Product Reviews by Heather

March 2009

Loreal Voluminous Mascara (This is one of my favorite mascaras!)

Pros:
Great wand - gets all the little spots, separates lashes and adds volume.

Cons:
On rare occassion, it can tend to leave black rings around the bottom lashes.

Price:

$3.99-$5.69

Review:
This in-expensive mascara really does the job. Its consistency is not as thin as most and keeps lashes from sticking together. You are able to add several layers for a more dramatic look and still have great looking, thick, long lashes. It comes in several shades and waterproof. The waterproof version works just as well as the regular with the added security. The wand is designed to get into tight spaces to get those hard to get smaller lashes. Yes! There are more expensive brands out there that might be slightly better, but for the money, this mascara is a must have for everyone’s makeup bag.

Product Claims:

Unique maximizing formula quickly thickens and builds lashes in a single application for a full and dramatic look. Patented Volume Maximizing Brush thickens lashes evenly, smoothly leaving them soft with virtually no flakes, smudges or clumps. Voluminous with Panthenol and Ceramide-R protects and conditions lashes leaving them supple and soft to the touch, resisting clumping and flaking. Ophthalmologist and allergy tested. Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. Clump-Resistant. Fragrance-Free.

My thoughts on their claims:

I think this product does a good job keeping up with the claims made by Loreal. Overall I would say it is accurate.

Do I recommend this product? Yes!


M.A.C. Mineral Foundation

Pros:
Easy to apply, gives skin a healthy glow, covers minor imperfections.

Cons:
Color choices are not as good as they could be which can cause you to be too light or too dark depending on the time of year.

Cost:

$29.00

Review:

This mineral foundation is much like every other brand on the market in terms of the ingredience. However, for me anyways, it seems to give a nice light coverage while not drying out the skin as some might expect from a powder type foundation. You can build coverage where needed without it looking uneven. It contains todays standard of SPF 15 for foundations. They do need a wider range of color options for those whose skin tones are not as warm as others. Because the color options are limited it is easy to get a shade that is too dark or too light and therefore have the wrong shade on your skin. However, this is not a problem for everyone so this product is worth a try at your local M.A.C. counter to see how you like it. Overall I think it is a great product that gives a healthy skin glow without looking heavy, powdery or settling in lines.

Product Claims:

“A lightweight loose powder mineral foundation that provides the skin with a smooth, radiant, natural finish. Brushes on the skin for medium-buildable coverage. Special mineral complex helps keep skin healthy and nourished while the blend of moisturizers and conditioners in the formula help create a smooth, flawless application. Provides everyday SPF 15 sun protection.”


My thoughts on thier claims:

I think it does a fairly good job keeping up with the claims from M.A.C. on its performance. I think “flawless application” might be a bit of a stretch simply because of the color factor but it is pretty accurate in its claims.

Do I recommend this product? Yes !


M.A.C. Brush 109

Pros:

Great for applying several different foundations including mineral foundation. It is soft but firm and can be used for many different things.

Cons:

It tends to shed on the face even after several shampoos

Cost:
$32.00

Review:
Great brush for applying mineral foundations, blending counsealors, and other powders. This is definitely my favorite brush for those applications. It is soft but firm and is gentle on the face. It does tend to shed on a regular basis no matter how many uses or washes it gets. This is a big flaw to have for a brush that you use on your face. Overall the shedding can be overlooked due to the fact that there is really no other brush like it on the market that I know of at this time. Definitely a staple in your makeup brush collection.

Product Claims:

Use to contour powder products. Softly rounded dome tip delivers just enough colour; smoothly blends colour into the face. Made of natural fibers.

My thoughts on thier claims:

The claims are fairly simple and straight forward and I belive it meets those claims fully.


Do I recommend this product? Yes!


M.A.C. Splashproof Mascara

Pros:
Waterproof, from a brand you can trust.

Cons:
Thin consistency that tends to clump lashes.

Cost:
$12.00

Review:
While I love M.A.C. this is not one of my favorite products. I find that it has such as thin consistency that it tends to clump lashes together because it goes on very wet. While it is one of the only waterproof mascaras from M.A.C., it really doesn’t perform as well as other waterproof mascaras on the market at this time. M.A.C. does a good job at making it very competitive with its price. You could very well pick up a drug store mascara and end up paying more for a lesser quality product. All in all, it is very similar to Cover Girls “Great Lash” mascara, I am not a fan of that one either. Worth a try if you are a “Great Lash” fan but other than that I think it is a pass.

Product Claims:

Waterproof, long-wearing, length-defining, lash-thickening, and formulated to last. Won't clump, flake, or blot! Takes the splash! Go swim!

My thoughts on their claims:

It is, infact, waterproof and long wearing. I do not agree with thier claim of “lash thickening” and "wont clump" though.

Do I recommend this product? No.

If you would like to hear a review of a certain product, let me know! Until next time....

Why Hire a Bridal Hair and Makeup Artist?

By Kristine Crane

This is the day you have dreamed of since you were just a little girl. You have always pictured in your mind how you would look on your wedding day. Now, it is coming time to actually start planning for that wonderful, romantic, “dream come true” of a day. You have finally found Mr. Wonderful, your perfect dress, the perfect place you want to walk down the aisle, the look and feel of the bridesmaids standing by your side, your flowers…but did you think about your hair and makeup? Are you going to leave that last detail to chance? It is time to think about hiring a professional bridal hair and makeup artist.

Why should you hire a professional bridal hair makeup artist for your wedding day? The answer is quite simple, education, experience, knowledge and the stress-free, convenient environment they create. You want every thing to be perfect on your wedding day and so do they. The last thing you need to stress about is making sure your makeup and hair looks just right. Relax; hire a professional bridal hair and makeup artist that will come to you, which puts more time in your already busy schedule. You will save time and energy and its fun!

It is very important that your hair and makeup will look as beautiful and relevant in 20 years as it does on the day of your wedding. A bridal hair and makeup artist knows how to achieve the trendy styles of today without “dating” your photos, creating a perfect memory of your wedding day for you and your family to enjoy for years to come. Bridal hair and makeup artists use professional products and have the knowledge as to which ones will work with your particular hair or skin type. They are trained to create looks that compliment your dress, the theme of the wedding and your personality.

When choosing a makeup artist, make sure you choose one that has specialized training in what is called “Media Makeup”. Media Makeup is the knowledge of what the camera (or photograph) will need fo r color and definition. Bridal Makeup artists understand how makeup will show up with the flash of the camera or under certain lighting conditions. With this education and skill, bridal makeup artists will insure your makeup is never too much or too little, your wedding photos will be “picture perfect”.