NYX Glam Liner Aqua Luxe Review

Hola Amigas!

We’re so slack at this blog thing, but please forgive us for the absence we try to be frequent, but life is stressful (fml). HOWEVER! We do love doing this, so today I’m reviewing the NYX ‘Glam liner Aqua Luxe’ range.

I want to start off by saying that I wasn’t expecting much. I honestly thought they would be quite sheer and that I’d have to build it up to really get a pigment payoff—but, boy was I wrong. These are amazingly pigmented! The only one I really had any problems with was the purple one. I had to swatch it twice before it looked like the others, but I think I might put that down to it coming from a bad batch. The GLAM Gold (brown tube) is also sheer, but I prefer it that way. I feel like if the brown was more solid it would look tacky on the eye. 

I don’t want to sound like one of those people, but, I wasn’t expecting such great quality from a drug store brand. I think for their pricing they’re a steal, especially if you love doing dramatic looks.They apply smoothly and aren’t patchy at all and the brush applicator is easy to use. They do have quite a glittery finish, but I would say they’re more metallic than glittery—which is slightly disappointing, as it is marketed more as being a glamorous glitter liner.

(Left with flash, right without flash)
From bottom to top: GLAM Pink, GLAM Purple, GLAM Azure and GLAM Gold

This time round I only bought the colours I really wanted because I was slightly sceptical—however after experiencing just how well they work I think I’d go out and buy the rest of the range.

The liners come in 9 colours and if you live in Australia or New Zealand you can find them at Priceline or Target. They’re $9.95 each and currently there is no set including all of them. Here's a link to buy them online if I've managed to tickle your fancy. 

https://www.priceline.com.au/nyx-glam-liner-aqua-luxe-collection-3-g

Much love, Kimiz 

Colourpop!

Hi guys!

Soooooo I recently made my first ever Colourpop order (yay) and some people have asked what I think about the products, so here I am. I'll try to keep my opinion on each product short and sweet though, so you guys don't get bored out of your minds.

Just quickly I'd like to say that when you're reviewing products, you tend to become acutely aware of the negatives because that's what you look out for. And things you might not even notice if you weren't actively seeking them. So just keep that in mind.

It took a little over 2 weeks for me to receive my package - annoying but that's the typical timeframe in which I receive packages internationally. There was free international shipping which is why my sister and I jumped at the opportunity because typically, their shipping to Australia is pretty pricey. 

I was nervous when I received the package because I have seen people have issues with tainted products, however, all my products came in excellent condition. The packaging the products come in and the packaging of the products themselves are extremely beautiful.

Now that the boring stuff is out of the way, this is what we had ordered:

One Highlighter (Lunch Money)

One Brow Pencil (Black N' Brown)

One Contour Stick (Easy Peasy)

One Lippie Stix (Pillow Talk)

One Eye Liner (Swerve)

One Ultra Glossy Lip (Lychee Me)

Three Eye Shadows (Nillionaire, Cricket and Drift)

Five Ultra Matte Lip (Limbo, Chi, Vice, Beeper and Trap)

Lets start with the highlighter - which if you were wondering is my favourite product of the bunch. The highlighter is a cream to powder product, so it gives a beautiful, natural highlight to the skin.  I find it difficult to apply with a brush so I just use my fingers and then blend it out with a brush. The end result is beautiful regardless. I will say though, you definitely need to set this with a powder highlight because it tends to disappear throughout the day. 

Easy Peasy Contour Stick was a downer for me. While applying it, it virtually blends into nothing so you have to layer it a few times to get it to appear on your skin - which is not ideal. I wouldn't recommend the contour stick at all. 

The eyeshadow colours did not correspond to the pictures on the website but irregardless are still beautiful. You definitely need to apply these with your fingers to get the pigment you want - not to say the shadows aren't pigmented because they are, but applying the product with your finger gives you a better result. I can't really provide an opinion on how the shadows blend as we bought eyeshadows that are to be applied on the lid. If you do buy an eyeshadow, I strongly recommend you buy Nillionaire. 

L-R Lunch Money (highlight), Nillionaire, Cricket and Drift

Swerve Eyeliner is a crayon type eyeliner. I love that it's so pigmented and does not transfer or tug on my waterline! It also blends out so beautifully, so it's perfect for smokey eyes. 

The brow pencil is slightly harder in comparison to the Anastasia Brow Wiz, but for the price point it is really good. You just need to make sure you apply it with light hand because it is really pigmented but it blends into your eyebrows beautifully once brushed through.

Now you know I just had to buy the Lippie Stix in the shade Pillow Talk. The colour is beautiful, and the formula is extremely creamy and comfortable. It's not so matte that its drying, it feels more satin with a matte finish. 

