Nude and Silver Nails

I tried to do something arty with my nails.  It's not particularly arty, but I think it's a little more interesting than my standard "one color of polish on my nails" nails.

I though the combination of a cream nude with a tiny bit of sparkly silver on the tip would look cool. I obviously didn't do a perfect job, and I could have made the silver tip even thinner, but I like the results.

I used JINsoon Nail Lacquer in Nostalgia all over my nails, and Orly Shine on just the tips.

I love JINsoon Nostalgia.  It is a perfect nude.  I actually love it for fall as an alternative to all the deep and dark polish shades we usually see trending in the autumn.

What's on your nails today?

Totally unrelated:  I suddenly have "Phantom of the Opera" music going through my head.  What is that about?

Fall Favorites: Lipsticks

It's officially the first day of autumn!  Fall always feels like lipstick time to me, so I'm wrapping up my "fall favorites"  series (I should have named it "colors I plan on wearing" or something) with lipsticks (or tinted balms, as the case may be).  My favorite lip colors for autumn tend to be berries and nudes.  I don't wear dark lip colors, but I do think deep, vampy lips in the fall are really cool.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N1---light, pearly nude

Lipstick Queen Jean Queen Lipstick--rosy, berry pink

Clinique Chubby Stick in Super Strawberry--sheer berry pink

Pur Minerals Mineral Shea Butter Lipstick in Golden Zincite--shimmery warm slightly reddish pink (it looks warmer on the lips due to the golden shimmer)

Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie--deep berry



from left:  MAKE UP FOR EVER N1, Lipstick Queen Jean Queen, Clinique Super Strawberry Chubby Stick, Pur Minerals Golden Zincite, Revlon Berry Smoothie Lip Butter

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I didn't realize how similar color-wise a couple of those lippies are (Lipstick Queen Jean Queen and Revlon Berry Smoothie Lip Butter... and maybe even the Clinique Super Strawberry Chubby Stick).  I've never thought of them as dupes, but they look awfully close.

What are your favorite lip colors for fall?

MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Natural lipstick in N1 Swatches

MAKE UP FOR EVER makes a ton of lipstick colors in a couple different formulas, and since I like hydrating lipsticks, I decided to try one of the Rouge Artist Natural lipsticks in a nude color called N1.  (I seem to be on a nude lip color kick lately.  Maybe it's because I've been messing around with such colorful, strong eye makeup.)

MAKE UP FOR EVER says:  An ultra-creamy lipstick with a translucent soft, shiny finish. 

Enriched with nourishing properties, Rouge Artist Natural keeps lips hydrated for eight hours after application. Its incredibly smooth texture glides on effortlessly for ultimate comfort while also leaving the lips supple and moisturized. 

N1 is described on the Sephora website as iridescent nude.  It is a light, warm, pearly nude (iridescent does describe it well, actually).

The texture of this is very balmy and slippery.  It has a floral, "lipsticky" type scent (that I really like) that does not linger on the lips.  It is nicely hydrating, but not very long wearing.  I don't mind reapplying it since if feels and smells so nice.  It is quite glossy, and this color is on the sheer side.

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natural light

I think this is a great lipstick.  It is glossy and balmy, and reflects light beautifully.

MAKE UP FOR EVER is exclusive to Sephora and their own pro stores.

This formula comes in 50 different colors, but only 18 are available on the Sephora website (I'm not sure about in store).  The rest are available at MAKE UP FOR EVER boutiques.

NYX Roll-On Shimmer in Nude Swatches and Review

I love sparkly, shimmery makeup.  NYX makes some loose pigments with a roll-on applicator that are right up my alley.  They say you can use these on the eyes, face, or the body.

NYX says:   Loose powder with intense shimmer and glitter. Simply apply to your desired body part by rolling on the product and control the intensity of the pigment yourself! Easily blend the shimmer powder using a brush or clean fingers and take with you everywhere you go for added sparkle.

These are packaged in a see-through tube with a roller ball top and a black cap.  The roller ball allows for direct application to the eyes or skin.  Or, if you want to avoid too much fall-out, you can put some of the pigment on your hand and pick it up with a brush to apply it.

Nude is a warm coppery gold that blends out to a slightly gold sparkle.

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outdoor light

blended out

The glitter in this is quite fine, and they are very soft and easy to blend.  They sheer out nicely for a wash of sparkle, they layer nicely over a sticky base, or you can add a little glitter in the center of the lid over any regular eyeshadow to add some highlight.  This does crease when worn alone without a primer after about 3-4 hours.

This seems a little too sparkly for a highlighter on the face for my liking, but it would be fun on the collarbones for a night out.

I like to wear this on the eyes with the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Cashmere as a base so the pigment really sticks to the eye, and it intensifies the color.

from left:  NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Cashmere, NYX Roll-On Shimmer in Nude layered over  Cashmere

I also want to try this over a non-shimmery lipstick in the middle of the lower lip to add some dimension and cool sparkliness, but I'm not sure if it would be safe (it doesn't say you can't, but it doesn't seem to say anywhere to try it on your lips).  I guess if I try not to eat my lips...

