NYX Haul from CherryCulture.com

So last week I read Anastasia's post about how CherryCulture was having a 20% off Back to School sale.  Seeing as how I have never purchased NYX before (seeing as it is impossible to find within a 75 mile radius of me) I decided to spend a large chunk of change for some decent makeup.  I have never bought NYX myself, but too many people say they are wonderful (especially their round lipsticks), I had to try them out (and at $2 each, without the discount, and free shipping... hehehe).

So, what did I get?  Waaaayyy too much.

Round Lipgloss in Apricot
Jumbo Eyepencil in Yogurt
Powder Blush in Angel, Taupe, and Chocolate Moose
Mosaic Powder in Highlight
Cream Blush in Red Cheek
Mega Shine Lipgloss in Beige, Beige Pearl, Lollipop, and Smokey Look
Single Eyeshadow in White Pearl and Dune
Eyeshadow Trio in Beanie/Red Bronze/Red Bean
Runway Palettes in Versus and Strike a Pose
And the major fun: Round Lipsticks in Honey, Watermelon, Vitamin, B52, Harmonica, Penelope, Snow White, Pumpkin Pie, Hebe, Ceto, Poseidon, Opal, Bruised, Violet Ray, Almost Black, Iced Lavender

In the above picture, I tried to put everything in the order that I wrote down.

Since I live in California, the order took 3 days to get here, with their handling, which is awesome!  I am totally buying more from them.

So, the only thing that came damaged is Iced Lavender, which I accept, since it is still usable.  The tube is a little messed up, and it opens too easily, so no going in a bag for this one, but for how cheap it was, who really cares, hehe.

Rimmel Stay Matte Clarifying Matte Foundation

 

image from rimmellondon.com

Price: $6.99 1 fl oz.

What they say:
"Rimmel introduces new Stay Matte Clarifying Matte Foundation, a fluid, shine-free formula that leaves your skin looking flawless and fresh for 12 hours. Stay Matte Foundation is formulated with SKINPURE™ Complex: a gentle dose of salicylic acid, a known skin clarifying ingredient, and botanical extracts which help purify skin and minimize the appearance of pores, leaving you with a visibly purified complexion. 12 hours of comfort and confidence.

Go ahead and give your skin an immediate and much-needed confidence boost with this fantastic foundation. It’s the ultimate pick-me-up."

What I say:
This particular product, along with the primer, came to me at a sale at CVS (used to be Longs), when I was bored and waiting for a nearby office to open. I had heard mixed reviews on this foundation, but decided to try it out anyway.

As of this writing, I have just applied for the first time, so I cannot tell you how long it lasts, if it creases, oil-slicks, nothing. I can, however, tell you my first impressions. So far, while not being the best foundation I have ever used, it is not the worst. This foundation has a sheer to maybe medium if I applied it on thick coverage, so I would say it's along the lines of a tinted moisturizer with more coverage, and less moisturizer. The color (in this case, 100, Ivory) was pretty good, but a little yellow. I would have liked the lightest, pinkest foundation to have less yellow to it, but since it applies so sheer, I guess it's not all bad (especially for its price).  This foundation isn't the easiest to blend/spread, but it's not the hardest....  I guess what I'm trying to say so far is that this is an overall C, maybe C+ student foundation.  It's not going to surprise you, but it's not going to disappoint you, either.  Given that it is a drugstore brand, and how cheap you can get it, though, I would have to bump it up to a B because of effort.  If I got something like this from, say, Shiseido, I would be quite angry, but I paid a little over $4 for the thing, so what can I really say.  The finish is matte, and I didn't have to apply powder to get rid of the shinies you sometimes get, but weither this is a good or bad thing has yet to be seen, since the extra layer of powder can help make the foundation stay on.

Past first impressions: This stuff melts off.  Now, I will give it the benefit of the doubt here, since it is summer, I was at a BBQ, and it did fade gracefully, but it melts.  Also, it melted on me in the "here's your pores!" fashion, but everything does ;P (I don't mean settle in).  I wore this from 3pm to 9pm, and there was very little, if any, left in the end.  It didn't crease, so that's something.

So, overall, this is a decent foundation, especially for its price.  I don't think I will purchase again, but I can say that if you need something cheap, you could do worse.

