Double Review: Loreal Miracle Blur and Loreal Pore Vanisher

Primers at the drugstore are a fairly new occurrence. I'd say they started showing up within the last year or two and Loreal was quick to jump on the bandwagon with not one but two options. Though neither of these is actually marketed as a primer, I use them as primers.

The tube on the left is the Loreal RevitaLift Miracle Blur. This product claims to be MORE than a primer. What that really means I'm not exactly sure, but it claims to "instantly erase the look of lines, wrinkles, and pores" and mattify the skin. It comes in a regular formula and an oil-free one as well. I have the oil-free version, but I first tried this product in a sample of the regular formula. That one did just what it claimed to do. It smoothed out my skin and left my skin matte. The oil-free formula however, has not given me the same results. I chose the oil-free formula because I have oily acne-prone skin and thought it would work better for me, but it didn't. Ironically, I find the oil-free version feels overly greasy. It has that slick silicone feel which I find bothersome in a primer. I can feel it on my skin after I apply it, which is uncomfortable and I just feel like my foundation is sliding off my face. I don't find that it increased the longevity of my foundation either. For $24.99 for 1.18 oz I expected better. You're better off going for something like Smashbox Photo Finish Primer if you like the silicone based primers.

The tube on the right is the Loreal Youth Code Texture Perfector Pore Vanisher. Obviously, the sole purpose of this product is to minimize the appearance of pores. It also claim to "shrink actual pore size in one month." It is meant to be used as the last step in your skincare regimen morning and night. Though I have not put the pore-shrinking to the test, I have used this product in the day under my makeup to minimize pores and help control oil. I do find that this product leaves my skin smooth and does help with oil control throughout the day as well. I do not think it has worked any miracles on my skin, however. I will continue to use it but will not pay another $20 for 1.4 oz. I have heard some say that this product is comparable to the Benefit Porefessional, but I personally would rather pay a bit extra for the results that the Porefessional delivers.
 Overall I prefer the Pore Vanisher over the Miracle Blur.
Here is what both products look like:

Review: NYX Butter Glosses

I have seen so many good reviews of these glosses it was kinda hard not to go out and buy them. Let me just say: They are worth the hype. I'm not in love with the color range, but the quality of the glosses is awesome. The colors range from lots (and lots) of nudes to pinks and a few random colors like red, deep purple, and orange. It took me a while to find the colors I really felt would suit me but after watching some swatching videos I took the plunge. The two colors I own are Tiramisu and Vanilla Cream Pie.

These are both colors swatched on my hand. Tiramisu is on the left and Vanilla Cream Pie is on the right. As you can see, the pigmentation of this is slightly sheer. You do get pretty good color payoff but they are not completely opaque. They feel light and moisturizing on the lips. They are not sticky at all but very smooth and somewhat creamy. They have a sweet vanilla scent and last pretty well on the lips. I would say about 2-3 hours. I haven't been a huge lip gloss lover since I was in high school but I think I have officially been converted back. You can get these glosses anywhere NYX is sold (Target, Ulta) and they cost around $5 each. Get you some ;)

Review: Herbal Essences Naked Cleansing Conditioner

I have to admit I did not expect to like this product as much as I do. Lately I've been trying to show my hair a bit more TLC. My hair is a little on the dry side. It is pretty thick and its got some wave to it. To keep it from getting too dry I do minimal dyeing and heat styling, deep condition 1-2 times per week, and wash and condition every other day. I've been trying to get on the sulfate-free wagon for a while now and it seems there has been more and more options every time you turn around. Herbal Essences recently came out with this new "Naked" range. The only product that really sparked my interest was the cleansing conditioner, as I have had a quite terrible experience with Herbal Essences shampoo before (completely dried out my hair and scalp). This conditioner says it has no sulfates, parabens, or colorants and claims to gently cleanse your hair and leave it feeling moisturized. I found the conditioner to be a nice thick consistency and it did in fact leave my hair feeling moisturized. I wouldn't say it should be used in place of a regular shampoo but it is perfect for when you're in between washes. I use this every other day (on the days I don't wash my hair) and I really like it. It has a very light minty smell which I enjoy and leaves my hair soft and not stripped of all moisture. Overall I give this product a thumbs up and recommend it if you are trying to wash your hair less often. I purchased mine at Target for $4.74 for 16.9 oz.

