Beauty Product Review: Essie "Beyond Cozy"

This time last week, I was snuggled at home, waiting out the superstorm "Nemo" and watching multiple episodes of "Mad Men" on Netflix. There's something about spending two days straight in sweat pants and slippers that just doesn't feel glamorous in the slightest. Indulgent, yes.

If you've ever watched the show, you know that it is meticulously researched for everything from scenic design to costumes to hair, make-up, even the style of beer can that was used in that time. It's amazing, actually. The drama is a bonus; for me the excitement of that show is in the details of the design. One detail that always drives me crazy is all the ladies fingernails. I'm so happy that shorter, more squared-off nails are what's "in" for my generation. The long, pointed look in saccharin shades of red and pink is something I'll never love.

Anyway, in thinking about the nail design of the women on the show, I of course began to consider my own, which 90% of the time is non-existent. The girls at work are always coming in with fresh, fun colors on their nails, but it's just not something I get that into most of the time. Maybe it was all those years playing the piano and getting chips in the polish almost immediately after applying. I hate even the tiniest chip, so when I do paint my nails, it's usually a pale color or french manicure.

But recently, I've been thinking of getting a little more creative with my nail color and style choices. I was stocking up on beauty supplies at CVS not too long ago and I picked up a fun bottle of nail polish that I had yet to try. So, during an episode of "Mad Men" while the snow continued to fall outside, I painted my nails with it. And I have to say, I kind of like it:

Essie "Beyond Cozy," CVS, $8.00

You can even see a bit of Don Draper on my laptop in the background of the photo. I am not usually one for glitter nail polish, but this one has super tiny pieces and it's not nearly as thick and clunky as most other glitter polishes. It's still a little rough to the touch, but a couple of coats of clear topcoat helped smooth it out a bit. 

I like that it's different and a little glamorous. It really dressed up my sweatpants. 

Beauty Product Review: Falsies!

I have been no stranger to the mystical, magical world of false eyelashes. They were part of my daily life back when I worked in theatre- it was basically mandatory to wear them when on stage. Working in the bridal industry, I know that it's pretty standard to wear them for the big day as they photograph so well. As far as daily use, that was a different matter. No matter what mascaras I tried, no matter how much they professed to give you the "false lash effect," they never quite worked that well. And every false eyelash set I'd ever tried just looked a little too over-the-top for every day. It was quite the beauty dilemma.

While at Sephora one day, I happened upon their false eyelash section and the coolest thing about it was that they had sample lashes on a little wand. The wand allowed you to hold the lash up to your eye and see how they would look on your face once applied. It made it SO easy to find the perfect set that truly enhanced my eyes and didn't look fake AT ALL. The key is that they are not quite a full set. They are applied about mid-lid and extend to the outer lid. They blend beautifully with my own lashes, but they have a major natural-looking impact. I get compliments on them every time I wear them and most of the time, the person complimenting me on how they look had originally asked what mascara I was wearing. I'm always honest and tell them that it really has nothing to do with the mascara- that I'm wearing falsies!

"Flutter" False Eyelashes, Sephora, $8.00

And here I am actually wearing them: 

Another less expensive option that is nearly as effective are these by Ardell:

Ardell Accents Lashes, CVS, $4.99

Have you ever worn false lashes? Are they part of your daily make-up routine or do you save them for special occasions? Leave a comment below. I'm dying to know what other people think of this little beauty trick. 

Beauty Product Review Clinique Fresh Bloom All Over Color

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to buy some of my make-up products at CVS when there is a sale and when I have some ExtraBucks. I'm a major bargain hunter that way. Usually, I'll stock up on my favorite products like L'Oreal True Match liquid make-up and Maybelline Colossal Volume Express mascara. I also wear Physician's Formula mineral powder and blush. As make-up products go, these are all pretty low in terms of price point, and when they go on sale and I can combine the sale price with my ExtraBucks, I can get them at less than half price. Which is why sometimes I buy a LOT of make-up and stock up with nearly a year's supply. These are all products that I wear literally every day and I'm happy with my make-up routine. However, there are days, especially in summer when I want to change things up a little bit. That's when I bring out a special, slightly more expensive make-up product: Clinique's Fresh Bloom All Over Color in Peony:

