Bargain Beauty Buy - Maybelline Falsies Mascara

Oh, how often I have lamented my lack of luscious lashes! Seeing women with gorgeous fans of thick black lashes has always made me jealous, yet I've always held out hope that someday the perfect mascara would be developed for those of us who are lash-challenged. Is my search at an end?!?

After seeing the new Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara in Black Drama (quite the mouthful, eh?), I decided to give it a go. Here are the results!

The Claim: "False lash glam goes extra matte, extremely black, 300% more visible lashes corner-to-corner, no gaps. The most dramatic false lash fab volume!"


The Verdict: 99% true! I actually had really visible lashes after applying this mascara- much better than the blonde, non-existant lashes I normally have. With just one coat of mascara, my lashes looked thicker, fuller, longer, and much more visible due to the deep, black color. Were they 300% more visible?  I have to admit... they were! Did they look like false lashes? Well, of course not. They can't give me what nature did not intend. But even though I didn't appear to have on impossibly long false eyelashes, I did have a gorgeous pair of natural ones. The brush provided great coverage, the formula was silky and didn't clump, and my lashes looked even bigger and better after a 2nd coat. Go in with realistic expectations however... none of us are likely to come out with lashes like the model in the ad. If you do, please send me a picture so I can grumble and throw darts at it.


The Bottom Line: I would definitely recommend this product for everyone that needs that extra length and fullness in the lash area. Even if you have long, large lashes (lucky you!) I think you would be pleased with the definition and fullness this mascara provides. I know all girls (and all lashes) are different and they may not like the same mascara, but I really believe this is a mascara that the majority of women would use and enjoy on a daily basis. Plus, it's super affordable!


This product is also available in different colors, in a waterproof formula, and with a different brush for a flared effect. For more information, follow this link or check out your local store.

Bargain Beauty Buy: Camomile Makeup Remover

I'm a big fan of The Body Shop, but I'm not always a fan of their prices. However, there are a few Body Shop staples that I can't live without- one of which is The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Make-up Remover.

Available in an 8 ounce bottle for $14.50 or a 2 ounch bottle for $4.00, it is one product I recommend to everyone! I've tried a lot of other makeup removers (mostly affordable versions from Covergirl, Maybelline, etc) but was never pleased with any of them! Then I tried the one from The Body Shop and fell in love! I've been using it for years now and couldn't be more pleased.

I have sensitive eyes and my skin is easily irritated, so this gentle cleanser is perfect for me! Most of the sensitive-skin makeup removers I've tried felt too oily, but the Camomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover from The Body Shop is perfect! It removes makeup with very little effort (no harsh scrubbing needed!) and leaves skin feeling very soft and clean!

Still don't want to pay $15 for a makeup remover? You use very little of this product to remove all your eye makeup, so one bottle lasts forever! It's really worth the price and I seriously doubt you will ever go back to using another brand of makeup remover.

Visit www.thebodyshop-usa.com or go to a local store to see their special offers. Right now they have several great offers like "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" or "4 for $30 Mix and Match". I love the mix and match offers because you can get any of their other great products like body butter, body polish, lotions, and lotions. Sign up online for coupons or click here to see their list of current sales and discounts.

(Just so you know... all of the products I feature on my blog are bought with my own money and feature my honest, personal opinion. I don't receive free products or accept payment for reviews as do many other bloggers.)

If you have a product you just can't live without, let me know. I might feature your favorite product in my next post! :)

Happy Shopping!

Favorite Buy of the Week: Mitchum Deoderant

If you're like me, you don't look like a lady in summer. After all, what lady goes around drenched in sweat? I'm sure Godey's Magazine would have informed us that "genteel ladies never perspire!"

Thankfully though, there must be others like me out there in the world. Otherwise there wouldn't be so many clinical strength deodorants on the market! Question is... which one do you use?

Just recently, I bought Mitchum for Women Smart Solid Clinical Performance. Quite the mouthful, huh? I could have saved them the trouble and told them what to really name their product... the Miracle-worker.

