NYX Slim Lip Pencil Review

Sorry it’s been awhile since I posted! I have been super busy getting ready for college graduation!

I picked up two of these lip pencils at my neighborhood Ulta. I got the shades Sand Pink and Natural. Natural is a very neutral, plum-brown color and Sand Pink is a bright, blueish pink.

I like Natural because it is close to my natural lip color so this can be used for a lot of different lipsticks and glosses. Sand Pink I like to pair with my MAC Sheen Supreme lipstick in Ultra Darling. Ultra Darling is a more yellow-based pink, but these work well together.  These lip pencils glide on smooth and creamy, and kept my lipstick from bleeding and fading all day.

If you are looking for an inexpensive lip pencil with lots of color options, these are a really good choice. These are my go to lip pencils and I love them! I will definitely purchase these again in the future.

Price: $3.50 (Ulta)

Top- Natural / Bottom- Sand Pink

Left- Natural / Right- Sand Pink

Revlon Scents of Summer Grape Icy Review

This polish is a bright purple creme with a slight shimmer. When it dries, it is supposed to have a grape scent.

This polish was fairly thin and  3  coats are needed to reach opacity (I only did 2 coats for the photo). When it dries, it is supposed to have a scent and I found the scent to be rather generic. It smelled similar to other cheap scented nail polishes I  used when I was a teenager. It didn’t even smell like grape which was a disappointment. However, the color of this polish is amazing!

One drawback to this polish is that it seems to like to chip and wear off the tips, even with a top coat (I used Seche Vite Fast-Drying Top Coat).

Overall, I love the color of this polish but the longevity and scent didn’t meet my expectations for the price.

Price: $6.50 (Walgreens)

Revlon Grape Icy Swatch

Revlon Grape Icy (Left)

OPI Black Shatter Review

This polish is part of the Katy Perry Collection from OPI. This polish is a top coat that dries with cracks in the polish. It looks like the polish was “shattered”.

This top coat was easy to use. This polish dries fast so you have to be quick. Just be sure to use a thick coat or the shatter effect isn’t as good. It dries matte but I added a top coat to make it shiny.  Also putting a bright or neon shade underneath this top coat looks really cool! I did mine with Revlon Grape Icy underneath.

Overall, this is a really fun top coat to play with and I would definitely purchase this again. It’s also cool to watch this dry, and being able to see the cracks forming.

Price: $8.50 (Ulta Stores)

OPI Black Shatter

OPI Black Shatter over Revlon Grape Icy

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creme in Antwerp and Stockholm Review

I got two NYX Soft Matte Lip Cremes in Antwerp and Stockholm.  Antwerp is a hot, peachy-pink color and Stockholm is a pinky-nude color.

Both of these lip cremes have a matte finish and are extremely light-feeling on the lips. I got about 4 hours wear before I had to touch these up. These have a sweet scent, like vanilla frosting. The only drawback to these is that if you have any sort of flaking or texture imperfections on your lips, these lippies will show it. Make sure your lips are exfoliated and smooth before applying these.

Overall, I love the color options and staying power of these lip cremes. The matte finish is also a nice deviation from most lip products out there. NYX, I think I’m in love!

Price: $5.99 (www.ulta.com)

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creme in Stockholm(left) and Antwerp(right)

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creme in Stockholm(top) and Antwerp(bottom)

Tarte ULTAmate Must-Haves Value Set Review

This set is exclusively available at Ulta and Ulta.com. This set includes:

• Vitamin-Infused Lipgloss (there is no shade name or number on the bottle)
• Natural Cheek Tint in True Love
• Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara (Full-sized)
• Smooth Operator Clay Finishing Powder
• EmphasEYES Amazonian Clay Water Proof Liner in Bronze(Full-sized)
• EmphasEYES Amazonian Clay Liner Brush
• Travel Makeup Bag

The lipgloss in this kit is a non-shimmery hot pink. I looked online but I could not find a shade name or number for this gloss. I really liked this gloss and wanted to buy a full-size but it seems this shade is unavailable outside this set. I really liked this gloss because it wasn’t sticky, had a pleasant scent, and lasts around 3 to 4 hours on my lips. I also felt that this gloss was moisturizing and not drying at all.

The cheek tint is a hot pink tint for cheeks. It looks really dark in the tube but it goes on sheer. I had a few issues with the application of this stain, as it shifted and moved the placement of my foundation when I swiped the stick directly on my cheeks. The next day I tried swirling my finger in it and dabbing it on my cheeks and this still moved my foundation around. I am wearing Cargo Oil-Free Foundation for reference. Despite the application woes, it really liked the look this stain gave to my cheeks. I am very fair skinned and the color of this stain works well with my complexion. This lasted about 4 hours on my cheeks before touch-ups.

I have already reviewed the mascara in this set. If you would like to see my review, go to the following link: Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara

The finishing powder just seems like any fine-milled finishing powder I have used. It says it’s supposed to shrink pores after several weeks, but only time will tell. Over the past week I have seen no difference in my pore size.

