Lancome Exotique Kiss

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Yesterday I changed my nail polish to a nice subdued shade for the week, and I went with Lancome Exotique Kiss.  It's an opaque peach with lots and lots of sparkly shimmer in it.  It applied very well and only needed two coats.  I'm a pretty big fan of Lancome nail polish - they're like Dior in that the quality is superb.  After my little rant about Chanel's constant price increases, I was thinking of that with high end brands, and Lancome has recently gone up a buck or two to $18, the only change I recall in several years (also like Dior), and in proportion to the total price that seems reasonable to me.  The only down side to Lancome is that the color selection is pretty slim.

I had good sunlight to take pictures of Exotique Kiss, and here it is.

Lancome Exotique Kiss Nail Polish, Two Coats

I think it's great - I tend to prefer a strong finish like this paired with a more subtle color, so it works well for me.  Unfortunately, the two repairs on my right hand were hastily done and didn't hold, so this manicure got as far as a trip to church.  I changed it when I redid the repairs in the afternoon to something completely different, but I'll show the new one to you later.

That's it for today, Dear Reader.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!  

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Posted in Lancome , nail polish , Peach

Product Review: Lancome Oscillation Powerfoundation

I am always on the prowl for the perfect product to give my face a flawless finish--not that one actually exists, but some are definitely better than others. I realize that all of the pictures in magazines are touched up significantly, but that doesn't stop me from trying to attain that type of finish with a product. Lancome's Oscillation Powerfoundation is quite impressive to me as far as the product itself is concerned. This mineral foundation with an SPF 21, has buildable coverage, although I personally don't find it necessary to build upon the initial application. The coverage is even (continue reading though, when I say even, that's only when adding an extra step in the application process), natural, non-drying and long-lasting. It gives my skin a dewy look without looking oily, and also adds a slight glow. Keeping in mind that everyone has different experiences with makeup, for me, this gives me an almost airbrushed look that hides pores and imperfections, without creasing or looking cakey.

I mentioned above that I love the product, but I find the application works much better if I apply the product with a Kabuki brush first, then buff the powder in using the oscillating applicator. I have tried to apply the product as the directions say, by picking up the product with the head of the applicator and then pressing the button which starts the oscillating, but I end up with very uneven coverage. It's difficult to get the powder around my nose and eyes effectively, and I find a Kabuki brush places it everywhere it needs to be in a much more even manner. The applicator head seems to be foam underneath, that is then covered with a thin layer of fleece-like material. I can't get the flawless finish with just a Kabuki brush, so I do like the final look the oscillating applicator gives--just not quite the way the instructions say to use it.

All in all, I'm very pleased with this product. It's a little expensive at $48.00, but it compares price-wise to many other products I've tried. I had been using Diorskin Powder Makeup, which retails for $46.00 for the same amount of product (0.28 oz.), but I prefer the lighter feeling of Lancome's. This one takes a little longer for me to apply, but I'm happier with the results.

For reference, my skin type is normal with a slightly oily T-zone. I chose Honey 25 for the shade, and it's a good match for my medium-toned complexion with slight pink undertones.

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Posted in Lancome , Mineral Makeup , Powder Foundation

Lancome LE 54 & Violet Groove

Good morning, Dear Reader!

I figured I'd show you something other than my super cheesy Valentine's Day manicure, so I took pictures of something a little better over the weekend, Lancome Violet Violet Groove and LE 54 from the Ultra Lavande  Collection for Spring 2011.  I'll still show you the cheesy mani at the end just for fun.

Lancome Violet Groove is a kind of dusty lavender creme.  It seems like a darker and more purple OPI Parlez Vous OPI to me.  When I got the bottle, I was disappointed at seeing it in person because Lancome's little swatch dot must have joined Sephora by OPI's swatch dots in the winner's circle of the Inaccuracy Cup.  Their dot showed a lighter, pinker lavender shimmer.

Lancome's Violet Groove Swatch

Fortunately, the polish was exceptionally nice, barely needing a second coat.  I apologize for the weird reflection my picture - it was bright and my eye troubles were acting up, so I knew I only had one trip for outside sun pictures in me, and this one didn't get that honor.  The picture is color accurate on my monitor, which is why I'm still showing it to you.  This is two coats of Violet Groove over a base and without top coat.

Lancome Violet Groove Nail Polish, Two Coats

So what happened to the shimmer, I ask?  Even though it's not like Lancome's dot, Violet Groove is about what I generally expect from Lancome.  My overall impression of them is that they usually put out nail polish colors that aren't earth shatteringly unique, but they do them extremely well.  For example, the only reason my Violet Groove picture has the weird reflections is that it's so shiny without top coat (it was almost totally dry when I took the pictures) - it's just a very nice polish.  However, I also think that when Lancome does do an unusual polish, they're super cool (like their magnetic ones).  I thought a glitter was kind of bold for them, so I was interested in trying LE 54.  That swatch dot picture is almost as inaccurate as the first.

Lancome's LE 54 Swatch

Here's two coats of LE 54 over Violet Groove, which is a perfect match for the base color of LE 54 to make it opaque.  The second coat didn't change the look very much, so in the future I'd use one coat of LE 54.

Lancome LE 54 over Lancome Violet Groove, Two Coats Each

The hard part of taking a picture of a really good glitter is that a picture catches just one moment in time.  LE 54's glitter is the really good kind, smooth with just one coat of top coat and reflecting light all over the place, and I can't show you how reflecty it is with how it looks in one moment.  You'll just have to trust me that it's truly stunning.  I have several Lancome polishes, and I think LE 54 is my new favorite of them.

Now it's time for the peek at my Valentine's Day (or VD) mani.  It's way too over the top, and that's just how I wanted it.  It's a fair representation of my enthusiasm for my beloved.  It's two coats of Misa Spark My Heart That's a Start with a base and top coat and tons of pink and white stamping.  I went through all my Konad and fauxnad plates gathering all that had anything lovey or with hearts, laid them out, and went to town stamping.  I don't even know which stamps I used on which nails.

Hallmark Holiday = Over the Top Mani

I won't try to convince you this is anything other than over the top and fun because it's not - I'm silly and enthusiastic, so the manicure is as well.  I hope you're wearing a good playful one today too!

With that, I'll wish you happy VD, and until next time, love and nail polish to you!  

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Posted in Glitter , Lancome , Long Nails , nail polish , purple