 

After just one try, I couldn't believe how great this deodorant worked for me! It has the exact percentage of the same active ingredient as Suave or Dove clinical strength deodorants. Bonus? The Mitchum deodorant costs a fraction of the price! At K-Mart, I bought Mitchum for $3 (as opposed to Suave and Dove which were all $8-10!)

I don't like "sticky" deodorants and Mitchum does have a slightly stick feel like a roll-on deodorant. However I apply Mitchum, wait a few seconds, then use Arrid XX spray deodorant. Arrid has a different active ingredient and somehow the combination of the two have truly worked a miracle for me! I use it on my underarms and also at my bra line (think I'm crazy? all you big-chested or chubby people will understand! lol).  It really has worked wonders- especially at my underwire line. Normally during the summer, I STAY hot and itchy where my bra rests on my ribcage but Mitchum has solved that problem for me!

There are a lot of people that scoff at supposed "Clinical Strength" deodorants. If you check many of the active ingredients in the regular and clinical strength, you might not see a big difference in percentage. However, the difference is enough to MAKE a difference with your sweating! Even if you try one and don't like it- don't get discouraged! Even regular strength deodorants work differently for different people- each brand has their own little "recipe". I'd recommend starting with Mitchum since it is the most affordable and start working from there if Mitchum isn't exactly what you need! I guarantee you will be shocked at the difference a clinical strength deodorant makes. And if none of them give you the result you desire, it's time to see the doctor! They can prescribe you something to help with the sweating or see if the sweating is being caused by something else than just the nearly intolerable heat of summer! :)

p.s. helpful hint: when using google to search for picture of "sweaty lady" to post on your blog, you might want to rearrange the wording a bit to "sweating, tired, exercise, lady". otherwise you might not get the kind of pics you planned on! LOL

OPI Shattered Polish

Ok, I admit it. I'm obsessed with Johnny Depp and anything that makes me even think of Johnny Depp! So how cool are the new OPI polishes inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean???

                                                          

Wake up... think of Johnny Depp. Catch a glimpse of nails... think of Johnny Depp. Eat breakfast... think of Johnny Depp. Look at nails holding cereal spoon... think of Johnny Depp. Look across table and imagine Cpt. Jack Sparrow sitting there and...

I think you get the picture.

Perhaps I don't need anything else to make me think of Johnny since he is ever present in my daydreams, but for cool colors with super awesome pirate names (like Sparrow Me the Drama and Mermaid's Tears) I'm happy to oblige! Especially since Cpt. Sparrow is the most rocking character Johnny has ever played!

                                    

*Sigh* How I do love that eye-liner wearing, dreadlocked, scruffy, strange bearded, gold-toothed pirate...

Ahem.

Anyways...

Apart from the great new shimmery colors in this new line inspired by POTC, comes one of the most awesome things you could ever put on your nails.  A polish called "silver shatter." Once you apply polish to your nails and let it dry very well, just dip the brush in silver shatter and apply on your nail (without coating too much). Within seconds, the polish will start to dry, crackle, shatter and start looking like a weathered plank. As painful as that sounds, it really turns out quite nicely. :)

                              

Some people give this product mixed reviews, but I think you just have to play around with it (like any new product) and find out how it works best on you. Also cool is the black shatter polish available through OPI, though the silver is a bit softer and prettier. It has a dull finish so just put a clear top coat on and you're ready to go! Below you can see the Pirate collection by OPI with and without the silver shatter polish.

                         

There are other shatter/crackle polishes out there, so even if you don't want silver (or don't want to pay for an OPI nail color), branch out and experiment with some shatter polishes! I really think you will enjoy something different. But if you're a Johnny Depp fan like I am, I guarantee that you'll enjoy having Pirate themed polishes. :)

5 Bargain Beauty Buys

Welcome to Bargain Beauty Buys! A new section where I'll be focusing on affordable beauty products that actually work. To kick things off, I'm going to spotlight 5 great products that actually live up to their advertising claims.



#1 - First up, we have the new L'Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Secret No.1 Magic Perfecting Base. available at Walmart for $9.97.



