Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara Review

Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara Review

From the Brand:
Get glamorous, big volume lashes from every angle
Lashes look 100% more magnified, multiplied, amplified*. Award winning.
*with two coats 
Lash finding brush with rounded tip easily reaches every single lash for maximum dimension.

Available in 3 non-waterproof shades: Blackest Black, Black, and Blackened Brown 

Retails for:  $6.99 and up depending on where you buy


Where to Buy:  Wherever drugstore makeup is sold, including Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Target, and Drugstore.com

My Thoughts:  First off, I love the wand on this mascara.  It defines and separates my lashes so perfectly.  It's a little pokey, so make sure you don't accidentally jab yourself in the eye with this the first time like I did.  It's nice and long without being too thick and bulky, so it fits in nicely in the inner and outer corners of my eyes to get the lashes perfectly.  It also has a little half ball shape on the tip to comb through the tiny lashes at the inner and outer corners of the eyes.  Overall, it's perfect for the inner and outer corners!

My lashes are very straight, and 90% of mascaras weigh them down and make them lose their curl no matter what I do.  I'm a professional makeup artist, and I've tried every trick in the book to get them to keep their curl.  Nothing works with some mascaras.  I think it's just their weight that makes the lashes lose the curl.  A nice thing mascara that dries quickly and a little on the stiff side locks in the curl before it can fall.  This mascara is perfect for that.  The formula is thin and dries quickly, but it can be layered really well to build up the volume.  Combined with the nice brush, it combs them out and gives them very fluffy flirty volume rather than thick clumpy volume.  With one coat, I get definition and locked in curl with a nice rich black color.  Looks very natural but amplified.  Two coats is when I get the perfect volume, which I love because I can get multiple looks with the same mascara.


Final Verdict:  In addition to the Covergirl Bombshell Volume Mascara, this is my new second favorite drugstore mascara.  It's one of those "on a whim" purchases I'm so thankful for!



Final Verdict:

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. This article contains some affiliate links provided through Viglink.com. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Covergirl Bombshell Volume Mascara Review

Covergirl Bombshell Volume Mascara Review

From the Brand:
Mega volume and dark intensity in one mascara for an over the top bombshell look from Cover Girl. Step 1 volumize - load on for unbelievably big volume - Step 2 - intensify - seal in with one coat for an intense, dark all day finish. Beautifully separated lashes.

Retails for:  $11.99


Where to Buy:  Ulta stores and Ulta.com, CVS.com and CVS stores, Drugstore.com, and anywhere else you can purchase Covergirl brand products

My Thoughts:  This mascara lasts forever.  Like seriously, for-ev-er.  It's not even waterproof.  I can put it on in the morning, and even if my eyes water or it's super humid out (as it's prone to be here in northern Virginia) this won't budge, smudge, or flake.  You can check out my video review below for what a difference it makes on my lashes, too!

Side 1 is the volumizing side, and it's definitely a "lash blast" mascara with the shape of the wand and the consistency of the mascara itself.  It's very similar to my LashBlast Fusion Mascara I reviewed back in September.  {Check out that review here.}  The major difference though is this mascara has a second side that adds another layer of intense color, and I'm convinced is what makes it last so long.

Side 2 is a generic mascara wand, and I don't think it's very useful in separating my lashes or adding any length.  The first side adds all the volume, and it would be nice if this one had a comb or at the very least long spikey spokes to help separate the lashes.  I have to stop in between the steps and get a metal lash comb to keep my lashes from clumping.

It's a little higher priced for a drugstore mascara being $11.99, since most I purchase are around $8.99 or so, but it's worth the few extra dollars.  I've found myself using drugstore mascara all the time now rather than my higher end brands.  I can two or three tubes for what I'd pay for a prestige brand, and even if I have to layer them I'm still getting more for my buck.


Final Verdict:  A new Holy Grail Mascara?  I'd say so!  I hope and pray Covergirl keeps this one around!


Want to see this in action?  Check out my video review!

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. This article contains some affiliate links provided through Viglink.com. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes! Mascara Review

Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes! Mascara Review

From the Brand:

Take your lashes to the extreme with this ultra-black mascara that lengthens, curls and magnifies for an intensified look proven to increase lash volume by 752% instantly!

Product Performance: Take your sultry, flashy lashes to the extreme with this amped up, ultra-black mascara that lengthens, curls and magnifies lashes for an intensified look proven to increase lash volume by 752% instantly! Powered by tarte’s proprietary triple black complex, this longwear, vitamin-infused formula emphasizes length and volume while conditioning lashes for a dramatic look that won’t dry out, flake or budge. The custom-engineered, dual-molded brush boosts even the skinniest lashes for an exaggerated, voluminous look. First, the shorter, denser side of the brush delivers the optimal amount of mascara to volumize and coat each lash perfectly, then the longer, firmer side of the brush lengthens and separates for maximum volume without clumping.
Powered By: Provitamin B5: vitamin B derivative that helps treat and thicken lashes. Beeswax: a protective barrier between the skin and the environment that has been known to naturally stimulate collagen production. Mineral pigments: soothe and soften lashes.

Retails for:  $23.00


Where to Buy:  Tartecosmetics.com, Ulta stores and Ulta.com, Sephora stores and Sephora.com


My Thoughts:  This mascara sure has a lot to "say" about how amazing it is at volumizing.  But since this is my review, this is what I have to say about how it really works.  First, I can't believe it's taken me this long to even do a review on it since I've had it forever.  I got it back in October as part of my Tarte Kit from QVC.  I had to go back and look through my list of reviews to really convince myself that I hadn't done one yet.  So sorry about that!  Hopefully you haven't been patiently waiting all this time!

