Tag: Mascara

Health

Nars Climax Mascara Review: The Volumizing Mascara Lives Up to Its Name

Post author By news22
Post date August 13, 2018
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As a brand, Nars loves to lean into a provocative name. Orgasm, Deep Throat, Afterglow; at a certain point it’d make a girl want a refractory period, if the products themselves didn’t work so well. So when I heard about Nars’ newest launch, Climax, a mascara that goes head to head with Better Than Sex in both its racy name and outsized claims, it obviously had my attention. Even the name aside, its pledge to do for your lashes what Orgasm does to your cheeks begged for a test run.

Upon getting my hands on a tube of Climax after Nars’ Ibiza-based launch party (I assume because there’s nowhere sexier than Ibiza. Back me up, Lindsay Lohan), I have to say, the packaging doesn’t say sex in the over-the-top way you’d expect. The mascara comes in a lightweight, glossy red-enameled tube with rings on it. There’s a little bit of a Red Room vibe, but it’s still PG (other than the big “CLIMAX” on the side, but you know, it could refer to the pinnacle of a story). The tube is distinctive and even in my Legends of the Deep-esque makeup bag, it’d be easy to spot.

The wand and its fiber bristles don’t look out of the ordinary, but after you swipe it on, you’ll immediately be impressed. After three coats, my lashes were thick, dark, defined, and long. That’s thanks to what Nars calls the formula’s Lash Moisture Complex, which creates “a whipped, creamy formula that lifts and builds without clumping.”

Mascaras are usually great at one or two things, be that length, curl, volume, definition, or not irritating the hell out of your eyes after a few hours. About a year ago, I decided that curling my lashes was my routine’s weakest link and haven’t curled them since, so I prioritize length and curl, closely followed by volume. There’s no real weak spot to Nars’ new formula. Where the brand’s Audacious mascara is best for length and definition, I’d give Climax a solid “A” on everything.

The formula thickens my lashes from root to tip, and leaves them defined enough that I can see my lashes from about a foot away. The curl was there too; on my deep-set eyes, my lashes just about reached my brows when I looked in the mirror. And while I could eerily see my lashes in my top peripheral vision, it wasn’t irritating by any means. I wasn’t entirely blown away by the length that it gave, but on the flip side, that means it’ll be good to go for daily use, in the office and out in the world.

So the million dollar question: Does it hold up to the name? To be honest, no. Nothing could, it’s an impossible bar. But it did feel great when someone offhandedly complimented my lashes, and I will wear it everyday purely because the tube is very stylish.

Nars Climax Mascara, $24, ulta.com

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Tags Climax, Lives, Mascara, Nars, Review, Volumizing

Health

Too Faced Is Making a 'Better Than Birthday Sex' Mascara for Its Anniversary

Post author By news22
Post date August 2, 2018
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Too Faced is celebrating its twentieth birthday this year, and with the brand’s inclination for everything pink, flashy, and over-the-top, it’s going big on glitter and nostalgia for the milestone. And also: birthday sex!

It’s true: The brand is releasing a limited anniversary edition of its famous Better Than Sex Mascara, which is the most-pinned, top-selling prestige mascara in the U.S., appropriately named Better Than Birthday Sex. The good news: Neither the wand nor the formula is changing, so it’ll still give you the dark, thick, fluttery lashes it’s beloved for. The better news: the collectors’-item packaging features its same pale pink color but looks like it’s been rolled in a tub of glitter.

Aside from that b-day treat, the brand is also bringing back some of its original products with modern formulas and packaging. The collection’s biggest drop is the Then and Now Eyeshadow Palette. The packaging is dope, a light pink case embossed with both Too Faced’s original branding (it’s very nineties), and the present’s swirly glam font.

The palette pulls from the 10 original eyeshadows that the brand launched with in 1998, alongside 10 new iterations given a modern twist. The original set reads very Spice Girls, in the best possible way. Think sparkly pinks, silvers, purples, browns, and golds. And if you’ve opened a Too Faced palette over the past 10 years, you’ll probably recognize the brand’s signature sparkly lavender. In the bottom row, the 2018 half of the palette incorporates a few mattes, alongside the OG glitters rendered in Instagram’s favorite foiled, high-shine tones. Too Faced has had fun with scent-themed collections recently, and this new palette joins its Peach, Chocolate, and Cocoa lines with a birthday-cake-scented flavor.

