Makeup Withdrawal

NYX HD High Definition Eye Shadow Base

Sunday, May 5, 2013

I'll admit that when I bought this NYX eye primer, I was being cheap. I had just run out of my beloved LORAC Behind The Scenes Eye Primer and saw that NYX HD High Definition Eye Shadow Base was only $6.99 (plus it was BOGO50% off and I had a coupon), it felt like a steal. I briefly checked the reviews on MakeupAlley and saw four lipsticks (out of five)- not too shabby!

I think I've mentioned countless times already how much I hate doe footed primers (and concealers, anything but gloss really) so the packaging is not my cup of tea. It is however, very sturdy, I've had it for about six months and the white lettering is barely starting to fade and it is not drying out in the least bit.

This primer is a nude in color but blends out completely to become translucent. It feels a bit more fluid than other primers that I've tried so far.

I do like this primer quite a bit but with one caveat. When ever I apply this to my lids, it does seem to take a bit longer to dry than other primers. With larger arm swatches it is a bit more noticeable, it seems to stay a bit slick and silicone-y which can be a problem. Unless I blot first, I've noticed that brushes can pick up the "wetness" and transfer it back into the pan, creating that dreaded hard glazed surface on your eye shadow. For me, a quick blot with tissue or blotting paper to remove the excess slip solves the problem but I could see how for oilier eyes this might be an early indication that this primer might not be the best.

Here's a few comparisons.

The NYX swatches definitely look the darkest, since it is so wet. Actually now that I compare swatches, I think that in terms of shadow intensifying ability, the e.l.f. (and I mean the $1 one, not the one from the Mineral line) and the NARS look a lot a like.

For me, it's like Goldilocks and the Three Bears. NARS Pro Prime Smudge Proof Eye Base is too drying, NYX HD Eye Shadow Base is too oily but LORAC Behind The Scenes Eye Primer is just right. However, since the NYX is so cheap, I don't mind using it for arm swatches and taking that extra two seconds to lightly blot before applying shadow.

I'm so glad that there are way more options for drugstore eye shadow primers now than there were a few years ago. Prestige, Fergie by Wet'n'Wild, etc have finally made budget friendly primers. Have you tried any drugstore primers? Like, dislike?

Products featured were purchased by me, for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Zoya Summer 2013 Stunning Collection

Saturday, May 4, 2013

It's Zoya time! Last week I received the two Zoya summer polish sets. Today I'll be showing you the Stunning set which contains cremes and like-cremes.

There are six shades. Four of these shades have the finest white silver shimmer that is barely visible in the bottle, there just happened to be thin veins of it running through the polish. This shimmer is not really visible on the nail but it does give the polish an extra shiny look. They look like cremes, they apply like cremes. So I'm calling them like-cremes.

Darcy. Three coats. Like-creme. Pure yellow color. A little on the streaky side, but three coats evened it out.

Thandie. Three coats. Medium orange color. Also has that fine pearly shimmer.

Micky. Three coats. Again, fine shimmer. Bubble gum pink, but not too bright looking.

Yana. Bright magenta-pink. Three coats, again having the barely discernible shimmer.

Rocky. Two coats. A light, robin's egg blue but slightly faded. Pure creme.

Josie. Two coats. A lighter green that is almost a little bit jade. Another pure creme.

All together, the formula on these were good, not great. The colors with the slight shimmer were a bit fussy, they didn't level all too well until the third coat. I liked the two pure cremes though, Josie and Rocky. All of the shades (except Yana) had this slight faded quality to them. They sort of remind me of the colors used in 60's advertising (or perhaps I've been watching too much Mad Men).

Zoya Stunning polishes are $8 and can be purchased at Zoya.com
All Zoya shades are Big 5 free!

Which shades are your favorite?

Products featured were sent to me for review. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

L'Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Power Moisture Moisture Rush Mask

Friday, May 3, 2013

Long time no haircare post, no? Recently I picked up a tub of L'Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Moisture Rush Mask from the Power Moisture line. I'd been running low on my beloved Design Essentials Express Instant Moisturizing Conditioner treatment so when I saw that the L'Oreal Moisture Rush Mask was on sale for $5.99 and I had a two dollar off coupon, I was very eager to try it. I had read great reviews on it on MakeupAlley (4.5/5 lipsticks) but more importantly I saw that it was touted as a hyaluronic treatment. I love hyaluronic acid for my skin so I hoped that it would do great things for my hair.

