L'Oréal Color Riche Nail Polish (207 Babydoll)

In my previous post I mentioned that I picked up three L'Oreal nail polishes and found there to be considerable differences between the three. Whilst the previous one was disappointing, this one performed miles better.

Babydoll is a lovely pale pink with a strong oyster/pearl finish. For this one I went for about 3 coats. With Rose Paradis I commented on the poor, uneven application. Babydoll definitely yields a more even application that's for sure. The only serious issue I had with the formula for this one is that it can appear a bit streaky (i.e. the lines of the brush show up a little) but this can be very common with metallic shades like this as it causes the brush strokes to show up more. I didn't find it so obvious so it actually didn't bother me as much.

Again, my complaint with the L'Oreal Color Riche nail polishes is their pricing point. They work out at £9.98 per 10ml which really puts it in league with brand like Nails Inc and Ciaté as opposed to its other drugstore rivals. Naturally, I'm then inclined to compare it to such brands and as such the formula isn't as great. Sure the drying time is pretty quick but for that price I would prefer a more opaque finish in a single coat.

Initially I wasn't such a fan of the shade, it looked a bit too pale on me but I received a lot of compliments on it. It's a very femine/girly shade - not so neutral as Rose Paradis - therefore it might go against certain styles of makeup/clothes. However I feel it's a shade you either love or hate.

L'Oréal Color Riche Nail Polish (201 Rose Paradis)

A few weeks ago I bought three L'Oreal nail polishes whilst there was a 3 for 2 promo at Superdrug. I held up on the reviews until I had tested all three and could genuinely compare.

I gotta say that the differences between the three shades is crazy. And this one was probably worst.

If you're into really sheer shades I would not recommend this shade based on the poor application. It's very uneven in each coat. Even after 4 coats I still can spot patches where the formula did not apply evenly. It's a shame really because the shade itself is actually very flattering. Normally I'm very wary of pastel colours because of how they sit against my skin tone but this one is actually looks very natural against my skin tone.

201 Rose Paradis (please excuse the cut on the polish of the ring finger, I got quite careless with some scissors!)

The only real bonus is the design of the bottles. It's actually quite efficient because the brush pretty much goes all the way down the the bottom. And because they only contain 5ml, the bottles are very slender which again adds to the efficiency (and makes storing it a lot easier). The brush is the 1-stroke fan type that spreads out to cover the nail when you apply it, supposedly for an even single application (which, with this formula, I didn't get).

If the pricing was cheaper I don't think I'd be so annoyed but the simple fact is that they're priced at £4.99 (£9.98 per 10ml) here in the UK. Bear in mind that Nails Inc usually retails for £11 per 10ml. For almost £1 difference, there is a massive discrepancy in quality between the two. The fact that I needed 4 coats to even get it semi-opaque is quite laughable. With Nails Inc you'll usually get it opaque in 1-2 coats.

I really did want to love Rose Paradis, especially as this is a universally gorgeous shade that would suit almost anything. It's just a shame that it was let down by the poor application.

July Magazine Beauty Freebies!

Maybe it's because I'm Asian (the Southern variety) that I'm a sucker for a good bargain. I really like to get my money's worth - and that's exactly what I did when I was perused the magazine section in Tesco the other day!

I love trying out new things and beauty products is no exception to my curiosity. The only problem with beauty products is that they can end up being very expensive. Buying a full sized product at retail price can not only be costly but very disappointing if it's not what you hoped for. Hence why I love monthly glossies - they give you the chance to check out the brand that you'd be hesitant to buy in normal circumstances.

So I ended up picking three magazines: InStyle, Marie Claire and Glamour.

First up is InStyle (featuring Cameron Diaz on the cover) which cost £3.90. This month they are offering two choices - either The Body Shop Big And Curvy Mascara (worth £10) or two of The Body Shop Eye Definers (in Black and Navy, worth £8 each). What's great about this is that you're getting full sized products so it's fantastic value for money. I opted for the mascara because I have so many eyeliner pencils already. After flicking through the mag I noticed it contained a sachet sample of the new L'Oréal Hair Expertise EverPure Shampoo & Conditioner.

Next is Marie Claire (featuring Eva Mendes), £3.70. They're offering a free, full sized Ciaté Nail Polish (worth £9) in three shades. I ended up going for the bright pink shade "jelly bean". Inside you'll also get a sample of L'Oréal Hair Expertise EverPure Shampoo & Conditioner. You can also get a whiff of L'Homme by Yves Saint Laurent (nice of them to consider the lads in this one!).

Finally it's Glamour (featuring either Fearne Cotton, Eva Longoria or Kylie Minogue) for £2. Glamour is giving away sample sizes of the following from Benefit: BADgal Lash Mascara (worth £10), That Gal Brightening Face Primer (£15) or The Porefessional Pore Minimiser (£10). Again, I opted for the mascara (because I always wanted that one!). Inside you'll get a sachet of the new Pantene Pro-V Repair & Protect Shampoo.

I really can't wait to try out these samples!

Have you picked up any of these magazines? If so, which ones? What did you make of this month's beauty freebies? Drop a comment and let me know!