BA Star Palette Review

Have I ever told you that I used to be a competitive Irish Step dancer?  I was!  I started when I was sixteen and danced until I graduated college.

The world of competitive dance, Irish Step or otherwise, is a glamor fest.  Flashy costumes, big hair (read: wigs), and lots of makeup.

I wish I had known about BA Star cosmetics when I was still dancing…

BA Star offers highly pigmented and long lasting makeup, created especially for the stage.  It’s great for dancers, cheerleaders, singers, actors, etc.

 

I recently received this lovely little BA Star eye shadow palette in Natural, compliments of Brandbacker.  And I really wasn’t sure what to expect.  I wasn’t familiar with the brand at all and eye shadow can be such a crap shoot.

The first thing I noticed was the included applicator dual-sided brush.  And it immediately concerned me.  A cheap-looking brush on one end and a sponge applicator on the other.  It reminded me of the applicators that come with the Wet ‘n Wild eye shadow trios.  So I tossed the applicator in the trash and used my own brushes to apply the eye shadow.

I thought for sure this eye shadow palette would be a dud.  But I was so, so wrong…..

Look!  Look at the BEAUTIFUL colors!  Smooth, buttery, and highly pigmented colors!

The colors included in the Natural palette included a shimmery cream, an orange-y bronze, a chocolate brown, a deep violet, and a sunny yellow.

These colors were so richly pigmented, I couldn’t believe it.  The texture was so soft and buttery, which is great, but the light cream color was so soft, a big chunk broke off when I pushed my brush into it.  I was able to mush it back together, so it’s still mostly in tact, but I lost quite a bit.

The shadows blended really easily and I was happy to discover that these colors can also be used for every day wear, not just the stage.

I was able to get about 6 hours of wear before the shadows started to crease and fade.  But they also included a primer (not pictured) that helped add to the longevity of wear.  Surprisingly, it didn’t do much to increase pigmentation, but the shadows really don’t need help in that department!  🙂

Here are two looks I created with this palette:

 

Bronze all over lid, brown in crease, cream along brow bone, and yellow in center of lid.

  

 

Brown all over lid, voilet in crease, cream along brown bone, yellow in center of lid.

  

 

This eye shadow palette retails for just $2.99!  It’s an incredibly low price for such lovely shadows.  I think it’s worth every penny!

And for those who know how expensive the world of competitive dance can be, it’s nice to know you can find excellent makeup at a low cost.

Have you tried any cosmetics from BA Star?

 

Disclosure:  I received complimentary products in exchange for my honest opinion and a review of my experience.  All opinions are 100% my own.  Individual results or experiences may vary.  This is a sponsored post powered by BrandBacker.

 

MAC PatentPolish Lip Pencil Review

While at the MAC counter the other week, I remembered reading reviews on the limited edition Patentpolish lip pencils.  Knowing that I can’t pass up a good lip crayon, I had to check them out.

The first thing I noticed was the dome-shaped tip, which is unique for a lip crayon, as most have a pointed tip.  But it still had no trouble with precision application.  It’s also a twist-up style pencil, so sharpening is not required.

There are currently 12 shades offered and I walked away with three of them – Revved Up, Kittenish, and Spontaneous.

I apologize I don’t have hand swatches.  Every photo I took of them looked very brown, and I didn’t want to post inaccurate color photos.

 

What I love most about these lip pencils is the glossy finish they leave on your lips.  I like a little added shine!

I’ve read some mixed reviews about the formula, but I personally really like it!  It’s pretty moisturizing and I have had no problems with stickiness or tackiness.  With this light weight formula, I get a solid 3 hours of good wear, but the formula won’t make it through a meal.

The colors I purchased are fairly sheer, especially Revved Up.  But you can certainly build up the color for more intensity.

You can certainly wear a bit of lip balm under the color, but even with my slightly dry lips, I felt comfortable applying these without lip balm.

 

Revved Up – a pale peach

  

 

Kittenish – a mauve pink

  

 

Spontaneous – a soft plum

  

 

Of the three colors I purchased, I think Spontaneous is my favorite.  It’s a bit darker, but still looks very natural.

I think these Patentpolish lip pencils would be great for someone who enjoys the look of lip gloss, but doesn’t want to deal with sticky or wet formulas, or someone who enjoys a more natural looking lip color.

These limited edition beauties retail for $20 each.  They do contain slightly less product than a regular tube of MAC lipstick, which I know some people don’t like.  But I still think they’re worth the purchase.

