The Best Tinted Lip Balms Ever
This category covers the very best lip tinted lip balms, regardless of price. Feel free to weigh in on your favorites. This list is actually comprised of two separate lists:
1) The Beauty Insider's Picks: My own personal list of the best products in that category, in no particular order
2) The Popular Vote: The results of a poll I did of over 1000 beauty-savvy consumers, in order of popularity
The Beauty Insider's Picks 1. Lucky Chick Lucky Lips Lip Shine Mimosa, Jasmine, and Violet: I’m not usually a fan of pots, but this product is irresistible. The fab scent manages to be fruity and floral at the same time, and this gloss is a sheer, shiny red. $11
2. MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 (“Gentle Coral”): Unlike most pot balms, this one is soft, so it’s easy to apply. The texture is creamy but light, very shiny and moisturizing, and the color can be layered from sheer to almost lipstick-like. “Gentle Coral” is a sunny summer staple. $14
3. Philosophy Kiss Me Very Emollient Lip Balm (“Red”): The name says it all: this glossy, hydrating balm keeps lips kissable. The sheer red is beautiful and natural. I prefer the tube to the pot—less messy. $10
4. Hard Candy Icicle Lip Balm (“Berrycicle”): These balms combine cool, frosty, fruity flavor and fun packaging. “Berrycicle” has a pink tint. $6.50
5. Stila Clear Color (“Berry”): A slim stick dispenses a sheer wash of color, soothing vitamin E and an SPF of 8. “Berry” is a flattering fruity color. $14
6. Too Faced Bunny Balm (“Bodacious Berry”): This balm wins points for packaging, and for the yummy formula, which is infused with fruit essential oils like guava, pineapple, grapefruit and ginger. “Bodacious Berry” is, appropriately enough, berry scented, with a sheer plummy sheen. $11
7. Prada Shielding Lip Balm SPF 15/Lip/Tint (“Tint 06”): Sure, it ranks high on the decadently hip scale, but this is also one of the few tinted balms with SPF 15. “Tint 06” is a soft red. $38 (for 8 mono doses)
8. Eyeko Fat Balm (“Strawberry”): Channel your childhood with this adorable, chunky, pink-and-blue tube of sweet-tasting balm. One swipe gives lips a natural flush that mimics the one you were born with, while light-reflecting particles plump up your pout. “Strawberry” is a sheer red that tastes like the eponymous fruit. $13
9. Bonne Bell Lip Lix (“I Scream”): This balm is sheer, moisturizing, and, at less than $4, a guilt-free indulgence. “I Scream” is a versatile neutral with a yummy chocolate flavor. $3.50
10. Bobbi Brown SPF 15 Lip Shine (“Blackberry”): This creamy formula hydrates and soothes while providing subtle shine and SPF 15 protection. “Blackberry” gives a sheer, juicy wash of color. $18 The Popular Vote 1. Bonne Bell Lip Smacker Lipgloss in “Dr. Pepper”, $1.50 (approx.)
2. Prada Shielding Balm SPF 15/Lip/Tint in “Tint 04”, $60
3. Philosophy Kiss Me Very Emollient Lip Balm in “Red”, $10
4. Clinique Superbalm Tinted Lip Treatment in “Raspberry Tint”, $10.50
5. Almay Pure Tints Protective Lip Care SPF 25 in “Berry,” “Blush,” “Nude,” and “Cocoa” (tie), $4.50 (approx.)
6. Benefit Benetint Lip Balm, $18
7. L’Occitane Shea Butter Tinted Lip Balm in “Wild Rose”, $13
8. Bobbi Brown Lip Tint in “Tea Tint”, $15
9. The Body Shop Born Lippy in “Strawberry”, $5
10. Kiehl’s Tinted Lip Balm SPF 15 in “Hue 30G”, $7.50
Calvin Klein's New Line
It seems that Calvin Klein is going to give his namesake cosmetics line another shot. This will be his fourth attempt at launching a line, something few fashion houses (with a couple of notable exceptions, like Giorgio Armani) have done successfully. (Does anyone remember lines from well known fashion houses like Nina Ricci and Diane Von Furstenberg?) Fragrance is always a hot arena for fashion designers, but an entire makeup line takes more planning and execution than a single perfume. So here's my advice to Mr. Klein: 1. Focus on the products, not just the packaging. The amazingly minimal, clear packaging of his last line was gorgeous, but the products themselves were a letdown. I carried his Lip Suede in my purse for months and never used it because it was so hard (texturewise) and impossible to apply well. 2. Take a cue from Mr. Armani: Start with a smaller selection of products and make sure that each and every one is flawless and echoes your design philosophy. 3. If it doesn't work this time around, give it up. After all, the market is inundated with makeup lines. The last thing we need is another. Unless it's exceptional.
