Favorite Lip Products From 2014

Hmm, I thought I was gonna have more than these as lip favorites but I was only able to narrow it down to just 11 products.


NYX Wicked Lippie Risque and Trickery.

I love Risque because it's green, metallic, bold, and affordable.

I love Trickery because it's such a unique lip color. It's a dirty olive green with a hint of gold sheen.

NYX Simply Vamp Lip Cream Enamored

I love Enamored because it's dark, vampy, and mysterious. That subtle sheen just makes it so much more interesting.

Sephora Luster Matte Long-Wear Lip Color Cranberry Luster

Cranberry Luster has such a fantastic formula. Super pigmented and hydrating.

OCC Lip Tar Technopagan

Technopagan is out of this world. When I saw the swatches I knew I had to buy it. I didn't care how much it cost.

Make Up Forever Rouge Artist Natural N9

If you are a beauty insider at Sephora, you probably all got to try this last year as your birthday freebie. Formula is so nice, hydrating, and lightweight. I love the color. It's so easy to wear.

NYX Lip Butter Pops 

Pops is a lovely rose nude lipstick. I often reach for it when I just need something simple on my lips.

MAC Heroine Lipstick

Heroine is a gorgeous magenta matte. Ahhh you just have to try it!

NYX Butter Gloss Raspberry Tart

I'm not usually a glossy kind of girl but I really like this one for some reason. I've used it more than any other gloss I had.

Milani Color Statement Lip Liner 08 Fuchsia and 04 All Natural

Fuchsia - I'm so impressed at how creamy and pigmented it felt. 

Milani totally nailed it on the formula. All Natural is my favorite lip liner for nude lip colors.

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm Super Strawberry - Swatch and Review

Hello lovelies,

My oh my, it has been one hell of a week for me! Feel free to skip this paragraph if you don't want to hear me rant. There is no worst feeling than being a reputable employee to being thrown under the bus when shit happens...ok perhaps there is but I just have a hard time wrapping my head around it. Cowards! Even I'm stupid enough to admit I'm wrong when I know I'm wrong so I guess I'll never understand why some people can't do that. Becoming a casualty of someone else's mistake and lack of responsibility makes me want to slap myself for having to put up with this. This just pushed me over the edge and if I could afford it, I would have stormed out of there. I'm sorry for the rant but life isn't always sunshine and rainbows but it will be ok, I know how to move on. How was your week?

By the way, I didn't purchase this product but I got it from Sephora by redeeming my points.


Packaging

• Chubby retractable stick with color matching the color of the product inside
• .1 oz 

Product

• Super Strawberry is a sheer strawberry pink that delivers a sheer wash of pink that is quite natural and flattering on my light skin.
• I admit that at first I wasn't all that excited about it but a freebie is a freebie so it's nice. After trying it out, I really come to like it. I kept it at work and use it whenever I'm too rushed to apply a lip color in the morning before I head out.
• It contains mango and shea butters. The texture is balmy and feels very moisturizing, light, and comfortable.
• I get about 4 hours of wear before the color wears off.

Final Thought

I didn't have much expectation but I ended up loving the sheer natural color and the moisturizing. It's something I probably wouldn't have purchased on my own but after trying it, I wouldn't mind purchasing this at all. If you want a more pigmented lip color then this isn't for you but if you're looking for a simple and wearable shade that keeps your lips nicely hydrated then you will like this.

Rating: 10/10

Price: $17.00
Availability: Sephora, Clinique

NYX Simply Vamp Lip Cream Swatches and Review - Bewitching, Enamored, She Devil, Temptress

Happy Monday! Yay finally got around to testing these new NYX lip pencils.

Packaging

• retractable jumbo pencil with a clear plastic cap
• .11 oz or 3 g

Product

• Bewitching is a slightly dark cherry red with a semi-matte finish.
• Enamored is a deep shimmery cool toned brown with a reddish metallic finish. This shade had a more even application and I find it quite unique. 
• She Devil is a deep burgundy with a semi-matte finish.
• Temptress is a dark purplish plum with a semi-matte finish. This one will leave a bright pink stain behind. Personally, I find that rather annoying.
• The pigmentation was excellent. The texture of all these were creamy and applied smoothly. They also felt light-weight. 
• The main problem I have with these is that they look a bit blotchy, especially when you look up close. You will need to exfoliate and prime your lips prior to application. The formula will highlight and cling on to dry patches so the smoother your lips are the better and more even the application will be. Another suggestion to help with the blotchiness is to pair them with a lip liner. 
• They didn't feel moisturizing nor drying but they are more comfortable with a lip balm underneath
• They last 3-4 hours before they start fading.
• They are unscented.

Final Thought

Overall, I like them even if I wished they had a more even application. They go on creamy even if they are not moisturizing. I also love that they feel comfortable and light-weight. These colors are perfect for fall or for those who enjoy wearing vampy colors. My favorite shades are Enamored and She Devil.

