Makeup Junkie

When a bad girl goes green. AKA Coconut Oil as eye makeup remover.

2009-10-21T11:12:00.001-07:00

Rating *****

I have recently been trying to simplify where I can. I wasn't expecting to be able to simplify my beautify routine that much, because lets face it, there are somethings I am not willing to part with or compromise on. Two of my friends were telling me that you could use coconut oil to remove makeup though, and I was intrigued. I was skeptical at first.. I was very concerned about it leaving my skin too greasy. And could it possibly remove my waterproof mascara??

But I mustered the courage to go shopping for my first jar of coconut oil. I will start out by saying that when I was shopping for oil, I was not expecting to find it in a solid form. I was already there however.. and picked up a jar for $9.99 for 14 fl oz. For a little price comparison for you... I have currently been paying $7.99 for 3.3 fl oz of Boots eye makeup remover and that lasts me about a month. (You can see where this is going, right?)

My loving husband was unconvinced that this creamy solid was really going to work as an eye makeup remover. I rubbed some onto a wash cloth and gently rubbed it onto my eyes. Voila! All eye makeup was gone. All of it! Eyeshadow, stubborn eyeliner, eyelash primer, and waterproof mascara. And my eye didn't feel greasy afterwards. I've tried a myriad of eye makeup removers and with the possible exception of Decleor gel remover (hello, $28 for 5 fl oz, SO not happening) this is the best. I'm a convert. I'm told I can cook with it too... but for now, I'm happy to have it in my beauty routine. (Though I will admit to tasting it.;o)

Loreal Extra Volume Collagen Plumping Mascara

2009-08-20T11:20:00.000-07:00

Rating **

I was really excited when I first read about this new mascara. Usually Loreal is my go-to mascara for a drugstore brand, but this time, I was really disappointed. This mascara... lacks any oomph. Loreal claims it delivers 12x more impact instantly, extreme volume, etc. The mascara did apply well and separated lashes. The formula is non flaking and didn't smudge. It did however leave little clumps on my lashes. That combined with the utter lack of effect.. is a deal breaker for me. My lashes looked thin and short... and I already have long lashes that just need some enhancing. This isn't a terrible mascara.. but it isn't good either. Loreal, come back to the light!

Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick

2009-08-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

Rating *****

This is a very light, yet long wearing lipstick. It applies smoothly and evenly. The color is very luminous when applied. It does fade a little over the course of the day, however the color settles into your lips and doesn't disappear. I think this is a great option for those who feel that most long wear lip colors are too heavy or over drying. This lipstick is very light and my lips don't feel tired after wearing it for a full day. I haven't worn it with a lip liner and I didn't have any problems with feathering. The only thing that I didn't like about this lipstick (well, other than the price.. $30 is definitely at the top of my price range for a tube of lipstick) is the packaging. The lipstick goes into the cap which is spring loaded to pop out when you push the bottom in. While that might seem like a nifty feature to the product designers at Chanel, it seems like a recipe for disaster in the bottom of a purse. I have been careful to put mine in a side pocket as I can envision the lipstick getting bumped against something in my purse and popping out of the case. But the formula itself gets a big thumbs up from me and it's definitely a keeper in my arsenal.

Lancome Cils Booster Super-Enhancing Mascara Base

2009-07-01T09:19:00.000-07:00

Rating *****

Dear Readers, I've been a naughty mia blogger, I know. Hopefully this little gem will make up for it. I've spent far more time (and $$) looking for THE perfect mascara than I should have. And yet, the perfect mascara still alludes me. Never fear, there is a light at the end of the tunnel! I might have said it before, I'm not really a fan of adding time to my beauty routine. I usually forgo any kind of primers. That being said, this one is worth the extra time and the $21.50 price tag. For those still in search of the perfect mascara, my advice to you is this. Take the closest contender that you have found so far and apply it over the Lancome Cils Booster primer. This stuff is like eyelash magic in a tube. It is especially good for lengthening, but it adds volume too. It gives that 2nd runner up the oomph that you've been wanting from it. It takes even a medicore mascara and makes the result look good. I've been wearing this little gem with all of the good and bad mascaras in my arsenal and my lashes have never looked better. It's not going to make the bad mascaras great, if they clumped before, they still will. But the effect will be loads better. This is not just a keeper, it's THE keeper.

