NYX Lipstick Swatches

I took the time to swatch all my nyx lipsticks, because I really do like them a lot. I have trouble with most lip products, within an hour they all give me the dreaded white ring, no matter what I do to my lips to prep them beforehand. It drives me crazy, I have to carry baby wipes around with me and basically re-apply my lipstick or gloss every hour. If anyone goes through this, or knows why it happens pleeease let me know :)
These are all amazingly creamy in texture, and super pigmented. The staying power isn't the greatest, but I get at least 2 hours out of these if I don't eat or sip my water too often.
Anyways, I was gunna do these swatches on the lips, but most of the lippies aren't that flattering without liner underneath (show every crack on the lips), and I wanted to provide true-to-color swatches. If I get a request though, I'd be happy to take some pictures of all of these on the lips.

Swatched heavily, slightly edited to get the best color depiction, (L-R):

Femme, Jupiter, Louisiana, Tea Rose, Heather

Femme and Tea Rose are my favorites out of these. The others are fun colors, but I could live without them. Those two colors have the least shimmery finish, which is rare in the range of nyx lipsticks. Jupiter is a great shimmery barbie pink to layer on top of a flat-pink lipstick, since it's sheer but glossy in finish.

Summerlove, Pumkin Pie (yes, pumkin!), Mars, Perfect, Thalia

Summerlove doesn't show up as much more than shimmer on my arm, but it's actually a pigmented fleshy nude. Thalia is way lighter on the lips, but turns into a darker shade after a couple layers. My absolute favorite is Pumkin Pie. It may look kind of funky in the swatch, but it makes for a great warm nude lip with a similar gloss on top. The name is so accurate, it really looks like pumpkin pie. Mmmm. One of my favorite lip combos is this lipstick with Yes to Carrots lipgloss in "Playful Nude" on top.

Last two colors, Sash and Castle:

These are $4 on the nyx website, but I think that's really overpriced for the actual product. I buy them from $1 at my local beauty shop.

The ingredients, taken from nyx's website: Ceresin Wax, Polyethlene Wax, Microcrystalline Wax, Beeswax, Lanoline Oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Mineral Oils, Octyl Palmitate, BHA, Propyl Paraben, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, D&C Red No.A1 Lake, Pearl Powder, Iron Oxide

MUFE Full Cover Extreme Camouflage Cream

On my never ending quest to find the perfect undereye concealer, I thought I'd check out some of the cult classics. With pigmentation on the mind, I headed straight to the Make Up For Ever display in Sephora. Does MUFE make anything sheer? I avoided the palette, because from my experience those scream cakey under eye's. Instead I opted for the liquid, "Full Cover". Here's the verdict:



What It Is: This is described as a full-coverage liquid concealer, oil-free and waterproof, and able to cover everything from blemishes to scars and hyperpigmentation.
Application: I used this before foundation. I applied about 2 pinpricks of product on the back of my hand. I dipped a flat concealer brush into it, and began patting it on at the darkest part of my circles, under one eye. I let it sit while I did the same to the other (no more than 4 or 5 seconds). I went back to the eye I started with and blended the concealer into the rest of the undereye area, using only patting motions. Then the same with the other eye. I like to use this method when I work with liquid concealer so there's some time for the product to set on the darkest part's of my circles. It's important to work quick initially though. You can always go back in with more product.
Look: Once the concealer was fully dry, I didn't like the finish that much. It was almost kind of fuzzy. The pigmentation was good though. After I applied foundation, the area looked better but some product did rub off. I don't think this color could work for me over foundation, so I didn't like how that worked out.
Feel: This concealer dried quickly, which some might find makes it hard to work with. It did feel a bit dry, but didn't seem to dry out the area by the end of the day.
Staying Power: This did not budge for a solid 6 hours, but by the very end of the day my undereye area did have that (inevitable) grayish cast.