The Best Lip Balms, Ever
This category covers the very best lip untinted lip balms (tinted balms will be featured next week!), regardless of price. Feel free to weigh in on your favorites. This list is actually comprised of two separate lists: 1) The Beauty Insider's Picks: My own personal list of the best products in that category, in no particular order 2) The Popular Vote: The results of a poll I did of over 1000 beauty-savvy consumers, in order of popularity The Beauty Insider's Picks 1. Acqua di Parma Relaxing Orange Lip Balm: A sleek blue metal tube holds an extremely moisturizing, sophisticated balm with a subtly orange flavor. It’s moisturizing without being shiny or greasy. $27
2. Blistex Clear Advance: This balm in a grey tube is designed for men, but don’t let that stop you. This is completely non-shiny, which makes it great under lipstick, plus it’s long-lasting, has a subtly fruity flavor, and an SPF 30. $1.99
3. Laura Mercier Lip Silk: This extremely emollient lip balm comes in a tube, and has a consistency similar to petroleum jelly, but thicker. It delivers very intense moisture and shine, with a nice subtle flavor. $18
4. Clinique Superbalm: Extremely emollient and protective, this lasts on your lips all night long. The consistency is almost like petroleum jelly, but it does a better job of hydrating your lips. You’ll wake up with a silky smooth pout. $11.50
5. Fresh Sugar Lip Balm SPF 15: I love the metal tube with a twist off cap and the great sugary-citrus flavor. It’s moisturizing without being too shiny, and it has sunscreen. $22
6. MAC Lip Conditioner SPF 15: A simple white pot holds a soft, easy to scoop out balm that is intensely soothing to dry lips. $11.50
7. Smith’s Rosebud Salve: Like everyone, I love the retro-chic tin and the rosy scented balm. $5.50
8. Sephora Operation Smile Lip Baume SPF 15: What’s not to like about this balm? It hydrates parched lips, protects with sunscreen, and the proceeds benefit a great cause. $5
9. Nuxe Reve de Miel Honey Lip Balm: This chic glass pot contains a divinely-textured balm with a subtle grapefruit flavor that nourishes dry cracked lips with yummy ingredients like honey and rose musqueta, and without mineral oil. It’s so soothing, it can even be used on sores and burns. $17
10. Prada Shielding Balm SPF 15/Lip: Intensely moisturizing, Prada packs powerful hydrators like shea butter and panthenol and a non-irritating sunscreen into one sleek, minimalist tube. $38
The Popular Vote
1. Smith’s Rosebud Salve, $5
2. Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm, $2.50
3. Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1, $5.50
4. MAC Lip Conditioner, $9.50
5. Carmex Cold Sore Reliever and Lip Moisturizer, $2 (approx.)
6. Chap Stick Lip Balm, $1.50 (approx.)
7. Prada Shielding Balm SPF 15/Lip, $60
8. Clinique Superbalm Lip Treatment, $10
9. Philosophy Kiss Me, $10
10: The Body Shop Lip Butter, $6
Product Review: Stila Long Wearing Lip Color
The Claim: A long wearing lipstick and lip gloss all in one. The secret is a blend of patent-pending polymers that provide long-lasting wear with rich pigment that glides on like your favorite lip gloss. The tip of the pen is contoured to provide easy, precise application - hugging every curve of you lip. What else you need to know:A breakthrough that boasts extended wear time while keeping lips feeling soft and smooth - never dry! The Price: $18 I tried Stila Long Wearing Lip Color in Rendezvous for the first time tonight, for a dinner date with my husband. First of all, I have to say that I love the plummy brown color, which is perfect for fall. The pigment is not that intense. It's a little more subdued, if not exactly sheer. I love the applicator, which is rounded. It glides on so smoothly and easily and just feels so good on your lips, more like a light, non-waxy balm than a longwearing lipstick. Because of the easy application and the not-too-intense color, this is a quick, out-the-door kind of lipstick. I kept rubbing my lips together because they felt so nice and smooth. It's also featherweight, so it feels like you have nothing on. On the downside, it didn't make it though the date, though I confess I gave it some real challenges. I had a salad with oil and vinegar, bread with oil and vinegar and tortellini. It is now three hours since I applied the lipstick, and it is almost completely gone. So while it may be longer wearing than other similar lip colors, with similarly moisturizing formulas, it doesn't compare to a more traditional two-step longwearing lipcolor, like Cover Girl Outlast or MAC Pro Longwear. It doesn't even compare to a matte lipstick in terms of staying power. But I liked this lipstick so much I'm not disappointed. On the plus side, it doesn't make your lips feel dry and cakey like those other formulas do. As a moisturizing lipstick with slightly longer wear than average and a very easy, comfortable feel, I loved it. And since it's a limited edition (why are the good things always limited editions!) I plan on stocking up!
