The first month of the new year is drawing to a close – how are doing with your resolutions? It’s the best time to change old habits and start better ones, since you’re open to change at the start of the year, and you have 12 months to make good on them. Why not start with the little things, like shampoo? Lush Rehab is a vegan shampoo filled with organic goodness. We got a sample to try, and we found that if your hair needs some rehabilitation, stat, using it will make for a good new habit. Read on for our review.

Lush Rehab is one of Lush’s most popular products, and with good reason. It’s a clear, yellow liquid that comes inside Filled with natural ingredients, it’s designed for hair that is suffering from abuse, whether it’s from styling, or long days in the sun. Olive and jojoba oil are in it to strengthen hair and give it flexibility, while almond oil is in it to help soften hair follicles. It also has enzymic papaya to help clean hair and keep away grease, as well as kiwi juice, which is also full of active enzymes that help break down dirt easily.

Rehab had us after getting one whiff of it. It’s got a mild, fruity, somewhat citrusy scent that’s really energizing in the morning. We found it to have a really mild formula too – it lathered up easily, and rinsed off with no problem.

This shampoo is just great. Hair was soft and very easy to work with after it had a dose of Rehab. Strands were shiny and clean, and even frizz was kept at bay. The bottle says “Shake me, then use me”, and trust us, you’ll be shaking and using this shampoo for a long time. It could be the hair intervention you didn’t know you needed.

Not everything shiny is fun. When your face gets oily or sweaty and your skin starts glistening, it’s not your time to shine. It’s actually time to whip out your anti-shine arsenal before your face ends up looking like the back of a spoon. There is oil control film, sure, as well as face powder, but if you’re serious about keeping the shine away, it’s best to go with foundation that does exactly that. Take NYX’s Stay Matte But Not Flat Powder Foundation, which was made to combat shine. NYX sent us samples to try, so read on to see how they fared in our tests.

The Stay Matte But Not Flat Powder Foundation comes in NYX’s usual black and white plastic packaging. The compact is a little wide, but it’s got a mirror and a hidden compartment in the bottom for the sponge. The powder inside is packed in pretty well, and it’s not prone to loosening up when you’re swiping it with the sponge.

The formula is typical of NYX – it is mineral-enriched, talc-free, and oil-free. On top of that, Stay Matte But Not Flat is also water and sweat resistant, because it is made to keep shine away. It applied easily and felt very silky on skin. However, we found that it worked better on oily and combination skin. It didn’t blend as easily and appeared a tad too obvious on dry skin.

The samples we got were Creamy Natural, which is a light milky shade, and Nude, which is a neutral color. Both glided on effortlessly and looked matte almost instantly. It kept shine away for hours, and even sweat couldn’t stop it from staying matte. It’s also from NYX’s HD Studio Photogenic line, which gives skin this subtle glow and makes it appear really smooth. It looked terrific on and off camera.

Nude

Creamy Natural

Our only gripe about Stay Matte But Not Flat is that it’s quite sheer. It gives fuller coverage when it’s wet or when it’s applied on top of liquid foundation. The matte effect is seriously effective and it stays on for a long time though, so doing extra swipes is worth it. NYX Stay Matte But Not Flat Powder Foundation is available in 15 shades, and retails for $9.50.

All the excitement this season can have you craving for some lip action. Lush’s new Chilli Tingle Lip Tint and its fun and flirty qualities should be able to help you with that. Read on for our review.

Like the Lush It Started With A Kiss Lip Tint that we tested before, the Lush Chilli Tingle Lip Tint comes in a handy little tin. You open it up, swipe on a bit of it with your finger or a lip brush, and you’re good to go. It gives your lips a sheer, natural-looking coat of color and moisturizes your pucker as well.

Chilli Tingle is an orange-red shade that brings fiery, red hot chilli peppers to mind instantly. The color’s strong, but goes on translucent, so you get a nice, juicy sheen on your lips. It can look uneven on your lips though – it works best when lips are freshly scrubbed down and smooth.

Like everything Lush, it’s made from organic and safe synthetic products. It takes its bright color from annatto seeds – also known as the lipstick tree. It’s got organic jojoba oil and Fair Trade cocoa butter to moisturize your lips and make them soft and look totally kissable. It also primes your lips for a hot and heavy time with its Mexican spicy organic ground chilli and an aromatic herb called yerba santa to plump up your lips and make them tingle. Icing sugar rounded out the main ingredient list and added some sweetness to all the spice.