Excuse the pasty skin, terrible lighting:




Final Musings: All the fabulous ratings aside, I don't see what the big deal is. It had good pigmentation, but the lack of color correction left me with uncovered circles. I didn't like how the product highlighted my imperfections, more so than covering them up. Maybe it's just not a good concealer for the undereye area. On blemishes and redness around the nose, this worked great. I tried it on a tattoo by the way, since I've heard this can cover them up, but it didn't come closer than any others I've tried. You'd definitely need to bring in the color wheel and full coverage foundation. C+

Full Cover costs $40 at Sephora.

Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation

I've been in the market for a new pressed powder. I havn't had a good enough experience with a high end brand's powder to decide there's a big difference (for me) between those and a good drugstore brand, which is how I ended up in the Neutrogena aisle at Target.
I remembered reading once somewhere that dermatologists suggest those with sensitive skin buy only Almay and Neutrogena from the drugstore. I dont have particularly sensitive skin, but when it comes to face products, I thought it'd be a safe bet to follow that rule of thumb.

I ended up buying the Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation Compact in shade 50, "Soft Beige"



What It Is: A mineral powder foundation pressed into a compact. Neutrogena's website says it's oil-free, noncomedogenic, and frangrance-free. It has SPF 20, but I wouldn't suggest depending on this.. you'd have to pack it on to get the full protection factor.
Application: I used this as a foundation and as a setting powder. As a foundation, I used primer, then applied this with the sponge it came with (actually quite nice), damp. As a setting powder, I sheered it out over my face with a soft kabuki. I liked the added coverage it gave me on top of my foundation.
Look: As a foundation, this gave me medium coverage with a matte finish, but I packed it on. This is definitely a sheer foundation. Over liquid foundation, this mattified any dewiness I got initially. I didn't like this, so I used Fix+. The color was too light for me, and it seems as if all these powders run light (hello mineral foundation). This didn't melt into my skin the way I'd expect a mineral powder to, but if blended really well, there's no powdery finish.
Feel: Although the product is supposed to have moisturizing elements, it left my face dry and tight-feeling when used as a foundation. It felt and looked better after I spray my face with some Fix+. As a setting powder, it did not feel as dry, but I still set with the spray.
Staying Power: As a foundation, (with the primer) this lasted about 4 hours. Not impressive. To set liquid foundation, the powder worked well, extending the liquid foundation's longevity.

After 2 hours:


Final Musings: I think this serves me well for the purpose I bought it for.. to set my foundation. It created a smooth base for blushes and bronzers so they wouldn't apply streaky, and made my liquid foundation last longer. My biggest problem with this is that it doesn't seem like it would last at all used as a foundation. I can't imagine how long it would have lasted had I not used a primer. I would go a color up next time too, although the shade I got is workable. All in all, I don't think this outperforms the next drugstore powder. The difference, I guess, is in the ingredients, so it comes down to you and your skin's needs.

This foundation costs $12 at Target, but I've seen it around with prices ranging from $9.99-$13.99.

Ingredients: Mica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Zinc Stearate, Silica, Dimethicone, Oryza Sativa Starch (Rice), Magnesium Myristate, Methicone, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Pantothenic Acid, Panthenol, Glycine Soja Flour (Soybean), Alumina, Silk Powder, Water, Polymethylmethacrylate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben

Elf All Over Color Sticks

Just wanna share some quick swatches and my take on Elf's All Over Color Sticks.


My local target just expanded their Elf display, and now they have all kinds of stuff that I've only ever seen online before. I have a few of their lipglosses (the Stila lipglaze knock-offish ones), and they're really pigmented and pretty. I have a huge problem with all their lip products' offensive smells though, so I mostly stay away from the brand...

Anyways, here are the swatches:


Lilac Petal is a light, rosy pink with silver shimmer. Blended out on the cheeks it gives a really pretty, innocent glow. I've mentioned before, I tend to stay away from pink blushes.. but this looks really fresh and pretty if applied right. It could also make a good highlight for cream blush if you use a light hand.
Pink Lemonade is hard to describe.. it's a toned down fuschia, with some rosiness to it. Almost like Lilac Petal's badass sister. I actually hate how this looks on my cheeks, but it works well on the lips. I shade them in with a nude pink pencil, then use a finger to press the color on, then smack my lips to blend it out. Of all 3 colors I own, this is the most pigmented.. trust me, I was surprised by how thickly the color laid on when I was applying it to my arm. I promise you it's not nearly as scary when used sheerly.
Persimmon is my favorite out of the bunch. It an apricot, bronzey shade.. not as mauve as the camera captured it at all. But then again, it depends on how much you apply. I love how this looks on my cheeks.