Have you tried the MAC Patentpolish lip pencils?

 

A Party Look

Happy Monday, sweet readers!  I’m sorry to tell you that I don’t have a Manicure Monday post this week.  But I still have things to share with you!

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to attend an invite-only rooftop party in Uptown Charlotte.

Compared to most parties that I’m used to attending, this one was a bit swankier, so I wanted to make sure I looked my best.  And that, for me, meant full makeup.

And, you know, a sun burn across my upper arms…

I did attempt to do my hair, however it didn’t turn out quite how in wanted it to.  But at that point in the evening, I was pretty much out of time to re-do my hair.  So it was what it was.  🙂

 

So here are the makeup products I used to create my look.

I went simple, but classic – a smooth base, defined eyes with a sweep of shimmer, and red lips.

Clinique SuperBalanced Foundation in Alabaster (full review coming up on the blog!)

Benefit Fake Up Concealer in Light

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Sandstorm

Elizabeth Mott Pop! Goes the Shadow in Champagne

Stila Smudge Stick in Stargazer

MAC False Lash Extreme Black Mascara (full review coming up on the blog!)

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Achiote

Revlon Lacquer Balm in Enticing

Oh!  And I forgot to take a photo of this, but I used Zoya Marina on my nails.  I only used one coat of polish.  I wanted that dusty dark blue so it would match my dress, but not super intensely pigmented.  One coat was perfect.

 

Here’s a photo of me and my fella at the party.  It’s not the greatest photo as it was taken with a cell phone and it was pretty dark.

All in all, we had a lovely time at the party.  My makeup stayed in place all night (though my lips needed the occasional touch up) and I made the right call on wearing flats instead of heels!  haha!

If you’re interested in my outfit, I wore this dress and these shoes in Bone.

I hope you all had a fun and relaxing weekend!

Tarte Skinny SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eye Liner Review

I had been wanting to get my hands on a dark grey eye liner for a while.  Usually I wear black eye liner.  And for a softer look, I wore Black-Brown.  No, not Brown…. Black-Brown.  Espresso.  So dark brown it’s nearly black.

Anyway, I thought grey or charcoal would be a really pretty change of pace, without going too far outside my comfort zone.

So while perusing the Tarte website a while back, I stumbled upon the Skinny SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay waterproof eye liner.  (These pencils are a slimmed down version of their original -and chunkier- SmolderEYES waterproof liner).  And it just so happened to come in a lovely dark grey color called Slate.

Bingo!

 

I absolutely love the color.  It’s nice and dark (intensely pigmented), but not nearly as harsh as black. Also, it has a very subtle, near unnoticeable, shimmer.  It works beautifully to just catch the light around your eyes.

Now as far as the pencil formula is concerned, it’s super SUPER soft.  As in, be really careful when applying.  Just the tiniest bit too much of applied pressure will completely smush the tip.  I know this from experience.    I personally think these pencils are even softer than gel pencils.

The formula is definitely waterproof.  Soap and water is not enough to remove this eye liner.

Also, once the formula dries and sets, it really stays in place.  That being said, I did notice that at the end of a 10 hour day, it had sort of worn away in some areas.  It wasn’t smeared or smudged, but I think in the areas that my lids are oiliest, it wore away at parts of the line.

 

The swatch on the left is a blunt line drawn directly from the pencil.  On the right is a softer line created by using the smudging tool.  I had made just a small mark and the smudging tool thickened and elongated it to create a hazy, soft line.

 

This pencil is very easy to blend.  I put a small mark along just the center of my lash line and then used the smudging tool on the opposite end of the pencil to smudge and shape the mark into a soft and completed line.  You do have to work fairly quickly.  Once the formula sets, it will not longer smudge.

  

 

I think there is a lot of versatility in these pencils.  I could have smudged the color a little higher onto the lid to create a smokey effect.   Also putting little dots along the lower lash line and smoke and smudge it out.  Instant smokey eye.

The Skinny SmolderEYES waterproof liners retail for $19.00 each and are currently offered in eight gorgeous shades.

I’m really happy I got a chance to try a new eye liner from a higher end brand that I love, but I’m also interested in seeing some grey shades in my drugstore brands.

Have you tried any of the Tarte SmolderEYES liners?  What did you think?

Have you experimented with grey or charcoal colored eye liner?  If you haven’t, I highly recommend trying it out!

