My Favorite Lip Products of 2010

Ok, this will conclude my "favorites" for the year 2010. I'm saving the best for last, hehe. I have been collecting a lot of lip products and trying out different brands and shades. I guess you can say it was one of my addiction. I think this year, my biggest obsession was nail polishes and lip products.
First off, I want to note that when it comes to lip products, I am leaning more towards high-end brands. The reason is because I find that the drugstore brands cannot compare to high-end when it comes to quality. There is a huge difference in quality, especially when you pick a lippie that is over $30.00. It may not make sense to pay so much more to those who haven't tried a more expansive lipstick but trust me, you will feel the difference. I don't mind the drugstore brands and some are actually my favorites but because I have very dry lips, the formula of high-end brands works better for me.

These are the qualities I really enjoy in high-end and pricey lipsticks such as YSL, Chanel, and Guerlain:
- Better pigmentation and formula
- They apply better and more evenly
- They feels more comfortable on the lips
- They are more moisturizing
- They last longer.
- They smell nicer or don't smell as offensive as the drugstore brands

I have to admit, this year most of my favorite lippies are from MAC in part due to their large scale of color selection and fun collection....Oh and I'm a MAC newbie, lol. They may not be top-notch in quality like Chanel or YSL but they are definitely better than drugstore and more affordable than high-end brands. I really like the signature vanilla scent of their lippies.

1. MAC Strange Potion Lipglass. Lovely shimmery coral that looks great for every day. For swatches, check this post http://xxxbeautyredefinedxxx.blogspot.com/2010/10/mac-disney-venomous-villains-haul.html

2. MAC Perennial High Style Lipglass. This is also a coral-ish lipgloss that leans more pink but has no shimmers.

3. MAC English Accents Lipglass. Mauvy/lilac. So pretty.

4. MAC Petals & Peacocks. May not be the most unique fuschia color out there but because this is an amplified finish, the color is more intense and feels creamier. I've really been into fuschia this year. It's such a bright, fun, and girly color.

5. MAC Violetta. Purples are not just my favorites shade in eyeshadows but this one is a stunning magenta shade that is surprisingly more wearable than you think. I wish I could wear this to work, lol. For swatches, check this post http://xxxbeautyredefinedxxx.blogspot.com/2010/11/nyx-black-label-orchid-vs-mac-violetta.html

6. MAC Aristo-chic. Although this one is a lustre finish, it's pretty pigmented. It's a brownish coral color. You may still be able to find this at the CCO. It comes with a set of 2 lipsticks and 1 lipglass.

7. MAC Rebel Lipstick. I saw a Youtube gurus wearing this lipstick and I couldn't get over how pretty it looked on her that I had to get one for myself. It's a reddish pink with a satin finish. For swatches, follow this link http://xxxbeautyredefinedxxx.blogspot.com/2010/10/dupe-for-mac-rebel-lipstick.html

8. MAC Gleam Lipstick. I got this one that the CCO and you may find it there too. It's labeled as a glaze and looks kinda frosty but not obnoxiously frosty either. It's kinda like a taupy color with a light pink sheen that looks very flattering on my skintone.

9. Revlon Colorbust Lilac. My favorite drugstore brand lipstick. I love how subtle and wearable this color looks on me. For a complete review of this product as well, swatches, and other shades from this line, check out this post http://xxxbeautyredefinedxxx.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-favorite-lipsticks-under-10-revlon.html

10. Revlon Colorburst Blush. This is a my lips but better type of shade. Adds a nice sheen and sheer color to my lips.

11. NYX Black Label - Pumpkin Pie. This is something I would wear in the summer. It's such a warm and wearable orange. At least for me it is.

12. NYX Diamond Sparkle lipgloss - Pink Sparkle. This gloss just looks amazing on me, lol. One of the prettiest pink lipgloss I have.

