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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

How to Get Volume Out of Your Mascara but Without the Clumping!

There seems to be about a bazillion mascaras out there, each making promises to give us whatever it is we desire from our eyelashes, whether it be to increase our lash length 400% or my personal favorite... that it will find lashes that we never even knew existed. In any event, it is a dauting task to find everything that we want all in one tube of mascara! Either it lengthens but it doesn't volumize, it volumizes but it doesn't separate, it separates but it doesn't volumize, etc. We all have our own preferences based on our own individual characteristics of our lashes but in the end. I think that we all want the same thing.. long, thick, and defined lashes. You know, kind of like that girl down below. But without having to apply one inch long false lashes. 


But do you ever notice that volumizing mascaras can often be clumpy? In their attempt to fatten your lashes, volumizing mascaras often disperse a bit too much of the product because well, that extra product around your lashes is what gives them the appearance of more volume. That's all well and good but when your lashes look clumpy, they do not look separated or defined.

How to avoid clumping but still keep the volume:

1. First, apply a coat of a mascara that's job is to separate your lashes so that you are able to take full advantage of every single lash lash (suggestions below). Defining mascaras usually provide good length as well. One thing they don't do the best is create more volume. That's where mascara #2 comes in.

2. After you have a coat or two of a good separating and defining mascara, go over the outer 1/3 of your lashes with a volumizing mascara. In doing so, you keep the definition that you created with mascara #1 but you also get to thicken up those lashes without clumping them together and making them look spiky and less defined. Some people prefer to just over the tips of the lashes with the volumizing mascara and some prefer coating the entire lash, its all trial and error folks.

Mascaras That Will Accomplish This:

For separating and defining, try...

L'Oreal Clean Definition Telescopic, this is a great mascara that finds every lash, lengthens, and defines for perfectly separated long lashes.

Bare Escentuals Flawless Definition, This mascara is very similar to the L'Oreal in that its brush has a ton of spiky little bristels to get in between your lashes to separate them.

To Get More Volume, try.....

L'Oreal Voluminous: You really can't go wrong with this classic mascara staple that is adored by stars like Gwen Stefani. In fact, L'Oreal has had the drugstore mascara market on lock down for quite some time now.

YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils: This is a great mascara but you have to be careful with this one, it is very very wet but perfect for applying to the ends of the lashes without making a mess. A little tip, when it is brand new just blot it with a paper towel before applying. Especially if you want to use it by itself as your only mascara.
To Get Volume & Separation All-In-One, try....

MAC Haute & Naughty: This product is like two mascaras all in one that comes equipped with two different wands, one on each end, one that separates and lengthens (Haute) and one that volumizes (Naughty). The idea is to use either or depending on your mood but you can also use the "Haute" side first then go back over it with the "Naughty" side to create a look that is the best of both worlds which is what we've been trying to achieve all along.  


Monday, July 30, 2012

What's New at Sephora?

I decided to peruse the Sephora website after what seems like an eternity since last purchasing from them. And of course, there are a lot of new things that are tempting me. You do know that the only sure fire way to get rid of temptation is to give into it right? Sounds like a perfectly logical idea to me. I thought I'd share a few of the newest goodies that have caught my eye recently. Do tell if you have tried any of these products and let me know what you think!

Sephora Microsmooth Blush Duo: I hear that this product is fantastic. It's a blush duo that includes a matte satin shade on one side and then a lumizing shade on the other. You can swirl them together or use them separate. They are super duper pigmented, infused with spring water, shaped by hand, and then cooked to perfection. Available in six shades and $17USD.

LORAC Pro Powder Cheek Stain: I love Lorac blushes so I'm guessing these new ones are probably pretty good. The latest blush release from Lorac is infused with antioxidants of vitamins A, C, E and green tea and pomegranate, grape seed, and aloe. Lorac also claims that this blush will last for 12 hours of wear. Available in five shades, $20USD.

NARS Foreplay: How can you talk about amazing blush without the word NARS? Well, actually you can because there are a lot of good ones out there. Nevertheless, the latest release by NARS in the blush category is called Foreplay. This is a palette containing four shades for the face, three blush and one highlighting powder. There are four total squares that vary in size, the largest of which is occupied by the infamous Orgasm blush and the other three are apparently not important enough to earn a name. NARS refers to these shades as a matte peach blush, gold highlighting blush, pink matte blush, and good ole' Orgasm which is peachy-pink with shimmer. I will admit I just think the palette looks really cool but  for $49? Not so sure its worth it. 

Dior Gold Jungle Essentials for Radiant Eyes & Lips: Shut up. This thing is so dang cute I wouldn't even want to use it for fear of lessening the artistic merit of this creation. This is a limited edition palette consisting of some warm toned golden browns, both matte and satin formulas, and a nude gloss. I really don't like lip gloss palettes or lip glosses in palettes because they get all nasty looking and remind me of gloppy gloopy germy tester products at cosmetics counters. And coming as no surprise to me, this limited edition gem will run you $70USD.

Urban Decay Smoked Eyeshadow Palette: The latest palette from UD includes 10 of their newly reformulated shadows in a multitude of shades used to create the ever popular smokey eye. Yes, you get the black and grey tones that are thought of as the more traditional smokey eye colors but there are some really nice modern colors thrown in there too for a little something different. The palette and a mini shadow primer come inside of this little zip up black case which is super cute and will cost you $49USD

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Drugstore Nail Polish Haul: L'Oreal Fall 2012 London Collection

I haven't tried any of the L'Oreal nail polishes but I have been admiring many of their shades for a while now. While in Rite Aid today, there was a L'Oreal display of their new fall London collection which caught my eye. I was drawn right away to "Tea and Crumpets" which is just your basic pale nude-beige color similar to the likes of Essie Topless & Barefoot so of course I snatched that one up. Rite Aid is currently having a Buy 1 Get 1 50% off (not sure if its all of L'Oreal or just polish) so who would pass up that kind of deal? A fool would, that's who. So I looked at the other colors but passed right over "Notting Hill Blues" which just appeared to be a Superman shade of bright blue. I don't particularly fancy blue shades unless its a periwinkle or a really purple-toned blue. But I looked closer and noticed that there was a subtle metallic sheen and what appeared to be some extremely fine microshimmer that is hardly detectable by the human eye.... SOLD! Now, it is my personal opinion that when it comes to metallic blue nail polish, there is a very fine line between "chic" (metallic) and "shitty" (frosty). But in the case of Notting Hill Blues, the color is nothing short of chic. I just hope it looks as good on the nails as it does in the bottle. I will be sure to let you know what I think of these shades if there is anything particularly unique or worth mentioning about them. Otherwise they go in the polish reject drawer where their ultimate fate will be decided.

L'Oreal London Fall Collection. Photo credit, www.stephscloset.com


L'Oreal Tea & Crumpets and Notting Hill Blues. Photo credit http://makeupsessed.blogspot.com


P.S. If you haven't done so already, you have another week to enter my contest to win a cool prize from the MAC Heavenly Creatures collection. Contest is open worldwide. Sign up to follow my blog & click on the picture at the top of the sidebar over there ---------------------------------->
I haven't promoted the contest very heavily so the odds aren't nearly as bad as other contests so you have a good shot!