The L'Oreal Moisture Rush Mask comes in a solid 8.5 fl oz tub. It's lightweight, almost watery gel-like in consistency. It is a pretty mint shade, the same color as the outside packaging. The scent is your typical ubiquitous drugstore hair product fragrance, mild and to me rather pleasant. It doesn't linger once you've used the mask and dried your hair.

The application is pretty straight forward, apply to your hair after shampooing instead of conditioner. Rinse out after 3-5 minutes. It recommends using it with the Power Moisture Shampoo, which I also have been using. I don't think it makes too much of a difference which shampoo you use, but to be honest I quite like the Power Moisture Shampoo despite it having sodium laureth sulfate.

My hair is color treated and quite dry at the ends. Since I have problems with limp, volume-less hair, I didn't apply it on my scalp the first time as to not weigh my hair down. Instead I applied it midway down the hair shaft and was extremely generous with it at my ends. I shouldn't have worried, the formula is really lightweight and once I rinsed it out and dried my hair, I didn't feel any sort of residual heaviness or stickiness. Just soft, silky hair that was not parched for moisture like it had been previously.

Overall, I really love the L'Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Moisture Rush Mask. It does a great job of softening and moisturizing my hair. However, I feel like it is not quite as good as my HG Design Essentials Express, but it is close. It is however cheaper (Design Essentials Express is $9.99 for 6 fl oz at Ulta), especially with constant drugstore sales and coupons, so I will be incorporating into my haircare regime more often.

Now I really also want to try the L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm, which is a protein treatment. Have you tried any products from the different L'Oreal Advanced Haircare lines? What did you think?

Products featured were purchased by me, for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Rainy Day Manicure

Thursday, May 2, 2013

It's funny, I had all these blue polish in front of me and wanted to do a manicure that was moody. Truth is, I can't even remember the last time it rained here! Oh well.

I wish this manicure turned out a bit better than it actually did. I did the sprinkled nails method on my ring finger with glitter sponged on the tip, it looked cool in person but lumpy in photos.

I used: Nfu Oh 61, Laquerlicious Washed Denim*,Wet'n'Wild Black Creme, Pure Ice French Twist**, Pure Ice Blue Midnight**, American Apparel Redondo Beach. I also used Winstonia W113*.

All in all, a manicure that looked better in person... but still was just 'meh' to me.

*indicates a product sent for review. ** indicates a product I won in a giveaway.

Revisited: LORAC Snake Charmer Palette + FOTD

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Hi folks,

I decided to start a new series of FOTDs featuring old palettes that need some love that I might have reviewed before. I wouldn't say that this palette is neglected, it just doesn't pop up in my rotation as often as it should. I don't know if you can see the dips in the pans, but this palette has definitely been used quite a bit over the approximately three years that I've had it.

The four shadows and blush are quite pigmented. The shimmery/metallic shadows are very buttery, and the blush is a really buildable. The whole palette leans quite warm (something quite common in a lot of LORAC's palettes). I love how travel friendly this palette is, very study. In fact all my LORAC palettes accompany me often on trips.

I did the "gradient" eye look, essentially using the lighter colors closer to my brows and the darker shades by my lash line.

I used:

Brows: NARS Bali, NYX Brow Shaper, MUFE Full Cover (for sculpting)

Face: MUFE Full Cover, MUFE HD + Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk, Laura Mercier Bronzing Powder in Dune, Sephora Collection Mattfying Foundation Powder, blush from LORAC Snake Charmer

Eyes: LORAC Behind The Scenes Eye Primer, LORAC Snake Charmer, Prestige Total Intensity Deepest Black liner, Milani Grandissmo mascara

Lips: Revlon Lip Butter in Brule

Do you have any favorite palettes that you like to bring on trips?

Products featured were purchased by me for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.