5 Years of Favorite Products: CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara Review

This is the best non-fiber lengthening mascara that I've found. It applies easily and quickly, adds (the illusion of) some nice length, holds curl and gives a little bit of volume. I've mostly used it as a second mascara, for use after 1 coat of a volumizing mascara (usually the LashBlast Volume). The plastic bristles are great for pulling apart lashes so I don't end up with clumpy spidery lashes.

CoverGirl

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5 Years of Favorite Products: CoverGirl LashBlast Volume

Before the release of LashBlast Fusion, Lash Blast Volume Mascara was my go-to mascara. It provides good volume that lasts pretty much all day without becoming a big clumpy mess.


CoverGirl

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5 Years of Favorite Products: LashBlast Fusion Mascara Review

Back when I originally reviewed LashBlast Fusion mascara, I called it a holy grail mascara. I still feel that way. This is a go-to mascara for me, one that offers great volume and length without flaking or smudging. The brush is plastic, which I find is the best way for me to avoid clumps.

CoverGirl


I originally had a sample of this mascara, but I've since repurchased many, many times.

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5 Years of Favorite Products: CoverGirl LashBlast 24HR Review, The Mascara I'd Use if I Still Took Overnight Call

When I heard that a 24 hour version of CoverGirl's LashBlast mascara was going to be released, I admit I was a little bit.... perturbed? Why, oh mascara gods, hadn't this been released years ago? Like maybe.... 2001? When I first started taking overnight call as a medical student? That was in the pre-80 hour work week days (why yes, the hours are federally mandated to not exceed 80 hours now. Which sounds like a lot until you hear that I generally worked well over 100 hours a week as the med student and the residents worked even more.) Anyways, by the end of a 36 hour shift, I looked like a hot mess.

So, this mascara probably wouldn't have survived those 36 hour shifts (it is labelled 24 hours) but it would have been closer than many other mascaras!

To me, this mascara is similar to LashBlast Fusion. It lengthens. It volumizes. It helps maintain curl. Except it just does it for a really long time. At the end of the day (these pics are after about 17 hours) things look almost as good as they did that morning, with no smudges or flakes. I haven't tested this mascara for a full 24 hours (I no longer take overnight in hospital call), but if I did I have a feeling that it would live up to the claims.

I will say that this mascara is a little harder than other "normal" mascaras to remove. It isn't in the ballpark of a waterproof mascara, but it definitely requires a good eye makeup remover and a little scrubbing to fully remove it. I think it is worth it!

CoverGirl

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5 Years of Favorite Products: CoverGirl LashBlast Mascaras, All of Them

I fully admit that I got a little distracted and never really finished up my series of my favorite beauty products as part of my 5 year blogiversary.

To help make up for it, I've been taking way too many pics of my eye balls in an effort to properly document my favorite mascara. Because, you see, I don't just have one. (Oh no! How could I have just one favorite mascara??) I have an entire line of favorite mascaras. It was really hard to pick a favorite, and I noticed that I tended to keep coming back to the CoverGirl LashBlast mascaras.

To really share them with you properly, I've taken new pics of all of them and I'll be reviewing (or re-reviewing, whichever is the case) all of them this week. One a day.

So, stay tuned for lots of amazing (and affordable) lashes!


CoverGirl


Most of these mascaras I purchased, some were sent to me by CoverGirl for consideration, and then some of those were repurchased again. Only the Luxe hasn't been purchased by me at some point, though to be fair I only tried it for the first time about a month ago!

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5 Years of Favorite Products: Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve

I've review a lot of hand cremes over the years, but I keep coming back to this one. At work we can use some pretty harsh hand soap (need to kill the ICU germies!), but we took this to an entirely higher and crazy level when I was still in training a few years ago.

That's right, the ICU where I did my fellowship used surgical scrub as hand soap. Rather than the just plain old harsh regular hospital soap. It was the most drying stuff ever, and if I didn't get a moisturizer on my skin pronto my ezcema would flare and I'd be a red and rashy mess.

By far and away the best hand lotion to keep my skin comfortable and looking good during the months that I was "on-service" was this one from Kiehl's. It isn't exactly cheap, but the bottles are pretty big and would last me at least six months.

Once I started bringing Ultimate Strength in to work with me a few other people got hooked, and then a few others... and it kind of snow balled. We were giving it to each other as gifts. It was amazing.

