Review: NEW! Cover Girl Advanced Radiance Restorative Cream Foundation

What They Say: Well, they don't say much...yet. This is so new that Cover Girl doesn't have any information about it online currently, but that doesn't mean I can't tell you a little bit about it. Its big plug is that it contains Olay® ingredients. Also, being from the Advanced Radiance line, it's supposed to minimize lines, even skin tone, and supposedly make your skin look younger in three weeks.

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: This new addition to the line of Cover Girl's Advanced Radiance line makes a good first impression. The cream has a whipped texture and feels wonderful going on. I actually was impressed with the way it glided onto my skin and how the foundation was incredibly smooth but not greasy.

I was even okay with it for a while afterward, too. It didn't seem to fade and did make my skin look moisturized and feel comfortable. But as a couple of hours passed I noticed a slight bit of extra shine on my forehead and nose (the areas where I always notice oiliness first), so this probably isn't for you if you have very oily skin and you should watch how your skin reacts if you're a combo gal and you want to give it a try. When I used a little bit of powder on top to set it on those areas this problem was not nearly as noticeable.

Upon closer examination while wearing, I also would notice that the foundation seemed to settle a bit into fine lines underneath my eyes and in my smile area.

I suppose that the benefits the foundation touts are mostly due to the nourishing effects of the constant moisturization as you wear it. However, the makeup part of the formula just isn't quite perfected. If you've got many lines or wrinkles, I don't think this is for you either, as you'll probably get unwanted emphasis. For those of us who are just getting first age signs, this may work as a very comfortable, moisturizing, luminous formula if you make sure to be sparing as you apply it on trouble areas and perhaps set it with a bit of powder. For a drugstore option, it's not the worst...but it's not the best.

Retail Price: app. $7.00 (at drugstores and superstores)

DeLush Rating:

Fall Trend Watch: Can You Wear This Trend? Black Nail Polish

It's everywhere - all of the magazines, on of a LOT of celebrities. This black nailpolish trend is HOT right now. At least that's what they're telling us. But can everyday women pull it off? Well, I got all the DeLush gals on board to try it out, and here were our thoughts. -Melissa

(Alissa)
Polish Used: Living Nightmare Black Nail Polish

"I made an appointment for a manicure on Saturday morning for a nice treat. She used "Living Nightmare" brand, which I can only assume is a leftover from last Halloween. It actually turned out quite nicely considering the goopiness. After the topcoat was applied, it looked like patent leather or vinyl.

I don't think I will try this again anytime soon. I felt a little self-concious about it, like I should be listening to My Chemical Romance and wearing combat boots. I think it might be kind of sexy with the right outfit, though. Can't wait to see how everyone else liked it!"

(Jamie)
Polish Used: Cover Girl “Boundless Color” in Midnight Magic (#610)

"Knowing this color choice would be dicey for a pale redhead, I chose the warmest shade I could find – it bordered on navy, and had a hint of sparkle.

Disappointingly, the polish was thin and runny. I needed 3 coats (!) just to even out the color. Even if the polish was of a higher quality, this is one fall trend to which I won’t be subscribing."

(Toya)
Polish Used: Rimmel Lasting Finish Lycra Wear in Black Satin

"I have to say that I'm not feeling this black nail polish phenomenon AT ALL! It just doesn't look pretty to me - it looks like you painted your nails with permanent marker. Besides which, black is just not a good color for me - I think it makes my skin, which usually has really warm undertones, look ashen.

If I were to try to be in on this trend, I would go a really, really dark blood red or even a dark brown as a more fitting alternative."

(Jen)
Polish Used: CHANEL Black Satin (color available in department stores)

"I just had to have Black Satin, the hot color from Chanel this Fall, but I wasn't so sure that the black nailcolor trend was going to work for me. I have really long nail beds, and even though I had trimmed them short, I was sure that I would look too goth. And not that the goth look isn't in right now, but as someone who wears a lot of pink, feminine clothes...well, frankly, I thought I would be the subject of amusement at work and among friends. I am happy to say that I found this trend very wearable, from art parties to important business meetings. Not only did I not hear any snickers from afar, I didn't even get any comments about them! I thought the color, which is actually either a deep dark purple or a deep dark brown (I can't decide), looked very chic with my updated fall wardrobe and I never felt uncomfortable with my bold nail color.

Now, the wearability of the trend and the wearability of the color are two very different things. I didn't go to the nail salon to have them do the painting as I had planned, so this may be a lack of skill on my part, but I found that the color went away -- not chipped, exactly, but wore down -- more quickly than with other colors I've used. I also noticed that the color lost its luster more quickly. I have to apply a new layer of topcoat very frequently, every other day to be exact, to keep the polish looking shiny and fresh.

I am definitely more willing to experiment with these dark colors after trying the black, but I may end up going with a chic plum or chocolate on a regular basis if I find it easier to maintain."

(Melissa)
Polish Used: Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear in Black Out

"I've been using this pretty much for the past month and right from the start, I had no trouble getting used to it at all. I've been keeping my nails pretty short the past few years anyway, so that wasn't an issue for me. It really is KEY to keep your nails short for this. I have small hands, and I think that may be another slight advantage to the success of the look.

