NYC CityProof Twistable Lip Crayon in Ballroom Blush

Lip crayon lovers rejoice! The New York Color CityProof Twistable Lip Crayon ($2.99) is a very, very budget-friendly lip product option. Shown below is Ballroom Blush (a deep, rosy pink). 

The NYC CityProof Twistable Lip Crayons are also available in 11 other colours from deep plums to bright oranges - Nolita Neutral, Brooklyn Brownstone, Riverside Rose, Parsons Pink, Fulton Street Fuchsia, Metropolitan Mauve, Gramercy Park Plum, Park Slope Peach, Canal Street Coral, Roosevelt Island Red, South Ferry Berry. 

The NYC CityProof Twistable Lip Crayon in Ballroom Blush is lipstick in crayon form. The colour is pleasantly saturated and the formula is impressively smooth and hydrating. Lasting power of Ballroom Brush wowed me at 5 hours without peeling or getting all over my face. As Ballroom Blush is quite bold, it leaves a soft stain as the subtle shine begins to wear away. 

At $2.99, the intense colour of the New York Color City Proof Twistable Lip Crayon Ballroom Blush makes me a very happy camper. If and when I ever run out of lip colours, I'll definitely be picking up the plum colour in this line. 

Have you tried the NYC CityProof Twistable Lip Crayons? 

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New York Color Big Bold Volume by the Lash Mascara

12x the volume for lashes? If a mascara could do that... I would be the happiest camper. New York Color says that its Big Bold Volume By the Lash Mascara ($4.99) amps up your total fringe impact by individually coating and volumizing each and every lash up to 12x more. No smudges, no clumps, just a traffic-stopping wow effect.

12x is 1000% an over statement. While claims of no smudging and no clumping appear to be true, my lashes have been amped up around 0.12x compared to my natural lashes. The price is nice, but the result is less than stellar. Perhaps if you're looking for a everyday mascara that is natural and doesn't smudge or clump, then this is perfect. But you won't be stopping traffic with your lashes anytime soon. 

Have you tried any New York Color mascaras? 

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The Modern Mulan // #NYCBeautyPro Challenge

This month's New York Color Beauty Pro Challenge was to create a look inspired by your favourite fictional character. I chose Mulan. Yes, we've got the Asian thing in common, but Mulan was more than just pretty looks to me - strong-minded, brave, confident and a little boyish. Her makeup is quite natural so I thought I'd pull from that. 

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I based my look on the photo above - a thin, winged liner; lightly flushed cheeks, and a pink lip. Mulan's makeup is super simple and understated yet pretty, something that I strive for my makeup to be every day! 

PRODUCTS USED: New York Color Big Bold Volume by the Lash Mascara ($4.99), New York Color Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder in 723 Pink Cheek Glow ($4.99), New York Color CityProof 24HR Waterproof Eyeshadow in Murray Hill Champagne ($2.99) & New York Color Smooch Proof Liquid Lip Stain in Perpetually Mauve ($2.99) (also wearing Paul & Joe Liquid Eyeliner) 

What do you think of Mulan's makeup? 

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New York Color Smooch Proof Liquid Lip Stains in Faithful Coral, Perpetually Mauve, Unforgettable Fuchsia, On Everyone's Lips & Get Noticed

The promise of lip stains is very, very attractive to me. Colour that lasts yet feels like nothing on the lips? Sign me up. The New York Color Smooch Proof Liquid Lip Stains ($2.99) are new to the drugstore and, if you're into stains, something I'd strongly suggest you check out. 

NYC Smooch Proof Liquid Lip Stains in Faithful Cora, Perpetually Mauve, Unforgettable Fuchsia, On Everyone's Lips & Get Noticed 

The NYC Smooch Proof Liquid Lip Stains are housed in a gloss-like tubes with a doe foot applicators. The consistency of the stain is a creamy but slightly watery. The product feels cooling and wet upon application but dries down quickly. While drying down, I get a slight stinging sensation which dissipates after a couple minutes. The lightest colour (Faithful Coral) almost doesn't show up on my lips and requires a couple layers to build up colour. The other four (Perpetually Mauve, Unforgettable Fuchsia, On Everyone's Lips & Get Notice) only need a single coat but the intensity of the stain can be strengthened with two layers. Regardless of any number of layers, the product isn't drying or moisturizing but feels weightless on the lips.