13. Chanel Rouge Allure Laque 77. The formula is just amazing. The color is subtle and great for every day. For review and swatches of this lippie, check out this post http://xxxbeautyredefinedxxx.blogspot.com/2010/12/chanel-rouge-allure-laque-santal-77.html

14. Guerlain Rouge G - Gemma. Prettiest pink and most expensive lipstick in my stash. The formula is top-notch; however, the scent is pretty strong and can be offensive for some. Check out this post for review and swatches http://xxxbeautyredefinedxxx.blogspot.com/2010/12/guerlain-rouge-g-lipstick-gemma-64.html

15. YSL Rouge Pur Couture. Very pretty raspberry color, rich, pigmented, and very moisturizing. Smells like perfume. For swatches, check out this post http://xxxbeautyredefinedxxx.blogspot.com/search/label/YSL

16. Hourglass - Siren. This color is so metallic, unique, and freaken stunning. Very bold and in your face WOW! For more info and swatches, check out this post http://xxxbeautyredefinedxxx.blogspot.com/search/label/Hourglass

Whew....I hope I didn't bore you to death with my huge favorite products overview.

My Favorite Eyeliners of 2010

I prefer pencil and liquid eyeliners over gel or cream liners simply because they are more convenient. I don't have to look for a brush or clean it after I'm done and I can throw it in my purse if I need to touch up. With that said, the con of using eyeliners is finding a good one that will perform as well as gel liners. I try to stick to drugstore products whenever possible. Problem is there isn't too many quality drugstore eyeliners out there.

1. Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner (black). This is my HG eyeliner and the one I mostly use. Couln't find a good drugstore dupe so I had to settle with this one. This is a marker type of liquid liner with fine felt-tip. This makes applying liquid liner super easy. It's very black, pigmented, not completely waterproof but definitely long lasting. This is my second one. My first one lasted me over 7 months with daily use! Definitely worth getting if you are looking for a marker/felt-tip type of eyeliner that won't dry out, which is a common problem I find in drugstore brands.
2. MAC Superslick Liquid Eyeliner - Marked for Glamour. Dark silver liner with bluish-green and pink micro-shimmers.
3. MAC Superslick Liquid Eyeliner - Desires & Devices. Antique gold with a greenish undertone and gold micro-shimmers.
4. MAC Superslick Liquid Eyeliner - Signature Blue. Dark navy blue with blue micro-shimmers.
5. MAC Superslick Liquid Eyeliner - Treat me nice. Not sure how to describe this green but it's very pretty and has a subtle gold sheen due to the micro-shimmers.
6. NYX Liquid Crystal Liner -  Crystal Jade. These are the best glitter liners on the market and the price is ooo so nice too. I love every color.
7. NYX Liquid Crystal Liner -  Crystal Pink
8. NYX Liquid Crystal Liner -  Crystal Gold
9. NYX Liquid Crystal Liner -  Crystal Pewter
10. NYX Studio Liquid Liner - Extreme Purple
11. NYX Studio Liquid Liner - Exreme Blue. My favorite color from this line. These eyeliners are so good and affordable.
12. NYX Studio Liquid Liner - Extreme Gold
13. NYX Studio Liquid Liner - Extreme Silver

I prefer to use liquid liners on my upper lash line and pencils on my lower lash line. I find that when using pencils on my upper lash line some of the particles gets caught between my lashes and as I blink they migrate downward, giving me raccoon eyes a few hours later, lol. Pencils are a better when used on the waterline too but you want to use those with a good staying power so it stays there longer.

1. NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil - Black Bean. Great as a base for smokey looks.
2. NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil - Slate. This is just a gorgeous dark silver cream liner that works great for smokey looks too.
3. NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil - French Fries. I love the gold sheen on this brown. I mostly use it as a liner on my lower lash line.
4. NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil - Cottage Cheese. I love using this to highlight inner corners of my eyes, brow bone, and lower lash line. It does a nice job at brightening tired eyes because if it's pearly white sheen.
5. NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil - Yogurt. It's a pinkish neutral cream shadow that works nice for an all over lid base for a neutral look.
6. NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil - Milk. If you want to bring the colors of your eyeshadows to life and make them look more vibrant, try using this as a base.
7. Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner - Daring Green. These eyeliners are so smooth, creamy, and long-wearing. They do smudge a little bit when used on the upper lash line, however, they are pretty long wearing. The colors are darker than anticipated with a little bit of sheen but still very pretty.
8. Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner - Fearless Teal.
9. Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner - Fierce Blue.
10. Milani Liquif'Eye -Silver. I wish they had more colors. This definitely beats Urban Decay 24-7 liners! The quality and staying power is amazing and better than some high-end brands. The price is very friendly.
11. Milani Liquif'Eye - Gold.
12. L'oreal HIP color chrome eyeliner - Violet Volt. My favorite purple-ish eyeliner. It's creamy and long-wearing too. No budge or smudge with this one, yay!
13. Lancome Le Crayon Kohl Waterproof - Blanc Audacity. This last pretty well on the waterline and helps brighten eyes. A little pricey but you can get it for a really good deal on allcosmeticswholesales.com, which is where I got it from.