Maybelline XXL Volume + Length Waterproof Microfiber Mascara

2009-03-17T14:54:00.000-07:00

Rating ***

This mascara applies easily and separates lashes well, mostly without clumping. It lasts all day without flaking or smudging and removes easily. It does a decent job with lenghtening and volume, though lashes tend to look spindly. While it does an adequate job, there is not much to separate it from the pack. It lacks the oomph that I personally like from a great mascara, so I'm putting in the good but not great category.

Also, I'm not a big fan of adding extra steps to my make-up routine. I don't love the fact that you use a primer first. The mascara has trouble covering the white primer with one coat.. so you'll need at least two or even three. Another step. All in all, not bad, but nothing to shout about from the rooftops.

Clinique All About Eyes Concealer

2009-02-21T13:50:00.000-08:00

Rating *****

This is the concealer that I've been waiting for; it's the one that can fully cover my dark circles. I will admit that I was very hesitant to give this one a go. I had read lots of positive recommendations, but I tend to shy away from Clinique lovers as they tend to be their own breed. I know you've seen the type, they swear by the entire Clinique line and their eyes glaze over like a crack addict with the mention of "free gift with purchase." But this is one product that lives up to the hype.
It applies easily, blends well and a little goes a long way. Did I mention that it FULLY covers my dark circles? It also brightens while it covers and the coverage lasts all day. The finish is nice and does't have that tired look at the end of the day. The only teeny-tiny bad thing is that I did notice on occasion is the tendancy to settle into fine lines. But, when I noticed this, if I used my pinky to blend that area, voila, problem fixed! And the problem didn't reoccur later in the day. I'm going to give it a five anyway, despite that small flaw because IT COVERS MY DARK CIRCLES!!!

Too Faced Absolutely Flawless Concealer

2009-02-21T13:45:00.000-08:00

Rating ***

This is a very mediocre concealer. The lightweight formula applies easily and blends well, but it doesn't fully cover my dark circles. It also has a tendency to settle into fine lines. It does however last a full day. If you have minor redness or light circles that need to be covered, this product might work better for you than it did for me, but I don't recommend it for heavy duty needs.

Fresh Absolute Conealer

2009-02-21T13:38:00.000-08:00

Rating **

This is the first product by Fresh that I haven't liked. This is supposed to be a full coverage concealer, but it didn't cover or even come close to covering my dark circles. The formula tends to slide or move when you apply it and try to blend it in and I think it fades as the day wears on.
I'm also not a fan of any product packaging that requires you to squirt or twist up to dispense the product; it makes it incredibly difficult to control the amount coming out, which ends up wasting product. This concealer would be better than nothing if it was all that you had, but I won't be purchasing it again.

Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash Mascara

2009-02-21T13:31:00.001-08:00

Rating ****

This was an unexpected mascara find. I received this as a sample and frankly did not have high hopes for it, but I was very pleasantly surprised. This mascara applies easily and lasts all day without flakes or smudging. It gives eyes a nice, more natural, wide eyed look. It adds volume and lengthens. My only concern with this mascara is the fact that it's not waterproof. I had one of my eyes tear up while wearing it and when I wiped away the tear, a little bit of the mascara came with it. It didn't however run under my eye or affect the look of my eye makeup, so I'm still going to give it a good rating, but leave you with that caution.

Maybelline Mineral Lip Color

2009-02-02T17:11:00.001-08:00

Rating ***

This is an adequate lip color, but there is nothing outstanding about it. It applies easily and does an above average job of staying put, but the color does fade and it becomes much more flat as the day goes on. I didn't have any trouble with feathering without the use of a lip liner. One thing that surprised me was how sheer the color was even though I tried a dark color (Raisin 450). But, the color was buildable and thus versatile. The wear was comfortable and not too heavy. I think this would be a good choice for those who normally shy away from lipsticks, but for me, it didn't take the cake.

Le 2 de Guerlain Mascara

2009-01-20T16:44:00.000-08:00

Rating - ****

I love this mascara. Love, love, love it! It's dramatic and bold. It does an excellent job of both making lashes look longer and more full and lifts at the same time. It's not a waterproof mascara, but it passed the splash test. It lasts all day and doesn't flake or smudge.
To be fair, it's not quite perfect. It has a small tendency to clump, especially if you apply multiple coats. It is also hard to remove without a good eye makeup remover (but you should have one of these anyway!) I don't use the little bottom lash brush very often because I have the butterfly sparkle color that has a different color for the little brush, but if you have problems reaching those corners, this brush will definitely make that task easier. This one is a keeper!

