NYX Cream Blushes

I am in love with cream blushes lately. They are perfect for springtime. NYX cream blushes are wonderful. They are super creamy, pigmented, easy to blend and very natural looking.

The packaging is pretty basic- black plastic compact case with clear top. But the quality and color of these blushes is great. They are super pigmented so you have to be careful when you apply. Less is more for these blushes. I like using a smaller sized stipple bush for these; you can blend them easily with your fingers too. They stay on pretty much all day for me. I top it with a powder blush for a long lasting stay.

 

(L-R) Glow, Natural, Tea Rose

 Swatches (L-R) Glow, Natural, Tea Rose

I have it in 3 colors: Natural, Glow and Tea Rose. All of the colors I have are neutral/natural colors. These are shimmerless cream blushes however they do provide a nice dewy glow to cheeks. My favorite amongst three is Tea Rose because that looks most flattering on my medium skin tone.

All in all I love them!!! I am getting a good use of these. I am using Tea rose more than a year and the consistency of this product is still great. You can buy NYX products at Ulta or on cherryculture.com. They are $5.99 each, they are made in Taiwan. NYX is cruelty free.

Neutrogena Color Sticks

Like all the other jumbo lip stick type products Neutrogena has come up with these color sticks. I got two of them - “Warm Caramel” and “Soft Raspberry”. I think all of the Neutrogena color sticks have a shimmery/metallic sheen. They have rather soft neutral colors and they don’t look flashing bright on the lips. I like that because that makes them very wearable everyday lip colors. I have a couple of Neutrogena lipsticks and I love them very much but sometime last year they got discontinued and I was super sad. I am glad they came out with these.

 

Warm Caramel

Soft Raspberry

Warm Caramel, Soft Raspberry

Warm Caramel is a neutral brownish shade with golden shimmer. And Soft Raspberry is a dusty rose shade with pearly/metallic sheen. I love them both very much. They feel very soft and moisturizing on the lips, they almost feel like a balm. They do not have much staying power; they do not strain the lips. But they have such a comfortable feel on the lips that I don’t mind reapplying them every couple of hours.

 

My natural lip color

Warm Caramel

Soft Raspberry

Things I Love:

-          Glides on smooth, super soft texture.

-          Feels lightweight on lips and leave lips moisturized (In my opinion)

-          They are shimmery but not glittery

-          I like the smell very much

-          Wearable colors

-          Practical twist up tube packaging

Things that could be better:

-          Limited color selection

-          All the colors are shimmery, some of them can look too frosty on you but you can’t tell from the packaging (before applying).

-          Not true to the tube (packaging) color

-          Most of the colors are sheer

Bottom line, I love these color sticks and the soft glow they provide. Though they are not as pigmented as Revlon Balm stains, I love the consistency and how comfortable they are on the lips. Neutrogena color sticks are more comparable with Revlon lip butters in the consistency and feel. I wish they add more color selection and verity of finishes in the future.

They are definitely a must have for coming summer months. They cost $6.49-$ 8.49 depending on the store. I couldn't find where they are made, it is not mentioned on the packaging. 

Milani Lipsticks

Milani has refreshed their lipstick line this year. The new line is called Color Statement lipsticks and they contain Vitamins A, C, & E to moisturize and nourish lips. They have categorized these lipsticks into four categories: Orange & Reds, Pinks & Corals, Plums & Berries and Naturals & Browns. Milani has offered six finishes in this lipstick collection- Vinyl, Metallic, Cream, Shimmer, Pearl & Matte finish.

I picked up 3 colors in this collection last week but unfortunately all of them have same finish. I really wanted to try Vinyl finish but I didn’t pay attention to that while choosing the colors L On the good note it gives me one more chance to buy a new lipstick in future (Like I need more!!!). I have Naturally Chic, Fruit Punch and Red Label. All three of them are cream finish lipsticks.

Naturally Chic, Fruit Punch, Red Label

 They have fantastic coverage, they glides on smooth, have vivid color and the staying power is exceptional for cream lipsticks. They have a faint smell and taste, but it doesn’t bother me.

Naturally Chic: This is nude color kicked up a notch. It’s a fantastic everyday color. I think this can also work as a cream blush because of its texture. Must have color!!!! Love it!!!

 

Naturally Chic

Fruit Punch: This looks very similar to the signature Nicki Minaj color. I wear it at home when I want to feel glamorous J It’s a bright pink color, not flashy but still bright pink. I like it very much.

 

Fruit Punch

Red Label: Oh my God!! I Love this color. I have soft spot for red lipsticks. The formula of this lipstick is very good. It clings to the lips, lasts for long. I have not had any feathering problems with this. It is a classic red lipstic. This color is a big hit for me J

 

Red Label

They are available in drugstores but not every shade is available in every store. I was surprised that not even a single store has the full collection. You can buy all of them retail but you have hop to many stores to do that.

They come in the gold tube and the color is visible at the bottom. I think they are pretty much true to the color on the packaging at least the colors I have. I have not tried all of them but I am very impressed with Milani color statement lipsticks. I will surely try more colors and finishes in future.

They cost $4.99 - $ 5.99. They are made in USA. 

Benefit High Beam, Sun Beam and Cha Cha tint

These were one of my first high end makeup purchases. I have them in mini travel size portions as I wanted to try them before I spend around $30 each to buy them. High beam and Sunbeam are highlighters while Cha cha tint is a mango tinted lip and cheek stain. All of them have creamy liquid texture and they come in a nail-polish type tube. You get the tiny nail polish type brush as an applicator to dot the product on and then you blend with a brush or fingers.

