Mascara Monday: Sephora Favorites Lash Stash to Go

You didn't think I'd forget about our long standing tradition, did you? Mascara Mondays are back and this week we're checking out Sephora Favorites Lash Stash to go.

 Now that my state has joined the rank of coolness and actually has Sephora (2) and Ulta (3), I can tell you all about the goodies I've tried, not just the ones I'm looking at.  This little baby caught my eye as soon as I walked in the store and I carried it around with me the whole 45 minutes or so that I was there. Ok, so I thought it was the last one and I wasn't going to let anyone else get their grimy little paws on it. Turns out there were tons left at the register (PS- how fun are those cute little displays that you just have to look at before you check out?)

Mascara minis are a weakness of mine and I had to get in on the action and get this one. I'd been dreaming about them, mentally putting them on my holiday wish-list just days before I found the summer version in stores. I never knew they did these at other times of the year. My eyes are peeled for them now.

So for the next few weeks you'll be able to read all about the mascaras in this set, that includes:

-Benefit BADgal Lash in Black
- BUXOM Lash in Blackest Black (my favorite mascara even before I bought this set)
- Korres Volcanic Minerals Voluminizing Mascara
- Lancome Définicils in Black
- Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! in Rich Black

Plus, I got a mini Benefit They're Real! from Sephora for my birthday so you'll get a review on that one too.

The best thing? The voucher for a FREE full-size mascara! Choose from the five mascaras included which range from $19-$27. This cutie pays for itself! Just hold on to that voucher and don't let it go.

In case you don't remember I've reviewed Lancome Definicils before here and Buxom here but I'll be reviewing them again for you in the coming weeks in case they've snuck in any formula changes when we weren't looking.

Mascara Monday Extra: Josie Maran GoGo Instant Natural Volume Argan Oil Mascara

The very second I finished Mascara Monday I opened my makeup bag thinking about my next project for you guys. Guess what I found? Yeah, another mascara I hadn't told you about. I don't know how it slipped by me. Well, yeah, I do. It's because I love it so much that it's always on me, I never left it in my "to review" section long enough to type my little blurb about it.

As you know I'm a huge fan of mascaras that don't feel heavy on the lashes and part of that is making sure my lashes are soft not thick, spidery and dry. You know what I mean? I think this mascara is actually the most hydrating I've ever used and that's because it's formulated with Argan Oil, the miracle oil. I haven't done an extensive review on the oil itself either but I promise that is coming, it's my winter staple. Even better, this mascara actually works tremendously to give my lashes volume, length and great color.

For every Josie Maran GOGO mascara purchase the company will donate a mascara to City of Hope, a charity that helps women undergoing cancer treatment. Never underestimate the power of a little makeup to make you feel better. Plus, until August 2012 a $1.00 from every sale goes to City of Hope to raise money for cancer research, treatment and education. That's huge. Oh and your lashes will love you.

Mascara Monday Extra Tarte Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara

You thought it was all over didn't you? So did I. There really are so many mascaras out there that I'd love to try if money were no object. Luckily I got the chance to try Tarte's Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara.

The first thing Mr. Dudesday said when he saw the packaging was that he liked the wood. It's different and infinitely cool. Hey, I'm a sucker for packaging and this one is great! I'm really into a mix of materials whenever possible and an unexpected splash of wood is always welcome anywhere I am.

There's nothing inherently different about the brush or the formula but both do their job amazingly. My lashes came out clean and free of clumps in my normal amount of coats. They were long and fanned out but still volumized. Overall this is a great $19 mascara and I think the results justify the price. I swear I didn't expect to fall in love with so many pricey formulas when I first started Mascara Mondays but I definitely have. That is not to say that I wouldn't be just as happy trying out all the drugstore has to offer in this department either.

This one promises to help the overall health of lashes with continued use but I can't attest to that. I didn't pay attention to softness during use or after removal but I didn't experience any problems either.

Mascara Monday Wrap Up: Part 3

Mascara Monday is officially coming to an end today. It's a little bittersweet to be honest. While it means the end to a series on DOC it also sparks the beginning of a new one, one I hope you'll enjoy as much as I know I'll enjoy writing it, My Essentials Monday. It'll be a little more fun because, let's face it, not everyone is entranced reading about mascaras every Monday. I'll share with you everything in my beauty arsenal that I can't seem to live without! I hope you'll enjoy it and I can't wait to hear what you have to say.

The first batter today is Urban Decay Cannonballs. UD is my favorite beauty brand for their pigmented colors and incredible wear time. Although I only gave Cannonballs a light, in store test I thought it was good enough to write home about! I'm not a waterproof girl but if I had to use one it would be this one. My lashes didn't feel dried out or cakey like they usually do with waterproof. I don't have enough experience with this one to give it a formal grade for fairness sake.

Smashbox Lash DNA- You know how some mascaras are really all about the brush? Well, this is one and not in a good way. The chopped off design left something to be desired and was downright scary next to such a delicate area. The mascara itself is dark black and leaves my lashes volumized, lengthened and clump free. Sadly, the brush makes this one a C at best. Luckily, it's no longer on sale at Sephora.

Too Faced Lashlight Mascara- I adore this one! It's cute little flashlight is adorable but it's not the only reason I can't live without this TOP 5 mascara. The smaller brush gives great separation and leaves my lashes lengthened and fanned out as well as giving them the proper amount of volume for any less-dramatic event. This one gets an A-! TOP 5 for sure.