In same order as picture above:

These smell citrus-y on application, but, ewww, after I wiped the swatches off my arm I gave it a whiff and it smelled TERRIBLE. Like plastic and the smell of cleaning solution in a public bathroom. I've worn these all day before and I didn't smell anything funky at all... so hopefully that's the case with everyone else. These are sticky in consistency, and a bit hard to blend out. The Sonia Kashuk flat topped blusher brush works great, otherwise I'd recommend just using your fingers because your brush will shed trying to blend these out. I don't like the finish of these on their own (really greasy), so I set with a dusting of powder.

Overall, you can't go wrong with unique colors for a buck, which make the color sticks winners in my book :)

Target Haulin'

I love Target ;)

I got Sonia Kashuk's loose powder, NP Set Liquid Veil (so excited about this one), Almay Clear Complexion foundation, an Almay lipgloss, and a Revlon lipgloss.

Sonia Kashuk loose powder in 02, "Colorless Matte"

I actually had the white one before. My thinking was that it was translucent, but it wasn't until I was done with it that I realized it was not in fact translucent, and wayyy too light for my skintone. So this time around I picked out a darker color, but even now I think going a shade darker wouldn't hurt. Two words for the finish of this powder: ethereal glow. For around $11, you get .14 oz, which I've heard many a complaint about. I never shopped Sonia Kashuk before, so I'm not feeling the pain about this powder shrinking in size over the years. But this lasts a really long time! My last jar lasted me around 8 months. You don't need to use a lot of product. What I don't like though, is that it doesn't seem to set my heavier foundations the way a pressed powder would. That, and it sometimes it cakes up my concealer if it's a cream formula. It works great to finish glowy TM's though, and the finish it delivers for the price makes this one a keeper for me.

Next swatches:


NP Set Liquid Veil in "Houston"
I love liquid highlighters, for the sole purpose of mixing them in with my foundations and TM's. The product description is so strange though. The jar states it is for hint of color, and it's called a "veil". Nowhere does it use the word "shimmer", or say something along the lines of "use on the cheekbones or for an all-over glow". So is this a highlighter?! I tried mixing it in with my foundation, but it didn't do squat. I also tried using it as a highlighter on certain parts of the face, and it didn't show up there either! Maybe it was too closemy skin tone, and I should have picked out a different color. Whatever it was, I'm so dissapointed. I was really hoping this would lend my foundation some golden shimmer for a pretty glow. This also comes in a pink shade, "Paris", and a darker bronze shade, "Buenos Aires". Liquid Veil Retails for $15.

Almay Pure Blends lipgloss in "Nude"
Gives my lips a pretty sheen. Really subtle, but still pretty. I prefer to use natural products on my lips most days, so their advertising sucked me in. Although the color is nice, I had a terrible experience with this. For one, the texture is terrible. It is so ridiculously gritty, applying it makes me feel like I've sworn off lip exfoliation for years. That, paired with the gross plastic smell... for $6, I wouldn't recommend this gloss at all.

Revlon lipgloss in 070 "Glossy Rose"
I don't normally buy drugstore lipglosses, but this one was marked down to under 2 bucks..I couldn't resist. I actually ended up loving this gloss! The name describes the shade perfectly, but my opinion of it in detail is that it is a mauve-y rose with golden shimmer, more accurately depicted in the swatch than on my lips. It looks really elegant... I would love to have this exact shade in a lipstick. This gloss isn't sticky in the least bit, but it has surprisingly good staying power. On my lips it had no scent, which makes it even better.

That's it for now. For nowwwwww....

MAC & Sephora Haul

Last week was really stressful, so it had to culminate in some retail therapy.

