Showing posts with label Makeup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Makeup. Show all posts
I think it's been awhile since I have reviewed an eyeshadow palette and I am very excited to be sharing this one with all of you today. The Anastasia Modern Renaissance palette has been a product that I have always admired, ever since it came out last summer, while walking past the beauty counters in the shops. I wouldn't say that I absolutely love palettes in general because they're way too big for me to ever use up, but I think this will be the first palette I have and will use up until I'm scraping the shadows from the pan.
I wrote briefly about this palette in my Christmas post as it was one of the gifts I received this past year. I think what really drew me to this palette was the entire aesthetic of it. It comes in a beautiful blush, velvet packaging that is very cute and is probably the first thing I noticed. Obviously, I was drawn to the incredibly beautiful shades. The rich golds, vibrant oranges, and deep red shades really stood out to me.
I like to buy palettes when I know I have room and the need for new eye shadows. I was holding off for awhile before Christmas to get a palette because I knew I wanted this one--and this one only. This palette is priced at around $45 and really isn't that bad for a 14 color palette (compared to an Urban Decay palette). I was so eager to try out the red shades because you would never think red would be a shade to put around your eyes. I wanted to try something new with my eye makeup and I have really loved the contrast it gives when you pop the color in the crease or on the outer lid. I recently did an eye look on my blue eyed sister, and it looks so classy and elegant. The overall theme of the palette was really well thought out. I love the renaissance inspired colors and the names are really unique to that period. I honestly feel like an artist when I use it.
I have swatched the palette a couple times in Sephora to see how the color payoff is and I was so impressed. SO IMPRESSED by Anastasia Beverly Hills. I know she has amazing products already and this palette takes the cake. Each shade is so buttery smooth. There is minor fall out here and there depending on the amount you use, but other than that, the powders are all amazingly opaque and vibrant like any paint would be.
For the sake of saving time and not having to swatch and touch every shade with my finger, I swatched two shades that I really love using. This one above is Primavera and is the perfect inner corner, champagne shade. It has just the right amount of shimmer to it and makes any eye look pop. It also is great to use on top of the lid to add a bit more definition.
I also wanted to swatch Red Ochre for you guys so you all can see the pigmentation of the deeper shades. It just looks so yummy! I think this would be a great touch to any eye look to add some color especially during the summer or fall. I guess you could also use it in the winter, but ohhh do I love this shade of red.
Each color blends really nicely and some of the deeper shades like the reds and oranges are actually better when applied with a finger to ensure all of the color to appear on the lid. Otherwise, using a brush works just as well.
Another shade I fell in love with was Buon Fresco, which is a very rich taupe (in the center above Red Ochre). I think this shade is great used all over the lid and nothing else. I have heard every blogger rave and express their love for this palette and I thought I could add to the mix for any of you looking for a new palette to try out. I think palettes can be hard to find or just hard to own because they can be expensive, too big, or maybe they just aren't the right shades you like or are comfortable with. Everybody has their own preferences and that's what I love about the variety of palettes out there. Have you tried this palette yet?
Across all of the well known beauty brands many have come very known to have great pressed powders. However, I have found one of the best, in my opinion, high end and reliable pressed face powders out there. The Mac Studio Fix Powder gives off great medium coverage and is my everyday go-to powder for touchups or use on my lighter makeup days when I don't feel like caking on a full face of makeup.
I knew about this powder, but was hesitant about spending approximately $27 on a face powder, when I could easily run over to Walgreen's and purchase three Rimmel Stay Matte powders if I wanted with the same amount of money. I was, to be honest, sick of drugstore powders (yes, there are some I love), but I was ready to actually treat myself and stop walking past the Mac counter wanting to try out this powder that is probably better for my skin anyway.
When I walked into the Mac store at my local mall, it was New Year's Eve and crazy packed with people getting their makeup done for the long night out. I was expecting it to be crowded and actually had a bad time there. I talked to about three people to get helped and matched to this powder (which only took 2 seconds) and I ended up waiting for about 45 minutes until someone else's makeup artist was helping me as she was doing the woman's makeup. Besides that fiasco, I think I have learned my lesson for walking into a Mac on New Year's Eve.
