I've never tried L.O.V. products before, because I honestly thought it was just an overpriced version of Catrice and Essence. After trying some of these out, I think that the packaging is much nicer. Some of the formulas also seem more sophisticated and if you find the right product for you, I think it's worth the splurge. I'm actually interested in trying out more products from this brand. I got some new product from the fall/winter revamp of their stand to try out. Here are my thought on the products I tested out.
L.O.V. EXTRAordinary Perfecting Fluid Foundation - 025 Sand Sophistication
It comes in a black plastic compact cushion like packaging, but the dispenser works by pressing the side of the cushion down. Product comes out in the middle through a little hole. It's very hygienic and great to travel with.
In it is 12 ml of product and it costs 14.99€.
It also comes with a little puff as most cushion foundations. I love these puffs, because they have a soft sponge side that blends foundation quickly and seamlessly. You will need to wash it every once in a while, but it's perfect to use on the go or when you don't have time to spend hours applying foundation.
Shade
025 Sand Sophistication is
warm medium color. It comes out lighter and more yellow based, but dries down darker and more orange based.
They say it gives you
flawless and
radiant complexion,
reduces wrinkles in two weeks, is
light and
non-comedogenic with
SPF 20. They say that the study has proven to
improve the moisture supply as well as
elasticity of the skin. It doesn't say which ingredients should support that claim, but putting skin care ingredients in foundation formulas is nothing new. It's more of a standard by now.
This foundation has a very emollient/greasy feel to it, it's also very thick for a liquid foundation. It spreads out easily and sticks to the skin well.
It evens out skin tone, covers redness and doesn't emphasize pores. It also doesn't make them any smaller. The coverage is buildable and I would say medium to full. It has satin finish, which gives your skin lovely sheen and almost looks a bit dewy in the beginning, but it sets. It stays a bit sticky though.
This isn't natural looking foundation, because of the really good coverage, but it also doesn't look cakey or very unnatural. It may catch a bit over dry patches, but is not too bad. Coverage fades a bit as the day goes on, but in general has good staying power. After about 5 hours I get oily around my T zone, which gets oily with most foundations anyway.
I notice a subtle sweet powdery scent to it which I like.
Because it's so thick, you'll actually need to use more of it, if you're going for that full coverage. I usually use two pumps of it and add the same amount of NYX Pro Foundation Mixer in White, because this shade is obviously too dark for me.
On the bottom photos you can see my skin without foundation and then L.O.V. foundation mixed with NYX white mixer.
There is
only four shades available and they are all
targeted towards medium skin tones. Color selection is a huge let down and I think it's a waste, because the foundation is really nice and could be very popular. Mateja reviewed shades 010 and 040
here.
L.O.V. DualCOVER Concealer & Retoucher - 025 Sand Sophistication
It comes in a plastic black and transparent packaging. One side is a thicker stick concealer and on the other side you have a classic liquid concealer formula.
In it is 5.3 grams of product and it costs 12.99€.
Stick version comes in a rounded shape and there's quite a lot of product in it. You push it out by swirling the bottom.
On the other side is a liquid concealer with doe foot fluffy applicator. It's easily to apply and great for more detailed work.
Shade
025 Sand Sophistication is very similar to the foundation shade. It's a
medium warm shade that has
orange tint to it as it dries down. The stick looks darker from the first application, but as soon as the liquid version dries down, they both seem very similar in color.
They say that it will make
small flaws disappear,
serum-concealer has a
pampering smooth texture and contains
shadownyl to
lighten dark circles under the eyes and
visibly reduces fine lines.
I would use stick version on the parts that need more coverage and liquid version more to lighten the skin tone as it is formulated as lightning serum texture.
Stick side is thicker, but creamy. It has good medium coverage, but once you blend it out, it becomes sheerer. Obviously the color is way too dark for me, but I've tried it on my dark under eye area, because it has orange tone to it. It covered, but not as good as I would have liked it.
Liquid side is very emollient and it spreads with ease, but I feel like it doesn't absorb in the skin. I really need to pat it in and definitely set it or it moves around. It's too luminous looking for my preference. After a while it does set a bit, but it still has a satin finish with healthy sheen and stays a bit sticky.
It doesn't cover my blue under eye area. The coverage is very light, but you can build it up to a lighter medium. I prefer a more thicker concealer with better coverage, but this might work for those that just want a subtle light reflecting cream.
It feels moisturizing, which is nice for under the eyes, but can get oily looking around my T zone. It looks nice over fine lines, because it doesn't emphasize them. But the coverage is just not there for me.
I was also using it in combination with NYX Pro Foundation Mixer in white, since the color is just too dark for me.