 

Birchbox April 2014 Review

Ah, Thursday.  The gateway to the weekend.  Thank goodness!  This week has gone by pretty quick, but I feel like it hit me pretty hard.

Anyway, I received my April Birchbox last week and I’ve been testing out all the goodies.

** Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription box that sends you “high end beauty, grooming and lifestyle samples” that have been customized for you through your beauty profile. You can easily earn loyalty points which can then be used as $$ toward your purchase of full-sized products. The cost of a Birchbox subscription is $10/month. **

Goodies received:

 

Nyakio Trio

(I apologize in advance that I didn’t take any photos of this stuff.  I used the scrubs in the shower, and my camera isn’t a sporty waterproof one!)

Kenyan Coffee Face Polish

Full size = $34.00, Sample value = $0.68

Blech!  I did not like this scrub at all!  It smelled awful.  Lemongrass and coffee are not a good combination!

Also, I didn’t think it was a very good scrub, either.  It seemed to dissolve really quickly and didn’t leave my face feeling that great.

Kenyan Coffee Body Scrub

Full size = $55.00, Sample value = $1.28

Now this body scrub was a bit better.  It had a more pleasant smell (a strong coffee scent) and actually left my legs and arms feeling pretty smooth.  It still dissolved pretty quickly for a scrub, but at least it gave me good results.

I didn’t have a problem with the oils in this scrub making my shower slippery.  But is that because they kept the oil level to a minimum, or their just wasn’t a lot of oil in my little foil packet?  Hard to say…

Hydrating Face Oil with Kola Nut

Full size = $49.00, Sample value = $3.27

I was ready to throw this sample away and give me little statement about how I don’t put oil on my face.  Then I remembered I had a few readers tell me that I am too quick to judge facial oils and I should give them a try despite my oily combination skin.

So I’ve been testing this facial oil for the past 4 days.  I put one little drop of oil on each cheek and then rub it all over my face.

Okay, it’s lightweight.  And yes, I actually forgot I was wearing it most of the time… until I touched my face.  It seemed like the oil took a LONG time to really sink into my skin.  Like, several hours.  Every time I touched my face, I could feel the oil.  I didn’t like that.

But my skin didn’t seem to have any problems with it.  But I’m not really sure if I saw any real benefit to it either.

 

Kind Healthy Grain Bar in Maple Pumpkin Seeds flavor

Full size pack – $11.88, Sample value = $0.79

Normally I’m willing to consume any time of food product sent to me by a sub box.  However, I recently joined Weight Watchers, and while this Kind Bar was a VERY generous size, I didn’t like it enough to eat the whole thing for the amount of Weight Watchers points I would have to spend on it.  So I only ate half.

I’ve never really been a fan of Kind Bars, and I’ve tried several.  It’s something about the texture – like they’re too soft, or not chewy enough, or something.

Anyway, this one did have a slightly sweet maple flavor, but what REALLY came out was the saltiness!  Goodness, this is definitely classified under the Sweet & Salty category!

 

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Eye Liner in Silver

Full size = $16.00, Sample value = $12.00

  

I read a bunch of beauty subscription box blogs before joining Birchbox and Ipsy, etc and I remember one thing very clearly.  Almost all of them complained about how much black eye liner they’ve received.  For me, I thought that was great!  I love black eye liner!

And yet somehow, after receiving both Birchbox and Ipsy for a year, I think I’ve received  more silver eye liner than black.  Why???

I liked the smooth texture of this eye liner, but it doesn’t really seem to set and stay.  I accidentally touched my eye area and smeared the outer corner of my eye liner all over the place.

 

Color Club Nail Polish in Aquamarine Azulino

Fill size collection = $13.00, Sample value = $3.25

I’ve received a lot of nail polish in sub boxes that may not have been my first choice in color selection, but I have to say, I really disliked this color.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I really love blue nail polish, including light blue nail polish.  However, the baby blue of Aquamarine Azulino has a pearlescent finish that comes across as really juvenile.  I just don’t care for it.

Ironically, this particular nail polish had the best formula of all the Color Club nail polishes I’ve tried.  It went only nearly opaque after just one coat, and I had no trouble with streaking, which tends to be Color Club’s biggest issue.

I got three days out of this manicure before it started to chip.

 

Keims Cleanshine Energizing Shampoo

Full size = $9.50, Sample value = $1.90

It’s always a bummer to be sent a shampoo without a corresponding conditioner.  *Sigh*

This shampoo is enriched with peppermint and macadamia nut.  It sounds nice, however, I thought it smelled like my grandfather’s aftershave.

