NYX Sweetie Nail Polish

Just a quick post to show off my satin pink nails. Love the colour and the name is about right but it says "professional salon formula" and I disagree.

It's the streakiest frost I tried and even after three coats and a top coat, it chips within three days. Tut tut, NYX!

NYX Eyeshadow Trio 01 - White Grey Black

Got to use the matt eyeshadow trio from my first NYX haul and I love it!

I needed a compact black eyeshadow since the Sleek Storm Palette is'nt handbag friendly. Sleek has the blackest of all the black eyeshadows I've tried and NYX is just as pigmented.

The grey and the white is poorly pigmented but it's forgivable because I use them sparingly for highlighting and contouring. All shadows have good staying power and there's a mirror in the compact for convenience.

In the photo I've used the black to line the outer corners of my eyes and blended with grey on the lids. White was applied to the brow bone and inner corners.

This compact trio is a high quality product for the price. Make sure to add this to your shopping list when buying NYX online!

NYX Black & White Eyeliner Pencils

I bought these NYX eyeliner pencils from a random cheapo store for $3 AUD each. The black pencil is extra long for a eyeliner so it was take forever to use up!

They apply smoothly without tugging at the eyelids. The texture is creamy soft and blends easily. Pigmentation is good. Lasting powder is OK, staying put for several hours. I have oily lids so I figure it's normal that some will transfer under the eyes within a few hours.

The white pencil is a godsend because I use it to make my eyes look bigger and more open. Awesome for when I haven't had enough sleep! I lightly apply it close to the inner corners and instantly it brightens up my eyes.

The black pencil could be blacker. However my biggest complaint is that it smudges a bit so I'll keep looking for the perfect black eyeliner.

I've paid more for worse quality eyeliners so I recommend giving NYX pencils a try. They do an excellent job for the price!

NYX Round Lipstick - Power #629

Bought another NYX Round Lipstick since I'm on a roll. So far I have five of these cheap thrills and will be collecting more.

I have a thing about finding the perfect "smear it on anytime, anywhere" nude lipstick. Otherwise I would'nt wear lipstick at all because bold colours are too high maintenance!

At first I thought Thalia was too pale and now Strawberry Milk is the new "too pale". I was hoping that Power would be the medium.

It applies as velvety and creamy as Thalia. More wearable than Strawberry Milk as it is a touch darker although not the perfect nude since it's overtly pink lilac. Word of warning: if Power was anymore blue toned, you could look like you have hypothermia!

NYX Round Lipstick - Strawberry Milk #595

Was feeling depressed on the weekend so I bought a little something to pick me up.

Remember my post on Ulta3 Allure 2 nail polish? If you wanted a lipstick that looked like the one Wendy James was wearing in I Want Your Love, or one to match the nail colour, then NYX Strawberry Milk is for you.

The colour resembles strawberry milkshake. It is paler than my skintone and when I first tried it, I was disappointed. The lipstick was very pale. Looked like I painted my lips with white zinc! Oh well, nevermind since it was only $2 AUD.

I've seen pics of girls who can pull the colour off but I looked like a freaky clown! The lipstick was streaky which only emphasised my dry lips.

After reading reviews in Makeupalley, I learned that the trick was to apply on primed lips with a light hand.

So after I applied Vaseline on my lips, I softly dabbed the lipstick on and indeed it made a pleasing difference. My lips were a pretty pale pink and looked fuller than normal.

A smidge of Strawberry Milk is all that was needed. It lasts well and there was no problems with streaking when applied this way. Love the fun nude pink colour. This is definitely a lipstick which I can wear everyday!

NYX Doll Eye Mascara - Volume and Long Lash

After reading rave reviews on Makeup Alley, I gave NYX Doll Eye Mascara a try. I bought both formulations, Volume and Long Lash for $7.95 USD each online.

Both looks exactly the same with the packaging and brush. As you can see in the picture, the brush is tapered and thicker at the ends.

