NYX Matte lipstick review

Hello, lovelies! I recently bought three of NYX's matte lipsticks and will be sharing those with you today.

I already own one of these, Pure Red, which I bought online. Since I love both blue and orange-based reds, I wasn't afraid of getting something I wouldn't like by buying it sight unseen. I was interested in getting other colors and had done tons of online research, keeping a mental shopping list of colors that interested me. I held off on purchasing them online because I kept hearing that Ulta would be getting them in-store.

One night after going out to eat, I nicely asked (read: demanded) that my hubby take me to an Ulta that I knew had recently opened across the street. Lo and behold, they had them in stock! I was beside myself with joy and quickly snatched up the three I wanted most - Summer Breeze, Indie Flick and Shocking Pink.

When I got home to look at them though, I saw that some careless shopper had already swatched ALL of them. I was irked beyond belief. Damn you for not putting a safety seal on these lipsticks, NYX! I know, I know - I should have checked first. I was just so stoked to have finally found them in person, I didn't even think to look at them. Yet, I'll practically inspect a tube of Cover Girl Lip Perfection with a luminol kit before purchasing it.

After going to another Ulta that following Saturday, I was lucky enough to be able to exchange them for the same colors. Only after checking to make sure they hadn't been opened, of course. I couldn't wait to get them home and start swatching!

You can probably tell by the pictures that these aren't 100% matte. They have a bit of moisture to them, making them slightly creamy but still long lasting. I don't have a problem with them drying out my lips, personally.

They definitely last longer than a moisturizing lipstick; I'm able to easily get 4 hours of wear out of these as long as I don't disturb the color by eating or drinking. They're densely pigmented and I was able to obtain full opacity after 2 or 3 swipes o' the 'stick.

Now on to the colors! Up first is Summer Breeze, a medium-toned blue-based pink.

Summer Breeze

I love this color. Heart it. It's a perfect shade for when you want to wear some color but don't want anything bright or dramatic, or if you just want something casual. I have those moments occasionally.

I like to pair this with a brownish-nude-pink blush, like M.A.C Prism or Blushbaby. If I'm doing a brightly colored eye (I usually wear neutrals), I'll often reach for a nude or a cool pink shade like this for my lips.

See Indie Flick and Shocking Pink after the cut!

Lime Crime lipstick in Centrifuchsia

Today I have a review of Lime Crime cosmetics lipstick in Centrifuchsia. Lime Crime is a cruelty-free brand that offers unique shades for eyes, lips and most recently, nails. I've had this lipstick for over a year now; I bought it at IMATS LA 2011 from the Lime Crime booth. I think I was scared to use it because the packaging is just so goddamn cute.

Centrifuchsia is one of their somewhat tamer offerings but it's definitely not short on color. This opaque magenta cream applies smoothly and is densely pigmented. I love to pair this with pink blush, neutral eye shadow and simple black winged liner.

Centrifuchsia

The wear time is an average 3-4 hours (w/o eating or drinking from a glass) which is better than I'd expected, just based on the creamy nature of the formula. It also leaves a bit of a stain behind after wearing away, which is a wonderful bonus if you're on the go all day.

Despite the controversy surrounding the brand, I've been happy with the items I've purchased from the line. The color palette is out of this world. And again, look at that packaging! Look! If you don't like it, there's something wrong with you. It's a sparkly, holographic unicorn, for cryin' out loud.

If you've never had any experience with the brand, g'head and pick something up from them - you won't be disappointed!

Until next time,
xoxo
Mrs. J

Bodyography Electric Lip Slides

Today I have the last of my Bodyography Electric Lip Slides to share! These are the other two colors I'd ordered from Folica.

I love the texture and consistency of these glosses. They're moisturizing, long-lasting and have great color payoff. They leave a bit of a stain on the lips after wearing away, which is nice if you're a busy bee like me during the week. I love products that are able to multitask as well as I am, LOL.

Pulp Friction is an intense reddish-orange shade that will look great on a multitude of skin tones.

Pulp Friction

It appears slightly muted in the tube, but you can see by the swatch that it's a little more intense once applied. This is a versatile color and I think pretty much anyone can pull it off. It would look gorgeous on fair-skinned girls with light eyes as well as girls with deeper skin tones and dark eyes, popping against caramel and mocha skin tones in an incredibly flattering way.

See Cheeky Baby after the cut!

Bodyography Electric Lip Slides

I recently discovered Bodyography's Electric Lip Slides. They retail for $19.00 and are described as "A one of a kind product, fusing together all the benefits of lipstick, lip stain and a lip-gloss."

