Mascara Part Two: Prestige Brands

In my previous post, I talked about some mascaras that can be found in drugstores. I will now continue on to prestige-brand mascaras I've tried first-hand.

BareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara.
Good. I like this mascara and I like the fact that it comes in a couple of different colors. (Check out the aqua blue!) It's a clean, long-lasting formula that doesn't have clumping issues. I just wish the bristles of the brush reached shorter lashes.

Benefit Bad Gal Lash and Benefit They're Real!
Great! These are both amazing mascaras, especially when you want unbelievably luscious, dramatic lashes. I haven't experienced any kind of messiness and minimal clumping from these prestigious formulas. The only downside is that it's a struggle to remove the makeup later (though eye makeup remover like Lancome Bi-Facil or Albolene work gently yet efficiently). These are highly recommended mascaras.

Clinique High Impact Mascara and Naturally Glossy Mascara.
Not Good and Good. Upon trying a sample of Clinique's High Impact mascara, I had a bit of eye sensitivity to the formula and the subtlety of the appearance of the formula didn't move me enough to be worth it. But I've enjoyed other products from Clinique, so I did a little research and found the Naturally Glossy mascara was getting decent ratings. It's a nice natural-looking mascara (that isn't shiny), which is highly-pigmented without feeling thick or heavy.

Not Recommended.
Dior Diorshow Blackout Mascara is a deeply black formula, but I found it to be messy and not long-lasting.
Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effect Mascara has a luxurious feel to it, but the formula is again messy, clumping and not long-lasting.
Make Up For Ever was very clumpy and not worth a second application (which is a shame considering their color options!).
I've tried these three mascaras only as smaller samples, so there is a chance I merely received a lesser-quality batch.

Laura Mercier Long Lash Mascara.
Great! This is one of my favorite mascaras. The application is clean, dark yet not fiberous or overly thick, and it's very long-lasting without feeling heavy. I highly recommend this mascara.

Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara.
Okay. This is a lengthening formula that offers dramatic dark pigments. While I enjoy the drama of the pigments and the fiber extensions that this mascara builds, I find the formula to be a little on the messy side, enough to keep me from reaching for it often.

Sephora Full Action Extreme Effect Mascara
Great! This is a low-cost high-quality mascara that comes in a couple of different colors. The bottle has a smoothed-triangular shape to it that makes it comfortable to hold, and it's a clean formula. This is another one of my favorites.

Tarina Tarantino Fleur De Lash Mascara
Great! This is one more of my favorite mascaras. The brush is fantastic, the formula isn't too thick but adds just enough drama, and the packaging is luxe. My sister was actually the one to discover this mascara, and it remains one of my absolute favorites.

Kat Von D Immortal Lash 24 Hr Mascara
Good. This received its own review in my past post here. To sum it up, it's the blackest mascara that I've encountered and, while the brush is a little scary, it reaches even the shortest lashes. I don't recommend this mascara for beginners or those who are uncomfortable with mascara, but for the seasoned and the brave, it's worth that delicious dark payoff that lasts.

That wraps up my two-part mascara reviews.
If you haven't yet read part one, scroll down to read more mascara reviews.
Also, for easier and cleaner application, check out my tips on using a mascara application guide here.

Feel free to post comments and questions, e-mail me requests or suggestions, or say hi!
Until next time!

Mascara Part One: Drugstore Brands

I've tried a few different mascaras, some drugstore-brand and some prestige products, and I want to share some of my first-hand observations.

Let's start with some drugstore brands.

Almay Intense i-Color Volumizing Mascara.
Good. (You may recall from this post.) It's a decent, stay-put mascara that comes in a few subtle colors. It doesn't seem to add length, but it's one of the few drugstore mascaras that comes in colors. Additionally, Almay is a brand specifically catering to those with sensitive skin.

Covergirl LashBlast Volumizing Mascara.
Not recommended. The wand is thick, round and needlessly bulky; I've actually found the packaging a little difficult to grip while twisting it open. The brush is interesting, with a thicker inner wand, shorter plastic spike-like bristles that have a thicker base to them. This results in better separation of lashes, but less reach means less lashes are being coated. Finally, the formula is prone to lumping. Not recommended.

Maybelline Full'N'Soft Mascara.
Great! I love this mascara. It looks and feels far more natural than other brands I've tried, and it's easier to wash off. Additionally, I didn't have any issues with messiness-- and everyone who knows me knows I will put it through an 8-hour day. This is one of the best mascaras out there for a natural look.

Maybelline GreatLash Waterproof Mascara.
Okay. This is a tried-and-true mascara that's been around for a while. (This mascara in color Royal Blue has been my mom's go-to for as long as I can remember. Thus it was the first mascara I ever applied to myself!) It's a good little mascara, but after a few hours, it does start to flake off and get a little messy. The small brush is easy to apply safely (especially for those uncomfortable or new to applying mascara) but the shape does make it a little difficult to comb between lashes for thorough application.

Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara.
Good. This formula is specifically designed to extend the ends of your eyelashes, while defining and separating. It really does add length and definition to eyelashes. I do recommend this mascara if you want your eyelashes to appear longer.

Tune in next time for Mascara Part Two: Prestige Brands!

Physicians Formula: Shimmer Strips Kohl Eyeliner

Kohl eyeliner is a form of pencil eyeliner with a smoother formula, rendering it easyto blend for an awesome smoky eye look.

I recently tried Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Kohl Kajal Eyeliner Trio, which claims to be a 100% waterproof high-performance eyeliner.

I gave it the official test: primed my eyes, added preliminary pressed powder eyeshadow, and applied the black Physicials Formula kohl eyeliner. I loved the way it smoothly, effortlessly lined my waterline without tugging or feeling dry. Additionally, it had a slight shimmer to it that made my eyes pop. I set it with some setting micropowder to make sure it had the best chance of staying.

It didn't last an hour before marking the crease of my eyelid and dotting beneath my eyes. I touched it up before work, but needless to say, it did not survive an 8-hour work shift.

Physicians Formula is great for dermatologist-approved, sensitive-eye-safe, hypoallergenic, paraben-free, fragrance-free products, and this is a very comfortable dramatic eyeliner-- not sticky or thick or dry. It's just unfortunate that it's a messy product that doesn't last.

NYX: Soft Matte Lip Cream

One huge trend right now is using a pop of color in one's make-up look. I've been on the lookout for a matte lip cream that is highly saturated but comfortable to wear.

Cue NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream. It is marketed as being a silky not-gloss-but-not-lipstick moisturizing lip cream. I bought "Monte Carlo", which looked like a deep red.

The application was fine (maybe one small clump of product while the rest was creamy). Within three minutes of being on my lips (undisturbed, no eating or dabbing), the cream looked like an opaque stain that resembled a light magenta rather than a deep vampiric red.

In the past, that bright magenta resulting from a deep red product tends to occur when the product is more of a stain, or a formula meant to react (to some extent) to one's body chemistry. At this point, I figured that reds tend to be difficult when it comes to such a formula. I would give NYX soft matte lip cream another chance; thus I exchanged that "deep red" Monte Carlo for the color Milan, which looked like a peachy buff, hopefully a more natural color.

This time I only painted my bottom lip to show my natural lip color by comparison.

So while the saturated cotton-candy-pink color was quite cute, it certainly didn't look like the natural buff color that was presented to me on the tube.

While the NYX soft matte lip creams are decently moisturizing and so temptingly cheap (about $5 when not on sale), I personally wouldn't trust the colors on the tubes. It is definitely not true to color. (Maybe it's a body chemistry reaction, or maybe these formulas just run a little vibrant-cool-pink.) Also, I should note that the color isn't "kiss-proof"-- it will rub off.

As a side note, NYX also disappointed me before with their NYX Butter Lip Balm in Marshmallow.

The butter lip balm is a little chalky, yet still a bit moisturizing. Once again, the color was just not what I was hoping for.

I won't give up on NYX products, but these NYX lip products have me a little wary about exploring further in their lip department.

Makeover: Marisa's Hair (Part 2)

I'm grateful for a sibling with long hair for me to dye, curl, style, cut, and enjoy. While I've been moonlighting as my sister's personal stylist for over half of my life, I've only just begun to dip into the world of ombre and highlights. This time around, I challenged myself with multiple colors in an ombre look.

You might remember Marisa from an earlier post back in March. Here, she has her hair stripped of color, resulting in a lighter, warmer color than her natural dark hair. I began with the ombre effect using some hair bleach without adding any extra streaked highlights.

The next step was the hard one: the dye. I used three colors: natural brown, vibrant violet, and aqua blue. I mainly went for an ombre effect, with a couple of steaks here or there to make the wild colors stand out more.

While Marisa had a moment's hesitation to transition from the blonde ombre to the wild colors, it was worth it in the end.

Now Marisa has some wild, amazing colors to match her butterfly personality!

Thank you, Marisa, for volunteering to be my beauty fashion model!

If you're interested in gorgeous jewelry, check out Marisa's blog!

Color Theory for Eye Makeup

How do we use color theory to make our eyes pop?

Artists and designers use color wheels to help them with colors, mixing colors with pigments, lights, or optically. The placement of colors on a color wheel don't change-- the red-violet will never wake up suddenly next to green wondering what happened the night before. The main thing to note about color theory is the placement of the colors. The primary colors (three basic colors that mix to make all other colors) are red, blue, and yellow. Everything else in between (yellow-green, red-violet, orange, etc.) is created using some mixture of primary colors.

Complimentary colors are the colors that are directly across from each other on the color wheel. Complimentary colors are harmonious-- they make each other "pop" with contrast. For example, green compliments red. This means neighbors of green, such as blue-green or yellow-green, will also compliment red.

