Christmas FOTD - Sugar Plum Fairy

 I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and wishing you all a Happy New Year :)

I did this look for xmas dinner at our house. Not too different from my usual smoky eye, just added a berry-hued blush and lipstick and metallic brownbone highlight, which made me think of "Sugar Plum Fairy" ♡

(please ignore messy background and awkward hand poses lol idk what to do with myself sometimes) 

Face

• Cetaphil Oil Control Moisturizer 
• Neutrogena Shine Control Primer
• Dermablend Smooth Indulgence Concealer in Almond
• Revlon Color Stay Whipped Creme Foundation in Nude
• ELF Studio Blush in Berry Merry
• ELF Studio Blush in Gotta Glow

Eyes

• Brows: Maybelline Brow Pencil in Blonde, NYX Eyebrow Marker in Medium
• Too Faced Shadow Insurance
• NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt -- Highlight
• Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Shakedown -- Lid
• Bronze from Stila Eye For Color Palette -- Crease
• Wet N Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow in Trashed -- Outer-V
• NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Cottage Cheese -- Inner corners/below lower lash line
• Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner in Black
• NYX Lashes - Review

Lips

• NYX Lipliner in Nude
• Maybelline Baby Lips in Grape Vine
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Violet Frenzy

 I am currently on the hunt for the perfect purple lipstick. I saw Revlon's Violet Frenzy at Long's and decided to pick it up since it looked bright and purple! However, as seen in the pictures, it's much more magenta/fuchsia than purple. I think I'll try Va Va Violet next :) If anyone has recommendations for good drugstore purple lipsticks, please share!

NYX Haul Pics & Swatches

I made an order from cherryculture.com about a month ago when they had their 40% off NYX sale. I honestly haven't been buying much makeup for the last year, but this sale was too good to pass up, especially for false lashes! I got $70 worth of NYX for $40 :D This is what I ordered:

Bronzer & Blusher Combo in Phi Phi Island, NYX Girls Nail polish in Mushroom Glitter and Carnival, Jumbo Eye Pencil in French Fries, Glitter Cream Palette in Sweet Chocolate Brown, Round Lip gloss in Sorbet & Whipped, Round Lipstick in Pumpkin Pie, and 8 pairs of false lashes.

Closer pic of the Round Lip gloss in Whipped & Sorbet, Round Lipstick in Pumpkin Pie, Jumbo Eye Pencil in French Fries, and Glitter Cream Palette in Sweet Chocolate Brown.

NYX false lashes are some of my favorite falsies to use. They have a huge variety and the lashes are very durable. I like how they lash band is stiff but flexible... makes it so much easier to apply than with a really flimsy band. The style names of the lashes are:

Left column, from top to bottom: Gorgeous, Nirvana, Disco Queen, and Lash implant.
Right column, from top to bottom: Nostalgia, Exclusive, Nostalgia, Exclusive.

I bought 2 pairs of Nostalgia and Exclusive because I LOVE layering those 2 lashes together. And every time I try to buy them here, they're always out of stock! So I figure I might as well stock up :) The Gorgeous and Nirvana lashes are really full and voluminous, I really like them. If you like full, spikey style lashes, I'd recommend those. I was really excited for the Disco Queen ones because I liked how lush they looked. But unfortunately I don't think they look all that great on me :/ Ah, well maybe I'll find a use for them sometime. The Nirvana lashes I just bought on a whim. Usually I'm partial to really long, full, and thick lashes... obviously unnatural, but I love em! However I really like the Nirvana lashes because they're long enough and wispy but have some volume to them and they look rather natural. Good for everyday wear :)

Here's swatches of the Round lip gloss and Lipstick. From left to right:
Round Lip gloss in Whipped, Round Lip gloss in Sorbet, Round Lipstick in Pumpkin Pie

I love NYX's lippies! I did previous reviews/swatches of their lipstick here, and lip gloss here. I love the round lipgloss because it's cheap but the quality is really nice. It's pretty pigmented and goes on smooth, it's not sticky, has shine, lasts a couple hours, and doesn't dry out my lips. Whipped is one of my favorites for a quick glossy nude lip. I always wanted to try Sorbet as well. It's a cute baby pink with fine shimmer. The lipstick is also very affordable with nice quality and pigmentation. Orange Soda is my favorite nude lip shade, but I really wanted to try Pumpkin Pie. It's a nice light coral/salmon shade.

I love using NYX's Jumbo Eye Pencils as an eyeshadow base or layered over other shades. This is French Fries (which is kind of misleading because this doesn't remind me of french fries at all lol) but it's a rich dark brown/bronze with coppery tones in it. I mainly use brown eyeshadow on the daily, so this'll make a great base!

