The Best Lip Products for Dry, Chapped Lips

Fall is one of my absolute favorite seasons. But as the leaves start to change colors and the temperatures start to drop, every year - without fail - my lips start to dry out and get chapped. I am always on the hunt for the best lip products for dry, chapped lips. 

Also, wearing masks seems to have made the situation worse for me as far as I can tell. Last fall brought with it the worst chapped lips I've seen in a very long time, so I kicked my quest for the perfect lip product into high gear. I was determined to have better results this fall season! So, since I have been searching to find the best solution to prevent chapped lips, I thought I would share the products that have worked for me.

This is a review of my tried-and-true recommendations for those with dry, chapped lips. I did my best to include as many different price points as I could. All of these products have worked wonders for me, but not everyone will have the same results. I hope you will find this post helpful!

Best Recovery Lip Balm for Severely Chapped Lips

I'm starting with the big guns. If you have severely chapped lips that need repair and healing, this is is the lip balm I would start with. Lanolips Original 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm is a super-thick lip balm that penetrates your dry, cracked lips and seals in moisture. Made from humanely sourced, ultra medical grade lanolin, this cruelty-free lip balm gives the absolute best hydration for extremely dry and chapped lips. 

In addition to the traditional Lanolips 101, it also comes in flavor options such as strawberry, peach, green apple, and lemonaid, as well as tinted options like rose gold, bronze gold, and rhubarb. If you're looking for a tinted lip balm, this might be the best option for you.

Best Everyday Lip Balm

This lip product was at the top of my list to try simply because it's been around for decades and the formula has not changed. I wanted to find out if it lived up to all the hype - and boy did it ever! 

For severely chapped lips, Vermont's Original Bag Balm makes a great everyday lip balm because it contains ingredients like petrolatum and lanolin to lock in moisture. The Bag Balm formula has remained the same since 1988 (with only 4 ingredients and no added fragrances, colors, alcohol, parabens, or phthalates). Because this is the original, cruelty-free Bag Balm formula (only in a convenient lip balm sized tube), you can use it on any part of your body that is dry, chapped, or cracked.

If you don't need the lip balm sized tube for on-the-go use, you can order the larger sized Bag Balm in the tin. The ingredients are the same.

Best Lip Balm with SPF

Stick with me on this one - it's actually from a men's skin care line. But as far as I'm concerned, if a product works, it works. And since there's nothing inherently "male" about this (or any) lip balm, it can really work for anyone. 

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm offers SPF 25 sun protection; skin conditioners like beeswax, shea butter, and lanolin; and antioxidants that soothe and relieve dry, chapped, irritated lips. This cruelty-free lip balm also comes in flavor options such as natural mint, black tea & blackberry, grapefruit & ginger, mango & mandarin, lavender, and pineapple mint. If UVA and UVB sun protection are at the top of your list for skin care products like lip balms, then this is the right product for you! 

Best Nighttime Lip Balm

The name of this product says it all: My Favorite Night Balm. It truly is my favorite. And if you're a daytime lipstick wearer, then this product is definitely one I'd recommend for you because it works all its magic at night. Can't get any better than that!

This deep moisturizing lip balm helps repair seriously dry lips while you sleep with ingredients such as shea butter and lanolin. Apply this 8-hour recovery balm liberally before bed to hydrate your lips overnight. Developed by C.O. Bigelow, the oldest apothecary in America, it's available at their flagship store in Greenwich Village in New York City, at their online store, or at other online retailers like Bath & Body Works or Amazon. 

This is actually the only product to make my list that I've been using for YEARS. I went back to the drawing board on all of my daytime lip balm products, but I couldn't find anything to hold a candle to this nighttime lip balm. It's the OG of night balms in my book!

BONUS - Best Lip Scrub

As an added bonus, I thought I'd share another favorite lip product: Eco Lips Lip Sugar Scrub. Use this to exfoliate your lips once a week to help prevent them from getting chapped in the first place. It instantly reveals softer, smoother lips after just one use (and another bonus: it tastes good too). 

