Loving LORAC : My New Favorite Concealer

I am always falling under the spell of magazines and thinking I can really have an airbrushed looking face. While sensible me knows that will never be true, dreamer me still chases that idea. When I discovered LORAC's new concealer, I was hoping the two can meet in the middle.

LORAC is the creation of makeup artist, Carol Shaw. Carol has done the faces of celebs everywhere and has been one of the coveted artists for red carpet events and photo shoots for more than the last decade.


LORAC recently launched their Double Feature Concealer/Highlighter. This combo actually does triple duty because of their ingenious blending tool. The concealer is in stick form, is creamy and melts into my skin. It covers my under eye circles (which admittedly aren't extreme) and looks totally natural. The other end is a highlighter which adds a touch of sheen to cheekbones or anywhere else you choose. It is a light lotion applied with a doe foot (sponge) applicator. A little goes a long way, so use this sparingly!



Finally, the best part, in my opinion, is the blending tool. It's a roller ball! When I first saw this in Sephora, I didn't really need any new concealer, but once I tried it on, knew if nothing else, I needed this blender as a tool. The crafty girl in me started trying to see what roller balls I had at home I could drain and re-purpose. Realizing that wasn't likely to work, I needed that concealer!
Not only does the roller ball help blur the edges of the concealer without removing it, it also gives the tissue under the eye a gentle massage, which will help drain fluid from the eye area.

This concealer is available from Sephora, Ulta and LORAC online for $24. Considering it's really three items in one, this Double Feature Concealer is also recession friendly!

I love it! Check it out!

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Recession Proof Beauty: Rimmel Stronger Nail Strengthener

I have lousy nails. I just do. My cuticles fall apart and then my nails head for the hills. I was schmiing around, looking for something like Nailtique, which I recall working well years ago. Except I only had $5, so I had a bit of a challenge. Enter Rimmel nail polishes! I thought I would skip the whole "find something to help strengthen them and go for color", when I spotted something called STRONGER with lycra. It was a light pink and under $5. Some nice woman next to me informed me that it worked like a charm and flashed me her not-so-lousy nails. Two weeks later, my nails are evening out, much less likely to peel and are looking pretty good. According to their website, this polish contains Vitamin A & E, Pro-Vitamin B-5 to condition your tips and talons. I definitely don't have talons. One step at a time, please. Now if I could only get my cuticles under control, I would be in great shape.

I really like this. I bought this. You should try this.

Loreal Color Vive Nutri Gloss Conditioner

I firmly believe that Loreal Color Vive Nutri Gloss Conditioner, along with my EverPure Shampoo, are the one-two punch that are making my over-processed, thirsty, red tresses sing. This rich conditioner claims to have a "dual UV filter that keeps hair color truer, longer." While I am super skeptical about any product that claims to do anything after you wash it off/out, something in this conditioner is making my locks gleam like a dazzle glass. If I wasn't so happy with my EverPure (which I intended to hate), I would try the shampoo that goes with this conditioner. But, for me, for the moment, I seem to have found hair nirvana.

I love it. I bought it. You'll love it.

Recession Friendly Beauty: Rimmel Fix & Perfect Foundation Primer 001

Always on the hunt for something to make me flawless, I decided to check out Rimmel's Fix & Perfect Foundation Primer. Rimmel claims this primer evens out your complexion and extends the wear of your makeup. So good, so far, right?

However, when I tested this at home, I was shocked to see that it is ORANGE. Since I am so fair, I bought the lightest color available. Yup, that color is ORANGE. I decided to try it out, despite my concern of looking fruity. I used half on one side of my face and half on the other. The side where I used this looked noticeably darker- my face and neck no longer matched. It also did nothing for helping to minimize my enlarged pores or help the application of my foundation go on more smoothly. In checking this product out on the Rimmel website, it says the primer is available in one color- APRICOT. So I stand corrected. It's not orange. It's apricot. If you are naturally apricot, than this might be lovely for you.

I bought this. It's apricot. Keep on walking, there's nothing to see here.


Copyright 2009, Gouldylox Reviews

Loreal EverPure Color Care System- Moisture Shampoo

So this review isn't really for a new product. In fact, I know news about this shampoo has been everywhere. But here's the deal - I didn't want Loreal's EverPure Moisture Shampoo to work. I told my friends they shouldn't use it. Over and over again.

