Product Review: Dentaburst

Dudes, have I ever been on the run! I spent a large portion of the summer either travelling, or frantically trying to finish up work before travelling some more. All that dashing about has made me realize just how much I adore these:

DentaBursts! They are these hilarious little finger-gloves that you slip onto your index finger, with which you can then mime brushing your teeth. The nubbly fabric helps remove plaque, and the whole thing's coated in a light minty powder to help freshen up that kisser. Post-lunch meetings, redeye flights, impromptu sleepovers... whatever your occasion, DentaBursts have got you (or at least your mouth) covered.

These handy things come pre-packaged each in their own credit-card sized pouch, and slip discreetly into the smallest of pockets or clutches. Sure, it's no replacement for actually brushing your teeth, but believe me, when you are the only one to step off that overnight bus-ride with clean-feeling teeth, you won't mind one bit.

You can find DentaBursts at Target or RiteAid (will update when I find a Candian source), and they come in both Mint and Cinnamon. Keep 'em in your desk, your purse, your car... you never know when you might need one!

Product Review: Eco Tools Travel Kabuki Brush

OMG you guys, is everyone drowning in exams/grading/spring cleaning/filing tax returns/fearing layoffs around here or what! April has traditionally been a crazy time in my life -- since my parents are both accountants, my Aprils of Yore have been filled with 10pm dinners and sneaking in from the bar* at 2am trying not to make noise, not realizing my parents weren't even home from work yet.

But lately, all my craziness seems to have been stuffed inside a suit case. In that I've been traveling rather a lot. And while I generally love traveling, I don't like not having my *stuff* around me. You can imagine that being the person I am, and writing the blog I write, I have approximately a metric crapload of beauty *stuff* that I consider "essential". And while travel versions are all fine in theory, I secretly hate that they are so inferior to the real deal. Short stubby makeup brushes that poke and scratch? Who cares if you fit in my carry-on clutch if you're going to make makeup application such a painful, tedious process?

Thank goodness there's EcoTools. I'd hear that they came out with a retractable kabuki brush a while back, but due to the EcoTools shortage in Toronto, I had to wait until a Buffalo trip to pick one up. But oh boy is it ever worth the wait!





Housed in a cute, neat, aluminum shell, this kabuki is both compact and luxurious. It feels just as good as my regular Lumiere kabuki, with soft, dense, gentle bristles that are perhaps just a titch "floppier" than Lumiere's. No perceptible difference in performance though -- mineral powder glides on smoothly and effortlessly, and when I'm ready to pack up and go, the bristles slide neatly into their case. No dusty brushes, no bent hairs. Love!

Aside from the awesome functionality, EcoTools have come to be known for their environmentally-minded practices (the aluminum casing is recycled) and great value (an amazing kabuki for $8 USD!!!!). The low price tag doesn't come with a low-class look though... this brush would look as much at home sitting on your vanity next to your Chanel and Dior goodies as it does in your travel makeup case (they also have a full travel set that looks to be of good quality). And the eco-mindedness makes it appropriate for, oh, I dunno, an Earth Day makeup splurge or something. ;)


EcoTools can be found at drugstores & discount department stores everywhere in the US, and at London Drugs in Canada. [EDIT: Thanks to reader E, who noticed that Zellers in Ontario carries EcoTools. I've also seen them in Wal*Mart in the past little while. Selection tends to be a bit picked over, but they're definitely there, hooray!] Check out their website for a full list of retailers.


* Actually untrue. I was (am) a nerd, so if anything, during Aprils of Yore I was sneaking in from late-night cramming sessions or frenetic data analysis. The bar trips happened in March and May!

Awesome Sale! 25% off ANY Lumiere Cosmetics Purchase

Hey folks! If you've been a long-time reader of this blog, you'll know that I am a huge fan of Lumiere Cosmetics. And if you're also a fan, or you're looking to try out some new mineral makeup, then there's no better time to act, because Lumiere is offering a 25% discount on their entire inventory*! Lumiere's prices are very reasonable to begin with, so this extra discount adds up to a really fantastic deal.



While I'm super thrilled about the deals, the reason behind the sale is bittersweet: The owner of Lumiere, Kim, recently lost her beloved dog Bruno. Bruno was a rescue pup from the Humane Society, and had been a gentle and loving companion to Kim and her kids for the past 8 years. Bruno will be greatly missed and fondly remembered, and Kim is paying tribute to his memory by donating 10% of all profits during this sale period to her local Humane Society, so that other pets like Bruno can continue to be adopted into loving homes.

