Tarte Lash Delights Set for Holiday 2017

Why yes, I've decided to double down on posts this week. One of the reasons I'm happy to share this with you is that I can pull it into my collection full-time now. When I realized that I wasn't happy with the lash curler that I owned (from TJ Maxx), I went after the cutest one that I could find that people seemed to like.

Say hello to the Tarte Lash Delights Eye Essentials Kit ($20), which I picked up at Ulta. Not only did I think it'd be fun to use myself, I wanted to see if this was something I could recommend for a holiday gift.

This simple two-piece kit has a gold-jeweled Tarte eyelash curler (with extra pad) and a deluxe sample of the Tarte Tartiest Lash Paint mascara.

I think this is an adorable lash curler, and it happens to fit my eye shape well. It's comfortable, and doesn't pinch my lashes. For comparison, Tarte's regular (non-glitzy) eyelash curler comes with Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara in a set for $18. I'd pay $2 extra for the rhinestones and the mascara that I prefer.

This is a fun way to upgrade my lash curler game, and as it turns out- it's a really nice curler. It's probably the nicest I've ever owned, to be honest. I think it's so worth $20 on its own. Most beauty lovers would love to find this under the tree or in the stocking!

MAC Snow Ball Eye Bag in Smoky Gold for Holiday 2017

And hello my lovelies!

Welcome back to Holiday 2017. Sorry that I had to use a bit of filler, but this week has been insane. Heck, just look at my Instagram regarding this very post to see what's up. I had this on my eyes and photographed by a few minutes after 5AM.

Let's talk about my final selection from the MAC Snow Ball Collection-the Eye Bag in Smoky Gold. As an aside, I know that's descriptive, but I hate the name. This comes with three products in a gorgeous makeup bag for $39.50. There are two versions of this- Smoky Gold and Smoky Pink. This is being widely released on Thursday, November 2 as part of Phase II of MAC Snow Ball Holiday 2017 collection.

So, let's talk about what you get for your $39.50. I tend to find the eye kits one of the better values (if the products perform).

First, you receive a pair of Extra Dimension Eyeshadows in Just Gleaming and Snowdusk in one of those pre-made MAC duos.

Comparing the size of the pan, you receive the same amount as the singles, which normally retail for $20 each. And these come with the gorgeous snowflake stamping as well.

I thought these two corresponded really well with the singles at the event, hence why I picked this up. Just Gleaming is a pretty champagne gold color, and Snowdusk is a gorgeous taupey brown that's hitting those cool-toned notes for me.

Like the singles, here's a finger swatch:

No, not the most original shades but they're so pretty to have.  I think they're very wearable.

Now, let's talk about when I tested the shadows. Admittedly, these got a one-day test, with Glitter Glue on my lid, and without primer in the inner corner.

These are really stiff and produce a lot of fallout for this formula. Whereas the singles just glide like butter, I had to be careful with these and ultimately ended up foiling them. I honestly don't mind, but I feel it's significant enough to provide a consumer warning. I've never ran into this with the Extra Dimension eyeshadow before- I'm used to them being almost creamy. Hmm.

The day that I tested these I put Snowdusk all over my lid, with just a little bit of Just Gleaming on the inner part of the lid and a bit of inner corner highlight. In case you're wondering, I paired this with the top row of the Viseart Cool Matte eyeshadow palette.

Next up, you receive a Technakohl Liner Kajal in Photogravure.

This is the same size as the ones normally released, and is a part of the permanent collection.

This is a totally wearable dark brown- I've been testing it on the lower lashline, and actually abandoned black upper liner one day to see how it performed up there. It's not my holy grail, but it's a nice formula. And the color's just a great, wearable shade.

I think the best review I can give is that as someone with way too many brown liners, I'd repurchase. I've been testing this off and on for the entire work week, unlike the shadows. It's good.

So far, so good with this set!


The final product in the bag is the In Extreme Dimension Lash Mascara, which normally retails for $22.

