NYX Round Lipstick Review, Photo, Swatches and FOTD

I recently ordered some lip stuff on the NYX website and a couple of days ago I finally got my goodies!! This first review is for the two Round Lipstick I purchased, Power and Tea Rose.

L-R: Tea Rose, Power

Tea Rose is a gorgeous rosy pink with a touch of coral.Power is a cool-toned pale pink with strong purple undertones.
They are both very pigmented, opaque and creamy, in fact they are so creamy that applying straight from the tube will likely result in a hot bleedy mess. I find that their beauty is maximized when using a lip brush and working the colour in layers. Also, I think that with this kind of formula using a lipliner as a base is a must. NYX make some excellent inexpensive lip liners that I will review soon. They both have a creamy, luminous finish and feel very hydrating.

Swatches on the inside of my arm: 

L-R: Power, Tea Rose

The packaging is very simple but it scores a big plus for me since the actual colour of the lipstick is reproduced on the bottom of the tube, which makes finding them extremely easy!
The only thing I really dislike about them is their smell! I'm not easily bothered by smells in cosmetics, but these have a very strong fragrance that is still detectable half an hour after the application. I'm no good at describing fragrances, but this one I really do not like. I was really put off by this one detail because it makes wearing these lipsticks definitely less pleasant than I expected.
As for the duration, I wouldn't classify them as "long wearing" but they definitely last 3 to 4 hours without budging. I would use a lip primer underneath for best results though! My MAC Prep+Prime Lip extends their wear and brightness of a good hour/hour and a half.
They are really good value for your money, since they cost £4.95 on the NYX UK website, though you can easily get them for less on Lovemakeup or Cocktailcosmetics.
 RECAP! PROs:- beautiful shades (and many more in the whole range)
- pigmented and creamy- moisturizing feel - inexpensive- practical packaging
CONs:- the smell! (although this really depends on you)- tendency to bleed

To finish off this post, here's me wearing Power! 

Product breakdown
FACE
MUFE HD Foundation 117 + MAC Face&Body C3
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC15
MAC Blush in Dame
Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder

EYES
MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot
Estee Lauder Double Wear eyeliner in Onyx
NYX Black e/s (smudged on top of eyeliner)
Inglot e/s DS501 (lid), Matte348 (crease, lower lashline), Pearl453 (browbone&tearduct)
Max Factor 2000 Calories Mascara

LIPS
NYX Slim Lip Liner in Dolly Pink
NYX Round l/s in Power

Colourful summer FOTD with Inglot eyeshadows!

I spent a couple of days at the seaside and got a little bit tanned (which for me means getting like NC20). So today I felt like playing with bright beachy colours!! 

Products

FACE
MAC Face&Body N1+C3
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC15
Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder
Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer
MAC Blush in Melba

EYES
MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack (upper waterline)
Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Rockstar (lower waterline)
Inglot e/s AMCshine31 (lid), matte392 (crease and above), matte371 (liner)
Stila Luster e/s (cut crease, lower lashline)
Stars Makeup Haven e/s in Creme d'Nude (blending, transition) and The White Shadow (highlight)
Max Factor 2000 Calories Mascara

LIPS
MAC Lustering l/s

Stars Makeup Haven eyeshadow Review, Photo, Swatches and EOTD!

I've had these eyeshadows for a couple of months now and I can honestly say that they're GREAT! I reach for them as often as my MAC shadows. I purchased them along with a few other things on love-makeup.co.uk. They are £4 each, so I figured I might as well trust the hype and buy a fair amount! I'm so glad I did!

Karlasugar has a very comprehensive post about these, including high-quality swatches. Check her review here.

They are sold in pan form, so I organized them in a MAC palette:

Onto the swatches (and my attempt at shade description):

Left to right:
- Over the Moon: dirty yellow gold (shimmery)
- Mimosa: pale yellow gold (shimmery)
- Pink Opal: white/pink duochrome (frosty)
- Creme d'Nude: flesh colour (which is why you probably can't see that on my arm... but it makes for a great transition colour on me, or a natural highlight on dark skintones. I use this one a lot) (matte)
- The White Shadow: plain white, MAC Gesso dupe (matte)

Left to right:
- Calypso: muted grey with strong blue undertones (very shimmery)
- 1492: electric blue with blue shimmer (shimmery)
- Evergreen: medium bluish-green (matte)
- Fresh: emerald green with light green/gold shimmer (shimmery)
- Fireflies: neon yellow (matte)

