NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream - Ibiza |Review & Swatches|

Hello Beautiful!

I have to say this right now, I love how these smell! But is there more to it? I have reviewed a shade Zurich in this line before, but does Ibiza hold the same impression for me? Read on to find out.

What NYX says:

My Thoughts:

Packaging: It comes in a plastic bottle with a black cap that has a matte finish. The color of the bottle represents the color of the actual product. It is quite sturdy and travel friendly and the cap screws shut nice and tight. It has a doe foot applicator which is soft on the lips. I don't find it scratchy. The name of the shade is mentioned at the bottom. 

Color: Described as a "deep rose pink", on my lips it truly is a deep and bright rose pink. I love to pair it up with otherwise minimal makeup.

Scent: As mentioned before, I love love how this smells. Like a sweet Vanilla icing -YUM!

Formula & Application: With all the Liquid Lipsticks pouring in from every cosmetic brand on this planet, the only reason I'm not really big on them is because how dry they feel on the lips! I absolutely hate that feeling but with these the experience is totally opposite.

The formula is creamy and mousse like and goes on quite smooth on my lips. I'd recommend exfoliating and moisturizing your lips prior to application anyway. Unlike Zurich, this one isn't patchy at all and the applicator applies it smooth and not streaky. 

It applies opaque on the first application but i like to go over it once again sometimes before it sets.

The product sets to a smooth matte on the lips without drying them. I like how light and moisturizing it is on the lips and doesn't transfer after it sets.

Lasting Power: The longest it wore on me was for 4 hours until it started fading from um where my lips touch. The good thing is that it doesn't crack or crumble. 

Overall I really like this formula and the color and for that it gets a 5 on 5!

I bought this from NYX website for $6. Unfortunately they don't ship to Pakistan but you can buy it from Zensky, Endulgence, Amor and several other Facebook pages selling authentic cosmetics. It is also available at Just4Girls and Reforma.pk

I'd love to know your experience with these and if you have any favorite shades from this range.

Until next time, Good luck and Ciao!

5 Things To Buy at The Launch of e.l.f Cosmetics in Pakistan!

Hello Beautiful!

Yes yes, you read that right! Our favorite e.l.f is all set to launch in Pakistan at www.elfcosmetics.pk and they will be offering a 15% discount for their launch promotion on 5th & 6th of August. You can avail it by using Elf15 at checkout. Isn't it wonderful? Well then, what must you get to avail this wonderful offer? Let me help you with that ;)

Here are the 5 things you must buy at the launch promotion!


1. Contour Palette.

This is the only palette you will need to sculpt, bronze, highlight and brighten your face, The powders are soft, pigmented and blends seamlessly. The palette offers a warm bronzing shade, a neutral toned contour powder, a yellow toned powder to set and brighten the under-eye area and a subtle highlighting powder. This is one contour palette that you would love to travel with!

2. Under-Eye Setting Powder.

Want to achieve that bright, crease-less under-eye area without caking it up? Then set your under-eye concealer with this powder, which is so finely milled and gives the most smooth velvety finish and instantly brightens the area. If you've been wanting an inexpensive alternative to Laura Mercier - Secret Brightening Powder, then I highly recommend you get this!

3. Baked Highlighter - Blush Gems.

If there is one highlighter you need to get from e.l.f, it's this! The pigmentation is incredible and the baked product is soft and not powdery or patchy at all, that gives the most beautiful glow without any visible chunks of glitter. It's also known to be a dupe of MAC Soft and Gentle. You can read my full review on this beautiful highlighter, along with swatches, here.

4. Matte Lip Color - Rich Red.

Do you love a good matte lipstick? Well then you have to check this one out! I am in love with the formula! Creamy, glides on smoothly and isn't patchy at all! The pigmentation is incredible and so is the staying power. Also I love how easy it is to apply because of it's marker like packaging. This particular color, Rich Red, is one of my favorite shade of Red! 

5. Poreless Face Primer.

One of my absolute favorite primer!! Unlike other primers claiming to be poreless when in fact they do nothing, this one does! I use it on my mum and it really does fill and blur her otherwise large pores. I make sure I use it under my foundation when I really want my makeup to last for a long time because this one is pretty good at keeping my makeup intact. I've noticed that my foundation goes on and blends more smoothly with this underneath.