This mascara has a really unique dual sided brush that claims to volumize on one side and then comb through to separate on the other side.  I find that the volumizing side does a really great job of adding a lot of volume with one coat.  The separation side was ok, but it's kind of hard to tell the difference.  The wand itself has two colors, but once it's coated in mascara, it's impossible to see.  On the separation side the plastic bristles are only marginally longer and spaced too far apart in my opinion to really give great definition.




Final Verdict:  Gives great volume, and I really like it but not as much as their Gifted mascara or their Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara.

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. This article contains some affiliate links provided through Viglink.com. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Pixi Lash Booster Mascara

Pixi Lash Booster Mascara Review


From the Brand: 
What it is formulated to do:
This unique mascara truly boosts your lashes, giving them a "push-up" effect that lasts all day. The dense, rich formula ensures that lashes are coated with maximum pigment, for long-lasting full colour. The cone-shaped brush coats each lash evenly for the ultimate smudge-free, waterproof lash and eye definition. Available in intense eye-opening shades, including the revolutionary "blackest blue" that awakens the eyes and makes the whites of the eyes appear whiter.

Beneficial ingredients and what they do:

• Vitamin E nourishes skin Carnauba wax is naturally emollient
• Microcrystalline wax nourishes and ensures easy application
• Simethicone provides a smooth glide

Retails for:  $17.00


Where to Buy: Select Target stores, online at Pixibeauty.com


My Thoughts:  As much as I love the rest of the Pixi line, I have to say that I really don't like this mascara at all.  I wouldn't go so far as to say hate, but it comes close.  I wore this a few different times, and the mascara just got all mushy and smudgy so quickly I couldn't wait to take it off.  I thought maybe it was the humidity when I initially tried it over the summer, so I also did a test run where I didn't leave the house all day and stayed in the air conditioning.  Same results.  It quickly turned from ok to crappy within an hour.  I've never had a mascara melt off my eyelashes like that.

I've since tried it again on cooler drier days in the fall with the same results.  I'm hoping that this little trial size that came with a monthly beauty subscription box (I'm pretty sure it as an IPSY bag) was just a dud and had gone bad or something.  Although, it didn't look bad or smell bad.  It was almost as bad as my experience with the mark. Scandalash mascara I tried last spring.  You can read about that train wreck here.

Even if it was a bad tube, I'm a little leery of buying a full size for full price to try it again.  The wand itself did a decent job of giving me some volume and separation, and for the first hour or so my lashes looked really good.  If I get another one somewhere down the line, I'll be happy to give it another go.  This tube though however just ruined the idea of it for me.


Final Verdict:  Needless to say, this wasn't a favorite of mine.

Product Review- Tarte Gifted Mascara

Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara Review


From the Brand:
An Amazonian clay smart mascara that instinctively treats your unique lash concerns- working overtime to keep lashes hydrated, intact, healthier, and stronger, while delivering the appearance of voluminous lashes.

Product Performance: The Amazonian clay makes this the first and only “smart” mascara that intuitively finds and treats your unique lash concerns, delivering the benefits you need and volume you desire. The Amazonian clay instinctively lengthens, conditions, repairs and replenishes dry and brittle lashes. This mascara works overtime to keep lashes intact, healthier, and stronger by preventing lash loss and promoting lash health.

Powered By: Amazonian clay: balances, nourishes, hydrates, replenishes and repairs to promote healthy, more voluminous lashes and while preventing lash loss

Rice wax: natural wax that helps lengthen lashes

Retails for:  $19.00


Where to Buy:  Sephora.com and Sephora stores, Ulta.com and Ulta stores, Tartecosmetics.com, QVC.com


My Thoughts:  Every time I try a new mascara, I feel like I fall in love with, and it’s suddenly the best thing since sliced bread.  That’s all I use for the next few weeks or so until it’s time to test-drive another one, and the last is left half-used and forgotten in a box on the bathroom counter.  Very few stand up to the test and are used still months down the road.  This however, is one of them.

I adore the brush head on this mascara.  Very similar to their Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara, the wand on this one is full of short densely packed bristles that grip the eyelashes and coat it evenly from root to tip for full lush lashes in fewer strokes.  The formula is thick and deeply black for a volumized look.  It’s more matte than patent, so it doesn’t have a wet look, which I prefer in a mascara.  It dries a bit stiff, but when I put it on immediately after curling my lashes, this stiffness does help hold the curl in my eyelashes pretty darn well.  However, I don’t find that it flakes, dries out my lashes, or is hard to remove.

But also like Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara, I do like to use this as a base under another formula for maximum effect.  Mostly, I use it with Buxom Lash or Benefit They’re Real! Mascara.  (I guess I have a thing for mascaras with exclamation points in the name.)  Tarte Gifted Mascara is great for the volume and some definition, but it does lack a bit in the lengthening and high defining category.

Final Verdict:  Another love of mine from the Tarte line, and a definite BUY if you get the opportunity.

**Disclaimer: This article contains referral links.  As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For Mascara

Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For Mascara Review

 

Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For Mascara Review 

 

From the Brand:     
What it is:
A treatment mascara that conditions lashes while creating full, long "to die for" fringe.

What it is formulated to do:
Coat and define every lash for a thick, healthy look, without clumping, smudging, or flaking. Loaded with nourishing and softening ingredients, this formula guards against brittleness and dryness, which make lashes more susceptible to falling out.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petrochemicals
- Phthalates
- GMOs
- Triclosan

What else you need to know:
The unique brush's flexible, staggered bristles create perfectly separated lashes; a dual-zone design delivers both volume and length. The slim, tapered tip reaches shorter lashes with ease. This ophthalmologist- and dermatologist-tested formula is safe for contact-lens wearers.

