Category: Beauty

Nals and Kells Do: Beauty.

Blasted Mascara!

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Well this week can just blast off!

Let me break it down for all you N&Kers. But first, I will go over the rules I follow:

  1. We bought all mascara ourselves (which means nobody is paying us).
  2. We wear each mascara for 1 week.
  3. All mascara’s purchased were black, and the darkest black they had available.
  4. Every Mascara used was put on the exact same way, with only 2 coats and all eye makeup for the pictures was exactly the same.
  5. That’s it…there are no more rules.
  6. Wait…maybe one more…the opinion is ours…take it or leave it. Believe it or not. These are just our 2 cents.

This week I applied Covergirl’s Plumpify blastPRO. Hmmm….where do I start? Ok, let’s start off with what I didn’t like because unfortunately there’s more I didn’t like.

First, the brush. Oi, that brush. I think Covergirl was trying to reinvent the brush, but I’m sorry, did no one try it out before rolling it out? This brush is not soft, oh no, it’s hard and scratches you. If you are like me, you like to get as close to the root of the lash as possible. However, try getting this brush in close! Let me tell yah, you will feel it if you touch your lid. It will scratch you. It should change it’s name to Meangirl.

Once you get past the scratch of the brush it’s an ok mascara. Now, if you like your lashes to have a super natural look, that doesn’t really look like you are wearing anything, this is the perfect mascara. It certainly does not Plumpify by any means. But it will separate each lash with a thin coat of mascara giving you a darker natural looking lash. To me, that doesn’t equal plumpify. Plumpify says bold, big, fluffy, juicy, dark lashes. Not thin and natural.

That being said, this is a perfect mascara (if you don’t scratch  your lids off first) for that day look, going to the grocery store and the gym…but…be warned…it sweats off easy. After my gym routine I did need to wipe off my lids and under eyes. So maybe if you are trying to impress that hottie at the gym, don’t wear this! Unless you don’t sweat like cheese in the sun!

So what did I like? Glad you asked! I did like that it gave a natural look to the lashes. Yes I do like a good bold, dark lash. But not for everything. I mean, do I really need bold lashes for breakfast dates, or dimsum? Ok, maybe I do…but I could settle for a nice natural lash.

Also, I just went and read the reviews on the Covergirl webpage. And people seem to agree with me on the brush. Leelu commented ” If the brush were less harsh and offered softer bristles this would be a perfect product!” Can’t say I would go as far as perfect product…but “less harsh” is a good way to put it.

But like I have said in the past, if you like this one, hey you go girl*.

Side note, when we use a * after girl or women or any gender descriptive word, we are saying we are inclusive of all who identify.

Soooo Much Mascara

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Ta daaaa! And just like that we are back to Monday! Is it just me or do some weeks just fly by and weekends don’t last long enough?

Anyways, back to Mascara Monday…

Again,

Let’s start with the rules I follow:

  1. We bought all mascara ourselves (which means nobody is paying us).
  2. We wear each mascara for 1 week.
  3. All mascara’s purchased were black, and the darkest black they had available.
  4. Every Mascara used was put on the exact same way, with only 2 coats and all eye makeup for the pictures was exactly the same.
  5. That’s it…there are no more rules.
  6. Wait…maybe one more…the opinion is ours…take it or leave it. Believe it or not. These are just our 2 cents.

This week I got to test drive Maybelline’s Lash Sensational Luscious Mascara.

Alrighty then! This week was soooo much nicer than last week.

So let me start with the yays.

First of all this is a thick dark cream, which is great…however, I could also say it’s a nay…but I will get to that in a minute. Personally, I do like a good thick mascara.

Next “yay” was the brush. It’s angled, so it allows you to get to the smaller lashes and closer to the root of the lash. Interestingly enough, when I showed a friend the brush earlier this week, that was what she said she didn’t like. (Then I got to watch her painfully attempt Gigi Hadid’s fiber mascara, as she accidentally got fibers in the eye, ouch).

Finally, this mascara, even though it’s thick, it doesn’t dry out. There’s a mascara coming up in the near future of reviews that drys out fast. But not this one, which is great for all day, flexible wear.

Now the nays:

I have 2 nays…

  1. Try and wash this mascara off…a hot shower with soapy water will not do the trick. You definitely need to invest in a good makeup remover. This whole week I have been exiting the shower as a raccoon. You think it would be so cute, but no! It’s hilariously horrid. I’m like a raccoon after a night of drinking and crying over something that just isn’t worth crying over. So be warned. If you are trying to impress someone and want to exit the shower all cute and fresh, this will not help you!
  2. And honestly, if you look at the reviews on the Maybelline website for this mascara you are going to get the same thing I am saying here: because this mascara is thick and creamy, it can be clumpy! You can’t just pull out the brush and start putting this on, no no…you need to prep the brush, clean off the extra. A little goes a long way. And as I have said in the past reviews about applying more than 2 times to get it the way I like it, this mascara does not need that. The more you add, sometimes it stops being so luscious and starts to get lousy, clumpy and just plain ol’ messy.

