Tag: Beauty Products

L’Oreal is no stranger to creating fantastic mascaras, and their 2-step Voluminous Superstar XFiber Primer + Fiber Mascara perfectly confirms this.

As the name implies, you get two separate products packaged in a dual-sided tube. Step 1 is the primer, a sheer black tint that builds a foundation for Step 2, the curved-brush mascara.

The primer separates and lengthens lashes so well, you might be tempted to stop there if dramatic lashes aren’t your thing. But adding the mascara ratchets results from good to beyond great—the second step merges with the first to create a very close approximation to false eyelashes or lash extensions!

Lashes are lifted, super long, and voluminous without looking clumpy or spidery. It’s a very clean appearance but remarkably impactful, and the combined formulas wear without a hitch.

Whereas false eyelashes and lash extensions can be difficult and time-consuming to remove (assuming you’re trying to be gentle and not damage your real lashes), Voluminous Superstar XFiber Primer + Fiber Mascara washes off completely with a water-soluble cleanser, no pulling, peeling, or rubbing needed.

If you opt to use step 2 alone, you’ll find that the mascara portion isn’t too impressive. It’s OK, but too mild-mannered to deliver superstar lashes. You have to begin with step 1 to get wow-factor results, and the extra step is totally worth it.

What about the fibers? We didn’t detect them, although Step 2 contains rayon, a fiber typically used to make clothing that’s fine for lashes. That’s a good thing because with such fibers you want to see their effect without seeing the fibers themselves, either on your lashes or as fallout on skin around the eyes. The bottom line is that whether the fibers are evident or not, they don’t flake and likely enhance this mascara’s performance.

Pros:

• Tinted primer + mascara produces beautifully defined, dramatic lashes.
• Ideal for those who want impressive length and thickness.
• Comes close to creating a false lash/lash extension look.
• Wears without a hitch.
• Removes with a regular cleanser.
• Fragrance free.

Cons:

• The mascara side alone isn’t too impressive.

Jar Packaging: No

Tested on animals: Yes

Content courtesy Beautypedia & Nairobi fashion hub

L’Oreal Age Perfect Hydra-Nutrition Honey Eye Gel has some appealing qualities for eye-area skin, but a big misstep makes this a product we can’t recommend.

This lightweight gel comes in a plastic bottle with a wand dispenser. At the end of the wand are three metal beads that feel cooling and can be used to massage skin under the eyes, which can decrease puffiness caused by fluid retention (not age-related undereye bags that occur when fat pads beneath the skin shift out of place, though).

The fragrance-free gel absorbs quickly and works well worn by itself and under makeup, in either case making eye-area skin feel refreshed and lightly moisturized.

There are some excellent ingredients here, among them non-fragrant plant oils including olive, jojoba, and coconut oils, plus skin-plumping sodium hyaluronate and a couple of skin-replenishing peptides.

But ahead of all of these in the ingredient list is the bad kind of alcohol: denatured alcohol. When used daily, this drying type of alcohol can do a lot of damage to skin, particularly to the delicate and thinner skin in the eye area (see More Info for details).

While there’s much to like about this, subjecting your eye-area skin to this much alcohol means this is a hard pass. There are far better eye creams and treatments that are gentler on skin to be found. If L’Oreal reformulated this without alcohol, it would’ve easily earned a much higher rating.

Note: while L’Oreal claims that the type of honey in this product, manuka honey, is extra “nourishing,” it is no more or less special for skin than any other type of honey.

Pros:

• Metal beads on wand feel cooling and can reduce some kinds of puffiness.
• Lightweight gel leaves skin feeling refreshed and moisturized.
• Includes non-fragrant plant oils, sodium hyaluronate, and peptides.
• Fragrance free.

Cons:

• Contains a high amount of drying denatured alcohol.

Jar Packaging: No

Tested on animals: Yes

Read More info about Alcohol-Based Skincare Products

Content courtesy of Beautypedia & Nairobi fashion hub 

L’Oreal’s Age Perfect Hydra-Nutrition All-Over Honey Balm is a soothing way to tackle dry skin, and although it’s pretty good, it’s not without faults.

First and foremost, this comes in an opaque plastic squeeze tube, so its beneficial ingredients are protected from light and air that can cause them to lose their effectiveness. The rich, cream-gel texture is moisturizing yet not overly thick and absorbs quickly without leaving a sticky residue.