Retails for:   $22.00

Where to Buy:   Sephora Stores, Sephora.com, Ulta Stores, Ulta.com, PeterThomasRoth.com, SkinStore.com

My Thoughts:   I really like the unique design of this mascara wand.  It has an oblong shape to it, with the longer sides being flat and free of bristles and the rounded ends being the sides with the lash combing bristles to apply the mascara and then define the lashes.  It has a nice taper at the tip that makes it easy to apply to the inner and outer corners, too.  If you hold it so that the flat side is facing the lashes, the last row of bristles on either side will grip your lashes and feather them out as you stroke the mascara on.  This adds lots of volume.  Then, flip the mascara wand so that either of the ends with all the bristles is facing the lashes to comb them out for a gorgeous flirty fringe and keep them from looking clumpy.  I have to say that this is the first mascara I've ever used that didn't get any mascara whatsoever on my eyelid!  That alone impressed me a ton!  I've never been able to apply mascara on my own eyelashes without getting at least a small smudge on the lid at the base.  My lashes also looked a lot more lifted even without using an eyelash curler, and it didn't weight down the lashes and pull the curl out when I did use one.

Since hearing about Peter Thomas Roth years ago and his growth serum for lashes, I thought that maybe this mascara would help them to grow longer or thicker, but sadly this wasn't the case.  The formula is very buildable without clumping at all, and it did feel nice and soft and nourishing.  The color is a nice rich black that dries to a satin finish, not shiney or uber matte.  It gave my lashes a healthy lustrous look that could be pretty natural if it weren't for so much volume.  I'd say that this is very gentle on your eyelashes and removes easily, so if you suffer from brittle lashes that fall out, this would make an awesome mascara for you.

Final Verdict:  Another rubber wand mascara that has somehow won me over. It's also a great option for people who are concerned with the ingredients in their cosmetics!

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara Review


From the Brand:

What It Is:

The Better Than Sex Mascara Hourglass-Shaped Brush was designed after discovering the bust-waist-hip ratio of an iconic silver screen Blonde Bombshell held the secret to the perfect brush silhouette that separates, coats and curls each lash to voluptuous perfection. One coat of the carbon black, collagen-fueled mascara formula and lashes are full, defined and stretched to unbelievable lengths. Two coats and lashes are even more luscious, curled and dramatic. Three coats and achieve the most intense black, oversized, multidimensional lashes possible! A mascara so amazing…it’s Better Than Sex!

More To Love:

Better Than Sex mascara includes:

• Film-forming Polymer for smudge-proof, all day wear
• Acacia Senegal Tree Extract to nourish, thicken and lock curl in place
• Unique Peptides for the deepest, intense black possible

• 1,944% more volume*
• 100% saw longer lashes**
• 100% saw dramatic volume**
• 93% saw base-to-tip curl**
• 8 out of 10 say it’s the best mascara they’ve ever used**

*results observed in a clinical study.
**results observed in a consumer study.

Retails for:  $23.00

You can see how both mascara wand heads have an hourglass shape to them, although the Covergirl bristles aren't as plush or criss crossed as the Too Faced ones.

Where to Buy: TooFaced.com


My Thoughts:  There is a bit of a love/hate relationship between myself and this mascara.  First, let me tell you what I love and maybe then I can put into words what I hate just a little bit about it.  The mascara wand head is amazing.  It's full and plush, and the shape hugs the lashes in all the right places like your favorite little black dress.  The bristles coat the lashes beautifully and give good separation.  It's one of the best mascara brush heads I've ever had the pleasure to use.  The formula is deeply pigmented and ultra black.  It doesn't leave my lashes feeling stiff and brittle.  However, it doesn't last as long as I would like it to, and I do still feel like I need to use another mascara underneath it to get the ultimate dramatic lash look I want from this mascara.  Which kind of defeats the purpose.  Also, the price is great for a prestige brand of mascara, but you can get an almost identical look to your lashes and pretty much the same mascara wand with the Covergirl Flamed Out Mascara for much much cheaper.  The Covergirl version also doesn't start to smudge after a long day of wear.

On the plus side of things, I super adore the pink metallic mascara tube and the uber cute name- Better Than Sex.


Final Verdict:  It's complicated, because I feel like if I hadn't already tried the Covergirl mascara and seen the nearly identical wand and found that it lasts a few hours longer for a cheaper price, I'd be over the moon about this mascara like I am for the Makeup Forever Smokey Lash.  Both prestige mascaras are amazing on their own, but I do find myself layering them over other lengthening formulas for a super dramatic lash look {which is ironically what I'm going for whenever I reach for these.} So perhaps if I wanted it for a less dramatic look and hadn't tried the cheaper brand first, this would be 10 out of 10 mascara for me.  As it stands though, it's a complicated 8.

 

**Disclaimer:  This article contains affiliate links.  As with all my articles, the opinions expressed herein are fully my own.  For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

 

Product Review- L'Oreal Double Extend Mascara

L'Oreal Double Extend Mascara Review

 

L'Oreal Double Extend Lash Blast Mascara Review 

 

From the Brand:   

Step 1: The Lash Boosting Primer is serum-infused to boost lash condition. It contains a pro-keratin complex that fortifies lashes and maximizes their appearance.
Step 2: The Ultra-Lengthening Mascara Topcoat coats and lengthens lashes instantly, for up to 80% longer, clump-free fringe.
For boosted results, use the mascara daily with Concentrated Lash Boosting Serum.

