My Favorite Splurge Mascaras

Product Sent for Review, I Bought It, Affiliate Links



As obsessed as I am with mascara, I don't mention my favorites on the site often enough! I have a serious mascara buying issue. I have a drawer full of mascara. For reals. And recently I've been buying more and more splurge mascaras. Some of which won't get worn more than once. Sad, but true. For whatever reason I can't use those mascaras again.

But, today I want to share the best of the best! These are mascaras that I have repurchased (or even hoard) and have more than lived up to my expectations. I was a bit surprised how many there were once I counted them out, but really... these are my favorites!

Overall Great Volume and Length

1. My Go-To is Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara (buy it from Sephora, Nordstrom or Bobbi Brown): I go through so much of this mascara! It grabs every lash, makes it look like 10, adds length and doesn't smudge or clump. I stock up on the rare occasion that it goes on sale as well.

2. Even more Dramatic is Bobbi's Eye Opening Mascara (from Sephora, Nordstrom or Bobbi Brown): Pretty similar to Smokey Eye, but with even more length and volume. Because of the size of that brush (it's very large), it is much harder to reach the base of my lashes, and Eye Opening clumps more. I mostly use Smokey Eye, but for dates with hubby, I go for Eye Opening and I keep a lash brush handy during application.

3. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara (at Sephora, ULTA or Too Faced): This is one of my go-to mascaras and really does a great job! There's a waterproof version as well, which is great for low-water situations, but not for swimming.

Extra Dramatic Volume

These mascaras add length and volume (I can't go without both!) but are more volume than length.

4. It Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara (at Sephora, ULTA or It Cosmetics)

5. Chanel Le Volume Mascara (at Nordstrom, Chanel or Neiman Marcus)

6. Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking (at Sephora or Neiman Marcus)

Problem Solvers

7. For Smudging try Blinc Mascara Amplified (at Sephora): If your mascara smudges no matter what, you need to try a tubing mascara. They are totally different than normal mascaras, actually creating little sleeves of mascara over your lashes! They're much more resistant to being dissolved, which is basically what is happening when your mascara runs/smudges all over the place (what's dissolving it? Tears, rubbing your eyes, your eye cream if the lashes touch your skin at all... you get the idea). So, try a tubing mascara. My favorite is the Blinc one, and they have this updated version that gives a fuller, more voluminous look than their previous mascara, which was pretty natural. I go for volume and length!

8. For Layering, try Ciaté London Triple Shot Mascara (at Sephora): This mascara is fine on it's own, but really the brush is where it's at! The long plastic bristles help pull apart any lashes that might be stuck together, but still add product to the lashes. I love to layer it over my Smokey Lash, but I only do that when I'm wearing contacts, my lashes smudge the inside of my glasses when I do it!

9. If Application is Hard, try Lancôme Grandiôse Extreme Wide-Angle Extreme Volume Mascara (at Sephora or Nordstrom): Personally, I've noticed that I have to be careful to apply my mascara equally to both of my eyes. The reason is angles. I'm right handed and my left eye always looks better than my right eye. I have to really think about it when applying to my right eye! The bend in this mascara wand takes all of the thought out of it.

10. For Waterproof, try Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Mascara (at Nordstrom, Chanel or Neiman Marcus): We put in a pool at my house this summer. I'm one of those moms who spends a lot of time in the pool with her girls, mostly doing handstands in the shallow end with my 5 year old! So, I need a truly waterproof mascara. This is my favorite after trying about 20 different mascaras. I can spend hours in the water and my lashes look exactly the same afterwards.

Product Sent for Review, I Bought It, Affiliate Links
The Too Faced and It Cosmetics mascaras have both been sent to me by PR in the past, though strangely enough it was after I had already bought them with my own money! Everything else I've bought on my own. Over and over.

4

Layering Mascaras: Which Ones Work?

