NYX Cosmetics Cape Town & Perfect Filter Palette Review

NYX cosmetics is finally here! Yes!I can finally, try all these products that I see on YouTube but never get to try 😁😁😁
As you can imagine, I dragged my BFF to Canal Walk, because needs must. I didn't queue at Unholy O'clock for the Goody bag, because I prefer sleep over most things these days. secondly, it didn't turn out well on some devoted fans who ended up missing out on freebies because some reorganizing of the queue.
Anyway we grabbed some coffee and took a place in the line, not for the store but at the NYX promotional stand in the food court; you could have your makeup done by local beauty influencers @kimlyn_makeuphair and @rushanaisaacs. They also had props for some selfies and had spin and win competition for those with proof of purchase from the store.

I didn't want to stand in the queue for the store like I did last weekend for the UD store; so we did our grocery shopping stopped for lunch and then went to the store. We didn't have to wait for than 15 minutes to get in the store, but the store was busy and it's not big, plus the excited junkies everywhere, I was out of patience. So I didn't really get a chance to explore the store at leisure; I did see a couple of things that I want to pick up when the hype dies down. I only picked up one item, and that's the Perfect Filter eye shadow palette in Olive You. I've been wanting to try this palette since it's being lauded as a dupe for the controversial ABH Subculture palette on social media, also I really like the colours.

My Favorites
NYX has some of my favorite drugstore goodies; I'm an avid fan of their primers. I love the eye shadow bases so much I have 3 of them 🙈. My absolute fav is the matte white, it creates the perfect canvas for my bright eye shadow looks and my makeup lasts all day without creasing or smudging. I've also been using the Angel Veil face primer for the last couple of weeks. I picked it up at a NYX store in Singapore a couple of weeks ago and since it was never available in the Clicks stores. It's got rave reviews - here's a review by Jackie Aina where she compares it to a high-end one.

My Favourite eyeshadow bases

Wish list
Proof It! Waterproof Eyeshadow Primer - because why not? They claim it's waterproof..I'll happily test that.
Duo Chromatic Illuminating Powder highlighters in Snow Rose, Twilight Tint & Synthetica- I swatched some of these on Saturday...they're amazing, but not for the faint of heart. Someone say "highlighter to the gods".
Coloured Felt Tip Liners - in blue and green.
In Your Element collection - Fire palette (launching on  NYX website on 4 September, but I'm seeing it a lot on Social Media (check out the swatches here on iluvsarahii Instagram page).

The Perfect Filter palette in Olive You

Two of the looks achieved with the Perfect Filter palette

The colours used in the look on the left are marked with green dots, and for the look on the right, those shadows are marked with red dots.

This is a good everyday palette; it's a good combination of mattes and shimmers. I have tried using it on a naked lid, but the colour payoff is way better when I use primer. Also there's quite a bit of fallout, so don't be rough with your brush when picking up colour. I used the white eyeshadow base for both the looks above.
I think I'll do a one palette, one week palette and use this palette for the rest of week. I'll post the results on my Instagram page.

That's it for now, fellow junkies. I really recommend visiting the store and trying out what they have to offer; we finally have a decent range of everything the brand has to offer.

See you in my next post, xoxo

Make-Up Review: High-end vs Drugstore Foundation: NARS & Maybelline

Three posts in one week...I've been procrastinating when it comes to writing up my reivews...so I'm playing catch-up. 
This is another makeup posts; here I'm reviewing two foundations, one high-end  the NARS Velvet Matte Skin tint, and one drugstore, the Dream Velvet hydrating matte foundation.
This isn't really a comparison post: I just want to give my thoughts on two similar products.

