Tag: drugstore

L’Oréal Paris Healthy Look Crème Gloss Color & Giveaway!

So, today is the big 3-3 Birthday for me! And what better to celebrate with than a new experience. Confession: I have virgin hair. Never been colored, ever. And frankly, I’m enjoying not having the extra load on my pocketbook. But that doesn’t mean I couldn’t use a little change every now and then. And I know I was massively in need for some conditioning on my dry ends. So when I had the chance to try L’Oréal Paris Healthy Look Crème Gloss Color, it was a no-brainer.

L’Oréal Paris Healthy Look Crème Gloss Color is designed to take natural hair color up a notch. It is no-ammonia hair color that lasts through 28 shampoos. It can blend away grays and since it isn’t a permanent color, you don’t have to worry about roots. I used shade 6BB and my hair came out shinier, slightly darker and massively conditioned.

The process of the color was easier than I expected. You mix a little bottle, activating the color. I used every ounce to cover my very long hair. The nozzle on the bottle allowed me to get in every nook and cranny. The formula didn’t drip anywhere, although I would suggest wearing a shirt that can handle a little stain. The color stays on your head for 10 minutes then it is off to the shower. As you rinse, color is everywhere. I was a bit concerned, but it simply washed away. It took a good couple of minutes of rinsing to get all the color out. Then, I applied the included conditioner. This time, you are allowed to use conditioner on your scalp (normally stick to just your ends). This stuff is a real treat and left my hair uber-soft. Rinse again and you are done! I had no color transfer to my towels or sheets. This was literally a mess-free process.

Check out their app on Facebook where you can:

Take the Hair Color Census – Stand up for your shade by answering a short series of questions. When the results are in, we finally get to find out if blonds have more fun (I don’t think so!)
Enhance Your Facebook Page – You can create customized cover photos, wallpaper and poster images, including editing options for adding a cool quotes/artwork
Experience Shade Inspiration AND Entering to Win – Upload “Before & After” images of your Healthy Look Crème Gloss Color experience for a chance to win a year’s worth of FREE hair color. Bonus: a downloadable $2-off coupon

And since it is my birthday, we’ve gotta make it a giveaway! We are giving 10 (TEN!) so you guys can try it too. I know you will be hooked. Just enter below using the widget. US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

SOHO Professional Brush Collection

Makeup brushes can be a pricey investment. I’m all for building a collection of investment-worthy brushes over time. But sometimes your budget doesn’t allow or you need a second set. Enter SOHO Professional Brush Collection available at Walgreens. They offer a wide selection of brushes to fit every function. They are ergonomically designed and quite beautiful. I’ve found they work great across the board and have come in handy as I fill in my collection with the more “specialty brushes”.

I’m so smitten that I am giving one of you a carbon copy of my collection of SOHO brushes (worth over $50). My favorites are:

Powder Brush
Highlighter Brush
Small Shader Brush
Crease Brush
Concealer Brush

Enter to win using the widget below. Open to anyone in the US. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CoverGirl Eyes

I’ve found a new drugstore duo from CoverGirl that can’t be beat for summer days. I love the crease-proof, sheer look of CoverGirl Intense ShadowBlast Eyeshadow in Brown Bling. No need to fuss with a primer – it is already built in! This is perfect for those long, hot days. Not only is it water-proof but stays like a champ. The brush is spongy and a breeze to maneuver.

Follow up with CoverGirl Liquiline Blast Eyeliner in Blackfire. This pencil is super creamy and doesn’t tug at your skin as you apply it. The shade is a blendable, grey black – not too severe for summer days. The other end is a smudger which I actually use. It isn’t too stiff and does the job blending out the pigment.

Both for under $15 at drugstore.com

by Lindsay Rogers

Drugstore Hits and Misses

1. Almay Eyeshadow Trio Smoky Smoky Hazel – Sorry to start out on a negative note, but skip this guy. The powder has very little pigment and is quite dry. I like the idea of a kit that caters to eye color, but they missed on this one.

2. L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow – Instead, pick up these pots. They look like pressed powder but have a creamy formula. They apply like a dream. I wish they had more colors and some less metallic options but only because I love them so much. I have Endless Pearl, which is relatively matte and a great base color. Bronze Taupe is a beautiful, warm and multifaceted neutral. These appear much more expensive than they are. Also, they mean it when they say don’t discard the little interior plastic to press down the product. If it isn’t on there the powder loosens. Whoopsie.

