Avon Makeup Maven 30 Day Challenge for June: Day 26

Hello, my Pretties!

Today I have something super exciting to share with you.  It is a brand new mascara that Avon will be debuting really soon.  It's a totally different kind of mascara wand, the only one of it's kind!

Isn't this the most interesting mascara wand you have ever seen?  I was shocked when I saw it!  It's a totally new revolutionary way of applying mascara.  The packaging is so different too.  It's almost flat and not at all tube like.  Love the different style of packaging.

I will admit that application was foreign to me.  Haha.  The tip of the mascara wand, the part with the bristles, will bend for more precise application.  It still takes time to get the hang of the new technique.  I applied only one coat because the formula is very wet.  You can see it made my lashes longer but not really thicker.  I tried applying more but then I started to clump my lashes together.  I've only used it a couple of times so I need to work more with it and get the hang of it.  But this was a nice natural look for me.

As I mentioned before, this is not for sale yet.  But it's coming!  So stay tuned for it's release!

♥♥ I am an Independent Avon Sales Representative.  Products mentioned in this post were sent to me free as part of my prize package for being named one of the Avon Makeup Mavens.  Thoughts expressed in this post are honest and my own. ♥♥

 

Buy and Blog: Alice Elan Beauty Benefits by Markwins

Hello, my Pretties!

A couple of weeks ago I walked into my local Family Dollar for a couple of items.  I always browse the cosmetics department because you never know what you might find.  The Family Dollar is usually where I stock up on my L.A. Colors--eyeshadows, lipsticks, glosses, and nail polishes.

Right now is a good time to check out the makeup aisle of any store since there are so many gift sets available for the upcoming holidays.  I think this little purchase I made was meant as a stocking stuffer idea or something.  After all, it only cost $1.00!

Alice Elan Beauty Benefits
Beauty in Focus

I didn't know that the mascara was going to be blue.  No where on the packaging did I see that it stated it was a blue mascara.  I guess I don't mind.  I would have preferred black but sometimes getting something unexpectedly is the only way you try something new.

Based on the finger tip swatch below, the pigmentation is not that great.  Or is it?  I've never used a colored mascara before.  I did apply it to my lashes.  I didn't see anything!  My lashes did look a little bit longer but not thicker, not darker, not blue-er.

And for those of you who are interested, here are the mascara ingredients:

Now for the main reason why I made this purchase, the eyeshadow palette.  You all know I am a shadow fiend!  I thought at first glance that these colors were so beautiful.  Perfect for the fall/winter seasons.  If they applied and wore well, I'd have hit the makeup jackpot!

The top four shadows remind me of what one would call a 'day look'.  The colors are light to medium tones. Very neutral.

Once swatched, I noticed that the lighter shades were the more pigmented shadows.  The top left corner shadow is very chalky.  Very, very chalky.  The others were nice.  I was most excited about the mid tone shade but that blended in perfectly with my skin tone!  Haha.

Now the next four shades, to me, seem more along the lines of a  'night time look' or 'holiday look'.  I admit, I was dying to try the red shade!

And once I swatched them, I was greatly disappointed by the green shade.  It shows up as such a pretty emerald in the pan but does not translate well on to the skin at all.  The gold shimmer in it is apparent though but over all, the green was a no go.  The red was just OK too.  I had to use a lot of red to get it to show up like this.  The cream color is nice and the black shade was not a disaster.  It was extremely pigmented.

And here are the eyeshadow ingredients:

All in all, not my most favorite frugalista buy.  It was only a dollar so I got a lot of product for a buck.  A lot of usable product??  Maybe not.  I'm pretty sure I will still use this palette because that's just how I am.  The light shadows work very well as brow high lights.  The black is good for an eyeliner or just to add into the crease or outer V to deepen up any look.  As for the mascara, maybe I can use that underneath my regular mascara just to thicken up my lashes some.

It was only a dollar so I couldn't expect much so I'm not disappointed.  Didn't hit the jackpot with this one but I think I got my dollar's worth.

♥♥Products mentioned in this blog post were purchased with my own money.  These are my own thoughts and honest opinions.♥♥

Review: Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara

Hello, my Pretties!

As you all know by reading my blog, I am not one to buy "high end" makeup products. I am more of a "drugstore" makeup kind of gal. And I am alright with that. The only reasons I ever even have high end makeup is because it was a gift or something like that. I don't like to shell out so much money for one single item. I tell you, I'm a frugalista!

For instance, my sister gave me this mini, I guess trial size, mascara by Clinique. I've only bought Clinique once in my whole life and that was back in high school because I wanted the free makup bag with a $22.50 purchase or more. Something like that.

I love their products but not the prices so much.

So anyway, my sister gave me the Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara in Black and I love it. She gave it to me because she thought the formula was too wet. Which it was. Every time I would apply it, I got the little black dots on my eyelids. Ugh! But, as all mascaras eventually do, it started to dry up.

I love the length this mascara gives me. I have semi long lashes that naturally curl up. I like that. I don't like that they are somewhat sparse, to me, at least. I get complimented on my lashes a lot but I've noticed that they are not as thick as they used to be. Maybe it's old age...

This is the one item I have been using religiously. Even on days that I don't want to wear makeup at all, the only thing I do wear is this mascara. It makes my lashes look so much longer and therefore, my eyes appear much more open and bright. And without makeup, it seems like they are my natural lashes!

Here are some pics so that you can see the difference between my natural lashes and my lashes after a couple of coats of this mascara. I am not wearing any kind of makeup in these pictures, only the mascara.

Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara in Black.
Full size product retails for $14.50.

Wand.
I like that it gets tapered off because that allows me
to get into the corner of my eye and get those tiny lashes.

My natural lashes.

My lashes after 2 coats of Clinique's Lash Doubling Mascara.
Looks like my natural lashes just better!

See the difference?
Eye on the left: with mascara.
Eye on the right: without mascara.

I don't know. What do you, Pretties think? I, personally, like this mascara very, very much.

According to the Clinique website, http://www.clinique.com, this specific mascara costs $14.50. It's benefits are "volumizing and thickening". It also shows a 4 out of 5 star rating. Good deal. Since this was a mini mascara, and I've been using it everyday for such a long time now, I need a new one and I am seriously thinking about "splurging" on this item and handing over the $14.50 plus tax.

I love it.

But I'm always looking for good mascaras because it's the one makeup item I cannot be without. So, leave me your recommendations for your favorite must have mascaras in the comment box. I'd love to see what you  ladies love.

Luv & Luk,
--L.