♥ BATTLE OF THE BB'S: Drugstore BB Creams - Overview/Review

BB creams seem to be everywhere these days; it was only a matter of time until they found their way to the drugstore. Rimmel, Garnier, L'Oreal, Revlon, and Maybelline have all come out with their version of the superfad BB Cream (as has almost every other makeup brand known to man woman.) Being that I am a sucker for face products, I had to swoop them up and give them a try. 

**Side note - Cover Girl has also released a BB Cream that I did not purchase. The reason for this is that it is the exact same product as their CG Smoothers foundation/tinted moisturizer. Not a BB cream - not included in this review.

So! To get started, let's run through them one by one.

♥ RIMMEL LONDON BB CREAM 9 IN 1 SKIN PERFECTING SUPER MAKEUP - $6.99 

♥ SPF 25

♥ 1 fl. oz.

PROMISES:

♥ Primes

♥ Moisturizes

♥ Minimizes Pores

♥ Conceals

♥ Covers

♥ Smooths

♥ Mattifies

♥ Brightens

♥ Protects

Well, it mattifies. I'll give it that. This is definitely not a product for anyone with dry skin. The coverage is probably the best of the drugstore BB's, but it is definitely a cakey, almost dry coverage. This product is in no way moisturizing or brightening, but the coverage is pretty impressive. I'd recommend this one to anyone with oily skin. If you're combination or on the dry side, stay far far away from this product. 

♥ GARNIER SKIN RENEW MIRACLE SKIN PERFECTOR - $12.99

♥ SPF 15

♥ 2.5 fl. oz.

PROMISES:

♥ Evens Tone

♥ Hydrates

♥ Renews

♥ Protects

♥ Brightens

This was the first drugstore BB cream I got my hands on and it set the bar for the rest of them. The coverage is light, comparable to a tinted moisturizer - maybe a little bit better - and the finish is nice. It isn't completely matte, but it isn't shiny or dewy either. It's a bit thick and can be tricky to blend, which is surprising given that its coverage is so light. This is also the largest of the drugstore BB creams in terms of fluid ounces at 2.5 (everything else hovers around 1 fl. oz.) My biggest complaint about the Garnier Skin Renew is the smell. It has an off-putting clay-like scent to it that doesn't go away. 

♥ L'OREAL MAGIC SKIN BEAUTIFIER - $10.99

♥ NO SPF

♥ 1.0 fl. oz.

PROMISES:

♥ Primes

♥ Perfects

♥ Hydrates

♥ Corrects

This BB cream starts out white and oxidizes as you rub it into your skin to "match" your natural skintone. According to L'Oreal, this product "instantly transforms to your perfect shade for a flawless bare skin finish." I wouldn't go that far. This product offers almost no coverage whatsoever - it's hard to even see a difference after putting it on. The oxidizing does happen almost instantly, but I wouldn't even say that it matches my skin - it's almost sort of orange. As a BB cream, this product fails miserably, and doesn't do anything it says it will do except prime. I strictly use this as a foundation primer, and it's great for that. Just don't expect it to be great on its own.

♥ REVLON PHOTOREADY SKIN PERFECTOR - $10.99

♥ SPF 30

♥ 1 fl. oz.

PROMISES:

♥ Hydrates 

♥ Smooths

♥ Covers

♥ Blurs flaws

♥ Protects 

Of them all, this one is the clear winner. Revlon's Photoready BB is by far my favorite of the drugstore ones I've tried. The coverage is decent, especially for a drugstore BB, there's no smell, it goes on evenly, it's creamy, and the shade is perfect for me. This one is a favorite for sure.

♥ MAYBELLINE DREAM FRESH BB 8-IN-1 BEAUTY BALM PERFECTOR - $8.99

♥ SPF 30

♥ 1 fl. oz.

PROMISES:

♥ Blurs imperfections

♥ Enhances

♥ Brightens

♥ Adjusts to skin tone

♥ Smooths

♥ Hydrates

♥ Protects

I wouldn't say that this product delivers any of the promises it makes on its packaging. If anything, it is somewhat hydrating, but that's what moisturizers are for. This one is just okay for me, I didn't think it did much. The coverage is lacking, even almost non-existent, which is fine for some people, but I prefer at least a little bit of coverage; otherwise, what is the point in putting any kind of makeup on anyway? This one seems to be a favorite amongst the beauty community, but it just didn't do anything for me.

