Revlon nearly naked foundation review and comparison

Revlon has closely copied Urban Decay's naked foundation! You can check out my review for Urban Decay's version here.

Unfortunately, nearly naked does not come with a foundation pump. Why Revlon why? And, this Canadian version does not come with SPF 20 like the US version. WTH!? That makes me mad.

 I got the lightest shade, 110 ivory. I thought it would be too pink but it actually works well on my skin (NC10). It blends in nicely, and the finish is very skin-like

Nearly naked 110 ivory swatch on hand:

blended:

And here are the before and after pics on my face. Yeah I know I labeled it 'almost naked' lol. oops.

As you can see it is medium coverage, and easily covers redness and scars. I love the finish of this. It blends so beautifully.

So, here is the break down on how Revlon compares to Urban Decay's formula:

Price:
Revlon nearly naked $10.97 CAD for 1oz / UD naked skin $45 CAD for 1 oz
Revlon is $34 cheaper!

packaging:
Here is where UD excels! UD comes in a nice pump bottle, while Revlon is housed in a glass bottle with a twist off cap.

formula:
I don't have exact ingredients to compare but both include antioxidants to help skin. They also both contain a lot of silicones, but I did notice Revlon's version uses less than UD.

Coverage:
Both have similar coverage power, ranging from light to medium.

application:
I felt that Revlon was easier to blend than UD. UD went on a bit patchy, and you're supposed to use an expensive brush with it that is just a waste of money in my opinion, although others say it's amazing. Revlon was a dream to put on and it layered well.

finish:
Revlon actually feels light on, while UD felt heavy. They both have a nice skin-like finish. I found UD to badly sink into pores/lines after an hour or so, Revlon barely did that, and when it did, it was hardly noticeable.

wear time:
UD wore well for about 6 hours. Revlon wore for about 8 before starting to fade.

Overall, I wasn't impressed with UD naked skin, but I really liked Revlon nearly naked. It looked more natural and felt a lot lighter than UD. It covered nicely and it blended easily. It didn't settle into pores the way UD did.
The color match was good for both brands, and they have a wide selection for most skin tones. I would recommend Revlon nearly naked to everyone!

I personally like Revlon colorstay foundation better than nearly naked for it's lasting power. I will probably stick with that but nearly naked was a nice surprise for a cheap price!

Repurchase? No (I like colorstay better)

Price: $10.97 CAD

Rating: 4.5/5

Revlon photoready BB cream review

Revlon finally jumped on the BB cream bandwagon, so I wanted to do a quick review.

I like the packaging, it's sleek silver and looks nice. It has a twist off cap, which is decent.

 The color I got was 010 light, which is the lightest one of the 4 or so available. I wasn't worried about a color match because revlon's fair colors usually match me.

photoready BB cream 010 light swatch:

 blended:

This actually oxidized on me. When freshly applied  it looked ok, but after a few minutes it turned into an orange toned mess. I was not impressed. I could not wear it alone. I wore it under Revlon colorstay foundation (normal/dry) and the performance was not good. It made the colorstay wear off quickly and my face felt very greasy by the end of the day.

Photoready BB cream is another glorified tinted moisturizer. The finish is sheer and tacky. It's very similar to Maybelline dream BB cream. They both looked like an orange slick mess on my face.

pros:
- contains SPF 30
- contains antioxdants
- didn't irritate my senstitive skin
- not expensive
- moisturizing

cons:
- oxidizes after applied
- no colors suitable for very fair skin
- feels greasy, potentially pore clogging
- does not act as a primer as it claims
- rubs off easily
- very sheer

The only way I would recommend this is if you are looking for a very sheer tinted moisturizer, and if you have dry skin not prone to breakouts. I only wore this once and I felt clogs forming after. This did not impress me much. If you are curious, I'd say try Maybelline BB cream, because it's very similar in finish and also has SPF 30 for 1/2 the price of Revlon.

repurchase? No way

rating: 2.5/5

price: $16 CAD

Revlon grow luscious plumping mascara review

I liked Revlon's original grow luscious mascara, although it didn't make my lashes longer it did keep them healthy and full. The ingredients in these grow luscious mascaras are beneficial for conditioning lashes but that's about it.

