L'Oreal Universal Glow Beautifier - Glow or Blow?

You may recall my previous review of the L'Oreal Universal Lip Glow and how I liked it. So when I came across the Universal Glow Beautifier, on sale again at the Paris Duty Free, I bought it even though there wasn't a tester available.

Here's a look at the product:


Bottom right picture: Product is blended in to the right

The back of the box info says:

'Discover the 1st Universal Glow Beautifier by Studio Secrets Professional. With a sheer coverage and a natural effect, the Universal Glow Beautifier blends with your skin to sophistically enhance your natural skin tone. Your complexion is immediately luminous with a healthy glow, tinted with apricot accents to flatter all the skin tones.

Thanks to its texture enriched in Vitamin C and B5 derivatives, the Universal Glow Beautifier reveals a radiant complexion. Skin is perfectly hydrated and looks supple and bouncy.

Make-up Artist tip: apply your Universal Glow Beautifier alone for a healthy and natural glow effect or under your foundation to enhance its radiance.'

Sounds good right? I will attest that the texture of the product is indeed very smooth, easily blended and quite light. But aside from that?

Left side is clean, no product. Right side with L'Oreal Universal Glow Beautifier blended.

I am sorry but I don't see any differenceee~~~ No promised glow nor radiance =( And as the box info said, 'sheer coverage'....well, it's wayyyy sheer. Dark eye rings and blemishes remain completely unconcealed. (=_=) The hydration provided is slight, my usual moisturiser does better.

In a nutshell, the L'Oreal Universal Glow Foundation:

• gives extremely sheer (bordering on non-existant) coverage
• very light hydration properties
• no noticeable change in my medium fair skin tone's radiance or luminance
• gave no enhancing properties to my makeup
• skin is slightly smoother after application so this might be alright as a smoothening makeup base

I was hoping to get a really good light, sort of a tinted moisturiser in this product but.....guess not. =\ Next!

The Invisible Lipstick - L'Oreal Universal Lip Glow

I chanced upon the L'Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Universal Lip Glow at the Paris Airport Duty Free. On 40% sale, it was only 6 euros (approx S$10)! Last one on the display, it was too cheap to pass up~ Released in 2011, this is far from a new product but I've never noticed it before... >_< ..was it ever released in Singapore? I think in 2011 I wasn't so much into oodles and oodles of makeup =P

 

Adaptable Colour L'Oréal Paris' first lipstick that adapts uniquely to the heat and moisture of your lips to form a bespoke, individual colour. The result: a tailor-made shade of pink with a subtle finish.
- L'Oreal Paris

And then I saw it at the arrival hall duty free in Singapore Changi Airport, a 3-pack for S$43~ With my discount it comes up to about S$10 each =| I like it but 3 at one go?

Fun transparent pink! Looks like candy~

Enriched with pomegranate extract, emollient oil and polymers, this non-wax balm is lightweight and goes on transparent, only reacting with the heat and moisture of your lips to slide into a natural shade of pink~ I'd bought something similar before, it was some Korean brand lipgloss but I didn't like it because it was gloppy and felt sticky the whole time I had it on. Bleagh.

This balm however, is super lightweight and does keep the lips moisturised nicely. Check out the colour with just 1 layer:

1 layer gives you the appearance of bitten lips =) Depending on the state of my lips, I notice it varies, sometimes giving a slightly deeper pink shade. So it's anyone's guess what shade you'll end up with, but it's likely you'll like it if you're a fan of rosy pinkish shades~

You can also get a richer shade by layering the product~ Like so:

Pls ignore the slightly swollen eye T_T I had an argument with my contact lens.

I love the subtle gloss factor here. It looks glossy but feels balmy! And the colours I've been getting are very natural, pretty too!

The staying power is.....decent. The colour stays on me for a few hours, through a meal and drinks. I feel I have to touchup after a meal though, because I want to retain that glossy look. But because you don't have to pay too much attention to applying since it's exactly like a regular lipbalm, touching up on the go is a breeze.

In summary, the L'Oreal Universal Lip Glow:

• is an affordable, easy to use balm stain (check out duty free and online stores for offers!)
• a variety of rosy/pink shades are possible, you have to try to know for sure though
• is a lightweight balm stain with a lovely glossy finish
• decent staying power for the colour, the glossy/balmy finish won't last through a meal though
• touchups are easy due to the sturdy, waxy texture, just slap on like a regular lipbalm!
• straight up a nice-to-have product =)

Since this isn't a new product, you might have already seen this. But if this is the first you've heard of it, keep a lookout ok? It's real nice!