Retails for:   $11.99

Where to Buy:    Ulta Stores, Ulta.com, Walgreens, CVS, Grocery Stores, Walmart, Target, Wherever Drugstore brands are sold.

My Thoughts:   I think this is a good idea in concept. For me, this execution falls a bit flat, and the error lays with the application wands for both the pre-mascara eyelash primer and the mascara itself.  The formula for both are pretty good, although I prefer the primer over the mascara.  The mascara wand heads are just a tad too generic to give me the kind of separation and volume I'm looking for in a mascara.  And they definitely don't do it any favors in the lengthening department.  When you're going to call your mascara Double Extend, it had better really extend and lengthen your eyelashes!

The primer doesn't contain any fibers to attach to the ends of the eyelashes and add physical length like you seen a lot of modern lengthening mascaras.  The brush should also really define them and elongate the look of the lash by depositing the majority of the mascara on the base and evenly coating the rest up the lash to a well defined tip.  The formula of the primer is good, and I do like to apply it with a clean mascara wand from the Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara for the perfectly prepped lashes if I'm not using another formula of mascara itself to prep.  I do like mascara primers like this one though, because they are made to be right up along the lashes and strengthen and hydrate them with their ingredients.  The key is to let the primer coat dry completely, comb it with a metal lash comb for definition, and then apply the mascara for the best effect.

Final Verdict:  Convenient if you don't want to have to tote two different tubes of product around with you, but if you're going to be applying two steps anyway, I'd invest in a primer with fibers or layer two mascaras that will give you the effect you crave.  On a scale of 1-10, this one hits only at about a 5.

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara

L'Oreal Voluminous False Lashes Mascara Review

 

L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara Review

 

From the Brand:    The power of sculpting fibers give you an outrageous, false lash look from any angle with this fiber volumizing mascara by L'oreal.

Incomparably volumized

Extended new lengths

Infinitely structured

Incredibly curled

Retails for:   $8.99

Where to Buy:    Ulta Stores, Ulta.com, Walgreens, CVS, Grocery Stores, Walmart, Target, Wherever Drugstore brands are sold.

My Thoughts:  This is definitely one of my Holy Grail mascaras for big effect at a little price!  I think in the world of drugstore makeup, there are few things that L'Oreal doesn't nail, and just about every single mascara I've ever tried by them has been amazing.  I've been using this mascara for about a year now, and from the very first time I put it on I was majorly impressed.  In fact, I'd been doing my makeup with a friend in the room, and when I turned towards her to say something after doing the mascara on only one eye, she stopped me mid-sentence with "WHAT mascara are you using?!  Your lashes look amazing!".  That's when you know you've found a winner!  Our other friend who arrived about an hour later even noticed and commented on how awesome my lashes look.

Let's talk tube.  It's so pretty!  I love the unique shape to it, and the waterproof version in the solid gold tube looks really classy.  It does show fingerprints, but really, no one is looking at my mascara tube that closely.

The mascara wand itself on the Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara is nice and thin and long.  I don't mind a longer mascara wand when the bristles on it are nice and short.  It's when the become these giant monstrosities that can't be wielded without a poke in the cornea that I begin to get annoyed.  The bristles criss cross for coating the eyelashes on both sides and at the same time are able to comb and separate them.

The formula has tiny little fibers in it that coat the lashes and add both length and volume, along with a thicker style mascara to build up the volume and length some more.  It dries nicely- not too fast yet not so long that your lashes feel wet and you're afraid to blink.  It also stays fairly flexible, so no stiff feeling either even on the waterproof version. It gives my lashes a better hold on their curl, but like everything else I've tried it doesn't add curl to them I haven't put their with a lash curler first.  Although, it doesn't weigh them down and force the curl out either like other volumizing formulas that are thick and heavy.

Final Verdict:  If I'm out of mascara and my only options are the drugstore, you'd better believe this is the one I pick up!

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Tarte Beauty Without Boundaries QVC Set

Tarte Beauty Without Boundaries Set from QVC

I got an email a few months ago about a new set coming out from Tarte available only on QVC.  It contained two brushes, their new mascara I was dying to try, plus their new BB concealer that's not even available anywhere else yet.  That alone was enough to compel me to buy, but there was more and it was a major value!  I'm happy to bring to you my findings on these new products after playing with them the past two weeks on a near daily basis.

BB Tinted Treatment 12-Hour Primer-  I thought it was going to be like other BB creams that I've tried, and I was honestly wondering what the difference between this and their BB Perfecting Liquid Foundation was.  Well, this is definitely a primer and not a traditional BB cream.  The tint might as well not even be there for the amount of coverage it has when you immediately apply it.  However, it's like there's some kind of magic in it, because by the time I'm done applying some of the BB undereye corrector to my dark circles and a big around the sides of my nose, it's like I've suddenly got a face of foundation.  I'm not sure what it is about this stuff that tricks my eyes into thinking that I've got more even skin than I do, but I'll take it!  As a primer, it does amazingly well, and I've been wearing it under my regular foundation every time since buying the set.  There is something in there though that is causing the slightest bit of irritation to my face, since I'm noticing a little bit of bumps/redness in my t-zone.  It's not enough to make me stop using the product, and I'm hoping my skin adjusts over time.  My foundation usually starts to settle in my pores after a few hours, no matter what primer I use, and with this even after a 10 hour day on set, my foundation was looking amazingly perfect.  It also feels like pure silk.  I love it!

Double Ended Bamboo Brush-  I haven't used this yet honestly.  It's not the style of brush I use on myself, since I prefer a sponge or bigger buffing style brush for my foundations, but it may work its way into my pro kit at some point.

