All black errrrthing!
So, yeah. I mostly wanted to try the new NUDESTIX makeup line because of the black pencil packaging.
I mean, come on. Black is sleek, chic and never goes out of style. Plus, what’s not to like about easy-to-use pencil packaging? Anything with the potential to free up my schedule for more REM sleep gets automatic cool points just for that.
Coming exclusively to Space NK stores and spacenk.com this June, the new NUDESTIX makeup brand of neutral-toned makeup for eyes, lips, cheeks and skin already has my makeup-loving heart’s attention.
The brainchild (I’ve always wanted to use that word in a sentence, “brainchild,” LOL!) of CoverFX co-creator and former MAC product developer Jenny Frankel, who left Cover FX in 2011 to start the new brand, NUDESTIX is debuting with a 30-piece collection…
The entire (as of now) NUDESTIX collection
- Lash Lengthening Mascara, $24
- Eye Pencils in Cream, Shimmer, Stardust, Golden, Bronze, Burnish, Pewter and Smoke, $24 each
- Magnetic Eye Color Pencils in Night, Angel, Twilight and Moon, $24 each
- Skin Concealer Pencils in Light 1, Light 2, Light 3, Medium 4, Medium 5, Medium 6, Deep 7 and Deep 8, $24 each
- Lip & Cheek Pencils in Whisper, Love, Blush, Mystic, Ripe, Soul, Sin and Flesh, $24 each
- Pencil Cap Sharpener, $5
Jenny worked with her two daughters, both aspiring models, to create the new line of natural-looking, easy-to-apply products — products designed to be easy enough to apply without separate brushes.
After giving all five product families a try over the long holiday weekend, here are some thoughts…
The Eye Pencil Crayons in Stardust and Burnish
Burnish and Stardust burnish some serious multitasking muscle. These Eye Pencil Crayons do werk!
What kind of work, you ask? Well, you can line your eyes with them, use them on your lids as eyeshadows, and/or use them as highlighters, applying them on the high points of the face, which, by the way, is my favorite way to use them.
I’ll swipe either one, shimmery golden peach Stardust or bronzy golden Burnish, on my upper cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose, and a little on my Cupid’s bow, and then blend.
Great for glow on the go without having to fuss with a brush.
As for using them in other ways, like as shadows and liners, I don’t do that as much. When I use them as liners, my super sensitive water lines freak out a little, and both colors crease (a lot) on my lids when I use them as shadows.
Like, a lot. Within 10-15 minutes of applying.
And I’ve tried them with and without primer at different levels of coverage.
Maybe they just don’t particularly like my combination oily/dry lids.
That said, though, the finish on these is absolutely gorgeous. When I wear them as shadow, my lids look totally rockstar chick — all glowing, shiny and distinct. If you like rebellious, undone eye looks, give these a try when you can.
Magnetic Eye Color Pencil in Night
Super dark and black as night, matte black Night Magnetic Eye Color Pencil works as a liner, an eyeshadow and/or an eyeshadow primer.
Supposedly designed for oily lids, I dunno…this one also tends to start creasing on my lids within 15 minutes of applying. My water lines do seem to prefer the Magnetic Eye Color formula over the Eye Pencil Crayons, though, where it last 4-5 hours.
The Lip & Cheek Pencil in Blush
This creamy peachy rose has a satin finish and doubles as a blush and lipstick.
As a lip pencil, this one’s got it goin’ on. I think it tastes a little waxy at first, but it subsides within about 10 minutes, and the semi-sheer, lip flake-friendly coverage looks gloriously natural.
Now, as a blush, we’re talking super sheer — barely there — and, you know, when I wear blush, I kind of like to see it on my cheeks, but if you’re a lighter lass looking for the ultimate no-makeup makeup look, check it out.
Skin Concealer Pencil in Deep 7
This shade is probably closer to my skin tone around the end of summer, after I’ve picked up a shade or two, but I’ve tried it both on my face and under my eyes.
Definitely easy to blend, it also starts scooting around after about an hour.
True Detective
El Hub’s prodding finally got me to watch an episode of True Detective on HBO last week, starring Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, who play partner detectives working on a decade-long murder case in Louisiana.