Have a rosy weekend everyone!! ^__^

Wanna be Forever Young~ =P

I'm not going to lie. I like falsies. I think they're fine, and a girl can use 3 pairs at the same time if she wants. No hating here. ^_^ I seldom use mine though. But I'm guilty of buying boxes of them whenever I get the notion that I want to put more effort into my makeup!

I just broke out a box that's been parked in my drawer for months! Glad I managed to get them on in just 1 try and that they're quite natural though thicker than what I used before~

Love the flushed look my Blush by 3 (Sleek Makeup) palette gives~ LOVE! Love the natural lip from L'Oreal's Shine Caresse~ LOVE! Love the enhancement to my lower lashes from Maybelline Lashionista~ LOVE! lol lots of love in this post hahaha~

This was also the first time I used the Kiss Me Heavy Rotation Perfect Eyeliner which didn't disappoint! No smudging despite being both outdoors n indoors for the next 5 hours~ Blush by 3 held up very well too~ No touchups (not even lipstick after dinner) for the 5 - 6 hours I was out and this is what I beheld when I got home:


Barely a budge from my makeup! ^__^

Products used today are:

Details:

• Kate Powderless Liquid for Cover - Ochre-D / OC-D
• Sleek Makeup Blush by 3 - Lace (used Crochet, first shade from the left) Review coming up!
• Maybelline Lashionista
• Kiss Me Heavy Rotation Perfect Eyeliner N - 02 Deep Brown
• L'Oreal Shine Caresse - Venus
• Edward Bess Ultra Slick Lipstick - Sundown
• Hollywood False Eyelashes - TP008

In case anyone was wondering how the Edward Bess Ultra Slick Lipstick fits into the whole equation, I used it as a lipliner that day, lining my outer lip then dabbing inwards before blending with the Shine Caresse. ^__^ It's my attempt at mimicking a youthful pout =P Did it work?

Have a good weekend everyone! xoxo

L'Oreal Shine Caresse - Love at First Touch?

I noticed the recently released L'Oreal Shine Caresse (supposedly YSL Glossy Stain dupes) at Watson's and with 25% off the usual S$18.90 pricetag, I figured why not~ Available in 8 shades locally, colours include pinks, nudes, reds and coral with subtle and vibrant colours in the mix.

L'oreal Shine Caresse in Shade 600 Venus

'Fresh, sensual brilliance: Shine Caresse redefines shine to make it more natural and more modern thanks to a moist-look effect. New-generation lip colour for dual results: beautiful shades infused with a fresh shine to bring out the natural beauty of your lips with the gleam of a candy-coloured caress.' - L'Oreal Paris

Sounds pretty awesome huh? Check out the swatch:

Notice the little hole in the middle of the petal-shaped applicator? It squeezes excess product off the applicator when you pull it out of the tube so you will never have a big dollop of gloss on your lips~ Hats off for this great idea!

The product itself really surprised me. I'm not a fan of lip glosses 'cos I'm very averse to over the top shine, shimmer, stickiness..etc. But Shine Caresse wasn't a sticky mess, in fact this reportedly intensely hydrating formula is quite jelly/gel-like and has a slight cooling sensation when just applied. Extremely light, it's easy to forget you have it on.



Note: Actual stain is about a shade deeper than pictured. (7 hours - Dinner, drinks & a light swipe with tissue)

Venus, being one of the lightest colours in the range, doesn't leave a vibrant stain but does have an obvious hydrating effect and flushed colour that evens out my natural lip colour. The pretty flushed pink is nice and obvious for the first 4 or 5 hours even after the gloss gets eaten wears off~ I'd played with the swatches in the store and the deeper shades left a very impressive, lasting stain on my hand.

 

In short, the L'Oreal Shine Caresse:

• is a gorgeous lip gloss stain with a sufficient colour range
• easily acessible drugstore brand that's always affordable
• product comes in a glossy gold tube that's classy & sturdy but is a fingerprint magnet 
• hydrating, lightweight gloss and colour is instant love
• slight cooling sensation and fragrance upon initial application but fades quickly
• no colour transfer after the colour has been allowed to set in
• gloss feels quite balmy after awhile and quite lasting
• long-lasting stain more apparant with darker shades but the light stains are natural & pretty too
• initial application colour will change slightly after the colour sets in your lips so do play with the swatches~

I'm going to get another shade before the sale ends! Have you tried the Shine Caresse yet? Which is your favourite shade? =)