BB Tinted Undereye Corrector-  If you've read my review on the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer, you'll understand why I find this so amazing when I say it's like they figured a way to put the maracuja concealer into a pan.  At first I thought the color was a little too pink, but that was in the lighting in my office.  In my bathroom lighting and out in the real world it looks pretty perfect for my fair skin, and it's super super pigmented.  I don't know why they are calling it tinted.  It's way more than tinted.  It starts off kind of sticky, and if you don't set it with powder or put some foundation over the top of it, the sticky feeling doesn't fade.  This is one concealer I'll definitely always use under my foundation.  I really really hope they release this into their regular line soon.  I don't see it individually on the Tarte or QVC sites, and it's really an amazing concealer.

Dual Sided Diffuser Bamboo Concealer Brush-  The brush is almost as good as the concealer itself.  You can see in my photos that it's been well used!  I love the different textures of the hairs on each side.  The light side is perfect for applying the concealer, while the dark side is made to buff and blend it evenly over the surface for a perfect finish.  I don't know how well it would do with a more liquid concealer, but it's perfect for the BB one in the set.

Lights, Camera, Lashes Waterproof 12-Hour Inner Rim Liner-  This I wasn't a fan of at all.  I found that it didn't give a full coverage with one swipe, and once you go over the same area more than 2-3 times, it starts to remove the product rather than build it up. It seems to set that quickly.  I was able to keep it in place for several hours, but no where near the 12 hour claim, if I didn't actually touch the waterline, but you can wipe it away easily with the tip of your finger even after it's set.  If you want a more smudgey smokey effect, this will work well.  If you want a stark deeply pigmented line, skip it.

Lights, Camera, Flashes Statement Mascara-  I've used the Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara for years, and I was excited when I saw this one released on the website a few weeks back.  I'd gone back and forth over whether I had time to review yet another mascara (trust me if you're getting bored with reading all the mascara reviews, imagine how bored I'm getting with writing them...), but when I saw it in the kit I knew it was meant to be that I review it.  And I'm glad I had the opportunity.  It's a unique brush as it has two different sides for applying and then combing the mascara through.  It's a similar concept to the Benefit They're Real! Mascara brush.  It's just as pokey, too.  I won't go into too much details now, as I am writing a separate review on the mascara of course later on.

LipSurgence Power Pigment in Awakening-  Another product I wasn't in love with.  It has some high points- it's super pigmented with just one quick swipe, and I love both the creamy hydrating feel and the peppermint flavor/tingle.  But the color just wasn't right for me.  It seemed to oxidize really quickly on my mouth and turned a weird orangey color, when it looks like a beautiful pink with only the slightest hints of peach.  If they come out with this in other shades, I'd love to try them out to see how they look on me.

Looking to add any of these products to your own makeup bag?  Check out TarteCosmetics.com for the BB Tinted Primer and Lights Camera Flashes Mascara now and be sure to keep checking back for when they launch the rest of the products.  You can also check out the selection of Tarte products available on QVC.com for products I've never seen on the regular Tarte site!

Product Review- Covergirl Professional Super Thick Mascara

Covergirl Professional Super Thick Mascara Review

 

Covergirl Professional Super Thick Mascara Review

 

From the Brand:    For big, bold, thick lashes, Super Thick Lash is the one. Its Lash Builder brush separates, defines, and reaches for those little lashes so you get thick, full lashes-so easy, so beautiful!

Retails for:   $4.99

Where to Buy:    Ulta Stores, Ulta.com, Walgreens, CVS, Grocery Stores, Walmart, Target, Wherever Drugstore brands are sold.

My Thoughts:   For being only $4.99, this is a pretty decent mascara.  The wand is nothing special, resembling a standard disposable mascara wand, and the formula isn't anything new or innovative.  It gives a buildable volume and length without clumping, and the wear time on this mascara is about 6 to 8 hours without seeing any smudges in regular conditions.  It's on the lower end of the scale on humid days, and it's not waterproof.

Before writing a blog on the Top 10 Mascaras, I wanted to be sure that I'd exhausted just about as many possibilities as I could afford, so with a term like "professional" in the title, I knew it was responsible blogging to give this mascara a whirl before making my final list decisions.  Unfortunately, this won't be making the list.  While there's really no negatives I don't like about it, it just has no "wow" factor either.

Final Verdict:  If you're in a pinch and need a quick mascara that will give you decent volume and length for cheap, pick this up.  You won't be disappointed.  Just don't expect it to change your {makeup} life any.

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Too Faced Beauty Blogger Darlings

Too Faced Beauty Blogger Darlings Review


From the Brand:

Chocolate Soleil Bronzer- 

What It Is:
Bronzing has never been so delicious. Our chocolate-scented, shimmer-free, matte bronzer is perfect for contouring and creating an all-over deep tan using real antioxidant-rich cocoa powder. It’s all the tan without the twinkle.

More To Love:
Infused with antioxidant-rich cocoa powder and signature bronzing pigments to create a unique matte bronzer that neutralizes red and evens skin tone.
100% cruelty-free product.


*Vegan friendly
**Paraben-free

Shadow Insurance Eyeshadow Primer-  

What It Is:
Your full coverage insurance policy against all fading, creasing and smudging. Our skin-soothing formula evens out skin tone and smoothes fine lines to create a perfect canvas for shadows. Color is intensified and locked down until you take it off.

More To Love:
Unique Binders: Volatiles lock down eye shadow pigments for amazingly long wear.
Versatility: Use with powder or cream eye shadow products.
Fights Fading: Anti-creasing formula holds eye products in place by securing a barrier between the oils of your skin and your makeup.
Concentrated: The size of a rain drop covers the entire lid.

