Rimmel The Maxx Volume Flash Mascara

It's that time again- Mascara Monday. Woohoo. Excited? I know I am!

This time Mascara Monday is brought to you by Rimmel London! I've tried a lot of Rimmel products and their mascaras in particular. I love, love, love the length their Lycra Lash Extender mascara gives my lashes, there is nothing like it out there.

Today though, I'm reviewing the Maxx Volume Flash, the one in the pink tube if you're anything like me and catagorize them that way. LashBlast is the orange tube etc.

I don't hate this mascara, I'm not mad at it, I just didn't go crazy for it either. First of all with all the advancements in the way of brushes this one is nothing special, just a plain ol' spooly applicator, not that there is anything wrong with that, it's just not enough for me anymore, ya know? The brush grabs entirely too much mascara and there's so much that I have to scrape off that the tube's edge is already full of leftovers before I'm done wiping. For that reason it can be clump city if you're not careful. It's not the mascara's fault, blame the brush.

What I do love about this mascara is that it's a wet formula. You either know what I mean or you don't but some mascaras have a drier texture and appear matte on the lash while others appear like patent leather on. This one is the latter. I love that. I got a lot of volume once combed out and length and curl were excellent as well. I'd love to see this formula with a rubbery comb-style wand, see what that can do for you, just not one of those flimsy combs that bends in half when you try to put it back in the tube *ahem Maybelline*.

Any mascaras you're wondering about that you haven't tried out yet? Let me know, I just might have them in my stash for review for Mascara Monday and I can speed up the process.

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara

Wowza! Hilary Rhoda is gorgeous (even in such an obviously photoshopped imaged). I love this picture so much it makes me want to buy the mascara.


I've tried, and had good results with Estee Lauder Sumptuous Mascara, especially the colored shades. The colors are more vibrant than your average colored mascara and the formula is thickening and works well to lengthen. I can't imagine getting much more extreme but I'm game.

Since I haven't tried the line, I can't offer up an opinion but I definitely would love to give this one a go. Has anyone tried it? What did you think?

Lip Fusion

I'll admit it, I wasn't blessed with plump juicy lips (not like my man who is definitely not lacking in that department) but I don't let that stop me from faking it. I've tried A LOT of lip plumpers and I wanted to pass on the results to help you make an informed decision when it comes time to pick one up for yourself. Here goes:

While I haven't tried the original Lip Fusion I did fall in love with Lip Infatuation when I visited it at Sephora but have yet to make any of them my own. These glosses are very pricey and I just can't justify spending that kind of cash on a lipgloss, you could buy a meal with this kind of cash.

Lip Fusion Color Shine gave my lips a slight, subtle plumping and leave a pretty color and shimmer (at least in Kiss, the apparently discontinued color I tried). There was no burning sensation to speak of. My lips felt fuller and thicker, almost as if they were plumped with collagen and a very slight tingle that was not irritating at all compared to Lip Venom or Soap and Glory's Sexy Mother Pucker. Weirdly, my lips felt numb on the surface and much more sensitive at skin level, not unpleasant just different. Also, I didn't find these sticky and they're definitely less tacky than MAC lipglasses, for example.

Worst part about these was the smell. For some reason they have a very Earthy smell when first applied, almost like a cross between dirt and grass. The scent fades fairly quickly but it's almost gag-inducing at first. Sorry, it's true. They didn't wear for a particularly long time but the color lingers around a bit, nothing remarkable.

I got mine through a MakeupAlley User who'd purchased at TJ Maxx. I haven't seen them at my TJ Maxx but I've been keeping my eyes peeled since I heard that. They're also available at Sephora and many online retailers.

Overall, I wouldn't say these are a must have and unless you find a color you can't duplicate elsewhere then I'd pass. They cost too much to justify spending on something that doesn't do what it's claiming to do. There are many, many, many less expensive products out there that can give you better results for less money. Take my word for it. For $38 you could buy at least two of your favorite regular glosses and not worry about plump lips or scaring your man away from kissing you with the tingling/plumping sensation going on.

Do you have these glosses? I'd love to hear your experience.

Disclaimer: When looking up reviews for this item I found VERY conflicting information from reviewers. Some said it was sticky, others said no, some said it tingled, others said it didn't, however, most importantly, most people did say there was very little plumping going on and few were happy with the price.

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse

You've probably heard it over and over again, splurge on your foundation and save elsewhere. I've never been one to do that. The way I see it is if I have crap skin, nothing is going to make it look better, I'd rather do my best to make it look good and then distract you with a colorful eye, fun lip or even a sparkly cheek. That is why I pretty much always finish off my look with MAC Mineralize Skinfinish, the shimmer really blurs my flaws to help me look more perfect and airbrushed, or as close as my skin is ever going to get.

I know, for a fact, from personal experience, that there are great foundations at the drugstore. It's all I use and I can't get over how much I like some of them. The only bummer is you can't try them before you buy them like you can at Sephora but the good news is you can bring makeup back at a lot of places. I mostly by my "drugstore" items from Wal-Mart specifically for that reason. I know other drugstores have return policies but I find that the prices are cheaper at Wal-Mart anyway.

The color thing is what keeps me from personally LOVING Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse. I tried the lightest shade and it's too orange and warm toned for my skin. I've found that with a lot of Maybelline's foundations, concealers and powders. But, fear not, if you aren't as pale and cool as me you should have no trouble finding the right color in this line.

Overall, I really liked this foundation. It's a cream formula and comes in a compact which is by far my favorite type of foundation in the winter months, my skin needs all the hydration it can get. My only gripe is that the compact doesn't have a mirror when it could easily house one in the upper compartment where the sponge is stored, even a smudged mirror is better than none at all. Also, I highly recommend buying a package of sponges and changing them out every few days. You'll notice that you end up picking up too much product on a dirty sponge and who wants to think about the bacteria lingering on that little thing. And, please, please, please make sure you keep the sponge in the separate space. I made the mistake of leaving it in with foundation and soaked up a ton of product which left me streaky and dark the next time I used it. Not a good look.

The ads claim that this product will leave you baby smooth and maybe it will for you but for me it didn't, which is totally fine with me. It definitely hydrates and is great for my super-dry skin but I didn't feel any smoother after using this product than I do other cream foundations. The mousse-y cream did glide over pores and imperfections and leave my face much smoother looking but I don't think that is what they were going for.