The packaging is similar to the original, and the brush is about the same size too.

What about performance? Well I can't even believe how crap this formula is. I personally would like to rename it 'grow luscious clumping mascara.'

Wearing grow luscious plumping after 6 hours:

This stuff flaked, smudged and clumped horribly on me. Even if I applied it sparingly it would clump up and flake off within hours.
It's nothing like the original, which was much more impressive.
I really have nothing good to say about this mascara, and I do not recommend it.

Repurchase? Absolutely not

Price: $9.99 CAD

Rating: 1/5

Favorite drugstore beauty buys of 2011

Happy new year everyone!

Are you broke from Christmas? Want to treat yourself to a little something without breaking your wallet?

Well, I've got a list here of inexpensive but awesome drugstore products for those that want to be beautiful on a budget.

This is not my top 2011 list (that is coming soon) but these are all really good products and I'd recommend trying them!


From left to right:

• Cover Girl Lash Blast 24 Hr $9.99 CAD
  This literally blew me out of the water! I almost gave up on drugstore mascaras, until I tried this. It lengthens and volumizes all while holding a curl like nothing else! It stays on all day without flaking or smudging.

• Wet n Wild coloricon palette in greed $6.99 CAD
  Almost every color in this palette is a MAC dupe, and the quality of the shadows in lust are by far superior to those in other WnW palettes I've tried. This also looks amazing with green eyes!

• NYC smooth skin pressed powder in translucent $2.99 CAD
  One of my all time favorite powders ever. It's very light and doesn't oxidize, doesn't emphasize dry skin like so many powders do and it covers pores for a flawless look. You really can't go wrong with this.

• Maybelline super stay 14 hr lipstick in beige forgood $10.99 CAD
  This color is a fantastic neutral beige nude. It stays on for hours and doesn't dry my lips out. This is one of my top lipsticks right now.

• Maybelline baby lips lip balm in peach kiss $3.97 CAD
  Although the artificial scent and taste aren't to my liking, this is a nice light hydrating balm to wear by itself or under lipstick. I have found since using this daily my lips do not feel as dry or chapped as before.

• Cover girl lip perfection lipstick in romance $ 8.99 CAD
  I was pleasantly surprised to find lip perfection lipsticks are super pigmented and rich. They last a while and hydrate, it's hard to believe these are made by cover girl. Romance is a lovely pinked mauve shade with slight shimmer, it looks great on pale skin!

• Maybelline color tattoo 24hr cream gel eyeshadows $6.97 CAD
  These cream eyeshadows are just super. I love my MAC paint pots but these are just as good. You can see more about them here.

• Revlon colorstay blemish concealer with softflex $10.99 CAD
  This is the best concealer I have found that covers minor imperfections and redness. I always feel better after I put it on because I know it won't come off until I decide to take it off. The amount of Salicylic acid is too low to have any anti-acne benefits but this is still a great choice if you want to keep covered all day.

Well that's all for now, do you like any of these drugstore picks?

Revlon colorburst lip butter in Gumdrop photos & swatches

Ok I lied, this new Revlon lip butter is my latest drugstore purchase.
The cute colors and packaging had me in one glance. I could not resist.

Gumdrop is a light lilac color, there are many different color choices in these - nudes, browns pinks and reds.
Gumdrop looks almost identical to Revlon super lustrous lipgloss in lilac pastelle which was limited edition.
The color is so pretty, I love it. It goes on sheer but you can layer it on for more color saturation. There aren't any large shimmer particles in it, but after it's worn off there are tiny sparkles left on my lips. So, it does have very subtle shimmer.

swatch of gumdrop:

wearing gumdrop:

What I like about it:

- The cute color (obviously!)
- Affordable ($8 CAD)
- Packaging is nice
- Somewhat moisturizing

What I don't like about it:

- No detectable fragrance or flavor. with names like 'creme brulee' and 'strawberry shortcake' I was hoping for yummy scents. Disappointment there :/
Fragrance is listed in the ingredients, but near the end so there is only a tiny bit. I do get a faint whiff of vanilla when I first apply.
- Not long lasting at all (1 hour max)
- After it wears off my lips start to feel dryer than they were before

Overall these are cute and cheap lip glosses. If you have ever used L'oreal color juice sticks, these lip butters have an identical texture. Like a tinted gloss and balm in one.
I don't think I'll buy any more but I really love the color of gumdrop so I'll keep using it :)

Trash review: Revlon colorstay foundation

The latest product I've completely used up is Revlon colorstay foundation for normal/dry skin.
I've had a few issues with my skin in recent months and this foundation has saved me!

