This That Beauty » mascara

MAC Opulash Mascara: A Nordstrom Exclusive

Felicia — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 05:18:51 +0000

Heads up ladies! Nordstrom has once again partnered with MAC to offer an exclusive beauty buy. I love Nordstrom+MAC exclusives (especially the holiday sets!). Starting today, April 12 MAC Opulash Mascara is available via Nordstrom.

Here are the deets:

“New Opulash is the boldest, baddest gal in the joint. Cast a spell over the room with a sweep of MAC’s technologically advanced magic wand – a feat of beauty engineering that grabs the lash at the root to lift and holds on to exaggerate the lashes. The tapered tip makes inner corners sleeker to reach so never again worry about spider-web lash syndrome. Pump up your look with an extreme volumizing formula that curls and separates for thick, dark, dramatics lashes”.

Nordstrom+MAC beauty exclusives are legendary! Trust me, this is one exclusive beauty buy you won’t want to miss. MAC Opulash Mascara ($14) is available exclusively in Nordstrom stores (and Nordstrom.com) on April 22nd… However, if you’re dying to get in on the ground floor (and I know you are), you may pre-order today! Yes, TODAY!

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Felicia Walker Benson is a makeup expert, style/beauty writer and wardrobe stylist. She enthusiastically shares her passion for the aforementioned with anyone who will listen. Felicia is Editor in Chief for ThisThatBeauty, Contributing Writer for Essence.com and LVCMag, Contributing Editor/NY Correspondent for The Makeup Girl and a Beauty Expert for Examiner.com. Additionally, Felicia is the Social Networking Editor for the premier professional makeup artistry magazine, ON MAKEUP.

Disclosure From time to time the good folks from various brands, PR companies, and marketing firms graciously submit product to ThisThatBeauty for editorial consideration. Much appreciated! However, ThisThatBeauty readers can take comfort in knowing that gratis product has never nor will it ever guarantee a mention on my lil ol blog.

Color by Cynde Watson: Volumizing & Lengthening Dual Ended Mascara

Felicia — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:22:08 +0000

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to meet Makeup Artist and Beauty Expert Cynde Watson at an intimate beauty mixer sponsored by Honey magazine. As Cynde delightfully dished her top makeup/skincare tips, I felt an immediate kinship to her beauty philosophy and found myself nodding in agreement throughout her beauty-talk and live demonstration. Cynde’s beauty advice is refreshingly practical and provides sensible steps to help today’s multitasking woman take her makeup game from “blah” to “Ooh La La” in a matter of minutes!

Cynde’s makeup line, Color by Cynde Watson, features long lasting double duty products for the face, lips, and eyes. The frugalista friendly line (priced $15.00-$29.95) was created with the modern busy gal-about-town in mind. As a makeup artist, beauty writer, and makeup connoisseur, I absolutely live for makeup…but tend to favor products that do double duty and quickly take me from my unsightly morning face to the MsThisThatBeauty that you all know and love!

Cynde’s line is perfect for busy bellas who need to get gorg on the go! For beautiful lashes in a hurry, try Color by Cynde Watson Volumizing & Lengthening Mascara. The dual-ended, richly pigmented, black mascara features an end for volume and an end for length. The end for volume has an easy to use petite brush that coats lashes from root to tip, providing a deep lush black base coat. The lengthening end, OK….the lengthening end will scare the crap out of you when you first see it. But skimpy lashes beware….the lengthening end features an innovative mini comb with 3 layers of tiny fanned-out teeth. The tiny mini comb will rock your world! Prepare to be amazed at how the little teeth work to create beautifully fringed lashes. Go wild with the mini comb on your outer upper and lower lashes. The mini comb also works well for the inner lashes. The mascara formula is extremely buildable and lengthens as it separates without clumping. I recently wore Color by Cynde Watson Volumizing & Lengthening Mascara to an event…everyone thought I was wearing falsies. SOLD! And an added bonus – the formula washes off into those little rubber tubes that gently slide off your lashes…so no smears or traces of mascara. DOUBLE SOLD!

Color by Cynde Watson Volumizing & Lengthening Mascara is retail priced at $20 and is available at shop.cyndewatson.com.

Want more Cynde?

Read Cynde’s Blog – http://www.cyndewatsonbeauty.blogspot.com/

Follow Cynde on Twitter- http://twitter.com/cyndewatson

The secret to sexy lashes

Felicia — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:30:00 +0000

“What’s ThisThatBeauty’s current obsession for sexy lashes”, you ask?

LASH PRIMER

Ohhhh honey, I am huge fan of lash primer. Its a great way to create extra long lush lashes. Lash primer helps to prepare and condition lashes before mascara application. It creates a base and maximizes the result of the mascara. Lash primer is also awesome because even when paired with a mediocre mascara, you can achieve spectacular results.

The lash primer that’s currently piquing my interest is Lancome Oscillation Powerbooster. This vibrating and amplifying primer is meant to boost the performance of any mascara. Oscillation Powerbooster is brand new and available through Nordstrom.com and Lancome-USA.com

Below please see my lash boosting results! I paired Lancome Oscillation Powerbooster with a cheapy drugstore mascara…but wow, the results are anything but “cheapy drugstore”.

