Revlon Top Speed Nail Enamel in Mistletoe for Holiday 2011

I was rushing past the new Revlon display for the holidays, and Mistletoe Top Speed Nail Enamel (#350) reached out and grabbed me. Normally, I pay little attention to the latest drugstore makeup at CVS. I do, however, pay attention to dark greens. I love dark green in clothing, on cars and houses - everywhere. Recently, I purchased a Dooney & Bourke Black Watch plaid handbag - just because it was so pretty. I didn't need it, but I wanted it.

The same was true for Mistletoe (in the neighborhood of $6.00 - you can save with coupons on the display), one of eight nail enamels on the holiday display. I read that it's part of the Spice It Up Collection, although there was no way of knowing that from the display. The deep dark green, almost a graphite shade, looked pretty in the bottle. I held it up to the light to ensure it had some green in it. It was so dark, I wasn't sure it deserved the name Mistletoe (some green connotation there, right?).

I am still not sure that Mistletoe is green. In certain light, it's a shimmering graphite or deep charcoal. In other light, there's a clear green shimmer in it. Whatever shade it is, and I believe I see dark green in it, it comes complete with major shine.

You can't judge a nail enamel from my application. I've admitted I'm a total klutz when it comes to applying polish. I applied two coats of Mistletoe to a color wheel to take swatch photos outdoors.

Mistletoe looks and feels a little grainy to me. It certainly doesn't feel as smooth as the Dior nail lacquers I bought recently. There is quite a difference in price, though! However, from any distance other than extremely close up, Mistletoe shows me an elegant nail. The color is dramatic, and the shade pleases me.

Mistletoe is not a shade I could live in for a five-day stretch, so does it matter that the formula and finish might not be best in class? Not for me. I invested little and have a color I like. If I get tired of it, I can give it away to a friend.

What do you think? Would you buy Mistletoe? Would it matter to you that it's not Dior or Chanel?

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

New from Revlon: CustomEyes Shadow & Liner - Part 2

Finding a new mass market beauty product I really like is exciting, so I couldn't wait to tell you about Revlon's CustomEyes Shadow & Liner ($8.99). I rushed the first feature into print two days ago. Just scroll down to read it.

I received three CustomEyes color palettes to test. The verdict? Very nice and definitely worth a look-see! Party Pop, shown here at left, is designed for lavender lovers. With contrasting pops of peach and green, it's a pretty palette for many women, but not me. Sweet Innocence is the second of the three palettes that does work with my coloring. It's very pretty - and discreet.

Sweet Innocence was made for taupe and mauve lovers everywhere. Shown at right, it features four neutral shadows and one brown liner. The looks you'll create with Sweet Innocence will be soft. It's a great palette to wear to work.

I swatched it, but the results were unsatisfactory because two of the shades blend into my arm color. I applied the shadows with a sponge-tipped applicator (to get a lot of pigment on my arm), and I snapped my photo outdoors in sunlight. I could see the lightest shades on my arm, but my camera couldn't.

The top shade is the liner, a medium brown with just a hint of mauve. You could certainly wear this as an accent shadow. The peach shade disappears into my arm below the liner. The ivory shade does show; it's light enough to provide highlighting contrast to my skin. The mauve-taupe is below. It coordinates perfectly with the liner. You can barely see the pink shadow at the bottom. It's very neutral and only slightly pinker than my arm.

All of the shadows (liner included) have a nice texture. They glide onto the lids easily, and there's no fallout. They are long-lasting. They stay with me all day; they should for you too.

I haven't seen a better bargain this season. The CustomEyes Shadow & Liner Palettes are definitely worth trying. A few of my friends ask me often,"What's a good drugstore beauty product I can try?" I would recommend Revlon's latest palettes to them.

You can find CustomEyes at your local drugstore (or Ulta) to see these new palettes for yourself. They are also available at Amazon and Drugstore.com.

Photo at top courtesy of Revlon; Sweet Innocence photo courtesy of Amazon

New from Revlon: CustomEyes Shadow & Liner

Finding a new mass market beauty product I really like is exciting, so I couldn't wait to tell you about Revlon's CustomEyes Shadow & Liner ($8.99). I received three color palettes to test. Some of the colors were perfect for me, so I started playing immediately. The verdict? Very nice and definitely worth a look-see!

Want an eye palette that will allow you to change from day to night in a heartbeat? CustomEyes shadows and liners will take you from simple and classic to bold and playful. Each palette includes a how-to guide on the back to show you Revlon's recommendations for using each shade. You shouldn't feel constrained, though. These palettes offer a lot of looks.