Peony, Sephora, $29.50

First of all, look at how gorgeous it is! I love the way the flower is made using the different shades of blush- so creative and artistic! I'm no stranger to blush with multiple colors- I've found they provide more dimension to the look, whereas the single colors tend to look a little more flat on my skin. I used to combine two or more colors myself, until I smartened up and started purchasing multiple-shade blushes. It's also largely due to the fact that I like to spend 10 minutes or less on my make-up, so taking more than one step to apply blush is just not time effective! The Clinique Fresh Bloom color not only has three rich colors in the palate, but one of them is an incredibly ethereal hi-lighter. Every time I wear it, I find my skin takes on a dew-y glow with just the right amount of shimmer. While I tend to wear it when I'm in the mood for a little make-up pick-me-up, it's actually ideal for special occasions or any time you want to give your skin a little extra special glow. 

What are your favorite make-up products? Leave a comment and let me know! I love hearing what other people wear and why they like it. With all the different products and all the different skin types and preferences, sometimes choosing make-up can be a daunting task. Listen to what your girlfriends like to wear and why they wear it. If someone loves a specific eye shadow because of the rich, saturated color, but you tend to prefer more sheer shades, then you probably won't like their favorite products! 

Beauty Product Review: Sally Hansen Color Quick

If you are anything like me, you like a nice manicured look to your nails, but you don't have the time or the money to be in the salon every couple of days. You also might have no problem painting your left hand's nails with your right hand because you're a right-y, but struggle a bit more when trying to paint the nails on your right hand with your not-so-steady left hand. It's kind of embarrassing how messy my nails have looked when I've tried to give myself a home manicure. Not only that, it also seems to take forever to do the job. I'm just not that quick, especially when I'm constantly "touching up" the mistakes I've made along the way. I'm also ALWAYS stressed out about knocking over the bottle of polish onto whatever vulnerable surface is nearby. Bottom line: home manicures are stressful.

The other day, while perusing the beauty products at CVS, I stumbled upon Sally Hansen's Color Quick:

Unlike a traditional bottle of polish, this type of nail color is more like a pen/paintbrush combo. It's also VERY fast-drying. Normally around $9, CVS was offering these at 75% off, so I figured it couldn't hurt to try it out, especially at that price. I opted for the color Turquoise Chrome and tried it once I got home. In less than a minute, one hand was done: 

(Please ignore my messy cuticles.)

A minute later and the other was finished, too. And meanwhile, the first hand had completely dried in the time it took to paint the second hand. The color is vibrant, although in retrospect, I probably should have opted for a more neutral color. Shiny blue nails aren't exactly part of my every day look. I was pretty convinced that this product was awesome at this point. The next day at work, though, the color didn't hold up nearly as well as regular nail polish. It chipped away more easily, especially at the tips. If you spend a lot of time at a keyboard, this nail polish might drive you crazy. 

Although it chips away more easily, the good news is that it's also incredibly easy to touch-up. Since it dries so fast, you could very easily step into the restroom, touch up your chipped nail and be back to your desk without anyone wondering, "What on earth is she doing in there?" Honestly, it's so fast and easy to use, you could probably do it at your desk and barely interrupt your work flow. 

There don't seem to be a whole lot of color options out there, but maybe that will change with time. I am thinking of trying to find one of these in white because I think it would make the at-home French manicure a LOT easier to execute. And with the top coats required for a French, the chipping might not be as bad. 

In summary, I think this product has some pretty clear pros and cons, but if I'd had to pay full price, I'd probably say it wasn't worth it. Where I only spent about $2.60, it was definitely worthwhile, even if I only use it once or twice more. 

What's your favorite nail polish? Do you go out to the salon to get your nails done or are you an at-home self manicurist? Leave a comment and tell me your thoughts! 

Beauty Product Review: Mascara

I've been experimenting with lots of different mascaras lately and I thought I would share some of my findings with you. First of all, you should know I am NOT a licensed cosmetologist or even a make-up aficionado of any kind. I have simply experimented with different types and brands of mascaras and I'm simply going to tell you what I've experienced and learned in the process.