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I came across this foundation on YouTube a few weeks after its launch. I had been looking for a light foundation to add to my routine. Now there are people who will kill me for saying this but I'm not a fan of the MAC foundations: I've tried Studio Fix in NW50 and Matchmaster in 8.0 but my shade always runs a bit red and they just feel heavy on my skin. They also transfer like you won't believe.
I wanted to try something as good as the Lancome teinte Idole which blew my mind as to how good it was, in terms of shades available and overall performance of the foundation especially during our hot african summers.
So my friends were in the states during the summer this year and I requested some goodies from afar since NARS isn't available is South Africa.

1. NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint Broad Spectrum SPF30 in the shade Polynesia Dark 1
I've been using it for over two months and I'm loving it. It's light and the shade fits me perfectly, even with the change in season (I've gotten darker). I've mainly used it in conjunction with the One Step Bronze primer from Stila. half a pea-sized amount is enough for my face, since I prefer light to medium coverage. I apply the foundation with my fingers or a beauty blender (I've not tried applying it with a brush). I apply the rest of my makeup and set my face with a finishing spray.
Here are some selfies:

NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint

Packaging: Squeeze tube, 1.7 fl oz (50ml)
Appearance: Liquid foundation, slightly runny
Features: Broad spectrum SPF 30, Available in 12 shades
Price: U$ 44

2.  Dream Velvet Hydrating Soft-Matte foundation in the shade Coconut 95

This foundation has been out on the South African market for less than 6 months, and to be honest I was very skeptical about trying it out. Here are my reasons why:
1. There are only 7 shades available with coconut as the darkest. I wasn't sure it would fit my complexion. (There are never any testers for this in Clicks).
2. This foundation has no SPF, and that's not on!

But I pivoted and decided to give it a go since I remember my first ever foundation, many many moons ago was the Dream Matte mousse which I loved (Maybeline was the first to introduce dark shades in South Africa...I'm talking espresso and dark cocoa).

The Body Shop recently, introduced their Skin Defence Multi-protection essence SPF50 PA++++, first high SPF cream that doesn't give me a white cast...halellujah! life has been given!
So I apply this mosituriser after cleansing (it doubles as a primer) and then apply the foundation with a beauty blender. The finish is a soft matte natural finish, that's doesn't leave me looking monotone super powdery and washed out. I was worried that about the fit because coconut has some yellow undertones but it oxidises just enough to look natural.

Maybelline Dream Velvet Soft-Matte Hydrating Foundation

Packaging: Squeeze tube, 1.0 fl oz (30ml)
Appearance: Gel-whipped foundation
Features: 7 shades available in South Africa (12 shades on the USA site)
Price: ZAR 110 (U$ 10.99)

Both foundations wore really well throughout the day; I experienced just a tad bit of shine along my T-zone by lunch time which gave me a bit of a glow and not grease :-)
By the end of the day my face was still holding and one could definitely get away with going out for dinner with a bit of blotting - you wouldn't have to re-do your face.

Swatches: Left: NARS  and on the Right: Maybelline

Verdict: Which one do I prefer? Honestly, I prefer the NARS for 2 reasons: SPF and shade (It just fits me better), also it's cruelty-free (its dififcult to find foundations for women of colour that are cruelty-free). But, $44 is a lot of money. If you have a good day cream with SPF you can get away with using the Maybelline foundation. It's a great foundation, if you're a beginner and good drugstore alternative for the NARS if you're not willing to spend $44 on a foundation.
The downside to both these foundations, is the shade range. both shades reviewed here are the darkest on offer. If you're darker neither of these will fit you. Both NARS and Maybelline, do have darker shades for some of the other foundations...so all is not lost.