A few months ago I had a major breakout from trying a new alpha hydoxy acid lotion, leaving behind horrible scarring on my chin.
I also started a new job where I am doing a lot of physical work and sweating a lot. On top of that it's become very humid here and my skin is now slightly oily yet still dry...very finicky.

So I need a foundation that :
1. will stay on through sweating/blotting/in melting humid hot weather
2. will not clog my pores
3. will cover up redness, scars and pimples
4. will not irritate my sensitive skin
5. will most importantly, match my pale skin!

I usually use L'oreal true match foundation shade N1, (I love this) but it just doesn't stay put all day through heavy sweating and hot weather.

Colorstay has provided my skin with excellent staying power, great coverage and best of all, no break outs! Actually, the best thing is that it doesn't irritate my skin one bit.

Ivory 110 is a perfect match for my skin! It's very neutral, not too pink or yellow. It blends in with my skin quite well.

swatch of colorstay ivory:

blended in:

I love the finish of this foundation. Very natural and skin-like. When I put it on it doesn't look like I'm wearing anything, just great even-toned healthy skin.
This lasts all day until I take it off. It performs like a high-end foundation should.


There are a couple of down sides to colorstay, but I've worked them out!

First, it can be tricky to blend. I apply a thin layer all over my face with my fingers and a second layer patted over the contours of the eye and any spots or blemishes.
One layer won't cover everything. It can look a bit streaky if you don't take the time blend it well, so I take my fluffy face brush and dust over it with some powder to set it and smooth everything out.

Second, it can be difficult to remove. I had a really hard time at first finding a way to remove it at night without stripping off my skin!
I tried using oil to soften it and then used another cleanser to take it all off but I found I was breaking out from the oils. I found an excellent cleanser that is gentle yet effective, clean and clear makeup dissolving foaming cleanser - it is amazing and it takes this off so easily! I will be reviewing that cleanser in the near future.

Overall, I really like this foundation and have already repurchased.
I've tried so many foundations so it's great to finally find one that really works for me.
I should mention a while ago a tried colorstay in ivory for oily/combination skin and it was just a disaster on me. The color oxidized into an orange/pink after applying and it started to break me out. Obviously this was the wrong choice for my skin type.

One of the great things about this is that it isn't too expensive. One bottle lasts about 3 months which is average for me and liquid foundations. It's readily available and often goes on sale.
I say give it a try if you are looking for a long-wearing comfortable foundation.

repurchase? yes...again and again!

rating: 5/5

price: $16 CAD

MAC Ever hip lipstick swatches and some comparisons

I don't know about you but I'm into coral pink colors lately. I think coral suits all skin tones and brightens up the face nicely.
Ever Hip lipstick first came out with MAC's Liberty of London collection, and was recently re-released in the fashion flower collection for spring 2011.
I grabbed it right away when I saw it at the counter, I knew I'd love it.

MAC ever hip swatch:

It's a cremesheen finish, which means it isn't drying (yay) but doesn't last more than an hour or two on the lips.

wearing ever hip:

I adore this color because it looks really flattering against pale skin. It brightens up my face and adds a touch of color. I really think that everyone should own a color something like this, it's nude but a little brighter and fun for summer.

I've taken the chance to compare ever hip with some other similar colors all found at the drugstore. I know not everyone uses MAC or can find sold out colors, so here are some other options that are more easily found.

Left to right:

Mac Ever hip, Maybelline pink please, Wet n Wild 903C just peachy, Revlon coral reef gloss

Swatches:

Mac Ever hip, Maybelline pink please, Wet n Wild 903C just peachy, Revlon coral reef gloss

- Maybelline pink please is definitely more pink than coral. There is just the tiniest hint of peachy coral in it for those that only want a tiny pop of color. see more swatches of this here.