I probably wouldn't buy this again just because of the color though it might work on my summer skin. Even though I don't tan my skin always ends up darker in the summer anyway.

Tell me what you think. Do you buy your foundation at the drugstore or do you shell out for department store goodies?

Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleansing Cloths

I've made it my mission to test every *affordable* makeup remover wipe on the market. I love these things. I am perhaps the laziest chick on the planet (not to mention my sink is covered with beauty products, towels, discarded clothes and the water takes an hour to get hot) and I rely on these babies every single night. I know it's not the best for my skin but it's better than nothing and that's exactly what I would do if I didn't have these suckers.

I've filled the top drawer of my bedside table with makeup remover wipes, all brands and price points (as long as they are semi-affordable). They run the gamut from Equate, the Wal-Mart name brand, to Philosophy and everywhere in between. First, I'd like to share the results from Philosophy.

Purity Made Simple is the cleanser I use currently. I use so little of it, and it's so concentrated, that I've had it for a while. I already have my next pick lined up and waiting, Bliss Fabulous Foaming Cleanser. I had high hopes for this one because of the greatness of other Purity products. Please keep in mind I only had one sample to try out, however it didn't hinder the results.

These wipes are not the best I've ever used but they are not the worst either (that honor would go to the Neutrogena ones that smell like lavender, those were the product that helped me realize I was allergic to lavender). The size is great. These are a little bigger than your standard wipe. They had the same scent as the other Purity products which is a scent I don't happen to love. Many of the other wipes have scents that I do love and therefore get a higher rating in my book. I'm a sucker for things that smell good, even if they don't work quite as well as their less desirably smelling counterparts.

I found that these wipes stung my face a little and I don't usually have a problem with any other wipe. It wasn't a harsh stinging, not uncomfortable but noticeable. They also left my face a little drier than I would have liked. A lot of makeup wipes leave my face so soft and hydrated that I don't need to use moisturizer after using them, these did not. My face was rough with dry spots. Now, I can't say for sure if these wipes caused it or only helped me notice it and my guess would be that they just cleaned so well I had to make a slight trade off.

All in all these are an okay product. For the price I would choose something else as these are the higher end of the budget. If you love the Purity Made Simple scent and have oily or combination, heck, even normal skin you may just love these. Tell me what you think!

Too Beautiful to Act?

Oh come on! I've heard it all. First, Michelle Pfeiffer said that it was so hard to be beautiful in Hollywood, that there weren't roles for beautiful woman, some shit like that. Bull! I find it hard to name a woman in Hollywood that isn't considered beautiful and is getting roles. Beautiful women even play the ugly woman in movies and they win Oscars for it (Halle Berry and Charlize Theron). Seriously? Then, we have Jessica Alba, who I only find attractive sometimes, claiming the same thing. Okay, so two seriously idiotic, shallow, stuck on themselves women. I can understand why they would think that. But now, I hear Natalie Portman is saying the same thing? Natalie's not classically beautiful, not in LA standards anyway, and she's claiming it's hard to find roles because she's so beautiful. Granted, I know these quotes were probably taken out of context but what do you even say to that? The best actresses in the world aren't getting work because they don't have the look, I'm sure of it, I'd put money on it.

I want to know what everyone thinks on this topic. What do you think of Michelle, Jessica and Natalie in the first place? Do you think they are too beautiful and that their looks are holding them back in H-wood? It sickens me to think that they think being beautiful is a burden.

Katy Perry Purr

How adorable is that bottle? It's kitchy and I'd so love to have that on my vanity. I love purple, love my cat and it's just too cute to pass up. While Katy herself has been riding around in a purple milk truck selling the fragrance (if I am to believe the rumors you can meet her in NYC if you buy the scent off the truck) it's a Nordstrom exclusive, and without a Nordies anywhere near me, I'll have to go on what the website says it smells like. Here's the deets....

Purr by Katy Perry eau de parfum begins with the aroma of peach nectar and forbidden apple, evolves with a distinct floral bouquet of jasmine blossom, Bulgarian rose and vanilla orchid, and slowly reveals accents of creamy sandalwood and musk. Like the singer herself, Purr is playful yet sophisticated. Katy Perry transcends barriers with her music—so does her new fragrance.

If you buy the $65 bottle you can also get a free travel bottle as a gift with purchase for a limited time. Keep one for yourself and pass on the other to a friend. What more could you want?

If anyone has smelled this do let me know if you love it. Sounds delicious to me but you can't judge a perfume without a sniff and skin test.

I'll leave you with this lovely promotional picture from Katy Perry.

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara

Well, well, well. It's "Mascara Monday" and I was waiting on a package that contained the mascara I most wanted to check out: Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara. I'm so glad I waited. First off all, I love, love, love the color of the tube; a gorgeous metallic green. I know that doesn't have much bearing on the product itself but I thought I'd put that out there. It makes me smile a bit each time I look at it. See, try not to smile at that pretty color.

Now, for the good stuff. This stuff really works. My lashes feel softer and I think it's impossible to clump this mascara. I put on literally 10 coats and not a clump in sight. The lengthening is amazing and if that's what you're looking for in a mascara, look no further. If you want volumizing this can give you what you want in just a few coats. It doesn't feel too heavy when you apply so much and for such a cheap price, you really can't go wrong. I'd have to say it looks pretty realistic on Jessica Biel in the ad, though, they DEFINITELY altered the color of her eyes, they are so green it's ridiculous and no one has eyes like that. My eyes are green but not like that.

I can't attest to the growing properties of this mascara since I just got it and I like to switch up my mascara but for doing such a good job, it can't hurt to add a little help in there. If I notice anything, I'll be sure to update.

Kat Von D Adora

She-Ra, She-Ra! You know you love her. If you're a child of the 80s (or you have a friend or family member who is) you've surely heard of She-Ra aka Adora, twin sister of Adam aka He-Man. "I'm Adora!" She's what I think about each time I read about Kat Von D's new fragrance.