L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara- Again, I can't get past the brush on this one, it's one of those spiky ball-type contraptions. I can't do it. I'm an admitted klutz but I think you'd be hard pressed to find a chica who could actually maneuver this thing. This one's not very black and I ended up clump city. Sadly this is an F product but here's the link anyway.

If I were a lesser blogger (and a cheater) I would give Sephora Give Me Some Lash TOP 5 contendership. I can't do that. It's not fair. This one is actually a set of mini mascaras. It's a great way to try out products that you can't really test in the store. Who wants to put possibly germy product on their lashes with a sub-par disposable spooly brush? Not me. These make great gifts and they always seem to be available around the holidays. I might even beg Mr. Dudesday for another one next year if they have a different variety than what I've already reviewed for y'all. This one, of course, gets an A+, it's how I found most of my favorite new mascaras.

Here's another Tarte mascara for you, 4 Day Lash Stain. I can't get over the 4 day part. Unless you don't shower for 4 whole days you're not going to get that much wear out of this product. Sounds like camping trip material, if only it were worth it. I didn't find this to be a stain, it was a pretty crappy mascara. It's definitely dark and it made my lashes long but there was no where near enough volume! Guess that's why they called it a stain. This deserves no more than a D+.

The last one in my quest for a perfect mascara is Rimmel Sexy Curves. Great name, great packaging, great mascara? You betcha. I would have liked it even better if it gave me the promised curled look without a lash curler but with it I was fine. This baby clumps a little bit but nothing to worry about. I'd give this sucker a B-.

You've seen the TOP 5 contenders Buxom Lash, Too Faced Lashlight, Korres Abyssinia Oil, Sephora Advanced Lash Booster and Benefit BADgal but are you ready for the BOTTOM 5? I probably shouldn't admit this to everyone but sometimes it's more fun to hate a product and write all the crap that you usually keep bottled inside.

If you've read all my reviews you know how I feel about Maybelline Great Lash, frankly, I hate it. Every time I see that iconic pink and green tube I get the urge to toss it in the trash and stop some poor soul from paying actual money for it. I'm glad it's under $4 because at least then it's a lesson you can learn on your own.

Lancome Definicils! I don't honestly know why Lancome get's all the hype they do in the mascara department. I haven't tried anything else by them but if they are only as good as this one you'd find it hard to convince me they are worth the $25+ they retail for. With that kind of cash I could buy a couple tee shirts or a pair of jeans at Old Navy, no thanks!

Clinique gets marks in bad taste for preying on the gulibility of its customers. Repeat after me "I do not need a special mascara for my bottom lashes." I swear, you do not. You can skip it altogether if you want (I do frequently) or if you really want to learn how to do it properly I'm sure there are great Youtube tutorials on the subject.

Another Clinique waste of cash is High Impact Mascara. This one is so high impact that it's hefty. This is like the chubby sister of many great mascaras, it has good intentions, somehow makes good grades (by others) but overall it's not worthy of a date with, like, the superhotboynextdoor!

Rounding up the worst of the worst is Telescopic Explosion from L'Oreal. This brush is crap, plain and simple. I'm decently skilled at makeup application but even I can't deal with this brush. Keep the cash in your pocket and pick up a few Pumpkin Spice Coffees at Dunkin Donuts, it'll save your sanity and your wallet.

I can't wait to hear what you think about my choices in Parts I, II and III. I'm also excited for next week when you can start learning all about my essential products! Let me know what you think!

Mascara Monday Wrap Up: Part 2 10-20

Ahhh, week 2 of Mascara Monday wrap up. I hadn't realized that I'd tried (and reviewed) so many different mascaras but it looks like we're going to have a Part 3 next week. In that post I'll give you my TOP 5 and my BOTTOM 5 as well as regular wrap ups on the few that we haven't already covered. Again, the first link is to my review, second link is where you can purchase!

Laura Mercier is a brand that I haven't had much experience with but the Full Blown Mascara is amazing. I probably wouldn't shell out $24 to purchase this one again but I did love the way it worked for me. There's the perfect amount of product on the wand to leave my lashes long and lush and not clump city but still subtle enough for the faint at heart. B for this one!

I've always been curious about tube mascara formulas but I never ventured out of my comfort zone to try one until Blinc Kiss Me Mascara. Another $24 full size, I think it's a little too pricey for its capabilities. This mascara took a long time to try, easily making a mess if I was in a hurry and I didn't notice enough of a difference in it's waterproofing abilities to spend that kind of moolah. This one gets a C.

I didn't have high hopes for Sephora Advanced Lash Booster, come on it's the Sephora house brand. I was wrong. A very versatile mascara I love this one for every day use and multiple coats for special occasions. At $12 it's not out of my price range and I'd definitely but it again. This makes my TOP 5. Grade= A-.

Benefit BADgal Plum- Although I already reviewed Benefit BADgal Lash, I reviewed the plum version as well. BADgal Lash is one of my TOP 5 overall but I was a little disappointed by the "plum" color of this one, I found it to be more maroon than purple, not flattering on me and probably not the best for anyone. This isn't where I would start if you're looking for a colored mascara, check out CoverGirl LashBlast Luxe, it's more subtle and affordable. This is a straight up C student!

