Mini NYX Haul and Updates

Heyy all!!!

(I must warn you, this is a picture heavy post)

So I've been doing some serious thinking and I've decided that I have to have my own No Spend Month. I've been reading several blogs and the bloggers decided to have a "no spend month" in which they do just that. Don't spend money.

At. all.

This may be hard for someone like me because, well, I love shopping. But my shopping has to stop. An I've decided that from April 14 to May 14th there will be no:
--makeup
--clothes
--accessories

At. All.

This means no drugstores, Sephora, or MAC for a month. This is going to be tough as temptation looms at every corner. But it'll also be slightly easy considering that I'm going to be unemployed for about two weeks (I recently quit my job as a sales associate- I hated the manager too much to stay before I start my new job).

But of course I had to go out with a bang. Even if that bang was under $20.

Most of you may know (should know) of NYX cosmetics. I've heard a lot about it around the blogosphere and even considered dishing out the $24 for the set of 24 lipstick during their infamous lot sales (check out their latest deals...). However, I'm way too cheap to pay the $10 shipping fee. Ouch!

So imagine my excitement when I found out that the beauty supply store near my [old] job carried NYX cosmetics. I had been working there for two years and I have never once step foot inside that beauty supply store- the one day I quit my job and decided I needed hair shears...I discover NYX. I also saw these eyeshadow palettes from L.A. Colors.

Check out the haulage...

Left: Goddess of the Night Lipgloss in Beige
Top to Bottom: Expose U'R Eyes Liquid Eye Liner, Lipliner in Rose, Eyeliner in Electric Blue, Eyeliner in Teal, Eyeliner in Purple, L.A. Colors eyeshadow palette in Tease.
Right: NYX Round Lipstick in Strawberry Milk

The L.A. Colors eyeshadow palette is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! These are super pigmented and the color actually lasts all day. I wore it all last week and the fun bright colors sort of inspired me to attempt really fun looks. I may not be that great in creating really cool eyeshadow looks but with this palette I'm certainly tempted to learn. And at $1.99, how could you pass?

Swatches:

The eyeliner pencils are just as great. I really wanted these colors because these are some of my favorite colors and I wanted to go beyond the plain old black eyeliner. Spring is here and summer will be coming shortly so I wanted to maximize my makeup options.

The purple doesn't show as much as I'd like it to. I tried lining my waterline with it and it didn't really do much for me. =( Purple is my favorite color so I was pretty stoked when I bought it. But at 99¢ I ain't complainin'!

As for the lipstick/lipgloss/lip liner, I bought three similar shades because I like to layer on my colors for durability and long lasting-ness. The lipgloss is superb! The rest is a huge fail.

I should have known that it wouldn't work out but I was so hopeful! I bought Strawberry Milk after seeing Fafinette x3's video on YouTube. It looked so pretty on her and I was convinced that it would look he same on me. But DUH!! I'm clearly wayyyy darker than her and so are my lips. I tried telling myself that this pink is no different than my billion other pinks but it's simply too pale. It made my lips look quite ashy. When I layered the gloss over it, it looks a lot better but I'm not sold. If I can't wear it alone, it ain't worth it. Even if it was $1.99. I had the same issue with the lip liner (also 99¢). Too pale. I'm considering returning or exchanging it for a different color.

After my success with the eyeshadow palette and my quest for a better lipstick, I went back for more yesterday. The genius that I am forgot Strawberry Milk so I ended up buying a new lippie. I'm still planning on returning it though.

Left: L.A. Colors eyeshadow palette in Wildflowers.
Swatches (super blurry but that's the best my camera would allow)

The lipstick is called Mauve and it does not disappoint!


It's soo gorgeous! It reminds me a lot of my MAC Creme in Your Coffee and my Wet n Wild lipstick in Flirtatious but it's slightly darker. It's definitely a pretty color for brown girls. And the price is unbelievable ($1.99 as well). The name is a perfect description of the color it has a matte velvet texture. It clicks securely shut so there are no mishaps or caps flying around in your handbag. The case is a shiny black with a colored base that shows you the color of the lipstick inside the tube without having to open it.

So, that's my haul. My last one until MAC's Style Warrior collection comes out May 28. And with No Spend Month in effect, I'll be able to save up for it.

How, oh how, will I survive this month?? I'm going to shop my stash! I'll be going through my BOXES of makeup, rediscovering old favorites and bringing you the dish. I've already found makeup that I HAVEN'T worn (unbelievable).

So whose with me!?? How are you ladies coping with the recession? Has your makeup spending changed as a result of this? Think I'm crazy? Let me know in the comments!