NYX Haul + First impression

Posted in Beauty, Reviews by denissesamantha

I have always been intrigued with NYX products even from before. Few years back, NYX was not readily available here in the UK as how it is now. It was so difficult to get hold of the brand as I am usually left with no option but to pay a ridiculous amount for shipping fee coming from the US. However, now is a different story as it is available in Boots, their own NYX store and online excluding the high amount of shipping fee.

Here is a little NYX cosmetics haul, I have picked up:

NYX tame and frame tinted brow pomade

NYX sculpt and highlight face duo

NYX color correcting powder in banana

NYX eyebrow pencils in dark brown and medium brown

NYX soft matte lip cream in Copenhagen

NYX born to glow liquid illuminator

NYX jumbo eye pencil in milk

NYX lingerie lipstick in teddy and ruffle trim

NYX lingerie in teddy and ruffle trim- I have been so obsessed with liquid lipstick lately. I’m sure you girls can relate. There are so many good ones out in the market and I just want them all! I’m so happy with these two shades that I picked up. I feel like they are the ones that I wanted as I was going for a warm rich brown and a nude shade that won’t wash me out. However, I must admit I did struggle to decide which ones to purchase as I feel like there are a lot of shades that are very similar. At some point when I swatched them, I couldn’t tell the difference between the three shades from far away (baby doll, lace detail and satin ribbon).

These are the swatches for the two shades I picked up, as you can see they are both gorgeous!

Color correcting powder- I love this one! I have used other banana powders like Ben Nye previously, which is much more expensive than this NYX one. Surprisingly, I feel like it works the same for me. I usually apply this to set my concealer and it does brighten up the eye area. Some people also use this to set their foundation.

Sculpt and highlight- I am liking this so far as it does a good job in contouring my face. I literally put the tiniest amount and it works perfectly well for me. I like the creamy texture of it and how easy it is to blend. The problem with the one I picked up is the highlighter does not match my skin tone. It is super light on my skin and I struggle to make it work. I am yet to find a way as to how I can use the lighter shade.

Liquid illuminator- I am not sure if I like this one just yet. The one I picked up has a pink tone to it. It is nice as it gives a luminous glow but the thing I’m unsure about is the shade. I usually tend to layer it with a powder highlighter just to tone down the pinkness. I have read reviews and people have mentioned that they love it and use it on its own. So perhaps it is just either my skin tone or personal preference on how I want my highlight to look like.

Eyebrow pencils- I love these and yes both shades! They are both repurchases as I have been using them for few years already. I feel like I am in between shades of the dark and medium brown but it is perfect when I combine them together. I love how it gives me a natural-looking brow.

Jumbo eye pencil- This eye pencil especially in shade milk has been raved about few years back within the beauty community. I have never tried it until now. It does a good job on making eyeshadows more vibrant and it can also be used for a little bit of highlighting in the inner corner of the eyes. However, I sometimes find that the product is not very blendable. It can pull and tug on the eyelid.

Soft matte lip cream- I believe the lipsticks from this collection were my first matte lip creams. I feel like this range started the hype for matte lipsticks. The shade I picked up recently is Copenhagen and I love it. It gives a perfect vampy vibe to any make up look.

Tinted brow pomade- This is my favourite one out of all my purchases. I have used it so much since I bought it. It is so easy to use and it glides onto the skin and eyebrow hairs. I usually combine this with the NYX eyebrow pencil.

I hope you enjoyed reading my first impression on the listed items above.

Comment below on what your favourite NYX products are. 🙂

Lots of love from,

20Mar2017

Top beauty bargains costing under £5

Posted in Beauty, Reviews by denissesamantha

I have been wanting to do this post for so long as I keep finding cheap stuff that I actually end up loving. I decided to only post the products that I use more often and narrowed my list down to few items.

The first product is an angled brow brush, as you can see I picked this one up from Primark for £1. Initially, when I bought it I thought that it wouldn’t last me long and I wasn’t sure how soft the brush end would be. However, I ended up loving this beauty tool. I use this everyday for my eyebrows. The brush is densed enough to use for pomades, eyebrow wax and powders. I also use the brush end to tame down the hairs in the beginning and end of process when doing my eyebrows. It’s only a pound and it lasts for so long, I have not seen it shred or anything and it has been washed so many times! This brush made me want to try primark’s other make up tool collections and see if they are just as good as this one.

This one is supposed to be a face massage tool. It it also from primark and I got it for £1.50. When I bought this, I wasn’t thinking to use it for that purpose. I use this to wash my brushes. I have other tools similar to this but I find that the bristles are too big for my small eye brushes. However, this one is perfect for cleaning them. I use this along with a make up remover soap.

