Latest Lancome Gift with Purchase

I've got issues...clearly.  I have to admit I ordered this out of spite more than anything, which actually makes no sense when you hear the story.

I wandered in *made a beeline* to one of beauty bars inside Shoppers Drug Mart, a while back.  I was looking at the Lancome display because I had seen their gift with purchase promo online, and wondered if by chance Shoppers had the gift there to look at.

One of the sales ladies came over & when I asked her she gave me the condescending, 'oh no dear there is no gift with purchase promo on right now' answer, followed by the little dismissive laugh.  I told her well actually I was on the Lancome website the night before and had seen it, so maybe it was just at one of the department stores.  She gives me the 'dear I'm on that site aaaaallll the time and I think you're confused, you're thinking of the Christmas promo which is loooonnnnnggggg over'.  Back goes straight up, b*tch mode gets turned on.

Long story short I leave annoyed, get home, fire up the computer, find the promo on their website and place my order, smug with satisfaction.  Showed her didn't I?  See makes no sense.

Anyway, moving on.  I had to order $35 in order to get the gift, so I purchased this:

Bienfait Multi-Vital Moisturizer with SPF 30

I had read lots of very favourable reviews of this lotion so decided to try it and I love it.  It is a nice and light daily moisturizer that absorbs well into the skin & leaves no tacky residue.  It does have a bit of a scent, kind of like fresh cut grass or the smell when you cut the stems off fresh flowers.  Might sound bizarre but it is very nice and only very lightly scented, which doesn't linger at all.  I only need two very small pumps of this to cover my face and bonus, it has SPF 30 in it.

So what was in my well earned gift?

It came in this cute little bag, which is satin on the outside, with a black patent looking bow...love it.

So here is what was inside.  

Eclat Miracle complexion illuminator; 3X high resolution moisturizer; eyeshadow quad, Definicils mascara in black; Color Design metallic lipstick in Ooh La La. 

Is is just me or does the Definicils mascara stink?  I swear my last one smelled strange too.  I think it's supposed to be a rose scent but it's just too strong or something and I honestly can't stand it.  

The lipstick I'll give to a friend because I just won't use it, it does appear to be a beautiful colour though.  

I actually really like the quad shadows.  The last ones I got from Lancome did not have good colour payoff but these are much better and are very wearable.  

Love the 3x!!  This will be what I use for travel, love this moisturizer.  I haven't played with the Eclat illuminator enough to give you an honest opinion yet but it seems promising.  I'll keep you posted. 

Honestly, for the bag & 3X alone I would have been happy.  I've found a new daily moisturizer that I love, got a cute makeup bag, a travel size of my beloved 3x and proved that...woman...wrong at the drugstore.  Even if she doesn't know it.  

Please tell me I'm not the only one to make a spiteful purchase.  Oh and for you Canadian girls, they have another promo running right now...I'm only one snarky comment away from getting this one too.

Lancome product updates & drugstore dupes - Part 2!

Part two of my Lancome updates, let's start with my last drugstore dupe!


Lancome Eyeshadow Quad

About the product: Mini size smokey quad, white & light silver frost, mid grey frosted shadow and black sparkle shadow; shadows are not in regular line & not available for purchase 

Results: Very poor colour payoff, all feel slightly chalky except for the black shadow, not easily blended, need an eye primer for shadow to last & show up on the eye

Cost: $54 CDN for regular size Ombre Absolue quad, which is their version of a smokey    palette

Compare to this drugstore alternative.... 

NYX Smokey Eye palette 

About the product: 10 shadows ranging from creamy beige to black, mix of shimmer & matte

Results: Good colour payoff for these shadows, creamy to the touch, fairly easy to blend, don't have the colour payoff or last as long as the single NYX shadows but are still very good, primer still recommended

Cost: $15 CDN

My Pick: NYX by a mile! But to be fair I haven't tried any of the Lancome shadows recently, other than this quad.  However I would expect Lancome to put out a quad that reflects what shadows they have to offer in their regular line.  NYX has better payoff, shadows are creamy & less chalky, and they are way more affordable.  

Okay so on to a few other reviews.  I bought the Effacernes waterproof under eye concealer pictured here.  

This concealer retails for $32CDN for a 15ml tube.  You only need the smallest bit of this product so this tube really will last you a very long time.  I really like the applicator because it lets you squeeze out just a little at a time, which means you'll waste less product.

I primarily use this for any spots I might want to conceal or to cover redness around my nose.  For that purpose it works amazingly well.  I find it doesn't crease around my nose, like a lot of concealers do.  It also has great staying power, with or without powder to set it.  Very impressive.  This blends in well, with my fingers or a brush and leaves a 'soft, matte finish' just as Lancome says it will.  

I do find it is a bit too heavy for under my eyes and I still prefer my Maybelline dream mousse concealer, for that purpose.  It creased a little more under my eyes than the Maybelline does, primarily because I think it's just a thicker formula and I may not be using a light enough touch.  

Being waterproof, this will be a great concealer for the summer months.  You could use this to cover any imperfections, top with a light powder and you'd be set.  Overall, I am impressed and would definitely consider re-purchasing it.

Finally the products I loved with a capital love, the High Resolution Refill-3X anti wrinkle cream with SPF 15 and the Genifique Youth Activating concentrate. The cream is $92CDN for 50ml and the serum is $95CDN for 30ml.  Yikes.

Why did I have to love you? You aren't affordable and I am not a believer that you have to spend a lot of money to get good results.  But these are pretty fabulous products.  The Genifique is said to give you a lit from within look and improve your skin's tone & texture in just 7 days.  I would say that it definitely appears like my skin tone has evened out and it does feel very soft & hydrated after I use this.  I apply this before the moisturizer, which helps in that I don't need as much of the cream.  I know there are a bazillion reviews on this so I'll just keep it brief and say, it's lovely, it seems to make a difference in my skin & the raves on this seem to be true.  If you can afford it I would try it.  

The high resolution cream is said to smooth wrinkles, make your skin appear more luminous and feel firmer. The cream has a lovely soft scent, that I happen to love.  It just smells like expensive lotion to me.  It has a a light texture that absorbs easily on my skin, and it really does seem to leave my face looking brighter. I'm not sure about the firmer part however and can't really say there is a difference there.  My sensitive skin has loved these two products & I've had no adverse reactions to either of them.  

So those were my thoughts and reviews, if you want any more information about these products please let me know.  I have read that Youth Code line by L'oreal is very similar to Lancome's Genifique products.  If any of you have tried both I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.