**Paraben-free

Primed and Poreless Face Primer- 

What It Is:
Our one-of-a-kind makeup primer was scientifically formulated to wear under bronzers and foundation powders or alone to achieve the look of flawless skin without makeup. Vitamins A & C, Mulberry Extract and a powerful dose of Retinol virtually banish pores while tired skin is left hydrated, firmer, and detoxified. Primed & Poreless creates the perfect canvas to allow powders, bronzers and foundations to airbrush onto the skin seamlessly and perfectly blended. Skin appears brighter, fresher and younger. Color stays true and in place all day.

More To Love:
Erase Pores and Imperfections: Virtually erases pores, softens lines and perfects your complexion leaving skin ready for bronzer, powder, makeup or nothing at all.
Customized Formula: Provides an airbrushed canvas as it preps skin for bronzers, powder products and liquid foundations. Bronzers glide on without grabbing or looking heavy. Powders float above imperfections. Makeup applies like magic onto skin. Color stays true and in place all day.
Mulberry Extract and Arctostaphylos UVA URSI: Protect, brighten and lighten skin for a renewed freshness and soothing effect.
Retinyl Palmitate and Cyclodextrin with CAVAMAX Retinol: Restores moisture, elasticity and suppleness with a powerful combination of anti-wrinkle, youth enhancing, skincare ingredients.
Camellia Oil and Vitamin A: Essence of the white tea plant and the free radical fighting vitamins are nature’s most powerful antioxidants. Skin looks firmer, brighter and more resilient, even up close.
Colorless: Great on any skin color! The nude tone becomes invisible once applied.

*Vegan-friendly
**Paraben-free

Better Than Sex Mascara-

What It Is:
The Better Than Sex Mascara Hourglass-Shaped Brush was designed after discovering the bust-waist-hip ratio of an iconic silver screen Blonde Bombshell held the secret to the perfect brush silhouette that separates, coats and curls each lash to voluptuous perfection. One coat of the carbon black, collagen-fueled mascara formula and lashes are full, defined and stretched to unbelievable lengths. Two coats and lashes are even more luscious, curled and dramatic. Three coats and achieve the most intense black, oversized, multidimensional lashes possible! A mascara so amazing…it’s Better Than Sex!

More To Love:
Better Than Sex mascara includes:

• Film-forming Polymer for smudge-proof, all day wear
• Acacia Senegal Tree Extract to nourish, thicken and lock curl in place
• Unique Peptides for the deepest, intense black possible

• 1,944% more volume*
• 100% saw longer lashes**
• 100% saw dramatic volume**
• 93% saw base-to-tip curl**
• 8 out of 10 say it’s the best mascara they’ve ever used**

*results observed in a clinical study.
**results observed in a consumer study.


Retails for:  $20.00


Where to Buy:  TooFaced.com, Ulta.com and Ulta stores


My Thoughts:


Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder-  If you've ever watched any of my makeup tutorials on my YouTube channel, you know I'm totally addicted to this stuff.  It's used every time I do my makeup to give my cheeks the perfect matte sculpted look.  And it smells like real chocolate!  I have a few small travel sizes of it, so it's with me wherever I go and one in my makeup kit.  Clients love the way it looks and smells, too, and it's dark enough for even the more tanned skin tones.


Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer-  A MUST every time I do eye makeup.  Again, I have the trial sizes from various kits plus a few full sizes I've picked up along the way, so I have these stashed everywhere.  I absolutely adore when Too Faced comes out with these sets so that I can stock up on this stuff.  It's clear, hydrating, and locks shadows in place like nobody's business.


Primed and Poreless Skin-Smoothing Face Primer-  I waffle back and forth with this face primer between loving it and just not using it often enough.  It comes and goes in spurts where I use it every time I do my makeup and getting pushed to the back of the bin when I discover something new to obsess over.  (The bane of being a beauty blogger I suppose!)  But I always come back to it.  It's my old faithful.  Since my skin is more of the super dry variety the majority of the time, I do tend to skip this more than I should.  But during the summer when I need more pores smoothed and evened out, or if I have photos that are going to be taken of me and need a flawless finish to my face, this is what I know I can depend on.

Better Than Sex Mascara-  This is Too Faced's newest mascara, and honestly it's the reason I bought this kit.  I figured it was an inexpensive way to get travel sizes of my three most-used Too Faced products and also get to try out this mascara at the same time! I've got a  nice in-depth review on this mascara coming soon, so I won't go into too much detail, but it was definitely a good buy on my part with getting this kit!  Check back on the 19th for more info on this mascara!


Final Verdict:  For only $20, you can't go wrong with this set!  There's a reason beauty bloggers love these products- They rock!  Even if there's something in here you aren't a huge fan of, the rest of them in convenient travel sizes make it totally worth it, and it's the perfect introduction to the brand if you've never used Too Faced before.

 

**Disclaimer:  This article contains affiliate links.  As with all my articles, the opinions expressed herein are fully my own.  For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

 

Product Review- Benefit They're Real! Mascara

Benefit They're Real! Mascara Review

 

Benefit They're Real! Mascara Review

From the Brand:    They're real! lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts and separates. Our jet black, long-wearing formula won’t smudge or dry out. A specially designed brush reveals lashes you never knew you had!