To be honest, I was REALLY hoping these would be just like my beloved OCC Lip Tars. Since they seem to be based on a similar concept, I went in trying these with that expectation. After using these, I do feel they are different but I was pleasantly surprised with them.

First off, the color payoff is wonderful, just as good as a lipstick but with the comforting feeling of a moisturizing gloss. These contain Shea, Cocoa and Mango butter, as well as Vitamin E. They are creamy in texture and remain moist and supple throughout wear, leaving a stain behind after it's worn off. A more intense stain can be achieved by applying and then blotting the excess gloss away with a tissue.

Without eating or drinking, I get a solid 4-6 hours of wear out of these. They last pretty well after drinking with a straw but since these are fairly creamy, you'll need to touch up after eating. Like Lip Tars, only a small amount of product is needed when filling in the lips. These are not as liquid-y as Lip Tars, however. The formula is wonderful. I've worn it without lip liner and didn't experience any feathering.

They have a doe foot applicator which allows the product to glide across the lips with ease and makes for a nice, crisp line. I like the packaging quite a bit and don't own anything else like it. It's like a wand disguised inside what looks like a squeeze tube. There's no noticeable flavor but they have a tropical scent, something that smells like mango or guava. You get .5 ounces for $19, compared to $14 for .27 ounces of Lip Tar.

The colors I purchased are Caught In the Act, a magenta cream, and Tickled Pink, a bright peachy-pink cream.

Caught In the Act is gorgeous! I love intense shades and this is no exception. The deep magenta color is not for the faint of heart - this one is a show stopper! I adore it. It's flattering with my NC15 complexion but would flatter darker skin tones as well. Fair skinned blondes, y'all might want to proceed with caution.

Caught In the Act
Tickled Pink is a fun color. It seems like more of a peachy-pink than a pink, as it's got some warm undertones. It's really pretty but unfortunately for me kinda hard to work with on my pale, olive-toned skin. I have somewhat pigmented lips and they show right through this stuff when I swipe it on. I can make it work by layering it. Since I love the formula so much, it's worth the extra effort on my part.

Tickled Pink
At the store, it immediately struck me how much Tickled Pink looks like OCC's Divine - this actually led me to purchase these in the first place. I don't own any Lip Tars that look like Caught In the Act, but I do have a comparison of Divine and Tickled Pink for you.

See Tickled Pink compared to Divine after the cut!

Beth Ditto for M.A.C Prolongwear Lipcreme

Hi there!

Today I'll be reviewing two of the Pro Longwear Lipcremes from the Beth Ditto for M.A.C. collection.

I adore Beth and have been a fan of hers for years. Needless to say, I had very high expectations for this collection. Beth is so brash and bold, I was expecting this collaboration to be an explosion of color, but the whole thing just seemed so haphazard. Dark, bright, pale - it's like there was no clear color story or direction.

I had initially been excited to purchase Powder to the People but after reading several less than favorable reviews and seeing the swatches, I decided to pass. I actually liked the nail colors that came out in the collection but didn't wind up buying any because I already have similar shades in my collection. In the end, I only wound up buying these two lipsticks.

The Pro Longwear formula is one of my favorites from M.A.C. It's super creamy yet clings to your lips like nobody's business. It lasts 4-6 hours on me, without eating or drinking. I find it's better to apply the lipstick to clean lips using a thin application. It's so creamy, you'll want to pile it on, but doing so will cause the color to migrate to the corners of your mouth and get yucky. The lipsticks have the standard M.A.C. vanilla scent.

I have a gripe with this lipstick - the shape is very clumsy and awkward, like a jumbo crayon with a blunt tip. It makes it hard to get a precise application directly from the tube. I apply all my lipstick that way and I feel confident doing so, but it takes extra concentration when I use these, which I don't like.

Dear Diary is a blue-based hot pink. It falls a little short of the neon M.A.C is describing it as. It's definitely pink and it's certainly bright, but not neon. It is a lovely color. It's intense but flattering - a great color for summer!

Dear Diary
It's similar to Candy Yum Yum but is not a dupe, in my opinion.

CYY on the left, Dear Diary on the right
CYY is brighter and more matte. Swatched, they're nearly identical but in person, CYY has a chalky quality to it. It always looks very dry on my lips and not in a pretty, matte-ified way. I never wear it as a result and these swatches are only the second or third time it's been swiped.

See Booyah!!! after the cut!