Drugstore Deals and Steals

For May 30th through June 5th 2010

Rite Aid

Sally Hansen: Buy 1, get 1 FREE of Xtreme Wear Nail Color with Rite Aid card
Buy 1, get 1 50% off on lip color
CoverGirl: Outlast lip color is priced at $6.99 with Rite Aid card
Maybelline: Great Lash Mascara is priced at $3.99 with Rite Aid card
Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
Olay: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on skin or bath products with Rite Aid card
Neutrogena: $2 off regular retail for skin and bath products with Rite Aid card
Buy 1, get 1 50% off on lip color
Eucerin: $3 off regular retail on skin care products
L'Oreal: Advanced Revitalift, Age Perfect or Collagen Filler skin care is priced at $11.99
Nivea: $3.00 off regular retail on skin care
Aveeno: 20% off on sun, skin and bath care
Almay: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on Intense I-color eye makeup
Physicians Formula: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
L'Oreal: True Match Roller or Infallible Lip is priced at $9.99
Prestige: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on lip color
Wet n'Wild: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on lip color
N.Y.C: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on lip color
Jane: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on lip color
Bonne Bell: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on lip color
Pantene: 2 for $7 on shampoo, conditioner or stylers with Rite Aid card

Kmart

Neutrogena: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
skincare is $1 off
L'Oreal: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
Earn $3 in Rewards with any $20 cosmetics brand purchase with a Kmart card

Target

RoC: 1 oz RoC deep wrinkle night cream is priced at $19.99
Neutrogena: Spectrum SPF 100 sunblock is priced at $11.99
10% off selected Neutrogena sun care

Walgreens

Olay: Olay ProX kits are priced at $53.99
Cetaphil: UVA/UVB Defense SPF 50 Facial moisturizer, 16 oz cream or lotion is priced at $8.99
Nair: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on hair remover
CeraVe: $3 off 3to 16 oz cleanser, cream or lotion
Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
CoverGirl: Blast cosmetics are priced at $7.49
*Buy $10 or more of participating CoverGirl Blast cosmetics, receive $3 in Register Rewards at checkout. Good on your next purchase!

CVS

Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics or beauty tools with CVS card
Rimmel: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics with CVS card
Maybelline: 40% off Maybelline eye cosmetics with CVS card
Sally Hansen: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on nail color or treatment with CVS card
CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics with CVS card

My Pretty Seahorse

Beauty addicts are already losing their mind over Marine Life powder from the MAC's To The Beach Collection.
It has all the makings of a beauty legend.

It is limited edition.
It is all kinds of summer pretty.
It is wearable and buildable.
It is already sold out online and most MAC counters.
The lemming frenzy is in full force on the Makeupalley boards.

Let us know if you have caved into the Marine Life lemmings in the comments.

My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Isn't the world a lovely place
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Everywhere you go, a smiling face
Running and skipping; merrily tripping
Watching the morning unfold
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
What does the future hold?
No sign of trouble in sight
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
May all your days be bright
May all your days be bright

Credit: My Little Pony theme lyrics
Disclosure: This press sample was provided by MAC Cosmetics

Venomous Villians Coming In September

I am very late to the party with this piece of MAC news.

From WWD: MAC Cosmetics is teaming up with Disney to create a limited edition color collection, intended to launch globally in late September in all MAC locations. The products will feature four Disney villians. I am hoping there will be some blood red lipsticks, sparkling green eye shadows and a black eyeliner called Diablo.

The hints are in this MAC video: http://www.maccosmetics.com/vv_landing/index.tmpl

Here's hoping that there is a Maleficent compact! Can you imagine?
What products would you love to see? Let us know in the comments.

Bond 9's Andy Warhol's Montauk

I'm just trying to be honest about being a misanthrope
(Dazed and Confused)


I have been testing the new Bond 9's fragrance Montauk. This is the fifth in the Andy Warhol series. It was inspired by Andy Warhol's summer compound called Eothen.

Eothen is a twenty acre estate that was a magnet for celebrities. The Rolling Stones stayed there during their 1975-76 tour. We can only imagine the debauchery that happened in those five blue shingled 1931 clapboard houses.