3. Ardell Fashion Lashes Black (110) – I am relatively new to false lashes and was incredibly intimidated to try them. But I gave it a whirl with these, using Duo adhesive. It was a breeze! They look very natural and I got loads of compliments. They were comfortable to wear didn’t damage my own lashes. Use tweezers to hold the lash strip. Put a dot of glue on the back of your hand. Slowly and carefully dip the lash strip into the glue several times along base of the lashes. Lay onto your lashes, add mascara and liner to blend with your own!

4. Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner in Blackest Black – This guy is an award winner and no surprise why. The formula has massive staying power. The color is a perfect, deep black. The brush is easy to handle. Need I say more?

5. Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Coffee Cake – I’ve been ooing and ahing about this innovative product all over the social media waves. The texture is what makes this blush different. It almost feels like a makeup applicator sponge at first. It is malleable but springs back. It applies like a cream, but dries to a long staying powder appearance. The effect is not matte but there is no shimmer (which I love). I picked up Coffee Cake, a nude peach that works great for a tonal, natural face.

6. eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balm – I reviewed these here, but I just had to mention them again. They are fabulous balms and are so easy to find in a big purse. They have loads of flavors with medicated and SPF options.

7. Maybelline Color Tatoo 24HR Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze – Another standout drugstore eyeshadow. This is creamier than the L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow, with slighly less pigment but a little more staying power. Bad to the Bronze is a lighter version of Bronze Taupe. I also wish this came in more colors because I love it so. Many of the shades are dramatic and on the cooler side.

8. eos Shave Cream, Ultra Moisturizing, Lavender Jasmine – If you like a foaming shave cream, this isn’t for you. But the smell is what sold me. It also comes in pomegranate raspberry, island blue, cucumber melon, vanilla bliss and sensitive – fragrance free. It is massively hydrating and almost feels like conditioner.

9. eos Refresh Active Care Hand and Body Lotion – Again, they got me on the fabulous scent. The fresh cucumber lingers just enough. It isn’t greasy in the least bit. These products aren’t tested on animals and paraban-free. I’m becoming quite the eos fan.

Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter

This is my current drugstore MVP. Not only is it my favorite drugstore lipstick, but it actually performs just as well as other more expensive lip color products. What distinguishes this price performer is the butter-like balm consistancy.

Lip color looks awful on dry lips. I’m known to just forget the whole lipstick thing in those dry winter months. But I have found that Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter can actually heal dry lips with mango, shea and coconut butter. After the first couple of days of testing these guys, my lips actually looked better – healthy and moisturized.

I’ve found the coverage depends on the shades, but they all have a shiny finish. Of my three favorites, Red Velvet is the most opaque. Strawberry Shortcake is a sheer, frosty pink (perfect for spring). And Creme Brulee is a neutral, sheer peach. There is no scent or taste to these colors. And they don’t last longer than an hour or so. But they feel so good to apply, that I don’t mind.

Prices vary, but they are $7.49 at drugstore.com. And right now (through 3/9), drugstore.com is offering 20% off purchases in their Beauty department. Just click here and use code BEAUTY20.

Travel Friendly Wipes

I was, almost irrationally, excited to achieve a exclusive frequent flier status this past year. Those little perks, upgrades and VIP treatment are just enough to transform a flying experience. So, needless to say, I am no stranger to airplanes. And you’ll be surprised to hear, unlike most beauty junkies, I do not check luggage if at all possible. Fretting over its safe arrival is just too much to take. And maybe a little control freak problem going on there too.

So, I like to consider myself an expert on how to pack TSA-friendly cosmetics. The champion of this endeavor is wipes. These guys don’t require any of that precious space in that plastic baggie. So, why not throw in a couple varieties? Along with Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes, these are my favorites.

Lumene Sensitive Touch Cleansing Wipes are the value performer. At the same time, they are gentle on my sensitive skin. I like using these for workhorse eye makeup removal. Even though they are gentle, they can easily stand up to a heavily dressed up eye. The wipes are alcohol-free, colorant-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free and silicone-free. The smaller packs of 10 wipes for $2.99 are great for your purse and you can find them at CVS.

Korres Milk Proteins Cleansing & Make Up Removing Wipes are also super gentle but a little more of a splurge – $12 for 25 wipes at Sephora. But these guys are performers. I get that fully cleansed feel after I use these, just as if I had used my favorite foaming cleanser. The milk proteins help soften the skin with supple, refreshed results. These milk proteins contain amino acids that actually nourish, rather than strip, the skin.

Hope these will come in handy for you on your upcoming (and hopefully beach getaway) travels! Bon Voyage.