Review: Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation

I am a huge fan of the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder. As someone with oily skin, I appreciate any product that will help keep me matte throughout the day. Rimmel recently launched some new products (a primer and foundation) that go with the "stay matte" theme. These products are aimed at people with oily skin who want full coverage that lasts all day, aka me. I decided to give this foundation a try despite my skepticism. I have never tried, nor had any desire to try a Rimmel foundation till now. I read some reviews and did a bit of research, but I wanted to try it for myself. Let me just say, I was not impressed. First off, I hate the packaging. It is very cheap looking and not at all appealing. A product that looks cheap isn't going to be expected to have outstanding quality. Second, the texture of the product is horrible. It claims to be a liquid mousse foundation but I found it to be overly thick and almost like you're applying caulking to your face. Here is a swatch:

The feel of it on the skin isn't a pleasant one either. It feels sticky and gross to me. When I applied the foundation, I immediately wanted to remove it. However, I did not remove it because I wanted to see how it wore throughout the day. The color was a too light for me but it does oxidize so it wasn't too noticeable. Though it darkened a bit, the shade was still a little off. Something about it didn't look like real skin to me. I felt incredibly cakey when I first applied it, but one thing I can vouch for is the lasting power of this foundation. It DOES keep you matte and it DOES provide full coverage all day. It also looks better after it has really settled in (after an hour or so). So though I did instantly regret putting it on, it wasn't too bad to wear throughout the day. I still won't ever repurchase it and will not recommend this foundation to anyone, but for the price (about $5) it does get the job done.

Review: Boots Botanics Skincare Line

I like to think of myself as a bit of an environmentalist/health nut. I'm always looking for more Eco friendly and organic products that don't have a ton of harsh chemicals. I've used a few different "natural" skincare products (brands like Yes to, Burt's Bees, Shea Moisture, and Neutrogena Naturals) before, but so far I haven't been all that impressed. My local Target carries the Boots Botanics products and I have always been curious to try them, but only now have I finally mustered up the courage. I am currently using three products from the line: the Shine Away Mattifying Toner, the Conditioning Clay Mask, and the Age Defense Hydrating Eye Cream.

The toner claims to mattify the skin, tighten pores, and remove excess oil and makeup. It has a powder that sits at the bottom of the bottle that needs to be shaken up before you apply it to your face with a cotton ball. It is designed for oily or combination skin and contains willow bark, which is a natural source of salicylic acid to clarify the skin and combat breakouts. I love the claims of this toner, and though I have not noticed a difference in the number of blemishes on my face, the toner does indeed mattify my skin and tighten my pores. If you have dry skin it may be too drying, but for my oily skin it is perfect. It isn't as "wet" as I would like a toner to be (I feel like I need to use a lot to spread it all over my face), but it works non the less. You get 8.4 oz for about 8 bucks at Target.

I have only used the mask one time, but that is all it took for me to fall in love with it. It says that it can be used on all skin types and I do believe it can, because though it sucked the impurities out of my pores, it did NOT dry my skin out. Its not too thick and is easy to spread on your face. It drys to a lighter color and after keeping it on for about 10-15 minutes you can see the little spots where it has drawn the oil out of your pores. I absolutely love this mask and I recommend it to anyone, no matter what your skin type. It costs about 10 dollars for 3.3 oz of product at Target.

