Boots No7 vs L'oreal: Do Their Anti-Aging Lines Work??

I've been on the hunt for an inexpensive drugstore line that is magic for anti-aging.  I know, I know, I'm asking a lot BUT with all the skin care lines out there, I knew there had to be one that lived up to the hype.

I have so far tested two lines: Boots No7 Protect and Perfect and L'Oreal Youth Code.  The Boots No7 set, as purchased for $45, came with a full size serum, a day cream and a night cream all specifically designed to restore skin's natural radiance and smooth away deep lines and wrinkles.  The Youth Code set, as purchased for $24 (trial size products), came with a foaming cleanser, a serum and a day/night cream all designed to regenerate the texture and appearance of young skin.

After trying both lines, for a period of three weeks each, I much prefer the L'Oreal Youth Code compared to the Boots No7 line.

It not only cleans my skin well but the serum is nice, light, and a little goes a long way.  The cream, though, is absolutely luxurious.  It's goes on so smooth and makes my skin feel so silky.  One down fall to this cream is the lack of sunscreen.  Since the product is used as both a day and night cream, sunscreen is never added.  It does mean you need a separate sunscreen to apply after putting the cream on your skin.

The Boots line worked very well in the beginning but after about 2 weeks, my skin stopped responding to it. The serum is very light but didn't seem to do anything to my skin and the only cream I liked was the night cream.  One plus is the day cream does have an SPF 15 in it which means it's a one stop shop.  Still, though, not my cup of tea.

I am still on the hunt for the best drugstore anti-aging line so stay tuned.  What's your favorite drugstore line??

    

Drugstore Beauty Must-Haves: Under $20

Drugstore Beauty Must-Haves by redlipgloss

I have slowly become a beauty product snob.

In my twenties I was MORE than happy to use drugstore beauty products for all my beauty needs.  However, since becoming a thirty-something gal, my skin is not as happy with cheaper products which can really put a dent on my credit card.  There are, though, some drugstore items I can not live without.

Batiste Dry Shampoo - This has been, and always will be, my go-to dry shampoo.  You don't need very much to have your locks smelling great and feeling less greasy.

Dial Coconut Water Body Wash - I love the smell of this body wash and how moisturizing it is.  But the smell, ladies.  If you like coconut, you will love this stuff.

L'Oreal True Match Foundation - I am a BB Cream girl but when I break out or need some extra coverage, this foundation has never steered me wrong.  So many colors to choose from, goes on silky smooth and just works for pale gals.

Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer - I bathe in this stuff during the summer months.  How great is it that you can smell like the beach by spraying your moisturizer on you.  So convenient.

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - I have been using this stuff over my BB Cream for years now.  It's light, matches my white skin and seems to last a good couple months.  Plus it's a bargain!!

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Stain - Okay, so I call this a Chubby Stick because it reminds me of the Chubby Sticks that Clinique has, for half the price.  The colors are great and they wear well.  I keep about 3 on me at all times.

ELF Lipsticks -  The nude colors are brilliant especially when you have a smoky eye.  Plus, they cost about $3.  Amazing deal.

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara - As you all know, I've raved about this mascara plenty and it's been in my roster for years (I've since discovered Younique and it's now my favorite).  This mascara though is perfect for traveling or if you are out of your go-to expensive brand.

L'Oreal Light Infusing Primer - Oh ladies, if you haven't mixed this with your favorite BB Cream or foundation, you have to. It gives you a bit of highlighting without looking like you're too made up.  I am such a sucker for shimmery things.

Soap & Glory Scrub of Your Life - I typically make my own body scrub as it's easy and natural but in a pinch, this is my go-to scrub.  It smells delicious and works like a charm.

ESSIE Nail Polish - Love this brand and the price point.  It's a polish that seems to last on my nails and the colors are brilliant.

What drugstore beauty products can't you live without??

    

FOTD: Dramatic Eyes For a Boudoir Photo Shoot

Saturday was such a fun, and nerve-wrecking, day for me.  It was the day of my boudoir photo shoot AND the day that my fabulous friend, Ariella (a makeup artist), showed me her amazing skills and did my makeup.