What else you need to know:
94% saw dramatic length and volume*
90% saw base-to-tip curl*
94% saw visible lift*
100% saw long-wearing results*
*Results observed in a consumer panel survey

Retails for:   $23.00

Where to Buy:    BenefitCosmetics.com, Sephora Stores, Sephora.com, Ulta Stores, Ulta.com

My Thoughts:   I was so skeptical when I first got this mascara.  So so skeptical.  Everywhere I turned, people were going on and on about how amazing it was.  It was a rubber wand, and let's be honest if you've been reading my mascara reviews for any length of time you know 9 times out of 10, I hate those suckers.  I poke myself in the eye left and right, and I just don't ever feel they give the kind of volume you can achieve with traditional bristle brushes.  (Read about my one exception so far here.)

That changed when I tried Benefit They're Real! for the first time.  Within the first two strokes I knew this stuff was something special.  I'll admit, I did and still do from time to time poke myself in the eye with it's sharp little bristles, and man it hurts like a mother, but it's worth it for the look of these lashes!  I got a sample in some Benefit kit or as a freebie maybe some time long ago but never tried it out until this summer.  When I saw that Ulta had a full size/trial size combo pack for the regular price, I jumped all over that like white on rice.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  Amazing mascaras are 50% formula and 50% mascara wand.  Benefit They're Real! knocks it out of the park on both accounts.  Let me introduce you to the beauty that is this mascara wand...

It has these wicked sharp spikes that totally separate each individual lash, like a built in lash comb, but then at the very end of the mascara wand there's another set of spikes in the shape of a small ball which allows you to pinpoint the shorter inner and outer lashes.  The spacing on these makes them so effective.  The rows are just slightly off from one another, so as you rotate the wand through each stroke you are getting an even coating over both sides of the lash while separating and defining them.

The formula is a nice rich black that lives up to its claims of not drying out or smudging and is long wearing even in humidity.  I wore it for most of the summer with no issues.  My lashes took on a nice feathery volumized look that also looked completely natural.  They weren't a thick plush look, but they looked individually thicker and longer than they were on their own.  It makes them appear as if you have these gorgeous lashes naturally and you've just swiped on a tad bit of mascara to darken them up.  Of course it's impossible to get my lashes to hold their curl, but there was a bit more lift to them with this mascara.  It think that it's because I don't have to load so much product on to build up the volume that it doesn't weight the lashes down.  Either way, if this stuff could give my eyelashes a truly curled look, I'd probably run out tomorrow and buy 100 tubes in the off chance they lose their minds and discontinue this formula.  I highly doubt it, as everywhere I look this mascara gets absolute rave reviews.

Final Verdict:  Halleluiah.  I'm a believer. 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara

Tarte Light! Camera! Lashes! Mascara Review

 

Tarte Light! Camera! Lashes! Mascara Review

From the Brand:   
A lengthening, curling, volumizing, and conditioning mascara infused with olive esters to condition, treat, and protect lashes.

Product Performance: Our lights, camera, lashes™ 4-in-1 mascara could be considered a push-up bra for your lashes—a 4-in-1 (lengthening, curling, volumizing, and conditioning) plus it’s dermatologist- and clinically-proven to increase the appearance of lash volume.

Powered By: olive esters: conditions, treats and protects lashes

Retails for:   $19.00

Where to Buy:   TarteCosmetics.com, Sephora Stores, Sephora.com, Ulta Stores, Ulta.com

My Thoughts:   Of all the products I've tried through the years by Tarte, this will probably always remain my all time favorite.  I'm pretty sure it was the first product I tried by them, and it set a pretty high precedent for the rest of their products.  Here's why:

The Wand-  This is the ultimate mascara brush head.  It's tightly packed with short bristles to get right to the base of my lashes and evenly coat both sides.  It's small enough in length that I'm not having to play twister with my lashes to avoid getting mascara on my lids and undereyes, and it's narrow enough in diameter that it doesn't block my field of vision.  It gives soft volume with just one coat and great definition with no clumping of the mascara and no clumping of the lashes together into spikey clusters.

The Formula-  It's thick enough to coat without clumping but thin enough to use as a base coat for other mascaras that are better at volumizing in a single coat.  I use this almost like a primer rather than a straight up mascara, most often applying it under my Makeup Forever Smokey Lash.  The combination of these two mascaras is a perfect One-Two punch that takes my lashes from subtle to amazing.  You can definitely build this up very easily for a really volumized look on its own, but for some reason I've always just used it as a base coat or for nice natural looking lashes in a flash.  I get too lazy to really layer layer layer the same mascara.  (Sounds weird I know when I say that I layer another mascara over it but my brain just sees it differently I suppose.)

The Packaging-  I love that it's not in just another cylinder.  It's very unique and immediately recognizable!  Not only is it a beautiful purple, but it's a textured leather with a unique shape.  When I see makeup set ups by artists, I can spot this baby out a mile away!  I'm always like "oh HEY!  I use that mascara, too!"

Side Note:  If you haven't checked out Tarte, you really should!  I honestly have almost every product they make either in full size or trial size.  I'm addicted.  If you're looking for a brand that's cruelty free, and always formulated without parabens • mineral oil • phthalates • triclosan • sodium lauryl sulfate • gluten, they're the brand for you!  If you're interested in trying out the mascara but don't want to buy a full size, they have a bunch of sets that have smaller versions, and when you sign up for an account with them you'll earn points towards freebies, including trial sizes of this mascara.  I think I end up with a trial size every time I buy something (about once a month probably) and then an additional sample.  Not sure what to get?  Check out my reviews of their Amazonian Clay Blush and their Amazonian Clay Foundations.  No, I'm not paid by them to endorse their products, nor do they send me free stuff. I have a pro discount with them, because I'm a professional makeup artist, so I've stocked up over the years to accommodate my clients with allergies and who ask that I use only cruelty free brands on their face.  I know that I can accomplish both of these with anything from Tarte while still providing amazing quality and staying power.  I do have a referral link to share with people and earn some points towards more products to review for you guys, so if you are interested, I'd be eternally grateful if you used the links in my articles.  Either way, it's a brand I highly endorse due to my years of experience using the products on both clients and myself.  (I think there's at least one product from Tarte on my face every single day!)  Ok, so now I'll just let you get back to your regularly scheduled makeup review reading....

