Fall Season Berry Lips: Lancome's Rose Accent

L'Absolu Nu lipsticks are a huge obsesh for me right now!  I can't stop gushing over this formula.  Being a nude or pale lip kinda girl, this is the only line that makes me want to crossover to the dark side.  This is such a nice berry shade.  This formula makes dark shades so easy to wear since they are transparent but the color is saturated ... as if looking through colored glass.  So glossy and moisturizing... even though pricey, you can skip the lip gloss because it's like a two in one.  So easy to apply you can even skip the mirror as well.  Once again, the case is so adorbs and functional.  Classic black and that magnetic closure... I get some weird satisfaction hearing that click each and every time.

It appears so scary dark in the tube, but on application - it's sooooo pretty and sheer with that perfect pop of color.  Because it's sheer, it works with your natural lip color.  So this will look slightly different on everyone as well.  Again, spendy at $30 plus tax.  And you know what?  I would sacrifice lunch and dinner to keep this one in my Caboodles:)  

Xo

Wine Captured in a Parfum!

Tresor Midnight Rose

Fellow Francophiles unite!  I am allured and repulsed by French parfums.  The allure always in the quest of finding just the right one; the repulsion in the fear of trying one on that is migraine triggering and nausea inducing... and just will not scrub off even after the 2nd shower.  And if you have been anything like me, forcing the iconic No.5 in all her aldehyde glory to work and failing... is very heart breaking.  I just could never get it right.  Coco Madamoiselle was an epic fail as well.  I even gave No.5 Eau Premiere a go.  The only one that has ever worked out was  Chance Eau Tendre.  And that was merely to replace Lancome's Miracle So Magic!  Which was sadly discontinued of which I believe I bought two bottles of and used every single last drop.  However, I was told it is available in the UK?  Anyways, wouldn't you know it... another favorite French frag that is obsesh worthy would be from Lancome... but of course! 

Ahhhhhh Oui.  It took awhile.  A very long while.  It's fun working part time in cosmetics because you get to try everything from the line, and others as well;)  I don't know what is happening to me.   I don't know when I became so brand loyal.  But I'm becoming one of those... sigh.  Don't get me wrong, I won't get rid of my WnW lipsticks and eyeshadows!  Those are sitting right beside all my newly anointed Lancome products in my pink Caboodles, trust me.  However, the packaging of Lancome products is super gorg and elegant. My favorite flower of all time, the rose, is their symbol.  It was fate.  But the quality lives up to the hype (and price!) and more.  Sure, I'm not won over by every single product, but when I am... I want to try and buy...too much more.  So today is all about Tresor Midnight Rose!

What can I say about this modern French Frag?  It's different.  I tried to resist liking it.  I didn't even buy it right away... like I usually do (the whole budgeting for a rainy day and the wedding shindig is getting annoying!)  I think I waited a few weeks.  The original Tresor is nice.  But I'm not in love with it.  I then tried Tresor Lumineuse.  I liked it as well.  The gourmand version was fresh and smelled like candy!  But again, it didn't capture my heart.  I thought Tresor in Love was the one.  But when I wore it, so pretty but for some reason it didn't last very long on my skin - like barely half hour and I would need another spritz.  My skin eats through frags like mad.  It was the very last Tresor flanker I tried - Midnight Rose - that stole my heart and just worked with my chemistry so well.  I tried it last because I felt too "grown up" for anything with berries in it.  I was happily so wrong!  

The more I tried MR,  the more I felt like I needed to buy a full bottle.   The top notes are all blackcurrant and berries.  So I was surprised and confused.  I even thought this smelled like something I could buy at Bath and Body Works.  I quickly dismissed it and went about my duties of hocking mascara for the next half hour.  Then the fragrance moved to the middle notes and the rose began to peep through ever so gently.  Finally, the base notes of musk and cedar warm out this unique fragrance that makes me love it more with each spritz.  There is jasmine and vanilla in there somewhere, but my skin doesn't pull those notes out very well.  I'm glad my skin doesn't pull the jasmine... for some reason that gets way cloying with my chemistry (thinking along the lines of Modern Muse - jasmine overkill).  All I know is whatever the concoction, it blends so beautifully.  I thought this was going to be a linear fragrance... but as it moves through all the notes, it's quite complex.  All I know is that this always puts a spring in my step and is an instant mood lifter.  It is a day/night/all season type of fragrance to me.    

So when the gift sets came out for holiday (can you believe they are already available?  It's not even October yet!), I grabbed one the first day.  It comes with a full size Hypnose Drama and a 1.7 oz bottle of Midnight Rose - all for $62 retail.  I wish it came with a body lotion and the purse size roller, but I will take what I can get!  Of course I immediately wore it and I was doing some foundation matching and the client exclaimed, "What is that smell?!  It smells so good!"  Sure enough, it was Midnight Rose casting her spell...

What I still don't understand is why it's called Midnight Rose.  Nothing dark or mysterious or that it should be used after hours exclusively.  Maybe Coquette would be more appropriate since it's such a flirty and carefree but unique fragrance.  The berries keep it charming and fresh.  The subtle rose lends that elegant touch.  The musk and other bottom notes keep it snuggly.  Don't immediately get turned off my the fruity top notes like I did if you spray it on a tester strip!  It will smell differently on paper than on your skin.  Let it settle.  See how it works with your chemistry.  For me, as it settled, it smelled softly of sweet roses and berries but still woodsy.  I adore it!  I've seen girls in their twenties to women in their 60s purchase this EDP.  Lancome made a fragrance to capture that sweetness and charm - for any age.  It's like my favorite wine... red or white...I'll take whatever... but captured in parfum.  With each spritz, it becomes more addicting.  Like no other...O-M-G.

