Popular German Drugstore and Supermarket Beauty Brand Entering US Market

L'Oreal Cushion Compact Coming to the US?

When it comes to the beauty world here in the US, I think that cushion compacts in 2015 are perhaps what BB creams were in 2011. Cushion compacts are just starting to emerge in the US but, hold on, because they're about to make an impact on the American makeup landscape, just like BB creams did a few years ago.

Already a well-established product category in Asian countries (especially in Korea, where there are not only cushion foundations, but cushion blushes, cushion lip colors, etc.), there are just a handful of choices here in the US right now (edit: I'm talking about products that are available for purchase in-store in US retailers). Off the top of my head, I can think of Lancome's Miracle Cushion, AmorePacific's Colour Control Cushion, Pur Minerals' Air Perfection Compact Cushion, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some others. Oh! And Stila just released a cushion eyeliner.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that there's no drugstore cushion compact yet (you can get the Laneige BB Cushion at Target, but that's hardly "drugstore" at $34).

But that all MIGHT be changing soon...

image source: L'Oreal Hong Kong website

L'Oreal Lucent Magique Cushion Lumiere

Keep reading for the scoop...

Coming Soon to the US (I Hope): Rimmel Show Off Matte Lip Velvets

Recently, Rimmel UK released matte versions of their Apocalips lip colors (they're called Show Offs here in the US). Here are some pics from the Rimmel UK Instagram page:

image source: Rimmel UK Instagram page

Rimmel Apocalips Matte Lip Velvets

Now available in the UK

image source: Rimmel UK Instagram page

Rimmel Apocalips Matte Lip Velvets

Now available in the UK

Since these have been out for, I believe, about a month now in the UK, I'm HOPING that we'll see them here in the US before end of year. That's just my guess, based the time it usually takes for us to get things from Rimmel after their UK release. Here's hoping, right?

In the meantime, you can check out this review by a UK beauty blogger of three of the five shades in this range (they look very pigmented!). And you can also check out the entire UK shade range on the Rimmel UK site here.

Two ways to get Topshop Beauty (and more) with FREE SHIPPING

image source: topshop.com

Topshop Lips in Legend Lipstick in Pink

If you've a lover of British beauty, here are some ways to get your fix (with free shipping)....

Spotted in the UK: New L'Oreal BB products, foundation and lip colors

In the US, L'Oreal launched their Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream back in 2012 (click here for my review). In February of 2013, I posted a sighting from a lovely UK reader of these L'Oreal Nude Magique CC Creams, BB Creams and BB Blushes. We still haven't gotten those products in the US (that BB Blush looks so cool!), and now I have more new UK releases to share with you today. I really hope these make their way to the US soon. I have no way of knowing if or when we'll get these but, if you're like me, you'll want to see them anyway!

Thanks to reader Tabitha for this sighting--Tabitha spotted these new displays at her local Boots in the UK and shared some pics with us:

 image credit: Tabitha for Nouveau Cheap

NEW L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Blur Cream and Nude Magique BB Concealer

(retail: £5.99 - £9.99 in the UK)

pa Nail Color AA37 from the Premiere Lame Grande Collection (baby blue flakie)

The other day I was at my local Mitsuwa Marketplace here in San Diego and I noticed that the pa Nail Color display contained a new collection of FLAKIES! So naturally I had to get one and I couldn't resist the baby blue shade, AA37.

For those unfamiliar with pa, it's a Japanese line of nail polish by the brand Dear Laura. You can view all of the shades of flakies in pa's Premiere Grande Lame Collection by scrolling to the bottom of THIS PAGE. Since I saw all of these shades up close and in person, I can tell you a few things about them in case you're looking to make a purchase (more on that later in this post).

pa Nail Colors are made in France and I think they have the cutest packaging of any nail polishes I own (you can see swatches of the other pa polish I own--AA32--which is a chunky holo glitter polish, here).

pa Nail Color in AA37 from the Premiere Grande Lame Collection

(retail: $5.99 at Mitsuwa)

Maybelline Color Explosion palettes are Diamonds in Asia!