Having dealt with Kim on several occasions, I can say that she is the nicest person, and her dedication to her customers amazes me every time I deal with her. I'm so sorry for her loss, but so appreciative that she is taking time and effort to do good deeds with her business, even during what must be a difficult time for her. Please support her endeavour (and the Humane Society!) by checking out the Lumiere website... you're sure to find something you'll like!


As for me? Predictably, I had trouble cutting down the huge list of things I wanted. I'm stocking up on their Luminess mineral foundation, which gives light coverage and a beautifully glowy (not sparkly) finish. As well, I've fallen hard for Sweet Cherub silk blush: it is this gorgeous, slightly shimmery nude-pink that looks angelic and innocent, and unlike any other blush I've tried.




I'm also getting a truckload of eyeshadow samples (seriously, these little containers last FOREVER), and I'm looking forward to testing out their mini-lip gloss sampler as well (so cute! 6 shades! your choice! only like $11!).






Another favourite is Lumiere's Silk Radiance in Island Sands -- a light dusting of it adds a soft-focus glow... it's like carrying around your own personal supply of flattering lighting! In my books, it's essential for a romantic date or a fun night out on the town. Or weddingns. Or photos. Or mornings after you've stayed up all night blogging and your face looks as blah as you feel. I think you get the point.




Oh, and I can't believe I've never given it a proper review, but Lumiere happens to make the best Kabuki brush I've ever tried, forever and ever amen. I couldn't imagine applying mineral foundation without it: kitten-soft, but dense and firm enough to do the job right, this thing has yet to shed 1 hair, and I've been using it daily for over a year. Plus, it's only $16, which means only $12 with the discount! Crappy drug-sore kabukis cost more than that... if I didn't already have 2, I'd buy another one. (Have I mentioned how much I love this brush??)



Okay, that's enough out of me for now. Get on over to the website and place your order already! The sale is only on until Friday September 26th, so don't miss out!



* Minimum purchase of $10. Which is laughable, since I could easily spend 10x that amount on their stuff.

Ask the Body Shop!

Hey y'all! Some of you may know that I used to work at The Body Shop back in the day. I loved the job... learned a lot, and made some lifelong friends. It was a blast! One thing I remember especially was watching the training videos for the then-newly released makeup line. I loved The Body Shop's head makeup artist, Chase Aston, both for his helpful tips ("bend the mascar wand when applying to another person's lashes") and for his lurrrvely accent. So when I got the opportunity to ask Chase some of my most burning beauty questions, I jumped at the chance. Here are my questions, and his answers, for your viewing pleasure!



Glitterati: Wedding season is upon us, and with it brings a whole lot of photo ops. Do you have any tips on how to look your best in photographs? (For brides and guests!)

Chase: Here's the secret to looking amazing in your wedding photos: add some special touches that you would not normally wear everyday. Visit your nearest The Body Shop store wearing your normal everyday make-up, and speak to a consultant about trying a new look for a special occasion. Ask her to demonstrate The Body Shop Spring Bloom collection on you and/or any other products to create a look for that special day.



Glitterati: Over the past few seasons, we've seen a lot of striking looks on the runways: from the return of lipstick, to all-over-neutrals, to bold 'n bright eyeliner. What beauty trends have inspired you the most? What trends or looks do you forecast being influential in the upcoming seasons?

Chase: When working on creating color trend collections, I work closely with The Body Shop product development team. The inspiration comes from art, color trends, fashion and the environment. The team liases with trend forecasters, then we discuss new formulations, textures and innovative trends and products. Once we have assimilated all this information, myself and the team then start laying down shades and formulations, that are trend led, innovative and also suit most our global customers. The Body Shop sells in over 52 countries, so it is a very tall order, but very exciting, always.

A trend that I believe will be influential in the upcoming seasons are a near-nude mouth. It catches light for an instant plumping effect and appears ethereal when part of a dewy, monochromatic face. It can be paired with creamy neutrals on eyes and liquid foundation on skin.