Product Sent for Review I Bought It Affiliate Links



Last week I shared with you how I layer two mascaras for amazing results. In truth, it isn't terribly different from using a lash primer and a mascara, except that you're using a mascara (black or brown) instead of a primer (usually white. Why?? Why??)

9

Great Mascara Advice From A Beauty Editor: You Beauty's Amy Marturana

Affiliate Links


IMAXtree

Amy Marturana has written for Huffington Post, and Prevention Magazine. She's currently a writer and managing editor at You Beauty. I was able to ask her about her favorite beauty products, she has tried more than even me! She has some great recommendations!

2

Lashes for Miles: Getting the Lashes You Crave Without Falsies

Product Sent for Review I Bought It Affiliate Links



One of my must have, desert island beauty products is mascara. Really. I know it is strange, but I just feel like my eyes are naked without it! It's the last thing I put on during my makeup routine, and I feel like it just makes me look much more pulled together and complete.

2

The Best Drugstore Mascaras According to Beauty Bloggers

Mascara is mascara? Right? Well, not so much. There are good, bad and great mascaras. And while there are some makeup items that you should pretty much always splurge on (foundation, concealer...) Mascara is not one of them! Many of the best mascaras out there are found for under $10 at your local drugstore.

I asked some of my favorite makeup obsessed beauty blogging friends about their favorite mascaras, and their answers were amazing! Here are 13 drugstore mascaras that you should try out if you haven't already! Note that if the bloggers have posted about the mascara, I've linked to their post as well!

6

New Adventures in Lashes: Stila HUGE Extreme Lash Mascara and Lash Stunner Extreme Lash Primer

Product Sent for Review Affiliate Links



I've made no secret of my love of all things lashes. I'm a big fan of long and lush lashes, but I hate, hate, hate falsies. I think they are a major pain and I refuse to use them. So, I'm always on the hunt for new and exciting mascaras! When Stila released their HUGE Extreme Lash Mascara and Lash Stunner Extreme Lash Primer, I was pretty excited! I love Stila, and with product names like that, you know that I was all over these products.

1

The Best Lash Curler Ever? Surratt Beauty Relevée Lash Curler Review

I Bought It Affiliate Links



About 6 months ago, an article from Refinery 29 popped up into my feed, declaring the Surratt Beauty Relevée Lash curler the best ever (check out the article here). I'm a huge beauty junkie obviously, and I'm even more of an eyelash/mascara girl. I thought I had tried it all, but I hadn't even heard of this curler! I had seen the products over on a few websites, but the lash curler didn't look like anything special to me. But that article sucked me in. I HAD TO TRY IT. Had to. No choice. Especially once I tried to order it, and for months it was out of stock online. Surely Refinery 29 must be right, and there are special powers in this eye lash curler.

Finally, about 6 weeks ago, after many attempts at ordering from various websites, I managed to successfully order this lash curler from Sephora. Success! My lashes were going to be revolutionized, right? Well....



First, looking at this lash curler, it does not look any different from any of my other curlers. The metal goes in the same pattern. The curler itself has the exact same length and curve as my other favorite curler (which I forgot to take pics of, but I was comparing to my Tweezerman ProCurl Eyelash Curler. There isn't a difference in how long the curved rubber pad is, how it curves or anything. The metal that compresses the lash itself seems to be pretty much the same as well.

What is different is the rubber that the curler uses for that pad. I think it is a bit denser than a brand new Tweezerman pad (and that is denser still than my Shu Uemura Lash Curler pad).

When I use this lash curler, and note that I've been using it now for about 6 weeks, there are days that I'm obsessively using this on one eye and the Tweezerman on the other, I have noted a bit of a difference. The curl with the Surratt Lash Curler is a bit more pronounced than the curl with the Tweezerman, and it lasts throughout the day. I also only need 1 curl with the Surratt Relevée, rather than 3-4 with the Tweezerman. I can't get the difference to show up in pictures, but I do notice it in person. I've asked friends pointed questions about my lashes, and they have noticed a bit of a difference in the curl as well, though they wouldn't have commented without my obsessive, lash curling questions and testing.

