Archive for the ‘Mascara’ Category

I’ve been a fan of Maybelline’s The Falsies Volum’ Express mascara since it came out last summer, so when I heard they made it even better I was giddy with delight. Well, maybe not giddy but at least reasonably excited. So I’ve been using this latest incarnation of The Falsies for a few weeks now and all in all, I’m not any more impressed than I am with the original.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a good mascara, it just doesn’t offer anything better than the original version does. The length and volume are still great, which is no surprise considering it’s pretty much the same formula used in The Falsies. The only difference between the two is the brush, which is slightly more flared out than that of the original.

This is the original Falsies brush, which is flatter than most other mascara wands thus helping better distribute the mascara through the entire lash.

This is the Falsies Flared brush. It’s larger, with a more pronounced curve and a larger taper at the end which is supposed to flare out the lashes in the outer corner, thus giving the appearance of false lashes. At least that’s what it’s supposed to do, but I really didn’t notice a huge difference compared to the original wand. And my lashes, while full and voluminous look nowhere close to fake.

This is still a great buy if you’re looking for length and volume for under $7. If you’re looking for something that will give the appearance of fake lashes however, I suggest, just wearing fake lashes.

Final Verdict: Still love it, but your lashes won’t look fake.
Price: About $7
Get it: Drugstores

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!