There are six color-coordinated palettes, each with four eye shadows and one powder liner, which can be used as a shadow if you wish. There is a dual-ended sponge-tipped applicator in each palette.

The shades are Metallic Chic, Naturally Glamorous, Party Pops, Rich Temptations, Smoky Sexy, and Sweet Innocence. I have Metallic Chic (the one that made my heart race), Sweet Innocence (perfect for neutral lovers), and Party Pops (possibly a little racy for me).

Here is Metallic Chic at right. The colors shimmer; they aren't at all "metallic" to my eye. I found all of them irresistible. I swatched them as soon as the sun reappeared this morning. My swatch photo below was taken outdoors in sunlight. I applied each shade with a sponge-tipped applicator. I swatched from left to right in the palette, as shown above.

The first shade, charcoal, is clearly intended to be the liner. The second two, copper and gold, are as pretty as any of the new golden spring/summer shades I've seen. The green shade is a gorgeous emerald with just a hint of grey, and the last shade is a blue-toned grey.

All of the shadows (liner included) have a nice texture. They glide onto the lids easily, and there's no fallout. They are long-lasting. They stay with me all day; they should for you too.

I haven't seen a better bargain this season. I'll show you Sweet Innocence tomorrow. In the meantime, you might want to head over to your local drugstore (or Ulta) to see these new palettes for yourself. They are worth the little trip.

Photo at top courtesy of Revlon

Revlon Fantasy Lengths Maximum Wear Lashes

Want to try faux lashes without breaking the bank or maxing out the credit card? Revlon's Fantasy Lashes may be right up your alley.

There are times when we want or need lush lashes, and our own won't cooperate. Although lashes are always shedding and regrowing, they don't usually do it in clumps. Every now and then, though, you'll see what looks like a little bald spot and feel lopsided after you apply mascara. Who couldn't use a little help for a big day (or night) when that happens? There are other times when we want to look like celebrities (don't believe for a second that they aren't wearing faux lashes in those mascara advertisements), but can't make a huge investment. Revlon to the rescue!

Revlon had sent me two sets of Fantasy Lengths to test. I eyed them lovingly for a week or so, but realized that I might not be able to give Revlon a fair shake. This is the part where I admit that I'm a total klutz, and I was sure I would mess them up on application. I'm not good at reading directions. I usually forge ahead with "things" (new computer programs are a great example), only looking for help when I get stuck. I could see myself ruining the generous gift. Fortunately, a few of my work colleagues are expert lash wearers. Having seen their lush lashes in the past, I asked for help. Jamika was game, so I had a tester Revlon could count on.

There were two sets: one Fantasy Lengths Maximum Wear Glue-on Eyelashes and one Fantasy Lengths Maximum Wear Self-Adhesive Lashes. They range in price from $5.49 to $5.99 per pair. Each type comes in different "intensities," from flirty to full. Each package comes with directions and extra adhesive strips or "glue."

Jamika enlisted her daughter for the test. You can see how lush the lashes looked in these before and after photos Jamika provided (obviously in different lighting). Crystal (Jamika's daughter) wore the self-adhesive lashes and applied some liner over them. She went from cute to glam! The proof is in the photos.

Jamika tested the glue-on lashes. Here are her before and after photos. The result was a glamorous look you could wear day or night.

What did my testers think? They were impressed by the way they looked! So am I after checking out their photos! The lashes stayed on for about 24 hours. The first ones to stray were the self-stick lashes, but Crystal slept on them not long after she applied them. Both gals reported that the lashes felt fine - they experienced no heaviness on their eyelids. Crystal and Jamika felt they were easy to apply, although experienced Jamika advises that you should have tweezers on hand. She says it's easier to apply them with tweezers than your fingers. She also said that the adhesive for the glue-ons looks like Elmer's Glue on your hand, but dries clear and becomes invisible when the lashes are applied.

Revlon's Fantasy Lengths passed the tests - with flying colors! For a great price, you can have dramatic lashes - and love the way they look. You can find Fantasy Lengths now at Walgreens, Drugstore.com, and other mass market stores. Next time you're in the mood for a little glamour, give them a try!

Top photo courtesy of Revlon
Before and after photos courtesy of Jamika

Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm by COLORSTAY

This new lip color is so cool! As a rule, I'm not a lip stain fan. While stains do provide long-lasting color, they make my lips appear matte (not my favorite look) and feel dry. Revlon just changed that with Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm ($8.99)!