I have also bought a deep cleaning facial wipes from primark for £1. The pack contains 50 wipes together and they are quite good too. Sometimes when I need to wash my brushes straight away I would use the deep cleansing wipes to clean it. Wet wipes are pretty much standard and can be used with a lot of stuff anyway. I usually throw one in my bag as it is perfect for when I’m on the go.

This one has to be my favourite from the list. I had doubts when buying it as I have never tried primark’s range of make up previously. This is the velvet matte lipstick crayon for £2.00. When I swatched the tester I just had to buy it as I liked the shade of brown and how opaque it was. It is creamy enough to glide on the lips and it dries matte. Honestly, it’s not long lasting as other matte lip crayons but it stays on for few hours. I believe this is still decent for the price.

Top tip: Avoid eating oily food like what I did in the photo below. This will make the lipstick stay longer. I was solely wearing the brown matte lipstick without lipliner on this photo.

Another favourite of mine form this list is the MUA undress your skin shimmer higlighter for £3.00. I got this from Superdrug. I loved it when I swatched it, you literally need a tiny amount to have the perfect glow. I have been using this for few months and I still can’t see the dent on the design. I just know this product will last long and that’s if I don’t misplace it lol.

I got this Maybelline mascara for about £3.00 as you can see I stocked up on it as this is what I use daily. I know some people say that it is not good to use waterproof make up everyday. However, I find that it works for me as I usually wear contact lenses and my eyes gets watery. I also have a straight Asian eyelashes, which needs something stronger to hold the curls. I usually use two coats of this by itself or on some days I use it alongside another brand of mascara (usually a more lengthening one).

These ones are Japanese goodies that costs around £2-3 each. My favourites out of the bunch are the eyebrow pencil and the magical eyeliner.

This Real Techniques miracle complexion sponge is something that I love using. I have repurchased this a couple of times as I am not willing to spend too much. I have heard so much good things about the beauty blender but I am currently still happy with this Real Techniques version. I have bought the twin pack previously and this costs £9.99 and the individual one is for £5.99. However, the reason why this is on the list as under £5 bargain is because I usually purchase the individual ones from Boots for £4.49. Boots does this price for it every now and then. Therefore, since I found out I only ever repurchase the individual for the price of £4.49. I still think this is a bargain as the sponge is quite amazing and it works perfect for me!

I hope you find it helpful and enjoyed reading this post.

What are your favourite beauty bargains?

Lots of love from,

23Jan2017

Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Marvelous Mauve Review

Posted in Beauty, Reviews by denissesamantha

Lip creams and lip stains are such a big thing in the beauty world right now. There are so many options from both high end and drugstores brands. I have been wanting to try the Sephora Cream Lip Stains as they are recommended by so many beauty bloggers. However, Sephora products are very hard to get hold of as we don’t have a store here in London. There are available websites online but the shipping fees are crazy. I picked mine up when I went on holiday and made sure I bought a few to last me for a long time.

Pros

It is very pigmented; mauve pink shade with dark undertones.

It goes on creamy and dries into a beautiful matte finish.

It is a lightweight stain and does not feel sticky at all.

It is long-lasting on the lips and does not usually require a touch up.

The collection has 15 shades in total including both matte and satin finishes.

Cons

It is not very accessible here in the UK. It is possible to order on the Sephora website but be aware of the shipping fees. There are beauty blogger that keeps comparing this product to Stila Liquid Lipstick in shadePatina as they said that it is the perfect dupe for it. However, I could not say for myself as I do not own the Stila liquid lipstick.

Tips

Make sure to exfoliate your lips especially if it is dry and peeling. Apply balm to give moisture to the lips before applying the product.

I usually scrape off the excess from the applicator on the side of the tube to make sure that I don’t pick up too much of the product.

I personally don’t use a lip liner with this product and I start in the centre of my lips and smooth it outwards towards the corners of my lips.

Stay away from oily foods to make it more long-lasting.

Verdict

I give Sephora Lip Stain in Marvelous Mauve the rating of 4/5. I love the finish and how pigmented it is. It is the perfect mauve shade for me as I prefer this shade rather than wearing nudes that washes me out. I usually exfoliate my lips as part of my regime, therefore I have not experienced any flaking or any dryness with this product. Avocado oil was one of its ingredients and this is to provide comfort and nutrition for the lips. On the other hand, I will just keep wishing that someday we will have the Sephora Collections readily available here in the UK. Overall, I am very happy with it and will continue to buy the other shades from the collection (perhaps another holiday soon that has Sephora stores).

Have you tried the Sephora Lip Stain in Marvelous Mauve? If not, what is your favourite lip creams?