The liner and brush were good products. They didn’t really excite me, but the liner has excellent staying power and pigmented color.

Overall, I loved this kit and would definitely purchase it again for the variety of products and value.

Price: $35.00 (www.ulta.com)

Tarte ULTAmate Must-Haves Value Set

EmphasEYES Amazonian Clay Water Proof Liner/Vitamin-Infused Lipgloss/Cheek Stain in True Love (w/o flash)

Revlon Super Lustrous Creme Lipstick in Siren Review

Orange lips are in for Spring and I had to get on the bandwagon! This lipstick is a semi-opaque, matte orange. It applied smoothly and effortlessly. I was a little disappointed with the wear (I got 3 hours w/lip liner) and it faded unevenly. This lipstick was also a bit drying. One pro of this lipstick is that did not have much of a scent.

Overall, I don’t really care for this lipstick. I like the color of this lipstick, and that’s where my love for this lipstick ends.

Price: $7.99 (www.walgreens.com)

Revlon Super Lustrous Creme Lipstick in Siren

Swatch of Revlon Super Lustrous Creme Lipstick in Siren (w/o flash)

Essie Nail Color in Ballet Slippers Review

This nail color is a very delicate, light pink. The consistency was a bit thin and I had a little trouble applying the color and making it look even; but I quickly adapted to the light touch I needed to use with this polish.

Overall, this color is a beautiful nude pink for everyday wear. I actually wore this to an interview yesterday and I love how subtle it is.

Price: $8 (www.walgreens.com)

Essie Nail Color in Ballet Slippers

Wet N’ Wild Color Icon Eye Shadow in ‘I’m Getting Sunburned’ Review

The colors in this palette were really bold and bright, so I had to check it out. This palette has three colors: a frosty purple-pink, a black with red shimmer, and a shimmery amber color (similar to MAC Amber Lights shadow).

The pigmentation on these shadows was extremely good for a low-end drugstore eyeshadow. The colors were bright and beautiful, and did not lack a punch. As for texture, these shadows are very soft and silky. Since these were so soft, I had issues blending and placing the darkest shadow. The fallout on the darkest shade was disappointing, but the other shades did not fall out. Application was easy and the color lasted 6 hours with Too Faced Shadow Insurance underneath. I was unable to see any fading after this 6 hour trial as well.

For a drugstore eyeshadow, these surpassed my expectations! The pigmentation and staying power was more comparable to low end department store brands, rather than a drugstore brand. I have tried so many drugstore eye-shadows that came off in 2 hours, creased, and had bad color payoff. With these shadows, that is not the case! I feel safe to say that these are some of the best drugstore eye shadows you can get for your money and would highly recommend the Color Icon line of shadows.

Price: $2.99 (www.walgreens.com)

Wet N' Wild Color Icon Shadow in 'I'm Getting Sunburned'

Wet N' Wild Color Icon Shadow in 'I'm Getting Sunburned' swatch with flash

Wet N' Wild Color Icon Shadow in 'I'm Getting Sunburned' swatch with no flash

DeVine Lip Shimmers Review

Has anyone else noticed the increasing amount of lip products out there with resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant made from wine? Well I have! I first noticed that Bite Beauty, a new cosmetics line, is using this antioxidant in their lip products. I would love to come home with a new Bite Lip Rouge or Vitamin Gel, but my wallet is light these days. How will I try out this new growing trend in lip products? I know how…stop by my friendly-neighborhood Walgreen’s and pick up the DeVine Lip Shimmers Duo!

This duo comes with two colors: Merlot (a deep red) and Rose (a pale, shimmery pink). I am wearing Merlot now, and the texture is very lightweight and moisturizing like a balm with a hint of color. The smell is not super strong and has a faint resemblance of cherry candy. The featured ingredients are: Grape Seed Oil, resveratrol, and red wine antioxidants. On top of that, its 100% natural and cruelty free!

So far, I am liking these lippies and will let you know how they wear this week!

Price: $3.99 (www.walgreens.com)

DeVine Lip Shimmers

Tarte Achiote Cheek Tint Review

I ordered the Tarte Achiote Cheek Tint and Lip Luster Duo from QVC. I LOVE the cheek tint in this set! The color is such a universally flattering shade. I think this shade would look good on just about anyone!

I also have to give Tarte bonus points for the super cute packaging on this! The texture is that of a creamy gel. This formula is easy to blend and is easy to build the color up. On the skin, it has a slight waxy feel, but this gives you a nice glow that powder blushes can’t. This cheek tint usually lasts me 3 hours but if I layer blush on top I can double that. Since this product is so easy to use, touch-ups are no problem. I have been using my fingers to apply this and have had no issues. I also have to give kudos on the scent; its a faint, fruity scent.

My final verdict, this cheek tint has become a staple in my beauty arsenal. This color is so natural looking and it goes with any look I’m going with. I really can’t say enough good things about this cheek tint and I think I might weep a tear of sadness when mine finally runs out.

Price: $35 (www.qvc.com)

Tarte Achiote Cheek Tint

Swatch of Tarte Achiote Cheek Tint