The lady that color matched me did it by looking at my face once and letting me try it out to see if I liked the color. She chose NC20 and it was surprisingly the exact shade of my face. I gotta give those makeup artists credit because it probably would have taken me an hour to figure it out, since I am so indecisive about shades.
The formula was actually very smooth and silky on the face. I swatched it and thought I was touching butter. Compared to my drugstore powders, there is an obvious difference. This powder does not crumble or has a lot of fallout which is great when you've just put on a nice outfit and it basically snows all over your new dress. I think the biggest thing I noticed with this powder was the way it kept my face incredibly matte and shine free. Specifically around my T-zone, I get insane amounts of oil on occasion and this powder really helps to lock it in and prevent any oil from getting through. Drugstore powders usually don't last for a very long time, but this one really does, even with full coverage foundation on underneath it.
I like to apply my powders with a brush, but I do notice that using a Beauty Blender or any makeup sponge helps for setting under eye concealer and this powder can act as a baking powder if desired. I love Mac's sleek and simple packaging that also features a little compartment for a sponge to use on the go! It's little details like that that I just love about any makeup brand. They take the time to create great, useful products and Mac has really impressed me. This being the first Mac face product I have used, kinda makes me want to try out the Mac Studio Fix foundation next.
Whether you are looking for a new powder, wanting to try something new to add to your makeup collection, or just want to know what's good, try this! I know it's a lot of money to spend on a product, but this goes on like butter and is really great for sensitive skin. Sometimes it's nice to treat ourselves and powder is something that I use almost every single day (not on no-makeup days obvi). I think it is a very practical thing to spend on once you find the right powder that works for your skin type and doesn't react poorly with your skin. For me, this is a great powder and it will probably be a continuous product I use in my routine. What face powder do you guys love?
Happy new year everyone! It is finally the new year and what a way to start off fresh, but also remember the positive things that happened. I thought I would post today instead of tomorrow since it is the first day of the new year. My blog has been progressing and growing into a really awesome and supportive community. I am so thankful for every one of you who visit, read, and enjoy my content. I hope there are many more great things to come with this blog and you stick with me till the end of 2017 and beyond.
I have compiled a few (it was really hard deciding) of the most used products and products that have impacted my makeup/beauty regime a ton this past year.
Nars Velvet Matte Tint Foundation in Finland- This is a new addition to my makeup collection and was my Christmas present to myself. A girl can't go wrong with a really nice and great quality foundation, amirite? I was looking for an awesome matte foundation that wouldn't sink into my skin and show my dry skin or make my face oily after a short period of time--and it is great at avoiding all of those things. I will be doing a separate review of this foundation to get into further depth, but this is a really awesome product and I am already using so much of it. My very first Nars face product is a success!
Travel Size Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla- I actually went in store to be color matched for my foundation, then I bought it online at Sephora and needed a couple more bucks to get free shipping, so I was like what the heck, and bought a mini Nars concealer to try out as well. It is very creamy and I am really impressed by the way it doesn't crease it all under my eyes throughout the day.
Revlon HD Matte Lip Color in Love- This was one of my Amish store finds recently this year and I scored it at only a dollar. It truly is one of the best drugstore matte lip colors I have found and I love the vanilla scent it has and how long it really lasts and doesn't crumble on the lips. It's one of those matte lip products that won't sink into the creases of your lips and really hydrates them as it stays in place all day. Definitely a great find and a very pretty red for the holiday season.
Milani Conceal and Perfect Foundation- I think one of the greatest drugstore foundations I found this year was this Milani one. I was inspired by many Youtubers raving about how great the formula was and I was looking for a new, long wearing foundation. Even before the Nars one came along, this foundation is super buildable and is great to use with a damp beauty sponge. It doesn't crease or slide around and you hardly need a quarter size amount to get full coverage.
Soap & Glory Glow All Out Highlighter- I think this year was the year that highlighter really made its mark. Especially in my makeup regime, I never thought about highlighting and didn't quite know about how to do it or where the best products were. Surprisingly, the best highlighters can be right around the corner at your local drugstore and Soap & Glory has to be the main victor when it comes to inexpensive and great quality products overall this year. Specifically their highlighters. This one is not your overly top "KimK" highlight, but is very subtle and adds a really nice glow to the cheek bones.
