The Tinted Moisturizer Challenge: Lancome Aqua Fusion
Lancome Aqua Fusion Teinte Continuous Infusing Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20
($38.50 for 1.7 oz.) is a lovely light to light-medium coverage tinted moisturizer available in four shades: Naturel 1, Sand 2, Bisque 3, and Bronze 4. The active ingredient for sun-protection is octinoxate (7.5%), which covers the UVB range, but it doesn’t get the UVA range, unfortunately, so you’ll still need a product with an ingredient like zinc oxide or avobenzone for broad spectrum coverage.
My favorite part about this tinted moisturizer is the coverage it gives. It still has an amazingly lightweight feel, but it delivers more than sheer coverage–I’d even go as far as to say light-medium (not quite medium). It covered some healing acne and post-acne marks on my face and gave me a lovely, natural finish. I also love that this moisturizer absorbs and sinks in quickly and doesn’t leave behind a dewy finish. It has a nearly matte finish, so it’s great for my oily-skinned friends, in particular.
It has a mango-ish scent–defintely fruity, but not overly sweet or tropical–and I’d say it lingers for about fifteen to twenty minutes before it fades away entirely (at least to my nose). The packaging is a slim tube, so it’s easy to apply the amount you need, plus it is travel friendly, being under 3 oz.
Even though I love, love the feel and coverage of the product, there are a few noteworthy drawbacks. If you’re pale, I don’t know if you’re going to find a good match. Surprisingly, I’m Naturel 1–the lightest shade–in Lancome’s Tinted Moisturizer. I originally tested out Sand 2, because I assumed it would work well for my medium skin tone, but it was definitely too dark on me. This is why I caution those with paler skin tones to try it at a counter first, if possible. Sand 2 would work for those who are definitely medium or medium-dark, though. I think Sand 2 might work for me after the summer, perhaps, but right now, Naturel 1 is a much better match.
I’d also prefer to see broad-spectrum protection here, because it is moisturizing enough (without being heavy or greasy) to be worn without an additional moisturizer, but since it lacks UVA protection, you’ll need to use another product to get broad-spectrum protection (like a moisturizer!). It’s not advertised as broad-spectrum, so I didn’t reduce points, but it’s certainly something I’d love to see in the future.
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- Product: 27/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: Fabulous coverage for those who want more than ultra sheer coverage that most tinted moisturizers provide but still has the lightweight feel of a tinted moisturizer.
Availability: Nordstrom
Bronzer Without the Shimmer with YSL
YSL Golden Sand (03) Terre Saharienne ($50.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a rich, golden tanned bronzer from YSL’s Solaris Collection. YSL is releasing three shades of Terre Saharienne that are both new and permanent — Sand (01), Copper Sand (02), and Golden Sand (03).
Golden Sand is a rich, golden bronze with an orange undertone. It has very, very faint shimmer, which translates into more of a subtle sheen that reflects light in an incredibly delicate way. This shade will work best for those of warmer and deeper skin tones, because the slight touch of golden orange in it may translate into an orange-y mess on those with paler and/or cooler skin tones. You can layer it on for an intense look or use it sheerly for a naturally bronzed look — you can see me wearing it in this look.
The packaging is classic YSL — the gold “metal” compact that flips open to reveal a large mirror and compact with YSL emblazoned in the middle. The back reveals all the pertinent information like its weight (0.35 oz.) and the active sunscreen ingredient (octinoxate 6%) — which is SPF 12. I like it for a more matte version of a bronzer — it’s not completely matte, but it’s not shimmery either. It’s also very finely milled, smooth to the touch, and easy to blend on the face.
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- Product: 27/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: If you’re on the look out for a long-wearing, nearly shimmer-less bronzer, YSL’s new Terre Saharienne might work for you. Golden Sand, in particular, works well for warmer, deeper skin tones with yellow or olive undertones.
Availability: June 2010
Quick Reviews: Guerlain Champagne Pearl Kiss Kiss Gloss, La Mer The Hydrating Facial Mask, Urban Decay Razor Sharp Finishing Powder
What are quick reviews? I’m glad you asked! Quick reviews are products that I just haven’t gotten around to reviewing but either photographed, swatched, and/or tested.
Guerlain Champagne Pearl (847) Kiss Kiss Gloss
($30.00) is a sheer, sparkly peachy beige with champagne and gold shimmer. It’s definitely a sheer wash of color on lips, but it provides tons of sparkle. I like it better over a lipstick, because it can bring out the depth of a lipstick that way, rather than just being a wash of shimmer on lips. Rating: B+
La Mer ‘The Hydrating Facial’ Mask
($250.00 for 6 applications) is the closest I’ve ever come to feeling like I’m getting a spa facial at home. Granted, I’ve only had about two facials in my entire life, but I felt like I might have spent a little time on cloud nine when I relaxed with this on. There are two parts to the mask–an upper and lower zone–and together they infuse skin with moisture. My skin felt as amazing as it looked, and I definitely wished I had more than one mask to try, ha! The price is steep, but it’s La Mer–not surprising. I still find it completely funny that my Mom, who is not a beauty junkie, LOVES La Mer and says she can tell the difference when she uses something else I’ve given her. At least every gift giving occasion for Mom is easy Rating: B+ — love the product, value drags it down a bit.