Use it at night to exfoliate dry, rough lips with sugar while conditioning them with coconut oil to get them smooth and ready to apply your nighttime lip balm. Pure and 100% gluten-free and organic, this lip scrub is made in the USA, is Fair Trade Certified, is cruelty-free, and is earth-friendly. It's available in your choice of brown sugar, mint, vanilla bean, or mint truffle flavors. Pair one of these flavored lip scrubs with an exfoliating lip brush and you're in business!

Useful Stocking Stuffer Ideas

When they say that the best things come in small packages, in this case, it's absolutely true. Don't forget that these must-have lip balms and scrubs are small enough to easily fit into a stocking, so they make great Christmas gift ideas too! They're all under $20 and some are below $10 (with discounts for buying multipacks). So it's easy to buy for everyone on your list. Fill everyone's stockings this year with something they'll love (and actually use). 

This post contains affiliate links.

MAC's Gone But Not Forgotten Program

If you are a lover of MAC cosmetics as I am, then you may already be aware of this program. However, I was not.  I have honestly been so fortunate to have never needed to avail myself of the MAC Gone But Not Forgotten program.  Until now.  

So here's my story.  Have you ever found just the perfect shade of lip color?  And loved it and used it for years and years and years?  And then one day it suddenly and inexplicably disappears as though it was never there to begin with?  Alas, that happened to me recently.  And I was at a genuine loss. When I recently went online to reorder my favorite MAC lipstick, I couldn't find it anywhere.  I had previously saved it as one of my favorites for easy reordering, and it was even gone from my list of favorites.  It had simply disappeared. 

I was left scratching my head, and drawing the obvious conclusion - that my lipstick shade was no longer available.  No, that couldn't be right.  MAC would have checked with me on that first, right?  I just couldn't accept that as an answer.  So I called their customer service, and after a quick chat with a helpful representative, it was confirmed.  My lipstick was in fact gone.  (but not forgotten)  I will be mourning it's loss for a while. I can assure you.  However, the rep did fill me in on the MAC Gone But Not Forgotten program.  If you find yourself in a similar situation, then you can email that team at consumercare-us@gcc.maccosmetics.com, and they will do the research for you.  If it turns out that your favorite item or color has been discontinued then they will provide you with instructions on how to hunt down and purchase any of the items that have been discontinued.  

Here are the specifics. 

It is a complimentary service to MAC consumers called Gone but Not Forgotten. This program offers you the opportunity to get up to six pieces (each) of a product that has been discontinued within the last 36 months. 

To place a search for your product(s), call toll-free at 1 (855) 484-2840 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. To expedite your call please have your case number available for reference when speaking with one of the Consumer Care Representatives.

Here are some program details:

• Limited quantities of product are available and search requests are performed as they are received. Please allow at least 10 business days to receive your product.
• MAC requires credit or debit card payment up front and will charge your card only when the product is shipped.
• Packages shipped to the contiguous United States are shipped via UPS and a physical street address is necessary. Tracking information will be sent via e-mail when they ship your order. A flat $5 fee will be included in your charge.
• Packages shipped to Alaska and Hawaii are shipped via FedEx and a physical street address is necessary. Tracking information will be sent via e-mail when they ship your order. A $20 flat fee will be included in your charge.
• If MAC cannot locate your products, they will notify you via e-mail and your credit card information will be deleted from their system.
• All sales are final.

It won't bring your lip color back, but it is the next best thing.  If you can manage to find even a few tubes to tide you over, it will make your transition a lot easier while you are looking for your next perfect lip shade.  

Wunderbrow: A Product Review

I am always on the hunt for new and improved cosmetics, and this one recently caught my eye.  No pun intended!  It's Wunderbrow, and it's the latest in eyebrow filling cosmetics. I have now used up my first tube of this miracle brow filler and am on my second.  Needless to say, I am a fan.  

Wonderbrow isn't a brow pencil or crayon.  It's actually a thick liquid, of sorts, that you paint on.  I use a thick angeled brow brush to apply it and then use a spooly brush to even it out. Here are the color choices currently available.  Since my eyebrows are on the light side to begin with, I ordered the blonde, which is really kind of a light brown in my opinion, but most blonde eyebrow shades are. In any case, I think these shades pretty much cover any option that you would need. 

