30 Second Beauty Tip!

The concern: clumpy mascara. Dun dun dun...

The solution: when you notice that your mascara is beginning to thicken and clump more frequently (we're talking problems on the first coat, let alone the second), run your mascara wand under warm water. The warm water will rinse the buildup of mascara from your wand. Once you've cleaned your wand, dry it and take it for another spin in your mascara tube - the resulting application will likely be less goopy and less likely to clump!

Also, resist the urge to "pump" your mascara wand when trying to accumulate more product - pumping actually contributes to your mascara gooping up and drying out quicker than it should!

Here's to lovely lashes, Love!

xoxox

Product Review: Japonesque Heated Eyelash Curler - A HOT Item!

Again, pun intended.
Though we all know what "they" say about assumptions, let us make an exception; in my case, it is fair to assume that the pun is always intended.

Today I tried out an alternative to the traditional eyelash curler - for those of us who don't particularly care for the traditional metal clamp advancing towards our eyelashes and our pretty lil' peepers. Now we lashclampophobes (that's the clinical term, right?) have an alternative that will spare us lash-curler anxiety attacks - no more fear of the pinch! We all know the pinch.

Japonesque Heated Eyelash Curler (Mini) $16

Source

How it works: Apply mascara and allow the curler to heat (the package indicates 15 seconds should be sufficient but see what works best for you). Place the wand along your lashes and wiggle it so that they make contact with the heated coil. Then, using the same technique you used to apply your mascara, bring the wand up along your lashes, rotating it as you do. A few passes along your lashes and voila! curl sans crimping or pinching.

For those of you who'd prefer to use a traditional lash curler but haven't fallen in love with one yet, an upcoming Shu Uemura review may be helpful to you...

Sayonara, Sweetheart!

xoxox

Mascara Woes...

They say you never know what you've got 'til it's gone...

And although I don't necessarily think that they were referring to mascara, I find that it applies here too. My favorite mascara tube is nearly empty and it's time to repurchase! On a brighter note, I will be repurchasing, not continuing to search for that perfect match! I thought perhaps it would be helpful to tell you a bit about mascaras that I've tried. A little bit of love it or leave it input to aide you in your quest for your own perfect mascara match!


At #1 - BadGal Lash by Benefit



This Mascara Will Change Your World. It has the ultimate fluffy brush-luxe, right? Unlike other mascaras, it truly does add volume and length with just a small amount! For those of you who prefer a few coats (several if you are me), you will notice that this mascara does not clump the way most others do! The formula dries quickly, minimizing the chance of the mascara'd lash stamp on your upper lid AND I've found that it doesn't flake on my cheek!

I have fairly sensitive eyes that have been irritated by certain mascaras in the past (think a certain pink and green that's been around since the beginning of time) and this mascara doesn't bother my eyes at all.

Benefit, you've done well!

Image Source / Buy BadGal by Benefit for $19


Runner Up - Skyscraper Multi-Benefit Mascara by Urban Decay

My second favorite mascara at the moment, and one that I think works nicely but doesn't make my heart go pitter-patter at the same rate that the first did (le sigh), is Skyscraper by Urban Decay. The product description advises that the formula is meant to "lengthen, strengthen, separate, curl, brighten and thicken." While I cannot prove the mascara's ability to strengthen and brighten, I do believe that it accomplishes in creating longer looking, separated lashes. The wand is concise, but I can see this mascara being more useful for people of all lash lengths. The size of the wand allows for strategic placement sans undereye residue from a misguided swipe, so it will work great for shorter lashes as well.

Image Source / Buy Skyscraper by Urban Decay for $22

Amongst my leave-its are:

BareEcentuals Flawless Definition - the wand is very thin and I felt that it took too much time to achieve length and definition. The wand can support very little product at a time and application is more tedious than with other mascara options. If you are in no hurry at all (thus eliminating applications in the morning before work) this may work well for you. However, if you are looking for a mascara that you can swipe on and go, this won't be your cup of tea.

Maybelline XXL Pro - the primer works excellently, but the mascara itself does clump quite a bit so your lashes will require some declumping attention post application.

Maybelline Pulse Perfection - mascara works well enough and the vibrating wand does help slightly in preventing clumping. Unfortunately, I found that applying more than one coat is a difficult task because the mascara is quite clump-prone and adheres to itself.

Maybelline Full and Soft - an okay formula to get by with. This isn't going to take your lashes to the next level but it will suffice.

Rimmel Glam Eyes - an okay mascara with an awful wand. I will never repurchase this mascara because the wand is flimsy and literally bends against the container when you try to put it back into the tube. I cannot explain how many times I had mascara all over my hand because the wand bent when I tried to put it back in the container. Awful.

Overall, I would suggest Benefit's BadGal Lash to everyone. Go out and buy it now! Sometimes you can even score a sample of the formula as a gift with purchase from places like Belk, Ulta, etc.

Good luck, Gorgeous!