For starters, I want to say that from the most expensive to the least expensive, from the vibrating brushes to the simplest applicators, one thing remains the same: mascara is mascara. Will you ever have lashes like the models in the mascara commercials? You will if you wear false eye lashes. Or if your lashes are naturally long and full. Otherwise, mascara will help to lengthen and thicken your lashes, but without using falsies, you will never achieve the look you see on the TV commercials.

That being said, there are actually quite a few mascaras that seem to do what they say and surprisingly, they are the less expensive brands. Maybelline is one of the most consistent mascaras I've used in terms of delivering on the promises made on the packaging. I recently tried the following mascaras:

Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash, Sephora, $18

After trying Bare Escentuals Buxom lip plumper, I was very impressed. I decided to try their mascara in the hopes that it was equally impressive as a plumping/volumizing product. Unfortunately, this mascara is just your run-of-the-mill mascara without any major lengthening or thickening effects. It does, however go on smoothly and doesn't tend to clump. 

L'Oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara, CVS, $7.99

I was drawn to L'Oreal's mascara for much the same reason I was drawn to Buxom- I had experienced success with other products of the same brand. I like L'Oreal's True Match make-ups as well as many of their eye shadows. I'd heard good things about collagen mascaras and that's what made me give this one a try. Once again, I was disappointed. This mascara lengthens and thickens marginally, so the effect was not nearly as dramatic as I would have liked. 

Estee Lauder Double Wear Lengthening Mascara, Macy's, $21

This pricey mascara claimed to last 15-hours without flaking or smudging. Lies. Don't waste your money! Also, its lengthening is marginal at best. I was recently told never to buy expensive mascara because the one that is always ranked #1 is Maybelline's Great Lash. That's right- the $5 stuff performs the best year after year. That's what made me try Maybelline. Well, that and the fact that one of my coworker's lashes always look spectacular and I finally asked her what she uses. Her answer: Maybelline Colossal Volume Express. 

Maybelline Colossal Volume Express, CVS, $7.49

Another collagen-based concept, this mascara supposedly lengthens and thickens dramatically. For once, a mascara delivered on its promise. My lashes are noticeably longer and thicker when I use this brand. The product glides on easily. You don't have to wait for on coat to dry to add another, in fact, the packaging states you shouldn't let it dry. So just apply until the lashes are as long and thick as you like and you're done. The day I bought the Colossal, I was also intrigued by the Lash Stiletto, also my Maybelline. I decided to try it out, too. 

Maybelline Lash Stiletto, CVS, $8.49

Not the original Lash Stiletto, what intrigued me about this version was its claim to also add volume. I bought both and did a side-by-side comparison that night on my lashes. Both the Colossal and the Stiletto had excellent lengthening and thickening effects. Only after trying each one out for a full day was I able to determine that I prefer the Lash Stiletto, but only marginally. I ended up preferring the Stiletto because it came in a nice "Brownish Black" color that's just ever so slighty lighter than black. On my fair skin and blonde lashes, I don't always like a harsh, black lash. 

None of the mascaras above were used with any type of primer, but I wanted to see if it made a difference. I decided to stick with Maybelline since they really seem to know how to make mascara. 

Maybelline XXL Pro Volume, CVS, $8.99

This type of mascara is a two-step process. First, apply the primer (which is white, strangely enough). This coats your lashes and makes them longer and thicker. After it dries, you apply the second coat which is the color. While it does produce dramatic lashes, I found it made them feel stiff. It held up well throughout a long day, but in the end I prefer a softer feel. Primer is best for someone looking for both length and volume. If you already have thick lashes, and all you want is a bit more length, a primer might be too much for you. But if your lashes are thin and you want it all, you might want to consider something like the XXL Pro Volume. 

So there you have it: my experiences with a LOT of mascara. I really believe Maybelline is the brand that actually delivers on their claims. And with prices under $10, it's worth experimenting to find the perfect one for you. Good luck and let me know if you have anything to say about these or any other mascaras-just leave a comment! 

CVS is turning me into a HOARDER!

