New! Burts Bees BB Cream

I was browsing on the Drugstore.com website tonight and came across the new Burt's Bees BB Cream $13.49. I haven't seen this in the drugstores yet so it took me by surprise. It comes in three shades: Light, Light/Medium and Medium and claims to be a 9-in-1 formula. Let's take a look...

Here's the description from the drugstore.com website:

Protects with Broad Spectrum SPF 15.  Moisturizes, smoothes, visibly firms, illuminates, evens tone, conceals and helps reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Burt's Bees® BB Cream 9-in-1 multi-tasking formula with Broad Spectrum SPF 15 enhances your skin's natural beauty instantly.  This unique natural formula moisturizes, visibly firms skin, evens skin tone, and reduces the apperance of fine lines and wrinkles while proving a hint of tint, so you'll look beautiful, naturally.

Our BB Cream is formulated with natural mineral pigments to give you a natural glow.  Our skin-enhancing formula contains Noni extract and moisturizes skin, leaving it feeling soft and supple.  These mineral pigments instantly even your skin's tone, providing sheer, lightweight coverage, so your natural beauty can shine through.

No parabens, phthalates, petrolatum or SLS.

What do you think about a BB Cream from Burt's Bees? Would you try it? 

You can purchase this now for $13.49 at Drugstore.com and most likely soon at drugstores. 

Maybelline Dream Bronze BB Review and Swatches

Maybelline Dream Bronze BB ($6.99) is a brand new 8-in-1 Beauty Balm that adds a sunkissed glow to your skin, just in time for summer. I recently spotted this at Bed, Bath and Beyond and couldn't resist buying one to try. Let's take a closer look...

Physicians Formula Super BB Cream Compact Makeup Review

Last year, Physicians Formula launched their Super BB Line, and while I didn't try the powder, I found that the cream that came in the tube was mask-like and heavy, sank into lines, and didn't last, not to mention that the light color was still way too dark for me.

Now for Spring 2014, they've released a compact version. Do I like it any better? Let's see!

This cream is supposed to replace your moisturizer, foundation, and SPF, which is 30- not bad!

It comes in a compact with a mirror and a sponge applicator.

The texture is slightly greasy, I'm guessing it's because it's supposed to moisturize, but it wasn't enough moisture for my dry skin- I needed to layer this on top of my regular moisturizer.  I think those with oily skin may find this too greasy, so those who are somewhere in the middle of oily and dry might find this to be right for them.  Application with the included sponge is horrible, so I wouldn't recommend that.  The first time I used this with the sponge, it went on way too thick and pasty and just looked...not right.  But then I applied it using my Sonia Kashuk flat top brush, which I use to apply foundation all the time, and it went on much better.  I swirled the brush around in the compact and then buffed it into my skin in a circular motion.  It gave me a nice light to medium coverage with a satin finish.

The light shade is close to my skin color, but like all Physicians Formula products I've tried so far, it's yellow based (which is what most people are, around 80%) but I have pink undertones, so it wasn't quite a match.

My thoughts on this are just...Meh. It's ok, but for my dry skin it's not a do-it-all product since I still need to moisturize.  

It reminds me of another product I purchased last Spring, which is Too Faced Air Buffed BB Creme Compact, $39 at Sephora.  It's extremely similar in terms of the coverage, texture and wear.  So much so, I'm calling this a dupe (I'll pin it to my dupes board).  The Too Faced one comes with a brush to apply it that's similar to my Sonia Kashuk brush, just smaller.  That's what gave me the idea to apply the Physicians Formula one that way.

Overall, if you have normal skin without a lot of imperfections and you're looking for light to medium coverage with an SPF 30, you might really love this.  The rest of us will just have to keep on looking!

Flower by Drew Barrymore BB Cream Review and Swatches

One of the things I was sure to pick up last week on my Flower haul was the BB Cream. So far, all of the drugstore versions I've tried are basically tinted moisturizers, offering little coverage (with the exception of Physicians Formula Super BB).  