Rimmel Max Bold Curves (green tube)- As I've said before I'd previously had great luck with Rimmel mascaras, they were my go-to before I got into "big girl" makeup from Sephora. While Bold Curves is a good mascara it's not one of the best, not even at the drugstore. It gives small clumps, liveable but you probably don't need to put up with that. You get too much product with one pump so I passed this one onto my mother because I have enough of these mini tubes of mascara to last me a lifetime, I'll pass. I'd give this product a C-.

Hourglass is another brand that I haven't had much (okay, any) experience with but should get acquainted with but if Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara is any indication I might pass. I can't get over the $28 I'd have to plunk down for this one. I can't do it. Not only that but this one's not black-black, it's too light and that's not okay with moi. Grade= D+.

I love Tarte! Not only are they a "green" company but they have some amazing products that you would never know were environmentally friendly and that is really important to me. I like to do my part for the planet, I recycle, only drive when I need to, limit my water use, all that good stuff but I will NOT sacrifice my beauty routine for a product that doesn't work. Luckily, I don't have that problem with Tarte. If you're looking for a natural mascara definitely look into them and you should probably start with MultiplEYE. You can pick it up at Sephora for $24, more than I would probably spend on something but if you need it to be natural this is the best! For me, not taking the green-ness into consideration I would give this a B-.

Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash- I think this is the darkest mascara I've ever used that's amazing to me. I love it dark! $22 seems a little steep for this Beauty Girl but I think I could deal with it for the quality of this one. Smoky Lash is easy, breezy for casual days but it can be dramatic if provoked!

Rimmel Lycra Lash Extender- Back before I'd ever heard of Sephora I was still a makeupaholic. I practically lived in the makeup aisle of the big box store where I worked at the time. Back then my favorite mascara was Rimmel Lycra Lash Extender. This was also back before I read blogs but I did see it mentioned on one of my favorites years after I'd moved on to a new love with LashBlast. I don't usually see this one on shelves anymore but it is still available. I love that it gives amazing length without the clumps. If you're into length over volume check this one out, even though I get decent volume from it as well. Grade (to the best of my memory) B!

Last but certainly not least Buxom Aplified Lash. I haven't given this one a whirl but it's at the top of my list. The brush on this is adjustable, how can you beat that? One day you can be subtle and the next? FULL ON ROCKSTAR! Even though I haven't tried this one I'm anticipating it so highly that it nearly makes the TOP 5 but I wouldn't do that to you. No grade for this puppy since I haven't given it the full DOC whirl YET!

Check back next week for Part III, the last few overviews as well as my Snark-tastic BOTTOM 5.

Mascara Monday Wrap Up: Part I

You know, I'm sad to see Mascara Mondays end. It's been a long time since I've worn a mascara for more than a week at a time but there were a few that were my definite favorites. I'd like to share with you my requirements for a great mascara and which of the mascaras I tried made the cut. I'll give each one a grade and tell you my favorites. Since there are so many, I'll be back next week with Part II!

First of all over the course of this experiment I figured out a few things I didn't even know I needed from my mascara. I love them dark black (duh, who doesn't) but I also learned that I prefer the wet look, shiny patent lashes. It makes my eyes look more alive and also leaves my lashes feeling less dry and brittle, something I learned I can't live with in a mascara. I can't tolerate products that I have to pile on for volume or those that are too thick to begin with. I like something lightweight, almost weightless on my lashes. If it's too heavy, I can feel it and my eyes fatigue more easily. I'll leave you a link to each individual review for reference (the name of the item is the link to my post and the other link will take you to purchase the product).

Korres Abyssinia Oil Mascara Grade=A. This wonderful Korres mascara was the first that I reviewed way back in November. I was so excited about the way it made my lashes feel. They were soft and hydrated but the mascara still did a great job making me look fabulous. Unfortunately, I can't find it on the Sephora website or at Korres.com so if you find it, hoard it. This is definitely on my TOP 5.

CoverGirl LashBlast was and still is my favorite drugstore mascara. I love the huge tube, although I'm sure for some it's too much. I never have to search my makeup bag for this one. Overall, after trying all these prestige brands I would rate LashBlast (in the traditional orange tube) a B+. It gives me great volume, length and curl, doesn't clump and the formula is always patent leather pretty. The price is right for this one and it's the only formula I've EVER purchased more than once.

Maybelline Great Lash- This mascara is not one of my favorites. Diplomatically speaking, it's not for me in DOC-speak I'll be blunt, it sucks. The puny brush does nothing for me, I find my lashes are dry and brittle and I get very little volume and length. The only good thing this has going for it is the really cheap price. Grade=D.

Another drugstore favorite is Revlon Grow Luscious. While I never used it continuously to find out if my lashes did grow lusciously I did like the mascara on it's own. Again my lashes were soft and not brittle and there were no clumps in sight. Someday I'll have to give this mascara a real go and see if I notice any growth! Grade=B. This one also has a great price point at only $5.99!

Rimmel Maxx Volume Flash (pink tube)- This wasn't the best mascara I tried but it certainly wasn't the worst, that honor goes to Great Lash! Overall, I would say that Maxx Volume Flash gets a grade of C-. I didn't dig the tiny clumps but j'adore the patent leather shine. I don't think I would repurchase but you can buy it here.