There are plenty of hydrating and moisturizing ingredients included, among them shea butter, apricot, sunflower, passionfruit, and rice bran oils, and the honey ingredients that play heavily into this product’s advertising (honey, beeswax, and royal jelly). All will help dry skin appear plumped and smooth, and have antioxidant benefit, too. You might say honey is the bee’s knees!

This also has a relatively strong honey scent, but it doesn’t come from those ingredients. Instead, it’s because of the inclusion of fragrance + fragrance ingredients, among them geraniol and citronellol. The scent isn’t overpowering, but it does linger a bit, and fragrance of any kind puts skin at risk of irritation (see More Info for details).

Overall, this is a good moisturizing option, but if it was fragrance-free, it would’ve earned a spot on our best moisturizers list.

Note: while L’Oreal claims that the type of honey in this product, manuka honey, is extra “nourishing,” it is no more or less special for skin than any other type of honey.

Pros:

• Gel-cream texture is moisturizing without being overly thick.
• Absorbs quickly without a sticky residue.
• Includes numerous hydrating and moisturizing ingredients.
• Many ingredients have antioxidant benefits as well.

Cons:

• Contains fragrance and fragrance ingredients that pose a risk of skin irritation.

Jar Packaging: No

Tested on animals: Yes

Read more info about Why Fragrance Is a Problem for Skin

Content courtesy of Beautypedia & Nairobi fashion hub 

L’Oreal’s Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick is yet another entry into the brand’s growing lineup of liquid lip options. Sadly, it isn’t among its best!

The packaging is a sleek, slightly bullet-shaped clear tube with black accents that has a standard sponge-tipped wand applicator inside,the fluid lipstick inside is lightweight and just a couple of swipes provides fully saturated bold color impact. It applies evenly, sets to a soft matte finish, and comes in a wide variety of colors.

This liquid lipstick holds up well for about four hours without fading, although we found that it begins to bleed towards the end of its wear time.

Now for the problematic part: the formula contains a high amount of drying denatured alcohol, which over time does damage to skin, particularly the delicate skin of the lips (see More Info for details). This also has a strong fragrance, and fragrance can cause skin irritation. We do wish L’Oreal would ease up on the fragrance in their makeup, as it’s not doing your skin any favors.

While this has some pleasing aesthetics, the potential problems it causes just aren’t worth it. There are far better options to be found on our list of best lipsticks.

Pros:

• Provides lightweight yet fully saturated color to lips.
• Comes in a good variety of colors.
• Doesn’t fade.

Cons:

• Bleeds towards the end of its wear time.
• Contains a high amount of skin-drying denatured alcohol.
• Includes fragrance, which can irritate lips.

Jar Packaging: No

Tested on animals: Yes
Read More Info Alcohol-Based Products

Content courtesy of Beautypedia & Nairobi fashion hub

L’Oreal’s Infallible 24HR Fresh Wear Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 25 is lightweight as claimed, but the ingredient that helps it achieve that texture won’t do your skin any favors.

This fragranced, fluid foundation comes in a glass bottle with a pump dispenser and is easy to spread, but because it dries very fast, you must blend quickly.

It provides medium coverage of imperfections and sets to a natural-looking soft matte finish that’s best for those with normal to combination skin. When it comes to shades, L’Oreal offers a good range of options for those with fair to deep skin tones.

It wears well for the most part, with no fading at all, though it does crease slightly towards the end of its wear time, which can be buffed out. It provides SPF 25, but unfortunately that’s below the global standard of SPF 30 for optimal sun safety.

Even if you’re not eyeing this for sun protection, your skin will have to deal with the high amount of drying denatured alcohol this contains. There’s a strong alcohol smell when you first open the bottle, and that’s a big part of why this formula dries so quickly. While the alcohol contributes to this formula’s lightweight texture, over time it can create a lot of problems for skin. See More Info for details.

While this is waterproof and sweatproof as mentioned thanks to advertised oil-absorbing ingredients (including two forms of silica), one of those “oil absorbers” is the aforementioned alcohol, which can lead to increased oiliness.

All of this adds up to a disappointment, since L’Oreal has some great foundations (which can be found on our list of best foundations), but unfortunately this is not among them!

Pros:

• Lightweight texture is easy to spread.
• Provides natural-looking medium coverage.
• Comes in a good range of shades for fair to deep skin tones.
• Wears well without fading and minimal creasing.

Cons:

• Contains a high amount of skin-drying denatured alcohol.
• SPF 25 is below global standards for optimal sun protection.
• Contains fragrance and fragrance ingredients, which can trigger skin irritation.

