Pro Pencil VS. Wonder Pencil

Hey y’all! I hope everyone has had a great few weeks, I know I have 😊. I wanted to post about a product a recently purchased: NYX Cosmetics Wonder Pencil. I bought it a week or so ago at Ulta because I was also getting three NYX HD Concealers and had to choose a fourth product to take full advantage of the buy one get one half off deal they had going on. I had read somewhere that the Wonder Pencil is very similar to the Anastasia Beverly Hills Pro Pencil, which I already use. Over the course of a few days I alternated between the two pencils and found that they are actually VERY much alike.  

 

First the Pro Pencil. We all know ABH has amazing products. This pencil doesn’t fail you. It’s $18.00 and most likely you’ll also want to purchase the ABH sharpener to go along with it. The sharpener is $6.00 and perfectly fits all of the different sized ABH pencil products. It’s also recommended to use the #20 Straight Cut Brow Brush ($18.00) with this product. My local Ulta is always out of this brush so I don’t actually own it but I do use a similar one made by e.l.f. until I get around to ordering one or finding one in store! 

As for the specific uses of this pencil it has the capabilities to replace five different beauty products. Concealer, eyeshadow primer, highlighter, lip liner, and brow fixing. I have tried using it for each of these things but mainly stick with the under brow lining and outer lip lining. I wasn’t pleased with the way it concealed because of my skin, but I could see how it would work well for someone with oily or normal skin. It does blend out super easily but can feel very heavy. 

It comes in two different shades, either Base 1 or Base 2. Being that there are only these two options it doesn’t leave much of a choice for all different skin tones or complexions. 

ABH Pro Pencil in Base 2

I really probably should use Base 1, and I’m not sure what made me choose Base 2.  It still blends out well and serves its purpose 😊. 

Now the Wonder Pencil. I personally love each and every product I have purchased from NYX Cosmetics. And we can add this to the list! It’s $4.49 and if you shop regularly at Ulta you usually will find that the NYX products are on sale and if you have a coupon you can use it also! 

This pencil potentially conquers three different makeup needs. Lining, concealing, and brightening.  I have used this pencil as an outer lip liner and a brow definer. It perfectly edges out your brows and will blend flawlessly. I use the same e.l.f. brush with this product. 

It comes in three different tones. Light, medium, and deep. I feel like this gives more of a selection to people with different skin tones and complexions as compared to the Pro Pencil only having the two yellow toned options. 

NYX Cosmetics Wonder Pencil in Light

I use the light tone and it leaves a very natural finish. It’s my favorite to use around my lips to prevent bleeding or feathering and to fix any imperfections around my brows. 

Which would I choose again? Hands down I would choose the Wonder Pencil. It blends out better and less heavily and also I love the fact that it isn’t a huge chunky pencil but a small standard sized pencil. Being smaller it allows more precision which is super important when it comes to lips and brows. And not just for me personally but for other makeup wearers also I would suggest the Wonder Pencil over the Pro Pencil. You have more color options and it’s also perfect if you’re on a budget!

Although both products have proved useful to me I do favor one over the other. I suppose these two pencils could fall into the dupe catagory because they’re more similar than different. Have you tried these products? Which one would you buy again? Or is there another similar product you like even better? 

Bye 😘

Obsessed: Jeffree Star Cosmetics

Hey there everyone! Hope you’ve had a great weekend 😊 I haven’t posted in several days because I have been super busy moving into a new apartment! But I wanted to share something on my blog that I am beyond obsessed with, the Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipsticks. If you’ve tried these I’m sure you’re just as pleased as I am, and if you haven’t you should wait by the computer and order them all as soon as they are back in stock! 

The creator of the brand, Jeffree Star, is a genius that has seemingly captured lippie perfection! 

  There are currently eight different shades available and there is talk of a ninth shade to be released this summer. The shades in the photo above are from left to right : Redrum, I’m Royalty, Prom Night, Celebrity Skin, Unicorn Blood, Weirdo, Queen Supreme, and 714. 

Each lipstick is $18.00, but there were bundles of three available at certain points for $45.00 (if I remember correctly).  But either way in comparison to other lip products, both high end and drugstore brands, I do feel like these are worth every penny! 

I also apologize ahead of time for the lengthy post and the awful lighting in my swatches 😕



Redrum



I’m Royalty



Prom Night

These three shades were the first released and I purchased them in a bundle.  I tried I’m Royalty first. I couldn’t get over just how beautiful the purple shade is, and how complimenting it is on so many skin tones and complexions. It lasted so well all day and without lip liner or lip primer. I found that my lips didn’t dry out, and I could eat, drink, kiss, and lick my lips without removing or smudging any of the product! As the week went on I tried both Prom Night and Redrum and learned that they also did not disappoint. Prom Night is the prettiest neon pink you’ll find, and will be such a gorgeous summer shade. If you’ve been on the hunt for the best pigmented, and rich RED, Redrum is what you’ve been dreaming of. It stops traffic I swear. 