Final Verdict:  Use alone for a soft volumized and defined look with just one swipe, or layer under another mascara for a conditioning basecoat for a "push-up bra" effect like they claim.

 

 

**Disclaimer: This article contains referral links.  As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara Review

 

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara Review

 

From the Brand:   

Inspired by the on-set technique of layering a lengthening fiber mascara over a volumizing formula, our new studio-tested mascara exposes your longest, fullest lashes. No clumps, no flakes. Just maximum-impact, scene-stealing lashes.

    • 104% increase in lash volume
    • 32% increase in lash length
    • 34-degree increase in lash curl

Retails for:   $19.50

Where to Buy:   Smashbox.com, Sephora Stores, Sephora.com, Ulta Stores, Ulta.com

My Thoughts:   I have been using this mascara in my professional kit for at least the last year or so, and I'm a huge fan of it for the formula.  It seemed for a while there that every time I ordered something from their website, I was either getting a full tube as part of a collection or set or getting a trial size as a freebie.  I tested it out on my own lashes and wasn't a fan of the jumbo mascara wand head, but the formula is so awesome that when I apply it with a disposable mascara wand it's the perfect mascara for using on set or clients.

The formula is nice and thick, so it only takes a few quick swipes to build up a lot of volume and decent length.  Length I believe really comes more from the mascara wand head than the formula, unless you are using a mascara that has lengthening fibers in it which this one doesn't.  That being said, it does coat all the way to the tips with a nice amount of product to build up the ends of your lashes into a more noticeable effect.  it doesn't dry to a stiff crunchy mess, and it doesn't melt or smudge in the humidity.  I don't really notice any flaking either even after wearing it all day.  It works amazingly well to blend together false lashes with your own lashes with a single coat, although I do like to run a metal lash comb through afterwards to give them good definition.  (I'm one of those people who applies mascara after falsies.)

Since I mostly use it on eyes that have false lashes, I can't make any observations on its claim of curling, but does help lock the natural lash into the curl of the falsies nicely without a lash curler.

The only negative thing I can really say about the mascara other than the large head (the bane of my tiny eyes!) is the smell of the mascara itself.  All mascara has some kind of smell, but some are more offensive than others.  Not that I'm huffing the tube mind you, but it is strong enough that I can notice it if I open it near my face at all.  It's sort of a peppery smell.  Not enough to discourage use, but if you are sensitive to smells, it's something to be at least aware of.  I don't notice it when it's on my eyes though.

Final Verdict:  While I'm not a fan of the application I get with the included mascara wand, it's a fantastic mascara!

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Urban Decay Supercurl Mascara

Urban Decay Supercurl Mascara Review

 

Urban Decay Supercurl Mascara Review 

 

From the Brand:    Curl makes a lady. Sculpt your lashes with perfectly sexy curves to feel instantly prettier-than-pretty. Our formula boosts curl, separates lashes, and literally crafts each one into an expertly-shaped, battable set. Part of the secret lies in our molded and curved new technology wand that shapes lashes AND holds curl effectively throughout the day. Even more impressive are the incredible conditioning ingredients in our formula – packed with glycoprotein for lash thickening, moringa seeds to help with curl definition, and Meadowfoam seed oil and Shea Butter for conditioning and smoothing. Take that. We’d probably love this mascara no matter what the tube looked like…. But in the spirit of looking pretty we put it in a stunning mirrored gunmetal tube, embellished with swirling black scrolls. Go on with your pretty self.

Fill Weight: 9 ml e 0.3 US fl oz

Retails for:   $20.00

Where to Buy:   Urbandecay.com, Ulta stores and ulta.com, Sephora stores and Sephora.com

My Thoughts:   I got the travel size in a kit, because I wasn't in the mood to spend $20 on a mascara I wasn't sure I was going to like, especially when I've been trying every mascara under the sun lately for these reviews.  And boy and I glad I went with that decision. I was not a fan of this mascara at all.

The wand is rubber, which was strike number one against it.  Add to that the fact that the bristles were thick and spaced too far apart to get a nice separation combined with a stiff inflexible wand, and I really disliked it all around.  Strike number two Urban Decay.  The formula isn't too thick or two thin, so that was nice.  And the curved mascara wand head helped me coat my lashes nice and evenly without much trouble or messiness on the rest of my lids.  I'll give them that.

The biggest let down for me, especially when the reason I was interested in it to begin with, was that it did absolutely nothing for me as far as curling.  Even when I used a lash curler before (and I tested it with pre-curled and naturally straight lashes) I saw no visible difference in the amount of curl or how long the curl lasted (as with the pre-curled lashes).  Strike number three.  You're out of my makeup bag!

Kuddos for making it super long wearing though with no smudging.  Not waterproof mascara long-wearing, but a great wear for everyday mascara.  I was really impressed by that, even though I was so disappointed with how uncurled and clumped together my lashes looked that I was anticipating when I could wash it off.  Oh, and the packaging of course was adorbs!  Just like everything else they do, they do with total style.

Final Verdict:  I love, love, love every single thing I've ever tried from Urban Decay, so this was a major disappointment for me. I went into it with such high hopes that I'd found a mascara that could give me both volume and curl, but alas, it was just not meant to be.

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.