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Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Younique by Kifana Hinkson - Uplift. Empower. Motivate.

I have joined the Younique bandwagon and I'm having a party! https://www.youniqueproducts.com/kifana/party/407894/view

If you're not familiar with the company, their claim-to-fame is their Moonstruck 3D Fiber Lashes. For $29 USD you basically get false lashes in a bottle without the tricky application and glue. It's a mascara!

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Monday, June 23, 2014

#curlfest a Curly Girl Collective Event


I had the pleasure of volunteering at another Curly Girl Collective event called #curlfest. It was a nice picnic in Prospect Park's Nethermead in Brooklyn, NY. Vendors, games, music, dancing and just plain ole fun in great weather with fellow curlies, guys and even kiddos. They pulled off another great event. I totally love these girls!!

Friday, June 20, 2014

Mini Lip Haul 06/20/14

1- NYC Expert Last lipstick in Creamy Caramel (440)
2- Wet n Wild Mega Shield lipstick w/spf in Salsa Lessons (369S)
3- Wet n Wild Mega Shield lipstick w/spf in Within These Adobe Walls (372S)
4- Wet n Wild Mega Last lipstick in Spiked with Rum (915B)
5- Wet n Wild Perfect Pair Lip Wand in Passion Plum (123)
6- e.l.f. Lip Primer & Plumper

I love drugstore goodies! Rite Aid had BOGO 1/2 Wet n Wild and NYC is $1.99 everywhere. The most expensive thing was the e.l.f. studio lip plumper/primer duo for $3. Total of $15!

NYC Expert Last lipstick in Creamy Caramel (440)
Wet n Wild Mega Shield lipstick w/spf in Salsa Lessons (369S)
Wet n Wild Mega Shield lipstick w/spf in Within These Adobe Walls (372S)
Wet n Wild Mega Last lipstick in Spiked with Rum (915B)
Wet n Wild Perfect Pair Lip Wand in Passion Plum (123)








Here they are swatched. Weird how the liner from the duo
(2nd from bottom) matches the WnW lipstick right above it!

Wet n Wild Cherry Picking Lipstick


Picked this up in Target yesterday on my way home. Apparently it's very similar to Pleasure Bomb from RiRi Hearts MAC's last collection...which I missed out on, but let's not get into that.
Cherry Picking

Here's some dupes from a fellow YT Vlogger, LifeinPolish:

RiRi Hearts MAC Nude Dupe

This is one of my fav lipsticks and it sucks that it's a limited edition. I've been looking up dupes for my sister and I read that NYX's Butter and Maison were the way to go. Except Butter is a touch lighter and Maison darker. So I went to a beauty supply store yesterday and swatched them with my RiRi Nude in the middle then decided to try Maison on top of Butter and ding ding ding! Exact match. Bummer that you need to mix 2 lipsticks but the total of them both is still cheaper than one MAC lipstick.

Kifana
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Thursday, June 19, 2014

Kelly Osbourne's Riot House Lipstick for MAC


This is it with RiRi's Nude underneath, such an easier application and the color isn't that much different.


Uggghh was this ever a p.i.t.a to apply!! And the color isn't even all that! From the tube to your lip its totally different. You definitely need to exfoliate your lips prior and wear a good base as it shows all your imperfections. I have to find my MAC lip primer to try it with because it is not working out with the Avon one. I had better luck with Dodgy Girl from her collection. The lighter and more matte the color, the harder to pull off for me. I even tried with my MAC lip brush this morning and that didn't work. In the tube and swatched it looks great, on my lips, not so much. By the time I got to work it was a mess, build up on the inside, streaky. I'll have to mix it with another color, like an orange or coral. 

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

My Avon Campaign 13 Goodies

- Ideal Flawless tinted moisturizer in Toasted
- Ideal Flawless concealer stick in Ebony
- Ideal Flawless CC pencil in Deep
- Beyond Color Lip Plumping Conditioner
- mark Neon Gaze eye shadow in Orange Sizzle
- Electric lip gloss in Chill (blue). Demo, so not on website yet.
- Super Shock Brights mascara in Royal Shock (blue). Demo, so not on website yet.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks

L-R: Coral Garden, Let's Get Naked & Vintage Pink
Went to Duane Reade to fill a prescription and of course the cosmetics aisle is on the way. Noticed these lippies on sale for $3.89 each ($7.79 regular at DR, which usually has inflated prices anyway) and they apply so nice and shiny with buildable pigment. What pretty colors! I didn't want any frosts since I practically bought all of those in the Cover Girl Lip Perfection collection last summer, lol.