I love CVS. I've had an ExtraCare card for as long as I can remember. And my name on it has been spelled "Mr. Remnee Bochard" for as long as I've had it. Tragic, I know. But I tolerate the butchering of my (quite elegant and very French) name because they hook a girl up with some serious discounts. Friends, if you do not have an ExtraCare card, get on it! Here are some examples:

A few weeks ago, I stopped in to pick up some shampoo. I'm a fan of Pantene's Color Preserve Volume shampoo and conditioner. I like to buy the large bottles when I see them on sale. On this particular day, they were discounted from $7.99 to $5.99. Unfortunately, the only thing left on the shelves was the conditioner. No problem- I stocked up on two large bottles and then got a rain check for the shampoo. In addition, my favorite toothpaste (Sensodyne) was on special. If I spent $10 on that brand of toothpaste, I would receive 5 "Extra Bucks." In the world of CVS, that's literally 5 free dollars. In addition, my facial moisturizer of choice- Skin Effects- was ALSO on special- if I spent $20 on that brand, I would receive an addition 5 "Extra Bucks." Oh, and I almost forgot- I had scanned my ExtraCare card when I first entered the store and got a coupon for 2 "Extra Bucks" to be used on anything in the store.

So, here's what I did- I first went to the register and bought the moisturizer and the toothpaste. Ding-ding! Two coupons for 5 Extra Bucks was handed right over. I then used those Bucks to pay for the already discounted conditioner. Fully stocked on conditioner, moisturizer and toothpaste, I went on my merry way with a rain check in my pocket to boot!

Some might have waited a while and gone back with the rain check after a week or so. Not me! The next day, I hit a different CVS that happened to have my shampoo in stock, so I got it at the discounted price without even using the rain check! Cha-ching!

Total saved from those two trips? $20! Yes, I spent about $40 in order to get that discount, but I purchased the products and brands that I prefer to use every day. I didn't compromise and get the discounted "generic" version, which often isn't nearly as good as the real thing and also not THAT much less expensive. And a $20 savings isn't too shabby- instead of spending around $60, I only spent about $40.

If you aren't impressed with that story, let me tell you another CVS shopping tale that might cause you to raise and eyebrow (or two). Tonight, on my way home from work, I swung into the original CVS where I got the rain check. The sale had passed and my Pantene was back to the normal $7.99/bottle price. I got a couple of bottles with the plan to use my rain check. I also swung by the hair dye section where I normally purchase a box of Revlon's dark brown hair dye. It's an inexpensive brand, but after experimenting with many different versions of "dark brown," it just so happened that one of the less expensive brands was the one I liked best. It normally sells for about $5/box. However, about once a year, CVS sells the dye in 2-box sets for only $5 each. We're talking a 50% discount right there. Finally, I needed some new lip color. L'Oreal is one of my every-day lip color favorites, and there happened to be a sale on the Endless lipstick line- 75% off. What is normally a $12 tube of color was suddenly less than $3!

Here's the breakdown from that trip:

Money saved due to rain check: $4
Money saved due to packaging discount- $10
Money saved due to make-up special- $17. 70

But it doesn't stop there! I had also received an email offering me a discount of $5 off a purchase of $25 or more. Even with my discounts listed above, I still qualified for the additional coupon which brought my total down from about $60 to $22.85! (Side note: the coolest part about the email coupon is that they scan the bar code straight off the screen on my smartphone- how cool is that?!?!Technology just blows my mind sometimes!)

To sum up, in the last two weeks, I have spent about $63 at CVS on products that I need and use every single day and I have also saved a total of $55 thanks to special discounts, coupons and smart shopping. Are you impressed? I hope so- I know I was!

The thing about the Extra Bucks is that it helps to know when you're going to get them. That way you can plan multiple transactions all at once. It's not always predictable, but there are often signs by the products that state, "Spend $X and get X Extra Bucks." You have to keep an eye out for them, and be prepared to possibly have to stock up on it to get the discount. Finally, in regards to the Extra Bucks, plan the order of your purchases and make multiple transactions in the most cost-effective order. The cashiers are always very accommodating when I ask them to please ring up certain items first. It may take an extra minute or two, but if it means saving about 50% every time I shop there, I'll put in the extra time. Wouldn't you?