Review - NYX Black Label Lipstick with swatches

In light of the Cherry Culture sale going on now, I decided to review my favorite lippies from the NYX Collection - the Black Label Lipsticks!

The Round lipsticks are probably the most well known of the NYX brand, but I definitely prefer the Black Label lipsticks - both provide excellent coverage and color, but the BLL offers higher quality, more product, and most importantly (to me at least) - Moisture! ♥

The Black label lipsticks come prepackaged in thin paper boxes - the lipstick itself is housed in a shiny square plastic tube.

The lipsticks swiveled up with and without flash

♥ *Swatches* ♥



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The lipstick feels very slippery and smooth and glides on the lips with ease - the lipstick tastes like grapes which I found rather pleasant.

*Nude*
An opaque nude that provides excellent coverage - this particular nude leans a tiny bit towards the pink side



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*India*
An orange-y opaque nude



*Girly Pink*
A shimmery baby pink



*Diva*
Easily my favorite of the bunch, and definitely the most wearable. A very pretty mauvey-pink



The downside of the packaging is the base of lipstick is not labeled - if you misplace the cap, there's no way of identifying the lipstick by name!

I actually love these lipsticks more than MAC since they don't dry me out and they feel oh-so good on the lips! They offer a large array of colors in varying finishes and are under $10. (If you purchase during a Cherry Culture sale, they should be around $4.80 USD a pop!)

Pros

♥ Price - nab em' when they go on sale!
♥ Great Quality
♥ Moisturizing
♥ Mild and pleasant taste
♥ Wide variety of colors and finishes
♥ Most colors have excellent coverage (one swipe!)
♥ Sturdy packaging
♥ No animal testing


Cons

X Limited availability
X Can't really think of anything else

I don't understand why these aren't more wildly popular! I can't rave enough!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ (5/5)


FYI, the CherryCulture Sale is 20% off the entire site with code VDS20
**Sale ends tomorrow, Feb 1st!**

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Today was another 'late' day at work. I'm getting home an hour+ later than normal and it's throwing me off! To keep my energy (and spirts up) I need to continue my dedication to power-walking with my favorite Liz!

In random news...

Super cute sleep shorts from Juicy Couture

My JILL STUART package arrived!!! I am HEAD OVER HEELS in love. Will post swatches soon! :)

Take care and drive safe out there if you are in the colder parts of the world - it's supposed to go from the 60s to near freezing tomorrow here in Texas. Brrrrr....

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)

Dolly Sunday LOTD

*LOTD from Sunday*

~*Happy Spring-time-y look*~

Used a *suuuuper* light dusting of Tarina Tarantino's Dollskin blush in Parasol and my favorite self-composed MAC quad ♥ Also, Darkness Kma7s for a natural yet defined look and Maybelline Moisture Extreme lipstick in Born with it.

*♥*♥*♥*

During my next break, I will be trying out lashes on the bottoms of my eyes - it supposedly really transforms the eye! I also (against my dear boyfriend's wishes) will be investing in one very expensive pair of Circle Lenses for my birthday. (TORIC for my football-shaped eyes, *sigh*) I am thinking about getting the Dali Extra Grey or Extra blue. (leaning towards grey)

GREY

VS.

Blue

Images from Dbeautyshop.com

What do you think?

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Tomorrow is my day off!!! :) Time to hit up SEPHORA (for their amazing 15% off sale!!! Online, use code: BI15 good until April 19th!) , LUSH, and the drugstore for some good lower falsies. Still lots of reviews to come!

*♥*♥*♥*

Meal on Sunday - it looks fantastic but I have actually had MUCH better Korean food for much cheaper. A little disappointing, but still makes me drool when I look at it hahaha...








*♥*♥*♥*
♥ for new followers dblchin, hazel, Risyaa, Le-Minh (eeee!), Christina, Mikki, Jennifer, Milly, Caroline, Pinky, Winnie, Li lian, completesimplicity, Beauty Vibes, & LadyDanger. I feel so spoiled with your love!

*♥*♥*♥*

Goodnight lovelies ~ À bientôt

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! :)



***

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*