Product Reveal & Review - What's making my lashes grow longer?

I am so excited that I am finally rolling out what has been making my lashes so absolutely AWESOME.

A week or so ago - I posted about how my lashes are looking wonderful and noticeable thanks to a very affordable product.  I didn't tell anyone what that product was because I wanted to be sure that the hype I was providing was for real... and it definitely is.  

Here is my before and after photos:

BEFORE PHOTOS:  In these photos I have one coat of mascara on.  As  you can see - my lashes are sparse and tiny and definitely not attractive.  The lack length as well as volume and they have little curl to them.  If I were to curl them manually - it would result in my lashes being completely invisible because they would curl and be even shorter.

AFTER PHOTOS:  These were taken a month after I started the treatment.  I have one coat of mascara on.  As you can see - I definitely have added length - more than 2x longer than what they used to be.  I also have growth of new lashes which help to give my lashes the appearance of being thicker and having more volume.  And, now - I can definitely curl my lashes without worrying that they will disappear after doing so.

So What is this awesome product, you must be asking?

This very affordable product has worked wonders on my lashes and has given me more confidence because of my new added eye feature. :)  Below is my formal review on video.  

Disclaimer:  I purchased these products with my own money.  I am in no way paid or compensated to provide this review.  This review is 100% honest and my own opinion.

Free Mascara at Sephora JCPenny

For all of my readers that live near a JC Penny that has a Sephora inside... this one is for you. :)


Stop by Sephora inside JCPenney for a FREE express service and score a FREE deluxe sample of Sephora Collection 7-In-1 Full Action Mascara! (Honestly, you don’t really need an express service to get their free products).

Get your coupon here. Expires 4/7/2011 or while supplies last.

Disclaimer:  I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned.  I was not paid or compensated in any way to discuss or post about this special.  I am not liable if the coupon is not valid or able to be used or if you encounter any problems when using them.  Please use at your own risk.

Mascara Chronicles - My Quest for full & long Lashes, Loreal Paris Double Extend Lash Boosting Serum

This is going to be a new aspect of my blog.  Those that have been following me on youtube and know me personally - know that I have always been VERY disappointed in my scrawny little lashes.  Everyone in my family has long lashes, my husband and children have VERY long lashes that are very full... and I am on the search for something that will give me all of those things.

2 years ago - I started the Beautylash MD project, which definitely grew my lashes to my maximum potential.  It was wonderful... however, it was short lived because once I stopped using the product...  my eyelashes went back to it's usual and original length and fullness.  Needless to say, I was very disappointed... but I also expected it to happen.

So - now with so many products out there offering so much more for the short lash gal, I am going to try the products that I come across and hear raves about to test and see which one works.  So - here is my take on the Loreal Paris, Double Extend Lash Boosting Mascara.


Loreal Paris - Double Extend Lash Boosting Mascara:  I blogged about this a few weeks ago after doing a haul.  I love it for the most part, it definitely gives my lashes an extended look.  I haven't tried the serum that they advertise along with it (pictured below on the left)... it costs more than the mascara alone... and I just couldn't justify purchasing it.  My take on this is pretty simple...  I loved the primer side of the mascara... and I did feel like my lashes did get a little stronger with use.  I liked the fact that the mascara brush as well as the actual mascara was not clumpy and went on effortlessly - however, my biggest complaint is that the actual mascara was too light in color, almost a kind of off black color or gray.  When you apply it over the white serum/primer side... it seems even a lighter shade of gray.  I am all about dark black lashes... and I had to apply one of my other lashes over it to get that effect.  I love the primer... my lashes look so long with it and it definitely had a noticeable difference... but I would ditch the mascara part of it and use something else.  If Loreal could change the color of the mascara and make it darker, this would quite possibly be one of my all time favs - if not my favorite all together.

Day 14 - Blog Challenge, What is in your makeup bag?

What isn't in your makeup bag would be a more appropriate question.  Right now, my makeup bag that I take with me is pretty sparse because I just changed my purse...  so I threw my MAC blot powder & carmex lip conditioner in my purse pocket and called it a day...  but normally - here is what you can find in my makeup bag.

• MAC Blot Powder
• MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation (I use this for touch ups only if I really need it - but other than that... I don't usually reapply my foundation and just use the blot powder)
• MAC Select Moisture Cover Concealer (for spot treating any areas on the go)
• Carmex Moisture Plus Ultra Hydrating Lip Balm with Vitamin E + Aloe & SPF 15 (this is a mandatory and I will always have it in my bag no matter what.  I have dry lips and this is great to keep it moisturized and protected.)
• Loreal Infallible Never Fail Lip Gloss in a Nude color...  right now you can find it in Coral Sands in my purse.
• A Basic Mascara - I am currently really liking Revlon's Grow Luscious Mascara because it has yet to clump my lashes (LOVE THIS STUFF, formal review coming soon.)
• A Lipstick Tube - usually one of my Nude colors from Avon.  
• A MAC Lipglass - usually Viva Glam VI
• A Eyeliner pencil - usually one of Avon's Glimmersticks Pencil in Blackest Black or Blackest Night (waterproof)
• Tweezers (I use this mainly when I am sitting in the car waiting for someone... I tweeze my strays :-D)
• Bobby pins (never know when you need these)
• Twist tie or rubberband
• makeup remover (or sometimes I take this out and just use the baby wipes I always have on hand)
• back up earrings - incase I forget to put mine on before I leave the house.
• A Multipurpose palette - this palette usually consists of 3-5 colors (eyeshadows or both eyeshadow & blush).  I select to use my palettes that will allow me to do a quick makeup look - like a brown smokey eye and I'll have an extra green shade or blue shade in there.  Something that is multipurpose.  Often times you will find my small MAC quads or MAC holiday collection palettes in my purse.

