My Top Mascara Picks: Dior, L'Oreal, CoverGirl and Make Up For Ever

I've been on a roll lately with my product reviews so I thought I would continue my review-a-thon with a post about my favorite mascaras.  Plural, because, uh, I love too many of them to choose just one.

From L-R
(please note that I only use waterproof mascaras. I don't like any formulas that aren't waterproof)

Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara, Waterproof, Very Black
The CG Lash Blast is a great mascara overall. I wouldn't say it's my favorite of all of the ones I own, but I love it. It goes on nicely, doesn't clump and defines, thickens and lengthens lashes. It's a great bet if you're trying to find a great drugstore mascara. I tend to like a dry formula and this is dry, but not as dry as some of the other mascaras I love.

DiorShow Iconic Mascara, Waterproof, Black
This mascara, in my opinion works best on the lower lashes.  I actually only use it for that. There's something about the way the brush is shaped and the formula that is just an excellent fit for defining those lower lashes. it stays on all day, doesn't budge and creates separated, pretty lower lashes without clumps.  Like I mentioned, I don't use this on my upper lashes, because I find other formulas work better for that.  The brush is similar to the lash blast in that it's that rubbery plastic material with those stubby-like bristles.

DiorShow Mascara, Waterproof, Black
DiorShow was the first luxury mascara I ever bought.  I think the massive brush is what makes this a standout product (it also has a rose water smell but after awhile you don't notice it at all.)  I think this mascara has everything you'd want in a mascara- length, staying power, thickness.  It really creates those long, lush lashes we all hope for.  It takes some getting used to at first because the brush is so big, but it's worth it!

L'Oreal Volume Collagen Mascara, Waterproof, Blackest Black
This mascara is definitely a Holy Grail one for me.  It really creates very full, thick, lovely lashes.  The brush is different---the bristles are kind of all over the place going in different directions which I think it why this mascara really gives a gorgeous look to the lashes.  I can achieve thickness with this mascara in just one coat.  I like big hair, and I like big lashes---and this delivers---volume, thickness and overall just perfect lashes. This is a must-try, IMO.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Lash, Waterproof, Black

My newest addition, this mascara surprised me (pleasantly.)  I was a little skeptical but after reading all of the rave reviews I just had to try it during Sephora's F&F 20% off sale.  I'm so glad I did.  Out of all of my mascaras, this one definitely gives the most "feathery" lash look. I also notice that it seems to hold curl in my lashes really well.  It doesn't give quite the thickness of some other formulas I use...but it more than makes up for it because of the unique, soft, feathered appearance it gives to lashes. I'm not really sure how this formula creates that look---maybe the brush or the mascara itself, but I really do enjoy it and am glad I purchased it.

I hope this entry was helpful to anyone looking for a new mascara, or on the fence about trying a new product. What are YOUR favorite mascaras?  Share them in the comments below :)

xoxo,

Veronika.

Contest: Big Hair, Big Lashes- 350 Plus Subscribers!!!!!!!

I finally made it out to Ulta today to purchase some goodies for a blog contest. Right now I am at just over 350 followers and I am so grateful for your readership and for contributing so much to this blog.

I made the theme of this contest "Big Hair, Big Lashes" because I am obsessed with volume. Big hair, thick lashes, ruffles and all kinds of voluminous texture in my clothes...you get the picture.

The contest prize is the following:

1. Redken "Guts 10" mini, which is a volumizing spray (Elle- AllThatGlitters21 on YouTube) recently recommended it, so I picked one up for the contest (and one for myself too!)

2. Redken "Satinwear 02" mini, which is a smoothing blowdry lotion (gotta do the blow dry to get the volume!)

3. Redken Extreme "Anti Snap" mini, which is a leave-in protein hair repair treatment. I have been using this product for awhile now and I like it. I am not sure how much of a difference it makes, but I do like it.

4. L'Oreal Volume Collagen Mascara (waterproof) in "Blackest Black." This is my favorite mascara right now, so I decided to spread the love so someone else can full, thick, luscious lashes. See my rave about this mascara here.

