Swatch Sunday: NYX Ultimate Ash

NYX Ultimate AshNYX keeps extending their range of Ultimate Shadow Palettes. This one is appropriately called Ash.

NYX Ultimate Ash
NYX Ultimate Ash

With a heavy focus on dark, grey and “dirty” tones, this Ash palette certainly fits its name sake!

NYX Ultimate Ash Swatches

NYX Ultimate Ash - Shade 1
NYX Ultimate Ash – Shade 1
NYX Ultimate Ash - Shade 2
NYX Ultimate Ash – Shade 2
NYX Ultimate Ash - Shade 3
NYX Ultimate Ash – Shade 3
NYX Ultimate Ash - Shade 4
NYX Ultimate Ash – Shade 4
NYX Ultimate Ash - Shade 5
NYX Ultimate Ash – Shade 5
NYX Ultimate Ash - Shade 6
NYX Ultimate Ash – Shade 6
NYX Ultimate Ash - Shade 7
NYX Ultimate Ash – Shade 7
NYX Ultimate Ash - Shade 8
NYX Ultimate Ash – Shade 8
NYX Ultimate Ash - Shade 9
NYX Ultimate Ash – Shade 9
NYX Ultimate Ash - Shade 10
NYX Ultimate Ash – Shade 10
NYX Ultimate Ash - Shade 11
NYX Ultimate Ash – Shade 11
NYX Ultimate Ash - Shade 12
NYX Ultimate Ash – Shade 12
NYX Ultimate Ash - Shade 13
NYX Ultimate Ash – Shade 13
NYX Ultimate Ash - Shade 14
NYX Ultimate Ash – Shade 14
NYX Ultimate Ash - Shade 15
NYX Ultimate Ash – Shade 15
NYX Ultimate Ash - Shade 16
NYX Ultimate Ash – Shade 16

The NYX Ultimate Shadow Palette in Ash can be purchased at shoppersdrugmart.ca for $21.49 CAD or on ulta.com for $18 USD.

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Too Faced Better Than Sex Eyeliner (Review & Swatches)

Too Faced Better Than Sex Eyeliner

Of all of the things I expected Too Faced to release, I have to admit this was not one I ever considered! Too Faced has extended their Better Than Sex range by adding in a liquid eyeliner pen – appropriately dubbed the “Better Than Sex Eyeliner“. And guess what? It’s NOT felt tip! Let us rejoice – this baby is a brush tip liquid liner!

Too Faced Better Than Sex Eyeliner
Too Faced Better Than Sex Eyeliner

I’ve mentioned before that felt tips aren’t really my jam when it comes to liquid liners. I find them difficult to work with and a bit rough against the skin. They never quite deposit colour the same way that a brush tip does. For me, a brush tip is more fluid and flexible, allowing for a more even application and precise lining of the eye. Almost all brush tip eyeliners are made in Japan (and sometimes called an artist brush), and the Too Faced Better Than Sex Eyeliner is no exception – this one is also made in Japan.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Eyeliner - with brush tip applicator!
Too Faced Better Than Sex Eyeliner – with brush tip applicator!

So far Too Faced has only released one colour – Deepest Black – and the packaging indicates to shake well before use. There’s something inside the packaging that helps to move around the product in order to keep it mixed and push it out to the nib end. I did find that application was a bit iffy to start. I wasn’t getting the greatest pigmentation right out of the gate even though I was shaking the pen vigorously. Over the course of a week, I did find that this eased up however, and had plenty of pigment right down to the base of the liner. So if you think yours isn’t putting out enough ink to begin with, don’t worry, it’ll happen.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Eyeliner - swatch
Too Faced Better Than Sex Eyeliner – swatch

The one thing I’m still desperately hunting for in a pen-style brush tip liquid liner is a matte formula. While the Too Faced Better Than Sex Eyeliner is very, very black… it’s still not a matte formula. So sadly, if you were hoping this was going to be truly matte, it’s not. It’s really heckin’ pigmented and black, but there is still a hint of a sheen to the product.

Wearing Too Faced Better Than Sexy Eyeliner
Wearing Too Faced Better Than Sexy Eyeliner

On the eyes I found that this performed absolutely identical to my Physicians Formula Eye Booster. Pigmentation was opaque, and it didn’t budge or smudge throughout my entire workday. It layered equally well on top of mattes as it did shimmery eyeshadows. I didn’t test out the full waterproof claim because I’m not ever going to go swimming with eyeliner on, but I did walk to work on a particularly misty, rainy day and had no adverse effects to my liner even though I was blinking away heavy mist in the air.

Final Thoughts

The Too Faced Better Than Sex Eyeliner is a fantastic product. I love that they’ve released a brush tip liquid liner that is reliable and easy to use. However, I’m still on the hunt for this kind of product but in a matte formula. I really, really hope that one day we get there because while I love the ease of use of these pen-style applicators, I am still longing for a matte liner again!

Update 2019/10/06 –  I would recommend that you stay away from this eyeliner. After using this for over a month, the bristle hairs started to splay out and it’s becoming harder and harder to get product out to the tip. I’ve tried cleaning it to no avail. It’s either drying up, or there’s an issue with the delivery system. Either way, for the price tag, you’re much better off getting the Physicians Formula Eye Booster.

The Too Faced Better Than Sex Eyeliner can be purchased on sephora.ca for $28 CAD or on sephora.com for $21 USD.

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Swatch Sunday: MAC Flameboyant

MAC Flameboyant

I went back and forth on whether or not I should pick up this MAC palette during the recent Sephora VIB saleSephora VIB sale… and clearly I pulled the trigger!

MAC Flameboyant
MAC Flameboyant

The MAC Art Library Flameboyant palette is even more beautiful in person that pictures online belie. I feel like every colour is so appropriate in this palette as it just looks like a perfectly cohesive palette.

MAC Flameboyant
MAC Flameboyant

And of course, since Flameboyant is red-based, I was pretty excited to see this palette from MAC. I’m planning on doing a full video review, but until then – please enjoy the swatches!

MAC Flameboyant Swatches

MAC - What's The Pointilism?
MAC – What’s The Pointilism?
MAC - Samoa Silk
MAC – Samoa Silk
MAC - Amber Lights
MAC – Amber Lights
MAC - La Vida Mocha
MAC – La Vida Mocha
MAC - Dada Issues
MAC – Dada Issues
MAC - Rule
MAC – Rule
MAC - Dali Wood
MAC – Dali Wood
MAC - Embark
MAC – Embark
MAC - Fan The Flames
MAC – Fan The Flames
MAC - Flameboyant
MAC – Flameboyant
MAC - Louvre At First Sight
MAC – Louvre At First Sight
MAC - Everyone's Darling
MAC – Everyone’s Darling

The MAC Artist Library Flameboyant palette can be purchased on sephora.ca for $57 CADsephora.ca for $57 CAD or on nordstrom.com for $48 USDnordstrom.com for $48 USD.

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