NYX Lip Liner Overview

Over the last couple years I have collected quite a few NYX lip liners. In my opinion, this is NYX's best product. While the textures and pigmentation vary slightly from shade to shade, in general these lip liners are creamy, pigmented, and long lasting. The bonus with these lip liners is the price tag - these are often sold between $2.50 - $4.00 at most retailers that stock them. In short, I highly recommend trying them out.

My favorite shades are: Pale Pink, Nude Pink, Mauve, Rose, Dolly Pink, Burgundy and Coffee.

Pinky Nudes/ Naturals

Beige is light tanned beige color with a warm undertone.
Pale Pink is a cool pastel pink with a hint of beige.
Nude Pink is a warm light peach with a hint of beige.
Natural is a neutral mid tone peachy brown.
Peekaboo Neutral is very similar to nude pink, except it has stronger beige undertones.
Mauve is a mid tone pinkish- brown with a slightly purple undertone.

Peaches

Tangerine is a light peachy coral with subtle shimmer. This liner is a bit dryer, harder to blend and is not as pigmented as others.
Nectar is a peachy berry color with subtle shimmer. This liner is also a bit dryer, but not as fry as Tangerine.

Pinks

Flower is a pale frosty pink. This liner is dryer in texture, is harder to blend and is not as pigmented as others.
Citrine is a mid tone warm pink with subtle shimmer. Citrine is dryer in texture, but not as dry as Flower.
Rose is a mid tone warm pink with peach undertones. Rose is very creamy and easy to blend
Dolly Pink is a mid tone cool pink with blue undertones. Dolly pink is creamy, but as creamy as Rose, although it is very easy to blend.
Pinky is a dark hot pink with red undertones. Pinky is very creamy and easy to blend.

Reds

Pumpkin is a mid tone orangey red with subtle shimmer. Pumpkin is extremely smooth and creamy, so it is not quite as long lasting as others.
Hot Red is a cherry red that works well with both reds and dark pinks.
Burdundy is a deep wine colored red with neutral undertones.
Deep Purple is a is a very deep wine red with purple undertones.

Browns

Coffee is a mid tone peachy brown with neutral undertones.
Cocoa is a mid tone brown with warm undertones.
Dark Brown is a rich, very dark brown with cool undertones.



Swatches

Pinky Nudes/ Naturals

beige - pale pink - nude pink
natural - peekaboo pink - mauve

Peaches

tangerine - nectar

Pinks

flower - citrine - rose
dolly pink - pinky

Reds

pumpkin - red
burgundy - deep purple

Browns

coffee - cocoa - dark brown

Brush Drying Frame

This will be a quick post!

I asked my boyfriend to make me a brush drying frame so I could dry my brushes head-down after washing them, and I was constantly annoyed at how much space my brushes take up if I have to wash and dry a few dozen at one time...

So here is the finished product! The brushes are suspended by rubber bands, which are hanging from thumb tacks. It works really well! I am going to store it in my closet on my dresser, so my brushes are out of sight while they're drying.

(and I might paint it so it looks a little prettier!)

The New Urban Decay Naked Palette?

My palette arrived so much faster than I anticipated!


Because of the coverage this palette received on blogs, I knew exactly what to expect...


But I was surprised! My palette did not come with the double-ended zero/ whiskey 24/7 eye liner. Instead it came with a brush:


Is this palette overrated? Absolutely not- every color in this palette is awesome, and I wouldn't change a thing.

Pictures:

Swatches:

And my eye look/ F.O.T.D. after trying it for the first time:


I highly recommend this palette. Hopefully it will come back into stock soon!

I'm Beginning Project [X] Pan

I've been away from blogging for several reasons (work, brainstorming for my next blog- which I hope to get up and running by the summer, etc.), but I am back and hope I can keep blogging on a regular basis because it is something I truly miss.

I have purchased a ton of higher-end makeup/ brushes/ skin care in the last 6 months and decided that once I was able to get the Urban Decay Naked Palette, I would begin a Project [X] Pan. I found the Urban Decay Naked Palette in stock last night on Urban Decay's website. As I write this, I have confirmed the site has already sold out (unfortunately!).

I am calling this a "Project [X] Pan" because I am not actually sure how many products I can finish. When I think about getting to the bottom of a blush or eyeshadow pan, it seems impossible... I decided to start with products I just want to get out of my vanity drawers, although there are more that I should be able to finish in the coming months. I am shooting to finish 10- 20 products, depending on how things go.

I put the ones I want to "work on" in this tray so I can remind myself to use them every day:


I am certain I can get through several lip products, so I feel like that will get me off to a good start!

Other food for thought:
1) I am sort of over buying makeup online and in the drugstore. I really got into trying inexpensive makeup (ELF, NYX) in 2009, but as 2010 ended, I felt like I had a ton of cheap makeup that was collecting dust. I went through my stash and tossed a lot and reorganized other items I thought were worth keeping. In the last 6 months I've been getting back into high end products.
2) Hopefully I'll be getting this camera soon, and provided that I learn a bit more about photography, I hope I should soon be posting better quality pictures.
3) I've been considering video-making for my YouTube channel (I deleted all of my videos), but for some reason I just haven't taken the plunge. I have recorded and edited countless "test" videos to A/B lighting and camera settings, but I just haven't wanted to put myself out there yet.
4) I am in my 4th week testing Rapid Lash, and so far, I haven't seen a huge difference. I plan on posting a full review in the next few weeks, with before and after pictures.
5) I am so ready for Spring and Summer! I can't wait to be rid of these gloomy days!

Hope you all are well :)