The fragrance is described as a twilight beach scent. The bottle design is from Warhol's iconic Sunsets dating from 1972. The setting suns series consist of 632 unique screen prints of highly stylized, abstracted sunsets. Bond chose 4 sunsets to feature on the bottles. They put you in the mind of the sunsets that were painted on vans in the 1970s. Slightly trippy and laid back. You can almost hear the opening of Slow Ride by Foghat.

The fragrance opens with wild bergamot and settles into a tart blueberry. Bluberries might be the my new cardamon! It settles into a floral explosion of a hyacinth, lily of the valley and honeysuckle. It is stemmy and green. The drydown is filled with a salty driftwood and warm ambers. It leans more masculine than feminine. My male co-workers flipped over Montauk. One is pretty blatant on his desire for my decant bottle.

I am not sure he deserves it.

Montauk launches June 1st at your local Bond 9 Saks Fifth Avenue counter.
The 100ml bottle will retail for $220. The 50ml bottle will retail for $145. Visit www.bondno9fragrances.com for more information.

Credit: A sample vial was provided by Bond 9 fragrances
Photo Credits: wikipedia

Beneath the sheltering sky

Paul & Joe “Sahara” Collection for Summer 2010
Review by Jessica M

If I ever visited northern Africa, I’d imagine myself as 1960s style icon Talitha Getty. She was immortalized in a photograph that showed her posing with her billionaire husband on the roof of her Marrakesh villa, dressed in a fantastic luxe-bohemian outfit, probably enjoying the sunset between dinner with Yves Saint-Laurent and a party with Mick Jagger.

Paul & Joe’s newest limited-edition collection, called “Sahara,” is inspired by the sun and sand and colors of the African desert, and it’s a treat to wear wherever you happen to be spending your summer.

The Sahara collection includes colors for face, lips, and nails. The Finishing Powder ($35) is available in two shades: one for light skin tones and one for medium skin tones. The Lipstick is offered in three shades: Caravan (“coral pink”), Sahara (“vivid pink”), and Morocco (“warm, golden pink”).

The three limited edition Nail Polish shades ($14, available in June) are Marrakesh (coral with gold shimmer), Mirage (champagne beige), and Oasis (sparkly aquamarine). A patterned emery board and blotting papers will also be available.

And lastly, a Shimmering Body Lotion ($35) can bring the gold-dust effect to the rest of your body.

I’ve been wearing the Morocco lipstick for the past few days. As usual, Paul & Joe's limited edition packaging is colorful and whimsical, and this time it’s a pattern inspired by lotus flowers. It looks like a detail from an ancient Egyptian wall painting or a Moroccan textile. This shade is a warm, earthy plum with copper shimmer, similar to Clinique’s Think Bronze or MAC’s Viva Glam VI. It has a semi-sheer consistency. The color is versatile, and the shimmer is subtle enough to wear during the day.

I’ve also been trying out the Finishing Powder in Dune (the lighter shade). It’s a talc-based powder, finely milled, with extra ingredients like orange flower water and sodium hyaluronate that maintain the skin’s moisture without adding shine. The cardboard canister is printed with the same lotus pattern as the lipsticks, and it looks so chic; it could be from the 1920s, the 1960s, or any other moment when Egyptian motifs were popular. The powder itself gives medium coverage and a nice matte finish, which I’ll really need when the weather turns hot.

Of course, if I ever really did take a trip to Marrakesh or anywhere else in the Sahara, I’d probably end up looking and acting less like Ms. Getty and more like Edina in the “Morocco” episode of “Absolutely Fabulous.” (You can view it on YouTube, if you need to refresh your memory!) Well, at least I’d be wearing some flattering, desert-themed makeup.

Disclaimer: I purchased my two Sahara products at Bergdorf Goodman. (The phone number for the Paul & Joe counter is 212-872-2759.)
Title: Paul Bowles via The Police
Image credits: Photo of Talitha and John Paul Getty by Patrick Lichfield (1969).

Sahara collection and nail polish photos via Paul & Joe Beauté.

Lipstick and powder photos by Jessica M.

“Morocco” still from “Absolutely Fabulous.”

