Review: NYX Round Lipgloss Swatches on lips

*Numbers correspond to those in the review below*

♥ *~REVIEW~* ♥

NYX Round Lipgloss

I am a big fan of NYX - loads of color choices, excellent pigmentation, and affordability are just a few reasons why I love these products to pieces. I throw out my glosses after a year or so since they get goopy and also for hygenic purposes - I always feel a huge twinge of sadness when I have to throw out my MAC glosses since they not only cost me a pretty penny, but there is usually about 80%+ of the product left in the tube. *sigh*

No more tears - NYX is a perfect candidate to supply my lipgloss needs!

I will let my lips do the talking for most of the review :)

*Without flash*

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1. Honey

Sparkly flecks of gold - sheer & subtle

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2. Natural

Pretty muted opaque nudey-mauve

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3. Real Nude

A pretty YLBB (Your-lips-but-better!) - the name says it all!

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4. Whipped

A milky pinky-nude, more nude than pink

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5. Sorbet

Another milky pinky-nude that is more pink than nude. Everyday wearable and work appropriate!

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6. Pinky Natural

LOVE this color -sorry for sloppy application ;_; - More subtle than "Pink" - an opaque bright & cheerful pink

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7. Kiss

A shimmery, sparkly mauve - a pretty color for the Fall!

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8. Baby Pink

A glittery porn star pink ~ not for everyday wear. -_-

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9. Ballerina Pink

A girly pink with sparkles

*oops I think the number is actually #36?

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10. Pink #03

A bright opaque poppy barbie pink

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11. Peach

A pretty glimmery peach - subtle & natural

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12. Sparkle #05

A sheer sparkly YLBB (Your Lips But Better!)

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13. Soap Opera Queen

Not as dramatic as I thought -

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Overall

I loved the packaging, the slightly angled sponge-wand applicators, the sorbet flavor and the colors. (My picks are Real Nude, Natural, Pinky Natural, and Sorbet) The staying power is average for a gloss, but for the price you can keep one on your bathroom counter and pack another in your purse for reapplication! Dryness wasn't a real problem, but I always use Aquaphor as a base to keep my lips moist. (especially in the drying winter months...)

Tip: The opaque lipglosses have more coverage/pigmentation than the sparkle/shimmer lipglosses so keep that in mind when purchasing.

Again, no animal testing with any NYX products!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ (5/5)

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I cannot rave enough about these lipglosses!

CHERRY CULTURE is having a sale - everything is 20% off!

You can nab these glosses for a little more than $1 a pop!

Code:

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Sneak peak: Dolly Wink Review & Fall/Winter Fashion Update!

♥ Irene!

Vacation in Hawaii & Sweet Fall Scans

♥♥...Super SUPER pic heavy...♥♥

It has been awhile...again. I know what my New Year's Resolution is going to be! Better blogging habits, that's for sure. -_-

I took some time off from the world to reunite with my wonderful sisters on the beautiful island of Hawaii! For those of you who live in Hawaii - Ooooh how I envy you! Even the rain is beautiful there - and the sales tax rocks though I'm not so sure about the "Asian Pacific Pricing" on luxury items. So much for my dream Chanel purse...It must have been over $1000+ more than what it goes for on the Mainland!

We visited Oahu, stayed at the Hotel Renew, sampled the North Shore, swam, tanned, and ate ourselves up to our eyeballs in pineapple.

*A few select favorites from the trip*

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My sister in the sand & Me ♥

Location: Lanikai beach

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Hotel Renew - the pumpkin adds a seasonal touch

Location: Waikiki beach, Honolulu

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Haleiwa Taro Festival - eating a sample of Taro the size of a ping-pong ball. Some of the best finds in Hawaii are things you stumble upon along the way!

Location: Haleiwa, North Shore Farmer's Market

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Pink pineapple - the South Americans are on to something! :D

Location: Dole Pinepaple Plantation

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Giovanni's Shrimp truck - The most mouth watering shrimp scampi in the world!

Location: Giovanni's shrimp truck, North Shore

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Getting ready to snorkel - I was using the snorkel incorrectly for the first 10 minutes! I forgot I had to bite down on the little bite piece inside of the mouthpiece thus

leading to massive salt water intake and gargling. X_x

Location: Shark's Cove, North Shore

Side story: While watching my 2 sisters go out after my turn, I heard a huge commotion and people screaming with excitement - I thought they had spotted something cool like an eel or a sea turtle...turns out the tide was coming in and tossing everybody in the water around like a washing machine! :P

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The majestic green sea turtle, or "honu" basking in the sun!

Location: Laniakea beach, North Shore

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Kotteri Ramen - the house specialty! Tasty & salty

Location: Tenkaippin Ramen, Honolulu

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Arguably one of the most beautiful beaches in the world!

Location: Lanikai Beach ♥

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I lucked out and booked a flight for just a little over $400 - I guess travel during the low season is cheapest? I think the Fall is a lovely time to visit though with less crowds and the same gorgeous weather.

One of my biggest budget tips - FOOD TRUCKS! Omg, are they good here. If you love seafood, Giovanni's had some of the most delicious shrimp scampi around. The other food truck that receives a 5-heart rating is Opal Thai. Tasty thai food and just about the friendliest guy on the island. :)

Shopping

88 tees - super cute clothes and a big hit with Japanese tourists

Loco Boutique - for their crazy cute heart shaped floaties

(I got the small and large pink hearted shaped floatie though they also come in turqoise, white, etc. ALL with pink print!)

As seen here:

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Lastly, I have been meaning to post these scans since August - I guess they still might be relevant as they showcase a few of the Fall fashion/makeup trends. :) More to come from a more recent time!