Jar Packaging: No

Tested on animals: Yes

Read more Info about Alcohol-Based Products

Content courtesy of Beautypedia & Nairobi fashion hub 

L’Oreal’s Age Perfect Hydra-Nutrition Ultra-Nourishing Moisturizer is a slightly revised version of its Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Golden Balm, but this reformulation doesn’t merit an upgrade, so it keeps its average rating.

The only change between this version and its prior incarnation is the addition of a couple of honey ingredients, which help skin retain moisture.  There’s also non-fragrant plant oils including rosehip and apricot, and when paired with hydrating ingredients, it can stimulate healthy collagen production that will make skin (including its barrier) stronger. Unfortunately, this also contains problematic ingredients that work against this goal.

Marjoram, orange peel, and the numerous fragrance ingredients in this moisturizer cause irritation that hurts skin’s ability to heal and produce healthy collagen. Although marjoram is a natural source of the skin-lightening ingredient arbutin, it also contains volatile components that are known to cause inflammation. Check out More Info for further details on why irritation is so bad for your skin.

Sadly, the most intriguing ingredients in this moisturizer will not remain stable for long because of the jar packaging. Please see More Info for details on why jar packaging is an issue as well.

Note: while L’Oreal claims that the type of honey in this product, manuka honey, is extra “nourishing,” it is no more or less special for skin than any other type of honey.

Pros:

• Honey ingredients help skin retain moisture.
• Contains ingredients that can stimulate healthy collagen production.

Cons:

• Contains fragrance ingredients that can irritate skin.
• Packaged in a jar, which isn’t the best for its sensitive ingredients.

Jar Packaging: Yes

Tested on animals: Yes

Read  more info about Irritating Ingredients

Content courtesy of Beautypedia & Nairobi fashion hub 

L’Oreal’s Full Wear Concealer Waterproof, Full Coverage has some performance issues and iffy ingredient choices that prevent this concentrated concealer from ranking among the best.

This creamy concealer comes in a plastic tube whose cap-based wand applicator has a larger-than-normal sponge-tip, similar to Tarte’s Shape Tape Contour Concealer. When L’Oreal says this is full coverage, the brand means it; anything more than a dot or two of this and you’ll probably wind up getting more coverage than you anticipated!

At first, this is easy to apply and blend, but do so quickly, as this dries fast and then it won’t budge. The strong matte finish is best for those with normal, combination, or oily skin, as it will emphasize dryness if your skin is on the drier side. As for using this around the eyes, it works but prepping skin in this area with an eye cream or moisturizer helps.

This perfectly covers dark circles, blemishes, and imperfections, and can also serve as a highlighter and contour product as claimed, too. Side note: most concealers can do double or triple duty, and have been doing this for years and years, though recently it’s popped up much more in marketing claims, including those for this product. Due to the amount of coverage you get, we don’t encourage trying this as highlighter or contour unless you’re highly skilled.

We found that this was waterproof as claimed, and barely budged at all during a full day at work. There was no fading, and just the bare minimum of creasing towards the end of its wear time. Not too shabby!

What we don’t like, though, is the inclusion of fragrance and the fragrance ingredient citronellol in the formula. While they’re not high on the ingredient list, the smell is instantly noticeable and lingers, and fragrance puts skin at risk for irritation (to say nothing of putting a fragranced product so near the sensitive eye area).

While this has some standout qualities, there are enough dings against it to keep it from ranking among our best concealers, which include others from L’Oreal and sister brands Maybelline and NYX.

Pros:

• Full coverage of dark circles, blemishes, and imperfections.
• Lasts all day while barely budging or fading.
• Comes in a good range of natural-looking shades for fair to deep skin tones.

Cons:

• Formula dries quickly and is difficult to blend once it sets.
• Contains fragrance and a fragrance ingredient which can irritate skin (and eyes).

Jar Packaging: No

Tested on animals: Yes

Content courtesy of Beautypedia & Nairobi fashion hub 

If you have normal to dry skin and wear foundation, you must check out L’Oreal’s Infallible Glow-Lock Illuminating Primer. It’s an inexpensive, fragrance-free gem that works exactly as claimed!

Dispensed from an opaque squeeze tube, this sheer, soft peach-tinged primer smooths and moisturizes skin on contact. The subtle, skin-warming glow instantly enlivens dull skin without adding sparkles or glitter (which can be overkill when applied all over the face).