And here is some of their advertising to show you the before and after, without and then with, Wunderbrow.  My eyebrows naturally resemble the one on the left, only not nearly as good.  My brows are very light and pretty sparse, so I usually use some sort of brow product to darken them slightly and fill them in.  I would say the photo on the right is a pretty good representation of how your brows look with Wunderbrow. As a word of caution though, this product works by adhering to your existing brows to fill them in.  It will not stick to areas that do not already have hair there to stick to.  So if you've overplucked, it may not work as well for you. 

The product claims to last for several days with no need to reapply in between.  Indeed it does last very well, although a good makeup remover can still get it off with no problem.  I usually remove it all each night and just reapply the next day.  And even doing so, it took me about 6 weeks to use up my first tube.  So yes, I'm a fan!  

Your eyebrows really do frame your face, and it makes such a difference when your eyebrows are done as opposed to when they are not.  You can purchase Wonderbrow online.  Has anyone else tried this one yet?  What are your thoughts?  

This post contains affiliate links.

Product Review: Jamberry Nail Wraps

Hello, friends!  It's been a little while since I've done a good product review for you, and this is one that I hope you will find helpful.  Whether you are a Jamberry beginner (like me) or a pro, I've got some insights, tips, and tricks to share with you.

 

 

I recently bought a set of Jamberry Nail Wraps for the very first time to support a friend of mine who was hosting an online Jamberry Party.  Though I had heard of the company and seen their wraps before, I had never actually tried this product until now.  And I will admit that I was a little skeptical at first.  The instructions seemed really easy (almost too easy) and people online were claiming that it took them as little as 10 minutes to apply a full manicure that would end up lasting two weeks or more.  Hmmm, I couldn't imagine. 

 

 

 

I mean, I have found a wonderful lady to do my nails in the past year or so, and she applies a perfect gel manicure in 30 minutes flat for $25.  That manicure always lasts me about 2-3 weeks.  And until now I couldn't picture anything faster or more affordable for a manicure that would last that long.  So after reading many reviews and researching the product itself, I bit the bullet and gave it a try myself.  But honestly, even the online reviews I read (and there were many) had me wondering whether they were legit or just people trying to boost their own sales.  You just never know.  So before I begin, let me first say that I am in no way being compensated for my review in dollars or in products.  The Jamberry wraps that I used were ones that I purchased myself at full retail price.  I am just a regular person who was interested in trying a new product and sharing my findings with you.  So here we go.   

 

To begin, if you read the story of how this company was launched, you will find that it was in fact started by three sisters (sound familiar, anyone?).  My curiosity was instantly piqued.  They decided that salon manicures were far too pricey, time consuming, and limiting of their color and pattern choices, so they took action and ended up developing Jamberry Nail Wraps.   Incidentally, they have been around since late 2010.

 

 

 

If you take a look at their online catalog, you will see what I mean by choices.  There are a slew of colors, patterns, designs, and everything in between to mix and match.  Whew wee, the selections almost made me dizzy so I opted for my good old standby look to start the ball rolling: a classic French manicure.  And yes, they sell that in addition to lots of other solid color looks.  Not everything is a wild pattern.  There really is something for everyone. 

 

 

 

So How Much Do They Cost and What Do You Get for Your Money?

 

The sheet of wraps that I purchased cost $15, and they were running a promotion for a fourth free sheet with the purchase of three.  So, in other words four sets would have cost $45, or $11.25 each.  I assumed that each sheet would provide one manicure.  Even so, if it held up for the two weeks that it claimed, I would still be saving $10- $15 off the cost of my normal gel manicure. 

 

But after a little research, I quickly discovered that each sheet contains 18 wraps, and each wrap is plenty big enough to be cut in half, thus providing even more manis and pedis per sheet.  The wraps come in different sizes so you can select the ones that best fit your nails.  The larger wraps are typically used for pedicures, whereas the smaller wraps are generally used for manicures.  By my estimation, I can easily get two full manicures and one full pedicure out of a single sheet of Jamberry wraps.  I'm sure if you get more creative with how you cut them and/or mix them with polished (non-wrapped nails) you can stretch a sheet even farther.  But let's just go with my conservative number for the sake of this math.  If I paid $15 for a single sheet and each sheet will get me two manicures and one pedicure, that's only $5 per application.  So far, I'm liking the numbers!

