My Blush Picks for Valentine's Day!

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, I thought I'd share my blush picks for this romantic holiday! Whether you're spending the day with your significant other, some girlfriends, or with Netflix, I know I always have a good time getting dressed up for the occasion! Here are my recommendations for romantic, feminine colors to rock on Valentine's Day:

MAC Star Wonder is the prettiest blush I own. It is a mineralized skin finish and has the trademark marbling in the powder. It is a mix of light pink, plum, and gold which shows up on the skin as a dewy, gorgeous plummy pink. GAHHHHH so beautiful

NYX Peach is for my drugstore gals. This blush is super easy to work with as it is packed with color and ultra bright! All it takes is some blending out at the edges to give you a just pinched look.

MAC Dame is a muted pink that reminds me a lot of Star Wonder except with out the sparkle and shimmer. It is an effortless color that compliments a lot of different eye looks.

Tarte Dollface is the perfect pink color. With warmer undertones and a super sheer formula, this blush will be perfect to add just a touch of color to your cheeks. Wear this blush if you're going to go for a dark eye or dramatic lip!

Hope you enjoyed my Valentine's Day blush picks!  I love this holiday because whether or not you have a romantic interest in your life, surely you have some loved ones to celebrate because that's what this day is really about--LOVE!

xxSJ

NYX Round Lipstick in 'Fig'

NYX is a brand that is ultra hit-or-miss for me.  They have some great products like their blushes, jumbo eye pencils and butter glosses to name a few, but then they have some products that just aren't any good.  I only own one NYX lipstick (review here!), so I wanted to pick up another one to see if I like them! I chose the color 'Fig,' a deep rose color.

This lipstick is like paint! It is SO creamy and a bit thick in consistency.  It is super pigmented.

This color was a bit warmer on my skin than I thought it would be, but I still think it is quite pretty.

As you can see, this is a full color, full impact lipstick.  It is really moisturizing which makes it very comfortable to wear.  I really like wearing a light wash of this over my lips and then putting a lighter color like MAC Hue on the center of my lips for a pouty and multi-dimensional effect.

I would recommend this lipstick because I think it is a high quality product for only $3.99! NYX can usually be found at BOGO discount prices so I would recommend snagging this and another color for some variety.  Spice up your life!

xxSJ

NYX Butter Glosses: Worth the Hype?

One of the newer products to hit the shelves and take the beauty community by storm are the NYX Butter Glosses, so I knew I had to get my hands on some of these during my last trip to Ulta. The selection was seriously picked over but I managed to get my hands on two colors: Creme Brulee and Eclair:

Creme Brulee and Eclair

The packaging of these glosses is very minimalist and I really like it. The tubes are clear...yes, that is indeed the matte, creamy gloss within the tube! The cap is in a matching plastic to the color of the gloss. The size of these are roughly the same size as a MAC lipglass.

The applicators are small  doe foot applicators and I find them to be a really nice size. This gloss is so creamy and pigmented that you do need at least a tiny bit of precision when applying it!

Creme Brulee (on the left) is a peachy pink color while Eclair is a blue toned baby pink. I just realized that the Revlon lipsticks I reviewed a couple days ago are these exact colors... whoops! Clearly I'm feelin' this color scheme!
The product is super soft and applies like a dream. I really like that these colors are completely matte with no shimmer or glitters. Definitely not a look I will opt for all the time, however they are something a little different from what is already in my collection.

Top: Creme Brulee, Bottom: Eclair

These colors are a bit similar on the lips on their own and since they are matte, they are a bit bland with out a lipstick on underneath. I can't speak for the darker colors in this collection, but I definitely wouldn't wear these glosses on their own as it could create a rather washed out effect on my pale skin as the matte creaminess almost makes these colors milky.
Overall, I understand the hype. These butter glosses literally melt on my lips when I put them on and they mask all of my wrinkles and imperfections. I have grossly dry lips (tmi...don't currrrrr) and so I have to be careful that lip products I choose don't highlight any flakes or nastiness that could be forming on my lippies. This gloss does the trick as far as mattifying and evening out my skin. :)

xxSJ

Youtube Favorite: NYX Powder Blush in 'Bourgeois Pig'

I spend much of my spare time researching makeup products as a hobby...I can't explain it, buuuuuut I love it. I have many a Youtube beauty subscription to feed this obsession of mine and I buy certain products simply because a certain beauty guru raves about it. I thought I'd start a new blog series titled 'Youtube Favorite' which basically means youtube made me buy it....whoops!
My first product I'm reviewing for this series is a blush raved about by the girls on the EleventhGorgeous channel. It is the NYX blush in 'Bourgeois Pig:'

In buying this blush I was definitely biased toward loving it since I freakin' love the word 'bourgeois' and I especially love when people use the slang 'bourgey.' Yes...just, yes.

