Clinique Lash Power Gives My Lashes Superpowers

If you follow me on Twitter or ask me what my latest fave mascara is, you would know I cannot stop singing the praises of Clinique Lash Power. I've been mourning the discontinuation of Kiehl's Mineral Mascara, which I loved. My mascara needs are pretty simple, yet even with the hundreds of otpions out there, it hasn't been easy to find the perfect mascara. It must be waterproof or pretty darn close, as my oily skin melts just about everything into lovely racoon eyes within an hour. It can't irritate my eyes, as lately everything seems to bother my eyes. I like to rub them without having to worry about smudging as well.  And, being able to remove it with my regular cleanser as opposed to the oily mess waterproof mascara cleansers leave behind.

So, dear readers, your intrepid beauty blogger, ever ready to sacrifice time and money in the name of Better Make Up, went on a mission. I read everything I could find, I Googled, I got blisters traipsing from beauty counter to beauty counter researching The Best Mascara. And, I do believe I have found it, in a wee little humble and unassuming tube from Clinique. It's quite small and could go unnoticed by the untrained eye, but I found it! It is a tubing mascara, but not like Blinc or Kiss Me, which I find get tight and dry and literally have to be pulled off to be removed. Ouch. It makes for long glossy lashes that never clump, that last all day, and gently rub off with warm water. It is so gentle and non-irritating that I forget I am wearing mascara when it's on. At $15 a tube, it's only marginally more spendy than a drugstore mascara yet performs like a fancy department store one. I got mine at Neimans but it's available wherever Clinique is sold.

One coat of Clinique Lash Power on top lashes...and a bare face

So. There you have it. Clinique Lash Power, Super Mascara. Verdict? True love. I will actually cry if they discontinue this baby.

Beautiful Lashes with Urban Decay Cannonball

I am a serious waterproof mascara wearer. If its not waterproof, I don’t wear it and if I ever did, it would melt off my eyes within an hour of application. I have oily lids, maybe I blink a lot too? And, I rub my eyes. All of these things do not bode well for normal mascara. In all my years of testing and trying different formulas, nothing held up better than L’Oreal Voluminous. It was cheap; it didn’t clump, made my lashes longer and lasted all day. Paying $25 for mascara that was no better than a $10 one just didn’t make sense. Especially considering that most waterproof mascaras tend to dry out and not last as long in your makeup drawer as normal mascaras. And, like it or not, the dryness would translate to the eyes, especially by the end of a long day. I couldn’t wait to wash it off. Then I found the amazing Kiehl’s Mineral Mascara and fell in love. It has a lovely thin and light texture, which I love and probably will for a long time, and it has earned a permanent spot in my collection.

Cry all you like...it won't smudge!

Urban Decay Cannonball mascara sounded interesting though, as it brought a new science to a long wearing mascara formula.  It has the paraben-free gel formula I love so much in the Kiehls but with something different- fibres. This gel formula seems to be a common thing in Japanese cosmetic mascaras- I did enjoy the Shu Uemura Basic Mascara years ago, and I think that Kiehls offers a similar formula in their Mineral Mascara. But the fibers add a whole other dimension- literally- to Cannonball. Another fiber mascara is the hard to find Imju Fiberwig mascara, which had great lengthening abilities but was not waterproof. I also have Blinc tubing mascara, which is great and lasts well enough, but does come off in tiny little bits by the end of the day, and also felt quite dry and tight on my eyes. The little bits would sometimes get in my eyes- very annoying. And the only way to remove it is to wet and then pull off the fibres- ouch!- and end up with a sink full of little spider legs. Ew.

Cannonball seems to have all the good and none of the bad of all these nifty mascaras. It lengthened without clumping, felt soft and fluttery, and lasted all day while driving in a convertible in hot face melty weather. I didn’t swim, but I did sweat and rub my eyes and I also cried a little bit as my baby came home from a month away at summer camp while I was wearing it. It added a little more "oomph" than the Kiehls and is perfect when I want a slightly more glam look. I took it off at bedtime with my standard Almay waterproof eye makeup remover pads lickety split. No tugging and it actually just wiped right off. I have sensitive eyes as well and I did not experience one bit of irritation- another reason to love Urban Decay. Their 24-7 eyeliner does not bother my eyes either so they must be doing something right. Amazing! Cannonball gets a permanent place in my makeup drawer. It comes in one colour so far, a perfect black, which is all I ever buy. Unless you are very fair, black is the only mascara you need.

