(I like to hyperbolize, but you get the idea).

I can talk to you about mascaras all day, but a few have been in heavy rotation for me. Some of these are super brand new so if you can’t find them right now, they will be available soon (QVC sells a lot of them exclusively right now in sets). ANYWAY, In case you were curious about lashes that make you go Hmm, here they are:

1. Tarte Light Camera Flashes, $23

Look as far as I’m concerned, Tarte can do no wrong. Their Lash Camera Lashes! is a classic fave of mine (lenghtens, darkens, and curls!), but they upped the ante with their new Light Camera Flashes. The wand is actually double sided with different sized bristles — one that builds and a second that separates without the clumps (by 750% they say…woah). A bit of a design snafu though –half of the wand is purple and the other is black to help differentiate the sides, but once it’s in the mascara, it’s coated entirely in black which makes it hard to tell which side is which (and also which side to apply first!). I hope they somehow find a visible labeling mechanism to differentiate the two going forward, but in the time being, telling the difference between the two is at least doable with proper inspection (not fun to try to do in a rush, however). Regardless, I’ve had people stop me mid-sentence to just comment on my lashes when I’ve used this one because it’s that good, so it’s definitely worth the mention. (Available at qvc.com with their inner rim liner for $36)

2. Mally Instant Impact Mascara, $20 for a set of 2

Mally Roncal is the lashes QUEEN. There is really no disputing that (every single time I see her, she is all smile and lashes!). Her mascaras are legit. My friends and I first started our addiction with her Volumizing Mascara, but I’ve since cheated on it with her newest: Instant Impact Mascara. This one has a sort of bubbly-shaped wand to get the beginnings and ends of your lashes. Love that it has a clean finish that fans them out in a seamless way, notice-me way.

3. Benefit They’re Real!, $23

Benefit’s mascara, They’re Real, separates, darkens with a thick coat and saves you the trouble of worrying about clumps (there will be none). It’s better for lengthening/darkening than making lashes thicker — instead it gives clean coats of intensity.

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I keep meaning to do a regular weekly column on awesome drugstore buys, but I’m still thinking of a cute name. Any ideas? Until then, here are some of my current faves that I’m pretty sure you’ll love too for all intents and purposes (or at least, many of them):

Q-tips Precision Tips ($3.50)

This might seem like the strange thing to write about, but you know those things that you never knew you needed but now can’t live without? Right here. They’re not the normal rounded Q-tips, these are their pointy Precision Tips. Anyone who does any type of eye makeup – even if you limit it to just mascara or only eye liner – you need these. A regular Q-tip can’t get into tricky areas like the tear duct and creases like this one to clean up any stray mascara or shadow like these. Even smoking out your eyes (you know how you apply eye liner, then ‘smudge out’ with a cotton swab? Yes? No? Shall I do a tutorial on this?), is ten times easier with these babies.

John Frieda Style Revival ($9)

Love this spray because it protects my hair from blow drying but also gives it body and movement. It’s a styling spray with a flexible polymer technology (means it coats your hair to protect it but won’t leave it stiff and bee-hivey like so). It’s heat-activated and weightless so you won’t feel like you have a ton of product in your hair. What’s more, it uses Inca Ichi Oil that also helps penetrate damaged strands to help mend flyaways.

Dial Skin Therapy Himalayan Pink Salt & Water Lily Replenishing Body Wash ($5)

Note, I don’t even have a picture of the product in front of me to take since I went through it so fast. Whenever one of us at the apartment uses this, it leaves us (and the bathroom) smelling heavenly. Seems like the perfect transition into spring (which by the way, seems to be taking forever in making up its mind here). This new body wash has Himalayan salt, which contains 84 minerals & elements.

Since we’re on the topic of Dial anyway, their new 7 Day Moisturizing Lotions ($7) are ridiculous (meant in the most affectionate way possible). It contains shea butter and packed with a non-greasy formula.

I got the product being a tad skeptical — how can you even tell it’s working for seven days (assuming we shower/dry out our skin at least a few times in that time period). But after a couple weeks of use, my normally dry skin is smooth as ever, even in between showers. A huge feat to conquer — where was this last winter?!