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara- If it sounds like a con and walks like a con, it's a con. I cannot see buying a seperate mascara just for bottom lashes, it's not going to happen for this beauty girl, in fact, sometimes I don't even apply mascara to those tiny baby lashes! Since I didn't actually try this one I can't grade it, if you tried it you simply must tell me how you like it. I do like that it's only $10.

Buxom Lash- This is another of my TOP 5! I'm absolutely in love with the shiny lashes hypnotizing me in the mirror. The wand is far superior to most and I got insane definition and volume, two things that usually aren't found in the same tube. While I don't exactly enjoy the $19 price tag I would definitely say it was worth it. I would absolutely purchase this one again, no questions asked. Grade=A+

Benefit BADGal Lash- Benefit makes one of my favorite mascaras, another TOP 5 contender. Again this one is all about the big brush but instead of the rubberized version in LashBlast, this one is a fiber brush. This brand gives me the perfect amount of volume without any clumps or smears. I love that these come in a mini size so you can try it out without too much of a commmittment. Here's the full size, here's the mini. The big guns are $19, the mini $9.

Clinique High Impact Mascara- One of my major pet peeves with mascara is when they are too heavy on the lashes. I suffered from a medical condition a few years back that resulted in pressure behind my eyes that made my head hurt all the time and this heavy formula left me with the same feeling. My lashes were so weighed down that my eyes wanted to be closed all the time and I could instantly feel the difference as soon as I put this product on. It could just be me but I haven't had too much of a problem before so I'd doubt it. This mascara deserves a D+, the great low price giving it a much needed boost out of F territory!

Lancome Definicils- Another of my least favorite I found major problems with the non-black color. I passed these minis on to my mom, I didn't even want them around anymore. I can't tolerate a mascara that claims to be black but isn't, that's just wrong in this girl's world. Harsh? Maybe. Still, I had other problems with this one as well, namely the the clumpy look. This one gets an F+ (do those even exist?) not only for it's pigmentation and performance but for the exorbitant $25 sticker shock. Don't waste your money.

Overall, you've seen three of my favorites and a vast majority of my least favorite. As you can see they run the gamant from super cheap to pretty pricey, I think the difference between Great Lash and Definicils is about as vast of a price difference as you can get, although both were less than stellar performers. Check back next week for Part II.

Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara

Today's the last official day of Mascara Mondays. Next week I'll update with an overview of all the posted formulas and grade them based on performance. I'll also give you a list of my personal needs from a lash enhancer.

This week we're talking about Rimmel Sexy Curves mascara. Not that it's of any importance but I love the name and the metallic purple tube, so cute and easy to find in your makeup bag. In general I really like Rimmel's mascaras, they are really cheap but they work well.

I have had absolutely no problems with flaking or smearing with this one, I love that! I'm a chronic eye rubber and with lesser formulas I end up with mascara ALL over my face. Trust me, it's not a good look. I'm pretty sure top models couldn't even pull it off. Rimmel Sexy Curves might actually stay on too well. As usual I never wash my face at night, I just use a makeup remover wipe (series to come soon) and therefore I had issues getting it off my lashes. In the interest of journalistic integrity I'm going to try makeup remover on it right now. Be right back! Haha, can you tell I'm prepared to write this? Yep, just I suspected this mascara is super easy to remove with eye makeup remover, even my cheapie ol' Maybelline.

Although this mascara is intended to curl the lashes I didn't find too much curl, in fact I thought my lashes looked straighter than normal. I hardly ever use my lash curler but the formula definitely holds a curl better than other brands. My lashes were dark and wet, rich and shiny and they stayed that way all day. They were dramatically lengthened and slightly volumized (7/10 I'd say). I love that my lashes don't feel heavy, sticky or dried out, three of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to mascara.

As with other drugstore brands I did see tiny clumps on the tips of my lashes. These aren't from your lashes clumping together thankfully, just tiny bunches of mascara that goop up. They're tiny, it doesn't ruin the results and running a lash comb through lashes would rid you of any evidence. The rubber bristle brush also makes it easy to comb out any mistakes provided you don't add more mascara between rounds. This formula also takes a minute to dry so you have be careful with those blinks or you run the risk of getting black speckles on your upper and lower eyelids. That's what keeps the look shiny throughout the day, it's a trade-off I'm willing to deal with. I can see myself using this mascara often. Overall this is a good mascara but probably not one I would purchase again just because I like to experiment and what better way to do it with under $5 tubes of mascara.

Check back next week for an overview of all my favorite mascaras and a quick wrap up to the series. I'll let you know which mascaras are worth their money and which ones you should skip!

Tarte 4 Day Lash Stain

We're nearing the end of Mascara Monday I'm afraid but I do have two more for you. Today we're checking out Tarte's 4 Day Lash Stain.

Firstly, I have to mention what a ridiculous name this is. Who in their right mind is going to wear the same dose of mascara for 4 days? Even if it did stain the lashes dark enough to forgo mascara, what would be the fun in that? I didn't notice anything that was different about this mascara that would make it a stain. I definitely had the darkening promised but I also had more volume and length, something I don't imagine getting from a product labeled a stain. I didn't find it particularly hard to remove so I'm wondering if it's meant to be left on the lashes completely for 4 days. I tried that too but didn't seem to notice a difference in my lashes come Day 2.

