I'm not gonna lie, I was drawn to the packaging on this one. The concept is cutesy and retro inspired. I was also curious about the two part brush system.

The pros, it's a nice rick black color, the small section of the brush is great for reaching the hard to grab lashes and ease into the corners. It really lifts my lashes kind of like a pushup bra for your eyes. It didn't flake or crumble. The formula layered well with my Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir for added staying power and length. I loved that it didn't get clumpy either. This is a great mascara for creating the relationship between your falsies and natural lashes too. I like this type of brush for that.

The cons, I didn't feel like I got that feathery look I go for. The texture felt a little too wet but that could have been because my Marc mascara was on its last leg and dry as a desert.

Overall, if you are looking for an inexpensive mascara that lifts and curls like a champ, I would check this out! I don't know if I would repurchase since I just wear it with another mascara or falsies but I might use my Extra Bucks for it from time to time.

With all the festivities who doesn't want to look their best this season? Lashes are one of your best accessories! Whether you like a more natural face or something more dramatic, lashes can make or break the final look. If you follow me on social media you probably know I'm obsessed with lengthy, fluffy fringe.

If any of you are interested in ordering that amazing mascara I did a review (here) about last week I have a party open on my website. I now sell all the Younique products. Feel free to ask me any questions and I will be sure to help you out! :)

this is with 2 coats - damn!

While strolling through Harmon's Discount last week I came across L'Oreal's Miss Manga Mascara which is part of the Voluminous line. I am not a Manga fan but you all know I am a mascara fan so of course I had to try it out. I've given it a good week of use and so far these are my thoughts....


Pros:
Lengthening - I love the length it gives my lashes, especially my bottom ones.
Soft - It does not dry hard on your lashes which I like. Your lashes will still have flexibility and won't feel brittle which is great for curling.
Layers - This formula layers nicely. It does get "spidery" but I like that long thick look.

Cons:
Too wet - I like my mascara a little bit more on the dry side. I feel that it adheres better and layers nicer too.
Bendable Wand - I find that this style wand makes it more difficult to layer because I don't have that force behind the brush. But I'm sure this is also a pro because you can bend it to get into the corners easier.
Long Tapered Wand - This can make application a little bit messy.


Retailing at about $9 I do think this is worth trying out depending on how you feel about wet mascara. The Pro's and Con's are even. I'm not sure I would repurchase but I am curious to see how this works as it dries out a bit more with use.

This week is yes, another mascara. I had a 100 point sample of Tarte's Lights Camera Lashes Mascara and it is really great. It actually surprised me. Usually the more traditional mascara brushes don't impress me but this one was different. Maybe it was the way the bristles were spaced or the material they were made of or maybe it was just the formula. I don't know what it is, but it works! It feathers lashes out beautifully and gives a great fringy (not a word? lol). This mascara is also one of the first ones I've tried where I can actually say that it curls my lashes. No eyelash curler needed.

Other blog posts featuring this mascara:
Violet Smoke & Fringe
Moody Blues
04/10/14 Makeup of Day
04/11/14 Makeup of Day

photo: Sephora.com

I know what you are going to say, "Another mascara?!" The answer is yes. My name is Jackie and I am a addicted to mascara. :)

This week's new addiction is from L'Oreal. It's their Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara. It's a drugstore mascara so I was excited to tell you guys about it. It retails at about $8. I would say it's a close dupe for the Dior Extase Mascara. I don't know if I would say it's exact because the brush is different and the formula is less mousse like but it does give me a similar effect in the end.

" BETTE DAVIS once said that she owed her success to brown mascara. But if Davis were alive today, the actress with the famously dramatic eyes might give the same credit to her mascara brush. "   (NY Times)


I've collected some of my favorite lash products to share with you. These are by far the best lash enhancing tools I have come across. Like I have said in previous posts I like long and thick (spidery) lashes. I put on multiple coats of whatever mascara I am wearing. These ladies add some serious drama. 

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Loreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions - Length like no other! This baby can give you volume plus length in a few swipes. The brush is great for your lower lashes too because it is slim and has sort of that comb like shape. The tiny bristles grab each lash and extend them for miles. It comes in waterproof and regular. 

