“They” told me that I should only write about celebrities or be a one-topic-wonder; and that I would never succeed by switching topics and writing about different things that appealed to different audiences. That never felt right to me. So I said “Screw it!” and I did my own thing, and I’m damn glad I did! The Lady in Red Blog is a little bit of everything for everyone! :)
And if that’s all you take away from this blog then good; because that was the most important part – BE YOURSELF! And never, ever follow advice that doesn’t feel right to you. Trust your instincts and run with them! Defy logic. Defy the norm! Do what makes YOU happy; because your opinion matters most when it comes to your own happiness. No one else can evaluate your personal happiness more accurately than you.
Sometimes you just gotta write something because you want to share some mindless information with others, and it doesn’t have to be about first world problems. So here it goes: over the past year I’ve tried many mascaras (If this topic does not interest you, go ahead, move on, click away, that’s ok. I’ll hit on a subject that will interest you in the near future about some movie, or some celebrity, or an experience of mine I’m sure, so you can come back then.)
Anyway… on with mascara… (because I can, and will write about mascara today)
All mascaras are not created equally. And the thing is, you really can’t try most mascaras out at the store. And if you can, like at the glorified MAC cosmetics counters, you don’t get a true idea of anything other than if you like how it goes on at that point, and you can’t make an educated decision about buying it on the spot. There’s so much more that goes into the like-ability of mascara than brush type or formula thickness. And when you're going to plunk down over a dozen dollars, you don't want to purchase something that you hate.
You need to know if any of the ingredients bother your eyes; and that only unveils itself to you after a few minutes or as long as a few hours of wearing it. Does it smudge or melt during the day? Do you have to chisel off your eyelashes before bed trying to remove it? How bad are next-morning raccoon eyes, as the remnants of the-day-before’s mascara give you a version of a smoky eye that you’d rather not show off?
So here’s the low down on the mascaras that I’ve tried over the past year; what I loved, hated, and lived with. Enjoy! (Oh, and note the manicures - all by Yess Nails in Raritan, NJ - Ask for Yessica - 908.566.7463 #ShamelessPlug)
Pixi Lash Booster Mascara
This was an ipsy glam bag sample - Pixi Lash Booster Mascara in blackest black. I'm not quite sure why they call it a lash booster. The mascara formula is thin and sparse. I had to apply 2 coats of it to really make any definitive difference in the way my lashes looked. It's not something I would actively seek out at $15 a pop.
The big disappointment came the following morning when after I used eye makeup remover the night before and cleansed and washed my face thoroughly, and I discovered that half the mascara was still on my lashes - and now under my eyes. This stuff doesn't budge! Which - is good while you want to wear it. But good luck getting it off. It's not water proof, it's just terrible to remove! If you like waking up looking like a football player with grease paint under your eyes, then this is for you. Other than that – pass on it; there are better options out there.
Estee Lauder Lash XL Maximum Length Mascara
I've used other Estée Lauder mascaras in the past and was quite pleased. This one was a total disappointment. The dry formula left my lashes parched. You would need at least three time consuming coats of this lash disaster to make a visible difference. Not only that - it stinks. It really stinks. The smell is putrid and trust me, you can't get past it. It's pungent enough that you can smell it from your lashes. The odor does dissipate as it dries, but not entirely. Bleh. No wonder why the company discontinued this disaster! Be thankful you no longer have the option to purchase it. Nuff said.
Smash Box Full Exposure Mascara
This mascara does not have color options, but black is best, and that’s how it comes. You can get a tube of Smash Box Full Exposure Mascara for $20 and it’s worth it. It comes with a big chunky brush that grabs enough mascara out of the tube on the first try. There’s no triple dipping here. The wide brush coats and separates lashes quickly without wasting time delivering the mascara to each lash. The formula isn’t too thin so it thickens each lash you lay it on; and it’s not too thick and clumpy either, so you look like you caught insects in your lash line. This is a go-out-and-get-it one. You’ll be happy with your purchase.
It’s So Big Mascara by Elizabeth Mott
It’s So Big Mascara by Elizabeth Mott is a nice wet formula, but because it’s so wet and not sticky enough to stick to your lashes, it applies too thinly. It takes too much time to apply 3 million coats to get good lash coverage. Ain’t nobody got no time for that. Save your $19.99 and invest it in the Smash Box Full Exposure Mascara above.
em lash gallery lengthening Mascara by Michelle Phan
Ew! Hated it! Fist, the wand is curved – I hate that! em lash gallery lengthening Mascara by Michelle Phan is like an eye-poking accident waiting to happen. I can aim a mascara wand on my own, thank you. No need to curve it inward toward my eyeballs…
But, waste not, want not, so I forced myself to use this mascara. Even if you like a curved wand, it’s too thin to grab enough mascara on its puny bristles. And the mascara formula itself is like black paint! You would need 4-5 coats of it to build up your lashes so it looks like you actually put something on them. Who’s got time for that? Not me. Save your $16 for something else.
Ok, you may think I’m crazy for spending $32 on a mascara, but just like anything else – you get what you pay for. This is the most wondrous mascara I have EVER used. I was first introduced to it a few years ago, and on the occasion I find myself without free samples of mascaras to try, I treat myself to this miraculous make-up invention. Let’s just call it YSL Shocking Mascara for short. Not all YSL mascaras are created equally – beware! It’s this particular formula that will have you going “OMG, those are NOT my lashes – but they are!” with a thrill of joy in your voice. Other YSL offerings don’t build your lashes up the way this one does, and the formula in those seems to clump up and dry out faster. That’s something you don’t want considering the price you pay for this beauty brand.
Save your pennies, and run, don’t walk, to buy this baby – “YSL Shocking Mascara”. It will make you feel like you have false lashes on, and you’ll only have to apply one coat of mascara before heading out the door. It’s a time saver that does what it says – it will give you such bountiful, beautiful, long, lashes that it’s truly “shocking!”