This lip tint felt light, and it applied easily. The promised tingle was there – a little faint, but so fun on the lips. It smelled wonderful, and it was so yummy – very like those gourmet chocolates with chilli pepper in them. You’ll definitely want to kiss someone when you have this on, and that someone’s sure to enjoy it too! Whether you’ll be puckering up under the mistletoe, amidst fireworks, or behind closed doors this season, Lush Chilli Lip Tingle will definitely make your lips make-out session-worthy.

The OPI Texas Collection was one of the nail polish lines that made an impression on nail enthusiasts this year. Today we dipped into our archives to bring out and have a closer look at four of the lacquers from the collection. OPI sent us Don’t Mess With OPI, San Tan-tonio, Suzi Loves Cowboys, and Y’All Come Back Ya Hear, so read on and see what we thought of them.

Don’t Mess With OPI was a true green. It had this rather sandy look about it that brought to mind cactus and other desert trees. The formula went on smooth, and we had no problems with it.

San Tan-tonio on the other hand, was a challenge to apply. It was streaky, got a ton of bubbles, and felt heavy on the brush too. We might have gotten a bad bottle, but it was a shame that it was so challenging because this shade is wonderful. It was a laidback, light brown. This nude lacquer looked very put-together – which was enough for us to ignore the finicky formula.

Suzi Loves Cowboys was a dark brown, almost black color. In regular light, it’s pretty black in appearance, but with flash, it looks like you dipped your fingers into very rich, dark chocolate. It was a no nonsense brown, and it looked like the kind that hardcore – but chic – cowgirls would go for. It was extremely glossy, and it only required two coats to make it opaque.

Y’All Come Back Ya Hear was our favorite of the four. It was a brilliant orange – bright, but not neon. It had OPI’s lovely sorbet effect (read: jelly) and the formula went on in smooth layers. It was a cinch to apply and appeared kissed by sunshine.

The Texas Collection took us on a wild ride to Texas. It’s one unique collection with a different take on tried and true colors.

We’re always up for something new here at SodaBottle headquarters, which is why the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream caught our fancy. It’s lip color that applies like gloss, but dries matte. It’s not your everyday, run-of-the-mill tube of lipstick, that’s for sure. NYX sent us a sample to try, so here’s our review.

The NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream is easy to like. Its formula is just as the product name implies – incredibly creamy and feels so soft on the lips. We expected the formula to feel rough when it dried matte, but it didn’t. It moisturizes wonderfully too, and stays on the lips for hours before a retouch is needed.

The shade that we got was Tokyo – a very pale pink. This unusual shade definitely brings to mind Japan’s avant-garde Harajuku district. It grabs attention because the color is so light, and yet also so strong. If you’re fair-skinned, it will make your lips appear closer to your skin color and give you a look that is a little startling and really different. If you’re darker-skinned, the pink will stand out remarkably, with the same results.

The catch with Tokyo is that it shows every single detail of your lips. It is super pale, so it has a tendency to highlight all the gaps and rough surfaces. Just make sure your lips are in great condition before you attempt this shade. The strangeness of the shade is also an acquired taste. It’s not the kind of lipstick you would want to wear everyday and anywhere. It’s for those special days when you’re feeling edgy and you want to stand out.

Overall, we found the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream fascinating. The formula’s terrific, and no other lip color looks like it. If you’re adventurous with makeup, Tokyo will work for you. If you aren’t, NYX has ten other colors (ranging from bright pink to dark brown) that you can try.

We tested the NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Powder before and we liked what we found. Now we’ve moved on to the NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Blush. NYX sent us a box to try, so read on for our review.

Like the powder, the blush comes in a hefty, newfangled container. The case is larger than the usual blush cases in the market, because it comes with a grinding mechanism inside, plus of course a lot of powder. When you open it up, you get a pan with holes in it. You have to twist the case to grind the powder underneath the pan, and it will come up through the holes. Do it carefully though, as it’s easy to wind up with too much powder with it. You can’t store the excess powder in the case because the case doesn’t really seal up tight, but don’t worry – after a few tries, you’ll get the hang of it. Under the lid is a convenient mirror too, but the case doesn’t come with an applicator brush, so you’ll have to buy it separately.

Freshly ground powder is always a good thing. It applies easier, and lasts longer than pre-ground powder that tends to clump up inside the container. However, with blush, it gets a little tricky. It’s easy to make a mess of powder blush, compared to cake blush. You need to make sure you get just a little bit of blush on your brush for maximum application control. Swipe your brush on the grounded powder and tap off the excess before brushing it onto your cheeks.

The shade we got for review was Sangria in Madrid. It’s a deep berry red with a true mineral powder finish. It was a little too dark to make it an everyday blush, but it’s great for night events, since it has that sultry, mysterious look. Application was a little finicky – the blush was too dark and a little mess-up looks quite obvious. What’s good about the freshly ground blush though is that it feels smooth and silky on the skin. It’s got a nice, dewy look that lasts all day too.

