I suppose I will start out on the sour note. It is fresh in my mind and staring me in the face as I type so I might as well call it out. The first is NYX nail polish. The specific example I am looking at is in the color Jungle. The color is nice, I actually got it for my Halloween costume (I was a peacock and it is a very peacock color). I am not really one of those NYX pushers that so many gurus seem to be. I think they have some nice products but I'm not about to run out and purchase everything that looks good to me with no reason or research. Although when I picked up this polish that is exactly what I did. Went of brand reputation and shiny object. I'm actually slightly upset it says "made in the usa" on it. I feel Americans have enough problems with horrible products without needing to add more. Oh, you want to know reasons for my intense feelings towards this polish? Right, that. Evidence. Well the polish itself bubbles. and I do layers and sheer coats and everything you're supposed to do. I don't glob it on. It ended up with little dents in it even when I covered it with my miracle Sally Hansen Insta Dri Anti Chip Top Coat. It's a miracle worker but even that couldn't save it. So they looked strange. The glitter didn't distribute evenly at all. And it chips so bad! I was making my bed, that's right making my bed, and half my nail chipped off. I don't sleep on sand paper or burlap in case you were wondering and wanting to give the polish the benefit of the doubt. They are soft sheets and my nails are pretty strong, they don't really bend. That wasn't even the worst chipping. It was a day possibly two before about 5 of my fingers had no polish on them. And this isn't the cheapest polish. Barry M and Revlon, among others are far cheaper. Needless to say I will not be repurchasing NYX nail polish, ever. (Did I get a bad bottle or is this normal? Did I miss other NYX nail polish bashing that I should have known about before I decided to impulse buy?)
My other un-favourite (I feel very Mad Hatter saying it that way) of the month is Revlon Eyelash Glue. Poor decision on my part, I'm aware. I moved and cannot find my Duo anywhere. And when I went to get some I couldn't find any in Boots or Superdrug. I was out of luck. Why I went for Revlon before anything else I don't know. In my defense I didn't have that many options. I never thought I would say this but I miss CVS. Anyway, I used the eyelash glue for lashes and for my feathers I glued to my head (I was a peacock, remember.). My feathers were coming off within a couple hours along with my eyelashes, which wasn't really the look I was going for. I wasn't dancing insanely and it was that hot. So I was a little confused as to why it was so hard for the glue to work. But it didn't and I shouldn't have been surprised but somehow I was.
That's return to the positive. I'm sure I could hate on some other products but that really wouldn't be very fun to read.
First on my favorites list is my Naked Palette. I could not love the Naked Palette anymore if it was a new puppy. ALL the colors are incredible. It's not one of those palettes where you could use a couple colors, you will use them all and they are all really nice in terms of pigmentation, staying power, actual colors. I use it everyday. I'm going to have to pick up a second one if they keep it limited edition. I may pick up two while I'm in London, another for me and one for a friend for Christmas. If she's reading this she knows who she is, Merry Christmas. haha.
Second on my list, Skin Clearing Blemish Concealer. I love this stuff. It isn't a miracle. If you put it on you can't expect your spot to magically disappear over night. But it does reduce the spot, over time. It certainly doesn't make it worse, at all. My skin is kind of sensitive I would say and this stuff doesn't bother it at all. It's also provides nice coverage. I was very pleasantly surprised with this. I thought it was a gimmick and it turns out I was wrong.
I need to wrap this thing up. I just collected what I wanted to talk about and it's a pile. Literally.
Third on the list is my new favourite mascara, I have been using it a lot lately. I first got this mascara a couple months ago and I didn't really like it. I found out it's because it takes quite awhile to get used to it. It's L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion. It's amazing. It gets every single lash. The brush is kind of flimsy and it's super long. Those are my main complaints. Those two issues make it really not so easy to get the hang of but once you do you will be in love and not regret it. It makes me look like I have false lashes on when I put some eyeliner on with it. I like it a lot.
Number 4 is ELF Liquid Liner. I am AWFUL at liquid liner. The only liner I can do is with an angled brush and powder. But this liquid liner is so much easier to use than any others that I have tried. The brush isn't really a brush, that's the key feature. It's stiff, so it doesn't go everywhere and make flicks where there should be no flicking. I am practicing a lot and liking it.
As I have updated you all on, my skin has gotten far more oily here in England than it was in the states. Most likely because I was living up at 8,000 feet there and now I'm at sea level again. Never thought you'd hear anyone saying they missed a super dry environment, did you? I need to find a good astringent mainly, is what I've decided. But while I buy unnecessary things and put that on the back burner I have been relying on my Mac Prep and Prime Skin Refined Zone Treatment. After I wash my face I put this all over my face, as opposed to as directed (hence the zone in the title, apparently your whole face is not a zone, who knew). Not only does it make all of your pores disappear but there is no oil, your skin will be matte. If you have super insane oily skin as I do, it will make you believe in real miracles. Truth.
LAST but certainly not least. I have a lot of loans at this point. I am not made of money, I haven't found a rich boyfriend and I have not been able to find a money tree as of yet (still looking). So I have some Mac brushes I have had for years when my parents still bought me things. But when I need a new brush or decide I want a new brush I most likely don't need I can't afford Mac and most likely can't afford Sigma either. So last year I had ordered three brushes from ELF. One was an eyeshadow brush, flat top powder brush, and foundation brush. I have an issue with non blending eyeshadow brushes so I wasn't a huge fan of the c shaped eyeshadow brush but the powder brush was amazing. I have used the foundation brush and like it but you have to really clean it and re-fluff for it not to streak your foundation. So when I finally settled in a couple weeks ago and found I forgot/lost my powder brush I decided to place an order. I got the small kabuki brush, blush brush, complexion brush and of course a new powder brush. I love them. They are so soft and seem to shed less than my Mac brushes. I just really can't say enough about these brushes. Cheap and quality is kind of an amazing combo. I think if you get these you will not be disappointed. I haven't really ventured into anything other than face brushes. But maybe I will at some point, but again I have issues with eyeshadow brushes.
This post is entirely too long. I'm sorry for the book. I do so much reading to study on a daily basis that I understand the lack of compulsion to read the longest blog post ever. But if you made it this far congratulations. If I can review anything further or answer questions let me know. And let me know if you want to keep seeing my favorites. Or if you want Halloween pictures and costume explanation.
Also I'm trying to stay on top of blogging but on top of the dissertation and learning dead languages etc, it's not as easy as I thought it could be.