Left to right:
- Primal: dark brown with a metallic cool sheen (shimmery)
- Charade: chocolate brown (matte)
- Showstopper: medium reddish brown with purple undertones (matte)
- Breathless: taupe with purple undertones (shimmery)
- Chic: purple with subtle silver shimmer (shimmery)

PROs:
- great pigmentation
- soft, buttery, long-lasting eyeshadows
- wide range of colours, interesting shades
- shades have names (did you hear that, Inglot?)
- great value for money

CONs:
- can only buy online and therefore cannot see shades in person
- some shades have a little fallout (but I just tap the excess off my brush or foil them)

Finally, this is an eye look I realized a few days ago with one of the craziest shades I got, Fireflies:

Apparently, some yellows can work on fair skintones too!

Have you tried SMH eyeshadows yet? How do you feel about them? Say it in the comments!

STILA Backstage Palette: Review, Photo, Swatches

This review is for something I've had and played with for a few months already.

I got this tiny palette for a really good deal on eBay after reading the rave about it. I must say this product totally blew me away!

What you get is a tiny cardboard package that looks kind of like an organizer. It is very compact and I guess it would be ideal to just toss it in a pocket bag. It has a magnet that keeps it closed and no mirror inside, just an inspirational quote by a well-known make-up artist. You get six full-sized eyeshadows totalling 11 grams, which is not a bad amount for the money. 

Now, down to the product itself. The eyeshadows have amazing pigmentation and there’s a lovely balance between shimmery and satiny finishes (no matte shades though). What really gives full score for me however, is the colours that Stila decided to put inside this palette.

My attempt at describing the shades, left to right, top to bottom:

-       Chiffon: soft light peachy pink (shimmery)

-       Flamingo: medium fuchsia (satiny)

-       Pacific: medium blue (satiny)

-       Luster: golden mauvy brown (satiny)

-       Poetic: dusty pinkish taupe (shimmery)

-       Coal: deep teal (shimmery)

I really think that these colours are absolutely great all together in a palette. The ones on the bottom row are especially unique and in all likelihood my favourites. They are all very wearable in a variety of combinations.

This palette has the perfect balance between brights and neutrals, warm and cool colours, so I can see this working for either daytime and nighttime looks and on a variety of complexions. There is no complimentary accessory inside, no mirror or brush whatsoever, but what really counts is that this palette is truly adorable! Swatches below:

L-R: Chiffon, Flaming, Pacific, Luster, Poetic, Coal

Tried and tested, they do not crease (I do wear an eyeshadow primer though) and fallout is not a big deal either.

Have you tried this Stila palette yet? Are you loving it or leaving it? Say it in the comments!

Dark lady FOTD

I had SO much fun doing this FOTD (which I am not wearing to go out btw) but I'm not quite sure how it turned out.. I kept it minimal on the eyes and only applied highlighter on my cheekbones.

I visited my nearest Inglot store yesterday so I wanted to play with this vampy lip paint I bought.

Sorry if I look silly in the pics but I just couldn't get myself to smile with this m/u!! =)

Products

FACE
OCC Skin Primer
MUFE HD Foundation 117
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC15
Clinique Redness Solutions Pressed Powder
Inglot e/s 453 (pearly white) (cheekbone highlight)

EYES
MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot
Inglot e/s 390matte (crease), 341matte (lid), 453pearl (browbone)
Estee Lauder Double Wear pencil liner in Onyx (upper waterline)
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara
Ardell Lashes 101Demi

LIPS
Diego dalla Palma Eye Pencil 09 (dark purple-plum)
Inglot AMC Lip Paint n.69 (looks almost black IRL)

FOTD: neutral eyes + red lips!

I LOVE MAC Lady Danger. It's so bright, warm, and RED! 

  Product breakdown 
FACE
OCC Skin Primer
MUFE HD Foundation 117
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC15
NYX Powder Blushes in Taupe (contour), Raisin (cheeks)
Clinique Redness Solutions Pressed Powder

EYES
MAC Soft Ochre PP
MAC e/s Blanc type (entire eye area), Kid (transition-blending)
Stars Makeup Haven e/s in Chocolate (crease)
UD Virgin (highlight)
NYX black/brown e/s (from the Caribbean I dream of st. John palette) (liner)
Estee Lauder Double Wear pencil liner in Onyx (waterline)
Clinique High Impact Mascara
Ardell Accent Lashes 311