Anyways, lol, you know they are my favorites when you see the same brand with a lot of different colors.

My Favorite Eyeshadows of 2010

To my surprise, I didn't list any of my high-end eyeshadows aside from the Naked palette. These are eye products that I really enjoyed and reached for most often in 2010. I'm pretty upset at myself that I still didn't do reviews on the NYX eyeshadows. Anyways, for the record, I don't really buy high-end eyeshadows unless there is something unique about the color or quality that I cannot find as a drugstore dupe. High-end eyeshadows are too expensive and many of their colors can be duped so it doesn't make any sense for me to pay more for something similar I can get for less.

1. ELF eyebrow kit (dark). Ok this is not an eyeshadow but I must include it as a favorite somewhere on my blog. I must admit the tinted gel is probably the only thing I like from this kit. The powder have a bit of a red undertone so I don't even use it. The brush would have worked better if it was slightly thicker and stiffer. Anyways, I still love this and it's my favorite and I use it all the time. I prefer using a tinted gel to fill in my eyebrows. I feel I have more control and it looks more natural vs a pencil. Best eyebrow product with best price too so even if you end up liking just the gel side like me, you won't feel bad about how much you paid for it.
2. NYX Iced Mocha. These NYX single eyeshadows have a great color pay off and feel creamy. This shade is beautiful for a neutral look. Color is shimmery taupe/brown with a bronzy sheen.
3. NYX Cork. This is a bronzy gold shimmery eyeshadow. I love it and for the price, you won't be sorry. Gorgeous for neutral looks.
4. Femme Couture Baked Eye Color - Classic Khaki. The pigmentation and color is just awesome. Price is decent but best get it when it's on sale. This is only available at Sally Beauty supply as far as I know.
5. Wet N Wild Vanity. What can I say, these are the best drugstore eyeshadows out there. This is a great palette for neutral makeup looks.
6. Wet N Wild Lust. My favorite eyeshadow palette from WNW. Every color in this palette is rich, pigmented, and smooth and I love purples.
7. Maybelline Bronze Glitz. I don't know what the heck they did to this palette but the color and pigmentation is just awesome. Not all of their eyeshadows are great but this particular one is definitely a hit.

LOL, call me crazy but I just can't get enough of these NYX 10 Color Eyeshadow Palettes. I must admit not all the colors within a palette are great but most of them are pretty good and pigmented. I love how there is so many colors and combination and these are usually my first choice when I'm traveling or going out of town because they are small, compact, and lightweight. I cut out the color display on the box and taped it to the palette so that I know which colors are inside without having to open the palette since I have so many of them. I wished they printed it on the case so I wouldn't have to do that :D. I will review all of these NYX palette eventually. I just purchased a couple more of their new ones too.

8. For Eye Color Brown. In this palette, we got brown, taupe, lilac, green, light gold, peach, and a pearly pinkish white.
9. Versus. In this palette, we got mostly purples and browns.
10. Secret World. In this palette, we got mostly greens and neutrals.
11. Strike a Pose. This palette has got a bit of everything..brown, gold, peach, green, white, and black.
12. Champagne & Caviar. This is a great everyday neutral palette.

13. Urban Decay Naked Palette. This is more expensive but worth every penny I paid. Still being sold out and everytime I go to Ulta or Sephora, I don't see it on the shelf. Best neutral palette I own and I'm sure it's also a favorite among many.

Finding any of your favorites in my favorites?