All I have to say is this: give it some time. I wasn’t sold until after the first couple episodes, because it took a little time to get going, but the tension kept building and building and building!
Great cop show/character study if you’re into that kind of thing.
Boy, Matthew McConaughey is having a moment right now, isn’t he? He sure has come a long way since How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, yeah?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Hope you’re having a terrific Tuesday so far. 🙂
Hi Karen!
How would you suggest blending the eye pencil crayons when used as a highlighter? Finger, brush, sponge? I feel like with so many products that require blending into to my face, I end up rubbing away the foundation underneath. Any tips? 🙂
Hi Kate!
Great question. I usually just run the pencil lightly on top of my foundation and powder products, then I blend out the edges gently with a clean finger tip. I think the trick is to use a light touch, both during the pencil application and during blending. That way you don’t disturb too much of the product underneath. Does that make sense?
I love the lip and cheek pencil! Such a gorgeous nude!
I picked up a chubby-stick-looking Burt’s Bees pencil the other day that was quite nice! Matte, not too drying!
Hi Chelsea,
Ooh, I don’t think I have that Burt’s product in my lip bag. Must rectify that situation ASAP. 😀
How was your long weekend? What did you do?
It’s pretty new! I got it in Sedona Sands, kind of a rosy nude, good opacity. I’ve seen swatches of the red though, and it looks hella pigmented! I’m happy there’s no mint taste…
I went to a baptism for my newest cousin, Dylan, who is 6 months old and a fellow ginger. I’d never been to one, but it was quite nice, and we had a fun luncheon after. Also took some aerial classes, my hands are tore up.
Oh, and I cut my hair above the shoulders for the first time since I was a kid. I have a long bob. My ends were not in great condition.
It looks like you had a fun weekend! I’ve only been canoeing and kayaking a few times, despite growing up surrounded by it.
Yo! Hello nude makeup looks! You look stellar! Guess I’ve become accustomed to your beautiful colorful combo looks that this nude look through me for a loop. A nice loop. Tehehehe. Never heard of SpaceNK. But I’m on the east coast so that could be it. This line intrigues me, especially the crayon highlighters. 🙂
Lip & cheek pencil is nice! too bad the eye pencil smudges as liner!
The nude lip pencils look so lovely… loved the black packaging too.. 🙂
never thought of using nude sticks as highlighter.. 😀
Oh sweet lord, Karen! You know the way to my heart! My grabby hands are in full action right now. <3
even though the formula seem to have some issues i must say that the overall look on you is stunning. the colors as natural but still looks like glowing makeup. this is my fave natural look on you.
These look great and I love the concept, but it’s a shame you’re the second last shade in the concealer and that’s all their is! I hope maybe once they’re established they expand the shade range more for everyone.
Great concept, but for the price, I’ll pass. My oily eyes would destroy these products in an hour. Given the developers background, I would have expected better performance. But they are cute!
I am excited about Blush and Night! They look great in the swatches and so so pretty on you!
Wow Karen, I love love love how the lip pencil looks as a blush on you! My favourite kind of “just worked out for an hour” kind of sheer blood-flow glow…. Beautiful 🙂 Do you think it would look as good on my NC 37 skin? Also, do you know when these would be available in India?
I like the look of burnish, stardust and blush! I always like it when people try new things, and try to bring a innovative formula/application stule out. Evenif they don’t always work as planned for all purposes, I still like it that people are experimenting!
I really like burnish!
I like that cheek pencil! It’s rather pretty!
WOW – this is a different look for you but it’s gorgeous. Ha ha you lookin’ all prim and proper and shiz. hehehe (I know you’re a secret Rocker!) LOL
It is too bad about the formula creasing. I always have that problem with any kind of creamy eye shadow. ANd, smudgy pencils that don’t “set” are a drag. The colors are really pretty though.
THanks for the review!
Hi, Karen! What’s your favorite shade of lip and cheek pencil from Nudestix? I was in Sephora SG last weekend but it was just a short trip to Singapore and we just have an online store here in the Philippines. I forgot which shade I liked. I wish I decided to purchase it already there! 🙁 Thanks!