One end of Just Bitten has the lip stain felt-tip marker applicator, and the other end has a lip balm. There are 10 appealing colors. I'll bet you can find one for your skin tone. I selected Twilight and Beloved. Both were a little darker than I expected. With no testers, it's kind of hard to choose (and yes, they are sealed, so you can be sure your new lip color is sanitary). I may go back and get a few more since CVS has a buy one, get one for 50% off special right now. That and one of the Revlon coupons from a magazine will get you a great price!

The color is what you would expect from a lip stain: fairly intense and matte. Make sure to apply it evenly. Then, just turn the pen over, apply the balm over it, and you have a subtle shine! The effect is really nice. The color of the stain has serious staying power. Any lip color that can survive a bagel with cream cheese is long-lasting! The balm doesn't hang around that long, but the stain does. I'm a balm addict anyhow, so I just reapply any balm when I'm on the go.

Revlon's new lip stain contains vitamin C for antioxidant protection. The marker allows precise application, taking away any need for a lip pencil, and the lightweight, translucent balm melts on the lips perfectly for a smooth, smudge-free application. The balm leaves my lips feeling moist and creamy. There is no real flavor in this lip color, which is good from my perspective. So many drugstore lip products have flavor or fragrance - both of which I dislike.

The verdict? I am in "serious like" with Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm! It's a nice low-cost addition to my lip color "wardrobe."

You can find it at any mass market drugstore or grocery store where you buy Revlon products.

Photo courtesy of Revlon

Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick

Revlon's new ColorBurst Lipsticks ($8.99) provide pigmented, opaque color for this season's dramatic lip. After slowing to check them out at CVS multiple times, I decided I had to try them. There was a buy one get one for 50% off offer, so naturally, I bought two.

Revlon's Elasticolor technology is said to provide immediate color release and "hug lips with a burst of weightless color that feels like a second skin." I am not sure what that means. I can tell there's lipstick on my lips because it's nice and creamy (good).

The new lipsticks are available in 20 shades, so there's bound to a shade for everyone. Selecting a color can be a leap of faith with the usual dilemma at drugstores - no testers. The only way to select a color is with the little colored "cap" at the top of each tube. Despite that handicap, I was able to find two colors that I like.

Here they are on my arm in direct sun and shade. The shade photo, while a bit dark, shows the finish better than the sun photo. They are not as shiny as they appear to be in sunlight. I would adore them if they were!

The color at the top in each photo is Carnation, with Mauve below. My favorite is Mauve. They have a creamy feel on the lips. I would call their finish "satin." My personal preference would be for a shinier finish, but I know that many prefer a shine-free, vibrant lipstick look. I wore Carnation this morning and applied gloss over it to get a bit of shine. The lipsticks have no detectable taste or fragrance (good), and the color lasts as long as most "regular" lipsticks.

I would recommend Revlon's new ColorBurst Lipstick to anyone looking for a rich, opaque lipstick that feels good on the lips and is "affordable." The lipsticks are available at drugstores, where you will often find BOGO offers, and mass market stores. If you go to the Revlon Web site, you can find a $3 discount coupon!

Top photo courtesy of Revlon

Best Drugstore Beauty: Revlon's Colorstay 12-Hour Eye Shadow

Today, we start a regular series, Best Drugstore Beauty. It seems right for the times. Although Best Things in Beauty has featured drugstore makeup in the past, we will title the features that way going forward. Today, we offer the first official installment.

Looking for a superior, long-wear powder eye shadow at your local drugstore? Look no further than Revlon's Colorstay 12-Hour Eye Shadow quads! Priced at $6.99 at Drugstore.com, these quads are a bargain. This week, CVS has a BOBO offer on all Revlon cosmetics.

My favorite is Starlight, with fairly true color swatches shown immediately above. These are cool, eye-opening colors that can enhance your everyday look without the drama that can look bizarre in some offices (fashion industry excluded).

The formula is waterproof, and I can testify that it's long-lasting. Remember, though, that I always wear a shadow primer - not only to camouflage any redness in my eyelids, but also to give my shadows "sticking power." I recommend primer to everyone.

These Revlon shadows blend easily, making them a shadow mixer's dream. They also have a great soft texture - some would say creamy.

The Revlon Colorstay quads are available in 19 color families, although your local store may not carry all of them. The Nude Elements quad is warmer, but still subtle, and Neutral Kahkis and Priceless Metals are great fun for trying different looks. What a fabulous way to experiment without breaking the bank! You should find them wherever Revlon products are sold.

