NYX Liquid Liner Review

So, I had been using Kat Von D liquid black liner, and then it ran out. And I was broke. So I bought this instead, because its way cheaper. I can't remember exactly when I bought it, but it was quite a while ago, Summer 2012 at least, so there's a plus. Shit lasts forever, but I guess that depends on how much you're putting on each day. But I put on a small-medium amount EVERY day, and only now am I starting to need to shake the bottle to get product onto the brush.

It goes on smoothly, and I find I don't have to stretch my eyelid out to get a smooth even line. It also stays put through most things; its not waterproof, but I've cried with it on and it stays in place. Same with small amounts of moisture, like light drizzles. I only put it on my upper lid though, and I wear glasses, so that might be why. Its also a super dense black, which is nice.

Now... I'm not a liquid liner extraordinaire or anything. I'm pretty handy, but it has taken me almost the entire time of owning this liner to get any kind of decent at applying it. I was pretty good right off the bat with the Kat Von D that I was using previously, and the MAC felt tip pen I had before that. And the MAC gel liner I had before that. But... this one, I kinda feel like a moron. I suspect its the fact that the bristles of the brush are long. This can work to your advantage, but coming from the Kat Von D, it took a lot of getting used to. I also have a lot of trouble getting just a razor thin line, like I'll get one eye done and completely fuck up the other one, and thus have to make the line really thick to cover up the mistakes. I really don't know what the deal is. Although, I suspect when I eventually go back to one of the above eyeliners, I'll be really good at applying liner.

Overall, I'd say I recommend it, but be prepared for a learning curve. I think its like $6 at Ulta, but I couldn't find it on the NYX website, so it might be discontinued and they're just selling off the rest of the stock. For the price, its pretty good stuff.

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Day Long Review: Moisturizer

So, all of last year I was unemployed. And it was awful. Being unable to afford decent moisturizer (and not wanting to slather mineral oil laden drugstore brand all over my face) I made do with whatever samples I had lying around. There was Algenist, Origins, Philosophy and others. I actually managed to make do without doing any damage to my skin. 

Now that I have a job, I've set out to find a new moisturizer for my terribly oily skin. After doing some research, I decided I'd give Clinique another go, despite my hatred of their "Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion". Apparently the gel version of the same is a completely different story. I tried it on my hand in Sephora and actually liked the finish it gave once it dried. But I asked the very nice and personable sales lady for a sample first, since I don't want to commit to something and then hate it. 

So today I'm doing a day long review. Before starting, I'll mention what I'm also wearing as far as makeup:
Eyes: Inglot eyeshadows in various shades, NYX liquid eyeliner (look for a review on this soon), Smashbox Hyperlash Mascara.
Lips: Sephora + Pantone Universe Gloss Brilliant Dazzling Lipgloss in Peony
Face: Urban Decay Setting Spray - Deslick, Cover FX mattifying primer, Gorgeous Cosmetics foundation, Urban Decay concealer pencil, Inglot powder and blush, Urban Decay setting spray (again)

6:10 am: I like the gel consistency. I apply moisturizer with my fingers and tend to rub it over the pads of my three middle fingers on each hand in order to apply it evenly. With most lotion type moisturizers, this action can cause my usually dry hands to soak up some of the moisture, with the gel, that didn't happen, so I got the full dose onto my face. This probably means the stuff will go pretty far and I won't need a ton. All the tightness from cleansing in the shower was gone, but I didn't feel greasy or the need to really rub it into my skin.



8:08 am:

I put my makeup on at about 6:30 this morning, and its holding up pretty well. You'll have to forgive the terrible office lighting making me look a little like a corpse. What I'm looking for is for the moisturizer to not make my face feel like an oily mess by the end of the day (like the last sample I was using, handed to me by some lady at a kiosk in Arundel Mills Mall. Think its called Vivo or something like that. TERRIBLE) 

11:00 AM: Makeup's been on for about 4 and a half hours now. Weird to think I'm one of those people who gets up that early... But whatever. The picture is not really doing a good job of showing it, but the amount of oil is pretty low. I can see it starting to build up on my nose, but it seems to be staying put on the rest of my face. And considering I think I forgot the second round of my setting spray today... thats pretty good. So far digging the moisturizer.