I'm going to point you to the brand for photos of the wand, as I'm not going to open this guy up until I'm ready to start using it. Sorry, but I don't want to be wasteful of mascara. I have used the formula before- be careful, as a little goes a long way with this rubber wand.

We're at a total value of $79.50 for the contents of the bag.

Now, let's talk about the bag itself.

It's silver with a lace overlay and beautiful. It's worth a few dollars at the very least. We're already at double the price-that's the range of value that I generally look for in a value set.

In short, I think this is a great kit and it would make a fantastic gift. Although I'm done purchasing from what I consider to be one of the best collections of the season, I hope that there's a full restock and everyone gets to enjoy it as well. I'm feeling very festive these days!

L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara

There has been a new mascara taking the internet by storm, causing a stir and resulting in a crazed quest to find it.

It makes your lashes dark, long, and beautiful.

Oh, and it's drugstore.

Have you met the L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara? Sorry about the wonky packaging, but that's how it arrived from Amazon.

This mascara retails for $9.99 and comes in two formulas: regular and waterproof. There are also a number of shades- two of the waterproof (Black and Blackest Black) and four of the regular (Black, Mystic Black, Blackest Black, and Black Brown).

I've been testing Blackest Black in both the regular and waterproof versions (because Summer). Please note the wear on the tube- that tells you I've been playing for weeks.

Yes, the packaging looks familiar. But let's look at the wand.

It's a large, full wand that reminds me of something... let's take a look.

Yep, that's it. On the top is the L'Oreal mascara and on the bottom is a deluxe sample of Too Faced Better than Sex mascara. That used to be my HG; I'm more of an Urban Decay Perversion girl these days.

That said, this mascara is incredible. Take a look at this layered volume:

And I have exactly one coat here:

I've found my new favorite. It doesn't flake and it's beautiful. I'm blessed to have decent lashes, and when I layer this my lashes are so long. I can't believe that this is drugstore!

Bottom Line: Buy into the hype; it's real. Run, don't walk to your nearest retailer and scoop this up. I've already gotten a backup. It's a beautiful mascara.

MAC Monday: MAC Haute and Naughty Lash

For the second installment of MAC Monday, I'm going to briefly discuss the mascara I currently have in rotation: MAC Haute and Naughty Lash.

I'll be honest- I've never been a huge fan of MAC's mascara formula. I've tried my fair share of samples, but they never truly impressed me. Fast forward to a last-minute trip to the MAC store for "emergency" false lash purchase and application (hey, I was desperate!) and I discovered a new love: MAC Haute and Naughty Lash ($22). There are three versions: Black (pictured), Brown, and Waterproof Black. I've only tried the black.

It doesn't get along well with my Dior Lash Primer, so I have to remember not to prime my lashes. This mascara is a 2 in 1- you can either go for volume or for definition. The wand is the key. I tend to use it like this though:

Lancome Spring 2016 polish on nails, not sure why this shot turned out so dark!

Dry time is decent, as is wear time. I always have to work to get it off at night, usually 16+ hours after application.

Overall, I think this is an underrated mascara worth checking out. There are rarely samples available (probably due to the brush) but if you need to add something to an order or just need a nice daily mascara- check this one out.

I know this is much shorter than the average post, but please forgive me. I also know anyone coming to the blog frankly doesn't care about my health, but I'm still working through things. More exciting content will be coming soon.

Dior Addict It Lash Mascara- It Blue

There's something about summer heat and cobalt mascaras that I can't resist.  Last year, I fell completely for Chanel's Inimitable Mascara in Blue Note.  When I spotted a new cobalt mascara released by Dior in the new It Lash formula ($26, Dior counters, Dior.com, and Sephora), I knew it had to be mine.

Let's start by talking about the packaging for a moment. The new Dior Addict It Lash recalls the Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick dark packaging with silver accents- and one side has the iconic Dior:

In short, the packaging is classy and pure Dior. I'm also a huge fan of the large square cap, which allows for precision of application.