The day began with me arriving at her house in the morning with absolutely no makeup on or my hair done.  She got to work immediately and transformed me from plain-Jane to model fabulous.  After I finished doing my hair, the look was done.  Check out the before and after photos...

Good Morning!  It`s 10 am and I actually left the house without makeup OR my hair done.  Definitely a first for me

A couple hours and a delightful straightening job later, the look is complete.

Makeup used on my face:

Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher (primer)

Revlon Photoready Airbrush Mousse Makeup in 010 Vanilla

Youngblood Ultimate Concealer in Fair

Clinique Perfectly Real Compact Makeup in Shade 102 N

For the cheeks:

L'Oreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer

GOSH Giant Sun Powder in 001

Physicians Formula Glow and Mood Boosting Blush in Natural 

Quo Minerals Matter Blush in Pink Petal 

For the eyebrows:

Youngblood Brow Artiste Palette in Dark

For the eyes:

M.A.C Prep and Prime Eye

M.A.C Silver, Black and Grey Eye Shadows Color Unknown (Must ask Ariella)

Smashbox Cream Eye Liner Palette in Cameo

Estee Lauder Magnascopic Mascara in Black

Ardell False Eye Lashes 

Quo Lash Adhesive 

For the lips:

L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm in Rose Elixir

I am so fortunate to know such a fantastic makeup artist AND have the pleasure of saying how great of a friend she is.  I will say though, that she gave my quite a bit of slack about the shape of my eyebrow brush because according to her "it's completely bent out of shape and useless..."  All in all, it was a fantastic day filled with makeup, a few hours of photos, multiple lingerie outfits and tons of laughter.  

WARNING: This Dye May Turn Your Hair Black!!!

This is the message that should appear on every box of Clairol's Nice 'N' Easy 5RB (Medium Reddish Brown).  Seriously, I'm not kidding.  (And, yes, this picture on the left is what my hair looked like immediately after dying it.)

Just to clear something up, I am NOT new to coloring my own hair however I did just recently start doing it again in an effort to save money and have fallen completely in love with L'Oreal Excellence Creme in 5RB (again, a Warm Reddish Brown.)  Unfortunately, when I went to re-purchase this awesome dye it was sold out!  Everywhere!! So instead I grabbed a box dye with the same coloring and classification as the L'Oreal.

I was wrong......oh so very wrong.  How two separate brands can have the EXACT same color system/classification and yet end up so dramatically different is completely beyond me.

Oh, did I mention that this Clairol color was a foam?  Well, it was.  The foam brands have been getting rave reviews online and I selected this because of what others said.  I will say that the mixing of the colorant into the foam bottle was very easy as both were liquid.  (No messy containers or squeeze bottles.) 

However, the fun ended there.  First, the smell was absolutely atrocious.  As it was going into my hair, the first thought that came to my mind was rotten fish.  (I know, terrible comparison but it was grossly disgusting).  Second, the foam did not stay foamy; in fact as soon as I squeezed it into my hand, it turned to liquid.  This means that it dripped everywhere from my forehead and down the back of my neck.  Once on, the instructions said to leave on 25 minutes which I did.  I rinsed out, used the awesome (I say awesome because hair dye conditioners are amazing!!!) conditioner, stepped out of the shower and screamed.  Yes, my hair was black.  I crawled swiftly into bed, covered my head with the blanket so Allan couldn't see me and fell asleep.

I was up at 4:30 with an incredible plan of stripping my hair.  Armed with Head & Shoulders Dandruff Shampoo and a box of baking soda, I made my way to the shower and shampooed (a mixture of shampoo and backing soda) three times.  After that, I shampooed with my normal shampoo, twice, and conditioned with my Moraccan Oil Treatment Conditioner.  45 minutes later I emerged from the shower with a dark red hue.  Much better.  (Left: color after the backing soda application.)

Lesson of the day: Just because a hair dye claims it's the same tone/shade as another, does NOT mean they are the same.  Never again will I use the Clairol Nice 'N' Easy Foam Color and even if every single store in Vancouver is sold out of the L'Oreal color I love, I'll drive to through the States until I find it.  Case closed....

Here's a quick picture of me making the best of my new hair color.  What you CAN'T see from this photo are my bright red eyes and tear-streaked face.  Thank goodness for concealer....