3:00PM: Starting to get a bit shiny, but my face doesn't feel oily or greasy. Ok, my nose a little bit, but usually the oil in my face would have eaten through my makeup on my cheeks, forehead and nose by now and I'd be a hot mess. Considering this makeup's been on for almost 9 hours now... It's doing pretty well. I feel like I've been giving Clinique a bad rap for a while. Note that the headphones are now in both ears, showing that I've given up on any real work getting done today...

6:00pm: I didn't take a photo, as I was in the middle of something, but everything about my makeup still looked awesome, and my face felt lovely and not too oily. I think I actually like this moisturizer, but its still day one. I'll give it a few and see if my skin reacts strangely.

On a side note, I just gooped a bunch of Vaseline on my face so I could make plaster masks with a friend. Can't WAIT to see the breakouts I'll have tomorrow...

Have a good weekend everyone!

Happy New Year

Hey!! Oh right... I have a blog. 

Happy New Year everyone! So, last year was both awesome and terrible. I spent 378 days unemployed before finally finding a job with two days left on my unemployment! Huzzah! I also got myself in the best shape of my life with a (so far) loss of 80 pounds. I look great, I feel great. Between massive amounts of exercise, massive amounts of job searching and playing housewife to my roommate (who paid for the cable/internet and all the groceries last year, so I did his laundry and cooked his meals and kept the house clean in return) I just could never find the time to update this. 

I'm not going to make some lame resolution to update on a regular basis or anything... because I won't, and then I'll feel bad for failing. So, my new job is one of those feast or famine kind of things. We'll be insanely busy for a week, and then have a bunch of downtime. During those downtime parts, I'll do my best to post something here. I got a new digital camera for Christmas, with HD video capability, so hopefully I can start making video tutorials and possibly reviews soon too.

Guess that's it for now. Happy New Year again everyone!

Look: omg is it spring yet??

Mostly makeup forever shadows, star powder for the blue, pressed shadows for the rest. Kat von d lipgloss in party animal.

Enjoy and have a good night!

Review: Yes to Carrots Makeup Remover Wipes

I was at Target today about to buy my usual Ponds makeup remover towelettes, when I happened upon a trial size package of Yes to Carrots towelettes. Technically they're Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Cleansing Facial Towelettes.

They removed my makeup well enough, but they weren't textured like my typical Ponds ones, so it took longer. They also stretch in one direction, making it a little tricky to make the wipe last for my whole face. They smell nice, and apparently have lemon and apple as well as blueberries, so that's gotta count for something, right?

Well... the trial size I bought was $2.99 for 8 of them. That's about $0.35 per wipe. The full size package has 30 wipes.... and costs a whopping $20. Holy crap!! That's almost double the price. It would literally be cheaper to buy 4 packages. They're good, not that good, and not better than the Ponds. Its unfortunate because I love my Say Yes To Carrots lip balm. I was hoping these would be super awesome.

I'll stick with Ponds, which have yet to ever let me down. And only cost like $6 for 30.

Stupid fingernails...

For most of my life I've bitten my nails. And then a graphic design client of mine told me about nailtique. I can't sing its praises enough! My nails are weak and they peel easily, but nailtique formula 2 works like a charm.

Until yours nails get a bit too long, and catch on the toilet seat when you're cleaning the litter box....

Yeah, stupid toilet seat split my nail clean off. Awesome. But thankfully with nailtiques it wont take more than a few weeks to grow back.

Still, I'm cranky.

For anyone who wants to know, my current polish is China Glaze, For Audrey. It's apparently Tiffany blue.

Interview Makeup

So I had my interview today. It went well, I'm hoping they'll call me for a second soon. Money to buy things might be nice... Anyway, so here's the look I did. Very simple and clean.

Eyes: Urban Decay Naked Palette Sidecar on most of the lid, Hustler on outer corner, in crease, and along lashline for definition, just a tiny bit. Sin on browbone for hightlight, beautique black liner, very fine right along the lashline, maybelline lash stiletto mascara.

Face: coverfx primer, smashbox foundation, mac concealer, smashbox powder, inglot blush, urban decay setting spray

Lips: soap and glory sexy motherpucker in a neutral pink, mac gloss in Like Venus, a slightly lighter pink.