Mascara | Beauty and Fashion Tech

May 4, 2010

New MAC Opulash Mascara

May 4, 2010 By Carleenp 1 Comment

MAC has a new mascara that, for now, is available exclusively at Nordstrom: MAC Opulash Mascara. However, it will be available in MAC stores down the road a bit (mid-May if I remember right).

MAC Opulash is a big brush mascara that does it all: Volumizes, defines, and curls. The brush is almost straight, but with a little bit of a curve to it. I am not normally a fan of big brush mascaras, but I did like Opulash. The formula applies and wears well and pretty much performed as promised. I got big, thick, slightly curled lashes. If you really want curl though, don’t trust your mascara to do it for you—use an eyelash curler.

I did get a few clumps with Opulash though, so be sure to carefully wipe the brush with this one.

$14 at Nordstrom (see link above)

Note, this review is based on a product provided to me by a representative of the company and contains an affiliate link. For more, please see my disclosure page.

Disclosures: Beauty and Fashion Tech at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page

Filed Under: Makeup, Mascara Tagged With: M.A.C., Mascara

Jan 5, 2010

Kevyn Aucoin Mascara

January 5, 2010 By Carleenp 2 Comments

If you like tubing mascara, Kevyn Aucoin The Volume Mascara is must see item. I’m not a fan of tubing mascara, but I do like this one.

Aside from a particularly attractive tube, Kevyn Aucoin Mascara is the blackest black mascara that I have ever used. The look from that alone is rather stunning. The formula works on tubed technology, which encases the lashes with mascara that looks like little tubes when it is removed. It is incredibly smudge proof.

What I didn’t care for in other tubing mascaras was that they could be difficult to remove and/or the look just wasn’t all that great for me. But the Kevyn Aucoin mascara gave nice length and had a good overall look. Clumping was minimal, but wiping the brush is a must with this one, as the formula is on the thick side.

Mostly though it is the intense black of the black shade that really impressed me.

Filed Under: Makeup, Mascara Tagged With: Kevyn Aucoin, Mascara

Dec 14, 2009

Arbonne Mascara Review

December 14, 2009 By Carleenp 4 Comments

I have a new favorite mascara! I truly love this one! But unfortunately it isn’t the easiest to get. Arbonne is a Swedish multi-level marketing (MLM) company that sells skin care products and cosmetics. I have seen folks rave about Arbonne. I have also seen some criticisms. In any event, I always wanted to do an Arbonne review, but never tried them because, frankly, I hate having to call a consultant and put up with the sales pitches just to buy a few cosmetics. As a customer, I simply am not a MLM fan. But then I found some Arbonne products online at Amazon.com (see link below) so I decided to give them a shot.

OK, so with that background, ARBONNE Virtual Illusion Dual Volume Mascara is a seriously great mascara! The mascara has two ends. One end is a seemingly standard mascara. The brush size is average, but the bristles are a bit further apart than seen with many brushes. It kind of reminds me of Maybelline Lash Stilletto, but I like the look from the Arbonne mascara better. The other end is a clear gel that is applied with a smaller rubberized brush. This plays nicely off of an old, but good, mascara application tip—apply one coat of one type of mascara, let dry, and then a second coat of another kind for the best look. Below are my lashes after application:

I found that the Arbonne mascara itself gave great length, gave some curl (something that I rarely find in a mascara, even the ones that claim to be curling), and was a lovely deep black (much blacker than the picture indicates). The only downside is that the mascara does come out a bit thick on the brush, so careful wiping to avoid clumps is an absolute necessity. Then, when the gel was applied, the color was enhanced, the lashes were better defined, and it lasted all day without changing in appearance and without a single smudge or flake, yet it removed very easily with plain old soap and water. Overall, my lashes look better with this mascara than they do with most others. I truly love this Arbonne mascara. Now I just hope it stays available on Amazon.com!

I also purchased a set of Arbonne skin care samples and some Arbonne hair care items at Amazon, and I will be reviewing them soon.