NYX HD Photogenic Concealer Wand Review, Photos, Swatches!

NYX HD Photogenic Concealer Wand

NYX HD Photogenic Concealer Wand ($5) is a lightweight concealer that covers under-eye circles and imperfections on the face without looking cakey or obvious. It's non-comedogenic, so it won't clog your pores. Available in (8) skin shades and (3) color correcting shades.

The NYX HD Concealer is actually one of NYX's best selling products and it's a product that I've seen recommended countless times.

I purchased the shade CW05 Medium, which is described as a medium beige with olive undertones. I don't know about olive, but the shade is very peachy with a hint of pink. In MAC concealers I always use the shade NW25 and it's a pretty good equivalent - NYX has a stronger peach tone though, which works really well for counteracting under-eye darkness. Don't judge the shade by what the tube looks like from the outside because it looks much lighter than it really is. I also find that the color oxidizes a bit shortly after application.

The concealer has a light/thin, creamy, velvety texture and dries to a semi-matte finish. It smooths on easily and blends out really well. Some compare the texture to MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer, but it's definitely not as wet/liquidy. I find it to be most comparable to Nars Radiant Concealer, but it's not as budge-proof as Nars. Nars dries down quickly, whereas NYX doesn't fully set without the help of a powder.

The first few times I used this concealer, I didn't like it. It looked dry, almost ashy and obvious. With all of the positive reviews, I was persistent to get it to work for me. It turned out that all I needed was some eye cream (or any moisturizer) prior to applying the concealer. The results were a day and night difference.

I always make sure to apply a moisturizer to my under-eye area and then I wipe a generous amount of concealer under both of my eyes straight from the applicator. I don't blend it out right away - I'll usually dot my foundation all over my face and then take a beauty blender and blend my foundation in and then lastly, blend in my concealer with light, patting motions. I blend my concealer last to give the concealer a little time to set on my skin so when I finally blend it out, the coverage is a bit fuller. Also, the foundation residue from my sponge will help blend the concealer with my foundation. Sometimes I'll add an extra layer of concealer and blend with my finger tips and set with a powder (Ben Nye Neutral Set, of course!)

NYX Apple Strudel Butter Gloss Review, Photos and Swatches!

NYX Apple Strudel Butter Gloss

I don't go to ULTA as often as I use to, but when I do I always make sure to stop by the NYX section (I feel like I just quoted a Dos Equis commercial.. ha!) On my recent trip, I was excited to see a few products that I didn't recognize that are new for 2013.

NYX Butter Glosses ($5) are a new line-up of lipglosses that are described as providing a sheer to medium coverage without feeling sticky. NYX makes some awesome lip glosses (especially their extreme lip creams and megashine lip glosses) and as usual, they come in a great variety of my kind of shades (pinks galore!)

NYX Butter Glosses are available in (12) shades: Strawberry Parfait, Eclair, Peaches and Cream, Merengue, Creme Brule, Peach Cobbler, Tiramisu, Apple Strudel, Vanilla Cream Pie, Cherry Cheesecake, Maple Blondie and Cherry Pie.

Naturally, I chose a light coral shade called Apple Strudel. It provides enough coverage to be worn alone, but if you want opaque coverage you may want to layer it over a lipstick. I find that if I apply more than one layer it feels too thick and gooey on my lips, so one layer is all I need.

It feels super moisturizing on the lips and has pretty decent lasting power - similar to the Megashine Lipglosses.

They're unfortunately scented, but it's not a scent that bothers me. It smells sweet, and reminds me of strawberries and cream.

NYX Apple Strudel on my lips.

NYX Glam Lipgloss Aqua Luxe in the shades Paint the Town, I'm Coming Out and Glitter Dreams Review, Photos and Swatches!

NYX Glam Lipgloss Aqua Luxe 

NYX Glam Lipgloss Aqua Luxe ($6) is a newer line of super shimmery, glitter lipglosses with just a hint of color. They can be worn alone or layered over your favorite lipstick to enhance your lip color and add lots of shine.

NYX Glam Lipgloss Aqua Luxe are available in (11) shades:  I'm Coming Out, Do the Hustle, Beat Goes On, Glitter Dreams, High Society, Disco Playground, VIP, Paint the Town, Underground Boogie, The Last Party and Velvet Ropes.

The majority of the shades are pink toned with the exception of a couple beige/gold shades. I ended up getting three shades that I thought would look good topped over some of my favorite pink lipsticks.