3/5

MAC Cleansing Wipes

 

image from macpro.com

Price: 45 Sheets US $18.00, 100 Sheets US $26.00

What they say:
"Swipes away makeup, smudges, dirt and grime, pronto! Oversized, luxurious, super-saturated with special M·A·C cleanser infused with protective vitamin E. Hydrates and nourishes highly efficiently. Extremely refreshing. Totally addictive. Slickly packed, re-sealable, ready to go!"

What I say:
These are refreshing, I'll give them that.  They also do take off some makeup, some grime, and some dirt.  Notice I said some.  These are your garden variety emergency wipes.  You know, and probably use, the type.  They sit on your bedside table, waiting for the day (or night, or morning) that you don't have time to take off your makeup, or wash your face, before you will fall asleep.  For that, I thank them, and will continue to use them (or at least, this species), but I cannot say they are perfect.

For one, look at the price.  100 sheets for $26 is the cheapest you will get these (unless you CCO, or have a PRO card), and while 26 cents might not seem like a lot per wipe, you can get much the same as these for cheaper.  Also, the size of the wipe itself could be bigger.  You are constantly stuck with the indecision to take another wipe out when you only need a little more, or just deal with the last of the grime that you /could/ get off with these because your current wipe is dead.

The smell is okay, and the wipe texture is fine, but I feel that, for the price, both of these could be a little nicer.  Maybe a little softer for the wipe, and less like a thin hanky, and smell... well, personally, I don't really want to be smelling much of anything before I try and call it a night, since I am trying to fall asleep.

Should you buy these?  No, not unless you are a name brand person, or you just can't get to a drugstore.

3/5 for price.

Maybelline Concealer/Highlighter Pen

 

image from maybelline.com

Price: $7.09

What they say:
"The only 2-in-1 concealer + highlighter to fully cover imperfections while adding a touch of radiance, giving you younger-looking skin instantly.

• Fully conceals: Ultra-coverage pigments with moisturizing glycerin provide complete, hydrating coverage.
• Visibly brightens: Light reflecting pearls visibly brighten and add a luminous touch to corner of eyes, cheek and brow bones and bridge of nose or to contour lip."

What I say:
So far, so decent.  The concealer is very liquidy, so use a little at a time, and I suggest using your fingers instead of the wand.  The highlighter I /definitely/ suggest using your fingers instead of the brush.  There are only 4 colors of this wand, so I bought the lightest one.  This is not the strongest concealer.  It is sheer, liquidy, and where it gets the idea that it can cover up dark circles, I have no idea.  It can't even cover up red marks, really.  The highlighter is also a little odd; it is sheer, doesn't really highlight much, and seems just like an added step.  Sure, you can tell where you highlighted from the fainted of gleams, so it is natural, but it just doesn't seem strong enough for the effort put into it.

This is a decent product, all the same, because of how natural it is.  This is the concealer you would use if you put on tinted moisturizer or a light powder, and just needed something to cut the edge out of the purple pools that are your circles, or the red scar from your cat attacking your face in your sleep.  It doesn't settle into fine lines, but I don't really know if that's a by-product of the formula, or the texture.  It blends nicely, but again, formula or texture have yet to claim "who done it."  I, personally, am not sure if I would repurchase, but I guess I will have to see when I get towards the end of this tube.

3.5/5

CoverGirl Wetslicks Amazemint

 

image from covergirl.com

Price: $6.25 for 6ml (.27 fl oz)

What they say:

"CoverGirl Wetslicks Amazemint isn't just a lipgloss, it's a smile treatment! Crest Peppermint Oil provides a minty breath sensation while the gloss itself gives a dazzling high-shine without all that "sticky"."

What I say:

I have this lipgloss in #625 '"un-wined" (a reddish, plummy color), #640 "freedom of peach" (typical dull peach, not like the flesh of a real peach, but pretty), and #645 "slaphappy" (a warmer peach than freedom of peach).  Freedom of peach and slaphappy are so similar in color, and are both so sheer, that if you have one, you really don't need another.  Un-wined is also sheer, but shows up a lot better on your lips, since it is so much darker.  All of the colors that I have have very little shimmer that you can see in the tube, but I never notice it on my lips, and there is no gritty texture.

The peppermint oil in these adds a nice cool sensation to my lips, but I can see how some people wouldn't like it.  Personally, I think it's great, and like to reapply to get it to come back.  These lipglosses are non-sticky, but still have that slight lipglossy feel, so you won't think you are not wearing anything.  Some of the colors claim to neutralize the yellowness of your teeth by being more blue based, but I have not noticed this with un-wined, which is supposed to be one of the colors on the list.