This particular polish got compliments everywhere I went. I'm not kidding. Every time I checked out of a store at the counter someone would comment on how shiny they were (I did NOT even use topcoat) and our veterinarian (shut up, she's young!) even commented on how she'd tried black polish before but it just didn't look as good as this one did.

It's true that you have to touch it up a little bit every 3 days or so, even with this polish which I have in other colors and wears very well. This shade seems to wear off the tips of the nails much quicker than other colors. As soon as you notice that, just apply another (thin!) coat and you're good as new. The things I noticed that are imperative to make this look work are that the polish needs to be smudge-free (be careful and you can do it, I did mine myself!), shiny, and when you apply it, start JUST above the cuticle. Don't go all the way down to it. This really looks more professional and clean.

For me, this look gets a definite thumbs up. I didn't feel obvious in it at all, and I think it's kind of hot. The re-applying isn't a big deal when you don't have to spend a lot on each bottle."

Hot Off the Press: Cover Girl Kicks Off Their LashExact Mobile Tour and Mail-in Promotion

Did you know that research shows that if more than 50% of all women could choose only one cosmetic product to be allowed to use, it would be mascara?

"LashExact Mascara, with its new breakthrough brush technology, provides a better lash experience than the leading department store mascara, delivering clump-free and beautifully separated lashes.

As part of the LashExact Mobile Tour, a specially-created purple LashExact Mobile Tour Van will visit participating retail partners throughout the country, including CVS, Ulta and Wegmans, encouraging women to turn in their department store mascara in exchange for a free full-sized LashExact Mascara. The tour officially kicks off in Chicago on September 6th and will run through the end of October, when it makes its final stop in Boston (October 25th-29th). Other cities on the tour include: Cincinnati, Atlanta, Orlando, Baltimore/DC, Philadelphia and New York.

If the tour is not stopping close to your hometown, you can take advantage of the Mail-in Promotion by sending your old department store mascara to CoverGirl in exchange for a free LashExact Mascara! Visit www.covergirl.com/freelashexact to find out when the LashExact Mobile Tour will be near YOUR hometown or how to make a mail-in exchange."

Cover Girl Incredifull Lip Color

What They Say: "Full, Kissable Lips That Speak Volumes: Pump Up the Volume with Intense Moisture and Soft, Voluptuous-Looking Lips!

Providing a smooth feel upon application, NEW IncrediFULL lip colour from Cover Girl adds the appearance of volume while improving the contour of your pout with a defined lip line. IncrediFULL lips pump up the volume - - say more and stand out!"

Benefits
• Instantly makes lips look fuller then bare lips
• Enhances definition of the lip line
• Increases lip moisture with Glycerin – a humectant that pulls moisture from the air into lips & locks it in
• Contains Vita-Collagen complex with Vitamin B3, Pro-Vitamin B5, Vitamin E
• Contains lip conditioning agents for a creamy, smooth feel
• Fights signs of aging, helping to smooth rough texture away & creating a fuller, smoother pout vs bare lips
• Provides a cooling, tingling, refreshing feel upon application that lets you know the product is working
• Gives lips 8 hours of moisture
• 24 Volumizing Shades

Jen's Experience: I am always curious when I see a reasonably priced drugstore product that claims to plump up my lips. But plumping AND 8 hours of moisture? That would be unbeatable!

I chose a shade called "Mauveful" because mauve usually looks great with my skin tone, but I can only describe this color as "trailer trash pink". Despite the fact that I can never wear this (at least alone with no opaque lip gloss covering it) outside of the house, I still highly recommend this product. I mean, really, this is a truly great lipstick, and not just because of the price tag. It lasts forever, maybe not 8 hours, but amazingly long, even if you eat, the color remains. I find it difficult to remove even with a washcloth. The plumping, unlike many similar products, actually works! With all of that, it seems like it would be drying, but it actually feels like I am wearing a light lip balm, especially with the tingling.

Now, I can't see "Mauvefull" looking good on anyone, but if you're willing to try out some shades, this is a lipstick you're sure to love.

Retail Price: $6.99 (Target)

Rating:

I Will Keep My Nails Nicely Manicured: Cover Girl Continuous Color

Normally, I would never paint my own nails.  I like to go to the professionals for that.  Invariably I am in a hurry, and it looks as though I dipped my entire fingertips into the polish rather than painting on my fingers. 

Occasionally, you just have to bite the bullet and do it yourself.  Recently I tried Cover Girl's Continuous Color nail polish because it claims to contain a base coat, polish and top coat.  And I am very lazy.

Well, I still had to be patient to apply it.  Sadly, no matter how advanced makeup is these days, it still doesn't clean up your mistakes.  I was impressed with their large color selection that looked like it had actual adult women in mind rather than fourth graders.  I was also impressed with the consistency of the polish.  Not too thin and not too gloppy.  Juuuuust right.  It looked reasonably good on my nails and toenails (especially my toenails), but I don't think I could have passed it off as coming from a nail salon.  That may have more to do with my poor nail polishing skills than the actual polish.

I wish I could say I was just as impressed with it's staying power.  Unfortunately, I got chipped nails within a day or two of wearing the nail polish, whereas I get at least a week out of a paid manicure.  The toenail polish did appear to have pretty good staying power that was pretty comparable to a professional pedicure.

I probably won't keep trying to polish my own nails if I don't have to, but this is a reasonably easy and inexpensive at-home option that I would definitely try again.

Rating:

Reviewed By: Jen