Four Product Reviews on NYX Cosmetics

It is by no means a secret that I hate summers in Florida. It's just too friggin' hot here! With my job, I'm in and out of the car all day. And my car is a mobile oven. Ugh!


So, the nice people at NYX Cosmetics are on my happy list. They have a few products that are going to make my summer just a bit more tolerable. They helped sponsor the last Beauty Bloggers of Central Florida meet up, and here is what I have to share...

 

 

First of all, that is one of the cutest durn packages I have seen!! And inside were 4 full-size goodies.


Let me start with the one that is going to be a BFF this summer...

I have used blotting papers before. This is something that works great for my skin, as it will get shiny as the day goes on and down-right sweaty as the summer goes on.


Yet, NYX's Tea Tree Blotting Papers are just a bit better than the ordinary blotting papers. These have tea tree oil in them. Tea tree oil is known for its facial oil absorption properties. Now, I know not everyone likes the smell of tea tree oil. But this doesn't have a heavy scent. And, after using a blotting tissue, the smell does not linger. However, it is what it takes away that makes this Da Bomb...no shiny skin.


It wouldn't be too pretty to show you a used blotting paper, so I'll just tell you this: pressing the tissue onto the shiny areas of my face magically disappear and end up on the tissue. INSTANT RESULTS!!!


And, I really want to know how NYX knew to give me a pink polish?...

 

'Wild Orchid' will be getting a review of her own, very soon.


Next, I got a matte bronzing powder...

 

A little bit is all I need to warm up my complexion for a summer look.


And, an illuminating bronzer powder...

 

I am, actually, using the illuminating bronzer as a blush. This makes for a very natural look on me. Both of these give me the look of sun without the damaging results. Swatch posts will be coming up very soon on the bronzers as well.


Many thanks to NYX Cosmetics for their sponsorship. These go nicely on the vanity with my many other NYX cosmetics. I get my NYX Cosmetics at Sephora and I have ordered directly from NYX Cosmetics.  


These products have been given to me for my honest review. The opinions are my own.

My Recent Order From Southern Magnolia Minerals

Last weekend, I received my order from Southern Magnolia Minerals. The order I received previously had a promotion where I got several samples with my order. Two of these samples prompted me to order full size. Here's what I got...

Fixative Shadow Gel, Eye Silk Creme Sample,  Anti-Wrinkle Lip Rescue Firming Contour Cream, Hair and Skin Tonic, and Pretty Amazing Copper Shadow Sample.


In a post I did here, I mentioned that I have been a customer of SMM for easily over five years. I think it really has been about eight years now. When I got my samples, I couldn't wait to start using them. The two that I had to get full sizes of are the Lip Rescue Cream and the Hair and Skin Tonic.

 

The Lip Rescue Cream has been THE best product I have ever used on my lips to make them smooth and soft. My lips have not been peeling, dry or rough since I started using this cream. The smell is pleasant and even though I don't lick my lips, I'm not getting a taste from it. I use it several times a day because it just feels so soft on my lips. And I use it around the skin of my lips as well. This cream has found a permanent place on the vanity!


Next, is the Hair and Skin Tonic. I didn't know what to do with this tonic, at first. But, SMM's website has wonderful descriptions of their products that it didn't take me long to figure out this was a do-it-all product...

Oh my goodness, all the things I use this for: face moisturizer, eye cream, hair moisturizer, and frizzy hair tamer. There isn't hardly a scent to this and it is so light that there is no way I can get build up. I love how soft my skin feels after applying it. My skin drinks it in and there is nothing greasy or heavy about this tonic.


Now, just who does not think that this is the most stinkin' cute sample jar EVER...

 

This is a sample of Eye Silk Cream. Barb is the owner of SMM and when I emailed her to ask what this cream is for, she got back to me, as she always has, so quickly. She said that it is used around the eye area for moisturizing either alone or before other skin products like her Cucumber De-puffing Eye Gelee. I have been using it before I use an anti-aging eye cream. Eye Silk Cream is. yet again. another SMM product that makes my skin feel moisturized and soft.


I purchased the Fixative Shadow Gel as a shadow primer and a gel to make my mineral shadow powders into eyeliners.

So far, I have only used it as a mix for eyeliner. It doesn't take but a tiny speck of the gel to create a mixture of liner. It applies very evenly and that liner didn't budge until it was time to wash my face. The gel makes for a fun way to create bold and creative eyeliners.


Last, I got a sample of a copper mineral shadow...

This was the first shadow I used the Fixative Shadow Gel to make an eyeliner. If you have ever used mineral shadows, you know how versatile they are. And SMM makes very pigmented shadows. The swatch I have in the photo, that is without the fixative; it's just a swipe with a shadow brush.


