Sampling Girly: Daily Makeover's Beauty Board

BlaqVixenBeauty — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:44:09 AKDT

Did you know that Daily Makeover has a new feature: The Daily Makeover Beauty Board? I received an email about this new beauty panel. I even got $5 just for registering. Unfortunately, it's not in my actual bank account but it does count toward my cash rewards. For every $25 that I earn, I can choose to get paid through PayPal, get a gift card from Nike or Amazon. I can even donate my earnings to my favorite charity! The beauty companies will pay you to share your views on their products.

While there were no surveys for me at this time, I am anxious to see which major beauty brands I'll have the chance to influence, as corny as that may sound! I'm having a case of deja vu - Daily Makeover Beauty Board seems to be similar to She Speaks, even though She Speaks send you products instead of giving you to chance to choose your prize. However, I can't wait to see what my first survey will be!

By the way, if you need a new fall fragrance but your pocketbook is on the thin side, you might want to enter to win your signature scent from Daily Makeover's beauty blog, Beauty on a Dime. Just use the Bath and Body Works tool to find your signature scent, post the name and cross your fingers, hope to win. You'll automatically be entered! This contest ends August 31, 2009 at 1 P.M. EST.

I can't tell y'all how much I love sharing this info...!!

The Beauty Closet: CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara Review

BlaqVixenBeauty — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:20:03 AKDT

Editor's Note: The product reviewed in this article has been sent by CoverGirl.

It seems like Pat McGrath, the P&G Global Creative Design Director, has worked her mojo again by creating another collection that is both affordable and fashion-forward! I want you to do two things: first, bookmark this link and secondly, circle November 2nd on your calendar. You can be one of the few to try out some of the products from the Blast collection. Check out the gallery to see which products you might be interested in! The new collection will be available on Drugstore.com as well as CVS (get free shipping!). If you visit Drugstore.com, you save $5 and earn free shipping when you buy all three products - the Smoky ShadowBlast, ShineBlast Lip Gloss and the LashBlast Length Mascara.

My first impression of LashBlast is that is smells exactly like Maybelline Lash Stiletto. This came as a bit of a shock to me at first. However, both mascaras are advertised to lengthen lashes so of course their formulas would be similar.

Unlike the original LashBlast, the LashBlast Length brush is slender and has more bristles - 450 in all. While I've never poked myself in the eye with the bulky, medium-length brush that is the trademark of LashBlast, I favor the ultra-long, skinny brush that LashBlast Length has. I have yet to experience clumpy, spidery lashes (like L'Oreal's Telescopic Explosion Mascara!) with this one. No clumping, no flaking, no smudging and no wilting after a busy day.

Recently, Daily Makeover did a segment with CoverGirl celebrity makeup artist Molly Stern on how to maximize your eyes with three of CoverGirl's star players - LashBlast Length, Original LashBlast and LashBlast Luxe.

Did you know there is a certain way that you should apply your mascara in order to make your eyes appear more open? "Wherever you first place the brush, that's where you're going to get the most definition," Stern revealed.

I placed the tip of the brush on the outer corners of my lashes first. I always do this trick so that I can extend the corner lashes and my eyes will pop. She also shared a complimentary eye makeup technique as well: To accentuate that mile-long lash look, contour your crease with a colorful shadow and drawing a thin, angular line with liquid liner along the top lash line. "I tend to very little shadow or line with long lashes because it's such an innocent look -- it's nice to keep it subtle," she says. To read the rest of Stern's insider tips, click here.

While it defines, separates and lengthens nicely, LashBlast Length does have it faults. I've noticed that some of the product dried in the tube but it has not affected the performance of the mascara, surprisingly. I hope to get more uses out of LashBlast Length as it is one of the three mascaras that I reach for daily.

I was sent "Blue" but as you can see, the mascara looks more like regular black. Based on the ads starring Drew Barrymore, I expected LashBlast Length to produce fantastical length and a pitch of volume, but it's almost like a teaser. You would probably need a mascara primer to increase the benefits of LashBlast Length.

I also found out that it's a little difficult to remove but it's not such a hassle that I want to stop using it. I just have to be a little more patient with this one, since it does have nylon fibers in the mascara. I love that I don't see the actual nylon tubes on my cotton balls like I would if I used L'Oreal Double Extend with Beauty Tubes Technology Mascara.

My next goal is to buy this mascara in "Very Black." That's the shade I prefer whenever I buy or test a new mascara. What's yours?

Blaq Vixen Beauty

Sampling Girly: Daily Makeover's Beauty Board

The Beauty Closet: CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara Review