Beauty Loon

Makeup

How does Rimmel ScandalEyes Show Off compare to Benefit They’re Real! mascara?

By Erin on September 2, 2013

Rimmel ScandalEyes Show Off Mascara ($6.99 at Ulta) — Rimmel ScandalEyes Show Off Mascara ($6.99)

The other day, I was walking through the drugstore cosmetics and something caught my eye: a promotional display of some new Rimmel mascaras, one of which was boasting an image of a wand that looks pretty similar to Benefit’s They’re Real! mascara wand. They’re Real! is one of my favorites, and it would definitely be nice to find a comparable product for a drugstore price. I even have a They’re Real! mini tube on hand to compare it to, so I brought the Rimmel home with me to see how it stacks up.

http://beautyloon.com/2013/09/02/how-does-rimmel-scandaleyes-show-off-compare-to-benefit-theyre-real-mascara/

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Makeup

Wet n Wild Pop Art Craze eye trio in Your 15 Minutes Aren’t Up!

By Erin on August 31, 2013

This is the second palette from Wet n Wild’s Pop Art Craze collection that I’ve had the opportunity to try. Compared to Hard Being the It Girl (review), I expected this one to even brighter, but it’s actually well suited for a softer look. The colors themselves are very pretty, but none of them can live up to that vibrant blue in Hard Being the It Girl in pigmentation and intensity.

http://beautyloon.com/2013/08/31/wet-n-wild-pop-art-craze-eye-trio-in-your-15-minutes-arent-up/

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Skincare

Très Pure Face Tonic

By Erin on

Just a quick review of a product I’ve been using for the past two weeks, the Très Pure Face Tonic. I’ve been working through a 0.33 fl. oz. sample of this from my July Sample Society subscription box, and a 4 fl. oz. bottle costs $65. Actually, I had been using this for almost a week before I took a look at the product online and the price really surprised me. I hadn’t realized this was such a high-end item. This is a really interesting formula with just three ingredients: Daucus Carota (Carrot) Seed Distillate, Citrus Aurantium (Neroli) Distillate, Helichrysum Italicum (Immortelle) Oil.

http://beautyloon.com/2013/08/31/tres-pure-face-tonic/

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Makeup

L’Oreal Magic Perfecting Base Face Primer

By Erin on August 30, 2013

This past spring as the weather started to get warmer, I noticed that my skin was starting to get a little oilier and I decided that I needed to make a change in my makeup routine to keep my foundation lasting throughout the day. In addition to experimenting with moisturizers, I tried a small handful of primers to see if one of them might help me out: Neutrogena Shine Control Primer, Bare Minerals Prime Time, and Benefit’s The POREfessional. Unfortunately, they weren’t making a difference for me and I was starting to feel like I was getting ripped off. Closer to the beginning of summer, I decided to try L’Oreal’s Magic Perfecting Base when my local drugstore was offering 25% off L’Oreal cosmetics. This primer stands above the others that I’ve tried, and I’ve continued to use it daily all summer long.

http://beautyloon.com/2013/08/30/loreal-magic-perfecting-base-face-primer/

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Makeup

LORAC Uptown Allure Warm Eye Shadow Palette

By Erin on August 29, 2013

I recently found this cute little LORAC eye shadow palette at Nordstrom Rack, which has become one of my favorite places to snag beauty products. I believe these palettes are exclusive to Nordstrom Rack, and there are two varieties available: the cool-toned Downtown Drama, and the warm-toned Uptown Allure. I think both are lovely options for autumn looks, and at $12, they’re very reasonably priced.

http://beautyloon.com/2013/08/29/lorac-uptown-allure-warm-eye-shadow-palette/

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Skincare

Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for Eyes

By Erin on

I received a little jar of Murad’s Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for Eyes earlier this summer in my June Sample Society subscription box. The jar itself looked teeny weeny, but I was able to use it twice a day for an entire month! It’s a really lightweight and fast absorbing gel-cream that promises to lock in hydration for 8 hours. I love how straight forward the claim and marketing message is. And you know what? The product is as effective as the message is direct.

http://beautyloon.com/2013/08/29/murad-hydro-dynamic-ultimate-moisture-for-eyes/

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Bath & Body

L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil

By Erin on August 28, 2013

I have an issue with muscle aches, and hot baths are one of the most simple and effective ways to deal with the pain so that I can get some sleep. Because I bathe nearly every night before I go to bed (and shower every morning, too), I’m constantly fighting dry skin. Rather than slathering myself in body butter twice a day, I find that the best way to deal with the dryness is to try and make the bathing process itself as hydrating as possible. I decided to try out L’Occitane’s Almond Shower Oil when I saw the big bottle, 16.9 fl oz, on sale at their outlet store for $30.

http://beautyloon.com/2013/08/28/loccitane-almond-shower-oil/

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Hair Care

Red Flower Ocean Cleansing Hair Wash

By Erin on August 26, 2013

I was introduced to Red Flower’s Ocean Cleansing Hair Wash through my July Sample Society subscription box, which included a very generous sample bottle. Red Flower is based in New York and is self-described as environmentally and socially responsible as well as cruelty-free. Their product lines range from perfume and aromatherapy to bath and skincare, and feature an impressive list of enticing ingredients and scents.

http://beautyloon.com/2013/08/26/red-flower-ocean-cleansing-hair-wash/

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Makeup

Maybelline LE Fall 2013 Color Sensational Lipstick in Violet Intrigue

By Erin on

Maybelline Limited Edition Fall 2013 Color Sensational lipstick in Violet Intrigue

About a week ago I spotted a display of the new Maybelline Fall 2013 LE lipsticks and spent some time deliberating over which one(s) I should take home with me. It bugs me to buy drugstore products at full price, so I decided to grab one for the time being. They’ve released four LE shades, three purples and a fuchsia, and Violet Intrigue was the most irresistible to me. I find it to be a pretty perfect balance between bold and wearable.

http://beautyloon.com/2013/08/26/maybelline-limited-edition-fall-2013-color-sensational-lipstick-in-violet-intrigue/

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Skincare

Toner: schools of thought and a product comparison

By Erin on August 25, 2013

I think toners are one of the most confusing skincare products out there. Not because they themselves are complicated, but because of general widespread disagreement over their purpose as well as vague or misleading marketing. I don’t have a background in chemistry or dermatology but this is a subject I’ve spent a lot of time with, and my research has included reading professionals’ opinions, speaking with sales associates, and trying different products.

Toners are intended to be used after a cleanser but before any serums or moisturizers are applied. There appear to be basically two different schools of thought regarding what a toner is supposed to do:

1. A cleansing step that removes lingering dirt and makeup, dries up oil, and minimizes pores

2. A balancing step that lowers pH, soothes irritation, and prepares skin for absorbing moisture

Let’s talk through these two different notions for a moment.

http://beautyloon.com/2013/08/25/toner-schools-of-thought-and-a-product-comparison/

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