We found that regular cake blush is still the easiest to apply. You can brush it on without thinking, while you have to be more careful with the NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Powder Blush. If can get past the application part though, it will make a fun addition to your makeup collection. It’s freshly-ground blush at your fingertips after all. NYX has it for $16.50.

We reviewed the primer, now we’ve tested out the powder. We were a sent a sample of the NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Powder, and we were pleased with what we found.

This powder comes in a newfangled case. When you open up the compact, it appears empty with all these holes in it. You twist the bottom to grind the powder and make it come up through the holes. The downside to this is that it’s easy to over-grind and you end up with more powder that you actually need. You can’t keep the excess powder in the case – it somehow seeps through the edges and you just end up with a mess. The trick is to grind in small increments so you get the right amount of powder. By the way, you need a brush to apply the powder, and the compact doesn’t come with on. We recommend using a foundation brush for even application. The upside is that you get freshly ground powder all the time. Loose powder tends to get lumpy and grainy after a while in the case, and having a grinder extends the makeup’s shelf life.

The formula is light, but provides enough coverage. It’s perfect for days when you don’t want heavy foundation on your face, especially in humid, hot weather. It absorbs instantly into oily complexions, giving an instant dewy look. If you have a dryer complexion, you will need to wait for it to set a bit though.

This powder is really light, so don’t expect it to cover all of your flaws. The sample we got, Sand Beige, wasn’t the lightest shade among the six colors in the collection, but it still went on a bit pale. You will still need a bit of concealer for minor corrections or foundation for heavier coverage. However, the HD light-diffusing feature is effective in giving skin a soft-focus effect. Pores look smaller and skin looks a lot smoother. Normally powder just sets your foundation and doesn’t provide coverage and flaw correction, but this particular one makes it possible for you to skip foundation altogether. It also stays on all day, and you will only need minimal retouching at best.

Overall, the NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Powder is a good buy. This simple powder is full of helpful features and would make a wonderful addition to any makeup kit. There’s a learning curve with the grinding process, and it doesn’t come with an applicator brush, but it’s a huge compact and it will last quite a while. NYX has it for $25.

The Lush Dirty Line hasn’t disappointed us with its androgynous fragrances so far. We’ve tried the Dirty Body Spray and the Dirty Hair Styling Cream and though each offers a slightly different fragrance because they’re designed to work together, the fresh, androgynous quality of the collection is in both of the products. We’re happy to report that it’s also in the shower gel. Lush sent us a sample for review and here’s how it fared.

One look at the Dirty Springwash Shower Gel and you already know it’s minty. It’s got a cool, blue, transparent color and smells fresh in the shower. It’s got spearmint and menthol crystals in it, so it smells minty and feels tingly too. Unlike the other Dirty products, the scent of this shower gel is just right in its androgyny. It’s light and clean with a perfect fragrance balance – not too masculine and not too feminine.

This shower gel is actually for both hair and body. The glycerin and sea salt in it helps soften skin and hair, while sodium bicarbonate deodorizes skin and softens the water as well. We found that it moisturizes quickly, and it doesn’t leave a sticky feeling on your skin even under humidity. It’s simply refreshing.

The Dirty Springwash Shower Gel is a convenient thing to have, since it’s instantly invigorating and it’s a hair and body gel in one. If you travel a lot, go to the gym, or if you’re always rushing through showers in the morning, you’ll like lathering up with this androgynous little shower bottle.

LUSH DIRTY PRESS RELEASE

Dirty takes the common idea of ‘layering’ with beauty products a little bit further. Normally, grooming products will all have a different scent. However, this new concept of layering means you can shower in invigorating spearmint and thyme, shave with soothing lavender and sandalwood, and style hair with tarragon and oak moss. Once all of these products with their individual fragrances have been used, the combined scent will be that of Dirty, and can be topped off with the body spray, which contains all those main notes.

The Range:

Dirty Spring Wash Shower Gel ($9.95 for 3.3oz, $17.95 for 8.4oz, $26.95 for 16.9oz)
Don’t be a dirty rotten scoundrel. Recreate your very own mountain spring and wash with this tingly, softening, minty shower gel that contains spearmint, thyme, and sea salt.

Dirty Shaving Cream ($12.95)
Shave it all off using our ultra-softening oats and benzoin shaving cream. There’s also lavender and sandalwood in there to soothe any irritations.

Dirty Hair Gel ($12.95)
Refresh your coif with our conditioning and softening, firm hold styling product. Made with fair trade coconut oil, linseed gel and balm herb infusion for the perfect just-got-out-of bed style.

