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.

Makeover: Marisa's Hair

I'm gonna deviate from my usual product reviews to talk about something a little more personal.

I've been giving my friends and family make-overs for pretty much my entire life. My sister now looks to me as her #1 hair dresser. I want to share some before and after photos of how I recently cut and styled her hair.
(Note: It was fairly late at night with a bit of a time constraint, so we only did a haircut and quick style, no make-up or hairdye this time around.)

As you can see, Marisa's hair is fairly long and naturally curly, and, while it maintains some shine, it appears to be a little frizzy.

I trimmed the ends, added a little Pantene Pro-V Ultimate 10 BB Creme, flat-ironed, and shaped some quick curls with a thick-barrel curling iron. Though we lose some of the natural wild curls, we gain a relaxed, sophisticated look.

I love to add shorter layers to the front to help frame Marisa's glowing face.

"I look like a completely different person!" exclaimed a delighted Marisa when she looked at her new 'do in the mirror.

I've seen hair stylists do icky things to curly hair, especially adding loads of gel and/or hairspray to make curls crunchy and untouchable, and I appreciate having a sibling with long hair to practice (self-taught, amateur, unprofessional) hair artistry.

Many thanks to Marisa for volunteering to contribute to my blog!

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

Liquid Eyeliner

Most days, I have to stick to a time-sensitive make-up routine that'll get me out of the door. But, hey, I wanna look nice. Some days, I don't have time for priming, layering, contouring, eyeshadow here, eye pencil there, smudging, dabbing, perfecting-- I gots someplace to be.

Cue liquid eyeliner. It's sharp, it can be subtle or dramatic, it's quick and (after a little practice) easy, and it's not necessary to prime or add eyeshadow or anything. (It's great with full make-up looks too, of course, but as far as bare essentials (not the brand), this is a good one to have.) You want those perfect little Audrey Hepburn cat eyes? Grab yourself some liquid eye liner.

You may have noticed there are a lot of choices out there. It's not easy finding a good quality liquid liner.

Maybelline Waterproof Ultra Liner is supposedly a waterproof liquid liner. This product is one I now avoid. The formula crackles, flakes, and even slides off in large chunks.

Mavala Liquid Eyeliner. I will swear by the brand Mavala for their eyelash growth serum, but the eyeliner isn't the best I've ever tried. I own this in navy blue (which truly is a dark navy blue) but I find I don't use it often. It takes a bit long to dry, and then it doesn't last very long. The long brush is good quality, but it's a bit thin and not the easiest to get a non-wiggly line free-hand unless you're a pro.

The Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner is a decent product. This one has a felt tip rather than a brush, so it's much easier to get a more controlled line.

The Almay Liquid Eyeliner is similar to the Revlon Colorstay version, though I found the quality is a little less than Revlon. The liquid is a little thinner and the felt tip is more likely to fray just a little. Nonetheless, it's another decent easy-to-apply liquid liner.

Revlon was my favorite liquid liner until I discovered Sephora Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner. This is my go-to eyeliner. This once again has a felt tip, which makes application easy and precise. The formula is awesome and lasts! There are a range of colors and different finishes (matte, glossy, metallic, glitter) and you can choose waterproof or regular. This is my #1 liquid eyeliner recommendation.

Benefit Magic Ink Liner uses a richly-black long-lasting formula packed in a super-stylish design. I have two problems with this eyeliner: firstly, the brush is once again the long-haired bristles that aren't quite a point, but rather a tiny chisel-shape, which does not make controlling the line easy. The bristles are also a little stiff with a springiness that isn't ideal for a one-way swept application. Secondly, part of the barrel of the pot came loose and attached itself around the base of the top-- a packaging defect that isn't impossible to fix, but just makes the bottle a little less convenient for me.

Although I only own one color, I will mention the Make Up For Ever Aqua Liner has some great colors and another felt-tip brush, though this one is a tad shorter and thicker than others I've used. I have the #9 Pink color (a cool metallic hot pink) and not only does the intense color stay without smudging or flaking, but the sheen of the metallic finish stays, too. It is expensive, though, especially when Sephora also makes a great liquid pink liner for ten bucks cheaper.

Finally, let's talk about felt-tip eyeliner markers. I've tried three or four different brands and I usually can't even bare to keep them. (I hate throwing away make-up, or even returning it.) I talked to a saleslady about her recommendations for good-quality eyeliner markers, and two brands popped up: NYX and Stila. The saleslady actually recommended NYX over Stila because she complained that the Stila eyeliner marker would make her eyes sting. (Judging by her artfully made-up face, eyelash extensions and all, I'm guessing she wasn't the most sensitive make-up user.) This was enough to dissuade me from trying Stila (so far).

That brings us to the NYX Super Skinny Eye Marker. At first, I liked it as a more subtle liner that could be applied thinner than my usual liquid liner. It looked natural, making my eyelashes look fuller, which I liked quite a bit. But, within a week, the ink stopped flowing to the tip, and no matter how I angled it, shook it, or marked up my hand trying to get that ink flowing, it simply did not flow to the tip, making it near impossible to use as a decent liner. Conclusion: Eyeliner markers don't work.

L'Oréal Paris: Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain

One huge trend right now is lip stains. Lip stains pack a punch of color (which is often long-lasting), and often come in an ink-like formula, sometimes packaged as pens/markers or liquid stains that look like lip gloss. Of course lip stains are also produced in solid forms, too, but I haven't been super-moved by most stick-forms of drugstore brand "lip stains"; more often than not, they don't offer much color and/or they're far from moisturizing.

I did find one that I actually do like: L'Oréal Paris: Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain. (A mouthful, I know.)

The tube is mysterious, and I honestly didn't know if I were buying a stick or a liquid when I first bought it. It's advertised as a lightweight, non-sticky, glossy stain.

The texture of this product is thinner than a gloss and it doesn't feel sticky when you first apply it. (It almost feels dewy on your lips.) If you do layer it on, it can get sticky while it's trying to set on your lips. But if you treat it like a nail polish-- just one coat and let it set for a minute or two, with a possible second coat for richer color-- it has a lovely, lightly moisturized feel and a shine that looks wetter than it is. I like to think of this as a semi-opaque watercolor version of a lip gloss.

You can search Google for more swatches, but I went ahead and provided my own for the four colors I currently own.

As far as lip stains go, this applies smoother and more evenly, but still needs to be treated as a stain: if you purse your lips too much before it's set, the pigments will be pushed to your outer lips.

Finally, there is a definite scent to this product. To me, it smells like a light rosy fragrance, perhaps added to enhance the experience...? I personally like it, but those who are sensitive about scents on their face, you may not enjoy this product because of that reason.

This is honestly one of my favorite lip color products as of recent. For a long day of working and talking, I find this is moisturizing without getting clumpy or collecting in the inner rims of my lips (as many lip glosses love to do). It's easy to reapply, even to dry lips, and it feels like effortless beauty.