 

After drawing my own conclusions, I found this handy diagram that shows how to make your wraps go even father.  Sweet!  I will be saving this for my own future reference.

 

 

 Now that we've got that all settled, let's move on to application.

 

How Do You Apply Nail Wraps and How Long Does it Really Take? 

 

1.  To start, you need to make sure your nails are clean and either coated with a fresh coat of polish or wiped down with rubbing alcohol.  I opted to start with clean dry nails that I swiped a little alcohol swab over. 

 

2.  Next, work on those cuticles.  Push them back with a cuticle pusher.  I trimmed mine too, but it's not called for.  Just what I do.  Actually, if you are starting with polished nails, I suppose you would do this step first.

 

3.  Now your nails are ready for the wraps.  Choose the wrap that best fits your nail and remove it from the sheet.  It is better to use a wrap that is slightly smaller than your actual nail than one that is too large.  (Remember you can cut these in half to save the other half for another manicure.)  Apply heat from a hair dryer to the adhesive side for a few seconds until it is pliable.  And carefully lay the wrap down on your nail.  I started by laying the wrap down closest to my cuticle base and stretching it over my nail until it was covering my nail completely.  Apply pressure to get it to stay in place where you want it.  It will likely still extend past your actual nail at this point. 

 

4.  Trim the wrap to fit your nail.  The instructions call for you to cut the wrap with scissors, however, I found that using nail trimmers actually made for a much cleaner cut and one much closer to my actual nail.  Once you have made your cut, use an emery board to file the edges smooth to your nail, using a downward motion over the edge of your nail.

 

5.  The final step is to secure your wrap by blasting it with a final shot of heat from the blow dryer again.  A few seconds on each nail will do the trick.  That's it.  Repeat nine more times and your manicure is complete. 

 

So how long did this process take me?  The people online who said 10 minutes were giving it a minute per nail.  Mine didn't go quite that quickly because it was my first time, but it still only took me about 20 minutes for my very first application.  And the second hand went much faster than the first.  Now that I understand the process better, I know it won't take me that long next time. 

 

Other Helpful Hints and Tips

• You cannot destroy these wraps so don't feel like you have to be super careful with them.  You cannot overheat them.  In fact, I think a little extra heat helps to make them super pliable and ready to set.  Don't forget to "stretch" them over your nail for a clean and smooth application. 
• Trimming them with nail clippers was such a game changer for me.  In fact, if your nails are longer to start with, you can actually trim away a small bit of nail with the extra part of the wrap and you will have the cleanest cut possible.
• In retrospect, I don't think I would have chosen a French manicure for my first application if I had considered what that actually meant.  For the French manicure to look as nice as possible, it is essential that the white part of the manicure is consistent in length on all your nails.  In trying to make that happen, it adds a little more time and care to the process.  Whereas a single color or all over pattern would not create the same issue.
• Oh, and from everything I read (and now from my own experience too), the first 24 hours of your application will be the most critical.  People who said their wraps peeled prematurely almost always said they had one that came off within the first day or so.  Your wraps need time to "set" and adhere to your nails.  So keep that in mind when choosing when you apply your manicure.  I chose to apply mine right before bedtime so I knew I wouldn't be stressing out my newly applied manicure over the next several hours.  I also wouldn't apply a new manicure right before I washed a sinkful of dishes, or my car, or my dog.  You get the picture.  Choose wisely!

So how did my manicure turn out?  Well, the next day my husband asked me if I had gotten my nails done!  Ha!  I'd say that speaks well to the finished product.  I am very happy with how they turned out, especially since this was my first attempt at using Jamberry nail wraps. 

 

Here's the final look.  Izzie looks especially interested in all this, doesn't she?

 

 

Alright, so I'm not a hand model.  I'm ok with that!  But I will tell you that these wraps really do look like a gel manicure.  They are shiny and smooth, and they feel totally secure on my nails. I feel like I have a little too much "white" on my ring finger so I will trim it a little more.  But that's the nice part- I can do that and it won't ruin anything!

 

 

So there you have it (for now).  I will update this post when it's time to remove them for more details on that process and how long they ended up lasting. Until then...  I'm giving these wraps high marks so far, so stay tuned for more!