So, yes, I do notice a little bit of a difference with this lash curler. Enough of a difference that it is now the curler hanging out on my vanity counter and the Tweezerman has been relegated to my back up drawer. If you're due for a lash curler update, I would hunt this one down!


You can buy the Surratt Beauty Relevée Lash Curler is $30 at Sephora, Barneys New York, and Net-a-Porter

I Bought It Affiliate Links

3

What Is that Mascara?? Yves Saint Laurent Beaute Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara Review

I Bought It Affiliate Link



Have you ever gotten a sample of something, and loved it so much that you hoarded that sample like you were Gollum? My Preciousss.... Yes, that's definitely me and Yves Saint Laurent Beaute Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara. In fact, I've gone through 3 samples of this mascara (it seems to pop up in my Nordstrom orders?) and I have treated all of the mascara samples the same way.

I had a hard time justifying $32 for a tube of mascara when I had a lot of other (also expensive) mascaras that I haven't reviewed yet. I seem to have just stopped all of my mascara reviews for a while, in large part because when I was pregnant, I had to give up my lash serum. And then it took a while for the Revitalash (Revitalash review here) to kick in. And then I went on one big old mascara buying spree (wheee!!!! I have lashes again!) so be on the look out for a lot of upcoming full mascara reviews. With before and after pics even.



Why the obsession? Yes, my lashes are currently long because of the Revitalash, but this mascara definitely adds length. It separates my lashes so they don't look spidery or clumpy (though apparently, that's a thing. Which I'm choosing to ignore.) And it helps my lashes hold their curl.

You can see in these before and after pics (which I want to point out are pre concealer. Also, note to self, find different lighting for mascara pics) that my lashes look amazing! And they look just like this all day long. All day. 7 am to 10 pm.

That is definitely worth $32.


(This pic is here to prove that with proper lighting and concealer, all things are possible)

You can buy Yves Saint Laurent Beaute Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara at Sephora, Nordstrom or Neiman Marcus.

I Bought It Affiliate Link

7

The Best Mascaras for Length, Volume and Curl

Product Sent for Review I Bought It Affiliate Links



I'm one of those girls that has to have mascara. I just don't feel complete without it! My lashes really do feel strangely naked. I'm a mascara girl and about 90% of the ones that I purchase never make it to the blog (I know... I know... I need to start doing regular mascara reviews again!)

So, I have a pretty well stocked mascara area in my vanity. There are a ton that I use, but I have to admit that about 90% of the time I reach for my Too faced Better than Sex Mascara. It gives me the best results in terms of length, volume and all day curl.



I love the molded plastic mascara brushes that have been out the last few years! I really like to layer two mascaras together (learn more in my Faking Falsies: The Best Mascara Tips post), and the plastic brush mascaras are always my second mascara. The brush lets you pull apart any lashes that are stuck together and as I apply I really push my lashes up to help them curl more. It makes a big difference!

1. Maybelline Volum'Express The Rocket Mascara (at Target, ULTA): This one really adds a lot of volume.

2. Lancôme Grandiôse Mascara (at Sephora, Nordstrom): The bend in the wand really does seem to make a difference! I love that it really helps me reach every lash, but the formula seems to form clumps easily, a light wipe before application with a tissue makes a big difference.

3. CoverGirl LashBlast Clump Crusher Mascara (at Target, Drugstore.com, check out my Clump Crusher Mascara review): This mascara has been specially formulated to prevent clumps, and it really does work! I once applied 30 (!!) layers of this mascara for a post. No clumps, but I think I had about half of the tube on my lashes.

4. L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Butterfly Mascara (from ULTA or Amazon): The brush on this brush is very different, it is angled and the bristles are much longer than the other mascaras, so they really do a great job at pulling apart lashes.