Just take a look at how large it is:

Now, let's talk about the wand. It Lash Mascara is a volumizer, but the wand itself isn't overly large. I prefer this, as it allows for careful application and using the mascara on both top and bottom lashes.

Overall, this wand and formula combination are one of the most flattering I've seen in awhile. I can use this mascara in a number of ways- everything from super dramatic to understated, boardroom chic. It's not waterproof, but I haven't had issues with it migrating, even when the heat index is well over 100.

Now that I've spoken to It Lash mascara as a whole, let's talk about It Blue.  I've been teasing you with shots of the hue, but they aren't totally representative. Let's turn on the flash to see how vibrant the shade really is:

Pure love.

I have two cobalt blue mascaras to use as direct comparison for this shade, Chanel Blue Note (LE) and Butter London Inky Six.

Since I'm such an advocate for healthy eyes and replacing mascara in a timely manner, I feel compelled to explain the following: I keep old colored mascaras merely for swatching purposes such as this. (I actually have a whole bin of makeup like this, not just mascara!).

I took this in the brilliant direct summer sun:

It Blue is more of a royal in comparison to Chanel Blue Note, and lacks the iridescence of Butter London Inky Six. In terms of formula, I actually prefer It Blue to Blue Note by a bit, and Inky Six lags far behind the other two.

Bottom Line: It always makes me sad that these colored mascaras are summer-only since they're so much fun.  I adore It Blue, and am considering a backup.

Monthly Mascara: Lorac PRO Mascara

In 2013, my beauty-related New Years' Resolution was to hold onto all of my empties and figure out just how much stuff one woman can possibly use and adjust my spending accordingly.  I did a great job of collecting containers, but my spending hasn't exactly slowed down.  Oops.  I mention this because of 2014's beauty resolutions: take care of my eyes by swapping mascaras once a month.

We're all aware that changing mascaras every three months is critical.  The FDA suggests replacing mascaras every 2-4 months, because a mascara tube is conducive to bacteria growth.  This 2008 study put the odds of having bacteria in a random tube of mascara within 3 months around 34%.  Ick.  The University of Rochester Medical Center explains what's going best- our eyelashes have naturally occurring bacteria. As soon as your mascara wand touches your eyelashes, you've contaminated the wand.  What do you do with that wand? Shove it back into a vial of liquid- the perfect medium for bacteria growth.  Add in the exposure to the air, and you're just asking for trouble.  There have been other studies that suggest that the right time to change mascaras could be more like one month.

Buyers of high-end mascara may bristle at the idea of tossing a mascara after 30 days, but think of it this way: you have one set of eyes. Is your vision for the rest of your life worth quibbling over $20-30?  I didn't think so.  I also have come to embrace the idea of the one-month rule because it makes it easier to remember.  On the 1st of every month, I open a new mascara. Luckily, I have quite a few tubes to get through.

Today I present the first of my Monthly Mascara posts.  In January, I used a mascara that I've previously used- and  (unfortunately) have a second tube to get through at a later time. I'll review it once I'm finally rid of it!

February's mascara was Lorac PRO mascara, which I got in this holiday 2013 kit.  This was my first experience with the mascara, and with any of Lorac's mascaras.

First, the particulars.  Lorac PRO mascara retails for $23, and touts itself as a "thickening and lengthening black mascara."  It's available via Lorac's website and at Ulta; the brand recently exited Sephora.

I'm a little sorry that I picked this for the shortest month of the year, because I really enjoyed it!  I needed a palette-cleanser following January's known disaster.

The older I get, the more I realize that there's two critical components to a mascara's success: formula and wand.  Lorac PRO has both.

The wand is thick but tapered, which is the perfect shape for the natural eye. Ideally, outer lashes will be longer than the ones closest to your tear ducts.  This wand helps to promote that.