I had been wanting to try NYX's Glitter Cream Palettes for the longest. Something about the shining allure of glitter was just too tempting! XD Even if I never use it, I'll be happy just looking at it, 'cause the glitter's just so pretty :P I chose Sweet Chocolate Brown because like I mentioned above, I mainly use brown eyeshadow, so this was the most practical choice for me (although I did love the purples and blues they had!) I haven't tried this yet, but it does seem a bit promising. The top layer of the glitter is dry, so you kinda have to rub into it to get the waxy part to pick up. It's smooth and pats on nicely. These swatches are about 2-3 layers built up. It's actually pretty easy to build up the glitter without smearing it all over the place, so I can see it being not much of a problem to add layers of it over eyeshadow. However, it is really really messy to take off!

I love bronzer/blusher combos, so this was something I HAD to get XP It's very reminiscent of my ELF bronzer/blusher duo, which I love (I guess you could also compare those to NARS Laguna/Orgasm, but I don't have it :P). However, it's REALLY sheer, so if you're not one for subtle cheek color that needs to be built up, I wouldn't recommend this. I do like the iridescent sheen that both shades have to them though.

And lastly, here's swatches of the nail polish! From left to right: Mushroom Glitter and Carnival. I love how dense the Mushroom glitter is. I can see it being good by itself, or for doing glitter gradient nails. I was also really excited for Carnival, because it reminds me of Deborah Lippmann's Happy Birthday. Can't wait to try these on my nails :)

Review: NYC Ultralast Lipwear - Rose Gold & Red Flame

Price: Online, I find it for $1.99 but I'm pretty sure when I got this from Walmart, it was $1.79.

What they say: Super-charged color. Glide-on, stay-on lipstick! N.Y.C. New York Color Ultra Last LipWear gives you incredible color with real staying power. Beautiful high-fashion shades with a hint of berry fragrance give you the most luscious, kissable lips ever. Available in twenty long-wearing lipstick shades... build a wardrobe of lipcolor!

Benefits: Moisturizing formula conditions lips with color and shine.

Application tips: Apply N.Y.C. New York Color Ultra Last LipWear directly to the lips or apply with a lipstick brush.

Key ingredients: Vitamin E for conditioning.

Full ingredients list: Ricinus Communis Seed Oil Castor, Octyldodecanol, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax Candelilla, Tridecyl Stearate, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, PEG-4 Diheptanoate, Polyethylene, PEG-8 Beeswax, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil Jojoba, Beeswax, Tocopherol Acetate, Propylparaben, Tin Oxide May Also Contain, Silica May Also Contain, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Red 6, Red 7 Lake, Blue 1 Lake, Red 27 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Carmine. (from Ulta.com)

The good stuff:

• Inexpensive!
• Applies easily
• Sheer but buildable color
• Great for layering
• Semi-moisturizing
• Many shades to choose from

The low-down:

• Color doesn't show up well on me unless I use concealer first
• Average staying power

Left-Right: Rose Gold, Red Flame

ROSE GOLD
Shows up as a rosy (slightly coral-y on lips) pink with gold shimmer.

RED FLAME
Shows up as a blue-toned red with gold shimmer.

SWATCHESLeft-Right: Red Flame, Rose Gold

My take: I am so glad I picked up this lipstick after reading Angelique's review!!! They are such a steal too! I'll start off by saying that I bought Red Flame for my mom, so I don't use it. So sorry there are no lip swatches of that! I specifically wanted to try Rose Gold after seeing how it looked on Angelique, and I am happy to say that I LOVE IT : )

But -- yes, there is a but! -- On its own, it does not show up very nice on my lips. It makes my lips look slightly darker and a bit frosty (reminiscent of my last disappointing NYX lipstick haul). Sooo... for me, it takes prepping to make this lipstick work, but boy, does it work!What I have been doing lately to make lip color show up better is layering over DHC Rose Beauty Eye Zone Treatment Retouch Q10 (I have not reviewed this yet). Sounds weird, because it is meant for the undereye area, but it wasn't working too well for me and my dark circles. So on a whim, I decided to try it on my lips and lo and behold, it yields truly awesome results!

Once I prep my lips with lip balm and the concealer, Rose Gold layers on nicely and the color shows up a lot better. It starts off sheer but is buildable. It glides on lips easily and doesn't feel waxy. It feels somewhat moisturizing... prob. because I prep with lip balm first anyway, but still, it feels a tad moisturizing on it's own. Nothing super creamy or hydrating, but not drying, either. Also, you can feel a slight grit from the glitter; nothing bothersome though. Very similar to my Tsumori Chisato for Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited in Jupiter Brown. It is also similar in color, except more pinky. Another thing that I'd like to note though, is that despite the "Ultralast" name, the staying power for me is only average. A few hours at best, even less if eating/drinking.

