lavenderlilac dream: VoxBox

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lavlilacs L'Oréal Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick Review

I haven't qualified for an Influenster Voxbox in a hot while. I remembered the early ones I received were full of average products which were fun to try but nothing memorable or repurchase worthy. VoxBox's Rouge Signature edition, however, has blown me off my feet. As my first L'Oréal lip product, the Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick in I Create, I Rule, and I Am Worth It are quickly becoming my go-to formulas of choice lately.

lavlilacs L'Oréal Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick Influenster VoxBox

L'Oréal's description:

Lightweight matte colored ink that delivers a stain-like feel with the color impact of a liquid lipstick. Imparts lips with a high pigment, matte finish, and lasting wear.

Less texture*, more color: Rouge Signature is a lightweight matte colored ink that delivers intense pigment loads with a weightless, bare-lip sensation. This ultra-comfortable liquid matte colored ink provides lasting matte color and infuses lips with a healthy, even dye of color. The no makeup feel of a stain combined with the color impact of a liquid lipstick. Find your signature shade from our captivating range. Use with our precision applicator to shape and lines lips for a precise and perfectly applied lip.

CAUTION: Flammable until dry. Do not use near fire, flame, or heat.

Directions
Apply starting in the center of your upper lip. Work from the center to outer edges of your lips, following the contour of your mouth. Then glide across the bottom lip and fill in. To take off, use an oil-based makeup remover or our waterproof Micellar Water for best results.

Ingredients
AQUA / WATER / EAU, DIMETHICONE, OCTYLDODECANOL, ISODODECANE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ALCOHOL, ACRYLATES/POLYTRIMETHYLSILOXYMETHACRYLATE COPOLYMER, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, TRIMETHYL PENTAPHENYL TRISILOXANE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, POLYGLYCERYL-4 ISOSTEARATE, MAGNESIUM SULFATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, PEG/PPG-18/18 DIMETHICONE, ALUMINA, DISODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, LINALOOL, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, TOCOPHEROL, PARFUM / FRAGRANCE, [+/- MAY CONTAIN / PEUT CONTENIR, CI 77891 / TITANIUM DIOXIDE, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 / IRON OXIDES, CI 45410 / RED 28 LAKE, CI 15850 / RED 7, CI 45380 / RED 22 LAKE, CI 15985 / YELLOW 6 LAKE, CI 42090 / BLUE 1 LAKE, CI 19140 / YELLOW 5 LAKE]

Lipstick 7 ml / 0.23 oz

L'Oréal (MSRP): USD $11.99

lavlilacs L'Oréal Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick packaging closeup

lavlilacs L'Oréal Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick name label

lavlilacs L'Oréal Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick applicator

Packaging

A thick, transparent plastic tube with a twist-off cap and a petal-shaped applicator. The stopper inside the tube is just large enough for the applicator to come out easily whilst scraping off the perfect amount of excess product.

New tubes will have a sticker label for a security seal; if the perforated part is broken it probably has been opened already. The label for the name is placed on a very small sticker at the bottom of the tube.

lavlilacs L'Oréal Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick - I Create lip swatches

I Create (No. 416)
"Nude," muted pink color in the tube. On my lips, it becomes a little peachy (warm pink) and is most similar to my natural lip color.

lavlilacs L'Oréal Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick - I Rule lip swatches

I Rule (No. 414)
Pink with blue undertones that is almost a dusty magenta. It applies true to the color in the tube.

lavlilacs L'Oréal Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick - I Am Worth It lip swatches

I Am Worth It (No. 426)
Red with cool/blue undertones. Also applies true to the color in the tube.

Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent

The three colors I have tried are all highly pigmented yet lightweight and not tacky. Immediately after application, it is a bit wet with a slight shine but as the formulation dries it takes on a more velvety matte look.

The lipstick does transfer and wipes away but it also leaves stain my lips to a degree; the less bold colors are not as noticeable since it is similar to my bare lips.

There is a very slight sweet scent if I really sniff the applicator itself. Otherwise, it doesn't smell of much after I apply it nor does it taste of anything if licked.

How I Apply

Gradient lips // Point the applicator with the concave part facing my bottom lip. Spread a light layer starting from the center and then toward both sides. Lightly smack my lips together to put some color onto the upper lip.

Full lips // Start the same way as I would for gradient lips. Afterward, I add a layer or two extra to get more precise lines. I like to flip the applicator over so the concave part is facing up and then use the pointed tip to create the clean lip shape.

lavlilacs L'Oréal Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick - I Create, I Rule, I Am Worth It color swatches

lavlilacs L'Oréal Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick - I Create, I Rule, I Am Worth It transferring

Thoughts & Recommendations

L'Oréal couldn't have been more accurate with their description of what the Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lipsticks are. Everything that makes this lip product special is what I had hoped the Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick to be. Having tried both now, I do hope something existed with the best qualities of both.