Mac Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in NC20- This is also a new addition to the collection and I have been on the search for a new and reliable powder that would make my skin oil free and very, very soft. I also want to write about this powder soon to give you all a full review on it, but so far I have really loved it. I was never one to want or be that interested in Mac, just because there are so many other great brands out there, I was so distracted by all the beauty noise! This powder really gets the job done and is very pretty on top of any foundation.
Mini Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Rose Gold- This was a part of the Paint it Pink Sephora Favorites set and I have really made a dent in this little guy! Becca is really known for her timeless highlighters and products and they have become so popular in the beauty blogger world. I really love the smoothness and pigmentation of this highlighter/shimmer pigment. I actually use it more as an eyeshadow and love it. Plus, it's rose gold people.
Mini Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Captivating- I was never into blushes and I don't normally go out to just specifically buy one, but man I have fallen in love with Tarte's blushes. This was another part of the Sephora Favorites set and gives off the perfect peachy toned look. These blushes are incredibly smooth and opaque.
Essie Polish in Tassel Shaker- Another great clearance find was this Essie polish that is a glitter topcoat with really pretty copper and gold flakes in it. Perfect for New Years and just a really pretty polish in general. I love using it on an accent nail to add a bit of flare to my nails.
Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Drama- I don't know why, but this mascara really sticks out in my entire collections of drugstore mascaras. It was really hard, to be honest, to choose and not pick out the Maybelline Lash Sensational as my favorite (which it is), but this one just made every eye look "pop". It does a way better job at lengthening and bringing the lashes out more, especially on the sides of my lashes.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette- Ugh. Really no words for how great this palette is. I mean, just look at it... I will definitely be reviewing this, too. Let's just appreciate the artistry incorporated in this palette. Well done, Anastasia, well done. I really haven't put this down since Christmas.
Maybelline Eyestudio Brow Drama Sculpting Mascara in Clear- Moving on, another Amish store purchase was this brow gel! I only had one really old and expired Mary Kay Brow Gel, so I was in need for a new one. I heard only a little about Maybelline's new Brow Drama Mascaras and was a bit skeptical at the idea of painting on brows per say. I only like to use clear brow gel and was happy to find one in their collection, especially at an Amish store. It isn't sticky or tacky on the brows and really does help keep them in place.
Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede Cologne- I am very indecisive when it comes to picking out perfume scents and to be honest, bloggers made me ask for this for Christmas (thanks guys). I do have to say, this is probably one of the best perfumes I have ever owned, smelled, and used (and most expensive might I add). If you are looking for a great quality and smelling perfume, that you don't mind splurging on, I would really recommend Jo Malone's. I use this only on occasion, so the smaller bottle is completely fine. This will probably be talked about more later!
Beauty Blender- Last, but not least is the ever-so-talked about sponge. The thing we all "think" we need in our collections. The "infamous" sponge that costs so much, but works so damn well (to speak candidly). I got this in the Paint it Pink set as well and wasn't wanting to waste $20 on one sponge when I could spend a bit more and get a ton more products for my buck. If you are a crazy makeup lover, this sponge is well worth it and has changed the way I apply and use my makeup. Especially when you use it damp, it seamlessly blends and smooths out your makeup. Another favorite of mine is the Real Techniques sponge for like a quarter of the price. I just had to include this little guy because it's a "life changer".
Well, I guess that was all of the products I thought made the biggest impact in my makeup regime this year, even though there were still a ton more to talk about. I love reminiscing over the things that made me happy over the year and what I have accomplished. I think we're all ready to see what this new year brings and what new makeup I will discover. I wish everyone a happy new year and a relaxing holiday.
What product made your 2016 worthwhile?
Xoxo, Nat
Finals are over for me and I feel like a huge weight has been released off my chest. I can relax, go do some yoga, and ease into my blog posts before Christmas. Which, may I remind you, is only four days away. I thought I would do a makeup look post for the holiday and I am really wanting to try this out on Christmas and you guys can, too! It's a very warm, wintery look that I think will suit pretty much anyone.
As for posts going up this week, I have a couple in mind, but I also want to take this time to relax and enjoy my break while I can. Posts will be decided eventually, so I may or may not have something up on the usual day--bear with me!