UPDATE:  My first set of wraps lasted for eight days, but only because I took them off at Day 8 with intentions of doing a new set for the weekend.  They held up great with no peeling at all.  I am now on my second set of wraps and they have also been on for about a week now.  I think I'm hooked!

 

Still Looking for a Last Minute Halloween Costume?

Try this super easy scarecrow on for size.  Remember how we talked about shopping your closet for Halloween costumes?   Well, it doesn't get much easier than this one.  And what could be more seasonally appropriate than a scarecrow? 

Straw hat?  Check

Plaid shirt? Check

Jeans? Check

The secret to this costume is the awesome makeup. And as far as I can tell, I have what I need in my makeup bag already.  But if you don't, a quick trip to the drugstore will take care of that. 

Black liquid eyeliner?  Check

Peachy cream blush?  Check

Peachy lipstick?  Check

If it were me, I would definitely allot myself plenty of extra time to work on this makeup since it makes the costume so special, but the rest of it is a piece of cake.  Happy Halloween to you all!  Only a couple more nights until then!!

Back to MAC

I know many of you will already be familiar with MAC Cosmetic's Back to MAC Program, but for those who are not...

MAC accepts returns of its primary packaging (eyeshadow containers, lipstick tubes, and more) through the Back to MAC Program.  By returning six of their primary packaging containers to a MAC counter or MAC Cosmetics online, you will receive a free MAC lipstick of your choice.   AWESOME!!  I wish all cosmetics companies did this!

I was reminded of this nifty program the other day when I was about to toss out an empty eyeshadow container.  And then I thought to myself- better hang on to that just a little longer.  I will add it to my other empty MAC containers and then trot myself down to the MAC counter for a free lipstick later this year.  I'd say that's definitely worth the wait!  

For more information on the Back to MAC program, visit their website. 

Tan in a Can: Self Tanning and Bronzing Products that Really Work

All summer long, I have had people ask me about my "tan", so I thought it was high time I shared my secret with the masses instead of just one by one.  For those of you who know me, you will already know that any tan that I sport is certainly not courtesy of the sun.  My skin scoffs at the sun.  I freckle, I burn, I peel, but never under any circumstances do I tan.  Never have, never will.  Such is life.  We must all play the hand we are dealt.  

So rather than shock people with my scary white skin, I choose to self-tan.  And I have tried them all. Remember when self tanners first became popular?  They all had a scary orange tint to them, and they were usually pretty streaky too.  Oh, and the smell.  Ick, it was awful.  But, I was right there- front and center with the orange streaky skin- struggling to find some color for my otherwise colorless skin.  

Thankfully, instant tanners have improved by leaps and bounds since those days.  Today's self tanners are smooth, bronzy-colored, and odor-free.  And I have finally settled on one that I love.

Tanwise is an aerosol spray tanner.  I love it so much more than lotion tanners.  It literally goes on the color that it's going to be so you can see exactly where you are putting it.  There is no room for streaks with this stuff (unless you choose to spray yourself down in the dark).  And unlike lotions, you don't have to wait for the color to develop.  Like I said, it instantly tans, and it dries quickly too. Oh, and there is zero smell.  I have found that even the best lotion tanners still have a hint of self tan "smell" and I'm just not a fan.  I usually apply this every other day or so, and that's just about perfect for me.

So where do I buy this this little beauty secret?  I find it locally at Sally's Beauty Supply.  You can buy it online too, but that's my go-to source for my tan in a can.

Now, I do not personally use tanner on my face.  I know plenty of people who do, and I suppose there's nothing wrong with giving that a try too if you like.  But for me, I prefer to use a bronzer for a summery facial glow.  My go-to bronzer this summer has been Betty-Lou Manizer by the Balm.  And I can't say enough good things about it.  I apply this bronzer with a big fluffy powder brush over my regular powder.  The color is perfect- a little shimmery and a lot of pretty bronze glow.  It is oil-free so it doesn't ever make you look too "dewy".  And what's more, I am in love with the packaging for this product.