LIPS
MAC l/s in Lady Danger

FOTD: cool brights - blue&pink

Ladies&gents!
Today I wanted to play with some cool-toned brights working by colour blocks. I have this amazing metallic electric blue eyeshadow (see products below) which feels a bit intimidating given my eye colour and skintone... I can never get true blue to work with my complexion. I figured I might try using it as an eyeliner! What do you think?
I think it's a pretty colour but it makes my eyes look greyish/greenish :/

Product breakdown 
FACE
MUFE HD Foundation 117
Clinique line smoothing concealer 03
Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pale pink
NYX powder blush in Taupe (contour)
Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder

EYES
MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre
MAC e/s Kid (crease), Blanc Type (browbone)
Estee Lauder Double Wear pencil liner in Onyx (waterline)
Bobbi Brown Gel liner in Denim Ink
Stars Makeup Haven e/s in 1492 (the blue colour)
Clinique High Impact mascara

LIPS
NYX Slim Lip Liner in Rose
MAC lipstick in Speed Dial

FOTD: bronzey eyes with Urban Decay Naked Palette

Hey! Today I did a basic bronzey eye with Urban Decay Smog and Darkhorse eyeshadows. I think this was the first time I've ever used Smog, and I've had the palette for a few months, how crazy is that.

I used MAC Margin as a blush, which you can see in pic3. I can never stress enough how much I love this blush, it's a frosty bronzey colour with a reddish tone to it, and it works amazingly on fair complexions as well (I'm NC15). It gives an instant sunkissed glow and doubles as a highlighter because of the frostiness in it. Check it out. 

 Product breakdown 
FACE
OCC skin primer
MUFE HD foundation 117
Clinique line smoothing concealer 03-moderately fair
EL Bronze Goddess soft matte bronzer
MAC Margin

EYES
TFSI
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt (I wanted to use Iced Mocha but ended up with this in my hands, oh well)
UD Smog (lid), Darkhorse (crease, outer corner, lower lashine)
MAC e/s Blanc Type (highlight)
Stars Makeup Haven e/s Creme d'Nude (transition)
MAC clear brow set
The Makeup Store pencil liner in Taupe (to fill in beauty mark)
EL Double wear eye pencil in Onyx
EL Sumptuous Extreme Mascara
Clinique High impact mascara

LIPS
MAC lipliner in Subculture
OCC lip tar in Hush

hope you enjoy it!! xx

May Photoshoot #6: Amanda

PRODUCT BREAKDOWN

FACE
OCC Skin Primer
MAC Face&Body foundation in C3
Ben Nye Total Cover-All Wheel Sk-100
KIKO Natural Concealer n. 03 mixed with MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC15
NYX Powder Blush in Taupe
MAC Blush in Melba
Sue Moxley Shimmerbrick in Light
Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder

EYES
MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre
Make Up For Ever Diamond e/s 311
KIKO e/s 121
KIKO Eyeshadow Stick n. 20
NYX black e/s
MAC e/s Scene, Copperplate, Blanc Type
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
Avon Supershock Gel Liner in black
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme mascara
Alcone Paramount lashes n.335

LIPS
NYX Slim Lip Liner in Mauve
NYX lip palette mauve purple lipstick

Photographer: Luca Cadamuro

FOTD: winged liner + bright lips!

This is possibly one of my favourite make-ups ever: a thick and defined winged liner + bright lipstick. It doesn't really need any explanation!!

Products

FACE
OCC Skin Primer MUFE HD Foundation 117
MAC Pro Longwear concealer NC15
Clinique Redness Solutions pressed powder
NYX Powder Blush in Taupe (contour)
MUFE HD Cream Blush in Nip Slip

EYES
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Stars Makeup Haven e/s in Creme d'Nude (lid), Showstopper (crease)
UD Sin (browbone)
NYX Black e/s
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
Clinique High Impact Mascara
MAC Eye Brows in Fling (brows)
Ardell accent false lashes 311

LIPS
Rimmel Moisture Renew l/s in 610 Spring Bouquet

NARS Habanera: EOTD, Review, Photo, Swatches

NARS Habanera e/s duo is amazing! Maybe a tiny little bit too glittery/shimmery for my liking, I have to take extra care when applying to avoid fallout. But it brings out ANY eye colour, believe me, not just blue eyes.  It comes in a nice sleek black packaging (NARS signature) with a mirror. Overall, the packaging is great, very sturdy and practical. Inside you have two shimmery eyeshadows: a light blue/mint with a silvery sheen and a deep aubergine colour. The latter is also rather glittery, as i mentioned.  

  They are super pigmented, soft and buttery and I would say the best feature of this duo is the blendability. They literally melt into each other with just a few brush swipes.  