Photos courtesy of Drugstore.com

Fancy Fingernails - Revlon's Runway Collection

Revlon has introduced its Runway Collection of glue-on nails, designed to lend you the look of salon French nails without the salon price. Reading recently that Beyonce and other celebrities were "into" these types of nails, six Best Things in Beauty testers put them to the "regular gal" test. The result? As advertised, French nails without the salon price!

The Runway collection, with multiple designs from daring to demure, is a kit that costs $7.99 at drugstores. The nails are available at CVS, Walmart, Rite Aid, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Ulta. I liked the demure Sequins, shown in the photo above, second from left. My testers - all ages and skin colors - tested the rest.

What did we find? First, they do stay on. All testers but one, who didn't use enough of the glue and didn't follow the directions well (duh!), found that they stayed on through all kinds of activities - for days. They look incredibly "real" - you wouldn't finger them for fake. Each package has 24 nails of various sizes, so there's no problem getting enough nails to do both hands and have them fit well. The package comes with the glue; a "bond-enhancing buffer," which is a nice buffing nail file even if you aren't using the nails; and a mini-manicure (or orange) stick to remove any excess glue. The reason I know the one tester didn't use enough glue? She alone didn't have the glue squirt out a bit on the sides when she applied the nails.

How do you get them off? Don't try to pull them off! Simply soak for 1-2 minutes in fingernail polish remover, and they melt off or dissolve. Our testers found that the length of soaking varied, but in all cases, it worked. Revlon cautions not to wear them for more than seven days (10 max), but I'm not sure why.

So...do they look good? Yes. For me, the lighter colors look great. Do they work? Yes. Do they stay on? Yes, if you follow the directions. Do they offer a do-it-yourself alternative that is comparable to pricey salon treatments? Yes. If you are into fancy fingernails, look for them. For some of us, they are special occasion nails. For others who pride themselves on manicured hands, but have a hard time maintaining their nails, they are everyday necessities. These Revlon nails are keepers.

Photo and nails courtesy of Pacific World for Revlon.

Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow - An Old Favorite

Yesterday, I pulled out and wore an old favorite, Revlon's Illuminance Creme Shadow. I selected Not Just Nudes, shown here.

The Revlon cream eye shadows are available in 12 quads. They range from my neutral favorite, Not Just Nudes, to colorful and playful shades. They are available at a drugstore near you!

They blend beautifully. I use my fingers to apply them, but a cream eye shadow brush might work better. It's interesting that the container recommends the fingertip method.

The shadows are fairly sheer, allowing you to control the intensity by layering. I used two of the shades yesterday - the lightest one on my lid, and the darkest one for the outside lid and mid- to outside crease contouring. When I finished, I had a neutral look, but with some punch. I was pretty happy with myself! Not only that, the shadow was just as nice 10 hours later. It lasts and does not crease on me. Naturally, I wear a shadow primer.

What other colors do I like? Khaki Suede has two wearable green colors with two great taupe shades. Skinlights is a set of four light shades that are great alone or mixed with other shadows. Moonlit Jewels, hard to portray well on the Web, is gorgeous. It was quite the sensation when released. I had to search for it!

The prices are all over the place. If you look on Amazon, you will find two for what one might cost in the drugstore ($6.50). Drugstore.com has a BOGO offer at the moment. These shadows are an inexpensive way to achieve a great seasonal look or experiment with color without breaking the bank.

Photo courtesy of Amazon.

Revlon Limited Edition ColorStay Mineral Finishing Powder

I like to troll drugstores for Revlon's new products. I love this summer's ColorStay Mineral Finishing Powder. It's advertised as soft all-over enhancing color, and it works perfectly when used that way or strategically placed on your best features. It's priced at $13.99 - probably because it's huge - so make sure to use the $2 Revlon discount coupon you can find in the new August Allure. If you can find a Buy One Get One Free Offer at one of the drugstores (Rite Aid has one now), you can get two of the colors for the price of one.

I am loving Brighten, a marbled soft pink, and Sunkiss (both shown here), a luminous marbled brown that is much lighter on the skin that it appears in its packaging. The two colors I have are very sheer and slightly luminous (no glitter or overt shine). Sunkiss gives a summer glow that is lighter than an actual bronzer - very nice. Brighten does just that. I haven't tried the third shade, Suntan Matte. If you have, please leave a comment. I'd love to know your impression before I spring for that one.

Make sure to enter the Laura Geller Giveaway Contest on this blog by midnight July 21.

For online shoppers, these are available at drugstore.com.

Photos courtesy of drugstore.com.