New York Color says that their stains alst only 4 hours, however I'd say that it's more like 16 for the darker colours. The first time I tried Unforgettable Fuchsia, I was afraid that my lips would be permanently stained. That's the big BUT. The darker colours like the fuchsia and the orange/red are hard to remove - even with the help of a heavy duty cleanser.  

The Smooch Proof Liquid Lip Stains meld into the lips so perfectly it's almost like your lips are naturally coral, mauve or fuchsia. I've applied 5 of the 6 colours on my lips. The missing shade is #300 In the Spotlight (cool pastel pink), which I'd presume would be like Faithful Coral - 

sheer and hard to build colour. 

Faithful Coral 

Perpetually Mauve

Unforgettable Fuchsia

On Everyone's Lips

Get Noticed

The 4 deepest shades of the Smooch Proof Liquid Lip Stains are perfect for lengthy work days, as they don't require touchups and you can easily apply a lip balm overtop without disrupting the colour.  I've said it before and I'll say it again. There are some hits and misses in the NYC line but the hits are great bang for your buck. 

Have you tried the New York Color Smooch Proof Liquid Lip Stains? 

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NYC Strip Me Off Base Coat

Glitter polish is a pain to remove. So a peel-off base coat seems like a solid solution, right? A while ago, OPI had released Glitter Off, a Natural Nail Base Coat, which seemed pretty cool but ain't no way am I going to ever pay $9 for something that resembles Elmer's Glue. 

This year, NYC launched it's Strip Me Off Base Coat ($1.99) in Canada. The price is a lot more reasonable. Regardless of price, I wanted to see if the product was a good alternative for the mess that is scrubbing my nail beds until they fall off. I only have one want - I want my polish to come off as soon as I will it so but no sooner than that. 

Indeed, the NYC Strip me Off Base Coat looks, smells and feels exactly like glitter glue (I have zero doubt that it isn't). To use it... 

1. Apply one thin layer of the base coat to your natural nails

2. Let it dry. You'll know it's done when it becomes clear (~3 mins)

3. Paint your polish over top of the base coat

4. To remove your polish, scratch it off at the base with an orange stick or your finger nails

I'm happy with this discovery! It works exactly as I wanted it to. Furthermore, the polish on top lasted as long as polish on top usually does (2-4 days depending on the brand). This makes removal ultra-quick and simple. No damages to the nail underneath and absolutely no acetone and 5,000 cotton pads necessary. 

If you hate removing glitter polish (or just polish in general) then is a definite must for you to try! 

Have you tried a peel-off base coat? 

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New York Fashion Week Nail Art // #NYCBeautyPro // Christian Louboutin x Cushine et Ochs

In an instant, New York Fashion Week has come and gone. I keep up with very few designers but my favourite things to browse for NYFW are the nail and beauty looks. One of my favourite nail looks this year was Christian Louboutin for Cushine et Ochs. It's a modern take on the classic runway nude polish with the addition of a jewel-toned green or blue square at the base of each nail. 

Of course, Christian Louboutin Nail Polishes will run you $50+, so I opted for a more wallet-friendly recreation. In this month's NYC Beauty Pro Challenge I used four products ($1.99 each) to create the Cushine et Ochs look. 

Products Used: NYC Strip Me Off Base Coat, NYC In a Minute Nail Polish in 201 Fashion Safari, NYC In a Minute Nail Polish in 274 Rivington Red, NYC In a Minute Nail Polish in 202 Grand Central Station

Instead of a jewel-toned blue/green, I opted for a striking red. Here's how I did it: 

(1) Apply a base coat 

(2) Apply 2 coats of a nude polish 

(3) With a steady hand, use the corners of the brush tip to create square at the base of the nail 

(4) Apply a fast-drying topcoat to seal in the deal. 

