Mascara Drugstore Gem

I found yet another mascara that I just needed to tell you about. Except this one really trumps all my other mascaras and is now at the top of my list. And it's a drugstore mascara, which means it's perfect for the recessionista beauties!

Cover Girl Professional All-in-One Curved Brush Mascara is fabulous. I used to use this one as my third mascara each day for my routine, but now I realize that I really can just use Cover Girl Professional All-in-One by itself and I'm good to go. One day I was running out the door and decided to use only this blue tube and was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked at lengthening my lashes and not clumping. Cover Girl Professional All-in-One is a mascara girl's dream.

I picked this one up at Target one day for a few bucks because I needed a change from my usual suspects. I picked it because it had a different shaped brush - it's actually curved, which helps give you more coverage on your lashes. This mascara is true to its all-in-one name because it lengthens, darkens, and thickens. I usually follow it up with my shu uemura eyelash curler, but even if I didn't, my lashes would still look fabulous.

Find Cover Girl Professional All-in-One Curved Brush Mascara on Drugstore.com for $4.79.

-A

Mascara Tube Extensions

During the holiday season I received lots of beauty products as gifts and I can't wait to discuss them all with you. But before I get into any more of my favorite gifted products, I'd like to tell you a little bit about my discovery of a drugstore mascara beforehand.

I had heard a commercial on TV about adding lash extensions to your eyes with just mascara and having them come off when you washed your face, but I wasn't sure what this meant exactly. I had really enjoyed doing up my lashes for events with fun fake eyelashes, so I decided to check this out.

It turns out that what they advertise is kind of true and I enjoy using L'Oreal's Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara from time-to-time. This two-step mascara provides a primer and mascara to finish off your extended look. I think that my lashes are pretty clump-free and lengthened, but their commercials are kind of exaggerated.

The Double Extend mascara uses "tube technology" to essentially enclose each lash with an extension, which comes off when you wash your face. And they aren't lying about that. I was in the shower one day and I saw all these black things in my hands and was very confused. Then I remembered I had used the Double Extend mascara. But taking it off usually proves to be quite a chore and there are a lot of leftover pieces around my eyes. This doesn't make me happy.

All in all, L'Oreal's Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara is ok. I don't use it every day and don't really recommend it for a quick application (you have to do it meticulously, one eye at a time). It's nice to have options, but when a drugstore mascara costs $10.99, you might as well go straight to Sephora and get some Stila or Smashbox.

-A

Photo: LorealParisUSA.com

Extra Super (and Fabulous) Lash

My cousin is a genius. I mean GENIUS.

BP called me up the other day after reading some of my posts and told me that I just had to get Rimmel London's Extra Super Lash mascara. She claimed it worked really well, didn't run down her face ever, and made her lashes look long and full. And the best part: it only costs $2.99!!

Extra Super Lash is a thin, short brush that goes on nice and light, but keeps my lashes straight up all day. Yesterday, AB asked me if I was wearing false eyelashes. I was not! Just two coats of Extra Super Lash.

Of course, I prepped my lashes with a curl of my shu uemura eyelash curler and a base coat of Prescriptives Lash Builder primer. This is a perfect mascara for everyday wear and will certainly not break the bank! Go get Rimmel London's Extra Super Lash now!!! Thanks, prima.

-A

Exceptional Chanel

I'd like to continue today's mascara theme by talking a little bit about my trials as of late. Like S, I love to find a new mascara that will enhance my lashes to the fullest extent. With that in mind, I finally got to try out Chanel Exceptionnel. I had heard mixed reviews on the product - that it flaked; that it was too difficult to use; that it wasn't worth the money. But I would have to give this Chanel mascara two thumbs up!

OK, so Chanel Exceptionnel is not your typical mascara. It has an interesting brush - one that will not allow for smooth application if not used correctly. You cannot apply it like you would any other mascara - carefully wiggling from root to tip. Instead, you must use it in circular motions, rolling it outward from the root until you get to the tip. Chanel has a nice demo on their website in order to help you get the best usage out of this new mascara product.

It's not very difficult to learn how to use Chanel Exceptionnel. It works so well once you get the hang of it because it's like you are applying mascara, while curling your lashes at the same time. I find the result to be full, long, non-clumpy lashes that are sure to brighten anyone's face. It's an absolute must to try out. It is a little pricey at $28, so see if you can score yourself a sample - that's how I did it. I got a card in the mail from Macy's and brought it by the Chanel counter. Otherwise, if you can spend a few extra dollars on a good product, I'd suggest going straight for it and checking out why Chanel Exceptionnel is so exceptional.

-A

Ultimate Disappointment

I have been on the hunt for another mascara. Now, I know what you must be thinking - you already use so many! But as I have said many times I am a firm believer that when using mascara, more is MORE!! Daily, I use about four different mascaras and, no, it doesn't take long at all!! My makeup is done in five minutes flat.

