ProductWhores

Matte Envy

So I've been in love with L'Oreal's Infallible Paints since their first collection released months ago.  I loved the formula, bold color choices, and the drugstore accessibility.  So imagine my delight when I was sent the new Infallible Paints Matte shades, all different varieties of nude colors.  First of all, nude shades are my true love.  I wear a lot of reds and bright shades too, but on a normal, every day basis, nude shades are where it's at.  (Mainly because I can put them on without a mirror without fear of giving myself clown mouth, but also for the way they look).  There are six nude shades that range from super light to extremely dark (my favorite is Peach Pit, which is, as you might imagine, a gorgeous glowy peach that looks amazing with a dark, smoky eye.  The Paints are full coverage and they're my favorite sort of matte - the finish is definitely matte, but it's not so matte that it dries out your lips or shows all the lines in them (AKA the dreaded Old Lady Lips).  I also love the doefoot applicator on these - it makes it easy to apply in one fell swoop - so much more my preference than a brush. Plus, it gives you an excuse to go to CVS or Target to pick them up - and I think we all know how much I love a good drugstore or Target run.  Anything I can use to justify one is always welcome.  They're around $10 apiece, but heed my words of wisdom and wait for a sale because you can score the whole collection that way instead of having to make a hard choice between shades.  Matte away!  

Note: Samples of this product were sent to me by a PR representative working with L'Oreal

Infallible Coverage

You know what's a great thing to find?  A good drugstore foundation.  Don't get me wrong, I love a fancy, high-end one as much as the next women, but when I'm on a budget and have to choose my spending carefully, I'd much rather have other makeup (or, you know, shoes) than a bottle of foundation for $50.  So when I find a good drugstore one that I would buy at double the price, well, it makes me very happy. Very, very happy.  L'Oreal's Infallible Total Cover Foundation is a scant $11 (or so - it depends on where you get it and what sales are going on, but in that general area) and performs so much better than half the foundations from Sephora I have in my bathroom.  The formula has a light texture and you only need a little to cover your entire face, so use it sparingly. (Making the price even MORE attractive, since the tube will last you a long time).  The coverage you'll get from it is medium to full, definitely not sheer, but not heavy enough to give you a mask-like look that some of the heavier foundations result in.  In fact, I would say that it looks totally natural on. It didn't dry out my skin at all either, which is key for a long-lasting foundation.  I will say that I didn't wear it for twenty-four straight hours to test their claims of it lasting that long (who would need that??) but I did wear it for about ten and it really only started to fade after about eight or so, which is definitely decent.  Overall, I'm really digging this one, especially at its price point.  I have to say, L'Oreal's really been my drugstore obsession lately and it's kind of nice getting excited to buy drugstore makeup again (I mean, not that I ever wasn't, but now I "really" am).  Super happy about this find. Highly recommend!

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with L'Oreal

Paint With Broad Strokes

I am on a serious makeup buying freeze right now and it's really making me cranky.  I mean, buying a new lipstick or eyeshadow is my go to way to cheer myself up when something goes wrong or reward myself when something goes well.  (Kind of like those people who let themselves eat ice cream when they're both sad AND happy).  So I was realllllly happy when I saw these new L'Oreal Infallible Lip Paints. They're very similar to Too Faced's Melted Lipsticks for a fraction of the price (they were $9.99 at my CVS, but on sale for $7.99) so it lets me get my new makeup fix without breaking the bank.  They're available in 14 different shades, including some really uniques ones, like Navy Spy.  (I'm super into navy lipsticks and glosses lately - how did it take me this long to realize how cool that looks?)  The Lip Paints are highly pigmented glosses - not matte at all - and I'm super digging the way they look and feel on.  They're moisturizing and coverage is great (some of the darker ones are a little patchy, but it's not terrible and if you apply a little more color, it seems to even out).  I'm really loving these a lot.  I have seven of the fourteen shades (a few were sent to me and then I bought additional colors) and I'm thinking I may have to acquire a few more, so CVS needs to get on their sales (may I suggest a buy one, get one free deal? That would help me out a lot, thanks).  

Note: Samples of this product were sent to me by a PR representative working with L'Oreal

Note: Samples of this product were sent to me by a PR representative working with L'Oreal

Clay-Mazing!