So how did the Flower version stack up?  Well, lets have a look shall we?

There are four shades, and I chose the lightest one, since other BB's I've tried have come out too dark on me.  This was a bit too yellow for my pink undertones, but after I blended it well, it wasn't too noticeable.  

The coverage is excellent, and much closer to what the Korean BB Formulas are like.  I would say this gives medium coverage and has a thick, creamy texture. 

What I disliked about this product, was the dryness of it- it has a matte finish that seems to accentuate the dryness of my skin, clinging to flakes and sinking into lines.  Not everyone will have this problem, of course- if you have an oily to normal skin type, you might truly love this, especially if you'd like more coverage out of your BB.  In the photo below, you can see how my hand looks after I blended it in.  If you look closely, you can see how it clings to dry patches, especially on the right side of my hand.

Unfortunately, this wasn't for me, but it's a step in the right direction for BB Creams. I have to admit, I was amazed at how perfect my skin looked if I stood back from the mirror a bit, as it covered every bit of redness and created a perfect blank canvas for applying color.  But close up, it just looked too dry and flaky.  

Flower's BB Cream costs $12.98 at Walmart.

Has anyone else tried this, especially those with skin types that are different than mine?  What are your thoughts? 

New Products Spotted- L'oreal Versailles Nail Polishes, Vichy BB Cream, Organix Keratin Oil

 I spotted some new products on the shelves of Walgreens tonight.  

Right by the front door, these caught my eye.  Organix always has the best scents, and this line looks intriguing because it's an anti-breakage Keratin line.  For a girl with dry/damaged hair, this is a little too tempting. I'm not sure if this is the whole line, but they had shampoo, conditioner, and a dry oil spray. I didn't purchase any of it, but I'm sure I will soon!

Wet n'Wild has some cute new nail polishes that look like lollipops- ColorIcon Toppings.  The display says that these are a limited edition, so if you want one, I'd hurry and go get one soon before they disappear!

I'm loving L'oreal's new Versailles Collection nail polishes, especially the baby blue- so pretty!  I love Spring.

Last but not least, Vichy has launched a BB Cream as a part of their ProEven line in 2 shades- Light and Medium.  Other products in the line include dark spot treatments for the face and under the eyes.  I was dying to try the BB Cream, but it's $33- kind of steep. 

Are you interested in any of these, or have you already purchased any of them?  Do tell!

Physicians Formula Super BB All-in-1 BB Cream Review

I had no idea that Physicians Formula was coming out with a BB Cream until I saw it at CVS the other day.  I loved their last foundation, Youthful Wear- it was full coverage that didn't settle into lines and wrinkles and had a really lovely mousse-like formula.  So I had very high hopes for this BB, mainly that it would have more coverage than all of the other tinted moisturizer-esque formulas  I've tried thus far.  It claims 10 benefits: 

Smoothing

Moisturizing

Protecting

Firming

Priming/Filling

Perfecting

Concealing

Brightening

Line-Softening

Long Wearing

It cost $15, but there was an instant $3 off coupon right on the package, plus I had $6 in CVS Extra Bucks, so I got it for $6.

First, some packaging shots: 

One thing I have to stress about this product before we go any further is that it separates!  The first time I squeezed the tube, I got some clear oil and then a blob of product after that, and when I tried to mix it, it just turned into an oily mess.  So I shook it up really well, and it was fine.  But then the next time, same thing happened- more separation!  So I've learned that you need to shake this up each and every time you use it. 

This formula is what I have been waiting for in terms of a BB with coverage. This is actually a cream formula with medium coverage, similar to foundation.  For a light/medium shade, this was a little dark for my skin.  I'm not super-fair, but I'm very light with pink undertones.  This was yellowy and definitely closer to a medium shade.

Below is the product fully blended in.  It feels very moisturizing, but leaves more of a matte finish. I wasn't crazy about the finish, because as someone with dry skin, I felt that it took away luminosity and almost looked sort of muddy on my face, especially since it's quite a bit darker than my skin.  Sort of like when you try to apply powder bronzer while your moisturizer is still damp!