5. It Cosmetics Tightline Full Lash Length Black Mascara Primer (at It Cosmetics or ULTA): If you have a hard time getting your mascara right at the base of your lashes (which you really want because it makes them look much thicker), definitely go pick up this "primer"! I'm not certain that it adds that much length or volume beyond a regular mascara, but the tiny brush really is amazing for getting mascara right at the base of your eye lashes.




6. Urban Decay Perversion Mascara (at Urban Decay, Sephora or Nordstrom): I usually pair this one with the matching primer, and the volume is amazing!

7. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara (at Too Faced, ULTA or Sephora): This is the mascara that I reach for most mornings. It has just the right combination of volume and length for my lashes, no smudging or clumps in sight!

8. Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara (from Giorgio Armani, Sephora or Nordstrom): I got a sample of this mascara a few months ago and I've been "saving" it for days that I want a lot of volume. I will be picking it up soon, it has amazing volume!


What's your favorite mascara? I'm always looking for great ones!


Product Sent for Review I Bought It Affiliate Links

7

Top 10 Tuesday: My Favorite Mascaras

Product Sent for Review Affiliate Links



Today we're sharing our favorite mascaras! I'm a huge mascara girl, I will try any mascara, especially if it promises long and voluminous lashes. I want to look like I'm wearing false lashes without the hassle. (Check out some of my mascara tips and tricks for long and lush eye lashes.)

I'm experimenting with a slideshow widget today... I thought it was fun, but let me know if you like or dislike it.

Product Sent for Review Affiliate Links

23

Blinc Mascara: Tube Lashes for the Win!

There's another new beauty shop on the block, in case you haven't heard of BeautySak yet. Actually, they've been around for a little bit, but are under new ownership, revamped and now I think they have a pretty great (and highly curated) collection of beauty products from brands like Kai, Glam Glow, Gloss Moderne, Molton Brown, Blinc and Kevyn Aucoin. They wanted to partner with me for a few features, and I'm starting with a review of Blinc Mascara. The mascara that I've meant to review for years, but somehow haven't?? I'm not sure what I've been thinking. You'll see the mascara pop up I'm sure in some looks, and keep your eyes open for my review of Marula Oil, which I'm now carrying in my pocket everywhere.

As for the Blinc Mascara, this is the "tube" mascara that came out a few years ago, it caused a big rush at Sephora, though I haven't found it there for quite a while. Blinc provides a more natural look than I usually sport on my lashes (I'm the girl that wants to have amazing natural eye lashes), but it does give really good length.

Blinc applies just like a regular mascara, but as it dries it creates little tubes around your lashes. They're almost like plastic, and these babies will. not. budge. The tubes stick around all day without smudge or flaking, and they're water and rub resistant. To get them off, you need some warm water (more than when you're crying, so even though it's water resistant instead of proof this stuff is good for a wedding), and you need to lightly "roll" your lashes between your fingertips. Just a little pressure, roll a tad, and then you can pull them right off. Without remover.

You can see that while this mascara didn't give me a lot of volume, it was a very pretty and natural looking lash, but as soon as I looked up... BAM! Great length. At the end of the day (about 14 hours later) my lashes looked identical (I'm not sure why they looked longer, they weren't), there was absolutely no smudging or creasing. Everything was exactly the same.

Blinc is the mascara that I use for things like working out (the once or twice a year I do that...), days at home with my toddler, and it would be great for those that have contacts or flaking issues. It can be hard to find, but BeautySak has it!

BeautySak

4

Makeup Wars: Favorite Mascaras!

While I'm busy for the next few days, check out the favorite mascaras of my friends in the Makeup Wars group! (My current favorite is definitely CoverGirl Clump Crusher, in case you can't tell by how much I talk about it. I'm layering it with every mascara in sight now with great results!)

0

CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara Review Update: After A Week, Am I Still In Love?

