Rimmel London Oh My Gloss Review & Swatches

Rimmel Oh My Gloss! ($5.49 at Target stores) is a brand new range of lip glosses that are infused with argan oil and vitamin E and claim to give your lips color, moisture, and shine that lasts up to 6 hours, which is quite long-wearing for a gloss. I counted 17 shades at my local Target and as much as I wish I could have bought them all to swatch for you, I had to restrain myself to just 6. So keep on reading for my first impressions...plus arm, lip and full face swatches (oh my)! 

Lorac Alter Ego Goddess Lip Gloss Review and Swatches

Lorac Alter Ego Lip Gloss ($16 at Ulta) was recently launched as part of their Summer 2015 collection and I had to try one, especially when I saw the beautiful mauve-y purple shade Goddess. Let's take a look...

Lorac Alter Ego Lip Gloss in Goddess

Maybelline Baby Lips Gloss Spotted at Walmart

Good morning! How's everyone's week going so far? Guess what I spotted at Walmart yesterday (finally)-Maybelline Baby Lips Glosses! I've been looking for these for several weeks now and was excited to see them (although a little underwhelmed at the color selection). This is all six shades here, but I'm curious as to why the photo on the display shows a bright pink gloss with a green cap...and that color doesn't seem to exist?  Weird.  Anyway, let's take a closer look...

I'm not sure if the display was just understocked or if these have sold so quickly that there was only one of each color, but I started to get nervous when I realized that these are not safety sealed (neither were the ColorBlur pencils, by the way).  Seriously...this is Walmart we're talking about, we need safety seals! I figured there was no way I'd be able to pick up all six shades, because I was positive at least one of these would have been opened.  To my surprise, they were all untouched (yesss) so I will be swatching all six shades for you very soon.

What do you guys think of the color selection? Have you tried these out yet?

Splurge! Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Petal Review and Swatches

Last week, Sephora Beauty Insiders got the opportunity to try the brand new Petal shade of Fresh's Sugar Lip Treatment before the general public (if you haven't signed up to be a Beauty Insider, it's free and has great perks).  When I got the email, I jumped at the chance to order it, even though at $22.50 it's quite a splurge for a tinted lip balm. What makes it so special? If you've tried it, you already know, but if not, I'll explain...
My love for Fresh's Sugar Lip Treatment started about 8 years ago, when I was working for Sephora and as soon as I tried it, I was obsessed!   
It's the most moisturizing lip product I've ever used- it has a soft, glossy texture that melts easily, so you have to be careful not to keep it in your pocket.  No matter what condition your lips are in, this will heal them- they can be dry, flaky and peeling, but apply this and they go from shriveled to plump in a matter of minutes.  For even more conditioning, I wear the clear one to bed every night and wake up with plump, pillowy, lineless lips.  When my nose gets raw from a cold, I dab some on my skin with my finger, and by the next morning, it's totally healed. I've tried to find a drugstore balm that compares to this and I just can't...I mean, some of them are pretty good, but this is holy grail status. 

 During the day, my favorite shade is Rose- a sheer rosy pink that looks really nice with my fair complexion.

Rose

Since I just finished my tube of Rose, it was the perfect time to try Petal, which is described as sheer petal pink.  It has the same soft lemony scent as the rest of the shades, and the luxe metal twist tube comes in a pretty shade of pink.

This shade is definitely a little pinker than Rose, which has a bit more of a berry/reddish tint to it.  It's not a pale baby pink, but more of a nude-pink.  Here's a swatch:

Here's my before and after- from the pictures it doesn't look like there's much color to it, but it definitely shows up a little darker than it looks in the picture and is a great my-lips-but-better shade.  

Have you splurged on Fresh's Sugar Lip Treatment, and if so, what's your favorite shade?  

To purchase, head to Sephora.com.

New NYX Products for Spring 2013

I'm such an NYX fan and am excited to see new products launching for Spring 2013!  Also, once you've read this post and seen stuff you like, check out this deal- get $60 worth of NYX products for $30!

First up is the Wonder Pencil- $4.50

"Introducing the Wonder Pencil…It’s the essential pencil that will meet all of your beauty desires! Conquer the 3 important makeup deeds with one product – conceal, brighten, and line! Use this pencil as a lip liner and an eye brightener inside your water line. Get that impeccable look naturally. Available in 3 shades to match your skin tone flawlessly"

Next up is the Smoky and Natural Shadow Palettes- $7.00

I love palettes, and these have some really great shades in them.

Love in Rio Palettes- $6.00- Available in 22 shades.

These 3-shade palettes are gorgeous, shimmery colors perfect for summer.  Shown in Amazonian Babes.  Love the bow compact too!

• What it is: Astonishing 3 color eye shadow palette featuring natural and pulsating colors. Available in 22 color selections. Debuting New NYX Bow Compact.

• What it does: Provides intense eye colors with a silky texture for seamless application for any eye look that you desire.

• Why we love it: Consists of 3 complementing eye shadows to wear together or alone. Carry your favorite trio with you and create any look on the go with the help of the dual applicator that allows you to apply, smudge and line your eyes effortlessly!

Next is the Collection Chocolate- $6.  6 brown eyeliners in different formulas from satin to matte, kohl to liquid.  Whatever finish you're looking for, they have it!

"Let your eyes take the cake with Collection Chocolaté! The collection carries 6 different formulations of lustrous eyeliners, from matte, satin, glossy pencils to liquid eyeliners. Wrap your eyes with one or all of these smudge-free formula liners. The collection offers various types of eyeliners that apply smooth and effortlessly for lasting and dramatic wear". 

