April Top 10

Hello again readers!

I took a break from my blog, to focus on school. This time next week, I will be officially done! Can you believe it? I started this blog in my first year of college, and here we are; at the end. I'm both excited, and relieved to be so close, and it's like a breath of fresh air. 

This past month I've been really focusing on fast and easy makeup looks, because I'd rather catch another 20 minutes of sleep, than get up to put on a full-face of carefully applied makeup. This way I can look put together, but only take 5 minutes to get my routine together.

April Top 10

Olay Fresh BB Cream - Fair to Light:

I have been reaching for this a lot this past month. I don't like it on it's own, I like a powder foundation on top, but it gives a nice, moisturized base for the rest of my makeup.

Covergirl Water-resistant Clump Crusher - Blackest Black:

I came back to this mascara, because I found that I missed it! I've been really loving how well it has been holding up on my lashes, and how nice my lashes have been looking. I'm going to have to keep a tube of this on hand at all times in the future.

Bath and Body Works Endless Weekend Body Cream:

I've been using this up, and I've been really enjoying it so far. I like it a lot better than the previous lotions I've used from them. I've had dry hands lately, and it's helped them from getting cracked and uncomfortable.

Maybelline Color Tattoo - Bad to the Bronze:

I didn't used to like this one, but lately I can't stop using it. It's perfect for a great look, without having to use another shadow with it. Fast and easy.

Real Techniques Contour Brush:

I wasn't sure about this, but oh my god, this is so appreciated to have in my collection. It applies product beautifully, and blends it out almost immediately. It has cut my contour routine in half, and I have been really drawn to using this brush.

ELF Contouring Blush and Bronzer Cream:

With the BB cream, I have been putting on blush and bronzer before setting it with powder. I thought it gave me a very lively appearance, without too much effort.

NYX Taupe Blush:

I keep adding this to my favorites, but I can't help it! I'm really digging that I look like I have cheekbones, but I've also been using this to add color to the crease of my eyelids. It makes my eyes look like I put effort into it, but it only takes about ten seconds.

Rimmel London Nude Scandal Eyes Eyeliner:

Since I've been so stressed with school, the area around my eyes has suffered, and concealer alone hasn't been cutting it. I've been putting this on my waterline and getting a more awake look to my eyes, which is appreciated. It doesn't last all day, but it gets me through school.

Maybelline Define-A-Brow - Dark Blonde:

I don't always have the time to apply my brows with a gel and then powder, so I prefer to just go in really quickly and using this pencil to get descent brows with minimal effort.

Wet n Wild Coverall Powder Foundation - Light:

I have been using the heck out of this foundation. I've been using it set my bb cream, to use as eyeshadow, to set my under-eye concealer, and then to correct when I've gone a little heavy-handed with a blusher or bronzer. I've been working this powder to the "bone" (literally, the pan is starting to really show up through the gape).

Thanks for reading!

Fyrinnae Haul

Hello again readers!

I couldn't resist, and ordered from Fyrinnae again! I really love their quick service, and the quality of their products.

The products came wrapped inside this gorgeous gold holo paper. They really have flashy presentation, once you remove the cardboard holding it altogether.

This time around, I ordered samples of: a setting powder, a blusher, three lip lustres, and pixie epoxy. There was also a free sample of an eyeshadow, which I was really giddy about because it's a shade I know I'll enjoy.

Asterisks depict products I'll be buying the full size of.

Before jumping in, I wanted to point out the size of the samples of the lip lustres and the pixie epoxy. I wasn't really aware of how small the samples of these would be, until I got them. For comparison between the samples, and the full size, visit Maliberry Makeup to see. 

I'm a little sad, but what can you do. They're the perfect sizes for sampling the products, and that's the point of them. It's definitely a better value to invest in the full-size, but with these smaller sizes, it's easier to use up a product that you won't be too fond of.

Hollywood Sorcery is one of their finishing powders. It's supposed to give a soft glow to the face. Think of it like a beauty powder. I wasn't sure how I'd like it, because it's a little dark, and definitely not translucent. I was really impressed. It gives the skin a very healthy look, and doesn't put too much of a tint to the skin.