♥ OVERALL OPINION ♥

First thing's first: none of these products are true BB creams. Not a single one. Real BB creams - like the Asian BB creams - do not yet exist in the US market. If anything, these are all glorified tinted moisturizers, with the exception of the L'Oreal only because I don't think that one can even be used that way. Each one has its own strength, though, and the ones that don't work for me may work for someone with a different skin type. The Rimmel is great coverage, but would be best for someone with oilier skin. The Maybelline and L'Oreal are so sheer, the only way I will use them will be as primers for  a real foundation. (I hate to let products I buy go to waste, so I will find a way to use them!) The clear winners here for me are the Garnier and the Revlon. 

Also, just as a side note, the prices notated above the pictures are what I paid for each one at CVS or Walgreens. I'm sure the price may vary depending on where you live/sales tax/etc.

Why I Cancelled Birchbox

Beauty subscription services were all the rage a few months ago in the beauty community here and on youtube, and the idea of paying a measly $10 a month for makeup samples seemed like a no brainer to me, so I signed up for Birchbox in March 2012 right after the Teen Vogue themed box made such a big splash.

I got my first box in April and was so excited to see what I was going to get. (I think part of the appeal was looking forward to something that wasn't a bill coming in the mail every month.) Here's what was in there:

Nothing all that exciting, right? The only product in here that I liked or ever actually used was the nail polish, and the exfoliating cleanser ended up being expired by over a year. Birchbox gave me "points" for the expired sample, so whatever. I didn't really understand how the point system worked so I was still a little tiffed at their messup.

Then came May; the Gossip Girl box.

Again, I found myself disappointed with my samples. I was really looking forward to the Stila Sparkle Eyeliner, but when I got my box it was missing. I had to spend 3 days calling and e-mailing customer service to actually get to talk to someone, and then had to wait a week and a half for them to ship me one. I did end up getting one, though, so I guess it wasn't all bad. Though it was army green colored - which I thought was completely unflattering for my skintone - but whatever, I wasn't going to complain about the color since they fixed their mistake by sending me the one product I was actually looking forward to. Everything else in this box was pretty much junk; note cards? Really? My "note cards" were actually one piece of Cardstock; so I only actually got one. None too pleased, Birchbox.

In June, Birchbox temporarily redeemed themselves with this box:

I really liked the (seemingly) full sized Stila bronzer and the tan towels. But why is a beauty service sending me a nutrition bar? (And a nasty one at that - if anyone else got a Luna Bar, you know, it was disgusting.) I didn't even eat the whole thing. The other redeeming factor in this box was the Taylor Swift Wonderstruck perfume sample - I love the scent and will probably end up buying a full sized bottle, though I won't be purchasing it from Birchbox.

Next came July:

This box is what closed the deal for me. Mints and crappy neon headphones? Why am I paying for this again? I loved the smell of the perfume sample (Harvey Prince - Hello) but realized I had something in my collection already that was a lot cheaper and smelled exactly the same (Victoria's Secret Sexy Little Things Tease). At this point I decided I would give Birchbox one last chance to really wow me - AKA send me something I might actually try - or I was going to cancel. And then came August...

August Box:

Okay, so I haven't actually gotten this box in the mail yet, but I always go on when I get the shipping notification to see what to expect. This month, I checked on 8/10, the day I got my shipping notification e-mail and saw that there were only 3 products listed: a razor, stick on eyeliner, and nail polish remover. Obviously, they changed that since there are now 5 products showing, but I cancelled immediately after seeing my "preview" of those 3 things. A razor is hardly a beauty sample. I want makeup!

Overall, Birchbox is a good idea in theory, but I found that the products they were sending me weren't worth $10 in my opinion. I could just as easily have taken that money and bought something I would actually use. Not to mention that their customer service is seriously lacking; you can't get anyone on the phone (you have to leave a message) and it takes days for someone to reply to an e-mail. I might try another service, since I was so disappointed with this one. I really like the idea of getting new things in the mail every month, but I want it to be worth my money.

Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette: Review & Swatches

In honor of their 15th Anniversary, Urban Decay has released this limited edition eyeshadow palette complete with neutrals, brights, lights, metallics, and shimmers. All 15 colors in the palette are brand-spankin' new. Palette is available at Sephora and UrbanDecay.com.

IN MORE DETAIL...
The 15 Year Anniversary palette not only features 15 brand new -- and limited edition -- colors, but also comes in a collectible box in which the eyeshadows actually lift out so you can use the box even after the eyeshadows are gone. Nice idea, but how often does anyone actually ever finish a palette? :) It's a nice feature, but I doubt it's entirely practical. I know I've never finished a palette in my whole life. Have you?!

SWATCHES!!