Drugstore Deals and Steals

For May 23rd through May 29th 2010

Rite Aid

Maybelline: 40% off on all cosmetics with Rite Aid card
NYC: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics with Rite Aid card
Physicians Formula: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on face and eye cosmetics
Revlon: $2.00 off ColorStay Ultimate Liquid lipstick or Colorburst lip stick
CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on foundation, powder, concealer or blush
L'Oreal: 2 for $7 on Vive Pro hair care or studio stylers
L'Oreal: Advanced Revitalift, Age Perfect or Collagen Filler skin care is priced at $11.99
Cetaphil: $2 coupon for skin care. Must use Rite Aid card.

Kmart

Maybelline: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
Physicians Formula: 40% off cosmetics

Walgreens

Almay: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on foundation, concealer, powder, blush or eye cosmetics
L'Oreal: $1.00 off cleansers
$5.00 off moisturizers
$3.00 off foundation, concealer, powder, blush, mascara or lipcolour
CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics

Target

Neutrogena: 2.5 oz Healthy Skin face lotion with SPF 15 is priced at $9.99
Aveeno: 3 oz face with SPF 30 is priced at $7.99

CVS

L'Oreal: Spend $10 and get $3 extra CVS bucks when you purchase any L'Oreal cosmetics with CVS card
Extra-Volume Collagen is priced at $7 with CVS card
Infallible Lip Gloss is priced at $9 with CVS card
Skin Genesis, Advanced Revitalift Deep-Set Wrinkle Repair, Age Perfect Pro-Calcium or Collagen filler is priced at $14.99 with CVS card
CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on eye cosmetics with CVS card
Skin Effects: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on skincare(excludes Continuous Spray) with CVS card
Neutrogena: Spend $10 and get $2 extra CVS bucks when you buy any Neutrogena cosmetics with CVS card
Garnier: Spend $20 and get $10 extra CVS bucks when you purchase any Garnier Nutritioniste skin care with CVS card
Physicians Formula: Bronzers are $7.99 with CVS card
Revlon: Buy Revlon nail color and get a FREE CVS Nail polish remover with CVS card
Nair: Hair Remover is priced at $3.99 with CVS card
RoC: Save $3 on all RoC products with CVS card
Nivea: Spend $15 and get $5 extra CVS bucks when you purchase any Nivea body wash, lotion,cream or serum with CVS card
Save $1 on Nivea Cellulite cream with CVS card

Neon Bible

By Melanie Parker

A trip to the local CVS on the way home from work the other night yielded me with some surprisingly fresh picks this week. The Milani Neon polish is going to get panned, but the sparkle in the upper-left corner of these Wet n Wild COLORICON quads more than makes up for the polish disappointment.

First up is Milani Nail Lacquer Neon in Fresh Teal. I wanted to love this color. After all, it looks like a great teal creme in the bottle. I carried it around the store for awhile debating if I really needed another teal creme. Then, I slipped off my shoe a little bit and looked at my China Glaze Four Leaf Clover neon green pedicure and thought it was magnificent, and decided another neon would be nice. I even compared bottles with my beloved Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure lacquer in Fairy Teal. The Milani was darker and greener...MUST HAVE. However, despite all that debating and the bottle comparison, it wasn't until I got home and did a polish change that I noticed that the color on the brush was bright blue and not teal like the bottle. DRATS! The dreaded bottle wrapper, which deceives a girl not only in color, but the amount of product left in the bottle. I hate wrappers! So, now I have this neon blue polish that went on great in two coats and is quite fun, but it's not teal and I will have no way to know when I'm running out or it gets separated. Product packaging FAIL.

But love is in bloom with these new Wet n Wild COLORICON Eyeshadow Highlighter quads. In the Opulence palette, there are 3 buttery, creamy shadows in peachy nude, meadow green, and orchid hues. They have a slight shimmer in the pan, but look more like a soft, glowing creme on the skin. It's that white opal highlighter in the corner that has me hooked. It provides a faint holographic glitter wash that is fantastic. I use a Q-tip for the highlighter because it is more of a gel than the others and I don't want to mess up my brush. Therefore, I worry about squandering more product. I wish I could get a big pan of just this highlighter. I'd wash my lids with it every day. It gives me the same rush as the Lancome Erika F, but is light enough for day time even at the office. Since I used so much of it and this is a limited edition where I stumbled on the last two palettes in the display, I'm probably going to go into hoarding mode with it and it will rarely see the light of day. Damn these drug store manufacturers and their one and done displays!