Lots of love from,

15Oct2016

Lime Crime Velvetines in Red Velvet Review

Posted in Beauty, Reviews by denissesamantha

I have been using this product for quite a while now. I am currently about to finish my second bottle; therefore I believe that I can give an informative review about the velvetines (in shade red velvet in particular). Red lipstick is a must-have staple in every woman’s make up bag, which is why I own a few red lippies and I must say that Lime Crime’s Red Velvet is one of my favourite.

Pros

It is very highly pigmented.

It has an excellent staying power as it last through meals but better to avoid oily foods.

It goes on creamy and dries into a beautiful velvety matte finish.

Lime Crime in general has cute packaging; velvetines comes in a frosted glass tube with a doe foot applicator.

The doe foot applicator makes it easier to apply on the lips.

Personally, I like the smell of it but I just can’t pinpoint as to how it smells like (vanilla cake batter kind of smell).

Cons

It is quite pricey and the price varies depending on which website you purchase it on.

It is not readily available especially in the UK. The UK websites that sells lime crime are usually out of stock of velvetines. Therefore ebay and amazon are sometimes the only options. Unless, you purchase from a US based website but you must remember that there is an extra cost for shipping charges.

The main issue for me is all the controversy of Lime Crime as a company and its owner Doe Deeree regarding identity/credit card information theft, restocking, repackaging and availability of the products.

Tips

Make sure to exfoliate your lips especially if it is dry and peeling. Apply balm to give moisture to the lips before applying the product.

Use a lip liner for a more precise lip application.

I usually scrape off the excess from the applicator on the side of the tube to make sure that I don’t pick up too much of the product.

Stay away from oily foods to make it more long-lasting.

Verdict

I give Lime Crime Velvetines in Red Velvet the rating of 4/5. I took out 1 point due to the controversy regarding the company and owner itself (identity/credit card information theft). However, I love the product because of its formulation and opacity. I feel like it has blue undertones, which makes the colour bright and very flattering on the lips. I like the lovely velvet matte finish of it. For me, the longevity of the product is great as it can last me all day without re-applying it, but of course that is when I’m cautious of staying away with oily foods. Overall, it is still one of my favourite red lipsticks of all time. This is the reason why when I first tried it I had to purchase another two pieces of the same shade, hence why I have the original packaging on the images above (not the current up-to-date packaging). I definitely recommend this product but after I finish the tube I’m using right now I still have a brand new one. Therefore I won’t be repurchasing anytime soon until I finish my third velvetines. I also want to try other similar products such as NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream (in Monte Carlo), Stila Stay All Day Lipstick (in Beso) and Jeffree Star Cosmetics Liquid Lipstick (in Redrum).

I hope my review helped you in any way. Comment below of what your favourite red lipsticks are? Have you used LC Velvetines and what do you think of them?

Lots of love from,

8May2016

April favourites

Posted in Beauty, Reviews by denissesamantha

I can’t believe it’s already May and so far the weather has been lovely. I love it when the sun shines, it somehow makes me feel extra happy! My first week of this month has been amazing and I hope you enjoyed your first week too.

I love writing about my monthly favourites and I always feel excited when it’s that time to gather the products that I have been loving. I try my best to use different brands and varieties of products but sometimes I can’t let go of my staples.

Here are my April favourites:

MakeUp Revolution Ultra Professional Cover & Conceal Palette: Concealer is one of the main product in every make up kit. However, finding the right concealer has been such a long and continuos process for me. I have my very few concealers that I love but I always enjoy trying different brands from high end to drugstore. I decided to buy this one as it intrigued me. Make Up Revolution as a brand is very affordable and some of their products are amazing. I must admit when I first tried this palette I did not like it at all. I felt like the consistency was so weird. It feels too greasy and not more of a cream formula. I also found that it creases and sometimes does not give me the coverage that I desire. However, after few weeks I decided to give it another try but this time I made adjustments with the products that I use. I usually put eye cream on top of my moisturiser but with this I don’t. I also found that putting a primer is the best thing to use with it. It made it more blendable and buildable and it doesn’t crease as much. I noticed that it stays longer and covers so much better. Therefore, since finding the right way to use it I have been using it quite a lot last month. I also enjoy the varieties of colours that it offers. It is such a multipurpose paletter and you can always customise the colors by mixing them which is what I do.

MAC Lipstick in ‘Cyber’: I love dark lipstick and I always used to go for my MAC cyber. However, I haven’t been using it for a while as my collection for dark shades grew. I also wanted to try different brands and different hues of plums, browns and anything dark. Last month, I have been using this a lot and I love the vampy vibe it gives.

Face Masks- Snail Cell Illuminating Multi-step Treatment and Purederm Brightening Essence Mask: These masks are from Asia, which I got from my holiday. I love the effects it gives and how moisturising it leaves my face after using them. How I really wish I bought so much more than I did but hopefully I’ll be able to get hold of these soon! I have been using Purederm masks from before but it was my first time to try the two specific ones below and it made me fall in love with the brand even more.