Recently, I shared my first impressions of CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara. I promised that I'd be using the mascara for a week and I'd come back with an update.

Here's the update: I still love this mascara. I was at the store the other day and was sooo close to buying another one. I don't know why, I have 4 already. I had to remind myself that CoverGirl will make more, there's no need to hoard all of the mascara in the Ann Arbor area.

Keep Reading...

CoverGirl

Sponsored Post

6

CoverGirl LashBlast's New Clump Crusher: The End of Clumps Forever?

Have you grown tired of my continual discussion of CoverGirl LashBlast yet? I probably mention it at least once a week. So, you can imagine that I was a *bit* beyond excited when I found out that a new formula was coming out, LashBlast Clump Crusher.

Then CoverGirl asked if they could send it to me a bit early so I could play with it more and show you how it worked, and I practically screamed "YES" into the phone! So, this is just a little long intro post. I'll be using this formula for the next week and I'll update you at the end. But, I believe you'll be hearing a lot about Clump Crusher for now on. (Even though CoverGirl sent me a few tubes, I fully admit that I picked up another one when I saw an early display yesterday at my Walmart. I could not help myself.)

This is why I was so excited. I've shared my love of layering mascaras to get a better effect, and I use CG LashBlast Fusion as my top mascara. In large part, this is because it does such a great job of getting rid of any clumps or spidery lashes any other formulas leave behind. On its own, Fusion gives me great length and volume. But, if there was a formula that was truly clump free and pretty much guaranteed that I'd never have to break out my metal lash comb again? I'd be in beauty blogger heaven.


keep reading...


CoverGirl

Post sponsored by CoverGirl

10

Faking Falsies: The Ultimate Guide to Amazing (and Real) Lashes!

I have strangers stop me in the store to ask what mascara I'm using. People ask me what my trick is for applying false eye lashes. Really. You know your lashes look good when people are hunting you down in the produce department.

I wasn't born with "great" lashes. I do have big brown eyes (that definitely helps call attention to things), but my lashes are naturally pretty average. I've tried false lashes, but I don't have time for that every day, and I want that big eye and tons of lashes look every day. So, I've collected a huge number of mascara tips to help me achieve this look!

There really isn't a "best mascara" for great lashes. Instead, there are a bunch of mascaras that produce long and lush eye lashes, but when combined with great mascara application tips... yes, then you get the results that have people asking you for which mascara you are wearing over avocados.


Choose your formula
1. I should start off by saying that you don't actually need 1 formula. You need two. Two good mascaras. Unless I'm doing product testing, I always layer two mascaras. If you have short lashes, you could use a lengthening or even fiber mascara. If you have thin lashes, go for volume. Combine a volume and a lengthening mascara. (I just don't recommend using a "tube" mascara when layering.) Something seems to happen when you use 2 mascaras together, and I swear the results are much better, they synergize.

2. Consider the brush! This makes as much of an impact on your mascara as the mascara formula. A typical nylon brush can lead to clumping. If the bristles are particularly close it can be almost impossible to get product on to the lashes. I like to make sure that at least one of my mascaras has a molded plastic brush, which helps me to pull my lashes apart easily. I use that as my top mascara. My preferred mascara for this is CoverGirl's LashBlast Fusion.

3. Pick the correct shade. A lot of people say you should wear brown for every day, and black for "good". This is stupid to me, mostly because I have black lashes. When I wear brown, it looks strange. It's obvious. If you have black lashes (like me) you should only wear black. Maybe black-brown if it is a very dark formula. If you have blond lashes, you should wear brown. Black will look harsh, save it for special occasions or a smoky eye. All of those other "fun" shades, like plum, navy, etc? They are fun but can be hard to pull off correctly, use at your own risk. I don't use them every day and I don't think they really have a place in the workplace unless they're almost black/brown and very subtle.

4. Need a waterproof formula? There are some great ones out there, but keep in mind that they are often hard to remove. Consider using a waterproofing topcoat such as Anastasia's Lash Genius, which waterproofs but is much easier to get off before bed.

Prepare Your Lashes: The Curler
5. If you are wearing mascara, you definitely need to use a curler. The 30 seconds you take to curl your lashes will be well worth the effort. There are a ton of curlers on the market, and you don't need to spend a lot. Look for one that has a hard pad, if it is too soft instead of curling the lash you'll get a bend. A bend is bad. Look for hard. There are also some brands that sell replacement pads, make sure you buy one of those. Or you'll have to keep replacing the entire thing. I use a Tweezerman curler, in case you're curious.

6. Heat: Yes, you can heat up your curler. I recommend only doing this if you have a really hard time getting your lashes to curl, or if the curl goes away quickly despite using a curling mascara. Just a quick burst of "hot" from your blow dryer is all you need. Seriously, no one wants burns on their lids.

7. More about heat: All of those "amazing heating lash curlers"? Yeah, none of them work. Either they aren't hot enough, they are way too hot, or they don't even curl. I've tried pretty much every one possible, I gave up about a year ago. Waste of money. If you know of one that works, let me know! (Oh, and that nonsense about applying your mascara against a spoon? Have you heard this? It does not work.)

8. When curling your lashes, the goal is to have them curl gently upwards, basically making a pretty fringe. You do not want a bend in your lash, and they shouldn't be sticking up as close to your lid as possible. (To the girl that works at VS at the mall down the street- stop doing this. I can't look at you. It looks crazy, not like you have amazing lashes. Go see Amanda at Sephora, she can help you. Until then, I'm buying my unmentionables on-line.)

9. Everyone curls a little differently, and you'll need to experiment with what works best for you. I like to curl as close to the base of my lashes as I can (without it hurting), and I kind of pulse the curler really tight about 5 times, then switch the other side. If I need to, I might repeat this again as close to the base as possible. Then I'll repeat (yes, again) about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way out the lashes. That's it. I don't keep walking it out, you could seriously do this for forever.

10. While I've tried the next curling trick, I've had varied results. I know girls that swear by it. When curling near the base, pull out your hands and tip the curler a bit. You can see I'm trying to take a pic of this above, but for some reason I kept trying to peer at the camera. You get the idea. Don't do this too close to the base, it will hurt and might pull out lashes!


Eye Liner
11. What is lining doing here?? A little liner worked into the lash base can go a loooong way towards making your lashes look full. Really. Some will go to the lengths of tightlining. I think it depends on the person, but for me, this isn't really necessary. Instead I use my liner really jammed into my lash line, and I wiggle the pencil/brush (if I'm using gel) in between the lashes. I do tightline if using a liquid, since I can't get the pen down in between the lashes. However you do it, you want to fill in the spots between each individual eye lash. This will make your lashes look much thicker.

12. You should line your eyes after you curl your lashes. Why? The curler can smudge your hard work. Enough said.

13. Remember back when I was talking about choosing the color of your mascara, and I have pretty definitive ideas? Here's where fun with color comes in. I'd use only brown or black to do the tightlining, deep in your lash roots, but feel free to use any color you want over that or on your lower lid.


Finally! Applying the mascara!
14. Now that you finally can open up that mascara wand and apply it, you'll need to actually pause for a second and look at the wand. Do you see a big wad of product somewhere? Is there so much glopped onto the wand that you can't even see the bristles in a few locations? Grab a kleenex and wipe off the wand before you use it. This will make a huge difference, think Tammy Faye vs. lashes worthy of Pinterest.

15. When you are finally ready to get the wand up to your eyes, you'll need to get it as close to the lash base as possible. Once there, slowly pull it up and wiggle a little back and forth to apply product onto your lashes. Keep going. And going.

16. Once I've applied a lot of my first mascara, I reach for my second right away. I don't wait for things to dry off in between, I just go right for it. Layer it on.