Overall, I really like these.  Since CoverGirl is a drugstore brand, you can often find these BOGO, so $6 for two glosses that are pretty nice is not a bad deal.  Also, since they are not sticky, and are cheap, they make great in your bag for touch-ups gloss, and great in your bag, might get lost or "borrowed" by younger people gloss (read: cousins, child, etc).  These are not HG for me, but I will, and have, repurchased.

 

4/5

ALBA SPF 16 Lotion

 

image from albabotanica.com

Price: $14.50 for 12 fl oz (350 ml), $27.75 for 32 fl oz (950 ml)  (I actually paid only about $20 for the 32 fl oz version, because of a sale at Whole Foods.  This often goes on sale there, so if you have access, I would check them out).

What they say:

"Product description: This daily lotion blends certified organic aloe vera, green tea and chamomile extracts with natural plant emollients and vitamin E to soothe, nourish and revitalize dry, sensitive skin. With alpha hydroxy acids to help exfoliate dull surface cells and effective SPF 16 sun protection.

Features and benefits: With an SPF of 16, this deeply nourishing lotion provides protection and hydration for dry skin. It also delivers a restorative infusion of almond oil and gentle alpha beta hydroxy exfolliation for healthy skin that glows."

What I say:

This is an okay lotion, but I would not say it "provides... hydration for dry skin."  I originally picked this lotion up because it claimed to provide the benefits of lotion with the need for SPF, and since I hate the sun, and am lazy, I thought this was exactly what I needed.  I guess looking at it that way, it does exactly what it claims it does, I just think it could do better.

For instance, this lotion is a pain to spread.  You put a little bit on at a time, and it's relatively easy, but you try putting the recommended amount on all at once, and you have a problem of too little time, too much rubbing.  Don't get the impression that you can do what you can with other lotions, though, and spread it on when you're fresh from a shower, because that makes it even worse!  This lotion, because of the SPF content, does not like water between itself, and your skin.  So you are left with the too much rubbing situation, or the too many layer situation.  Also, the lotion can cause greasiness on your hands and body when it is not fully absorbed, so you have to wait before you do anything after applying this (unless you like lotion residue on your stuff).

Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad lotion.  If you consider that most people don't get any SPF at all, and this is helping make there be one less step in the morning, this is a great lotion!  I just think the formula needs work, and personally don't feel that I will be repurchasing this in the future. 

3/5 

Giorgio Armani Lip Wax

 

image from giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com

Price: $26.00

What they say:

"A modern vision of lip color, lip wax compact lipstick is a blush of color for lips. The incredibly smooth and silky texture of lip wax glides over lips leaving rich, tailor-made color. The ultra-fine and soft Micro-fil veil ensures a smooth and seemingly weightless result. To obtain a more precise distribution of color, apply with the Giorgio Armani lip brush. For a sparkling shine, add a layer of armani lip shimmer."

What I say:

I bought this in colors #4 and #7 with a gift card that I had, and am so glad I did!  Color #7, a LE color, which I would describe as a pinkish raspberry (more vibrant, almost like a fushia to me) was a decent color, but didn't look good on yours truely.  Now, on the other hand, color #4, Raspberry, was stunning!  I wore this to my brother's birthday, which consisted of an all day trek through a natural science museum, and only had to touch this up once after I ate.  The color faded evenly, so no ring, in case you were wondering.

True to their description, this really does have a weightless feel (so much so, that I often forgot that I had anything on my lips).  The pot design of this might not be the most hygienic, but since I wash my hands before I touch my makeup, I really don't have much of a problem with it.  I would suggest a lip brush if you are worried about things like that, but I think you might have more trouble with a brush, since you might pick up too much product.  Inside the pot is a mirror, so touch ups are a snap, and a little goes a looooong way (don't dig with your finger/brush, or you have too much).

Now, they have changed their website since I first checked these things out, so the swatches look a little bit better than they used to, but I would still suggest going and seeing these in person before you purchase.  These are truly unforgiving when it comes to color, since they are so opaque.  Nordstrom's carries these if you go in person (though for whatever reason, they don't have these online, except for the LE ones when a new collection comes out). 

So, are these worth it?  In my opinion, yes, but I wouldn't run out of your way to pick one of these up (unless you have the extra cash around).  This is more of an item you ask for your birthday or the holidays; something you already have picked out, and the lucky person just has to pick it up (seriously, I wish my relatives would do that more often for me).