It's a unique yet wearable and chic way to wear colour without going overboard. Super simple and easy to DIY at home without any tools, just your polishes. Will you be trying it out? 

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New York Color Cityproof 24HR Waterproof Eyeshadows in Brooklyn Mocha, Tribeca Taupe, New York at Night, Central Park Tulips & East River Romance and Primer

Color in your eyes with the new New York Color CityProof 24HR Primer and Waterproof Eyeshadows ($2.99 each). There's 12 shades, a variety of your everyday neutrals with some vibrant pops of colour like purple, blue, and green. While I like the user-friendly colour in your eyes and go concept, the packaging isn't of the highest quality. The clear plastic caps are ughhh and the purple crayon already broke. 

Pictured above are the New York Color Cityproof 24HR Primer and Waterproof Eyeshadow Crayons in 605 Brooklyn Mocha, 610 Tribeca Taupe, 635 New York at Night, 640 Central Park Tulips, 650 East River Romance. 

There's 12 shades in the line. Not pictured are 600 Wall Street Bronze, 615 5th Ave Gold Rush, 620 Murray Hill Champagne, 625 Rockefeller Center Snowflakes (White), 630 Empire State Building (Gray), 645 Long Island Blue, 655 Madison Square Park (Green).

The primer (far left) is like a flesh-toned NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil. It's similarly creamy and a touch less sticky. It's a good primer (enhances coloured shadows) but nothing noteworthy on the staying-power front. 

Blended

There's no doubt that the shadows are vibrant and pigmented. However, the important thing to note here is that they're not all consistent. The bronze, purple, and blue have some glitter running through them, which makes them drag on the lids and a bit harder to blend out than the taupe and black. The taupe is slightly creamier and easier to work with than the black due to the pigment. 

Across all 5 shades is creasing. These are by no means 24 hour wear. The colours set quickly on the lids but by the third or fourth hour, these cream eyeshadows begin to crease if you don't set with a powder. When set with a powder, the New York Color Cityproof Waterproof Eyeshadows pass the all-day-long test. 

Overall, nothing to write home about but for $2.99, Tribeca Taupe is a stellar neutral matte base. 

Have you seen these at your drugstore yet? 

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New York Color Expert Last Lip Color Mattes in Smooth Beige, Creamy Mauve, Pure Coral, Velvety Fuchsia & Red Suede

OUUU. AHHH. New matte drugstore lippies. The New York Color Expert Last Lip Colors ($1.99) are now available in 5 MATTE shades - Smooth Beige, Creamy Mauve, Pure Coral, Velvety Fuchsia, and Red Suede. All are pretty colours. But sadly, these are not matte. 

It's clear that there's a sheen to these lipsticks. I'd say the texture is more of a satin finish, not much different from the original New York Color Expert Last Lip Colors (reviewed here). Perhaps the shine is a tad less shiny and more opaque but hardly so. In general, the formula is the same for both products - comfortable wear for up to 4 hours, strong vanilla scent, and a slight drag on application. As per usual, the two lighter colours catch on to dry patches and I'm in love with the three most vibrant colors. 

448 Smooth Beige

449 Creamy Mauve

450 Pure Coral 

451 Velvety Fuchsia

452 Red Suede

Overall, the New York Color Expert Last Lip Colors are great budget lipstick buy. However, in the grand scheme of product quality, they are mediocre. The colours are pretty but not particularly unique and they are most certainly not as matte as I had hoped for them to be. 

Have you ever tried a matte lipstick that wasn't matte? 

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Demi Lovato x New York Color #NYCBeautyPro

Demi Lovato is New York Color's first ever brand ambassador. From Camp Rock to Glee, I love how she's developed from a fresh-faced Disney character into total bad-ass. Even in the make-up department, she experiments with bold lipsticks, bright eyeshadows, and wacky hair dyes. 