The Majestic quad was reminding me of Blogdorfgoodman's Annieytown and I knew I had to get it for the smokey blue shadows and the scintillating, glittery blue highlighter that looks like a night sky twinkling with stars. It's glorious. It's the Zoya Indigo of eye highlighters. Ha ha. This one is a little trickier than the white to wash with and can look a little streaky. It will require some more experimenting with the application techniques.

If you see these Wet n Wild COLORICON quads at your local drug store, I think they are a terrific value for $4.99.

Disclaimer: All products were purchased by the reviewer.
Title from Arcade Fire

Palette Lemming

CHANEL Celebrity Makeup Artist Kate Lee worked with Gemma Arterton at the Los Angeles premiere of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time on Monday, May 17th.

"I prepped Gemma's skin with CHANEL Hydramax + Active Serum. On her eyes, I used a beautiful violet grey shadow from a new palette launching in July- CHANEL Quadra Eye Shadow in Enigma. (I think I need this! It looks like a mouse-like, violet taupe.)

I lined the inside of Gemma's eyes with CHANEL Intense Eye Pencil in Clair, also launching in July. This beige shade is a nice alternative to white - it gives a more modern effect and is not quite as harsh, making the eyes appear wider. Finally, I applied two coats of CHANEL Inimitable Mascara in Noir. I used a generous amount of CHANEL Hydramax + Active Lip Care on her mouth,and added just a bit of CHANEL Rouge Allure Laque in Dynastie for a touch of colour. To complete the look, I applied CHANEL Powder Blush in Fandangoon the apples of her cheeks."

Photo Credit: Zimbio via fashionspot

News That Will Make Hardcore Prescriptives Fans Fume

Estee Lauder announced that Smashbox will be joining their beauty family and empire.

“The Estée Lauder Companies is the ideal home for Smashbox,” said Dean Factor, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Smashbox Beauty Cosmetics, Inc. “The Company possesses the scale and vision to help transition Smashbox into its next phase of growth, and its track record of nurturing and growing prestige brands is second to none. Moreover, we share a similar cultural heritage and dedication to consumer-inspired innovation and creativity. We expect to benefit greatly from The Estée Lauder Companies’ extensive knowledge in product development, operational execution, and international marketing and distribution, and we look forward to the next great period of growth for the brand.”

What do you think?
Feel free to vent or gush in the comments.

Drugstore Deals and Steals

For May 16th through May 22nd 2010

Rite Aid

L'Oreal: Buy 1, get 1 50% off of cosmetics
Pantene: 2 for 47 on shampoo,conditioner or stylers
Olay: Buy 1, get 1 50% off of skin or bath care products
Wet n Wild: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on cosmetics
Eucerin: 25% off on skin care products
Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 50% off of ColorStay cosmetics and beauty tools
CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 50% off of lip and eye cosmetics
Almay: Save $2(coupon) off on lip and eye cosmetics

Target

Sally Hansen: Nail Art Pen, Complete Salon Manicure nail polish is priced at $5.99 each
Polish Remover with Vitamin E is priced at $1.99
Continuous Treatment nail strengthener is priced at $7.99

Walgreens

L'Oreal: 25% off skincare (excludes Sublime and go 360 clean)
Extra Volume Collagen, Lash Out, Voluminous and Color Riche mascara is priced at $4.99. Excludes Color Riche Serum
Olay: Buy $50 or more of Olay ProX, receive a $20 mail-in rebate at olay.com
Neutrogena: $5 off Neutrogena Clinical
Get a $15 mail in rebate online. See details at NeutrogenaClinical.com
Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 50% off of cosmetics
Maybelline: Buy 1, get 1 50% off of eye cosmetics

Kmart

Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 50% off of cosmetics
Wet n Wild: Buy 1, get 1 FREE off on cosmetics

