Not Yo’ Mama’s Makeup – Re-Meet Avon & Lauren Andersen

When I say Avon, you say….? Exactly! But you’re wrong! And so was I.

The Avon team invited me to check out their newest makeup collection at the Americana at Brand recently. There were several tents set up for people to walk up and learn more about Avon as well as pick up samples. Several brand representatives were also there (not corporate types but “Avon ladies” who have built their empire – business blog post about that later) to chat.

The spread at Avon – True Color Technology

Let me give you the facts first:

• 55 shades of Ultra Color Lipstick ($8) –> 55. That’s 5 more shades than Christian Grey, gangstas.
• 23 shades of Ultra Glazewear Lip Gloss ($6) – The Wife would kill me if I bought any more lipglosses… *eyebrows waggling*
• 10 shades of their new Ultra Color Lip Crayon ($8) –> Have I mentioned how much I love lip crayons lately?
• 12 shades of Ultra Glimmersticks Lip Liner ($7)
• 14 True Color Eyeshadow Quads ($7)
• 11 True Color Eyeshadow Duos ($6)
• 20 True Color Eyeshadow Singles ($4)
• 4 True Color 8-in-1 Eyeshadow Palettes ($10)
• 5 colors of Supershock Gel Eye Liner Pencils ($8)
• 5 shades of Kohl Eye Liners ($7)

WHEW. This is a crazy amount of colors and products.

I met Avon Global Celebrity Makeup Artist Lauren Andersen, and she walked me through the process of how the makeup was designed/produced. Don’t know who she is? Lauren has done makeup for big fashion shows as well as celebrities. You can see her makeup portfolio here. (Lauren is Jessica Alba’s makeup artist.)

Celebrity MUA Lauren Andersen – Follow her on instagram! @lauren_andersen

Avon Ultra Glazewear Lip Glosses – This is not all of them.

As you know, I’ve been futzing with my makeup a lot more these past couple of years. I’m in a constant search for the perfect red lip. I’m slowly moving toward vegan cosmetics though some of that stuff cracks me up – no yellow person can wear pink foundation, yo.

Herein lies the problem that we all have. When I see a great shade of red lipstick or green eyeshadow on my fashionista friends, I’ll buy the same ones and look like an ass. What is partially to blame is the base of the product. (What’s also to blame is that red lips don’t go with green eyeshadow.) Many brands will include an opaque base to mix with a color for their lipstick or other product. That tends to skew the shade depending on skin tone. Avon does not. Part of their True Color Technology includes using a clear base that allows the true color to show up on all skin tones. 

Lauren is a white girl with awesome hair, and if you haven’t realized (seriously?), I’m Asian with a runner’s tan. But see the swatch? Cool, right? IMO, it’s 99% the same color on both our skintones. And see how vibrant the pink is?

We swatch the same lipstick – Avon Ultra Color Lipstick

For the makeup-challenged, Avon’s True Color Eyeshadow Quads have order numbers pressed into the shadows as well as the BACK of the packaging! You couldn’t screw up if you tried. I asked Lauren if Avon (or any other company) would ever swap the foamy eyeshadow applicators for real brushes. She pointed out that it would probably be too costly. Damn. (Who else loses those foam eyeshadow applicators as soon as you open the package?? Am I right?!)

Avon True Color Quad – see the numbers? Easy peasy.

Here’s the piece de resistance. This mascara is funky-looking but it is so friggin’ cool! I’ve never seen a mascara applicator like Avon’s Mega Effects Mascara. Have you?

Avon Mega Effects Mascara close up with Lauren Andersen demo-ing

Of all the products Avon showed off that day, the mascara was my favorite. Second place was their lipstick and the number of shades available for every skin tone, including yellow people like me.

And you know how cool they were? The Avon team sent me home with a bag STUFFED with samples. So much so that I dispersed the bulk of it to my homies in the SCLB when I saw them that evening. Included in the samples were multiple REDs so you bet your butt I’ll be working these in every day to see which lip color I’ll be purchasing from Avon.com!

Want to a chance to win Avon Makeup For a YEAR!?? Head over to Avon’s Facebook Page, Like it, and enter their sweepstakes! Sweeps ends September 23, 2013, so hurry up and enter.

Big thanks to Avon for the invitation to meet Lauren and check out their makeup. Tweet Avon at @avonprgals and follow them on Instagram at @avoninsider. Follow Lauren on Twitter and Instagram at @lauren_andersen. How cool is she? We had the same colored toes!

Oh just Lauren Andersen and me and our matching toes!

Disclosure: Avon invited me to attend their “You Make It Beautiful” tour as press/media.