B-T Trap, Lychee Me

I was slightly disappointed with the Ultra Glossy Lip in Lychee Me because it was not as pigmented as I hoped. I get the same effect when wearing the Lucas Paw Paw Ointment only with a slight hint of colour. The formula however was really comfortable, it wasn't sticky. Maybe their other colours are more pigmented, I'm not really sure as this is the only gloss we purchased.

L-R Limbo, Chi, Beeper, Trap, Vice, Lychee Me
Bottom Pillow Talk

Finally, the Ultra Matte Lips. I was nervous for these because there were so many mixed reviews. To begin with, it is a liquid formula - it has a really runny consistency so you best be careful not to tip it. It is extremely comfortable and it honestly feels like I'm not wearing anything on my lips. I don't need a lip balm underneath because it is not drying. It does however slightly transfer and takes a while to dry down. In terms of longevity, personally, the Ultra Matte Lips are not extremely long wearing and tend to fade throughout the day. I had drank coffee and licked my lips and my lipstick disappeared. Limbo in particular crumbles once you've rubbed your lips together. The colours also do not correspond to the colours shown on the website. However, again, for the price point and what you personally look for, you may be able to overlook these. You just need to make sure you look up swatches on YouTube to be sure of the colour. I wanted to note that I'm comparing the Ultra Matte Lips with Kylie Cosmetic Liquid Lipsticks and Jeffree Star Liquid Lipsticks. 

B-T Limbo, Chi, Beeper, Vice, Pillow Talk, Trap

Overall, I'd say I'm happy with my order - but if I'm being completely honest, I probably won't buy from Colourpop again. The quality of most of their products is good but nothing that really stands out to me. The price point is extremely affordable - but their shipping rates can be slightly too much for what they're worth.

In regards to this review, just keep in mind that different products work differently on everyone and that these are my personal opinions only! I'm in no way stopping you from trying them out yourself! 

If you do want to buy from Colourpop, I'd recommend looking up swatches to verify the colours - keeping in mind that some colours look different on various skin tones. I'd also recommend bulk buying with a friend to counteract the slightly expensive shipping rate. If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment or contact me on twitter @fxckzarry. Hope this was helpful!

P.S. Thanks Roeya for the help and your arms.

Love, 
Rama 

Skin 101

Hi guys,

As some of you guys may know, I work within a company that gives me access to endless skincare products and knowledge about them. Skincare is probably one of the most important steps in your daily regime and I know a lot of people tend to struggle with their skin - from those pesky hormonal breakouts to cystic acne to just the good ol' textured skin (looks pointedly at Rama). 

If you've ever read the ingredients list on a box of moisturiser, you'd find a whole bunch of gibberish mixed in with some elements that just seem too confusing to pay much attention to (I know I've overlooked it on more than one occasion). So I'm hoping this post might make it a bit easier for you guys to choose products best suited to your skincare type and concern. 

Your skin consists of three main layers: the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis. The epidermis acts as a protector from external environmental factors while the dermis basically makes up the structure of your skin. It's where you can find blood vessels, follicles, glands, and the body's water supply, along with collagen and elastin. This is the layer you want to target most. 

The average skin cycle takes about 28 days - which is why it's important for those trialling new products to keep up the routine for at least a month. This allows you to see if results are actually showing up with continued use - of course, if you got a reaction then discontinue use. 

To make things a bit simple for everyone, there are three different skin types that we can all fit into; the oily, combination and dry skin types. If you tend to have an oilier skin type, the main distinguishing factors would be the presence of thicker-looking skin, enlarged pores, being prone to breakouts, and obviously oiliness throughout the day. In contrast, drier skin types may sometimes experience dry patches, small/invisible pores, tightness and matte looking skin. But don't confuse dryness for dehydration - they're two completely different things. The combination type houses two different types - the normal/oily or normal/dry which is a combination of all these factors. 

A typical skincare regime would include at least three main elements - cleansing, toning and moisturising. Basic, easy and quick. But if you're looking for it, more advanced skincare regimes include exfoliating, serums, masks, eye products, neck creams, instant gratification treatments etc etc. 

Skincare is such a broad topic that it would take pages for me to go completely in depth with it. So to make this experience slightly sweeter and more of an easier read, I'm just going to go through your essentials (sorry, guys). 

Ingredients to look out for:

Hyaluronic Acid (or sodium hyaluronate) 

Honestly my personal favourite, hyaluronic acid has saved my skin from my teenage-excess-sebum-producing-leather-looking skin days. Able to hold more than 1000x it's own weight in water, HA is probably one of the most important ingredients to look out for if you're constantly surrounded by free radicals (namely pollution, air conditioning etc) which lead to dehydration within your skin. Your body's supply of HA decreases with age, so it's important to regularly supply your skin with it to minimise the appearance of wrinkles, loss of volume, and loss of elasticity. 