This month, I'm channeling a little Demi. Not to the full extent of her bad-assery but I'm a light, neutrals kinda girl and dark makeup with eyeliner all the way around my eyes is NOT my thing. So, this, if anything, is a step outside my comfort zone. 

With a New Year also comes new releases from New York Color for Spring 2015! Yay! Here's what I used in my look. 

// eyes

- New York Color City Proof 24HR Eye Primer ($2.99), all over the lid and up to the browbone

- New York Color City Proof 24HR Waterproof Eyeshadow in 610 Tribeca Taupe ($2.99), all over the lid to the crease and on the outer lower lash line 

- New York Color City Proof 24HR Waterproof Eyeshadow in 635 New York at Night ($2.99), blended along the upper lash line 

- New York Color City Proof 24HR Waterproof Eyeshadow in 605 Brooklyn Mocha ($2.99), on the inner corner

- New York Color Smokin' Hot Showtime Volume Mascara ($3.99)

- New York Color Velvet Eyeliner in 951 Black Velvet ($1.99)

// lips

- New York Color Expert Last Lip Color Matte in 452 Red Suede ($1.99)

// face

- New York Color Big Bold Bronzer in MetropoliTAN ($4.99)

The look is easy peasy (as are most of my looks). A black cream eyeshadow layered over a taupe, with a touch of added bronze sparkle in the inner corner. Add a bold red lip and somehow I feel like I'm channeling Demi Lovato. Excuse me while I throwback to some Camp Rock jams. THIS IS REAL, THIS IS ME // I'M EXACTLY WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO BE NOW // LET THE LIGHT SHINE ON ME. ALSO, reviews for the new NYC products coming very soon. 

Are you a fan of Demi? What's your favourite of her songs? 

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Revisiting the New York Color Expert Last Lipsticks

Previously reviewed was the New York Color Expert Last Lipstick ($1.99) in Purple Crush. There Expert Last Lipstick line includes 20 shades in the line, so here's a brief overview of three more - 442 Berry Me, 432 Red Rapture, and 444 Chocolate Chip. 

The New York Color Expert Last Lipsticks claim to be moisturizing, comfortable and long wearing up to 6 hours. 

The Good: There's no doubt that these are pretty colours - they're slightly shiny, not fully opaque and two layers is required for the level that I've swatched them on my lips (see below). Initially, with Purple crush, I had thought them to be one-coat-wonders, but I find that these shades need a bit more product for richer colour. They are comfortable on the lips and to wear up to 4 hours 

The Bad: Due to the sheeny finish, these are not particularly long-wearing. After four hours on the lips, they start to make my lips feel dry and the colour becomes patchy, rather than wearing off evenly. Also, they have a prominent sweet vanilla scent smell of which I am not particularly a fan 

442 Berry Me (pink-purple berry), 432 Red Rapture (classic red), 444 Chocolate Chip (brown-red) 

442 Berry Me

432 Red Rapture 

444 Chocolate Chip 

Overall, these are not my favourite formula of lipstsicks but they're great if you're looking for a budget buy or shopping for someone who is new to makeup. 

Have you tried the New York Color Expert Last Lipsticks? 

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New York Color High Definition Liquid Eyeliner in Extra Black

EYELINER MONDAY!! The New York Color High Definition Liquid ($3.99) is one of the least expensive liquid eyeliners at the drugstore. The liner claims to create precise lines, have rich colour, and be smudge-proof, and long-wearing for up to 10 hours.

Unfortunately, this eyeliner lives up to none of its claims. Perhaps I got a bad one...? The black is sheer and the watery formula bleeds into fine lines way more than what I can tolerate for a liquid liner. Although it is smudge-proof, it's very hard to create an intense line. Moreover, the lines that are created are not as precise as I had expected. Comparing the felt tip of the Annabelle Eye Ink, the shape of NYC High Definition Eyeliner's applicator is more chubby at the end. 