The Very Best Lip Treatments Ever
This category covers the very best lip treatments, regardless of price. Feel free to weigh in on your favorites. This list is actually comprised of two separate lists: 1) The Beauty Insider's Picks: My own personal list of the best products in that category, in no particular order 2) The Popular Vote: The results of a poll I did of over 1000 beauty-savvy consumers, in order of popularity The Beauty Insider's Picks1. City Lips Collagen Lip Plumping Treatment: Unlike most lip plumpers, City Lips is not designed to be a quick fix, though you may notice a difference immediately. Over time, however, I noticed my lips looking fuller and plumper. It’s available in clear as well as a variety of colors. $29 2. Benefit Lipscription: Many lip exfoliants are irritating, but Benefit’s two-part version features gentle jojoba beads and AHAs to buff, and a lip balm to soothe and hydrate. $28 3. English Ideas Lip Refine AHA Exfoliating Cream: This product’s patented time release formula dissolves dead, chapped skin while you sleep. $32 4. Smashbox Emulsion Lip Exfoliant: This deliciously-scented, perfectly edible sugar-and-peppermint scrub acts as a wake up call for dehydrated lips. Rub it in and wipe it off for smooth, silky lips. $18 5. Too Faced Lip Injection: This product works in a similar way to Duwop Lip Venom, increasing the flow of blood to the lips and causing them to appear fuller, if only temporarily. It’s also a great, long-lasting gloss. $18.50 6. Mary Kay Satin Lips Set: This two-part product features a lip mask that exfoliates and smoothes, followed by a very emollient lip balm. Use this at night and you’ll wake up with kissably soft lips. $18 7. Molton Brown Wonder Lips Booster: Like the City Lips product, this works gradually over time to increase fullness and plumpness in lips, but like most plumpers, the effect is temporary. $38 8. Duwop Lip Venom: If you can handle the tingle, this popular product will temporarily plump up and redden your lips with a combo of essential oils, including cinnamon and ginger. $15 9. Beauticontrol Lip Apeel: This lip treatment features a lip mask to exfoliate and a lip balm to hydrate, in one cute, convenient container. Almost instant gratification. $18 10. Alchemy Medic Lip Scrub: Jojoba beads and avocado oil work together to gently exfoliate, while cinnamon provides a shot of flavor. $15 The Popular Vote1. MAC Lip Conditioner, $9.50 2. Clinique All About Lips, $20 3. Mary Kay Satin Lips Lip Balm, $9.50 4. Carmex Cold Sore Reliever and Lip Moisturizer, $2 (approx.) 5. Laura Mercier Lip Silk, $18 6. Smith’s Rosebud Salve, $5 7. Aquaphor Original Ointment, $16.50 (approx.) 8. Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, $2.50 (approx.) 9. Benefit Smoooch, $18 10. Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1, $5.50
Scars, Stretch Marks, and other Sexy Thoughts
Yesterday, for a second, I thought I spotted a stretch mark on my ever-expanding abdomen. I didn't, thank God, but for a moment I felt utter terror. I know I am prone to them (I have a few faint ones on my outer thigh from my adolescent "growth spurt" - and they have always been the bane of my existence), even though I miraculously avoided them during my last pregnancy. Now, I'm 26 weeks along and still no sign of them. I keep rubbing and massaging and praying, and so far, that has worked. But it's always something. During my last pregnancy (which was also my first) I had the linea negra during at least half of it, which made me less proud of my burgeoning belly than I otherwise would have been. Who wants to take a picture of their baby bump with a brown line down the middle? Fortunately, it disappeared a couple of months post pregnancy. This time around, the line is just starting to appear, and it's quite faint, so I should be happy. No stretch marks, no line. But I've found something else to obsess over. The two small scars (about a 1/3 of an inch each) that are the result of my pre-pregnancy appendix surgery. The irony does not escape me. So far, I've been through (almost) two pregnancies without a stretch mark, and with only a small c-section scar that still permits me to wear a bikini, but I have these two dark scars inches away from my belly button, marring my bikini body forever, all because of an organ that you don't even really need. It makes me regret ever having had that stupid surgery. So know I am going to try everything possible to get rid of it, from using those scar-reducing silicone sheets during the pregnancy, to whatever it takes afterwards. Do you have a scar that drives you nuts? Or any great scar-reducing remedies? I'd love to hear!