On a positive note, it has great coverage, which really sets this apart from the other drugstore BB's, and didn't settle into lines and wrinkles, which is fantastic. 

For me, the biggest disappointment was the lack of luminosity/muddiness of the finish.  It might be that the shade was just too dark for me, and also the fact that it's been 15 degrees out where I live, which means that my skin is drier than usual.  If they came out with a lighter shade that blended better with my skin, I might try this in the summer months to see if I have a better result.  Other than that, I'll probably just stick with my Revlon Nearly Naked foundation, which has similar coverage and makes my face look healthy and glowy.

What do you think, have you tried this out, or do you want to?  Anyone with normal or oily skin have a better result with the finish?

L'Oreal Age Perfect Instant Radiance BB Cream Review in Light Medium

There are so many BB Creams on the market these days, it can be a bit overwhelming.  Just about every drugstore makeup/skincare brand has their own version, and the new Age Perfect Instant Radiance BB is L'Oreal's third (after Youth Code BB and Magic Skin Beautifier BB that came out over the summer).  

This one is for "mature skin", and even though I'm only in my early 30's, my skin is really dry so I was hoping that this would work really well for me, since other BB's I've tried haven't been super moisturizing.  
This one is also supposed to fade spots with Vitamin C and Soy Seed Protein- an added plus!

Here are the details on the packaging:

I was surprised to see that this BB Cream is one of those shade-adjusting formulas that starts out white and turns into it's final shade when you're working it into the skin.  However, if you've tried the Magic Skin Beautifier BB that L'Oreal launched over the summer, I have to say that this isn't like that one at all.  

There are tiny beads in suspended in the cream that break and disburse color upon application, but unlike the Magic BB, I didn't even feel the beads in this one- it wasn't grainy at all.  The cream is thicker and spreads very easily- it felt like a luxurious moisturizer would.  When I blended it in, it was like a drink of water for my dry, thirsty skin.

Once you really start to rub the product in, it starts to turn into the shade it's going to be- this one looked a little dark at first, but as I continued to blend, it actually blended in with my fair skin pretty well.  

Like other BB Creams, Age Perfect doesn't give much coverage- it's more like a tinted moisturizer.  But, it's my favorite BB so far because of the thick, luxurious texture and dewy glow without looking shiny.  I happened to be having a good skin day today, and didn't need much in the way of coverage, and this just made my skin glow and look amazing.  It doesn't sink into lines and wrinkles, and actually seemed to plump up my skin a bit. Sometimes foundation can age you by accentuating the wrinkles, so if you're willing to sacrifice a little coverage, this might be a great option for those who don't want to wear a mask everyday.   I can't wait to see if it fades spots as it claims to do, but I have a feeling that will take weeks.  

If you have oily skin, this will probably feel too thick and heavy for you. 

Spotted in Stores! New L'Oreal 2013 Products- Miracle Blur, True Match Crayon Concealer, Colour Caresse Aqua Lacquer, Age Perfect BB Cream and more!

I've been sick with the flu for a while, so I haven't had a chance to get out or do any reviews the past week or so.  But yesterday I was able to get out and at Walgreens, I spotted some new L'oreal and Maybelline products that look amazing (and of course I bought some for review).  This post will cover the new L'oreal products and I'll post the Maybelline in a separate post.

The display is so pretty and spring-like!

First is True Match Concealer Crayon.  I actually love the convenience of a crayon as opposed to liquid concealer, but in past experience, crayons were a bit heavy and accentuated fine lines around my eyes.  But I'm hoping this one is different!

Next up is Colour Caresse Aqua Lacquer.  I was totally in love with the Colour Caresse lipsticks that came out over the summer, so I immediately bought one of these.  It's a gloss/stain, and while I'll do a full review on this in the next few days, I can tell you now, that I'm really impressed with it based on my first use.  The color lasted a long time and my lips stayed shiny and moist!  The display in the picture below is a bit of a mess...people must have been picking it over like crazy. 