Maybelline Dream Velvet Matte Foundation in Creamy Natural- For the face, I have recently started using this and really enjoy the smooth and matte finish it gives. If you are a pretty oily or shiny skin type, this would be perfect for you. Especially during these drier and colder months, I know it can be a little hard to reach for the matte foundations, however, this one seamlessly glides and blends perfectly on the skin. I normally like to use a Beauty Blender for this type of foundation to make sure it doesn't settle in any weird places.
L'Oreal Paris Black Velvet Liner- I have really loved the look of smokey eyes and smudging out the top liner on my eyes. This liner does the job amazingly. It has a doe foot applicator and is really easy to use.
Covergirl Plumpify Mascara- To add a lot of volume to my eyes and to make them appear bigger than they are, this Plumpify mascara really does the trick. I love the ball tip on the applicator so that you can make sure to get and curl every lash.
Urban Decay Primer Potion- This is kind of a given because who doesn't love Urban Decay's primers? A true necessity when it comes to holiday makeup. You don't want any of your eye makeup falling off during a nice time with family and friends!
Maybelline 24 Hr Color Tattoo Crayon in Creamy Chocolate- Speaking of makeup staying for a long time, this 24 hr eyeshadow crayon from Maybelline is great for very long nights and events when you don't want to worry about reapplying. I especially love to smoke it out under my eyes on the water line a bit to create a sultry, golden-bronzed eye look.
Ardell "Natural" False Lashes- I'm kind of going backwards, but that's okay. These Ardell lashes really are great drugstore lashes. I have fallen in love with the beautiful effects they can create. It might not be a bad idea to add some drama to your look!
Stila Eyes are the Window Palette in Soul- Mind the broken shadow way back when I dropped the whole palette during a photoshoot, but I have really not ignored this amazing palette. The warm toned shades are so awesome for a smokey, bronzed holiday look. I find that a bronze eye and bold, red lip is the perfect combination for Christmas.
NYX HD Blush in Hamptons- I also love using more blushes during the winter as opposed to bronzers and contouring. This bright, frosty pink is great for this time of year. Adding some pigment to the cheeks defines this very wintery look.
Benefit Hoola Bronzer- Usually I like to warm up my face a bit and just define my cheekbones and forehead a bit. Nothing too dramatic like a full on contour.
Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lip Color in Forever Scarlet- To finish off this Christmassy look, obviously I need some red! I discovered this super long lasting, matte liquid lipstick by Revlon and absolutely gravitate towards it whenever I do my makeup. Nothing like a good classic red during Christmas!
I hope this post inspired all of you to start to create your own holiday looks for this season no matter the holiday you celebrate. I'm excited and relieved to be on break. Hopefully I can get posts up soon this break, but until then, I wish everyone a calm and relaxed holiday and time off. We all deserve it.
What's your go-to holiday makeup look?
Xoxo, Nat
All over the beauty blogger world, Revlon has been quite the popular brand when it comes to amazing drugstore lip products. I was just going through my makeup collection and found that many of my favorite lip products to use are by Revlon. They're known for their super, long lasting formulas and I can't seem to stop buying them because they're just so great. I also noticed that their Colorstay nail polishes are just as amazing as the lip products. I might have to do a separate review on those, as well.
Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lipcolor in Forever Scarlet- I recently discovered this lip color a couple weeks ago and absolutely LOVE IT. Probably the best matte and long wearing lip product I've owned. It doesn't crack or dry out your lips and the clear lip gloss adds a touch of moisture to reduce it from crumbling or moving around. I've eaten a Chipotle burrito with this on, and lemme tell yeah, no lip gloss was to be found (or eaten for that matter). Truly recommend!
Revlon Colorstay Lipliner in Rose- I've actually had this lip liner for ages and can't seem to get rid of it! It's super long wearing and very reliable when I can't figure out which color lipstick to wear. It practically goes with every color because of how neutral it is. I'm not a huge lip liner fan anyway, but boy do I love this Revlon liner.
Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in Shanghai Sizzle- Both of these Moisture Stains really do resemble lip glosses and are far from being lipsticks. However, they add just the right amount of pigment and I think they can really soften and sweeten a look up a bit. This is one of my favorite coral shades to wear in the summertime.
Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in Cannes Crush- This one is less intense and gives off more of a peachy tone. This is also very nice during the spring or summer. I don't know, I think orange shades look great with tans. Don't you agree?
Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor in Love- Bloggers made me do it. I'm a little late to the game, but I do have to say that I love this HD Matte lipcolors. They're intensely opaque and pigmented. They also give off a very sweet, vanilla scent. I'm not complaining! This first pink/coral shade is very vibrant and I think it would look amazing in the summer.
Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor in Temptation- This is more of a scarlet red and is actually a very nice Christmas-ey red, in my opinion. I love how moisturizing these lip products are while still being matte. No wonder there are so many raves about them!
I've been really impressed by Revlon's lip range lately and none of their lip products cease to satisfy or amaze my expectations. I'm probably going to go out and buy even more shades (probably nudes) of these products, because why not? They're awesome!
Tell me what you think in the comments down below!
Xoxo, Nat
So, I don't think I have completely done a full drugstore mascara collection post and surprisingly most of the mascaras I use daily and love are from the drugstore. After that huge Amish store beauty haul, I've been able to experiment and try out more mascaras. Drugstore brands have really upped their game with mascaras and I really have been impressed with the formulas. I find myself reaching more for these than I do for my Mac or Smashbox mascaras.
Older Favorites
Covergirl Lashblast- I find this mascara to be very volumizing. I know that actress, Shay Mitchell, obsesses over this mascara and I thought to give it a chance. Personally, I have always loved Covergirl's mascaras and their new formulas have been the BOMB.
Maybelline Lash Sensational- Ugh the ever-so-amazing fan favorite. Compared to Benefit's Roller Lash, this mascara does all the curl and the lift. Butterfly lashes, please!
Maybelline The Rocket- I found this mascara to be insanely similar to the Covergirl Lashblast. It gives a ton of extra volume. It also makes my lashes almost look fake in a way. It lifts your lashes really well.
Covergirl The Super Sizer- This is a great lengthening mascara and really does the job with it's absurdly thin wand. I also found that this mascara stays put for dayzz. It never crumbles and honestly, who hasn't forgotten to take their makeup at least once in their life and found all the remains on their newly ruined pillow? This mascara won't let you down!
Newer Favorites
Maybelline Falsies Push Up Drama- I really noticed that this mascara does a better job at lengthening than "pushing up". It is great at creating the fluttery eyelash look and separating lashes. I noticed a bit of clumping, but sometimes clumping is good!
Revlon Lash Potion-This mascara has given me a weird impression. I haven't ever tried Revlon mascaras and this one was good at volumizing, but it did leave a lot of clumping. I think i'll have to continue using it and give it another shot. However, I've heard that overtime as it dries, it gets better. So, hopefully it does!
Covergirl Plumpify- Honestly, I fell in love with the shape of this wand. The ball tip makes it so easy to get every single lash. I think this mascara does the perfect job at curling and opening your eyes up more.
I'm always willing to try out new mascaras and their are many older ones that I haven't even heard of! It's amazing how many drugstore mascaras there are these days. What's one of your favorites?
Xoxo, Nat
Hello everybody! I am back and better rested than ever. Thanksgiving is sadly over and all of my leftover turkey has been devoured; it went by so fast! It's almost Christmas and I can't believe it. Anyway, while I was at my Grandma's house this past week, I went to an Amish general store. Natalie, what is Amish, exactly? It's not "what" it's "who". In short, the Amish are a "group of Christian traditionalists", according to Wikipedia, and are mostly related to Mennonite churches. They live all over the country and prefer to live a simple lifestyle: no electricity and only propane gas, handmade clothes, they build their own houses, and choose to make other minimalistic lifestyle choices.
Many Amish communities have stores that people like us, or the "English" as they say, can go buy their products and produce they grow to sell. Many of these products are items you would normally see at any local market or pharmacy: cereal, canned goods, coffee, snacks, drinks, candy (lots of it), baking supplies, medicine, beauty and healthcare products, and much more. How they get these products is still to be figured out, but many of them are expired or closeout items that may have been slightly damaged or never bought. Fortunately, all of these items are almost 90% off and pretty much all of the makeup was a dollar. My family and I pretty much bought out everything they had and came home with boxes filled with stuff. This haul is probably a fourth of what we got in total. So here is only some of it:
So as I wandered over to the little shelf of drugstore beauty products, I noticed a huge cardboard box filled with nail polish. A lot of it was undesirable colors like neon green and weird, extraneous orange shades but, I managed to find a couple that I really loved. I was really surprised and overwhelmed by how practically free they were.