I ALWAYS use Mac Prep and Prime and Mac Zoom, without substitutions. To add to this daily combination, I decided to try shu uemura's Ultimate Expression mascara and I was totally disappointed. I mean it literally felt like there was no improvement in my lashes at all. The formula, itself, was kind of dull as well so overall it was just a bad purchase. THANK GOD Sephora will exchange almost anything for you because $23 was a lot to spend on a bad product.

It's back to the drawing board for me, but I'm sure I'll be able to get a good review up for all you Makeup Lovers soon!! Until then, keep searching and let us know what your cant-live-without mascara is!

-S

My Faves Modified

I'm pumped! I've been following Beauty and the Blog (that's Sephora's very own beauty blog) and saw some great things they are discovering at Sephora's San Francisco Headquarters. Check 'em out. I can't wait until they come out!

Product 1 - Laura Geller Tinted Spackle - beginning September 24th, you can now buy this excellent foundation primer in a tinted version. How great is that!! Now, I can use Mario Bedescu's regular moisturizer and save the tinting for the primer during the winter months. I'm sure I'll switch back and forth, however, on the Stila tinted moisturizer and the good old original spackle

Product 2 - Benefit BADGal Plum Mascara - Our fave blue mascara for the summer will now be available in a deep purple for the fall! Purple is the new black and is certainly the fashionable color for this next season of leaves dropping and cool breezes. Walk out into the world with fashionable eyes and use purple mascara to accent your eyes. This sounds absolutely amazing!

-A

The Power is Yours

We've seen all the ads and celebrity endorsements before: a mascara that is clump-free and voluminous. But how many of those actually work without using your shu uemura eyelash curler and a few mascaras on top of a primer? This brings me to the vibrating mascara.

I'm pretty intrigued with the new vibrating mascaras I've been hearing about. The Lancome Vibrating Infinite Powermascara is said to make 7,000 oscillations per minute to give you the best coverage and full lashes! That's pretty quick movement. If it does what it says, can you imagine how much time could be taken off a girl's daily makeup routine! The only thing is that it's not available until December now in Sephora and it will run you $34.

There's also Estee Lauder's TurboLash, which has been available since July, but exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue. That one is $30.

I can't help but wonder if this will be an effective tool to throw on my list of makeup faves or if it is just some kind of marketing tool. Why is it that it's either a limited edition or only available at certain stores? (although TurboLash will be available throughout the US in December as well - right in time for the holidays of course!).

But perhaps it is not just another kind of mascara that you can add to the bushel that doesn't work. Maybe it will work after all. We'll only know when we try it out so stay tuned to when I get my hands on an oscillating and vibrating mascara!

-A

A Natural Low-Key Day

One of the first thoughts I had this morning was "I don't want to wear makeup today." Gasp! I don't leave the house without makeup - what could I be thinking!

At the dawn of a long weekend, I just didn't want to deal with it. I'm so tired and need this long weekend so badly! But I needed to push through and look presentable. After all, I wasn't going to be hanging around in my pajamas all day catching up on Season 1 of Gossip Girl (though that is very appealing to me).

I decided to go with my initial instincts. My makeup routine for today was very minimal. I used a sample of Dior moisturizer (because why not try something new?), Benefit BADgal Blue mascara, MAC's hyacinth eyeliner, and my bronzer and blush. I didn't even use eyeshadow! However, I supplemented that fact and the minimal makeup decision by using different colors to spice up my eyes a bit.

I feel very liberated today, which is interesting. I will certainly return to my regular routine tomorrow for sure, but for today I'm keeping it low key with just a dash of spice.

-A

Something Old, Something New

I opened up my new Sephora Lash Plumper this morning. It was glorious. I had forgotten that brand new versions of a product you've already been using could be so exciting. In fact, I was just writing a blog the other day about how I was only excited to write about products that I hadn't tried out before and hadn't been in my routine. But I didn't realize the pleasure you get out of using something new, no matter what it is.

It was certainly time to order a new mascara. I was so not excited at the prospect, however, because it was something I was used to. In fact, I decided to place an online order and not waste a trip to the mall (not to mention I got some free samples!). But I had been stuck with this particular tube for a little longer than I should have been - it had been about six months since I had switched it out for a new tube (that's way too long - it should be more like three months!).

But when I opened up my Sephora Lash Plumper, it was quite refreshing and started my day off on the right foot. It was neat and clean and glided onto my lashes like butter spreads on bread. It was just so easy and my lashes seem perfect today.

At least I know my products are some of my faves for a reason. Although I'm in love with new products, they don't have to be unknown to me. They're just as fabulous from my good old makeup repertoire.

-A

What's in a Name?

I'm always intrigued by the names of products. It is so important for marketers to name their product with just the right touch, like I would write a headline for an article or an author might name their book. It's products that have strange names that really get me thinking about how they'll work. What you call your product is almost as important as the product's productivity and is the key to success.

My Laura Geller Spackle intrigued me from the moment I saw it. As a sample, I figured I should try it anyway, but the spackle part made me feel as if I were about to fix my face like they fix a wall on the DIY Network. Now while that may seem strange - who wants to pretend their face is part of carpentry - it was an interesting concept to me. Spackle is actually something that fills in holes and smoothes out a surface. I tried it and fell in love.