Why? I feel like Loreal is playing on consumers' interest in the green initiative to get rid of harsh sulfates in a soap, with no real intent to be kind to my hair and the environment. That doesn't seem like a bad goal to have, being green, but I don't like to be so openly manipulated. It also bothers me because by saying that having sulfates (which are in everything) makes your shampoo bad, equals saying that every other hair product Loreal makes for colored hair is bad for your colored hair. As if they are admitting they have been pulling the wool over our eyes until the release of this product. The big sulfate we all know you must avoid is the harsh ammonium lauryl sulfate. Lauryl does have a sister detergent, Laureth, and she is not quite as harsh and is typically accepted to be better for color treated hair. That said, you may want to consider avoiding sulfates in general, but that is up to you.

Now, I eat crow.

This stuff really does work. My hair color, which is bright, bright red, has lasted longer for the last month than ever before. I haven't found myself reaching for a color depositing shampoo or conditioner and my hair is really, really shiny. I mean out-of-this-world, getting-compliments-all-of-the-time-shiny. My color hasn't faded. And for a red, that is saying something. The shiny, may be due in part to a conditioner (I'll get to that later). But for a product I wanted to fail, I really, really liked it!

I really liked this item. I bought this item. You need to try this if you have colored hair.

Recession Proof Beauty: Maybelline Dream Mousse Foundation

Always on the quest to find something to make me feel complete (and not happy with my current summer foundation situation), I decided to give Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse a whirl. I had heard great things about the Mousse Blushes and figured I should try it out. As a general rule, I don't really like liquid foundation as it always feels really heavy on my skin. Unless I am taking pictures or getting married, I don't want to deal with that. But since it is probably half air, how heavy could it be?

Buying foundation (or really anything color related) bugs me at drugstores. I like to be able to touch, feel and see what the color looks like and I hate messy testers. Between those two gripes, I am usually out of options at my local drugstores. However, since the nice lady at Rite Aid promised me it's their policy to let me return it if it's wrong, I bought the lightest, cool color they had, Light Ivory.




Here's the deal. If you are Rose McGowan light, there is a chance that none of their 16 colors will work for you. However, I am really fair and this color works for me, but if I were any paler, I don't think it would. A little goes a long way, which is great with my current budget-conscious mind set. The coverage is perfect. My sun damage and most freckles are gone, but I can still see my skin through the makeup, which makes me happy. The shade I purchased has serious yellow undertones, which work wonders on my ruddy bits. Plus, it doesn't feel heavy and helps my fine lines look less noticeable. I am also pleased with how well it wears throughout the day. I haven't had to touch up and more importantly, my blush isn't fading, which is an ongoing problem for me. Yeah!

I love this. I bought this. You should check it out!

Recession Friendly Beauty: New! Sephora Nano Lip Liners

I have decided I need to expand my horizons from pinky brown colored liners to include some peaches on my lips. I have a few glosses that I am loving for the summer, but couldn't find the right liner to go with them. I didn't want something that is matte or dry or that would smear off in a matter of lip smacks, either.

How pleased was I to discover that Sephora now has these adorable half size liners called Sephora Brand Nano Liners? They come in 20 different shades and feel luxe, thanks to the shea butter and jojoba oil infused pigments. The best part? It lasts longer than most "softer" liners I have tried. Plus, Cool Coral is perfect under my Clinique Maxi-Melon gloss and MAC's Utterly Posh Dazzleglass. For $5 each, I am trying to restrain myself from going back for many, many more.



Love it. Bought it. You should check it out.

About Face Cosmetics- Miss Julia The Mermaid Color Collection

I love a colorful eye. Especially for the summer, color is in and figuring out how to realistically wear all of the brights can be tricky. But it is totally do-able, if you have a little help. That's why so I was excited to see Heather Hanson, the brilliant beauty behind About Face Cosmetics, put together several "looks" in the newly added color gallery on her website.

Miss Julia The Mermaid is one of my faves. Heather provides step-by-step instructions and pics to help you rock this look all on your own. And for $22, you get all six colors you need to become your own siren of the sea. The best part? Shipping is under $4! The colors look crazy, but don't be afraid. Embrace your inner mermaid!


I love this. I bought this. You need this.