NYX Lip Product Swatches – Jumbo Lip Pencils

Hey Everyone!

Today I am continuing my nyx lip product swatches, focusing on the jumbo lip pencils. In a previous post I swatched the Round Lipsticks, so check those out!

For reference I am NC35-40 in MAC and for Face & Body foundation I am C4. Right now I am leaning toward the end of that spectrum because I have some color from the sun.

Jumbo Lip Pencils:

Iced Coffee:

Iced Coffee sheer application up close 1

Iced Coffee sheer application 1

Iced Coffee sheer application up close 2

Iced Coffee sheer application 2

Iced Coffee opaque application up close 1

Iced Coffee opaque application 1

Iced Coffee opaque application up close 2

Iced Coffee opaque application 2

Iced Coffee is a strange color opaquely applied. It is very brown toned and I feel it doesn’t go well with my skin tone. Perhaps it might look better on dark skin or fair skin. Applied with a sheer coat however is perfect for a nude lip.

Fuchsia:

Fuchsia sheer application up close 1

Fuchsia sheer application 1

Fuchsia sheer application up close 2

Fuchsia sheer application 2

Fuchsia opaque application up close 1

Fuchsia opaque application 1

Fuchsia opaque application up close 2

Fuchsia opaque application 2

Fuchsia is not what you would expect at all! You would think it would be a bright pink but instead it is a neutral mauve. I feel this color may not suit my skin tone all that well. But I am not used to these type of mauve colors, so it may just be that.

Chaos:

Chaos sheer application up close 1

Chaos sheer application 1

Chaos sheer application up close 2

chaos sheer application 2

Chaos opaque application up close 1

chaos opaque application 1

chaos opaque application up close 2

chaos opaque application 2

Chaos is a bright barbie pink color! I think it will work for any skin tone and doesn’t make your teeth look yellow. 😀

Plush Red:

Plush Red sheer application up close

Plush Red sheer application 1

Plush Red sheer application 2

Plush Red opaque application up close 1

Plush Red opaque application 1

Plush Red opaque application up close 2

Plush Red opaque application 2

Plush Red is a gorgeous, bright red color. It doesn’t make your teeth look yellow and is a definite showstopper! Definitely recommended.

Burgundy:

Burgundy sheer application up close 1

Burgundy sheer application 1

Burgundy sheer application up close 2

Burgundy sheer application 2

Burgundy opaque application up close 1

Burgundy opaque application 1

Burgundy opaque application up close 2

Burgundy opaque application 2

Burgundy is a dark prune-ish color. Great for the bold, dark lip, bare face look.

Makeup worn in all the pictures:

MAC Face & Body Foundation C4

Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Medium

MAC Prep + Prime Loose Powder

MAC MSF natural Medium-Deep

NYX Cream blush Natural

NYC Bronzer Sunny

Maybelline Color Tattoo Bronze

L’oreal Voluminous Carbon Black

I put on more powder than I would normally wear because in the photos the flashback would make me look sweaty. lol

Overall:

These jumbo lip pencils are very slippery. They are very comfortable to wear because they feel like a gloss rather than a balm or pencil. However, because of this, they easily slip all over. If you have problems with feathering this may not be worth the trouble, considering the whole point of the lip pencil is easy application and hassle-free. Like the round lipsticks, if you use these with a lip liner and blot they’re lasting power is dramatically increased. The good thing is they are easy to reapply and convenient to shove in a small purse to go out. Let me know what you guys think of these if you have them.

~~ Andrea

NYX Lip Product Swatches – Round Lipsticks

Hey Everyone!!

In the next few posts I will showcase to you my NYX lip product collection. I have accumulated these over several purchases in random stores or off www.cherryculture.com during sales of 30% or 40% off.

For reference I am NC35-40 in MAC and for Face & Body foundation I am C4. Right now I am leaning toward the end of that spectrum because I have some color from the sun.

NYX Round Lipsticks:

B52:

NYX Round Lipstick B52 sheerly applied 1

NYX Round Lipstick B52 sheerly applied 2

NYX Round Lipstick B52 sheerly applied close up 1

NYX Round Lipstick B52 sheerly applied close up 2

NYX Round Lipstick B52 opaque application 1

NYX Round Lipstick B52 opaque application 2

NYX Round Lipstick B52 opaque application close up

NYX Round Lipstick B52 opaque application close up

When B52 is applied less opaque but not too sheer it can achieve the my lips but better look for those with pigmented lips like mine. If applied opaquely you can see it has a very purple-ish tone to it which I think would make it great for Fall! Despite the tone it is very wearable.

