Revlon Crazy Shine Nail Buffer

My natural nails, sans polish, are so dull that I'm kind of embarassed to go without polish. So when I saw Revlon's new Crazy Shine Nail Buffer at my local CVS, I snatched it up. And, let me tell you...the name is accurate. Crazy accurate, in fact. My iPhone photo above doesn't do the shine justice.

The double sided buffer smoothes and evens out the nail surface - creating an outrageous, mirror-like finish. The tool promises to create 400% more shine than bare nails. To be honest, I couldn't tell you the difference between a 100% and 400% increase in shine, but I will say that it looks like I'm wearing a clear topcoat on my nails. And this was achieved in about three minutes (all 10 nails) - no drying time necessary. What I also love is that you can use the white side on polished nails - to restore shine when your mani is looking a lil murky.

Revlon Crazy Shine Nail Buffer retails for $3.99 - but right now it's on sale at CVS for $2.99.

Makeup Mondays With Mario: How To Do Drugstore

Celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is answering your burning beauty questions!!! Every Monday, he will answer a beauty/skin care question as part of a weekly column on Spoiled Pretty, Makeup Mondays with Mario.

Hi Mario,

I don't have a big budget for cosmetics, but it seems that most of the inexpensive products I buy don't look very good. Can you recommend some drugstore makeup that is comparable to department store makeup?

Thanks, Kourtney

Hi Kourtney,

When using drug store cosmetics, you should try switching up your technique and tools during application. An extra step or two should have you satisfied with the way your makeup looks. For example, a eyeshadow color that you love at the drugstore looks great in the package but when you bring it home and apply the color, it probably doesn't glide smoothly or evenly stick to your lids. In this case, make sure your lids are primed with a shadow base or a bit of your foundation/concealer and set them with loose powder. This will ensure a smooth and even application. Your brush should not be too "fluffy" unless you are blending so choose a shadow brush with shorter, firmer bristles and dab/press the shadow onto the lids a few times. Using a cream shadow first followed by a powder also works well and gives a richer look.

A tip for making inexpensive, hard liners easily glide on to give you nice pigment is to first heat them with a blow dryer or a lighter. You'd be surprised at how the texture of the pencil becomes rich and emollient. If you try this, please wait a few seconds before you apply the hot pencil to your face.

Drugstores do carry so many great makeup brands and products that are comparable to department store brands. L'Oreal True Match Foundation, Revlon lipstick, NYX shadows and blush and CoverGirl concealers are just a few of many, many good products that can be found in drugstores. Just like with inexpensive clothing or furniture, it takes more effort to make it look good but you learn so many tricks along the way.

Thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays with Mario!

xo,
Mario


Got a question for Mario? Email your makeup and skin care queries to spoiledprettyquestions@gmail.com, and check back next Monday to read Mario's expert advice!xo,

Drugstore Beauty Must Haves!

After a brief television hiatus, I'm back on the tube again...this time, dishing on my favorite drugstore beauty must haves.

We all know that it doesn't actually cost a million bucks to look like a million bucks. But there are thousands of skin/body care products and cosmetics at your local drugstore...and choosing what should go in your basket and what should stay on the shelf can be overwhelming.

So reporter (and fabulous style blogger) Lilliana Vazquez asked me to share my beauty expertise with Philadelphia's NBC10 viewers and name my top drugstore beauty buys. Some of my current faves include:

L'Oreal Paris Ideal Skin Genesis Complexion Equalizer Day/Night Cream, $19.99 (comparable to Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20, $42.50)

Revlon PhotoReady Makeup, $13.99 (comparable to Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation, $40)

CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion, $9.99 (comparable to Diorshow Mascara, $24)

Maybelline Shine Sensational Lip Gloss, $5.99 (compare to Lancome Juicy Tubes, $18)

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Blush and Highlighter, $12.99 (compare to Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick, $38)

What are your favorite drugstore finds? Spill your must haves in the comments section...

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation: Buy Immediately!

No offense to mass market makeup, but with its new Photo Ready Foundation, Revlon just brought drugstore foundation out of the dark ages. In fact, many prestige brands could learn a lot from this particular foundation. Priced at around $13.99, Photo Ready is worth two or three times that.