Revlon Colorstay Nail Polish in Perfect Pair $.50 (Orig. $7.58)
Revlon Colorstay Nail Polish in High Roller $.50 (Orig. $7.58)
Nicole By OPI in Shoot for the Maroon $.50 (Orig. $8.99)
If you've been here for a while you know that I have had a very long relationship with Simple's Micellar Waters. Boy, did I find Heaven. I use these every single day so, it wasn't such a bad idea to purchase every single one they had for just a dollar. They also had a huge collection of their wipes and I needed to pick a few up, as well!
Simple Micellar Water $1 ($7.79)
Simple Micellar Wipes $2.50 ($7.79)
Simple Exfoliating Wipes $2.50 ($6.29)
They also had a huge cardboard box of lip products. Pretty much all of these had seals on them before I took them off. I was especially excited for the Revlon Ultra HD lipglosses. I have heard raves about them all over and was intimidated by the high price to pay for only one tube. I also fell in love with this berry Milani shade that is perfect for this time of year.
Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor in Love $1 ($8.99)
Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor in Temptation $1 ($8.99)
Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme in Obsession $1 ($7.99)
I found a few face products and sort of had to guess which shade would match my skin tone. I managed to successfully find all of the shades that somewhat matched (more or less). I was very excited to try out some newer foundations and pick up a couple that I have owned before that I liked. The Covergirl concealer, for example, has been a long favorite of mine.
Rimmel Match Perfection BB Cream in Light $1 ($5.99)
Maybelline Age Rewind Foundation in 120 $1 ($12.99)
NYX HD Blush in Hamptons $1 ($10.50)
If you're still with me this far, kudos to you! I also picked up three L'Oreal eyeliners which I am super excited about and a Maybelline Master Fix Makeup Setting Spray. I have heard Tati Westbrook, a beauty guru on Youtube, rave about this spray and I've only ever tried the Elf Setting Spray which I didn't really like. Hopefully, she's right!
L'Oreal Lineur Intense Eyeliner $1 ($8.95)
L'Oreal Telescopic Eyeliner $1 ($8.95)
L'oreal Black Velvet Eyeliner $1 ($8.95)
Maybelline Master Fix Setting Spray $1 ($9.99)
I was actually in the need of some new drugstore mascaras to try out because I just did a big clean out of old ones I have used up. I was surprised to find many different kinds and was very happy to find the Revlon Lash Potion and Maybelline Brow Drama Gel.
Maybelline Brow Drama Gel in Transparent $1 ($7.99)
Maybelline Push Up Drama Mascara $1 ($7.49)
Revlon Lash Potion Mascara $1 ($7.49)
Covergirl Plumpify Mascara $1 ($4.81)
Kind of out of order, but I also found the Simple Light Moisturizer which I also use and love especially during the winter when my skin is incredibly dry and I also found a new Elf eyelash curler that I am grateful to have found because mine was pretty much fallen apart.
Simple Light Protecting Moisturizer $1.50 ($8.99)
Elf Eyelash Curler $1 ($2.00)
Last, but not least, are these two Maybelline Color Tattoos. I actually have the cream versions and love them to death. They really do last for a whole day! There is no smudging, creasing, or crumpling. Hopefully these act the same as the cream versions do.
Maybelline Color Tattoo Crayon in Gold Rush $1 ($6.99)
I don't think I've ever had to put in that many links into a post before, phew! I hope you guys enjoyed this massive haul. I've never done anything like this and hope to do it again in the future when I go back to my Grandma's. Obviously, most of this stuff will be gifted off to some people because I couldn't use it all enough and I know some of my friends that would love some of these products even more than I do. I would say that it was a very successful haul, though. I found a ton of products for practically nothing that I would never have bought due to how expensive some drugstore makeup products can be these days.
