First Impression: Benefit Gimme Brow

Hey guys!

I have another quick first impression today on Benefit's Gimme Brow. When this product first came out, I was a little skeptical. For me, it's really hard to spend so much money on my brows. But after using products from Anastasia and seeing that some of the higher end products do make a difference, I was really drawn to this product. In particular, I was intrigued by the lure of a fast and natural brow. I personally don't like super defined brows, so Gimme Brow sounded great.

Overall, after my first impression of Gimme Brow is really positive. Within two swipes on my first brow and it was instantly transformed. I was shocked by how great it looked with so little effort. Usually with my brow powder, it would take 10 minutes of work to make my eyebrow look that good. Here's a comparison of one brow done and the other not:



Left is the one with Gimme Brow, the right is untouched



As you can see, it made a significant difference. Just like the first brow, the second brow was also transformed. This one I had a little bit more trouble because it got a little gloppy, but it was nothing combing through couldn't fix.

So right now I'm super impressed. I can't believe I scoffed at this before now.

Have you tried Gimme Brow? Let me know your favorite brow products!

First Impressions: Rimmel Scandal Eyes Lycra Flex Mascara

Hi guys,

If you ever need to know one thing about my beauty habits, it's that I can't resist trying out a new mascara. Especially drugstore mascaras.

This weekend I decided to venture into uncharted territory for me: Rimmel mascara.

Don't get me wrong. I've heard fantastic things about the Scandal Eyes line. However, Rimmel is usually a brand that I totally forget about. I'm not sure why, but it's just the way it is.

However, that's changed officially now because I've tried out the Scandal Eyes Lycra Flex Mascara and I want to share my first impressions with you.

The promise of this mascara is pretty simple: it's supposed to give buildable volume that leaves lashes soft and flexible.

The first thing I noticed is the size of the brush. It's huuuuuuge. Like insane. Bigger than Benefit's Bad Gal Lash, which was previously the largest I've ever used. It's not the plastic kind of wand either, which I liked a lot.

The left is the Flex Mascara and on the right is The Rocket for comparison sake. See how huge?

Ignore the awkward expression haha

Overall, I think this mascara is really good. I've only used it once, but I can say that so far, I like it. It's definitely more wet right now after the first use, so I didn't want to layer on layers (I could feel it starting to get clumpy). But I can say that it did add volume and my lashes are soft. And it hasn't worn off or made my lashes fall, so I'd say so far, it's meeting my expectations.

What's your favorite Rimmel mascara? What do you think of huge wands?

Spring MAC Haul/First Impressions

Hey guys!

There's no doubt that I love MAC makeup. It was the first high-end makeup that I dabbled in, and I still continue to find that the brand as a whole is great quality and (when compared with other high-end brands like NARS) relatively affordable.

I've been struggling with my face makeup recently. I love the It Cosmetics CC Cream, but I find myself wanting more coverage and something that holds up better with oily skin.

I thought about trying out the Amazonian Clay Tarte foundation, but found myself just wanting to try something really different. Enter the MAC store. I really like the MAC counter that's here in my hometown, but I truly love going to the full-fledged store about an hour away.

Anyway, in the store I received great customer service and walked away spending about $70 more than I was originally planning on, but overall I think I picked up some great stuff.

I picked up five things at the store, four face products and one eyeshadow!

Cork Eyeshadow

Over the past year or so, I've collected enough products to finally exchange for the Back-to-MAC program (which I view like an incentive program). I knew that for my free eyeshadow, I wanted a nice brown color that would look great with my NARS Alhambra duo and this shade is perfect! I can't believe I didn't own Cork before now.

Select Cover-Up Concealer

I've been using the Make Up Forever Full Cover concealer, but when the makeup artist used this on me, I could truly see how much better this is. I love it so far. It looks amazing under my eyes (conceals all signs of dark circles without getting cakey or making my face oily) and is great on blemishes and redness on the rest of my face. It's thicker and creamier than the MUF version. The MAC website says that this concealer blends in to be invisible and I must agree, I don't even notice it on my face. In case you are wondering, I was matched to NW25.

Studio Careblend/Pressed Powder

I'm gonna be honest and say that before I purchased this powder, I had never heard of it. When I asked the makeup artist about a new setting powder, I thought for sure she'd lead me to another Mineralized Skinfinish Natural (which I loved), however, she recommended this one because she said it's great for sensitive skin, blots up oily perfectly, adds little coverage, so no need to worry about a cakey look. So I can use it all day to touch up any oiliness that might appear. Plus, after using it a couple of times, it feels so amazing! I love this stuff. It takes away any shine or oil, but still gives my face a glowy look. (By the way, I'm in the shade Light Plus).

