That Kitten Heel Though

So the other day, I wanted to pick up a new lip color. I feel like I have a lot of colors within the same range, and wanted to go with stuff for more everyday / nude types of lipsticks. Most of my colors are neutral grey browns, and purples of various shades. I knew the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream had some shades I wanted to try. Specifically Tokyo, Dubai, and Istanbul. I decided to visit my local Target and see what I could find.

NOTHING! Not that that's a reflection on Target, of course - but I didn't find one of the shades I was looking for. I wavered between shades I had seen. Copenhagen had been on my list awhile, but it was another purple I just didn't need. I then stopped to look at the other lipsticks they had in stock. Not a lot neutral options, but there were new things I hadn't tried,  and a lot of brighter options.

Then I spotted the NYX Cosmetics Liquid Suede Cream Lipsticks. This seemed like it would be a good option at only $7, so I was fairly optimistic. Not to mention my previous luck with their line. It was another matte lipstick, and that was a must. The color options for this line are very bright so this was... definitely not the pink / nude lip I had originally set out to achieve. I like a bold lip, anyway and this was certainly that. It's a red that has enough cool undertones to work with my skin, and that's pretty important for me personally. I'm thinking of checking out Amsterdam too in the Soft Matte Lip Cream as well, but that'll be later. I don't need that many reds in my collection.


So I tried it on! The formula was creamy, and the applicator made it really easy to apply. If you follow me on Snapchat (user name: cosmetic_dragon), you might've seen me trying it on for the first time. It is VERY pigmented and that coverage is full for sure. At first I was sort of shocked, but once I had it on completely I really liked it. I wouldn't wear this everyday because it is as bold as it is, but with a simple cat eye this lip is FIERCE!

I do have a few qualms with it, though. It does get a little grainy after awhile. If you take a tissue and lightly rub the grain away and reapply it improves the texture - but I didn't get that creamy, dreamy texture I get with the Soft Matte Lip Cream. It's also unforgiving. If you smudge this anywhere... I hope you've got makeup remover on you because this is no joke to take off. It also doesn't dry all the way, so there's this residual tacky feeling on your lips. It's not terribly unpleasant and doesn't dry your lips out - but it's just not my cup of tea. It certainly helps in keeping the lips feel moist, which the lip creams don't do. Other than that I think I'll stick with my Soft Matte Lip Creams. I just prefer the formula over this one.

What colors do you have in your collection? Have you tried this formula? What did you think? Leave me a comment below! Let's share notes!

Again, as always if you don't - please follow me on Instagram, and Twitter. Also, as previously mentioned I can also be found on Snapchat. Thanks again for reading!

TONYMOLY - More like Holy Moly!!

If you've ever been to Ulta, those little kiosks at the checkout line can be brutal. They can also be a blessing when you find that random item you never knew you needed.

I have very dry skin. Dermatitis is a known enemy of mine, and I battle it on the daily. I've tried really gentle cleansers and all natural moisturizers, and found minimal results. Individually each product would be great, but when combined with another (for example, cleanser and moisturizer) it would just be uncomfortable. There also didn't seem to be a moisturizer strong enough to prevent my skin looking like an alligator's backside.

Thankfully, I've found a balance between moisturizers and cleansers - but something was still missing. I needed just that extra punch to really give my skin the love it needed.

Top: Scaly patches before mask.
Bottom: Mask (left) and results 3 days later (right) - minimal makeup

Well, while I was checking out of Ulta this past weekend I saw a little green package. Little did I know that this little green package was going to save my skin, and only cost $4. It had an avocado on it too, and I hadn't had lunch so subliminally my mind just needed it.

It was a TONYMOLY "I'm Real" mask for Nutrition. For four dollars, what did I have to lose? I quickly grabbed it and tossed it in my bag before checkout.

When I got home that night, I checked the instructions and tried out the mask. You remove it from the package, and unfold it - making sure to leave proper room for your eyes and mouth. The smell was very pleasant. Lightly perfumed and immediately cooling on the skin. I made sure it was well put on all areas of my face and relaxed for 30 minutes.

Once I removed the mask I instantly noticed improvements in my skin's condition. IMMEDIATE! That natural radiant glow came through in full force, and I was amazed. I rubbed the remaining product into my skin and then moisturized on top of it to lock it in. I could barely feel that scaliness I had been experiencing and my skin just felt really good overall.