Lip-wise, Too Faced is launching 10 Metallic Sparkle Lipsticks. Eight of those callback to the brand’s 1998 launch, which means they’re high-shine, glitter-infused shades of ruby, blue, gold, copper, crimson, fuchsia, purple, and turquoise. Two new colors join the bunch, a metallic taupe with a dark gold, glittered tube, and a sparkly, fluorescent pink that’s very Glam Barbie. Lipstick in the nineties was notorious for its chalky finish, so the archived lipsticks’ ingredients got a zhuzh with the addition of avocado oil to moisturize and smooth things out. Scroll on for a glimpse at the new products to come, all of which are hitting Sephora shelves today.

PHOTO: Courtesy of brand

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Tags 039Better, Anniversary, Birthday, Faced, Making, Mascara, Sex039

Health

Glossier Lash Slick Mascara Review With Photos

Post author By news22
Post date May 9, 2018
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Expect to hear a lot more “your lashes look good” and less “what mascara are you wearing?” reads one of the taglines for Glossier’s Lash Slick Mascara, which launches today. Glossier’s marketing is about as slick and irresistible as its Millennial pink packaging, and anyone’s who’s ever tried a mascara that claims to be flake-free and non-clumping (so, all of us) knows how few of them actually stack up to their claims. This, however, they’re really not kidding about. As I was swiping on two coats of the brand’s new vegan mascara—its first ever—a colleague looked at my lashes and shouted, “What the f*ck!” They were practically to my brows. So that should tell you something.

According to brand reps, it took them 18 months and 248 tries to get the formula just right—a mix of “Japanese Fiber Technology” (i.e. one- and two-millimeter-long fibers that hook onto your lashes like extensions), biotin to condition and strengthen your lashes, and polymers that help add shine. The brush, meanwhile, is flexible and rubbery with tiny, tiered bristles meant to grab every single lash. The price rings in at a modest $16, which actually lands in the more affordable range for Glossier and cheaper than a lot of prestige mascaras.

Still, though, I’ve got rather long, cooperative lashes. So I called in a couple other Glamour staffers—all with different eye shapes and lash types—to weigh in on their thoughts. The photos below compare the mascara on one eye (at left) to our regular lashes. Here’s what each of them had to say.

Lindsay Schallon, senior beauty editor

First Impression: Honestly, I thought no way in hell this wand would give me the thick, fat lashes I want. The brush has tiny rubber bristles and doesn’t hold a lot of product like my usual favorites: Too Faced’s Better Than Sex, Dior’s Diorshow, and Maybelline’s Total Temptation.

Loves: Um, hi, I was wrong. For how little product the brush holds, the tiny fibers in this formula go to work. As I mentioned above, the length this mascara gave me was nuts. What’s best though is that it actually held up to its no-clump, no-smudge claim. I had a very fancy dinner with a celebrity hairstylist the day after the Met Gala—I was tired and sure that by the end of the night, the bags under my eyes would be intensified with black raccoon smears under them. Lo and behold, not only was there not a single flake or smudge, I woke up in the morning having forgotten to take off my makeup and my mascara was still in tact.

Gripes: I wish it were the tiniest bit more volumizing. I like thiccc lashes and this delivers more on length than volume.

Would I Buy It?: One thousand percent. And not just because it’s on the more affordable end for Glossier, I genuinely love this mascara. It’s joining my rotation.

Maureen Choi, beauty contributor

First Impression: Pretty little thing. I’m an insufferable lover of good beauty packaging, and this hits all the right notes: sleek, yet unassuming, feminine without being frilly. It sparks some joy, so I’m down to give it a try even though mascara and I don’t really mix.

Loves: The wiper did a solid job at removing excess gunk before I even thought about swiping it on, so my lashes ended up evenly coated and clump-free. And the tubular formula prevented the dreaded drop down/smudging situation normal mascaras subject my eyes to, so that was a win!

Gripes: It’s hard to find mascara that won’t weigh down my stick-straight lash nubs, and unfortunately, this wasn’t the Holy Grail exception. Just one coat made them sad and droopy, even after heating a lash curler and proceeding to squeeze from root to tip a million times. Wah-wah.

Would You Buy It?: This would be rad for someone who doesn’t have low muscle-tone lashes that go limp at the first sight of mascara. I wouldn’t buy it for myself, but would def recommend it to a friend.

Ana Colón, digital fashion editor

First Impressions: I honestly had no preconceptions because I’m not picky with mascara. However, I did feel I could wear this on its own, without eyeliner, if I’m super pressed for time but want some makeup on. And $16 doesn’t feel like too much of a splurge, considering it’s Glossier. I think the most I’d pay for mascara would be like…$18.