My fave Body Shop products for achieving these looks? For a flawless photo-ready complexion, consider applying your liquid foundation with a foundation brush. Yes, it takes more time, but you get a smooth, perfect finish, and you actually end up using less foundation. It's also very easy to stipple on extra product on problem areas, so you get coverage without masky-ness. The Body Shop's foundation brush is nicely weighted, with soft-yet-firm bristles, and at only $20.50, it costs less than other brushes of similar quality.





Since weddings are all about chatting and laughing and drinking and eating, I find that a lip stain lets me do all that without worrying about how my lips look. The Body Shop makes a lightweight gel version in a slightly-cool red. It goes on sheerly for a boost of healthy-looking colour, perfect for Spring. Double-duties as a cheek stain too!






As for the perfect nude mouth... I truly don't believe that there is one nude lipstick that is flattering for all. You simply have to get out there and try on a bunch of colours to see what works best for you. But to acheive an innocent, ethereal look, I cannot wait to try on the new Blushing Daisies Powder. Aside from the adorable compact, the shimmering shades (in Light Pink, for my skintone) look like it would be perfect for creating a multi-faceted, angelic glow. The Marula oil in the formulation keeps it silky soft and non-drying, and the different shades in the compact can be used in varying intensities all over the face for that chic monochromatic look that Chase describes (check out the link above for tips).


Many thanks to the Beauty Blog Network and Chase Aston for making this Q&A possible! Be sure to check back in the next couple of days to see what other beauty bloggers had to ask Chase!



Photos courtesy of The Body Shop and Metropolis Japan

Product Review: Eco Tools

As the Glitterati comes crawling back... Sorry guys, I know it's been ages. I hate when life gets in the way of blogging! If you're still here, thanks for your patience and understanding!

Everyone's going Green these days. From grocery stores to cosmetic companies, CEOs are getting the hint: caring about Mother Earth is cool, and it'll also get you a cool chunk of change if you cash in on the trend.

Not to be overly cynical... there are many excellent companies out there who truly wish to minimize their ecological footprint. And if they make dependable, affordable products that are friendlier to the environment, why not buy from them?




Introducing: EcoTools. Launched just a couple of months ago, this company produces bath and beauty accessories made out of renewable & sustainable materials like bamboo, ramie, and recycled plastic. But concerns of the conscience aside, does using these nature-friendly materials result in a better product?

Well, I suppose it depends what you're looking for. I had the chance recently to try the EcoTools line, and I must say that I'm pretty impressed*. The brushes are much softer than any other that I've tried in the drugs-store price range (and softer than some that are much pricier!). The large powder brush is especially lovely -- it's like sweeping your face with a kitten wearing feathers (minus the claws and the allergies). The "floppier" bristles leave just a perfect whisper of loose powder, invisibly setting your makeup. Great for applying all-over shimmer too.

Since the brush handles are made of light-weight bamboo, you might find that the balance / feel is a bit different than what you're used to. But if you're like me and schlepp your brushes (alll your brushes) everywhere with you, then the lighter load will be heartily welcomed.




Another clever product from the line is the Bamboo and Loofa Facial Buffs. Just dampen it and squirt your favourite cleanser on there... one side gently exfoliates your skin (it feels like a rougher face towel), and the other side is covered in terry cloth for cleansing. I leave one in my office drawer; it's great to brighten those post all-nighter complexions. Much more convenient and much less waste than the disposable buffing pads.




And speaking of refreshing, but gentle exfoliation, I really like EcoTools' Ramie Bath & Shower Mitt. Unlike its plasticky brethren, this bath mitt won't rub you raw. It's perfect for those... ahem, more delicate areas that you normally wouldn't go near with an abrasive scrub or loofah.


So if you're looking for brushes and accessories that are environmentally-friendly and wallet-friendly, do give Eco Tools a try. If you're in the US, you can find the line at select Walgreens, K-Mart, and Ulta. Or, you check out their other goodies and place orders from the EcoTools website.




* Even before knowing the impossibly low prices... the largest powder brush is only $8!

Perfect Presents: Makeup Train Case

Dudes, I have been searching for a makeup storage solution for so long. As it is, I have shadows, blushes, and lip glosses (so! many! lipglosses!) tucked away in every drawer, nook, and cranny it seems. Aside from the general displeasing clutter, it means I don't go through my collection nearly enough, and what's the point of having 14 different pink glosses if I only wear 2 of them?

