Top 5 Mascaras of ALL Time

Hello

Here are the pictures that will accompany my video below, showcasing  my top 5 mascaras of all time. I actually have a few honorable mentions too, so let's get started.

If you look below you will see my NAKED lashes, they are almost nonexistent on the bottom row.  

Here are two other shots of my naked lashes:

Individual eye shots
Naked right eye

Naked left eye

Let's see what 1 coat of each of my favorite mascaras can do to enhance my puny lashes. 

First up, in no particular order......

Dior Show BLACK OUT- $25.00

Now let's look at my lashes with just my top lashes done on one eye. I am not going to tell you which eye is done yet, you will have to scroll down for the answer but take your guess for now.

Here is the answer:

If your guess was that I have mascara on the left eye (the eye on the right side of the screen) then you are correct. This is a SINGLE coat of mascara which means that my mascara wand did not go back in the tube, I applied this mascara and this is the result.
Here is a close up on my lash with the mascara:

Here is the mascara on both lashes (top row only):

Here's another pic:

Now let's look at my top and bottom rows complete with one coat of mascara:

Since the wand is chubby and my bottom lashes are short, it's not easy to apply mascara to the bottom row without getting the formula on my skin.  I have not faced any clumping or flaking issues with this mascara.

Givenchy 4 in 1 mascara- $32.00

I'm sure it's not hard to tell in this picture, but I have lashes on one eyelash:

Now you can't tell me this isn't dramatic.... and yes this is just one coat on my lashes:

I intentionally left a little mascara on the tip on my lash on the right side of the picture directly above this text. Normally I would use my fingers to pull off the excess but I wanted you to see what happens with this mascara. It isn't much but it's worth mentioning, I think the ball shaped wand makes it difficult to grab some of the excess at the tip of your lashes if you use the entire wand (this is explained in my video)
One eye

Here is a close up on my other eye:

Now let's check this mascara out on my top and bototm lashes:

here is a close up on one eye so you can see the top and bottom:

On my other eye you can really see the droplet of mascara that hangs on to the tip of the lashes:

I experienced better handling on lower lashes with this wand.

Black Up Cosmetics- $37.00

Once again I have one coat of the mascara on just one eye lash. However I have to tell you that the battery on this 3 speed mascara is DEAD so the lashes that you are looking at were coated without the vibrating action. I loved my lashes when it vibrated on level 3, but it would tickle so much that my eyes would water and this mascara is not waterproof so it had the potential to be disastrous.

Another shot:

I think it's pretty clear that the mascara is on my top lash on the left side of the screen.
Now let's check it out with the mascara applied to my top lashes on both eyes:

Here is a look at my top and bottom lashes complete with the Black up Vibrating macara (without the vibration featured turned on)

Not much improvement on the bottom row without the vibrating feature.
Single eye shot top and bottom:

And here is my other eye:

This mascara is just wet enough that if you put it to your skin too quickly you will get smudges on your lids, but not much.
I was able to define my bottom lashes a bit more with this mascara but it isn't perfect.

YSL Shocking- $30.00

Mascara on one top row of lashes:

Now here is the mascara on both of my top lashes:

Up close and personal...notice the heavy look to my lashes and this is just ONE COAT.

Now I will complete my bottom lashes:

Here is my single eye shot:

And my other eye:

This mascara is so wet and so much product comes out but if you  can manage to handle your bottom lashes carefully, it can leave you with beautifully lush bottom lashes.

Lancome Hypnose Drama- $26.00

I have mascara on just one lash.

Now I have the mascara applied to both of my top lashes:

Mascara on both top and bottom

Single eye shot

Another single eye shot

Now time for the honorable mentions
These are the mascaras that didn't make my top 5 but they have high ratings in my book because  of the innovation behind these products. They also work really well too!

Inglot - $10.00

One eye lash has the mascara

Now I have the Inglot mascara on both of my top lashes:

Below you will see the mascara on both my top and bottom lashes:

Here is a single eye shot of top and bottom lashes:

This mascara works well but it didn't make my top 5 because I get more luscious lashes from the aforementioned mascaras.
Givenchy Phenomen Eyes (original)- $30.00

Here this mascara is on one set of lashes (please note I only have this mascara in brown!)

Both eyelashes on the top row done.

Top and bottom lashes

Single eye shot of my top and bottom lashes

And my other eye

Brown is obviously not my color but it does allow me to get to my lashes in the inner portion of my lid.

Maybelline Mega Plush- $6.99 (price varies at different drugstores)

As you can see the lashes are lengthened but they look a little thin all the way around, not giving much volume at all even though this is a volume express mascara. Perhaps more coats would have done the trick.
Here I have the mascara on both of my top lashes:

Here are my lashes top and bottom:

Single eye shot

And another single eye shot:

What are your favorite mascaras?

NOTW, On the big screen and the iPhone?

Greetings

I am wearing "Lotus", a sparkly purplish color from Zoya. Although this color has a sparkle to it, it does not include that hard to remove glitter. This polish comes off as easily as any other polish even though it apparently has some very fine glittery specs.

The Big Screen

On another note I can't wait to see this film:



Are you interested in the new iPhone 5? I enjoy Apple products and I know that they are in the business of making gadgets but I am getting a bit tired of the constant upgrades. I do like the map turn by turn audio directions, and the advancements made with the camera and Siri but it is worth a new phone? Decisions decisions......

New anti- reversion serum and NOTW

Hello Everyone

I saw an advertisement about this new anti-reversion cream serum from Dark and Lovely but I thought it was just another product on the market that wouldn't live up to its claims.  However, after watching one of the Essence beauty editors talk about this product and how it helped her natural hair I became interested. I haven't relaxed my hair in a little over one year so I was interested in giving this product a try. Please note that this product is marketed towards relaxed women but since I heard a natural sing its praises I had to pick it up.
I tried it this weekend on my mother's relaxed hair as well as my hair which is part natural (1 year's worth of new growth  ) and relaxed (all the rest). I will give this product a formal review in the form of a video but hands down I will get this product again- LOVELY. The natural portion of my hair  did not receive all of the benefits that my mother's relaxed hair received but I was still very satisfied.
Here are the ingredients:

Review coming soon!

I also tried out my new nail polish from Zoya. Faye is a golden /purple/brownish polish that glides on beautifully. It is listed on the Zoya site as an opaque polish, but after one coat I still needed just a bit more to fully cover my nail bed. After a light second coat it was perfect. I love this color and I am so pleased that I purchased this $8 polish.

WNTW and the Failed NOTD

Hello Everyone
Here is my latest WNTW (What's New This Week) video highlighting a few of my latest purchases. If you scroll to the end of this post, you will also see my Julep nail polish in the color Amber which I tried to rock yesterday.






When I walked into Sephora and I saw a mini collection of matte suede Julep polishes, I knew this would be my moment to finally try out something interesting from the brand. I purchased two colors, one which is featured in this post named Amber.  The color reminds me of taupe mixed with pewter and combined it makes a really lovely shade. I did not use a base coat and I certainly didn't use a top coat which would disturb the intended matte finish.  Here is what the polished looked like on my freshly manicured hands.

You may get a better feel for the color in the video I posted above. Although I love the color and finish of this $14,  3Free formula polish, I did not appreciate its inability to remain on my nails.
Unfortunately, my manicure didn't even make it through the entire day before this matte polish began to chip.

Perhaps this issue only exists with the Julep matte collection, which would not be shocking since many matte formulas tend to be problematic in one way or another. Have you tried Julep polishes?  If so what has been your experience?
What was your must have product of the summer?
Thanks for reading
PJD