Tried the Volume mascara first and I was'nt thrilled. It was a dry formula so I had to swipe quite a few times for any effect on my lashes. It did'nt give a noticeable lengthening or volumizing look. Towards the end of the day, tiny flakes would fall under my eyes. The only plus was that it did'nt clump.

The Long Lash formulation was definitely better. Again, it was a dry formula but after two coats, my lashes were noticeably fatter and longer. I can see the tiny fibers which build up the lashes. The product is very black so it made my lashes POP which is exactly the effect I'm after. It stayed on all day without flaking and does'nt clump as long as you apply no more than two thin coats.

While it's already good value for money, I would only buy the Long Lash again if it was on sale. It's not perfect as I've had better results with Diorshow. I'll keep looking for the perfect mascara!

NYX Girls Nail Polish - Amazonia

No, no, no!!!

I adore the colour in the bottle, but HATE how it looks on my nails. I wonder if anyone can pull off this colour without looking like a witch?

Amazonia is a metallic peacock blue with a lime green shimmer. It's a gorgeous aqua but I can't shake off the feeling that there is something wrong with my fingers.

Due to it's "wicked" colour, I will reserve it for toes only.

More NYX Round Lipsticks - Cocoa #558 and Watermelon #616

I could'nt fight the urge to buy these since I was walking past the local cheapo store. Had my heart set on the "perfect" nude lipstick from my Nonpareil Boutique order, but Thalia was too pale without dark eye makeup. I found two perfect nudes from a messy pile of NYX lipsticks and best of all, they were only $2AUD each!

My ideal lipstick colour is Your Lips But Better (YLBB) and now I realise there are two types: creme and frost or Cocoa and Watermelon. 

Cocoa is a pinkish brown which darkens but not enough to make it look like I've got chocolate smeared on my lips. It has the delish creamy texture similar to Thalia. 

Watermelon was an unexpected YLBB. It is a frosty cocktail pink which indeed reminds me of the fruit and has a subtle gold highlight. It's pink enough to be seen and sheer so I don't need to meticulously apply with precision. The texture's not as creamy as the other NYX lipsticks but I'm guessing that all frosts are matte. Helps when I apply clear gloss on beforehand.

Both have a faint cheap scent but it goes away shortly after it's applied. 

Not bad for quality since they are as cheap as chips!

NYX Girls Nail Polish - Baby Doll

Got to try the pink nail polish I bought from my recent NYX haul. The packaging of their Girls Nail Polish is now akin to Anna Sui cosmetics.  A very girly bottle, with raised detailing on the glass a sparkly diamante in the centre.

Baby Doll is a deep pink metallic frost. It looked totally different on the website swatch but I did'nt mind because I love pink colours. The grooved handle made it easier to grip. The only thing I did'nt like about the nail polish was that it was streaky if you applied a thin coat. However it was fast drying so I could got the manicure done quickly. Staying power was OK, but not great. My manicure lasted three days before it chipped. Baby Doll appears a little paler in natural light compared to the picture above.

Rating: 3/5 Can't complain as it only cost $1.50 USD!

NYX Pearl Mania Loose Pigment - Walnut

While traveling Europe, my eyeshadows crumbled in transit. Pressed powders turned to rainbow dust so when I needed new colours, I had to try NYX pigments. The stuff comes in cute little screw top jars so no worries about spillage or breakage.

What I like:

- Highly pigmented so you don't need alot to build colour.

- Easy to blend with a silky finish.

- Lasted all day and still going strong.

- Bottle was the right size for my bullet brush to fit through.

- So cheap! Beats paying for MAC any day.

- Versatile shading colour with a super pearly finish. Walnut is a deep bronzed brown with coppery shimmer. 

- Once on, the colour does'nt budge or crease (and I have oily lids too).

- Travel friendly packaging.

What I DON'T like:

- Nothing! This product is a winner!

Rating: 5/5 A Holy Grail! It lasts all day, blends in well and is finely milled. The colour is perfect for everyday to evening wear. Best of all, it was only $1.25USD! 

