For the Love of Lashes

There are three things I am almost never without... Lipstick, earrings and mascara. I have already ranted about my love affair with Cover Girl Outlast lipstick - now onto mascara!!!

Having fab lashes is really not as hard as you might think. I am often complimented on my eyelashes, and it is chalked up to "oh, you just have good lashes". My lashes aren't bad but they aren't great either.

before.... after....

There are lots of fancy ways to achieve great lashes: fake eyelashes (which I am not knocking - they have their time and place), lash tinting (although this won't make them thicker or longer), and actual medicine to grow lashes ($ cha-ching!). But the simple, every day way to fab lashes? Learn to work your mascara!!!!

You have got to find a mascara you love, and feel comfortable with the shape of the wand. I personally love Maybelline mascara - in general I think they have the best product. My particular favorite is Maybelline Volume Express Curved Brush in Very Black.

Tips & Tricks:

• Unless you have blonde lashes, go for black mascara. People with blonde lashes - it is up to you how bold you want to look.
• If you can master the curved brush, you can usually skip the curler. I personally never use one - don't even own one now that I think about it!
• Apply in even strokes, starting at the base of the lashes and follow all the way to the end. You get length by letting the mascara build up on the tips of your lashes - so if you make short little strokes you are probably not catching the ends.
• For extra glam, apply while looking down into a mirror - this will pull the lashes up.
• Get a decent coat on one eye, move the the next eye - and then do a quick second coat. Don't wait too long or the first coat will be completely dry - and then you get clumps!
• Don't forget the back of your lashes!!! Do a quick swipe on the back side - spin the wand as you go for extra curl.
• Eyeliner is a great touch - but go easy. Too much liner makes it harder for the lashes to stand out. Just start with liner on the outer part of the upper lid.

I know this sounds complicated, but once you get the swing of it, it will be easy. I actually timed myself this morning, and it took me one and half minutes to completely do both eyes - with both kids climbing my legs and pulling on me!!!

Happy lash loving!!

Deals this week

Sorry I am so late this week!!! I hope you haven't overpaid for cosmetics!

CVS:
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Maybelline Mascara *** I LOVE Maybelline Volume Express (curved brush) It is absolutely fabulous. I love mascara - love the feeling of dramatic eyelashes. I have been told I have "good lashes" - but I don't! It is the mascara! Very soon I am going to take before and after pictures and put together a 'how-to' mascara post... but I digress....
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Cosmetics

Walgreens:
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Loreal face and lip products: foundation, powder, concealer, blush (they have great blush) or lipstick. Includes HiP (their cosmetic line designed to compete with MAC)

Sales good through May 30th. Happy shopping!

Mineral Make-Up

A trendy product line in the world of cosmetics right now is "mineral make-up." I have to start off this post by saying that I have never used any of these products, so I have no personal experience.

That being said, I have several friends that are fans of BareEscentials line of BareMinerals products. People who use it seem to love it, and are repeat buyers - and that is the true test of a product! The line is pretty pricey - available at Sephora, BareEscentials stores & via phone, and QVC.

So, what you may be wondering is... do I need it?? As is true with any beauty product, you probably don't. If you are happy with your current make-up products, or maybe just need a little change, I wouldn't suggest investing in BareEscentials. But if you are seriously looking for a change... like I said, I have friends who swear by the stuff!!!

If you want to try the concept and get in on the trend, without the investment, you can try Maybelline Mineral Power make-up - which is on sale at CVS this week buy 1 get 1 free.

If any of my mineral make-up using friends are reading this post - please leave your advice & recommendations in the comments!!

Just Say No...

... to yellow toenail polish.

I am not a big fan of trendy makeup. In my opinion, makeup is to enhance your natural beauty - not really to make fashion statements with your face. Save that for your earrings and shoes :)

I am, however, a BIG fan of trendy nail polish. Every month when my Glamour magazine comes, I scan the pages for the 'it' color of the month. My latest faves have been midnight blue, gunmetal gray (at the end of winter), and fuchsia.

This month I saw some bright yellow polish, and since I love yellow, made it my mission to find some. OPI has a great color (available at Ulta for $3.99). Fun, right???

What I fail to mention is that I have really pale skin. I do not tan - I just burn and go right back to white! So do you know what yellow nail polish looks like on white feet? Not good.

Maybe it would look OK on really tan feet... but my overall opinion is that it is more fungal than fun. If you want a very 'in' color on your toes - go for fuchsia. Looks good on any skin color.