Smokey Lash Kapow Mascara by Pop Beauty

2009-01-16T13:33:00.000-08:00

Rating - ***

Smokey lash, yes, kapow, sadly no. Really, this sums it up for me with this mascara. It's a decent mascara. It applies easily without clumping. It does a decent job of thickening lashes. What I don't like... it doesn't do a great job with lengthening. And don't expect lift. It lengthens lashes out rather than up which leaves sort of an odd effect. You might have better luck with this if you curl your lashes first, as I did not. The formula does last well during the day without flaking or smudging and the color is a nice shiny smokey black. I actually really like the effect when I coat this mascara over a different one, but I wouldn't buy it again if it couldn't stand on it's own. Especially not for $19 a tube.

Boots No 7 Stay Perfect Lipstick

2009-01-09T16:14:00.001-08:00

Rating *****

What can I say? I love this lipstick. This is a long wear formula and it truly does last. The color will fade a smidge over a few hours, but I usually only have to reapply once during the course of a normal workday, usually after lunch. It stays put for the most part with eating or drinking. The wear is truly comfortable. It's soft and light on the lips for a long wear formula. It doesn't over dry lips or cause flakes /chapping the necxt day. I can wear it without a lip liner and not have any feathering. The only downside may be that you can only buy this at Target unless you live in the UK. At $10 or less per tube, it's a winner!

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara

2008-10-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

Rating - ****

I love this mascara. I really do. It applies well without clumps. It lengthens, separates, and lifts. What doesn't it do?! Well.... it doesn't coat my lashes *quite* as much as I personally prefer. But, for those going for the wide eyed natural look, I can see this being your go-to mascara. It also lasts all day without flaking and smudging and is available in waterproof too (Lights, Camera, Splashes!)

Revlon Colorstay Mineral Lipglaze

2008-10-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

Rating - ****

I believe that Revlon created this product to directly compete with Loreal's Infallible Lipgloss. While both are long wearing liquid lip color applied with a wand, the similarities end there. Truly, this is a great product. It applies easily with only one or two coats to even out the color. The color does last all day through eating and drinking, though you might notice the sighest of fades. The color wipes off easily with a tissue at the end of the day. I did notice a small tendancy to feather, so I would recommend using a lip liner with this.

My biggest concern with this product is actually the marketing. Revlon is calling this a lip glaze or lip gloss and while the formula is a liquid, the finish is more like a shiny lipstick than a traditional gloss. The color is opague, not semi-transparent like most glosses. The finish is quite lovely and does stay shiny throughout the day, but I could see it being a disapointment to those expecting a true gloss finish. So if you can live with the finish, this one is a keeper.

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage

2008-10-28T12:24:00.000-07:00

Rating - **

I really had high hopes for this concealer. I had heard really good things about it, but it simply did not live up to my expectations. At first I thought it was my application... I had not purchased the recommended secret camouflage brush. (I'll admit, I was annoyed that Laura Mercier wants you to fork over $26 for a bursh to use their $28 concealer. Anyway, I already have a myriad of brushes!) So I tried apply with my finger, with a regular concealer brush, hell, I even tried a lip brush that seemed to pick up more of the pigment. The results were somewhat varied, but ultimately, the concealer failed to cover my dark circles. Even worse, the concealer set with a matte finish that left a tired look, which is something no one needs added to their under eye area. If you have only minor blemishes or light concealers to hide, this may do the trick for you. However, if you are searching for the ultimate dark circle concealer, keep looking!

Nars Blush

2008-10-01T14:38:00.001-07:00

Rating - *****

Okay, so I don't think this rating is going to be a surprise to anyone, but here it is anyway. I only recently got around to trying Nars blush. What can I say? I'm slow. I had another blush that I really liked, but I had heard SO many good things about the Nars blush, I figured I would give it a whirl. I know most of you out there have already professed your undying love to the "Orgasm" color, but I thought it would be a little too apricoty (is that a word?) for me. I tried the color "Madly" instead. I found that Nars blush applies easily and blends well. It stays put all day and gives my skin a nice glow without looking like blush warpaint. All love here, no hate. :o)

Dior Rouge Dior Lipstick

2008-09-17T11:54:00.000-07:00

Rating ***

I reeeeeaaallly wanted to give this lipstick a better rating. I can tell a lot about how a lipstick will perform after I apply it for the first time. When I got this one I tried it on right away and I was ecstatic. The color is absolutely prismatic. I can tell you, it's been a long time since the finish of a lipstick excited me so much. This lipstick applies beautifully. It is a long lasting formula which is immediately evident. This stuff stays put and it does last. After the first day, I had no major complaints. It made my lips feel a smidge dry, but over all the wear was comfortable. Here's where it gets ugly. My lips were noticeably dry the next day. With repeated use, I had to exfoliate my lips the morning after wearing.... every time I wore it. Overall, I will keep this for occasional use, but it will never be a lipstick that I swear by with the maintenance involved.

