Is Maybelline's Colossal Mascara Magical?

I have a confession to make...    I used to not care about wearing mascara or not (EEK!). Most days, I would do everything to my face minus the mascara. For some reason it just was not important to me. Well, the past few years I have grown up to realize that mascara really does complete the look and it can make your eyes pop, depending on what mascara you are using.

Through trial and error I have tested and tried several mascara's through out the years. Loreal Voluminous mascara was a tried and true favorite until I noticed just how wet of a formula it really is when it is first broken open. Wet mascara for me does nothing for the lashes. I would have to wait a few weeks for the formula to dry down some for it to work like magic. 

Well, about seven months ago I purchased Maybelline's Colossal Volum' Express mascarra in their waterproof version because I was going on a trip to Florida and would be riding water rides. I needed something to make my lashes pretty, hold their curl and not run down my face.

I am pleased to no end to inform you that I have fallen in deep undeniable love with this mascara! The waterproof version proved true to its claim and not once did it streak down my face. It was a pain to get off the lashes, though, I must confess.

I loved it so much that I decided to try their regular version of this mascara for everyday use. I picked mine up at Target, and it was the very last one! I purchased mine in the color Glam Black for about $6.00. 

The wand is short compared to some other mascaras that I have tried. But, I find this to be a benefit because it gives me a feeling of more control of the wand. The wand is not flimsy whatsoever, but is steady and firm so you do not have to worry about it bending uncontrollably during application.

The brush is wonderful! In my uneducated opinion, I believe that the thickness of the brush along with the formula is what gives not only Colossal length but Colossal volume as well. Allow me to demonstrate for you...

Before

After

In the above pictures I did not curl my eyelashes with an eyelash curler before I applied mascara. This is all the mascara's doing! I never knew my lashes could look so pretty!

As far as the formula goes, this is not wet nor dry, but an in between consistency, which is perfect for creating and holding the length and volume! I do not notice any clumping when I wear this mascara, which is great! It gives enough separation so it doesn't look like you have four thick eyelashes.

The curl and length last all day long without my lashes drooping, which is amazing! I cannot say if it would perform the same on your lashes since all lashes are NOT created equal. But, this works so well, that I have repurchased it again and can say that I found my favorite drugstore mascara!

Maybelline has come along way with their mascaras and I will definitely be keeping my eyes on what they bring to us next!

Am I In Love With Nars "New Lover"?

I have a confession to make...       I love freebies and extras that come my way, because rarely does that ever happen, so when it does I treasure them. Well, I had placed an on-line order with Sephora a little while ago and I was able to cash in some of my points for a kit that they were offering. Now, I took my time deciding if I really wanted to do this and if it was even worth it. Well, I can tell you that after a (not so) long debate within my head, I selected the kit I wanted full of samples and, boy I tell you, I have no regrets!

Let me take a moment to explain to you why...

In this kit where many great things, but what I had really wanted to get my hands on was the Nars Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in the shade "New Lover". I had heard for awhile before that it was the best shade and everybody and their grandmother loved it. I just had to see for myself if it really was worth the hype.

First off, let's talk packaging. I will confess that I am not a person suckered in by packaging, nor do I really care about it like I know some do. All that matters to me is the product, BUT.... this pencil presents itself in the sleekest possible manner! It is hard to explain, but the pencil has a rubber-like feel to it even though I am sure it is not rubber. Because of that, it is easy to grip securely. And we know that is a major concern for everybody (haha)!

This retails for $24.00 and there is 0.09 oz of product in the full sized pencil. The one in the picture above is a sample size of 0.08 oz, which is not bad, in my opinion. These pencils come in nine shades total, ranging from neutrals to gorgeous berry shades. 

Going onto narscosmetics.com I was able to find out what they claim this product will do for you:

"...enriched with Vitamin E plus a blend of moisture-rich hyaluronic spheres that make lips appear fuller.

*Ulta smooth, buttery feel on lips
*Contains Vitamin E, hyaluronic spheres and phytosterol esters- ingredients known to moisturize, increase hydration and improve barrier function"

Who will argue when I say that the color is beautiful? I mean, just look at it!

It has a very glossy rich appearance

pretty pink with golden flecks

SMILE

Now, while it is pretty, I do have one complaint about this product. It looks dark and deep, but when swatched and applied on the lips it comes off more light than I expected. Was I slightly disappointed about that? Only a little, because it is still a dazzling neutral color that is extremely wearable for all skin tones. I don't know if you can see, but there are slight flecks of gold incorporated in the color! What is not to love about that?!?!

Because it is a jumbo lip pencil it makes for easy application. Just line your lips and fill them in! The formula of this product is so smooth, it glides onto your lips like butter, which is exactly what they claim it should feel like, so they are right on with that! It is a soft pencil, but not so soft that you are going to use up a ton of product with one application. I used mine quite a few times before I even had to sharpen it. 

Speaking of sharpen, and maybe this is just minor to most people, but I would love it even more if you could twist the top to get the product out like the Clinique Chubby Pencil or even the Revlon Lipstains. After all, drugstore products can do that, why not uber-expensive brands like this? 

As far as the wear time of this product, I say that it wears pretty well. Is it a longlasting product? I don't believe so. While it does moisturize and it made my lips feel smooth, there is a slight tackiness to this product. Not stickiness, but tackiness that I think makes this product last for quite a few hours and than it feels weightless on your lips. 

Nars does have a great Artist Tip: They say to use this as a base for any other lip product to make your lip color wear longer. Because of the tacky feel of this pencil, I can believe that claim and might give it a try for myself!

Overall, I love this product, because not only is it luxurious in looks, but in the feel of the product, too. I just might try a deeper and darker color for more of the color pay-off that I like! 

Oh, and this is the first Nars product I have ever tried, and not because I never wanted to, but because of their price tags. But, Nars hit it right on with their Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil, I may just have to try a lipstick or two!

Long Time No Blog...

I have a confession to make...    I am pretty sure that it has been almost a year since I last made a post on this blog. I must tell you that life got in the way and I had to take a break for a little bit which turned into a long while....

But, the awesome news, is that now I am back and ready after a long overdue absence. I am committed to posting regularly here, because my love of makeup never once flickered nor died. Since I have been gone I have tried a lot of new makeup, so I believe that there will be some catching up to do!

Bear with me, faithful followers and pray I'm not rusty!!!

Thanks for your loyal and understanding support!

Now, let's venture on into the dazzling world of beauty and makeup!