What does this mean for, say, eye color?

Maybe you have blue eyes. Maybe they're grey, or green, or brown. Maybe they're hazel. Maybe you like to specify-- "red-brown" versus "golden-brown". Whatever your eye color, there's a complimentary color to it.

If you happen to have red-brown eyes, and you really want to emphasize that red color, choosing a compliment to it (green) would make that red stand out. If you wanted that brown color to seem less red, you'd use a color similar to it, like a warm brown for example, to trick the eye into believing the red-brown color were more of a neutral brown.

For grey-blue eyes, a navy blue is going to make your eyes seem more grey, while a compliment-- orange, gold or bronze-- will make that blue stand out. Black is going to make that delicate grey-blue feel more pale.

Color theory is an excellent way to find combinations for your eye color to really stand out, and it's a very empowering tool. But it isn't a rule! Make-up is an artform without limitations! Experiment, have fun, be confident and express yourself!

For more helpful info about color theory in make-up, check out this article.

Tips and Hacks

More reviews on the way. In the meantime, I have a couple of little tips and articles to share:

Here is an inspired eye makeup look that makes green eyes pop!

Here are 41 interesting and inspiring beauty tips.

This easy 5-step tutorial shows how to apply lip color, from prepping to defining and long-wear application.

Kat Von D: Immortal Lash 24 Hour Mascara

So this mascara just came out: Kat Von D Immortal Lash 24 Hour Mascara.

This is probably the blackest black mascara I've ever used.

Wand:
The brush is rather long and curved, and I found it to bend fairly easily during application. Especially with long, thorn-like bristles, it was a little scary during my first use. I didn't find the length or the curve of the brush to be particularly necessary. However, the tip has a rounded concentrate of bristles that are very helpful in defining corner lashes.

Color Payoff:
The color is truly a nice deep black, fantastic with even black liquid liners.

Formula:
I really like this formula. The product sets quickly and I didn't find it noticeably clumpy on the brush. It really lasts all day without smudging or flaking, which is amazing considering the intensity of the color. (My under-eyes love to collect any flecks or smudges of dark eye makeup, so it's outstanding to find a mascara that doesn't contribute to that kind of mess!) This is not one of those mascaras that adds liquid nylon extensions, but it does thicken lashes without coating them to the point of feeling heavy or clumpy; just lovely and defined.

Price:
$20

Verdict:
Regardless of the price, I'd still recommend this mascara amongst my top five. If you can get used to that large, curved brush, it's worth it for rich, defined black-as-night lashes.

Colorful Eyeshadow: Blue & Yellow

Normally for work, I'm fairly straight-forward and basic with eye make-up. However, I had a stroke of inspiration this week to play with color.

 

 I started with some Urban Decay Primer..

 ... which, if you don't own it, it's the difference between eyelid creases and staying power. This primer is a must-have.

Next, I lined my eyes with a dark teal pencil shadow, in this case, Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow in 8E, a delicious dark teal.

After a bit of blending, I layered on some eyeshadow-- in this case, Sephora + Pantone Universe Shades of Nature palette.

A bright yellow towards my tear ducts, an emerald color on my outer lid, and some light teal to blend between. The contour on my crease was the last eyeshadow step-- a dark teal somewhat similar to that first Aqua Shadow liner.

After the eye shadows, I added a bit of sparkle to my lower lashline with my shiny Sephora Waterproof Eyeliner in blue.

 Finally, I used two mascaras..

-- Almay Intense I-Color Volumizing Mascara in plum for my top lashes, and BareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara in aqua blast for my lower lashes.

And voila! A fun, colorful look!

Mascara Applicator Guide

I know I haven't addressed mascara yet in this blog, but I want to show you a new tool I've discovered that makes applying mascara much easier!

This is one example of a Mascara Applicator Guide, (sometimes referred to as an eyelash comb applicator guide or some variation thereof).

You know when you're applying mascara, and you either touch the wand to your eyelid (resulting in unintentional dots messing up your eyeshadow), or you're so afraid to get near your eye that you barely color the outer edges of your eyelashes, leaving the roots of the eyelashes uncolored? Maybe you use your finger over your eyelid to use as a backing to prop your eyelashes against while you're applying your mascara, resulting in a messy finger and possibly clumpy eyelashes.

Cue the Mascara Applicator Guide. I know it kind of looks like a torture device, but I promise you, this little plastic tool is a game-changer. The shape is similar to an eyelash curler, and basically, the guide guards your already-applied eyeshadow/eyeliner (or just your lovely natural eyelid) while you apply your mascara. While there are plenty of variations on this mascara guide tool, some actually have a comb built right in so that you can keep your eyelashes separated before, during, and after the application process.

Mascara lovers, try this out. It's a very inexpensive little tool that makes applying mascara just a little bit easier.