Similarly, I got an email from the Sephora Beauty Insider this morning, entitled "Best. Mascaras. Ever." That, in and of itself, was intriguing to begin with. Then when I opened it up, they listed a few mascaras I might be interested in. Here are just some of the names:

DuWop Lash Venom Mascara
Sephora Brand Atomic Volume Mascara
Too Faced Lash Injection Pin Point

The terms venom, atomic volume, and lash injection immediately caught my attention here. I mean who wouldn't want lashes so large as to have been injected with some kind of venom to get volume that's just atomic?!

It's true, however, that not all products can live up to the names they sport. It's like juding a book by its cover. You may be attracted at first, but will this product leave you looking attractive?

-A

Photo: Sephora.com

Simple Mascara Routine

So we just got back from a fab beach weekend and I felt it was very important to blog about my mascara routine. As we all know mascara can basically change your entire look (for the better) and many times it's all you need as you run out the door. My routine, which I think works great for me (and could for you too!), is as follows in order:

Shu Uemura Eye Lash Curler
Mac Prep and Prime
Mac Zoom in black
LashBlast by Cover Girl in very black
Tarte Lights Camera Action in black
Maybelline Lash Discovery in black

Now I know what you all must be thinking - OMG!! So many mascaras to use at one time! But I am telling you, you will be amazed at the results when you use more that product as well as the eye lash curler. No more fake eyelashes for this make up lover. Oh and by the way I promise it will only tack on about two extra minutes to your normal make up routine. Give it a try! Tell me what you think about it…

-S

Photo: CoverGirl.com

False Lash Impressions

JW complemented me on my eyes the other night. I hadn't seen her since my birthday weekend when I first tried out my fake eyelashes. I was completely sold on Sephora's brand of fakeys, especially since I kept getting so many complements. JW loved them and she gave me some of her recommendations on the lashes.

The other night she asked S if I was wearing the fake lashes and S told her that I was not. JW later told me that she had been fooled by my eyes that looked so full and lengthy. My secret? Primer, three good mascaras, and shu uemura.

Now, three mascaras seems completely ludicrous. Who has that kind of time? But after a while you just kind of become used to using them and it seriously lasts all day long. Here's my process (and don't be discouraged by the length because it really doesn't take that long!!):

1. Use your eyelash curler (shu uemura = love) to prep your lashes.
2. Prime your lashes with a white base, like Prescriptives Lash Builder.
3. I like to start my mascaras with a thinner, professional type brush, like Clinique's High Definition lashes.
4. A thicker brush is next. I use Sephora's Lash Plumper.
5. Use the shu uemura again.
6. Finish it off with a thin brush, like Cover Girl Lash Exact or Maybelline Define-A-Lash.

Yes, I have had many trials and tribulations with mascara, but through trial and error I have found the best options that work for me. And with my very own lashes I can give off the false impression that they are too good to be true. But they're all mine!

-A

Photo: shuuemura-usa.com

It's Summer and I've Got the Blues

Summer has officially begun so of course I'm not actually sad and blue. I actually wanted to tell you about the perfect summer product: colored mascara.

Last summer, blue mascara resurfaced and I figured I would try it out. I LOVE IT. It's the perfect amount of make up for, let's say, a day at the beach! The tricky part about blue mascara is that you need to find the perfect shade. I found this in Benefit's BADgal Blue mascara. During any summer day with this on your lashes, your eyes will pop, appear brighter, and you will feel fabulous because it is so easy and quick. And, BADgal Blue won't run either.

Another trick that I love about with this mascara is to use regular black mascara on the top lashes, and then apply the blue to just the lower lashes. The best part of this combo is that I found the PERFECT eyeliner to go with this mascara - and it's only $4! It's by Sephora and the color is 071.

Today is a beach day for me so you can bet that I will definitely be wearing my BADgal Blue Mascara!

-S

Photo: Sephora.com

shu uemura or M.A.C.?

What's in an eyelash curler? And why do we use them? How can you choose just the right one? shu uemura and MAC both make eyelash curlers, so which do we pick? They look exactly the same at first glance, but is there any difference?

We don't think so. You can see that they are both the same exact color, the same exact weight, and they move in the same way. The only difference we can see is price-wise. MAC makes their eyelash curler for $14, sold at all department stores that carry MAC, as well as MAC retail stores and MACcosmetics.com. The shu uemura eyelash curler is $19, sold at Sephora and other major department stores. We can't say we believe all the hype over the shu uemura eyelash curler, as it seems as if they are exactly the same, with different labels. 

As for usage, both work very well and create a full set of eyelashes. But it's also important to use the right kind of mascara, while you're at it. Check out our future blog posts and see which mascaras are the best, according to MLA. You may be surprised at the full lashes you'll get for your next big night out on the town!

Photo: shu uemura (left) and MAC (right)