Exceptionnel De Chanel Mascara

2008-08-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

Rating ***

I received this as a sample from Allure magazine. Since mascara is one of the things I in life that I cannot live without, I was eager to give this one a try. To start, the brush is an odd triangular shaped brush of the new rubbery variety. Chanel says it is six sided... but really it's a triangle with bristles on each edge and again on each side. (So think of a triangle, bristles on each point and again between points.) I think their roll to apply technique would take some getting used to. This mascara did do slightly above average at thickening lashes, but I think it does only average with lift and lengthening. I have pretty long lashes already and wasn't overly impressed with the length after this mascara was applied. The formula could be a little clumpy, but did stay put all day without smudging. However, it will leave flakes the next day if you don't get all of it off the night before. I didn't have a chance to water test it, so no feedback there. Overall, it's an average mascara for an above average price ($28 per tube, ouch.)

Loreal HIP Concentrated Shadow Duo

2008-07-25T10:23:00.000-07:00

Rating ****

I saw several people rate this product on another site (that shall rename nameless) and they gave it five out of five stars. I felt compelled to address the issue. While I feel this is a very good product... is it great? Not in my opinion. The colors are rich and the eyeshadow does apply easily and has a nice finish. I feel it could blend a little easier however. While this shadow easily lasts all day, the color is just not as intense as it is when it's first applied. It does fade, albeit slightly, over the course of the day. The applicators provided are somewhat wimpy. Sure, I could use my own brushes... and sometimes do... but why bother to provide an applicator that doesn't do your product justice? This is a very good shadow, especially for the price, but I do believe their is a little wiggle room for improvement.

Max Factor Color Perfection Lipstick

2008-07-11T09:25:00.001-07:00

Rating ***

This is a long wear gel based lipstick. The stay power is decent for a lipstick. Without a lot of eating or drinking, it will last all day, with a slight fade, and maybe one reapplication. However, it's not going to last through anything eaten that actually touches your lips, like a sandwich, and won't last through oily items like pasta or soup.

The overall feel throughout the day is very comfortable, it doesn't feel drying at all. The morning after is another story. (Isn't is always?) The next day my lips were dry and noticeably flaky. After several days of use it was necessary to use an exfoliator. And with extended use for me personally... it became apparent that I am likely mildly allergic to the formula.

I will keep this one in my arsenal for occasional use, but it will never be an everyday fav.

Make Up Forever Full Coverage Concealer

2008-06-20T15:41:00.000-07:00

Rating *****

Right now, this is my current fav and the concealer I keep going back to. This is a full coverage concealer and fully covers my dark circles. At least, it covers as well as any concealer I have found. The formula is easy to apply, it blends well, and leaves a finish that stays put.

Edited- 7/1/09

I upgraded this to five stars. I really have not found anything that covers as well as this concealer. It is full coverage, so I have to warn that it doesn't blend as easily with a sheer coverage foundation. But if you have dark circles, this is going to cover them and it will stay put all day and into the night. My sister used this for her wedding (I use it everyday) and her makeup artist was even impressed with the forumula.

Benefit Erase Paste

2008-06-20T15:31:00.001-07:00

Rating **

This concealer covers my dark circles! Sometimes. Sometimes, it does not, and that is damn disapointing.

Erase Paste comes with a little spatula to be used to scoop the product out of the jar, which is an annoying and uncessesary feature, in my opinion. Strike one. I don't like that there isn't another way to get the concealer out of the pot. I don't like that there isn't a place to store the spatula, and I really don't like that some of the product stays on the spatula in the grooves of the plastic. What a waste! (Especially at $26 per jar.)

This concealer is a heavy cream and sadly it just doesn't blend very well. I found the formula doesn't really blend into my skin and when I try to blend it, I mostly end up moving it around. Which means I need more to cover the areas that are now exposed. Strike two.

*IF* you can get the concealer to apply well, it does cover dark circles while brightening the undereye area. The stay power however, leaves something to be desired. As mentioned, the formula doesn't absorb well into the skin, so if you touch the area later, you could mess up the finish. Strike three. Untouched, it will last a full day.

Overall, this product has potential, but is such a pain to apply that it's not worth the added hassle.

