tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52193854378038552982024-02-08T14:36:25.198-06:00Midwest Mascara JunkieMascara reviews, news, and musings...tracyluvsmascarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08228800620506988591noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5219385437803855298.post-35804981772541106032011-10-24T08:40:00.001-05:002011-10-24T08:41:29.006-05:00Newest mascara purchases<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hadn't bought any mascara in probably a month...but I made up for it in the last week. Here is what I've hauled!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">LashBlast Fusion: I finally caved and gave into my love of </span><a href="http://tracyluvsmascara.blogspot.com/2011/08/random-musing-lash-blast-fusion.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">purple</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. I was only so-so on this mascara the first time I tried it, but I want to give it another shot. Hope springs eternal, right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lancome Hypnose Doll Lashes: I ordered this </span><a href="http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P298804&categoryId=B70"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">package</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in my Sephora Friends & Family purchase for this year. I'm excited to try it--but I wonder if NYX is annoyed that someone stole their <a href="http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/products/eyes/mascara/doll-eye-mascara">name concept</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.lorealparisusa.com/_us/_en/default.aspx#/?page=top{userdata//d+d//|diagnostic|main:pdp//objectid+Cos36k_1//{pdp_tab:pdp_overview//objectid+Cos36k_1//}|media:_blank|nav|overlay:_blank}">L'Oreal False Lashes</a>: I'm a little nervous about the fibers...Maybelline had a mascara called Unstoppable, and it had a lot of fibers in it--but I found it to be really flaky. Thankfully, they no longer make that mascara, so maybe this is a better version? From what I've read, it's a drier formula, which should be interesting.</span>tracyluvsmascarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08228800620506988591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5219385437803855298.post-54283082564947452902011-09-28T10:35:00.000-05:002011-09-28T10:35:25.465-05:00Cover Girl Lash Perfection redux<div id="post_message_3289767"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Earlier this month, I received a free Cover Girl item in the mail. You can "Like" Cover Girl on Facebook, and if add the "My Cover Girl" application, you will be entered into their database and can win free products. I won something almost immdediately, which is pretty cool.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A few weeks after I got the email saying that I won, I got my free gift in the mail. I was wondering if I would get something that I already had...well, I was right! I</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">t was the new Lash Perfection mascara, which I bought almost as soon as it came out. But it was free and I like it, so all it good. The shade is black/brown, which is different than the normal black that I usually use.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">However, since I have tons of mascara in my stash, it will probably be a while before I use it. </span></div>tracyluvsmascarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08228800620506988591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5219385437803855298.post-57353926434309513132011-09-13T19:35:00.003-05:002011-09-13T22:08:44.186-05:00A rant about Maybelline Great Lash Mascara<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Allure magazine is still raving about the worst mascara ever, Maybelline Great Lash:<a href="http://www.allure.com/beauty-products/best-of-beauty/2011/best-of-beauty-hall-of-fame#slide=2"> http://www.allure.com/beauty-products/best-of-beauty/2011/best-of-beauty-hall-of-fame#slide=2</a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here is why it sucks: the brush is outdated and actually promotes spiky lashes. The formula is weak and neither thickens nor lengthens your lashes. And I'm also told that the washable version is prone to running and smudging. (I am lucky enough to have no issues with mascara running or smudging, so I'm taking other people's word for it.)</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The only thing I can say that is good about it is that it's cheap. It was probably one of the first mascaras that I ever bought, and it was fine for my 13 year old self. But never again!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I can't guarantee that this will be my last rant on this topic! ;-) It's been something that has bothered me for years.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">PS--For a good time, check out the low reviews for this product on Makeup Alley (registration is required to view): <a href="http://www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp?ItemId=897&skintonetype=-2&AgeRange=0&SortBy=rating-asc">http://www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp?ItemId=897&skintonetype=-2&AgeRange=0&SortBy=rating-asc</a></div>tracyluvsmascarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08228800620506988591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5219385437803855298.post-60552585184330853892011-08-26T08:39:00.000-05:002011-08-26T08:39:42.258-05:00Mascara amnesia?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I keep wanting to buy some L'Oreal Voluminous mascara (the original version), since so many people and magazines rave about it. I used to use it a long time ago (like 10 years ago) and I found it serviceable, but the last couple times I tried it, I was not happy with the clump factor. As in, I had clumps at the end of my lashes, and there was nothing I could do to fix it other than using a lash comb (which I don't like to do.) So it was too much work and I gave up on it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've had much better luck with L'Oreal Voluminous Full Definition, so I usually stick to that--but it doesn't provide that much volume. Although it does come in a pretty golden tube. So why do I feel compelled to buy something (original Voluminous) that will most likely be a disappointment? Peer pressure from other makeup geeks, perhaps?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Do you have a mascara that you keep going back to, against your better judgement?</em></span>tracyluvsmascarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08228800620506988591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5219385437803855298.post-19906034731163898542011-08-20T21:52:00.001-05:002011-08-26T08:40:51.773-05:00Pretty, pretty purple<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I liked Lash Blast Fusion the best of all four (current) versions of Cover Girl Lash Blast. However, I didn't think it was <b>that </b>great, I just really don't like the other versions (Volume, Luxe, and Length.)</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I keep wanting to buy it again. And I think the reason why is because the tube is purple. <b><span style="color: purple;">I love purple! </span></b></span><br />