My Favorite Nail Products of 2010

1. Sally Hansen Diamond Strength - sunrise sunset. This was my favorite summer shade. I wore it a lot. I especially love it on my toe nails.
2. Zoya - Carrie Ann. This is my favorite red nail polish. It's bright, shimmery, and just gorgeous. Quality is top-notch. For swatches, check out this post http://xxxbeautyredefinedxxx.blogspot.com/search/label/Zoya
3. Orly - Space Cadet. This came out with the Cosmic FX collection. I loved that collection but this is my favorite of the pack. It's dark green with a purple duo-chrome. Looks like oil slick. I love watching it change color on my nails depending on how the light hits it.
4. China Glaze - party hearty. This came out just very recently as part of their holiday collection and became a quick favorite for me because of the unique mix of glitters colors and size. It's a great top coat for a festive holiday nails. For swatches, check out this post http://xxxbeautyredefinedxxx.blogspot.com/search/label/China%20Glaze
5. OPI - Sparkelicious. This was a part of the OPI Burlesque collection, which featured a lot of glitter nail polishes. However, this is my favorite from the collection. The base is clear with a mix of gold, fuschia, blue, and purple glitters. For swatches, check out this post http://xxxbeautyredefinedxxx.blogspot.com/2010/11/opi-burlesque-nail-polish-glitters.html
6. OPI - Diva of Geneva. Best magenta nail polish in my collection. This was always sold out whenever I went to Ulta. For swatches, check this post http://xxxbeautyredefinedxxx.blogspot.com/2010/12/notd-opi-diva-of-geneva.html
7. Orly - purple crush. This is such a bright and fun shade of pink. It dries with a suede finish but I use Seche Vite on top of it to make it look glossy and I like it better that way. For swatches, check out this post http://xxxbeautyredefinedxxx.blogspot.com/2010/11/pink-bow-with-polka-dots-accent-nail.html

8. Poshe treatment base coat. I've been quite happy with this base coat. It does a good job at preventing my nails from getting yellow.
9. OPI Drip Dry. I use this so much that I had to get the larger bottle. All you need is a drop or two on each nail a couple minutes after you've painted them and this will speed up the drying process. A must have if you don't like waiting for your nails to dry or mess them up before they are dry, lol.
10. Seche Vite top coat. So far I haven't found anything as good as this top coat. It makes the nail polish look even better, last longer, and dries super fast.

11. ONYX Professional nail polish remover. I normally get this from Wal-Mart. Not sure if they sell it elsewhere. Because it's 100% acetone, it removes nail polishes and glitters a lot faster and better.

What's your favorite nail product of the year?

Favorite Brushes of 2010

At the moment, I do not have a collection of expensive brushes but these have worked beautifully for me and most of them were very affordable without sacrificing quality.

1. ELF Studio Line Powder brush. Cheap, decent quality for the price, soft, synthetic bristles, perfect for liquid foundation and blends like a dream for a soft-focused air brushed finish.
2. Kabuki brush I bought at Target for $5.00. I don't think it's available anymore but this beats my Sigma F45. It's super soft. Never shed on me once.
3. Blush brush from Wal-Mart. Definitely need to check this out if you haven't already. This is so soft and affordable.
4. MAC 217 blending brush. This was a gift from my boy-friend. I love this brush. It does a beautiful job for blending eyeshadows. This is a must have. I don't know any cheaper dupes for this except the Sigma E25.
5. Sigma shading brush E55. This is one of the brushes from Sigma I actually like. They are not all that great like many people claim. I find some hits and misses depending on the brush. This one is definitely a hit. It's densely packed and yet soft. The size is perfect. Minimal shedding.
6. Sephora Professionnel cream eyeshadow brush. Another great brush for applying eyeshadow. It also works well as a blending brush.
7. Face Secrets small shading brush. This can be found at Sally Beauty Supply stores. Great for applying eyeshadows on the lid, crease, and outter V.
8. This small flat rounded tip brush is from Sonia Kashuk. I prefer this type of brush for applying eyeliner. It gives me more control.
9. I had to add this brush cleanser from MAC as my favorite. It's one of the best brush cleanser I've tried and works great for spot cleaning. The packing is not so friendly so you will need another spray bottle to pour this in.

My Favorite Face Products of 2010

1. MAC Stereorose MSF. I am so glad I didn't miss out on this blush. It's one of the most coveted MAC product and sold out very quickly. This came out with the In The Groove Collection. At first, I didn't want to believe the hype but I asked my bf to get it for me and I was very surprised and impressed. This has quite a unique finish...A peachy glow with an iridescent pink veil.