  

From L to R: High beam, Sun beam, Cha cha tint

High Beam:

High beam is a lilac pink colored highlighter. The color is very pretty with subtle pink. It is lilac but doesn’t look ashy at all. I love the texture of this product but its color is not one of a kind. There are several similar highlighters in the market, the closest dupe I have is elf color stick in persimmon. Hard Candy’s glow is also very similar. High beam, gives you a very pretty, non-glittery highlight which lasts all day. You can apply it on your cheekbones, cupid’s bow area, on the bridge of the nose or wherever you wish to highlight. It doesn’t get oily and blends very smoothly.  I like the product very much but I will not purchase a full size of this as I can buy a very similar highlighter for as low as $1 (elf).

  

persimmon and glow

From L to R: High beam, persimmon, glow

Sun Beam:

Sun beam is a golden bronze highlighter. Again I like it very much but it’s not a one of a kind color. The Benefit website how to apply section they say “Dot on top of cheekbones & blend towards the hairline. Dab under each brow & gently blend.” Sun beam is a nice warm color with yellow undertones. It gives a natural sun kissed look to the skin. You can mix a little sun beam with your foundation for all over radiance and a dewy effect. It blends effortlessly; staying power is very impressive too.

Sun beam and Cha cha tint swatch

Cha Cha tint:

Cha cha tint is mango tinted lip and cheek stain. I love this coral mango color. I am originally from a tropical country so Mangos have special place in my heart. When I heard it’s a mango tinted stain I was super excited to try it. Though I don’t think other than color it has anything to do with mangoes. This is a nice pigmented creamy liquid stain and it doesn’t have any shimmer. It is easy to blend, however, remember to blend it quickly after you dot it on otherwise you will have a blotchy stain. I think this color will look gorgeous on all skin tones. If you are into coral this spring, this is the product for you. Love this product.

I must say all three of them looks very natural on skin. They are very pretty good quality products. They are a bit pricey for my taste but otherwise I like them very much.

Full-size Benefit Sun beam and High beam (0.45 oz) are $26 each and Cha cha tint (0.42 oz) costs $30. Benefit does not test cosmetic products on animals. They are made in France.

Milani Baked Blush Luminoso and Corallina

I think Milani cosmetics is the unsung hero of the drugstore makeup world. They have such awesome long lasting products. After trying Milani Fantastico Muave blush I was much excited to try other blush shades. The only thing trying to stop me was my overflowing makeup drawer L I was trying to resist buying these two colors thinking “I have a lot of peachy golden blushes and I will do a major injustice to them if buy more.” But the Heart Wants What It Wants J Now my makeup collection proudly showcases Milani Luminoso and Milani Corallina as its newly acquired members.

Right- Luminoso, Left- Corallina

Milani Luminoso:

This is a peachy pink blush with golden sheen. It is shimmery but it is very smooth and doesn’t have any apparent glitter (small or large) chunks. It gives a natural glow to the cheeks. This blush works like magic; it illuminates your cheeks and makes you look like a star in an instance. Love love  love this blush.

Right- Luminoso, Left- Corallina

Milani Corallina:

It’s a coral blush. And it is sparkly. Oh yeah!! Coral with silver sparkles. This is a wonderful spring/summer type blush. The color of this blush gravitated more on the orange side but without being intimidating. The silver sparkles in the pan don’t really make your face look like a disco ball but it does look shimmery on the face.

Luminoso is a more everyday, sophisticated professional kind of blush whereas Corallina is a casual, fun blush. Not that you can’t wear either one on any occasion. Both of these blushes are nicely pigmented with great texture. Luminoso is a peach glow and Corallina is an orangy coral color. It is a personal preference which one you like the best but I reach for Luminoso more than Corallina. But I like them both equally.

They have a small compartment for blush brush and attached mirror beneath the blush pan. They cost $6.99-$8.99 each depending on where you buy. They are made in Italy.

Flower Ready Set Glow Blush/Bronzer Duo - Shimmering Goddess

Flower beauty is a new makeup line by Drew Barrymore. Their philosophy is to provide high quality makeup at reasonable price. Flower beauty products are only available in Walmart stores. This brand is on the pricier side of the drugstore products. So far I have just tried their blush and bronzer duo in Shimmering Goddess and I love it.

I have noticed that almost all the flower beauty products have cute but bulkier packaging. The bush/bronzer duo has a flower petal like shape. It has a white and rose gold plastic packaging which looks really cute and high end. The shade I purchased is called Shimmering Goddess but ironically it’s a matte duo J It costs $10 and net wt of product this duo is 8 g. Usually drugstore blushes are 4g net wt so I think size wise its good value for money.

Less is more with this duo as it is insanely pigmented. I love the color too; it has a very pretty pink blush and a nice brown bronzer. Though the blush is in pink category it is not a girly pink color, it is kind of mature women pink color J Both the blush and bronzer are very finely milled so they have a nice soft creamy texture.

I have been looking for this duo for quiet some time but it was sold out in all Walmart stores in my neighborhood (believe me I went looking for them). Also it is difficult to get hold of unopened products in the store as they do not have any safety seal. Walmart has started putting seal tapes on them lately but still people open it!!! So frustrating!! Anyway I have it now and I absolutely love it, so it was worth of all the hunting work.

Bottom line this duo is fantastic. It is super pigmented, matte, smooth and worth the money. It costs $9.98 and it is made in USA. Flower beauty products are not tested on animals.