MAC False Lashes Mascara – swatches and review

Press Sample

A LITTLE UNDERCOVER SEXY FOR YOUR LASHES!

Some days, you just don’t have it in you. Maybe your boss has been nagging you, or you didn’t get enough sleep, or your partner has thrown out your emergency dark chocolate bar. On those days, you don’t always want to think about makeup; the world is lucky you’re even putting on pants before you leave the house.

I have learned that a small way to help those blah days is to have one little beauty trick in your back pocket. Whether it’s a spritz of your most expensive perfume or a pair of your favorite silky underwear, a tiny bit of effort can make you feel better and more confident, even when you’re in old, threadbare sweatpants.

MAC False Lashes can be another of those little pick-me-ups – the iconic mascara now comes in four stunning colors that will elevate your look from “meh” to “marvelous.”

False Lashes mascara ($21) is a favorite among MAC fans for its formula and double-lush brush that provides a fringe of thick, feathered lashes. The original MAC False Lashes formula in False Black, has now been joined by four stunning limited edition colors: Plum Reserve (plum), Blue Charge (bright mid-tone blue) Counterfeit Brown (mauvey brown), and Artificial Aubergine (eggplant). Far from the colored mascaras of your youth, these babies are grown-up; adding a hint of sexiness to your look in a way that’s hard to pin down.

MAC False Lashes in Plum Reserve and Blue Charge

I got to try Plum Reserve and Blue Charge – I knew the plum would be a hit with my brown eyes, but I wasn’t so sure about the blue. (The 90’s scarred me.) Both applied perfectly, adding length, fullness and just a bit of curl. I’m a mascara snob, and like my lashes to knock over small trees when I bat my eyes, so this was not quite the mascara of my dreams but pretty darn close.

The formula is very buildable and does not flake or smudge. As for the color, though I can’t say that either one was a standout, I’m a fan. You couldn’t tell I was wearing colored mascara, but I could, and it gave my look just a hint of something special…a little secret sexy.

Pros:
• Great formula; no smudging or flaking
• Pretty, pretty colors that are striking without being garish
• Long, full lashes in just few coats

Cons:
• Price is more than some will want for what may not be an everyday mascara.

Overall, I’m digging MAC False Lashes in their new colors. I’m even thinking about getting Artificial Aubergine, as eggplant shades are my weakness and this formula is phenomenal. I can’t wait to hear what the wht readers think of this addition to the MAC Cosmetics line.

Dior DiorSkin AirFlash Spray Foundation

Somehow, emails promoting DiorSkinAirFlash Spray Foundation keep finding their way into my inbox. The catch? They promote a video but unfortunately my Internetconnection is just too slow for me to be able to watch it.

Finally, I just had to check out this foundation for myself. The bad news? It only comes in 4 colours, so there are no options for medium-dark and dark skin tones. The good news? There was a colour for me so I tried it.

I sat in the Dior chair and closed my eyes, quite apprehensively I might add, and then waited for the Dior lady to do her work. She held down the spray for maybe 2 seconds and then it was all over. The result was that my whole face – including my eyelashes, eyebrows, lips, hairline – was covered in a fine mist of foundation that dried very quickly to a soft powdery finish that felt like nothing was on my skin. The Dior lady then went over my eyebrows and lips with a q-tip dipped in makeup remover so that I could see how the foundation would really look. I liked it.

To tell you the truth, when MAC came out with their spray foundation, I didn’t understand why the directions were to spray it on your hand and then spread it on your face. Now I do. You just get more precision that way and you don’t run the risk of getting the foundation all over your clothes and your hair. I think that I’d like to use the Dior foundation in a similar way.

Overall, the Dior foundation is a good one and if you’re looking for light coverage and feel, this may be the one for you.

DIY Jewelry: Twisted Pearl Brooch

As any fashionista will tell you, it’s all about the details. This DIY jewelry project, aTwisted Pearl Brooch, will add simple yet elegant style to anything you wear.

I was inspired to make this brooch after seeing this brooch in the February issue of Teen Vogue by Slow and Steady Wins the Race. Ready to make your own? let’s get started!

Supplies:
• Medium size pearls strung (I used 2 strings)
• 1 Large pearl
• Felt
• Pinback
• Hot glue

Directions:

1. Cut two pieces of your felt about 2 inches across.

2. Trim them together and round the corners.

3. Using your hot glue, glue the felt pieces together.

4. Glue the end beads from each of your strings to the center of your felt.

5. Start twisting your strings of beads and gluing them down to your felt. Keep doing this until you’ve covered all of your felt.

