Product Spotlight: NYX Jumbo Pencils & Swatches!

       I was sharpening my NYX Jumbo Pencils and it hit me, I should do a blog about these little babies! Most of you who aren't obsessed about makeup, probably are wondering...Uh I've never heard of the makeup brand NYX, let alone their Jumbo Pencils. In my previous blog-torial (the favorite going out look) I mentioned the NYX Jumbo Pencil in black bean. I used it as the base for my black eye shadow.

      Well what are they?...They are these thick eyeliners that also double as a base for your eye shadows which work amazingly (especially the white one!) NYX frequently sells out of the white jumbo pencil, called "Milk". Milk is frequently recommended on Youtube amongst users as a product they can't live without as a eyeshadow base for any eyeshadow color they want to make brighter. Milk, specifically is a great inner corner color to make your corner pop too. :]

    They have a very creamy consistency and go on SUPER smoothly.  They cost about $5/each and can be found online at NYXcosmetics.com or at Ulta.

    To use as an eyeshadow base: apply one swipe and use your finger to blend to the desired area. Don't over blend or the color will disappear! Also, don't worry about it looking messy. It's a base! You're putting more color over it!

      I own 6 different colors: 604 Milk (Bright White), 601 Black Bean (True Black), 622 Yellow (Sunny Yellow), 621 Hot Pink, 623A Purple Velvet (Medium Dark Purple), and  611 Yogurt (Medium Sparkly Champagne color)

   If wearing bright colors isn't your cup of tea, I suggest you only pick up one pencil and that's the NYX Jumbo Pencil in MILK. It will boost even the least pigmented eyeshadow you have no matter what color it is. :]


SWATCHES!:

Have an amazing week!
Alleigh.

Review: CHI Ultra Tourmaline Ceramic Hairstyling Iron-Straightener

        I've been wanting a CHI straightener for the longest time and finally this Christmas, I decided to splurge and get one. Courtesy of Meghan and my mom, I was able to get the Ultra Chi Tourmaline Ceramic Straightener.  It's a sleek 1" red straightener. I purchased it at Ulta for $96.00. It's originally $149.95 but luckily Ulta almost ALWAYS has a CHI straightener on sale for about $100. The one I picked up also included a thermal/travel pouch to keep me from burning anything after I turn off because it gets SUPER hot!

       According to the box: "Tourmaline smooths hair and eliminates flyaways, heats more evenly than other materials keeping the damage to a minimum. It also creates negative ions and deposits them onto the hair for improved moisture."

       I like the glossy feel/look to the product and the cord is super long, just in case you're a bit far away from an outlet. There is only one button on it so it takes the guess work out of deciding how hot you should have it. There's also an LED light that lights up when you turn it on, and when it's ready to be used, the LED light blinks. With my old (cheap) straighteners, I never really knew when they were ready, so once again, this takes the guess work out of it.  For those of you who are wondering if it'll get hot enough...believe me. It gets very hot.

    This works ten times better than my drug store straighteners. I've tried both Bed Head & Conair straighteners and neither of could get my hair as pin straight and shiny as my new CHI straightener. My hair type is frizzy, flyaway, thick, color treated and a bit wavy. Not cute.

   The thing I like most about this straightener is that not only can it straighten your hair, but surprisingly enough it can curl it too! It takes a bit of practice, but it can be done (via help from tutorials on Youtube<3)!

PROS: Flash Heat Up, Multi-use tool, Makes my hair look shinier, simple design
CONS: A bit pricey



Overall: I give it 4 out of 5 stars :]
THUMBS UP FOR PIN STRAIGHT HAIR! <3

PS.
    Along with this straightener, (well along with any heat product) after using it I like to apply either CHI Silk Infusion or Biosilk's Silk Therapy to give my hair some extra shine and oil to help replenish moisture lost during styling. The CHI Silk Infusion smells a bit more like mans cologne and I'm not too big of a fan of the smell. Smells make it or break it for a product with me. The Biosilk Silk Therapy smells amazing and does the same job as the CHI Silk Infusion. I want to say the Biosilk is a bit cheaper than the CHI product.

Enjoy your new years guys,

Alleighkins <3

HOW TO: Easy Long Lasting Curls with just sponge curlers and NO HEAT!

      Ever wondered how you could get beautiful ringlet curls without heat and without a lot of work? I have found literally the perfect, least damaging way to get those beautiful ringlets and...THEY LAST! For this post, I'm going to fill you in on my secrets on how to get my perfect ringlets<3 I hope this helps!

These are larger and medium size sponge curlers.

    Heard of sponge curlers? Neither had I until I was given some by my mom. I decided to give them a try and after much practice I am like a pro when using them! You'll need to sleep on them, so no pain no gain!  They're not that uncomfortable to sleep in once you get use to them!

What you'll need:
Sponge Curlers (Available at ANY drugstore or beauty supply store)
Mousse (Any kind that works for your hair)
One night of sleep
Hairspray (Again, any kind that works for your hair)

How to curl your hair with sponge curlers:

Step 1: Shower and towel dry hair. Wait until your hair is about 80% dry and apply mousse. I use L'Oreal's Vive Pro Glossy Volume Mousse.

My favorite. Found at any drugstore!

Step 2: Put the top half (from the crown up) of hair up. You'll put that in curls last.
Step 3: I like to be organized, so I divide the sponge curlers into two equal amounts. Half of them you'll set to the side which will be for the hair you have put up in a clip/ponytail.
Step 4: Take 1" of hair (approx.)..(having the sponger curler unhooked) holding the piece of hair with your index and thumb of your left hand, hold the curler above or below the sponge curler (doesn't matter) and start to roll it around the curler, just like a regular hot roller.
Step 5: Once you get as far as you want it rolled up, clip the sponge clip thingy.
Step 6: Repeat.
Step 7: Once you're done with the bottom half of your hair, unclip/untie the top part of your hair you first put up, and put that up in sponge rollers too!
Step 8: Sleep.
Step 9: When you wake up in the morning, it doesn't really matter what order you undo them, but I find it is easiest to start at the bottom and work your way up.
Step 10: Do a bit of fluffing with your hair depending on how defined or big you want your hair to be. 
Step 11: You want it to last? Spray generous amounts of hairspray. :] I use Big Sexy Hair: Spray and Play Harder Voluminizing Hair Spray.

<3

Step 12: Optional! Add any hair accessory like a head band or flower to help accentuate your beautiful curls!

Cute in curly hair. :] See?

Add a pretty headband that sparkles and shines. This headband is from Forever 21...for $5.00

Hello Kitty Hair Bows from Claire's. CUTE!