Archive for the ‘Mascara’ Category

I’m a huge fan of both LashBlast and LashBlast Luxe, so I figured I would love Lashblast Fusion as well. Wrong. I know, I can’t believe I’m saying it either.



Considering how amazing the original version is, I was expecting this to be the most fantastical mascara of all time. Instead it’s just…eh. It gives a decent amount of length and volume, but I like the original version a lot better. Plus, it’s cheaper. LashBlast Fusion runs about $1 more than it’s predecessors (about $8.99) which to me just isn’t worth it for a lackluster product.

And so, it is with a heavy heart that I toss this mascara into the dreaded fail drawer. May it rest in peace along with the other craptastic products that have shared it’s fate over the years. Like the Smashbox foundation that made me breakout an hour before my birthday celebration last year. Or the Jordana lipliner that made me look like the pants-less tranny that used to hang out outside the Starbucks near the building I used to work in. Ya, you don’t wanna know.

Final Verdict: Eh.
Price: $8.99
Get it: Drugstores nationwide

It’s a mascara, it’s a mirror, it’s a flashlight…it makes me feel like MacGuyver! But way cuter. And without the mullet of course.

I would have reviewed this sooner, but it took me forever to get my hands on a tube. My local Sephora and Ulta have been sold out for ages, but this was worth the wait. The patent formula makes my lashes look jet black and glossy, almost like vinyl. And while there are other mascaras that offer the same element – like Maybelline’s Stiletto Lash for instance – they don’t offer the kind of volume I like. With this I get the high gloss, the length and the volume!

My favorite part is of course, the LED wand because other than looking really cool, it really does help target every single lash. And I always love a beauty product that can double as something else like say, a flashlight if you can’t find your keys at the bottom of your giant purse. Or a glow stick if you happened to leave your rave gear at home!

I can’t say I’m surprised at how much I love this, you guys know I’m a big fan of Too Faced products. When I bought the mascara I actually picked up one of their new Natural Eye Shadow duos as well, so be on the lookout for that review soon!

Final Verdict: LOVE IT!
Price: $25
Get it: www.toofaced.com

One of the consultants at my local Ulta pointed this out to me last night, and I just had to pick it up. The new lash boosting system from L’Oreal promises longer, fuller, healthier lashes in as little as a month. So basically it’s a less potent, more affordable version of Lastisse.



I purchased the starter kit – a tube of mascara/lash boosting primer for daytime and a concentrated lash boosting serum for night- for $24.99. You can purchase each product separatly as well, but the starter kit saves you about $6 so it’s a much better deal.


Since I just got the product, it’s impossible for me to do a full on review, but I will say this morning my lashes looked a teeny bit fuller and felt super soft. The mascara offers alot of volume too, although you have to be careful as the primer tends to get a bit clumpy. I’ll keep you guys posted as to what happens over the next four weeks – and I’ll even include week by week photos so you guys can see my progress. You can see week 1 below, and yes those are my natural lashes, sans extensions =)

Lashes- Week 1

Just some of my favorite drugstore products- cuz I be broke ya’ll!!! What are some of your faves?

Oh and btw- why the eff does YouTube always gotta pic the ugliest damn stills for ma’ damn videos? UGH!

Priced around $9, this mascara is a steal considering it offers the same, if not more volume than the fancy pants brands I pay upwards of $20 for. I’ve been using it for about a week now, and have to say I’m really impressed. The collagen infused formula is super rich, and makes my lashes look so lush my family actually thought I had a pair of falsies on the other night at dinner. It also gives lashes a hint of sheen, much like Maybelline’s Stiletto Lash mascara, which doesn’t offer nearly as much oomph.



Because this stuff is so rich however, you have to be very, very careful with clumps. The extra large brush makes for a thick application, but if there’s too much mascara on it your lashes will start sticking together and you’ll end up looking like the dearly departed Tammy Faye Baker.


Given this fact I won’t say I LOVED IT, but I definitely like it, and will probably buy it again.


Price: $9
Verdict: LIKE IT
Get it: at drug stores

Since I gave the original Lash Blast Mascara such a rave review, a few of you asked for my thoughts on the brand new Luxe edition. And surprisingly enough, I really like it.



Why was it such a surprise you ask? Because at first glance, this product looks exactly like Cover Girls Eye Brights mascara, and I’m generally not too thrilled about spending more of my hard earned money on something I already have.

