L'Oréal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream: Anti-Fatigue and Anti-Redness

I don't want to begrudge the cosmetic scientists who no doubt work long hours over at l'Oréal RnD their due. I'm sure they had a lot to do with the awesomeness of the brand-new Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream.

But let's be honest about what really made the difference here.

SORCERY.

Like many of you, I tend to greet the release of yet another BB cream with a jaw-cracking yawn. Skin-smoothing, tone-enhancing, wrinkle-blurring - you and I have heard it all. Do we really need to hear it again and again with every new season?

In the case of the Magic Skin Beautifier, YES. Also, HELL YES.

This formula comes in two versions, one claiming to work against signs of fatigue to awaken the complexion, and the other to reduce the look of redness. Both of them come out of the tube distinctly coloured  - one a sherbert orange, the other pale mint green - and transform to a peach tone when rubbed in. (In the swatches below I applied the Anti-Fatigue one a little more thickly, so it's showing darker and more opaque.)

I have to say that I wasn't particularly overwhelmed with the Anti-Fatigue version - on my skin it gives my skin a subtle bronzed glow, which is certainly welcome, but not game changing. If you have deeper skin in need of perking up, or skin with a washed-out, grey cast, it might be right up your alley.

The Anti-Redness one though, is purely amazing. Here are some before and after pictures to give you a better idea...

The first picture is bare skin, with just some moisturizer.

The second picture is with a thin layer of the Anti-Redness Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream. You can see that through some strange alchemy, it's easily taken care of the redness I had in my cheeks, around the top corner of my eyebrow, and on my chin. It even muted some of the darkness below my eyes, cancelling out the red in the violet shadows. Where I applied it more heavily by mistake (just under my eye) it shows up a bit more yellow than the rest of my skin, but otherwise I don't feel like this looked visibly peachier or darker than my skin tone, despite what it looked like when swatched on my arm. (And unlike tinted green primers, it does't leave my face looking strange and ghostly.)

I suspect that if you're very pale, or you have a lot of redness to cover and thus need to apply the product more heavily, it might look more obvious. If you're using it purely as a BB cream, chances are you probably don't need a ton of coverage. If you do, then I suggest using it as a primer instead. It feels comparable to a mix of the Hourglass Mineral Veil and those new-fangled second-skin foundations, with a very liquid, silicone texture and a quick-dry, natural matte finish. Like both those products, it can look powdery and cake up over dry areas if you apply a lot, so I would suggest going with a thin layer, and using foundation, concealer and/or powder, if needed, overtop. That said, I think you'll be surprised at the amount of coverage this has, and how little of the other products you'll need to use afterward.

The third picture is with my full makeup applied on top, to test whether it would wear as a regular primer would. And it did. I applied my Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation with a moist sponge (which would normally give me negligible coverage), misted down my face with a floral water, then dabbed some Maybelline Dream Lumi Highlighting Concealer under my eyes, a bit of Nars Light Reflecting Powder, and that was it for the face.

I am incredibly impressed with this product, even though I really don't understand how it works. So in the long tradition of humans before me, I'm going to ascribe its wondrous properties to the dark arts, and call it a day.

Availability: Should be showing up very soon (possibly now) at your local drugstore, with a suggested retail price of 16.99$, though of course that can vary with vendor and promotion.

(Item was sent by the brand/PR to be considered for review. Opinions are my own, and I am not compensated.)

L'Oréal Project Runway Fall 2013 Collection

I don't generally like posting about products that are hard to acquire in Canada, but this Project Runway collection from L'Oréal is SO awesome - I had to share it. Hopefully if you are traveling to the US in the near future, this might prove helpful to your own drugstore forays.

The overall collection is named Electric Fantasie, with four displays bearing distinct themes. Most of the items I picked came from the "Wise Mystic" display, which features strong jewel tones and plum/berry shades. The nail polish is from the "Seductive Tempress" set, which had burnished and nude tones.

