My quest for the perfect eyeliner: Part Eight

December 22, 2011 by

Make an entrance with Lasting Drama eyeliner.

OK, I’ll just say it. I like a little drama, especially around my eyes, especially for holiday parties. Maybelline Lasting Drama by EyeStudio gel eyeliner, $10 for a pot of bold color and a brush, is a fun way to amplify your look without spending a lot. Billed as waterproof and smudgeproof, I do admire its staying power. The liner comes off easily with eye makeup remover.

Though called a gel, the color seems to me more of a thick cream. Use the color sparingly, a little at a time. It’s a snap to apply to the lower lash line; on top takes a bit more practice.

Lasting Drama comes in four colors (black, brown, charcoal and eggplant) in case you’re planning to play a few different characters between now and New Year’s.

Product Source: I received a review sample of this product; I did not receive compensation.

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The Falsies Volum’ Express offers benefits without the bother

September 16, 2011 by

The Falsies: What's wrong with a little trickery?

You can always count on Hollywood for high-drama makeup. False eyelashes were reportedly invented by legendary director D.W. Griffith, the man Charlie Chaplin called “the teacher of us all.” During the making of 1916’s “Intolerance,” Griffith wanted actress Seena Owen’s lashes long enough to graze her cheeks.

Obviously, the idea caught on. If you happen to be going to a ’60s party à la Twiggy and you have tons of time on your hands as well as unlimited patience, falsies are great. But if you want stand-out lashes for everyday, Maybelline has a product that offers benefits without the bother. The Falsies Volum’ Express mascara gets you fat in a good way as it creates plump, thick, clean lashes.

Twiggy turns 62 on Sept. 19.

According to the company, the product’s patented spoon curler brush and flexible wand separates and lifts lashes while the “Kera-fiber” formula builds volume. I’ve been using it for several weeks now and it makes my lashes look thick and well defined. I had no problems with flaking or smudging and, at $8 a tube, it’s a fantastic value.

The Falsies Volum’ Express is contact-lens safe and ophthalmologist-tested. It’s available in washable and waterproof formulas. For best results, do not dry between coats.

Product Source: I received a review sample from Maybelline. I did not receive compensation for this post.

P.S. If you want to catch up with Fashion Week, you can watch highlights from Maybelline here.

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Lip color for sizzling days of summer

July 20, 2011 by

Maybelline's ColorSensational lipstick offers excellent value.

Friends and family in the Midwest tell me is is hot and sticky there, too hot for makeup, they say. Hello, have we met? True, items like coverup or bronzer have a way of melting off my face but, for me, it’s never too hot for lipstick.

I’ve been experimenting with ColorSensational lip color by Maybelline. Ruby Star, though it looks a bit autumnal in the tube, turns out to be a great neutral. Not quite as bright as a classic red or fuchsia, it’s a nice pop of pure color that looks fresh and natural.

ColorSensational hydrates (it contains honey nectar), feels light on my lips and smells good. The line features 54 shades so if your AC suddenly stops, you can always browse the makeup aisles of your local drug store while waiting for the repair. At $7 a tube, you might try several shades. Pictured here, from left, is: Red Revolution, Fuchsia Fever, Fifth Ave. Fuchsia and Ruby Star.

Other ColorSensational lip products include High Shine, Lipstain and Pearls.

Product source: I received samples from Maybelline; I did not receive compensation.

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My quest for the perfect eyeliner: Part Four

June 26, 2011 by

Stiletto by Maybelline is a high-performance product.

Paris was a great chance to test a few products and Maybelline Stiletto Ultimate Precision liquid eyeliner, $7.50, was a fab find.

After lounging too long over coffee and pain au chocolat, I’d often be in a hurry to get ready and Stiletto was quick to apply. The thin felt tip is easy to control so you can create a soft feathery line or a thick dramatic band. The color is sheer, soft and stays put, without flakes or smears, even after a busy day of exploring the city.