Even if smoke gets in your eyes, Cannonball stays put!

I got my Cannonball at Shopper’s Drug Mart for $24. Which is ok, but considering it is $20 in the US and our dollar is stronger, again I am irritated by the price issues. If I go to the US I will stockpile it, as I did with the Kiehls. The Kiehls is $23 in Canada but $16.50 in the US. Seriously? Anyhow, you can also get Urban Decay at Sephora.

Photos: Man Ray L'Armes & Marlene Dietrich being a bad ass.

Kiehl's Mineral Mascara is Marvelous & Beautiful

One of my pet peeves with mascara is thick clumpy mascara that looks fake and make-up-y. I am a lover of soft and natural make up, more so as I get older. I like my lashes to look dark, and perhaps a bit longer than they are naturally. Not thick, spidery, uber black and clumpy. Actually, that look is a pet peeve of mine…shall we bring KK and Eva Longoria out as witnesses for the prosecution? UGH.

KK at the 2011 Oscars

Eva at the 2011 Grammys

Thankfully, my lovely, wise and make up obsessed stylist Katarina told me about Kiehl's Marvelous Mineral Mascara. She is a natural beauty and has gorgeous lashes that are so pretty you would never even guess she is wearing mascara. My older daughter loves big lush lashes and counts Diorshow as one of her faves so her and I have fairly different criteria for our mascara, but, she wanted to try the Kiehl’s as well. As well, I have to have a waterproof/long wearing mascara as my oily skin turns all eye make up into raccoon eyes. Whereas she likes something easy to remove as she often wears contact lenses and hates the oily remover necessary to take off waterproof eye make up. So, I kind of though one of us would like it, but the chances of both of us loving it were slim. Wrong! We both love it! It is light enough and long wearing enough for me, yet dark enough and easy enough to remove for her. Not sure how that works or is even possible but yay!

It is so natural it almost doesn’t feel like anything is going onto your lashes. But, wait. They are darker and longer, yet not goopy or clumpy. It is gentle, has no scent and does not appear, so far, to irritate either one of us. It has a silky smooth texture, but not watery. I’d almost call it magical, because I feel like I’m putting nothing on my lashes yet they look better after I apply it. We use the black formula and it is a true black without being too dark or matte, but it also doesn’t look wet. Perhaps waxy is a good word? Whatever it is, it is amazing and is officially my new Favourite Mascara. The fact that it is paraben free and full of moisturizing jojoba oil and acai is a bonus. It uses “minerals that are pulverized into a very fine powder to impart a smooth and even application” which I imagine contributes to the delicate texture of the product and the gorgeous subtle colour. All in all, it is a win.

I got my Kiehl’s Marvelous Mineral Mascara at the Kiehl’s counter at Holt Renfrew for $24. It sells for $16 in the US so when I’m on holiday this month I plan to stock up- especially considering the Canadian dollar is stronger than the US dollar right now. 

Maybelline The Falsies For Beautiful Lashes

I’ve tried many mascaras. I know I am not alone in this. My mascara criteria is that it must last, it must lengthen, and it must add some volume, but not be thick, clumpy and overly “mascara looking”. I have found waterproof formulas have addressed the longevity issues for me perfectly. My skin tends to be oily and a non waterproof mascara is half gone by lunch. It doesn’t even leave raccoon eyes on me, it just melts away and disappears. I do mascara maintenance, meaning every 10 days to 2 weeks I take a tissue and completely wipe off the brush. Waterproof mascara tends to have a slightly drier formula than regular mascara and over time, clumps and dries to a slightly chunky consistency on the brush at the end of the wand. I can guarantee smooth even application by just wiping off that brush. It may seem wasteful but I’ve got some bad news for you. Mascara, by nature, is a product that is full of waste and it is already drying out in the tube before you ever will get a chance to use it all. After 3 months I still have mascara left, but its getting really dry and its time for a new tube.

Expensive department store mascaras vs drugstore mascaras- interesting debate. Even before I used waterproof exclusively I would vacillate between high and low end and to this day, I have yet to really be impressed enough by a department store brand that justifies the fact that is often three times as expensive as a drugstore brand. My go-to brand has lately been L’Oreal Voluminous Waterproof for lengthening  and a bit of thickening. I don’t like thick clumpy lashes that look obviously mascara’d but I do like a nice fringe. Having seen some buzz online I decided to take Maybelline The Falsies for a test run. Verdict? Great! I am not a fan of the brush, the curved design with variable brush length makes no sense to me- a lash brush is a lash brush and I really don’t think design wise there are innovations to be made. Yes the silicone brushes are neat (Buxom Lash is a great example of this- if ONLY it came in waterproof…) but don’t get me started on the battery operated “oscillating” brushes. I know that a buzzing mascara brush will not improve application because I was not. Born. Last. Night.

no mascara

one coat of mascara (focus fail- sorry!)

