Comparison of 5 mascaras and a plea for your input...

I recently reviewed and compared 5 mascaras, all of which I bought with my own money. Since I have barely there lashes (READ: almost non-existent) I wanted to see if the any of these 5 mascaras REALLY made a difference. The mascaras I chose to review were picked for a few reasons:

1. Different shaped wands
2. Different formulations
3. 3 of the 5 were from different companies
4. They are ones I already owned, and didn't have to go purchase any :)

In order of review:

1. Avon Irresistibly Sexy in Black obsessed
2. Wet n Wild MegaLash Clinical in black C643
3. Maybelline Great Lash Lots O Lashes in Very Black
4. Avon Super Shock in Black K01
5. Pop Beauty Smokey Lash Kapow in Smokey Black

Bit O Info: I first curled my lashes, then applied 2 coats of each mascara, letting each coat dry in between applications. Each mascara was applied to freshly cleaned, dried and curled lashes....MINE!!   Now, mind you, I have one hooded eye, and one that is less so. Also, my orbital sockets are completely different in shape. This was caused by method of delivery when I was born. Another thing, all of the formulas seem to be the same, not thin or liquidity and not too dry, which are the formulas I prefer. If you prefer a different kind of formula (more wet, more dry) then just use this review as a reference. :)

Here are the products and the wands

 As you can (hopefully) see; This product has a spiral shaped wand that is very full.

And here is the result:

With my eyes open, there is barely any lashes visible. Eyes closed, there isn't much length either. The wand and brush are a little difficult to use at first, but once you get the hang of it, it isn't that hard. But, in all honesty, who wants a mascara that you have to learn to use? You want to be able to pull it out of the tube and start applying, right? Yeah, that's what I thought. 

Basically how you use this wand and brush is you start at the base of your lashes, wiggle the brush to get in between the lashes really well, and then as pull the brush up and through the lashes, you rotate the brush. Like I said, a bit difficult at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's not so bad.  WARNING: If you can not walk and chew gum at the same time, or turn a wand while pulling up and out; step away from this product!!

Moving on...

This mascara comes in a pack with an eyelash growth serum. I did use the serum and THINK I saw some growth, but it could just be wishful thinking. I will review the growth serum IF I can remember to apply it everyday..no promises. 

This wand and brush is a little different, it is thin on one side, and wider on the other. I am assuming that is to add length (thin side) and volume (wider side). I actually found the best way to apply this was to turn the brush so you are actually using the corner. That way you are using both sides of the brush at once.

Result

With this mascara I found with my eyes open, you could see more lashes, and with my eyes closed there was much more length. 

Next..

I can honestly say that when I first purchased this mascara, I was instantly in love. The brush was one that I had not seen or used before. I found that this type of brush was great because of its tapered shape, almost giving a flared effect. More coverage to the outer lashes while giving more precise coverage to the inner lashes. The fine tip of the bush made applying product to the bottom lashes easy and glob free.

Result

Again, with this mascara, I definitely see length and volume with my eyes both open as closed. The color of this mascara is a rich black that is very noticeable. 

Moving on...

Now this wand and brush were very new to me. I had never used a mascara where the brush was no wider than the wand itself, nor had I used a rubber wand. From my viewing experiences on youtube on reviews about mascaras with rubber or plastic brushes, there seems to be a division in the beauty community. It is definitely a love it or hate it issue. So far, I haven't seen any opinions that are eh, meh, take it or leave it, or no opinion either way. As an AVON rep, there has been a lot of hype about this mascara and such YouTube gurus as Pixiwoo have used this mascara in their tutorials.

I was really impressed by this the first time I used it. I thought it gave great coverage  and the fact that the brush is rubber, it deposits more product on the lashes than a traditional fiber wand. 

Result

I am quite happy with the results of this mascara. Dark, voluminous lashes with my eyes closed, and with them open, length, volume and separation. You are even able to see the lashes on my more hooded eye!

Last but not least...

Now, I said that I paid for all of these mascaras with my own money, and this mascara is no exception but for the fact that I received it in one of my IPSY Glam bags (which I had to pay the subscription price on, so there ya go)

Obviously this wand has a traditional fiber brush that tapers from bottom to tip. I don't have a whole lot to say about the wand or brush because it is your typical mascara apparatus. We have all seen it and are used to it...