For a few months, I've been hearing Revlon Photo Ready Foundation being touted as the discount version of my beloved Make Up For Ever's HD Foundation. I kinda dismissed it as hype, until I tried it last week. While there are a lot of similarities, there are some differences too – namely, the price (HD Foundation costs $40).

Photo Ready, like MUFE's HD Foundation, gives the skin an airbrushed look. It looks even more flawless when applied with a foundation brush or, my fave, the beautyblender sponge. The coverage is medium to full – and I find that when I use it, I don't really have to use concealer. It’s that good. Where Photo Ready differs from MUFE's HD Foundation is that it has a dewy finish; so if you like a more matte look, MUFE might be the way to go. My skin is on the oilier side, and I happen to love Photo Ready. It gives me perfect looking skin with a healthy glow, without it veering into oil slick territory.

Photo Ready wears well all day long, and feels very light; I often forget I'm even wearing it. I also appreciate that it doesn't oxidize and change color after a few hours – as that has happened with many foundations I've tried.

And before you ask me if gals with problem skin can tolerate this product, I'll tell you…the answer is a resounding YES. My skin is acne prone and likes to stage a mutiny every time I turn around, but Photo Ready has not caused an adverse reaction.

The only category where MUFE HD Foundation wins hands down is in the color options (Photo Ready has 12 shades and MUFE HD has 25). And it's too bad that you can't really test Photo Ready in the store (at least, there were no testers at the drugstore where I bought my bottle) - so you sort of have to take a leap of faith when you choose a shade. Personally, I spent about five minutes deliberating between Rich Ginger and Caramel. Then I noticed that the display had a photo of Halle Berry modeling the product and the caption read "Halle is wearing Rich Ginger." Halle and I have the same skin color (lucky me), so that's what I chose – and it was a perfect match. If I get some sun this summer, I may purchase Caramel and blend the two.

So, bottom line, this is one of the best foundations I've tried in a long time – on account of its performance and price. If you're in the market for new foundation, you'd be a fool not to check it out.

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation is my Recessionista's Fabuless Pick of the Week.

Fall Beauty Trends Giveaway Winner Revealed!

A few weeks ago, I appeared on the NBC 10! Show to school you on fall's hottest beauty trends and the products you NEED to steal the looks. But I wasn't content just telling you about the products. Ah naw. I had to, at least, give one of you the opportunity to try the products. That's just how I do. And now the time has come to announce that lucky winner's name.

Congrats to Lizelle Abrams! Lizelle will receive:

Revlon Brow Specialist Kit: The set includes three brow stencils in varying degrees of arch to fit every shape, tweezers, a universally flattering brow pencil, and brow gel - all in a sleek carrying case.

Urban Decay Ink For Eyes Liner (all six shades!): More precise than a pencil and more forgiving than a liquid, this super-smooth formula offers more control, and buildable coverage than your average liner. The angled liner brush creates a razor sharp line, and the formula lasts all day (or night). Available in six gorgeous colors: Binge (midnight blue), Demolition (brown), Empire (eggplant), Loaded (deep green), Pyrotechnics (iridescent glitter with clear base), and Zero (black).

Goody Resort Glamour Kingston Bobby Slides: These are the next generation of bobby pins. They are some of the most darling bobby pins I've ever seen, and come in a selection of shades sure to match your personality, hair color and/or ensemble.

OPI Matte Collection (all six shades!): OPI recently released six of their best-selling shades in non-glossy formulation. The collection includes: Alpine Snow(a fresh crisp white), Gargantuan Green Grape (green kissed by the summer sun), La Paz-itively Hot (a hot pink perfect for when you’re Bo-livia la vida loca), Lincoln Park After Dark (where midnight meets purple), Russian Navy (wait until you see this deep-sea indigo!) and You Don’t Know Jacques! (if you don’t know how trendy this taupe is!).

Air kisses to Revlon, Urban Decay, Goody and OPI for hooking Lizelle up. And all of you not named Lizelle, keep your eyes peeled for your next chance to win some amazing beauty booty.

Fall Beauty Trends on the NBC 10! Show - Plus a Giveaway!