STANDOUTS...
My personal favorites in this palette are Midnight Rodeo, Deep End, Chase, Flow, Evidence, and Ace. Deeper, Midnight 15, Omen and Half Truth are pretty great too. The only color that I feel is wasting space is Junkshow. I can't think of a reason that I'd ever need a hot pink eyeshadow. :P

OVERALL OPINION...
I actually love this palette. I think it's a great value for the money and most of the colors are entirely wearable. As always with Urban Decay, the quality of the shadows is phenomenal. They are creamy, rich, and go on smoothly, and they blend well with other colors. It has just right the balance of neutrals and brights and it packs just the right amount of shimmer. (Which is a lot. I like glitter quite a bit. lol.)

GRADE: A+!

Nexxus Pro Mend Review

When I saw this advertised on TV, I thought to myself, "well, that would be awesome, but it probably doesn't work." After scouring makeupalley.com for reviews -- patiently waiting to see ANY reviews of this line -- I finally decided to try it and I am SO glad I did.

WHAT IS IT?
The Nexxus Pro Mend line consists of shampoo, conditioner, an overnight repair cream, a daily leave in treatment, and a heat protectant with the sole purpose of binding split ends back together. It boasts that a whopping "94% of split ends are repaired in just one use" slogan, and promises to keep hair healthier in between salon visits.

IN MORE DETAIL...
The idea is that everyone has split ends, regardless of how often they get their hair trimmed, and the purpose of this product line is that it will not only reduce the appearance of split ends, but will actually bind them back together, leaving hair soft, shiny, and looking like you just came from a haircut.

I scooped up everything from this line with the exception of the heat protectant (only because my store didn't have it). It smells absolutely amazing and leaves your hair super soft, even before you dry it. It also helps in the detangling process after your shower; I have notoriously tangly hair and sometimes combing it out when it's wet can be a pain, but with this stuff, it was amazingly smooth and easy. Not a tangle in sight.

OVERALL OPINION
I am a HUGE believer in this line and after just a few uses, honestly believe I have found my holy grail hair care products. I live about an hour away from my hometown where my one and only trusted stylist is, so I don't get my hair cut nearly as often as I should. Along with that, my hair is colored and I blow dry and straighten it pretty much every day. My hair is damaged y'all. This stuff is absolutely amazing. My hair looks and feels healthier, shinier, and stronger, and it smells fantastic.

GRADE: A+++ (HOLY GRAIL!!)

Z Palette Review

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past year or so, you probably know what a Z palette is. But, for those who don't know, read on!

What is it?
The Z Palette is a customizable magnetic palette that does not have the constraints of a normal empty palette. There are no pre-determined slots for shadows/blushes/etc, so you can fill it with whatever you like!

In detail...
The Z Palettes come in two different sizes, small and large, and are available in pink, black, leopard and zebra print. The small palettes are $14, and the large palettes are $20.

Where to buy:
Z Palettes are available at a number of websites, including the MakeupGeek Store, and zpalette.com. I purchased mine directly from zpalette.com and definitely recommend it, they didn't charge sales tax and the shipping was free and extremely fast; I ordered on a Wednesday night and received my order on Friday!

Overall Opinion
I definitely recommend these palettes. They're completely customizable so you can put any combination of products (sizes, types, brands, etc) in them and have them all in one place, which is especially great for travelling when you don't have your whole kit with you. They're sturdy and stylish, and are definitely a great value for the price. I can't wait to buy more products to fill them with :)

Grade: A++

Discontinuation Alert!! - Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Concealer

Bad news, ladies. The Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Concealer has officially been discontinued. This is one of my all-time favorite drugstore products, so you can imagine how sad I am that it will no longer be available.

If, like me, you're in love with this fantastic concealer, fear not, it is still available in CVS stores at a 50-75% off discount because they're trying to sell it out/get rid of it before they send it back to Maybelline.

From what I've been able to find, it is no longer available on the Maybelline website, nor on Walmart.com, drugstore.com, cvs.com or walgreens.com... so, go check your CVS stores before they sell out foreverrrr!

Get it while you still can!!

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils - Review & Swatches

For anyone who doesn't know, NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils are oversized cream eyeshadow sticks that can be used as a shadow, base, or liner. They originally came out with 24 colors -- and have since added a few more that I haven't gotten my hands on yet -- which you can see swatched below.

They retail for about $4 - $7 depending where you get them, and can be purchased from Ulta, NYXCosmetics.com, and CherryCulture.com. They're great quality and come in almost every color imaginable, and for the price, they can't be beat.

SWATCHES






OVERALL OPINION
I think these are fantastic. They're great quality for the price and are multi-functional. The only downsides are that 1) they will crease if used as eyeshadow so you will need to apply a primer underneath them or a powder shadow over them to prevent creasing, and 2) it's difficult to find a sharpener that they will fit into.

GRADE: A