The Mystic's Gaze Quad, The Mystic's Kiss Lipstick, The Mystic's Shine Le Gloss, The Temptress' Power Nail Polish

Studio Secrets Pressed Eyeshadow Quad in The Mystic's Gaze: I wasn't sure what to expect, honestly, because drugstore ranges usually fall short when it comes to saturated jewel tones like this.

The violet shade is on the sheerer side, but builds up well, and has a soft, blendable texture. The green has richer colour and a similar texture. Both have a faint duochrome shimmer that gives them a nice glow when applied to the lid, and they pop beautifully when layered over a dark base. The navy shade is lovely - deeply pigmented and lightly shimmery. The texture is a bit powdery, so it does best over a base to maintain that richness. Otherwise it blends out really well as a crease shade.

The major disappointedment for me is the royal blue shade. It looks like Nars Outremer, and has the same issues of poor pigmentation, choppy blending incredibly patchy application. It's just a terrible shade, all the more so because the colour in the pan is so stunning.

Colour Riche Lipstick in The Mystic's Kiss and Le Gloss in The Mystic's Shine: I love both of these!

The lipstick is actually a lot more wearable that the bullet colour would suggest, more of a deep berry than purple. The texture is creamy and slightly hydrating, and it applies very smoothly.

The lip gloss has a clear base with a ton of duochrome shimmer in violet-pink and lilac. In some lights it  reads as pink sparkle, in others it's almost blindingly holographic. The texture is thicker and stickier than I prefer, but as I like to wear it layered over the lipstick just at the centre of the lip, it's not a major issue.

Colour Riche Lipstick in The Mystic's Kiss

Colour Riche Le Gloss in The Mystic's Shine

The Mystic's Shine layered over The Mystic's Kiss

Nail Color in The Tempress' Power: So. Freaking. Gorgeous. This is the "Get It, Get It Now" product from the collection.

This is definitely more of a layering colour, though if you're willing to do four coats like I did for the swatch, it's also beautiful worn as is. This polish is magical - tons and tons of fine duochrome shimmer in a sheer base. Shifting beautifully under the light, it's a mix of gold, peach, orange and chartreuse and even a bit of teal. I regret not getting a backup, because I suspect I will be wearing it layered over everything.

I'm not going to do the usual breakdown, as it's not readily available in Canada and prices vary wildly in the states, depending on region and drugstore chain you choose.

Is there anything you guys are eyeing or have already managed to get?

(I purchased all these items.)

L'Oréal Collection Privée (Official TIFF Festival Collection) - Colour Riche Lipsticks

How much do I love it when drugstore brands go big for a limited edition collection? THISMUCH.

You have to hand it to L'Oréal - for their TIFF collection, they didn't just slap together a few new shades, they essentially re-invented their Colour Riche lipsticks with limited, exclusive packaging and a formula that pays homage to the classic in its luxurious feel, but feels fresh and modern due to its finish.

Like the nail polishes I reviewed the other day, the L'Oréal Collection Privée TIFF Collection is inspired by several well-known actresses: Eva Longoria, Doutzen Kroes, Freida Pinto and Jennifer Lopez. Each lipstick bears the signature of the actress, as well as a unique logo stamp at the top of the tube that has a distinctive Art Deco feel.Very chic and vintage-feeling. The matte, soft-touch packaging of the tube is very different from the usual casing, and combined with the logo and the gold detailing, it feels like something that should be adorning a high-end department store counter. It's all very well done.

The lipsticks themselves are variations on the nude theme, even more so than the nail polishes - which would more appropriately be termed neutrals rather than nudes.

These are more sheer than the usual Colour Riche lipsticks, similar to the way the MAC Lustre finish looks and feels. They deliver medium pigmentation, allowing a fair bit of your natural lip colour to show through. This actually makes them more wearable than many nudes, which can look chalky or corpse-like if not the exact right shade. In comparison, these are far more forgiving to a variety of skin tones.

