Lipstick Masala

These days I’m fascinated by the commercials for the new lash growth product, Latisse. Maybe it’s because of how gorgeous Brooke Shields still is, or it’s because of the fact that they have found a way to make eye lashes to grow but still can’t give balding men back their hair. Or, maybe it’s because of the laughable way they so casually state the side effects, “May cause eyelid darkening which may be reversible. May cause increased iris pigmentation which is likely to be permanent.” Errrrr seriously? I’m sure it’s a great invention and all, but I’m leaving my irises alone.

For those of you that are looking for ways to make their lashes appear thicker and longer but don’t wish to dabble in the potential destruction of your irises, there are plenty of other things you can do. My primary recommendation would be to try out the eyelash primer I swear by (CLICK HERE), but there is another secret practiced many celebrity makeup artists that uses a product you most likely already have at home – face powder. Yes, I said face powder. Read the rest of this entry »

Recently, I’ve been asked by a lot of ladies whether eye makeup primer is really necessary. My answer? Only if you actually want to keep your makeup on. I understand choosing staple makeup items can be frustrating – every commercial, every magazine speaks of millions of products that you MUST have. There is regular makeup primer, eyelash primer, lip primer, you name it – I’m sure someone somewhere is even creating a body primer for lotion. But, ladies, believe me when I say fs there is one primer to buy, it’s eye makeup primer – prepping the eye area before you apply shadow really makes a world of difference.

There are two main benefits of eye primer:

1) Does your shadow either fade away during the day or crease so you have a cakey line on your lids? This doesn’t just happen to oily-skinned girls, we all have natural oils on our face that make our shadow almost melt away. Read the rest of this entry »

Photo Credit: cvs.com

As much as we all love shopping to satisfy our makeup/shoes/clothes obsessions, parting with $$$ in this recession is not so fun. But, don’t worry, there are plenty of beauty products available to satisfy multiple needs at less than $5. One of our recent favorites is regular old Chapstick. Not only can you use it to moisturize your lips, but it also makes a great base for eye shadow.

The great thing about Chapstick is that it’s slightly emollient but not greasy like Vaseline. Apply a thin coat onto your lids and then apply powder shadow. The sheen from the Chapstick will give your eyes a dewy look that’s perfect for the Spring/Summer time, and the slight tackiness from the wax content will grab the pigment for longer hold. Read the rest of this entry »

At times when I stand in front of the mirror, I feel like one of the characters from the movie “Mean Girls,” inspecting my face and cursing my pores for being too huge (deny it all you want, I know you all have watched it and know exactly what I’m talking about!). And the criticism doesn’t end there. Every little wrinkle or laugh line that has deepened in the last few years feels my wrath as I desperately try to camouflage it in some way. Well, I haven’t found a miracle product yet to zap away all my flaws, but thankfully I’ve come across one that gives me the somewhat airbrushed feeling that I’m going for – makeup (or foundation) primer.

Many ladies have bypassed this product because they feel they don’t need it, but I assure you, primers have many advantages and you are missing out if you choose to go without one! A primer is a silicon gel or water based lotion that is applied to the face before foundation, blush or highlighters. For those ladies who don’t use foundation or powder, you can still use this product – it’s great on both bare faces as well as under makeup. Primers work to fill in pores and also even out any fine lines and wrinkles. So, even if you wish to go bare faced – you will instantly have smoother looking skin. Read the rest of this entry »

Photo Credit: www.thebostonbazaar.com

I used to spend $65 on my mascara. Yes, you read that right. Sixty-Five Dollars. You’re probably wondering what was in this product, was it made of gold? Did it spill ruby powder on my lashes? Did the world fall at my feet with every blink? Yes. Yes. And Yes. It was all that and more. But, then, like many other love affairs, this one came to an abrupt end. I finally realized that I was spending more on a mascara than my monthly cell phone bill. So, I set out on the search for the ultimate mascara. It was then that I realized that it’s not the mascara that really matters (unless you pay 65 bucks of course – then it BETTER matter), but it’s actually what goes on underneath. Just like foundations and eye shadows look better with a primer and lipsticks last longer with a liner base, eyelashes look 5x better with a protective coating underneath the mascara.

Now, I know that most of you out there have mascaras that you absolutely love and are faithful to, and over the course of time I hope to discuss all of them with you, YSL Faux Cils, Lancôme’s Ôscillation (with the vibrating wand), etc etc. But, with the eyelash primer, you can use any drugstore brand mascara and end up with similar or even better results. Read the rest of this entry »