My Lips But Better with Annabelle Stay Sharp Lip Liner and Twist Up Lipstick Crayon

What's your go-to lip? Nude, red, purple? Mines my natural lip colour. However, it looks weird if my whole face is done up, but I have nothing on my lips. So, I am always on the lookout for products that are slightly pink with brownish undertones. But not too pink or brown, like the perfect mix.
 
This lip colour gives me that my lips but better look that compliments the simplest of looks to the most extreme. It doesn't make me look washed out like most nude shades do, but it isn't bam in your face. It's simply perfect.
 
I've recently found two new products to help me achieve this look, together and on their own. They are the Stay Sharp Waterproof Lip Liner in Java and the Twist Up Retractable Lipstick Crayon in Romance. On their own Java brings the brown, and Romance brings the pink. Alone they look great, but together it's magic; a match made in lip product heaven.

Stay Sharp Waterproof Lip Liner

This lip liner comes equipped with the stay sharp twist-on cap which includes a sharpener. Every time the cap is twisted back on the pencil, the blades sharpen the tip to perfection and neatly keep the shavings in the cap. No fuss, no mess.
 
This product retails for $9.95 and comes in 6 different shades: Nude, Java, Vintage, Glam Rd, Strike a Rose, and Berry.
 
This lip liner offers a creamy, ultra pigmented formula that lasts up to 6 hours with no transferring. I haven't tested the kiss proof-ness of this product, but it is coffee and food proof. Not gonna lie, this is probably the best lip liner I've ever used.
 

Annabelle Twist Up Retractable Lipstick Crayon

Dare to be colourful with this easy retractable lipstick and lip liner in one. No sharpener required.
 
It's not a secret that I love lip crayons. Thy make application a breeze, which is ideal for someone as lazy as me. This crayon is definitely a lipstick, whereas most other pencils, are a gloss or balm. However, it isn't drying as it is enriched with nourishing ingredients like Omega 3 and Shea Butter.
 
It glides on smooth and is opaque in just one swipe. Although it doesn't last as long as Java before transferring, I still get a few hours of wear before I require re-application.
 
Overall, I don't go anywhere without these two products, and I wear them 95% of the time. These will definitely be Holy Grail and repurchase products.

Disclaimer: Product(s) in this post were provided for review purposes. Thoughts and opinions are 100% honest and my own.

Review: ARTDECO Summer Miami Collection

When Summer rolls around I am all about bright colours and long-lasting formulation. This Summer, ARTDECO helps me turn up the heat with their new Miami Collection. With trendy eyeliners, waterproof mascaras, sensual lip colours, and colour-rich eye shadow sticks, the limited edition Miami Collection will make creating that sexy beach look effortless.

Today I will be reviewing the Glossy Lip Colour in 16 Glossy Pink Grapefruit and the Long-Lasting Eyeshadow Sticks in 08 Rich Girl and 34 Cruise Ship.

The Glossy Lip Colours come in a lip pencil format with the tip shaped like a lipstick bullet. This makes application effortless. The creamy texture glides on smooth and lasts for hours through drinking and eating. Lips are accentuated and voluminized in one stroke. Retractable, this stick never needs sharpening.

This pencil glides on leaving lips looking very glossy. I find the formula quite sticky on my lips, but I think that is what keeps it on for so long. I apply it at 7am and after breakfast, lunch, and a few coffees I can still see it lingering on my lips. After the glossiness wears off a slight stain is left behind. I really like that there is no scent to this product.

The Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeshadow Sticks apply smoothly, blend easily, and once set do not budge. They are a must have for creating the perfect colour-rich, Summer look. The long-lasting, silky texture combines colour richness with excellent crease-free wear. This retractable eyeshadow stick is perfume-free and mineral oil free.

Rich Girl is a beautiful pink toned champagne that is perfect for a wash of colour over the lid. For days when I'm running late, or just too lazy to get fancy with my makeup, this colour with some mascara gives me a effortlessly natural look.

Cruise Ship is a medium silvered purple that creates the most gorgeous smoky eye. Because of how easily these pencils blend, I can apply this colour, some liner and mascara and in 5 minutes I've got a look that looks like it took way longer to create.

Both of these shades set and last all day without creasing, but remove easily with makeup remover. These have really became a daily go-to product for me.

The ARTDECO Miami Collection launched in select Shoppers Drug Mart locations at the end of June 2014.

Prices for this collection are as follows:
Ceramic Nail Lacquer $10CDN
Glossy Lip Colour $17CDN
All in One Liquid Liner $23CDN
Long-Lasting Eyeshadow Stick $16CDN
All in One Mascara - Limited Edition $21CDN

Disclaimer: Product(s) in this post were provided for review purposes. Thoughts and opinions are 100% honest and my own.

First Impression - Influenster NYC Brand Box

NYC isn't a brand I normally give much attention too. Mixed within all of the other drugstore brands I find that it doesn't really scream "Hey! Over here, swatch me, buy me!". Influenster gave me the opportunity to try NYC in their first Canadian box, and I was super impressed with the quality. I ended up being chosen for an additional bonus NYC box, and I have to say these products rock!