Here are the rules for this contest:

1. You must be a subscriber/blog follower, (please enter once only)

2. You must enter your comment with a valid name/login. No anonymous entries will be accepted. A simple "enter me" is all it takes :) or you can write a longer comment, whatever you desire!

3. You must provide your email address in your comment so I can contact you should you win. You can write it like this: veronabrit at gmail dot com (less chance of spam this way.)

4. The contest closes on Friday, February 26th at midnight CST. No entries will be accepted after that time.

5. I will announce the winner next Saturday, February 27th. UPDATE: as with my last contest, I will choose the winning comment using RANDOM.ORG. Sorry I forgot to include that!

6. You must provide me with your mailing address if you win so I can mail the package to you.

I hope you will enter this contest :) I bought the same products for myself, so hopefully we will both enjoy them/explore them. I also got myself a mini of the volumizing mousse, because I am always looking for something to out-do my Garnier Fructis XXL volume mousse.

While at Ulta, I also picked up some Seche Vite topcoat, which Tiffany D raves about. I just used it on my nails and it really does work. I like it better than the OPI brand topcoat. I did 3 layers of nail polish and used this topcoat, and I notice my nails did dry faster.

The color I painted my nails with is from OPI's new Hong Kong collection. It's called "Lucky Lucky Lavender." I really like it. I haven't had a chance to clean up the sides yet, but this is a pic of the color. It actually reminds me of the color of these pretty J.Crew pumps.

The color is a bit darker than the pumps (I used 3 coats) but I absolutely love it. I am seeing a lot of lilac everywhere for spring. I love the soft pastels and brights that come along with spring. It inspires me to add some color to my usual black ensembles.

Speaking of awesome shoes with bows, I just ordered these gorgeous Paris Hilton pumps. I just couldn't resist the amazing bow. I got them in black and they have hot pink underneath (no doubt a nod to Mr. Louboutin.) They are called Paris Hilton- Senorita Peep Toe Pumps and I got them from Macys.com.

I have been looking for shoes like this for a long time. I saw some at Ann Taylor a couple of weeks ago, but the bow just wasn't bold enough. I love that the bow on these is more dramatic. I can't wait until they come in. I loved them in gold too, but black just seemed more versatile. I can see these becoming my favorite pumps. A lot of people have said that these are a replica of the Valentino pumps. I can't afford Valentino, but give me a black pump with a huge bow by any brand I can afford, and I'll take it! They were $89.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Thank you so much for reading, and if you're interested in the products above, please do enter the contest.

xoxo,

Veronika.

A DiorShow Alternative?

I can't believe I'm even typing the words I'm about to type, but I think I have found a mascara that I am happy enough with to actually compare to my beloved DiorShow.

It's L'Oreal's New Extra Volume Collagen Waterproof Mascara in "Blackest Black." I don't know if it's the formula or the brush or a combo of the two...but this mascara is incredible. It gives me thick, feathery awesome lashes with tons of length and volume. It doesn't smudge or look cakey or flakey. It is lash perfection in a tube.

So, if you've got $7.99 and haven't found a mascara you love yet (or are trying to find a cheaper one than your designer one) then I definitely recommend you hit Target, Walgreens, CVS or another cosmetics retailer and pick this one up. It's SO much better than L'Oreal Voluminous too, which I previously thought was amazing. No my friends, this one is better.

I curl my lashes and apply one coat on each lash. By one coat, I mean I take what's on the brush on the first swipe out of the tube and apply it to my lashes using a "swipe up" motion from roots to tips, several times. I don't need more than one coat to make my lashes look full and lush. I don't like to use too many coats because I find if you put the first coat on and then re-dip and apply another (and another) it just starts to cake and flake (not this formula, all formulas in general.)

I hope this mascara soon finds a home in your collection- and if it does, let me know how you like it.

xoxo,

Veronika.

PS- THANK YOU to all of the incredible women who have been so amazingly supportive of me lately. I appreciate your thoughts, kind words and advice more than you know.

