Recent Freebies

Hi everyone! Today I have a quick post with some of my awesome recent freebies.

This L'Oreal Youth Code Pore Vanisher was an unexpected treat!  Cosmopolitan Magazine and L'Oreal randomly sent me this full-size product asking me to try it out and give feedback.  How cool is that? I was really excited to receive this, since I had sampled this product awhile back and really liked it.  You can read my review here.

This full-sized L'oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire Lipcolour was also from Cosmo Magazine and L'Oreal.  They sent me an email asking if I'd be willing to try this lipgloss and fill out a survey about my experience.  I really liked this product, so I will likely post a review soon!

When I requested this freebie, I thought it seemed a little too good to be true.  So, I was really excited when it actually arrived!  I got these Jockey Skimmies shorts for creating an account with Jockey.  I love wearing dresses and skirts all summer, and I always wear cotton hot pants-type shorts under them.  These are like an upgraded version of my usual shorts.  The nude color is great and the fabric is like a slip, so there is no catching on dresses or skirts.  These aren't shapewear, so they aren't tight and don't create any weird bulges.  I highly recommend these to all my dress-loving readers!  

I won this full-sized Suave Visible Glow Self-Tanning Body Lotion from a Suave Facebook giveaway.  If you like their products, you should definitely friend them on Facebook, because they give away tons of free products and samples! 

I got this NeilMed Sinus Rinse for reading a tutorial and taking a quiz on their site.  It might not seem all that exciting, but this product is worth more than $10 and is a total lifesaver if you have sinus problems or allergies!

I got two sets of this Dove Oxygen Moisture Shampoo/Conditioner sample from different sample sites.  (I think one was from Pinch Me, and the other was from Walmart.) This is the first time I remember trying Dove shampoo.  I used the first set already, and I really liked it!  It is a good inexpensive shampoo for fine hair.

This Dove deodorant sample was from Poshly.

These Olay and Herbal Essences body washes came from a P&G Sample Box, and an Orgullosa Box.  If you like P&G products check out both the P&G site and their site for Latinas called Orgullosa.  Both offer great sample packs!

Frizz Ease Styling product samples from John Frieda. 

 These are various small samples: Crest White strips, Suave Naturals, Ban cloths, Olay lotion.

So, what freebies and deals have you gotten lately?

Review: L'Oreal Youth Code Pore Vanisher

Hi everyone.  Today I have a quick review of L'oreal's Youth Code Pore Vanisher.  I received a free sample of this product from the company because I have an account at the L'Oreal website.

So first, this is what the L'oreal website has to say about the product:

What is Pore Vanisher™?
Pore Vanisher™ is a fresh, airy cream that instantly minimizes the look of pores and shrinks actual pore size in 1 month.

How does it work?
Pore Vanisher™ works on three dimensions to shrink pores: depth*, number and size. Instantly pores appear virtually vanished and skin feels hydrated. Perlite absorbs excess oil for an all-day, shine free, smooth finish. In one day LHA micro-exfoliates to visibly smooth skin’s surface.In one month pores begin to snap back into shape as our highest concentration of Perline-P strengthens and tightens pore walls to shrink actual pore size. 

When Should I Use It?
Apply as the last step in your skincare regimen, AM and PM. Can be used alone or under makeup.

Recommended Regimen:
STEP 1: CLEANSE L’Oréal Paris Cleanser
STEP 2: TREAT Texture Perfector Serum Concentrate
STEP 3: MOISTURIZE Texture Perfector Day/Night Cream
STEP 4: FINISH Texture Perfector Pore Vanisher™ Cream

Formula Essentials
For all Skin Tones
Universal Tint
Suitable For Sensitive Skin
Non-Comedogenic


Now, what I have to say about Youth Code Pore Vanisher:

I previously sampled L'oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur.  (You can see my review for that here.) And I find this product to be VERY similar to Miracle Blur. L'Oreal Pore Vanisher and Miracle Blur are also similar to many of the other pore-minimizing creams out there, such as Benefit's Pore-fessional.

I used the Pore Vanisher after my usual skincare routine of Missha Chocolate Latte face wash, and Missha Super Aqua toner and lotion. The texture of the Pore Vanisher cream is light and fluffy like a thick mousse.  It is lightly tinted and goes on smooth, creamy, and transparent.  The texture is really smooth and slightly moist.  Because it is a bit moisturizing, Pore Vanisher is more suited for normal to dry skin.  I wouldn't recommend it for anyone with oily skin. 