2. MAC Happy Together Mineralize Blush. This also came out with the In The Groove Collection. I love this duo. It looks very natural on the cheek. The lighter shade is perfect for highlighting.

3. MAC Hang Loose Mineralize Blush was also a part of the In The Groove Collection. This has an interesting color combo. The pink side is satinity and the purple-ish side is shimmery. These MAC mineral blushes are so finely milled and feel so smooth.

4. Sephora Matifying Compact Foundation (D35 warm tan). As you can see, I've already hit pan on this but still going to use every bit that's left. This is a couple shade darker than my natural skin tone and I picked it out for contouring. Being matte makes it perfect for the job.

5. NYX Taupe blush. This is labeled as a blush but works at its best as a contour powder. It may appear muddy in the pan but actually looks quite natural on the skin.

6. ELF Pink Passion blush. This is so pretty and affordable. Doesn't lack in quality and pigmentation either. The powder is completely matte.

7. Revlon Colorstay foundation. I bought this foundation because I've gotten lighter as the weather got cooler and needed to mix it with my other foundation. I really love the staying power and coverage this gives.
8. Lancome Teint Idole Ultra. I love this foundation, it's lightweight, long-wearing, medium to full coverage that's buildable. Pricy but worth it.
9. Aveeno Positively Radiant Makeup Removing Cleanser. Best face wash makeup remover I've tried this year. It removes everything effortlessly and still remain gentle on the skin.
10. St Ives Green Tea Scrub. Great everyday face cleanser and exfoliator. Smells nice and helps prevent break out.

Have you tried and like any of these?

Favorite Miscellaneous Beauty Products of 2010

2010 is nearly ending and wow this year has come and gone by so quickly. I don't feel like I've accomplished much. I know I've just started my beauty blog like a few months ago but I've been inspired by my fellow Luuuxers Marissa Nicole and HD to post my favorite products for 2010.
As I sort things out and take pictures of my favorites, I come to realize that it would be best to do separate posts and categorize them so it's easier to look at. Some of the things I will mention are products I didn't get a chance to do a full review on but may have mentioned a couple times in my blog.

1.  Urban Decay Primer Potion does a wonderful job at keeping my eyeshadows put and looking more intense. I'm not a huge fan of the packaging but the product itself performs quite well.

2.  Tweezerman tweezer can grab the tiniest hair from my face with ease. Only thing that bothers me is you have to send it out for sharpening once the edges get dull.

3.  A metal lash comb is a must-have tool to help separate your lashes after applying mascara.

4.  I like to use a disposable mascara wand to brush out the clumps my mascara leave behind so that my lashes look nice and clean.

5.  Lancome Bi-Facil has got to be the best eye makeup remover I've come across. This will remove any type of eye makeup with ease.

I've really been enjoying these eyelashes. I only wear them on occasion and they really make my eyes stand out. Poor me has stubby, short, almost non-existent lashes. These give me instant gratification. For a more subtle and natural look, go for Ardell 110.

6.  NYX 109
7.  NYX LE 112
8.  NYX LE 115
9.  Ardell Demi Pixies
10. Ardell 110

11. I don't use fancy lotions but I absolutely love baby lotion. It absorbs quickly, moisturizes, and doesn't leave any greasy feeling behind.
12. Biosilk hair serum - this is my HG hair product. I don't use a lot of products on my hair anyways but this is one product I have to have and use everytime after I wash my hair. It has a pleasant perfumy scent and makes my hair feel smooth and manageable. It adds a bit of shine and prevents my hair from tangling.
13. Very Irresistible Eau de Parfum by Givenchy - this is the only fragrance I've been wearing throughout the year.

Are any of these your favorites also?

Neutral Brown/Lime Eyeshadows With a Pop of Color

Here is another makeup look I did on my days off. I just love to add some color to neutral eyeshadows. I think this one turned out well. I like using purple and brown whenever I wear my green contacts. I tried to used as many NYX products as possible for this look.

Product Used

Face: Benefit Erase Paste, Make Up Forever HD and Revlon Colorstay Foundation, ELF Complexion Perfection, MAC Happy Together Mineralized Blush duo for cheeks, NYX Taupe blush for contouring.

Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion, ELF Eyebrow Kit (dark), Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara, NYX Cork on lids, NYX Golden Amber on outter V, NYX Lime Juice on crease, NYX Highlight on brow bone, NYX Studio Liquid Liner Extreme Purple on upper lash line, Benefit Gem-N-Eye and CoverGirl Liquiline Blast Green Glow on lower lash line.

Lips: Rimmel Kiss Off Lipgloss in Talk to Me

Neutral Makeup Look - Orange and Brown

I had a fews days off work for the Holiday, which also means I had more time to do my makeup. I just didn't find the time to upload my pix and write a blog until today. Aside from creating bold and colorful looks, I also want to include wearable looks that is easy to pull off during the day.

Product Used

Face: Lacome Teint Idole, Benefit Erase Paste, ELF Complexion Perfection, NYX Pinched blush.

Eyes: All eyeshadows are from my Coastal Scents 88 warm palette. Urban Decay Primer Potion. ELF eyebrow kit (dark). Estee Lauder Double Wear mascara. I used a soft muted orange eyeshadow with a satin finish all over the lids. On the crease, I used a cool toned matte light taupe. On the outter V, I used a matte dark brown and also blend it with the crease color. On the brow bone, I used a satin off-white eyeshadow. On the upper lash line, I used Stila all day waterproof liquid liner (black) and the Studio ELF cream liner in metallic olive. On the lower lash line, I used NYX horse raddish on the inner part and Prestige Total Intensity Fearless Teal on the outter part.

Lips: MAC Poetic License Lipglass

If you want a pop of color without looking wild or crazy when using neutral eyeshadows, just add colored eyeliners to spice up the look.

My Christmas Presents

Hi! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I have been busy spending time with family and shopping, which is why I've been MIA for the past few days. Anyhooo, I am back and this post isn't about makeup...Sorry. I wanted to show the things that I got for Christmas.

First off, I received a surprise on the last day of work before Christmas. My boy-friend decided to send me another bouquet of flowers. I didn't expect to get another batch this soon since, the one before that was just received on December 3rd.  
For Christmas, my boy-friend gave me this Canon HD video camera. The model number is VIXIA HF R10.

Here are some quick takes about this camera:
- Lightweight and compact
- 8 GB internal memory
- High definition video quality
- 2.7" widescreen LCD
- Face detection
- Built-in digital camera
- 1920 x 1080 resolution
- Built-in microphone
- 400 x digital zoom

In addition to the camera, my boy-friend also bought a memory card and a carrying case. If you want more specification about this model, you can find it here: http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/canon-vixia-hf-r10/4507-6500_7-33949022.html?tag=specs. Cnet also provides a professional review about this camera if you are interested.

Hopefully, I can figure how to make good videos and uploads tutorials and product reviews :-/. I don't know anything about making videos so bear with me until I get this figured out. If you have any suggestions, requests, or want to give me some tips about making videos, please feel free to send me a comment or message.


Secondly, I got myself a new phone. I was using a Blackberry Bold and since I was eligible for an upgrade, I decided to go with the Torch. I kept my plan the same. I got my new phone at Best Buy mobile and wow, I was quite surprised that it barely cost me anything. All I will be charged is an activation fee of $18.00. The funny thing is it was such a good deal that I had to ask the sales rep the same question about the price a couple times to ensure I am not hallucinating. Radio Shack was offering the Torch upgrade for $30.00 plus a $35.00 activation fee and AT&T was going to charge $99 for the phone plus activation fee. Fortunately, I got the best deal at Best Buy. I didn't even have to mail a rebate or anything. It definitely pays to shop around.
My boy-friend helped me set up and transfer my info into the new phone so thanks Hun if you are reading this! I am glad I have the touch-screen capability with this phone without having to settle for an Iphone, beside I've been a Blackberry user for quite some time so I'm used to it and I like it. I'm also happy that it also comes with a full key pad, which I find a lot easier to type with.
They had the Torch in black, red, and white. I decided to go with the white. Once again, my lovely boy-friend came to the rescue and got me this phone case with a pretty cherry blossom design.

 

That's pretty much it. What did you get for Christmas or what was your favorite part of the Holiday?