Tea Rose:

NYX Round Lipstick Tea Rose sheerly applied 1

NYX Round Lipstick Tea Rose sheerly applied 2

NYX Round Lipstick Tea Rose sheerly applied close up

NYX Round Lipstick Tea Rose sheerly applied close up

NYX Round Lipstick Tea Rose opaque application 1

NYX Round Lipstick Tea Rose opaque application 2

NYX Round Lipstick Tea Rose opaque up close 1

NYX Round Lipstick Tea Rose opaque up close 2

Tea Rose is a very pretty, soft pink that can be used in any look any time of the year. It can tone down a smokey eye or complement a natural day to day look.

Indian Pink:

NYX Round Lipstick Indian Pink sheerly applied 1

NYX Round Lipstick Indian Pink sheerly applied 2

NYX Round Lipstick Indian Pink sheerly applied up close 1

NYX Round Lipstick Indian Pink sheerly applied 2

NYX Round Lipstick Indian Pink opaque application 1

NYX Round Lipstick Indian Pink opaque application 2

NYX Round Lipstick Indian Pink opaque application close up 1

NYX Round Lipstick Indian Pink opaque close up 2

When I first got Indian Pink I was disappointed because I didn’t realize that it had gold shimmer in it. I am not a fan of lip products with shimmer and/or especially glitter! (It tends to get all over my face lol) This is the only lipstick in this post that has shimmer. But I love the coral color it gives and for the Summer it is a perfect color to complement a tan and I’ve begun to like the gold shimmer because it is not to noticeable.

Femme:

NYX Round Lipstick Femme sheerly applied 1

NYX Round Lipstick Femme sheerly applied 2

NYX Round Lipstick Femme sheer close up1

NYX Round Lipstick Femme sheer close up 2

NYX Round Lipstick Femme opaque application 1

NYX Round Lipstick Femme opaque application 2

NYX Round Lipstick Femme opaque up close 1

NYX Round Lipstick Femme opaque close up 2

Femme is definitely a neon coral! I think it’s perfect for Summer and sheered out very wearable.

Chic Red:

NYX Round Lipstick Chic Red sheerly applied 1

NYX Round Lipstick Chic Red sheerly applied 2

NYX Round Lipstick Chic Red sheer up close 1

NYX Round Lipstick Chic Red sheer up close 2

NYX Round Lipstick Chic Red opaque 1

NYX Round Lipstick Chic Red opaque 2

NYX Round Lipstick Chic Red opaque up close 1

NYX Round Lipstick Chic Red opaque up close 2

Chic Red is a blue undertone red-pink color. I’ve worn this on New Year’s Eve and to a bridal shower and got many compliments! I think this color would look great on any skin tone and is the perfect modern red! Also, because it is more blue toned it doesn’t make teeth look yellow at all. If you are planning on getting a red lipstick but are clueless as to which and don’t want to shell out on higher end brands I think this is a GREAT pick! Applied with lip liner underneath and blotted it can last all day (without disturbance like eating/drinking). Even if it does fade its easy to reapply and not drying on the lips which is very comfortable to wear.

Snow White:

NYX Round Lipstick Snow White sheerly applied 1

NYX Round Lipstick Snow White sheerly applied 2

NYX Round Lipstick Snow White sheer up close 1

NYX Round Lipstick Snow White sheer up close 2

NYX Round Lipstick Snow White opaque application 1

NYX Round Lipstick Snow White opaque application 2

NYX Round Lipstick Snow White opaque up close 1

NYX Round Lipstick Snow White opaque up close 2

Snow White is a classic deep red which is neutral in tone. It will definitely suit any skin tone. I think this would look great on during the Fall when people tend to go for the deeper lip colors. If blotted/powdered it can look like a retro red look.

Black Cherry:

NYX Round Lipstick Black Cherry sheerly applied 1

NYX Round Lipstick Black Cherry sheerly applied 2

NYX Round Lipstick Black Cherry sheer up close 1

NYX Round Lipstick Black Cherry sheer up close 2

NYX Round Lipstick Black Cherry opaque application 1

NYX Round Lipstick Black Cherry opaque application 2

NYX Round Lipstick Black Cherry opaque up close 1

NYX Round Lipstick Black Cherry opaque up close 2

Black Cherry is a deep red-burgundy color. It is beautiful and would be great for Fall.

Makeup worn in all the pictures:

MAC Face & Body Foundation C4

Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Medium

MAC Prep + Prime Loose Powder

MAC MSF natural Medium-Deep

NYX Cream blush Natural

NYC Bronzer Sunny

Maybelline Color Tattoo Bronze

L’oreal Voluminous Carbon Black

I put on more powder than I would normally wear because in the photos the flashback would make me look sweaty. lol

Overall:

I think these lipsticks shown would suit any skin tone and I took a long time to pick the colors based on many people’s swatches and opinions. All the lipsticks generally last a few hours but because of their creamy, smooth nature they can fade easily. They come off very easily when eating or drinking, as well. To help these lipsticks last I usually wear a lip liner underneath. For long lasting coverage I use the Lisa Eldridge method where you use a lip liner to fill in the whole lip, lipstick, blot, lipstick, blot, and lipstick again. This really does work! And it works for any lipstick!