Loves: I like that the brush doesn’t pick up too much product, so there’s not a lot of clumping! It kind of lets you control how ~ dramatic ~ you want.

Gripes: On the flip side, it’s so subtle that I had to apply two to three swipes.

Would You Buy It? Maybe. I don’t feel super strongly about it, but when I run out of my current mascara, I’d consider this as a swap.

Rachel Nussbaum, beauty writer

First Impressions: It reminds me of my first ever mascara, CoverGirl Lashblast. It very much looks like a basic mascara—no bells or whistles, just Glossier pink and a simple tube.

Loves: It took around seven coats to reach the long, brow-sweeping lashes that I like, but it got there without any clumps. The definition is cray, and it caught every lash. I really like that it darkened to the very ends of my lashes, without weighing them down. I didn’t curl my lashes, and I didn’t need to.

Gripes: It caught every lash, but I’d like more on the volumizing and thickening side of things. I’d say it’s great if you just want an everyday, above-average casual mascara. It didn’t blow my mind (I want flutter!), but it’s good.

Would You Buy It? Nah. My lashes look good up close, but from far away, I want my lashes to look more dramatic.

Blake Newby, beauty assistant

First Impressions: It goes on incredibly smooth and I really like the lift it gave my lashes. Most of time I have to use an eyelash curler before I apply my mascara because of my naturally downturned lashes, but this gave me the perfect lift.

Loves: Like all mascaras, it firmed up after time, but at no point did it clump or feel crunchy like many others.

Gripes: So far…none!

Would You Buy It? For only $16, absolutely. Glossier has a winner with this one.

Shop It: Glossier Lash Slick Mascara, $16, glossier.com

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Tags Glossier, Lash, Mascara, Photos, Review, Slick

Health

Milk Makeup Kush Mascara Review: What Is CBD Oil Mascara?

Post author By news22
Post date April 18, 2018
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Marijuana has been making the rounds lately, making a cameo in everything from weed tampons (which may alleviate cramps) to Cynthia Nixon‘s campaign for New York governor (she’s made marijuana legalization a cornerstone of her campaign). No small wonder, then, that you can now find the green stuff in Milk Makeup’s new Kush Mascara. The brand is known for pushing boundaries, as well as coming up with some seriously innovative formulas, like its “invisible foundation,” so this seems par for the course.

But before you call the Jeff Sessions I-Think-I-Smell-Weed hotline, know this: You’re not going to find a dime bag in this mascara. Instead, it’s infused with cannabidiol, or CBD, oil, a compound from the cannabis plant that’s becoming increasingly popular in the health, wellness, and, yes, beauty spaces. Not to be confused with THC—the cannabis compound that gives marijuana its psychotropic properties—CBD oil can purportedly ease muscle aches and help with insomnia, among other claims. Still, the research is limited, particularly when it comes to CBD oil’s skin care perks. Only a handful of studies have been conducted, and we’re currently in the honeymoon stage, meaning the risks haven’t really been tested or addressed.

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This hasn’t stopped the beauty world from embracing CBD oil—however, Milk is the first to use it in a mascara. The Kush Mascara formula thickens lashes with heart-shaped fibers, which create a sort of web over lashes for peak fullness and curling power, versus the usual, cylindrical tubes, which primarily add length (and can therefore result in spidery lashes). Here’s where the CBD comes in: Instead of using beeswax to adhere the fibers to lashes, the cannabidiol oil serves as its new, vegan alternative (since the brand recently went vegan). Plus, because it’s an oil, the CBD conditions lashes as you wear it and gives the formula a creamy texture, making it easier to apply.

I loved the brush off the bat, which was nice and fat and didn’t load on too much product at once (which historically makes my lashes stick together. Plus, the tapered tip of the brush made it easy for me to get the little lashes at the corners of my eyes, as well as the bottom lashes. See the effects for yourself:

The most obvious difference is in the volume. My lashes looked thicker for sure—and somewhat longer—but with zero clumps, a real feat if I ever saw one. If you’re a fan of extension-like, out-to-there lashes, this may not be the mascara for you, since it’ll make them longer, but not to um-are-those-real proportions. Long lashes aren’t my thing, so I don’t care about this. However, if you’re pretty chill about your lashes and just want to give them a healthy, full appearance—or you’re looking for a solid vegan formula—look no further than this mascara. If this doesn’t make a solid case for CBD oil, I don’t know what will.