PS: I noticed a few more subbies and a lot of page views. Thank you all for subscribing, reading, and commenting on my blog. <333

Green Holiday Makeup Look

I decided to do one more holiday makeup look tonight, featuring the limited edition Wet N Wild ColorIcon Snow Sprite, which I just reviewed.

Product Used

Eyes: UDPP, ELF eyebrow kit, Wet N Wild Snow Sprite, Wet N Wild Vanity, Sally Girl Baked eyeshadow, Stila Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner Black, Estee Lauder Double Wear mascara, Milani Liquif'eye Gold eyeliner, false eyelashes.

Face: Lancome Teint Idole Ultra, Benefit Erase Paste, Bare Escentuals fondation, ELF Studio Pressed Powder Almond, MAC Bite of an apple powder blush.

Lips: Palladio Herbal Lipliner nearly nude, MAC Aristo-Chic lipstick.

Wet N Wild Limited Edition ColorIcon Palette - Snow Sprite

I wonder how many of you have been looking for these Wet N Wild limited edition palettes but I have been searching for them for the past few weeks with little luck. I am not sure when they were released but my guess would be the past couple months. They were very hard to find. There is 4 of them and I was only able to get my hands on Snow Sprite. Unlike the other ColorIcon palette, this one doesn't include any matte eyeshadows but came with a bonus a small silver eyeliner.

Wet N Wild has been really stepping up their game and if you haven't been in the loop. Their new eyeshadows are actually pretty amazing with a very attractive price. These palette retails for $4.99 but if you get them while they are on sale, you can get them for even cheaper.

The upper left is a frosty silvery color with a hint of green. The upper right is a metallic light silver.

The middle left is a bright frosty green. The middle right is a metallic silver with a bluer undertone.

The bottom left is a shimmery dark forest green. The bottom right is a black based eyeshadow with fine blue shimmers. These eyeshadows are pretty pigmented. I swatched them without a base or primer. The two left ones with the frosty finish aren't as pigmented as the other colors but they still show up pretty well.

The silver eyeliner looks pretty and pigmented when swatched on my hand but because it isn't creamy, it was very difficult to apply on the eyes without tugging. The pigmentation decreased by 90% when I tried to apply this on my eyelids. I would not recommend this to be used on the eyes. Heck, I'm not even sure what I'm going to do with this eyeliner. It's pretty useless at this point.

Overall, this palette is nice to have if you can find it. The pigmentation is pretty good and the colors are nice. My favorite one is the dark green.

So I found another Snow Sprite palette in another Walgreens store. I didn't need it but I went ahead and bought it anyways. I'm debating whether I should do a giveaway or makeup swap. What would you suggest?

Christmas Inspired Nails

So I finally got around to doing a Christmas inspired nails just in time before the big day, lol. I haven't even done shopping yet and I feel like calling quit. After I came home from work, cooked, and eat, I wanted to head to bed. I had to run some errands and take my daughter to the store to pick up a couple thing for her field trip tomorrow. I had to drink some coffee for an energy boost. Well guess what, now I'm wide awake and typing this blog and it's 1:30 am.

On my left hand, I used China Glaze Phat Santa (red), 2 coats. Over Phat Santa, I applied one coat of Barielle Elle's Spell. This add more depth and flecks of gold to the red nail polish.

On the middle finger, I used China Glaze Jolly Holly. I used Stripe Rite in a light gold metallic color to make the ribbons. In the center I used Art Deco Red, which is a glittery neutral red. I added a pink flower shaped rhinestone over the center of the bow to make it pop.

On the thumb, I decided to go for a candy cane design. China Glaze Phat Santa is the base color. For the stripes, I used Art Deco white, Stripe Rite, and China Glaze Jolly Holly.

On my right hand, I use the same reds as my left hand. On the ring finger, I used Orly Glitz and Glamour, which is a bright, glittery, orangy gold. I painted a holly plant using a nail brush, Jolly Holly, and Art deco Red.
On my thumb, I used Essence nail art silver surfer to paint a large snow flake. I have to admit painting the design on my right hand was kinda tricky and I had to repaint the thumb cause I messed it up.