I am always fascinated to see foreign versions of US products, whether it be candy, beauty products, or anything else! So when my lovely reader Steffany was recently in Taiwan, she spotted the Maybelline quints, only they're not called Eye Studio Color Explosion in Taiwan: they're called Eye Studio Diamond Palettes.

My swap with a beauty junkie in London (pic heavy)

It all started out so innocently. Over a year ago, I reviewed a UK hair product for weheartthis and I absolutely fell in love with it. Sadly, it turned out that you could only purchase this product in the UK, so I decided to ask the wonderful Jen over at A beauty junkie in London if she'd be interested in doing a little swap. I know that UK gals cannot easily get Milani and CoverGirl products across the pond, so I was hoping I could entice her with the prospect of some new drugstore goodies! And of course you know I'm obsessed with UK drugstore products as well, so it would be a win-win situation for both of us!

Well, one year later and here we are! This swap was never meant to be in negotiations for a YEAR, but as they say in life: good things come to those who wait! I think Jen and I were so excited by all the wonderful goodies we could send each other that this swap eventually took on a life of its own.

Week after week, I discovered more amazing UK brands and products I found myself wanting (Barry M! Sleek!), and she thought of some US brands and products she wanted (Sonia Kashuk brushes, etc.) so it became this ongoing project that was just so fun we couldn't stop ourselves.

So even though this swap might appear to be one of the biggest swaps in US/UK history, remember that these products were purchased here-and-there, over the course of a YEAR. I've found that it's quite easy to pick up one or two things a month for a year and then, before you know it, you've got quite a collection to send to your swap partner!

Opening this package was like an early Christmas and birthday rolled into one. Naturally, I am beyond excited to share every single product Jen sent to me, but I'll limit my commentary when possible because this is going to be loooooong.

Deep breathe: here we go. Oh, and PLEASE NOTE: I'm including all of the official swap products and the extras (items that Jen sent out of the kindness of her heart, above and beyond the "official" swap products).

First, the product Jen sent that made me GASP:

Can you believe it? This polish by Barry M has to be one of THE most talked-about and coveted products of the year! I cannot believe she got it for me and I can't WAIT to show you how it works. It is soooo cool that I'm going to post a video of it in action. You've got to see it with your own eyes!

And of course here's the product that started it all! This curl taming cream works pure magic on my wavy hair and I am THRILLED to have another tube of it.

Yay for yummy lip balms!

My very first Sleek palette!

How cute is this little kit?

These colors are so me it's not even funny.

My camera washed out these polish colors--they are so much prettier in person. How cute is that box?

My very first GOSH product! And a volumizing mascara to boot!

The name of this product cracks me up.

I LOVE how this packaging is made to look like someone took a bite out of it.

Who doesn't love a mini gloss?

I love the embossing on this little shadow duo.

I cannot believe I am finally the proud owner of a Dazzle Dust.

The bottle shape of this polish is adorable.

I have no words to describe how I feel when I look at these Barry M polishes.

Yeah for mini bottles and yeah for mint green!

How cute is this shoe bag? I normally use an old plastic bag for my shoes when I travel--not any more!

I cannot wait to try this.

Could this be any cuter?

I specifically asked Jen if she could purchase this for me after reading about it on a haircare forum (but I had no idea she'd get me a pink one--that totally made my day!). I am SO excited to review this for you--if you have long hair that tangles easily, you have got to stay tuned for my review. This thing is unbelievable.

And last but certainly not least, I asked Jen if she could pick up a curlywurly bar for me and she is so sweet that she sent me FIVE! If you don't know what a curlywurly is, it's the UK equivalent of a long-ago discontinued US candy bar called the Marathon Bar. Marathon Bars were my favorite candy of my childhood, and I still curse the day they were discontinued. So I have no way of expressing to you how it feels to eat this candy bar again!

Thank you SO much, Jen, for making this one of THE most memorable swaps ever. It took us a while to get there, but it was SO worth the wait!

If you see any products above that you would like me to review, please just leave a comment on this post and let me know! In the very near future I'll be reviewing the Barry M Instant Nail Effects and the Tangle Teezer, but after that I'll review anything you request!

And definitely stay tuned over at A beauty junkie in London to see what I sent Jen! I went a little crazy for her earlier this year when CVS was having their semi-annual beauty sale!