So, on to the pore vanishing claims... I only used the Pore Vanisher twice, so I can't speak on the long-term pore minimizing claims that they make, but as far as pore coverage, this stuff is awesome!  It reminded me very much of Miracle Blur, as it gave my skin the same soft and diffused look.  It just really smoothed over any imperfections, and it looked almost like my skin had been Photoshopped!  It also worked perfectly as a base for my usual BB cream.  

Overall, I loved this product and would highly recommend it!  I use Benefit's Pore-fessional, and this might sound like blasphemy to the beauty gurus out there...but I would say that L'Oreal's Pore Vanisher and Miracle Blur are actually superior to Pore-fessional!  They go on much smoother, in my opinion, and give a more obvious result.  So, if you have normal to dry skin and are looking for a pore-minimizing cream, L'Oreal's Pore Vanisher is a really great product and a less expensive (and in my opinion, BETTER) alternative to Benefit's very popular Pore-fessional.

So, have you tried any pore-minimizing products?  If so, which did you try, and what did you think?    

***UPDATE: I have been using a full-sized bottle of this product since about July and I still love it.  However, I began to notice this week that the product is separating.  There is a clear liquid that comes out with the makeup and the texture is just not the same.  I feel it still works, so I haven't stopped using it.  I checked it out online, and other women have reported similar experiences in blogs and reviews.  So, while I still think Youth Code Pore Vanisher is a great product, you might want to consider the fact that it does not age well when deciding whether or not to invest in this product.      

***Update #2: I continued to try to use this product for a few days after I noticed it was separating.  However, each day, more and more clear liquid began pouring out when the tube was squeezed. Shaking the bottle made no difference.  The water gushing out was really gross, the makeup's texture was totally different, and the product lost all its effectiveness.  I finally just tossed it.  I was bummed because I had gotten used to using a base with my BB. But since I received this product for free from L'Oreal via Cosmo magazine, it was no big loss. What bothers me is the fact that someone out there paid for Pore Vanisher and had to throw it away!  And this product is not cheap as far as drugstore makeup goes.  I no longer recommend this product! Most internet sources say face products can keep for about a year, so why is this stuff turning to disgusting watery mush after only about 6 months? Furthermore, who's to say if you buy this product it hasn't already turned bad before you even open it? I actually saw numerous reviews where women had that experience.  I had some Benefit Porefessional for about 6 months with no problems.  Moral of the story? You get what you pay for... Don't waste your money on this one. 

Review: L'oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur

I recently tried a single-use sample of L'oreal Miracle Blur, so I thought I'd do a little review.

I actually recieved 2 single-use samples of this product.  I requested one from the company, and the other sample came on a card in Siempre Mujer magazine.  

So, first let me tell you what L'oreal's website has to say about this product:  

What Is Miracle Blur?
It’s NOT a moisturizer, NOT a foundation, MORE than a primer; it’s the first of-its-kind Instant Skin Smoother.

What Does It Do?
Miracle Blur instantly erases the look of lines, wrinkles, and pores. Skin instantly looks and feels smooth, leaving a velvet soft matte finish that lasts all day.

When Should I Use It?
Miracle Blur should be applied daily after moisturizing as the final step in every woman’s skincare routine. Wear alone for a matte finish, or wear under makeup for smoother application and wear.

What I have to say about Miracle Blur:
Although I am always eager to try a new sample, I automatically assumed this was a product that was just not too useful for me.  My makeup routine is pretty no-frills.  I don't use primers or other extras, so just by reading the packaging, I didn't have high expectations.  As I was getting ready to go out on Saturday night, I flipped through some of my skincare samples and decided to give the Miracle Blur a go.  

First, the texture of this product coming out of the package was really unusual.  I expected some sort of cream, but the product was thick, had a light beige-yellow color, and it felt sort of dry and fluffy.  I was like hmmm...

When I smoothed it onto my face I expected it to keep the dry consistency, but it actually spread well.  Alone, it did add a sort of soft glow to my skin.  I applied my Holika Holika BB cream on top, but it was pretty hot and humid, and my skin seemed a little too dewy for my liking.  I patted on a little compact powder to make my face less shiny, and afterwards my skin was nice and matte, not at all shiny.  I'm not sure if the matte texture was due to adding the powder, or if the product became more matte after setting.  When I looked at the end result, there was a noticeable diffused effect, a warm glowy softness about my skin.  I was really impressed-this stuff is legit!   

As I said, I didn't expect much from this product.  I am not one for piling on the makeup and wasting time and money on unnecessary steps, so I did not imagine Miracle Blur finding a place in my routine.  However, I liked the results so much that I would definitely consider buying this one! 