Would I buy this one again? Yup.

Would I suggest it for a mascara newbie? Nope. 

Should you buy it? That’s your call!

 

Oh!  If you have a mascara you think I should try…Please let me know! I’d be happy to give it a whirl.
Leave me a suggestion in the Comments below.

So What?

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Just another Mascara Monday! And I’m sorry to say it but after liking last week’s, I am glad this week is over and I’m moving onto the next one. But first let me give you all the low down.

Let’s start with the rules I follow:
  1. We bought all mascara ourselves (which means nobody is paying us).
  2. We wear each mascara for 1 week.
  3. All mascara’s purchased were black, and the darkest black they had available.
  4. Every Mascara used was put on the exact same way, with only 2 coats and all eye makeup for the pictures was exactly the same.
  5. That’s it…there are no more rules.
  6. Wait…maybe one more…the opinion is ours…take it or leave it. Believe it or not. These are just our 2 cents.

So what is this weeks Jet Black mascara? The Covergirl So Lashy!  Ugh…I’m so disappointed with this one as I love love love Covergirl Mascara (in the past I have tried and used many times, their LashBlast and really liked it). On the Covergirl website others tend to agree with me, giving it a 3.8* out of 5.

Honestly, I’m trying to think of a positive thing to say…and I’m stuck. I was thinking that little spiky ball would add something special…but it doesn’t. Since I’m headed down the path of reasons why I don’t like it, I guess I will just dive in…

  1. The wand. It’s not that great. It’s not consistent all around it, so you have to find that perfect angle. And really there is no perfect angle.
  2. I stick to my 2 layers in the pictures I take and then usually I find I do more than 2 layers just to get it the way I like it. However, I found I could spend so much time going over and over my lashes and they still never looked that fab.
  3. I found this particular mascara smudged easy and ran. I test all the mascara’s at the gym too. And this one, over the last 2 I tried, definitely needed to be wiped off my lids and under eyes before leaving the gym.
  4. The stupid spiky ball. I was thinking it would be helpful, but it’s really not. It just gets in the way. You finally think you are getting somewhere but the stupid ball keeps screwing it up.
Bleh, I feel bad for being so negative. Sorry Covergirl, but this one isn’t solashy, it’s sosucky. Not even worth trying it on sale. Don’t forget rule #6. If you love this one, then hey, that’s great! (I just hope you bought it on sale!)

Ultimate Boom!

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It’s Monday…which means we have a boo at Mascara. This week on the docket was Marcelle’s Ultimate Volume Nano in Blackest Black.

Just so you don’t forget here’s our ground rules again:

  1. We bought all mascara ourselves (which means nobody is paying us).
  2. We wear each mascara for 1 week.
  3. All mascara’s purchased were black, and the darkest black they had available.
  4. Every Mascara used was put on the exact same way, with only 2 coats and all eye makeup for the pictures was exactly the same.
  5. That’s it…there are no more rules.
  6. Wait…maybe one more…the opinion is ours…take it or leave it. Believe it or not. These are just our 2 cents.

Alrighty then…unlike last week’s mascara…I (Kells) liked this one. It’s thick and creamy and a nice dark shade.

So let’s start with the pros:

  1. The mascara itself is very thick…could also be a con…so it takes a few strokes to get it on just right, but once it’s good…it’s good.
  2. Nice dark shade. Personally, my rule is the darker the better.
  3. The wand…at first I wasn’t sold on this little nub of a brush. I actually poked my eye at first. BUT now that I have used it for a week and have gotten used to it, I really like it. The short length helps you get nice and close to the lid and allows you to keep the lashes separate, instead of clumping all together.

Cons:

  1. It takes more than 2 coats to get it right. As per rule #4, the pictures shows 2 coats. As per the rest of the week…I needed more pass overs to get it the way I like it (clumpless).
  2. Small stumpy brush gets some getting used to.
  3. Marcelle’s website says it gives you curl…but we all know if you don’t have a natural curl or a lash lift, no mascara is going to do that for you.

Would I get this one again? Yup. But let’s be real…who doesn’t try a different mascara when their’s isn’t on sale? Am I right, or am I right? So next time you see this one is on sale and yours isn’t, I say give it a try. Oh and don’t forget to let me know what you think.

Kiss Kiss Good-Bye

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As promised, we are doing Mascara Mondays!