If a makeup lover in your life faces the same dilemma, then you must consider getting them a train case.




Perfect For: Your friend who's bathroom overfloweth with product; Your friend who despises that her bathroom overfloweths with her roommate's products.

Why it's Perfect: It'll store and organize all her treasured products, and put an end to those "WHERE is my poppy pink cream blush/violet shimmer gloss/glitter eyeliner" mornings. Which is a happy thing for everyone involved!

Yes, you could spend $90 at Sephora on the Metro Train Case (pictured). However, if your gift-giving budget is lower than that (or if you're buying it for yourself and you would actually like to have money left over with which to buy the cosmetics that would go in the case), good ol' WalMart has a very respectable, comparable version, for just $40 CAD.

With 2 tiers (2 on each side, 4 trays total) and a deeper center compartment, the train case lets you see all your cosmetics at a glance. As well, it has brush holders on the inside lid of the case, so you can keep your tools neat and stray-powder free. Oh, and it comes with like a gazillion different products inside. They're those "Colour Company" type of cosmetics... probably not the best quality. But, you can always donate the loot to a kid's dress-up trunk or a local children's / amateur theatre.

But of course, the one from WalMart only comes in brushed silver and black leather-look. Sephora's got 'em in PINK! ;)

This review was posted for me by the ever-fabulous Ex-Roomie, who is kindly administering the blog while I am gallivanting around Asia. I will respond to comments and emails when I get back. Promise!

Product Gadget Review: ThermaClear Acne Fighting Device

Let's face it: zits are gross. With utmost respect to those who have them or struggle with getting rid of them, I think we can all agree that they are unpleasant little things. Even the word "zit" is kind of gross. Sure, we've got all sorts of words to make them sound less nasty: blemish, spot, pimple... but in the end, they're still zits and they're no fun.

I am happy to say that I am, for the most part, past having to deal with acne (finally!). However, this makes it rather difficult when one is asked to review a clever new acne-fighting device. Behold: ThermaClear!






Doesn't that look spiffy? At the push of a button, ThermaClear delivers a concentrated burst of heat through the tip of the device, which you hold against your blemish. The heat effectively zaps the bacteria festering underneath the skin, thus shortening the time it takes for the unsightly spot to heal and shrink. In fact, it is apparently supposed to shorten the healing (read: disappearing!) time of pimples by up to 50%. Here, look, a graph! I love graphs.






Even without the helpful visual aid, ThermaClear looks so gadgety and scientific and just plain cool that I briefly considered slathering my face with Crisco nightly and adopting a new diet that consists solely of french fries and chocolate*, all in an attempt to squeeze out a few guinea pig pimples. As tempting as the idea sounded, I eventually, benevolently, brought ThermaClear home over the summer and bequeathed it to my 14-year old brother to use. Because... well, because he needed it (she said lovingly).


... That was months ago. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, he has not gotten back to me about his experiences. If I was given something like this as a teen, I'd have been obsessively using it (probably just on half my face, so I could compare) and keeping careful records of its effects. But future-grad students will be future-grad students, and 14-year-old boys will be 14-year-old boys, so there's not much I can do about it. (Especially since he is so far out of noogie range these days.)


I can, however, give you my rather limited impressions of the device, as I did have a couple of minor blemishes that I zapped with ThermaClear. On the low setting, the burst of heat felt like a slight sting. On the high setting, it was decidedly unpleasant. Certainly not unendurable ... if you can pluck/wax your brows, you'll do fine with this. Oddly, the feeling gets almost... addictive. Like those old-school Biore nose-strips, you know? I kind of like the slight pain** -- feels like I'm really showing those little bacteria buggers who's boss!

So, did it work? Well, the blemishes cleared up completely in about 3 or 4 days, which seems quicker than normal, but about on par with other cream or gel acne treatments. I think maybe one would get more pronounced results if it were used on nastier flare-ups. (Although those with severe acne or taking acne meds should not use this device.) One really great thing about ThermaClear is that it's truly mess-free. No sticky or gooey creams on your face or hairline (so attractive when that special someone in your life drops by unexpectedly), and you can even use it over makeup if you have to. For best results, you should use it on clean skin, but if I feel an dermatological eruption coming on midday, I kinda want to zap it in the bud, ya know?