Maybelline New York The Falsies Mascara, Black Drama - This baby has lash fibers right in the mascara itself. They build onto each other as you layer. I love the brush and texture. This is definitely a keeper in my book - a great way to have the falsie look without the glue and sometimes the weight of a strip of false lashes. 

Dior Extase - This was last week's Friday Favorite and it will continue to be a favorite for a long time. I think it's similar to Covergirl's Clump Crusher Extensions in that the formula has a similar texture but this one is much more black and needs fewer coats. Friday Favorite - Dior Extase

Dior lash plumping primer - A great addition to the Loreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions or any of these for that matter... It prepares your lashes before your mascara and adds that crucial extra layer for extreme length and conditioning too. I feel like it protects my lashes from harsher mascaras. 

Benefit They're Real - This mascara is no joke. This formula will create that false lash effect quiet simply. I do find it is harsher on my lashes so I don't always wear this. It does not say it's waterproof but I feel like it is that is how strong it sticks to your lashes. I definitely need to work with this to get it all off at night but that would also be from how many coats I use too. 

DivaDerme Lash Extender Lashes in a Bottle - Lash fibers are an interesting product. What you do is put a coat of mascara or primer on your lashes and then swipe the fibers on your wet lashes (the come with a mascara like brush) then add another layer of mascara for instant false lash drama (layer for even more drama)! I have sensitive eyes but this does not bother me. I would just be careful since they are small fibers and can fall in your eyes and cause irritation. 


Covergirl Clump Crusher Extensions  - Clump Crusher Extensions is not the blackest mascara on the planet but this feathers out and lengthens my lashes beautifully. I love the light texture. My lashes never feel brittle when it dries. It's a mascara that I feel like I need to use a lot of coats to get the desired effect but it is worth it in the end. The brush and formula help prevent clumping. It's a real steal. 

Tony Cenicola/The New York Times

Here is an interesting article about mascara and how it has changed... The Art of the Lash Advances

Every Friday I plan on talking about a favorite product from my week whether it be an eyeliner, lotion, book, etc. I thought it would be a great way to do a quick share with you guys on products that I find and love that may not fit into another post I am writing.

The star this week was a sample of the Diorshow Extase Mascara. I had a small tube that I received as a sample from Sephora and hadn't tried. One of my goals for this year is to declutter and get rid of things I don't have a use for. That means makeup too... so I cleaned out my sample drawer and grabbed a couple mascaras I found in there to test out before they were old and dried up.

FYI, I do like long, thick, and as some people would say "spidery" lashes. Everybody has their own taste so I know this isn't everyone's thing... but for me it works and it is how I feel comfortable. Mascara is also something that takes priority in my makeup routine. If I only have time to put on one thing it will be mascara no question.

Anyway... I find the formula to be of a velvety texture. It is thick but glides and sticks to my lashes beautifully while building intense volume and length. It is a lovely rich shade of black. The brush is a strange shape that to be honest I would never have thought would have worked like it did. I have attached a picture below so you can see what I mean. It is a twisted shape. I think the twist makes the brush grab every individual lash more than a straight brush because with each swipe it can grab from all different directions.

I like to layer my mascara so this morning when I used it I think I had counted maybe 3-4 coats of this on my lashes. The brush does separate the lashes so as you layer it gives that feathery effect instead of clumping them all together and just forming a muddy mess. The way I apply my mascara is this... I apply to the top lashes on the right eye then move to the left eye and do the top lashes on that one and go back and forth until I am happy with the length, volume, and curl. This gives each layer a little time to set so the next layer can build/stick better.

please excuse my brows and undereye area... I was in a rush.

As the formula dries on my lashes it stays soft and flexible and does not flake off throughout the day. It does also hold a nice curl. I have yet to try it out with an eyelash curler because I seldom use them to begin with. I really want to try and include an eyelash curler in my routine so I can see if it makes a difference in how long my lashes look. I'll keep you posted on that.
This is a luxury mascara so it is on the expensive side (about $30). My thought is if I find a product I really really really like and it lasts etc. then it is worth spending the extra money instead of in the end spending the same amount on 4 tubes of a cheaper brand because it dried out or something quicker then the expensive one.

In my opinion, so far it is worth a splurge and I plan on purchasing the full size when the sample is empty. Time will tell if I decide to repurchase again after that as I like to play with different mascaras all the time and experiment. But I do have a few mascaras that I go back to over and over because they are just amazing.