Sun 'N' Bronze Bronzing Powder in 706 Hamptons Radiance

Value: $4.99
"Why not give your skin a new bronzed dimension all year around? New NYC Sun 'N' Bronze combines the best shades ever for that perfectly sun-kissed look. Choose the one that fits your skin colour. Being sexy and tanned has never been so easy. Just smooth it on your face and get the sunny glowing look!"

This bronzer is the perfect shade for my skin tone, however, I have been using it as a blush instead. There is a slight sheen and shimmer to this product that I don't like in a bronzer. This gives a beautiful glow to my face, and a little product goes a long way.

L-R: All colours combined, each individual colour.

IndividualEyes Custom Compact in 944 Smokey Charcoals

Value: $4.99
"Discover NYC New York Colour Individual Eyes Custom Compact, the all-in-one compact with everything you need for a complete eye look: primer, illuminator, applicator and complementing shadows. With your colours, specially coordinated to intensify and enhance your eye colour, you can create a look as individual as you are, make your eyes pop!"

These wouldn't be first choice colour wise, but I am impressed with the pigmentation of these shadows. The primer and illuminator are a bit oily in texture. I find that they leave a greasy residue that creases extremely quick. The shadows have only slight fallout, and they have a creamy, and soft texture. 

Shadows on top. Primer bottom left. Illuminator bottom right.

High Definition Liquid Eyeliner in 889 Extra Black

Value: $3.99
"The ultimate mistake-proof application! With NYC's High Definition Liquid Liner you can forget those messy traditional liquid formula's that require a steady hand. The chic, liquid pen delivers smooth, fast-drying results whether you want a super-thin modern line or a thick, full-blown retro cat-eye flick. And the formula is smudge-proof and long-lasting - up to 10 hours of wear! High glam with minimal effort. Uber-black perfection in an instant!"

I love liquid liner! For the price of this liner, the quality is pretty good. Compared to my favourite Kat Von D liner, the pigmentation is a bit sheer. I will need to layer this liner to make it opaque. I am going to have to play around to lean the best technique to use this liner. I'm not sure at this point if it is something I would repurchase.

City Proof Twistable Intense Lip Colour in Ballroom Blush

Value: $2.99
"Just twist, glide, and go! NYC New York Colour City Proof Twistable Intense Lip Colour is here to give your lips a modern and fresh touch. Treat yourself to intense colours for hours with its wide range of amazing shades. With its shiny, stay put finish, this lip colour will become your go-to for an instant twist of colour. You will love its beyond cool pen format for an easy application. Feel the touch of silk on your lips!"

Lip pencils are my go-to for lip products, so I was ecstatic when I saw this in the box. This pencil is crazy pigmented, and super creamy. It glides onto the lips, and really does last all day. You really don't need at lot of product, I tend to apply a little and blend it out using my fingertip. The only downside is that the formula is a bit waxy.

Matte Me Crazy! Mattifying Top Coat

Value: $1.99
"Want more mattitude!? Go from shiny to matte in express New York seconds! So easy! All it takes is one coat of our new NYC Matte Me Crazy Top Coat! A special control-flow brush dispenses just the right amount of product for perfect application. Match with any of your favourite NYC nail polish shades, from light sheer to daring! Be creative and play with texture! Everyone will be totally matte about you!"

I've never really been a fan of matte nail polish. I prefer intense shine. However, after using this top coat I think I have been converted. Matte nails look sleek, and help play down crazy nail polish to make it more work appropriate. What I really like about this polish is that it is only $1.99!

Overall, this bonus Influenster box has really changed my perceptions of the NYC brand. I will definitely be giving them more attention from now on. Out of all of these products, I would repurchase the bronzer, and lip pencil for sure. The eye shadows I would repurchase, just in a different colour.

What are your thoughts on NYC as a brand? What are your favourite products from their line?

  

Disclaimer: I received these products for free from Influenster, for being a Brand winner for the Maple VoxBox. All opinions are honest and 100% my own.

Swatched: The Color Workshop Lip Crayons & Gloss

Jumbo Lip Pencils have become the next big thing in the beauty world. Revlon, Clinique, Nars, Covergirl, etc...they all have their versions. I picked up this Jumbo Lip Pencil set from The Color Workshop on Boxing Day at Walmart for only $4.50! It comes with 5 pencils and 2 lip glosses in an assortment pinks and reds and one purple.

I really didn't have very high hopes about the quality of these pencils because they are not from a high quality brand. However, the colour payoff is impressive and they stay on the lips for such a long time. The pencils are sorta glossy/sorta matte and the glosses are smooth and non-sticky. There are no names on these products, so I photographed them in the same order as the swatches.

I am really tempted now to run out and buy some other brands jumbo lip crayons, but that will have to wait until my no-buy is done. I would love to know which brands and colours of lip crayons are your favourite. Leave them in a comment below so I can add them to my Buy Later List.

UPDATE - Since writing this post I have seen these sets on Sale at multiple Shoppers Drug Marts for $4.99.


These are swatches of the 2 glosses that came with the kit.