The Falsies lengthen very well, hold a curl and have a lovely black colour. No clumping and easy to layer, I have have added The Falsies to my mascara stash permanently.  Length of comfortable wear is not quite as long as Voluminous- by the end of a long day I am ready to stick my fingers in my eyes as I am pretty sure little pieces  of mascara are breaking off but that could be the -14 degrees weather we’ve been having. I’ve often wondered if frozen mascara gets more brittle. I use Lancome Bi Facils or Marcelle Waterproof Eye Make Up Remover Pads to take it off. The Falsies gives me a more glam look than Voluminous so it will be my go-to party look mascara for the holidays. Two thumbs up for The Falsies. Will buy again for sure.

Maybelline The Falsies mascara is available at drugstores

Get Beautiful in 15 Minutes or Less....

As much as I love makeup and all things beauty & cosmetic related, I am not into a heavy, made up look. At all. As I get older, the “less is more” theory becomes more relevant. If I have a special night out, I can add a little more drama with a slightly darker eye and some color on my lips, but for my daily Daly (lol) look, I keep it pretty simple. Long wearing is also key for my day-to –day cosmetics; I don’t have the time or desire to tote a large make up bag full of everything I need around in my purse. There is enough in there to sink a ship already…. if you read my Top 5 in my Purse post, you know that I stick to the basics. I also have oily skin so, make up, if not long wearing, tends to slip away and disappear before lunch. The descriptions may seem detailed and long winded, but trust me, get the hang of this routine and you’re out the door in minutes. So here we go. Get ready quickly, and look good all day. …

Tinted Moisturizer

I am not, and have never been, a foundation gal. On the days when I feel a little blotchy or pale, a little TM is all it takes to give my face the dewy look of an 18 year old. LOL, okay, not quite, but you know what I mean. I have two favourites- a high end product and a drugstore product. I love them both and actually alternate depending on my mood. High end- Dermalogica Sheer Tint Moisture spf 15. Incredible, sheer, matte and long lasting, I use the medium tone all year round. Makes me look healthy in the winter, blends with the light tan I inevitably get in the summer. Drugstore- Olay Totally Effects UV Moisturizer + Touch of Foundation . This one is actually fantastic, and it adds a little more moisture to my face in drier weather, ie winter when the central heat sucks every bit of moisture out of everything. I have been an Olay lover for years and this product does not disappoint. The magic Total Effects ingredients have won over users in blind tests involving super high end creams (hello La Mer….) since it was released and the tinted version is fantastic. The anti aging ingredients offer a light exfoliation, which helps keep oil at bay as well as smoothing out wrinkles. Not that I have any…

Concealer

This is a KEY product for me. Probably the one thing I’d use if (HORRORS) I was asked to choose the one thing I could not be without. You can go from tired and old to perky and young in a minute with the right concealer. And the only one, as far as I am concerned, is Lancome Effacernes Waterproof Protective Concealer . This product was recommended to me years ago by a make up artist at a Lancome counter. I went to buy Lancome waterproof mascara as I was going to a wedding (preparing for tears...) and she showed me Effacernes. WOW. This stuff is truly *Holy Grail material and I could never be without it. It is creamy and moisturizing while also having a matte finish. I use it under my eyes and on my eyelids, as it says it’s for under eye area. But I use a brush and lightly dab “spots” (ok, pimples) and very lightly dab it on the sides of my nose. A light dusting of powder on top and it stays put. As we age, that area gets red/darker and you would be shocked at how your face changes when you lighten the sides of your nose. Worth testing first, as a waterproof product may irritate a supersensitive skin. But I guarantee if this works for you, you will never be without it. A huge selection of color choices makes matching your skin tone exactly easy peasey. No more dark circles, the color will not settle into lines and will last for hours.