The formula is about as hydrating as the regular Colour Riche version, perhaps slightly more emollient initially, and wears for a shorter length of time. I got about 2 hours of wear before I felt the need to touch up. The scent is the same as that of the regular Colour Riche lipsticks, maybe a touch lighter, and one you either love or hate. It does't last, either way.

Left to right: Eva, Doutzen, Freida, J. Lo

Top to bottom: Eva, Doutzen, Freida, J. Lo

Left to right: Eva, Doutzen, Freida, J. Lo

Left to right: Eva, Doutzen, Freida, J. Lo

The Eva Nude (Barely Golden): A beautiful peachy nude, this is warm-toned and incredibly flattering to all but the coolest complexions. It's also the most opaque out of the four, with the creamiest finish.

The Eva Nude

The Doutzen Nude (Barely Pink): Very pale, almost icy pink, with the sheerest finish. It has a a strong 1960s vibe to me, but still feels modern, probably because of that translucent texture. I think this would look stunningly feminine on a very fair complexion. It might look too frosty on deeper tones.

The Doutzen Nude

The Freida Nude (Barely Parma): A light mauve with a faint beige undertone, and an even fainter lilac. It looked like it was going to be too dusky for me when I saw it in the tube, but it's actually the most flattering of the four on me. (Possibly because it's a slightly deeper version of my natural lip colour.) It's elegant and polished, but still easy to wear due to light, sheen-y finish.

The Freida Nude

The J. Lo Nude (Barely Greige): I don't know that I would call this Greige. It's not as beige-toned, and actually has a fair bit of warmth to it. I think this is the nude that would probably suit almost everyone, with just enough pink to keep the colour fresh, and enough depth to create that contrast that keeps a nude lip from draining the warmth and brightness from the complexion. Pretty, soft, extremely easy to wear, it's the ideal shade to have in your purse at all times.

The J. Lo Nude

And if you're curious, the ad featuring the actresses (and others) that inspired this collection:

Availability: Very limited, out in Canada at most drugstores now. Price is 10.99$ CAD.

Pros: Overall, I am really impressed by these lipsticks. The colours are all wearable and different enough from each other, despite the overall nude theme. They feel nice and creamy on the lips, and the packaging is beautiful.

Cons: If you prefer a more opaque formula or longer wear, these won't hit the mark for you. Doutzen is a little trickier to wear for deeper tones, unless you're rocking a Mod lip.

(These items were provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated.)

L'Oréal Collection Privée (Official TIFF Festival Collection) - Colour Riche Nail Polishes

The Toronto International Film Festival is almost upon us (runs September 5th to 15th, for my fellow film buffs), and with it comes this incredibly classic, and yet totally modern collection of stellar nudes for lips and nails.

The L'Oréal Collection Privée is the official TIFF collection, and features matched pairs of lipsticks and nail polishes that are meant to evoke the particular essence of the following ladies: Eva Longoria, Doutzen Kroes, Freida Pinto and Jennifer Lopez.

Left to right: Eva's Nude, Doutzen's Nude, Freida's Nude, J. Lo's Nude

Left to right: Eva's Nude, Doutzen's Nude, Freida's Nude, J. Lo's Nude

I'll have swatches and reviews for the lipsticks up shortly, but I wanted to start with the nail polishes. As you may have noticed, these come in the smaller-sized bottle, similar to the very limited topcoats that were available earlier this summer. If you go through nail polish like crazy, or if you fall in love with a particular shade, that might be an issue. On the other hand it's nice to have a polish size that you are actually likely to finish.

These also feature the same style of rounded but flat brush that is found in all the L'Oreal Colour Riche nail polishes. (Which I happen to love for my nail size and shape.)

Eva's Nude (Barely Golden): This is a rich, inky burgundy with an warm undertone of brown. It looks glossy even without a topcoat, and applies smoothly for such a vampy shade. It self-levels, and you could probably get away with one coat if you go a little thicker from the outset. I prefer two, however, for that saturated look. This was two coats.