I love Kat Von D. I love that she's not afraid to be herself, tattoos, sketchy boyfriends and all. My heart goes out to her after I heard the rumors that her house burned down with her kitty inside (that must be so horrible, I couldn't imagine losing my house and my pet). Nikki Sixx and Jesse James aside, I think the girl has incredible taste. Her makeup line for Sephora is great, very different and innovative without being too different to be marketable. People seem to love it and I can't wait to test out some products when I get a chance.

Adora is her newest fragrance. I love Saint and though Sinner wasn't for me (I found that it smelled like Old Spice on my skin) I think it smells great on a more Earthy woman. I got a sample of Adora with my recent Sephora.com order and I really like it, something about it reminds me of Bvlgari's Red Tea scent which I love, not just because I love the tea either.

Sephora lists it as a floral, which, to be technical I guess it is, but I'd never put it in that category. It's very earthy with a patchouli woodsy base, thyme mixed with florals and fruits for the top and middle notes. I think it would make a great everyday, not overpowering, perfect for the office or errands, scent.

The roller ball is only $16 and I really want to pick it up when I finally make it through my perfume sample bag and get back to wearing the ones I own and love.

Has anyone tried any Kat Von D cosmetics or fragrances? I'd love to hear what you think. Plus, I'd love to hear what you think about this controversial woman. Let's gossip.

Givenchy Play for Men

You know that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when a man walks by who not only looks good but smells good as well? You know what I'm talking about, the jaw dropping, punched in the gut, can't breathe for a second feeling? Get ready to feel that all the time from your own boy. Givenchy Play for Men seriously gives me that feeling every time I smell it on my man. It's so good I want to wear it myself, and probably would if I bought him a big bottle of it.

Now, I HATE, as in with a passion, Justin Timberlake. I've always been a Backstreet Boys girl and though I did have a brief crush on him way back when, I've never dug him as a person or a solo performer. When is he going to go away for good? But, he is the face of this fragrance and honestly, it would probably even give me that feeling if his curly, mop top walked by wearing this. That's how good it is.

What is it about the scent that makes me weak in the knees? Is it the manly fruits? The Woods? I don't know but I love it. This scent is available in the Sephora Deluxe Fragrance Sampler for Him so you don't have to take my word for it, pick it up and try it for yourself.

Alessandra Ambrosio

Wow, it's hard to narrow down the Victoria's Secret girls into the four hottest, it really is. I mean, there's Lily Aldridge who is so cute with her gap teeth. Izabel Goulart who is a knockout Spanish beauty. Adrianna Lima with her beautiful, crazy eyes. Rosie Huntington with her sexy pout. Emanuela de Paula with her gorgeous skin and eyes. The list goes on and on. Who's your fave?

I had to be diplomatic here and I went with my man's favorite: Alessandra Ambrosio. As far back as I've known him he's been into Alessandra, though now it's more liking her because he used to, I can't actually say which celeb he has a crush on, I have no clue. He can tell you mine though *ahem* Jensen Ackles.

It's hard to tell in this pic but Alessandra's rocking a cat's eye which is so huge right now. First of all, it does take practice and I still have yet to master it. The easiest way (and the closest I've come to a perfect look) is to use pencil liner first and then retrace it with liquid liner. But that comes later.

First, you know the drill. Foundation, this time any of your preference. Then, a little matte bronzer on the backs of the cheekbones avoiding the apple for this particular look. Personally, I've never tried that but I imagine it would be great for making your cheekbones stand out.

For lips, I'd go with a brownish nude and I particularly love a satin finish to not compete with the eyes. You want something that feels soft and slippery, not dry. I love the Victoria's Secret lipsticks (seriously, I have one that is not really my color but I wear it around the house anyway because it's so moisturizing and smooth).

Go ahead, I know you're dying to, get to work on the eyeliner. If you're really daring (which I so am) you could go for a colored liner, I recommend green, blue or purple for cool skin tones (the veins on your inner arm appear blue instead of the greenish of warm skintones, or so I'm told) and copper, gold or brown for warmer skin. Then, when you're done, add as much mascara as you can handle to fill it out. You can also dab highlighter or shimmery shadow in the inner corners to make you look more awake and alive. Dab a little on your cupid's bow and lower lip while you're at it.

Who is your favorite Angel? Did I profile her? Is there a look (Victoria's Secret or not) that you'd like to know how to do? I'll do my best for you.

Erin Heatherton

See the theme of the week? I can't help it. These girls are just so gorgeous. While my man happens to disagree with me, I think Erin Heatherton is just adorable. I mean, the freckles, the smile, what's not to love? I thought I'd go for something completely different for her makeup look, for all you retro-red lovers. See how you can work this sexy look.

Again, for this look I'd go with a cream foundation and I forgot to mention one of my favorites, CoverGirl's Simply Ageless with Olay Serum. Just an FYI: The colors in this line run really light because of the serum so pick one shade darker than you would normally wear or be prepared to darken with bronzer. I like to use my slightly too light shade around the jaw and hairlines to blend in a slightly too dark foundation.

Choose a matte peach blush and apply only on the backs of cheekbones, avoiding the apple area. It adds a slight contrast to the face but should be subtle because the lips are so bold and the eyes are strong as well. I don't have a favorite matte blush but I'd love to hear your favorites.

Next, line the outer half of the lower lid and entire upper lid with dark brown or black liner. If you want a shimmery look I love Urban Decay's Oilslick 24/7 liner with small silver glitter or, if you're lucky enough to have it, Bare Escentuals Buxom liner in black. Use a white pencil or shadow on the inner half of the bottom lid and in the inner corner for contrast and to liven up the eyes. Coat lashes with curling mascara and curl those puppies, it's imperative to this look.

The lips are the star of this look, a look I could never in a million years pull off because A)I'm so fair, I'd be washed out and B)my skin is red/ruddy so red never looks good on me, but I'm still working on being brave enough to just go for it. If you're super brave pull out NARS lipgloss in Bloodwork and go to town. First, I would line the lips with either a red, clear, or exactly your lipcolor lip pencil. This will hold the color inside the lines. Aapply the gloss and add a coat of clear gloss (if you want a vinyl look) or blot (if you want something a little more matte). Then, take face powder and make a ring around your mouth to keep the color from bleeding. Make sure to blend but not to get any on your lips themselves.