And I also thought it was a fairly drying shampoo.  I prefer a moisturizing shampoo.

 

Overall, I was fairly disappointed in most of the products from this box.  It’s extra disappointing because when I looked at my spoilers online, I was really excited to receive this box.  And it had a pretty decent value.  I paid $10, and the total box value was $23.17.  But a poor color choice or a bad formula can really kill a box.

How was your Birchbox this month?

If you’re interested in subscribing to Birchbox, please considering using my referral link here.

 

 

Ipsy Glam Bag April 2014 Review

It’s Ipsy time!

I thought this month’s bag (valued at approx. $2.00) was pretty cute!  It’s a dark blue light weight square bag with a record/record player on it.  I think it’s kinda groovy, so I’ll be putting it to use!

** Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription that sends you a combination of delux-sized samples and full-size products that are personalized for you based on the results of your beauty quiz. Along with the beauty products, you also receive a monthly (super cute) make-up bag! The cost of an Ipsy subscription is $10/month. **

Goodies received:

 

Sexy Hair Root Pump Volumizing Spray Mousse

Full size = $17.95, Sample value = $2.87

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I saw this product.  Sexy Hair products have not been my favorite products of all time, but I’m always willing to try new things.  I don’t use a root lifter in my normal hair routine, although, when I get a haircut, my stylist always insists on using one on me.

I’ve been trying to wear my hair down a little more lately.  I feel like I’ve been extra rough on my hair lately, and pulling it back into a wet bun every day is not good for my hair.  So I’m trying to give it some freedom.

Anyway, I sprayed the mousse onto my roots and massaged it in.  It’s not like a regular mousse that expands like a huge cloud in your hand, it’s much thinner, but does foam up just a little.  Then I flipped my head upside down and diffused my hair.

I think a used just a tiny bit too much product, as my hair felt heavy and slightly crunchy at the roots, and that’s not what you want.  But I think my hair was a little more lifted at the roots than normal, so I guess it ultimately did it’s job.

 

Elizabeth Mott Pop! Goes the Shadow in Champagne

Full size = $12.99 (received full size)

I’m not sure how I feel about this eye shadow.  As a general rule, I don’t think shimmery eye shadow looks good on me.  However, once applied, this shade didn’t really look too shimmery.  It looked more brightening than anything else, which is nice.

I wasn’t terribly impressed with the texture of the shadow.  It seemed a little dry.  On the other hand, had it been more buttery and velvety, it might have looked more shimmery, which probably would have made me like it less.  Apparently, I just can’t be pleased!  😉

I didn’t really have any problems with the shadow creasing, but fading was definitely an issue.  I would use a primer in the future.

All this too say, I don’t hate it.  And I’ll probably continue to wear it, particularly on days when I’m feeling and looking tired and need my eye area brightened up.

  

 

Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil in Black Velvet

Full size = $20.00, Sample value = $13.33

I love black eye liner.  I love it almost as much as I love mascara (which is A LOT).  I’ve heard a lot of hype about various Urban Decay eye liners, so I was curious to see how this one performed.

First, I loved the texture of the pencil.  Not too soft (so many eye liners are getting ridiculously soft) and not too dry.  Just how I like it.  And really, really dark black.  Check, check!

However, while it claims to be waterproof, I had no problems washing it off with just soap and water.  If a product is water proof, I would expect to have to use makeup remover to get it off.

Also, I had a problem with it flaking.  I noticed lots of black flecks along my under eye area.  And I don’t believe it was my mascara as I was using the same Almay mascara I’ve been using for years.

Flaking aside, I liked this eye liner a lot.

  

 

Mary Kay at Play Jelly Lip Gloss in Teddy Bare

Full size = $10.00 (received full size)

You know, I thought with all the advances we’ve had in makeup technology, I thought we were past the days of super sticky lip gloss.  Even drug store brands like Rimmel, Maybelline, and Revlon have super smooth and balmy textures.

But I have to say that this is probably the STICKIEST lip gloss I have ever used.  I know some people say stickiness in lip gloss is what allows it to last longer, but this is unreasonably bad.

I can’t tell you how long this lip gloss lasted, as I wiped it off shortly after taking my photos.  I expect so much more from a $10.00 lip gloss.

The color that I was sent is another corpse-y nude color.  I thought Ipsy was finally starting to regularly send out lovely rosy lip colors, but I am disappointed once more.