Rating: 8/10

Price: $6.50
Availability: NYX Cosmetics

Bewitching

Bewitching

Bewitching

Enamored

Enamored

Enamored

She Devil

She Devil

She Devil

Temptress

Temptress

Temptress

NYX Simply Vamp Lip Cream Haul and Preview Swatches + Sale Alert

So I snagged these new NYX Simply Vamp Lip Cream a few weeks ago when NYX had a sale and didn't have a chance to review them yet but I did get some swatches done so I figure I should share them with you BECAUSE Ulta is currently having a 40% off sale on NYX, Revlon, Physicians Formula, and Almay. Just in case you might be interested in ordering these, here are some swatches to help you decide. I only picked out 4 out of the 6 shades they had available.

Bewitching is a slightly dark cherry red.
Enamored is a deep shimmery cool toned brown with a reddish metallic finish. This shade had a more even application and I find it quite unique.
She Devil is a deep burgundy
Temptress is a dark purplish plum

Oh and lastly, I only picked up one shade from the Simply Nude just for kicks cause I sure don't need another nude lippie but just couldn't resist and had to get it to satisfy my curiosity. This is the shade Sable, a medium pinkish nude.  

Happy Shopping! Let me know what you plan to order.

Beautique Lip Crayon Mustang - Swatch and Review

Looking for a cheap thrill? Check out the Beautique Lip Crayon from Sally Beauty Supply. I picked this one up on a whim because it was on clearance and I thought why not. It could be a gem just waiting to be discovered. It comes in 13 different colors, at least that's how many they have on Sally's website.


Packaging

• The pencil is a bit short but a little thicker than the average pencil. 
• .044 oz or 1.25 g

Product

• Mustang is a shimmery dark burgundy. On its own the shade is rather frosty and applied a bit unevenly when you look up close. 
• I was actually expecting it to be dry but upon swatching I found the formula rather creamy and smooth. Pigmentation was alright. I like the color and I think it will pair nicely with some of my darker berry lipsticks. 

Final Thought

I probably need to head back to Sally and pick up more of these pencils. This one was on clearance for $.69 I think. I can't remember the exact price I paid, I just remember it was dirt cheap and less than a dollar. Otherwise, the regular price is still pretty low but definitely see if you can find some on the clearance stash first. I like a creamy formula. It makes it easier to apply all over the lip.


Rating: 8.5/10

Price: $2.49 (online)
Availability: Sally Beauty Supply

Revlon Matte Balm - Swatch and Review

What a day! Sometimes, it feels like being in a circus full of clowns that aren't funny. I hope tomorrow is a better day.

As far as drugstore lip product goes, Revlon has always been my favorite and I probably own more Revlon lip products than any other brands. When I heard that they came out with these new matte balm and some people said good things about them, I knew I had to check them out. They've recently popped at my local CVS and I was stoked when I stumbled upon them and was able to get them on BOGO along with using some of my Extra Care bucks.


Packaging

• Retractable jumbo lip pencil with a matte finish on the packaging as well
• .095 oz or 2.7 g

• Audacious, I'd have to agree that you need to be audacious to wear this color. It is a very bright coral matte. I find the formula and coverage for this color a bit problematic. It settles into lip line and has an odd texture to it. 

• Standout - OMG totally in love with this color. If you are looking for the perfect matte neutral red, this is the one you need to pick up.

• Shameless is probably one of boldest purple shade I've seen in a drugstore product. This shade applied a bit blotchy but you can't really tell from afar. I really had to tweak the editing on this one in order for the color to look as accurate in real life as possible. I couldn't get the color to look accurate on the facial picture so decided not to post it. Well basically, it turns out just like the color of the packaging, if that can be of any help. I've googled swatches from other people and well I guess I don't feel too bad because none of them look accurate either, lol. It's just one of those colors that looks wack on the camera. 

Striking is a warm matte red leaning coral in a way. The pigmentation is nice but it seems to lack a bit compared to the other shades.

• Sultry is a medium mauve rose.

• The lip color feels lightweight, applied creamy, and has a velvety feel to them. They don't look quite matte when you first apply. It has just a little bit of shine, kinda like a satin finish. 
• Overall, the pigmentation is good but probably due to the formula, you may have to do a couple swipe in order to get a full and even coverage. 
• There is a slight variation in texture and pigmentation between the shades. I found that Standout, Striking, and Sultry, have a smoother finish, though Striking seem to give less opaque coverage. Shameless is a little blotchy when you look up close but not so obvious from afar. Audacious, I don't know what when wrong with this one and how I managed to make it look smooth on the swatch but it doesn't look that smooth and even when applied. 
• They feel quite moisturizing I must say and are very comfortable for up to 6 hours. At least for me. 
• I am able to get up to 5 hours of wear with very minimal fading when having a few drinks. It does fade quite significantly when you're going through a meal but most lipsticks will do that anyways. However, even so, the color stains a bit which prolongs the wear belong the 5 hours even if it is a little faded. 
• Yes, they have the same minty scent as the balm stains. 

Final Thought

They're semi-matte with a light weight, moisturizing, and comfortable wear that is long-wearing. There is a slight variation with the formula and opacity between shades. They will highlight any imperfection and dryness on your lips so exfoliating and prepping your lips is a must before use. They're not quite perfect and I was expecting a little more based on what I heard but in the end I think they are still fairly good overall. 

Rating: 8.5/10

Pricing: $7-$8

Availability: CVS

Have you tried? If yes, tell me what you think.