Color That Doesn’t Break the Bank

NYX I Dream of St. Thomas Eyeshadow Palette ($8.75 for 0.28 oz.) contains five eyeshadows and is part of NYX’s Caribbean Collection of eyeshadow palettes. (I reviewed St. Lucia previously.) NYX is one of my favorite brands for more affordable makeup, because the quality is consistently high and the range is huge.

St. Thomas includes: a dark charcoal gray with soft silver shimmer (similar to MAC’s Knight Divine); brightened cotton candy pink with a satin sheen; bright silver with a near metallic shimmer-sheen (similar to MAC’s Electra); pale golden peach with a high sheen; and a medium-dark, mint green with a pearly shine.

The pigmentation was excellent on the pink, peach, and green shades; it was still quite good on the charcoal and silver shades, too, but a touch sheerer than the other three. My favorite shade is the minty green, because you don’t see that kind of color–or with such vibrancy–by every brand.  These shades have a soft, smooth texture, though there is some residual powder kick up during use.  NYX eyeshadows have worked well for me and only fade minimally, but not noticeably so until six or more hours of wear.

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 26/30
• Value: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: If you’re on a budget, NYX’s palettes are worth considering. They maintain quality and pigmentation while still keeping the price down.

AVAILABILITY: NYX

See more photos & swatches!

NYX I Dream of St. Thomas Eyeshadow Palette

NYX I Dream of St. Thomas Eyeshadow Palette

NYX I Dream of St. Thomas Eyeshadow Palette

NYX I Dream of St. Thomas Eyeshadow Palette

NYX I Dream of St. Thomas Eyeshadow Palette

The Sultry Season: NYX Violet Ray Lipstick

NYX Violet Ray Round Lipstick ($4.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a deep raspberry red with fuchsia sheen.  it’s semi-opaque and goes on a touch streaky, but it’s a great affordable option for a sultry lip this season.  It wears about three to four hours, but it’s not drying at all.  I like how there is some glossiness in the finish, which helps to make it look smoother.  This is a versatile shade that works for the vampier fall lip but also as more festive holiday lip color.

Is this the right berry for you? Would you wear it?

The Sultry Season is a series of posts featuring deep, rich shades of brown, berry, plum, and wine lipsticks and lipglosses — just right for autumn — that runs through October 2010.

See photos and swatches…

NYX Violet Ray Lipstick

The Sultry Season: Maybelline Bit of Berry Lipstick

Maybelline Bit of Berry Lipstick ($8.29 for 0.15 oz.) is a beautiful plummy pink cream with rich, opaque color and a slightly glossy sheen.  This is what I consider a drugstore gem, and it’s definitely one of the best Color Sensational lipsticks I’ve come across in texture and consistency, as well.  It’s very creamy, which makes application a cinch, but it’s also incredibly pigmented and completely covers my lip freckle!  I love that the color isn’t too cool, either.  It lasts three to four hours on me, which is about average.  I wish the lipstick smelled less synthetic and sweet, but otherwise, this one’s a keeper.

(You should be able to pick one up for less than $8, which is full retail price–drugstore.com has it for $6.22 at the moment.)

Is this the right berry for you? Would you wear it?

The Sultry Season is a series of posts featuring deep, rich shades of brown, berry, plum, and wine lipsticks and lipglosses — just right for autumn — that runs through October 2010.

See photos and swatches…

Most awkward smile ever, LOL! Sorry!

Maybelline Bit of Berry Lipstick

This week’s sales at HauteLook…

• Monday (10/4/10): Pop Beauty
• Tuesday (10/510): By Lauren Luke
• Wednesday (10/6/10): BURN

The links above are a referral link. It means that I receive a $10 credit if you make your first purchase–I get nothing if you never buy. HauteLook has opened up membership, so you are free to sign up on your own, if you wish!