L.O.V. LASHseduction Instant Volume Mascara - 100 Seductive Black
It comes in metallic looking silver packaging. In it is 12 ml of product and it costs 10.99€.
They say that it gives you instant spectacular XL volume, has deep black creamy texture enriched with rice wax and unique brush that enwraps each lash.
It has natural bristled wand. The bristles are evenly separated and quite bushy.
Formula is very wet and can easily get messy while applying. If you let it dry out a bit, it becomes slightly drier and easier to apply as well as build up.
I mostly notice lengthening when I apply one coat of it. If I go in with another coat, I get more volume. The more you apply it, the more clumpy it can look. It actually looks more lengthening with a bit of volume, but is definitely not defining. If you don't overdue with the number of coats, it actually looks nice. The color is a true black.
It holds onto lashes well and even though it's quite wet, it still holds my lashes curled all day. It also doesn't crumble or smudge.
L.O.V. LIPaffair Color & Care Lipstick Matte - 950 Guilty Conscience
The lipstick comes in a heavy and luxurious packaging with magnetic closing. I absolutely adore the magnetic closure as it feels so expensive. It has a matte black look to it and that soft touch feel.
In it is 3.5 grams of product and it costs 9.99€.
The bullet also has some texture to it and it almost looks like suede. It has L.O.V. embossed in it.
They say that it has a unique powdery-matte finish, high color dispersion with just one application, is long lasting and pleasant feeling on the lips. You can chose among 8 shades. There is a selection of more nude browns, mauves, a red, purple and even some darker fall shades.
950 Guilty Conscience is a unique shade. I describe it as cool brownish mauve. It has some brown base to it, but is in general more of a purple mauve color. It also has that cool grey feel to it, but is again not too cool.
I actually don't have any similar shade to compare it to. The closest is Essence LE Coast 'n' Chill Velvet Matt Liquid Lipstick in 02 Smooth & Groove. But that one is a lot more purple and a lot cooler grey based.
It's very pigmented and you really get a good coverage with just one swipe. Formula is thicker, but for some reason it feels quite lightweight on the lips and it glides on the lips with real ease. You can apply it straight from the bullet and get a precise application. At first it looks a bit creamy and has some sheen to it, but once it sets the finish is definitely matte and it does look almost a bit velvet and powdery, like if you apply transparent powder over creamy lipstick.
It's very long lasting. I've had it on for about 5 hours and it stayed put. It just fades a bit as the day goes on. It's not completely transfer proof, but it survives drinking and even some eating.
On the lips it feels quite comfortable, but it's in no way moisturizing. If you have very dry lips, you may feel it on the lips as your lips get drier through the day, but it's actually still much more comfortable than for example liquid matte formulas. I think this is a wonderful pigmented matte formula that is also very comfortable to wear.
It has subtle sweet powdery scent to it, but you can't really smell it on the lips.
I got all of these products in a lovely shiny leather looking cosmetic bag with mesh sides. It's so well made and has the perfect size to fit all my makeup products in. I love the red details on the zip which is also very durable. This is my favorite cosmetic bag right now and it's a shame they don't sell it in their range.
To conclude, I was positively surprised by this brand. I had lower expectations. Foundation has great thicker formula and even better coverage. Shade range is just way too basic and all the shades are targeted towards medium skin tone which is a shame. I would definitely get this in a lighter shade and if it had a bit more product in this packaging, since you do need quite a lot because of its thickness. Concealer was not for me, because I prefer something with better coverage and almost never use stick concealers, but I think those that don't need a lot of coverage may like it.
Mascara is too wet from the get go, but once you let it dry out a bit, it's not bad at all. It gives nice volume and even better length. It's not as volumizing as they promote it, but it doesn't smudge and holds the curl well.
I was most impressed with the lipstick. Packaging is luxurious (I can't get over that magnetic closing, it's so satisfying), formula glides on like a dream, but it's very long lasting, matte and has great pigmentation. It's not completely transfer proof, but you know me, I don't care about that. I love the velvet powdery finish and the color is my new fall love. I would definitely advise you to check lipsticks out once you're in the store.
Now that I had the chance to try these products out, I also went to the store and swatched some other products. I especially liked their new The GLOWrious Highlighting & Bronzing palette in 020 since it had such a pretty gold highlighter and the pigmentation was amazing. I was also so impressed by that lipstick formula that I'm tempted to try out FATALmuse Liquid Matte Lipstick. I hear it's again a great formula and I loved swatches of 710 Secret Obsession and 700 Daring Confession.
A while ago, I reviewed some of their makeup brushes and one in particular is still among my favorites - foundation brush. You can read about it
here.
* Products were sent to me.