The consistency of these glosses is thin, yet fairly creamy and comfortable on the lips. They are non-sticky, tacky or heavy feeling on the lips. Glitter glosses can tend to feel gritty on the lips, but I didn't have a problem with these. The shade Glitter Dreams contains the most shimmer of the three glosses I purchased, and you could feel the glitter when you rub your lips together, but it's not bad by any means.

The applicator is large, narrow and flat (love!!) so it scoops up the perfect amount of product, so you won't have to double dip for additional product.

I'm Coming Out is a medium toned cool pink with golden shimmer. It looks pretty on it's own, but since it's so sheer, I prefer wearing it over a similar pink or fuschia colored lipstick.

Paint the Town is a soft coral with subtle golden shimmer. It's the least gritty of the three because it contains the least shimmer. It looks really pretty topped over coral, warm pink and peach lipsticks. (See below where I paired it with MAC Cut a Caper Lipstick)

Glitter Dreams is a reddened raspberry with tons of multi-colored glitter. It's the flashiest of three, and if you love lots of shimmer, this is your gloss. When worn alone it makes my lips look a bit more berry pink toned, shiny and a bit fuller. I think this will pair well with any medium or dark shades of pink, plum - even red!

Love this combo! MAC Cut a Caper Lipstick with NYX Paint the Town on top.

Read more for additional photos and swatches...

NYX Gala Round Lipstick Review, Photos and Swatches!

NYX Gala Round Lipstick 

NYX Gala Round Lipstick ($4) is described as a soft blue-toned pink with shimmer. It's a very light pink, and applies a bit lighter than it looks in the tube. It's slightly too light for me, but it'd work great for mixing, and when worn alone it'd look best on fair, light and light-medium skin tones.

Sometimes light colored lipsticks can emphasize cracks and dryness on the lips and Gala does just that. If I want to wear Gala, I have to make sure to apply a good lip balm and scrub my lips to remove any flakes. Even after I've exfoliated my lips really good, it still shows a little dryness.

I really like NYX Round Lipsticks — they are great for the price, but not every shade is created equal. Some are very pigmented and apply great, while some (like Gala) take several coats for opaque color and can apply uneven. The majority of the Round Lipsticks I've purchased have been pretty good.

It's still overall a very pretty light pink, and if you're a lover of soft baby pinks, you might really enjoy this lipstick. I'd personally skip because of the formula.

NYX Gala Lipstick on my lips.

NYX Stella Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches and Comparisons!

NYX Stella Round Lipstick

NYX Stella Lipstick ($4) is a soft, yet vibrant watermelon pink. Although not hugely noticeable, it contains some fine silver shimmer. On the lips, you can see small flecks of glitter here and there, but it's not a shimmery shade overall.

Because of my warm skintone, I'm very partial to watermelon (or sometimes I call them flamingo) pinks - basically meaning a pink with yellow (warm) undertones.

In my experience, NYX Round Lipsticks are creamy, pigmented and are very lightweight on the lips. They have almost a slippery texture due to the creamy, yet very lightweight texture. Stella is actually a bit different than the typical Round Lipstick I'm use to. Unless I happened to fall upon a dud, it's slightly drier in texture and has a semi-matte finish. The pigmentation is light with one swipe, but buildable to opaque when layered.

It has a very striking resemblance to MAC Viva Glam Nicki. Nicki is more pigmented with one layer, but when applied sheer, they look almost the same. When built, the differences are barely detectable - Nicki is slightly darker and pinker in tone and Stella is the slightest bit warmer. Illamasqua Fable Lipstick is somewhat similar, but lighter (more pastel) in tone. Comparisons at the end of this post.

NYX Round Lipsticks are a great buy as they are cheap, perform well and come in a huge variety of shades. How "huge" do you ask? Well, as of right now there are 144 shades in the line. Yes, you read that correctly. There is a shade for everyone, and if you ever dreamt of certain shade, you'll most likely find it in the NYX Round Lipstick range.

NYX Stella Lipstick on my lips.

NYX Irish Coffee Jumbo Lip Pencil Review, Photos and Swatches!

NYX Irish Coffee Jumbo Lip Pencil

NYX Irish Coffee Jumbo Lip Pencil ($4.50) is a peachy-pink nude lip liner and lipstick all-in-one. It's the consistency of a creamy lipstick, but because of the small tip, you can apply it precisely to the edges of your lips without ending up with a smeary pout. This is particularly helpful with the darker shades that are more noticeable.

The color reminds me a little bit of NYX Orange Soda or similar peachy-pink, light cream shades. Since it's such a light shade, I find it works best when applied in a few light layers over a moisturizing lip balm or in conjunction with a clear or sheer gloss to sheer out the color and help it sit better on the lips. I wouldn't wear this alone, as when there isn't anything else on my lips, it accentuates dryness and can look uneven (unless I apply one sheer layer).

