Review: Nyx Soft Matte Lip Creams in San Paulo and Cannes

Purchased by Me

In anticipation of the big Nyx Cyber Monday Sale (details of which Nyx has yet to reveal as of the time of this post), I thought that you might like to see a review of some Nyx lip colors that I've been loving lately. You know, just in case there's a fantastic deal on these come Monday!

I purchased these two shades about three months ago--I can't remember if I got them at Ulta or Target but I know it was one of those retailers, and I think CVS has these in-store too (but don't quote me on that).

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams

(retail: $6 each, 0.27 oz)

The Soft Matte Lip Creams are certainly not new. They debuted in 2011 and they're so popular that Nyx released a whole new set of shades earlier this year (there are now 22 shades total in the range). San Paulo and Cannes are two of the original shades released in 2011.

Review: Rimmel VolumeFlash ScandalEyes Mascara in Black

Continuing my review of the Rimmel London items I received recently, today I'd like to share my thoughts with you about this mascara:

Rimmel VolumeFlash ScandalEyes Mascara in 001 Black

(retail: around $6.50, 0.41 oz)

VolumeFlash ScandalEyes Mascara first hit drugstore shelves here in the US last December. I'm sure some  of you have tried it by now but, in case you haven't, let's take a closer look!

Keep reading for my full review...

Swatches: Pure Ice Gossip! + Pure Ice Crackle Jetsetter

I've been using Pure Ice polishes for a very long time now, and I'm pretty sure many of you have as well. Back in the summer of 2011,  Pure Ice added a Crackle collection to their line-up (click here to see the display at Walgreens), and I finally got to give one a test drive (in addition to the hot pink creme Gossip!) so I'd love to share some swatches with you.

Left: Pure Ice Gossip! 

(retail: $1.99, 0.5 oz)

Right: Pure Ice Crackle Jetsetter

(retail: $3.99, 0.5 oz)

Per the Bari website, Pure Ice polishes are not tested on animals and are Big Three Free.

Review: Maybelline Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balms SPF20

I've had my eye on Maybelline Baby Lips lip balms for months now, so I was thrilled to receive all six shades for review recently. I have been testing these out for a few weeks and I'd love to share my thoughts with you in case you have yet to try these yourself.

Maybelline Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm SPF20

(retail: around $3.50 each, 0.15 oz)

Fun with the Salon Express Nail Stamping Kit

I had some extra time on my hands recently when my computer was in the shop, so what better way to spend some down-time than by playing around with my little $9.99 nail stamping kit, right?

If you missed my original review of the As Seen On TV Salon Express Nail Stamping Kit (available at most major drugstores as well as Sally Beauty), you can see my detailed review, with tips and hints, here.

If you're looking for a last-minute stocking-stuffer for the nail polish or beauty fanatic in your life, I can't recommend this kit enough. Like I said in my original review, it takes some time and practice, but once you get it down, the possibilities are endless and it's just so much fun. This little kit has made me a complete nail stamping convert. I had literally never tried nail stamping before I bought this kit (I was so afraid!) but now I'm kind of addicted to it.

For this first look, I used the following two polishes:

Sally Hansen Color Quick Nail Polish Pen in Green Chrome

Sinful Colors Seaweed

Review: Bodycology Enchanted Forest Body Cream & Shower Gel (and a special holiday promotion)

Before I get into this review of the newest scent from Bodycology, I want to share a fun promotion that just hit my in-box:

Click here to print your $1 off Bodycology coupon.

Since Enchanted Forest, the newest scent from Bodycology, is featured in this promotion, it's perfect timing that I have actually been testing out the Enchanted Forest Body Cream and Shower Gel for the past few weeks now.

Method Holiday 2011 Collection - now at Target

I spotted the Method Holiday 2011 Collection on an end-cap at my local Target recently, so I asked my contact at Method for more info and now I can share with you all the details!

All of the following Method Holiday 2011 products can be found at Target and retail for under $10. 

• premium fragrances with natural essential oils
• naturally derived and biodegradable
• triclosan-free
• never tested on animals
• recyclable packaging made with 100% (PCR) recycled plastic

 Candy Cane pump dish wash liquid, Candy Cane gel hand wash and

Cinnamon Drop foaming hand wash

Spotted: new (and repromoted) Revlon nail polishes

This post is entirely a group effort between several amazing readers. First of all, a few of you took time to leave comments recently about this new display, which I want to thank you for since it's been on my radar ever since. Unfortunately, I haven't yet found this display in my area, but then reader Veronika emailed me and told me that she spotted this display at her local Harmon Discount and that, after careful examination, she spotted shades that were repromotes of previous limited edition polishes. Thanks so much for that info, Veronika!

And THEN, reader Chele spotted the display at her local Walgreens and shared some amazing pics.

image credit for all of the following photos: Chele for Nouveau Cheap

VERY EXCITING drugstore sightings!

I am so excited to share these drugstore (and Ross) sightings with you that I can barely type right now! So let's not waste any time:

Back in October when I first saw The Varnish Clique's post about the new Essie shade Shine Of The Times (the Sally Hansen Hidden Treasure dupe!), I started counting the days until the Luxeffects collection was spotted in drugstores. Well, that time has come because the lovely Joyce just tweeted me a pic of Essie Luxeffects which she spotted at her local Walgreens!

Review: Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips

Over the past year or so, I've probably mentioned Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips dozens of times on this blog. I've been obsessed with their designs (especially the limited edition holiday designs) and  I honestly don't know why it's taken me this long to actually try them. The only thing I can think of is that I'm more of a nail polish person, but thankfully I was sent two designs from the core collection for review recently, so I finally got a chance to put these to the test and see exactly why so many of you love this product.

  Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips in Laced Up (left) and Kitty Kitty (right)

(retail: $9.99 each)

More info about the Suave Limited Edition Holiday Body Washes

 Suave Limited Edition Holiday Body Wash Collection

(retail: $1.99 each, 18 oz)

If you saw my initial post about this year's limited edition holiday body washes from Suave, then you know that this is one of my favorite collections of the holiday season. I look forward to them every year, and this year's fragrances are the same as last year's (I highly recommend Peppermint Bliss if you like Bath & Body Works Twisted Peppermint). 

I wanted to give you some additional information about this collection in case you're on the hunt for these:

Spotted: New Kiss Nail Dresses and Brow and Lash Serums

Last week, the lovely Mimi of Makeup Withdrawal sent me a tweet about the new Kiss Nail Dress collection. I knew that Broadway Nails (sister brand of Kiss) came out with Nail Dresses almost exactly one year ago to date (click here to see my tutorial/review) but Mimi said these were different, and that some of them had different designs for each nail. Well I was absolutely intrigued and started my drugstore search for them, to no avail.

But then this week reader Melissa spotted the display at her local Duane Reade (they're also popping up at Walgreens according to some of you) and was kind enough to share.  Thanks so much, Melissa!

If you're like me and haven't spotted these in your area yet, here you go:

image credit: Melissa for Nouveau Cheap

Spotted: New L'Oreal Color Riche Holiday Nail Color Collection

A huge thanks to reader Melissa for this sighting! Melissa spotted the new L'Oreal Color Riche Holiday 2011 Nail Color Collection at her local Duane Reade and was nice enough to share some pics:

image credit: Melissa for Nouveau Cheap

A closer look at the new Sally Hansen Smooth and Perfect collection

If you caught my post about the two new Sally Hansen polish collections surfacing at drugstores lately, you know I was pretty excited about these new pastels! Thanks to my pal and longtime photo-contributor Rach, I've got some close-ups of all the shades to share with you:

image credit for all of the following photos: Rach for Nouveau Cheap

Swatches: OPI Warm & Fozzie from the Muppets Collection

When I finally got a chance to see the OPI Muppets Collection at a local beauty supply store recently, my wallet thanked me for the fact that just ONE polish found its way into my basket. Don't get me wrong: I love all the pretty glitters in this collection, but I guess with the Wet n Wild and Sally Hansen glitter collections, I'm not really feeling like I need another glitter at this point.

The one shade I purchased in this collection was Warm & Fozzie. Who doesn't love Fozzie Bear, right? After wearing this polish for a few days now, I have to say that this polish does a neat job of capturing the look and feel of Fozzie's fur in polish form.

Described as a metallic copper, I detect beautiful, rich brown, mocha, golden and bronze tones in this polish as well. There are rust and pink particles that become visible in certain lights, which I think gives this polish a weak duochrome effect. Also, at the outer edges of this polish, there is a wonderful mossy green that sometimes appears (much like the green in Orly Space Cadet). I love that this polish looks like a warm brown in certain lights and a cool brown in others. If you're a brown polish fan, I'd say this is a must-have.

The following photos were taken after three coats of polish, but I think you could get away with two coats if you were careful during application:

 OPI Warm & Fozzie

(retail: around $7, 0.5 oz)

The Return of Mr. G! His review of the new Suave Styling Paste and Pomade for Men

I often get asked if Mr. G will return to this blog (he's reviewed various men's products in the past with often comical results). For the past few weeks, he's been working furiously on this review of some of the new hair products for men that were recently sent to me from Suave. (In fact, I haven't seen him work this hard on something since he wrote his thesis for grad school. I'm kidding of course, but he did spend a lot of time on this!)

Today I'd like to proudly announce that Mr. G is back, and if you liked his past reviews, I don't think he'll disappoint you this time around!

For those of you new to the reviews of Mr. G, he's my longtime boyfriend and in addition to being my guinea pig for various men's grooming products, he's also a college professor. For the purposes of this review, let me tell you a little bit about his hair: he is caucasian and his hair is fine in texture but it's of medium thickness. His hair is short (which you'll soon read about) and it has a tendency to get oily within a day of washing it. It's not color-treated and he NEVER uses heat styling.

Take it away, Mr. G!

Review: Hard Candy Fox In A Box Blush in Hot Flash

I've been wanting to try a Hard Candy Fox In A Box since they first debuted earlier this year, so I was very excited to receive one for review recently (in the exact shade I had my eye on, no less). Now that I've been wearing this blush off and on for a few weeks, it's time to share my thoughts:

 Hard Candy Fox In A Box in Hot Flash

(retail: $6; 0.20 oz)

A closer look at some of the limited edition Hard Candy holiday 2011 mini sets

If you caught my post about the Hard Candy Holiday 2011 collections (click here if you missed it), then you know that they're sold exclusively at Walmart and should be hitting stores any minute now (if they're not there already). A little while ago I showed you the $1 mini polishes and today I'd like to show you two of the mini sets:

 Hard Candy Limited Edition 5 Piece Eyeliner Set

(retail: $5, 0.02 oz each)

Spotted: new Sally Hansen Smooth and Perfect ColorCare Collection (and more pics of Gem Crush)

The new Sally Hansen collections are coming fast and furious these days, and today I'd like to show you the third new collection that's been spotted by readers at both CVS and Meijer. (Click here to see Gem Crush and here to see the new Real Nail Polish Strips designs).

NOTE: I do not see the words "Limited Edition" on any of the three new Sally Hansen collections I've covered in the past 24 hours. Therefore, I'm going to assume for now that these are new additions to the core collection.

A huge thanks to reader Krissy for the following pic:

image credit: Krissy for Nouveau Cheap

Sally Hansen Smooth and Perfect ColorCare Collection

Spotted: new Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips designs

As promised, here are the 24 new Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips designs, as spotted by Meagan of Bonny Binnacle at her local Meijer. There is definitely a little something here for everyone--I spot some instant must-haves in this new collection!

image credit for all of the following photos: Meagan for Nouveau Cheap