  The price is in line with NARS products, therefore expensive. I purchased it at Selfridges for £23.50 for a self-treat! I'd love to try more of this duos but I don't see that happening in the near future since NARS is not available in Italy at the moment, and having it shipped would come out quite expensive.  This is my preferred way of wearing Habanera (by the way, don't you just love the name?)   

Product breakdown
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
NARS e/s duo in Habanera
MAC e/s Blanc Type (browbone)
Clinique High Impact Mascara
Avon Supershock gel liner
MAC Brows in Fling (brows)
Ardell lashes 110

EOTD: smokey taupe and falsies

I'm sure you all know what a great eyeshadow MAC Satin Taupe is. I like it in the crease with a lighter colour on the lid, but I LOVE it all over the lid for a subtle daytime smokey eye. 

Also, I'm all over these falsies for everyday make-up. They're soft but noticeable!
Please excuse the gross red spot under my brow, I need to keep in mind NOT to pluck before doing my MU. 

 Product breakdownToo Faced Shadow InsuranceMAC e/s Satin Taupe (lid)
Urban Decay e/s Buck (crease)
Stars Makeup Haven e/s in The White Shadow (browbone)
Estee Lauder Double Wear Liner in Onyx (waterline)
Clinique High Impact mascara
Ardell False Lashes 110

May Photoshoot #5: 70s Erica

Model: Erica

Product breakdown:

FACE
OCC Skin Primer
MAC Face and Body Foundation in C3+C5
Ben Nye Total Cover-All Wheel (SK-100)
Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder
NYX Powder Blush in Taupe
MAC Cream Colour Base in Luna
MAC Blushbaby Blush

EYES
Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Denim Ink
KIKO e/s 86Avon Supershock Gel Liner
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
MAC e/s in Scene, Blanc Type
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara
Ardell Fashion Lashes 120 Demi

LIPS:
ELF Lipstick in Ripe Rose

Photographer: Luca Cadamuro 

June RAVE: OCC Lip Tars Review, Photos, Swatches

L-r: Strumpet, Hush, Harlot

 I had been reading about these Lip Tars for months until I finally caved in and purchased some on Love-makeup.co.uk. I've had these for a month or so and I can honestly say they're one of the best make-up products I have ever encountered!! They definitely deserve the rave.

These Lip Tars are popular among make-up artist, because basically they are lipsticks in liquid form, which means that a) you can mix colours to get unique custom-made shades b) they have the ease of application of a lipgloss but the finish of a lipstick.

Picture taken in natural light w/out flash

When you squeeze the product out of the tube it comes out like a very thick lipgloss and it is indeed very easy to apply and spread on your lips. You need to be EXTREMELY careful though, because these are super concentrated in pigment, so you only need the teeniest tiniest drop to get full opacity. A tube will last forever! Do not even think about applying straight out of the tube!! It would result in a hot smeared mess. These need a lip brush and possibly, lipliner for best results.

So after a few seconds the Lip Tars dry out and assume a beautiful velvety finish on your lips. They contain mainly natural ingredients (they're vegan) including some moisturizing oils, so the feel is extremely comfortable. They last for hours but they are not transfer-proof. Actually, they are likely to stain your skin (especially the brightest colours) so be careful when handling these. I swatched the Lip Tars on my arm and then vigorously rubbed TWO make-up remover wipes on it and here's the result:

So, I am a sucker at bright&bold lipcolour and Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics totally made me happy with these since they released 33 beautiful shades including some of the brightest I have ever seen (Anime).  
- Harlot is a stunning coral red, incredibly bright, think MAC Lady Danger but with a coral base.
- Strumpet is a complex shade, not easy to describe. I didn't own anything like this! It is "seedless grape red" on OCC official website, it definitely has lots of red and purple and plum in it, and although it is quite a deep colour I find it incredibly flattering on my pale skin as well!  
- Hush is the only nude colour I picked, it is a pastel pink with hints of beige and peach in it. It almost nudes out my lips and it's the least moisturizing of the bunch.

Now onto the lip swatches: please excuse the messiness, I couldn't be bothered to pick up my lip brush, so I used my fingers to apply (I am aware it's bleeding in the pics):

Hush

Harlot

Strumpet

I'm in LOVE with these and I'm totally purchasing more. The price is also very reasonable IMO, around £8.50 on UK websites although buying in the US would be cheaper.

I've also been testing OCC Skin Primer and I will post a review soon, but let me just say it's another amazing product from this brand.