NYX Pump It Up Lip Plumper in "Liv"

So I recently got the TooFaced "Lip Injections" lip-plumper ($22) and since it worked so well I wanted to try and see if I could find a dupe for it at the same time for my lovely readers who need something a little cheaper!
While I was on the Ulta website browsing around for good priced lip plumpers I found the NYX "Pump It Up" lip plumper in "Liv" (it's the clear colour). This one was significantly cheaper ($6) and I thought "why not?". 

NYX "Pump It Up" Lip Plumper in "Liv"
Image source: here.

I was super hopeful but ready for it to obviously work like a $6 lip plumper is expected to work. "Okay-ish". I moisturized my lips and then used a lip exfoliator over that to ensure I was applying this product directly onto my lips and then wiped them off with a clean washcloth. Once my lips were completely dry, I applied a thin coat of the NYX "Pump It Up" lip plumper and waited. Almost immediately I had a tingly-cold sensation but it was not intense by any means and it certainly did not sting, hurt, or burn. It was in fact so mild I was worried it was not working AT ALL. 

My Photo of "Pump It Up" by NYX

Once I had waited a minute or two I took a look in the mirror and noticed first off that my lips had not changed colour whatsoever. This was a bit of a concern because when using "Lip Injections" by TooFaced I noticed my lips were much more pinkish and red after waiting a minute or so. 
Second thing I noticed was a plus however, and that was that my lips were very glossy and hydrated. 
Third I noticed was that my lips had changed in size slightly. There was a change in size but it wasn't drastic by any means. 

NYX "Pump It Up" in "Liv" Before and After on my lips.

"Pump It Up" on my arm.

In conclusion if you are looking for a lip plumper to make your lips super noticeably different in size, this is not the one for you. I actually do like this product for gloss and hydration use, but I don't think I would ever apply it before lipstick application to give myself the appearance of fuller lips. It's definitely something worth trying as different formulas work differently on different people (haha!) but for me, it didn't impress me a whole lot as a plumper. 

Do you love this product? Do you hate it? Have any other suggestions you would like me to try? I am always game! Let me know in the comments!  Thanks so much for reading! -Emma

Too Faced Lip Injections Lip Plumper.

So I finally broke down after seeing so many reviews of Too Faced "Lip Injections" lip plumper. I am already a big fan of Too Faced due to their cruelty free standing and the occasional use of my mom's country palette by them. 

I have never used a lip-plumper before in my life so I had no idea what to expect or what I was walking into. I was lucky there wasn't really any wait for this product because I had ordered it before vacation so when I returned it was waiting right there for me! I ordered mine from the Ulta website but you can also order from the Too Faced website itself!

Image source: TooFaced website.

So first I will describe my use of it and how I applied it:
I moisturized my lips with a regular lip balm for about 10 minutes before hand and then used a lip exfoliator. This way I was ensuring the lip plumper was being applied straight to my lips and not any dead skin, left over lipstick, or lip balm. Then I simply applied a thin coat on my top and bottom lips and waited.

A picture of mine that I took! ☺

The Feeling: 
Initially I didn't feel anything but about 30 seconds in I began to feel a sort of tingly-burning sensation. It was a lot like eating a hot pepper and then deciding to rub it all over your lips. Thankfully it wasn't so unbearable that I had to wipe it off. In all honesty it was much more of an annoyance than anything else. After about a minute or so this burner subsided and I was left with glossy, red, but plumped lips.

"Lip Injections" just on my arm.

Overall Reaction: Yes! It works really well. I am actually quite interested in trying the "Lip Injections Extreme". Of course if I do try it out I will update this blog as well and add a post about it, haha. My lips weren't crazy large after using this product but they were noticeably different. Once I wiped it off and applied my lipstick there was a clear difference between my natural lips and my "plumped" lips. 

Wow look! It's me! ☺

I would totally recommend this product if you are curious about trying it. It worked well for me and I've heard I am not the only one that this product works well for. I can also use it as a lip gloss as well if I don't feel like applying lipstick due to the fact it gives my lips a reddish tint (from the active ingredients that plump)

As always feel free to leave a comment telling me if you love/hate Too Faced "Lip Injections", any questions or comments, and of course any recommendations for me! Thanks so much! -Emma

Too Faced "Unicorn Tears" and "Clueless" LA CRÈME COLOR DRENCHED LIPSTICK

So my mom and I ran to Ulta the other day and naturally we both wanted to look at the lovely Too Faced section just cause. It's not only high quality products but it's cruelty free plus all of their packaging is amazingly cute! My mom already owns a few Too Faced products so we wanted to see what was new. 

That's when it happend. My mom picked up the last "Unicorn Tears" La Creme Color Drenched Lipstick by Too Faced. We promptly snatched it up along with "Clueless" just because it's sooooo pink!

If you are new to Too Faced and the cosmetics world, "Unicorn Tears" is extremely rare to find in store if at all. Since it came out it has been a hit with makeup junkies because it is a different colour on everyone and it is super beautiful no matter which colour it turns out to be. Plus it is a super soft, smooth formula, which is long lasting and moisturizing. 

The back end of the tubing with the names of the colours.

 I already loved the product just from trying it on after we got home. They are a bit pricey ($22 a piece) but I would say they are totally worth it. I tried to take off my swatches at one point and I had to use like dish detergent, olive oil, and a wet washcloth and scrub hard. It was pretty good. 
I took some swatches on my forearm in natural and flash lighting so you can see the colours in different lighting:

Swatches in natural lighting.
Clueless on top, Unicorn Tears on bottom.

Swatches in flash. Clueless on left, Unicorn Tears on Right.

I would totally recommend picking these up if you have the money (and you can find them). If you can't find them in-store you will most likely be able to catch them online at the Too Faced company website. If you want a direct link to the lipsticks themselves the page is here.

As always thank you for reading! Feel free to leave a comment below letting me know what you think of Too Faced cosmetics, "Unicorn Tears" or "Clueless". Do you love them? Hate them? 

And don't forget to leave me recommendations as well! I love trying new things!