Crazy for Lippies Part 1: NYX

This past Fall, I jumped on the NYX train. Now I understand why everyone loves this drug store product: pigmentation, lasting power, the finish... and all at a reasonably affordable price! Need I say more?

In this post, I'll focus on NYX. I know there are plenty of swatch videos and posts about these lipsticks, but ya know, the more the merrier!

Let's get to it!

(Cannes, Copenhagen, Natural, Aria)

Soft Matte Lip Cream

Cannes:

In pictures, it looks like a natural pink lip color. In real life, it has a coral hint to it. I don't look great in corals so it's a little weird when I first put it on, but I've gotten used to it and have grown to love the color. I

With this color, I put on 2 coats. 

Copenhagen:

This is definitely one of the most coveted colors of Fall 2014. It was sold out online on Ulta when Ulta had a BOGO 50% off sale on NYX. I do love this color. It can be as light or as dark as you may want it to be. I went to a baby shower in September and applied way too much that it looked nearly black. Yeaahhh, never doing that again. I definitely cannot rock a black lip. I just looked weird.

I usually put on 2 - 3 coats. The top left is usually the result I like to go for. The other three are 1 - 2 coats I believe. 

Soft Matte Lip Cream VERDICT:
As much as I love the color and finish on these babies, I do not think I will be repurchasing. Well, let's be real, I probably will if there was a good sale.

In all honesty, the lip creams were really really drying for me. After about 30 minute of first applying, I would feel my lips getting dry and stiff. It felt as though I was wearing a face mask on my lips which hardened. Within an hour, the insides on the top and bottom would start to peel and look crackly as if it were a mask on my lips. I did apply a lip balm on top, but that would only work for so long.  It's a shame because I do love the finish and the colors.

Matte Lipstick

Natural:

'Natural' isn't so natural. It's a there's-something-on-your-lips pink. Definitely not natural. On me, it's like a vibrant pinky mauve. I do love the color it gets as it wears off. The lasting power is what I love. It is work-friendly so this will definitely be a repeated purchase.

Aria:

I love love love this color. It sold out online during Ulta's BOGO 50% on NYX sale. My friend picked it up for me at an Ulta by her work. It was the last one. After seeing it on my lips, she went on the hunt for it as well. It's my perfect Fall color.

Just like Copenhagen, you can control how dark you want it. It's similar to Wet N Wild's Sugar Plum Fairy, but Aria has more of a fuchsia color embedded in the pigments. The more you layer, the darker and more purple it becomes. I absolutely love this color. I was so tempted to stock up on this color just to have. I am proud of myself though for my surprisingly self-control :)

Aria also has a staining power...a super staining power!

The top, with super poor lighting (hey, it was late late night time!). is how my lips looked after removing them. The bottom is how my lips looked the next morning. Kinda gross, but kinda cool.  

Matte Lipstick VERDICT:

I am totally going to buy again from this lipstick line. I love it!!!

<3<3<3

I'm Back...Again!

Water fountain at The Grove

Before I explain myself, I just want to say:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

I wish you and all those in your lives a wonderful, blessed holiday season and an even better new year!! :)

Life just went crazy since Thanksgiving! I had sleepless nights due to stress from work and family life and then holiday season!  The dynamics of work were changing due to our program contract being up for renewal next summer. My home life was not exactly an escape from work.  And with my boyfriend living 26 miles away, I just felt trapped. I was overwhelmed and have not been coping with stress very well lately. Ohhh, I needed a mini break.

Now I've had some time to breathe, relax, and get myself together. I am feeling better, stronger, and I'm ready to move forward!

I have a few blog posts written mentally that I just need to get down on paper (rather, the computer). In early Fall, I went lipstick crazy buying way too many lippies than I needed (how does this always happen to me?). I also wanted to share mini hauls that I've had since then. 

I look forward to getting back into the groove of blogging as well as catching up with some of my favorite blogs.

Happy holidays once again! :)

November Grateful Challenge Part 5

This is the final installment of my November Grateful Challenge. I'm a week behind with this but the end of November was crazy! There was Thanksgiving, Black Friday, pre-Black Friday, and post-Black Friday. It was just chaos!

1. Our First Thanksgiving. Ben and I celebrated our very first Thanksgiving together. We were both orphans. My parents were in the Philippines. He decided to not go to Vegas with my mom so that I would not be alone <3 We've always spent Thanksgiving apart until this year. It was special because it was our first. I wanted to have a mini celebration at home where we would make a little Thanksgiving feast, but Ben wanted to go out. We ended up going to Marie Calendar's where I had a traditional Thanksgiving meal of turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, string beans, and my favorites stuffing and candied yams! I am so sad I forgot to take a picture...but perhaps it was a good thing. I was living in the moment :)

2) Friends turned into Family. I have known Sophia and her family since I was 9. I've gotten to know not only her immediate family, but also her extended family and her in-laws-to-be. I have never really been so close to my own family, so it feels wonderful to be warmly welcomed and accepted by hers. I spent Thanksgiving morning and the Saturday after Thanksgiving with her family. As they say, family doesn't necessarily have to be blood. You can't control which family you're born into, but you can definitely choose the people you add to your family.

(Halloween era 2013)

3. I'm blessed. The biggest thing that I take from this Grateful Challenge is that I'm lucky for everything that I have. Being able to even post these blog entries shows what luxuries I have: a computer, internet, time to sit and type this up. I donated to my employer this past Tuesday for Giving Tuesday. An anonymous donor graciously offered to triple whatever amount donated. Donation allocations would go to haircuts for seniors, a holiday meal purchased, a gas card, books and toys for children, or movie tickets for teens. Simple pleasures that we find so accessible is a challenge for others to carry out. 

I am so lucky, so fortunate, and so blessed. 

Happy Holidays 

<3<3<3