Which new drugstore finds have you come across lately?

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I’m often asked about my favorite long-lasting eyeliners, and since I have a rotating arsenal of them, I figured I can at least list my current faves. These couple have come through for me over and over again recently:

Anastasia Covet Waterproof Eye Liner in Noir (black) and Azure (dark blue), $19 each:

These are the newest from Anastasia (the brow guru’s line), not only are they super pigmented, they glide on so beautifully without smudging through the night. And no sharpeners needed. Just twist up as the tip begins to dull. They’re safe enough to use on your waterline as well if you’re going REALLY dark (just the way I like my liner). These come in 5 equally lovely opaque colors (a mossy green, grey matte, and shimmery blue/green), but I tend to believe Noir and Azure are good for any occasion.

Laura Geller Inkwell Waterproof Gel Liners, $16.50 each


If you’re look for SERIOUS, no-budge, intense colors, you MUST try the Inkwell collection from Laura Geller. I feel like gel pot liners in general are the best for non-smearing, long-lasting liners, but Laura Geller’s has also never irritated my eyes (huge plus), and are so easy to use. The colors are brilliantly highly-pigmented with shades you can actually wear: black, dark brown, burgundy, teal, etc.
When I talk serious lasting-power, I mean, after being all day out in the humid, Miami sun, in the pool, back to the apartment and my liner was still standing. That’s when I knew it was love. Plus the brush it comes with makes applying it fool-proof. The color payoff is stunning, not to mention, they glide on like butter.

What are your favorite long-lasting liners? Share!

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I’m always overly concerned with eye products that you apply in the waterline — you always want to make sure they contain safe ingredients. Naturally, I was over the moon to find Daliia’s herbal eye kohl eyeliner. It’s so pigmented, 100% natural (no parabens, no petro chemicals…you can actually read the ingredients list: almond oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, candelilla wax, carnauba wax, camphor oil, glycerine, castor seed oil, capric tri glyceride, black mustard). You have to be mindful of smearing, but the color payoff gives the most intense finish. I wrote a tutorial on how you can use her kohls as liner and shadows for beautifully bold eyes.

Click here to read the whole tutorial! The kohls sell for $28 on lulus.com.

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Shy
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As a refresher: I’ve been challenged to test a new product from Olay, their Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Eye Cream & Lash Serum Duo. SO, I posted Day 1 and Day 4 of using the product. They say that you’ll start really seeing results in 7 days, so today is Day 7 aka The Big Reveal of how it worked for me . Note: this is also after a few nights of little sleep so Olay reallly had to pick up the slack…good thing I was well-equipped!

What do you think? Here are things I personally noticed firsthand:
- My lashes were long to begin with, but after a week of using this day and night, I noticed my lashes more conditioned and even slightly elongated…when I was putting mascara on, they were practically tangling into each other!
- I’m obsessed with the eye cream — it instantly brightens, and firms the area and absorbs so quickly so if I am putting on makeup, there’s no mess
- Mascara only amplifies the results

Conclusion: I LOVE this product, I felt like it really delivered on its promises and didn’t irritate my eyes which a lot of creams can do if I’m not careful. And seriously my lashes are thanking it for a week of extra conditioning. The best part is you can find it in the drugstore aisle for only $24.

Even more ready to take on Fashion Week!

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Recently, I was on a shoot where I was applying Olay’s Micro-Sculpting eye Cream & Lash Serum Duo to a model’s eye and was really impressed with how quickly it brightened her eye area and enhanced her lashes. The product says that “younger looking eyes are brighter and firmer in 1 week,” furthering their claim with smoother lids, softer lines, and nourished lashes (thanks to a glycerin-conditioning serum). Olay invited me to try a 7-day road test to see if I really notice the difference firsthand. And who am I to back away from a challenge?

The double-sided wand has the cream on one end which contains advanced amino-peptide complex and hydra-firming complex that is supposed to brighten the area and firm fine lines. The serum has conditioning ingredients to help nourish the lashes. Today is DAY 1 and I’m going to keep you posted on my progress with “the big reveal” on Day 7 (I’ll be posting on my Instagram and Twitter for a mid-week progress pic, so request to follow me on those social networks!).

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