Revlon:
Pros: Superior foundations with sunscreen and each of them provide sufficient
UVA protection (though one has a disappointing SPF 6); several outstanding
concealers and powders; one of the best cream blushes around;
great cream eyeshadow and liquid eyeliner; a beautiful selection
of elegant lipsticks, lip gloss, and lip liner; some worthwhile specialty products.
Cons: Average eye and brow pencils; several lipsticks with sunscreen
lack the right UVA-protecting ingredients; inaccurate claims surrounding
their Botafirm complex; mostly average to disappointing mascaras.
Revlon Beyond Natural Cream to Powder Eye Shadow:
($7.99) The texture is smooth, the colors are soft and well-coordinated,
and it blends well to a low-glow cream finish. The main drawback is the fact
that these crease and tend to fade within a couple hours of application.
Blending the shades together so you get a gradation of color and/or are able
to shape and shade the eye (which is the purpose of eyeshadow) is tricky.
Even if your blending is precise, the formula tends to cause the colors
to migrate into one. If you're looking for cream or cream-to-powder eyeshadows,
you'll find better, long-wearing, crease-resistant options from M.A.C., L'Oreal HIP,
and even Revlon (their Illuminance Creme Shadow is excellent).
Revlon Brow Fantasy Pencil & Gel: ($7.49) combines a standard brow pencil
with a sheer brow gel in one component. The pencil needs sharpening;
you get a very small amount (it's roughly a quarter of the length of a
standard brow pencil); and the brow gel, while completely non-sticky,
imparts almost zero color and does not contain the type of ingredients that
keep unruly hairs in place.
Revlon ColorStay Overtime Sheer Lipcolor: ($9.99) is Revlon's version
of Lipfinity EverLites and Cover Girl Outlast Smoothwear. It has the same
two-phase concept, with color application followed by a top coat
to ensure comfortable wear. Revlon's shades do go on sheer, but their formula
tends to dry out too soon, even with regular application of the glitter-infused
top coat (which has a thicker, stickier feel than those from competing products
and is not the same formula as the top coat in Revlon's ColorStay
Overtime Lipcolor). As such, you don't really get to enjoy the best feature
of products like this-namely, long wear without fading, chipping,
or leaving telltale marks.
Revlon 3D Extreme Mascara: ($13.99) promises lashes that are curvier, fuller,
and longer, and it really delivers! This proves Revlon's Fabulash Mascara
wasn't just a fluke-they are steadily improving their previously average mascaras.
3D Extreme Mascara has a patented brush in which two-thirds of the bristles
are short and densely packed, and the other third are longer and wider-spaced.
The result is immediate thickness and lengthening that goes on and on, and, yes,
a curvy finish that can get quite dramatic with subsequent coats. The formula
wears well and removes easily with a water-soluble cleanser.
Revlon New Complexion One Step Compact Makeup SPF 15: ($12.99)
ranks as the best cream-to-powder foundation at the drugstore, hands down,
and it includes titanium dioxide as the only sunscreen active. It applies superbly;
has a light, silky texture; and sets to a soft, natural-looking powder finish
that is best for normal to slightly oily or slightly dry skin. (Just keep in mind
that moisturizer must be applied over any dry spots or this foundation
will exaggerate them.) Coverage goes from sheer to medium. This is a must-try
if you prefer cream-to-powder foundation. Revlon's 12 shades have been
improved, and are a mostly neutral lot. Avoid Natural Beige, Cool Beige,
and Warm Beige. Tender Peach is fairly true to its name, but may work
for some light skin tones. Regrettably, there are no shades for very light
or very dark skin tones.
For more info, download Revlon Makeup Reviews, a free ebook.
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