Beauty & The Best: Products that receive the "Allure Best of Beauty Award" trial after trial.

While flipping through April's issue of Vogue, I came across a small section titled "Beauty and the Best" - A different kind of beauty recognition. So what it is basically, is a list of beauty items that have consecutively won a "Allure Best of Beauty Award", which is that little red stamp you may see on the label of some beauty products. I'll admit, while browsing through the beauty section at my local drugstore, I have picked up items because of that little red stamp.

The items featured, like I just mentioned continue winning the award after thousands of trials with other beauty products. So I thought I'd share the list with you guys! And maybe you can let me know what you think of the items (if you have tested them) in my comments below!

(The wording of the descriptions are taken directly from the magazine)

Best Shampoo for Fine Hair - Pantene Fine Hair Flat to Volume Shampoo. Used alone or with Pantene Fine Hair Flat to Volume Conditioner, it's volume that lasts up to 24 hours.

Best Single Process Home Color - Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10. Get high-gloss color in just 10 minutes!

Best Defrizzer - Fekkai Glossing Cream. The styling cream that helps eliminate frizz and adds moisture and brilliant shine.  

Best Day Mascara - Covergirl Lashblast Mascara. It's a big brush for big, bold, look-at-me lashes.

Best Facial Moisturizer - Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream. The one shown to better hydrate than 23 luxury creams!

Best Deodorant - Secret Clinical Strength. This is waterproof wetness protection you can depend on to outlast heat, humidity and water.

Best Razor - Venus Embrace. The five-blade razor for women that hgus every curve for a close shave and dramatically smooth skin. 

Best Body Lotion - Olay Ultra Moisture Lotion. It's clinically proven to moisturize better than a  leasing lotion.

Makeupalley ratings for the products mentioned:

Pantene Fine Hair Flat to Volume Shampoo - 2.8/5, 33% re-purchase rate based on 6 reviews.

Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 - 3.3/5, 57% re-purchase rate based on 275 reviews.

Fekkai Glossing Cream - 4.2/5, 77% re-purchase rate based on 917 reviews.

Covergirl Lashblast Mascara - 3.7/5, 67% re-purchase rate based on 3,626 reviews.

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream - 3.6/5, 64% re-purchase rate based on 178 reviews.

Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant - 3.5/5, 52% re-purchase rate based on 317 reviews.

Venus Embrace - 4/5, 73% re-purchase rate based on 111 reviews.

Olay Ultra Moisture Lotion - 4.6/5, re-purchase rate of 90% based on 10 reviews.

I personally have only used three of the products mentioned. Covergirl Lash Blast, Secret Clinical Strength & Fekkai Glossing Cream. I love all three of them, with CG Lash Blast & Secret Clinical Strength being my favorites that I use every day. I'm interested in trying the Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 for my hair the next time I dye my hair. I currently use Clairol Natural Instincts and think it's great, but maybe I'll try something different. I'm also interested in trying Olay's Micro-Sculpting Cream.. as the Regenerist line has been peaking my interest lately. Most of the Regenerist products have really good reviews. (you can view them here)

What do you think about these products?

(Source: "Beauty & The Best." Vogue April 2011: Pages 199-204)

Nars Mekong Eyeshadow Review, Photos and Swatches!

NARS Mekong Eyeshadow

NARS Mekong Eyeshadow ($24) is a deep-dark brown infused with gold shimmer.

Like many of Nars Eyeshadows, Mekong is extremely pigmented. In fact, it's probably the most pigmented eyeshadow I own next to Nars Night Clubbing. In fact, it's a bit like Night Clubbing in that they are both very shimmery in the pan, but apply to the lids almost black with minimal shimmer.

In some ways, it's intimidating to use because it's so pigmented and dark. It works very well for a liner, and will probably be my main use for this shadow.

I don't at all find it difficult to blend using a soft brush and it looks excellent in the crease and applied as a liner. On my lids, its a blackend brown with a slight golden/brown sheen. Applied wet, it is darker (almost black), but the shimmer shows up much more. It makes for a beautiful, rich liner applied wet. 