Hope you liked the post I included many pictures showing my whole face and up close with teeth showing because I hate it when I can only see one or the other! I like to see a well rounded look of the swatch haha. Make sure you come back to see the next posts for the Jumbo Lip pencils and the lip liners.

~~ Andrea

Dove Clinical Protection Review

Hey everyone!

I was at Target last week getting a few things that I ran out of and headed straight for the beauty clearance section. LOL I always check it out in case I see any great deals. Well I ended up seeing a bunch of Dove’s Clinical Protection deodorants on sale. They came in different smells but I chose the Clear Tone one because it said it would also help to lighten the dark parts of my pits! These were only $5.45 and came with a mini attached I hurried and bought one to try out.

Clearance at Target, Dove Clinical Protection Clear Tone deodorant/anti-perspirant

Clearance at Target, Dove Clinical Protection Original Clean Mini (attached to full size Clear Tone)

I have used Secret’s pH Balanced deodorant in spring breeze for about 6-7 years now. I like the smell and thought it definitely helped me out the most when it came to body odor and sweating. I never thought I was one who needed a clinical deodorant but have always thought I would like to try one. I am a heavy sweater, profusely at times, which is embarrassing and not to mention I do get stinky! Most deodorants I have tried (even another Dove one) have never been able to control the odor, which is my main concern. Some wouldn’t even last a few hours! So, I didn’t have high hopes for this but I am glad I was wrong!

This is labeled as a deodorant and anti-perspirant, which I think it does both VERY well! It comes in a twist up package like most, but is not a solid. It twists up as a liquid/foam and then you can spread it under your arms. It was a little strange for me since I am so used to solids. I got used to it fast though. It has a pleasant scent which isn’t overpowering. It smells a little like baby powder. The first time I used it I wore it for two days (I was at home the second day not leaving the house at all so I thought I would shower at night to see the lasting power).

Dove Clinical Protection Clear Tone

Dove Clinical Protection Clear Tone

The first day I wore it I had a final and it was rainy and humid out all day. When it is humid out, my sweating goes from normal to DRENCH mode! Someone even asked me if I was okay because I looked awkward. I think he was just trying to be nice because my face was dripping wet! I don’t know why the humidity does that to me but needless to say it was a great day to test it out!

The second day wasn’t really humid anymore but I was doing many things around the house which caused me to work up a sweat since we didn’t have the air conditioning on. This is cause in NJ the weather is crazy and it’s hot one day and cold the next! Thank you Spring!

The night of the second day I smelled myself and barely smelled at all! Not to mention the deodorant lasted the whole time too! I even made my boyfriend smell and he was like WOW that is amazing! HAHA

After about a week, I’ve noticed that it also isn’t as drying as my other deodorant is which is really nice on my armpits. Especially since it’s getting warmer out and I’ll be shaving more often, they will be happy that they don’t get dried out on top of the irritation from shaving! As for the lightening of the dark pits, I don’t really have dark pits to begin with and I haven’t been using it for long enough to see if it did anything.

Anyways, I definitely recommend this to anyone who tends to smell a bit more than usual, sweats more than usual, or for anyone in the Summer. I know some Targets have different sale items but check your local one to see if they are on sale there, if not I’m sure you can find one online. Also, if you buy 2 deodorants or more at Target they give you $5 gift cards! Since I went back and bought 4 more for the summer my bf ended up getting $10! 😀 Check it out and let me know what you think of it in the comments! 😀

TL;DR– If you sweat/smell more than usual, whether in the Summer or all year long, def try this out!

~~Andrea

Il Baretto : Restaurant Review

Il Baretto is located in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC. My friend Bianca and I decided on a whim to go there for lunch during IMATS which was around the corner from this place. We were famished and could not wait to sit down and rest for a bit while satisfying our appetite. One of the reviewers on yelp said it was a “hidden gem” and it had 5 stars from a good amount of people. I was hoping our experience would be the same…

and it was!

This place is very small, but super cozy with a great ambiance. They had a few tables to sit at as well as a coffee table penisula-d in by a  couch and some chairs for those who just wanted some wine, good company and a light dish. Bianca and I chose a table and the server brought us fresh water in a vase while we searched the menu. I decided to go with a half salad/half soup combo (think Panera) consisting of their Spinaci salad: spinach, avocado, sesame, cherry tomatoes and provolone and their soup of the day: mushroom lentil soup and a Sweet Alessia which is an espresso with hot chocolate, milk and whipped cream. Bianca went for a chicken salad wrap and a coffee.