Irrational Obsessions
Lately, I've been having fashion fantasies that have nothing to do with my life as a 6+ months pregnant mother of an active toddler girl. They are fantasies of strutting around in sharply tailored, perfectly stunning, meticulously orchestrated ensembles. Of dressing up. Really dressing up. In a way that hasn't been fashionable for a long time, until now. Fall's fashion and accessories trends are so gorgeous, so decadent and so different that they inspire me to toss my entire wardrobe (and considerable shoe collection) and start over. If I could, I would stock up on: 1. Flawless, 40s inspired suits and ladylike dresses cut very close the body 2. Racy, romantic, vintage-y lingerie in completely impractical shapes and fabrics, the kinds of underthings you can't possibly wear under knits and other everyday fabrics. (Among other issues, let's just say that my temporarily enormous breasts could not be contained beneath wispy layers of chiffon and tulle. Believe me, I've tried). 3. Dozens of platforms in jewel tones and brights, in python and patent, particularly those from Miu Miu and Dior 4. Minidresses in sparkly sequins and sexy silks to wear dancing 5. An obnoxiously high-maintenance beauty routine that requires armloads of new makeup and skincare products, and frequent trips to salons and spas in exotic locales Sigh. Sadly, my fantasy life and real, schlepping-the-baby-around town in comfy babydoll dresses life do not meet on any level, but someday...
The Price of Small-Town Living
Today, I naively strolled into a local department store and approached the Lancome counter with high hopes. I wanted to get on the waitlist for the next Pout a Porter lipstick, P.S. by Peter Som. It doesn't launch until October 1, but it's already impossible to get. Living in a small town, however, I figured I could snag the couple that came in before anyone else caught on to them. No such luck. There were a couple of glitches with my plan: 1. It's not available at my local department store, and never will be. It is only being sold at Nordstrom and Bergdorf, neither of which are located anywhere near my home. Naturally, I didn't know this at the time. 2. My local Lancome salesperson had no idea what I was talking about. She kept asking me which of the Lancome lipstick formulas I was referring to. While I understand that none of the Pout lipsticks will ever cross her counter, I can't understand how it's possible that she has never heard of the entire Pout a Porter movement. (And believe me, it is a movement. How many other lipsticks sell on Ebay for $100? Those execs at Lancome are geniuses!) I had to explain the concept to her, and after my lengthy description, she blinked a couple of times and then asked me, again, what formula these legendary colors came in. Sigh. 3. These lipstick are limited editions, which means that I am already too late. 4. I will probably end up buying one on Ebay for $100. Who said small-town living is cheap?
The Best Natural-Looking Mascaras Ever
This category covers the very best natural-looking mascaras (dramatic mascaras were featured last week), regardless of price. Feel free to weigh in on your favorites. This list is actually comprised of two separate lists: 1) The Beauty Insider's Picks: My own personal list of the best products in that category, in no particular order 2) The Popular Vote: The results of a poll I did of over 1000 beauty-savvy consumers, in order of popularity 3) What the Pros Chose: These are the top picks of the beauty experts who appear in my book, also known as The Beauty Bunch. (You can learn more about this genius team of experts by clicking on the About the Book tab, and then clicking on "Who are the Beauty Insiders?"). The Beauty Insider's Picks1. Pout Mascara (“Black Eyes”): Don’t let the adorable packaging fool you—this is a serious mascara. The light, lengthening formula allows you to apply as many coats as you wish (a makeup artist told me he’s applied up to 20) to take your lashes from natural to scene-stealing. $16 2. Shiseido The Makeup Lasting Lift Mascara (“Black LL1”): This mascara’s brush is not really a brush at all—it’s a superslim ridged metal tube that is worth the learning curve, as it applies this lengthening, curling formula smoothly, with no clumps. Skip the lash curler. $19.50 3. Smashbox Focal Point Lash Building Mascara (“Black”): Goodbye, raccoon eyes. This moisturizing formula delivers long, lush lashes quickly, and