Tell me, can you convince yourself to go this bold? Can you go out of the house with sexy red lips? Or are you chickenshit like me? And, what red lipstick do you wear? Inquiring minds want to know. I'm thinking about picking up Maybelline's Red Revival, supposedly the best selling drugstore red.

Miranda Kerr

Surely, if you're a huge Vickie's Secret fan like I am, you caught the fashion show last night. How gorgeous did everyone look? One of my favorite Angels, Miranda Kerr, obviously didn't walk in the show this year due to the fact that she's having Orlando Bloom's baby in just a few weeks. Still, I thought she deserved a little recognition and, since she's one of the most gorgeous women in the world, I know you're just dying to look exactly like her. That's where I come in. I mean, I can't give you the cute cherubic face, not to mention the killer body, but I can help you to wear your makeup exactly like she does. Here goes...

For once, in this pic, Miranda has a completely matte face and I like the look on her. To get it for yourself you'll need a good matte foundation and setting powder in a matching or translucent shade. Since I'm not a huge matte foundation girl, I'd suggest using what you love if you already have a fave (and do share, please) or, you could use BareMinerals matte and skip a step. You'll want a pretty heavy coverage to cover any freckles (not that I normally condone that) and a matte bronzer under the cheekbones for contour. If you're using a separate powder I suggest applying it after the bronzer to mattify it even more, I love Koh Gen Do's Maifanishi Face Powder. And, go light on the bronzer unless you're white as a ghost like me, then you can use a little more.

For the lips I would use a light pink gloss and blot some of the shinyness away or you could use a more full coverage gloss such as Avon's Glaze Wear or Revlon's Mineral LipGlaze. The coverage is more opaque and less shimmery and works perfectly for the look Miranda's rocking. Then, dot a tiny bit of white or champagne shimmer on the center of the bottom lip for fullness and, if you don't have that, you can always use a dot of eyeshadow or even the white liner you'll need for your eyes.

My favorite part, as always, is the eyes. This is such a soft yet sophisticated look. Line inner eyes with white or fleshtone pencil (white is more noticeable while fleshtone is subtle). Then, trace around the lower lashline with taupe or gold pencil. Use a light gold or champagne shimmer (love the gold shade of Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Eyeshadow) in the inner corner and a more matte version of the same color on the lids. Add a coat of lengthening mascara and comb those lashes to avoid clumps and imperfections. To top it off, define your brows with powder or pencil (my fave is by Rimmel and has a great brush attached to the cap for a natural look).

I just love this pic from JustJared.com, don't you? Miranda looks so gorgeous without trying too hard. Do you like this look? Did it work for you?

Beauty Blitz

Have you heard of Beauty Blitz? Neither had I until some lovely bloggers tipped me off. Head over there ASAP, sign up for a free account and you can enter daily giveaways for fabulous prizes. While I haven't won personally, I know a lot of people who have. If you win, do share the details on your prize with me, pretty please.

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Tonight

Tonight is the Victoria's Secret Fashion show. 10pm, CBS. You've just got to be there (like their Semi-Annual sales)!



Unless you've been living under a rock I'm sure you've seen the pictures. I have to say, it does spoil a lot of the fun of it. But, I just love these girls. Candice Swanepoel is just the most gorgeous woman on the planet and I love everything about her. Look out all next week as I profile my favorite Angels and post how to recreate their best looks for yourself.

Check it out! If you do, let me know what you think and who your favorite angel is.

Maybelline Great Lash

I know, I know, you're supposed to love Maybelline Great Lash, but I just...don't. The only thing I love about it is the great price but, for virtually the same price, you can pick up CoverGirl LashBlast or many other great drugstore mascaras, including some other great ones from Maybelline. What's your favorite? Do you just love Great Lash?

The tube is iconic, and perhaps that is why they never change it, but I can't get on board. The short, chubby tube is just too short and chubby to house a wand that actually works. The tiny elf-size brush head (I mean, just look at it) makes mascara clump the second I get it on my lashes, giving me absolutely no length. Maybe I'll have to try their new "BIG" version and see if that does anything for me. At least the pink and green are cute together!

Lastly, has anyone else noticed how this stuff smells? I mean, I'm not sticking it to my nose but I can still smell it when it's on my lashes and it's offensive.

I read in their ad that one is sold every 1.7 seconds. Craziness. I'll never be convinced. I'm just sayin'.....

Candice Swanepoel

Oh my God! First of all, this girl is just gorgeous; I love her blonde hair/blue eye combo even though I usually go for brown hair/brown eyes. But... just look at her. As if that wasn't enough, the youtube videos I've seen of her are so cute, she's got the tiniest little baby voice and her South African accent just makes it all the more adorable. If I were into women she'd be on the top of my list. Here's my favorite look on her and how you can get it yourself.

First step is to cleanse, moisturize and prime the skin. My favorite primer is Smashbox photo finish (what's yours?)! I find that makeup goes on smoother on freshly washed skin, moisturizer and primer will just help it glide into the skin perfectly.

Next, choose a foundation shade that perfectly matches your skintone and blend really well along the jaw and hairline. It's so important to blend, blend, blend. In middle school I was the girl with the tan face and white neck and, even though I was using a completely wrong shade, I might have been able to pull it off had I blended better. My favorite formulas for a look like this are creams. There are so many great ones: L'Oreal True Match compact makeup, Covergirl AquaSmoothers and, at Sephora, while not exactly a cream it's close enough, Stila One Step Makeup (which I'm dying to try).

Then, a pinky peach blush (I'm sure you've heard it before, NARS Orgasm definitely fits the bill here but there are tons of other options, just go with what you know and love) on cheeks. You can also, to save yourself a step, use MAC's Mineralize SkinFinishes as blush (or drugstore alternative Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips) on cheeks as a blush and forgo the next step.

Apply LIQUID or CREAM highlighter on the bridge of the nose, cupid's bow (center of the top lip), brow bone and tops of cheeks if you didn't already use a shimmery blush. You can also carefully use it to brighten the inner corner of the eye and reserve a dab for the middle of your bottom lip after applying a non-shimmery candy pink gloss. Honestly, my favorite glosses are Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush and they come in a huge variety of sheer colors and scents that you're sure to find one you love. Plus, they're always on sale 5/$20! Can't beat that price.