Bronzer &/or Blush

A touch of color is essential to a complete & healthy look. I don’t always wear both but sometimes a bit of blush and a light dusting of bronzer give me the pick-me-up that I need. You know those days - tired, run down and pale – without a good look and I am a big believer in “live it- be it” so sometimes I hope to psych myself out with a pretend glow. My number one blush is Benefit Benetint which is a liquid tint originally created, according Benefit’s site, “for an exotic dancer in the 1970s”…interesting. It is sheer, easy to apply and the perfect blushing cheek tone that lasts almost all day. I use few drops on my lips too! It also comes in a handy little package paired with lip gloss that is another perfect purse item (now that’s another Top 5 post!). My number one bronzer is the classic Guerlain Terracotta. My beautiful friend Heidi always looks so lovely & effortlessly bronzed- years ago I asked her what she used & she said Terracotta. Perfection! I had used it eons ago and now would never be without it. I use the lightest formula (01, sometimes called Blonde), which is foolproof. The Guerlain or Sephora rep can help you find your perfect shade. Using a nice big poufy brush giving yourself a light , even dusting all over the face can take you from tired to tan in an instant.

Eyeshadow & Primer

I cannot believe there was a time that I ever did not use Urban Decay Potion Primer which is basically the most incredible thing. Ever. It is a neutral coloured eye lid primer, to be used before you apply your eye make up. Using the Original formula, very lightly applied (a little goes a long way and too much is sticky) UDPP will make your eye make up last until you remove it. This could be overnight if you are a bad girl and don’t wash your make up off (like my daughters). Tsk tsk! They have 3 formulas, but the slightly shimmery Champagne toned Sin is a lovely colour on it’s own for pretty natural look. Then I swipe a little taupe eye shadow on my brow bone for depth. My faves are MAC Quarry and Omega- there are swatches on this page…just scroll down on Tempatalia to view. They are my Holy Grail taupe/natural shadows as they perfectly enhance the eye and give your lids some depth, rather than screaming, “Look at me I’m wearing purple and green eye shadow!”

Eyeliner Trick

This is a great little trick to add some depth to your lash line and open your eyes without looking like you are wearing any make up. As a blonde, this is something that really helps but it really works for anyone. Again, my desire to remain relatively low maintenance & my laziness dictates that this be a long wearing look. For this purpose I find the felt tip style is perfect- foolproof and easy to use. My personal favourite is L'Oreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner . This stuff lasts until you remove it, comes in an array of colours to suit anyone and the product goes a long way as well. That and it is around $10 at the drugstore- also fabulous. So, my trick. After applying concealer and my primer (UDPP) and letting them set, I apply the liner. I take the tip and gently dot all along my upper lash line- not above the lashes but IN the lash line. And by dot, I mean connect the dots. It may seem a little awkward at first but I can do each eye in around 30 seconds now. I start at the outer corner and work my way in and as I approach the other end of my lid, I make the dots a bit smaller until they disappear/taper off. Give it a minute to dry and you have a lash line that looks defined and subtle. Add a brush of mascara and you look bright eyed and wide-awake. My day-to-day fave color is the brown, which works well with my medium-fair colouring and hazel eyes, but they have a great black that I will use for a more dramatic look. I have even wanted to try the grey, so stay tuned….

Powder:

Everyone has their favourite powder- and it is essential for setting your make up after application. A light dusting of powder on your lashes before mascara will also help it adhere and again improve longevity.  I alternate two formulas. MAC Studio Fix, a matte powder foundation, which offers some extra coverage when I want it. A little goes a long way so a light hand is helpful with this. My day to day powder is Guerlain Meteorites Poudre des Perles I will admit a love and obsession with the Guerlain Meteorites line- very finely milled  and violet scented…. But frankly,  as long as it matches your skin, is finely milled and you apply it with a nice poufy brush (I have many- for powder, blush, bronzer…) then stick with the powder that works for you.

Mascara

Everyone has their favourite mascara…some are high end and some swear by drugstore deals. My personal preference is for lengthening mascara that does not look thick or clumpy and it has to be in a waterproof formula. Non-waterproof ends up as black circles under my eyes in a few hours. Ah that oily skin. And its nice to know I can rub or scratch my eye without making a mess. At any rate, so far I have yet to find a High End mascara that works as well as L’Oreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara in black. Waterproof formulas tend to dry out a bit quicker than non waterproof versions so I also feel a bit better replacing a $10 mascara more often than, say, a $30 mascara. But in the end, for me, it is about performance and L’Oreal Voluminous lengthens and holds a curl beautifully. Two coats on my top lashes and I’m out the door…

The End

* Holy Grail: A very desired object or outcome that borders on a sacred quest