CVS

CoverGirl& Olay: Simply Ageless corrector, concealer or sculpting blush is priced at $10 with CVS card
Get extra $3 CVS bucks when you purchase a CoverGirl& Olay Simply Ageless foundation with a CVS card
CoverGirl: Get $2 extra CVS bucks when you purchase a CoverGirl Lashblast fusion mascara with CVS card
Buy 1, get 1 FREE on Wetslicks Amazemint lippies with CVS card
Almay: Buy 1, get 1 50% off of cosmetics with CVS card
Revlon: Spend $19 and get $4 extra CVS bucks when you purchase any Revlon cosmetics with CVS card
Physicians Formula: Get $5 extra CVS bucks when you purchase Physicians Formula mineral powder with CVS card
Zeno: Hot spot blemish clearing device is priced at $34.99 with CVS card
Aveeno: Get $5 extra CVS bucks when you purchase Neutrogena Clinical, Aveeno Ageless Vitality or RoC Brilliance with CVS card
Bio-Oil: save $2 on Specialist skincare with CVS card
Olay : Regenerist facial care is priced at $18.99 with CVS card. Excludes kits or speciality treatments
Get $12 extra CVS bucks when you purchase 2 Regenerist kits, specialty treatments or any Olay Definity facial care with CVS card
Maybelline: Spend $7 and get $2 extra CVS bucks when you purchase Select Maybelline mascara with CVS card
Maybelline Define-A-Lash, Stiletto or Colossal mascara is priced at $7 with CVS card
Sally Hansen: Buy 1, get 1 50% off of cosmetics or hair removers
L'Oreal: Collagen Moisture filler, Advanced Revitalift(excludes Deep Set Wrinkle), or Age Perfect moisturizer(excludes Pro-Calcium)are priced at $11.99 with CVS card
Skin Genesis cleanser is priced at $5.99 with CVS card

The Impertinent Curiosity

Diptyque is debuting a new EDT this month called Vetyverio. Of course, my simple mind converts it to "Lothario".
The press release states that is neither masculine or feminine. Based on the listed notes it looks like it will lean toward the boys. Vetiver and clove sounds like an intoxicating scent combination.

The core of the fragrance is vetiver from Indonesia and the Caribbean. Additional notes include an organic ylang ylang from Madagascar, Turkish rose, and peppery geranium from Egypt. Hints of Italian mandarin orange, Florida grapefruit, Sicilian lemon, and bergamot keep the EDT fresh and fruity, rather than citric.

A few spices (carrot seeds, nutmeg and clove) combined with the dryness of cedar adds structure to the final product.

They really got me with the clove.

It is will be available in mid-May with my favorite perfume retailer http://www.luckyscent.com/
and at www.diptyqueparis.com.

Dead Souls: Addiction's Crow

If the people we love are stolen from us, the way to have them live on is to never stop loving them.
Buildings burn, people die, but real love is forever. (The Crow)

More love for the Kose Addiction eye shadows by Ayako

Crow is the star from the entire Addiction line. It is the color of the underbelly of a Crow bird. It is a slightly sooty blue black.

***beyond smitten***

For more details visit the official site http://www.addiction-beauty.com/

and if you decide to cave

http://ichibankao.com/default.aspx

Drugstore Deals and Steals

For May 9th through May 15th 2010

Walgreens

Almay: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
RoC: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on skincare
Olay: Definity or Total Effects facial moisturizers are priced at $19.99
Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
L'Oreal: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics or skincare
Maybelline: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics

Target

L'Oreal: Telescopic Explosion mascara is priced at $6.99
10% off other selected L'Oreal cosmetics
Revlon: ColorStay Ultimate Lipcolor is priced at $7.99
10% off other selected Revlon cosmetics
Olay: Pro-X .5 oz Eye Restoration Complex, 2.5 oz Age Regular lotion is priced at $41.50
10% off other selected Olay skin care
Maybelline: Colassal Volum'Express mascara is priced at $4.99
10% off selected Maybelline cosmetics

Rite Aid

Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on lip and eye cosmetics
L'Oreal: Revitalift, Wrinkle De-Crease or Skin Genesis skin care is priced at $14.99
Olay: Ribbons body wash is priced at $5.99
Neutrogena: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
Physicians Formula: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
L'Oreal: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on lip cosmetics
Prestige: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
Almay: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on foundation, powder, blush or concealer
Maybelline: 2 for $8 for Great Lash mascara
Maybelline: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on lip cosmetics

Kmart

Maybelline: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on face or lip cosmetics
Instant Age Rewind Eraser foundation is priced at $8.99
L'Oreal: 30% off on cosmetics

CVS

Maybelline: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics with CVS card (limit 6)
Physicians Formula: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics with CVS card
Maybelline: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics with CVS card (limit 6)
CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 FREE off on CoverGirl lip products with CVS card
CoverGirl Smoky Shadowblast or Liquiline Blast is priced at $7 with CVS card
CoverGirl: Lashblast Fusion mascara is priced at $8 with CVS card
Neutrogena: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics with CVS card
Wet N Wild: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics with CVS card
Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on eye or lip cosmetics with CVS card

Let It Snow!