This product wasn't the worst I've tried but it definitely wasn't the best either. I found it to be a little clumpy and at the same time it didn't really make my lashes look volumized. I got great length from this one and I love the dark black, wet look. The brush was a little wimpy but if you're looking for just length and curl I think this one would be a good choice. It's curved and immediately adds lift to my fringe. My lashes were much more noticeable but they didn't look like falsies which is more or less the look I go for daily.

Overall, I'd say it's a mediocre product, definitely not one of my favorites. I didn't find it to be any better than drugstore brands and probably not worth the $18 price tag. Save your money and get something that costs half this much. If you're looking for a true lash stain I'd look into Hard Candy or Neutrogena, both of those would cost the same as one of these. I haven't tried either but they're a better bet than Tarte!

Sephora Give Me Some Lash

I can't believe it's August already, can you? I'm very sad to say Mascara Monday is coming to a close. I have a couple more mascaras for you in the next few weeks but after that we're on to bigger things and I have a spectacular new series just raring to go. It's been fun trying out new mascaras every week but I've run out of new ones to try although I highly doubt I'll ever make it through using all these minis I now have lying around. Do you know how awesome they are? If you don't, I'm going to tell you how awesome, not just tell you but show you.


Doesn't this just look like fun? The Sephora Favorites Give Me Some Lash Set. For $30 you can try them all out, pick your favorites and purchase those next time. You don't have to take my word for it anymore. Here's a play by play of what's included.

Talika- Lipocils: This one's not a mascara, it's a lash enhancer. I've tried it out but quickly realized that I'm far too lazy to apply goop to my lashes every day. Not only am I lazy but I realized I'm forgetful as well. Many people have had great results with this so it's definitely worth a try if you're in the market for better conditioned, longer and thicker lashes (and who isn't?)

Tarte- Lights, Camera, Lashes!: This one I haven't had the pleasure of trying but I would love to. I love the Tarte brand and I love that they are a green company so I can feel good about using their products.

Make Up For Ever- Aqua Smoky Lash: Click here to see my review of MUFE Smoky Lash, this is the waterproof counterpart.

Bare Escentuals- Flawless Definition Mascara: This is another that I haven't tried but have to. Seriously I hear raves about this one all the time online. You have to check it out and let me know what you think.

Smashbox- Lash DNA: This was one of the last I tried and reviewed from my stash. Love the formula but the brush is a little wonky. Read all about it here.

Clinique- High Impact Mascara: This is one of my least favorites in this set, check out my reasoning here.

Buxom Lash: I adore this one, read what I had to say about it. If I were forced to choose at gunpoint this would be the one I'd choose.

These sets are seriously fabulous. I'm not sure what promotion they are running with these this time but my stash came with a 100 points perk. If you purchase one of the mascaras in the set you get an extra 100 points added to your beauty bank, meaning you can score a deluxe sample or keep the points coming for a bigger and better 500 point perk.

L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara

Sometimes I wonder how companies figure out ways to make things more complicated than they need to be. Who needs an extra step in their routine or something that is more complicated than other options out there? L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara is just one of those things, really. How hard is it to mascara-ize? Well, L'Oreal figured out how to make it about 20x harder. I know this isn't a new one but I thought I'd share my experiences with you anyway.

This one is all about the wand and honestly, it's hard to get past. Really, there is no way to make a mascara more complicated than this one does. This is a ball shaped wand like Givenchy Phenomen'eyes mascara, with tiny little spikes all over the place. Wow, talk about a violent way to do mascara. It's frightening, you can't even get close to the lashes without worrying about killing yourself via the eyeballs. Not only that but I ended up with globs of mascara in certain places and hardly any in other places. It's impossible to spread out and don't even get me started on the lack of length.

I can't even attest to the color and wearability of this product, I couldn't get past the application. It's strange to even think that something as simple as mascara can be so seriously flawed in both thought and application!

While the price is right, the only real use I could see for this would be for those with pale lashes since you can hit them from the top a lot easier than you could with a regular wand. Does anyone have any experience with this product? Are there special tricks that I'm missing? What did you think of it?

Too Faced Lashlight Mascara

Oh the things you didn't know you needed until they come into your life. Flavored water, gel manicures, lighted and mirrored mascara. Oh yeah, you heard me. Too Faced Lashlight mascara. Seriously, it's awesome! Of course throwing an LED light and mirror on an awful mascara doesn't mean anything but put it on a great mascara like this and you've got something going on. I love the mirror on the side of the tube, it's perfect for putting your mascara on in the car (as a passenger only, of course) or for reapplication after the beach.

This mascara is awesome! It's glossy black, volumizing and lengthening and never clumps or smears all over my face. The wand is thin fiber and it really leaves your lashes clean and gorgeous and it's easy to get into the inner corners. I love that the applicator really comes out clean so that you have no worries about applying on the go. You really can't overdo it with this mascara. This one doesn't leave your lashes dry and brittle, it leaves them hydrated and conditioned. It's got vitamins to leave your lashes in better condition than when you started.

You know, I didn't even realize there was a light on this product for the longest time. The button on the top of the applicator wand is actually turning on the light. Hey! It doubles as a flashlight if you're caught in the dark, as the name suggests.

