Holy Grail of Drugstore Mascaras: L’Oréal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara

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Description:Voluminous Waterproof Volume Building Mascara is uniquely formulated to resist clumping, soften and build lashes up to 4x their natural thickness. The unique maximizing formula quickly thickens and builds lashes in a single application for a full and dramatic look. The volume maximizing brush thickens lashes evenly and smoothly, leaving them soft with virtually no flakes, smudges or clumps. Clump-resistant. Fragrance-free. All-day wear. Ophthalmologist-tested and allergy-tested. Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

Where to Buy:l’oreal.com, amazon.com, your local drugstore. I got mine for about $4.50 after some local in-store deals.

Cost: $7.29 MSRP or less

Color/Shade Variety: 3. Black Brown, Black, and Carbon Black. I tested out the Black.

Packaging: Solid, thin metal cap that attaches to the wand. Smooth, plastic gray base houses the product.

The Brush: Slightly oversized straight brush. It is a dense yet extremely soft fibrous brush with a tapered tip.

Promises to Do: Promises to make my lashes look up to 4x fuller, while keeping them separated, soft, flake-free, and non-clumpy.

IMG_1477First Impression: I definitely recommend gently wiping the excess product off the wand before initial application to have matching lashes that look great. The brush is very easy to maneuver and has a lot of flexibility although it’s not flimsy at all. The brush shape allowed me to get all of my lashes, even the ones on the inner corners of my eyes which are notoriously difficult to reach. The mascara seems to be initially holding my curl really well and it looks extremely natural. It looks just like my natural lashes but more plumped. It dried fast and felt more like a cream/liquid-to-powder feel as opposed to some mascaras that stay having that “wet” feeling. Does it Deliver? Yes. (But definitely wipe off excess before application.)

Not a reader? Check out my first impression video below!

Layerable? Yes. I am known for layering the coats on. I had no problem doing so with this. No flakes, major clumps or spider lashes here! However, keep in mind that this product can collect on the tips of your lashes so remove those bits before they dry.

Flaky? Not at all. I actually went rock climbing and partied the night away. Totally stayed put.

Holds Curl/Define/Volumize/Lengthen: It definitely held the curl I instilled beforehand and kept my lashes adequately defined without looking spidery. However, I noticed it failed to hold the curl after the cry test which left me a little disheartened. Even after mascara, I believe lashes should be touchable, fluttery, and light so definition plays a huge role in how “real” your lashes will look. The L’Oréal Voluminous mascara does volumize meaning it thickens each shaft of your natural lashes with polymers.

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Cry Test: Passed. :) But did lose curl though.

The Verdict: This is a great mascara that is loved by many because it actually works. It gives me a full-fanned lash effect with lashes that are thick and defined. It only holds a curl until you start shedding tears or until water’s involved so that is something to keep in mind. The brush is well-shaped and easy to maneuver although it does initially pick up too much product. It works well as a mascara because it does not clump, flake, or weigh down your lashes. To an extent, it works well as a waterproof mascara too because I didn’t experience any runs or deterioration but I prefer the formulation to not allow tears or water to release a curl. If curl is not a big factor for you, I would overlook this factor. Overall, this is a wonderful mascara that you should definitely check out.

Thank you for reading first review of the Holy Grail of Cosmetics: Drugstore Mascaras Series and for being so patient. I experienced so many delays with this latest video and post but it’s finally here. I will be seeing you all next week for the review and first impression video of Maybelline’s Great Lash Waterproof Mascara!

First Impressions: Do Baby Foot Peels Work?

The first time I heard of a foot peel was when I was watching “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and Kimmy’s tres faux chic employer, Jacqueline Voorhess, had her foot stuck in an ice bucket due to a foot peel. I knew it was something cosmetic but the ice bucket didn’t make sense to me. However, the words foot and peel stuck and since it was something related to a cosmetic enhancement, it definitely stuck. I still wasn’t convinced enough to buy them but the name came up again at my dermatologist. They were selling the same thing out of their offices. I did some more research and it stuck around in my head for a while.

Baby Foot Peels?

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Photo courtesy of babyfoot,com

I know it sounds wrong at first but allow me to break it down for you. No, we’re not peeling any baby’s foot. We’re simply trying to get fruit acids to peel ours so we can achieve smooth feet like a baby’s. The at-home version basically comes in a box that looks like a facial mask pack. I’ve seen them as low as $9 to as high as $25 for a pair of the real Baby Foot versions. I bought one pair (they are one-time use only) from Amazon and I admit I was pretty excited about them.

So what the hell is it?

An at-home foot peel is  basically a spa treatment where lactic, glycolic acids, and a variety of other serums (depending on whether you get the Baby Foot brand or an off-brand) are premixed into a pair of plastic booties. You wear them for an hour preferably with some fuzzy knee-high socks on and watch your favorite movie. You take them off when the time’s up, wash your feet … AND you wait for a couple of days. Essentially, the acids cause a chemical exfoliation as opposed to a mechanical one (i.e. using  a pumice stone) and actually removes a few layers of skin (just the epidermis). Your skin does look like it’s shedding and essentially molting off but that’s okay.

The box of foot peels sat in my Amazon shopping cart for a while before I finally decided to buy them. To be honest, I don’t think there is anything wrong with my feet physically. I keep them moisturized and taken care of but I always envied people with soft, unwrinkled feet. Thanks to genetics, I’ve got drier skin which means more wrinkles so  figured it was time for a new start. I got them about three days ago and started the peel that same day.

I actually prepped a bit before the peel by exfoliating with a pumice stone and removing any excess cuticles. I also followed the directions of a fellow Amazon user and soaked my feet before hand. I’m not posting pictures though. There are enough photos on Amazon for that purpose lol.

Results so far?

On day one: My feet looked moisturized but felt a little tight on the soles. I was secretly hoping for them to start peeling but since it was a light peel, that wasn’t going to happen. I soaked my feet in warm water for thirty minutes before bed because one of the reviews said this helped intensify the peeling. I also noticed immediately after the peel, the lines on my feet are much lighter.

Day two: My feet are feeling and looking a little rough. Kind of like sandpaper. Just the soles and the thicker skin of the feet. I applied a lotion with AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) in it to intensify the effect. Soaked the feet in warm water once again but didn’t see any peeling yet.

Day three: Now they feel like coarse grit sandpaper so that means it’s working. I soaked them for thirty minutes and after I dried them this morning, it could see loose, dead skin starting to roll off. I am resisting the urge to pick at them but I’ll definitely apply some more AHA lotion and soak again tonight. The skin underneath the recently rolled off dead skin feel really soft.

The directions said the whole process takes about two weeks so we’ll see how this goes. I’ll post updates again soon and I’ll write a condensed review after I see if this really works.

If you’re interested in getting them, check them out on Amazon.com. The treatment is for both guys and girls and I think they make the ultimate gift for all the at-home spa folks.