Result

Like the AVON Super Shock, with my eyes open you can see the lashes on my more hooded eye but there is not as much volume, separation or length. Also, with the eyes closed, the color is not as rich.

Over all, with the exception of the first mascara, I would recommend any of these; with the AVON Super Shock getting the highest recommendation. 

In my opinion, I DO believe the type of brush makes a huge difference. If you are happy with a traditional brush, by all means stick with it. But id you are willing to try something new, I would say give any mascara with a plastic or rubber brush a try. My feeling is that it is not really the shape of the brush that matters most, but the material it is made from is. Again, I feel that the plastic/rubber brushes deposit more product to the lashes than your traditional fiber brush. Also, the spines on the rubber/plastic brushes appear to be shorter and stiffer and seem to aid in separation of the lashes while depositing more product for volume and length. It sounds backwards, I know, but TO ME, that seems to be the case. As always, your opinion may (probably) be different.

I just wanted to add a quick note here: As an AVON rep, I have noticed that AVON, like MAC, tend to launch products and then discontinue them only to relaunch them with a new name. I only know this about AVON from my experience, I have never owned any MAC ($$$) and that statement is based on what others have said about the company and their tendency to do the same. So if you find that your favorite mascara (or any other makeup item from AVON) has been discontinued, ask your local rep for a comparable product. More than likely, what is recommended to you will be the same product with new packaging and a new name. 

I hope that this review has helped everyone in some way, from deciding on what the shape of brush is best for them to what material the brush is made of that makes the difference to them. Please remember, these are the mascaras I already owned.If you have different mascaras that you have opinions on, please leave a comment. If you have one you would like me to review, let me know and if it is in my budget, will happily do so.

If you have read to here..YAY!! Now I need your input. Coming soon will be 14 days of YouTube beauty gurus!! I will be reviewing 14 YouTube makeup gurus, one each day for two weeks. What I need from you is this: Please let me know who your top 5 gurus are that you love to watch. You can comment below or reach me at any of my links listed below. Tweeting is probably the best..but I will get notification no matter how you respond. Please, if possible, include a link to your favorite gurus' channel. I look forward to seeing who you love to watch and hopefully discovering some new faces.

My links:

https://www.youtube.com/user/GlitzandGlamorBeauty

https://twitter.com/ElizabethGlam77

http://instagram.com/elizabethglam77/

https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethGlam77

www.youravon.com/clear6676

http://www.beautylish.com/GlamourByElizabeth

As always, this has been my experience with this product(s). You experience may vary. If you have used this product and have an opinion to share, I invite you to leave a comment about it.

*All posts, text and photos are the written and intellectual property of the author. Do not copy or re-post any text or photos; in whole or part as your own. Links to the full posting is allowed.*

 ~Give credit where credit is due~

Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Towelettes

 In my last posting, I covered the items sent to me by Influenster to review as part of the Sugar n Spice VoxBox. One of the two items I just skimmed over is the one I will be reviewing today.

  In stark contrast to the last cleansing wipes I reviewed, I have to rave about these. Here goes :)

So the full name of this product is Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel oil controlling towelettes. The package says that they are oil free, non-drying, and for all skin types. The  product claims to gently remove dirt, oil and impurities while eliminating shine and touched with aloe. The ingredients include: All Natural Witch Hazel, Aloe leaf juice and Sodium Benzoate.

  Bit O'Info: Anything that says it's all natural Witch Hazel is not the entire truth, but not an out and out lie. Witch Hazel in it's natural form is actually a plant, a shrub to be exact. Witch Hazel extract, is what the products actually contain. The essential oils of the Witch Hazel shrub are extracted by steaming the leaves, twigs and bark of the shrub, However, the extraction process does not yield enough essential oils to be sold in pure form. Therefore, the extract goes through a distillation process and becomes a mixture of witch hazel extract and 14% grain alcohol. ( http://www.wisebread.com/15-wonderful-uses-for-witch-hazel ) Witch Hazel has been used for centuries as an topical astringent and also for its healing properties, such as soothing diaper rash, blemish control, and faster healing of bruises to name a few. The chemical Sodium Benzoate is a preservative found in cosmetics and some foods. It is considered a low hazard to the bodily, mainly as a food preservative and when ingested (in food). There is a limited concern to sense organ toxicity (nerves) but that would most likely be an allergy to either the alcohol or witch hazel extract itself. Sodium Benzoate is not considered to be an environmental toxin. (http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient.php?ingred06=705989 )

  Okay, my science nerd self has gone back into seclusion.