For the best part, the eyes, line inner rims with a white liner such as Urban Decay's Yeyo or Jane's Gliding Liner in Ice Breaker. If that's too intense for you, you can also use a flesh colored pencil for a subtle look or silver, for a more funky feeling.

Trace around the entire eye with silver shadow. My faves are Ooh and Aah from the Too Faced Enchanted Glamourland Palette, which also comes as a single, and Strip from Urban Decay (though both are a little more blue than the one Candice is wearing in her pic). If you want something a little more exact I'd go for Urban Decay Vapor judging by the picture on Sephora.com.

Line the upper eye with black pencil liner (I love Urban Decay Zero, see a theme here?)! Stay really close to the lashline and use a skinny line. You can skip this step altogether if you're going for a more subdued look.

Last but not least, fatten them lashes up! Use your favorite mascara, as many coats as you can comfortably stand and if you can handle it, you can add falsies. I would, but I need a lesson on how to do it first.

Good luck! I'd love to see pictures or hear about your experiences if you try this look out. It's perfect for work, nights out, even the holidays. Then again, if I looked like Candice Swanepoel, I'm pretty sure everything would look amazing on me.

American Music Awards: The Ugly

Nicki Minaj- What is there even to say about the green hair? It looks like a cheap wig you'd buy at the dollar store. I'm all for colored highlights, I think they look cool in fact, but half your hair one color just doesn't work. That being said, I dig her lips and can't wait to see her MAC lipstick Pink Friday. Her cheeks and eyes are subtle and pretty and the whole makeup look is one I'd actually wear out of the house. Too bad her hair puts her in the ugly pile right away. Plus, I hate her thinly veiled stage name.


Kesha, Kesha, Kesha. I know what you're going for, edgy, cool, Lady Gaga I don't give a rat's ass but you just look ugly. You gotta give it to the girl for having the gumption to do this and for being able to get all that hair to stay all night (though that accolade goes to her hair stylist)! The eyebrow bandaids, the black and frosted silver lip, the six inch roots, it's a train wreck.


I love Kelly Osbourne. I love that she speaks her mind, I think she's a fairly good actress (loved Life as We Know It, the short lived show) and she looks absolutely wonderful since her weightloss (not that she looked horrible before). However, I have to say that this hair is just hideous. It seriously looks like a wig from the Jaclyn Smith Collection. I get where she was going but it ruined the whole look. Her dress was gorgeous, her lips were okay (would have gone for gloss or a lighter shade of lipstick to counteract the smoky eye) her eyes were pretty, and if she added a little bronzer to the rest of her face she would have looked spectacular makeup wise. It's such a shame she left the house with that hair.

American Music Awards: The Bad

Julianne Hough- There is no denying that Julianne is a gorgeous girl and I love her big blue eyes her blonde hair. WTF happened to the pretty blonde? This is, with my little beauty school background, atrocious. It looks like she went too dark, too soon, without adding a filler shade between dye jobs. I think she'd look good with chestnut hair, not this in between, greenish/grayish tinged brown. Julianne barely escaped my ugly list. If I'd never seen her previous blonde hair I probably wouldn't see anything wrong with her current hair color. Plus, the makeup is really classy albeit not exactly age appropriate.

Rihanna- Has anyone gotten used to this red shade on her? I think it would be very pretty if it were a little more subtle. Either way, I think it's safe to say the curls just don't work. They're not tight enough to give her a 'fro and they're not loose or controlled enough to be pretty. Her lips and cheeks are so-so but I really like the smoky shadow, especially the green color. It's a subtle look, as to not compete with the hair, but I feel like she missed her mark.

Mandy Moore and Sheryl Crow- I'm huge fans of both of these ladies and, although I don't listen to their music anymore, I respect them hugely as performers and as women and I love Mandy as an actress. However, I'm not digging the dark, warm shades on her. She's such a gorgeous girl, easily pulls off all hair colors and looks phenomenal most of the time, but this makeup just didn't flatter her skintone and hair color, someone missed the mark.
I love the shimmery cheeks and the eyes on Sheryl but her hair, paired with the lips, buts her on my Bad List. I'd love to see her with her hair up or just styled differently for once. I feel like it's been like this since layers came into style in the late 90s. And Sheryl needs to lose the visible lip liner stat, especially in brown shades, it looks like a throwback to 1994.

Speaking of visible lip liner, it seems to be a trend. Check it out on Natasha Bedingfield and Keri Hilson. I don't mind it as much on a glossy lip like Keri's (or with darker skin like hers) but I can't get down with it with matte lipstick, especially not when you have a mouth and teeth as prominent as Natasha.

American Music Awards: The Good

I'm kinda upset that I didn't know the American Music Awards were even on until I saw the press coverage on Monday, I used to live for these things. As a kid I'd beg my parents to let me stay up late so I could watch. One year my bestie and I even "dressed up" to go to the Grammys (the same year JLO wore the infamous Versace dress), and of course, by dressing up I mean wearing long skirts as strapless dresses, my NYE tiara and winter scarf as fabulous accessories.

The most important part of any awards show, now and when I was 10, was the hair, makeup and dresses. This year, honestly, there wasn't much to be excited about. Does anyone else feel the same way? Here's what I loved...



Katy Perry-Katy Perry is a gorgeous girl and sometimes that gets lost in her over the top looks. Not this time. She looks 100% flawless. I love her soft waves, shimmery eyes, lips and cheeks. This is a look you could actually copy and wear on the street and not look like a circus freak. Applause to Mrs. Katy Brand. Beautiful!

Jessica Alba- Jessica's one of those girls I only find attractive sometimes. I loved her look when she did Honey and I love her look at the AMAs. The smoky eye really brings out her dark eye color and I love the slicked back, sophisticated hair with such a dramatic neckline. Gorgeous. Wouldn't change a thing.

Pink- I'm sure people are going to disagree with me here but I love Pink's silver/lavender hair. It's original (even though yes, it's been done already) and it really is an improvement over the bleached and pink. I like that she keeps evolving and her makeup is softer and more sophisticated now. PS: On a personal life note, how cute is it that she and Cary got back together? That takes balls after such a public breakup.

