persists into the summer. *sigh* So many ladies had mentioned how much they loved the color "NUDE BLUSH" but they were all sold out the last time I hauled. So here is my recent review of the color:

In the tube

On my lips!

*Complete look*

Tried out the Tokidoki Luminosa powder here in Kabuki - LOVE! Very subtle but lasting!

This lipstick, like all the other maybelline moisture extreme lippies, felt like lingerie on the lips, so smooth, silky, and comfortable!

Again, to see all colors & swatches, visit my last review here!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ (5/5)

Still lotsa love for this lippie!

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I ♥ my falsies

In order to get the look above, I used two pairs of falsies...as I mentioned in another post, I love falsies since it helps create the appearance of larger eyes. Plus my natural lashes are the usual short, stubby, non-existent variety, so falsies give me a little extra 'oomph'. T_T

Combining falsies can really make your eyes "pop!" - I usually only do this for special occasions like a night out since it is a bit dramatic. :)



You can find Ardell's at any drug store and Darkness lashes are sold at Korean markets and online at Daybeauty.com (by the way on special AGAIN - $2.95 for 2 pairs of lashes!!!). The Kma5s are a lot lighter than the other style of Kmas - the band is thinner and more flexible which = optimized comfort!

I love the look of lush lashes! (Older pics, same combo of lashes)





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I went to see Wicked to celebrate my 3-year anniversary with my boyfriend. I had to leave straight from the wedding reception, and didn't have time to change. Had I prepared more, I would have joined in on the fun with "Wicked-themed" attire and makeup! I did enjoy seeing all the theater-goers in their green dresses and pointy hats though. ;)



And a post wouldn't be a post without some food pics!!! For my Mom's b-day we had some of the tastiest peking duck + pineapple sweet & sour chicken (HK style!) that I've ever eaten!





*happy sigh*

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Welcome to all of my beautiful new followers :)

♥ Hope you had a wonderful weekend ♥
(I can't wait until the next weekend already lol)

Review: ELF Plumping Lip Glaze in Baby Doll +

Lots of lip product reviews lately - Sorry if you're tired of staring at my lips, lol. I promise more diversity coming in the near future! ;) Also added Peach Colada review to my previous entry in case you were wondering about the color on the lips!

Onwards to the review!

♥ *~REVIEW~* ♥

ELF Plumping Lip Glaze in Baby Doll

*Description (from the E.L.F. site)*

Forget costly Collagen injections, or those painfully stinging glosses, stimulate your senses to a refreshed full perfect pout with e.l.f. Plumping Lip Glaze! e.l.f. proudly presents a revolutionary lip plumper, infusing natural ingredients that awaken your senses for fresh, volume enhanced, and moisturized lips. This dual sided Plumping Lip Glaze has a tinted color for a subtle plump or a clear gloss that power plumps your lips, use together and instantly feel the lip enlarging effects!

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Still can't find deals like this anywhere! Again, $1!!! Drives me crazy with happiness. The double sided wand lets you select whether or not you want super plump lips or just semi-plump lips:




After reading the review on the site, I thought sure no problem! No painful stinging! I generously lathered some of the white plumper on my lips = instant STING! LOL. Albeit, it was nice and minty, but it kind of burns your lips a little. Nothing I couldn't handle and it wasn't painful, but if your lips are sensitive BE WARNED! Thankfully, it subsides in a bit and you are free to apply the other side of the gloss.



I didn't notice major plumping; my lips are already kind of pillow-y so it was hard to tell for sure if they poofed up or not. After looking for awhile, I concluded that there was a minor plumping effect on both the top and bottom lips.

Baby Doll is a very pretty, subtle color with a hint of pink and tiny silver sparkles. Again, I'm the type of person that doesn't like things on her lips, and this was just fine -- it wasn't too sticky and it lasted a few hours!

Pros: Mild-moderate plumping effect, pretty & versatile color, wears for at least a few hours, not too sticky/tacky, very affordable
Cons: Definite stinging/possible irritation, not as pigmented (but it isn't really meant to be very pigmented, as it is described as a tinted lip color), Applicator a little stiff

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ (4/5)

I'm not sure how often I'd actually wear the plumper side of the product, but the glaze itself is lovely and I will definitely repurchase. For this price, it is a STEAL!

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Omnomnomnomnomnom...

For all you foodies out there, RESTAURANT.COM is running a promotion where you can buy some of their awesome gift certificates (save $25 off of a $45 meal after 18% gratuity automatically added - still a pretty sweet deal) - for only $2!!! Usually, they are like $10 for a $25 gift certificate. Just use the coupon code COOK at checkout! My family and I always stock up during these sales, hehe...

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I love Dim Sum Sundays at home! My Mom is the BEST COOK EVER - homemade "Pei-Don Jook" with crunchy bread (I can't spell out the Chinese name, it translates something like "straight oil"?!)



Can't forget dash of Maggi & white pepper!


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Hello to MeiBelle, Ms. Viafara, Tina, Sweetfurr, AlyssaMae, Pak4U, Fashion Geek, Dramaramas, Candy & Jen!

Good night all you beauties ~ I wish you a wonderful week!

♥ Irene

I ♥ Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick +

This is a followup to my initial review on Maybelline Moisture Extreme lipstick in Sugar Plum Ice HERE.