The Rouge Signature packs a colorful punch whilst being versatile. I love that I could wear a light layer or build up for a bolder look. The formulation is buttery smooth, lightweight, and most importantly not tacky. Layering and reapplying is a breeze. It doesn't seem to settle into my lines nor catch onto dry patches. Once it dries down, I barely feel like I have anything on my lips.

Perhaps the only questionable claim is this providing lasting wear. The brand chose their words very wisely. In a sense it does, the bolder colors do leave a noticeable stain. Those swatches on my arm lasted a good week's time despite cleansing oils and eye/lip makeup remover. On my lips, though, is a different story. The staining effect only lasts as long as the top layer of skin isn't exfoliated off. For me, that happens twice daily...once in the morning because of lip balms and another time at night because of cleansing. The actual liquid lipstick portion easily wipes off when eating or drinking—the oilier the foods, the more color is removed.

L'Oréal' offers slightly more product (7ml versus Maybelline's 5ml) but it has a higher Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Pricing (USD $11.99 versus Maybelline's USD $9.49). I definitely prefer the see-through tubes of the Rouge Signature. I also actually find myself reapplying after the color fades because of how fuss-free it is; whereas I had no such thoughts with the SuperStay due to its tackiness, tendency to flake, and inability to layer. If only the liquid lipstick part of the Rouge Signature is as transfer-proof as the SuperStay, while keeping its non-sticky texture, we would have one huge gem of a drugstore matte lip product.

It is easy to get into a rut with school and work.
Somehow I was able to do some fairly interesting things in March.

Red Jacket Orchards - Cold Pressed Juices

Wilklow Orchards

Stumbled upon a farmers' market in Downtown Brooklyn.
They were pretty much all selling things apple related. I thought apple season was in Autumn?

Otafuku x Medetai
220 East 9th Street New York, NY 10003

Takoyaki

Taiyaki (Red Bean, Nutella with banana)

Had some takoyaki, taiyaki, okonomiyaki, and yakisoba
This was all shared of course! ... Except for the 2 fish breads that I devoured :P
I don't know of many other places that make takoyaki, but Otafuku is pretty well known in NYC for theirs. They have actually moved to a new store location that is just down the block from their previous "hole-in-the-wall" shop.

Visited the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Soho
Got a bunch of freebies & played with the Samsung gadgets
Made a few 3-D print-out key charms

Chaamlex Thai Delish
34 Lexington Ave, New York 10010
Btwn E 23rd & E 24th St

Rediscovered thai iced tea (That stuff is awesome!)
Pad thai here was alright. A bit too ... sweet for me? But can't complain much since this thai restaurant is really close to school.

Maison Keyser Flatiron
921 Broadway New York, NY 10010
Btwn 21st St & 22nd St

Parisienne Cocotte & Yuzu Tart Met with Kar Yi, lilladyslife, and Monkica
Had a French(?) meal for the first time
Tried a great tart that was surprisingly not very sweet at all (looks are deceiving!)

Dove VoxBox & Uni VoxBox Received some goodies to try
I try to not use stick deodorants anymore, but gave the Dove Advanced Care Deodorant with NutriumMoisture a go anyways. I think that it works well. I'm not really sure how it compares with other deodorants but it seems to do it's job.

The Uni VoxBox came chockful of stuff. I haven't gotten to trying everything yet. But it seems that I actually picked the wrong foundation shade so I can't test that out properly. I have miixed it with lighter foundations though and a little bit of the Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation in Sand goes a long way in terms of color. I don't like the consistency of the product very much. It is a little too thick for my liking. Even when I mix it with liquidy products it is still pretty thick. It makes it a bit difficult to blend the product out.

Did you do anything interesting or out of the norm recently?

I think I have mentioned this before, but I am not much of a body lotion user. Despite having very dry skin in the colder months, I hate how most lotions take forever to sink into my skin. Standing in the bathroom unclothed in the winter is not a very pleasant experience! Neither is having to put on clothes when lotion is still wet on the body.

When I saw this product in the Sugar 'N Spice VoxBox, I was both skeptically and excited. The way the product is housed reminded me of the spray on sunscreens. The feature I liked of those were how easy it was to just spray on sun protection and not have to rub anything in. However, I just wasn't sure how necessary it is for a lotion to be in a spray on form.

Unlike the name, I don't think this is necessarily a product where you can literally Spray & Go like how you could with a spray on sunscreen. After you apply this lotion onto your skin, you definitely do need to rub it in like you would need to for any other body lotion.