Dirty Body Spray ($19.95)
If you don’t have the time for a full-on Dirty routine in the morning, take a quickie instead and spritz yourself liberally with this body spray before you head out the door. No one will ever know.

When the new colors of NYX Round Lipsticks came out in May, the juicy colors made summer a lot hotter. Now that the cold weather’s just around the corner, these luscious shades will brighten up the season’s dreary mood. NYX sent us three of the new shades – Haute Melon, Pink Lyric, and Peach Bellini – so read on and see what we thought of these saucy lip colors.

The NYX Round Lipsticks all differ in finish and texture, but the one thing they have in common is that they’re all highly pigmented. All the colors are pretty thick, and they have a tendency to show every bump and line on lips. A lip scrub and lip balm before applying these lipsticks will help the colors go on smoothly.

They also have moisturizing properties, which keep lips from drying up under them. The formula doesn’t stick to lips easily though, and it takes several swipes to get full coverage. The colors are pretty unique however. These shades aren’t easy to find and are instant attention-grabbers, no matter where you are.

Haute Melon is a bright orange. It looks pale on camera, but in reality, it appears a lot brighter. It actually gets a neon quality depending on the lighting. The texture is smooth and makes lips look lips very succulent. It looks surprisingly versatile, and will work with almost all kinds of outfits, from fruity floral dresses, as well as edgy, all black ensembles.

Pink Lyric is a punchy pink that almost borders on neon purple. It’s got a really thick consistency, and feels like real paint on lips. It’s a shocking, energetic, in-your-face color that won’t be out of place at steamy bars and frenzied parties.

Peach Bellini is the classy one of the bunch. It’s got a formula that feels like tiny grains of sands on lips, which can be uncomfortable, and can make for awkward kissing moments too. Beyond the texture however, the color’s a cheerful peach, with minute sparkle that will work wonderfully with pearls and gold jewelry. The feminine look doesn’t make it boring though, as the brightness of the color should make delicate white frocks and other girly things a lot more interesting.

These NYX Round Lipsticks are definitely unconventional colors. If you feel like deviating away from the usual pinks and reds, these are good bets. They’ll bring back summer in the fall with their vivid hues.

When Nicole by OPI announced that the company would be collaborating with pop star Justin Bieber to come up with a line of nail polish, it was met with more than a little skepticism. After all, how could a 17-year-old guy possibly have anything to do with a nail polish collection? As it turned out, there was no cause for worry. The One Less Lonely Girl collection was a surprise hit. Nicole by OPI sent us three of the line’s 14 shades, and we actually liked all of them.

The colors were created by Nicole by OPI’s Executive VP and Artistic Director Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, inspired by Justin Bieber’s songs and his fans. We got Red-y to Runway Love – a bright red, One Time Lime – a lively green, and Make U Smile – clear silver glitter. Application was a breeze for all three. They all came with Nicole by OPI’s new Perfect Stroke brush, which made the lacquers so easy to apply. The brush is short but stout, and one stroke actually covered a lot of nail real estate, so a lot of polish is saved in the process. The formula was so smooth as well. All the colors glided on smoothly, without streaking of any kind.

Red-y to Runway Love is such a cheery red. It’s got a tinge of orange in it, that’s why it looks like the color of cherries with a dash of sunshine. One coat was enough for this brilliant shade, but we did two to avoid chipping. It’s our favorite from the package.

One Time Lime is very punchy, which is how green lacquers should always be. It’s just right – not too light and not too dark. The shiny texture reminded us of green apples. It’s such a summer color. Like Red-y to Runway Love, it was done in one coat, but to guard against chipping, we did two.

Make U Smile is a clear lacquer with silver glitter. We first thought that the glitter would be thick enough for the polish to stand alone, but it was actually very flimsy. It had two kinds of glitter – tiny ones, and large hexagon-shaped ones. The hex glitter didn’t stick to the brush well and were hard to get out of the bottle, and with the clear lacquer, the polish didn’t work alone. Then we tried it as a topcoat, putting it over OPI’s Dating a Royal, and it became magic. The glitter showed up well over the blue polish, resulting in a night sky effect. The sparkle was subtle and pretty, which goes to show that glitter doesn’t always have to look over-the-top.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of Justin Bieber or not. There is no denying that One Less Lonely Girl is a great polish collection. If you need further convincing to pick up a bottle or two, here it is. The line is helping Justin raise funds and awareness for Pencils of Promise – a nonprofit organization that builds sustainable schools for undeserved children in the developing world. Nicole by OPI has also committed to building two such schools. How’s that for good nail polish?