Laura Mercier Metallic Creme Eyecolor

2008-06-11T16:48:00.000-07:00

Rating *****

I will start out by saying that this is probably not a product I would have picked up for myself. Usually I prefer powders for eyeshadows, but I received this as a deluxe sample from Sephora. (Gotta love Sephora!)

I am really impressed with and ecstatic about this product. It goes on very easily and blends well. You can smudge it to create a fade if you like, it doesn't leave a stark line like some other creams I've tried. A minimal amount is needed and the color is amazing. It's sparkly and gorgeous, but not so sparkly that it's over the top for every day wear. I'm also dazzled by the finish. It dries completely dry and you don't have to worry about it rubbing or wearing off later. I haven't water tested it yet, but I suspect it will past that test too with flying colors. Love, love love it!

Shiseido The Makeup Perfecting Lipstick

2008-06-01T15:11:00.000-07:00

Rating *****

I was truly impressed with this lipstick. It applies very easily and goes on with precision. The finish has a great satiny look to it and the finish doesn't fade, as is the case with many other lipsticks. This is a long wear lipstick and it lives up to it. After eating a gyro, I had to reapply a little on the inside of my bottom lip, but that was it, which is pretty damn impressive after eating something that would completely remove most lipsticks. The color stays true. I didn't have any problems with feathering, but I see the potential for it. If you are prone to feathering, you might consider using a lip liner with it. Also, my lips didn't feel as dry at the end of the day after wearing this. My lips felt comfortable and it didn't cause any flaking the next day. This is an all around great product.

Updated 7/15/08- I had to add that this lipstick has now been party tested! I'm still impressed. I applied this lipstick just before I left for the party. With some long wears... they really need a couple of hours to set on your lips before they will stay put, not this one! My lipstick looked perfect and even did well with the dreaded "wine line." (For those non-red wine drinkers... this is the tell tale wine colored line that shows on the inside of your lips where your lipstick ends. It's more pronounced with some lipsticks, with this one, you could barely see a thing.) It's love!

Boots Botanics Lip Stick

2008-05-08T21:02:00.000-07:00

Rating **

This is a long wear lipstick. It goes on easily, doesn't feather, and lasts for a really long time. The color lasts well and doesn't fade, even after most eating and drinking. However, it is very drying formula and does make my lips flakey the next day. It has some great attriubutes, but the constant need to exfoliate with use unfortunetly outweighs the good.

Loreal Infallible Lip Gloss

2008-05-02T11:34:00.000-07:00

Rating ****

This is not to be confused with the Loreal Infallible Lip Color, which has both a gloss and a clear stick.

Let me start out by saying, I am not a gloss girl. You might have figured it out by reading the number of long wear lipsticks reviewed, but if you didn't, I'm not. I don't like the sticky feeling and dammit, I want a product that is going to stay put. Well, this one does! Loreal claims it will last six hours without fading, feathering, etc.

While it does last the full six hours, the color does settle on you lips. I found it best to reapply once or twice during a normal day. A caution with this product, you don't want to reapply too much or it will get that tacky feeling that most of us don't like. It also has a tendancy to bead along the inside lip line when over applied. Loreal was kind enough to include a little mirror, but they put it on the end of the wand cap... which isn't practical if you're trying to use the mirror to apply the product. Um, Loreal, you might want to rethink your mirror placement.

The good news that this product doesn't feather. Really. And it lasts. Even with plenty of eating and drinking, it will be there at the end of the day (though with less intensity, as afore mentioned.) Overall, I think this is a great product. Is it perfect? No... but it honestly is the closest I've seen to perfect in a gloss that doesn't need makeup remover to take it off.

Vincent Longo Creme Conealer

2008-03-25T10:52:00.000-07:00

Rating ****

This is a great medium coverage concealer. It spreads and blends well. It has a nice light and dewy finish which helps brighten the under eye area a little, in addition to covering. I did notice that some mascaras tended to smudge when using this product. Also, as it is medium coverage, it's not going to completely cover really dark circles. Overall, I think it's very good product, though not perfect.

Bourjois Volume Clubbing Mascara

2008-03-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

Rating ****

This was another tough one for me to rate. This mascara falls into the unique category of water resistant. Bourjois doesn't claim that it's waterproof, but they do claim that it's, "sweat proof, tear proof, and friction proof " which it seems to be. I love it when products live up to their propoganda!