But alas, like Britney Spears, I’m a slave for you, and decided to give it a whirl. So, as I perused the Cover Girl aisle at Target, the first thing I noticed is the color offerings for Lash Blast Luxe and Eye Brights are almost exactly the same, save the Black Emerald version of the Luxe mascara. So at this point I’m thinking, “HA! Cover Girl is sooooo busted!”

Upon further inspection however, I noticed the shimmer factor is higher with the Lash Blast Luxe, and the colors are brighter. With the Eye Brights formula, most of the color lies in the flecks of glitter, where as the Lash Blast is more of a tinted mascara with sparkles in it.

Once I got the stuff home, I put both mascaras on and did a side by side comparison to see if my findings were accurate, and indeed they were. Not to mention the Lash Blast Luxe offers a lot more volume, so in my opinion its worth the extra $1.50. And of all the colors – I tried all four – the Black Emerald is my favorite. And with St. Patrick’s Day on the horizon, this one is a must have.

Mascara is the most important tool in my arsenal of beauty-fication, so when my friend suggested I do a drug store mascara smackdown, I was more than up for the task. After all, it is mascara that makes it possible for me to look bright-eyed and rested after a night of drinking. Er, knitting. Er, bible study. Ya, that’s it, bible study!

So in the name of science, I threw on my white lab coat and tested out the newest mascaras to hit the drugstore shelves. And by lab coat, I mean my pink Supergirl pajamas. So after hours of painstaking research and wine guzzling sipping, I present you with my findings:



Cover Girl Exact Eye Lights: This mascara made my lashes look reeeally pretty, though it failed to make my eyes look 4x brighter as promised in the ads. It comes in four shades, each infused with tiny flecks of glitter designed to match your eye color and bring out the sparkle. I initially bought the formula for brown eyes – black with an opalescent shimmer- and was so pleased I bought all the other colors as well. Though I use them all, the blue eye formula is my favorite, as the sapphire color looks amazing when the sunlight hits your face! Grade: A-

L’Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes: Love.This.Stuff. It makes my lashes look insanely full and long, with no running or smearing. It’s also way cheaper than the other fiber mascaras, which do pretty much the same thing for twice the price. I don’t particularly love the fact that there’s two steps involved in this mascara-fying process, but the results are totally worth it. Though if you’re gonna re-apply during the day, only apply the second coat, NOT the base coat. I made this mistake and my lashes got all clumpy and stuck together. It was not hot. Grade: A

Revlon Luxurious Lengths: This is good mascara – providing length and a decent amount of volume- but I wouldn’t call it a must have. Though I do like the smooth texture, which leaves my lashes feeling soft and silky, I can get the same result from something cheaper like Great Lash. Grade: B-


Maybelline Lash Stiletto: This cleverly named mascara promises to deliver “provocative length” thanks to it’s elastic formula. And that it did. My lashes looked longer than I had ever seen them, and I really like the black patent finish, which is really different – and very sexy! It doesn’t do much in the way of volume though, so if you’re looking for lush, thick lashes it’s not gonna happen with this one. Grade: A-

And there ya have it kids! Learn it. Know it. Live it.

Like any self respecting make-up aficionado, you’ll never catch me without my pink sequin make-up bag bursting with beauty goodness. This may seem like a little much to carry around on a daily basis, but that’s just how I roll, so here it is…

Stila Sheer Pressed Powder in Dark: I never leave home without my precious little compact, as my oily skin tends to act up throughout the day. This stuff is great because it offers enough coverage, but is still sheer and doesn’t feel weird on my face like heavier powders. And the color is fab!

Benefit Playsticks foundation in Jumprope: I’m sure you guys already knew this from reading my favorite things blog, but I heart this stuff.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on eye pencil in Zero: This is great for lining the inner rim of your eye. The intense color gives off that dramatic, smoky look, and it stays on really well.

Nars blush in Oasis: Yet another one of my favorite things, this pink blush makes me look fresh and rosey!

Sephora eye lash curler: It’s cheap, sturdy and get’s the job done.

Revlon tweezers: I bought a pair of these last year and they’re still good as new. And that’s nothing to scoff at considering I have the thickest eyebrows in the history of the world.

Benefit lipliner in Lush: I’ve been wearing this color for at least six years, and I love it because it matches brown, pink and mauve lipsticks. It’s even pretty on its own with a swipe of clear gloss over it.