Milk Makeup Kush High Volume Mascara, $24, sephora.com

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Tags CBD, Kush, Makeup, Mascara, Milk, Oil, Review

Health

Too Faced's Better Than Sex Is Pinterest's Most Popular Mascara

Post author By news22
Post date January 11, 2018
No Comments on Too Faced's Better Than Sex Is Pinterest's Most Popular Mascara

Blink, and 200 new mascaras come out. Some claim to last all night and others promise they’re lash extensions in a tube, but, still, only one mascara out there invokes the catchiest, most eyebrow-raising standard of all. Too Faced’s Better Than Sex Mascara talks a big game, but it’s the lashes it delivers that keeps it on best-seller lists. Now even more proof is on Pinterest: According to the company’s latest data, Too Faced’s classic was the platform’s top-pinned mascara in 2017. A whopping 61,000 people posted about Better Than Sex, confirming that despite stiff competition, the mascara is still the most-loved choice.

The news doesn’t come as a huge surprise, given that most mascara best-seller lists feature Better Than Sex front and center. (And if you ask anyone on our team to pull out their makeup bag, you’ll probably find a tube of it stashed in there. No hyperbole.) Still, the 61,000 number that Pinterest shared with Allure is huge. Ever wondered why your Ulta or Sephora is always sold out of the brand? That number’s probably got something to do with it. True, Pinning isn’t reality (for better or worse; chevron would be everywhere). But a few swipes of Better Than Sex proves that it’s earned the acclaim. Your lashes come out long, thick, inky-black, and fluttery, checking off every box on the mascara list.

Based on those numbers, there’s no beating a classic. But if you run into the out-of-stock problem, don’t worry. Down to its frosted pink tube, L’Oreál’s Lash Paradise mascara gives Better Than Sex a run for its money.

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Tags Faced039s, Mascara, Pinterest039s, Popular, Sex

Health

Lash Star Beauty Full Control Mascara Review

Post author By news22
Post date November 15, 2017
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I’ve only had lash extensions once and the experience went something like this: Endure 45 minutes of application, marvel at my newly huge Disney woodland creature eyes, then freak out for weeks while my extensions eventually began to shed (along with my regular lashes). So instead of dealing with the lash loss, upkeep, and cost that comes with extensions, I’ve invested my time (and money) on hunting for my dream mascara.

I’m willing to admit my criteria’s pretty exacting. I want that full-on falsies effect in a non-drying, non-clumping formula—my lashes are long and sparse, so they clump badly—and it needs to be easily removable with a gentle cleanser. Few have come close to fitting the bill, but I think I’ve finally found a product that gives me better-looking lashes than actual extensions, courtesy of the best beauty brand you’ve never heard of: Lash Star Beauty.

I discovered Lash Star’s Full Control Mascara the same way I’ve stumbled upon most of my favorite things: on the Internet, along with a healthy dose of skepticism. A claim for it said the formula can boost lash volume by 4,100 percent. I’m no mathematician, but that’s an absurdly specific percentage. Alluring, if possible—seriously, pick a thing on your desk, close your eyes and try to imagine it 4,100 times larger. You can’t, can you?—but questionable on the basis of specificity alone. There was also the brush to consider. I used to side-eye most double-wand mascaras on principle. (If a product is good, why does it need two brushes, you know?) None have really ever given me both volume and separation in the way they promise.

This really comes through though. Like most double-wand mascaras, Full Control has a big brush and a baby brush. But unlike literally every other mascara I’ve tried, you’re not meant to start out with the big brush and follow it up with the smaller. Nope, the trick of this mascara is that the little one comes first.

It’s called the tightline brush and you use it to prep every lash—the brand’s website calls this “coaxing” which I find adorable and also apt—before using the larger, curved silicone brush to add additional coats (according to the website, a third coat is what delivers the full 4,100-percent volume increase). Basically, you’ve got an itty bitty primer brush to lay a wide-eyed foundation and a big nubby brush to drive it home. As it turns out, this concept is kind of genius.

At first, I worried that my normal application technique—wiggling the brush slowly through my lashes from base to tip—would gunk on too much product, but that’s exactly how the brand recommends putting it on. The mascara itself goes on smooth and deposits the exact right amount of product due to…I don’t know, the dark arts and black magic? Whatever the secret, it layers perfectly and comes off like a dream with mild soap and water.

There’s no way for me to prove or disprove that outrageous volume claim. But all I can say is that I’ve had multiple people stop me and ask where I’ve been getting extensions these days because the results are that good.

Lash Star Beauty Full Control Mascara, $35, bluemercury.com

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Tags Beauty, Control, Full, Lash, Mascara, Review, Star