Battle of the Bronzers: L'Oreal vs. Lancome

It's rumored that L'Oreal's and Lancome's products are simply the exact same formulas; one is just packaged in a more high-end manner thus driving up the price. For certain products it's true: I find L'Oreal's Color Juice is a real competitor against Lancome's famed Juicy Tubes. I decided to put L'Oreal Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Airbrush Self-Tanning Mist in a death match against Lancome Flash Bronzer Airbrush Self Tan Spray. The results are in.

I have mixed feelings about this L'Oreal Sublime Bronze, dollfaces. Here's what I like about L'Oreal Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Airbrush Self-Tanning Mist in Medium:
1)The price: $10
2)Its lack of DHA odor
3)The airbrushed non-wet mist that doesn't feel gross when you apply it
4)The color the Medium one produces is perfect for WINTER
5)It's very user-friendly - it yields no streaks

I don't love that (see number 4, above) the color isn't very appropriate for summer. In the summer, I like to be tan, bitches. Not a real, fried-myself-at-the-NJ-shore, going-to-look-45-by-the-time-I'm-30-tan - but I like to FAUX tan myself to a deep caramel. So while I hate the way Lancome's Flash Bronzer Airbrush Self Tan Spray ($28) makes me smell as if I just dived into a vat of quarters Scrooge MacDuck-style AND feels soaking wet as you apply it, it's still my Mem-Day-to-Labe Day Self-Tanner of Choice. It just gives me the oomph I need. I want my spray tan to be dramatic (within the confines of the 100 days of summer.) More dramatic, than, say, the dramatic part of Genesis' "In the Air Tonight" song. You know?

The winner is Lancome!

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Don't Be Paparazzi'd Without It: L'Oreal Infallible Lipgloss

I'm pretty sure there's nothing more annoying than finding out about this when I purchased MY iPhone on MAY 26th. Oh wait, there is. Lipgloss that disintegrates within minutes of application during a weekend positively teeming with paparazzi moments.

But luckily, I got the memo to pack my L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Lipgloss in Bloom in my teeny tiny clutch and that is why my lips look fly in the above pic, taken at the rehearsal dins last Thursday. The formula is perfection. It lasts not quite the eight hours it claims to on the bottle, but I'll say with full conviction that it lasts about five... still a feat worth a parade, IMO. It manages to hydrate lips for a smooth, even finish. But my fave part of the gloss is the triangular enormous spongey applicator. It's so large, yet easy to contour. I'll bet Angelina Jolie loves the surface area she can cover in mere seconds with this baby. It's only $10 in drugstores. What's better? Not one thing.

Photo credit: Beauty Blogging Junkie, drugstore.com

Whore Drawer Fodder: L'Oreal Telescopic Precision Liquid Eyeliner

I have to credit my friend Lauren with the concept of a "whore drawer." It's a drawer you keep in your office at work stocked with cute outfits for post-work drinks/events that you can't wear in your conservative business/business casual environment. My "whore drawer" boasts an impressive makeup collection, a perfume or two, a couple of outfits, and various and sundry body lotions. My most recent addition is L'Oreal's Telescopic Precision Liquid Eyeliner in Carbon Black, $9.

I learned about this easy-to-use liner at the L'Oreal store at the Beverly Center (pictured, left). The store opened in 2004, and is home to the world's only True Light Pod (patent pending) which replicates any possible lighting environment. Dos Caminos circa 10pm on a Saturday? Done. A sunny day in Central Park? No prob. The store is intelligently designed with a "play" area in the middle where you can test out most of the products in-store, while the perimeter is lined with stocked shelves full of hair, makeup, and skincare products. So you don't have to reach over someone doing a foundation match to obtain the product you'll simply perish without having in your lifestyle. My fave part about the store: they sell that AMAZING condish that comes in their home dye kits SEPARATELY and in large tubes. What's better? Not one thing.

Back to the liner. Once I was introduced to L'Oreal's concept of carbon black - a serious shade of real, rich black thanks to twice the amount of intense pigments compared to L'Oreal's regular black - I was so sold. Jamie and I turned to each other and agreed that we needed blacker than black eye makeup on the DOUBLE. I picked up a carbon black mascara as well, which I have yet to try. Stay tuned on that. Telescopic Eyeliner's slanted precision felt tip is angled to allow you to quickly draw an accurate line. It's so user friendly! I like to add just a bit of dramatic "wing" a la Angelina to my outer corners before going out after work. Bonus: it lasts ALL night long, just like the Lionel Richie song. This drugstore darling delivers, dolls. Do try it on out.

