NYX LIP LINGERIE IN 'BABY DOLL' AND 'EMBELLISHMENT'

…..
Introducing…..
2015's Biggest Disappointment Award…
….to NYX's Lip Lingeries!!

I got swayed into loving these from Mariah from TheGalsGuide and was so so so so so excited for so so so so so long to get these in the mail from Ulta (especially Embellishment) but wow. What a let down. I actually wanted these so badly that I got impatient on Saturday (I got my package the following Tuesday) and searched at FIVE CVS stores around my city and spent a huge chunk of time driving far out from where I actually live looking for these and all of the stores either didn't carry them yet or were reworking their NYX section of their makeup aisle so everything was "in the back" and for some reason were unable to track them down for me back there.

I get my package on Tuesday and I immediately throw on Baby Doll to see how it looks. To my surprise, I actually liked the color on me. I figured I was going to need to exchange it for another tone. It actually looked great but.. as I went to add a second layer since the first wasn't fully covering my lips, I realized the product was sticking to itself. Eventually, my lips were sticking to themselves. Figuring that I was only supposed to be putting one layer of product on, I went to take it off and reapply.

Well. This shit doesn't come off. Not in a "omg wow this stuff doesn't come off even when I eat a sandwich with it!!!' it just didn't come off. Not with water. Not with makeup remover. Barely even with RUBBING ALCOHOL. These seem to be very similar to the Jeffree Star and Anastasia liquid lipsticks (from what I've heard) and maybe I'm just not the type to like these stick-and-stay-on-for-days products but.. I didn't like 'em. Chalk five on the disappointment board. Here are the colors on the lip pre-sticking:

I then figured maybe 'Baby Doll' was just formulated poorly. Nope. 'Embellishment' was just as bad. Which blows because the colors are really cool and I was really digging this line before trying them out. Oh well. You win some, you lose some. These definitely were losers and are going straight back to Ulta where they came from, sadly. I'll leave the severe liquid lipstick trend to the men and women of Instagram.

Have you guys tried any of these Lip Lingeries out? Did you have the same issues I had? PLEASE let me know because I am so baffled!

LORAC POCKET PRO PALETTE

After a sudden surge of feeling dramatic and creative, I've been playing around with a lot of eyeshadow looks that involve taking the shadow out further out and attempting the "soft wing" trend. My Urban Decay shadows just haven't been cutting it and I realized that I really missed the blendability and depth of my deeper LORAC shadows.

I decided to pick up this lil' baby LORAC Pocket Pro Palette from Ulta. It's the only three shades I would ever need to create a simple, go-to, every day look. In the same shipment I also got a Z Palette. Let's just say… depotting LORAC shadows is a big no-no. They're too soft. I lost a lot of shadow in the depotting process but hey, what can ya do. I definitely didn't want to have to keep track of this tiny mini palette. That being said, I took some pictures before I ruined them for good:

And just because I know that those pictures don't mean anything unless you can see what they look like swatched and applied, here are some photos of these beautiful shadows in action:

It's unbelievable how buttery "Nude" and "Espresso" are. I don't know how LORAC does soft, pigmented shimmery nudes so well but man, they definitely are the best.

This trio has been needing to join my army for awhile and now that they have, they will be stars on days where I don't want to think about my shadow combos. They blend in an instant, complement each other so nicely and pair well with any cheek/lip combo.

MAKEUP OF THE DAY - 2/27/16

Eyes: 

-Benefit Stay Don't Stray primer

-Urban Decay eyeshadows in "Sin", "Busted", "Tease" and "Blackout"

-NYX Roll-on shimmer in "Salmon"

-Stila Stay All Day liquid liner

-MAC False Lashes Extreme mascara

-Urban Decay eyeshadow in "Secret Service" (brows)

Face:

-Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer in "Fair"

-MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural in "Light"

-MAC Pro Longwear concealer in "NW15"

-MAC Studio Sculpt Defining powder in "Delicates"

-NYX blush in "Taupe" (as blush for once)

-Colourpop Super Shock highlighter in "Lunch Money"

-KIKO Milano Beam of Light highlighter in "01"

-NYX Dewy Finish setting spray

Lips:

-Colourpop Lippie Stix in "Tootsi"

-Maybelline ColorSensational in "Bare All"

This is my first try for this new "monochromatic" makeup trend that I've seen popping up everywhere. How does it look? Is it even monochromatic…. oh well. I tried. Hope you like it!

MAYBELLINE COLORSENSATIONAL VIVIDS MATTE LIQUID LIPSTICKS

The one downfall to traveling is that if you forget to pack something, you're screwed. Sure, you can go buy a replacement of what you forgot but what's the point of buying something you already own just for a couple of uses before you're back home? This was the dilemma I had while I was visiting home for the winter holidays. I desperately wanted a light, bright, warm pink lip for my New Year's Eve outfit that I had planned. The problem being that I brought home all of my dark winter shades instead of my plethora of pinks. I had forced myself into the repurchasing dilemma. I decided that I was going to go out and buy a new pink but it needed to be a new product that I had never tried so that I could sort of excuse the repurchasing.

Enter the new products of this winter. I went to Ulta three times. CVS. Rite Aid. Finally I wandered into Walgreens looking for another product that I believed had the right shade I was looking for. This is after two trips to Ulta and one more to return the Maybelline lipsticks that were too cool-toned (I didn't want MAC St. Germain. I wanted a warm, bubblegum pink.) While I didn't find the product I was looking for, I found THESE. The new Maybelline Colorsensational Vivids Matte Liquid lipsticks. What a mouthful.

I was suckered in by the bright, unique purple shade and sold when I found my perfect bubblegum pink. I didn't have these. I hadn't even ventured into the liquid lipstick world yet. That purple was unlike anything I'd ever seen by a major drugstore brand. These were made for me.

I picked up the two shades of 'Pink Charge' and 'Vivid Violet' and ran home. Well, hobbled home. I'm in a walking boot and had crutches from a surgery I had just had. That's a story for another time. These guys are exactly what I was looking for— and I didn't even realize that I was looking for until after I bought them.

The name suggests a matte product. I have to say, they don't mattify. If you put little to no product on your lips they will a little but you won't get the coverage or payoff that you should and would get by layering a few coats. However, the finish that these have is pleasurable in that they don't dry out your lips and they don't get tacky while still remaining thick. The color payoff is ridiculous and the staying time is decent— I found that I needed to reapply after a few hours. Which I didn't mind. So while the name suggests matte, don't go into these thinking you're getting a matte product and you won't be disappointed. The color range is fabulous and the price point is a typical Maybelline price of about $8 depending on where you pick them up.

I love Maybelline. They're my favorite drug store brand and this product sold me even further on them.