This product adds a soft and sweet glow to your skin, I think it could be good for just about anyone.  I have "normal" skin and I did feel as if this was a little greasy when combined with my BB cream.  If you have skin that is on the oilier side, and you use cream face products such as BB's or foundations, this might add unwanted shine. If you are someone who is trying to cover major skin issues, I don't think this would be all that helpful.  But if you just want your skin to look smoother and prettier, as if it is being hit with good lighting, you might like this as much as I did.  One reviewer on L'oreal's website summed it up really well by saying that Miracle Blur was like "photoshopping your face." 
  

I also noticed that a Benefit Pore-fessional sample that I received but haven't tried yet, seems like it is a similar product.  Now I'm even more excited to try that one out! When I do, I will review it and let you know how these two compare.  

 So, have you tried Miracle Blur or Pore-fessional yet? What did you think? Do you use any other products to soften the look of lines or pores?

Bargain Brag- Jewelry and Freebies

 A few new bargains and freebies...

 

My sister bought me this mint green spike bracelet from Macy's for $3.  I love this!

I got this two-finger cross ring on Ebay for only 99 cents-including shipping to the US from China!!!

I worried the ring would be terrible quality for such a low price, because I've had some bad experiences with cheap Ebay items from China.  The ring is perfect, though.  And it fits great, too!

My current nail look. I don't know what possesed me to go for this color.  It is way too bright for this time of year. Yuck!

Some freebies I scored from Facebook promotions.  This is a Redken for Men sample for my boyfriend.

A sample bag of Seattle's Best Coffee.  Nothing is better than coffee! Except FREE coffee!!!

A free mug and two packs of hot chocolate from Nestle's Abuelita. Yum! 

Mythic Oil, L'oreal's version of Moroccan oil.  Everyone swears by Moroccan oil, but it makes my fine hair limp and stringy.  I'm so curious to see how this is in my hair.  I'll probably review this in the future.

Makeup Essentials

What's in my makeup bag?

These are my makeup must-haves that I use everyday or almost every day.

Missha Signature Wrinkle Filler BB Cream

This was my first ever BB cream. I bought it a year ago in Korea.  It is just about gone now, but it lasted really well considering that  I use it everyday.  I like the medium coverage and smooth application.  It also has a super pretty bottle, and a slight scent. I didn't like the idea of scented face makeup at first but it has grown on me.

MAC Studio Finish Concealer

This is a creamy concealer with good coverage.

                           

Clinique Perfecly Real Compact Makeup

I love the clean and basic feel of this compact.  It is like a thick and smooth pressed powder.  I use it during the summer because I find that BB cream makes my skin too shiny during the hot summer months.

Missha Under Eye Brightener

I grabbed this at the Missha store in Seoul because it was really inexpensive.  I didn't like it at first but I gave it another try, and I have been using it a lot lately.  It covers dark circles pretty well (although not as well as my MAC concealer) and it gives a brightening effect.

L'oreal True Match Blush in Innocent Flush

This is the only blush I own, but it is a very sweet, light, and natural color that doesn't overwhelm my pale skin.

MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Family Silver

I've had this shadow for quite a long time. It is worn down to one little strip where the two colors meet in the middle. 

I've worn shimmery whitish beige colors like this since I was a teenager because its a perfect everyday shade that adds a little polish to my look without a lot of color or smokiness.  It really opens up your eyes. 

Mac Travel Compact Kit-Warm

I like this palette because it has some of the fun colors I wear often.  The coral, mauve, olive green, and gold colors really flatter my light golden brown eyes.  The lightest color is another one of those shimmery light colors that I so adore...so that one is all gone!  I use the dark brown to shadow the corners of my eyes almost every day, unless I want a smokier look and opt for black.

Clinique High Impact Mascara

This mascara doesn't wow me, but it is what I'm currently using. I always have some random black mascara in my bag...I like some more than others, but I'm not picky.  You can't go wrong with Clinique.

Estee Lauder Eyepencil in Soft Smudge Black

Black eyeliner is my most essential and dramatic makeup tool.  All the rest of my makeup is light and subtle, but I wear lined eyes, and it really makes a difference.  When I'm spotted not wearing makeup people always say, "Wow your eyes look tired!" due to my lack of liner. I like this liner because it works well to create either a heavier line or a smudgy smokier effect.

Urban Decay Naked Palette

I was looking to invest in a good palette so I read a lot of reviews and watched a lot of makeup gurus on YouTube and there was one name that stood out: The Naked Palette.  I fell in love as soon as I saw it. Every single color is one that I would wear regularly.  There is also a Naked II-and it is amazing too- but I went with the original. I love this palette and use it every day! I bought mine on Sephora.com for about $50. It also comes with a shadow primer.

Here is a video comparison of the Naked and Naked II palettes:

So these are my must haves. What is your favorite makeup product and why?