Color Your Home with Florals!

Today, my husband and I hit the gym together and I had an awesome workout. I ended up doing only 15 minutes of cardio though, because some man got onto the one next to me 10 mins into my workout, and he reeked of cologne or perfume or something. It was like a vanilla musk. So so awful. It was so strong I started to cough. I am really sensitive to smells so I just had to leave and go upstairs to do the rest of my workout. I really don't get why people feel the need to douse themselves in perfume or cologne or overly-scented anything at the gym. It is really distracting for a lot of people.

Anywho, I was able to remember a ton of moves from pilates class, and incorporate them into my workout. I used to be ALL ABOUT the machines [at the gym], but now that I've taken pilates and worked with a personal trainer, I understand that using tools like free weights, stability balls, bosu balls, resistance bands and just your own body weight are much more effective and give way better results. I was pretty happy that I was able to get just as a great of a workout on my own as I do in a class, because that has always been a challenge for me.

My husband and I got Buffalo Wild Wings for the SuperBowl today and we have friends bringing pizza and other pig-out foods! YUM! Today is a "calories don't count" day for me. I don't eat like this all of the time, so it's OK once in awhile to have a fattening calorie fest (and all the more acceptable, I think, on SuperBowl Sunday.)

Before we arrived at home, I stopped at Walgreens to pick up a prescription, and I remembered I wanted to try the Tressemme Dry Shampoo that just came out so I picked that up along with a few other items.

From L-R: Tresemme Dry Shampoo for normal/oily straight hair, Maybelline Lipstick in "Born with it," L'oreal Extra-Volume Collagen WP mascara in "blackest black," and L'Oreal Ever Strong sulphate-free hydrate conditioner.

I'll let you know how the products are when I try them. I did use a quick spray of the dry shampoo. It has a citrus-ish smell, which is OK...a bit overpowering, but I'll let you know how I like it when I use it "for real."

I also picked up some zinc from the vitamin store after Stephie from Superficial Obsession wrote about its benefits on her blog. It is supposed to reduce inflammation and be great for your skin and hair.

Speaking of skin, I'd like to give a "first week" Clarisonic update. I've used it everyday since last Sunday at night only, before I go to bed. I use it for 1.5-2 minutes. I use it with my regular cleansers (not the one that came with it).

What I've noticed so far:
skin feels MUCH smoother
skin feels much cleaner and softer
skin does appear more even (less splotchy/redness)
pores appear smaller

I will continue to use it and report any updates. I did for the first few days experience a tiny outbreak of teeny tiny little pimples along my hairline, but that could have been from hair products and not the Clarisonic.

So far, so good.

Before I go, I wanted to show one of my Target home purchases from Saturday. I'm obsessed with have flowers in my home, but since I can't afford real ones, I get artificial ones. I think they really add beauty and pop of color to any room. Here is my latest arrangement:

(From Target, $9.99 per stem, I have 2 stems in this one)

So pretty! I just really love how fresh it looks (well, to me it does.) I think I like florals in my home as much as I like them on my clothes.

This is one of the arrangements in our bedroom on our dresser: (the flowers are from Pottery Barn, Z Gallerie and Crate & Barrel)

We have another (smaller arrangement) on our dresser as well.

Then, there's this one in our living room:


More living room florals:

(even my candle holders are floral!)


So yeah, I am pretty enamored with flowers. I just can't help it, they make me happy!

Do you have flowers (real of fake) in your home? What do you do to brighten up your home? Please share your tips, tricks and advice in the comments below!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Self Tanners: My Favorites and Reviews

I used to work at a tanning salon...for more years than I'd like to admit. Now I know better, and am 100% against tanning beds and wear sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when I am out in the sun all day. Tanning beds not only ruin your skin, but increase your melanoma cancer risk by 75 percent, if you use tanning beds and sunlamps before 30 years of age, according to this recent report by the CDC.