If my ingrate of a baby brother ever gets back to me about his experiences with ThermaClear, I will be sure to share them with you. In the meantime, if you're interested in this new and neat weapon in the seemingly-endless battle against zits, check out the ThermaClear website for more product info and tips. Aside from the device (which I have nicknamed the Zit Zapper in my unoriginal head), the company also offers a complete line of other acne-fighting products.


* Which, of course, would have been pretty much ineffective anyway. See The Beauty Brains' most excellent exposé on the causes of acne.

** See also: masochism; academia

Product Review: Gloves in a Bottle Shielding Lotion & Steps for a Speedy Pedicure

For some odd reason, the more work I have on my plate, the more I want to avoid it*. Some people manifest this avoidance behaviour through sports ("3 term papers and an exam in 2 weeks? Hey, let's join a spin class!"). Others look towards the TV (Arrested Development marathons, anyone?). Still others manically clean and organize everything in sight (these people should come over to my place).

And for me? My attention turns to beauty and beauty-related activities, of course.

Exams to mark? Pedicure!

Presentation to give? Time for a new gloss/eyeshadow/blush!

Paper due? New highlights!

Thesis defense? Major reconstructive surgery! And then flee to Finland and drown sorrows in pickled herring and Aquavit!


Fortunately for me, I've a few years to go before the Thesis defense happens. But, I do have all that other stuff going on, which means that it's Pedicure time, at the very least.

I don't know about you, but I am lazy. I'm certainly not one of those people who exfoliate their soles and keep toes all pretty and polished during the winter months. But inevitably, the call of warm sunshine and cool breezes** gets too much, and the strappy sandals must come out.

Of course, one is rarely prepared for this opportunity. Instead, one finds oneself with nary an hour to go before the sandal-worthy event must happen. In short, one needs a Pedicure In A Hurry.




The choice of the right polish is fodder for another post -- or another blog, for that matter. Today I want to talk about how you can turn those rough, scaley hooves into smooth sandal ready feet, all in about 10 minutes***.

- First, you need a foot file. I really like Dr. Scholl's Contoured foot file, but your favourite file or pumice will do just fine.

- Next, hop in a nice steamy shower. Mmmm. Wash your hair, shave your legs, do your shower 'thang. This would be a great time to use a deep conditioner, since you'll be spending a few extra minutes in there.

- Grab your most moisturizing body wash. I've been using Olay's Creme Ribbons Body Wash which is alright as a wash, but especially good for pedicure purposes. Slather some on the sole of your foot.

- Take the foot file and rub it over any rough spots (ball of foot, sides, heels, tips of toes, etc). The Dr. Scholl's one is great because it's contoured, and small enough so that I can target a specific area without rubbing the rest of the foot raw. The creamy lather from the body wash helps soften skin and protect it from too much abrasion.

- Do this until you are satisfied with the results, or start to get bored and/or pruney. This usually takes me just a couple of minutes. Lather, rinse, and repeat for your other foot.

- Rinse yourself all squeaky clean, and hop out of the shower. Now it's time to get your moisture on.

- This. This is the most important part, and is where the review for today actually starts. Up 'till now, any of your favourite pedicure/bath products would have sufficed, but the next step crucially depends on a shielding lotion like Gloves in a Bottle:




Okay, so it's not the most glamourous looking bottle. But it's exactly what you need. This thin lotion sinks into your just-scrubbed feet, and soothes and smoothes like nothing else. I've tried doing this with body butters, other lotions, and creams, but they just won't work as well. With the other products, your skin gets soft right away, but the feeling fades after an hour, and then you're left with dry flaky skin again. Gloves in a Bottle gives you silky smooth skin that lasts throughout the day. Plus, this sinks in so fast and so thouroughly, while other lotions leave me skidding across our tile floors, picking up random debris along the way (ew).

Now, we're talking about a quick-fix pedicure here, so obviously, results won't be as good as a proper maintence routine (i.e., where you exfoliate and moisturize daily). BUT, if you use Gloves in a Bottle in place of your regular foot cream, you may just find that you need to be much less diligent with that routine, since it locks in moisture so well.

