Mascara I Love: Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash

Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash

I LOVE trying different mascaras as you may well know. For me, this is one of the products that I don’t go without when I leave the house.  My lashes are short, straight and sparse so I need a mascara that lengthens, thickens and curls — very had to find!

Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash ($22.00 USD) claims to give lashes curl, volume, length, and intense pigment. This ultra-pigmented mascara was specially designed to give the lashes an exceptional volume-enhancing effect with infinite lengthening and immediate curling. Plus, the tough, dense brush of this Sephora-exclusive mascara penetrates into the roots of the lash to ensure that lash is completely coated with mascara.

What I think:  Smokey Lash is almost perfect for me. It curls my lashes (no curler required!), separates and thickens like crazy! It is also very black. My lashes are black, but this mascara makes them appear even darker. My lashes look insane with this mascara! Very dramatic. The only thing is that it does not lengthen as well as I would like. But, this can be fixed with a primer or layered with a lengthening mascara. If you do not have particularly short lashes, this mascara would be perfect for you! One or two coats are perfect for daytime and more coats bump up the glamour.

Visit www.sephora.com to purchase or visit Sephora stores. Enjoy!

Becca Cosmetics Can Give You The Perfect Look For Spring and Summer

We have had a few hot days in Kansas City, which has made me long for the summer and tan skin and easy makeup. So I used an at home spray tanning system (will review soon) and broke out the bronzer and shimmery makeup! Oh, I love the fun easy look of summer makeup!

BECCA Cosmetics’ philosophy is about creating a natural, flawless look starting with amazing skin. This is the perfect philosophy when it comes to spring and summer makeup. The following products will provide an easy and pretty face.

Resurfacing Primer Line & Pore Minimizing Formula ($40.00 USD) — Prepare and seal your skin with this invisible Resurfacing Primer which instantly reduces the appearance of dilated pores and smoothes fine lines for a flawless finish. Applied on its own or under foundation, the velvety matte formulation helps to control unwanted shine with its special oil absorbing polymers which act as ‘fillers’ to create a refined base for makeup that will last all day.

What I think: mattifying primer is perfect for hot and oily skin. It also keeps your makeup from melting off of your face.  This primer gives skin a velvety finish and helps makeup stay on all day.

Pressed Shimmer Powder ($38.00 USD) — A delicately fine shimmer powder that lights up the complexion, illuminating darkened areas and lackluster skin and creating a magical glow that seems to emanate from within. Contains ultrafine particles of shimmer (mica) to deflect light and illuminate the skin, creating a natural, radiant look. Does not have a glittery finish and thus can be worn day or night.

What I think: Pretty shimmer, and not too young for women who are a bit more mature and not looking for a glittery face.  Available in 8 shades from a beigey-peach to a rose-pink, which is the most I’ve seen in an illuminating powder. The deeper shades make a really pretty blush. Brush it over bronzer for a lovely summer look.

Jewel Dust ($24.00 USD) — These exquisitely embellished powders add playful colour to the eyes when worn alone, and create rich, exotic tones when layered over neutral eye shadows. Available in a range of enchanting colours from ethereal pastels to dazzling metallics. Created from pure pigments which provide the highest luster and intensity.  Unlike other shimmer powders, this exclusive formulation does not contain talc, fillers, or inferior silver pearl pigments. Can be worn alone or layered over creme and powder eye colour to create unique tones and range of effects. Micro fine shimmer pigments adds illuminating colour to the eyes. Available in 16 shimmery shades.

What I think: This is super pretty for summer. The lighter shades are gorgeous brushed all over the eye and the deeper and brighter shades can be used for an accent or a smoky eye.

Professional Brush Soap ($15.00 USD) — Designed with your prized makeup brushes in mind, this unique Professional Brush Soap is formulated to clean, condition and sanitize, lengthening the lifespan of your brushes and making them work better for you. In a unique vintage-style shaving tin, this soap is designed for all brush shapes and sizes and works on both natural and synthetic fibers.