Happy  Friday everyone,

xoxo

N

*images from www.narscosmetics.com and www.maybelline.co.za

Make-up Review: Sleek MakeUP i-Divine eyeshadow palettes

Hey lovelies,
I haven't posted a makeup review in a while, so thought I'd post a review on two Sleek MakeUP palettes that I ordered last week. I got them in the Original palette and the Sunset palette.
So lets get into it.
The palettes are not large they're quite small and the eyeshadow pans are the size of a ZAR 2 coin. This makes them convenient for travel. You can easily slip one into your handbag. The palette also includes a decent sized mirror and a double-ended applicator brush (which I never use becuase i prefer bristle brushes).

i-Divine Original palette 

i-Divine Sunset palette

The colour range in these palettes is quite impressive; I especially love the orange and red in the sunset palette. The shadows are quite pigmented and soft, but they're prone to fallout during application.
I did some arm swatches without primers for both palettes. there's overlap for some of the shades in the two palettes: the turqouise is the same in both palettes and so are the gold, champagne shades. The chmapagne shades also tend to be a bit chalky in consistency.

Sunset palette swatches

Original palette swatches

Golden sunset eye makeup using the Sunset palettes. I used the NYX eyeshadow base in skin tone as a primer

 

They're not inglot quality or Urban Decay but they're comparable to wet n wild palettes but a bit more pigmented for some shades. The wet n wild shadows are finer and more buttery as well as easier to apply. To increase the intensity of shadows on the lid, it's better to dampen your synthetic brush (I used a finishing spray).
When comparing the two palettes, I think I prefer the colour selection in the Sunset palette and could probably live without the original palette, since it doesn't really add anything new to my makeup stash.

Pros
Affordable
Wide colour selection

Cons
Application is difficult, need to use a synthetic brush
Fallout
Needs primer/base to extend wear
Some shades are chalky

Score: 6.5/10

They're ideal for beginners learning how to do their own makeup and for experimenting with bright colours.
The palettes are available on the Sleek MakeUP website for 10.49 euro and they deliver worldwide.


See you in my next post,

xoxo,
N

*Palette images are from the Sleek MakeUP website. 

Make-Up Review: Drugstore Foundation: Essence All about Matt!

Hey there, 
I'm doing another foundation review; this time I'm sharing my thoughts on a drugstore foundation. I must say that when it comes to foundations I prefer high end but it's nice to find something that's affrodable and able to deliver on promises. 

So essence has been on the South African market for a couple of years and up until a couple of months ago they didn't have foundations that cater to darker skin complexions. 

 

So, three weeks ago I was browsing the make-up ailse at Clicks and came upon the new essence foundation "all about matt!" It's only available in four shades: vanilla, beige, caramel and mahogany. I picked up the shade caramel (which looks more like a medium cocoa). It's a long-wearing foundation, meant to last for 12 hours but not transfer-free. It's oil-free and gives a mattifying finish. It comes in the standard 1 fl.oz/30ml flor foundations.



I decided to try it out for a couple of weeks before forming any conclusions. 

On to application: as I said earlier the foundation looks like a medium cocoa shade and the consistency is creamy and a little runny. I applied the foundation on my face following primer application using my beauty blender (a pea-sized amount was enough to cover my face for medium coverage). It isn't quick drying, so have time to blend and buff. I then applied the rest of my makeup and set my face with the M.A.C Fix+ spray. 

After 4 hours Ichecked my face to see how it was holding up: I had a bit of shininess on my nose but it wasn't oily and I didn't need to blot. It just looked like a natural glow. Towards the end of the day approaching the 8hr mark, there was definitely a bit a more shine on my T-zone and a little blotting was definitely required. But it still looked really good and my friends could not belive that I acieved my look with an inexpensive foundation. 

All in all, I think its a great foundation for oily and combination/oily skin. It feels like MAC Studio Fix on the skin (quite heavy, I don't like the feeling). My only gripe with this foundation is that it doesn't have any SPF (this is a dealbreaker for me). That being said, if you don't wear make-up everyday like I do, this might be one to consider for a night out or attending a function and want to make-up occasionally. 

Pros:
Inexpensive, it only costs ZAR 68.00 at Clicks (listed as 79.95 on essence website)
Mattifying and oil-free
Long-lasting 

Cons:
No SPF
There are only 4 shades available.  

Final Marks: 6.5/10

That's it for now, 

xoxo, 

N