75 percent- such a scary number. I haven't used a tanning bed since moving to Houston almost 3 years ago. I just don't have an interest in aging my skin and increasing my risk of getting skin cancer. I am so passionate about this subject, that I preach to anyone that will listen. With tanning beds out of the question, I had to look for other options to amp up my porcelain pale skin. I find that having a tan evens out my skin tone and makes me feel thinner and more toned. So instead of using gross, carcinogenic tanning beds, I hit the bottle.

I have found several self-tanning formulas over the past few years that have become weekly staples for me, and I will list my top picks here, so you too can achieve a gorgeous tan without harming your skin.

My number one choice for special events is to get a professional airbrush tan. I go to Kristy at Body Brushed in Houston. Her price in unbeatable at 35$ per tan (plus tip, of course) and she uses one of the larger airbrush "guns"- the ones you are actually supposed to use for a tan, versus the tiny airbrush guns some places use that are more suited for makeup application. Tell Kristy Veronika sent you- she will take great care of you, I promise! She is located in the Galleria area at Tranquility spa.

Favorite Self Tanning Products:

1. Clarins SPF 6 Tanning Milk
I use this creamy formula on my face only, and apply it after washing my face, before bedtime. Upon waking, my skin is infused with awesome, but natural looking color. Don't forget your neck!

2. Xen Tan
I actually got a sample of this product from the wonderful ladies at The Knot. It is a formula with the consistency of a lotion that is totally scary in the bottle-dark gray. The first time I saw it, I thought it was expired because of the color. Turns out, this formula gives an incredible, deep tan, with a brown/olive look to it (more of a "real" tan look). It also smells devine- like vanilla, which is incredible for a self tanner. You have to be careful with this formula, and wash hands in between applying to areas of the body, but other than that, it is a wonderful formula and pretty easy to use...but I would recommend this for more advanced at-home self tanning use.

3. L'oreal Sublime Bronze Lotion, Gel
This formula gives great color. The gel takes really long to dry and smells awful, but the price (it is available at most drug stores) is unbeatable. Be careful with both formulas on hands and feet, if you use too much (like I have, many-a-time) your feet will look like oranges.

4. L'oreal Sublime Bronze Airbrush
I like this self-tanner because the airbrush is easy to use, doesn't need to be rubbed in, and dries quickly. The color is definitely not as dark as some of the other formulas, but I like to use this when I need to "touch up." I also like to use this to self tan my feet, no matter what product I am using on the rest of my body, because feet are better off with a light coat of airbrush self tanner than trying to get them perfectly even using a cream or lotion formula. I also like this for the face, though I typically use it only on my body. The smell isn't great, but like all L'oreal Sublime products, I can deal with the scent because the price is right.

5. Banana Boat Airbrush Self Tanner I tried this one recently when the L'oreal was sold out- and it wasn't bad. It gets an "A plus" for its fruity scent. I wasn't particularly impressed with the color results though- I knew a product this yummy smelling couldn't possibly give awesome color though, so I wasn't expecting much. This would be a good choice for someone who wants light color.

6. St. Tropez Self Tanning lotion
I used this formula for quite some time and it is excellent- gives a "just spent a week on the beach in the Caribbean" look...however, it is pricey. This formula, much like Xen Tan's is really dark, so you have to be careful when applying and wash hands in between. Another option is to use gloves, but I typically find that just washing your hands really thoroughly works well. If you'd like to splurge on a great self tanner, this would be a top choice. I remember my bottle lasting really long. I also liked to use this product, mixed with my daily moisturizer to tone its intensity down a bit, on my face. And finally, my thoughts on gradual self tanners- personally, I would rather only have to self-tan once a week so I don't have to deal with the smell. Gradual tanning lotions do smell a bit better, but since you have to apply them daily to build color...it just seems like a lot of work to me. I'd rather use a stronger product and have a tan that lasts 5-7 days.

VS Model Marissa Miller's tan is perfection.

VS Model Miranda Kerr's ever-so-coveted glow

Carmen Electra's pretty facial tan- love the makeup here, too. A perfect complement to her glowing tan skin.