Trend o' the Day: Black + Aubergine

From Lucky Magazine's Beauty Spy:

"A smudgy bit of plum shadow makes this classic smoky eye look fresh, romantic, and incredibly sophisticated. Start with full-throttle black liner around the eyes; then, with a small brush, layer sultry brown-purple shadow on top and under the bottom lashes for a sexy, slept-in effect. You can finish with regular mascara or go even further with the A slightly messy ballerina bun and a cherry-ish lip stain or balm are the perfect accompaniments."

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Tip o' the Day

"Use the ring finger - the weakest - to pat concealer into place," says makeup artist Laura Mercier. "That way, you won't tug or pull the skin unnecessarily."

Before dabbing concealer on your skin, warm it in the palm of your hand - the heat will thin the texture so the coverage is smooth.

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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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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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Physician's Formula Eyebrightener Multi-Colored Eyelighter

I don't buy a whole lot of Physician's Formula, not for any particular reason that I can think of. Perhaps they don't advertise enough? Maybe I'm not intrigued enough? I don't know... At any rate, these "Eyelighters" are only two of three things I have ever purchased from that brand. (The other being this powder that neither of us was crazy about.) I do like these a lot. They give a very sheer, subtle burst of light shimmery color. They are ideal for highlighting the brow bone. Or I'll also use them on my eyelids on days that I just want to look kind of natural and soft. They come with a nice little brush that works well, plus the mosaic of colors is so pretty to look at! You can find them at most drug stores for roughly $7.99.

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L'oreal HiP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner

Okay, so I admit it. I'm having an all-consuming, passionate love affair with everything in L'oreal's HiP line. Everything. There's a glowing review here, and another one here. I have more in the works. But this cream eyeliner is perhaps my absolute favorite of all they carry. I have it in three colors: Eggplant (pictured), Black, and Midnight Blue. It comes with the brush you see pictured, which is the perfect tool for applying this eyeliner. (Although I will say, for some reason the brush that came with the black eyeliner was STIFF and it really hurt to use, so I had to toss it.) I use any of my eyeliner brushes, whichever one I grab first, and they all also work well with the product. It's easy and soft to work with, draws a dark, dramatic line, and if you want the smudgy look, it's easy to achieve if you act quickly. BUT if you don't act quickly - this stuff stays put. Which isn't a problem at all as far as I'm concerned. I've talked often about how much I hate when my makeup runs and smudges - which is almost impossible to prevent here in one of the humidity capitals of the U.S. But once this stuff dries, it doesn't move. Just the best, beautifully stark colors, sleek, expensive-looking packaging, and an all-around fabulous product. I LOVE IT. (I just sang that in my head. You should, too.)

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Tip o' the Day - Wing out

To elongate lashes, work from the outer to the inner corners of the eyes. "You'll deposit more on the outer corners that way," says makeup artist Pati Dubroff. "By the time you get to the inner corners, you'll have just the right amount of mascara left." To increase the effect, apply another coat at the outer corners only.

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Revlon 3D Extreme Mascara

Well, here we are again reviewing another mascara. It's shameful, really. I have more mascaras in my makeup case than I could use in a week. I mostly use my Beauty Tubes because of that whole "no smudging, easy to wash off" thing, but next most often I'll use this one, 3D Extreme by Revlon. I bought it not because I needed another mascara, or that I'd even been curious about it. I bought it only because it came with a free full-size Illuminance Creme Eyeshadow quad. When I opened the mascara, I was initially disappointed in the relatively small wand. It didn't look like it could deliver much punch. In fact, during our photo session including this product, Missy took one look at the wand and thought it would be a negative review. She was very surprised the wand could do a good job. But it did. I love this mascara. It makes my lashes so nice and full and separated. It's supreme, truly. Because I hate waterproof, I do still deal with a very minimal amount of smudging with this product, but it isn't nearly as pronounced as other brands of mascara. It's very faint, if at all. You can buy it for roughly $9 at any drugstore or beauty chain.

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L'oreal De-Crease Eye Shadow Base and Urban Decay Primer Potion

I had been looking for a good eye shadow base/primer for ages, not really knowing where to look outside of the more expensive professional lines. I found this one by L'oreal on a fluke at Target, and paid around $8 for .20 fl. oz. And... that's about all there is to say. I bought it, I used it, and may as well not have. It didn't stop the smudging, it didn't stop the creasing, and my eyeshadow was gone by afternoon, just like any other primer-less day.