Although layering over concealer makes the color show up better, the finish is still a little too frosty for my liking. Btw, I realize in the past couple paragraphs I sound like a total contradiction of my claims that I love this lipstick. But here's the kicker.... I layer over it again with a sheer gloss. And for me, that completely perfects this lipstick. Now, if you like frosty lipsticks, of course this is completely unnecessary and I'm sure you'll love these lipsticks. But for me, doing these extra steps makes the color more vibrant... just the right pop of color, but still natural and wearable, AND tones down the frosty-ness to a shimmery, glossy sheen... I love it ♥

Would I repurchase/recommend? Yes, I would definitely repurchase these lipsticks; I would like to try more shades. I hope they make new shades too! I would definitely recommend this lipstick to anyone wanting to add some drugstore gems to their lippie collection!

Below, I used: EOS Lip balm, then DHC Rose Beauty Eye Zone Treatment Retouch Q10, then NYC Ultralast Lipwear in Rose Gold, and then YSL Golden Gloss #10 - Golden Peony (sorry for the bad lighting).

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Review: ELF Luscious Liquid Lipstick

Top - Bottom:
Perfect Pink, Baby Lips, Natural Blush

Natural Blush was from Drugstore.com, apparently this shade was from when it was still called "Moisture-Care Lip color"

Swatches:
Natural Blush,
Perfect Pink, Baby Lips

Natural Blush looks kinda purple here... but it's more of a dull mauve shade. Perfect Pink is literally, a perfectly bright pink shade. Baby Lips is a soft, baby pink shade.


Price: $1 from eyeslipsface.com or $1.49 from drugstore.com

What they say: True color therapy is here. Intensive hydrating agents along with natural pigments leave lips with long-lasting color and moisture. This luscious liquid lipstick creates wearable color that flatters a multitude of skin tones and looks.

What to do: To activate twist pen 10-20 times or until color is seen. Layer on color. Reapply anytime.

What's in it: Paraffinum Liquidum, Polybutene, Silica, Synthetic Beeswax, Fragrance, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Iron Oxides(CI 77499), Red No. 7 Calcium Lake(CI 15850:1), Red No. 6 Barium Lake(CI 15850:2), Blue No.1 Aluminum Lake(CI 42090:2), Red No.40 Aluminum Lake(CI 16035), Red No.27 Aluminum Lake(CI 45410:2).

The good stuff:

• Cheap
• Lots of colors to choose from
• Pigmentation is decent... varies
• Texture is smooth / slightly thick
• Somewhat sticky but feels moisturizing
• Did not dry out my lips

The low-down:

• Scent is not great... but not intolerable either
• Takes wayyy more than 10-20 twists to activate
• There's actually not very much product
• Gets messy

My take: I had no intention of liking these when I first bought one (Natural Blush), but I actually did come to like them! The main reason being because of the texture... it's on the thick/sticky side, but it does feel moisturizing and applies really smoothly. So I use this product mostly at night like a lip "treatment" to keep my lips moisturized and smooth. Since I don't wear it during the day I can't really attest to its lasting power... but it has mostly absorbed by morning, so I'd say it's probably at least a few hours.

Perfect Pink, Baby Lips, Natural Blush

The pigmentation is decent. What you'd expect for $1. Natural Blush is the most pigmented and shows up on my lips really well. But sadly, the color is just not the right shade for me. It makes me look dead. Perfect Pink is really pink, but it just tints my lips so they look reddish. I think it would look nicer on less pigmented lips. Baby Lips looks pretty in the tube, but basically shows up clear on my lips, even after several layers. However, it layers really well over other lippies. All of these shades have a shiny finish.

The only downsides are that it takes a lot more than 10-20 clicks to get the product flowing, and then you realize how little product you actually have in the tube. But since it's only $1, I can't really complain. Also, the "vanilla mint" scent might be bothersome to some people. For me, it's not that bad but I think they could do better... Other than that, the cap does get a little messy on the inside, but nothing too yucky.

Would I repurchase/recommend: Overall, I think that this is a decent product... not the greatest pigmentation but I like how it feels on my lips. So yes, I personally would repurchase (I still want to try Raspberry, Strawberry, and Pink Lemonade). I would recommend them just because they are so cheap. Even if you don't like the way it looks on your lips, I think it makes for a nice overnight lip "treatment."

My Fav Lippies ...w/ Swatches!

Hello loves! This post was requested by the lovely and extremely talented Claudia of Lemon Pie! I don't think I've ever done a post about my favorite lippies, so here goes! I'm pretty boring and conservative when it comes to lippies (even though I used to be addicted to buying them)... I basically stick to safe, nude shades and soft pinks. I do want to venture into more peach/coral shades though ;)

So here's my most used, favorite lipsticks & glosses!

