Battle of the Brands

The essentials needed to master a perfect skincare regimen can be overwhelming. With so many beauty products competing to be the best and only brand, it’s daunting to choose the right one. The battle of the brands: part one breaks down a few brands to see which brand, high end vs. low end, is better.

1. Nars-Schiap ($24)

What the brand says it will do: Nars Lipsticks are enriched with Vitamin E to increase wearability and keep true color intact. Sheer finish creates the most natural, stained-looking lips. Semi-matte produces velvety, full-bodied lips. Finally, satin fashions creamy, moist-looking lips.
Review: The lipstick is enriched with pigment, and I thought it would not be as rich when applying. However, I found it to show the same pigment when I applied it. It is very moisturizing. It does not give a “moist” appearance. It is true to form and gives an almost matte-like  feel. Overtime the lipstick does give a stain.

VS.

L’oreal Caresse- Pink Cashmere 171 ($9.99)

photo by Mikala Young

What the brand says it will do: Colour Caresse by Colour Riche is formulated with our revolutionary Lightfeel System to deliver a feather-light finish without being sticky or or heavy. 100 percent color. 0 percent compromise.
Review: Pink Cashmere is a must try! It is light weight just like the brand raves about. With the price being at an exceptionally low, it is a great product with a high end touch. It left a glossy feel and is true to its pigment. It leaves a light but barely noticeable stain. If you do not want to add more lipstick, adding a balm over the stain will create a new lipgloss look!

Winner:  L’oreal Caresse

2. Philosophy- Kiss Me Exfoliating Lip Scrub ($15)
What the brand says it will do: Everyone craves baby soft, baby smooth, natural looking baby pink lips. enriched with natural butters and oils, kiss me exfoliating lip scrub was created to help keep your lips in impeccable kissing condition by exfoliating dull, dry, flaky skin for a super-soft, super-smooth result. Kiss me exfoliating lip scrub is ideal for anyone with dry, flaky lips that seeks smoothness and moisture.
Review: I applied this scrub quite heavy to ensure a good application. It gave a cooling sensation. After about two minutes I took off the scrub with a warm washcloth. My lips did feel baby soft smooth. There is a lot of product in such a tiny lipstick container.

VS.

Homemade Lip Exfoliator (2 tbsp. olive oil, 2 tbsp. honey and 2 tbsp. brown sugar- $8.00) Prices may vary.
No brand review here its a do it yourself treatment! However, I did whip this up in less than five minutes. Since olive oil and honey are two moisturizing products I knew this would be a hit. There is no fragrance but rather a light natural smell. I left this on for the same two minutes as to compare the results. When I took off the scrub my lips felt like butter! They felt kissable and gave a nice shine to it almost like I added a lip balm after.

Winner: Both scrubs came close to matching each other’s moisturizing effects. However, the homemade exfoliator deserves the win because it left a moisturizing feel. I did not need to apply a lip balm after. It also gives you more for your money providing how much brown sugar, olive oil and honey you buy.

3. Bliss- Foot Patrol- Exfoliating and softening cream ($18)

What the brand says it will do: This triple-tasking peppermint-packed foot treatment smoothes, softens and refreshes even the roughest, toughest feet. Not only is this a great hydrator and exfoliator, it is also formulated with peppermint oil to leave feet smelling fresh and clean.
Review: Seeing as how fall is in full swing, it wasn’t a bad idea to try out a couple foot scrubs. I applied this product quite liberally. The tingling sensation is extremely calming. If you’re ticklish in anyway this product might feel close to hands touching your feet. Once I washed off the application, it left my feet feeling squeaky clean. I liked that it also had a moisturizing agent, leaving my feet feeling extremely soft. The only downfall, is how much you get, it’s not enough!

VS.

Sally Hansen Foot Care Revitalizing Foot Soak ($7.49 – target online)

photo by Mikala Young

What the brand says it will do:Pamper yourself after a long day on your feet with a foot soak from Sally Hansen. Formulated to clean, soften and revitalize feet, this soak is the perfect start to a home pedicure.

