REVIEW: L’Oreal Skin Beautifier B.B. Cream

I received a tube of the L’Oreal Skin Beautifier B.B. Cream in the shade 814 Medium for reviewing purposes from SheSpeaks.  Out of all the B.B. Creams on the market the only one I have dabbled into has been the Garnier, which I have enjoyed.  Soon after the B.B. craze spread throughout the drugstore and out of all the brands out there (not those released this year) the one I have heard the most about was the L’Oreal.  Because of the things I have heard I was looking forward to giving this a try.

PACKAGING & PRICE

The product is packaged in a sleek thin tube that contains 1.0 fl oz of product.  The tube has a twist cap which is easy to maneuver.  Prices range store to store, but typically it retails anywhere between $10.99 - $7.96 (the lower price being Wal-Mart, the more expensive being drugstore pricing).

PRODUCT

The look of the B.B. cream when squirted onto your hand looks unlike the other B.B. creams out there.  This one is white with little bead-like things in it. When you apply the cream to your face the little beads (which contain the pigment) “burst” and the color is applied to your face.  The texture of the cream is drier than the Garnier (that I use) and “absorbs” into your face a lot faster.

The packaging claims the B.B. Cream provides four beautifying actions: primes, perfects, hydrates and corrects.  I found it did correct the tone of my face although I didn’t feel it hydrated my face.  Lately, I’ve had a few drier patches on my face (due to my acne treatment and using my Clarasonic) and it accentuated those areas – whereas the rest of my face where I’m typically oily it didn’t make me look crazy oily.

Coverage wise, I’d say this is very sheer – and if I wanted to stretch that I’d say it’s a light coverage.  It did not cover my acne spots; it did not cover any discolorations on my face (dark spots).  It did cover up some of the slight redness I have on my face and it did make my skin one shade (outside of dark spots and acne spots).

I did find that when taking photos with this B.B. cream on my face it does provide a significant white-cast.  Looking at my face in person you would not be able to tell there was anything on my skin but in photographs my face is significantly whiter.

PURCHASING

This can be purchased at Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Amazon.com, and Drugstore.com.  As always check your stores availability because all pharmacy/retail locations carry different products geared towards their different audiences.

OVERALL

I found this B.B. cream to be decent. It’s not a product I would run out to replenish if I used it all up – I think my heart lays with Garnier in the B.B. cream department.  The product did a good job neutralizing the color of my face but I would definitely need to use a concealer with this.  Not sure how this would stand up during the summer or on a muggy day – of course with it being so cold where I live I cannot accurately judge that portion of it.  I’d give this a thumbs up.

RATING

B

REVIEW: Covergirl Blast Flipstick

As a part of BzzAgent I was invited into the Covergirl Blast Flipstick BzzCampaign.  Upon receiving my BzzBox I was provided an information packet, 3 flipsticks and coupons to share with anyone and everyone.  I was quite surprised to see 3 tubes of lipstick in my package and I was even more surprised that all the shades I received would work very well with my skintone!  The three shades I’ll be reviewing are: Minx, Stunner and Vixen.

PACKAGING & PRICE

The product is packaged into double ended stick – which has a separate shade at each end.  Each tube contains .134 oz of product.  Suggested retail price is $8.49 but of course with store sales and coupons you can get them for a lot less.  They’re also less at stores such as Target ($7.99) and Walmart ($7.98).

PRODUCT

There are two lipstick shades available in each flipstick – one being a cream shade and the other a shimmer shade.  The lipstick shades can be worn individually or worn together and/or blended together to create a unique look (ombre anyone?) for any and all individuals.  Within the line there are 13 different flipsticks available with a number of different shade options.  In this case Minx is a mixture of deep brown and gold, Stunner is a mix of bright pink and gold and Vixen is a mixture of burgundy and a pearl pink shades.  From the swatches you can see the shimmer in one shade, while the cream shade in the other swatch.

PURCHASING

The Covergirl brand of Flipsticks can be purchased at all major pharmacy retailers (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid) while they can also be purchased at stores such as Target and Walmart.  They are also available for purchase online at Ulta (they may be available in store as well but I don’t shop at Ulta so I cannot confirm), Walgreens.com, CVS.com, and Drugstore.com.