You will also see it pictured above with it's counterpart, Mary Lou Manizer by the Balm. This product is not a bronzer, but rather a luminizer and highlighter.  It gives your skin a soft and pretty glow without being too over the top.  Sadly, I broke this compact into a million pieces, that is before I discovered how to repair broken powders.  But I did save the case because it is just so darn cute.  For now, I am using it as a mirror for my purse, but I've got to get some more of this stuff!

I initially found the pair of these Balm products sold as a set at TJ Maxx for less than $10.  I had no idea what a good deal that was when I bought them, but I'm glad I did.  You can find them at lots of online retailers too.  :)  And they are usually sold individually.

So, that's about all folks.  As our summer winds to an end, keep your color going for a bit longer and consider giving these fine products a try.

This post contains affiliate links.

How to Fix Broken Eyeshadow

We've all done it- accidentally dropped and broken an eyeshadow, a blush, a bronzer, or a powder.  In my case, that was just the list of last week's casualties.  Normally, I just chalk this up as a complete loss and toss the shattered powder into the trash as I add a replacement to my shopping list.  Until now...

Thanks to Free People's recent blog entry, we now have the answer we have all been waiting for, and it's super simple, and uses a product you already have in your bathroom cabinet.  Are you ready for this? RUBBING ALCOHOL!!!

The trick?  Simply add enough plain rubbing alcohol to the broken cosmetic offender- enough to saturate it, and then blend it with your finger until smooth.  Leave it to dry for a few hours and it should be as good as new again.

This post contains affiliate links.

Trader Joe's- It's Not Just for Groceries Anymore

Many of you already know and love good old Trader Joe's for their specialty grocery items that don't cost an arm and a leg like most specialty food stores.  But what you might not know about Trader Joe's is that they actually carry a pretty impressive bath and body line as well.    

Here is a look at a few of the items I recently scored for my shower.  Those large bottles are a full 16 ounces of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.  Each was around the $3 mark, which I found to be quite reasonable.  But now that I have started using them, they have me jumping for joy even more so.   

I am in LOVE with the smell of their "Tea Tree Tingle" line.  It is unbelievably refreshing and energizing for your summertime showers; it's just so minty and fresh.  And again, at that price point, I'd say it's a pretty good deal too.  I usually am willing to pay a little more for hair care products, but these are doing the job quite nicely.  The conditioner is creamy enough to do a nice job, but light enough that it doesn't weigh my hair down. 

I will also personally give a ringing endorsement to the "Coconut Body Butter" you see here as well.  I am a long time fan of body butter over lotion anyway.  Most lotions evaporate into nothing as soon as you apply them.  But honestly, a lot of body butters are so thick they don't absorb that well.  If you have also been caught in the middle of this dilemma, look no further.  This body butter absorbs instantly and smoothly, but it leaves your skin so incredibly moisturized.  What a concept?!?!  But even better than all of that is the way it smells.  It is like a slice of coconut creme pie (maybe not quite that sugary smelling, but you get the idea).  It is rich and buttery, and of course, I love the smell of coconut for summer.  Oh, and the price?  It rang in at $4.99 for this big tub.  

I think we are onto something here, ladies.  And I think I will be heading back to the bath and body aisle of Trader Joe's before too long to see what else they have in store.  So far, you can color me impressed. 

Making Your Eye Makeup Stay in Place- MAC's Painterly Paint Pot

As I have mentioned before, nothing bugs me more than smudges and smears from my eye makeup. I'm not really a smokey eye kind of girl.  Even if I was, there is a big difference between an intentional smokey eye look and one where your makeup just falls apart on you.  And I much prefer neat and clean eye makeup anyway.  Don't get me wrong; I wear mascara, eyeliner, and eyeshadow daily, but I want it to stay exactly where I put it, and not take off on a weird tangent.   And sometimes that just happens, no matter how hard I may try.  Until now...

This weekend, after a quick visit to the MAC counter, my life will be forever changed. Yes, that sounds pretty dramatic, but thanks to a girl's day with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law a few days ago, I have discovered MAC's Painterly Paint Pot.  