Unlike shampoo, which is designed for human hair types and can leave brushes limp or brittle, this special soap is universal in its cleansing properties. Its solid formula is made from nourishing plant oils ensuring that it is gentle on brush fibers while tough on product build-up.  Unwashed, brushes can be a common breeding ground for bacteria, which can in turn cause skin irritation and blemishes, along with reduced application performance. Dip the brush in lukewarm water, then with a stroking action, move across the soap until it produces a white lather, working well into the bristles. Rinse under the tap until the water runs clear, squeeze out excess water, reshape, then leave to dry on a clean towel.

What I think: This is a fabulous and affordable cleanser for your brushes. It is so important to keep makeup brushes clean and this is easy and quick. Love it!

Visit www.beccacosmetics.com to learn more and to purchase. Enjoy!

LORAC 3D Multidimensional Beauty Collection

The 3D Multidimensional Beauty Collection from LORAC is a great way to infuse your Spring makeup look with some shimmer. The products below are very unique in that many of them include holographic pigments. The products are:

MULTIPLEX 3D LASHES MASCARA ($22) – This volumizing and thickening mascara takes your lashes to the next level by instantly delivering 3 times the volume.  MULTIPLEX 3D LASHES has a buildable, smudge-resistant and multidimensional formula that creates a dramatic lash look.  Featuring beneficial ingredients like silk and keratin to nourish and condition.  The professional curved brush easily grabs, lifts and curls for maximum coverage and length.

3D LIQUID LUSTRE ($16) – A shimmering top coat that lets you amp up your look.  This paraben-free, long-lasting, shimmering coat can be applied over eye shadow or worn alone on eyes and cheeks for a luminous, prismatic 3-Dimensional sparkle and shine.

3-in-1 WATERPROOF EYELINER PENCIL ($18) – Get sexy, smoldering, defined eyes with this no-smudge, no-budge waterproof eyeliner pencil.  This new eyeliner features a creamy, velvety-smooth texture and intense rich color that easily glides on for a clean, precise line.  This transfer-resistant retractable pencil is equipped with its own sharpener and “smudger” for effortless, versatile application.  Available in Ultra Black, Chocolate and Eggplant.

MULTIPLEX 3D EYE SHADOW PALETTE ($38) – This Sephora Exclusive Limited Edition Palette contains high-wattage 3-Dimensional color with 6 velvety-smooth shadows infused with luminous, prismatic, holographic lustre, long-lasting pigments and versatile color.  The shadows can be worn dry for a soft, natural finish or wet for a more intense color pigment.  It can even be worn wet or dry as an eyeliner.  The faux animal print palette fits perfectly in your purse or clutch and is very on-trend for the season!

MULTIPEX 3D LIP GLOSS DUO ($28) – Get two glam and gorgeous shades of our popular Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss for the sexiest lips ever!  This innovative, paraben-free lip gloss contains holographic pigments, long-lasting color and high-lacquer shine.  The duo features 2 shades – 3D (Rose Bronze with glitter) and 4D (Bubble Gum Pink with glitter).

MULTIDIMENSIONAL BEAUTY COLLECTION ($35) – This ULTA Exclusive Collection contains everything you need for MULTIDIMENSIONAL eyes and lips.  Featuring 3 prismatic light-reflecting shadows for dramatic shimmering color and MULTIPLEX 3D Lip Gloss in ULTA GLAM for super glossy 3D lips.  All enclosed in a metallic mesh makeup case that can double as your evening clutch.

I tested the 3D Eye Shadow Palette and the 3-in-1 Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil. I love the shadows because not only do they give a great variety for many looks — the multi-dimensional shimmer is really gorgeous. The color included are Opalescent Gold with Pink Pearl, Amber Bronze with Gold Pearl, Red/Brown with Green Pearl, Silver with White Pearl, Royal Blue with Electric Blue Pearl, and Midnight Black with Holographic 3D Glitter. The ones I have been loving are the gold with the pink pearl because it is soft and pretty and the red-brown with green because it is so amazing. I dust it over my lid and when I turn my head the color changes. So cool! The shadows are also very long-lasting.  

The eyeliner is very good, too. It has a fairly soft consistency and can give a light or heavy line. It is also very pigmented and stays on all day!

Visit www.sephora.com, www.ulta.com, and www.loraccosmetics.com to learn more and purchase. Enjoy!