Performance wise, it's amazing, it stays put, doesn't flake, separates well, and makes my lashes look long and lush. But here is the nitty gritty. It has a two sided, sort of square shaped brush, as opposed to the traditional round. The brush takes a little getting used to and can apply too much product to the lashes if not done correctly. If this happens, it can cause lashes to stick together. It's been my experience that the lashes were fairly easily separated though after this with a couple of extra sweeps. Though this isn't a truly waterproof mascara, it's not easy to remove like a non-waterproof version. I found that not all eye-makeup removers will do an adequate job of taking it off and if you don't do a good job removing it, you are going to have flakes the next day.

I love the overall effect when using this mascara and so it's a four star for me, but if you can't get used to the brush or don't want to deal with the removal process, it might be a three for you.

Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color

2008-03-25T10:17:00.000-07:00

Rating ***

This was a really hard product for me to rate. The blurb from Bobbi Brown says, "This innovative lipstick combines rich color, comfortable long-lasting wear and a soft, creamy shine. Formulated with emollient shea butter and skin conditioners, this amazing formula glides on smooth, wears all day and leaves lips soft and moisturized. "

I ended up really liking this liptstick, but it just doesn't last all day, which is usually a major dealbreaker for me.

What's bad: You are definitely going to need a lip liner when wearing this lip stick. The lipstick doesn't really feather, but it doesn't create a defined edge either when worn alone. The effect is similar to when wearing a lip gloss, rather than a stick. As mentioned before, it won't last all day. It is going to wear when drinking and will definitely need to be touched up after eating. This wouldn't be a big deal if it was a regular lipstick, but since Bobbi Brown categorizes it as long wear, I feel it fails a little here performance wise.

What's good: This is probably the most moisturizing lipstick that I have worn. My lips don't feel dry or tired after wearing it all day. The color does settle over a the course of the day, but it's a nice, slight fade, it doesn't look like you've totally lost your lipstick. The lipstick has a nice glossy finish and reapplies well. I really think this has the potential to be a four star lipstick to those who may not be as obsessive as I am about it lasting all day.

Mascara- Covergirl Lash Blast

2007-12-25T20:18:00.000-08:00

Rating - **

A friend asked me to try out this mascara. I was initially impressed when I applied it. The formula goes on well without clumping. It's not as dramatic as I like, but it does make lashes noticeably longer and more full. But here is the nitty gritty. I took a shower late in the day and washed my hair, but was careful not to get my face too wet since my makeup for the day was already done. I was wearing this mascara and when I came out, my eyes looked like racoon eyes, even though my face hadn't been submerged at all and only received the occasional spray from the shower. I don't normally wear non-waterproof mascaras, so I was appalled. But I didn't want to rate this mascara poorly if that is to be expected with a regular formula mascara. So I decided to give it another go. This time, I wore the Lash Blast on one eye and Loreal Voluminous on the other as the Voluminous was the only other non-waterproof mascara in my arsenal. With my newly applied mascara, I again took a shower, washed my hair, and avoided spraying my face as much as possible. Both masacaras ran, but the Lash Blash definitely ran worse than the Voluminous and it had been applied first and so it had longer to dry. The Voluminous did just as much for my lashes as the Lash Blast, so I consider it a good alternative to the Lash Blast. If Covergirl ever decides to make this in a waterproof or less runny non waterproof version, I will give it another shot and almost definitely a better grade.

Lipstick- Loreal Endless and Revlon Colorstay

2007-12-22T10:50:00.001-08:00

Rating - ****

I'm rating these lipsticks together as I feel they are both worth mentioning and do equally well. Both are long wear formulas, so they are a heavier lipstick. They go on easily and don't require the use of a lip liner in most cases. You may need to reapply after eating or late in the day, but the color should stay pretty true. I am allergic to these, so I can't use them, but if I could, the rating would be *****. These are both drugstore products and thus very moderately priced.

As a side note, I really like the color "Fawn Fatale" in the Loreal line. It's a great neutral color that works well with a varitey of skin tones. It's a medium shade, so it's noticable without being overpowering to those who are shy of wearing dark colors.

The perfect mascara.

2007-12-22T10:44:00.000-08:00

I have yet to find what I deem to be the perfect mascara, though some products do come close. Here is what I personally am looking for in the ideal product. It should lengthen and thicken. When you apply it, it should go on easily without clumps and should separate lashes, not goop them together into spikes. It should last all day without reapplying. It shouldn't flake or smudge during the course of the day. Lastly, I prefer a waterproof mascara, but it needs to come off with eye makeup remover without taking all of my lashes with it. A tall order huh?