It's comfortable on the lips, and is similar in texture to the NYX Round Lipsticks. They are thin and have a glossy feel to them and a similar shiny finish. I don't find them particularly drying.

The tip doesn't wear down too quick, which is a good thing. I've had some lip pencils that wear down very quickly, and it's a pain having to sharpen all of the time.

Swatch of NYX Irish Coffee Jumbo Lip Pencil

NYX Irish Coffee on my lips (I applied a layer of clear lip gloss first, so it's a bit shinier than usual)

NYX Black, Gold and Bronze Glitter Eye Pencils Review, Photo and Swatches!

NYX Black, Gold and Bronze Glitter Eye Pencils

I know, I know, you're probably sick of these NYX reviews, but I swear, I won't bore you for much longer. ☺

I snagged a few of these NYX Slim Eye Pencils ($3.50) at ULTA the other day and have been incorporating them in my eye looks every day since.

I purchased Bronze Shimmer; A deep bronze with gold glitter, Gold Glitter; A copper-gold with gold glitter, and Black Shimmer; A deep black with silver glitter. (On the NYX website, Bronze Shimmer is listed as Bronze Glitter and Black Shimmer is listed as Black Glitter.)

Of the three, Black Shimmer performs the best - It's smooth and applies opaque without having to apply several layers. Bronze Shimmer is smooth as well, but slightly less pigmented. It takes a couple of layers to achieve an opaque line. Gold Glitter gives me the most trouble, as the pencil tugs against my skin and I have to apply several layers before getting a semi-opaque line. It's a shame because it's such a pretty color.

Swatches from left to right: Gold Glitter, Bronze Shimmer and Black Shimmer.

NYX Nude Pink Megashine Lip Gloss Review, Photos and Swatches!

NYX Nude Pink Megashine Lip Gloss

NYX Nude Pink Megashine Lip Gloss ($5.50) is a creamy, soft neutral pink. The color is soft on my lips, but it's not really what I'd describe as "nude". It's light, but it doesn't wash me out. It's pigmented enough to wear alone, and it looks amazing when paired with any pink lipstick.

NYX Megashine Lipglosses are one of my favorite, if not my favorite line of drugstore lip glosses for several reasons - there is a huge selection of pretty every day colors, the formula is pigmented (although some shades can be sheerer than others), they are non-sticky, feel great on the lips and are inexpensive.

One of the downsides about NYX Megashine Lipglosses are that the tube can sometimes get messy. I've owned several Megashine Lipglosses, and I've had some overflow. You can see in the main photo how much gloss has gathered around the top of the tube. I like to clean the inside handle of the wand applicator with a q-tip once I notice a lot of product gathering and it helps.

Also, they are scented like cherries. Some love it, some hate it. I don't really mind it. Kinda wish it was scent-free, but it doesn't stop me from purchasing them.

NYX Nude Pink on my lips

NYX Hippie Chic Matte Lipstick Review, Photos and Swatches!

NYX Hippie Chic Matte Lipstick

NYX Hippie Chic Matte Lipstick ($5.99) is a bright pastel flamingo pink with a matte finish. If any of you are familiar with NYX Orange Soda, it reminds me of a pink version of it. Or, a lighter version of Nars Bolero Velvet Matte Lip Pencil.

I don't have any experience with NYX Matte Lipsticks (I've only used the Round Lipsticks) and although I tend to steer away from matte formulas, I really liked some of the colors of the matte lipstick range.

The problem is - when pale lip colors have a matte finish (especially when they are very pigmented), they can have the tendency to apply streaky and look chalky on the lips, unless it's a sheer, moisturizing formula.

When wearing Hippie Chic I have to make sure to moisturize and exfoliate my lips, so they are completely free of dryness and flakes. Dryness becomes very noticeable with this lipstick. Even after my lips are completely free of dryness, the color still manages to look dry on my lips unless I apply a layer of lip balm as a base.

To really get this lipstick to work, I like applying a good coat of Smith's Rosebud Salve (my favorite lip balm - has a glossy finish) and applying a few coats of Hippie Chic over top. I additionally like to apply a coat of lipgloss on top, because Hippie Chic has the tendency to hang out in the lip lines.

Hippie Chic is a super pretty color, so if you're willing to work around the not-so-great formula, it might be worth giving a shot. It could also work as a good mixing shade (as MAC Myth is a popular shade to tone down other lipsticks).

