Mascara Loving: Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

Photo Credit: Sephora Website

I'm one of those girls who has always had a hard time applying mascara to her bottom lashes. I've heard of tricks and tips to help make application less messy and smear-free (think holding a business card under the lashes or turning the the wand vertically), but nothing really seemed to work for me. Regardless of my approach, I would always end up with black smudges under my eyes. Definitely not a cute look. And if that weren't bad enough, in the process of cleaning up, I would wipe off the concealer I had just applied (I guess I could/should have put on my face makeup after finishing my eye makeup, but old habits die hard!).

Recently, I've been hearing a lot of buzz about Clinique's NEW Bottom Lash Mascara, and so I thought "why not give it a go?" The product comes in a cute little tube decorated in a floral pattern. It is definitely much smaller than the traditional mascara tube - .07 oz for $10 - but, then again, it is only meant to be used on the lower lashes, and I really could only see it being used for that purpose. The brush is perfectly shaped and sized (teeny tiny!) to easily coat the smaller, finer lower lashes. I find that I can really get down into the lashes without making a mess. The wand helps separate each lash without obvious clumping (be careful - only a small amount of product is needed on the brush to do the job!).

It is stated that Bottom Lash mascara can be removed easily with warm water. I used an oil-based cleanser to take it off (as I had full eye makeup on), but I am quite sure that it would have washed right off with the water alone.

Overall, I am really enjoying this product. While some may say that it is not necessary to use a separate mascara for the bottom lashes, this is really a godsend for those klutzes like me who may not have the steadiest of hands (or the patience!). While I have often passed on applying mascara to my lower lashes - and not for lack of a desire to add a little more drama to my look - I am confident that I will now take the initiative much more frequently.

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara is available in 2 shades - black (which I have been using) and black/brown - and can be found at Sephora and other locations at which Clinique products are sold.

Weigh in: Have you tried Bottom Lash? Are you interested in trying it? Do you think it's an unnecessary product? Share your thoughts!

NB: I purchased this myself.

Mascara Loving: NEW Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara With GROW-LASH Complex

Photo credit: Rimmel London website

Let's face it. Mascara is pretty important to me. On a daily basis, I don't have the time (or energy!) to do a full eyeshadow look, and most days I'll simply swipe on a few coats of mascara and run out the door. I've found myself purchasing a lot of different mascaras lately (mostly drugstore), many of which are ones that have been getting a lot of attention, trying to figure out what works best to enhance my natural lashes (which on their own, tend to be average length, but rather straight pre-lash curler....thanks dad!).

One mascara that I have really been enjoying over the past couple of weeks is Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara with Grow-Lash Complex. I find that the formula really does the job of lengthening my lashes (I generally apply a few coats, as I normally would with any mascara) and even adds a bit of volume as well (for added volume, I would suggest pairing with a volumizing mascara). I don't have any issues with the formula flaking throughout the day, and the brush is the perfect size for reaching those lashes in the inner corners of the eyes. I sometimes have a more difficult time applying mascara to this area with thicker wands. I would say, however, that with added coats you might notice a slight bit of clumping. Personally, I didn't find this bothersome, but I thought it was worth a quick mention. If it does bother you, combing out the lashes should do the trick. Another aspect of the product that I greatly appreciate is the fact that the wand doesn't pull too much product out of the tube each time. Way too often the openings of my mascara tubes get filled with excess product "crud." Lash Accelerator imparts just the right amount of drama, making it a perfect option for daytime wear.

Rimmel claims that Lash Acclerator helps to promote natural lash growth. On the product page on the Rimmel website it states, "instantly, your lashes look up to 80% longer, but then after 30 days of continued use, they’ll appear up to 117% longer!" While I can't speak to the more long-term effects of the mascara as I haven't been using it long enough, I can say, that, as of now, I don't see a real difference in the appearance of my naked lashes. The exclusive GROW-LASH complex contains Procapil®, to strengthen the roots, in addition to lash-conditioning ingredients such as biotin, keratin, and bamboo.

Overall, I think Lash Accelerator would be a good one to test out if you are on the market for a new mascara that imparts natural length and definition to lashes. It is a great affordable option (I think I snagged mine from CVS for $7.99) and drugstores are always running BOGO sales (makes the deal even sweeter, right?). Try it! I think you'll like it! ;-)

So, have you tried Lash Accelerator yet? Do you like it? Hate it? Indifferent? What mascaras are you currently enjoying?

NB: I purchased this myself.