Of course, this lotion works for the skin on the rest of your body as well. You may remember the good results I got with Skin MD Natural, another shielding lotion, and this is certainly a comparable product. There's not much difference between them -- both are soothing, non-irritating, and both absorb quickly. However, I find that while Skin MD has a very light almondy scent, Gloves in a Bottle is truly scentless. There is a fleeting, odd smell of school glue (not really unpleasant, but weird), and then nothing. Due to this, and a slightly better skin-feel during application, I prefer Skin MD. But, if you don't feel like shelling out $25 for 4 oz., take heart: Gloves in a Bottle does pretty much exactly the same thing, and it's only $12.95 for 8 oz. Plus, you can physically go purchase Gloves in a Bottle in Canada AND the US, and the website has a handy retailer locator.

And, if you REALLY love Gloves in a Bottle, you can even order bottles by the gallon! Which sounds crazy, but really isn't if you're using it in a hospital or factory setting, or if your entire family gets hooked on it or something.

Finally, Gloves in a Bottle has this picture on their website. Which makes me think of things like.... um... Farah Fawcett, soaring gloriously. On a dove. Spreading messages of hope and peace and love. And of soft feet!






* Okay, fine, this is not odd. It is the way of the graduate student. Possibly even the way of Life -- the founding rule for all of creation.

** Unless you live in Toronto, apparently. Oh warm weather, why won't you come?

*** OMG, I totally felt like an Infomercial Person right there. "How much would you pay for this amazing talking amazing new cleaning system? $200? $500? $1000 and the left arm of your first-born? Well today, you can have all this for just 3 easy payments of $19.99!" I have career OPTIONS, I tell you!

Minor Hair Freakout & Review: Conair High Heat Ceramic Straightener

So, if you've been reading along, you will know that I am just a little bit obsessive about my hair. This being the case, I made well and sure to buy a voltage converter for my upcoming trip (OMG, just 50 hours to go! I so need to pack!!!!!) to the UK, because like HELL I'm going to have hair that is frizzy in addition to lopsided while I'm over there.




You see, I am very devoted to my straightener. Sure it only cost around $40 CAD at the drugstore, and it's true that "Conair" is a far cry from "Chi". But dammit, this thing WORKS! My hair is generally straight to begin with, but the ends are oddly wavy and wiry. Despite my hair being thick, hard, and plentiful, this modest little straightener glides through my strands, and leaves my locks silky, sleek, and shiny. I used it for the first time last December and I haven't looked back since.

A big worry with cheap hair straigteners is that they don't get hot enough. Not so with the Conair. It's got a little turn-dial that lets you select between 25 heat settings, and I've never had to go above 20 or 21 to get my desired results. In fact, I've moved it down to 17 and it still works well. The plates grab tightly, and mine came with an awesome comb attachment (not pictured) that prevents the iron from tugging on hair, which could lead to greater damage. The slim design is easy to use, and I find it less tiring than the "scissor" type of handle. I've had this for a year now, and it's still going strong.

Much love for this straightener. I take it with me everywhere.

But then, I started reading some reviews (because I am an internet junkie, yes, I know) about some high-heat ceramic straighteners that will fritz out EVEN WHEN you use a voltage adaptor! Somehow, I don't think the other 3 guys with whom The Boy is currently sharing a flat would appreciate my straightener shorting out the flat's circuits at 8am.

So madly I scurry off to go grab my straightener & its model number, to see if anyone else has tried using it in Europe. And then I see the magical little words: "125/250V AC 50/60Hz"

Allllright, this baby's dual-voltage!

So, in addition to being effective, easy-to-use, and affordable, it also travels! Which means I can return that $50 voltage converter now, and use the funds to buy cool UK beauty loot instead! Beat that, Chi!


FYI, the model number on mine is the same as the one depicted (CS25HC), but mine has gold plates, and the comb attachment (which comes off if you want).

Product Review: Tarte Cosmetics -- Picture Perfect Eyelash Curler & Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara

My first ever review for Meg's Makeup! Thank you, readers for being a part of this momentous occasion! My reviews for Meg's site will be sort of a summary of my longer reviews here, because I know that her readers might not have the inifinite patience that you lovely people must posess to get through my rambly reviews. So if you're pressed for time (or have run out of patience), check out the condensed version over there.