Kose Addiction by Ayako
Cream Shadow in Snow Venus

This is part of my Japanese haul courtesy of Miss Koneko. Addiction was created by Ayako, NARS International Makeup Director. It has a Nars vibe with some clever tinkering.

Ayako has developed 6 white and 6 black eye shadow shades. The white shades are Paper Doll(matte), Sugar Angel(pearl), Snow Magic(sparkle),Snow Bouquet(sparkle), Snow Bird(sparkle) and Snow Venus(sparkle).

Snow Venus(pictured) is a parchment white shade. It has a quirky pale yellow, grey flash. The formula is a light cream enthused with a sparklefest. Cream shadows are generally difficult for me. It is a mixture of a lack of skill and oily eye lids. Jill Stuart and Addiction cream shadows seem to "stay put" with no primer aids. The sparkle fire range is at a "Jill Stuart" level.
In beauty blogging terms, this level means NIRVANA.

So...another Japanese beauty crush begins.

Visit the official site at http://www.addiction-beauty.com/
Addiction products can be found for sale at http://ichibankao.com/default.aspx

Beauty and the Bargain

Essence Cosmetics Review
By Jessica M.

Last week I reported on Essence Cosmetics’ launch in the United
States, and now I’m back to update Blogdorf about my favorite products
(so far) in the line. I’m trying to spend a little less money on my
makeup acquisitions this year, so it will be nice to have another
low-priced, on-trend option to satisfy my cosmetics cravings.

The Colour & Go nail polishes, priced at ninety-nine cents (yes!) are
Essence’s best-sellers. I couldn’t decide between Just in Case
(bronze), What Do U Think? (melon creme), and Space Queen (holographic
sparkles in a pinkish-clear base). There’s also a shimmery cobalt
blue called Underwater that Annie would love. I’ve given myself a
manicure with No More Drama (lilac creme): it applies smoothly and
evenly, and two coats gives a creamy, streak-free finish. It also
wears just as well as most of the higher-priced polishes in my
collection.

Some of Essence’s eye colors are very easy to integrate into my usual
“everyday” look. The eye duo in Ever Glam is packaged in a portable
little compact with a sliding lid, and its pair of bone and
mossy-brown shades carries an amazing amount of shimmer and color
pay-off ($2.49). I’ve also combined two mono shadows ($1.99 each):
Blockbuster is a silky, matte ivory that’s perfect for using all over
the eyelid, and Metropolitan is a rich, deep brown (with a dash of
fine golden sparkle) that works well for defining the crease. All
these shadows stayed put and lasted well when I wore them over Urban
Decay Primer Potion. Long Lasting Eye Pencil in Hot Chocolate is
simple to use ($1.99), and Lash & Brow Eye Gel Mascara keeps my brows
neat ($2.49).

Other shades are perfect for experimenting, especially since they’re
not big cash investments. I’ve been meaning to try some lavender and
purple eye shadows for spring, so I’m testing the waters with Go Glam
mono shadow (lilac), the Mix It Baby! duo (pearly lavender and deep
shimmery purple), and the Quattro quad in Sooo Cool ($2.99). Again,
the shadows feel smooth and soft, and they’re well pigmented. Some
shades fade slightly by the end of the day, but not enough to bother
me. Essence also makes brighter shades (green, orange, hot pink,
yellow) for bolder looks.

Have I mentioned mascara? I’m a terrible klutz with mascara, and I’ve
had bad experiences with mascaras from all kinds of brands. I tried
Multi Action Mascara ($3.49), mainly because I liked the swirly,
Pucci-like pattern on the label, and it turned out to be an easy,
mess-free everyday mascara that gives my eyes just enough “oomph.” I
also sampled Maximum Definition Volume Mascara ($3.99), which has a
skinny rubber brush. I needed to comb out a few clumpy bits after I
applied it, but once I’d done that, I had nicely defined lashes that
didn’t flake or smudge or feel crusty -- for half the price of most
drugstore mascaras.