I can especially say this with authority now, because for Mother's Day I was given leave to spend some extra money at Ulta and bought Urban Decay Primer Potion. It's much more expensive at $22 for .55 fl. oz., but it's very true you get what you pay for. (I don't have a picture of it, but check out the link, it's the coolest little bottle.) We technically pride ourselves on reviewing stuff for the wee, tiny budgets we all have right now, but we also want you to get the biggest bang for your buck. So, I don't want you to waste the money on something that doesn't work, and if you are able, splurge on something that really does, like this Primer Potion. The stuff is insanely awesome. You can't tell after you've applied and let it dry that you have anything extra on your eyes. Before I started using it, often immediately after applying eyeshadow or eyeliner, I would already have a lovely little "reflection line" of what I had applied right under my brow bone. I actually stopped wearing eyeshadow for a while because there was no point since it ran and smudged immediately and was gone by early afternoon. Since I started using the Primer Potion, I've been having so much fun going crazy with unusual colors and combinations because my shadow and liner stay put in a major way. My colors are just as vibrant and beautiful when I go to take my makeup off at day's end as they were when first applied. I now can never be without Urban Decay Primer Potion ever again.* It's one of those things I'll have to scrimp in other areas so that I can stay supplied when I run out. It's completely and totally worth it, especially since you don't have to use much and the bottle should last a very long time.

*I realize I sound like a commercial, but I just love this stuff so much. I swear by it.

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L'oreal HiP Shocking Shadow Pigments

I LOVE this stuff. LOVE LOVE LOVE. It comes with a great brush that is actually functional, and the array of colors available is to die for. The name is no joke, the pigment is high intensity and beautiful. This is my favorite color, although I do have several others. The pictured color is Intrepid, and I can't even quite describe it. In some lights it's green, in others it looks rusty, in some it's black mixed with a cinnamony shimmer. It's absolutely fabulous. Worn alone, it creates this spectacular, almost "changing picture" quality with the different colors that are created at different angles. Today I layered it over a shimmery gold, and I couldn't stop staring at my eyelids every time I passed a mirror. It's mesmerizing. I also have this eyeshadow in Fiery, a pink that looks a little Barbie in the container, but once applied it is a beautiful, edgy, atypical pink. When I wore Fiery, I received more compliments on my eye-makeup than I think I ever have.

I hate sounding like a broken record and shouting LOVE LOVE LOVE, but with this HiP line L'oreal is selling, it's just absolutely true. I want EVERY. SINGLE. TINY. PRODUCT. it contains. I already reviewed another eyeshadow from the line here. There's a lipgloss I will be reviewing as soon as Missy and I can do another product photo shoot, a lipgloss that has changed my makeuping life. Also up for future review - an eyeliner that has forever solved my smudging eyeliner troubles.

Wow, I just realized we are giving L'oreal a lot of love this week. Oh, well, they rock.

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L'oreal Shocking Volume Mascara

I want to give a shout out to waterproof mascara. My beloved baby kitty-cat was killed yesterday and I cried the day away. It took me twice as long to put on any makeup because I couldn't stop the tears from flowing, but when I did stop long enough to put on mascara, I decided on waterproof. I normally hate that stuff. No matter how "easy" it is to get off with eye-makeup remover - it really isn't so easy, and I just hate that feeling of something semi-permanent sticking to my eyes. But that's just me - I also refuse to wear contacts or put other foreign objects into my body most people would for practical purposes.

I bought L'oreal Shocking Volume Mascara in the waterproof formula when the heat and humidity first started getting intense down here because everything else smudges the second I step out on the front porch (with the exception of my beloved Beauty Tubes, but sometimes a girl needs to mix things up a bit.) The tube is very fun-looking, although a little awkward to open and hold. You first apply the Lash Defining Base Coat - and I just wasn't all that impressed with it. Other primers go on generously enough that you can see where you've applied it. This was very thin and just kind of wimpy. As for the mascara itself, the wand is a comb, and some of the reviews I've read online really hate that type of wand, but I particularly like it. While it would be easy for things to get clumpy using a novice hand, once you get the hang of it, I find it does very well at separating and defining. I really like that comb, although the other day I did accidentally stab myself in the eye with it, and that wasn't fun. But if you aren't clumsy like I am, you should be fine.

As for the removal, it was easier than some, although I still couldn't get enough of it off to suit me. But all in all, considering the flood of tears I wailed out yesterday and the total lack of raccoon eyes, it does the trick. I paid around $11 for this, so it just depends on your budget and how much you are willing to spend for something that technically contains less actual product. I myself have never found a problem with this; it seems to last long enough - although my lashes are already black so I probably don't need as much as others.

I think I might need to wear it again today...

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Ulta Smokey Eye Kit

I bought this online at Ulta, and for some reason - it has disappeared from the site. I have to assume it's still available, and maybe I'm not looking in the right place. At any rate, I love it. I paid only about $10 for all that you see pictured above, plus a pencil sharpener. On the box are fool-proof instructions on how to achieve the smokey eye look. By using the grey, you get the classic look, by using the purple, you get a more modern smokey eye. The shadows are good, saturated colors, easy to apply and blend. The eyeliner is soft and easy to use, the brushes are great, and the lipstick is a lovely sheer berry color. If you have a hard time knowing how to apply shadow to achieve a certain look, I recommend this, or something similar, to get you started. That is, assuming you can find it.