Southern Magnolia Minerals has specials almost weekly. Check out the website and 'like' the Facebook page to get in on the deals. The Pink Vanity has many SMM products on it and I have found a few new beauty staples to sit on the vanity.

All items were purchased by me except for the samples. This review is my honest opinion and I am in no way compensated for my review.

China Glaze's The Hunger Games; Electrify

China Glaze, recently, came out with a collection called 'The Hunger Games'. I do live under a rock but even I know about this book series and that the movie was a financial success. I think this polish from the collection is a success as well...

 I was eager to swatch this one called 'Electrify'. Heck, even in the shade it looks like it is on fire...

The base is a transparent copper with gold and blood red glitter. This is what one coat looks like...

 I swiped it over 'Foie Gras' (from the same collection), which I reviewed here.  It didn't come out as great as I had envisioned it would...

 Uhm, yea...pass! But don't pass on either of them; they are both worth getting. 'Electrify' can come back for a visit around Christmas, I say.

This I gotta share; check out this caterpillar I had riding on my car...

Seriously, it is one weird insect!! That red dot, the head ???, was super bright. I hope it grows up to be something splendid. Kind of eery I'd come upon some insect that has gold and red on it...like the polish...[cue Twilight Zone music.]

Anyone know what this is???

Central Florida Beauty Bloggers Each Create Their Own Lipstick Shades

Designing my own lipstick color is a dream!!! But it isn't a dream any longer!!!

I'm starting at the end so I can show you what I got. I picked a pink with just a bit of sparkle for my lipstick. And there was left over gloss that I felt complimented my lipstick, so I had that tweaked a little bit to be my own, and now I have both on the vanity.

This is my lipstick called 'Pink Bish'...

And my gloss is named 'QR Me'...

I even got to add a sunscreen and a dulce de leche flavor to my gloss.

This is how I got my own lipstick and gloss made; I went to a Pucker Suite party. Sounds titillating, doesn't it? The party was hosted Artisan Beauty. 

And they invited the Central Florida Beauty Bloggers to check it out...

I would LOVE to have this chemistry set on the vanity!!!

What you see are our hostesses creating lipstick to exactly each person's own specifications. Any color you can imagine, they can make. We also had a variety of flavors, add sunscreen, moisturizers, and even plumpers to add to our lipstick and glosses, if we chose.

And no one held back in modeling their own lipstick style.  

Judi was right on the money with her shade...

Toni, being a professional makeup artist, didn't miss a beat with her true color...

Eugenia complimented her look perfectly...

I think Alyssa is the next spokes model for a toothpaste commercial; look at her smile!!

Steph couldn't have made a better shade match for her complexion, flawless...

I told her Phyrra that I knew her lipstick shade was going to be bold and she didn't disappoint...

Alli flashes her gloss and her super smile...

And Brittany created a pink lipstick with power to sizzle...

Artisan Beauty is the closest thing to a Fairy Godmother of the Vanity. If you have ever dreamed of creating your own lipstick or gloss color or, if your ultra favorite shade has been discontinued, with a swipe of their spatulas, Artisan Beauty will turn your frown into a super model smile. Just like all the super star beauty blogger models you see here. 

To learn more about Artisan Beauty, go to their website here.

My lipstick was provided for my honest opinion and review. I purchased my lip gloss.

What's A Nice Lady With Red Lipstick Doing At Home On A Saturday Night?

If you're talking about me, I have had on red, purple, pink and peach lipstick tonight. I have swatched glitters and shimmers and glosses for a couple of hours.


I de-hauled almost all of my lipsticks and glosses...

 I took all of these out of the vanity. And I took all of these out of the drawer in the closet...

 And I put them all in a heap on my bed...

Looks like a bin at a flea market. I knew I had a lot but...


So, I got to work and started separating. Getting rid of all these cute mark. glosses...

And I separated out all the lip stains too. The small pile in the upper right corner are the ones I am keeping...

 I sorted out all the Avon lip glazes...

 And here's a huge pile of those that I'm getting rid of...

 Next pile was all the squeeze tube glosses...

I love these glittery, iridescent glosses. I found one duplicate and I'm keeping that one too!

Last, I sorted out the lipsticks. The top pile is red shades and the pinks are to the right...

 The middle pile is purples and browns...

Here are some purples and, I kept just the darker shade...

 This is the lighter shade swatched on top.

Duplicates???? No way!!!

And it all boiled down to this much; these are the glosses back into the drawer in the closet...

And here are the polishes and special effects glosses...

 All sorted and neatly put back into the vanity.

Wonderfully cathartic. 


How's your Saturday night going?