As you probably know, today is the official kickoff of New York Fashion Week, Spring 2010. In fact, I'll be traveling to NYC on Saturday to attend Fashion Week events and report from backstage. But before we move forward, let's take a look back to Fashion Week, Fall 2009. Last spring, I went behind the scenes at some of the hottest shows - and noticed some emerging trends.

Last week, I appeared on the NBC 10! Show to talk about five of the fiercest beauty trends for fall - and introduce viewers to must-have products to help them nail the looks.

Watch and learn...

In honor of my latest TV appearance, I'm giving away a selection of the products featured in the segment!!! One lucky winner will receive:

Revlon Brow Specialist Kit: The set includes three brow stencils in varying degrees of arch to fit every shape, tweezers, a universally flattering brow pencil, and brow gel - all in a sleek carrying case.

Urban Decay Ink For Eyes Liner (all six shades!): More precise than a pencil and more forgiving than a liquid, this super-smooth formula offers more control, and buildable coverage than your average liner. The angled liner brush creates a razor sharp line, and the formula lasts all day (or night). Available in six gorgeous colors: Binge (midnight blue), Demolition (brown), Empire (eggplant), Loaded (deep green), Pyrotechnics (iridescent glitter with clear base), and Zero (black).

Goody Resort Glamour Kingston Bobby Slides: These are the next generation of bobby pins. They are some of the most darling bobby pins I've ever seen, and come in a selection of shades sure to match your personality, hair color and/or ensemble.

OPI Matte Collection (all six shades!): OPI recently released six of their best-selling shades in non-glossy formulation. The collection includes: Alpine Snow(a fresh crisp white), Gargantuan Green Grape (green kissed by the summer sun), La Paz-itively Hot (a hot pink perfect for when you’re Bo-livia la vida loca), Lincoln Park After Dark (where midnight meets purple), Russian Navy (wait until you see this deep-sea indigo!) and You Don’t Know Jacques! (if you don’t know how trendy this taupe is!).

To enter the giveaway, send an email to spoiledprettycontests@gmail.com. Be sure to include your full name and mailing address. The subject line should read "Fall Trends Giveaway." The contest ends at midnight (EST) on Thursday, September 17th. One winner will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Friday, September 18th, I'll announce the winner's name. Please, only one entry per person; duplicate entries will not increase your chances of winning. Contest is open to U.S. residents.

#NYFW

Whatever Happened To Ultima II?

I might be showing my age with this question...but can I ask, whatever happened to Ultima II? Back in the day, that shiz was my jam. Ultima II was one of my first forays into prestige makeup and I was obsessed. I had this one brown matte lipstick (hey, it was the mid-nineties) that I wore down to a nub. And don't get me started on their Glowtion Skin Brightening Moisturizer.

And when the line popped up at my local CVS, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Then it died.

A recent Google search turned up a ton of online retailers still hocking Ultima II cosmetics...which leaves me wondering if Revlon is still secretly producing these products, or if the online stores are selling old stock.

Ah, Ultima II...thanks for the memories.

Revlon Colorstay Mineral Mousse Makeup: Buy Right Now!

At the risk of sounding snobbish, I haven't worn drugstore foundation since college. And even then, it looked a hot mess. But I was broke and I didn't have any other options.

Since then, I've been making my foundation purchases at Sephora and the department store beauty counters because my color is difficult to match and it's near impossible for me to buy without trying. And even if I did find a close color match, the formulation was either too dry, too greasy, too sheer or too opaque for my persnickety skin.

But I've changed my tune since I attended a Revlon event last week in New York City. We bloggers went home with a bunch of Revlon's newest goodies...and my favorite, by far, is their Colorstay Mineral Mousse Makeup. Since I tried it, it has become my go-to foundation. Can you believe? For less than $14, you can purchase one of the best foundations I've tried all year.

Colorstay Mineral Mousse Makeup has a unique air-whipped texture that dries to a soft matte finish...perfect for those with oily and combination skin. It wears like a dream all day, averting the mid-day greasies. The coverage is sheer enough to let your skin breathe, but not so heavy that it looks like a mask. I apply it with the BeautyBlender sponge to ensure a seamless finish. And I swear that my acne has taken a little time out since I started using it.

Do yourself a favor and go buy Revlon's Colorstay Mineral Mousse Makeup right now.