Doutzen's Nude (Barely Pink): Surprisingly, this is my favourite out of the four! It's a pale, milky ballerina pink, with a fine shimmer throughout. Not quite as self-leveling as the other shades, and I had a small amount of streaking, but this was overall a lot easier to apply than many shades of this type. I think this looks best when worn opaque rather than sheer, two coats at least. This was three coats.

Freida's Nude (Barely Parma): One of those strange morphing shades that reads plum, mauve or brownish-taupe, depending on your light. It even has tones of slate in some lights. The lighting in this picture is a mix of daylight and artificial light, and it's closest to the way it usually looks. However, I am wearing it in this video, where it pulls much more taupe/grey. It's a stunner, self-leveling, and opaque at one coat. This is two, and the second was entirely unnecessary.

J. Lo's Nude (Barely Greige): One of those putty shades that is cool and effortlessly chic. And this one is truly effortless - it applies like a dream and really only needs one coat, though I did my usual two. This is the slim white t-shirt of nail polish shades - easy, flattering and best when not fussed with too much.

I think this is a well-edited collection, with a "nude" likely to appeal to you, no matter what your tastes. Again, I was surprised that the frothy, girly Doutzen shade is the one that stood out for me, despite Freida's being the sort that I'm usually drawn to.

Availability: Out now in Canada, and very limited. At most drugstores, including Jean Coutu and Pharmaprix/SDM. Price is 3.99$ CAD.

Pros: All but the pink shade were self-leveling and wearable with only one coat. Formula was creamy and easy to apply, and all the shades are distinct and flattering.

Cons: The bottle size might be too small if you discover a favourite. Doutzen is a bit streaky if you want to wear it sheer.

(These items were provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated.)

L'Oréal "Les Pinks" Collection New Colour Riche Lipsticks - #135 Ballerina Shoes and #254 Everbloom

Pink is in. Not that it was ever out, really, but the folks over at L'Oréal were especially in tune with the softly structured femininity evident on the Valentino runway when they created the "Les Pinks" collection for Fall.

These are 8 new shades of the Colour Riche Lipstick and 3 new shades of Le Gloss, ranging from the palest pink to the hottest fuchsia. I had the chance to try two of these: Ballerina Shoes and Everbloom.

Top: Ballerina Shoes
Bottom: Everbloom

The Colour Riche Lipsticks are a drugstore classic, and for good reason. The brushed gold packaging, the great range of shades, the creamy texture and good pigmentation are like the lipstick equivalent of That Dress. The one that always looks good on you, no matter how many times you've worn it, that always looks well-put-together and elegant, even though it only cost a fraction of the price tag it conveys.

The only thing I can ever find to complain about is the scent - it's a little old-school, and could stand a revamp.

In terms of colour....

Top: Everbloom
Bottom: Ballerina Shoes

Everbloom is a rich, warm pink that sits somewhere between watermelon and coral. It's a bit of an odd colour to plunk down in a Fall collection, but it's so pretty I can't complain.

In the tube, Ballerina Shoes looks like it might be something from a 60s beach party. It's not a universal shade, but it is far more wearable and flattering than a first swatch might indicate. It is a baby pink frost, but unlike many such shades, it doesn't leave the lips looking dried out and flaky. A finish like this can sometimes look like it's just sitting on top of the lip if it's applied straight from the tube, so I pat it on with my finger and find the result looks sweet and super chic. It can also be dabbed overtop a deeper pink to add some dimension.

Everbloom

Ballerina Shoes

Availability: These are a permanent addition to the line, currently out in most drugstores. Price is 10.99$ CAD, and 7.99$ USD.

Pros: Elegant packaging, creamy texture, good pigmentation. Everbloom feels hydrating. Everbloom is a great late summer colour and an unexpected one for fall. Ballerina Shoes is a nice modern interpretation of a paler pink lip. Both are very on-trend.