Skip this liner. Spend a couple extra dollars and grab a liner that's twice as great. If you prefer pencil liner over liquid, try the New York Color Waterproof Eyeliner Pencils, which are excellent. 

Have you tried the New York Color High Definition Liquid Eyeliner? 

Press sample featured. This is part of my eyeliner monday series - where I review a different eyeliner every...Monday. :) See more eyeliner reviews here. 

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New York Color Long Wearing Nail Enamel in 119 Black Lace Cream

Black cards. Black cars. All black everything. BLACK NAILS. In all honesty, I never got what was so amazing about wearing black nail polish. Something about it always seemed to dark and goth. So, first time in a long time (probably 6 or 7 years), I put on some black polish and was pleasantly surprised with the way it looked. While I don't love the way it looks over my nudes and pastels, it's a nice, dark change given the cooler weather. 

The New York Color Long Wearing Enamel in Black Lace Cream is an amazing black polish option. First and foremost, it's only ~$1 (and comes in 24 colours). It's also quite thin and opaque in two coats and dries fairly quickly. Lasting power is normal on my nails with chips after 2-3 days... but for $1, you can't really go wrong. Maybe it's this particular formula of polish that's making me love black a little more. 

Above I'm wearing the New York Color Long Wearing Nail Enamel in Black Lace Cream with stripes of the New York Color Matte Top Coat for some extra dimension. 

Do you like black nails? 

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Santa Holiday Nail Art

Nail art is the best form of final exam procrastination. I've taken all but 7 polishes back to Toronto, so luckily the colours that I've got at school are holiday-ready. My Tim Horton's sweater cup inspired nails used the same colours and tools (check it out here). Today's mani is a simple little Santa on an accent nail of your choosing. 

Products Used: Essie First Base, Essie Plumberry, NYC Black Cream Lace*, Quo by Orly Purity*, the Body Shop Nail Art Pen*, and Revlon Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat*

To create Santa Claus on your nails... 

1. Apply a base coat. 
2. Paint half of your nail white. 
3. Paint the 1/4 of your nail closest to the cuticle in red. 
4. Fill in the sides of the nails with white using a dotting tool. 
5. Make large dots along the red polish to create the rim of Santa's hat. 
6. Add two black dots in the un-polished area for Satna's eyes and one red dot in the centre of the large white area for his nose. 
7. Apply a top coat to seal in the deal. 

... Voila! and there you have it. Santa on your nails with three colours of polish and a dotting tool. So cute and relatively simple. 

What do you think of this nail art design? Will you give this one a shot? 

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New York Color Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in Sky High and Teal

Guess what? It's eyeliner Monday! During the month of September, I acquired the New York Color Waterproof Eyeliner Pencils in Sky High and Teal ($3.99) through the #NYCBeautyPro Program. The NYC Waterproof Eyeliner Pencils are available in 7 shades - black, dark brown, mink, smoked purple, moody blue, sky high, and teal  - and the product claims to have a waterproof, long-lasting formula. 

936A Sky High is a light blue with a subtle blue shimmers and 937A Teal is a forest green with yellow-gold glitter. Both liners are pretty colours but Teal kills it with its rich colour payoff and heavily-concentrated glitter (and it's a dead ringer for Shu Uemura's Drawing Pencil in ME green 51 except with more glitter) . These liners are soooooo creamy and easy to blend. Despite being super creamy, they set and stay in place all day without smudging in the slightest bit. 

Overall, the New York Color Waterproof Eyeliner Pencils are amazing! Plus.. for the price I'd be okay with letting go of a $5 bill to pick up Smoked Purple as the next addition to my eyeliner stash. 

Have you tried the New York color Waterproof Eyeliner Pencils? 

Press sample featured. This is part of my eyeliner monday series- where I review a different eyeliner every...Monday. :) See more eyeliner reviews here. 

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