The next morning I touched my face, and my skin was incredibly soft. I then touched the patches on the left and right of my chin and there was a very large amount of dead skin. I initially started to worry, but then I noticed it was just flaking off! No discomfort, or inflammation... so I ran to the bathroom to wash my face (I use Cetaphil). Once I was done, I couldn't believe it - my skin looked amazing! There was still some redness, but none of the sensitivity or scaly skin!

My skin is still holing up a few days later (I did this on a Sunday night and it's not Thursday). The redness has cleared up completely, and my dry skin hasn't made a comeback. Even my skin tone has evened out a little. I might even try a BB Cream soon.

 I'm sure I'll want to reapply one of these masks every so often - so I'll be heading back to Ulta soon to get more. If you've got dry skin I definitely suggest getting one of these. It's $4 for one, and that will do miracles for your skin.

And of course, as always please follow me on Twitter and Instagram for looks, and general makeup shenanigans.

BH Cosmetics - Liquid Lipstick Review

These are one swipe swatches. Look at the coverage!

Hey there, and welcome back. If you saw my first post here, you're familiar with my BH Cosmetics Haul. I wanted to test out their products and see if the savings were worth it, or if I was in fact - getting what I was paying for.

I love matte lips. Matte lipstick is life for me. When I saw that BH had their own line of liquid matte lip colors I knew I had to try them out. They were $8 each, and I picked out three of the colors. I chose "Muse", "Daisy", and "Icon" (and recently ordered "Sorbet"). Muse is a soft nude brown tone, Daisy is a muted lavender shade, and Icon is a deep vampy purple. Icon is actually said to be a dupe for the Kylie Lip Kit "Kourt K". I've never tried a Kylie Lip Kit, but the color is on point.

I've had the chance to test each color, and the formula overall and I'm not disappointed. The formula goes on smooth, and is very easy to reapply. It doesn't flake, and it doesn't dry out your lips too much. You can certainly feel like you have something on your lips, but you don't feel weighed down. It's light, and has a good lasting power.

I did have to reapply after eating, but drinking (through a straw) barely made a difference in the coverage. I definitely suggest picking up any shade you like in this formula. It's light, affordable, and there are even some good dupes in their collection. I wouldn't say Daisy is a Dupe for the Tarte formula, but it's a nice comparison. I didn't notice any differences in formula between the colors, like some bloggers did. I felt it was consistent through all three colors. If they come out with more, I'll definitely be keeping an eye out.

NYX Cosmetics - Bare Necessities

So if you follow me on Instagram, then you know that I'm a huuuuuuuuuge fan of NYX Cosmetics. Affordable, accessible, and cruelty free! What's not to love?! At this point, they carry a few of my holy grail items and this post will go over those. I will also add, that NYX did NOT contact me to review any products. These are all items I've researched myself and tested out.

Firstly - their Highlight and Contour Pro Palette. This is my go-to everyday contour palette. It actually has good shades for paler / cooler toned skin! That's not an easy thing to find for a fair complexion. I have also used their Wonder Styx as well to contour, and they're also really good - but you have to make sure you get the right shade.

The price point is also perfect. For a mere $25 this palette can be yours. It's certainly a great buy for the money. The application can be a little patchy. Once you blend it out though, it's perfect. If you're really eager to learn how to contour, or if you've got a paler complexion I definitely suggest this contour palette. It's well worth the price. You get four highlight colors, and four contour shades. I've seen some folks even use these as eye shadows. I personally haven't, but I don't doubt it looks amazing.

Shade - Transylvania 

The next product that I pretty much can't live without, is NYX's Soft Matte Lip Cream. Everything about this product I absolutely love. The formula is like butter. The first time I used one of these lip creams I was instantly in love. It's so soft, and goes on so smooth. Once it dries, it's still comfortable! I'm hooked on these. I haven't tried every color yet, but I'm looking to get more soon. The lasting power on these isn't the same that you'd get with say Anastasia Beverly Hills or Jeffree Star, but just keep the tube in your purse throughout the day and you're good. It's only $6 a color, so what've you got to lose?

