Glamour: A peek at Forever 21‘s upcoming fall collection
Afrobella: Vintage shopping tips
Studs and Pearls: One step DIY; turn your scarf in to a vest
Temple of Glam: Win a $100 gift card from Amazon
Thrift Store Confidential: How to collect thrift store art
InStyle: Salma Hayek dishes on her CVS beauty line
I finally got my hands on the Wet n Wild Fast Dry Nail Color and I was anxious to see if it really dried in 60 seconds flat. I’ve previously tried the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri, so I had to see how the cheaper {$1.99 each} Wet n Wild version stacked up. I couldn’t pick just one color so I went with two hues: Saved by the Blue, a rich cobalt color and Hannah Pinktana, a sparkly light purple.
Compared to the Sally Hansen variety, Wet n Wild’s polish was a bit thin. After one coat, the Saved by the Blue seemed streaky but gave full coverage after the second coat. I really loved the high shine it gave off.
{polish without a top coat}
I wanted to see what the sparkly Hannah Pinktana looked like so I just painted my pinky with it. The first coat was pretty sheer, but after a second, thicker coat, it had a bit more color and glittery appeal.
So, how long did it take to dry? That’s what you really want to know. After a minute, I pressed down on my nail and it was still tacky to the touch. I even smudged my thumb nail. After about 2 minutes I was good and dry. The product also claims to have a specially-engineered brush that assists in easy application, but I didn’t notice anything exceptional about the brush.
Though it didn’t dry in the promised 60 seconds flat, I was happy with the colors. And seriously, you can’t beat a two minute drying time. I would definitely turn to these for a quick polish change when I’m heading out for the night.
Oh, remember the Sally Hansen Salon Effects I tried last week? Check out the update and see how long they lasted and why the removal process was a tad annoying.
Temple of Glam: Win a year’s worth of makeup from Sephora
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All You: 20 kitchen gadgets under $20
The Frisky: Sign up for the CVS beauty rewards card
Budget Travel: Planning your first European vacation
Once again I’m tying out a new mascara. I’m already hopelessly devoted to Maybelline Falsies but I always like trying something new. While in Duane Reade I picked up Black Radiance’s Dynamic Duo Mascara & Primer {$3.99}. The double ended product with a primer on one end and mascara on the other reminds me of Maybelline’s XXL Volume + Length.
{step 1: primer gives length. step 2: mascara adds volume}
According to the site it: “provides undeniable length with long lasting fullness. This lash building mascara contains fibers that extend and proteins that volumize for mesmerizing eyelashes. Super smooth, longwearing formula glides on easily for whatever look you want to achieve. Say goodbye to clumping, flakes and smudges. Say hello to dramatically long lashes that last and last!”
Pros:
Cons:
This won’t be my go-to mascara for a night out {I’ll stick with Falsies for that} but it’s great for a natural day look.
Have you ever tried any Black Radiance products? How’d they hold up against department store or other drugstore brands?
My quest for the perfect drugstore mascara just never ceases to end. After being less than impressed with L’Oréal’s Telescopic Explosion, I decided to give their Voluminous Million Lashes a shot. At just under $9, the price was right. The product claims to make your lashes “look a million times multiplied and perfectly defined” and the built-in Clean Sweep Wiping System removes excess mascara from the wand.
As soon as I opened the package, I realized I purchased black brown instead of blackest black. Hmm, I wondered if this would make a drastic difference in appearance? This concern quickly went away. Unlike the Telescopic Explosion, which I found to be a bit gooey, the Voluminous Million wand had no excess mascara on it. It actually looked like there was very little mascara on the spiraled wand but apparently it was just enough. After one swipe, I noticed longer lashes. And after a few coats, there was no clumping.
This didn’t give my lashes the full, fanned out look of Maybelline Falsies, but gave me great length, which looked a bit more natural in my opinion.
Final Conclusion: Voluminous is more clump free than Telescopic but Maybelline Falsies gives greater volume.
Have you tried L’Oreal’s Voluminous Million Lashes? What’s your favorite drugstore mascara?