Today, my lashes are presented to the world courtesy of Tarte Cosmetics. I first curled them using Tarte's Picture Perfect Eyelash Curler:




Don't that look hi-tech! I'm used to using curlers with the 'scissor-like' handles, like the one you see here, so grappling with the purple-squeezy thing was a bit awkward at first. The mechanism did seem to give a bit more control over how hard you squeeze, and thus you get more control over the amount of curl you end up with. It takes more time than usual to position the curler properly (again, this could be because I'm unfamiliar with the design), but once there, it catches the small "outer" lashes a bit better than my usual drugstore curlers. Some of them still manage to escape, but a few more clamps usually takes care of them.

I had to use a light hand with the clamping, or else I'd end up with bent lashes. (although this is true of every curler I've tried). Used properly, this gives a natural looking curl. I also tried using this after I put on mascara (go gently, lest you rip out your lashes), and ended up with a more dramatic fringe. Overall, this is a nice, girly looking curler that is effective, but I don't find that it inspires manic devotion like the Shu Uemura curlers apparently do (I wouldn't know, I've never tried those). I'm quite happy with Tarte's version, but it's not like it out-performs drug store curlers by leaps and bounds or anything. Except in the looks department, of course!


Next, I applied Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara, which promises to deliver length, volume, and curl:




Will you just look at that thing? It's shiny purple faux snakeskin! And it has an exclaimation point in its name! Just holding it made me feel like one of those glam rebel chicks. It's the RuPaul of the mascara world, dressed in (the artist formerly known as) Prince's suit. Do I even care if it works?

Well... yeah. I do care. Why else would I have a makeup blog? Fortunately for Lights, Camera, Lashes!*, its cute name and bad-ass packaging do not make up the entirety of its merits. It's also a pretty darn good mascara! I have the sparse straight lashes typical of My People**, but have been blessed with a fairly long fringe. My mom always (randomly) said that having long eyelashes means that you're lazy, so if you slack off a lot like I do, maybe you can have long lashes too!

Anyway. This mascara added some length, but not crazy amounts, which is actually good, since I don't want my lashes to be knocking against my glasses. It gave me a moderate amount of volume... no one will think you're Liza, but it does add a nice oomph. Interestingly, I found that it actually deflated the curl in the lash a bit. It still maintained a nice flirty lift, just weighed down a little. Not a big deal, but I certainly didn't see any added curl.

The staying power is quite impressive. I do get a bit of smudge under one eye, but every single mascara I have ever tried does this, and always in the exact same spot. Maybe I have a weird eye. Maybe I unconsciously wink a lot. That would sure explain why all these creepy men think it's a good idea to have a conversation with me. ("She's either hitting on me, or has a facial nerve disorder! Either way, hook me UP!") Aside from that, Lights, Camera, Lashes! stays put. No flaking or smudging. I even fell asleep in it last night (shut up! I had Thai food! It made me sleepy!) and awoke to find that almost all of the mascara stayed on my lashes.

Lashes don't feel brittle either when you wear this, and I think you could build it up for Rock Star Lashes should you so please. It is a thickish formula though, so have that lash comb ready. FYI, when I apply mascara, I usually wipe excess product off on a tissue beforehand. I find this gives me greater control and more brush strokes to work with (i.e., I can do 3 or 4 strokes without clumping or heaviness). Definitely a good idea for thicker mascaras like this one. Applying it straight from the tube gives a "bigger" look, but at greater risk of clumping if you're not careful. I do notice a tiny bit of itchiness at the end of long days, but after 16 hours of wear, that's not really unexpected.

Overall, this is a pretty good mascara. I'd like to experiment more with a more dramatic look for nights out, but so far, it's fine as a day mascara. And you KNOW that your product-obsessed friend would just squeal with delight if they got this as a present from you. Since mascara is one of those "only when I feel like it" items for me, I wouldn't go out and spend $18 US on this, unless it was as part of a bitchin' present for someone. And it does look awfully bitchin', doesn't it?

And that's a wrap! Come back in the next couple of days and see what I thought of Tarte's Park Avenue Princess Bronzer!



*Because you just KNOW I'd have taken out its kneecaps if it failed to perform. Or maybe laid the brutally-torn-off head of a lash comb next to its pillow. Don't toy with me, mascara. I'm watching you.
** Is that term offensive? One friend always makes uncomfortable eyes at me when I say it. "My People"... it's just another way I refer to Orientals. I don't mean it in the 3rd Reich sense. Oh wait, that was probably way offensive. Man, I suck at this PC stuff.