From Sephora: Clinique blush in "Aglow" along with Clinique Perfectly Real foundation
From MAC: "Quite Natural" paint pot, "Blankety" lipstick, "Underage" lipglass, "Peachykeen" blush (not shown), and a new Fix+

The foundation was an impulse buy. I got matched with shade 18, which is for fair-medium skintones with neutral undertones. The shades they had were so weird, there was a huge gap in between light and dark. Most shades had really obvious pink or yellow tones. Although the box claims the foundation neutralizes skins varying undertones. I always have a hard time with my neutral coloring. The match was good though, kind of orange upon application but the color evened out once it was blended. It was hard to blend out though (I used a foundation brush); the consistency was thick. Next time I'd use the beauty blender, I have a feeling the application would be better that way. The foundation definitely did not cover up everything. The finish really was nice, but the lack of coverage took away from the whole effect. It does seem like it's going to be medium-full coverage right when you apply it, but it just disappears! This foundation is supposed to be for dry combination to combination oily skin. Weird description.. what does that leave out? It was a bit shiny on me, and I have combo skin that's starting to become oilier as the weather heats up. For the finish and the price ($21), I'd say it's worth it if you can get a good color match.

Swatches:

"Aglow"

I've been eyeing the blush for a while, cause it looked so beautiful on display. I would call it an apricot pink with golden undertones. I actually tend to shy away from pink blush, I think it looks really unnatural on me. I love my peach tones though. Well, I finally got around to trying it, and I'm undecided. The texture was chalky, and it didn't blend out that well. The color didn't look nearly as amazing on my cheeks as it did swatched on my hand. I thought it would be a glowy, beautiful rosy peach color but it turned into more of a flat dirty apricot. The worst part was after a few hours, it turned into a blotchy mess.. but this happens sometimes when I use loose powder. I'm gunna see if I can get a better result next time. This retails for $19.50.

"Blankety"

I have a love/hate relationship with nude lippies. I want to love them, I think they look so gorgeous when I see other girls wearing them.. but I seldom reach for them when I do my own looks. I don't know, its just that nude lips don't ever seem to go with the rest of my makeup. My other mac nude lipsticks include "Peachstock" (hello, walking corpse), and Cherish (beautiful, but once again, one I don't find myself reaching for often). So I came to the conclusion I needed a honey colored nude, not too pink and not too fleshy. Well, I struck gold here. I didn't even try the color on in the store (I know, bad); I've seen so many people wearing it I didn't feel like i needed to. I just got it, and I'm glad I did. It's an Amplified, and I find it way more creamy that some of my Cremesheen's. On my lips it's a honey-ish, mauve-y nude, just what I was looking for. Although it shows up more on the pink side in the pictures, it's way more toned down in real life.

"Underage"

It was between this and Florabundance. I had my mind set on a milky pink, so i went with Underage in the end. Florabundance was so pretty though, it won't be long at all before I cave in ;). Underage is a well known color: a sheen-y, milky light pink. My lips are pigmented, but over Creme Cup (how I intend to wear it), Underage is the perfect frosting for pretty, opaque pink lip. It's extremely pigmented, but I do find it to be sort of spoltchy and hard to get even. When you do though, the result is beautiful.

"Quite Natural"

To me this is a neutral medium brown. I love the texture of paint pots, but I actually don't like to use my flesh colored ones as primers because I think they actually dull my shadows (I totally prefer cream color bases). But as bases, paint pots are amaaazing for their cream-to-powder finish. I'll put up a look using this soon.

"Peachykeen"

This is a "sheertone shimmer". On me its a sheer, warmish pink with golden shimmer, which lends the pink a peachy color.. so its not a straight-up pink. I tried this on in store, and it gave me just what I look for in a blush.. a pretty, subtle glow. Not obvious rouged up cheeks. I though it was similar to Nars' Orgasm when I had it on in the store, but now I see they're completely different. Orgasm is peachier. I actually like Peachykeen's texture more than Orgasm. It's not as gritty and sparkly, and applies way better.

Fix Plus speaks for itself. I cannot live without this; I don't care if it's glorified water. After a long day of classes, a few spritzes of this un-cakes and un-creases all my stale makeup and allows me to touch up my cheeks and shadow without looking like a clown.

Happy Tuesday :)