After receiving our food, freshly ground pepper was offered to us for our meals, which I took advantage of 😀 The salad was fresh with a good amount of avocado (which I love!) and I fell in love with the mushroom lentil soup. The soup was a dark forest green, not your typical pea soup green, with black flecks which were probably spices. It had great texture for a creamier soup, no lumps or chewy bits which worked well for this soup because the flavors melded together better rather than tasting each flavor individually. And the taste was that of a delicious pea soup with a meatier flavor from the mushrooms. I could also taste a hint of olive oil which was refreshing and gave it a better smoother texture. In the end I ordered a second bowl of the soup on its own it was THAT delicious. The sweet alessia was perfect, it had just the right amount of bitter and sweet for me!

Bianca and I spent hours at this place just chatting away and catching up since it had been a while since we saw each other. All that time no one rushed us out or made us order anything more, very inviting, relaxing at home atmosphere. For those of you, like myself, who drink a ton of water and need to frequent the bathroom quite often you’ll be happy to know that the bathroom at Il Baretto was clean and had a cute mirrored dresser. The service was great and the prices for everything were very reasonable for New York City!

Overall, I’d definitely say check this place out if you are in the vicinity! You will not be disappointed!! 😀

~~Andrea

Linda’s Bra Salon- Review

::UPDATE

After a week or so of wearing the bra I bought from Linda’s, it didn’t fit correctly at all. Now that I have measured myself and found I am a 34G/GG, I don’t understand how they could have fitted me so incorrectly. Linda’s blog and their calculator actually came close to the size I am but in person they fitted me into a 34DD. That is FOUR cup sizes TOO SMALL. That is ridiculous. I expected more from them as they are so famous and Linda apparently appears to know what she’s doing. I really don’t understand it. Anyways girls, you are better off measuring yourself. Check out my Are You Wearing the Right Bra Size post for more info on how to fit yourself.

 

END UPDATE::

 

Hey everyone!

In my last post I talked about bra sizes and how to find a bra that fits correctly. In my research I found Linda’s Bra Salon and the fabulous Linda’s Blog. Being able to read her posts made me realize she definitely knew what she was talking about when it came to bra fittings. I only say this because I recently went to a bra salon in NJ and the owner who has been a fitter for many years was horrible! After reading so many of Linda’s great posts and feeling like I got to know her, I decided I needed to check this place out for myself. I shared one of the salon’s youtube videos featured on Look TV with my friends, including Bianca’s Beauty Book and Ashes to Ashes, and we all decided to book appointments and get fitted, which was so much fun!

My friends and I went to the Murray Hill store which we chose purely because it was closer to Penn Station than the one on the Upper East Side. Linda’s staff was great at accommodating so many of us at the same time (5 in total). When you first walk in, the store looks so pretty and there are couches to sit on while you wait. When they are ready they take you in the back and put you in a dressing room with curtains in a circular pattern, which was fun for my friends and I because we could all communicate across to each other.

My fitter came in and measured my back size without my shirt on and then told me to take my bra off, yikes! I was a little nervous to say the least but they see this all the time so, you can really tell they are used to it which makes you feel more at ease. I was surprised that the fitters didn’t take any of our bust measurements yet they got bra sizes that fit well for all of us. That is how you can tell they are great fitters! They don’t even need to measure, they can just tell by looking!

My fitter brought me seven bras in total to try on 3 being sheer cups, three molded and one strapless. The strapless was upon my request and was one of the only ones I could try on, due to their limited stock before the Spring collection arrives. Unfortunately my friends didn’t get as many to try on for some reason. I liked the fact that for each bra I tried on, the fitter made sure to make all the adjustments so they fit me well and then left me to my own to try them on multiple times and see which ones I would like to take home. My friends and I were a little disappointed that all the bras we all tried on were in nude or black, no fun patterns or colors.

In the end, I decided to take three bras home with me: the Affinitas Parfait Jeanie Plunge Molded Bra and two of the Natori Feathers Contour Plunge Bra in a black and a nude. I paid $40 for the Affinitas bra, but $68 each for the Natori bra which on the site is $64. The store was out of the black Natori Bra so they are shipping it free to my house, which was very nice. They also had us fill out personal cards for future reference on what bras we bought for our next visit.

Overall, the whole experience at the store was very memorable and I will definitely be going back! If you can’t or don’t want to make the trip to NYC you can always check out her website too. It’s also nice that the bras have “fitting support” which allows you to see if the bra runs big or small in either the band or cup size. The one thing missing from the site is a review section for each individual bra. If you can’t go and try the bra on I definitely recommend to look for reviews which will have to be done on other sites.

TL;DR — Anyways, check Linda’s out if you can! And check out my friends Ashley and Bianca!

~~ Andrea