17. If you get clumps, a lash comb is very handy. I've found that the best are metal, though it can be hard to find one that doesn't have the bristles too close together. The best one I've found is this one, which is from Coastal Scents. The alternative is to go Julia Roberts and use a safety pin to do it.

18. If you have blonde lashes, it is especially important to make sure your entire lash is covered. I know someone who doesn't start her mascara until about halfway down the lash, it looks strange. If you forget the top of the lash as well, it can look odd. I would apply the mascara to the top of the lashes first and then apply as usual, but try to ensure that every bit of lash is covered.

19. If you are using a fiber mascara (like Fiberwig) you'll need to apply the fiber mascara first. You'll need to apply it correctly as well. Just go and read the post at Clumps of Mascara about how to apply fiber mascara. Trust me, your lashes will thank you for it.


The Bottom Lashes
20. Somehow, this is a bit of a controversial topic. Many think you should never put mascara on the lower lashes because when it smudges (which it does if you rub your eyes, pretty much no matter what formula you used), it will settle into any wrinkles, make you look tired, etc. But, putting a little mascara on those lashes really can make your eye makeup look much more complete. The key with mascara here is concentrating on the base of the lashes. I like to keep all of the mascara there, maybe about 2-3 mm out from the base, I'll actually wipe off mascara that gets on the ends of these lashes. Since it is the end of the lashes that cause most of the issues (and mostly look spidery), this works great.

21. The easiest way to apply mascara to your lower lashes: I'll put my mascara wand at the base of my lashes, just barely wiggle it back and forth, and that's it. If I can't do it for some reason, grabbing a lip brush, taking a bit of mascara of of the wand, and then using that brush seems to work better.


Take it off
22. This isn't likely something you've thought about much, but it is really important to remove all of that carefully applied eye makeup each night. Not only does it build up (and make you look old with the residue), but it can clog pores. You don't want that in your eye lashes, a Chalazion is rather painful!

23. I have the best results with an oil based remover like Lancome's BiFacil or Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Eye Make Up Removal Lotion (which is pictured above, but the label always seems to peel off). I also love "Take it Off" by Hard Candy.


Grow them longer!
24. A few years ago there was actually a thread on Makeup Alley about my lashes (one girl said she didn't trust my mascara reviews because my lashes "aren't that great", I would that that's someone who knows more about mascara than a girl with super long lashes already??) The truth is, even back then I was getting eye lash comments. I just get more questions about them now. Why? Because I use an eye lash conditioner and they are definitely longer and thicker.

I use an eye lash conditioner called Revitalash, which I originally got for review and have repurchased faithfully every 6 months since that time. Which means I've bought it... 3 times? I think? At $120 a pop, that's quite the investment! It's available over the counter, and it does contain a prostaglandin analogue, which is similar to the active ingredient in Latisse but isn't the same. It is currently (as I type this, anyways) unavailable in the US due to a lawsuit by the makers of Latisse. They want Revitalash to be prescription also, so Revitalash has pulled itself from the market while that gets sorted out. Which means I need to find something else to use pronto! I'm thinking about trying out LiLash, but let me know if you have a product you like!

If you do want to go the Latisse route, make sure you do so only with a physician's assistance and do NOT buy it online. Much of the Latisse available is through sketchy sites and isn't real. Fake Latisse likely means lashes that don't grow!


Refresh your lashes for night
25. Getting ready to head out, and your lashes just... wilted? I definitely know the feeling! The best way to refresh them is to use a spooly brush (I found a few sample sized ones pretty cheap at a beauty supply, I'm sure you could get them off eBay), dip the spooly into either eye makeup remover or water, depending on which works best for you (I'm a water girl), and run the brush through your lashes. It will help to "reset" your current mascara! I also like to grab a mascara with plastic bristles (my favorite LashBlast Fusion works great for this), and apply a little extra mascara on top. Good as new!


Do you have any eye lash tips that I've missed here? Let me know!

54