Thursday, December 30, 2010

L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara. Have you tried it?

L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara

L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara + Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara


Do you ever layer your mascara?

My best friend has been complaining about how terrible this mascara is, so she passed it on to me to try. I already had on a coat of my Covergirl Lash Blast, but I applied this over that. Right away my lashes were thick and clumped together. Quickly, I grabbed my Tweezerman Lash Comb and combed out the clumps. I applied two coats and combed my lashes through. And wow! I had some major volume. When I went out that night, I got asked if my lashes were real, which is really rare for me. I didn't have any smudges or flakes by the end of the night.

I did the same thing today as well and I loved the results again. I love that you can reach the corner lashes really well and that you can build so much volume so quick!

I haven't tried this mascara on its own and I'm not too sure if I will. But, I know I will continue using this as a layering mascara to build very dark, voluminous lashes.

This mascara has a terrible rating on Makeupalley (Currently 2.6/5 stars with a 34% repurchase rate). The main con reviewers are complaining about is that it's very clumpy. I think a metal lash comb is the way to go for clumps - It's definitely a must-have if you're a fan of thick lashes..


Here were my results today. I didn't go too thick. I applied one coat of Covergirl Lash Blast and one coat of Telescopic Explosion.

L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara Results

So I'm curious. Have you tried this mascara? What did you think of it??

NOTD: Forever 21 Love & Beauty Grey Nail Polish!

Two (2) coats of polish and one (1) coat of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat.

I purchased this polish last week and I used it for the first time today. I love this polish! I think it may be a new favorite of mine. It's a very deep gray with a golden/green pearl.. which gives the effect of a very deep olive/gray.

What's on your nails?

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Guerlain Parure Extreme Foundation Review!

Guerlain Parure Extreme Foundation

Guerlain Parure Extreme Foundation ($58) is a luminous, extreme-wear foundation with SPF 25 that is water resistant, non-transferable and long lasting.
"Guerlain Parure Extreme Luminous Extreme Wear Foundation leaves the complexion glowing with a naturally matte finish. This Tibetan Rhodiola plant formulation helps cells withstand temperature variations, intense heat, and stress—making this product last for at least eight hours."
Guerlain Parure Extreme is available in nine (9) shades: 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 13, 23, 24 and 25.

I debated whether to purchase #3 or #4, and I ended up purchasing #4 Beige Moyen. It turns out that the shade is a bit dark and pink for me, but if I mixed it with a lighter, golden foundation it works fine - or if applied very sparingly. I did end up purchasing shade #3 and it works much better. *Guerlain numbers their foundations with the even numbered shades being pink toned, and the odd numbered shades are yellow-toned. 

It's pretty unfortunate there are only nine shades, so there's only a limited range of skin tones that can wear this foundation.

The consistency of this foundation is very light and creamy. It's not heavy at all - in fact, it's somewhat runny. If you apply a pump on the back of your hand, it will start to run, but it's not thin/watery.

You must give this foundation a good shake before applying it for the best results. My favorite way of applying this foundation is actually with my fingers. I start off by moisturizing my face, and dot the foundation on each area of my face and blend together with my finger tips in circular motions (as if I was applying a moisturizer). After it's all blended, I like going over my face with a flat-top foundation brush to further buff it it in. Less is more. I have found that when I've applied too much, I look very unnatural - it seems to oxidize slightly, and when I apply too much, it looks like I'm wearing a mask. Start out with 1/2 a pump, and when you're done blending it in, add more if necessary. The result is completely flawless. It dries to a satin-matte finish. For my balanced skin, a powder isn't necessary, and I prefer not wearing a powder because the finish is beautiful.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

NOTD: Revlon Gold Coin Nail Polish!

I picked up this polish the other day on my trip to ULTA.. It's "Revlon's Gold Coin" Nail Enamel from the Heavenly Metal Collection. The collection had three shades in total.. a golden shade, silver and copper shade. Since I've been on the lookout for a pretty gold, I decided to give it a try.

I applied (2) coats and (1) top coat (Sally Hansen Insta Dry). The formula is opaque, not too thick - and not watery at all. The color is a a metallic silvery gold. In the light, it appears more silver. I love the color and how well it stands out. Metallics tend to apply streaky, but I didn't have any streaks. Only on a couple of my nails my ridges are slightly highlighted. Also, when I usually apply my top coat.. my nails look very lustrous and have that clear shiny top coat look to them.. for some reason it doesn't even look like I'm wearing a top coat. I may try applying another.

Pros: Great formula, Pretty shade - very bright & lustrous, Wears well (no chips or dents yet), Affordable ($3-4)
Cons: Doesn't dry as fast as I'd like (it's definitely no OPI), Is not very forgiving if you smudge your nail and paint over it, Isn't very shiny with the top coat.

Overall, I like this polish a lot and I'll update this post to let you know how long it lasts before it chips. :)

I took a picture of my ring too.. lol I got it a few days ago from New York & Co. and I've been wearing it every day. So pretty!

Whats on your nails this holiday season??