Tell me in the comments: what's in your whore drawer?

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L'Oreal Professionnel Backstage at Hervé Léger

I wasn't able to attend this one, but I thought I'd pass along the info as I adore L'Oreal Professionnel Infinium Hairspray! And I covet the color and length of that model's hair. Gorge.

L'Oréal Professionnel Texture Expert and hair stylist Malcolm Edwards brought sophisticated and youthful, "sex-bomb" glamour to the runway at the Hervé Léger Fall 2008 Collection, yesterday at Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week.

Edwards created a simple silhouette using the haute couture fashion inspired luxury styling line, L'Oréal Professionnel Texture Expert. First, dry hair was prepped with Mousse Volupté and Densité to provide a great styling base and add volume. Next, each model's hair was blown out and the entire back section of the hair was saturated with Infinium #2 (regular hold working spray) hairspray to give a strong but workable foundation. Each section of the hair was back-brushed to achieve exceptional texture and then flat-ironed to set the texture. Infinium #4 (extreme hold finishing spray) hairspray was then sprayed on the top/front of the head and the top brushed flat and tight against the head, with a slightly off-centered part. The final look reflected the theme of the Hérve Léger Collection - powerful, modern feminity.

Pictured above is Malcolm Edwards for L'Oréal Professionnel Texture Expert styling the Hervé Léger Fall 2008 Collection.

Photo Credit: Gerardo Somoza

Q&A: Follow Up Q Regarding Mascara and Concealer

Q: The other important question I should have asked, besides guessing at the product categories, was what items should I apply, and in what order. Like, do you always wear foudation, blush/cheek, liner, mascara, concealer, lip gloss? And: shadows. Always wear, sometimes wear, etc. Concealer? or just more of the foundation?
Thanks! You're the BEST!
Beauty Wannabe


A: Unless I'm going to the gym or doing a "no makeup day" which includes VERY minimal makeup (just concealer, balm and mascara, BTW), I have a very specific product list. This is my everyday look, the one I rock to work and during the day on weekends. I rarely wear no makeup (unless I have a tan). Here's my everyday list, in the right order. I usually don't wear shadow unless I'm going out or if I have time.
Concealer (I apply at the beginning and a bit more at the end as well)
Tinted Moisturizer (I like Laura Mercier's) or Foundation, depending on how my skin looks
Either a Blush Stick or a Bronzing Stick (sometimes a combo of both)
Pencil Liner on the top lashes only
Non-dramatic, but effective Mascara
Balm or Gloss

We've gone over all components of this list except for mascara and concealer. Here's what I recommend. I've limited the selection to two per category for you although, obviously, there are SEVERAL I adore.

Concealer
One of my favorites is Laura Mercier Secret Concealer. There are others included in the list to which I linked that are also good.

Also great: Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Maximum Coverage Concealer $18. Here's a review I did for it for TotalBeauty.com:

This tiny mirrored compact won't waste precious purse real estate. A yellow-based concealer, it erases dark circles and hydrates just enough to mask fine lines. Lightweight, yet full coverage with a matte finish that yields non-greasy, even-toned skin. Long-wearing but easily blendable product is best used for the undereye area – those with oily skin should avoid it for blemish camouflaging. Other imperfections (acne scars, etc.) run screaming when spackled with a bit of the product applied with a concealer brush.

Mascara
Prescriptives False Eyelashes Plush Mascara $19.50 has wowed me. It's not quite as dramatic as Diorshow, but does the job - I love how black the black is. I use it during the day because I like just a tad more drama at night, usually along the lines of Fiberwig or the aforementioned Diorshow.

L'Oreal Lash Architect $6 (pictured above)
Lash Architect launched while I was in college, I believe, but it's still one of my favorite drug store mascaras. The brush glides well and the formula is enriched with jojoba and Vitamin B5 so that "new mascara bottle" feeling last a bit longer. Is there anything better than that, BTW? New Mascara Day is right up there with New Sheet Day (although obv, the latter happens more often).

Photo credit: drugstore.com