Lipstick- Sephora Lip Attitude Star

2007-12-22T10:34:00.001-08:00

Raitng- **

I was just really not pleased with this product. I decided to give it a try since the write up on Sephora.com said that it provides long lasting color. This is a "lipstick and lip gloss" combo. While it does go on easily, it's really not a long wear product. Some of the color will be there at the end of the day, but it's a noticable fade and you will still have to reapply quite a few times throughout the day, definitely after eating/drinking. This lipstick also feathers without the use of a lip liner and it feathers pretty quickly... after about an hour or two of wear. To top it off, I personally am allergic to it, so it gets a big thumbs down from me.

Mascara - Maybelline Volum' Express Waterproof

2007-12-17T10:25:00.000-08:00

Rating **** (with a disclaimer)

I didn't have high hopes when I tried this mascara, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised. This mascara goes on easily without any clumping. It gave my lashes a noticeable boost and did add some volume. It lasted all day without flaking or smudging. It was very easy to remove at night. It didn't make my eyes pop quite as much as I personally like, but since I know not everyone wants as dramatic a mascara I do, I'm giving it 4 stars. So, overall, it could perform a smidge better in my mind, but it does make lashes more noticeable without any negative mascara tendencies.

Lipstick- Chanel Rouge Hydrabase

2007-11-11T20:22:00.000-08:00

Rating - *****

This is an oustanding lipstick and my current fav right now. The color applies easily with one coat. This is a true long lasting formula, some days I go an entire workday without reapplying. This is the lipstick you want to be wearing for a night out, you don't have to worry whether the color has faded or is it still there, because it is! The only downside is that as a long wear formula goes, it is drying and can cause flaky lips for those of you who are prone to it. Personally, I feel that the increased use of lip balm and a lip exfoliator during your down times are WELL worth the benefits of this lipstick.

Lipstick- Stila Long Wear Lip Color

2007-11-11T20:14:00.000-08:00

Rating - ****

This is a very good lipstick! It applies easily and didn't feather on me even though I didn't use a lipliner. It stays put pretty well during eating or drinking, but it does fade a bit over the course of the day. The fade is a very good, even fade, so the color will just appear lighter.. and not totally look like you've lost your lipstick. You will need to reapply once or twice during a normal day, more if you're out late. As long wear lip colors go, it is slightly drying, but doesn't cause flakiness.

Concealer- Benefit Boing

2007-11-11T20:05:00.000-08:00

Rating - **

I had heard many good things about this concealer, but it really let me down. The propaganda from Benefit says it's an "industrial strength concealer," but it failed to fully cover my dark circles. I can't speak as to the longivity of it, because I didn't feel the coverage was enough for me to wear it in public. I think it has potential if you don't need a full coverage concealer, but being that's what it's advertised as, I'm giving it a poor grade.

Foundation- Loreal True Match

2007-11-11T19:53:00.000-08:00

Rating - ****

This is a great foundation. It has a semi-sheer/medium coverage. It will even out your skin tone, but it's not going to fully cover freckles or that big red zit! The formula is extremely easy to apply and blend in. I've found it does help to set it with a powder, but afterwards should last through a normal day. I do think it wears a bit late in the evening, so if you have a late engagement, a touch up with powder would be a good idea.

Foundation- Make Up Forever Mat Velvet Foundation

2007-11-09T21:04:00.000-08:00

Raing - *****

I don't think I've ever been so taken with a foundation as I am with this one. Let's face it (haha) foundation usually has to be more functional than fun and it doesn't get very exciting. This is an excellant matte, full coverage foundation. If you are not looking for a full coverage foundation, this one is not for you. If you are, you're in luck! This foundation is a bit weighty as it goes on, but it is easy to apply. It's moves pretty easily across the face and blends well. The finish is truly amazing. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm wagering you could wear the foundation alone without setting it with a powder. Yeah, it's that good. It doesn't overdry your skin, I have dry skin already, so that's good. It doesn't have a cakey finish at all and it lasts all day. If I had anything bad to say about this foundation.. I go could with paying less than $32 for a bottle, but with such a great formula, who is really to complain?

Lipstick- NARS Lipstick

2007-11-05T21:18:00.000-08:00

Rating - ****

This is truly a great product. I tried the color "Tanganyka." It was sheer, but buildable color. The product itself is very versitile due to that, you can apply one coat for a sheer, more casual look, or build up the color for something more dramatic. The wear is long lasting, but you will need to reply it after eating, especially after eating something w/oil like pasta... or wet like soup. It is slightly prone to feathering, so if that is a concern for you, I would recommend a lip liner first. My only downfall to this lipstick is that I'm allergic to one of the ingredients and cannot use it long term.

