October 9, 2009
Posted by marta
When I first heard about a new, revolutionary one-handed mascara, I didn’t understand the concept at all. Who uses two hands to apply mascara? Now, perhaps that says more about me than Belvada, the Canadian company that makes Mascara Noir ($24). So I resolved to find out more about the world’s first one-handed mascara. It turns out to be pretty nifty.
Typically, mascara applicators come in two parts, one with the brush and one with mascara. The user is required to dip – often pump – the brush end into the mascara end. This is where two hands come in. Duh. Belvada Mascara is all in one with a pen-like applicator. The cap can be put onto the end of the wand and the brush appears when you move a slider, bringing the mascara along with it. Air can’t get into the container so the mascara stays clump free. Read more...
July 14, 2009
Posted by copley
Makeup brushes are a fickle breed. One day they’re your best friend, and the next they’re shedding all over the floor and losing their touch. I have faced this problem with both cut-rate drugstore brushes and costly designer brushes (ie. Chanel). All in all, I’ve had the best luck with a travel brush set by Trish McEvoy that has so far lasted me five years and is just as effective as the first day I bought it. But this set is limited to lip, shadow, and blush brushes, and I’ve been looking around for additional pieces to address every aspect of my skincare regime. I had a brush with good cosmetic karma when I came across aDesign Professional Brush Line. Read more...
May 19, 2009
Posted by Emily
As someone who struggles with makeup bag clutter, I have found dual-purpose products to make a noticeable dent in the problem—and the best ones can also help stretch my budget. Right now, I think one of the best of the bunch is the Korres Lip Butter which for $9, is billed as both a lip gloss and cheek stain. That is a real deal for two high-quality products.
In testing, I found that it truly can be used for both purposes. As a lip gloss, I found it to be creamy and not sticky, which is exactly how I like them. The shea butter is smoothing and hydrating, and the colors were pretty and flattering. I foresee using the Quince shade all summer long. Read more...
April 27, 2009
Posted by copley
Posted by Copley
Yes to Carrots has struck cosmetic gold once again, proving that it is possible to formulate- not just one- but multiple ranges of superior products at unbeatable prices. This time, the “Yes to [insert preferred produce here]” family tree has branched out into makeup with the introduction of C Me Blush Lip Tint ($4.49) and C Me Shine Lip Gloss ($6.49). Both items are available in six different affectionately dubbed shades, from Chocolate Kiss to Rose Bliss.
Earlier this week, the “Yes to” folks sent us a package of first-peak samples from both of their brand-new lip lines. I pounced on the chance to try the “Carrot Kiss” lip gloss, which sounded too yummy to pass up. Nothing like the orange tinge of the vegetable, the gloss left a lovely rosy glaze just a few shades darker than the natural color of my lips. Between its mild tingle and minty smell, I thought I discerned a healthy dose of peppermint oil, and my refined sense of ingredient detection didn’t steer me wrong. Read more...
February 25, 2009
Posted by Kate
Posted by Kate
One spring quarter while I was in college, six of my girlfriends rented a thoroughly run-down shack of a place. They dug a hole in the back yard and roasted a pig…and it was a landscaping improvement. The front door didn’t close, two of the windows were cracked, the rest didn’t open, and the furnace hardly kicked out any heat. If you were taking a shower and touched the metal soap dish on the shower wall you got a mild electrical shock. But the Party Palace was great fun, big, cheap, and the landlords couldn’t have cared less any time we tried to “fix it up”. In fact, they actually reimbursed my friends for any “fix up” materials that had the potential to keep the Party Palace from caving in or being condemned by the city. Read more...