Alas, the stilettos shown in this picture didn’t fare as well. Flats were my shoe of choice and the heels stayed parked outside my suitcase.

Product Source: I received a review sample from Maybelline. I did not receive compensation.

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Six sexy lips colors I couldn’t live without

December 1, 2010 by
Lip color – stick, stain or gloss – is my weakness. Maybe because it’s the first cosmetic I ever dabbled with and I remember watching my Mom applying her lipstick, then passing me the tube to try a little. Or maybe finding the perfect red, rose or raisin conjures other, more recent, memories, a tad more racy. Even when money is tight, it’s usually still possible to treat yourself to a brand-new tube. Herewith is my current list of favorites.

Six sexy lip colors for smokin' hot holidays

Chanel never disappoints. When I choose my old standby Rouge Allure lipstick in Passion, $30, from a masterful range of reds, I’ve had strangers stop me and ask me what lipstick I’m wearing. The idea of trying Rouge Allure liquid luminous satin lip lacquer, $32, gave me shivers of anticipation. Perhaps it’s the vaguely old-school name – lacquer just sounds so 1947, so silk stocking and cold cream-esque. And then there’s the fun of telling Boyfriend Du Jour that “it’s not lipstick, silly, it’s lacquer.” Or perhaps it would be: “It’s not lipstick, silly, it’s liquid luminous satin lip lacquer.”

At the Beverly Hills Saks counter on a recent Saturday morning, my eye was immediately drawn to No. 78. “That’s the color I want,” I told the woman helping me, a far cry from my usual dithering and debating and drawing countless stripes on the back of my hand. Indeed it is a perfect creamy soft rose, bright but light and luxurious. And lacquer, which I’d thought would be more like a stain, turned out to be a cross between a stick and a gloss. Afterward, as I window-shopped my way along Rodeo Drive, a tall, gray-haired guy stopped me and asked for my phone number. I took his instead. 😉

Much as I enjoy shopping on a Saturday, it’s almost more fun to leave work early, head to your nearest department store and buy a pretty lipstick on a weekday afternoon. To lose yourself in those vast, fragrant, shimmery aisles, packed with possibility, is akin to sipping a fluteful of Veuve Clicquot just for the joy of it. Even if you don’t buy anything, there are always free samples to score.

Guerlain's lipstick compact is sleek, shiny and chunky.

Oh who am I kidding? Me not buy a little product? Splurging is my special skill. Hence my acquisition of Rouge de Guerlain jewel lipstick compact, $46. Holding this drop-dead gorgeous tube – sleek, shiny, chunky – and springing open the mirror is a singular frisson and sure-fire conversation starter. It is without question the coolest compact I’ve ever seen. Smooth and silky, Guerlain lipstick glides on effortlessly every time you apply (I chose No. 65) and gives your lips a subtle but very sexy vibe.

Also combining pretty and practical is YSL Rouge Volupte, $34. The charming gold tube is topped with a handy mirror so a touchup couldn’t be easier. I bought mine a while ago and I got a really nice four-color sample set that even included a brush. YSL offers wonderful colors, feels great on your lips and the color is long lasting. No. 1 is a versatile pink/beige that can be brightened or bolded as you desire.

I also adore Laura Mercier’s lip glace, $22, in Plum Noir. What’s nice about this au courant shade is that you can blend a smidgen into a lighter color (such as the above-mentioned YSL) and you’ll get a gorgeous daytime look – sheer and shiny with just a hint of iridescence. And if you want to amp it up, just add another layer of gloss for a full-on plumintense pout. It’s almost like having two shades in one and it’s never overly thick or cloying the way some glosses can be.

Lest you think I plump exclusively for lip color with a double-digit price tag, let me assure you I spend plenty of time in drug-store aisles, less shimmery and fragrant perhaps, but chock full of irresistible bargains and endless opportunities. [Read more…]

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