For matte lipsticks, I highly prefer Wet n Wild Mega Last Matte Lipsticks - and they are cheaper!

NYX Hippie Chic on my lips.

NYX Absolute Red Xtreme Lip Cream Review & Photos!

NYX Absolute Red Xtreme Lip Cream

NYX Absolute Red Xtreme Lip Cream ($5.99) is an opaque cherry/blood red lip color with a glossy finish. NYX Xtreme Lip Creams are a lipgloss/lipstick hybrid as the product is completely opaque with one coat, yet it has the texture and shine of a gloss. I'd compare the pigmentation to OCC Lip Tars, though these are much more moisturizing.

Absolute Red is such a perfect, sexy shade of red, and I can't imagine it looking bad on anyone. It looks like a "Snow White" red with one coat and if I blot my lips with a tissue, it takes on a bright raspberry color (which is essentially what it fades to on me). With two coats, it takes on a deeper red-wine shade. It's kind of like a chameleon..

The first ingredient in this gloss is Castor Oil, so if you're familiar with it, you can imagine the consistency. It's thick and moisturizing, yet it's completely non-sticky/tacky or greasy. Also, if you're familiar with the scent of Castor Oil, that's what the gloss smells like - kind of woody/plastic-like, but I don't even notice it anymore.

The lasting power is just as really good - the red in particular is still on my lips after several hours (although it will fade slightly).

NYX Absolute Red on my lips.

NYX Sand Pink Lip Liner Pencil Review!

NYX Sand Pink Lip Liner

NYX Sand Pink Lip Liner ($3.49) is cool medium pink with a matte finish.

NYX Slim Lip Pencils are available in a huge variety of shades (60 to be exact) so you'll be sure to find every color you're looking for. (Incredibly, Makeup By Celly has swatches of 1/3 of the shades!)

You can use these lip pencils to define the shade of your lips, or you can fill in all of your lips with the color and apply a similar shade of lipstick on top for mega-long lasting lip color. If you find a shade you really like, you can even wear them on their own, with a little bit of lip balm or gloss.

I've only tried a couple different shades in the past, and I've been really happy with these liners. They are pigmented, smooth and glide on easily without tugging or clumping.

NYX Natural Xtreme Lip Cream Review!

NYX Natural Xtreme Lip Cream

NYX Xtreme Lip Cream ($5.99) is a "liquid lipstick" - it has the coverage of an opaque lipstick, but in a creamy lipgloss form. It delivers intense, long-lasting color with a shiny finish.

I just reviewed Nude Peach Fuzz in the previous post, and now I'll be talking about the other color I have, which is the shade Natural.

Natural is a light, pinky-beige nude. It's a shade that'd work best on light to light-medium and medium skin tones. It may look too pastel on darker skin tones, but those with darker skin tones may like this lip gloss to mix/tone down dark and/or bright lip colors. For reference, it's not as light as MAC Myth Lipstick - it's much more wearable. I'm around MAC NC25 right now, and it's not lighter than my skin. (See swatch at the end of the post) In my opinion, a must-have if you're a fan of the nude lip.

NYX Natural Xtreme Lip Cream on my lips

NYX Nude Peach Fuzz Xtreme Lip Cream Review! My FAVORITE lip product right now!

NYX Nude Peach Fuzz Xtreme Lip Cream 

If I could leap in the air and click my heels without falling flat on my face, I'd do it right now in salutation of one of my new favorite lip products! Wait... What? What is that? Is that the sound of angels?

I've gone through so many lip products that it takes a lot to woo me nowadays, but this lip cream sure makes me swoon.

NYX Xtreme Lip Cream ($5.99) is a "liquid lipstick" - it has the coverage of an opaque lipstick, but in a creamy lipgloss form. It delivers intense, long-lasting color with a shiny finish.

There are eleven (11) shades to choose from: Dolly Girl, Candy Land, Spicy, Buttery Nude, Bonfire, Pinky Nude, Absolute Red, Skin Tone, Strawberry Jam, Natural and Nude Peach Fuzz.

Nude Peach Fuzz is a warm, light peach tinged pink. If you generally like peachy-pinks, watermelon/flamingo pinks, coral-pinks - all that jazz, you'll like this one. I like the fact that the peach tone isn't overbearing, so there isn't a trace of orange on my lips. Even though the color is light, it doesn't wash me out - it actually brightens up my face. It reminds me a bit of a lighter and brighter version of MAC Kinda Sexy Lipstick.

NYX Nude Peach Fuzz on my lips

NYX Nude Peach Mega Shine Lip Gloss Review! Love this gloss!