Why did the nurses, docs and I love it so much? This stuff isn't girly, so any one was willing to use it. It has a light fresh scent that disappears quickly. It is a thick white cream that just soothes immediately as you are applying, and it fully sinks into your skin. No greasiness left behind. Perhaps most importantly, it worked so well that you only needed to apply it every 3 or 4 hand washes. When using surgical scrub. That's definitely Ultimate Strength.

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5 Years of Favorite Products: NARS Copacabana

I've been mixing up my makeup routine a little bit lately. One thing that I've added in is a little highlighter. I usually do this down my nose, on my chin, and a little around my upper cheek and curving around my eye. I want it subtle, just enough to catch the light.

I had been using a lot of powders to highlight, but recently went back to an oldie but goodie. The highlighter I always return to, NARS Multiple in Copacabana.

Copacabana is amazing. It is a light pearly color that just catches the light perfectly. It doesn't look like chunks of glitter on my face, it doesn't look oily. It just catches the light the way I want it caught.

Oh, and since it is a stick it is insanely fast and easy to use. A few swipes, blend with a finger, and you're done.


NARS Cosmetics

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5 Years of Favorite Products: Kiehl's Lip Balm #1

I'm so obsessed with this product that I once called it "my beauty obsession" over on The Beauty of Life. This picture was all of the Lip Balm #1 I could find in my house that day, though I missed some in my car. And a back up purse. And the back up stash in my vanity drawer. You get the picture.

This is a product somewhat like Vaseline, it contains much more. It has the same light yellow-tan appearance, looks a bit greasy and easily melts with skin temperatures. It also has Squalane, Lanolin and Sweet Almond Oil to help moisturize and soothe skin as well as Vitamins A and E.

I mostly use this on my lips, though I've found when my cuticles are at their driest a little rub of Lip Balm #1 can do wonders. It's the last thing I apply before sleep every night.

Kiehl's


While I've bought this product I don't even know how many times in pots, tubes, flavored, unflavored and even tinted versions, I do think once or twice Kiehl's has given me a free tube of it.

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5 Year of Favorite Products: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation Primer

I'm not an every day foundation primer girl, but when I am this is the one I reach for between product review periods. It is lightweight, helps create a flawless finish and doesn't interfere with makeup application (yes, some primers actually do!)

You can check out my MUFE HD Foundation Primer Review for more details.

Make Up For Ever

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5 Years of Favorite Products: Kerastase Shampoo and Conditioner

This is a good hair day in a bottle(s). Seriously, using Kerastase Shampoo and Conditioner 100% guarantees that my hair will be shiny, frizz free and style perfectly. For at least 2 days.

Now, if only if it was a little bit less expensive...

Kerastase Shampoo and Conditioner

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5 Years of Favorite Products: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 15

If I had the time to go back and count how many times I've mentioned this product on the blog, I'd likely end up with a double digit number. Easily. Maybe 3 digits. My most complete review of this lotion is probably this one: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 review.

I'm a huge fan of this daily sunscreen moisturizer. I first discovered it as a senior in college, when my acne was just going out of control. Tired of buying all the over the counter acne treatments, only to end up with a dry and peeling face, I decided I'd switch everything out to gentle product. I decided to head to the nearest Kiehl's counter. My skin loved it, particularly this lotion.

Today this lotion is definitely still my go-to morning moisturizer. I can wear it every day without my skin breaking out, it works perfectly under makeup and feels lightweight all day long. While it isn't broad spectrum coverage, it is probably enough for walking to and from the car and driving around. (I opt for heavier duty SPF protection on days that I'll be spending more time outside in direct sun.)


Kiehl's

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5 Year of Favorite Products: Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer

Since my first Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer review, I admit that it has become a staple in my morning routine. Even when testing other concealers, this tube has not left the vanity counter, and there are some mornings that I must force myself to use the product I'm meant to be testing instead of Full Cover.

The coverage is heavy, and just enough to help me cover up my under eye circles. But, it is easy to blend, giving flawless coverage. Plus, it lasts all day.

Make Up For Ever

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5 Years of Favorite Products: My Go-To Fragrance, Jennifer Aniston

I review quite a few fragrances on this blog, which is actually rather surprising since I find them by far and away the hardest posts to write. I can describe how the scents smell to me, pick up on notes... but capturing a fragrance in a few sentences is definitely difficult.