This Week’s Sales for September 24th, 2010

• Bare Escentuals: 20% off with code GLAMOUR, expires 10/12.
• Beauty.com: Get $10 off orders of $60+ whenever you click through THIS LINK.  Buy $25 of Urban Decay and get a free travel sized 24/7 pencil through THIS LINK.
• Becca: 20% off with code DC0810, expires 10/15.
• Benefit: Free shipping over purchases of $50+, use code PRETTY50. Free international shipping with purchases of $115+, use code WORLD115 (excludes Asia).
• Bliss: –
• Blue Mercury: Free shipping on all orders over $50 with code FREESHIP, plus 3 free beauty samples with every order. 11-year anniversary gift with $100+ purchase. Exclusive and new Tocca Kona limited edition candle.
• Bobbi Brown: $65+ orders ship free, no code necessary.
• C.O. Bigelow: 15% off any purchase with code EARLYBIRD, expires 10/15.
• Clarins: Free shipping on any order through 9/28 with code ESSENTIALS.
• Clinique: Free shipping with code FSCHAT07. Free shipping plus free 3-step minis with $30+ orders.
• e.l.f.:  30% off Studio Line on $20+ purchases with code STUD30.
• Folica:  15% off the top 15 brands with code BRANDS, expires 10/11.
• GOSMiLE: 10% off with code OCT10, expires 10/31.
• MAC:  Free shipping with code CS105LIVECHAT.
• NARS Cosmetics: Free shipping on orders of $25 or more with code 25FREESHIP. Free Mini Lipgloss Duo in Sweet Dreams/Dolce vita ANY purchase with code TEMPTALIAC, through THIS link, expires 10/15. Free 2-day shipping on orders of $150+, no code necessary.
• Nordstrom: Current list of Gifts with Purchase. Free beauty gift with any $120+ beauty/fragrance purchase valued at $100+.
• Origins: Free shipping on orders of $75+, no code required.
• Saks: Receive an exotic snake-print tote filled with deluxe samples with any $100 saks.com beauty or fragrance purchase with code COLOR2 while supplies last.
• Sally’s Beauty Supply: 20% off online orders with code 555962.
• SkinStore: 20% off storewide with code BELLA20, expires 10/5. 20 % off Philosophy with code BELLA20, expires 10/5.
• Smashbox: Free gift every Tuesday and Thursday.  Free shipping on all orders.
• Stila: Free Stila Mascara with $15 Purchase for the Month of September.
• StrawberryNet: Shop this week’s very Special Deals.
• The Body Shop: Buy 2, get 1 free at the Semi-Annual Skin Care Event, ends 10/10.
• Zuneta: 10% off for first time customers with code Z8641, expires 12/31/10.

Sephora

• 10% off for VIBs with code V436CB.
• Free deluxe-size Aquolina Body Mousse with any purchase with code PINKSUGAR.
• Free Bliss mini rollerball with any purchase with code BLISSFUL.
• Free travel-size Dr. Brandt Intensolution treatment with any purchase with code BLEMISHFREE.
• Free Clinique Repairwear serum sample with any purchase with code REPAIRWEAR.
• Free Clean Scene by Murad sample duo with any purchase with code CLEANSCENE.
• Free Hourglass Film Noir Full Spectrum mascara with any purchase with code SPECTRUM.
• Free 1-week supply of REN blemish cleanser with any purchase with code CLAYCLEANSE.
• Free Dr. Brandt skincare samples with code DRBRANDT.
• Free Bare Escentuals RareMinerals eye cream with code RAREEYE.
• Free Kate Somerville sunscreen with any purchase with code KATESUN.
• Free Juicy Couture parfum rollerball with any purchase with code JUICYCOUTURE.
• Free StriVectin facial cream with any purchase with code SCULPT.
• Free Caudalie Vinoperfect samples with any purchase with code VINOREGIMEN.
• Free refillable palette when you buy any 3 Make Up For Ever eyeshadows or blushes with code MUFE.

This week’s sales at HauteLook…

• Monday (9/27/10): Elemis
• Wednesday (9/2910): Mehron
• Thursday (9/30/10): Senna, Sjal Skincare
• Friday (10/1/10): T3 Hair Styling Tools

The links above are a referral link. It means that I receive a $10 credit if you make your first purchase–I get nothing if you never buy. HauteLook has opened up membership, so you are free to sign up on your own, if you wish!