Claim: "Get the perfect skin texture, instantly and all day. The silky, lightweight formula glides onto skin and minimizes the look of pores and fine lines. Skin looks and feels smooth and resurfaced. The result- a unified matte finish that's flawless."

Verdict: True! I was completely amazed at how my skin instantly lost it's red, splotchy look. My skin tends to be dry but looks oily. How that works, I really don't know. But it seems this product was made for me! My skin immediately felt smooth and soft but without any oily residue from the base. The pink tone helped smooth out my skin tone and gave me a nice matte finish. It wasn't too thick, went out super easily and dried very quickly. The only downside is that it is kind of awkward to get out of the jar. I was further impressed when I applied my regualr makeup on top of the base- everything went on super smoothly and I used about half the foundation and conceler I normally apply every day. Plus the smooth, matte look last all day. This is defintiely a product I will use from now on!!!



#2 - Next. we have the Rimmel Glam Eyes Lash Flirt Volume and Lift Mascara available for $5.67 at Walmart.



Claim: "New VolumFlex Brush styles lashes for sensational volume and instant separation. Ultra supple elasto-bristles groom each lash, lacquering them from root to tip for a spectacular 7 x more lash intensity. Big Lash Seduction. High Definition. Maximum lash impact. Impeccable definition. Smoothing formula glides through lashes, wrapping each one for ultimate volume yet perfect separation. Lashes look dramatically amplified yet sleekly defined."

Verdict: True! This is a great mascara to use every day... especially if you have thinner lashes that need extra definition. This product provides great volume without any clumps at all! The flexible brush truly does separate your lashes and helps easily coat those hard to reach lashes in the corners of your eyes. My mom says, "It's the best mascara I've ever tried!' It really coats lashes evenly and thoroughly but looks completely natural! Plus the smooth formula stays fresh longer and doesn't clump up on your lashes or the brush. If you want huge, overly exagerrated lashes for evening, this is not the mascara for you. But if you want beautiful, natural, sleek lashes for every day use... I think you will love this product from Rimmel!


#3- Coming in at number 3 on our list today is the New Maybelline Eye Studio Baked Eye Shadow Duo available at Walmart for 5.94 and also at various drugstores.



Claim: "Our advanced baked technology keeps pearls uncrushed for refined luminosity.
7 different pure pigments are swirled together for gorgeous dimensional color.
Now, a swirl of pearls makes shadow new again!"

Verdict: True! Although this gorgeous eye shadow duo comes in a variety of pealry colors, one of our favorite colors is Bronze Blowout. It has just the right amount of irridescent sparkle in the bronze without shining like Jimmy Mac Elroy's outfits in Blades of Glory. The lighter shade blends as you apply it and goes on with the subtle hint of several colors, instead of one stark, matte shade. The shadows are long-lasting, easy to apply and good for all skin types. It's also suitable for a variety of ages, whereas some sparkly shadows are only fit for middle schoolers. In addition, your lids feel smooth and silky when applied.



#4- e.l.f Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Sun Kissed available via the e.l.f. website for $1!





Claim: "A touch of sunshine to warm up every complexion with its soft and silky texture for a beautiful and natural glow."


Verdict: True! Although my mom and I are fans of almost all e.l.f. products, the e.l.f. bronzer is our favorite. It has a really natural look with a hint of shimmer to add to the healthy glow. It's super easy to blend and doesn't leave streaks. The lightweight formula proves great for all skin types and is perfect for winter- when skin is dry and makeup can end up looking cakey. For the absolutely astounding price of $1, this bronzer should be a staple in every girl's makeup bag!


#5- Last on the list is essie nailpolish available online or at Walmart for $7.75.




Claim: There are none! The polishes speak for themselves.

Verdict: The best little polish out there! Essie polishes are long-lasting and quick-drying. They have a very smooth application and ultra-high shine. When coating your nails with this polish, you'll only have to use about half the polish you normally would. The polish is really thick but doesn't clump up or run when applying. With over 300 fabulous colors (all adorably named!) you won't run out of options any time soon! Try their 3 best-sellers: Ballet Slippers, Mademoiselle, and Wicked or one of their new winter colors like Masquerade Belle.