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tracyluvsmascarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08228800620506988591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5219385437803855298.post-34695947976771455162011-08-17T09:12:00.002-05:002011-08-17T19:55:40.116-05:00Review: Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush mascara<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I just started on a tube of <a href="http://www.victoriassecret.com/ss/Satellite?ProductID=1265563536478&c=Page&cid=1311128176838&pagename=vsdWrapper">Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush</a> mascara in black last week. I usually use regular black mascara, or "very black" if I'm feeling more adventurous.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So far, I'm not really loving this one. I didn't really have any expectations, since I basically bought it to fill out an online order that needed to get to a certain dollar amount.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The brush is big--almost the size of the original Diorshow brush. The handle is short, almost like a trial-size mascara--I find if it's a shorter brush, it can make it a bit harder to work with. The brush is a conventional brush, not one of the new-fangled plastic ones (which I do enjoy.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I found this mascara hard to remove--I only buy washable mascara for this very reason. I don't want to pull out a bunch of lashes using a waterproof formula (or be forced to use something greasy to remove it. My skin is oily enough on its own!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><u>Product claim:</u> </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A lush stroke of lash-enhancing color! Pigment-rich formula defines lashes in wearable color for look-at-me eyes. </i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><u>Does it clump?</u> This is an important question! I had a little bit of clumping, but nothing horrible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><u>Does it deliver on its claim?</u> Well, the product description is a bit vague, but based on the brush shape I'm assuming it's supposed to be a volumizing mascara. It fine, but it didn't knock my socks off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><u>Would I buy it again?</u> Probably not, there are more exciting mascaras out there.</span>tracyluvsmascarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08228800620506988591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5219385437803855298.post-10045183293601138532011-08-09T09:23:00.003-05:002011-08-20T21:49:32.693-05:00The story of my lashes<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>How mascara performs on you really depends on what your lashes are like naturally. So here is a little story about mine.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I know that I am lucky--I am blessed with great eyelashes. They have been thick and long since I was a child...I was always afraid that they would fall out or get thinner as I aged, but they are still here (and I'm almost 33.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My lashes are mostly black (dark brown?) with blonde tips, so wearing mascara is pretty important so they look normal. I have a very thick row on the top, it's bordering on a double row.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I never use a lash curler, but I think my lashes are naturally a bit curly. I used to wear mascara on my bottom lashes, but a rarely do that now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I will eventually post a picture of my lashes (with and without mascara) once I finally figure out how to use my hand-me-down digital camera.</span>tracyluvsmascarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08228800620506988591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5219385437803855298.post-51042369797956777292011-07-19T17:45:00.003-05:002011-07-19T17:47:12.800-05:00My backup mascara stash (the reserves, if you will)<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here are the mascaras that I have on deck...ready to go when I throw away the a tube, or retire a tube to my travel bag. Once I've tried them, I will provide reviews of the products I have never tried before, denoted in <b style="color: #38761d;">green</b>.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Maybelline The Falsies</b>--I've tried this before, and I really liked it. I got a 2 pack of this and gave the other one to my sister. Yeah, I'm nice like that. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Prestige My Biggest Lashes</span></b>--I've seen good things about it on MakeupAlley, I think it's one of those mascaras with the huge brush. We'll see!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Avon Super Magnify</span></b>--I'm excited about this one, it has a teeny brush with lots of bristles. It should be interesting to use.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">NYC Showtime</span></b>--Not sure why I bought this, I was in a bargain makeup mood at the time. I don't have high expectations, given the reviews I've seen online (the few that I could find.)</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b style="color: #38761d;">Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush</b>--This was an impulse buy, and I don't have any expectations of this being good. I hope I'm pleasantly surprised!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous</b>--I love this one, it's really easy to use and it never clumps for me. It has an S-shaped brush, similar to the Lancome Hypnose Drama brush. (As you may already know, L'Oreal is the parent company of Lancome and Maybelline.)</div>tracyluvsmascarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08228800620506988591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5219385437803855298.post-81445879178269792252011-07-07T09:18:00.007-05:002011-07-19T17:47:55.169-05:00Current mascara stash<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here is what is currently in my mascara rotation, and some thoughts about each.