Cons: The scent is quite strong and particular - I don't like it, though YMMV on this one. It does dissipate after a while.

(These items were sent to me by the brand/pr to consider for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated.)

L'Oréal Paris Youth Code Texture Perfector Serum Concentrate and Day/Night Cream

When I was putting together my Current Skincare video a few months back, I realized that while my routine serves me well enough, it's not exactly mind-blowing. Due to my past skin issues, I've erred on the side of the safety by not straying far from my known and trusted products. While this has resulted in relatively good skin, I can't help feeling like I'm missing out on fabulous skin due to my less than experimental approach to skincare.

I've recently invested in a few different items in order to beef up my routine and, in an awesome bit of synchronicity, a couple of my favourite brands have treated me to some items from their recent/upcoming collections. The universe, clearly, agrees that I need to step up my skincare game. :P

One of the first things I had a chance to try out is this duo from L'Oréal: the Youth Code Texture Perfector Serum Concentrate and the Youth Code Texture Perfector Day/Night Cream.

These products are part of the Youth Code range, which aims to address textural issues: pores, fine lines, unevenness. 

The Serum Concentrate contains LR2412, which is supposed to aid the skin in its self-renewal process, and Perline-P, which is supposed to help the pores remain clear of accumulated cells and tighten the skin's elasticity.

It contains: Aqua/Water, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Tetrahydrojasmonate, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Dimethicone, BIS-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Polysilicone-11, Dipropylene Glycol, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Ammonium Polyacryldimethyl Tauramide/Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Eperua Falcata Bark Extract, Dimethiconol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Adenosine, Poloxamer 338, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract/Lentil Seed Extract, Xanthan Gum, Dextrin, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Citronellol, Parfum/Fragrance. F.I.L #B55667/1. 

The Day/Night Cream is similarly supposed to boost skin's natural regeneration, refine the look the fine lines and pores, and generally improve overall skin quality.

It contains: Aqua/Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Isopropyl Isostearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Octyldodecanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Silica, Behenyl Alcohol, Talc, PTFE, Polyethylene, Eperua Falcata Bark Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Arachidyl Alcohol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, Adenosine, Poloxamer 338, Ammonium Polyacryldimethyltauramide/Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract/Lentil Seed Extract, Dextrin, Phenoxyethanol, CI 16035/Red, CI 17200/Red 33, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Citral, Citronellol, Parfum/Fragrance. F.I.L #B159063/1.

I have to say that on a superficial level, I just love the packaging! I am a pink girl through and through, so the fuchsia containers delighted me. It's fun, youthful and feminine, which makes sense considering the demographic this line is aimed at - ladies in their 20s and early thirties who are taking skincare more seriously and looking to address those first signs of aging.

As cute as the packaging is, it's what's inside these jars that really counts.

Top: Youth Code Texture Perfector Cream
Bottom: Youth Code Texture Perfector Serum

The serum has some wonderful and beneficial ingredients. Eperua Falcata Bark Extract and Adenosine are anti-inflammatory, so can potentially help with redness and irritation. Sodium Hyaluronate and Glycerine are excellent humectants, and will plump up the skin (and fine lines!) with their moisture-retention. The Lentil Seed Extract is what helps refine the texture of pores, reducing their dilated appearance. The silicones present will also smooth the appearance of texture in the skin. All kinds of good stuff! The downside, ingredient-wise, is the prominent listing of alcohol, which can be drying and irritating. It always baffles me when I see it in serums and moisturizers, especially when they are otherwise full of awesomeness. 

Overall, though, I like the feel of this serum and what it does for my skin. It's very light and fresh, and immediately makes my skin look smoother. I find that the skin around my nose and over my cheeks (always the most textured on me) appears finer. It functions like good primer, but stepped up a notch. Because of the alcohol I wouldn't use this regularly, but the visual effect it creates is lovely, and so this is something I would incorporate into my "special evening out" routine. (It's actually incredibly similar to the Lancome Visionnaire Advanced Skin Corrector, so if you've been eyeing that but preferred not to indulge, then this might be a more budget-friendly option.)