And last but certainly not least, the eye cream. I won't bore you with the details, I LOVE this eye cream. I have been applying it every morning and night since I purchased it. It is lightweight, hydrating (as the name says), and comes in a very hygienic squeeze tube. One thing I really love about this eye cream is that it doesn't irritate my eye area. I've only tried one other eye cream (Garnier Ultra-Lift Ani-Wrinkle Firming Eye Cream) and that stuff irritated my eyes like no other. My eye area was itchy and dry and peely and pretty much the complete opposite of what I wanted it to be. So after having a pretty bad reaction to eye cream I didn't try one for a while, but I'm really glad I tried this one. Oh yes and we can't forget the fact that it has diminished my fine lines. If you're in the market for a new eye cream, or are looking to try one for the first time, GET THIS. It is about 14 dollars for 0.5 oz at Target. Seems a bit pricey for a drugstore eye cream, but it is worth it.

What's the difference?: L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm vs. Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque

Both of these hair masks/deep conditioners have received quite a bit of hype and, given that I have dry hair, I bought into it. I tried the Macadamia masque first and I fell in love. It took me a while to finally buy it because it’s freaken 30 bucks for a deep conditioner! These are the moments in life when I ask myself what exactly my priorities are lol. All jokes aside though, it is indeed a great hair mask. It smells divine and it does moisturize and nourish my hair, leaving it softer and silkier. The only downfall for me was the price. I was so in love with how it worked I thought to myself, “There has to be a cheaper alternative that’s just as amazing. There always is right?” Whenever I find a wonderful (overpriced) high end item that works for me I make it a goal to find something more affordable (and reasonable) that works just as good. The L’Oreal Damage-Erasing balm is exactly that. This stuff feels like butter in your hands (and kinda looks like it to). It saturates the hair and doesn’t just slide off like some conditioners can do. It also smells good and leaves my hair feeling more nourished after using it. No to mention it’s less than half the price of the Macadamia hair mask. The Macadamia hair mask goes for about $33 at ULTA while the L’Oreal one goes for about $5-$7 depending on where you buy it. That’s a steal no matter who you are or where you’re from. I love both of these hair masks, but given the choice again I would save my money and go for the L’Oreal one.

Review: Garnier Clean + Nourishing Cleansing Oil

 So I'm a total nube (newbie) when it comes to cleansing oils. Of course, we've all heard about the MAC Cleanse off Oil and how it amazingly removes even waterproof makeup. Since cleansing oils have become a new trend in the world of beauty, I was just a little too excited when I spotted this one in my local Walmart. I hadn't heard or seen anything about drugstore cleansing oils so I had to pick it up.

Garnier claims that the oil "instantly dissolves impurities and long-wear makeup with no greasy residue." It is designed for dry skin to help nourish and prevent the skin from being over-dried by cleansing. I tried this out with a full face of makeup on, including waterproof mascara. I used two pumps for my entire face and eye area. After rubbing it in for about ten seconds, I added a bit of water and it emulsified into a milky consistency. After a few more seconds I rinsed it off and was left with a slight residue. It wasn't greasy; it just made my skin feel soft and velvety. The first couple of times I used it I did not follow with a cleanser because I wanted to see what it could do on its own. It did remove most of my makeup (including the waterproof mascara) and didn't leave my skin feeling tight or dry. I have oily skin but this didn't make me oilier or cause me to breakout. If you have oily skin you may not like that it leaves a residue. If you have dry skin, it may work better for you.

Overall, I think this is a simple, no-fuss product for when you just can’t be bothered with a full skincare routine at the end of the day. It acts like a makeup remover, cleanser, and moisturizer all in one. I would use this after a night out or when I come home dead tired and just want to knockout. When I use it in my nightly skincare routine, I do follow it with a cleanser and moisturizer. I don’t think it’s the best cleansing oil out there, but for the price (about six bucks) it is good. If you’re looking for an affordable cleansing oil, or if you’re just dipping your toe into the world of cleansing oils, I would give this one a shot.