Taylor Swift- Words cannot express how glad I am to see her putting the curls away for the night. I'm a huge fan of curls (and personally have them myself and never,ever straighten them) however, her curling iron, too fake for their own good curls had to go. I love her hair straight, love the color, the bangs. A lot of people have said that it made her eyes look tiny but girls got tiny eyes to begin with. And can we talk about that dress? Huge departure from her normal baby doll look and I have to say I'm totally digging the whole look on her.

Christina Aguilera's Performance look- What a cool and fun eyeliner look. I'd never wear it because I'm not performing anywhere but it's fun. Pair that with a vinyl red lip and it's a perfect look at me! look. However, I must say I'd prefer to see Xtina look more like Taylor Swift does in the picture below, simple makeup, straight blonde hair and bangs. At first I thought this pic was Christina from a distance. How pretty would she look if she went back to this type of style?


PS- Does anyone else find it weird that Usher, Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block all performed? I felt like I was back in the 90s instead of 2010.

Stila Online Warehouse Sale

Stila's having a sale for Cyber Monday! What a perfect time to stock up on Lip Glaze (if you can get past the tricky click pen, which I can't), Smudgepots and the infamous Kitten shadow?



In Case you can't read that it says: Nov 29- December 3 at Stilacosmetics.com/warehousesale up to 80% (yeah, you read that right 80%) off hundreds of Stila items.

What are your favorite Stila items? I'm dying to try the One Step Makeup and Custom Blush next time I make a trek to Sephora.

Face-off Friday Katherine Heigl

Flashback: It's 1996 and my best friend and I are sitting in front of the Disney channel and watching Katherine Heigl in Wish Upon a Star. I loved that movie! Has anyone else seen it? I haven't been a huge fan since, never really watched Grey's but I am dying to see Life as we Know It when it comes out on DVD and One for the Money (by Janet Evanovich) when it hits theaters next summer.

I'm not necessarily a big fan of her acting (or her inflated ego) but I love that she can change up her look so much. Seriously, I'd much rather see celebs take risks than keep it the same every time. Anyone else with me? I mean, Rihanna, she doesn't always look picture perfect but you just have to know what she's going to wear. Obviously, Katherine look isn't as dramatic but girl can rock brown hair or blonde hair and she's worn so many makeup styles that it's hard to keep track.

Check out two of her recent magazine covers...



I like Katherine with brown curls, it's a much more natural look and really plays off her fair skin. Her blonde bob is a little too mature for someone with her silly personality. I love her Redbook makeup too, it's age appropriate and soft while still accentuating her features. Her eyes really stand out and I love the way her gloss photographed. And, while I love the olive dress on the InStyle cover, I adore the teal tank she wore on the Redbook cover. She looks like someone you'd be friends with not the movie star who would ignore you if you walked up to her on the street that I'm sure she is. What do you think?

Buxom Do You Believe in Love at First Sight?

Wow. I see a trend on this here blog: Bare Escentuals Buxoms are hard to pass up this holiday season. Here's why...

Six, count 'em, six mini Buxom eyeliners! (From Sephora)
No. 1: "Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?" (bright turquoise)
No. 2: "Do you believe in love at first sight or should I walk by again?" (violet purple)
No. 3: "Are you a parking ticket? You've got fine written all over you." (pearl white)
No. 4: "If I could rearrange the alphabet, I'd put "U" and "I" together." (black)
No. 5: "Are those sexy legs tired? You've been running through my mind." (espresso)
No. 6: "You must be a thief because you stole my heart." (gold with silver micro glitter

If you haven't figured it out by now I love purple and I love turquoise (wedding colors, hello!). Who doesn't need a black liner and white is perfect for looking more refreshed and awake. But, this set had me at microglitter, gold with silver microglitter at that, the best of both worlds. The only one I can't imagine wearing is the espresso shade but that's only because I haven't met a brown liner I like, I have a feeling if anyone could do it it would be Buxom.

If you picked this set up, tell me all about it, I'm jealous!

*Update* Picked these up for myself for Christmas and I will review them soon!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Have a safe and Happy Holiday.


Doesn't this imagine just crack you up?

Cosmo's Fun Fearless Females Global Campaign

I subscribe to A LOT of magazines but each month I look forward to Cosmo the most, it's all the fashion, beauty and sex you could want in one place. This month was no exception! Julia Stiles graces the cover (I had no idea she was on Dexter, I have to get around to watching that show on Netflix instant then)!

Go to and upload your picture to be taken on a video tour of a Cosmo model's life. The site is a little slow to load but you can upload a picture directly from your Facebook page and put the video on your wall when you're done. Sounds like a lot of fun!

The Badass Beauty Tricks starting on page 95 and Sexy Spa Secrets on 202 are more than worth the price of the magazine! I can't wait to try them all out.

Chanel Nail Polish, worth the price?

Back in middle school I was one of those girls that changed her nail polish pretty much daily. Now-a-days I'm lucky if I take it off before it chips into oblivion. Just recently I started getting into higher end nail polish, as in Orly, OPI and Zoya. My favorites so far are China Glaze and Essie for their superior range of colors and lovely wearablility. Both are pretty affordable and for the usage you get out of one bottle, you're definitely getting your money's worth. Now, if I didn't have to have every color imaginable and wore each more than once, I'd be all set.

Riva, Chanel's newest it polish is gorgeous, beyond gorgeous, and the light blue is right up my alley, but No! No! No! $27 for a nail polish? Are you kidding me Chanel? I cannot, will not, spend nearly $30 on a bottle of nail polish. Imagine the prices on Ebay when this bottle sells out in days. I cringe just thinking about it.

If you're into baby blue polish I highly recommend China Glaze's For Audrey (check it out on Ebay or swap for it on MakeupAlley or KarlaSugar.net). It's more of a Tiffany blue, hence the name. It's a gorgeous color and it's perfect for Spring, whenever that comes around again.

What do you think? Has anyone tried any of the Chanel polishes? Are they worth the money? I've heard lots of rumblings about Milani making great dupes (duplicates, for those not in the know). If anyone knows a great dupe for Riva I would love to know so I can check it out. Would you shell out the big bucks for a Limited Edition shade like this?

Choices, Choices, Choices

I love choices, more than anything I like a good choice. I like to choose my side dishes, my shampoo each shower and what show or movie to watch at any given time. That's why I love perfume samples. I have a Bloomingdale's Little Brown Bag 1/4 full of fragrance samples (with very little repeats) that I am slowly going through. Any given day I have at least 100 choices for fragrances, what could be better?