Edited 11/9/07- I wanted to add that the specific color that I tried is really a very versatile color. It looked great on me (I have dark hair/eyes and a neutral to cool complexion) and it also looked fab on my sis (she is blone haired/blue eyed and has a warm complexion.) This is a great color for those of you who think you can't pull off a red lipstick.

Lipstick- Lipstick Queen

2007-11-05T21:09:00.000-08:00

Rating - *****

This is truly one of the best lipstick formulas that I've tried. It goes on smoothly. It's long lasting and doesn't feather. This formula is especially good for those who tend to get overly dry lips. I'm limited the rating to only four starts due to color selection and availability. The color selection is limited with only 10 matte colors and 10 sheer colors, though the colors work well for a variety of skin tones. The other downfall is the availability. The two places I know where to buy it are Barneys and Marios (Seattle.) Marios will ship it to you for free if you're local... Barneys is not as forgiving with their shipping fees.

***Updated 7/16/09- I upgrade this to five stars. I simply cannot find another formula as good and now you can purchase it online directly from the lipstick queen website, yay!

Mascara- Covergirl Volume Exact Waterproof

2007-11-05T21:00:00.001-08:00

Rating - ***

I have nothing overally good or bad to say about this product. The formula is decent, it's smooth and goes on well, without clumping. It does a mediocre job at lengthening and thickening, but if you're looking for something more natural, you might like it better than I did. It stayed put during the day and didn't smudge or flake. It comes off pretty easily with eyemakeup remover. I suspect due to that it wouldn't stand up well to the pool test, though as of now the results of that are unknown.

Mascara- Loreal Last Out Waterproof

2007-11-05T20:55:00.001-08:00

Rating - ****

Though it's not perfect, this is my current fav. This does a great job of both lengthening and thickening lashes. Someone once asked me if I had gotten fakes lashes while I was wearing it. The formula is a tad thick and is prone to being a bit clumpy, but the brush still does a good job of separating lashes. It does smudge a little under the eye on some people, I only have a problem with smuding if I'm wearing a creme based concealer, which is possibly a fault of the concealer and not the mascara.

Mascara- Revlon 3D Extreme Waterproof

2007-11-05T20:33:00.000-08:00

Rating - *

I was not happy with this product at all. The formula is extremely thick and the brush doesn't separate lashes well enough to be applying such a thick formula. I honestly did not get past a day or two of wear with this one before I chucked it.

Mascara- Diorshow Waterproof

2007-11-05T20:25:00.000-08:00

Rating - ****

Although it in my opinion does not live up to it's hype, this is still a very good product. The forumla is excellant, one of the best I've tried, application wise. It's very smooth to put on and doesn't clump at all. It comes with a big fat brush and what's not to love about that? It's one of the best mascaras for lengthening that I've tried. It fell short for me personally because it didn't do a lot to make my lashes look thicker. Tne waterpoof fomula is good, it stays put all day without smudging. I haven't had a chance to pool test it, so we'll chalk that up to unknown at this point. At $23 per tube, I think it's only worth the price if you need lengthening only, there are other mascaras out there for less that will do the same overall job.

Mascara- Max Factor Stretch and Separate in Waterproof

2007-11-05T20:14:00.000-08:00

Rating- ****

Overall, this is a very good mascara. It lives up to it's name and is a good lengthener and does separate lashes well. It's not clumpy. The waterproof formula lasts all day without smudging. It will start to flake under your eyes however if you go swimming in it. The waterproof formula will definitely require an eyemakeup remover to take it off. While this is a great all-around product, I don't think it makes my lashes look quite as long as some other products, however it does a decent job with making them look thick. It's a drugstore brand and so available for less than $10, which is definitely a plus.

Grading System

2007-09-15T21:41:00.001-07:00

First let me start by explaining my grading system. I will grade everything on a scale from 1-5 stars. This is not school, there is no extra credit, nothing will ever receive beyond 5 stars.

***** This is an excellant product, I can find no flaws. I fully endorse it and will recommend it to all my friends and even sometimes people that I do not know.
**** This is a great product, there are a couple of minor things that I would change, which would due to my nature, compel me to occasionally look for a replacement.
*** This is a good product, but there are definitely things that I would change. I am actively seeking a replacement for this product.
** This is a mediocre product at best. I might use it in a pinch, like if my luggage was lost and this was all that was available to replace my favs.
* This is a terrible product and I would recommend it to no one. I would rather go out with a bag over my head than use this and have to be seen in public.