- Wet n wild mega matte 903C just peachy is more peach than coral, but it's definitely got a warm orange tone to it. It looks really bright on my lips for some reason and I don't wear it very often. It could be the matte-ness of the color that makes it seem brighter when applied.

- Revlon super lustorous lipgloss in coral reef is very similar to MAC ever hip. It is almost the exact same color. I think it is just a touch brighter. I'd recommend this if you are looking for a true coral color. The great thing about it is that you can sheer it out or layer it on heavily depending on how much coral you like.

here is a swatch of Revlon coral reef on the lips:

Another lipstick by Revlon that is similar to ever hip is called pink in the afternoon. I don't own it but I do believe that the color would be almost identical as it is also a nude toned coral pink.

What kinds of colors are you liking lately now that the summer is approaching?

Revlon grow luscious mascara review

If you thought I was slacking off on reviews, I promise you I wasn't! For the past 4 weeks I've been using one mascara only - Revlon grow luscious.
It was hard to do for a mascara junkie like me, but I did it for you - so here are the results!

The claim : (From Revlon's site)

-Lash enhancing formula complements the natural growth cycle of your lashes, improving their overall appearance and conditioning with each use
-Get lashes that look instantly longer and lusher and will also grow stronger day after day
-Oversized lash-extending brush
-Ophthalmologist tested

The brush:

It sure is big! I found it pretty good for grabbing all my lashes and distributing the mascara evenly. It's bigger than Diorshow's brush! see my comparison:

Left Revlon GL Right Diorshow:

My results:

Week 1: I started to notice my lashes were looking a little bit longer.

Week 2: I started to shed 1-2 lashes every night when taking off the mascara. This was really odd and I almost stopped using it but after a few days it cleared up.

Week 3: I didn't notice anything different.

Week 4: My lashes were noticably fuller and slightly thicker. They weren't any longer.

Completely unedited before & after photos; wearing only eyeshadow primer no mascara:

You can see in my after photo that both bottom and top lashes are slightly fuller and denser. There wasn't much improvement in the overall length of my lashes.

The mascara:

I really liked the mascara itself. With one coat it adds a little bit of length and definition, but it can easily be built up without clumping. I needed about 3 coats to get the effect I liked.
It wore well and didn't smudge or flake.

Wearing grow luscious mascara:

Overall, this mascara performed well for me.
I didn't like that through mid cycle of use I lost quite a few lashes. Even though they seemed to grow back faster than normal, I still have a few little lash stubs now that really annoy me.
I was impressed with the results I got, thicker and fuller lashes. Nothing extraordinary but also not bad for a drugstore product!

Repurchase? No, I don't want to risk losing any lashes again

Price: $9.99 CAD

Rating: 3.5/5

NOTD: Revlon top speed nail polish hazy

Yes another grey nail polish because I can never seem to get enough of them. I promised myself I'm not going to buy any more in the new year since I have about 10 now, in varying shades of gloom.

I thought this was the perfect Grey.

In the bottle it is perfect. But when I applied it, it turned a shade darker on my nails, and went very slightly blue toned. It's about a shade or so lighter than Rimmel grey matter.

I don't think I'll ever find the perfect light grey color that doesn't turn brown, purple or blue toned on me. I just want a neutral mix of black and white on the lighter side. I give up.

I have to say that the new Revlon top speeds wear wonderfully! I used 2 coats, no top coat, and it didn't chip at all until I took it off 3 days later. Very impressed, 5/5! I'm going to check out more colors soon.

Revlon super lusterous lipgloss peach petal photos and swatches

This is my new favorite nude gloss!
Peach petal is a perfect neutral color that doesn't turn orange or any odd undertone. It's glossy consistency allows the pink of my lips to show through just a bit, so I don't look like a corpse.

It's a wonderful creamy texture, not too thick or thin. It's opaque enough to add color, but it doesn't completely white out my lips.



When I first swatched this, it reminded me of one of my all time favorite nude glosses - NARS chelsea girls lip lacquer.
Chelsea girls is also a neutral nude color, just about a shade darker than peach petal.
On the lips both colors are very similar, and give the same creamy glossy nude lip effect.

Peach petal swatch comparison Chelsea girls:

I think it's a pretty close dupe!