  

 

Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion

Full size = $78.00, Sample value = $9.75

Whew – this stuff was intense!  But very awesome.  And it should be.  Did you see the full price?  And that’s just for two ounces, by the way.

When I hear the term “microdermabrasion”, I expect serious results.  And I think I got it with this product.

It was slightly painful to use, by my skin was mighty, might smooth after using it.  Much more so than just using your average facial scrub.  I actually told my boyfriend he needs to use this as well.

I can’t afford to repurchase this product, but if you have the available funds, you might want to check it out!

 

This is me wearing the Elizabeth Mott eye shadow, Urban Decay eye liner, and Mary Kay lip gloss.  I also applied some cream blush to my cheeks because without it, I was completely washed out.  And I am actually wearing the Sexy Hair spray mousse as well, but I, obviously, have my hair pulled back so it’s hard to tell.

 

Overall, this was a good bag, but not a great bag.  And it certainly had a great value.  I paid $10, and the total box value was $50.94!

I think the microdermabrasion was my favorite item in the bag, followed by the Urban Decay eye liner.

Did you receive an Ipsy bag this month?  How was it?

If you’re interested in signing up with Ipsy, please consider using my referral link here.

 

Manicure Monday: Bobbi Brown Nectar

Happy Monday, everyone!  I hope you all had a great Easter weekend!

You may have seen my Bobbi Brown haul from over the weekend.  And as promised, the Nectar nail polish will be the first featured item from that haul!

This particular nail polish shade is part of the Bobbi Brown Nectar & Nude collection, which I think is absolutely stunning, but the downside is that the color is Limited Edition.

I would describe Nectar as juicy coral that is bright and spring-y, but slightly muted and neutral at the same time.

Basically, it’s gorgeous.  It’s the perfect spring/summer shade for just about everyone.  I don’t have a lot of coral colors in my nail polish collection, so this is a welcomed addition.

  

This nail polish went on very smoothly.  Not a streak to be seen.  One coat gave okay coverage, but it definitely requires a second coat.  If you really want a super strong opaque look to your nails, you might even want to add a third coat, but I stopped at just two coats.

I also thought the brush size was pretty good – not too small/thin, and not too wide.

While the nail polish formula dried with a fair amount of shine, I did add a top coat to really add some extra shine and make the color look super juicy.

Normally, I like to report how long the nail polish lasts on me without chipping, but I only acquired and applied this nail polish yesterday, so I can’t say yet.  But so far, after 24 hours of wear, it looks fantastic!

  

This Bobbi Brown nail polish retails for $15.00

I believe Nectar is already sold out on the Bobbi Brown website, but try shopping at the Bobbi Brown counters at your department stores – that’s how I got mine.  If the counter says they’re sold out, ask them to check online.  For instance, Belk, which is one of my department stores in North Carolina still has some Nectar nail polish in stock on their website.

Have you tried any Bobbi Brown nail polishes, or any items from the Nectar & Nude collection?

 

 

Bobbi Brown Haul

I might have lost my mind a little bit at the Bobbi Brown counter. That’s totally normal, right?

In my defense, I had a 20% off coupon at one of my local department stores that was actually good on cosmetics.  That, like, NEVER happens.  So I had to make the most of it!

Here’s what I walked away with:

 

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Cheeks & Lips in Calypso Coral

Bobbi Brown Beach eau de parfum

Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color in Coral Pink

Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in Nectar (part of the Nectar & Nude collection)

Bobbi Brown Nail Polish in Nectar (part of the Nectar & Nude collection)

Bobbi Brown Blush in Nectar (NOT part of the Nectar & Nude collection – confusing, I know…)

 

And if I’m being completely honest, I also purchased the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Apricot (part of the Nectar & Nude collection), however, I decided that while it was very beautiful, it’s just too expensive ($42.00) and will be returning it, which is why it’s not in my photo.

 

So keep your eyes peeled as reviews will be popping up on all these products – starting with tomorrow’s Manicure Monday post!  🙂

 

Clinique Chubby Stick & Chubby Stick Intense Review

Happy Friday!  I hope you’re all gearing up for a lovely weekend!

Any Easter egg hunts planned?

Or a lovely Easter brunch?  That’s what we’re doing!  There’s a beautiful little cafe about 20 minutes from our apartment that we don’t get to go to very often, but we’ll be splurging a little for brunch this Sunday.  So excited!

I’ve mentioned before that I’m really into lip crayons.  And the first thing I think of when someone says lip crayons is the Clinique Chubby Stick.