♥ *~REVIEW~* ♥

Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick



No flash

I purchased these during the BOGO sale at Walgreens!

My collection now consists of: Sugar Plum Ice, Born with it, Windsor Rose, Sweet Ginger, & Peach Colada

Here are the swatches



**And on the lips**

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From my previous post, Sugar Plum Ice - shimmery, baby pink. ♥



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Born with it - Like its namesake, a very natural, subtle, sheer pinky color. YLBB



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Windsor Rose - a bright, cool-toned punchy pink. I didn't think I could pull off cooler toned pinks, but it actually looks really gorgeous & dolly on!



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Sweet ginger - I like this color A LOT - a great color for the Fall or matched with an earth-toned outfit. I actually might still have a trace of Peach Colada on my lips (thus the kind of coral-y shimmer in the flash pic) Mmm...reminds me of chai tea for some reason.



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Peach Colada - This one looked super promising and bright in the tube! Maybe it was the base I was using or maybe it just isn't that pigmented... :/ Either way, it just did NOT want to stick to my lips. Even after swiping it a few times, still no dice. It's still a pretty subtle shade in the 'coral' family. I'd still use it on a nice Summer day! :)



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Ok. Feeling lazy, will swatch Peach Colada later. (Maybe in the Summer when I'll actually sport it!) ***UPDATED - added swatch above 3/28*** Nude blush was all sold out, but I'll be on the hunt for it next time I'm stalking the makeup aisle during sale time! Strange observation: I noticed they sell a wider range of colors at the drugstores over Target.

Pros: Super affordable, very moisturizing, SPF15, gorgeous colors, tastes yummy
Cons: Not very long wearing

I am completely taken by this line! It's no wonder other bloggettes have raved about these too - there is a reason! If you're a n00b at lipstick like I am, you'll appreciate the fact that again, these lipsticks don't feel like lipstick on the lips. As previously mentioned, I hate anything but Aquaphor sitting on my lips, so it's pretty amazing that I actually enjoy wearing these lipsticks!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ (5/5)

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Chronic dry-lippers REJOICE!!!

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Although I have received this award previously, I would like to thank Sharlene for all her crazy thoughtfulness in bestowing the sunshine award on me again! :) Recently, I have needed more sunshine in my life, and it really made me feel all types of awesome inside.

In turn, I want to give this to everybody since you guys have also brought sunshine into my life too!


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Thanks for the blog love Rachel, Chamorrita & pwincessanna ♥

♥ Irene

Review - Maybelline Moisture Extreme (Sugar plum Ice A12) and Another award!

I am going to preface this review with a fact. I am NOT a lipstick user. I rarely EVER use it because it feels uncomfortable to have stuff that isn't either aquaphor/chapstick/vaseline slathered atop my pucker. (am I weird?)

Also, I suffer from chronically dry lips. (insert Death Valley/Alligator picture) Yes, I probably need to drink more! But in the meantime, I have never worn lipstick before because of this issue. Ugh. Plus my lips are kind of weirdly shaped *embarrassed*

KoreanSushi piqued my interest in Maybelline Moisture Extreme lipstick when she posted about it being the only one she actually held onto after a mini-haul. It being BOGO (buy-one-get-one-50%-off) at Walgreens this week and at only about $5.50 a pop, I thought - why not? (2 for about $8 after tax)


It looks so pretty in the tube!


Swatched w/ flash!



On my fuzzy weird-shaped lips

**Description**
Active power of a lip balm provides deep moisturization for voluptuous lips drenched in color. Non-feathering and non-bleeding. SPF 15 protection. (bonus!)

I ♥ this lipstick!!!!!! I have never said that about ANY lipstick before. It doesn't feel like lipstick at all - more like a light, non-sticky, hydrating gloss. No weird smell/taste (it is actually quite pleasant and a little sweet) Definitely my new HG lipstick. I'm going to check out the other colors now before this sale is up!

3/9 Update - Still love this lipstick although it doesn't really last very long. Reapply often for best results!!! :)

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Thank you to the HILARIOUS, spunky and gorgeous Jessica Mai for this award! :) I feel so spoiled this week!

7 random facts time!

1. I love to paint.

"Two Bulbs" or "Bulbous"
Acrylic on Canvas 9/08

2. I was born with two uvula (sounds kind of dirty but it's actually the little dangly things in the back of your throat lol) My bf affectionately calls me "TWOvula"!

3. I still want to move to Hawaii one day! :)



4. I speak English, a little bit of Chinese, enough Spanish to have a decent conversation, and am learning some Japanese! I love languages - so interesting!

5. I am a sandwich child -- 3 other sisters! (2nd eldest!)

6. I love all types of music. My all time favorite band is RADIOHEAD -- my dream to see them in concert came true a few years ago!



7. I am a dreamer! I would like to believe that we all have something big to contribute to the world!

I tag:
Rachel
Khristine
LittoMokaa
Sohpia aka Kechiko
Jimin
Sharlene
KatieNgo

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Hello to Diana & Happy1234 (sweet name lol)!

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To end, I just had to post this picture of the sky today. It had just finished raining heavily and a short while before sunset, the clouds parted and graced the people of Dallas, Texas with this:



*happy sigh*