What products that I bought have you tried? Let me know if you liked/disliked any!
Xoxo, Nat
Wearing false lashes has been a great fear of mine. You'd think since I love makeup so much that I would be familiar with them but, boy, do I avoid these at all costs! I envy everyone that can perfectly apply these and make their lashes look butterfly-like.
I thought I would take it upon myself and try to attempt them. Based off of many Youtube tutorials and advice, I have tried to at least get the lashes on my eyelid and nowhere else on my face. I thought this would be a very open and honest experience and wanted to do this for all of you (like me) who are scared or skeptical about trying false lashes for the first time.
When I walked into my local CVS Pharmacy to get these lashes, I was a bit overwhelmed with the different types and sizes. I knew, though, that I wanted "natural", or whatever that meant because they're obviously not natural. I wanted to try a couple different types to see how the cheaper ones compare to the more expensive ones.
The Lashes
e.l.f. Natural Lash Kit- $2.00
My first thought of these lashes was that they did not, whatsoever, look like "natural" lashes. These were the ones I used in the picture below. For two dollar lashes, I guess I expected them to not be as high quality compared to the Ardell lashes; the lashes looked like cellophane almost and the band was very flimsy and hard to apply glue on. It did include glue but, I was a bit skeptical about the quality of it. I would say, though, that these would work well if you wanted to achieve some type of costume/Halloween look. I don't think these are worth it if you are wanting a natural eye look.
These Makeup Academy lashes actually really impressed me. They were a bit more expensive than the elf ones but, really looked natural. They felt real and looked real. I actually used these ones for a Fawn makeup look over Halloween a couple weeks ago. I think these are really worth the extra three bucks! I would wear these every day if I could.
Ardell Deluxe Pack Lashes- $7.99 ($4.99 ea)
I have heard raves about these lashes and I wanted to see what it was all about! I bought this deluxe pack because I think you really do get more for your money. You get two sets of lashes, really handy tweezers, and a mini bottle of Duo glue which I thought was better than using the elf glue that came with those lashes. I think these could also be great to use to create a natural and more amped up look. For the same price as the MUA lashes, these are another great alternative.
The Application
For my first try, I think I did a pretty good job. It took a while to figure out the right way to do it and I am not exactly sure that I did it the right way but, let me explain what I did. I just used the elf lashes for my absolute first try so I wouldn't waste the other ones. However, I did use the Ardell tweezers and the Duo lash glue.
So, after watching some tutorials, the first thing I was told to do was to make sure you had the right glue and the right lashes for each eye. Check. Then it said to make sure the lashes fit your eye and cut off the ends so they are easily matched up. Check. Then, with your lash glue, it said to carefully add a thin layer of glue and wait for about 30 seconds for it to get "tacky" or whatever that's supposed to mean. Check.
After I waited a couple seconds, I lined up the lashes on the center of my lid closest to my upper lash line. I used the really helpful tweezers I got and pushed them down a bit. I noticed that the ends were coming up so I could have trimmed them down more and i didn't get very close to the lash line because my arm was in the way as I was struggling to see where I was applying it.
The Final Thoughts
I have only thought of false lashes and their correlation with beauty pageants and costume makeup. Never did I ever think that they could be worn during the day on a normal basis. This experience has opened my eyes (literally) and I think that they aren't that scary to use, even if they seem intimidating at first.
With practice, I think they can actually be fun to use to add a little drama to your look. Do I think they look natural? No. But, I think they're fun when used correctly. Even if you're not that psyched about the big lashes, try individual lashes to start and add a tiny bit of volume to your lashes.
Would I wear these on the daily? Eh, probably not. I know for a fact that I am not scared to use these more often now, especially for events and performances. I hope that I get better at applying them and I can continue to find better options for you guys!
If you have used lashes before, let me know in the comments what your favorite lashes are and your story with using them for the first time! If you're new to lashes, I hope you know that you are definitely not alone. They're not easy to start using so please don't feel bad if you're having trouble with them.
On a very different note (lashes aside), I hope everybody has a great day, and the results of the election (if you are a US citizen) does not affect the love and hope I have for every one of you. Please know that I am here to talk to if you would like to chat and please feel free to email me.
Xoxo, Nat
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