(the order is from left to right)

Wet N Wild Mega Last Lipstick - Pink Suga
Ironically, a little more orange on me than NYX Orange Soda; still a great nude. VERY pigmented, smooth, and semi-matte. (review here)

NYX Round Lipstick - Orange Soda
My all-time favorite nude shade. Slightly peachy and works well with my skintone. Super creamy and opaque. Pairs great with a sheer gloss. (lip swatches here)

Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick - Pink Please
The perfect baby pink that shows up well on my medium-pigmented lips. Smooth and sheer but buildable. (overview here)

Wet N Wild Mega Last Lipstick - Just Peachy
A slightly brighter pink than Pink Please. A tad peachy, but still more pink. VERY pigmented, smooth, and semi-matte. (review here)

NYC Ultra Last Lipwear - Rose Gold
A gorgeous soft rosy pink with gold shimmer. Color shows up better on my lips when layered over concealer + gloss. (review here)

Yves Saint Laurent Gloss Pur - Pure Rose
The perfect milky baby pink. High gloss shine, starts out sheer but is buildable. Slightly sticky, but not too bad. (review here)

NYX Lips Lipstick - Peach Love
Even though the other lippies from my last NYX haul were a frosty mess, I still like this particular shade. Over concealed lips and layered with a gloss, it shows up a nice, soft peachy coral. (overview here)

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick - Ravishing
A gorgeous "clean light peachy coral." Super creamy and pigmented. (overview here)

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss - Life's a PeachI love the formulation of this lipgloss. It is the perfect texture, smell, and lasting power. Very glossy, non-sticky, smooth, sheery-buildable, nudey peach. (overview here)

LE Tsumori Chisato for Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited - Jupiter Brown
I am not much of a bold-lip wearer, but I do like this shade. Looks pink in the picture but it's actually a rosy-brown type of shade that shows up "reddish" on me. But I like it a lot. Very smooth, sheer but buildable. (review here)

Swatches
(click to view larger)

These swatches are pretty color-accurate, except for Ravishing, which is lighter, brighter coral and Jupiter Brown; which for some reason looks red-violet (to me at least) but is actually lighter rose-brown shade. Dunno why they look so dark in the pics.

Hope this post was helpful! : )
What are YOUR fav lippies?

Tsumori Chisato LE Rouge Unlimited Jupiter Brown Lipstick Review & swatches

(I also got Phyto Black lift serum sample)

Tsumori Chisato for Shu Uemura Limited Edition Rouge Unlimited in Jupiter Brown

Price: $25

What they say: Rouge Unlimited lipstick in a limited edition shade of Jupiter Brown and encased within Tsumori Chisato's exclusive "Lucky Cat" packaging design. This packaging is interchangeable and can be used with any of our rouge unlimiteds! Simply pop your favorite shade into this adorable tube and use over and over again.

Benefits:Hybrid Pigments - advanced technology to bring brightness and fidelity of color to the lips.
Ceramide - protects and cares for the lips.
Water Lock Polymer - delivers high level of hydration and comfort.

Ingredients: click here for list

The good stuff:

• Packaging is TO DIE FOR + interchangeable
• Gorgeous sheer, buildable color
• Pretty shimmers
• Semi-moisturizing
• Slight glossy sheen

The low-down:

• Expensive + LE
• Glitter is slightly gritty
• Not extremely creamy or hydrating
• Average staying power

My take: Of course, the only reason I bought this lipstick is because of the packaging. VERY RARELY will I ever buy one thing for a ridiculously high price. But it is just too cute to resist and it's LE so I don't wanna hunt for it later. The good thing about the quite chubby packaging is that it is interchangeable with other Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited lipsticks, so you can use it again and again! Lookie, the kitty even has a tail! :3





















The name "Jupiter Brown" was immediately a huge turn-off for me, but in actuality, the shade is a lovely my-lips-but-better shade of natural rosy pink with ever-so-slight brown undertones and lots of gold shimmer. The glittery shimmer however is slightly gritty when applying, but was not a huge bother to me and other than that, the lipstick glides on lightly, smoothly, and very sheer, (not creamy & opaque like say, NYX lipstick) but the color is buildable.






















Appears more reddish on my lips than in this swatch... see below



























I prefer to layer a lighter lipgloss over it to tone it down and add shine, but I would say that it is semi-moisturizing and does have a slight glossy finish without adding lipgloss, so it is quite pretty by itself. It did not dry out my lips but it doesn't last very long either, which isn't that much of a big deal to me anyway. Overall, it was a worthy splurge purchase IMHO (unlike my Shu Uemura brush set that I haven't even touched yet... it's just so pristine I don't wanna use it :P)










(Jupiter Brown with NYX round lipgloss in Real Nude and Whipped layered over it)

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