There are many, many more products in Essence’s import line, and I
definitely haven’t tried all of them. I’d probably pass on the lip
glosses, though; they feel smooth and they give lots of shine, but
they don’t have much pigment when applied. I wasn’t crazy about the
feel of the Kajal Eye Pencils, and the Soft Touch Mousse Foundation is
better for normal-to-dry skin. (I need something oil-free.) For the
most part, though, I’ve really been enjoying this line, and I’ll keep
coming back for Essence’s affordable and well-produced polishes, eye
shadows, mascaras, and makeup brushes.

Essence Cosmetics is available in the U.S. at Ulta stores and
http://www.ulta.com.

For more information and product listings, check
out the Essence website: http://www.essence.eu/us/usa/.

Photos by Jessica M.
Disclosure: Press samples of these products were provided by Essence Cosmetics

Drugstore Deals and Steals

For May 2nd through May 8th 2010

CVS

Rimmel: Spend $10 and get $3 extra CVS bucks when you purchase any Rimmel cosmetics with CVS card
Revlon and Almay: Spend $10, and get $3 extra CVS bucks when you purchase any Revlon cosmetics, beauty tools or any Almay products
L'Oreal: Telescopic Explosion mascara is priced at $6 with CVS card
Shadows or Liners are priced at $5 with CVS card
Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base or Color Correcting Primer is priced at $9 with CVS card
CeraVe: Save $3 on all CeraVe products with CVS card
Lumene: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on all skincare with CVS card
CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics(excludes Lashblast Fusion mascara) with CVS card
When you purchase a CoverGirl Lashblast Fusion mascara, get $2 extra CVS bucks with CVS card
Olay: You purchase a Total Effects body wash, you get $3 extra CVS bucks with CVS card
Olay Regenerist Kits, treatments, or ALL Definity facial care is priced at $24.99 with CVS card
Olay Complete or Age Defying lotion 4-6 oz, cream 2 oz or eye gel 0.5 oz is priced at $9.99 with CVS card
Olay Total Effects, Definity cleanser or Regenerist scrub is priced at $8.99 with CVS card
Olay Regenerist facial care(excludes kits and treatments) is priced at $17.99 with CVS card
Olay Daily Facials are priced at $3.99 with CVS card
Lubriderm: Get $5 extra CVS bucks when you purchase 2 Lubriderm lotion 16 oz with CVS card
Rite Aid

CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on cosmetics
Maybelline: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on eye or face cosmetics
Almay: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
Buy 1, get 1 50% off on Revlon nail enamel
Neutrogena: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
Almay: $5.99 on eye makeup
L'Oreal: $2.00 off on foundation, powder, blush and concealers cosmetics
Physicians Formula: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on all bronzers
N.Y.C: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on nail enamel
Wet n Wild: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on nail enamel
Garnier: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on skin care with Rite Aid card
Revlon: $2 single check rebate off on Revlon foundation with Rite Aid card
Olmay: $1 single check rebate off Total Effects or Regenerist skin care products

Walmart

CoverGirl: ShadowBlast Duo eye shadow is priced at $6.50
Olay: Regenerist Anti-Aging Eye Roller is priced at $16.97
Complete Moisture Cream is priced at $5.00

Target

Olay: Body Wash is priced at $5.49
Biore: 14 ct Biore pore strips is priced at $7.99

Walgreens

Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on eye cosmetics or implements
Maybelline: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on foundation, concealer, powder or blush
Rimmel: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
Sally Hansen: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics on Airbrush legs, Nail Treatment, Complete Salon, pens or La Cross Implements
Neutrogena: 20% off Clinical Skincare
Wet n Wild: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
Aveeno: Purchase Aveeno Ageless Vitality Skincare and receive $10 Register Reward good on next purchase. Receive an additional $15 Mail-In-Rebate at aveeno.com
Nivea: 20% off skin or lip care
CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics

KMart

CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
Pantene: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on selected shampoo, conditioner or stylers