HG 5/5

Korres Body Butter

image from korresusa.com

So let's start this little story with a few months ago. I had heard Korres was releasing a USA website, where one could purchase their products (without the Sephora middle man), and be able to purchase more items. I, being the intrigued one, promptly signed up, and forgot all about it. Now, fast forward to early last month, and the arrival of an email stating that the Korres site is up and running, and since I was such a good little girl, and signed up to their newsletter, I was entitled to 20% off and free stuff!

Woot!

So, that's how the story began, and that's basically how it ended. I bought crap, I received my crap, and I was happy. Actually, surprisingly, very happy.

Now, some of you out there might know what it's like to get really dry wrists/hands. Top this with eczema. Top that with sensitivities to scents and petrolium products... yeah, that's my skin. This doesn't aggrivate it. At all. Not only that, but it also sinks in, and leaves my hands sufficiently grease free to be able to actually type (read:play games and websurf).

Now, down to the smells. So far, so good. I was surprised to find out that the scent I thought I would like the most (Lemon Basil) was downright nasty. I mean, come on. /Lemon/ /Basil/ That, to me, is chocolate with chocolate sauce on top. How can you mess up something that basically just makes you want to drool non-stop? Well, somehow, they did, but not to worry! Guava is actually a good scent! *gasp* While being fruity and vanilla-y, it still remains just light enough that I don't get a scent headache, and still strong enough that I can actually tell what I'm wearing.

Now, the bad stuff. The price. I bought the small tubes to carry around in my bags, since I'm often not at home where my mammoth sized lotions live, but I still would like to have one of these large tubes at home. Sadly, that is not to be. With how high the unit price is on this, I cannot justify a large tube when the lotions that I use are almost as good, and much, much cheaper.

Still, if you have the excess cash around, I suggest giving these a go. Better yet, go to Sephora and try these out in person. You know what, just do that in general. Given how much scent is a personal thing, you really should know what you are getting yourself into before you purchase something like this.

4/5

Guerlain Terracotta Loose Powder Kohl Liner

image from Sephora.com

So I had been lemming this for quite a while, and finally decided to get it (it helped that I had a 10% off coupon, of course). I picked up both the Black 1 (deep charcoal black) and Brun 2 (golden brown).

What they say:
"An exceptionally elegant eye makeup innovation, this ultra fine, loose powder, with a touch of iridescence, can be applied as an eyeliner using the wand applicator or applied as an eyeshadow using the brush."

What I say:
Well, Brun had iridescence, but I really didn't notice it in the Black shade. The black applies more like a dark charcoal gray, and I had to reapply just to get it to really show up. On the other hand, Brun was stunning. While I also had to reapply, it came out much nicer, and looked great against my blue-green eyes. The powder was definitely finely milled, and even when I got it in my eyes, a couple blinks later, and it was gone.

Now, there are two ways to apply this, and since I have other pencils and the like to apply Western style, I stuck with the more traditional method (read: stick it in your eye, and pull). There are a lot of tutorials on youtube about how to apply, and I whole-heartedly think you should look them up if you are thinking of purchasing this product. Keep in mind, while the whole idea of sticking something in your eye might seem, well... wrong, it really feels not that different from applying pencil to your waterline, and is a whole lot faster. It seriously took me just a couple tries to get this right, and it never once hurt (even when I poked myself (cause I'm an idiot)). I do suggest that you give this a few tries before your big dinner date (or going out in general) so you know it looks good.

Overall, I'm very pleased with this product. Right now I'm debating between returning my black one in exchange for a backup of Brun, or buying the entire color range that I can get my hands on... too bad there's something called "needing food" and "not /needing/ makeup."

4/5

so, here we are

I decided, after months (and months) of stalking makeup blogs, that it might be high time I started one of my own (considering how much I owe the authors, and all).

Will this blog be good? Well, only time (and readers) will tell. I can say that I will attempt to do what little I can, which really is about the best you can hope for, now isn't it?

Will I update often? Most likely not. My husband (and his entire family) have a thing against makeup, so I really don't get to play with it often. Also, there's the matter of me not being very good at it, and the whole it costs money thing...

Is Kaoru your real name? *Chortle* No. No it is not.

So, there you have it. I started a blog, you get to read the randomness that is my reviews/lemmings, and I might actually write every now and again about stuff...

Maybe.