There are also a few dupes in this line. Transylvania is a notorious dupe for the Kylie Lip Kit in Kourt K. A lot of the nude shades can also be matched to other popular shades. Istanbul is a dupe for both MAC's shade "Please Me", and Lorac's Couture Shine. The NYX shade "Monte Carlo" is a dupe for "Outlaw" from Kat Von D. These lip colors are a must try. If you're afraid of spending $20 + on a lip color you're not sure about - try a NYX lippie that's said to be a dupe. You'll know if you like the color, and if you did you saved yourself $10 + bucks. If you don't like it... you're only out $6. I personally want to get more of these and swatch a whole bunch.

There are other products I love too. I wouldn't call them necessities in my book, but I do love them. Honestly, almost anything from NYX is a good bet. They have good color correctors, setting powders, and foundations. Their setting spray is also a great find. It's rare that I find a NYX product I don't like. What are your favorite NYX products? Let me know in the comments! Give me new things to test out!! Thanks again for watching, and be sure to follow me on Instagram and Twitter to know when I have a new post up. <3

BH Cosmetics Foundation Review!!

Ok, so on my Instagram and in a previous blog post I mentioned my displeasure with the BH Cosmetics Foundation. To be fair, it was more so worry than anything. It's been an experience but let me just tell you - I was pretty wrong about this one. Read on to find out about this... experiment.

So a few days ago I got my first package from BH Cosmetics. Included in the package was the BH Cosmetics HD Studio Pro HD Foundation. I was understandably hesitant about buying a foundation online that I couldn't match. Although, I've found that with my skin tone - going with the lightest shade available is usually a good bet.

What sealed the deal for me (just like every other BH item), was the price! It was less than $10 (USD) and I felt like I needed to branch out. I bit the bullet and ordered it.

Under lighting it's flawless... Without lighting, it's a pre-teen nightmare.

When it came in, I immediately swatched it. This was where it got scary. The color that came out was promising and it started to look like a good match. Then it started getting darker!! It had oxidized on my hand! Now, I had seen it oxidize on one or two videos on YouTube. I knew the risks. I was just so sad because the coverage really looked great and it felt like a great formula.

I left it alone for a couple of days. I was still so sad about the outcome I had when swatching it. Then I decided to give it another try. This time, I vigorously shook the bottle for about 30 seconds. Maybe that would help.

Well, it certainly seemed to because as it dried it wasn't nearly as dark. It was still noticeably darker, but more promising than the first swatch test. I was hesitant, but couldn't go without a full on face test. I felt it was my duty, even if it oxidized to tell you what happened. It's a service, really.

The next morning I did it up. I put the product on the back of my hand and did a base coat with my beauty blender. It wasn't oxidizing! I put a second layer on, and was so pleased with how build-able it was. Still no mismatched face and neck! Was this even the same foundation I swatched a few days before? What was happening?! The completed look was brilliant! It looked flawless! You can see the finished product on my Instagram.

I don't know what kind of magic happened, or maybe it was just how I was applying it. This foundation was just a complete shock. A scary, confusing, surprising shock. I WILL buy this foundation again. So I guess you could call the entirety of that BH Cosmetics haul a complete and total success! Way to go BH! Keep slaying!

As always, thanks for reading and stopping by. Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat @cosmetic_dragon. Byyyyyyyeeeeeeeee <3

Accidental Dupe! - Scorpio

I love Jeffree Star Cosmetics. It's no surprise. What IS a surprise is trying out a new lip technique and accidentally getting a dupe for a currently sold out color...

The purple ombre lip I posted about was totally an inspiration for me to try other combinations with

Moscow on the left, Muse on the right...

what I already had in my collection. I thought of trying something a little wilder with a blue and cool nude combo. I had "Moscow" from NYX Cosmetics, and my recently acquired "Muse" from BH Cosmetics.

My idea was to have the darker blue shade on the outer corners of the mouth with the paler, nude
shade in the center of the lips. It sounded like a good idea... but it didn't execute nearly as well as I had hoped. The purple tones I did before blended so beautifully! These two didn't want to mingle though.

Scorpio? Is that you??

Because I was running late, I tried mixing the two and seeing what would happen. I blended them with a lip brush and went on my way. It was even, I was happy. I didn't have too much time to really examine the color.

Later I stopped at Ulta to see if there was anything that caught my eye. As I checked out with a new concealer to test, an associate from the store asked me if I was wearing "Scorpio" by Jeffree Star. I was a little confused and said it wasn't, but a mix of the aforementioned colors. That question actually made me compare though. Had I come across an accidental dupe?