Deals this Week

I didn't manage to get my hands on a Sunday paper this week, but I did check the deals at CVS and Walgreens... here you go:

CVS:
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Maybelline Dream, lip, eyeshadow or liner
- Loreal Sublime (Glow or Bronze) $5.99

Walgreens:
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Loreal HiP products - this line of cosmetics is meant to compete with MAC (Note: Loreal is the same company as Lancome - just cheaper!!)

The Lipstick That Will Change Your Life!

If you know me, you know my lipstick. We go together. We're a pair. Our love affair has been going on for 8 years now, and I see no end in sight! Therefore, I think it is fitting that the first product review I post on this blog be about my lipstick.

I am totally not joking when I say that this lipstick has changed my life. Well, I might be a tad dramatic - but not joking! I have always loved lipstick, and have always hated having to reapply, worrying about it coming off on my clothes, trying to avoid the ring around the lips... this lipstick changes all of that!

The name of my lipstick lover is CoverGirl Outlast Lipcolor - specifically color #545 - Naturalast. Be warned - there are other "Outlast" products, but they are totally different (and may be covered in future posts). The lip color costs about $8, and comes in a box with two tubes - one is the color, the other a gloss. I use it every day and I think it lasts me about 3-4 months.

This is one of the few products out there where the advertisements are totally true. It... Does... Not... Come... Off. Seriously. When I worked in an office, I would apply it at 7:00 am and it would still be on at the end of the workday. I can kiss my babies and not have to wipe their faces. The straw in my Diet Dr. Pepper stays clean and doesn't get nasty lipstick crummies all over it. You get the idea.

Tips & Tricks:
- Lips must be totally clean and dry before applying. Do not apply over chapstick, or other lipstick.
- Put the color on first - you can adjust how dark/light it is by how thick you apply. Don't apply too thick or it will crack and peel.
- Do not obsessively rub your lips together - just hold your lips slightly apart until it dries.
- Only use the gloss provided in the box. ANYTHING oil based is going to take the lipstick off - that includes chapstick and other lipsticks and glosses.
- Remember the above comment when you actually want to take it off - because believe me, it will still be on when you go to bed! Just put on chapstick, wait a minute, and wipe off with a tissue
- Along the same line, learn to eat neatly - greasy and oily food will make it come off faster
- If you use it every day (like I do!) then your lips may get dry. DO NOT skip the overnight moisturizer! I recommend Neutrogena Overnight Lip Balm.
- When picking out a color, remember they all go on a bit brighter than they appear in the package.

I know that many of you out there who are reading this have already fallen in love with this product - if you have testimonials please leave them in the comments!!!

Happy lipstick wearing to you! May you find your lipstick soul mate and live happily ever after.

Don't Forget the End-Caps!!

When shopping the Health/Beauty section, NEVER neglect the end-caps! Sometimes the best unadvertised deals are there!

Example: Target currently has two-packs of Maybelline mascara on the end-cap for $3.99. It is the old standard pink+green Great Lash that you probably used in high school... and there is a reason it is still the most popular mascara on the market!

Don't forget to ALWAYS get curved brush mascara - then you can skip the lash curler! Oh, and unless you have blonde lashes, always get black mascara.

Hmmmm... maybe I feel a mascara tips&tricks post in the works....

Deals & Coupons from the Sunday Paper

Let me start off by saying I am not a fan of "Buy 1 Get 1 50% off" sales - in my opinion this is a sucker sale. They get you in the door, and get you to buy twice as much, with small savings. I will only report BOGO 50% sales when they apply to products I love. Give me a true BOGO free or a straight discount - amen?

I just got a chance to peruse the Sunday paper ads and there are some deals going on, so let me get to it: (all of these are advertised specials, no coupons needed - except the P&GbrandSaver list)

CVS:
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Cover Girl Lip Products!! Hallelujah! I adore Cover Girl Outlast (specifically #545 Naturalast) - that is (and will be) a separate post.... more to come
- $5 Clairol 'Nice'n easy', 'Root touch up', or 'Gray Solutions'

P&GbrandSAVER: (coupon flier)
- $2 off one box Clairol haircolor
- $2 off one box Clairol Natural Instincts - LOVE this product, temporary wash-out color
- $1 off Cover Girl any product

ULTA:
CHI 1" flat iron on sale for $119

.... but this is better!
Target:
- CHI 1" on sale for $99
- Target also now carries Elnett hairspray for $15 - supposed to be fabulous, don't worry I will be testing and reporting back!

Walgreens:
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Neutrogena lip products - I love their overnight balm (it counteracts they drying effect of CoverGirl Outlast)

Happy Bargain Shopping!