Ingredients:

One of the downsides I saw to the spray can was that it was definitely messy. When I used this moisturizer in my room and sprayed the product directly onto my arms and legs, some of the product would miss my body which ultimately landed on my furniture and floor. But because the product has a slipperiness to it, the product made the floor slippery to a certain degree. I would definitely recommend this to be used inside the bathroom or best inside the shower. I searched around for other reviews and others suggested to spray it into the palm of the hands first and then apply it like a typical lotion. Although this is a way to fix the problem, it kind of defeats the purpose of having it be a spray on lotion doesn't it?

Even though on the bottle it claims to be non-greasy I found it to not be completely true. When compared to other lotions, after the Vaseline lotion sinks into the skin and if I touch my skin it definitely will not feel greasy. However, when I picked up my arms after I had rested them on my desk there will be a greasy mark on the table. Luckily the grease stain does goes away after a while.

How the lotion looks sprayed straight onto my arm

This product is very different from any body lotion I have ever used. Typically the ones I am used to have a thicker and more cream like texture, even if it is dispensed through a pump bottle. The best way to describe the consistency of this body lotion is like that of liquid ice cream (but less sticky). Or if that is a little too weird, it is most similar to that of the milky lotions (such as the ones by Hada Labo or Juju Aquamoist). The product is very liquidy and runny, hence it is also very light. There are good and bad points to this feature. Yes, my skin does absorb the lotion really quickly and (like the bottle says) I can put my clothes on right away. But for my dry skin, this light lotion just isn't enough. Perhaps for those with normal-dry skin this will work better or even for anyone in the warmer weather when your skin isn't craving as much moisture.

There is a slight scent to it but it is nothing too overpowering. I have only used this lotion a few of times since I got it so I cannot really say how long one can will last. But since this is a metal spray bottle, it is kind of difficult to tell when I will run out of product. Of all the different products that have come in the VoxBoxes, this is probably one of the few that I still have not really seen in stores yet. (It could just be the stores in my area though.)

According to Influenster, one 6.5oz canister sells for about $7.99. There are two other variations: Aloe and Cocoa Butter. It seems to be quite expensive though just because it is in a spray form, especially when there is only 6.5oz of product per can. I did a quick browse on a few drugstore's websites and found that the typical pump dispensed lotions fall into the $5.99-$8.99 range while offering 2x the product per bottle.

I'm probably going to save it for the summer months because it doesn't do much for my dry winter skin. As for whether I will repurchase or not really would depend on if there is or isn't a good sale available for it.

What do you think? Would you give this product a try? Have it tried it before? What are your thoughts about it?

I finally got around to trying something from my Sugar 'N Spice VoxBox. I had been carrying this package of belVita biscuits around with me to school before Spring Break, but it got lost in my bag and I forgot about them. (Note to self: organize my bag.)

The packaging says it's a breakfast biscuit but I can see myself snacking on this any time of day. The Cinnamon Brown Sugar flavor tastes just like a combination of a snicker doodle cookie and an oatmeal cookie. Maybe it's because of the oat bits, it was a little hard to swallow it if I didn't chew enough. This is also a drier cookie type so I would definitely eat this together with something liquid the next time (whether it be water, juice, or milk). In which case, this could definitely be a sort of filling breakfast option. One thing I don't completely buy is the energy providing claim. It just seems a little far-fetched for a package of crackers. But if these biscuit does provide me with some energy you won't find me complaining. I can always use any extra energy with my night owl habits.

According to their website the only stores that carry these in my area are places like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid. Which probably explains why I don't remember ever seeing this at my local supermarkets. I think I may try to look for some of the other flavors to try as well. In addition to Cinnamon Brown Sugar they also have Golden Oats, Blueberry, Apple Cinnamon, and Chocolate. It is a bit pricey, $3.69 for a box of 5 packages of 4 biscuits (according to Influenster) but with the CVS coupons and such I can probably get these on sale...hopefully.

Has anyone else tried these before? Or is there any flavor(s) that caught your interest?

This box of goodies arrived on my doorsteps a couple of weeks ago. Just in time since I probably would have neglected it if it came any earlier or later due to school.

I can't wait to try everything. The only ones I don't think I will be using are the Colgate products. Bestie C is very into teeth whitening right now so I plan to let her try them instead. Plus I already have a full tube of toothpaste opened & Colgate recommends to use all three for best results. We shall see what good news (or bad news) Bestie C will have for us soon! Otherwise, I'm very intrigued by the spray on lotion. I tend to be very picky with body lotions so I hope this will meet my standards.

Have anyone tried any of these products before? Any recommendations?

Most of the people I know hate to eat oatmeal. I, for one, grew up eating it and still enjoy it. However, the oatmeal I grew up eating was made with a bit of milk (instead of water), sugar, and egg. Perhaps that's why I had a pleasant oatmeal experience? Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal is different from the oatmeal I know but that doesn't mean it was bad.

The calories in this cup of oatmeal are relatively low, that is I am assuming this would be the only thing you are consuming for breakfast. I should point out that the sugar content does seem high though. I never usually look at the sugar amount in foods, but after hearing from the besties that 20g+ are considered high...those who are sugar cautious should take note because this cup contains 19g of sugar.