Next is Miracle Blur Instant Skin Smoother and Finishing Cream and Age Perfect BB Cream.  I bought Miracle Blur, because I was in need of a new primer and it was pretty expensive at $24.  I tried a little on my hand and it's super thick- almost difficult to squeeze out of the tube.  But it has a nice matte finish and definitely seemed to fill in lines.  I'll do a full review on it soon.  The Age Perfect BB Cream is for mature skin.  I didn't splurge on it yet, but eventually I will.  I'm hoping it'll work well on my dry skin. 

Last is Telescopic Shocking Extensions mascara.  I didn't buy this yet either because I bought Maybelline's new mascara, but I know I'll be back to try it soon.  

There were also some new eyeshadow palette shades and new nail polish shades.  Unfortunately I didn't get any close up shots of those, but you can see them in the first picture. 

Have you tried any of these new products yet?  If not, which ones are you excited to try? 

More New Drugstore Products- New Baby Lips shades, Lumene BB Cream, John Frieda Luxurious Volume and More!

Yesterday, I posted some photos I took at my local Walgreens of new 2013 products that are already popping up.  I wasn't able to get them all, so I went back today and got some more. I apologize if they're not super close-up, but the displays were all the way up on top of the shelving units, so I had to just hold my phone up as high as I could and hope for the best!

First, is John Frieda's Luxurious Volume collection.  It looks like it's been repackaged (from blue bottles to green) , but I'm not sure if the formulas have been changed also.  They still have a shampoo, conditioner, mousse and root lifter, but there is a new product which is an allover volume boosting spray that is supposed to be sprayed from roots to ends and plump up fine hair.  I purchased it, so I'll be posting a review after I test it for a few days. 

Next is Maybelline Baby Lips- they've launched several new limited edition shades, and a lot of them look really pretty.  It was hard to choose but I ended up getting the one in the green tube, which is a melon scent and a pretty rosy pink shade.

Lumene has launched an anti-aging BB Cream, which I'm really excited about.  Even though I haven't loved any of the BB's that have come out in the drugstore so far, I still get excited about them anyway.  I guess I keep hoping that one of them will be amazing.  

Finally, Yes To has launched Yes To Grapefruit, and it's a Correct and Repair line.  It includes a face scrub, dark spot correcting serum, dark circle correcting eye cream, and Brightening makeup remover towelettes that exfoliate with grapefruit.  

So, what do you think?  Do any of these products interest you?

NEW Drugstpre Launches- Rimmel BB Cream and Eyeshadow Sticks, Neutrogena Eyeshadow Sticks and Lip Crayons plus more!

Today I was at my local Walgreens and spotted a slew of new products!  I couldn't even photograph them all because I was getting weird looks from the employees and I didn't want to get kicked out.  I'll get some more photos tomorrow.
Anyway, get ready to be excited- there's so much to talk about!

First up is a BB Cream from Rimmel called BB Cream 9-in-1 Super Makeup. There were only three shades in the store, but it looks like there's a spot for a fourth, so I'm thinking there has to be one more.  I bought one so look for a review very soon!

Next from Rimmel is Scandaleyes Show Off Mascara.  This is supposed to lift, give volume and length.  It also has a funky brush with a rounded tip, similar to Benefit's They're Real mascara or Revlon's PhotoReady.  I wasn't too impressed with the last two Scandaleyes formulas, but maybe this one will be better!

Also from Rimmel is 24 Hour Eyeshadow sticks and Kohl Eyeliners.  I'm really excited to try these out!

Neutrogena has come out with new Crease Proof Eyeshadow sticks!  I also can't wait to try these out! 

Lastly, at least for today, are Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Sticks, which look a lot like Clinique's Chubby Stick (Revlon also launched a similar version last Spring).  I purchased one of these also, so a review will be coming shortly. 

All in all, I'm really anxious to try all of these new products.  What about you?