NYX blushes come in a lightweight shiny plastic container and have an adorable quilted design stamped on them. They are extremely affordable coming in at $5.99 a pop and NYX cosmetics is almost always having a buy one get one 50% off sale. Also, maybe I'm a germaphobe, but NYX blushes come shrink-wrapped so you know no one's been swatching up a storm with your blush before you get a chance to use it.

This stuff is PIGMENTED! Wowza. One quick swipe of my finger left my arm nice and pinked up. The formula is extremely soft and nearly creamy feeling rather than chalky meaning this stuff can be easily blendable on the skin. Be wary that if you pick up too much of this with your makeup brush you may have some clown cheeks!

Here is a very sheer amount of this blush on my cheeks... It leaves my cheeks appearing flushed and is quite pretty but I have to repeat myself: be careful you don't pick an ultra dense brush to apply this stuff and make sure to tap off any excess product before putting this on your cheeks. This can very easily shift into clown territory with the amount of pink on your cheeks!!
Overall I like this blush a lot and I think this is a win for the girls at EleventhGorgeous. I'm glad I purchased this and will definitely be wearing it through the year!

xxSJ

NYX Lipglosses: Rave Review and Pics!

Today I'm reviewing a recent discovery of mine: NYX lipglosses! I got two for my birthday a couple weeks ago and I've been wearing them ever since because they are my new OBSESSION.  Let's start with the packaging:
These glosses come in a smooth container about the same size as a MAC cremesheen gloss. It's a great amount of product: a generous amount but not too much that it would go bad before you can use it up. My favorite part of this product is the top:

It's a little black bow! LOVE. It's a classy lipgloss ;)
A weird thing I like to talk about when discussing lip products is taste and smell. You might not think about it but it's important! You will be smellin this all day and even taste it a little bit too because, well, it's on your mouth. These glosses smell like cherry starburst candy! No joke, it's amazing.  If you don't like cherry or sweet smelling products than this gloss is not for you, but otherwise yummmmmyyyyyyyyyyy.
The first color I got is 'Sweetheart.' It's the lighter of the two glasses. It's a perfect nude pink color.

It's great to put on the center of the lips to create that pouty effect or for all over (as I did in the pic above) for an everyday lip look!

Seeeeeeeeeee? Light pink and shiny.
The other color I got is called 'French Kiss' which is a brighter pink gloss. I love finding wearable bright pink lip colors because it is so on trend to wear a bright color on your lips. However, color can be a tad intimidating so it's great to find a muted version when you're not feeling as daring!

Oh hey lips. How's it goin? Keep in mind these pictures are the lipsticks with out any color underneath!
This lipgloss is a liiiiiiittle bit sticky, but not enough to be bothersome. I like a little bit of stickiness because it helps the gloss stay on your lips longer!

Sweetheart on left, French Kiss on right

Overall I love love love these glosses. NYX is a fairly inexpensive makeup line yet still manages to make quality products! These glosses are great and for about $5 each, I say they're a steal. I think everyone should go out and try the color 'Sweetheart.' It's a perfect neutral color and has definitely turned into a must have item for me!