That is pretty much it - the list is long but it fits all in my Hello Kitty Makeup bag and I stick it in my purse.   Ready to go when ever I need it. ;-)

xoxo ~ Honey

Day 6 - Blog Challenge, Do any shopping or hauls lately? Post a photo and details. - REVIEW of a FEW PRODUCTS INCLUDED

It seems like it's been forever since I last did a haul.  I can't even describe what one is or what it consists of sometimes, because my shopping or hauls now consist of shopping for baby clothes or school supplies or house hold items.  But, I did have the opportunity to go shopping last week for some new foundation (Winter time is here and I needed a different color for the season) and some other fun and exciting things that I just cannot wait to do a review on.

Here is a picture of the items I picked up when I went shopping (see below).  I listed what they are and the cost I purchased them for at my local Drug Store (Longs Drugs - CVS store)

I will be doing a review on each item once I have a chance to use each item a little while so that I can provide an unbiased review.  On a side note:  I can tell you that I have used 3 of the items pictured below:  Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse, Dream Mousse Concealer & the Loreal Double Extend Lash Boosting Mascara.  I have been using each product for the last week since I bought them and I will be doing a youtube video review on each one, however... here is my quick review on each item here on the blog:

Maybelline Dream Mousse concealer & Dream Matte Mousse Foundation - OMG...  I absolutely LOVE these 2 products.  Those that watch my channel or follow my blogs know that I am a HUGE MAC Foundation user and have been for several years.  Though I may dip into mineral foundations a few times a year for that soft and silky feeling & look - I think I may be changing my foundations all together.  Well - maybe!  I have never felt something so smooth, silky and blend-able on my skin as I have with these 2 products.  After applying the concealer & then foundation over - I went about my day and not only did it stay put and in place, I completely forgot I was wearing any foundation.  I touched my face, it rubbed against my favorite scarf and there was absolutely no rub off.  Not to mention, it felt so silky on my skin - my face felt soft and smooth like it would if I had bare skin.  AWESOME.  It was pretty easy to match my skin tone, considering they didn't have any testers - I had to compare my skin tone to the cover of the lids and the color that shown through the bottom of the pot.  It was pretty close and I bought it on that assumption.  Turns out, it matched pretty well and the 2 of them blended well and had great coverage all together.  Thanks Maybelline, this is just awesome & I wish I had tried these sooner. ;-)

Loreal Double Extend Lash Boosting Mascara - Now, every one knows that I have the shortest lashes EVER.  I have tried many different products to boost my lash growth, or make my lashes look luscious and beautiful... and though I have gotten great results with some products - many that have claimed to do it, didn't even come close.  The Loreal Dbl. Extend Lash Boosting Mascara (moving forward - I will refer to it by using - LDEM) was definitely a product that I thought worked well and did what it said it would.  First off, let me say that when you first open up the Primer or Step 1 of the Mascara... it is like any other white fiber primer...  however, compare to many department store and drug store brands... it was not as clumpy as I had expected.  Also - the wand on the other side, though skinny - still has tons of little bristles to get in between and through all of the lashes - priming the tiniest lashes on your lids and making your lash line look full and long.  The other side (Step 2 - mascara) also had a fairly skinny wand with a heavily bristled applicator.  The consistency of it was fairly well, it did not appear to be clumpy, the smell was okay - like a body soap without  heavy fragrance.  It coated my lashes well, without much need to work with the wand to keep from clumping. My one problem with the "black mascara" side was that it looked more grayish black then blackest black as the packaging had stated.  Because of this - when I applied it over the white, it took several coats of mascara to make the lashes appear bold with a black look.  Obviously - dark gray over white will keep the lashes looking gray still.  One positive on that however is that it allowed me to test out how many coats I could go on my lashes before it actually started clumping.  I could apply up to 4 coats before it became difficult to work with... that is really good for a mascara with a primer.  Now, don't get me wrong... I don't want to be putting 4 coats of anything on my face... but I had to try it out.  I love this mascara - but don't like that I have to put a really black mascara over it to complete my look.  This would be my absolutely favorite mascara if they came out with a solution that would make the mascara side really black so that it would really add drama to my lashes.  It already does the job by adding volume & even length... now we just need the drama. ;-)  This is my go to mascara though - I just have to add a coat of my lash blast on top.

If you have any questions regarding any of the reviewed products or the ones pictured below - please let me know. ;-)

xoxo ~ Honey

Pictured above:

Left (in tube) is Hard Candy's Sheer Envy Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 ($7.99 @ Longs/CVS)

Middle bottom (large pot) is Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse in Natural Beige (Medium 2.5) ($7.49 @ Longs/CVS)

Middle Bottom (small pot) is Maybelline's Dream Mousse Concealer in Beige (Medium 0.25) ($6.89 @ Longs/CVS)

Mascara Tube is Loreal Double Extend Lash Boosting Mascara in Blackest Black ($10.98 @ Longs/CVS)

Right (6 color pallet) is Hard Candy's Nobody's Perfect Concealer Palette ($5.28 @ Longs/CVS)

Large Palette on the Top is NYX's Glitterati Glitter Cream Pallet ($8.98 @ Longs/CVS)