Review: The scented lavender product was a warm touch. The product did not have a tingling effect. Considering lavender is a scent that typically makes you want to go to sleep, I do not know how revitalizing the product was. It didn’t wake my feet up, but it did leave them feeling clean and soft.

Winner: although Bliss is high-end, it is worth every penny.

MAC Zoom Lash Mascara, $16.00

photo by Elizabeth Weihsmann

What it claims: “Saturates lashes with the richest black ever. Creamy, velvety formula builds density and conditions. Feels supple, light, and flexible. Ultra-sculpted brush embraces and separates each lash, hugging every curve.”

Review: The brush was firm and applied the deep black pigment evenly over my eyelashes. I had to apply more coats than I thought I would to get the desired look. The black was bold and is truly light on your lashes.

VS.

 L’oreal Telescopic Mascara, $9.99

photo by Elizabeth Weihsmann

What it claims: “The patented precision brush visibly lengthens lashes up to 60% and exclusive carbon black pigments provide two times the intensity! This mascara is for lashes with dramatic-looking length and intensity.”

Review: I was quite hesitant about this mascara upon eyeing the brush, but I’m glad I tried it. This is absolutely my new staple mascara. The very thin brush is stiff and distributes the black color all over my lashes. I was very impressed with how easily it came off too when I removed it. It left my lashes looking longer than ever and feeling very light.

Winner: L’oreal Telescopic Mascara

Benefit Erase Paste, $26.00

photo by Elizabeth Weihsmann

What it claims: “This concentrated, creamy concealer brightens and camouflages in one easy step! Targets dark circles, discoloration and imperfections. Three shades with brightening melon undertones to suit every complexion.”

Review: This product is accurately called a “paste.” The concealer is very thick, although it is also very creamy. I was very impressed with how well it covered my skin. If you’re looking for full coverage, this is definitely the product for you. It went on smooth but because of the thick texture, I had to do a lot of blending.

VS.

 Revlon Photo Ready Concealer Stick, $9.99

photo by Elizabeth Weihsmann

What it claims: “This Photo Ready concealer by Revlon gets you ready for you close up. It has been tested under the roughest lighting conditions to give you the undetectable coverage you need. Pigments that are photochromatic bend, diffuse, and reflect light.”

Review: The product comes in a stick that resembles a lipstick container, which I really liked. The concealer quickly started to settle in creases and lines. It also had a bit of a chalky texture to it and felt a bit dry. The coverage was good and it did blend into my skin with ease.

Winner: Benefit Erase Paste

MAC Studio Fix, $27.00

photo by Elizabeth Weihsmann

What it claims: “A modern foundation that combines a natural matte finish and medium-buildable coverage with broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 15. Comfortable and longwearing: lasts for up to eight hours. Applies smoothly, builds coverage quickly and easily. Contains specially treated micronized pigments and soft-focus powders for a super-smooth look that helps minimize the appearance of imperfections. Absorbs and disperses oil. Contains special skin-conditioning ingredients. Oil free.”

Review: The claim of this product is almost exactly spot on. The liquid foundation went on my skin so smooth and depending on the coverage you are looking for, you can easily build it to your liking. This foundation is definitely a full-coverage product and lasted all day. I did feel that it left my skin a bit shinier than usual, but with the help of some powder, that problem was quickly resolved.

VS.

Maybelline FIT Me Foundation, $7.59

photo by Elizabeth Weihsmann

What it claims: “It’s makeup that fits you. No oils, no waxes, no nonsense. Natural coverage that leaves skin the way it was meant to be: fresh, breathing, and natural. Exclusive translucent base and lightweight pigments allow skin’s natural highs and lows to show through.”

Review: The creamy liquid foundation did blend into my skin quite well. The coverage is definitely more on the medium side, but it did look pretty natural. The foundation was very light both while applying and after. You can also build up the coverage with this foundation without looking like you’ve painted your face with sidewalk paint. With a price like this, you really get a lot of bang for your buck.

Winner: Maybelline FIT Me Foundation

Category: Lifestyle, Niner Times