Review: Maybelline Volum' Express the Mega Plush gel/mousse Mascara

"The Mega Plush" - Maybelline

        Whether you're strolling through Sephora or Walgreens, there never seems to be a shortage of mascara. Some, promising longer, doll-eyed lashes, others...thick, lush lashes that frame your eyes like a curtain. While "break-through" advances in the beauty world are constantly popping up and on the shelves, many disappoint. I, myself, have had my fair share of broken promises and when I saw the new ad for this "amazing new gel/mousse mascara", I forgot all my past failures and decided to give it a chance, despite the obviously fake lashes in the photo. In other words, I couldn't resist. Oh, beauty products have always been my weakness, and in this case, how glad am I that it is...

Pros: the "flexor-brush", no clumps, brush size, soft lashes, longer lashes

Cons: not much volume, semi-long dry time

Sure, there are other mascaras that you can angle the brush/head with, however, this was built to be angled and stays in that position until you move it. This not only makes my life slightly easier but also helps reach the small corner lashes too. Along with the new gel/mousse formula, comes the disappearance of clumps. You might get one clump once in a while, but significantly less than with other brands of mascara. I also like the brush size, a lot. It's not too big, but just the right size for me to quickly apply mascara without having it stab my poor eye. (Never a dull day with me, my friends...) The new formula also gives you great, soft supple lashes that aren't flaky or brittle, as promised. While it does make my lashes look longer, I don't really notice a difference in volume and compared to some other brands/types of mascara, the drying time seems a tad bit longer.

My Final Decision: Overall, it's a good mascara. Clump free, long, and soft lashes that will surely make your eyes the focal point. While the volume was a bust, the product itself is not. Yes, my lovelies...I recommend.

xoxo,
TrinaD. <3

Tips For Using Liquid Eyeliner and Emergency Substitutions (Requested by Livvie J.)

       Liquid liner can do wonders, but it's not always easy to use. Especially for beginners, using the liner can get messy, sloppy, and frustrating. While you can use a stick liner to add emphasis to your eyes, liquid is just more smooth, versatile, and faster (once you get the hang of it). You can go natural or bold with it and with a precision point brush to provide you with the best control possible, it will be simple to master once you learn the basic tricks. If you're looking for a colorful, bold look, why not go for a sparkly pink, purple, or even green liner? Who says classic is always best? Liquid eyeliner is also commonly used for popular looks such as the cat-eye/winged look. But whatever color, style, or brand you choose, make sure to not use waterproof to practice first. It'll come off easier and you can use water (instead of eye make-up remover) to get it completely off.

Tip #1: When you apply liquid eyeliner, don't close your eyes. It makes the lines uneven because when you open your eyes, they're different from when you close them. If you're not comfortable doing that, then squint.

Tip #2: Use your pinkie finger as support. When you're applying liner and your hands are shaky or you just want extra control, lay your pinkie on your nose or cheek for support. It'll help stable your hands.

Tip #3: If you have trouble making a straight line, make three dashes - one at the inner corner, one in the middle, and one at the outer corner (change to dots when you get better and then none at all) - and just connect them afterwards. This trick can also be used (and is suggested) for swirls, intricate details, etc.

Tip #4: If you run out of liquid liner, just dip an angled brush in water, shake once, and then run it across black eyeshadow and apply to eyes. You may also use mascara, but it's a lot thicker so it might be harder if you're not comfortable using liquid eyeliner.

Tip #5: If you want to look natural, but still define your eyes, then take a normal eyeliner stick and apply it to your lashline. NOT above or on your waterline, but right where your lashes are growing. You just want to fill in the spots where your eyelashes aren't and it will make your lashes look incredibly thick and it will definitely make your eyes pop but still have a natural feel (and look) to them.

Tip #6: Practice. It's not a hard skill to learn, but you do need to practice doing it for it to look good. Use an old one that ran out, a plain eye-liner brush, or even that one in the shade of blue that you don't like but keep locked up in your cabinet.

But whether you're an eyeliner enthusiast or a beginner, I hope that my tips helped you and thank you for reading my blog.

xoxo,
TrinaD. <3

Watermelon Nails



The finished look. I apologize for the poor camera quality.

Materials:

• Rimmel London 60 Seconds in #830 Camouflage
• Covergirl NailSlicks in #170 Rose Quartz (you can use any kind of pink that resembles a watermelon)
• Any brand of black nail polish.
• Kiss Nail Art brush (sold in packs of 3) in Beach Green
• Kiss Nail Art brush (sold in packs of 3) in White
• Dotting tool (if you don't have one, just make one out of an open bobby pin. Use the ends as a dotting tool.)
• Base coat (instead of using a base coat, I use a nail hardener)
• Top coat (matte or shine)

1. Apply base coat. Wait until dry to proceed.

2. Using Rimmel's Camouflage, paint an even line around the edge of your nail. Remember, don't make it too thick since there will be more to the rind than just this.

3. Taking your nail art polish in green, draw an even stripe just above the one you just made.

4. Repeat with the white nail art polish.

5. Take your green nail art polish again and draw vertical strips from the edge of your nail, where the dark green is, up into the white so that it looks more natural and realistic. Wait until dry to proceed.

6. Taking your pink polish, fill in the rest of your nail. Be sure to leave the rind untouched, including the white area. If you must, tape the skin around your nail to prevent the nail polish from sticking onto it (less work later). Let dry completely.

7. Take your black nail polish and put a drop of it on a piece of paper. Take your dotting tool and carefully make a small dot, but without lifting, gently pull it upwards to create a teardrop shape to replicate the seeds. Make as many as you please.

8. Repeat steps for all nails.

9. Apply a top coat.

Now, even though this was the way I did it, I would recommend customizing it so that it looks how you want it to. Make the rind bigger if you want to, add less seeds, or do whatever you want, because when you do nail art, you're not just showing off your nails, you're showing off your personality too! So I hope you enjoyed this and have fun doing it!

xoxo,
TrinaD. <3