Nordic Angel* is a peachy-pink blusher with gold sparkle. The sparkle in the product isn't too prominent, and blending it out, they become very subtle unless you're looking for it. The first time I use it, I was surprised on how well it suited my face, for being so warm, and even more surprised with how healthy it made my cheeks look. I really fell in love with it, and it blends in (with a brush, not so much my fingers) really well for a healthy glow.

Sacred is a metallic taupe. I'm a sucker for taupe shadows, and I knew the moment I laid my eyes on this shade that I would love it. It's very beautiful, whether I diffuse it or really pack it on, and it's a shade that I am so happy to have gotten a sample of.

I've been looking forward to trying this product, and last time I talked myself out of it. This time, there was nothing to stop me, so I invested.

The Pixie Epoxy (as well as the lip lustres) come in a little tube, with a silver cap and a doe-foot applicator. I am fond of this sort of applicator, because it's incredibly easy to get product exactly where you want it.

For swatches, it's pronominal. It takes hold of pigments, and makes them look really intense! I was really impressed. It's really made more for packing on pigment, not so much for blending out shadows.

I like to put an eyeshadow primer on the lid, add in my crease/blending shade, and THEN use this product on the lid and pack on a lot of pigment. It really makes pigments look amazing. 

I bought three Lip Lustre samples. I have a long list of Lip Lustres that I want to add to my collection, so I couldn't resist trying these three.

I was REALLY impressed with these. The pigmentation is great, the scent isn't overwhelming by any means, almost sweet, and they apply beautifully. If you get these during the winter, you might need to hold them in your armpit or in your cleavage to warm them up again so they apply better, because they might get a bit more solid than you'd prefer, and can go on a little... chunky, I suppose. Warming them up solves this problem.

They are really opaque, and the wear time was really nice. I got a couple hours of perfect wear, before I noticed the inner part of my lips looking less than perfect, and would have to touch them up again.

Pygmy Hippo*:

A cool rose pink, with a bit of violet. It's a little darker than a true nude, but it is still a pretty natural looking lip. Not too over the top. I really enjoyed wearing this, and I'll be sad when my sample runs out.

Dragon's Blood:

Darkened maroon red. I really thought that this, and Winter Romance should have switched names. This has more of a cool red, but the other has the better appearance of 'blood'. I have colors like this so I won't be buying the bigger size.

Winter Romance*:

A deep warm red. This has a bit of, dare I say a brown to it, and this looks far more like blood than Dragon's Blood does. It looks amazing on the lips, and really compliments my skintone surprisingly well.

Thanks for reading!

New NYX Lip Products -

Hello again readers!

This year is full of new makeup launches from a variety of brands! It's so much that it's a little hard to keep track of everything. NYX has been nailing it with some of their new products, and I managed to get my hands on some of the products that I've been looking forward to for a while now, ever since I started seeing swatches of these products pop up on their Instagram.

High Voltage Lipsticks

I was really excited when the swatches for these lipsticks started popping up on social media. It's really easy to be swept up in everything, and start pining over certain colors. I bought Stone, Flutter Kiss, and Twisted so far. I started with Flutter Kiss, and Twisted, and I picked up Stone on a trip to Ulta.

I'm really disappointed in the packaging for these. The cap is clear, which is great to see what the colors are inside, but they get SO dirty so easily. The same reason why I don't like the caps for the Wet n Wild Megalast Matte Lipsticks.

The formula is nice, really smooth and nicely pigmented. The scent is sweet, and I am so happy about that. The product is so smooth and creamy, but then it smears all over the place. I suggest a lip liner, because they like to feather after a while.

I get about two hours of good coverage, and then I feel like I need to touch them up. Especially on the inside of my lips, they start wearing off, so I put on another layer of lipstick to make it look fresh.

They're available for $6!

 Stone: 
Beige-Taupe Neutral. I thought I would never buy this, but swatching it on my skin I fell in love. It pulls a little grey on the lips, because of the taupe.