Although this isn't a waterproof mascara, I experienced no problems when I teared up watching the Olympics (yeah, I know), and had no problems maneuvering the wand.  Of note: it doesn't come bent like you see, but I learned to bend my wands by a professional MUA a long time ago.  I generally used 2 or 3 coats on any given day, and never needed a touch-up.  I had no problems with clumping or spider lashes with Lorac PRO.  Overall, this is one of the better mascaras I've tried in this pricepoint ($20-25).

Bottom Line: This was a successful experiment with a new formula.  I'll consider buying it in the future, especially if I can nab it on sale.  It's not the "-est" mascara I've tried in my life, but it does a great job overall.

Christian Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara

Back in this post, I mentioned Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara as an item in the Holiday 2013 kit that I wouldn't be reviewing until I had to open a new mascara.  Well, that time came a couple of weeks ago and I'm ready to give my thoughts about it.

Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara retails for $28.50 and promises "spectacular volume and curl professional mascara."  More, from the box:

• "Its curved brush with exceptional curling abilities delivers instant styling of the entire lash line."
• "Its shape-holding, volumizing formula is enriched with 'K-polymers'-strengthening, coating, and fixing agents- and immediately plumps and reshapes lashes, revealing astonishing curl. Its deep restructuring skincare ingredients work to create a more spectacular curl day after day."

First, I'm going to throw a major flag on any mascara that claims skincare benefits. I have serious doubts of the validity of those claims. Then again, it's not a mascara if it doesn't claim to do everything short of curing cancer these days, right?

Let's take a better look at the wand to evaluate the curved brush.

That's a fairly significant curve.

I find that, overall, this does a really good job.  It's essential to wipe your wand off with a tissue to remove most of the mascara to avoid clumps, but I can get away without curling my lashes with this mascara.

Would I specifically repurchase? Possibly, but it's not going to be a staple in my mascara wardrobe. I like it better than Diorshow New Look, but less than Diorshow Extase.  It's a nice, serviceable, curling mascara. Does it set the world on fire? No. But do I need to layer it? Nope.

Pricing/Availability: $28.50, at Dior counters and Sephora.

Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Holiday 2013 Set

I've already raved about the Diorshow New Look Holiday 2013 set, and this is the sister to it.  I find these sets to be some of the best values out there.

This version of the mascara + palette set features Diorshow Iconic Overcurl mascara and a mini of palette 254 Bleu de Paris.

Just a quick word on Diorshow Iconic Overcurl mascara- this is different than the others due to the curved brush.  I'm going to open this as my next mascara, so look out for an in-depth review at that time. 

The mini eyeshadow palettes are one of my favorite products out there. (To be honest, I have a mini problem- mini palettes, mini lipsticks, and especially mini perfumes.)

The 5 Couleurs Palette #254- Bleu de Paris is a breath of fresh air and exactly the blue palette I've been looking for.

The palette outside, in natural light:

But swatched, it looks even better.  For reference, I swatch these quints from the upper left and around in a clockwise manner, finishing with the middle color. Dior eyeshadows are incredibly pigmented, and I get a full day's worth of wear as long as I'm using my favorite primer.


Inside, no flash:

Inside, with flash (more representative):

Outside:

Color #1 is my favorite in this palette. It has just enough grey in it to make it versatile and workable in most situations. Blue is a tough color for me to wear (I have blue eyes), but this palette looks lovely on me.  I'd have paid $28.50 for a single of #1, so this is a fantastic buy for me.



In case you were wondering, the mini palettes require a brush with a small head in order to efficiently pick up pigment.  I used the Ulta Professional Crease brush (pictured below with the palette) for my swatches.

Comparing the palette, it's 1/3 the size of the regular palettes.  That would place the value of the mini at $20.

Bottom Line: Run, don't walk to grab this set.  I'll revisit the mascara once I open it (I'm set for 2014 already in terms of mascara!), but this is just such a great value.  This set in particular features some incredible blues in a manageable palette size.

Pricing/Availability: $28.50, at Nordstrom or Macys.  The later claims it as an exclusive, but it's been at my local Nordstrom for over a month already.