Matchmaster Foundation

Knowing that I was curious about MAC foundations, I did some research before I went into the store and discovered this guy. I thought it sounded promising, but I wanted to see what the MUA would suggest. After telling her that I was interested in a medium-full coverage foundation that would last through-out the day and not make me oily, she brought this one to me. Guys, I've only worn this stuff three days now, but I love it. A lot. I've faced absolutely no problems with oiliness, it looks great and glowing on my face, and literally feels like I'm not wearing anything. But it covers up my redness while still not looking cakey. It's amazing. Plus, it has lasted 8-10 hours just as promised. If you have oily skin, you need to check this stuff out. It has SPF 15 and I'm in the shade 1.5.

Powder Blush in Peachykeen

After having the MUA also apply this to my cheeks, I couldn't help but get it too. It looks so pretty for spring and I think it looks really good with my green eyes. The site describes it as a baby peach with a little shimmer and I'd have to agree. It's natural and perfect for spring.

I'll give updates and do full reviews on some of these products, but I just have to say, that when it comes down to it, I'm always impressed with MAC.

What spring things are you picking up?

First Impressions of Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara

I love mascara.

That should come no surprise to you since most of my blog makeup reviews are about mascara.

And it shouldn't surprise you either that today I'm going to share my first impressions about one of the most talked about affordable mascaras out there: Jordana Best Lash Extreme.

This is one of the most recommended mascaras if you search the internet. I honestly had never heard about it until recently, but the reviews online basically promised the world when it came to this mascara. Not only is it $2.99 at Kmart and Walgreens, but it also apparently performs nothing short of miracles on eyelashes. All for $2.99 from a brand that I would be kind of skeptical buying from.

Don't get me wrong. I like good deals and drugstore makeup, but sometimes you got to wonder if these things really work or if they'll make your eyes break out with pink eye or something crazy.

Anyway, I found it at Kmart, hidden away beside the NYC line. There were three mascaras left, so that made me feel a little bit better that it hadn't been sitting on the shelf for the last five years.

The promise from Jordana about this mascara is nothing out of the ordinary. It promises:

-Immediate Extreme Volume
-Buildable Formula without Clumping
-Long-Lasting Power

Actually, that might be the least amount of promises ever from a makeup brand about a mascara. Usually they promise everything just short of filing your taxes and washing your car for you.

So let's get into my first impressions:

Packaging:

The packaging is simple. It's a straight rounded tube that's purple and black. It may be the simplest packaging aside from the Elf Mineral Infused Mascara I used awhile back. When I first say it, I honestly had no clue what to expect.

The brush too is simple It's just a natural bristle that's nothing out of the ordinary. I can't really compare it to any others, but it's medium size. Nothing too big or too small or too fancy.

I can't take away points for the plain packaging. In fact, compared to some really obnoxious over the top mascara packagings out there (seriously the Flame Out is just awful in my opinion), it's great.

And the brush is good too. Just straight forward. I like that a lot.

The Look:

This promises extreme volume. And I think you can say that it delivers. In just one swipe through, it has built volume. I haven't seen this time of easy volume in the Falsies, Voluminious Million Lashes, or even Benefit's Bad Gal Lash. It just goes on super duper black and very easily. I just love how fast it builds. You have to watch it though, because if you get like me and just get greedy and swipe a million times through, your lashes can get heavy and kind of clumpy. Just to give you a warning, I love spidery lashes. That's because I love drama and length. I'm not so much a defining, feathery lash sort of person. And that's why I love this mascara so far. It lengths, adds volume, and defines in every way that I love.

 

 

I also must admit that I love mascaras that are kind of crusty and hard on my lashes. Why? I find they smudge less, hold up to my watery eyes better, and I just like feeling my mascara on them. And that's something that this stuff does. And with the help of my Clean and Clear makeup dissolving wipes, comes off very easily at the end of the day.

Final Thoughts:

If you have a Kmart or Walgreens near by, and like trying mascara, I say just do it. It's only $2.99 and if you like it, great. If you don't...well it's only a few dollars. I love this stuff. It could even become an all time favorite.

Do you love mascara reviews? Well I have a ton of them! Check out these others: L'Oreal Voluminious Million Lashes Excess, The Rocket vs. Clump Crusher, L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black, Telescopic Shocking Extensions, and Benefit They're Real!