Beauty Preview: Nordstrom And MAC Present Exclusive Opulash Mascara

"Extra, extra, read all about it!" Behold, MAC's latest mascara and a Nordstrom beauty exclusive....Opulash! With a formula designed to maximize lash volume and curl, Opulash boasts a full wand that tapers at its tip (my favorite brush design!) and promises to coat lashes uniformly without creating the "spider lash" effect. It creates dramatic lashes without clumping.

The new Opulash mascara will be available ONLY at Nordstrom stores and online at www.nordstrom.com where it will retail for $14. While it officially launches on April 22, it is possible to pre-order starting on April 12.

I am very curious to see how this bad boy performs. Thus far, I haven't had any experience with MAC mascaras (though I do have Studio Fix Lash waiting in my beauty drawer to be tried when some of my others have been used up/dried out).

What do you think? Will you try MAC Opulash mascara?

Beauty From Canada: A Look At Vasanti Cosmetics

As a beauty blogger, one of the aspects I love the most is gaining exposure to new and exciting national and international brands. One such brand that has recently caught my attention is Vasanti Cosmetics, a beauty line out of Canada offering a full range of terrific products. Recently, I have tried out some of their offerings and I'm very excited to tell you a bit about them and some of my thoughts.

Yesterday, for an afternoon out shopping with a girlfriend, I decided to do a "Vasanti eye," using one of their eyeshadow palettes and mascara (of course I left my camera at home!). As much as I appreciate and love color, on a daily basis (if I wear shadows) I'm really a neutral gal. Vasanti's Eye Colour Palette in "Manhattan 24/7" ($40) was a perfect fit! This compilation of shadows contains five fairly frosty/shimmery natural, everyday colors in a compact with a nice-sized mirror and a dual-ended brush (I have not used the brushes to apply the colors).

The Colors:

1. Soho - Neutral pearly champagne 2. Central Park - Golden peach shimmer 3. Wall Street - Medium brown with a hint of lustre 4. Tribeca - Metallic pearl pink 5. Times Square - Burgundy brown w/subtle coppery shimmer

I found the shadows very easy to use. They blended easily and I was quite happy with the simple daytime look I created (Soho on the lid, Central Park blended into the crease, and Wall Street in the outer corner area). So pretty! I didn't experience much fall out at all with the shadows, either. My only criticisms of the palette are the fact that it only contains shimmery and metallic shades (as opposed to one or two with matte finishes) and also that there was no real highlight color. When grabbing for a palette, I tend to like to have the option to create a balanced look with just that one grouping of eyeshadows (especially for travel). That being said, however, I think that this product will be a nice choice for the spring and summer when I tend to gravitate more towards those colors with more lustre.

To round off the eye look I used the brand's Long Lash Mascara in Intense Black ($16). For daytime, I am all about adding length to my lashes without weighing them down with heavy formulas (I love the soft, natural look). I found that this mascara (housed in a sexy, skinny little tube!) met both of my criteria. The brush is really nice (reminds me a bit of one of my favorites, Maybelline Full and Soft) and easily coats the lashes while adding some length and volume. The formula contains moisturizing ingredients such as Vitamin E, Jojoba Oil, and Shea Butter, as well as Panthenol and hydrolyzed silk protein to condition.

Another Vasanti product that I have been using for the past couple of weeks is their EYE WONDER Triple Action Eye Treatment Cream ($42). I have incorporated this into my nighttime routine. The formula is soft and creamy and applies to my under eye area nicely without any tugging or irritation. I pat this underneath my eyes, covering my dark circles. Though it is a little early in the game to comment on the product's more long-term benefits, I am very much enjoying it. The cream's unique formula works to minimize the effects of dark circles, puffiness, and wrinkles. It acts to target the underlying causes of the issues (aging, sun exposure, etc.), by thickening the skin around dark areas (with Dermican) and reducing puffiness with Eyeliss. There is a lot of product contained in the tub as well, considering how little you need to use to cover the area of interest. I'm still working off of the cap!

So this blog edition has covered my thoughts and experiences using some of the products from the Vasanti Cosmetics range. Overall, I am rather impressed with the line! If you are interested in learning more about the products from this brand, be sure to check out their website, www.vasanticosmetics.ca/us (leave off the "us" for the canadian site).

P.S. I loove the bright packaging!

NB: These products were sent to me by a PR representative for my consideration. Though I did not purchase them myself, my review was in no way influenced by my receipt of samples. I am dedicated to providing reviews that are 100% my own opinions, bias-free. If I ever feel that I cannot give my readers honest feedback on a product, I will not present a review for it. I am here to inform, and publishing untruthful thoughts is neither beneficial to those who visit my blog nor to me.