Thumbs up to Quaker for keeping the ingredients list to a minimum!

The directions are very easy. I do like how it is already portioned and in a cup. It is great on the go breakfast item. You just need to add water and wait 3 minutes for the dried oats and fruit to absorb the water.

It is embarrassing to tell everyone this but I was actually afraid of trying this particular product. I didn't grow up eating fruits because I'm allergic to most fruits. So now I'm not the biggest fan of trying things with fruits in it. Maybe because of this reason I didn't like the bits of peach in there very much. Reconstituted dried peaches gave the oatmeal sweetness. When I bit into it the peaches were soft and chewy, something that I didn't really care for. But the part I really enjoyed though was definitely the crunchiness the almonds pieces gave the oatmeal. I think that was a very nice addition.

I think the drawback to these cups of oatmeal is that they're kind of pricey. According to Influenster, it costs $1.79 per cup. Surprisingly there was more than enough oatmeal to make me feel full after eating it. I think this is probably because of the added almonds and peach bits. It makes the oatmeal a lot heartier, especially when compared to plain o' regular oatmeal. It'd be great for those who are in a hurry. Pour some hot water in, put the lid back on, grab a spoon and head out the door with your breakfast. But for me, I think I will continue to buy the big jar of the company's Quick Oats. It seems a lot better for my wallet in the long run, but of course, it's definitely more time consuming to make. Whatever is best for your particular lifestyle!

Disclaimer: I received this product through the Influenster VoxBox program to try. I do not receive any extra compensation for posting about this product (other than getting to keep the product). I am not obligated at all to write positive reviews either. Any links provided do not give me any compensation.

EBOOST Natural

Energy wasn't something I was all too excited about trying when I saw it in my Holiday VoxBox. Maybe I'm just picky but I am not a fan of powder drinks. Of the ones that I have tried, it always taste way too artificial for me. But nonetheless I gave this a go. The powder itself is white. Once it mixes with the water it turns into a muted pink shade. After having it sit around for a couple of days, it becomes more of a yellowy pink color.

Even though I poured this into a bottle, let me tell everyone else to not do the same. The powder fizzes as it mixes with water so there will be an overflow. Even if you only pour a little at a time. In the end, I still had some powder in the package left over.

My suspicions were right. It is sad to say but I didn't enjoy this very much. It did taste like the bottled pink lemonade you can buy at the supermarket right when I drank it. The part I didn't appreciate was the metallic after taste. For me, there was an irony taste (like blood or when I had metallic braces). The ingredients doesn't list iron in the nutritional information. I did see a few metallic/mineral ingredients like Zinc and Copper though. Just to be sure it wasn't just me, I had my little brother taste it as well. He said he thought it was alright but there was something a little different about it. He didn't tell me what that something "different" was though (but I don't think he would have been able to tell me anyways since he isn't very good at describing tastes yet).

I think for those who are used to or doesn't mind powder drinks, this would be a nice supplement alternative. It is supposedly made of all natural ingredients, which is always a plus nowadays. It comes in a few other flavors (Orange, Pink Lemonade, Acai Pomegranate, and Super Berry) and forms (powder, tablet, and energy shot) as well. I just personally did not appreciate it very much. Since I couldn't get past the after taste, I didn't finish my water and therefore couldn't feel the full affect of the energy boosting abilities.

According to the EBOOST website, a box of 20 packets would cost $28, making each packet $1.40. I don't remember seeing these at any supermarkets around me but the store locator on their website say certain drugstores and Health/Fitness stores may carry it.

How do you feel about powder drinks? What do you take to give yourself a boost of energy?

Disclaimer: I received this product through the Influenster VoxBox program to try. I do not receive any extra compensation for posting about this product (other than getting to keep the product). I am not obligated at all to write positive reviews either. Any links provided do not give me any compensation.

I'm really excited to start a new series of posts involving VoxBoxes and Influenster. I just want to say that this isn't a program where I am getting paid to show or mention their name and products they send me. Essentially it is a social media targeted marketing/review community to talk about brands and products. Kind of like makeupalley, in the sense that people can review things. But also not like it since members get rewarded based on how active they are in the Influenster community. Honestly, I was surprised how quickly I qualified for something. At first I was hesitant on whether to join the site since I don't post regularly nor do I like to really obligate myself to having to review products (as my old followers probably already know all too well...hehe so sorry!). But I thought it'd be a nice way to keep myself on track of posts. Nothing to lose here right?

Anyway...as I was saying, I'm just very excited because this is the first time I've signed up for anything like this. The VoxBox came right in time for the holidays. I haven't tried anything but I can't wait to. These definitely aren't things that I would normally buy, so more the reason to be excited right?