I used Seche Vite top Coat on all my nails to seal the colors.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with how my nail painting turned out. Do you like to dress up your nails for the holidays?

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick

I've had these lipsticks in my stash for a while and it's about time I do a review on them. Oh and I took these pictures back when I was doing my Revlon Coloburst Review. These lipsticks are quite moisturizing, they apply smoothly, have a decent pigmentation, and a sheen finish. They are semi-opaque and have about the same consistency as the MAC lustre lipsticks. They last about 2-3 hours on me. They have quite a strong sweet cosmetic scent. I don't know how else to describe it but fortunately for me, it doesn't really bother me; however, if you are sensitive to scents, you may want to sniff it before you buy. I really can't think of any cons, I just wish the scent wasn't so strong. The packaging is quite standard, rectangular shape, and a vibrant metallic purple plastic case. Prices may vary depending on where you get them but they are usually around $7.00. For the record, my lips are not very pigmented and I have a light complexion.

Rimmel Berry Rose

Rimmel Berry Rose

Berry Rose, I think the name suits it perfectly. If you don't want to go too bold but still want a pop of color, this shade will do the job.

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Rimmel Vintage Pink

Rimmel Vintage Pink

Rimmel Vintage Pink is a mauvy pink with grey undertone. Although this shade is cool-toned, I believe it'd look great on both warm and cool complexions. This is my favorite color out of the pack.

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Rimmel Pink Chic

Rimmel Pink Chic

Rimmel Pink Chic is a blue-based pink. It reminded me of Viva Glam Gaga but it's actually not as bright as Gaga and a lot more wearable. I believe this is the most popular shade from this line. Not really my kind of color but looks nice on days I feel like wearing pink.

FOTD - Neutral Gold, Brown, and Lavender Makeup Look

I normally don't look this nice on the weekdays because I honestly don't have much time to do my makeup before heading to work. However, on the weekend I can take as long as I want to look good. I'm about to head out to do some more shopping. Ugh...I'm tired of holiday shopping. I wanted to look nice but didn't want my makeup to look too colorful. So this is the makeup I'm wearing today...neutral gold, brown, a light lavender color on the crease, and satiny white eyeshadow on the browbone.

Product Used

Face - Benefit Erase Paste, Revlon Colorstay and Makeup Forever HD foundation, ELF Complexion Perfection, ELF Pressed powder almond for countouring.

Cheeks - MAC Liberty of London Prim and Proper and Shell Pearl

Eyes - all eyeshadows used are from my CS 88 Warm palette. Stila Waterproof eyeliner black. Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner in bronze shimmer. HIP color chrome eyeliner in violet volt. Lancome Le Crayon Khol Waterproof eyeliner blanc audacity on the waterline. Estee Lauder Double Wear Mascara. Maybelline Define-a-brow.

Lips - MAC Gleam lipstick.



NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencils

I had these NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencils for quite some time now and have used them often in my makeup looks. I especially love to use them as base or to add a pop of color to my lower lash line. When used as a base, they bring out the intensity or vibrancy of the eyeshadow you apply on top of it. These retails for about $4.00 and price may vary depending on where you purchase them from. They are available on http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/, http://www.cherryculture.com/, and your local Ulta.

These jumbo pencils are very pigmented, creamy, and apply smoothly. I think they are a great and cheaper alternative to MAC's paint pot. For them to perform at their best and prevent creasing, my advice would be to use an eyeshadow primer first, don't over apply, and set it with a powder eyeshadow. If you have very oily lids, you may want to skip these or use very little.

Black Bean is a matte black. I especially love to use this color to create dark smokey eyes.
Slate is a dark shimmery silver grey. This is a great alternative to black.
Purple Velvet is a shimmery violet purple
Purple is a shimmery purple with blue undertone
Electric Blue is a shimmery vibrant blue
Yogurt is a shimmery pink with yellow undertone
Gold is a shimmery orange gold
French Fries is a shimmery brown
Horse Raddish is a shimmery light green with cool undertone
Strawberry Milk is a light shimmery baby pink
Cottage Cheese is a shimmery pearly white. This works great as a highlighter on the brow bone and inner corner of the eyes.
Milk is a matte white. I especially like to use this to make any color pop and look brighter.

Have you tried these products yet? Which is your favorite color?