Xo

Perfect Red Lipstick: Lancôme Red Chiffon

Omg!!!! The red lipstick for girls who are afraid of red lipsticks!  I had a $20 Nordy's note to use at my pleasure.  Sure, I'm a Lancôme Girl through and through.  I'm not gonna lie, I love being on payroll with such a fab French company.  But on my down time, on my off days... I can wear whatever makeup I choose. And I did get lured by that black and gold case with the interlocking CC's... I wanted a Chanel Coco Rouge Shine in Boheme so, so, so badly.  

But you know what?  I ended up choosing Lancôme over Chanel!  Not because I was getting paid... but because I like the formula so much more!  It isn't as sheer and the color is just that perfect fresh red!  Like a ripe strawberry!  And when I put it on the moisture is like a burst.  It's lightweight and sheer but bright.  It's not long lasting (moisturizing formulas never are unfortunately) but it seems to fade evenly.  This makes re-application a lot easier.  It's so hard to describe but I definitely want a backup and another few in different shades!  I know it's going to get discontinued, sadly.  I hope they reconsider this decision.  It's the only red lipstick I have ever been able to apply without a mirror!  Even B likes it and he hates red lipstick.    And the case is so cute with the roses.  I like how there is a magnetic click to it as well.  Retail will run you 30 dollars.  Expensive?  Hell to the yeah.  I'm telling you it's totally worth the splurge!!!!

Love for Lancôme!

Okay MIA for too long.  Decided it was time to get a part-time gig while working my way through school.  And with the wedding coming up, well, this will ease some of the burden.  Yes lovelies, I landed myself at a Lancôme on the weekends:)  Being a long-time lover of beauty products, this is a super fun and ideal position.  These are my brand new tools of my trade!  I must admit, putting makeup on myself is far different than putting it on clients.  Oh but the joy I feel when I see that my client has been transformed within minutes and how they walk out so much more confident and happy makes my job so worth it.  

I had another big transformation last weekend.  A client came to process an exchange on a fragrance.  She wanted the exact same one though... just something happened to the nozzle (La Vie Est Belle).  We ended up in a chit chat a bit, and her chief complaint was dry skin and discoloration.      So I asked her if she would like to take a seat and I would give her a mini facial.  After the cleanse and tone, I applied serum and moisturizer to address the dryness.  From there, I color matched her skin to a foundation color and formula... Voila!  She was glowing!  I couldn't even believe the change; and seeing her smile for the first time was such an awesome feeling.  How can you not get hooked after seeing these results over and over again?  And I've only been with Lancôme for two months!

I know, I've kinda been avoiding writing because my blog is all about living life frugalista style.  How are you suppose to be a frugalista blogger when you've become a Lancôme Junkie?!?!  True, I can get crazy discounts on these glorious products.  Yes, we do receive gratis (already two full size bottles of Genifique and Visionnaire mailed directly to my home!)  So how am I suppose to help all the ordinary girls like myself, always on a budget, that yes, that 30 dollar lipstick is worth every penny?

And my answer is this - Lancôme runs specials all the time!  Like today, you can get 15% off on anything purchased on the Lancôme website!  They always have free gifts with purchase at one of the major department stores so that's the time to buy because you can try something out and then get a bunch of free goodies!  I'm new to these products too, so I too have taken advantage of the free gifts to start building my collection.  I actually did use Lancome back in my teen years.  My Mom loved taking me to pick something out at Lancome - my first high-end mascara was actually Immencils (discontinued now ... but Hypnose Doll Lashes seems to be a good replacement!) and my first powder from the department store was actually the Dual Finish.  The pricing was too spendy for me as a high school-er, and I did feel guilty each time my Mom bought something from me from there.  I switched to Clinique since it was more affordable.  Now I have a bunch of drugstore finds as well that are mixed in (adore those WnW Megalast lipsticks and eyeshadows!)  However, I never really used Lancome for skincare.  So I really thought it was just the same as drugstore stuff - but a lot more spendy.  I was wrong.  Now I'm hooked on all the toners, serums, and moisturizers!

 And wow, my skin has never felt so soft!  I'm obsessed with the Bienfait moisturizers, Genifique, and Tonique Confort!  Now I look so forward to my day and night time beauty routine.  I always feel pampered when I use my Lancôme products.   They just feel so different on the skin - during application and afterwards.  I love all the elegant packaging too.  When I tell B how much my serums and moisturizers costs - like most SO... he freaks out.  I do mention my discount and my gratis... he still says it's a lot.  I then say, "Hmmmmm...maybe I should try some Botox for my next birthday to help with my wrinkles!"  He gets quiet... as if contemplating.  Then says, "Why again?!  So you can be puffy face like the actresses?  That's so scary.  You don't need it and what wrinkles??!!"  I then say, "Maybe I should just stick to my Lancome products for now... it's a good investment, don't you think?  And I don't have to get injected with botulinum toxin ... just yet."  As I sit on the computer Google-ing the image section of Botox Gone Wrong.  He agrees, "Yes, it's okay just keep using Lancome.  It is good and you don't have wrinkles!"  And with that, a bit of convincing.  A bit of perspective.  And when I told him that the next bottle of Genifique (2.5 oz) will retail at $134 - but will last probably 10 months... "Oh, that's not bad."  Oh Google Images... you make my cause so much easier...;) 

So yes, I am now a Lancôme Girl!  The transformation has been slow but definite.  After trying all the products, I'm addicted.  And who doesn't want to feel effortless French chic afterall?  And yes, this can really be affordable luxury for all of us... just make sure to look for the Gift with Purchase and sign up for the Lancôme newsletter!  

Xo