I love a good face mask.  Nothing better than putting one on and relaxing with a magazine (and maybe a glass of wine) while watching some trashy television or taking a bath.  So when L'Oreal came out with a line of new Pure-Clay Masks, I was all over that.  There are three formulas - Detox & Brighten, Exfoliate & Refine Pores, and Purify & Mattify. They're each around $13 or so (my tip - wait for a coupon because drugstores ALWAYS have coupons or sales and you can really stock up then) and you get a good amount for that price (1.7 ounces) so it's a smart buy.  My favorite of the three is Detox & Brighten.  It goes on smoothly, is super easy to apply and hardens as it dries, so you can really feel it working.  It takes about 15 minutes or so for it to reach maximum detox, then you just use water and a washcloth to take it all off. (You could probably just use water, but I think it's easier with a washcloth, plus then you get some exfoliation too).  When I remove the mask, my skin feels super clean and all glowy (that's a technical term!) and it looks really great.  All for less than $15!  Definitely a drugstore deal worth buying!    

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with L'Oreal

Pure-ly A Time Saver

I've been running a lot lately, which means that sometimes I have to take two showers a day.  And even when I'm only taking one, I'm still trying to be gentle with my hair since it's spending so much time out in the summer sun.  Which led to my recent discovery of L'Oreal's Hair Expertise EverPure Cleansing Balm.  I've been buying it at CVS since they do such a great job with their discounts and coupons, so for a 16.9 ounce bottle, I've been paying around $14 or so (give or take a little) which is great since that's pre-discounts AND it's both shampoo and conditioner.  This particular formula is meant for color-treated hair (which is perfect because my hair is super blonde right now for the summer) and it's low lather, so there aren't a ton of suds.  I've had problems in the past with cleansing balms cleaning well, but leaving my hair feeling like it hasn't been conditioned at all, and I'm happy to say that doesn't happen with this one.  My hair feels like I've used both shampoo and conditioner in only one step and that makes my lazy self happy.  (More time in the shower to use a body scrub!)  I super love how easy this is and the way it makes my hair look, plus it doesn't strip the (very expensive) color out of it AND it's affordable.  What more could a girl ask for?!  

Line 'Em Up

Drugstore makeup displays are seriously my kryptonite because I'm always running into CVS to pick something up and that means allowing myself to also browse the cosmetics section. Somehow, I never leave empty handed.  It's amazing, really, that even when I'm just on a mission for eye drops, I can somehow also leave with three nail polishes, two lipsticks and some sort of eye product.  My latest drugstore find is L'Oreal's Infallible Silkissime Eyeliner.  Available in ten different colors/finishes - everything from a deep black to a peachy-pink highlighter shade - they're kind of like a cheaper version of Urban Decay's cult classic liners (they're around $9 each, depending on sales).  The shades glide on and blend easily, and they have a pretty decent lasting power.  (Definitely not as long as Urban Decay, but basically for the whole work day for me, so I consider that a win).  The one thing I can't comment on yet though is sharpening them, which seems to be a bone of contention for some people online.  I'll have to play around with that and keep you posted, since I've only had them for about ten days and don't need to sharpen any of them yet.  I do love everything else about them though, and the colors are great.  (I'm really enamored with Silver - it almost looks foil like.  I've been using a darker shadow on my lids and lining my lower lashes with it and I'm totally obsessed with the contrast. It's super pretty).  So for right now, these get a big thumbs up.  More to come when I try to sharpen them.  Fingers crossed people online are just exaggerating their annoyance. (People online exaggerate?  Never!)

A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with L'Oreal       

Fifty Shades Of Fabulous

You guys, "Fifty Shades of Grey" was a terrible book.  I know I'm not in the minority for thinking that here, but seriously - terrible.  At the end of my life, I'm really going to want the time I spend reading that damn trilogy back.  (Yeah, I know.  I read all three.  Even though they were awful.  But I had downloaded all of them at the same time because people SWORE they were amazing, so I kind of felt the need to get my money's worth).  So yeah, needless to say, I will NOT be seeing the movie, unless I go with a group of friends as a joke, which actually sounds kinda fun (as long as there are margaritas first!)  That being said, the terrible books have resulted in some fantastic makeup releases, which makes the entire thing worth it.  (Even the fact that Christian Grey uses the word "Laters."  LATERS!  Terrifying).  My current favorite is L'Oreal's new Dark Sides of Grey nail collection - eight shades of different varieties of grey, each of them better than the last.  It's a great mix of glitters, shimmers and creme finishes as well, so there's a ton of variety - something for everyone!  My favorites are (of course!) the glitters.  Caution Please is a sort of chrome, silver glitter - so, so pretty!  Totally d'Accord is a black base with dark glitter in it - it's sort of a goth neutral (if such a thing existed).  And for someone who loves a good dark creme, Grey Corset is gorgeous - it's the perfect dark grey (almost black).  I'll be bringing that one to the salon many, many times, I can already tell.  The best part?  Each shade is only $5.99 and they're available at drugstores, so you won't even have to go to much effort to seek them out.  But I have a feeling these are going to FLY off the shelves, so when you spot them, I'd grab every shade you want because they probably won't be there the next time you visit.  Just a hunch...      