As much as I can go on and on about all the products that are definitely must-haves from e.l.f., these are the ones on the top of that list. So set your reminders for 5th and 6th August because now you know what you must do to avail the amazing 15% discount. Don't forget to enter the code Elf15 at the checkout and remember to share you hauls with me by using the hashtag #gulezehrasblog! 

Until next time, Good Luck & Ciao!

A Haul Post Posted Late!

Hello Beautiful!

I have been super super late in posting this haul! So much that I have already started using some of the products for over a month now! So I'll just go ahead and quickly mention the products I got on a trip to Naheed Super Market one fine day!

What I Hauled:

a) Colour Studio Professional - Pro Matte Lipstick - Raven.

b) Colour Studio Professional - HAUTE Nail Paint - OMG.

c) Maybelline - Color Drama - Berry Much.

d) Maybelline - Color Sensational Lipstick - Lady Red.

e) Maybelline - Baby Lips Electro - Strike A Rose.

f) Maybelline - The Rocket Volum'Express Mascarra.

Raven is the first lipstick I bought from the Colour Studio Pro Matt range, it was included in my My favorite Lipsticks for Winter and I also used it for a Valentine makeup look. Berry much was also included in My favorite Lipsticks for Winter. 

Maybelline The Rocket is a re-purchase, I'm in love with this Mascara and have reviewed it which you can read here. I've been looking for a Red Lipstick and I bought this Lady Red immediately! That glitter nail polih caught my eye and I just could leave without it!

What did you haul recently? 

Until next time, Good Luck and Ciao!

Morphe Brushes Individual Eyeshadows - Caramelized, Creme Brule, B.A.M & I Got The Blues

Hello Beautiful!

Morphe Brushes are all the hype these days! From their individual eye shadow pans to the eyeshadow palettes and makeup tools! Their 35O Palette is all the rage now that gets out of stock as soon as it comes and that only makes people want it more!  Also Jaclyn Hill collaborated with Morphe recently for a Limited Edition Palette consisting of her favorites. So to try this brand I got their Individual Eyeshadow Pans and Makeup Brushes (which you can see here). I had enough time to put the eyeshadows to test and use them and finally I'm ready to present a thorough review. I'll review the brushes in a separate post.

The Individual Eyeshadows have 80 colors that range from neutrals to bold and vibrant colors and from mattes to satin and shimmers. A Z-palette can be bought separately to make a custom palette. Out of all the colors I got two nude brown shades and two vibrant colors.

The Packaging:
Each pan is enclosed in a black card envelope with a little cushion ring inside to provide more grip and safety to the eyeshadow pan. I have yet to buy a Z-Palette but the pans are safe in the envelope. I have traveled with them too. It is a hassle of course, without the Z-Palette where you just open the lid and all the eyeshadows are displayed, ready to be used but in terms of its envelope packaging, it's pretty safe.

Caramelized ES15: (Matte)

Caramelized is a pretty warm brown color. It is my Holy Grail Crease/Transition color! I have been looking for a warm brown that'll pair up with almost all warm eye looks and this is what I'm in love with. It's definitely my most used eyeshadow.
The formula is smooth, blends like a dream and has incredible pigmentation. Also, the color is buildable. I have used this as a crease color in all these makeup looks : EOTD, MOTD, MOTD1

Creme Brule ES63: (Matte)

Creme Brule is a cool-toned brown, almost a grey brown color. It pairs up beautifully with Caramelized. I mostly use it on the outer corners of my eyes but it also looks great all over the lid blended with Caramelized in the crease for the subtle brown smokey eye. The eyeshadow itself is soft and buttery and blends beautifully. The pigmentation is great and it's buildable. It also is great for smoking out the lower lash line. You can see it used here and here. 

B.A.M ES41: (Matte)

Described as a Teal, it is a pretty vibrant sea green color which looks beautiful layered over a white, blue and green base. The formula is soft, not at all chalky or patchy and it blends beautifully. Also the pigmentation is ah-mazing and the color is buildable. I have mostly used it layered over a sea green eyeliner for a pop of color as you can see here.