The description from their website says:
"Lips so cared for, true colour is maximised! Maximised, radiant colour. Innovative formula with 3 super Moisturisers. Lips feel up to 70% more hydrated and up to 60% smoother! SPF 20, Vitamins A, C and E for protected lips."


Monday, June 16, 2014

Nicka K Lipstick Swatches- Wild Colors

L-R:
Aureolin #996 (yellow)
Aqua Verde #998 (mint green)
Smalt #999 (royal blue)

Each $1 at my local beauty supply store. I was going to get some unique colors from NYX's Macaron collection for $6 each but I'm thinking for lipsticks I won't be wearing often, $1 makes more sense. They aren't matte and I'm not entirely sure that the NYX ones are either. 

With flash

Without flash

Smudged a bit

Seems as though they may be tricky to apply on the lips though. 

Update! They are! All except for the royal blue were a pain to apply. It gets streaky, then when you try to smooth it out it fades so you reapply, and so on and so forth. The lighter the color, the more imperfections you see. I didn't have my lip brush with me in the bathroom and I was lazy to get it but it would have probably helped a bit.


NYX Tea Rose Lipstick with Ever Lip Pencil


Ever lip pencil swatch, warm mauve brown
Tea Rose lipstick swatch, muted plum with blue undertones (cream)


The lipstick is from their regular Round Case Creamy Collection that retails for $4. The lip pencil was $3.
I really Iove these lipsticks, cheap and great pigment. No odor or anything. The lip liners go on smoothly as well. No tugging.


Sunday, June 15, 2014

Target Mini Haul- e.l.f & NYX Cosmetics


- e.l.f. studio Lip Exfoliator. Tried it and it's pretty great. Just make sure your lips are moist like they say otherwise it's like literally rubbing little stones on your lips :D I was going to make my own scrub with brown sugar and olive oil, but this was a lot easier. It retails for $3.
- e.l.f. studio Eyebrow Kit in Medium. Tried it and I don't feel like it did much with filling my dark brows. I like that it's a gel though, so I went over it with my regular M.A.C. Embark shadow which grabbed right on, then finished and dusted off with the lighter e.l.f. powder in the compact (right, lighter color) which is supposed to set and soften your brow and make it look more natural. Not bad for $3. I just noticed there's a "dark", they didn't have it at Target but I should probably try that one instead.
- NYX Extra Creamy Round Case lipstick in Tea Rose. Great color and I lined with their Ever slim lip pencil that I bought the day before from my local beauty supply store.
- NYX Wonder Pencil. I kind of didn't need this but like what it claims to do. I tried it and lined my lips just for kicks, didn't put on any lipstick though. I tried it under my brow and it does sharpen the look of them. I then put it in my inner bottom lid this morning and it does brighten. I guess for $4 it's not a sin to have :)

NYX Butter Lipstick in Gumdrop and liner in Pinky



I guess they knew what they were talking about when they called this butter? It goes on so nicely! Honestly, like if you were to put butter on your lips. I'm not joking :| The pigment isn't the most opaque, but I like it. It is buildable color.


Pinky Slim Lip Pencil, strawberry pink
Gumdrop Butter Lipstick, bubblegum pink







Friday, June 13, 2014

The Body Shop- My New Vitamin E Skincare Regimen

I've never been one to have a regular skincare routine. The only staple that I've been using since high school is Ponds moisturizer. I got it from my Mom who used to even use it growing up in Trinidad! In recent years I've wanted a moisturizer with SPF, so I started using Avon's Anew Rejuvenate day cream which I like. It's for the "30's age range" and frou-frou fancy in a glass jar, it's light and I love the smell. I just realized they stopped making it! Oh no! Ugggh!! Anyway, I used to use their cleanser as well however when I got a facial last year the guy who did it told me since it's a gel cleanser, it's very drying and I have dry skin, so I stopped. Lately I've been on a Body Shop kick, probably because they talked me into a Love Your Body membership this past February so I looked into their Vitamin E face line because it's made for dry skin. I started with the cream exfoliator because I used to use a cream-based cleansing scrub from St. Ives years ago that I loved and they discontinued it. I was using the scrub everyday until I mentioned that to a sales associate in the store and she said that was too much. I figured since it was a cream based scrub it couldn't be harmful. What do I know, right? So I bought their gentle face wash to use daily, then I also bought their hydrating toner, gentle facial wipes, lip treatment w/spf and overnight serum-in-oil. I just love the smell of this whole line.