I find that when using this shadow, I have fallout on my cheeks - so when using this, it's best to tap off excess product before applying it to your lids. You literally barely have to touch the shadow with your brush for great color payoff. 

Also, you can guard your cheek with a piece of paper (I like using a business card) or you can apply your foundation after your eyes. I can see why only 57% say they would repurchase, as I don't think I'll ever finish this eyeshadow. With daily use - I think it would take me a few years to finish.. and by that time, I'd probably find something else I love.

This shadow has a rating of 4/5 on makeupalley, with a 57% re-purchase rate. So, the overall rating is quite good, but only half of the reviewers would repurchase. The major complaints about this shadow is that even though it is richly pigmented, the shadow looks black on the lids rather than the beautifully shimmery brown. The shimmer doesn't transfer too well on the lids, making it look like an almost matte black-brown with very little sheen. Some say it's difficult to blend with poor lasting power. Some say it's perfect in every way. (Read reviews here)

So what do you think of Mekong? Is it a love it? Or leave it??

MAC (LE) Cut-a-Caper Lipstick! Swatches & Lots of Comparisons!

MAC Cut-a-Caper Lipstick

MAC Cut-a-Caper Lipstick is a semi-opaque, medium coral-pink with a lustre finish. It's a limited edition shade that launched in the MAC 2010 Tartan Tale Collection.

The color is quite pigmented and can be built easily with additional coats. It is vibrant, but not nearly as vibrant as it looks in the tube. Because it's not completely opaque, it's a shade that's easy to wear.

Here is MAC Cut a Caper on my lips (my lips are lined with MAC Subculture Lip Pencil)

Here is a comparison of Cut-a-Caper next to MAC Jazzed and Everhip (both limited edition shades). Sadly, I don't own MAC Ravishing, but it's another lipstick that is often compared to these.

Left Photo: MAC Cut a Caper & MAC Jazzed, Right Photo: MAC Cut a Caper and MAC Everhip

Swatches from left to right: MAC Cut a Caper, MAC Everhip and MAC Jazzed.

All three lipsticks are very similar. They share the same vibrancy and depth. Cut-a-Caper has the strongest pink tone of the three. Jazzed has the most orange/coral tone. Everhip is the "in-between". It's stronger in pink than Jazzed, and more orange/coral than Cut-a-Caper.

Other Comparisons: (I forgot to add Illamasqua Obey in the bunch - which definitely belongs in the category)

Swatches from left to right: NYX Round Lipstick in Pumpkin Pie, MAC Cut-a-Caper (LE), MAC Everhip (LE), MAC Jazzed (LE), YSL Rouge Volupte 26 Tender Peach, Wet n Wild Mega Matte 903C Just Peachy, MAC Shygirl. Glosses: Revlon Super Lusturous Nude Lustre, Revlon Super Lusturous Life's a Peach (DC), NYX Smokey Look, OCC Divine & OCC Cha Cha.

NOTD: Zoya Renee!

Two (2) coats of Zoya Renee & One (1) coat of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat

Renee can be best described as: Ultra-bright red-toned medium neon pink creme. Bright and eye-catching, perfect for showing off a deep summer tan. (Source: http://Zoya.com)

In the bottle, Renee looks like a medium toned, magenta pink. Once applied to the nails it is much different. It looks like a vibrant pinked, red. In low lighting, my nails look completely red, but in the sunlight - the pink tone is much more visible.

You could really see in this photo how different the color looks on the nails, than in the bottle.

The formula is okay. It's opaque with two coats, although some may prefer three thin coats because my nail line was slightly visible. The reason I'm not crazy about the formula is because, it's now day 3-4 and most of my nails have cracks in the polish. Also, this polish is very easy to chip. Just about all of my nails on my right hand are chipped. 

So, this isn't a nail polish I'd recommend unless you're crazy about the color and you're very "easy" on your hands.