Backlit. Oh well. My lips are still glossy :)

Hope this review was helpful to everyone and I hope everyone has a zippety-doo-dah day!
Keep smilin!
xxSJ

Highlighters! My faves, swatches, and how-to

To buddy up with my bronzing post, here's a post about bronzers best friend: the highlighter!!!
Highlighting is the perfect way to give yourself that dewy look. I love highlighters because I find that sometimes my face looks a little too matte (since I have dry skin patches...sad day). Here are some of my favorite highlighting products:

Let's start this journey with Benefit's High Beam:

$26 for .45 fl oz.
This is a pinky toned highlighter with a nail polish type applicator. You are supposed to dot this along the top of your cheekbones and lightly blend in. I also use this for down the center of my nose. This works great to add some light catching glow to your skin and a little bit goes a loooooooooooong way.
NARS illuminator in 'Copacabana'

$30 for 1.1 fl oz (this is a .32oz sample size)
This is a 'glistening pearl' and comes in a squeezy tube.  You use it the same way as the benefit highlighter as it is the exact same consistency. This product has less pink undertone and is more silver/gold. You need the tiniest tiniest amount to highlight your cheekbones, cupid's bow, and nose. I like this one a little bit better than benefit's High Beam because it applies more evenly.
NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in 'Milk':

~$4 for 5g
This is a completely matte white eyeshadow pencil that is perfect for using in the inner corner to highlight your eyes. That's all I would recommend this product for because it is so matte (and almost chalky) that it would not look natural on your face or as pretty as the dewy highlighters. It was worth a mention though for its inner corner dominance!
Maybelline's 'Champagne Fizz'

$3 for 2.6g
This product has an entire blog post dedicated to it if you want to check it out! This product is great for just dipping your finger in and patting onto the top of your cheekbones. It is also great as a brow bone highlight.
Urban Decay's 'Virgin'

$18 for 1.5g
This guy is my FAVORITE brow bone highlighter. It is a pearly white with beigy undertones. The shimmer is barely noticeable at all and the shadow is so so so velvetty it's amazing! This color also works great as an inner corner highlighter. I like it better than the Maybelline shadow because that shadow can be a bit gritty while this one is so smooth.
MAC cream color base in 'Hush':

 $18.50 for 3.2g
This highlighter stands out as my only truly peach highlighter and it is my go to highlighter for the summer when paired with a bit of a tan and some bronzer. I love the creamy consistency and it keeps my face from getting 'cakey' from too much powder. This is my current favorite highlighter! I use it for my cupid's bow, the top of my cheekbones, and down the center of my nose.

From left: High Beam, Copacabana, Milk, Champagne Fizz, Virgin, Hush

So here is the final swatch! As you can see, the colors are all just a tad different and have different finishes.  The liquid ones on the left are nice for fall and winter as they look a little more silvery and 'icy'....weird? I don't know. But the colors on the right are nice because they have a nice peach undertone which I love for my skin tone.
Honestly, a highlighter is a highlighter. If you dont have one yet, I would get one of the cheaper ones to learn how to use it first and then as you get samples and kits, you can start plugging in and adding to your collection.  For the most part, highlighters will all do the same thing no matter the cost!

What are your favorite highlighters????

xxSJ

July Favorites!

These are my favorites for the month of July! These products were the things I couldn't stop grabbing over and over!

1. EOS Lip Balm: makes my lips so silky smooth and such cute packaging!
2. Mrs Smith's Rosebud Salve: I love this stuff to moisturize my lips and cuticles and it smells like roses!
3. MAC Lipglass in Nymphette: Beautiful color for the summer. A peachy pink with gold shimmer
4. Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner: Blackest black liner for a defined line that lasts ALL day
5. NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk: Perfect for my inner eye corner and only about $4
6. MAC blush in Fleur Power: beautiful peachy pink rose that brightens up my cheeks.
7. Divergent by Veronica Roth: I LOVED THIS BOOK! I whizzed through it like no other!
8. Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation: flawless finish, full coverage, light and soft. Nuff said.
9. Stila eyeshadow in Kitten: beautiful peachy gold color. Amazing pigmentation! Mine broke but it still works perfectly fine!
10. Urban Decay Eyeshadow in X: shimmery peachy color with gold and pink reflects. Mind boggling!
11. MAC lipstick in Angel: Rediscovered this baby this month. Such a beautiful pinky nude!