My Regimen
1- Every night before my shower I remove my eye makeup with Sephora's Waterproof remover. I used this when I run out of my Yves Rocher one and can't get any from Montreal.

2- In the shower, every day except for Weds & Saturdays, I use the gentle face cleanser. On those two days I use the exfoliator. It's subtle, no huge grains that can feel scratchy. 
"A light and creamy facial scrub to gently exfoliate without irritating the skin, leaving it feeling smooth, soft and refined."

The cleanser is nice and creamy without being too thick. 
"A gentle facial wash that lathers on the skin to leave it feeling clean, soft and refreshed.
  • Wheat germ oil, one of nature's richest resouces of Vitamin E, moisturises, nourishes and helps to condition the skin.
  • Vitamin E helps to condition and protect of skin
  • Cleans the skin without drying it out
  • Helps to remove excess oil, light makeup and impurities"
I like the feel and smell of both. My face does not feel dry after using any of them.

3- Once out the shower, I use the toner with a cotton pad, sometimes twice. The toner is kind of jelly like and it's not drying like regular toners tend to be.
"A hydrating toner that removes traces of cleanser, dirt and make-up without drying the skin, leaving it feeling soft, supple and refreshed. It leaves a velvety feel on the skin."

4- Then I apply the serum and go to sleep. I love this serum! I don't know if it works, but something about applying those 5 drops to my hands then to my face makes me feel like I'm doing something!
"Wake up to beautiful skin with new Vitamin E Overnight Serum-In-Oil, a technical innovation combining the power of a serum and oil to indulge, replenish and recharge skin with moisture overnight. Learn More →
  • 8h beauty sleep for your skin
  • Skin feels recharged, replenished and softer
  • Skin looks fresher, rested and more radiant
  • Our highest concentration of wheatgerm oil
  • Non-greasy, fast-absorbing formula"
5- In the morning I apply either my Anew moisturizer or Ponds. Depends on what I'm doing or how much sun exposure I'll have. If I'm going to be lazing around home, I just put Ponds on.

I bought single-use packages of their sink-in moisture mask to try and I like it. It's like a super boost of moisture that you wipe off with a tissue when you're done. My face felt so soft after. I also recently bought the trial size of their moisture cream, haven't tried it yet though. Their lip balm is cool, it doesn't glide on as easily as some that I'm used to but I like it. It would probably make a good base for lipstick...if only I didn't misplace it :|

Now that I see my Avon moisturizer is discontinued, I'll definitely have to look into getting the Body Shop's Vitamin E SPF 15 Moisture Lotion.

So far so good and if you catch their stuff during sales, it's practically a steal!


NYX Indie Flick Matte Lipstick



Bought this at Tarjay this week because my sister is a bad influence :D It's NYX's Indie Flick from their matte collection and retails for $6. 

M.A.C.- The Osbourne Collection, Dodgy Girl Lipstick

Dodgy Girl lipstick, this time lined with NYX's Purple Rain Slim Lip Pencil


Kelly and Sharon Osbourne's MAC collection released in stores yesterday across North America. I got Kelly's Dodgy Girl lipstick (matte, light lavender) and Sharon's Patentpolish Pencil in the color Patentpink (washed out lilac) which is a high gloss. I actually got the gloss first because the first MAC I went to ran out of Dodgy Girl and after waiting about an hour in line, I felt compelled to get something. I may return it though since I'm not in the market for a $23 lipgloss :D The gloss layered on top of the lipstick is nice though. The lipstick is matte so it goes on a lot smoother than the retro matte formula and is less drying. I had to use a primer (Avon) and a liner, I used my MAC Heroine one. I like it, it goes well with my complexion. It's similar, but a little warmer than Rihanna's RiRi Boy. The casing is very pretty, a nice lavender with her signature in red. It's very a very flimsy feeling plastic though. Definitely not the same quality as the regular MAC lipstick cases or even the Rihanna collection ones. 