Butter Gloss- $5.  

Add a little more sweetness to your lips with a touch of the Butter Lip Gloss available in 12 scrumptious colors! Get creamy sheer to medium coverage on your lips without that sticky sensation. It’s perfect for every sweet tooth!

Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator- $7.00

Enrich your lovely features with a touch of the Liquid Illuminator that will give your skin a hint of a pink or peach tone. A light application will give your skin that luminous and healthy goddess glow.

Love in Florence Shadow Palettes- $8 (shown in Tryst by the Trevi).  These come in such beautiful, feminine shades.

Live, explore and discover Love in Florence through the lush 5 color eye shadow palettes available in rich hues catering to all eye colors and looks! This compact palette comes with a dual ended applicator so you can carry the kit and spread the love everywhere you go. Available in 10 different complementary collections.

Love in Paris Shadow Palettes $10 (shown in A La Mode).

Fall in Love in Paris with our brilliant 9 color palette that complements all eye colors and fashion ensembles. Use this adorable travel friendly kit with the included applicator through every voyage and adventure for creating captivating looks and touch ups. Attract the Love in Paris with your eyes! Available in 12 color selections.



Do any of these appeal to you?  If so, which ones will you get?  Or have you tried any of these already?

ELFJumbo Lip Gloss Stick Review and Swatches

ELF (Eyes Lips Face) is one of my favorite budget beauty brands, and every time I go on their website, I get a little carried away.  Everything is just so cheap! And by cheap I mean inexpensive, not quality-wise.  In fact, this brand has almost always left me feeling quite impressed and feeling almost like I'm ripping them off.

So I purchased quite a large ELF haul a few weeks ago, and all this product was just sitting there in the box, waiting for me to get some pictures for the blog.  I was so crazy-busy with my 9-5 job during the day and so tired at night from being pregnant that I haven't gotten to it until now.  Not being able to try this stuff out until I could take pictures, well, that took a lot of patience, let me tell ya!

 

These chubby lip gloss crayons are similar in style to those made by Revlon and Clinique, however these cost.......$2 a piece.  That's right- two bucks! So for the price of one at the drugstore, I was able to get 4 shades to try:

In the Nude- a Nude, peachy shade
Summer Nights- Shimmery, rosy pink-nude
Tiki Torches- a pink-coral
Pink Umbrellas- a sheer pink shade

Here's some packaging shots:

The formula is extremely moisturizing due to the Jojoba and Soybean oils and Vitamin E- it feels really nice on the lips and keeps them soft and smooth.  These are sheerer and less pigmented than the Revlon and Clinique versions, but I actually like that about them.  Sometimes you just want a sheer wash or hint of color for a more natural look, and these deliver exactly that.  

The wear time isn't too long, about average for a lip gloss, maybe 2 hours or so.  But the twist up chubby stick is super convenient to take with you for touch ups.  

These have a hint of minty scent to them, but it's not overpowering.  I'm not a fan of lip products that smell like mint, but these are so light, it doesn't bother me.  

From Left to Right: Tiki Torches, Pink Umbrellas, In the Nude, and Summer Nights

These look much darker in the tube than they look on the lips.  

Here are the swatches on my arm: 

Left to Right: In the Nude, Summer Nights, Tiki Torches, Pink Umbrellas.  

I love all of the shades except In the Nude- I found it to be too nude for my lips, which have a bit of pink pigment in them.  It made them look unnaturally light and frosty.  The other three were beautiful, natural looking shades, adding just a hint of rose, coral, or pink depending on the color, and lots of shine.  There is some shimmer in these, but it doesn't feel gritty when I rub my lips together. 

I'm so glad I found these, and unless I'm looking for something more pigmented, I think I'll stick with these over other similar lip crayons, since the price is just too good to pass up!

Has anyone tried these?  If not, are you thinking about it?

L'oreal Color Caresse Shine Stain Review and Lilac Ever After Swatches

When I heard that L'oreal was coming out with a Shine Stain that was supposed to Rival YSL's version I was so excited and I was hoping that the Caresse would be a really good dupe since L'oreal owns YSL.

I will say right up front that I don't see much difference between the two, except that the YSL version might be a tad more pigmented.  But the formula seems the same, and they even have the same perfumey scent!
At around $11, L'oreal's version is totally worth it vs. YSL's hefty $32 price tag.

So being a lover of nude shades, I purchased Lilac Ever After, and the name is totally misleading since it's a pinky-nude- I didn't see any lilac in there at all!

The packaging is really nice, and I love that you can see the actual shade of the product through the  window in the sleek gold tube.

It has a flattened doe foot applicator, which I like because it's wide and you can swipe the product on really easily. It goes on smooth and glossy and sets in about 30 seconds or so.  The glossiness lasted a few hours, which really surprised me! It gradually matted down over time, and while it had a slightly tacky feel, it wasn't sticky and added a lot of moisture to my lips. The color stayed for another few hours, so I was really impressed with this gloss.  I've heard that the darker colors last even longer than the lighter ones, so I'm excited to try more shades. 

Here's a swatch of Lilac Ever After on my hand: 

And here are my before and afters.  This shade is a "Your Lips but Better" color, and I'm so in love with it!  It came out a little lighter than it really is in the picture, but the swatch on my hand is a good representation of the color.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I love, love this product!  It lasts a long time, doesn't dry out lips like other stains and has tons of gorgeous shades.  This is a win for L'oreal. 

Has anyone else tried these?  What do you think?

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? 

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?