I’ve had the shade Mega Melon for a couple of years, and then I recently received a [nearly full-sized] sample of Roomiest Rose, which is part of the newer Chubby Stick Intense line.

What I think is absolutely adorable about all the Chubby Sticks are the names.  They all include a descriptive word that is a synonym for “chubby”.  For instance – Chunky Cherry, Pudgy Peony, Jumbo Jasmine, Hefty Hibiscus, and Two Ton Tomato.  I don’t know what to tell ya – I just think it’s super cute!

 

Swatches: Left – Mega Melon, R – Roomiest Rose

 

Chubby Stick in Mega Melon – a sheer peachy orange/pink

As I mentioned, I’ve had this Chubby Stick for a couple of years and I’ve always enjoyed it.

The formula is really hydrating and goes on very smoothly.  It gives your lips a healthy sheen, but doesn’t make them shiny.  Because it’s as moisturizing as it is, I felt comfortable skipping the lip balm before putting this on.

The color leans a little sheer, but is can be easily built up.  I got an easy 4 hours of wear with this Chubby stick, but it didn’t survive a meal.

  

 

 

Chubby Stick Intense in Roomiest Rose – a vivid berry-rose

This formula is more intensely pigmented and more long lasting than the original Chubby Stick formula.  It’s not completely opaque, but definitely somewhere in between moderate to full coverage.  It also seems slightly more matte than the original formula, but still has a tiny hint of sheen.

It is adequately moisturizing when it’s first applied, but not quite as moisturizing as the original formula.  I found that this formula dries out a good bit as the hours go by, so it feels more comfortable to add a little lip balm underneath.

I did get 6 hours of wear with this formula and it easily survived my Starbucks to-go cup.  And it sort of made it through a meal.  I found the color closest to the inside of the lips faded, but the area closer to my lip line stayed in place.

  

 

 

I really like that the Chubby Sticks are twist up, so I don’t have to worry about wasting product with a sharpener.  However, without sharpening it, you do eventually loose the pencil-like tip, which is what assists with precision application.

Overall, I’m a big fan of the Clinique Chubby Sticks.  I will definitely be purchasing some more colors.  These beautiful lip crayons come in a wide variety of colors and retail for $17.00.  They can be found at the Clinique counter in various department stores and they’re also sold at Sephora!

Have you tried any Chubby Sticks?  What did you think?  Which color(s) did you try?

 

 

Almay Triple Effect Mascara Review

I’ve mentioned a couple times on this blog that I’ve been using a few Almay eye products for several years, and it just occurred to me that I’ve never actually reviewed the ones I use! So I’m starting with my favorite Almay mascara – Triple Effect!

The reason I’ve been wearing Almay eye products nearly exclusively is because several years ago, I noticed other drugstore brand mascaras, and sometimes eye lines, made my eyes itch like crazy.  Almay is hypo-allergenic, so I’ve been able to wear their products without issue.  And thankfully, I happen to like the products as well!

 

Almay’s Triple Effect mascara promises fuller, longer, and curvier lashes.  My photo doesn’t totally show off the unique applicator brush, but essentially, all the bristles are jammed packed on one side of the brush, making the impact of the brush really concentrated and dramatic.

These are my lashes without any mascara.  All I’ve done is curl them.  *womp womp*

These are my lashes with two coats of the Almay Triple Effect Mascara.  I think what’s most apparent is the volume and fullness that’s added.  There is some added length, which is great.  And for the most part, my lashes maintained their curl.

I really think, for a drugstore brand, this gives great drama to my lashes.  If you compare it to higher end mascaras that I’ve reviewed, like Benefit, Tarte, or Smashbox, it may not be quite as impressive, but it’s a fraction of the cost!  How can you go wrong?

    

The formula washes off fairly easily.  Soap and water will take most of it off, but the formula is so dark, I often find I have black stains left around my eyes, so I use the Almay oil-free makeup remover pads to really get every last bit off.

The only real complaint that I have regarding this mascara, as well as all the other Almay mascara formulas, is that after a few weeks of use, it starts to thicken up a bit and you have to wipe excess product off the applicator brush.  But despite that, the mascara still delivers the same great results on your lashes!  It’s just a nuisance to have to wipe off the excess.

Overall, I’m a big fan of this mascara and I have repurchased it many times over the last several years and I will continue to repurchase it in the future!

Have you tried any of the Almay mascaras?  Are you a fan?