To start, our ground rules:
  1. We bought all mascara ourselves (which means nobody is paying us).
  2. We wear each mascara for 1 week.
  3. All mascara’s purchased were black, and the darkest black they had available.
  4. Every Mascara used was put on the exact same way, with only 2 coats and all eye makeup for the pictures was exactly the same.
  5. That’s it…there are no more rules.
  6. Wait…maybe one more…the opinion is ours…take it or leave it. Believe it or not. These are just our 2 cents.
Let’s begin!

So this is the first Mascara Monday review,  (Yay!) and I (Kells) started withKiss New York’s Professional’s Dead Sexy Lashes Mascara .

What I liked about this particular one is that it had a little brush on one side and a bigger brush on the other.

 

Essentially, one for the top lash, and one for the bottom lash. However, I honestly, only liked the small brush for the bottom lashes.

 

 

And that is where my like for this mascara ends. I’m sorry to report, but this isn’t the mascara for me, nor would I recommend my friends get it. (Sorry Kiss New York).

In my opinion there is nothing Dead Sexy about this mascara.

Here’s why:

When I think “dead sexy” I think these dramatic, lush, dark lashes that go on for days! This mascara itself is thin, meaning, I had to apply it over and over again to get it to where it looked like I was getting somewhere. I felt that I needed more coats to get the desired amount on my lashes. This could be due to the brush which just doesn’t allow a good coating of mascara to the lash, or its not that thick of a product (these photos are following rule # 4, but since I stuck to rule #2, I did apply more coats during the week of wear).  BUT (and there’s always a but) maybe you are wanting  a mascara that it light and isn’t dramatic, there are those that like this type of product, and if that’s you…well then this IS the mascara for you!

All that being said…I’m so disappointed to be bringing a two thumbs down Mascara Monday review as our first.
Doesn’t seem fair!
But again, remember rule #5…this is just my review. Doesn’t mean you may not love it.

All that Glitzes is Glitter

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One cool December evening, we were watching Forensic Files, as I am a criminologist-by-night^. And we found out there’s a Glitter Guy! This dude has been collecting glitter for over a decade purportedly for forensic purposes (but we know he secretly loves to roll around in all that glitter!)

Clearly, this shibbles-n-bits isn’t just for kindergarteners anymore.

And so… what better time, than Holiday Time!, to discuss shimmery glittery goodness.

Today, we’ll be giving you the lowdown on:

1) BITE’s Prismatic Pearl Crème Gloss
2) smashbox’s Be Legendary Liquid Lip
3) Julep’s Moisturizing LipGloss

.One day, I had me a hankerin’ to get some glitterati. I was directed to the BITE Prismatic Pearl Crème line, with 10 coveted colour choices. The Pink Pearl is a light pink opaque with a suspension of light pink glitter. It has cool white-silvery undertones. The Rose Pearl’s base is a warmer opaque magenta with mesmerizing dual-tone glitter (pink-gold). I can’t quite figure out if the base is golden-hued or if it’s just the glitter. But whatever it is, it’s all fab. These glitter glosses (GGs) have staying power and true colour. (eg: it looked the same on me and Kells, and looked the same as inside the bottle.) The base feels like creamy gloss, and there’s no gritty feel to the glitter. Warning: this line is not for the glitter-shy. It bites you right in the kisser. So, if you’re unsure about glitter, you may want to look at the nibbly alternatives below. Check out our gangsta pic where we’re both sporting the Pink Gold. Kells has layered it on top of Fenty’s Cosmic Gloss Lip Glitter. I’ve layered it on top of Clinique’s Bold Pop matte lip. (Bold Pop is a rich velvety burgundy .)

For Christmas, my lil work SiSter, got me the Sugar Cane* gloss in smashbox’s Be Legendary line. This line has quite the array of colours from a ka-pow brick red to more muted tones. The Sugar Cane base is a full colour warm brown sugar with prismatic micro-glitter. It feels like a creamy slithery gloss (but not as rich as BITE’s). And with a soupçon of glitter. On my skin, this looks like a dark shimmery nude. I’m actually wearing this under a glossy Julep taco** in our Merry Christmas post on our Instagram.

Julep’s translucent GGs are also dreamy. They have pretty good staying power with that yummy glossy feeling. These are generally sheer with super duper fine glitter. There is a choice of 13 colours.  I’ve tried Glowing (coral pink), Charming (deeper rosy brown) and Adored (baby pink). The Julep glosses are great starters for those just getting into gloss and GGs.

Pink Pearl, Rose Pearl, Bold Pop, Sugar Cane, Low Key & Charming: L to R.