OVERALL

I find these to be nice lipsticks, they are very smooth and easy to apply.  The color payoff is stellar as it only takes a swipe to get a true color saturation on your lips.  Of course it may take two or three swipes across the lip to fully fill the lip in – but overall it’s a great payoff.  If you choose to go that route, the shades are easily blendable and it certainly brings the intensity of the darker shade down a bit, while also bringing sheen to the lips.  It has a generic lipstick scent, but it’s not gross or plasticy.  They are certainly a nice product, but they can most certainly be daring depending on the color shades you choose to work with.  Even the darkest shade (Minx) can be toned down into a nice shimmery deep brown.

RATING

B

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REVIEW: The Body Shop Tea Tree Face Mask

I picked up this Tea Tree Face Mask at The Body Shop kind of on the fly a number of months back.  I was talking to the girl that works in one of my local stores (she and I suffer from similar acne problems and have taken similar dermatologist prescribed medications).  So to say I trust her opinion is a pretty solid statement.  She’s even steered me away from purchasing certain things so that’s customer service to say the least.  I was looking for a couple different things and this mask was recommended to me by the girl in the store so I picked it up.  She did advise you can use it different ways, as a mask, as a cleanser, etc.  I even read a few different reviews on The Body Shop website with how people use it.  Some find they like to put it on then get in the shower and then wash it off.  I use it in a combination of ways and each has been pretty positive for me.

PACKAGING & PRICE

The product comes packaged in a round screw lid tub which contains 3.85 ounces of product.  This retails for $15 but The Body Shop is known for constantly running buy 2 get 2 free sales or buy 3 get 3 free sales.  Currently they are running a store and site-wide 50% off sale so this is selling for $7.50.  Groupon also pairs up with The Body Shop to offer $20 Groupons for the store – so you’d spend $10 and have $20 taken off your bill – further reducing your payout.

PRODUCT

The product itself is a bright green moderately thick cream.  It does have a distinct tea tree scent to it, which can tickle your sense of smell if you get close to it.  This is featured in the tea tree line which is geared towards individuals with problem skin (acne blemishes).  This is geared towards being a mask but it can be a multi-use product and everyone who uses it, uses it in different ways that they find works best for them.  The product is a cooling face mask with cleanses, soothes and refreshes the skin.  It aids in removing impurities and absorbing excess oil.  I will say it does all of these things and more.

PURCHASING

This can be purchased from any The Body Shop store location, The Body Shops online website and Beauty.com.  I have also seen The Body Shop products sold at TJ Maxx and Marshall’s locations – but it’s really hit or miss as it depends on what they receive in and how quickly they sell.

OVERALL

As I’ve stated this can be a multi-purpose face mask/cleanser.  According to the product you should “Smooth a thin layer onto pat-dried skin, clean face and neck with your fingertips. Leave for 5 to 10 minutes (mask will not dry). Then rinse off with clean water and pat skin dry. Use once or twice per week, after cleansing.”  I’ve used this as a mask and found the tingling sensation can become all too much for my skin – so I sometimes put this on my face before getting into the shower and I let the warm air mesh with the product and do it’s own thing.  I have also used this as a skin refresher after using an exfoliating face wash (whether by using a product or using a exfoliating face brush).  In this case I rub a small amount of product into my cleansed face, leave it on for a minute or two, and then rinse off.  It can leave my face a little tight feeling, but it’s nothing some moisturizer won’t ease up.

I do know if you use this product and you find it is not for you, or you’ve had a reaction to it the store will allow you to bring it back in to explain your situation and will aid in finding a new product for you that will not upset your skin/etc.

RATING

A-

Review: Freeman Facial Anti-Stress Mask Dead Sea Minerals

I picked up this Freeman Facial Anti-Stress Dead Sea Minerals mask at CVS a few months back.  I actually got this for free because Freeman had little rebate offers on the product, which allowed you to get your money back for the item.  All I had to do was fill out the little bitty form and mail it in with my receipt and I got a check for the balance ($3.99) within 6-8 weeks.