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Diorshow Iconic</b>: This one is really disappointing, especially for $28 a tube! It's supposed to be a curling mascara, but it doesn't do much of anything. The brush is great, but the formula is weak. I've started using this mascara as a base for layering mascaras--I add something volumizing on the top of this. </div><div style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Would I purchase again? No!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Rimmel The Max Bold Curves</b>: This mascara is pretty disappointing so far--it's clumpy and doesn't curl very much, which is the big claim with this mascara. I've started using this as a top coat when I use Diorshow Iconic.</div><div style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Would I purchase again? No!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Cover Girl Lash Perfection</b>: This is a reboot of the Max Factor Lash Perfection Volume Couture...but I never tried that before Max Factor was pulled out of the US market, so I can't tell you how it stacks up. I like it so far, it's pretty similar to Cover Girl Volume Exact, but a bit easier to work with.</div><div style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Would I purchase again? Yes</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Maybelline Volum' Express One by One</b>: I love this one so far, but I've only used it a few times. Lots of length with decent volume. Unfortunately, it has the "roses on crack" smell that Maybelline/L'Oreal has been putting into their new mascaras (like Lash Stiletto and Volum' Express Colossal.) I really like this one, but we'll see how I feel about in in a couple of months--sometimes I change my mind over time.</div><div style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Would I purchase again? Yes</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes</b>: This one reminds me a bit of L'Oreal Extra Volume Collagen (the shape of the tube, mostly), but it has a plastic brush and has the horrible "roses on crack" smell, just like the One by One mentioned above. However, I still like this one--I didn't love it at first, but it grew on me.</div><div style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Would I purchase again? Yes</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>L'Oreal Telescopic Clean Definition</b>: I bought this mascara because a beauty guru on YouTube raves about it...it's not bad, but it's mostly a lengthening mascara and I prefer volumizing mascaras. It provides a more natural look.</div><div style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Would I purchase again? Yes<br />
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<b style="color: black;">NYX Doll Eye Volume: </b><span style="color: black;">The formula is very dry--it almost feels like there's no product in the tube! However, the dry formula makes it very buildable. The brush is an interesting shape, it's almost like a barbell...not sure if that helps with application, but it's cute? I don't know if this is worth $9.</span><br />
Would I purchase again? Yes<span style="color: black;"> </span> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><b><i>What's in your current stash? Leave a comment below!</i></b></span></div>tracyluvsmascarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08228800620506988591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5219385437803855298.post-79440457589254800812011-07-06T12:38:00.003-05:002011-07-19T17:47:29.347-05:00Linkage!<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here's a related link...my mascara reviews on MakeupAlley: <a href="http://www.makeupalley.com/product/userreviews.asp?u=tracyveronika&CategoryID=101&brandname=&Brand=&submit=Find+Products">http://www.makeupalley.com/product/userreviews.asp?u=tracyveronika&CategoryID=101&brandname=&Brand=&submit=Find+Products</a></div>tracyluvsmascarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08228800620506988591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5219385437803855298.post-81182807184978700932011-07-06T09:18:00.003-05:002011-07-19T17:48:39.193-05:00My Current Top 5 Best/Worst Mascaras<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Just to get things started...best and worst mascaras!</span><br />
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<div style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Top 5 Best Mascaras</span></b></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>L'Oreal Extra Volume Collagen</u>: The formula is thick, but it's easy to work with. This is a worthwhile mascara if you have time to work on your lashes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>Cover Girl Professional Super Thick Lash</u>: The price is great (around $4-5 at Target or Walmart) and it performs better than a lot of other mascaras that cost twice as much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>Rimmel Sexy Curves</u>: The brush is an interesting shape, and it does provide some curling action. It doesn't clump...at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous</u>: Volume and length, and an S-shaped brush...it's really easy to apply, and the packaging is cute.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>Cover Girl Volume Exact</u>: In my opinion, this is 10x better than Lash Blast Volume!</span><br />
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<div style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Top 5 Worst Mascaras:</span></b></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>Maybelline Great Lash:</u> Wet, thin, and provides no volume or length. I don't understand the hype in magazines about this, it's the <i>worst</i> mascara I've ever tried!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>Diorshow (Original):</u> Also doesn't live up to the hype--the formula barely provides any volume. It's not worth $24!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>Cover Girl Lash Blast Volume</u>: The brush is h</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">ard to work with, and it's hard to remove (and I'm referring to the non-waterproof version.) The brush handle is fat and hard to hold, so it's challenging to apply this mascara.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>ELF Mineral-Infused Mascara:</u> Doesn't do much, and it came off in chunks when I removed it at the end of the day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>Cover Girl Lash Blast Length:</u> Nice brush, but doesn't provide much length and provides zero volume. It gives a very natural look, but that's not what this mascara is meant to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b><i>What are your favorite and least favorite mascaras?</i></b></span>tracyluvsmascarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08228800620506988591noreply@blogger.com0