6. Glue the ends down and secure the strings.

7. Glue your large pearl in the center of your strung beads.

8. Glue your pinback to the back of your felt.

This brooch looks great as white on white or mix it up with lots of color! The fun organic shape keeps the pearls from being from being too stuffy and adds an unexpected twist to a edgy outfit. To see more fabulous fashion DIY’s check out my blog Trinkets in Bloom to ‘Create Your Style’!

Dark Eye + Nude Lip

This is a picture of the beautiful Eva Longoria and I just had to post it. This is how a dark eye design is supposed to be done. Notice the pale pale lipcolour and the addition of blush on the cheeks to make her look healthy. The dark eye paired with the nude lip colour really balances the face. The key with this look is to commit. Make the eye as dark as you’d like and don’t be scared of a lippy that’s the near your own skin colour.

I love oils, oils, oils, oils, oils I do adore

Yes, that’s right, this acne prone, oily skinned lady is having quite the time experimenting with oils….and I think things are getting serious.

I’ve been told for a while now that putting straight up oil on my face was the solution for all of my skin woes. Cue me smiling, nodding and continuously blasting my face with harsh acne treatments. But of course, my curiosity got the best of me, and I began experimenting with oils at the beginning of the summer.

First up was argan oil. Argan oil is a key ingredient in a lot of hair, skin and body products these days, but I am not messing around…I went for the pure stuff. There are a lot of different brands of pure argan oil, but I got my particular bottle at the Terre D’Oc store in Rockefeller Center. I sort of eased my way into using this, first only applying it to my body after the shower until I finally worked up the nerve to put it on my face. This stuff not only made the skin on my body all hydrated and glowy, but I did not break out on my face once and got tons of compliments on my skin. Argan oil is chock full of healthy fatty acids and vitamin e (hello, healing and soothing) so your skin becomes plump, smooth and even. Unfortunately when I ran out, I didn’t have enough money to buy a new bottle. This oil is pricey! I’ve heard that in Morocco, where argan oil originates, you can find a gallon for something absurd like 9 cents.

Fortunately for me I was gifted a giant bottle of pure maracuja oil by the lovely folks at Tarte.

And not a moment too soon because my skin has become extremely flaky with the transition the winter. Maracuja is similar in feel to argan oil, but is packed with vitamin c, which is really helpful in brightening the skin and evening discoloration. I will say, when I first started using this oil (about 2 drops pressed onto my face twice a day) I did see a lot of clogged pores. When I spoke with a representative from Tarte, he said this was perfectly normal, my skin was “purging” (gross) and that I should power through. Well I did, and couldn’t be any happier. My skin is more radiant than ever (Is that even okay to say? Is that bragging?), break outs are at a minimum and I practically have 0 scarring or discoloration. I am hydrated but not greasy in the slightest. I will definitely not be wasting this on my dumb body like I did with the argan oil because lo and behold I have discovered….

COCONUT OIL! I gotta say, I am pretty late in the game on this one. I have heard people raving about coconut oil for a while now and I just wasn’t sure what to think. I am so reluctant to believe the hype on basically anything and have a really bad habit of even going so far as avoiding products/trends/crazes….I’m not sure what it’s about. I just listened to “Call Me Maybe” for the first time a few weeks ago and wish I hadn’t waited so long. Why do I cheat myself this way?

The same goes for coconut oil. I saw my roommate had a giant jar of it in our bathroom and after taking a whiff, I knew I couldn’t put off trying it any longer. I got my own jar and have fallen deeply, deeply in love. I am obsessed with all things coconut and was so enchanted with the smell of this stuff I went so far as sticking a spoon in the jar and eating a massive glob of it straight up. No shame….it was pretty damn good. I may or may not have eaten a second spoonful with peanut butter on top. After that, I stuck the jar the bathroom and slather it on after the shower, put it on my cuticles, on any flaky patches of my face and run THE TINIEST AMOUNT in my hair. I have to say…you really have to take it easy with this in your hair. Just one drop too much and your hair will look nothing short of extremely disgusting. Other than that, coconut oil is a brilliant, extremely cheap all-purpose product.

I definitely encourage anyone and everyone to try an oil for their skin, hair or wherever they need soothing, healing or hydration. I truly believe there is an oil out there for everyone and they are an extremely natural and safe way to beautify!