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Neutrogena 3-in-1 Concealer for Eyes

In theory, if we're supposed to fight wrinkles, protect ourselves from the sun, even out our skin tone and prevent pimples (just to name a few needs) we must have the following: anti-aging serum, anti-wrinkle moisturizer which may or may not contain SPF (if not, we'll also need SPF lotion), and some sort of salicylic acid treatment. On top of all of that, we might need, say, foundation, concealer, etc. Of course, many of these products may be combined into one genius product, as is the case with this concealer, Neutrogena 3-in-1. Our eyes are the most sensitive part of our face, and they are very susceptible to the sun, plus any tugging we may do while applying makeup or checking for wrinkles. I had been using another eye cream for a while when I realized it didn't contain any SPF. Well, okay, so I decided to look for another eye cream that did contain it. To my surprise, I couldn't find one. At least not one I could reasonably afford. And then I found this. I think it's perfect. It's all of the things our eyes need and more, because the concealer isn't just average - it's greatness. It covers my very prominent dark circles with ease, and it stays put all day. (You technically don't need an additional eye cream, although I do use one because my eyes tend to get very dry and peel underneath, so I need extra moisture.) It's a fabulous price considering it is essentially an eye cream as well, averaging around $10 depending on where you buy.

On a little side note: My Mother's Day gift from my husband was to let me have a little spree at Ulta. So I have this lovely box full of some fun stuff which I am very excited to review for all of you. Stay tuned...

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L'oreal Double Extend Mascara

I've mentioned this mascara before, in a previous post about L'oreal Beauty Tubes Mascara:

"The other day in the car, Missy turned to me and asked if I was wearing my beloved Beauty Tubes, because she said my lashes looked really good and long. But it wasn't the Tubes, it was the Double Extend..."

It does indeed make my lashes extra pretty and feathery long. Leave a comment. One person will win it. Good luck!

**This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for entering!**

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Tip o' the Day

When plucking your eyebrows, taper both brows uniformly by moving from the left brow to the right one after tweezing every few hairs. Be sure to stand back a few feet from the mirror every once in a while to get perspective. Also try to tweeze your brows in natural sunlight - it illuminates all the teeny strands a bathroom bulb will miss. And never tweeze them in a magnifying mirror - it's too easy to overdo it.

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Tip o' the Day

If your eyelids are oily, eyeshadow won't stick. Before applying any color, prep the lids with foundation, then press a velvet puff with translucent powder on top. Then apply your color. To prevent eyeliner from doing a disappearing act, trace over it with a short, stiff eye-shadow brush dipped in powder in a similar shade.

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Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Mascara

If you haven't noticed, we love mascara. We buy lots of it and hardly ever wear the same tube twice in a row. I've tried countless numbers of mascara over the years and have love/hate relationships with most of them. This mascara is no different, but I still kind of love it!

I bought it after being extremely disappointed with Maybelline Stiletto Mascara. This one says it's for tons of volume and even contains collagen. The first time I used this I loved it, mostly because I sat there and applied it in one sitting. But I was working full-time at the time and often applied my first coat of mascara in the car then the rest in the parking lot at work. That's when I started hating it. Because that's just not a good idea and I did it anyway, much to the dismay of my lashes.

Now that I'm, well, a victim of the current economic climate, I have a bit more time to apply my make up. And I'm totally loving this stuff. The package says it applies in one coat, but I have to put on more than one. I just have to. This goes on really smooth, covers your lashes fast and the collagen I swear helps keep your lashes from sticking together and getting spidery. The brush is full and stiff and awesome. I can apply 5 or 6 coats if I want a crazy dramatic full look and my lashes STILL won't stick together. I love it. I originally paid $6.99 for it at Walmart then went and picked up a double pack at Target for $6.49 last week. I'm sure when I've used up these two tubes I'll move on to another — I'm that fickle. But it's a love affair I'm enjoying while it lasts.

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L'oreal High Intensity Pigments Concentrated Shadow Duo



Now these are my kind of eyeshadows: the deep and bright hues, the unique color combinations. I am totally in love with them. In fact, the entire HiP line is mesmerizing - every time I'm in the cosmetic aisle, I have to stop and stare at all the pretty eyeshadows, lip glosses, eyeliners, etc. Despite appearances, I don't buy all of these cosmetics at once, but have slowly accumulatd them and formed opinions that I share with you on here. And these are the same, any time I have an extra $5.99, I grab one of these. My goal is to own every single one. In fact, since this picture was taken, I've added two more to my stash. Try them, love them. Use them in conjuction with this Tip o' the day from last month. Amen.

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