Smashbox Lash DNA

As I'm nearing the end of Mascara Monday posts I think I've finally come to realize what I need from my mascara. It can't be too heavy on my lashes, can't clump or smear, needs to be dark black and shiny and the brush has to add to the experience instead of being cumbersome. In my experience with Smashbox Lash DNA, I found the brush to be not only too big but with it's blunt end, actually quite frightening to have so close to my eyes. I can actually see the end of the wire that is holding the bristles in place, not a pretty picture when you're dealing with something as delicate as your eyeball.

Overall the mascara was a good one once you get past the brush. It instantly volumized my lashes and the thick brush kept clumps at bay. I didn't have any issues with smearing, always a good thing in weather like this. As I've said before I just can't seem to keep my hands away from my eyes and very frequently, at the end of the night, I'll have rubbed a ring of black mascara all around my eyes and nose. Whoa is that sexy!

This one's black as they come which is always a plus in my book. My lashes weren't left feeling brittle and dry and removal was fairly routine, no surprises here.

I'm not sure if this one is on it's way out but it doesn't appear to be available on the Sephora website although it is included in the limited edition Give Me Some Lash Set. My hope is that they're keeping the formula and updating the brush. Do you know how hard it is to reach the inner lashes with a blunt end brush?

Urban Decay Cannonballs Ultra Waterproof Mascara

It's been quite some time since I've worn waterproof mascara, the way I look at it is if a mascara can't live up to my lifestyle why bother with it? There's always another mascara that can. Waterproof mascaras are a pain in the butt to remove, impossible without makeup remover and honestly, as you might already know, I'm L-A-Z-Y!

Now that it's summer and more and more days are spent on the beach I've come to understand the virtues of waterproof mascara. Who wants to sweat, rub their eyes and end up with smears across their faces? Um, not me! Thanks! If you're a swimmer, or even a wader, you're gonna want something on your lashes that isn't going to run. Personally I look naked without mascara so going without is not an option and when I heard that Urban Decay had an awesome waterproof mascara (ultra waterproof, they claim) I had to try it.

Urban Decay Cannonball is awesome! I just love the name and I think it could really live up to cannonballs. This mascara is most definitely waterproof but it doesn't make my lashes feel brittle and it came off quite easily with a makeup remover cloth, I didn't even have to bust out the big guns with oily eye makeup remover although I'm sure I would have gotten a better clean if I did.

What I love most about this mascara is that it feels just like a regular formula, not heavy and drying like most waterproof formulas are. The brush wonderfully separates the lashes but also gives a little bit of volume while still looking pretty natural for a day at the beach.

Urban Decay tested this $20 formula in the ocean as well as the gym so fear not, it's good for both. Perfect for wedding season where you know you can't hold back the tears when everyone else is sobbing. The second someone tears up I'm following close behind, I can't help it.

What about you, do you like waterproof mascaras? What's your favorite formula?

Buxom Amplified Lash

Capitalism is a great thing. In this country we've grown up with the ability to pick and choose what we like and stick with it, watch companies grow from the ground up and take their product to new places. Another great thing about it is one company can start a trend that explodes onto the scene with other companies rushing to one up the competition. With the introduction of MAC's Haute and Naughty mascara last year it seems every makeup conglomerate is clamoring to make the next multiple formula mascara. We've seen them from Almay and Rimmel at the drugstore and now Buxom is bringing it to Sephora in a totally different way with Amplified Lash Mascara. Introducing the first (to my knowledge) adjustable brush. This isn't an adjustable tube, the brush itself actually gets bigger or smaller by turning a dial. Take a look...

Do you change your mind all the time like me? Hey, I'm a Gemini, what's your excuse?!? Some days I want thick fringy lashes other days I want long spidery wisps to compliment a nearly naked face. That's just the way it is. I can't be the only one, please, I'm begging you, tell me I'm not!

Buxom is one of my favorite brands and is a sub-brand of Bare Escentuals therefore products are free of potentially dangerous chemicals like parabens and sulfates. The line, unlike other chemical-free lines, is also super effective and gorgeous. I would seriously buy everything I could from them if possible and that's why I have high hopes for this product. If it's anything like the Buxom Mascara I'll be having a polygomist relationship with mascara, a love affair with both.

Sephora says: "When fully extended, the brush volumizes lashes up to 600%*. When in its compact position, the bristles squeeze closer together to expertly comb through each and every lash for maximum length, separation, and definition." * After two coats, based on an independent U.S. study.

Plus, how could you not love it? The color is Loud Black! Just my kind of black. At $22 it's a bit of splurge for me but the quality of this line makes it completely worth it and justifiable. In fact, since it's like owning two mascaras you really can't go wrong. If you've tried it or plan to try it let me know in the comments.

Rimmel Lycra Lash Extender

There was a time you'd never catch me buying a high end mascara, never. I still technically have not caved on that one since I only purchased the deluxe sampler of all the higher end mascaras but I digress.

Back in the day I was firmly attached to my Rimmel Lycra Lash Extender and for good reason, it not only made my lashes inky and dark but it lengthened them into the stratosphere. Talk about hawt! Since then I've become more of a volume girl but you know how I like to shake it up. One the days that I'm looking for some lengthening action I wish I had a tube of Lash Extender hanging around.