Barry M Natural Glow Shadow and Blush Palette: I love this palette! I usually only use neutral colours for my eyeshadows and this palette is amazing for it. As you can see, it also has a blush which is really good considering how affordable it is.

Accessorize False Eye Lashes: My ultimate falsies fave are still the demi wispies but I don’t mind these ones. I like the effect it gives and it feels lightweight when I have them on. They are not too long but it is thick enough to give you an amazing lashes look.

Batiste Hair Dry Shampoo in fruit and cheeky cherry: This was included in my March favourites and I can’t help but mention it here too. I just adore the smell of it and how it gives me a big voluminous hair.

Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick in ‘Mulberry’: I love everything about this lipstick. As you can see, this mulberry shade looks so pretty. It is a very flattering shade and very moisturising on the lips. The packaging looks gorgeous as it looks very sleek and expensive than it actually is.

Benefit Blush and Bronzer in ‘Dallas’: This has been my go to blush/bronzer recently. I use it almost every day apart from weekends, which is when I usually go for a more pigmented one or either when I don’t wear make up at all. I really like how it doesn’t make me look cakey, it is very natural looking but with a very lovely glow. I don’t tend to usually use the brushed that comes with whatever products I by cos they tend to not work as well as the proper individually brushes but this one is an exception. The brush that comes with it is very soft and I feel like it is the perfect shape for this particular product!

What are your favourite products recently? Please comment down below as I would like to explore different products and hopefully I will also end up loving it as much as you do.

Lots of love from,

30Mar2016

March favourites

Posted in Beauty by denissesamantha

Time is definitely going way too quick, I can’t believe that it’s already March and the month is just about to end. It means that spring is here then obviously summer is coming. Both spring and summer are my favourite seasons throughout the year. It feels like life gets better and people get so much happier when the sun is out! Here are most of my March beauty/skincare favourites:

Batiste Dry Shampoo: I absolutely love this stuff, I have been using this product for a few years now. I have also tried other scents such as blush, sweetie and floral essences.

These four products are all re-purchased. They are my most used combination of products as I use them for my everyday make up look. This is the reason why they ran out so fast especially the concealer! With the blushers I tend to not use the cream formula but I hit pan on the two powder forms. Left to right: Sleek Blush by 3 in pink lemonade, Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation, Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer and Makeup Revolution Ultra Cover and Conceal Palette.

Left to right: Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Liner in midnight plum and sweet pink, Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Gel Liner in black, Maybelline Eye Studio Master Precise Liner in black and Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Liner in nude.

Molton Brown Soothing Hand Lotion SPF15: This is super nourishing and lightweight when blended on the skin. I find it so moisturising that I don’t just use it on my hands but sometimes also on my arms and legs too.

NYX Baked Blush + Illuminator + Bronzer: This was given to me by a lovely friend of mine and I’m so thankful for it. I love how pigmented this blush is and it’s not overly shimmery. The good thing about it is that the product is buildable, so if you think that the first swipe is too sheer you could always top it up without it looking cakey. Also, the packaging is so cute especially the bow bit on the side.

Quick FX Eyelift Cream and Pimple Eraser: Unfortunately they do not sell this in the UK and I got it when I was on holiday. At first I was skeptical about it because of its claims but it was so cheap that I thought I should just give it a go. I have been using them for few moths now and they’re okay. However, I can’t speak whether their claims are true as I use these products alternatively with other creams.

Clean&Clear Oil Control Film: I love this one! I own quite a few of this product as I’m scared to run out of it. I have tried other ones that are more expensive (MAC blot film and Shiseido Pureness Oil Control Blotting Paper) but I would still choose this. It is inexpensive and does the job, so I can’t ask for more!

Left to right: ELF Moisturizing Lipstick in ravishing rose, ELF Mineral Infused Mascara and Eyebrow Kit in both shade medium and dark. I can’t even remember how many ELF eyebrow kits I have purchased throughout the years (lost count already, way too many).

Revlon Colorbust Lipstick in blush: I obviously have loads of different nude lipsticks in my collection (which girl doesn’t?) but for some reason I have been using this one quite a lot this month! It goes on creamy, it is very moisturising and I love how this particular shade matches my skin well unlike my other nude lipstick that washes me out in pictures.

Seventeen False Lashes in electronica: I initially only bought this from my local Boots store because it was on 70% off but I ended up loving it. I was so happy that I picked up a few but if I knew earlier that these lashes are so pretty I definitely would have picked up some more! Also, it was such a bargain, they’re just like demi wispies but more crisscrossed.