Alpha-hydroxy Acids (AHAs) 

AHAs are naturally occurring acids that you can find everyday in products that you consume. They are a class of various acids that, when applied to the top of your epidermis, break apart the binds of dead skin cells on your skin to remove them, while increasing cell turnover which allows for the growth of new skin. AHAs include: glycolic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, mandelic acid and citric acid. 

Beta-hydroxy Acid (BHA)

While AHAs are made up of various types of acids, the only BHA is salicylic acid. Many of you may have seen this term in your cleansers as it works as a gentle exfoliant and antibacterial agent. Salicylic acid is derived from willow bark, making it a naturally occurring substance. It can penetrate into your pore unlike AHAs and gets rid of dead skin cell buildup within the pore. 

On a side note, if you have an aspirin allergy, please stay away from salicylic acid as this comes from the same family as aspirin. 

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, magnesium ascorbatol) 

One of the most popular ingredients in any skincare product, Vit C has been scientifically proven to remove those pesky fine lines and wrinkles. If you're looking to get rid of hyperpigmentation, stimulate collagen synthesis and protect your skin from free radical damage, then look for Vitamin C especially within your products. 

Vitamin A (retinol, retinoic acid, retinyl palmitate, hydroxypinnacolone retinoate) 

Ah, the mother of all ingredients - retinol. Retinol has been used in many night time skincare products for a while now, and the reason for this is because retinol can actually deactivate when met with UV rays. However, some clever person has decided to combine retinol with various other ingredients and have found a way around this (ferulic acid is one definitely). Retinol encourages the reproduction of skin cells and stimulates collagen production, which can definitely help with signs of ageing. 

Happy New Year!

Loooooong time no see my friends. Hope you've all been well.

I'm back with a post about the new year. First piece of advice for 2016? Make. Things. Happen. We’re often down in the dumps about not achieving what we want to, but are we really doing anything to make things happen? If you’re like me, you’re probably shying away from this question and mentally cursing about your level of procrastination. Well this year, let's stop waiting around for things to just work out. Take the initiative and make those changes in your life! Don't wait for anyone, don’t slow down for anyone, make 2016 your bitch! This might be just the push you need. Get the boy or girl, get your grades up, get that job! I honestly believe we can do anything we set our mind to if we want it enough.

Leave toxic relationships in 2015. From first hand experience, I know how difficult it can be and sometimes I do wish we were still friends, but I honestly am happier. All they did was drag me down and sabotage my happiness. You won’t know how relieved you will be until you drift from those people. If you're not the confrontational type - I sure as hell am not, slowly drift away from them, reply slower, talk less. Your happiness is the most important thing in the world, and don’t you forget it.

Be organised! Organisation is key to less stress. Grab a diary, buy a calendar, clean your room, organise your school work, buy a bunch of folders and set of highlighters, clean out any unneeded junk, write down everything you need to do or buy! In doing so, you'll be be more prepared, avoid panicking and have more time for other people and hobbies. It makes a world of a difference to your health and wellbeing. Don't forget to not overpressure yourself, you're only human, bad things happen. You'll get through it.

Get your priorities straight. Focus on more important things, and be aware and less focused on the petty things. Life is short, enjoy it while you can - cliche I know, but most cliches are true, no? Go into bad situations you’re faced with, with an open mind. Don't be clouded with negativity, sadness or anger when you're attempting to solve an issue. Bad situations are only as bad as what you make them out to be. Sleep on it and make sure you're relaxed and rational. Your attitude towards a situation has the power to shape the outcome - psychologically proven ;).

These are the foundations of most New Year resolutions, whether that be eating healthy, exercising more, getting your grades up or being happier. Make 2016 yours. I wish you guys all the happiness and success in the world. Don't forget, we’re only human; the above things will take time to learn but keep at it. Happy New Year! Make 2016 your bitch.

Rama x

21 Things I've Learnt In 21 Years

It's been a long long twenty-one years and there are some of the more important things that I've some to learn as I stumbled and crawled my way through life. 

1. Don’t wear yourself thin

Life gets busy, trust me, I know. My assignments kept piling up, and exam period always seemed to be looming ‘round the corner, and my mum just wouldn’t stop nagging me to ‘clean your room’ or ‘wash the dishes’ or ‘you’re always in your room come and spend time with us’. And before I knew it I was stretched so thin that the slightest thing made me snap - In this case, my brother bumping into me and me bursting into tears.

So, now I take a moment and do something I enjoy.

I read a book, or watch a movie or a couple of episodes of my favourite show, I listen to music, or simply take a nap. I just do something to relieve the stress. I don’t let it build up.

2. Sleep is important

I cannot stress this point enough. A minimum of eight hours is recommended per night. And I suck at fitting it in. But I’m trying, and I think I’m getting there. But it’s a struggle and every time I have an assignment or an exam (or literally every weekend) I mess it up. But, maybe one day it won’t be so bad and I won’t be such a grouch, and those puffy bags/bruises under my eyes will be gone.

Maybe.