We want to emphasize that this primer is best for normal to dry skin; if you have oily or combination skin, this will feel too emollient and the finish will make your oily areas look ultra-shiny.

Bonus points go to this primer for also containing a good mix of antioxidants, including those naturally found in shea butter.

Does the glow last all day? Well, yes but that benefit applies to most glow-enhancing products; however, this primer can double as a moisturizer (something most primers don’t do well) as long as one of the other products in your skincare or makeup routine provides adequate sun protection.

Pros:

• Smooths and moisturizes skin.
• Instantly enlivens dull skin.
• Works well under makeup if you have dry skin.
• Overall good mix of antioxidants, which is unusual for a primer.
• Fragrance free.

Cons:

• None.

Jar Packaging: No

Tested on animals: Yes

Content courtesy of Beautypedia & Nairobi fashion hub

We’ve seen a lot of mascaras come across our desks at Beautypedia, including plenty from L’Oreal, but Unlimited Mascara Washable stands out among them for its ability to live up to every single one of its claims. This fragrance-free mascara just might make you forget about your current favorite-it’s that good!

The most noticeable aspect of this mascara is its packaging: instead of a slim tube, it’s wider at the bottom, with a hinge at the point where you twist the wand out. You can either twist the wand out straight or bend it at a 90-degree angle and then pull it out of the tube. You can bend the wand after it’s out of the tube, though that requires touching the brush and potentially getting mascara on your hands (not to mention contaminating the product inside).

This clever packaging allows for versatile application: you can apply in a straightforward style as usual or use the shortened handle length (when it’s bent) of the brush itself to get to the corners of the eyes. We found it remarkably effective, and were able to coat every lash, even the tiny ones near the tear ducts.

But what really shines here is the marriage of formula, wiper, and brush. It adds significant length and volume to lashes, and a lot of curl, to the point where it looks like you’ve used an eyelash curler. The effect is almost that of wearing a pair of false eyelashes. Lots of mascaras make that claim, but this one actually delivers!

Unlimited Mascara didn’t clump, even after multiple coats, didn’t flake or smudge, and was easy to remove with just cleanser and water. Are you noticing the steps being saved here? You can potentially ditch your lash curler and separate makeup remover.

L’Oreal claims this can last up to 24 hours, and while it did perform remarkably for a full work day, we don’t recommend wearing any makeup that long, as it’s not good for your skin, and, in this case, your eyes.

That aside, this is an exemplary mascara, and one we wholeheartedly recommend.

Pros:

• Bendable brush allows for precision application to every lash.
• Mascara adds significant length, volume, and curl to lashes.
• Doesn’t clump, flake, or smudge.
• Easy to remove.
• Fragrance free.

Cons:

• None.

Tested on animals: Yes

Content courtesy of Beautypedia & Nairobi fashion hub

L’Oreal’s Unlimited Mascara Waterproof is a great mascara that performs as claimed… though it’s not quite as impressive as its washable counterpart.

The first thing you’ll notice about this fragrance-free mascara is its packaging: instead of a slim tube, it’s wider at the bottom, with a hinge at the point where you twist the wand out. You can either twist the wand out straight or bend it at a 90-degree angle and then pull it out of the tube. You can also bend the wand after it’s out of the tube, though that requires touching the brush and potentially getting mascara on your hands.

What this does is allow for straightforward application, or a shortened handle length (when it’s bent) that allows for the brush to reach the corners of the eyes. We found it remarkably effective and were able to coat even the tiniest lash.

The formula here works well to add length, volume, and curl to lashes, resulting in an attractive, slightly-more-enhanced-than-natural look. It doesn’t clump, flake, or smudge, and is waterproof as claimed. You will need a longwearing makeup remover to ensure removal of every trace of it at the end of the day.

All told, it’s a great mascara with great packaging, though we must admit that it doesn’t have quite the blockbuster, false lashes effect as its washable sister. That’s not a bad thing, just something to keep in mind in case you were expecting the same results from both products.

*Note: While this product contains a moderate amount of denatured alcohol, it’s not an issue since lashes are dead and therefore not susceptible to damage, and it doesn’t cause any lash stiffness or dryness.

Pros:

• Bendable brush allows for precision application to every lash.
• Mascara adds moderate length, volume, and curl to lashes.
• Doesn’t clump, flake, or smudge.
• Waterproof as claimed.
• Fragrance free.

Cons:

• Not as impressive as its washable counterpart.

Jar Packaging: No

Tested on animals: Yes

Content courtesy of Beautypedia & Nairobi fashion hub