Flutter Kiss:

Neutral Pink. It has a bit of brown in it, and it just looks so good. This is a shade that would look flattering on so many people.

Twisted:

A violet with a blue undertone. This one is the only one out of the ones that I own, that leaves behind a stain. The stain it leaves behind is a bright fuchsia, that I'm not fond of.

Intense Butter Gloss

When I saw the swatches, these were the only two that I wanted. I wasn't blown away like the High Voltage lipstick swatches, I decided on these two; Tres Leches, and Berry Strudel. Unfortunately, after a trip to Ulta, there is a couple other ones that I want now, and I was doing so good!

These don't have a scent like the Butter Glosses do, they have a scent that's similar to the Matte Lip Creams. It's a bit like cake, but a bit like chemicals.

They are SO PIGMENTED. Intensely pigmented. One swipe, and that's all she wrote. They are packed with pigment, and it's easy to cover up the lips easily.

They're a little sticky, like tacky, and they're really thick on the lips. The tackiness is something that ensures that they last long, but I'm not too fond of it. I'm lucky I have short hair, but I know if I had longer hair my hair would get stuck in my lipgloss all of the time.

They're available for $6!

Tres Leches:

A nude pink lipgloss. I loved this instantly, and it looks really good on my skin tone.

Berry Strudel:

Is a gloss version  of the Twisted High Voltage Lipstick. A blue-toned violet. 

I have a type, I really enjoy nudes and violets (whether violets agree with me or not is not for debate) and I ended up picking the same colors in both finishes because they are what I enjoy. I don't feel bad at all, but this is a great comparison on the finishes, and it can help you decide if you're still on the fence on which you would prefer to purchase.

 Thanks for reading!

March Top 10

Hello again readers!

March has gone by really slow at first, but then it sort of flew by. In one month from today, I'll be done with university! I can't believe it! It's been a long time coming, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, I feel so nervous, but also refreshed at the same time.

March Top 10

Garnier Fructis Volume Extend Dry Shampoo:

What a mouthful. I've been reaching for this dry shampoo a lot lately, because my hair has been getting a little extra oily, and it needs a pick-me-up. This one is really nice, the scent is great, and it takes care of the oil. Although, I feel like I'd need to reapply this throughout the day.

Garnier Moisture Renew Gel Moisturizer:

2014-2015 has been a bit of a wake-up call, with gel moisturizers. I didn't think they'd do much, but I have noticed a change in my skin texture since I've been using them. I use this one at night, since it is a more hydrating moisturizer than my Clean and Clear one. The only downside is that it comes in a pot, so it's not as hygienic, and I need a spatula to get the product out.

Milani Baked Blush - Luminoso:

I bought into the hype of this blusher, and I really dig it. It's a nice color, and has a beautiful sheen, so it's a blush and a highlighter in one step. Makes my skin look really healthy.

ELF Eyebrow Kit - Light:

I have waxed poetic about this enough. I love it, let's carry on.

ELF Makeup Remover Pen: 

This is my second pen, and I don't ever want to live without it. It's more precise than a q-tip, and I use it all of the time for touch ups. My savior.

Maybelline Define-A-Brow - Dark Blonde:

A new addition to my collection, and so far I've been really enjoying it. It's very thin, and fills in brows quickly and efficiently. Super quick, and super easy.

Fyrinnae Blush - Nordic Angel:

Another blush that really hit the mark, and gives my face a very healthy look. It's a bit of a hassle, because I have to tap a bit out of the container, since there's no sifter, but it's so worth it.

Darling Girl Cosmetics Blush - Koalification:

Instant favorite. It's a little warmer than Greyicious Lilac, but at the same time I really love how it carves out the hollows of my cheeks. Beautiful product.

NYX Round Lipstick Talia:

I haven't been reaching for lipsticks too much, so if I wore any at all, I wore this one. It's a darker pink, and it wears so easily I don't have to worry about it.

Real Techniques Makeup Sponge:

I have started using this sponge again after a long hiatus, and I'm really happy with it. I still prefer brushes, but this just blends out foundation so nicely. It also blends out thick concealers like a dream.

Thanks for reading!