The formula is truly the real deal. It's the perfect black shade, so dark that it shines, it doesn't clump or smear all over my face and the applicator really grabs my lashes for lots of curl and length. The curl and length truly last all day and make me look fabulous without shouting "it's the mascara, people" to everyone who walks by.

I've had pretty hit or miss success with Rimmel mascaras but for the price you can't beat them. Plus, they have so many formulas you're sure to find one that you're going to love for less than your twice daily Starbucks fix. Come on, it's summer, you know you're hitting that drive thru at least twice a day for an ice cold frappaccino!

Have you tried this formula? Doesn't it make lashes a mile long? My bestie who was blessed with the perfect lash fringe can't even compete with me when it comes to this mascara.

Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash

Hey guys! Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weather, I know I am. As usual I'm wearing the best and brightest makeup, even to the beach, sticking to the shade as to not scorch my skin in this heat.

This week I'm trying out Make Up For Ever's Smoky Lash just for you! I say that like it's a hardship but I assure you it's not, far from it. I'm loving the way this mascara looks whether I'm wearing bare lids (oops, I forgot to pack a new shadow in my makeup bag so I had to go without) or the bright blue of NYX's jumbo eye pencil in Pacific, a gorgeous purple leaning blue that I'm loving, but more about that later. Let's get down to the good stuff, the mascara!

First of all I think this is one of the darkest mascaras I've ever used, smoky indeed. In ONE coat my lashes are black, not some muddy mix of my light brown lashes and light black mascara but deep dark black, one coat ladies! If that doesn't make this one a keeper, I don't know what does. My lashes were also volumized, lengthened and curled. That alone is worth the $22 price tag. This mascara is perfect for everyday but also great for special occasions and I love that!

This Sephora exclusive mascara has a fiber brush (no rubber bristles here) that really grabs the lash and deposits color. My only gripe about this product is the microscopic clumps it leaves upon application, making it nearly impossible to do the bottom lashes gracefully. We're talking teeny tiny bumps, not spider lashes or huge globs and the other benefits outweigh these. If you're going for an intense look you wouldn't even need to do anything, if you wanted a lighter look I could see using a lash comb for separation.

For those that just cant visit the water without taking a dip Aqua Smoky Lash is the answer to your prayers! Just thank me in your Glamour Award acceptance speech!

Tarte MultiplEYE Lash Enhancing Mascara

I love when a mascara comes along that doesn't smear. Smearing is no fun, especially not for a girl who can't seem to keep her hands off her eyes. I think it's a nervous habit of mine, when I don't know what to do I pull at my lashes or rub my eyes. Now that I'm aware of it, I'm trying to stop. In the meantime I have a mascara that won't make me look like a panda. Tarte MultiplEYE Lash Enhancing Mascara.

Tarte's MultiplEYE line is amazing. I've tried a few of the other EYE products and they are not only a ton of fun but effective and this mascara was no exception. Besides not smearing I found a few other things to point out to you, dear readers. First of all, this seems to be a drier formula so that means your lashes aren't a glossy finish if you're into that sort of thing. It's a more natural look and I swear it looks like I just have naturally dark lashes even though they're normally a fairly pale brown. This one also seems to lift my lashes, giving them a pretty curl that's believable even without a curler (although my lash curler is Tarte)!

The best part, this baby is clinically proven to improve the condition of lashes, probably why my lashes felt more flexible and soft when the mascara was on them. And it does it all while being natural and free of tons of chemicals that you may want to avoid in your products. Best results will be achieved when you use all three items in the line (this is #3). You can buy a set of deluxe minis of #2 and #3 here. The Sephora website claims the mascara adds 638% more volume to lashes, I don't know about that but I did notice a lot more volume than I would have without it. I didn't have the best help with length but the very natural look works for me, it's perfect for the beach.

I do feel like I should point out that I got absolutely zero mascara on my makeup remover wipe at the end of the night which his highly unusual. Even waterproof formulas usually come off a little bit but this one didn't. You'd probably need a separate eye makeup remover to take it all off. That may sound like a negative but just think about how great it will work if you're active at the beach. If you like to swim I highly recommend this mascara. Also, at $24, I'm not sure I'd buy it just for the few days a year I go to the beach but the sample I have should last at least that long this summer.

Hourglass Film Noir Mascara

I have to admit I'd never heard too much about Hourglass cosmetics when I first got this mascara in the Sephora LashStash Deluxe Sampler but since then (last November) the blogosphere has been raving about their products. I really put this one to the test last week when I routinely sneezed 10 times in a row while wearing it without so much as one streak down my face, that in itself almost justifies the $28 price tag. I sneezed all the time and when I wasn't convulsing from the achoo-ing my eyes were still running and itchy. Even rubbing them didn't leave me with raccoon eyes and I love it.

Hourglass Film Noir Mascara has a one of a kind hourglass shaped brush, although I have to say it's much more subtle than I expected and it's pretty hard to see in the picture. I do think that it helped me apply mascara perfectly on my right eye but made things a little tricky on my left. You see, I usually keep the brush in the same direction for both eyes instead of flipping it around when I do my left eye. Sometimes, when I'm thinking about it, I make the switch and it makes a world of difference. This time I accidentally swept all my lashes towards my nose on my first coat due to the brush shape but upon flipping it for coat #2 I had gorgeous lashes. It's an easy switch, something I would be doing anyway if I could just remember.