BEFORE:

AFTER

What do you think? Leave a comment:)

Smashbox LASH DNA Mascara

Felicia — Mon, 25 May 2009 08:42:00 +0000

You weren’t born with long lashes. No worries!

Smashbox’s new Lash DNA Mascara is packed with proteins and amino acids that bind to lashes to create “genetic defying” length while conditioning and repairing lash damage. Lash DNA has a unique double helix brush that grabs each lash to create a beautiful fanned out effect.

Faithful ThisThatBeauty readers know that I tend to favor thin mascara wands, but I must say, Lash DNA’s helix shaped wand does what it claims. The brush separates and fans out lashes beautifully. The formula is extremely smooth, lightweight, and non-clumping. Want to see my results with Lash DNA?

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Nice, huh? Do you notice the fanned out effect? Sooo pretty, right?

Max Factor 2000 Calorie Extreme Lash Plumper

Felicia — Fri, 22 May 2009 08:16:00 +0000

Max Factor 2000 Calorie Extreme Lash Plumper is so serious that it comes with a warning label!

CAUTION: Causes Extreme Lash Plumping

Oh really? Hmmm…THIS, I’ve got to try!

So ThisThatBeauty babes, you be the judge. Here are my before and after pics. Am I looking particularly “plump” or “extreme” in the lash department? Is the CAUTION label really necessary? I mean, really? No, seriously…really?

In my opinion, my lashes look coated at best.

But what do you guys think? Leave a comment

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Smashbox Bionic Mascara

Felicia — Wed, 06 May 2009 08:35:00 +0000

Smashbox’s best selling Bionic Mascara is now available in a fun new shade, INDIGO INK. Yay!

If you’re already a fan of Smashbox Bionic Mascara, consider trying a flirty new shade for Spring.

Bionic Mascara promises fuller, stronger and more voluminous lashes. The formula is enriched with aloe, wheat protein, and silk to strengthen and condition lashes.

Thinking about spicing up your mascara? Take a look at my pics below. Do you like the subtle hint of blue? Leave a comment

WITHOUT MASCARA

WITH BIONIC MASCARA

Recession Friendly Beauty Buy…NOT!

Felicia — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:17:00 +0000

Dear Jane (Cosmetics),

I recently strolled pass your shiny new mascara display at my local Walgreen’s and decided to give Max Lash Precise a try. Both the price tag ($3.49) and brush style (thin) immediately caught my attention. I couldn’t wait to get you home and wrap you around my lashes. Oh the excitement of a new beauty buy!

Thanks for the thrills!

Sincerely,

Felicia

Unfortunately my Jane thrill was short lived. The thrill of the hunt/acquisition was far more exciting than the actual results. See for yourself:

Here’s the packaging. Shrewd move, Jane. Display the brush and that will attract em’. Well this tactic totally hooked me. I love a thin brush!

Here I am sans mascara. I swear my lash line looks bald!

And here I am with two coats. While its an improvement, I don’t really feel the excitement.

I ended up adding about 4 coats just to make myself presentable to get out the door. Upon applying the mascara I found the formula to be really thick and somewhat difficult to apply. It was actually a little painful…if that makes sense. Basically, working the thick formula was a bit stressing on my itsy bitsy wittle lashes. Yeouch!

Anyone out there have experience with this product? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please share with a comment.

Felicia

The LA Makeup Show: LASH CONTROL

Felicia — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 08:49:00 +0000

I love cool and innovative products! The Makeup Show is such an awesome event because you not only get up close and personal with established brands, you also get the opportunity to get in on the ground floor with up and coming brands.

LASH CONTROL is an innovative ultra-sanitary mascara system. LASH CONTROL is unique in that it gives you the ability to control the amount of mascara that’s distributed to the wand. By squeezing the color-coded center portion of the tube while removing the brush applicator, you are able to control how much product leaves the tube. This completely eliminates the need to wipe extra product on the opening of the tube or on a piece of tissue. LASH CONTROL comes in several formulas and brush styles:

PINK – Lengthening and Conditioning
PURPLE – Volumizing and Conditioning
BLUE – Water Resistant
(more formulas coming soon!)

The LASH CONTROL buzz is catching on. It’s been written up in InStyle and was a finalist for the 2007 International Package Design Award.

LASH CONTROL retails for $20-$24 and is available at lashcontrol .com

I’m in LOVE and here’s why….

Felicia — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 16:09:00 +0000

To say that “I love great mascara” totally oversimplifies my love for great mascara.

I LOVE great mascara like I love….

DVF Sample Sales
Chillin in my Slanket
My boo’s homefries
Soul Food Sundays at Aunt Tina’s (see you around 5:00 Aunt Tina…I’m bringing home some cornbread )
Mujadarra
Christian Louboutin shoes. Hello red sole!

