Revlon False Fingernails

I actually don't like having long nails at all. I feel like they just get in my way and they drive me crazy. I got myself a nice French manicure for my wedding six years ago, and before the end of our honeymoon, I had pried most of them off and then went to a nail salon for them to remove the rest.

In the interest of full disclosure, these were sent to us by a Revlon representative who asked us to try them. I said I would, as long as it was understood my review would be completely honest and true. With that in mind, Missy and I attempted one night to apply them. We failed miserably, more of our own fault than anything, and neither one of us got more than two on before we were soaking our hands in acetone to get them off. But one of the packages of these Revlon nails that were sent to me were this rockin' set called "Crocodile." They were red, and the print on them looked more like spider webs than crocodile. I told Missy, "I am SO going to rock these bad boys." I was determined. One night, the kids were in bed, my husband was working, and I took the opportunity to apply them. I had good hopes, thinking since I had the time, I could do it correctly. They really are technically quite easy to apply. The glue is very strong, easy to squeeze out, and trust me - those nails aren't going anywhere. My problem was that I am so very, very clumsy. SO VERY CLUMSY. I kept gluing the backs of my fingers to the nails - and that just hurt. Then if I did apply it without binding my fingers - the nail would be crooked. I spent a considerable amount of time soaking my hands in acetone trying to remove two crooked ones, tried again, decided I couldn't do it, forget it! By this time my husband had come home, and I then ended up having to send him to the store for more acetone-based nail polish remover and made him promise to stay up with me while I soaked and removed them. I started this whole process at around 8:30 pm, and my husband and I were finally able to turn in close to 2:00 am. My fingers were completely pickled at the end. They were wrinkled and puffy - and no matter how many times I washed them, they still smelled like acetone. The next morning, I was making breakfast and licked something off of my finger - and tasted nothing but acetone. It was just swell. It took at leaset 24 hours before the acetone pickling subsided.

For a better, more in-length review (someone who actually WORE them longer than I did) visit Makeup on the Cheap. (You'll also find some actual pictures of the products. Sorry - Missy and I haven't been able to get together for a photo session other than the above picture.) I also read on another review site that if you apply the glue with a Q-tip, you'll have much better results. All this being said - I think this product is a wonderful substitute for paying full price at salons. Really - the glue is very strong (apparently) and they look very pretty. I am just the wrong person to wear them. So, if you aren't clumsy, and you're on a manicure budget, I have some for some of you! Actually, a lot. The list of styles I have is as follows, along with the number I have of each to be won. If you'd like to try them, please leave a comment and let us know which ones you are interested in. We'd love for you to try them, and submit a review to be featured on our site.

Revlon Runway Collection - Stella (3 to be won)
Revlon Runway Collection - Sateen (2 to be won)
Revlon Naturally Chic - Sophie (2 to be won)
Revlon Perfect Pedicure - Yes, they do toenails, too. (2 to be won)

And one each of the following:
Revlon Runway Collection: Sequins
Revlon Runway Collection: Starlet
Revlon Runway Collection: Mystic
Revlon Runway Collection: Minx
Revlon Runway Collection: Studio.

So that's a total of 14 winners! I'll be out of commission next week, so I'm going to give you all a good, long entry period. Starting NOW enter your comment, through Friday, August 6th. We'll announce the winner on Monday the 10th. If you're DYING for a picture of a particular product, shoot us an e-mail, and I'll get a lovely, completely UNprofessional picture to you. Good luck!

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L'oreal Eye Makeup Remover

I don't really have much to say about this product. It does work, but I really prefer Neutrogena's Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. That was the only one I had used prior to purchasing this one, and I guess I was expecting the same results. Where the Neutrogena remover is very gentle, this one is a bit more harsh. And I felt that the Neutrogena removed more makeup more easily with each swipe. With this L'oreal, it took longer and I felt I had to work a little harder to get it all off. I recommend the Neutrogena Eye-Makeup Remover over this product, by far.

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Maybelline Intense XXL Volume + Length Microfiber Mascara

This post is for my sister (you know who you are) who says she stopped reading P&T because of our mascara obsession. The quest for great mascara is never ending and somewhat futile, but I will never stop!

Especially because I HATE THIS MASCARA. I've never used mascara that had primer with it, not even the Double Extend that Kelli has raved about. So when I was at the store looking for a new mascara to try I saw this and thought "Hm. Intense Volume and Length. It's gotta be awesome." But it totally sucks.

When I first opened the primer I honestly thought it was the cheapest brush I have ever seen on a mascara from such a huge cosmetics company. I went ahead and applied the primer, and my eyes screamed back at me to stop. This brush hurts! It feels cheap and the primer goes on so sparsely I couldn't really even tell if it was working or not. But in my quest to do a proper review I endured the whole process.

The mascara brush was just as bad, same exact brush as the primer. Same spiky torturous lash grabbing and pulling brush. Maybe some of you with less sensitive skin or eyes would have more luck with it, but I was done after the first application. I know some cosmetics can be tough and we endure it anyway, but when it comes to my mascara and my eyes NO WAY!

When I went to Kelli's a few weeks ago to shoot products she pulled out another Maybelline XXL mascara she had bought and it has completely different brushes, ones I might even be able to get on board with. But for now, I'm still searching for a great, low-cost, but actually usable mascara!

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Our winner is...

... Heather! Congratulations! Please send us an e-mail with your address so we can send you Carmindy's fabulous book! Thanks for reading and entering!

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Surprise!