What's a few more? My favorite store, Sephora (of course) sells Fragrance Samplers each Holiday season that come with a gift certificate to purchase a full size bottle of the fragrance you like best in the set. This year there are two each for men and women, deluxe and collector's edition. Each set comes with scent samples, try each one and choose your favorite. Every sample contains at least five days of wear giving you a chance to really live with the scent before you make a decision. Then, redeem the gift certificate at a Sephora store for a full size bottle of the scent you like best. It's that easy. These make a great gift for your girlfriend or wife, your mother or daughter, anyone you don't exactly what to buy for the Holidays. Since fragrance is such a personal choice this is the way to go if you're not sure exactly which scent a person wants.

Just a note: You can only redeem at Sephora stores. Gift certificates cannot be used online or at Sephora in JcPenney Stores.

Covergirl LashBlast

Easy, Breezy, Beautiful Cover Girl. It's been drilled into my head since I was, what 5? With LashBlast, I have to agree 100%. This mascara is simply amazing. The be-all, end-all of drugstore mascara. It's cheap and easy to come by and best of all, it works. My lashes are thicker and darker with no clumps in sight. It's a little difficult to get off with makeup remover wipes but add a little eye makeup remover and you're golden!

There are four formulas in the line: LashBlast (orange tube), LashBlast Luxe (pink), LashBlast Length (yellow) and LashBlast Fusion (purple). I haven't had the privilege of trying Length or Fusion but, as I've said before, regular LashBlast is the control group in my mascara studies, my comparison. If mascara doesn't live up to LashBlast, it's a no-go.

LashBlast Luxe is different than any other colored mascara I've ever tried. First of all it's subtle, not in your face noticeable, and it SHIMMERS, yes, shimmers. It's great if you want to bring out your eye color without looking like you tried too hard. Perhaps, a great addition to your holiday smoky eye look?

Has anyone tried Length or Fusion? Next time I actually have to buy mascara (which won't be for years with all the unopened tubes I have in my stash) I'll have to pick up Fusion. Fusion is a combination of Length and regular, volumizing LashBlast.

Urban Decay Deluxe Shadows

Note: Picture shows Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow in Shag
One of the first brands I really got into when I started collecting big-girl makeup, as I like to call it, was Urban Decay. I love the name of the company and the names of the items, but we all know the name means nothing when the product is crap. Luckily for all of us, Urban Decay is the real deal.

The deluxe shadows from the brand are fabulous. They come in adorable flip-top containers and, though I've had slight functional problems with them, it's nothing to complain about, so I won't.

Urban Decay's regular shadows usually (though not always) have glitter and as much as I love glitter, I can't always deal with it in my eyeshadow. The deluxe shadows are like a grown-up version, think shimmer not glitter.

Every single one of these colors is wearable and the collectible containers make me want to have them all. Currently in my collection are Scratch (light pinky peach with silver shimmer), Ransom (vibrant iridescent purple), Fishnet (bright purply fuchsia), Graffiti (bright green), Peace (turquoise) and Adore (bright blue). I don't see Adore on Sephora.com, I wonder if they discontinued it. I've also had Honey but found the shimmery gold too yellow for my taste and passed it on to someone who would find it more flattering with their skintone.

As usual, all of the shadows I own are cooler in tone, although Scratch is a little warmer than I normally wear. Used over Urban Decay Primer Potion (even without), these last for hours with no smudging or creasing. The Primer Potion really brings out the color and results in an exact match between your eyelids and the pan color. Now that, I love! I'd highly recommend these for special occasion wear like prom or a wedding.

They retail for $18 and the deluxe size is really generous. Honestly, I don't see me ever wearing one of these until the package is empty. Next time you're in Sephora or Ulta, check them out and let me know what you think.

If you'd like to try them out but don't need a full size product many of the shades are available in Urban Decays Palettes and, since I own a few of those, I can attest to how wonderful the palettes themselves are as well. Who out there owns UD palettes and which ones? I have the Skull palette and Shadow Pony set and I couldn't love them more if I tried.

Charlotte Ronson Lolita Makeup Bag

I'm a sucker for samples. They're so cute and lovable in all their tininess. The problem is I have tons of them that I'm never going to use. One use just isn't going to tell me if I like an item or not. Unless it's a single use item like eyeshadow cards or perfume samples I can't really tell if I'm getting something I'll like for the long haul but... I still can't resist them.

Beauty.com has a great deal going on right now. With a $100 purchase you can get a free Lolita makeup bag designed by Charlotte Ronson stuffed with $125 worth of samples (how they calculate that I'll never know)! If you look at it that way, your $100 was very well spent. The samples include...

* Bliss Clog Dissolving Cleansing Milk
* PHYTO Phytodefrissant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm
* NUXE Tonific Fermete Intensive Firming Cream
* Nick Chavez Beverly Hills Volumizing Extra Hold Hairspray
* Smashbox Photo Finish Targeted Pore and Line Primer
* Urban Decay Lip Junkie Lip Gloss, Wallflower
* Stila Eye Shadow in Illimani
* Dr. Brandt Collagen Booster
* L'OCCITANE Shea Butter Ultra Rich Face Cream
* ARCONA Peptide Hydrating Complex, Hydrate AM/PM
* It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores HD Silk Micro-Powder
* Oscar Blandi Olio di Jasmine - Hair Serum
* Lavanila Assorted favorites


If you're already going to shop there or a comparable site you should check out this great deal before it's too late. Supplies are limited. If you get it let me know if you love it.

Buxom Love

Wow! Sephora, I'm really beginning to hate you!

Today, I visited the sight again (I know, I know, I should just stay away if I don't want to be tempted, but it's too damn hard) and I fell in love. With a Saint Bernard. I know what you're thinking but follow along on my puppy loving journey.

I stumbled upon Bare Escentuals Buxom Stay-There Shadows when the default picture immediately caught my eye, teal, my favorite color. I cannot resist teal anything, tops, shoes, bags, and especially eye shadows and liners. Take a look at this...