It works like a makeup primer.  You just smooth it on your eyelids before you apply any of your eye makeup, and sit back as your eye makeup just glides right on.  It's a fairly thick product, so the best part of all of this is it holds all of your makeup firmly in place ALL DAY LONG!  No more smudges. No more smears.  No more creases.  Just flawless application and flawless staying power for all your eye makeup.  And it comes right off at the end of the day with regular makeup remover. 

What else I really liked about this product was the value.  It comes in a fairly decent sized glass pot.  By the looks of things, it will take me quite a while to get through this whole pot, even using it daily. Overall, I couldn't be happier with this product.  Finally, it's what I've been waiting for!  MAC has done it once again!

This post contains affiliate links.

Gel Eyeliner- The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Oh, I wish I had a better review to share with you.  But let me back up.  If you haven't heard, gel eyeliners are all the rage.  EVERYONE seems to be jumping on the bandwagon.  The top cosmetics companies have all had a go at creating their own versions right on down to every drug store brand you can think of.  And consumers *seem* to have pretty good reports.  Not this one, though.  Read on for the good, the bad, and the ugly of it all. 

I thought I would love gel eyeliner.  And I couldn't wait to give it a go.  I wear eyeliner every single day.  And to this point, I have been a really big fan of liquid liner.  Yes, it can be a bit messy if you don't have a steady hand, but it looks flawless.  Anyway, back to the gel version.  I tried both L'Oreal and Maybelline's versions of gel liner, and found the two to be pretty comparable in every way, from price point to application to finish.  

So here's the skinny from one very honest reviewer.

The Good:  Both get high marks for packaging and application.  As you can see pictured, gel eyeliner almost always comes in a little pot and you apply it with a tiny brush.  It might sound harder than it is.  Let me tell you, I have never experienced such a smooth and easy application for eyeliner.  Gel really gets tops marks for that.  It's almost like melted crayons.  There is zero pulling, tugging, etc to get it on.  It just spreads on like hot butter.  

The Bad:  They fade!!  Maybe not everyone expects as much out of their eyeliner as I do, but I apply my makeup in the morning, and don't take it off until the very end of the day.  I expect, if not demand, that it stay in place.  And there are some things you expect to touch up during the course of day, your powder, your lipstick, but I have never ever had to touch up my eyeliner.  Both of these gel eyeliners faded over the course of the day from the black color I started with to a dull gray and in some cases just faded away altogether.  Sorry, I can't have that.  Maybe if I only wore it for a few hours on a date, I wouldn't have even noticed it at all.  And, maybe that's not an issue for everyone.  But for me, it's a deal breaker.  Sorry.

The Ugly:  Smudges and smears.  Ick.  Even if I could put up with the fading, I absolutely draw the line with smudgy smears and streaks on my eyelids.  And let me tell you, there is a big difference between a smokey eye and one where the makeup just fell apart on you.  I have seen other reviewers comment on smudges occurring on application.  I didn't have that problem.  I am a makeup aficionado, after all.  But over the course of the day, it did smudge out on me and left me feeling messy.  

Will I try others?  Nope.  I think I've had my fill of this trend.  So back to my trusty liquid liner I go.  If you've had success with this trend, please let me know.  I would love to hear all about it.  Until then, I will be loving the one I'm with.  :)

Nude Eyeliner- a surprisingly easy way to perk up your eyes

I'm always on the lookout for any product that will perk up my eyes.  Whenever I'm tired (almost every morning of every day of my life), my eyes give it away first.   That, and my inability to speak until the first cup of coffee is flowing through my system.  :)

So anything that brightens up those peepers is worth a try.  I recently discovered the joys of nude eyeliner.  As shown here, you use it on the inner rim of your lower lid, and ta da!

an instant picker upper!

It works by reflecting the whites of your eyes, making them look a little bigger and a lot more open.  

Now how's that for instant gratification?  

Drug Store Alternative to Pricey Mascara

I don't know about you, but I have hunted high and low for a mascara that actually makes my lashes full, thick, long, strong, voluminous, and just plain pretty.  And over the years I have tried them all.  If you have ever spent much time looking at mascaras in the stores, you might have noticed what I have- most brands of mascara promise only one thing- either that they will thicken your lashes, lengthen your lashes, volumize your lashes, or whatever- but very few promise to do ALL those things.  And that's exactly what I want, dang it!  Why can't a girl have it all?