PACKAGING & PRICE:

The product comes in a bright blue squeeze tube that holds 6 fl oz. of product.  The color of the packaging is the same color of the product.  The tube is actually quite eye catching, which is one of the reasons I picked it up – I was looking for the Mint Julep mask, since they didn’t have it, I noticed this and grabbed it.  As mentioned briefly above, this retails for $3.99 at CVS.  The price is pretty standard in all selling locations, but you may be able to get it on sale during select weeks depending on what stores are pushing in ads for the week.  There are also single use foil packages available with .5 fl oz of product in them, but in my travels I have only seen them at Walmart – those I believe sell for $1.40.

PRODUCT:

The product is a bright blue shade and is a rather thick cream – think really thick body lotion.  It’s creamier in consistency when rubbed onto the skin and applies easily.  As the product starts to dry it can be a little harder to work with because it dries into a clay consistency.  You may also find certain spots on your face dry faster than others and if you want to go back over a thinner spot, some product will rub off, so you have to try to cover all skin on first application.  There isn’t a real scent to the product but I would say it’s got a “clean” scent to it.  It’s nothing obnoxious and nothing even remotely overpowering.  It’s advertised as a product to aid in purifying and clearing pores.

PURCHASING:

The Freeman’s Facial Anti-Stress Dead Sea Minerals can be found at your local pharmacy – Walgreens, CVS, or Rite Aid.  It’s also available at Ulta as well as on Drugstore.com & Amazon.  The mini single-use packages are available at Walmarts.  Outside of the handful of these locations, I’m not sure where else they would be sold.  The regular 6 fl oz. bottle is a better bang for your buck, especially when comparing $4 vs $1.40 and the amount of product you receive (6 oz vs .5 oz).

OVERALL:

I quite enjoy this mask.  It goes on smoothly and dries quickly – within 5 minutes or so your mask will be completely dry.  As it dries your face will feel tighter but it’s not uncomfortable, even if you are talking while it’s dried and/or drying.  The texture of the mask gets harder on your skin after dried – which makes sense since the product is made of clay.  I thought it would be a lot harder to wash off but with a few handfuls of water, it rinses off with ease.  You could even put this on before taking a shower and easily rinse it of while showering.  The water and a slight rub of your hands remove it with ease.  I found after use, my skin feels much smoother and softer after use.  I quite enjoy this mask and the results obtained from using it.

RATING:

4 stars

REVIEW: Avon Care Silicone Glove Protective Hand Cream

I purchased this Silicone Glove protective hand cream through Avon a few weeks ago in their catalog while it was on sale for 99 cents.  Believe me when I say this, I wish I would have ordered 4 or 5 tubes of this stuff then.  I only purchased one because I had never tried it before and if it was horrendous I didn’t want to own 4 or 5 tubes of it.  Now I’m kicking myself in the behind because this lotion is just plain awesome!  I’ve since left a message with my Avon representative asking if she could somehow back order this for me so I can get 4 tubes to last me thru the upcoming months.

I am quite a lotion aficionado if I must say so.  I work with paper at work all day long and I’ve noticed over the last 6 months my hands have become increasingly dry. I used to only get dry hands in the winter months due to the harsh change in weather – but it’s continued onward.  The backs of my hands aren’t dry, but my fingertips are especially dry.  I purchase lotions like crazy in hopes to cure my issues, even use Vaseline at night with gloves and after a few washes its back.  I used this lotion and it was literally magic.

It does not leave a greasy residue, but it does leave a slight texture to your hand. Nothing annoying or anything like that but it’s slightly noticeable.  The lotion itself does make your hands INCREDIBLY smooth and the greatest part is that it does not wash off after you wash your hands. You can wash and dry and afterwards you can still feel the smoothness in your hands.  The lotion itself lasts a good 3-4 hours when on, even after a few hand washings.  I feel it fills in any of the grooves in my fingertips where it’s rough because it completely smooths the skin surface out.

The one thing I do notice is the lotion seems to pull the dead skin off my hand and balls it up on my skin.  I’m assuming that’s what it is, but I can’t say for sure.  As shown in the picture, I do get a bit of beading on my hands which I can wipe off and it does not effect it in any way.

Overall, I just completely love this lotion and feel it’s one of the best lotions I’ve used in a long while.