Those were my favorites for the month! Let me know if you would like more in depth reviews on any of the products I mentioned (because I know my descriptions were a little short!) and also make sure to let me know YOUR July favorites :)
xxSJ

Urban Decay 24/7 Liners vs NYX Slide On Pencils

Urban Decay's 24/7 Eye Pencils are award winning for being silky smooth during the application process while also being waterproof and lasting for FOREVER. The pencil also comes in a ton of beautiful bright and vibrant colors:

The brand touts that one is sold every 7 minutes....say what?!! The only downside of these awesome pencils is that they are $19. That is STEEP for an eye pencil, even if it is award winning...so I found something else I wanted to compare them to :) Introducing:

The NYX Slide On, Glide on, Stay on & Definitely a Turn On Waterproof, Extreme Shine Eye Liner. Mouthful but oh well.  I have heard that these little beauties are comparable to the UD eyeliners except they are only $8 (when not on a NYX sale) so I did a little experiment while I was at Ulta to compare:

I did the best I could in matching some colors from the NYX collection with comparable colors from UD's collection.  The NYX lines are on the left while the UD is on the right.  As far as application, NYX pencils went on my hand as buttery smooth as Urban Decay's. Now for colors: Only some of them can be considered legitimate dupes. That blue for instance...my goodness that blue.  The bright blue on the left is 'Azure' by NYX while the blue on the right is 'Electrify' by UD....they're almost an exact match. Also the browns looks pretty good. On the left is NYX 'Golden Bronze' and on the right is UD 'Lucky.'  Some of the colors are noticeably more pigmented like the blacks (which are probably the most important of the colors).  The left is NYX 'Jet Black' and the right is UD's famous 'Perversion,' the blackest black can get. The silver colors ended up being quite different after application, but I think NYX's silver color beats Urban Decay's silver that they offer (the two swatches on the right). That's NYX's 'Platinum' if you're interested in a bright silver, while the right is UD 'Gunmetal' if you're looking for a slated gray silver.
I did one last test while the swatches were on my hand. I took my fingers and did the unthinkable....I scraped down my skin trying to get the swatches to smudge:

Smeared. So, so smeared. I don't know if the picture picked it up as well as it did in person, but the Urban Decay swatches stayed put while the NYX swatches are the ones that smeared...sad day (and 'smear' is now a very weird word having typed it so much. huh.) I suppose that's what the extra $10 is what you're paying for with UD.  They truly are waterproof and will last you ALL DAY LONG.  I mean, look at that black! It didn't go anywhere and I pressed pretty hard into my skin to get the colors to move, and Perversion was staying put.

The final verdict: If you need a basic eyeliner like a black, plum, or brown, go with Urban Decay.  An investment in something you wear nearly everyday is worth it because you won't have to worry about touching up or checking to make sure your eyeliner isn't traveling all over the place.
BUT: if you need a colorful blue, green or silver, I'd say save your money and go with NYX. They've proven to be pigmented and if you're not planning on wearing the color for an extended period of time then the smear factor isn't a big deal.

I hope this review was helpful to you all!
Let me know: What do you think of Urban Decay's 24/7 liners? Are they worth the hype?

NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencils...a little late boarding this train!

When I went to Ulta yesterday in pursuit of nail polish happiness, I saw that NYX was having buy one get one 50% off on all their products. I wandered into the aisle (of course!) and started playing with the Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencils and after hearing non stop from gurus on Youtube about the wonders of these inexpensive beauties, I decided to take advantage of the sale and make a purchase....or two:

Top: Milk, Bottom: Yogurt

I bought the much talked about color 'Milk' as well as the color 'Yogurt' because I thought it was so darn pretty. Milk is a creamy white that is completely opaque with one light glide of the pencil. I used it today as my inner corner highlight and it looked great making my eyes look brighter and more awake.  Yogurt is a gorgeous rose gold.  It's very creamy and, just like Milk, completely opaque with one swipe.

I used Yogurt today by putting it under my lower lash line just to add a pinch o' shine to my makeup look.  Verdict so far: I really like these! I'm looking forward to experimenting with these and seeing if they make good all over lid colors, bases, highlighters....whatever I wanna try out! We'll see if I invest in any more of these bad boys. These are not hard on the wallet at all either! My Ulta had them priced at about $4.00 each and again, it was buy one get one half off. The only thing is they are entirely plastic so I'm not sure how to go about sharpening the pencil when the product runs down:

Experimenting ensues!!!

Have you tried these pencils? What are your favorite colors?