Now, a box of 20 individually wrapped 5"X7" wipes will run you approximately $6.00 at any drugstore. Do check their site for coupons though.

So in my last cleansing towelette review (see LaFresh review), I really had nothing good to say about the product. This time around, it's a different story. I have used witch hazel as an astringent for years, being first introduced to it in cosmetology school. I can attest to topical benefits of witch hazel, i.e; oil control, blemish control and the like. Although the product does contain grain alcohol, 14%, it is very unlike rubbing alcohol, which contains upwards of 70% isopropyl (absolute) alcohol. Some pharmacies or even beauty supply stores carry 90% isopropyl alcohol (for sanitation purposes) and these are usually the bottles of green alcohol you see in the stores. So there is a big difference between the grain (natural) alcohol and isopropyl (absolute) alcohol. Whoa...the science nerd reared her head again..back you!

Basically the alcohol you will find in witch hazel is far less harmful, drying and irritating to the skin. I believe, but do not quote me, that Sea Breeze contains more alcohol than witch hazel. Anywho...

Some of the reasons I love this product:

1. Comes individually wrapped so you can throw a few in your bag.
2. Though I have dry to normal sensitive skin, these are oil controlling, which is excellent for days where you have worn makeup for a long period of time.
3. Cleans and tones the skin at the same time. I have always followed up my facial cleansing by toning with witch hazel. This product allows you to do both in one step..let's give it up for multi-tasking!
4. The added aloe helps to protect and soothe the skin. Great for the days you forgot to put on your SPF and your face is a little burnt. As always, if you have a massive sunburn accompanied by blistering, see your doctor.
5. The spun mesh and fibers penetrate the pores and lock in dirt and oil so you don't keep rubbing it all over your face.
6. The towelettes are a good size, but very moist. Not dripping, mind you; but definitely packed with product.
7. Great for sensitive skin. If you extremely sensitive skin, I would still try these, but if you have ANY signs of an allergic reaction (stinging, swelling, redness or itching) remove immediately with soap and water.

Since receiving this product, I have used it daily and I can say that it has worked better than my straight witch hazel astringent. I believe this is due to the fact that aloe has been added. Obviously not a lot, but enough to make a difference. I have seen less dry patches, more evenness of skin texture and less break outs. I do not normally have a problem with acne, except once a month ( ya know?!) and maybe the odd blemish here and there. Also, I have noticed the healing time for the blemishes is much faster (even if you are a picker or popper). Just that small amount of alcohol dries out the blemish and speeds the healing. I have found, in general, witch hazel is safe to use around the eyes and this product is no exception, in fact, it feels better on the very thin sensitive under eye skin. We all know that this is the most sensitive and easily damaged area on the face, so this is great. Witch hazel is even safe to use in the eyelids. WHAT?? That's right. When I was in cosmetology school, when prepping a client for any kind of facial procedure, i.e; waxing, facial, tweezing, etc., we used cotton rounds moistened with witch hazel and placed them over the client's closed eyes. It was also used to remove makeup from the face before said procedures.

Bottom line: Great product, and Dickinson's carries a line of cleansers, toners and moisturizers, which can be found at your local pharmacy or super store. Letter grade A+


As always, this has been my experience with this product(s). Your experience may vary. If you have used this product and have an opinion to share, I invite you to leave a comment about it.

Links:

dickinsonsusa.com


https://twitter.com/ElizabethGlam77

https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethGlam77

http://www.youtube.com/user/ElizabethGlam77

www.youravon.com/clear6676

http://instagram.com/elizabethglam77/

http://www.beautylish.com/GlamourByElizabeth

http://www.beautorial.com/usr/elizabeth-martin-clear




*All posts, text and photos are the written and intellectual property of the author. Do not copy or re-post any text or photos; in whole or part as your own. Links to the full posting is allowed.* ~Give credit where credit is due~

L.A. Fresh Travel-lite Makeup Remover Wipes

  In case I haven't mentioned it, and I am sure I haven't, I am a subscriber to the ipsybag "club".  This isn't going to be a review of the IpsyBag subscription service, but I will say that before I decided which service to subscribe to, i.e; Glossy Box, Birch Box, etc.;I did a lot of research on the different services. I polled my friends, YouTube acquaintances and on Beautylish.com. The overwhelming response was definitely to subscribe to the Ipsy Glam Bag service. Up to this point, I haven't been disappointed. I was not wowed by this month's bag, but you win some and lose some I guess. Overall, I am pleased with my subscription to this service and would recommend it. That being said, two of my reviews this week are on products I received in this months bag.