I Got The Blues ES44: (Matte)

A deep royal blue with a matte finish. This shade looks beautiful and deeper on a black base. The swatch here looks a tad brighter than the actual color. It's a beautiful color for a blue smokey eye or a pop of color on a more neutral eye look specially smudged on the lower lash line. The pigmentation is great although this color needs some building up to reach that full opaqueness and intensity, otherwise the formula is buttery and blends smoothly.

You should read my Morphe Brushes Haul post (here) for how I got it because Morphe Brushes do not ship to Pakistan unfortunately. These are priced at $2.29 a pop which is a steal for the smooth pigmented blend-able formula! I love love the quality of these and would definitely be getting more! I'm keen on trying the satin and shimmery shades now because I'm impressed with the mattes and I'm so tempted to get the bright colorful eyeshadow palette that they just came out with! It's the 12P Picasso Palette and it's so vibrant; oh and not to forget the 35O Palette! It's hyped for a reason, a treat for warm tone lovers! Well, here are more swatches for Caramelized, Creme brule, B.A.M and I Got The Blues.

I have nothing bad to say about these, right from the packaging, the pricing to the quality and pigmentation -it's amazing! Just that I wish they shipped worldwide! So, it's definitely a 5 on a 5 for these from me.

So have you tried any of the Morphe Eyeshadows either these pans or the palettes? Let me know if you like them and if you have any recommendations for me, i'd love to know your thoughts on them. Also if you want me to review anything from my hauls (which you can see here) please let me know and I'd love to oblige (:

Until next time, Good Luck and Ciao!

_______________________________________________________

Previous Reviews and Swatches:

a) E.L.F Baked Highlighters

b) Maybelline Color Sensational Stripped Nudes - Coffee Craze

c) Masarrat Misbah Makeup

Please follow me for more reviews <3

Lipsticks for Fall 2015

Hello beautiful!

Although it's hot outside where I live but I have been reading a lot of Fall related posts recently. So I decided to look up lipsticks perfect for this Fall/Autumn. After searching and researching, looking at swatches, reviews and comparing them I settled on these five lipstick I feel are perfect for Fall this year specially keeping in mind the Pantone Color of the Year 2015 "Marsala". Fall, I feel, is the perfect time to incorporate Marsala in our beauty and wardrobe. 

So let me just share the Lipsticks I feel are perfect for this Fall and definitely a nice way to get me out of my comfort zone of nudes and corals.

1. Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Glam Plum Fulham:

          Glam Plum Fulham is such a pretty berry color that suits all skin tones and look incredibly beautiful specially in Autumn. I feel a good berry lipstick is a staple for Fall and Rimmel Glam Plum Fulham is exactly that.

Rimmel Glam Plum Fullham Arm Swatch

(http://www.fleurdeforce.com)

Rimmel Glam Plum Fullham Lip Swatch

(http://www.fleurdeforce.com)

2. YSL Rouge Volupte Shine - Fuchsia In Grunge No. 35: 

          Looks like a dirty plum in the bullet but YSL Fuchsia In Grunge is more of a mavey pink with plum undertones. Rouge Volupte Shine is always a treat for the lips - so smooth and hydrating! Perfect for Fall when our lips tend to dry. Like all the Rouge Volupte Shine lipsticks, it has a glossy finish and is sheer on the first application. This one in particular also has very subtle sparkle that doesn't look chunky or patchy at all, they aren't very noticeable anyway. The perfect for Fall for its plum undertones and perfect for people who like to keep it nice and subtle in Fall or don't want a very in-your-face plum color.

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine - Fuchsia In Grunge

Arm Swatch

(www.beautyisles.com)

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine - Fuchsia In Grunge

Lip Swatch

(www.beautyisles.com)

3. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick - Bond Girl :

          I always try to say the names of Charlotte Tilbury's products in her accent; her accent is beautiful! This lipstick is a beautiful warm toned berry color with brown undertones and has a semi-matte finish but very comfortable on the lips. Appears a dark brownish berry on fair skinned gals but a very pretty nude berry color on dark skinned beauties! If you're ready to splurge then Charlotte Tilbury's Bond Girl is the way to go for this Fall! It's a treat for Autumn, the Marsala theme and your lips.