The other reason it is surprising is my history with perfumes. In the past I've been a "signature scent" girl, meaning I'd own one perfume at a time and just wear it to death until my bottle was gone. I wanted it to be different from what everyone else was wearing, and I made it mine. In high school it was Tribu from Benetton, when everyone else had CK One (and if they did have Benetton, they had Colors. I was the lone Tribu girl). In college I wore Elizabeth Arden 5th Avenue. You get the picture.

If I was still a signature scent girl, right now my pick would be Jennifer Aniston. It is a clean floral, very simple. I get compliments whenever I wear it. I find myself reaching for it over and over again, and it works for most occasions.

Notes:
Top Notes: Citrus Grove Accord, Rose Water
Middle Notes: Blooming Jasmine, Wild Violet, Amazon Lily
Base Notes: Sensual Musk, Golden Amber, Sandalwood

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5 Years of Favorite Products: Aveeno Baby Sunscreen

I've already shared my overall favorite sunscreen Aveeno's Hydrosport, but I did want to offer up a physical sunscreen option for those with super sensitive skin or children under age 2.

Aveeno Baby Sunscreen is my pick for a great physical sunscreen. Physical sunscreens are typically not absorbed into the skin (I say this with the caveat that newer, micronized physical sunscreens can be absorbed), so they are better for those with skin conditions and are the only sunscreens recommended for use in kids from 6-24 months by the AAP.

Aveeno seems to have gotten around most of the typical physical sunscreen issues with this product. There really is no scent and the thick white cream doesn't take much rubbing to completely disappear into skin. Once applied I can't feel it on my skin, so this is a dramatic improvement over other physical sunscreens. Most physical sunscreens feel so thick and heavy on my skin that I can't stand to apply them.





Aveeno

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5 Years of Favorite Products: Exfolikate, Green Goo for the Win!

I seriously love this expensive green goo. When I first wrote my Exfolikate review, I called it a holy grail product, and it definitely is for me!

About twice a week, while my conditioner sits on my hair, I spread a thin layer of this green stuff on my skin. I rinse my hair, and the timing is perfect for rinsing the Exfolikate.

This makes me glowy and smooth. It takes virtually no time. The tube is expensive, though I've been using the same one twice a week for about 9 months and still have a lot left. Definitely worth it!

Kate Somerville

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5 Years of Favorite Products: NARS Orgasm in Many Forms

Obviously this color is a cult favorite for a reason. Orgasm is an amazing blush color on almost everyone, and I'm certainly no exception. You can see that my blush has been around for a while (that's the worst part of the pretty black NARS packaging, it gets gross easily on the outside), but I've been using this a few times a week for well over 10 years.

I have Orgasm in the blush, the multiple, the highlighter, the nail polish, the lip gloss.... you get the picture. My favorites are the Multiple and the blush. I usually pair them together. I use the Multiple over my foundation, blended just a little. When I apply my translucent powder over this, the buffing of my powder brush completes the blending. Then a small amount of powder Orgasm blush goes over the top.

The end result is glowy and lasts all day!


NARS Cosmetics

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5 Years of Favorite Products: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery

Since I posted my original Kiehl's Midnight Recovery review, I fully admit to becoming a bit obsessed with this moisturizing wonderkin. A few drops is all you need to repair any of the nastiness that winter has done to your skin, and then some. It is the answer to mid-winter skin. Amazing.

Kiehls

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5 Years of Favorite Products: Aveeno Hydrosport Sunscreen

I'm a big proponent of wearing sunscreen every day, though I don't think you need to slather on SPF 1000 every day. (Learn more about how sunscreen work, how to pick the best sunscreen for you and how I chose sunscreen for myself.)

Aveeno Hydrosport Sunscreen was my favorite of the summer in 2011, after trying out about 50 (about 99% of which never made it to the blog). This is a chemical sunscreen, so I don't recommend it for young children or those with super sensitive skin.

The Hydrosport collection is water resistant, provides broad spectrum coverage and is incredibly lightweight. I prefer the lotion formulation, which comes as SPF 85 only. It is a thick, white creamy consistency and has a faint sunscreen scent. It absorbs into my skin quickly and I can not feel it on my skin, obviously unusual for such a high SPF coverage product.








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