No matter how awesome my current go-to mascara may be, I stay on the prowl, checking out the latest and greatest. I’m always game to follow up on a magazine recommendation or a tip I’ve overheard on the subway.

A while back my good friend (Hey Anne) recommended that I try Kevyn Aucoin, The Volume Mascara. Anne’s recommendation was duly noted and stored in my makeup memory bank for future recollection. At the time I probably had a zillion other mascaras to get through before I could, in good conscious, go out and buy Kevyn Aucoin, The Volume Mascara.

But Kevyn…hoooooney! Your time is NOW. And the verdict WOW!

Oh…..

My……

God….

Kevyn Aucoin – The Volume Mascara knocks the ball out the park, over the fence, and straight through someone’s windshield. The Volume Mascara gets much love from ThisThatBeauty for a multitude of reasons:

First and foremost, y’all know that I am a brush/ wand snob. Size matters and The Volume Mascara is the perfect size. Last week I blogged about Maybelline LASH Stiletto…their brush size is on the thinner side which works best for me. But The Volume Mascara is even thinner and truly gets to the base of the lash root and does some SERIOUS lifting. I mean, DAMN!

Secondly, when it comes to formula all’s I ask is that ya don’t melt after a few hours and ya don’t irritate my eyes. The Volume Msscara delivers!

As for packaging (and I’ve never really said this out loud) but I truly heart sexy, luxurious packaging. The Volume Mascara delivers in this department. The tube is ultra thin and shiny red with gold writing. The barrel is also gold and metal..I’ve never seen this in a mascara. This totally looks and feels high end. But I guess at $25, yah – it’s high end!

Well if you’re a high end mascara girl…or a “F it, just got my refund/ bonus its time to treat myself” kind of girl, I encourage you to hit up Sephora and acquire this little friend.

Need further convincing?…See below:

(i always forget to do lower lashes. sorry)

More info on the Kevyn Aucoin line:

“Kevyn Aucoin Beauty was developed by the most sought-after makeup artist in the world. Kevyn Aucoin envisioned and developed the brand based on techniques, textures, and formulas that were tested throughout his 20 year career in professional artistry. In carrying on the legacy and vision, Kevyn Aucoin Beauty is an all-inclusive luxury brand that continues to develop “one of a kind” products that are loved around the world.”

New Mascara Alert..and a GIVE-A-WAY!!!

Felicia — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 13:49:00 +0000

Maybelline’s newest mascara, LASH Stiletto, promises to do for lashes what Stilettos do for legs. So if I am following the analogy correctly, LASH Stiletto is basically making the bold claim that lashes will appear a mile long!

Hmmm…Is that so?

Seeing as I’m not one to back down from a mascara claim, naturally, I had to investigate…

When approaching a new mascara the first attribute to grab my attention is brush size. Yes ladies, size matters! My personal mascara brush preference is long and lean. Super fat brushes beware…this is why my love affair with Dior Show BLACKOUT was short lived. While the formula was amazing, the brush was too fat. I used to do the ol’ switch-a-roo and use disposable mascara wands with Dior Show. But back to LASH Stiletto. The brush size is ideal for maximum product distribution. With a thinner brush, I find it much easier to work the product from root to tip and then rotate the brush to coat and curl the lashes. The thinner brush also makes it easier to coat lashes outside as well as inside…I’m totally a mascara on the outside and inside kinda girl…Call me Tammy Faye Baker if you want but that’s just the way the kid rolls

In addition to brush size, formula and color intensity are two important factors for moi. Maybelline LASH Stiletto delivers in both categories. With respect to formula, the product is long wearing and does not run. And with respect to color, Shade 951, Very Black, is well, how do I describe this…uh, VERY BLACK. LOL

Maybelline LASH Stiletto retails for about $8.00. Recessionista alert!!!

All in all, LASH Stiletto is a winner for ThisThatBeauty. See below, I’m showing off Maybelline LASH Stiletto. In addition I am wearing:

EYES:

Urban Decay Primer Potion
MAC Concealer NC 42 as brow highlight
Bobbi Crown Cream Shadow in Platinum on lower lid and tear duct
MAC Brown Down in crease
Lancome Eye Palette from Travel Chic Collection. Darkest color in the outer v & water line
Lancome Eye Palette from Travel Chic Collection. Whitesh color as brow highlight
Bobbi Brown Espresso as brow color
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack as eye liner
Maybelline Lash Stiletto (upper lashes only)

GIVE-A-WAY ALERT!!!

TWO lucky ThisThatBeauty readers (US and Canada residents only) will win a tube of Lash Stiletto mascara. Leave a comment with your email address. I will chose two winners at random and notify you via email. You have until March 6 to leave a comment. Good luck beautiful!

Here’s how the good folks at Maybelline describe NEW Lash Stiletto:

The only mascara that does for lashes what stilettos do for legs.

The Grip & Extend brush grasps each lash and coats from every angle

Elastic formula stretches lashes for provocative length

Pro-Vitamin B-5 formula conditions and smoothes for black-patent shine

Contact lens safe and Ophthalmologist tested