I also ordered Sharon's Peaches & Cream blush (satin finish, midtone peach/midtone rose, very pretty when swatched) and Kelly's Riot House lipstick (matte, light vivid orange) from Nordstrom.com. The lipstick shipped but the blush is only shipping on 06/30. I also ordered Sharon's lipglass in Pussywillow (rich gold pearl) from Bloomingdales.com, also very gorgeous in person. That shipped as well and I should be getting it today. I swatched Kelly's Strip Poker lipstick and it was way too light and chalky for my complexion. Kelly Yum-Yum is very pretty but my MAC Playland Happy-Go-Lucky lipstick is too similar. It's the satin version of the MAC matte fav, Candy Yum-Yum.  

Here's a look at the color palette I scored. Looking good:
Patentpink Patentpolish Pencil
Dodgy Girl lipstick
Peaches & Cream blush
Pussywillow lipglass

Anyone get anything from this collection?

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Sephora Collection Rouge Cream Lipstick


I went back for the other lipstick I swatched last week (top left). It's #SR43, "We Have to Talk" and I love it! It's nice and creamy with a lot of pigment. I really cannot describe the color but if I had to, I'd say it was a coral red. It's not long-wearing or matte so taking sips of coffee, it definitely transferred to the cup. It retails for $12.50. Here's the description from their website:
"What it is:
A moisturizing lipstick with a rich, glossy shine. 

What it does:
Show-off your gorgeous smile with this easy-to-wear formula that offers heightened transparency and shine. Lips will look brilliant while drenched in this collection of glossy, shimmering, and metallic hues. The Hydra-Comfort complex blend of moisturizing oils and antioxidiant vitamin E ensures optimal comfort, while nourishing and protecting your lips. The glossy shades include clear pigments and carnauba wax for a dazzling, wet-lip look. The shimmering and metallic formulas contain 3D shimmering particles and shea butter for extreme radiance. The precise product design enables a flawless lip definition and the vast array of shades will compliment your entire wardrobe."

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Wet n Wild Just Peachy 903C

I love the pigment of Wet n Wild's lipsticks but I always have a hard time making them look evenly applied on my lips. Something that doesn't seem to happen with more expensive lipsticks. Or it could be the shape of the lipstick. It's not a regular pointed lipstick. It's round and my lips are small so the point helps.
This was on sale at Rite Aid for $1.29.

My Avon C12 Goodies


From top to bottom:
- Lip Lacquer Stain in Rosy. Did a swatch and it's very opaque and shiny. 
- Extra Lasting Concealer in Chestnut. My staple is MAC.
- Ideal Flawless BB Cream in Deep. Never tried one and I think I had a sample in this and it may be too light. We'll see.
- Extra Lasting Cream-to-Powder Foundation in Earth (I have it in a darker shade, but I need it a touch lighter)

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Sephora Color Lip Last Lipstick


I felt like I needed a more pigmented coral lipstick yesterday based on the cute dress I was wearing. I have a mark one (Coral Fixation) that I love but it's more transparent, I have a Covergirl one that's also great, more pigmented, but it's a frost and I also have many glosses. I really wanted to get M.A.C.'s Sushi Kiss with a Bloomies gift card I have but they didn't have it in stock, booo. So while at JCP making a return, I went to Sephora and got the upper right one with my Sephora gift card, not sure if it's really coral, it may be more in the pink family but it's what I was looking for. It's their Color Lip Last in #15 and it's $13. I just checked online and it has a name! And it's coral! LOL. It's called Coral Calling ("bright coral orange") and it goes on easy and pigmented and has the pleasant smell that all Sephora lippies seem to have. It also does seem to last. I went out to dinner and it was still on when I was done. Here's how it's described on the Sephora website, which I found after writing my impression. I'd say it does what it's supposed to:
"What it is:
A radiant lipstick that lasts up to 10 hours with an incredibly comfortable feel. 

What it does:
This exclusive, multitasking formula locks in color and provides comfortable wear for a beautiful pout that lasts. The high-coverage pigments distribute intense color and are mixed with a setting agent that acts as a base for the lips. The ultra-thin texture feels light and the waterproof formula makes it refreshingly smudge-proof."
Not so bright in this pic

My lighting was a little off when I took the pic of it on my lips, so I'm feeling it more in the swatch. I may go back for the bottom one which is their Luster Matte in Coral Luster, it's in a gloss format but apparently goes on matte, it's $16. I feel like that's more orange though. What do you think?

06/05/14
Here's a better shot