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*

♥

***

1. Honey

Sparkly flecks of gold - sheer & subtle

***

2. Natural

Pretty muted opaque nudey-mauve

***

3. Real Nude

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

***

4. Whipped

A milky pinky-nude, more nude than pink

***

5. Sorbet

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

***

6. Pinky Natural

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

***

7. Kiss

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

***

8. Baby Pink

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

***

9. Ballerina Pink

A girly pink with sparkles

*oops I think the number is actually #36?

***

10. Pink #03

A bright opaque poppy barbie pink

***

11. Peach

A pretty glimmery peach - subtle & natural

***

12. Sparkle #05

A sheer sparkly YLBB (Your Lips But Better!)

***

13. Soap Opera Queen

Not as dramatic as I thought -

***

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)

***

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:

***

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! ♥

***

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

***

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!

***
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)





***

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*

***

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: Coastal Scents 88 Palette & Glam Sparkle and Pop!

Happy Sunday Beauties!
Thought I would share my LOTD from last week plus my thoughts on the Coastal Scents 88 makeup Palette!

***

Coastal Scents 88 Makeup Color Palette

Purchased from Amazon.com for around $19 USD



As you can see, there are a million (well 88 haha) different colors to choose from! Note that this palette comes in 2 different 'styles' - the normal makeup palette (which I purchased - has mixture of matte & shimmers) and the "ultra shimmer" palette (all shimmery colors). For those who want less crazy colors and more neutrals, there is the "warm palette" and the new "metal mania" palette.

** "Regular" Makeup Color Palette **



**Ultra Shimmer **


**Warm/Neutral **


** Metal Mania **
Images from Amazon.com

The palette came packaged nicely in bubble wrap and I did not have any problems with breakage. However, the cheap shadow applicator slot was a broken so the applicator kept falling off. Not really a problem since I don't use them anyway! The palette itself is thin and lightweight - careful with the latch since I hear it can break easily!

The size of each shadow is pretty small - smaller than a dime! Chances are the variety of colors will be so vast that you are too busy experimenting to run out. I already have a few favorites, but for the most part, I just kind of swatch whatever catches my fancy :)



Color payoff is variable. Some of the shadows are highly pigmented and apply with ease. Others look promising but are actually disappointing. There was no crazy odor and for the most part, the texture was pleasant and blended well.

I attempted to do a rainbow type gradient on my arm. I used MAC's paint in "Untitled" as a base and then swatched some of the colors using my ELF brushes.



I know this palette has been hyped for ages - I think it's a good deal for the price. Quality wise, the shadows have great staying powder and there are quite a few colors that impressed! However, if you're not into experimentation, I would go for the warm/neutral type palette. This one is fun, but I don't find myself reaching for it very often. It's just a bit bulky and I know I won't be traveling with it!

Overall

Pros:

♥ Affordable (sells for ~$19 on Amazon.com)
♥ TONS of color choices & finishes
♥ Some colors are heavily pigmented and pretty!
♥ Smooth texture, glides on easily (with primer)
♥

Cons:

♥ Packaging is bulky & cheap
♥ Pans are relatively small
♥ Requires a shadow primer
♥ Not travel-friendly
♥ Some colors are a bit 'chalky' and crumble easily

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ (3/5)

This palette is not a "must-have" in my book, but something that every adventurous girl might want to have around just in case! Lots of possibilities for 'fun' looks but I think I will never really use about 30-40% of the colors just because they are too crazy bright! >_< ***


LOTD using Coastal Scents palette

*Tools*



Swatches of Colors used - pretty neutrals in shimmery sea-shell colors



Final look:



***

My Glam Sparkle & Pop order came in the mail a little while ago - and I am SUPER pleased! A huge thanks to JULIE for the gorgeous hand crafted jewelry and sweet little extras!

I was so excited about this necklace, titled "Key to My Heart"




Each necklace is packaged so lovingly in a little organza pouch - so cute!



What a surprise! Little note & a beautiful NYX lip gloss!!!



I love the snowflake necklace - I might end up wearing it year round LOL! The AB quality of the swarovski crystals is so amazing - you can see how amazing it looks in different lighting!






*~*~*
♥for Natalka, Aubrey, Bayrta, Renay, Pixyela, Miih, Sara, TzeYien, Angela, Dementia, & Beauty and the beast, Momo, Lavender, 409, Vanessa & Carmen!

*~*~*

Already have so much to do this week! :) Correspondence (Sorry to all the lovely ladies for my laziness, I will be getting back this week!), more post lovin' to catch up on, crafting, and of course, work!!!

Please take care & have a great week!!!