Is BB Cream worth the hype?

If you've read any beauty magazines, blogs, watched TV, or checked anywhere online, BB cream is all the rage! Recently, I was given the opportunity to try L'Oreal Paris Magic BB Cream thanks to my friends over at She Speaks. Here's what I think about the product:

Let me start by telling you that I have fair skin. Not just fair, but almost translucent! You know those sparkly vampires from "Twilight"? Yea, just like that...only much less sparkly! It's been a struggle for me to find a makeup that actually matches my skin tone & doesn't make me look like I slathered a bunch of crap on my face. That may have been fine when I was a teenager (trying in vain to cover blemishes), but in my mid-30's, I prefer a more natural look! 

I was SO excited to test the BB cream for myself to see if it was really as great as some might have you believe. There was a lot to be excited about:

1. The L'Oreal brand (who doesn't love them?)
2. "Natural" look promised
3. How it's supposed to moisturize skin
4. How it can be used as a base under makeup (diminishing pores/evening skin tone)
5. The thing that I was most excited about - how it starts out white & blends in with your skin tone. 
6. The fact that you can pick it up at your local drug store or mega-mart (under $10) is pretty great too.

So, I tried my BB cream after I'd showered, as I would normally apply my makeup. I didn't put any moisturizer on as the cream said it was "moisturizing". I also have combination/oily skin & didn't think I should slather any more grease on my face than needed. I squished a bit out of the tube & spread it on. The first thing I noticed was how heavy it felt going on. I was expecting a lighter feel I guess. As I spread it onto my face, I was watching how it was "blending" with my skin tone. To say it was not a good match is an understatement! It was way too pink/orange. Not natural at all! Well...unless you're a cast member of "Jersey Shore" of course. I continued to go about my application in the hopes that it would be better once I was done. I got my whole face covered & noticed that every single bit of dry/flaky skin (that I didn't know I had) was a thousand times more visible after applying the cream. While the BB cream did blur out any large pores/redness/freckles that I have, it left my face feeling sticky & an odd color. I thought if I put some powder on top, that it would help. Well, it did for a very short time, but then my face started feeling like I had caked a ton of makeup on. Natural? Nope. I wound up wearing it for about 2 hours when I couldn't stand it anymore & decided to scrub my face & start fresh. What a bummer! I really had high hopes, but alas, just as many other products that have come (and been thrown away) before...I was let down :(

Is L'Oreal Magic BB Cream right for you? I absolutely would NOT recommend this if you have oily skin, prefer a natural look, or have a fair complexion - maybe it works better on darker skin tones? I really don't know. But, I do know that I have no intentions of using this cream again. Good luck lovely ladies! That's what I think!


*Disclaimer: I was provided a tube of L'Oreal Magic BB Cream from She Speaks in order to test & post a review here on my blog.

Holiday Cheers!

Everyone loves an extra bit of flavor during the holidays! Now, I love me some coffee! Can't live without it! I always have my coffee creamy, but I also like it flavored. A quick & easy way to get that delicious flavored coffee is with Toriani.

About Torani:
Since 1925, third generation family-owned Torani has been crafting great tasting flavored syrups that coffeehouses use to make their flavored drinks taste so delicious. With over 120 flavors in Regular and Sugar Free varieties, Torani flavored syrups are perfect for flavored lattes, mochas, coffees, cocoas, Italian sodas, teas, lemonades, cocktails and smoothies. Coffeehouse professionals choose Torani flavors because they are expertly crafted and made with the highest quality ingredients, like natural flavors and pure cane sugar. The Sugar Free flavors have no calories and are sweetened with Splenda. Now, Torani flavored syrups are widely available at retail so you can easily create authentic coffeehouse quality drinks at home.

Thanks to SheSpeaks & Torani, I was given the opportunity to test 2 of the sugar-free varieties so I could report back here on my blog. I don't usually like sugar-free stuff due to the gross after-taste. I was pleasantly surprised with the Torani syrup because (thanks to Splenda) you honestly can't tell it's fake sugar! The best thing about the syrups is you can add a little or a lot of flavor to your beverages - it's all up to you! I kept the hazelnut syrup & gave the gingerbread syrup to a friend as a Christmas gift. She has a fantastic Tiki Bar as well as a husband who is a coffee junkie like me. I also gave her a Torani recipe booklet so she can mix up a bunch of coffee & cocktails!

I would highly recommend that you pick up a bottle (or 2) for your holiday guests. It also makes the perfect gift for the coffee/cocktail lover in your life! If you're giving as a gift, here's my suggestions. If it's for a coffee lover - include: a bottle of Torani syrup, cool coffee mugs & bag of premium coffee. Or, if you'd like to gift it to the mixologist in your life - include: a bottle of syrup, cocktail glasses, bottle of vodka/rum & a cool retro shaker. You can even go to www.torani.com & print out little recipes to include in your gift packages! With over 120 flavors - the selection & combinations are endless! Happy holidays to everyone - enjoy your merriment safely & check back here in 2013 for more of my thoughts...Cheers!

* Full disclosure: This blog was brought you to you today by the folks @ Torani & She Speaks, as well as by me & my taste buds!

The magazine...NOT the drink!

Hello readers!

This time I'm gonna tell you what I think about one of the oldest magazines in the world. It's Cosmopolitan - or just plain "Cosmo" for you fashionistas in the know! It's the original magazine for fun, fearless females who want to know all the latest celebrity gossip, fashion trends, hair & makeup how-to's, and of course - tips to use in the bedroom!

Right now for all my cyberspace fans, there are some links below to use for daily sweepstakes & even a special $5 subscription offer. If Cosmo isn't your cup of tea, you could try Marie Claire instead!

Daily Freebies sweepstakes (http://u.bzz.com/l0r4p)

$5 Subscription to Cosmo or Marie Claire (http://u.bzz.com/j11yg)

Enjoy the freebies, enjoy the subscription discount & especially enjoy all the fun Cosmo has to offer!

EASY, BREEZY, BEAUTIFUL!

I have been using Cover Girl products since I was allowed to start wearing makeup way back when I was 12! Wow...I'm old...

And, here it is, Cover Girl's 50th anniversary! I am so happy to be able to blog about a product/company that I really love :)

I'd like to invite all of you Cover Girls out there in cyberspace to join the party by visiting Cover Girls Facebook page & "liking" them. You can win samples & special once-in-a-lifetime experiences like dancing w/ Ellen! Who wouldn't love that??? I know I'd like to show her a few of my belly dancing moves! I wonder if she can do a 1/4 shimmy? Or, if she can do a dance while balancing a sword on her head? Hmm...now that would be interesting!