Sephora Duel Sharpener: This saves me a little space in my otherwise overstuffed bag.

Sephora Lip Gloss #7: This pretty pink gloss has tiny flecks of multicolor sparkle for maximum dazzle. And it smells good too.

Nars Single Eye Shadow in Night Breed: This is THE shadow to use for the smoky eye look. And it’s got a hint of sparkle, which I love. Wait, I like sparkly things? Get the hell out!

Borjois Wet and Dry Eye Shadow in Blanc Diaphane: This is the perfect base for any colored eyeshadow. And the packaging is brilliant, as the curved applicator fits right inside the mini-compact.

Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara: It’s on my list of favorite things for a reason. It elongates, it thickens, it makes my lasher look fake! And I don’t industrial strength paint thinner to wash it off either.

And yes, this all fits in that little bag, it just requires a crafty packing method. I just put all the larger, flatter items along the sides – compact, blush and eye shadow – then stack the other items in the center from largest to smallest. It sounds like a process, but I can seriously do this in my sleep!

I ventured into Rite Aide the other day for some Christmas candy since it seems to attract cute boys to my desk at work, and naturally ended up making a detour toward the beauty aisle. Because lets face it, if there are beauty products within a 50 mile radius of my geographical location, I will sense them. I will find them. And I will make them mine.

So I scored a few really good new products. Would you like to know what they are? Very well then, here ya go:


CoverGirl Lash Blast Mascara:This is fabulous stuff. It lengthens and thickens like, insane amounts. And I have yet to get even one clump, thanks to this crazy looking little brush:
I salute you, weird looking brush thingy! You made my lashes look awesome, and for this I am thankful.

Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Daily Regeneration Moisture Lotion:
I have combination skin, and this moisturizer is rich enough to hydrate the dry areas of my face without making the rest of it break out. It also has SPF 15, which is something you should always look for in a moisturizer, especially if you’re using it as a base under your make-up, which is what did with this. The scent is nice too, light, unlike the Garnier hair care line, which I find a little overpowering for my taste. It also left my skin smooth as a baby’s butt.

L’Oreal Skin Genesis Micro Smoothing Wet Cleansing Towelettes:I.FREAKING.LOVE.THESE.THINGS. Seriously, I’m hooked. I’ll admit, the main reason I bought them was because they come in a shiny pink package. Not the best way to choose a skincare product, but in this case my instinct was right on the money. They’re refreshing, remove make-up like a dream and leave my face feeling fresh as a daisy. And I really like that fact that I can wash my face whilst watching the 11 o’clock news in my favorite chair.

Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lip Liner in Merlot:This was probably my favorite discovery of the day because I’ve been looking for a lip liner to match my MAC Viva Glam lipstick, and this is it. It goes on smooth, stays put and blends really well so I can avoid the unfortunate lip liner indiscretions of my high school homegirl days. Oh god, I’m having a bad make-up flashback. *Sits in corner, cries*

Though I’m always on the prowl for fabulous new products, these MVPs have found a permanent place in my heart – as well as my make-up bag!

5. Lorac Glam Rocks loose metallic eye shadow:
This offers major shimmer, and because the shadow comes in the form of tiny beads, it’s easy to control how heavily it goes on.
Price: $16, but worth it considering I wear it nearly every day, have had the same pot for 5 months and still have over half my product left.

4. Duwop Lip Venom:It tingles, it plumps. It makes me look like someone punched me in the mouth – without actually getting punched in the mouth! What more can a girl ask for?
Price: $16

3. Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara:
This is hands down my favorite mascara. It lengthens, thickens and never ever clumps. Because it’s so rich, one coat is more than enough, but I generally go for two or three because it gives the appearance of fake lashes and I enjoy the extra drama.
Price: $19

2. Nars Blush in Oasis:
It’s pink, it’s sparkly, it’s so pretty it brings a tear to my eye. And it goes on sheer so I don’t look like the crazy old lady on the bus who wears way too much blush and carries 8 bags full of crap with her.
Price: $25

1. Benefit Playsticks Foundation:
This foundation is awesome. The coverage is great, but it’s not too heavy. It looks and feels natural, and the stick lasts me about 3 months. My color is Jumprope, a medium tan hue that that perfectly matches my not quite dark, not quite light olive complexion.
Price: $32

And there ya have it kids. Learn it. Know it. Live it.