Once I looked at some actual swatches of Scorpio, versus my experiment I was pleasantly surprised. The color isn't that far off. It's got that cool undertone to it from the blue, but still holds that neutral nude shade. I'll probably still get my hands on Scorpio some day, but for now this isn't a bad substitute. Try it out for yourself! It's three lipsticks in two tubes, what've you got to lose? 

Jeffree Star Cosmetics - Review / Obsession

Jeffree Star is not a new name by any means. He's rocked the music scene, fashion scene, and now has one of the most coveted cosmetic lines yet. His YouTube channel has over 1 million subscribers, and for good reason. He is the EPITOME of fierce.

I like to call him my Fairy Glam Mother... *swoon*

Anyway - If you've tried to get your hands on his products you probably know how hard it is. I waited for what felt like a lifetime to get my hands on Unicorn Blood, but it was so worth the wait. Once I had that color - I knew I needed to get my hands on more.

Let's have a chat about the Velour Liquid Lipsticks...

THEY'RE HEAVEN ON YOUR LIPS! Seriously, this formula is everything. I can't get over how matte it is, and how well it stays on ALL DAY! Sure, if you heavily eat or drink anything you might need to reapply once, but other than that - flawless.

The price point is also INCREDIBLY reasonable. At $18 a shade, this is affordable for anyone. Even if it's just one color you want - it'll be your Holy Grail once it's in your hot little hands. Trust me.

I currently own Unicorn Blood and Posh Spice. I love them both as I would my own children.

Left: Unicorn Blood              Right: Posh Spice   

These colors are so versatile, and work so well on a variety of skin tones. If you have the chance, I highly suggest trying at least one. They're not sold in stores, though so you'll have to go to JeffreeStarCosmetics.com to get one. That's ok though - their shipping is very reasonable and SUPER fast.

I promise you fellow makeup lover, you will not regret it! Thanks for stopping by and make sure to check me out on Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter @cosmetic_dragon

My First Haul - BH Cosmetics

So for my first official blog post – I decided to talk about BH Cosmetics. I’ve heard a lot of good things about their eye shadow palettes and it’s been a long time (too long) since I’ve purchased a good palette. I don’t normally wear eye shadow day to day, and I wanted to change that.

Now, firstly – their prices are AMAZING! So affordable. I ended up with three lip colors, two eye shadow palettes, and a foundation for less than $60 (USD). That’s insanity!! I couldn’t pass it up and dove right into the site.

All this for less than $60!! Can't beat it! Great for experimenting. 

What made me visit the site to begin with was the multiple YouTube videos talking about the Galaxy Chic Palette. The baked shadows were so shimmery and pigmented! I was compelled to at least check it out online. I also saw the Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies Palette that seemed to be a pretty good substitute for Kat Von D’s Shade and Light eye palette.

I had no trouble finding them on the easy to navigate page, and they seem to always have a “Free Shipping” offer for orders over $50. I started perusing after I found the palettes I wanted.

I saw they had liquid matte lipsticks, and I’m ALL about that matte lip life. For less than $10 a tube, I couldn’t pass up picking up a couple. The colors are obviously hard to match to your own skin online, but I was thinking positive. I purchased two more neutral shades (“Muse” and “Daisy”), and a deep vampy purple (“Icon”).

I'm not saying they're dupes until I test them more... but wow BH... talk about a lip formula.
The shimmer on these shadows is no joke either....

I had also come across a video showing their Pro HD Foundation. Buying Foundation online is still a scary thought for me since I’m sort of hard to match (I’m pasty as hell). For $8.50 though… I figured it couldn’t hurt to try, right?

I ordered everything on a Thursday, and got it the following Monday! The processing and shipping were speedy and I was very happy with how my order was packaged. Everything was nice and secure and nothing was damaged!

Overall the experience of using their site, the packaging, prices, and products was an awesome experience. I will absolutely order from them again (and already have - which I'll talk about in a later post). There was only one issue I had with the entire thing, and that was the Foundation (again - that'll be in a later post).

If you haven't checked out BH Cosmetics yet, I highly suggest it. Especially if you want to start playing with products but don't have what I like to call... "that Sephora money".

Also - please follow me on Twitter, and Instagram at @cosmetic_dragon