Why You NEED Clear Mascara

One product that's quickly made it's way to my list of must-haves is clear mascara. I'd been feeling nostalgic, and wondering out loud to myself about where the old Bonne Bell "Lash Glosses" had gone.(The "Gloss" was none other than clear, slightly tinted mascara.) I turned the corner at Target, and there, among the other ELF products sat a double ended tube of clear mascara! (It does say that one is a brow gel, but the product in each end, as well as the brush/wand are the same!) I just couldn't pass it up for a dollar!

Sorry for the blurriness! My camera was not cooperating!

Before I get into my favorite uses for clear mascara, I'll do a mini-review of the ELF clear mascara/brow gel.

Price - Great for what you get.

Packaging - Great. You can see just what you've got. Also, if you're experimental with your makeup like I am, you might like having two ends to work with.

Performance - Perfect. Not crusty, lightweight. No odd odor.

Over all, this product is amazing.  Now... what can you do with it?

Cocktail Dress?

This year Maybelline put out some brilliant limited edition polishes. Their latest Color Show collection was called "Sequins." Being a massive glitter fiend, as I am, I spotted the perfect shade for myself immediately. Cocktail Dress, a sparkly smokey gel base with black, and silver micro glitters, and larger red chips. Perfect for a pseudo=goth-pinup right? Especially in the coming months, for all those super fun parties!

Before I show swatches, or give my two cents, I'd like to say that the Color Show line is sadly hit or miss. Shocking Seas, is my go-to teal polish, and as a plus it's from their super affordable main line. Same with Onyx Rush. Auburn Ablaze, from their Fall 2012 line, is stunning in the bottle, but definitely needs a bunch of coats, or a strong base coat of a solid color. Also from their Fall 2012 line, Pink Cosmo, redefines the term "Sheer." It's amazing in the bottle, but far too sheer to do much with, aside from topcoat a strong base with. Having said all of that, I do find Maybelline Color Show polishes to wear pretty well.

...until Cocktail Dress.

I cant even show you this polish on my nails, because of the two times I've worn it, it's lasted less than 24 hours. I did some swatches on some junk mail. For a glitter, it dries super quick, and rather matte, so a topcoat is a necessity.

One coat, two coats, three coats, and black base with one coat. All swatches have a topcoa

 My first wear with this polish lasted through the night, and about half way into my work day. I work with my hands, so I figured it was just me, and that I'd need another coat or two of a topcoat.

Tonight, when I tried it again, it literally PEELED OFF MY NAILS within 20 mins of drying. I was removing excess polish, and almost like a nail sticker, the polish peeled right off.

I hope that anyone out there has a more positive experience with this Polish, but I will be telling my friends to avoid it from here on out!

Now... what shall I wear for my Black Friday manicure?!

Totally Bold Tenacious Gold and Teal!

 Unless you've been living under a rock for the past year or so, you probably already have SOME awareness of the Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Cream eye shadows. You've probably seen the brightly pigmented little glass jars in the supermarket, drugstore, in a magazine ad. There's 10 colors in the permanent collection, and there have been two limited edition sets of four. I own 11 of these. They're great to use alone, and are amazing when used under powder. MOST of them are amazingly pigmented, and apply and blend perfectly. Some take a little more work, but the staying power is worth it.

I did a gold and teal look with them today, and a handful of other products.

And then I decided to make a step by step post/tutorial on one of the many ways to use these amazing shadows!