NYX Nude Peach Mega Shine Lip Gloss

NYX Mega Shine Lip Glosses ($5.49) are ultra creamy lipglosses that deliver loads of color and shine. There is zero stickiness, and the formula doesn't leave your lips begging for hydration. You'll be sure to find a color you like, as there are 50 shades to choose from! 

I've owned a few of these glosses in the past, with the shade 'Smokey Look' being one of my favorites. Well, I've found a new favorite, and that is a little gem by the name of 'Nude Peach'.

Nude Peach is a vibrant melon pink with subtle shimmer. If you like warm pinks and pinky-corals, there's no doubt in my mind that you won't like this gloss. It's especially nice on warm and tan skintones. When I'm tan, I always opt for shades like this. When I'm a bit lighter, I gravitate towards slightly cooler pinks.

I like wearing this lipgloss alone, or layered on top of any pink lipstick. I like wearing it over MAC Viva Glam Nicki, Shygirl or Creme Cup. It adds a little vibrancy to the color.

NYX Nude Peach Mega Shine Lip Gloss on my lips

Love this bright lip combo!

Wet n Wild 511B Nouveau Pink (First mentioned in my haul post here)

NYX Round Lipgloss in Doll Pink (Mentioned in my '09 NYX post here)

I love bright lipsticks, but the truth is... they make me nervous. For whatever the reason may be, bright lipsticks are out of my comfort zone. I do admire a good bright lipstick when I see one, maybe even purchase it, but it will just end up collecting dust in my lipstick drawer.

There are some days where I'll feel like being a little more adventurous with my lip color, and I'll toss on MAC Vegas Volt, MAC Morange, NYX Louisiana or OCC Divine Lip Tar without much thought. In the past month or so, Wet n Wild Nouveau Pink has pretty much replaced all of those other brights I like to wear - who woulda thought at 99 cents? It's such a flattering shade that really brightens up my face (and I'm pretty sure it makes my teeth appear whiter). It's really pretty on it's own, but I like pairing it with NYX Round Lipgloss in Doll Pink. It takes it up a notch. 

If you're terrified of brights (or red) like me, I recommend experimenting with the inexpensive brands before investing in a high end lipstick you may only wear once a year. Wet n Wild has great options for a low price. If you like the color, force yourself to wear it! Don't look in the mirror every 15 minutes while you're out, forget that you're wearing it. If you can get through a full day of wearing it before putting on something else neutral, you've passed the test! I bet you'll get some compliments too while you're out. Try it more often! ☺

What is your favorite bright lipstick?

NYX Round Lipstick in the Shade "Hermes"

NYX Round Lipstick - Hermes

NYX Round Lipstick - Hermes

NYX Hermes is a creamy browned, neutral shade. It has a slight pink - and I almost even want to say red tone, but there really isn't any red in this lipstick. On my lips, it appears a very neutral brown, absent of any yellow tones. Although it isn't at all flattering against my skintone when applied straight from the tube, it's much more wearable for me when my lips are blotted with a tissue, leaving a soft line around the edges. It reminds me a bit of MAC Stripdown Lipliner (which is one of my favorites). From the various photos I came across searching Google, Hermes is a favorite nude shade among those with a deep skintone. On deeper skintones, the pink tone in this lipstick is much more visible.

The formula of this lipstick is smooth and opaque with a semi-shiny/satiny finish.

NYX Hermes swatched on my bare lips.

This wasn't a shade I would of normally picked up, but I received it in a swap, so I decided to post about it! Like mentioned, it's a fabulous shade for deep skintones and it works out well for me blotted, or as a lip liner. 

What are some of your favorite NYX Lipsticks?

NYX Pumpkin Pie Round Lipstick Review!

NYX Pumpkin Pie Lipstick

NYX Pumpkin Pie Round Lipstick is a creamy, warm pink with a hint of coral and pink shimmer. It reminds me a lot of MAC Shygirl Lipstick, which happens to be my all time favorite lipstick!

As with most NYX Round Lipsticks, the formula is creamy and smooth. It's not particularly moisturizing, but it's not very drying either. Pumpkin Pie has sheer coverage with one swipe, but is buildable to medium coverage.

NYX Vintage Sheer Lipgloss

NYX Vintage Sheer Tube Gloss is a light, creamy pink. It looks very coral, almost neon in the tube, but applies completely different. It is indeed sheer but buildable.

The consistency is thin, creamy and non-sticky. It also has a notable grape scent. It doesn't bother me much.

NYX Pumpkin Pie Lipstick with NYX Vintage Lipgloss on top.