For someone who loves clothes and makeup as much as I do, I am really late getting into the whole "What Not to Wear" TV show. Up until two weeks ago, I didn't have cable, and let me tell you - now I can't hit the sheets at night without watching one of the episodes on the DVR. I record every single one, even the old ones. A girl has to catch up, right? And now - I have a total girl crush on Carmindy. She's just so cute and I love her quirky style - and I swear she is walking sunshine. If you know me at all, you know I don't normally say things like that, but it's true. She's just so positive and sweet, and when she tells one of the women on the show that they are beautiful, she means it. Truly, deeply means it. I just think she's the coolest. (Like, totally!) I checked out her book, "Get Positively Beautiful: The Ultimate Guide to Looking and Feeling Gorgeous." It's a great guide for anyone who feels intimidated and daunted by makeup and wants simple, positive instruction from someone who knows what they are talking about. So for one of our lucky readers, I have a hardcover copy for you! Please leave a comment on this post up until Thursday at noon to win. And this time we're going to do it a little different - leave as many comments as you want. No limit. We will announce the winner Friday before noon. Good luck! Thanks for reading!

*THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED*

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Rimmel London Stir It Up Eyeshadow in As If

I could not find this eyeshadow on Rimmel's website at all. I bought mine right here on Amazon.com, and though now I can't find this particular color, there are four other beautiful ones available. It was something I tacked on to the end of an order to boost me up to free shipping status. It was just so pretty. The picture here shows that it's already been used some by moi, so you can't even get the full effect of the purple swirled in with the blue. I was so excited about it when I opened my box, because I'd forgotten I even order it, and it was so gorgeous, like pretty little jewel shining out of the drab brown box and the other boring stuff in the order. And I do love it. It comes on the prettiest deep blue violet. The consistency is kind of interesting - almost a cross between a powder and cream. You have to be very careful, it comes on thick, so when you apply, be sure to go easy or it'll look like a drunk clown put it on.

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L'oreal Bare Naturale Gentle Mineral Concealer

My sister recommended this concealer to me one day on the phone, and because my quest for a perfect concealer is as driven as my quest for the perfect mascara, I went out almost immediately and bought it. (My link to L'oreal's website is not working. I apologize and will try to get up a working link as soon as I can.) I was a little skeptical about a powder concealer - it just doesn't seem like something that would work, but it truly does. I do not use it under my eyes, however, because with my oily complexion, the powder actually leaves some streaks that I cannot get rid of without starting from scratch. But for blemishes - I have never used anything better. I apply it after I have put on my foundation. Brush a small amount on any blemish, red spot, or discoloration and let it set for a minute or two. Then gently blend it with the surrounding area, and any visible trace of the powder disappears - taking the blemish with it. It blends beautifully and covers perfectly. It's not cakey or thick, and it lasts all day. Big bonus is that it contains SPF 25 sunscreen. It's toward the higher end of the drugstore price spectrum at around $11.99, but it lasts a long time, and it's totally worth it.

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Garnier Fructis Instant Melting Conditioner

I wrote a review for Garnier Fructis Leave-in Conditioning Cream back in March. I loved it, and judging by the comments we received on that post, you all love it, too. So when I saw this Instant Melting Conditioner at Target 2-for-1, I wanted to give it a try to see if it could deliver great results as well. But I really didn't like it. Actually, I full-on hated it. It felt like it just wouldn't rinse out, and once my hair was dry, it had a sticky film on it that actually made it feel like I hadn't washed my hair in days. But not in a good "second-day hair" way - in a yucky "I smell and look dirty" way. I tried it a couple of more times to make sure it wasn't a fluke, but every time it was the same. I even tried to recruit my husband to try it and see what he thought, but he basically said he wouldn't try anything that made my hair "look like that." It just left a film that felt yucky and made my hair look very dull. Still love the Leave-in Conditioning Cream, but I'll leave this one on the shelf.

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Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock and Eucerin Everyday Protection Face Lotion

My five-year-old son and I had a rare, amazing opportunity this weekend to go to a dinosaur dig. Because he is just a little boy, for safety's sake we were put on a little hill looking for ancient crocodile poop with the possibility of finding some bones. It was a scorching day, the sun blazing like fire, and I was quite worried about protecting both of us from the sun. Three of my five brothers have been treated for skin cancer, so it's something I try to be vigilant about. I used a child's cream on my son which protected him beautifully, but on myself, I used this Neutrogena Body Mist, SPF 70, and this sample of Eucerin Face Lotion, SPF 30. The Neutrogena Mist was very easy to apply, and it dried very quickly. I didn't feel like I was wearing a layer of grease after it dried, which is nice when it's hot outside. I can't stand too-thick creams. I had this sample of Eucerin from when I went to the dermatologist on my birthday this year, and as a "present" she gave me a huge bag FULL of all kinds of fun samples. I used this that morning in place of my normal facial moisturizer, which does contain SPF 15. It also soaked in nicely and didn't leave a layer of gooey muck all over my face. That day at the dig, it was SCORCHING hot, seriously. I could feel the sun practically melting my arm hairs and sweat poured into my eyes and down my neck. I was miserable, and worried that whatever I had applied had just sweated right off. But I had not even an inkling of a sunburn. Not anything at all. It was amazing. I'm one of those people that's kind of skeptical about something unless I have concrete evidence, and this was enough to make me have faith in any sun protection. I had to see what it could do to believe it, and both of these proved their worth to me.

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Tip o' the Day - Find Your Match

To find the perfect natural-looking lipstick shade, "think of the color of your mouth after a good snog," says makeup artist Dick Page. "It's usually a rosy shade that's not too brown." Test different colors by covering half your mouth with lipstick and leaving the other half bare. Once you find a shade that's slightly darker and glossier than the naked side, you have a winner.

Allure August 2008

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