Maybelline Volum Express Falsies

Maybelline Volum Express Falsies Mascara
Retail Price:  ~$8.00-9.00
Where To Find:  Local drugstores, such as CVS or Walgreens; Target; Ulta

Happy New Year!  Hope everyone had a wonderful time ringing in 2011!

I don't know wear mascara on a regular basis, but one thing I love about mascara is how much it can open up your eyes and intensify your look almost instantly.  I tried false eyelashes for New Year's (upcoming post), but because it took me a little while to get the hang of it (a couple re-dos :)).  It was fun to wear, and I do plan on perfecting the process.  In the meantime, while shopping at Ulta for the false lashes, I thought it would be wise to have a backup plan.  That's where Maybelline Volum Express Falsies comes in.  Luckily, on New Year's Eve, the false lashes application worked out, so I didn't use it then.

I've been the Falsies for almost a week now on a daily basis, since I don't have the time in the morning to spend putting on the false lashes.  For an everyday intensity of false lashes, I love Falsies!  I really does add volume to my very thin lashes.  Also, it doesn't clump!  It's spoon brush and flexible wand allows you to start the application closer to the root without poking your eye out.  And it's the keratin fiber formula that adds the volume/more lashes to your own lashes.  There you go, instant false lashes.  I've always loved Maybelline's great lash line, but their falsies line is becoming another favorite.  You can't beat the price either!

I think one or two coats is great for an everyday look.  An extra coat or two you'll get a more intensified look.

Don't forget to use a good eyelash curler!

I'll post some before and after pics later :)

True Blue Baby I Love You...

I've recently fallen in love with blue mascara.  I already wear black eyeliner as one of my staples for every day makeup, and, if time allows, I'll add some colored eye shadow.  However, I don't always have the time in the morning to play around with eye shadows.  So I needed a quick alternative to add a little color to my eyes.  Thus, began the search for the perfect blue mascara. 

I pretty much approached my search blindly, buying Buxom Lash Mascara Special Effect Blue Noir ($18 Sephora) (1) simply because it was the first blue mascara I saw in Sephora and it had this bright blue color which would be perfect for my dark eyelashes.  I really like the hour-glass shaped brush; it is able to reach almost all the eyelash hairs after two applications of the first coat.  Also, it's not made with too many chemicals, which I think adds to the lightness of the formula.  One major issue with this product was the smudging.  It holds up for a couple hours, but by the end of the day, I found that I had blue raccoon eyes (not the look I'm going for).  And the oddest thing was that the smudging on the bottom of my eyes was difficult to remove!  The blue color was only visible in certain lights.  Since I have dark eyelashes, I might as well have been wearing black mascara.

My next two purchases of blue mascara were more successful.  The first was Lancome Definicils High Definition Mascara in Navy ($24.50) (2).  The color is pretty visible particularly at the tips of the eyelashes.  There was no smudging or clumping; and it lasts all day.  It is pricier than Buxom's, but considering the brand and being a top-rated mascara, it's a good buy.


Third's always the charm, right?  Maybelline's Great Lash Washable Mascara In Royal Blue ($4.49 Target, $5.29 CVS) (3) is the best one out there.  Clump-free; smudge-free; all-day wear; amazing color that is visible from the roots to the tips; and super cheap!!!  Maybelline's Great Lash line has actually won several Beauty awards from Allure, Teen Vogue, Essence, and Woman's Day; so for a drugstore product, it certainly has earned its place in the world of makeup and in my makeup bag :)
 

Tips

1.  Do not pump the mascara wand in and out of the tube.

2.  For a second coat, do not wait until the first coat is dry or else you'll get clumps.

3.  Whether the mascara is waterproof or not, after each full coat, wait 5-10 seconds before your first blink.

4.  Make sure the area around the eyes is oil-free to prevent smudging.

5.  When applying, use a zig-zag motion (left to right) starting at the roots in order to get maximum separation of lashes and to prevent clumps.
6.  Black mascara is a universal standard.  Definitely keep one in your makeup bag! (I'll have a post on my favorite black mascaras soon!)