After reading the reviews for these beauties I was even more intrigued. How could I say no to that? These shadows are a Sephora exclusive and with no Sephora within shopping distance of me (huge bummer, I know) I can't check them out in person. They're cream formulas which I've only had touch and go success with (Love Bobbi Brown's, so-so on Stila). They're all named after dog breeds, which is where the Saint Bernard comes in, a gorgeous teal green. I MUST have it.

Bare Escentuals will make a charitable donation to Canine Companions for Independence, a non-profit that provides disabled people with assistance dogs. What a wonderful charity! Another great reason to pick up this product.

For $17 you are getting a fairly small pot but the reviews speak for themselves, the best cream shadow users have ever tried, great sponge-y like consistency, most vibrant, etc. I can't live without these in my life. I'm going to have to spring for Saint Bernard, Pug (a pewter shimmer), Bull Dog (deep blue), Schnauzer (royal purple), and Chihuahua (silver). Can you tell I love bright, cool-toned shadows? On my fair, cool skin and light eyes it's the best combination. What color would you pick up?

*Update* I sprang for Saint Bernard and I will review it as soon as I've had enough time to accurately try it out. Can't wait to see the others.

Short Hair on Girls (a not-so expert opinion)

I'm no expert. I'm a beauty school dropout, I never learned how to cut short hair on ladies and having only my one (really bad) experience with short hair, I have to say I don't know my stuff, I only know my opinion. Please feel free to prove me wrong, I'd love to hear your feedback.

First of all, I have to say that I admire woman who have the balls to give short hair a go and, in the right hands, it can look very beautiful. But, in the wrong hands? Watch out. There's this beauty school phenomenon where every girl comes out with shorter and shorter hair each week she's there, until, there's no hair left. I've seen girls start out with nearly waist long hair and end up with a cute little pixie, a crime if you ask me. As a girl with LONG hair, we're talking mid back and, before I got it cut a month or so ago, the longest layer was to my butt, I love the way it looks on everyone as long as you take care of it (but that's another post entirely).

This whole topic was sparked by the Marie Claire that landed in my mailbox today and the lovely Emma Watson on the cover sporting what I can only assume is her little brother's haircut. I'm sure you've all see her with short hair but this was just shocking. One should not have to wear so much mascara to not look like a little boy. Check it out....



Now, I'm not saying that it's impossible to look good with short hair, look at Halle Berry, I just think that certain adjustments have to be made to avoid looking like a little boy. First of all, if you're pin thin, with no chest or butt, you're going to look like a little boy unless you wear tons of makeup, hair accessories and jewelry. End of story. Secondly, if you keep a little length on top to spike, swoosh to the side, etc., it makes a world of difference. Also, in my not-so expert opinion as I said earlier, showing a little cleavage with a short haircut never hurt anyone.

Agree? Disagree? Please let me know and feel free to send me pictures to prove me wrong. I'd love to hear from anyone with an opinion. Drugofchoicebeauty@yahoo.com

Face-off Friday Christina Hendricks

Every Friday Drug of Choice brings to you Face-off Fridays. And not the John Travolta/Nicholas Cage movie!!! Each week I'm pinning a celebrity beauty against (for the most part) HERSELF! Vote for your favorite look for the starlet. Occasionally, just to mix things up on you, I'll show you two pictures of girls wearing similar (or not so similar depending on my mood) makeup and you tell me which LOOK you prefer. Now, I know, it's hard not to vote for your favorite celeb in that situation but it's all about the look. TGIF, indeed!

Confession! I have never seen an episode of Mad Men. It's not really my thing. That being said, I have taken notice of a beautiful redhead named Christina Hendricks and really, how could you not?

The gorgeous, buxom ginger stands out from the crowd of rail thin blondes and her features make her more beautiful than 10 cookie-cutter starlets put together. Now, with such flaming red hair you'd think Christina would stick to a more neutral look, something tried and true that she could do with her eyes closed. Not so, my dears, not so. Christina always looks fabulous by taking risks and that's what I love about her. Now, I want your opinion on how you think she looks in each of these looks and which you'd pick for her if you had to choose.


or


Do you prefer Christina Hendricks with bold, berry lips and lightly lined eyes or a black cat's eye with neutral lips? Both are equally gorgeous but I really love the way the berry lips off-set her gorgeous pale skin. If I had skin like this, I'd never wear foundation, what about you?

MAC Me Over

Calling all MAC girls! The cosmetics giant is giving you (yes, you) a chance to be the face of a Fall 2011 line. You can submit a video or a picture at the website macmeover.com. The contest runs from now until December 20th and what better way to get in the holiday spirit than brushing up on your makeup skills and entering a once in a lifetime contest?

All you have to do is head over to the website, submit your video or picture and complete the sentence "MAC me over because...." It's that easy. MAC Pro Artists will make you over and you'll be shot by celebrity photographers in what's sure to be a glamorous NYC setting. Round trip ticket to New York anyone?

This contest is open to U.S. Residents 18 years old or older as of date of entry. All ages, all races, all sexes will be included just like MAC proclaims as their slogan.

Let me know if you enter. Can't wait to see the winners in Fall 2011.

Korres Abyssinia Oil Mascara

I've always been a drugstore mascara kind of girl. I never saw the point in spending money on Lancome or Dior when I could get a great value and the same results from Cover Girl or Maybelline. That is, until I tried Korre's Abyssinia Oil mascara.

This mascara contains Abyssinia Oil to condition lashes and leave them in better than original condition. The natural vegetable oil has a high concentration of fatty acids to soften and condition your lashes, giving you natural results with each use. Unlike traditional lash conditioners this is a one step process, not a primer and mascara in separate tubes, cutting application time in half and not giving your lashes the white cast left by other serums and creams.

Korres Abyssinia Oil Mascara gives all day color and hold and I found that, even without a lash curler, my lashes had a slight upward slant that I couldn't stop admiring in the mirror. The brush has a cool no-pattern/pattern that gives lashes a really natural appearance and the bristles are soft enough that should you hit skin, you won't leave a hideous scratch on your eye. And it does all this without parabens, sulfates and synthetic fragrances and dyes. What more could you ask for?

It retails for $20 (more than double my drugstore brands but worth it for a nice splurge) at Sephora and Korres and is available in black, brown, purple and dark blue. The sample sized tube I tried is half the size of the normal tube and I've gotten tons of use out of it.