Note:  Samples of the above items were sent to me by a PR representative working with L'Oreal Paris

Attend A Sparkling Soiree

Holiday nail collections are the best because they almost always have some glittery shades in them and L'Oreal's new Sparkling Soiree set more than fulfills my glitter quota.  It's made up of eight shades, four of which are a full on glitter explosion, and should be at your local drugstore for you to pick up now.  Here's what you'll find in the collection:

• Hit the Slopes - A milky white
• Almost Midnight - A deep eggplant
• Tuxedo Noir - A silvery black shimmer
• Bring the Rubies - A metallic red
• Pink Party Dress - A pink glitter in a clear base
• Midnight Fireworks - A multi-colored glitter in a clear base
• 24-carat - A gold glitter in a clear base
• Snow ball - A silver glitter in a clear base

My favorites are Bring the Rubies and Tuxedo Noir, both of which are perfect for the holiday party season (for fingers or toes).  And at somewhere around $6 apiece (depending on where you buy them), it's a cheap and easy splurge to make you happy.  Buy them all!

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with L'Oreal

Glitter Into The New Year

I super love glitter nail polish.  Like, way more than anyone my age should.  It's just so sparkly and pretty!  I don't usually wear it on my fingers, but I'm almost always wearing it on my toes and sometimes, I admit, I give in and wear a shade I'm particularly excited about on my hands.  So when I saw the display with the new L'Oreal Gold Dust shades, I got super excited.  There are nine different colors in the collection, which is a limited-edition release for the holidays.  The polishes all have a textured formula, and they dry to a matte finish (they also dry very quickly, which is a bonus for those of us who get impatient and smudge our nails constantly).  The shades are all unique and super, super pretty - I can't get enough of Hidden Gems (a dark turquoise with silver glitter), Rough Around the Edges (a black with silver glitter) and The Reign of Studs (a purple glitter).  Those are definitely my three favorites, but I love the other six too - this is the one collection I've gotten recently that doesn't have a dud in the bunch.  I'd wear them all.  (And clearly, other people agree because they've been on my desk all day and every woman who walks by picks them up and oohs and aahs over them).  I've seen the displays in almost all the drugstores by me, but they're getting picked over fast, so if you see them, definitely scoop them up and run to the counter - you might not get another chance!

Note: Samples were sent to me by a PR representative working with L'Oreal

Protect Your Skin

You guys, I've been doing something very un-me like - hiking.  I know, I know, I can hardly believe it either!  But it's really good exercise and when it's not super hot out, it's actually kind of enjoyable (I mean, let's not get carried away here, it's nothing I'd do if I wasn't trying to be healthier, but it's a good way to catch up with friends if someone comes with you or a good chance to listen to music if you go alone).  But because it's been so hot in L.A., I've been super careful about covering all my exposed skin with sunscreen before I go because if I didn't, I would be burnt before I even made it up the first hill.  Lately, my sunscreen of choice has been L'Oreal Paris' Sublime Sun Sheer Protect Sunscreen Oil SPF 50+.  (I know, it's a mouthful.  Lots of words in that product name!)

Ashley Tisdale is also a fan, which makes sense because it's awesome.  First of all, it's a spray, which is nice because it's super easy to apply that way.  (I usually rub it in anyway though - I just feel like I get better protection that way). For an oil, it's not very greasy at all, which I very much appreciate because I HATE feeling greasy or oily.  It makes me cringe.  I want to immediately shower whenever I feel greasy, so I could not spend all day with this sunscreen on if it felt like that.  And the protection it gives is awesome. It was 99 degrees out today and I went on a hike (don't ask why - I didn't think it was nearly that hot out when I got ready for it at home and by the time I was outside and realized it, I felt like I was too far in to turn back) and about halfway through, I started to freak out a little because I could feel the sun just attacking my bare arms and I was starting to panic that even with the sunscreen on, I was going to get burnt because my fair skin turns red even in the shade.  But nope!  It's 8 hours later and my skin is as pasty white as ever.  You've gotta love that.  And at around $11, it's a definite bargain compared to some of the much pricier sunscreens out there.  Stock up before the summer!      

And in case you were still on the fence, do it because L'Oreal is putting their money where their mouth is with a commitment to the Melanoma Research Alliance.  For every Sublime Sun product sold in the U.S. through the end of this year, they'll donate $1 to the MRA for the L’Oréal Paris-MRA Team Science Award. (Over the next three years, they'll donate over $750K).  Even more reason to buy!