The cream has many of the same beneficial ingredients as the serum, with more emollients for hydration and salicylic acid for some exfoliation. It's hard to tell how much exfoliation without a percentage or PH level, but I suspect it's one of the ingredients that helps to reduce the look of dilated pores. What's interesting about this cream is that it also contains a fair bit of silica and talc, which creates a slightly mattifying effect while the other ingredients are doing their hydrating and refining. I didn't find the matte finish to be long-lasting, so if you have serious oiliness you will still need whatever product you use for that. It's a good finish for skin types that need a moisturizer but find most to look too greasy on them.

Both of these have a light fragrance. It's pretty and I enjoy it, but just be aware if you're sensitive to such things.

Availability: Currently out in most drugstores, including Pharmaprix/Shoppers Drug Mart. Price for each item is 29.99$ CAD, 24.99$ USD.

(These items were provided by the brand/pr company to be considered for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated.)

L'Oréal Infallible Super Slim 12H Eyeliner (Review and Swatches)

My mom always laughed when I told her long it took me to do a winged eyeliner that I was happy with. Back in her day, apparently, they did it in 2 seconds flat. One perfect, free-handed woosh for that exquisitely done 60s cat eye.

Well her gloating days are over! Ahaha! With the Infallible Super Slim 12H Eyeliner from l'Oréal, I have joined her esteemed ranks.

This is a nice, saturated, boot-polish black that doesn't require multiple passes to achieve opacity. It's not glossy or matte, looking like a cross between traditional liquid and gel liner. The tip is not the narrowest I've seen, but the 0.4 mm width gives a great level of control for fine-tuning the flick, and the full saturation along the entire length of the felt means that it's easy to thicken up the line.

The slightly curved and textured portion of the pen rests comfortably and solidly between your fingers, so it makes the lining process that much smoother.

Doing a wing with this guy is a snap. All I need to do is figure out where I wanted my end point, align the pen with the angle of my lower lashine at the outer corner of my eye, and then press down and sweep the pen lightly inwards. The fine point and saturated felt-tip do all the heavy lifting. Then it's just a matter of lining the rest of the eye and filling in the shape.

The picture below is from when I was testing it out the first time, and just wanted to do a quick line to see how it applied. (Hence the otherwise bare face and OMGHEATWAVE pigtails.)

In terms of wear, it did have a couple of issues. Overall, it wore on my right eye for close to 10 hours with no problems, showing a bit of breakdown at the bend of the flick after that. That's still pretty awesome, however, as my crease shape causes most gel or liquid liners to wear down in that spot.

On my left eye, I noticed smudging on the corners from where my eye watered from a stray lash, and some smudging of the flick where I rubbed it. So all things being equal it is long-wearing, but not water-resistant or smudge-proof. That's something to bear in mind if you have watery or oily eyelids, or wear contacts. I would personally love a waterproof version of this, because the application really is excellent.

Availability: At most drugstores, including Jean Coutu and Pharmaprix/SDM. Prices vary, but 10.99$ CAD is about average. It's 8.99$ USD at Ulta.

Pros: Incredibly easy to use, comfortable grip. Saturated black, with a finish balanced between glossy and matte. Fine tip makes it easy to get a precise point, but the felt-tip makes filling in a thinker line just as simple. Lasts most of the day without breaking down or fading.

Cons: Not as infallible as you might like, as it can smudge with moisture or pressure.

(This item was sent to me by the brand to consider for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated.)

L'Oréal Summer 2013 Nail Collection - Colour Riche Nail Colour and Top Coats

The evolution of the nail polish industry is a fascinating thing to behold. I remember back when wearing a pastel blue was the height of transgressing the norm. (If you're curious, it was the early 90s, and the polish was by the original Hard Candy.)