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick - Bond Girl

Lip Swatch

(www.theprettywolf.blogspot.com)

4. Colour Pop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick - Avenue :

          Colour Pop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks are all the rage right now! They set down to a super matte finish and are very pigmented - all that with a very small price tag! They've been a hit as soon as they came out. Out of all the shades (which they have a lot of, even blues and greens) I found Avenue to be perfect for this Fall and the Marsala theme. It's an almost muted medium-dark burgundy with cool undertones, although it is described as a "deep yellow red". It'll look beautiful in the Fall for it's pretty burgundy color.

Colour Pop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick - Avenue

Arm Swatch

(www.temptalia.com)

Colour Pop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick - Avenue

Lip Swatch

(www.temptalia.com)

5. Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Mattes - Divine Wine :

          Maybelline is one of my favourite brand for lipsticks, they have the best formula for lipsticks in my opinion. Their creamy mattes are well, creamy mattes. Their matte but not super matte, more like a satin finish and are creamy and comfortable on the lips.

Divine Wine is a deep dark burgundy with warm reddish-brown undertones -perfect for Fall and the Marsala theme. It's the perfect Burgundy for this Fall without being vampy. This with thick voluminous lashes and deep-peachy cheeks and you're good to go - fresh and perfect for the Autumn!

Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Mattes - Divine Wine

Arm Swatch

(www.temptalia.com)

Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Mattes - Divine Wine

Lip Swatch

(www.temptalia.com)

Although it's still very much summer where I live, I couldn't help but get all excited for Fall with the amount of Autumn related trends I've been looking up, after all Fall and Spring are my favorite seasons! I hope this post helped you decide on your favorite lipstick for the coming season. Let me know what's your favorite from my selection and your own favorite too. Any must-have lipstick for you lovelies for Autumn? Well then be sure to share with me down below!

Oh and let me know what to name the category for all such related posts? Um 'Beauty & Fashion Trends' or something else? Well, let me know!

Until next time, Good Luck and Ciao! 

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the website link(s) provided in this post and do not earn or get anything in anyway if you click on or use the links.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream - Zurich

Hi there beautiful, (:

I got this along with some other products from NYX that I haul, I'll share the complete haul in an later post. Since out of all products I started using this first and have been using it more than the others I decided to finally review it.
There are a total of 21 shades in the Soft Matte Lip Cream line and they are all gorgeous!

I got 3 shades out of these and I'm gonna review and share swatches with you for Zurich.

What does NYX says?

I decided I'll mention the ingredients too.

My Thoughts:

These Lip Creams come in a plastic bottle with a smooth matte (I love how it feels) black cap and has a doe-foot applicator. The packaging is sturdy and travel friendly as the plastic is not that squeezy type but hard and sturdy. The shade is mentioned on the bottom of the bottle.

Zurich is a pretty peachy nude color. The formula definitely is buttery soft that dries down to a matte that is not drying on the lips, I find it a comfortable matte to wear but it doesn't go on smoothly, at least on my lips. The pigmentation is good but I'm honestly just meh about it wearing this on its own because I need to apply at east two coats to make it smooth and opaque. I tend to smooth it out with the pad of my ring finger because I feel the applicator makes it streaky. Am I being to critical? Well maybe but that's just how I feel with this particular color. I advise you to exfoliate and moisturize your lips before applying it because it tends to dry and look patchy and flaky if I apply it to my lips when they're dry and not exfoliated.

I really really like the color, I just do not like how it applies on my lips with the applicator. Also when I apply more than one coat in an attempt to smooth it and get the right pigmentation it dries down and look a little patchy.

I like to pair it with dramatic eyes and when I'm not wearing any makeup I smooth it down on my lips lightly with my finger, that gives a healthy look to my lips. Another way I have been wearing it a lot lately is to combine it with my Maybelline Coffee Craze. I'll share this combination too after reviewing and swatching Maybelline Coffee Craze.

Do you see that patchy-crusty area in the inner rim of my lips?

Well that was it on Zurich, I really like the color, I love to mix it in with my other lipsticks but not a fan of how it applies with the applicator and how it looks on my lips.

I hope this was helpful for you.

I'll rate Zurich a 3.5 on 5.

I got this for $6 from the NYX website. NYX does not deliver to Pakistan though.

Let me know how you find Zurich if you own one. I would love to read from you (:

Until next time, Good Luck and Ciao! (: