Is anyone else totally loving this sudden streak of spring weather we're having? Being able to walk outside without a coat is literally the most glorious feeling after months and months of freezing in the frigid New England air. Of course, the shining sun isn't the only thing that's got me in a good mood lately. I've recently acquired a few new beauty products that have me feeling equally giddy. Call me a makeup addict, but I just never tired of the thrill of swatching a new lipstick or testing out a new foundation.
In particular I've been having quite a bit of fun playing with a few goodies from Nudestix that I was sent to try. I am in no way sponsored by the brand, or even asked to write a review. I just honestly appreciate the concept behind their products and enjoy showing you guys what's new and interesting. Speaking of which, let me introduce to you the latest products to help you #gonudebutbetter - the Intense Matte Lip + Cheek Pencil, and the Blur Pencil.
For those of you who aren't already Nudestix obsessed, they're basically the answer to the prayers of anyone seeking natural looking, multi-tasking makeup. All of their products are in stick or pen form, making them incredibly easy to use on-the-go, and even come packaged in their own collectible pencil tin. And before you gripe about the inconvenience of needing to sharpen a pencil, Nudestix takes some of the pain out of the process by including a sharpener with every product that will need one. And of course, Nudestix products are just plain fun to use. I mean, who doesn't want to channel their inner kid a little and color on their makeup in the morning?
As much as I have a long standing love of the Nudestix Lip + Cheek Pencils and their creamy finish, I can totally see why they wanted to expand their range. It seems like everyone and their mom is obsessed with matte lips lately, and just about every beauty brand wants in on the action. The Nudestix Intense Matte Lip + Cheek Pencils ($24) come in 8 shades - 5 neutral, nude and pink tones for those of you who want to keep things a bit more subdued, and 3 bold reds for those who want to make a statement. They can be built up or sheered out, and work equally well as lipsticks and as blushes.
One of the most notable things about these pencils is that, while they have a very matte finish, the formula is extremely lightweight and comfortable. It honestly feels like you almost have nothing on your lips. Upon first application these glide on smoothly and pack a ton of pigmentation. And unlike some matte lip pencils that have a bit of heavier or waxier feel, these are quite silky, which also lets them blend out really easily if you'd like to wear them on your cheeks. Once the product has a chance to dry down it becomes less creamy in texture, and while its very long wearing I wouldn't say its entirely transfer proof. Also, like most matte lip products, these pencils aren't the most forgiving if your lips are looking chapped or rough.
Because the ladies over at Nudestix are basically the best, I've had the opportunity to try both one of the neutral shades and one of the bold red shades to compare. Shall we get to swatching?
On the neutral side of the spectrum is Belle, is a lovely mauvey pink that adds a bit of a moody flush to your complexion. On the bold side, Royal is an absolutely stunning, blue-based classic red shade that will have you feeling ready to conquer the world with a single smile. As you can see in the swatches above, both pencils are very pigmented and provide beautifully saturated color that isn't patchy or uneven. While both shades blend out quite well, you'll need to use some serious restraint if you're planning on applying Royal to your cheeks, as a little bit of product goes a LONG way. I would recommend apply a small amount to your finger, and then dotting it along your cheeks to blend and get a softer application.
The Nudestix Blur Pencil ($24) is one of those genius products that you never knew you needed. Infused with hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E, this little magic wand helps to plump and "blur" the look of the skin, minimizing the appearance of imperfections. It doubles as both a face and lip primer, which means carrying one less product in my makeup bag. The texture on this pencil is thick and sort of balmy, with a slightly sticky finish. While that might seem a little unappealing at first, its actually amazing for grabbing onto whatever product you put on top of it and locking it into place. If you're someone who struggles with bleeding and feathering (especially with bright and bold colors), the blur pencil may be exactly what you need to keep your lippies put.
Although the blur pencil is designed to be used with the Intense Matte Lip + Cheek Pencils, you can also use it on your face to blur out the look of large pore and fine lines. While wrinkles aren't a thing I've had to worry about yet, I do have very large pores in my T-Zone. I applied this directly from the pencil in the areas around my nose, forehead, and chin, and gently blended with my fingers prior to applying my foundation. I do think that my foundation looked smoother and my pores were less visible in those areas, and I didn't notice that they looked more oily than usual by the end of the day.
Final verdict? Nudestix has created another round of winning products in my book. I'm definitely adding the Intense Matte Lip + Cheek Pencil in the shade "Kiss" to my beauty wish list, as its that sort of warm peachy-nude shade that I can never get enough of. If you're thinking about adding Nudestix to your makeup collection, I have good news for you! I'm giving one lucky person the chance to win all three products I reviewed here. All you have to do is enter the Rafflecopter form down below and write a comment on this post down below about whether you're #teamnude or #teambold. Full contest rules will be shared below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Contest open to US residents only, aged 18 or older. Contest period will begin 03/11/16 and close 03/26/16 at 12:00am. All entry criteria will be validated prior to winner being chosen. If entrant defaults on any entry critera before the contest period has closed (i.e. unsubscribing from a social media channel they were asked to follow), the entrant will not receive credit for that task. The contest winner will be chosen at random from all available entries. Winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond with a mailing address or another winner will be selected. The contest prize will include 1 Nudestix Intense Matte Lip + Cheek Pencil in the shade Belle, 1 Nudestix Intense Matte Lip + Cheek Pencil in the shade Royal, and 1 Nudestix Blur Pencil. Total prize value of $72.
*These products were sent to me au gratis from Nudestix, however all opinions expressed are my own. This post also contains Sephora affiliate links. For more information on my affliations and disclosures, click here.