 

THE ANALYSIS

These are all awesome glosses in their own right.

more versatile than you think

What we love about glitter glosses is that are uber versatile. You can wear these:

  • straight on your nekkid lip
  • on top of lipstick… you can do the full Monty as we have in our gangsta pic, or just dot your centres to highlight
  • on top of lipliner
  • … get ready to have your mind blown… put a clear gloss on top of the glitter. Yes you heard me right, folks. When you add that clear gloss taco, your lips resemble a shiny marble. It’s glitterati to the max.

Okay so some other considerations…

Kells and I have a gorgeous gal-pal, Lil Kiwi. She is hyperaware of age-appropriateness of makeup and clothing.  She has a lovely porcelain complexion, warm brown mischievous eyes and an infectious AF laugh. However, she gravitates towards a more natural look, anyways, which is always age-appropriate. (Though lately, she’s branched out a bit, which Kells and I love.) So as I myself am approaching a certain number, I had a sad thought: is glitter is out of my age range? After thorough and extensive processing, the light of reason shone upon me.

My conclusion? “My inner diva is channeled and she wants glitter!” and boom! here you have this post^^.

We hope you enjoy exploring these GGs.

Do you have faves that you’d like to rave about?

What are your thoughts? Feel free to leave a comment below!

End bits –for you keeners that look this kinda stuff up–

^(in my head)
* (how appropriate as we are both from lands o’ sugar cane)
** Julep gloss taco: Ultra Hydrating Lipgloss in Low Key
^^ this post is dedicated to all the inner divas out there! Here’s hoping we can out them soon.

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Light me Up!

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I realize that we have already talked about Fenty Beauty and the amazing Gloss Bomb that is a must-buy.  BUT I also need to talk about our girl RiRi’s amazing Fenty Match Stix Shimmer Skinstick.

First let me start by saying you must have seen a good IG make up tutorial by now … and we always see that finishing touch of highlighter right before the lipstick followed by that final squinty eye, pouty lip pose. (And yes, some of my fellow make-up enthusiasts are going a bit too far with the highlights.  But we all have to admit, it’s still pretty freaking glorious! It’s like being kissed by angels or dusted by fairies. No make-up kit should go without a good highlighter. Which brings me back to Fenty…

This Match Stix is a must! I have been using it since I bought it and from some of our IG posts you can definitely see that this girl is lit up! Here’s what I love about it:

  1. Easy to put on
  2. You can use a little or a lot
  3. Blends well
  4. Cruelty free

BUT the big win for both Nals and I, is that it’s not just another highlighter for the lighter skin tones.  This Match Stix comes in 10 shades! I bought Starstruck but I need to get Trippin for my bronzed summer look.   I think I have convinced Nals to give them a go too! And I’m not sure if you noticed, but these Match Stix Shimmer Skinsticks will stick together (you gotta check it out to know what I mean).

I’m not newbie to highlighters and I do have others, like my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous Light. I really like this powder, too.  It feels good, it’s vegan and comes in 6 shades. I feel that this powder doesn’t pack the punch that the Match Stix does, so I use it for lunch out with
friends, and not a night out. The big difference however, is the price. You can grab a Fenty Match Stix for $25 or the Hourglass Powder for $55.

I recommend both.  It’s just a question on what you are willing to spend and the look you are going for.

The Cold Shoulder.

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We love love love the cold shoulder and feel that this is a look that can suit all women*.

During our last trip to Vegas, this fall, we were sitting at the airport waiting to head south for some S&S (sun and shopping), when Nals looked at me and said: you really like the cold shoulder don’t you? I was wearing a beautiful royal blue cold shoulder top from Kenzie with basic white capris pants from the Gap when I threw Nals a smirk and showed her the cold shoulder!

As we toured around Las Vegas we noticed that we were getting the cold shoulder everywhere. Women* of all heights and shapes were rocking the cold shoulder. And we got to say; we loved it!!!! It wasn’t long after that Nals joined the ranks of cold shouldering with a lovely floral dress from Torrid paired with a sexy pair of heels from Nine West. I couldn’t help but go twinning with my friend in a floral dress also from Torrid. And no, it didn’t go unnoticed that we were dressed alike! And yes, we have the same purse!

Here’s what we love about this look:

  1. It doesn’t matter your size or shape, the cold                                                                 shoulder fits perfect.
  2.  It can be taken from casual to dressy with the                                                                 simplest of changes.
  3. It’s sophisticated and sexy all in one.

We will say, the verdict is still out on a plain cold shoulder t-shirt. We find these a bit frumpy and unstructured. Nals and I have yet to find one we love, but girl if you got it, rock it!

Love this cold shoulder? Shop at Reitmans for this knitted cold shoulder, Silver Denim for the jeans and Steve Madden for the knee high boots!