NYX Roll-On Shimmer in Nude layered over Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Sorbet
(doesn't that just look so pretty?)

These loose pigments come in 16 colors ranging from blues and greens, to pinks and purples, as well as neutral colors.  I have my eye on salmon, a "salmon pink with gold glitter" as NYX describes it (looks kind of rose gold from swatches I've seen).  These retail for $4.00.

I love this for a really metallic, sparkly, glittery fun eye look.

Sephora Collection Rouge Shine Lipstick in No. 5 Shiney Moment Review and Swatches

I've been wanting to try more of the Sephora collection makeup since they have updated and reformulated many of the products they offer, so I picked up one of the Sephora Collection Rouge Shine lipsticks during the Chic Week sale.  

Sephora says:  A moisturizing lipstick with a rich, glossy shine. 

The lipstick is packaged in a sleek black tube with a clear bottom so you can see the color in the tube.  The number (but not the name) of the color is on a sticker on the inside of the tube.  The bullet has a Sephora S on it, which I think looks really cool.

I decided to try No. 5 Shiney Moment (their spelling of shiny) which is described as a semi-sheer peach pink with iridescent shimmer on the Sephora website.

I think this color is more of a sparkling nude with a hint of peach that might lean a little frosty on the lips.  It is quite shiny and glossy.  It has some very fine glitter in it that gives the lipstick a slightly gritty texture. It has a faint fruity scent that dissipates a few minutes after application.  It is kind of slippery and only wears for about 2-3 hours, and  feels moisturizing while I'm wearing it, but once it has worn off my lips feel dry again.  

indoor light (no flash)

(with flash)

I think this is a very pretty light nude color that really shimmers and sparkles.  I was hoping it would have more pink in it from the color description, but I suppose that's buying online for you!

Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadow No. 65 Lazy Afternoon Review and Swatches

Sephora recently introduced a line of eyeshadow singles that you can mix and match and create your own palettes.  I needed a new matte light beige (I like to use this kind of color to blend out harsh lines from dark colors and under the brow when I don't want to use a shimmery highlight) since my favorite Wet 'n' Wild color (Creme Brulee) is rapidly running out.   

Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadow in No. 65 Lazy Afternoon

Sephora says:  Flash superior color, flawless wear, and long-lasting beauty with this striking eye shadow formula. The Color Eye Last complex means you can comfortably wear this shadow up to 10 gorgeous hours and the micronized pigments ensure an ultra smooth, blendable texture. 

Sephora describes Lazy Afternoon as a white beige matte.

Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadow in No. 65 Lazy Afternoon Swatches

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(with flash)

The formula is very silky and finely milled.  It has a different feel than a really buttery formula (like Urban Decay's shadows).   This is one of the matte colors, so the shimmery or glittery shadows may have a different texture.  It is a little powdery, but there is no fallout (although it can be hard to tell with a light shadow like this).  It is supremely blendable, and I didn't notice and creasing without a primer even after 8 hours of wear.  It's a little hard to tell how sheer this color is, since it's so close to my skin color, so the other matte colors may run sheer, but it's hard to tell from this one.  

I think this shadow performs well, and it makes me curious to know how the shimmer and glitter shadows wear.

The singles are $13 each.  An empty 3 pan palette is $12, and a 4 pan is $14.

JinSoon Nostalgia

Celebrity manicurist Jin Soon Choi recently created a line of nail lacquers.  They come in 12 colors, ranging from light pink and nude to red, purple, and teal.  Since I don't have any true nudes in my nail polish collection, I decided to try Nostalgia, which is described as a pink beige.

Sephora says:  "A high-gloss, long-lasting nail lacquer with a chip-proof finish and a rapid drying time."

I have to agree with this description.  This nail polish is so glossy you don't even need a top coat.  Nostalgia gives opaque coverage in three coats, and dries quickly (three coats dries completely in about 15 minutes).  It comes in a square bottle with a pull-off top that reveals the screw-off top underneath.  The brush is wide and flat on one side, which makes it easy to get coverage on the whole nail with about three strokes.

You can see the brush is flat on one side

On me, it is a nude with a little pink to keep it from looking grey or overly beige.  I had a little difficulty capturing the color because there was no direct sunlight for the photos.  This is a cream finish with no shimmer.
I love this nail polish.  It elongates the look of my fingers and is a very elegant color.  Brights may be the trend for spring, but there is something to be said for wearing an understated nude every now and then.

Without flash

With flash

JinSoon nail lacquers are a "five-free" formula, meaning they are formaldehyde, toluene, DPB, and camphor free.  They are $18 and can be found at Sephora.

Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Nude Shimmer

This is one of my favorite nail polishes.  It's Sally Hansen Diamond Strength No Chip Nail Color in #420 Nude Shimmer.  It is metallic pinky light nude.  It has a mirror-like finish, and it's one of the few metallics I've tried that doesn't really show brush strokes.  It's so shiny and smooth!  The dry time is pretty quick and the wear time is excellent.  I love how the color elongates the look of my fingers.

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