But there is good news!  I have found the one that does do it all.  And even better news is that it's a drug store brand- so it's a low cost alternative to those pricey department store brands.  So which one is it?

Drumroll please....   L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara

And the one pictured in exactly the one you are looking for.  Like most brands, this one comes in lots of different varieties.  Choose the one that days "Original" right on the package.  It is a good value no matter where you shop, and it's literally the best mascara I have ever worn.

This one is a good one, ladies.  So get out there and doll up those eyes.

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It's All a Blur- and that's a good thing!

It's been a while since I have reviewed a beauty product, but I have a new one for you, and it was worth the wait.  The product?  L'Oreal RevitaLift Miracle Blur, and it's a winner!

I was recently offered a free sample of this while out shopping, so I grabbed a couple to give a try before I really even knew what it was supposed to do.  No matter- it was free, and I do use (and love) other L'Oreal RevitaLift products, so I took it home to figure out.  

After a little light reading about this new product, I discovered that it is primarily touted to blur out the appearance of fine lines and other skin imperfections.  As I have mentioned before, my primary skin imperfections aren't really fine lines (yet- fingers crossed) as much as skin tone imperfections.  I have dark circles, and a face full of freckles.  Now, I'm not a huge fan of either but after 30-some years of living with them, I've become pretty adept at figuring out how to make my skin look as flawless as possible- thanks in large part to quite a bit of spackle that I will never give up.  But let's face it, there are some situations where a fully made up face just doesn't make sense- the beach, the pool, the gym, working in the yard, etc. 

And that's where this product comes in.  I used my samples for a couple of early morning gym visits, and I have to say that my bare face has never looked better!  It literally blurs out all of the skin imperfections and makes your skin look (and feel) really fabulous.  Usually, I have to be on my death bed before I will leave the house without makeup- and I guess if I were on my death bed, I wouldn't be going anywhere anyway, but you get the idea- this product is a game changer.  Now, to clarify, I will NEVER show up at the office, a speaking engagement (what I do for work), or most any other worthwhile venture without being made up first.  But for those trips to the gym or the pool, I have found my new best friend!  Oh, and It does contain a fair amount of sunscreen too, which protects your skin on days you are outside.

Other reviewers have also said that they use this as a makeup primer because it also makes your skin feel incredibly smooth, so I can certainly see why people might decide to use it for that.  But for this reviewer, I am more than content with using it alone and letting it work it's magic all on it's own.  

It is relatively new to the market, so you may have a little trouble finding it in stores just yet.  I did. So I ended up ordering my full size product from Amazon.  So head's up just in case. 

I'm so glad I gave this product a try; it's one of the few that really does all it says it does.   

I'm a happy girl. :)

 

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Maybe She's Born With It...

If you mean dark circles, then yes, I was certainly born with it!  I don't think that was what Maybelline was talking about when they coined that slogan, but hey, you have to play the hand you're dealt.  :)  And I have looked high and low for years for a concealer that would do a good job covering them.  Ladies, if you too struggle with this pesky genetic trait, look no further.  Maybelline has created the best concealer EVER!!

It's called Instant Age Rewind Eraser, and it does the job better than any concealer I have ever tried.  Yes, it's a drugstore makeup, so it's fairly inexpensive, but I promise I would pay twice the asking price on this.  It's that good.

You dispense the concealer by winding the tube, forcing the concealer into the soft spongy applicator and then just spread it on.  The coverage is flawless.

As with any concealer, you want to choose a shade a little lighter than your skintone.  I use the lightest shade of concealer they make (Creamy Ivory Light, 120) since I have a light complexion to begin with.  It comes in 12 shades, and I always see it when I visit my local drugstore, so it should be in your area too.

Incidentally, my sister-in-law (who doesn't know anything about dark circles) is the one who introduced me to this product.  She has nearly perfect skin, and would never have a need for this type of makeup, but she heard about it from friends who tried it and loved it.  Don't you just love a good product endorsement?  Apparently, when it first hit the stores, they couldn't keep it in stock. It was instantly that popular.  Eek!  Glad I haven't run into that issue.

So ladies, give it a try.  I promise it will be some of the best money you ever spend.  :)

 

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