NYX Round Lipstick - Thalia #529

I remember madly reading reviews and searching for swatches of NYX lipsticks so I can choose one for mail order. There are too many colours to choose from! This lipstick is $1.90 USD but if you are lucky enough to find a colour you like in Australia, it's only $2 AUD in cheapo Asian stores. I chose Thalia because I wanted a nude lipstick. When I have dark eyeshadow on, I used to only apply clear gloss for my lips. Nude lipstick gives a face with dramatic eyes a more refined, finished touch.

This is my first NYX lipstick and its excellent for the price. Packaging is better than expected. It clicks securely shut so there are no mishaps in your handbag. The casing is shiny black with a coloured base that contains a sample of the lipstick so you can see at a glance the colours you are selecting.

The lipstick is mauve brown in the tube but candy pink on me. A touch paler than my natural lips. The formulation is deliciously creamy, glides on easily and is moisturising. Some Makeup Alley reviewers complained that it was matte but not for me. There is a faint cheap scent but it was no bother. Colour is well saturated. Not a Your-Lips-But-Better look because it's a little too light but still a gorgeous colour. It even matches with the NYX Poppy nail polish which I've previously reviewed!

Taken in natural light. This is Lip Fusion gloss in Summer and Thalia on top.

Excellent formulation and value for money. Long lasting, creamy and easy to apply. Lips stayed moisturised for atleast 4 hours and the colour is so pretty, I could wear it everyday.

My First NYX Haul

I got my NYX products within a week from Nonpareil Boutique. Here's what I ordered, in USD:

NYX Pearl Mania - Turquoise $1.25 
NYX Trio Eyeshadow - White-Grey-Black $5.25
NYX Girl Nail Polish - Baby Doll $1.50
NYX Doll Eye Mascara - Volume Extreme Black $7.00
NYX Girl Nail Polish - Amazonia $1.50
NYX Pearl Mania - Walnut $1.25
NYX Round Lipstick - Thalia $1.90
NYX Doll Eye Mascara - Long Lash Extreme Black $7.00

The colours are gorgeous and the packaging is cute. Good quality for cheap items. 

The total including shipping was $57 AUD. The shipping killed the thrift value but atleast I have all the products I want (for now).

Will do reviews on each item eventually.

NYX Girls Nail Polish - Poppy

You'll hear me rave on incessantly about NYX Cosmetics. (Pronounced "nicks", named after a Greek goddess of beauty.) It's grossly under rated in Australia because they are sold in random cheapo Asian shops.  A few lurid lipsticks here and there but never a whole range in a proper store.

Sometimes I wish I could distribute it in Australia so it gets the attention and exposure it deserves. In the States, it's cheap, available at chain drugstores and because the quality is so good, it's compared to MAC cosmetics. In fact, professional makeup artists use NYX!

The first things I look for in any cheapo shops are NYX products. I was at the Central Coast and bought this NYX nail polish for $2 AUD.

I chose this colour Poppy because I wanted a pretty pink which could be worn anytime.  It's shimmery bronzed pink with golden green highlights. 

This is my manicure pictured with flash: Ulta3 base coat (only $2 AUD at the chemist), two layers of Poppy and Opi Rapid Dry Top Coat. Poppy is gorgeous but if you applied too thinly, it would be streaky and matt. It did'nt take long to dry and wears well. It won't chip for 5 days if I've been REALLY careful with my nails.

This is my manicure pictured without flash in natural lighting. Sometimes it appears bronzed which has a nude-but-better look. 

Not sure why it's called "Girls" nail polish? Maybe the colour range for the teens? It still says "Professional" on the bottle so I don't think quality has anything to do with it.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars. So far the prettiest colour and a staple in my collection but not the most durable of nail polishes. 

If you're in Australia, have a look at your nearest cheapo shop. If you want to be spoilt for choice, you can buy it from Ebay or if you want a stack of NYX, try mail order from the States.  Cherry Culture and Nonpareil Boutique are the most popular sites.