  We all know that makeup wipes and remover wipes are a makeup bag essential. If the come in little travel sizes, so much the better. There are,of course, so many to choose from. Just about every skin care line has has their own version of makeup remover wipes. But for the most part (in my humble opinion) they are basically repackaged baby wipes that maybe or maybe not, have added ingredients to dissolve makeup.

  So when I got my glam bag this month, I wasn't overexcited to find a travel pack of some new brand (new to me anyway) of makeup remover wipes, but then again, they were travel size and fit in my makeup bag...hey ho.

  This new brand touts on the packaging, " dissolves makeup from eyes, lips and face. Moisturizing formula with vitamin E". Since I have sensitive skin, I always check to see what the first ingredient is, in this case it is water..YAY!! The next was mineral oil followed by nine other ingredients that I cannot pronounce and fragrance. Because of my sensitive skin, I tend to shy away from products that have fragrance. But, really, let's face it, this product was basically (minus subscription charge +S&H) free.

  I'll admit that my curiosity was piqued at the claim that it "melts" makeup from the face, as I have severe hyperpigmentation on my cheeks and jawline and therefore use a basic foundation and Vichy DermaBlend as a concealer over my trouble areas. Mind you, if I am taking my makeup off with wipes, I can easily use 4-6 wipes. If washing my face, I have to wash twice.

Bit O'Info: you may be saying to yourself, "Self, that is a lot of product and just HAS to be bad for the skin!" It does sound like a lot of product because, well, it is. However, I have strict skin care regimen that I follow morning and night so I do not experience clogged pores or breakouts. My breakouts are always hormonal, thank you very much Mother Nature!

 Finally it was time to give this product a go.

  When I first opened the package, it did have an obvious scent, but a clean and fresh one..bonus! The wipes were quite moist, yet not soaked. The product melts makeup alright, along with my face! As soon as swiped across my face the first time, my skin was on fire. And the sensitive, thin under eye are? Fugedaboutit!! I immediately had to go and use my regular face wash just to get the product off of my skin. Yes, it was burning and stinging that bad.

  As I mentioned that I have a skin care regimen that I follow twice a day, some of the products contain Salicylic Acid and my toner has a bit of low percentage alcohol, so I would confidently say that I have built a tolerance to a little stinging. But this was like, what the heck! What melts the makeup? Muratic acid? Sheesh!

  So I went back to the label with the ingredients. Fragrance could have been the culprit, as could the mineral oil have been. Taking a second look at the nine ingredients I could not pronounce, five of them ended with -paraben. Okay, huge oversight on my part. This product is not paraben free.

  Another Bit O'Info: Parabens are a preservative found in many skin, hair and personal care products. Recent studies show that there is a link between parabens and certain types of skin cancer as well as breast cancer, as paraben mimic the hormone estrogen.
http://thegoodhuman.com/2007/06/21/what-are-parabens-and-why-should-you-avoid-them/

  Bottom line: this product contains chemicals that most people are avoiding these days, just to be on the safe side and burns like the dickens. Would I recommend this product..uh, no.

As always, this was MY experience with this product. If you decide to try it, yours may vary. If you have tried this product and have had a different experience I would love hear about it so leave a comment.

Letter grade: Big fat F!!

Product info:

www.LaFreshGroup.com

1-888-5-la-fresh

1-888-552-3737

https://twitter.com/ElizabethGlam77

https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethGlam77

https://twitter.com/BRwithElizabeth

http://www.youtube.com/user/ElizabethGlam77

www.youravon.com/clear6676

http://instagram.com/elizabethglam77/

http://www.beautylish.com/GlamourByElizabeth

http://www.beautorial.com/usr/elizabeth-martin-clear

*All posts, text and photos are the written and intellectual property of the author. Do not copy or re-post any text or photos; in whole or part as your own. Links to the full posting is allowed.* ~Give credit where credit is due~