Celebrity Skin



Unicorn Blood

These two shades were the next released and I ordered both of them at the same time. They became available to order online at  midnight PST so I waited up until 2 AM (CST) to order them, and thankfully I did because they sold out in just a matter of hours! 

Celebrity Skin is the perfect “mocha nude” I would say.  And I actually, more often than not, wear this for an everyday look. Unicorn Blood is such a beautiful deep red, and is everything Elvira would want in a lipstick. 



Weirdo

This shade was released all on its own and is actually the first black lipstick I’ve ever purchased.  When I picked the package up from the post office I was in the process of unpacking boxes from my storage unit and bringing them into my new apartment so I never had the chance to actually wear the color on my lips. But I did put a swatch of it on the top of my hand and it stayed there the entire day as I was cleaning, dusting, unpacking and moving furniture. It wasn’t until I showered that night that it scrubbed off. The wear on these lipsticks is so long-lasting and makes them, in my opinion, some of the best on the market. 



Queen Supreme



714

These are the two latest shades and were released as limited edition. I believe I read Queen Supreme would be made a permanent shade, but I could be wrong.  It would be perfect if it were made permanent though 😍  It is the prettiest spring pink, with the slightest lavender tint. 714  was named after the Orange County area code. I can’t decide if it’s a orange coral, or a pink coral. But I have decided that it’s also a perfect spring color. 

I am absolutely in love with these products! Pictures do not do these lipsticks justice. Although I have still purchased other lip products from other brands I am constantly comparing them to these liquid lipsticks. I feel like these are hands down the best. The long lasting wear, the smooth application, and the matte realness is just PERFECT. I am wishing and hoping that the  Jeffree Star Cosmetics line eventually broadens and has even more to offer. And with Jeffree in the drivers seat I can only imagine the domination. 

Have you tried these products? I can’t say I recommend them enough! If you’re a lipstick person, try them out. I don’t think you’ll find any disappointment. 😊

And please feel free to follow my Instagram account by clicking the link at the bottom or searching @beautycin91 I have some makeup looks  featuring some of these lipsticks posted there! Thanks! 😚

Dry Skin Go-To Primers

Confession: I have super dry, red, sometimes itchy and occasionally bumpy skin. 

Personally I have a very pale complexion. But along with it I’ve got super red and dry patches all over. Some days are worse than others, and the weather or climate does make a difference, but most days it is just without a doubt DRY. Now I have found several masks, moisturizers, and serums that work well but today I wanted to share the primers that are my current faves. These primers may not be for everyone, but I have found that I like them for my skin. Although I’m always open to new products and suggestions these two products are what I currently use. 



Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum 

This is a miracle product! When I was looking to order this on the Sephora website (because my Sephora doesn’t carry Hourglass products in store) the 1 oz. as well as the 0.30 oz. bottle were sold out. I believe now the 1 oz. bottle is in stock. But I ended up purchasing the Best of Hourglass Set because it included a 0.16 oz bottle of the No. 28 Primer Serum. 

Now the serum is infused with a combination of 28 different vitamins and oils that make it so super hydrating. Some of the essential oils include lemon,  eucalyptus and rose geranium along with vitamins A, B5, C, and E; just to mention a few.  

This is a product I go to on days that my skin is just ridiculously dry, and needs all the help it can get. A little bit does go a long way and you’ll find that the scent of the serum is amazing. It’s obviously applied before your makeup, but after your moisturizer (if you’re using one). I like to apply it and then let it sit for a few minutes so it can properly absorb into my skin.  Now I feel as though you could still use another foundation primer in combination with this after you’ve applied it, if you feel like you need to.  

I do highly suggest this product of you have dry skin issues. It feels, and smells wonderful , and definitely makes foundation application much smoother.  It’s a bit on the pricey side at $22.00 for the smaller bottle and $65.00 for the larger one. The set I purchased was $59.00 and also included three other Hourglass products. It can either be purchased through Sephora or the Hourglass Cosmetics website. I feel it’s a great product that’s definitely worth the buy!



Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer 

Smashbox is a great line of products and their primers don’t let you down. They offer several different variations to choose from based on your skin needs. I was at first using the color correcting one but switched to the hydrating one because I found my skin was more dry than it was red.  It comes in a 1 oz. tube and is blue in color. I believe you may be able to find a travel size at Ulta or Sephora but I’m unsure. The standard size is $42.00 and lasts quite a long time. 

The texture is very wet and “lotion like” but applies very smoothly in a super lightweight layer. I use this product under my makeup for either a natural makeup look, or full-coverage.  You do have to let it dry before applying your foundation, BB or CC cream over it or it will make the makeup spread out in a weird way and the results aren’t too desirable.  

I have tried other “hydrating” primers and have found that this one has been my favorite. I do intend on trying the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer-Hydrating because I have heard really good things about it. If any one has tried it for their dry skin please let me know how you like it! 

I do suggest these two products for dry skin and if you try them please let me know whether or not you like them as much as I do!