This mascara really fattens up my lashes on the first coat, lengthening them and making them look like they were curled even when they weren't. Honestly, with all the coats I applied I still didn't look like I was trying too hard and even though my lashes should have weighed a ton, they were weightless. I would highly recommend this mascara to anyone who applies coat after coat and doesn't want to carry all that weight around with them all day.

The only thing that I thought would be an issue with this mascara is the color. Even though it's called Onyx I found the shade more of a dark charcoal gray on the wand but it applied dark on my lashes and ended up being no problem at all.

What I wanna know is what other Hourglass Cosmetics am I missing out on? Have you tried any? Let me know in the comments.

Rimmel Volume Flash The Max Bold Curves Mascara

Phew, that is a long name! Really, all you need to know is that it's in the lime green tube with pink writing, the complete opposite of Maybelline Great Lash, thankfully in more ways than one. First of all this mascara works. The brush is big enough to really change the look of your lashes, not just darken them with a smidge of tint and clump them together, always a plus. Also, unlike Maybelline, I could really see the lift and curl my lashes had when I applied this mascara. As you can see, I'm not a huge Great Lash Fan and that will never change, especially not when there are so many better products out there. But back to Rimmel.

I'm not to proud to say that curved brushes kinda scare me, I mean, which way do you hold it, round part up or down? Once I got past that hurdle (it's always up for me!) I liked this mascara. Curl is important to me. It's one of those really overlooked aspects of mascara, one of the things everyone loves but most mascaras don't even pretend to provide, you'd need a lash curler for that. Not this girl. Of course I own one but do I ever bother to use it? No! Also, this mascara fattens my lashes right up, lengthens them to the max and leaves them super dark even though the formula is only straight up black, not extra black or very black, just plain ol' black. I love that.

Now for the cons. One huge thing that gets me, possibly so much so that I wouldn't re-purchase this product, is that too much mascara dispenses on the wand. Way too much! I find myself cleaning off not only the tip but the whole wand in order to avoid the clump city I can see coming from a mile away. That's a big bummer. I wish it didn't have to be this way but I see no way around it, nothing I can do to make it work better for me, that's all up to Rimmel. Are you listening Rimmel?

Also, even though I didn't remove my mascara at night (I rarely do) I still expect not to have dark smudges under my eyes two days later when I didn't wear any makeup on the day in between. I can still feel it on my lashes days later. Call me what you will because to many this may be a good thing, to me it's not. I want to be able to be lazy enough to leave my mascara on overnight and not have it running and flaking all over my face for two days, even after only one use.

Lastly, another con for me, was that I did get flakes of mascara after a few hours of wear. If you're going to work (and you're not an excessive eye rubber or contact wearer) you might not have a problem with it. It's just that for me, I'm always touching my lashes, call it vanity or sheer silliness but I call it dedication, anything for my readers and Mascara Monday. I'd often get flakes in my eyes (or at least it felt like it), maybe that's why my eyes have been so irritated lately when I had no other signs of allergies.

Honestly, when wearing this mascara I liked it but now that I'm sitting down to write the pros and cons I can see it's not the best fit for me. At least I came to this conclusion now, better late than never, right? I probably wouldn't repurchase and with the way my eyes have been lately, I might even have to concede and toss this one in the garbage.

Benefit BADgal Plum

Figures, blogger's down when I am a writing mood. That's just my luck. Instead of dwelling on it, I'm sucking it up and writing now. Haha! Plus, there were a lot of other ways I could have written to get ahead on posts. Can you tell I'm a procrastinator? Anyway, on to Mascara Monday. I can't believe I still have more mascara to write about, although today's kinda goes with the post I already did on Benefit BADgal Lash, only this one is about the plum shade. Okay, okay, stop blabbering on already, tell us about the mascara, Jaime. I know you're thinking it.

BADgal Plum is awesome! As a green eyed girl I know that purples and plums looks great and honestly, I think they look awesome on all eye shades. However, I'd have to say Benefit's definition of plum is definitely not mine, it's the actual color of the "meat" of a plum, not the skin, more of a maroon color, as I mentioned in my other post. However, I think it looks gorgeous on the lashes, a subtle dash of color that works on it's own or over black for just a hint of color. I don't think anyone would look at you and know that you had plum mascara on, no matter how many coats you splashed on, not even 10 like me.

As usual Benefit did a great job with this one. I adore the size of the brush, it's huge but still easy to control. I know, I know, that definitely sounds like a "that's what she said" kinda comment, but it also happens to be true. This one really fattens up my lashes and gives them length as well, although it is less noticeable with this color than it would be with black, a more natural look. In my experience BADgal lash is a drier mascara which makes it easier to work with without getting it all over you but really, I like to mix things up so it's not a good thing or a bad thing to me, just something to note. By no means is it too dry, it's jut not one of those sticky wet mascaras that take forever to dry on the lashes.

Overall, I think this mascara would be absolutely perfect for red haired girls, like my faux Raggedy Ann hair. Also, I might be crazy but I love the big giant tube with the gold cap, it's a cinch to find in your makeup bag!

Now if Benefit would just make an actual purple (like violet purple) mascara, I'd be so happy. What about you? Have you tried colored mascara? If so what was your favorite?