Urban Decay Razor Sharp Ultra Definition Finishing Powder ($30.00) is a nice, translucent powder to help set your makeup, but I really hated the delivery system. It annoyed me so much that I only used it twice and completely forgot about it. It’s a sponge that goes over the “nozzle” that disperses the powder. It just strikes me as particularly unsanitary, but aside from that, I much prefer a brush for a delicate, soft application. I feel like this presses more product onto the skin than necessary to set, but it can also smudge or over-blend your makeup if you’re not careful. I tried to twist/pry off the whole contraption on top, but to no avail, and thus why it’s taken me three months to review. Rating: B- — the product itself is decent, the packaging drives me batty.
Dior Addict Mauve Accent (886) Ultra Gloss
($26.50 for 0.21 fl. oz.) is a plummy raspberry pink that applies sheerly but gives a little darkened pink pop to lips along with plenty o’ sparkle.
I bought this one on a whim on my second Sephora order, and of course, had to share photos and swatches with all of you! I reviewed Ultra Gloss earlier this week, so check that out for a full review of the formula and all that.
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- Product: 27/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: If love sheer, non-sticky lipgloss, Dior Ultra Gloss is exactly that. And if you don’t mind reapplying every two hours or so, I think you’d really like these.
Availability: Sephora
Dior Coral (730) Serum de Rouge Lipstick
Dior Coral Serum (730) Serum de Rouge Lipstick
($32.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a softened, downplayed coral-pink with subtle gold shimmer. I like this coral shade, because it’s flattering on both cool and warm skin tones. It applies evenly, makes lips look lush, and the color
Other shades in the range: Nude Serum #510 (light peachy beige), Soft Pink Serum #640 (soft neutral pink), Peach Serum 650 (warm pink), Garnet Serum #660 (muted berry), Beige Serum #710 (light nude), Coral Serum #730 (muted coral), Rosewood Serum #740 (plum brown), Raspberry Serum #760 (berry rose), Crimson Serum #840 (vibrant pinkish red), Red Serum #850 (bright red), Violet Serum #860 (plum violet), and Mocha Serum #910 (reddish brown).
Serum de Rouge is a very creamy, silky lipstick with a bit of a lip gloss feel. The color can go on sheerly or be layered for a more opaque look. The formula and feel of the lipstick is really lovely–moisturizing and smooth–and it looks lovely on. My biggest issue with it is how quickly it disappears. I find that reapplication becomes necessary after an hour and a half, maybe two hours. Because it is a glossier lipstick, you can easily over-use the product, and the product itself is about half the size of your average lipstick, so the need to reapply often is definitely not something you want.
The formula actually reminds me a lot of Cle de Peau’s Extra Silky Lipstick. Same size, very similar packaging, but Dior’s version is $20 cheaper. Price aside, Cle de Peau does it better–creamier, silkier, glossier, and wears longer (three to four hours). Serum de Rouge is equally hydrating/moisturizing, though I don’t know if I’d agree with Dior’s description that they’re a “lip treatment.” It feels nice on my lips, when it’s there, but the moisture only lasts as long as the lipstick does, so I don’t think I’d say it did anything for me in the long-run, but I only used it a few days.
Had I not have tried Cle de Peau’s Extra Silky Lipstick, these would definitely rank higher on Temptalia’s all-time favorite lipsticks, but Cle de Peau is a little better–overall–but it does come at a steep price.
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- Product: 27/30
- Value: 7/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: If you don’t love lipstick and prefer gloss, I think you’ll like Dior’s Serum de Rouge–it has that glossy feel but the color payoff of a lipstick.
Availability: Nordstrom
, Sephora
YSL Gloss Pur: Pure Watermelon (08), Pure Hibiscus (09)
In June, YSL will launch four new and permanent shades of Gloss Pur
($30.00 for 0.20 oz.). They are part of YSL’s Solaris Collection, which also features several coordinating shades in other product lines.
Currently, the Gloss Pur range includes: Pure Nude (01) (nude), Pure Rose (02) (soft pink), Pure Coral (03) (sheer coral), Pure Raspberry (04) (sheer raspberry pink), Pure Fuchsia (05) (sheer fuchsia), and Pure Plum (06) (sheer plum). New shades include: Pure Sorbet (07) (sheer pink), Pure Watermelon (08) (coral), Pure Hibiscus (09) (fuchsia), and Pure Redcurrant (10) (sheer red).
Gloss Pur is the perfect high-end lip gloss for someone who loves a little bit of color with a high gloss finish. I’m actually pleasantly surprised with the two new summery shades I tried, because they seem a bit more pigmented than previous Gloss Purs I’ve tested out. These glosses are neither ultra sheer nor ultra pigmented but fall on the sheerer side while still giving lips an added touch of color.
- Pure Watermelon (08) is a coral-orange. On my lips, Pure Watermelon is semi-opaque and looks like a softened, toned-down coral.
- Pure Hibiscus (09) is a softened fuchsia with a little violet edge. Applied to lips, Pure Hibiscus is a semi-opaque fuchsia that doesn’t look overwhelmingly bright, but it still feels and looks like a brighter pink.
I find Gloss Purs always make my lips look plumper, fuller–juicier–with soft color that’s great for everyday or paired with a more dramatic look. They have a sweet, mango-ish scent but have no taste/flavor that I could detect. The gloss itself is non-sticky, moisturizing, and incredibly glossy.
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- Product: 29/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: If you’re not a shimmery lip gloss fan, I think you’ll like YSL’s Rouge Purs, which have nearly no detectable shimmer, soft color, and a high gloss finish!
Availability: June 2010