Bloggers Take Manhattan

Please forgive me, peeps, for I have no time to do what I do.

I'm in NYC for the annual Daily Makeover Beauty Bloggerati conference - and it's been makeup, skincare and hair 24-7. So please forgive the lack of posts lately. But while I'm on here apologizing, I might as well tell you what I've been up to. I'm so tired, I'm about to pass out. But here are some quick highlights...

If you haven't tasted the crispy fried chicken, basilicious mozzarella sticks or fruit embellished fro-yo dessert at Mad For Chicken (formerly BonChon), you have not lived. Thanks for the tip, Erika.

Daily Makeover's site is about to get a makeover. Can't be too specific, but their new content and tools are going to blow your beauty-loving mind.

Had delish lunch at the Estee Lauder offices and finally met all of the PR girls I talk to ten times a day. All of the brands (which include an impressive lineup: MAC, Clinique, Bobbi Brown, La Mer, Tommy Hilfiger, Jo Malone, and more) are very interested in learning more about the Beauty Bloggerati and how they can better work with us.

Our Columbus Circle beauty crawl went a little like this:

*Fell a little more in luvre with Kiehl's. Told everyone within earshot about my obsession with their Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion; I think I converted many of my fellow bloggers into fans. Then we were all introduced to Kiehl's new Sunflower Oil hair products; the shampoo smells yummy fantastic - like fresh apricot. We also got the skinny on the new Rare Earth line, created for acne-prone and greasy gals like yours truly. They sent me home with samples, so look for reviews soon.

*Lancome is the freaking bomb. We were greeted with champagne, heavenly cupcakes and veritable wonderland of makeup. I had an opportunity to play around with their fall 2009 collection and chat up celebrity makeup artist, Andrew Sotomayor...who has the BEST SKIN EVER. No joke. You could inspect his face with a high powered microscope and not find one pore. And the kind folks at Lancome sent us all home with a bag of goodies, including the Oscillation Powerbooster mascara primer and new Hypnose Drama mascara - which, together, are TO DIE!

*L'Occitane has this amazing anti-aging skincare product, called Divine Cream, that will hit shelves September 16th. I smoothed some on my hand and the texture was truly divine. L'Occitane don't lie.

*I wish Philadelphia had a Space NK store. Really, every city should have at least one. It smelled so damn good inside and they had some mellow Marvin Gaye on the stereo...I just didn't want to leave. What I love about Space NK is the diverse range of brand offerings. I consider myself a beauty savant, and there were products and lines that I've never heard of. Can you even?

*If there's a store where I want one of everything, it's Fresh. I seriously don't think you can go wrong with anything they sell. My new fave Fresh products are the Brown Sugar Body Scrub and Body Cream. It's like a 1-2 punch to your flaky epidermis. Exfoliate with the scrub and then moisturize with the cream and you'll swear that you got bumped to the top of the skin transplant list. The transformation is unbelievable!

Attended the What Not To Wear premiere party at the Ted Gibson Salon, to celebrate Ted's new gig as the show's resident hair guru. Briefly chatted up Jason Backe and congratulated him on the oodles of magazines he's been quoted in these last few months. I love me some Ted and Jason...dolls, the both of them. They deserve all of the success coming their way.

Me, Amber and Marta at Revlon dinner

Dinner with Revlon at Almond was ab fab. The steak frites I ordered was un(freaking)real. Plus, we got up close and personal with some of their newest products. In the middle of my meal, I applied their Colorstay Ultimate Liquid Lipstick...and it still looked perfect when I returned to my room at the ACE Hotel 2 hours later.

Okay, losing consciousness now. I'll check in again as soon as I can. You might have to wait a lil longer than a New York minute...but it will be worth it.

New From Revlon: Scented Nail Polish!

Just in time for summer, Revlon releases Fruitful Temptations - a limited-edition collection of scented nail polishes. Each shade has a matching fruit fragrance.

The 8 shades are inspired by the freshness of exotic summer fruits and infused with succulent tropical scents. Each fruit shade has a matching fruit scent when the enamel is dry.

Available in Coconut Crush, Mad About Mango, Pretty In Papaya, Sublime Strawberry, Raspberry Rapture, Mon Cherry, Passionate Fruit, and Not So Blue-Berry.