In the last couple of year, it seems like nail polish has replaced lipstick as the item women will indulge themselves with during economic downturns, and the industry has exploded with options. It seems to have been fed by the what-the-hell experimental vibe of home frankening and the glitter-happy Etsy nail entrepreneurs in the same way that street style feeds into the fashion industry. I've never seen so many interesting textures and finishes and colour palettes coming not only from salon lines like OPI, but also from mass consumer brands. I love it!

L'Oréal, for example, is offering some really great options this summer, including transformational topcoats, nail lingerie (SERIOUSLY awesome) and a modern version of press-on nails. Some things are already showing up in stores, and I want to share a couple of the items I was sent to try.

For May, L'Oréal is releasing 9 new shades in deep tones that might seem counter-intuitive for summer - yet these are classics that are wearable year-round, and appropriate for all occasions. There are also several top coats available in smaller 8ml bottles, with a variety of glitter and special effect textures.

This is Greyt Expectations, a refined putty-mauve that leans more grey or more mauve depending on the light. It has a cream finish, and perfect application. There's no streaking, and it's opaque in two coats.

Greyt Expectations, two coats.

I added one layer of the Confetti Top Coat over the Greyt Expectations.

Confetti is a clear lacquer with mixture of small black and white hexagonal glitter, smaller round black and white glitter, and then the teeniest flecks of iridescent blue that are barely perceptible, but adds a touch of something whimsical. Two coats will give a more obvious effect, but I like the subtlety of one coat. It's almost like a spray of freckles over the nose - it's fresh and pretty, not overdone.

Confetti Top Coat over Greyt Expectations, one coat.

I also got to try Breaking Curfew, which is a near-black cream. It does have an undertone of burgundy, but it's almost impossible to tell indoors. It looks black, just a little warmer and softer somehow. It's not an original colour, but it is a great classic to have, especially as a base layer for the top coats. Application was pretty smooth, with none of the bleeding around the cuticles that some vampy shades are prone to. It definitely needs a second coat, and I personally prefer a third to make it really intense, but it is opaque at two.

Breaking Curfew, three coats.

The Gold Carat Top Coat is a fine but dense gold glitter in a clear base. You could conceivably layer it up to wear alone, but with one or two layers it gives a neat "gilded stone" effect. It was really easy to apply successive layers, without the brush dragging off the previous layers.

Gold Carat over Breaking Curfew, two coats.

I have to say, as a loyalist to the OPI Pro-wide brush, that I loooooove the brush on these. It's slimmer that the OPI, with a rounded tip that makes it really easy to follow the shape of the nail bed without getting the polish all over the cuticle. I didn't do any cleaning-up for these photos, and trust me, I am not neat about application.

I'm really glad I got a chance to try these - I was really impressed by the formula and the application. The top coats are a great way of expanding the current line, and I'm REALLY looking forward to trying more of them. There are a couple featured in the press release that look awesome. (The Shift Me and The Holographic, if you're keeping an eye out!)

I'll be reviewing one of the press-on nails and some of the nail lingerie shortly! So what about you guys - have you had a chance to check out any of the current offerings from the drugstore?

Availability: Due out in drugstores like SDM/Pharmaprix and Jean Coutu in May. I've seen the new nail polish shades on display already, as well as a few different top coats. More top coats are due out in July. Price is around 7$ CAD for the polishes, a little less for the top coats in the 8ml size.

Pros: Very easy to apply, great brush shape, especially if you have small to medium nail beds and normally find it difficult to apply "clean". Formula was close to perfect on these. The top coats are fun and dynamic and layer well. Confetti has a sparser concentration of glitter compared with Gold Carat.

Cons: The colour palette is for the nail colours is likely to be dupable if you already have a fair-sized collection. The size of the top coat bottles may be too small if you are an avid user of glitter and effect top coats.

Note: final coat of China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat applied to all swatches.

(These items were sent to me by the brand/PR to consider for review. This post is not compensated or sponsored.)