Still seeing a lot of florals & cute chunky jewelry!

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Don't forget to enter the Misikko Hair Straightener Giveaway!!! I am extending the deadline to THIS SUNDAY 11-14-10 at midnight (central time)!

Winner will be announced the following week!

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More blogging to come! ♥

Corioliss Classic Pro Flat Iron review & GIVEAWAY

Tis' the season for Homecoming, Halloween, and the Holidays - reasons to have quality tools in hand to produce your hairstyle of choice!

My hair happens to be extremely fine/thin with little to no volume. I do have a slight wave as well which always manages to make an unwanted appearance. Since I am a low maintenance gal--especially when it comes to hair--I want to get either sleek tresses or gorgeous curls in minutes. One of the easiest ways to do so is by using a flat iron, as you can go either way with an all-in-one tool!

Misikko is family-run business specializing in hair products and tools, especially flat irons and hair dryers! Their approach is professional yet personalized with an emphasis on customer service and interaction with their clients.

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My flat iron was meticulously packed with attention to detail and a nice little soft pouch to house my flat iron when not in use:

I reviewed the Corioliss Classic Flat iron - one of their best-sellers and a steal considering the free shipping and features. It comes packaged in sleek & sturdy packaging:

I liked how the shell was embossed with a diamond pattern - adds some character and class, don't you think? :)

The iron feels very sturdy in hand- definitely not whimsy or cheap.

As for the features - it has solid ceramic plates which help prevent heat damage to your hair. I really liked the straightforward and speedy heating process (literally in seconds) - just choose your desired heat setting from 140-410 degrees F (I really love the dial which lets you adjust your heat setting, more on that later...), plug in, wait for the easy-to-spot light turn from red to green, and you're ready to go!

Before you begin, don't forget the additional Heat protection! The last thing you want to do is seriously fry your hair (make sure your hair is dry before using a flat iron!) I used this bottle from my local Walgreens! Smells like flowers and makes you feel like you just stepped out of a salon!

After running this over a few sections of my hair...

**RESULTS**

Before: Messy unmanageable bedhead :(

After: Sleek, shiny, & sexy locks in less than 5 minutes!!! :)

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*Happy sigh*

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Important tip - If your hair is THICK, you can use the hotter setting, normal texture at medium heat and LOW for thin or fine hair!!! This will protect your hair from damage!

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And for the styling newbies, some informative, pictorial step-by-step guides to getting your desired look!

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*Overall*

The only other flat iron I have used would be the Chi. This iron is comparable in heating time and results. The particular version of the chi that I have used did NOT have the option of heat adjustment and did not get as hot as the Corioliss. Regardless, both are quality products and I would recommend either one depending on your personal preference and budget. I am extremely happy with the results of my Corioliss - it didn't snag my hair and gave me options for my fragile hair. I think it is extremely good value for the product you receive.

*****

Now for the fun part - the GIVEAWAY! You can own your very own Corioliss flat iron!

♥~* The Basic Rules*~♥

Must be at least 18 years of age please!

Open to US & Canadian followers

Must be a follower!

= 1 entry

♥~* Extra entries *~♥

1. 1. Place entry on your blog sidebar (+1)
2. 1. Blog about giveaway on your personal blog w/ linkback (+2)
3. Follow Misikko on Twitter (+2)
4. Join Misikko's newsletter (+2)
5. "Like" Misikko on facebook (+2)
6. Interact with Misikko's facebook by posting on pic/writing on wall (+4)

*Maximum number of entries = 14*

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Comment below with your name and a link to your blog post/blog/feedback/fave beauty product (in case you are doing extra entries) Finally, please list total number of entries! All entries will be verified!

Giveaway ends 11/11/11 (one month from now)

Winner will be selected at random and announced on the blog & on twitter so stay tuned :)

Good luck & have fun!

**This post was generously sponsored by Misikko!

Kim Kardashian-esque look - light edition

Happy September everybody! The last month or so has been a whirlwind of uncertainty, job changes, and LIFE getting in the way of everything...

Despite all the turmoil, it really does feel like God has been watching over me - I feel so blessed & very lucky. It feels like another chapter is opening in my life and I am just brimming with anxiety and excitement!

I am glad to be back - so much to catch up on! I missed the blogging community, but I can't reiterate how difficult it is to jump back into things after a period of (my self-inflicted) blog famine.

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After a good week or so of junk television, I have concluded that Kim Kardashian (and by extension, her full-blooded sisters & Mother) wears too much makeup. She looks fabulous - a sex Bob-bomb! but she also looks equally, if not more, gorgeous without.

I decided to do a "lite" version of her look...smoky & smoldering purples, charcoals and pinks with a light lip and false lashes.

I used my favorite NYX Caribbean Collection palette in "I dream of Barbados" - these colors are smooth and pigmented with some gentle non-overpowering shimmer. Also, be pretty with a clean conscience as all NYX products do not test on animals! :)

One of the keys to Kim's look is a strong, sculpted brow. One of my favorite brow pencils is N.Y.C. - the kind you can pick up at just about any drugstore for ~99 cents. They come in tons of shades - I chose a 922A, "Dark Brown"

After the eye makeup, I dusted bronzer on my temples and underneath the cheekbones. (Fresh, here comes the sun palette) A pop of pinky gold blush on the apples of the cheeks and a sweep of highlighter (Tokidoki in Kabuki) later...

Finished with NYX black label lipstick in "Nude". (LOVE these lippies by the way, will have to review soon)

Tip: Don't forget comically large sunglasses & body-hugging ensemble!

Hope everyone had a lovely labor-day weekend! See you soon ~ promise ;)

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**Side note - I swear the wind/rain combo outside is going to bust the windows out my house right now. O_O