stays put all day. $16 4. Blinc Kiss Me Mascara (“Black”): This cult favorite takes some getting used to—it’s not like any mascara you’ve ever used. Rather than applying color directly to your lashes, this product forms individual little tubes around them—creating longer, defined lashes that don’t smudge—ever. $24 5. Shu Uemura Mascara Basic (“Basic Black 01”): This is widely hailed as being one of the most natural mascaras on the market, and one of the very few that curls even stubbornly straight lashes. The waterproof formula never clumps or smudges, lengthens slightly, and leaves lashes glossy and naturally gorgeous. $27 6. Yves Rocher True Color Volume Mascara (“Black Onyx”): This liquid formula glides on smoothly without clumping, and won’t irritate the most sensitive eyes. It’s a bit tricky to find in the U.S., but well worth the search. $10 7. Almay One Coat Mascara Thickening (“Black”): This product lives up to its name. One clump-free coat builds lashes that look naturally thicker and fuller—and keeps them that way all day long. No smudging, smearing, or flaking. $6 (approx.) 8. L’Oreal Voluminous Original Volume Building Mascara (“Black”): This is one of my all-time favorites, and it doesn’t seem quite right to classify this as “natural.” However, application is quick and clump-free, leaving behind full, feathery fringe. The only “natural” thing about it is the way your lashes feel—soft, not spiky, like you’re not wearing mascara at all. $7 (approx.) 9. Laura Mercier Mascara (“Black”): The slim spiral brush delivers a clump-free formula that coats, curls, and defines for silky, naturally beautiful lashes. $19 10. Paula Dorf Cake Mascara (“Raven”): This will take your Grandmother back, but she never had it so good. This retro-chic formula features a cake of black mascara and a fan brush in one slim compact. Completely clump-free, this silky formula will never smudge or smear. With a little practice, truly natural, “you-only-better” lashes can be yours. $20 The Popular Vote1. Maybelline Full ‘n Soft Mascara in “Very Black”, $6.50 (approx.) 2. Clinique Naturally Glossy Mascara in “Jet Black”, $13.50 3. Lancome Definicils High Definition Mascara in “Black”, $21.50 4. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in “Very Black”, $4.79 (approx.) 5. Maybelline Lash Discovery Mascara in “Very Black”, $6.50 (approx.) 6. Shu Uemura Mascara Basic in “Basic Black 01”, $27 7. Jane Fan Club Mascara in “Black”, $4 (approx.), and L’Oreal Voluminous Original Volume Building Mascara in “Black”, $7 (tie) 8. L’Oreal Featherlash Softly Sweeping Mascara in “Black”, $7, and Clinique Long Pretty Lashes Mascara in “Black”, $13.50 (tie) 9. L’Oreal Lash Out Mascara in “Black”, $7 (approx.) 10. MAC Pro Lash in “Black”, $9.50, and Mary Kay Endless Performance Mascara in “Black”, $8.50 (tie)
Portable Makeup
These days, sometimes the only time I can get my makeup done is when I am waiting at a red light, so I always make sure I have a portable makeup case in my diaper bag. I've always been a fan of making up on the run, because I used to be chronically late and had no choice but to do my makeup on the go. I've become a pro at what works in the car, and what can be messy and even potentially dangerous. Here, my musts and misses for glamour on the go: Musts 1. Powder compact foundation, like Stila Illuminating Powder Foundation 2. A blush in a shatterproof case. I like Luscious Blooms in Half Moon Bay. It contains a blush shade and a highlighter, and both can be used on cheeks and eyes. 3. A lip palette or an assortment of melt-proof lipsticks or glosses. Liquid lipsticks are best for this purpose, because if you accidentally leave them in the car, they won't melt on you. I like MAC Pro Longwear. Since the applicator tends to fall apart, so that you can't attach the gloss back to the color, I just take the color half of the lipsticks with me to save room in my bag, and carry a separate gloss or balm. 4. Mascara 5. Small eyeliner (with a sharpener, if it needs one) 6. Neutral eyeshadow palette, like Sephora Colorful Pro Eyeshadow Palette in Brown Eyes 7. Small brush kit, like the one from Bobbi Brown Note: An alternative to the above list is to carry a makeup palette or one of those Trish McEvoy planners that has everything you need, but I've never been that disciplined Misses1. Liquid liner: Nearly impossible to apply well in the car. 2. Mineral makeup and other loose powder products, including those messy loose shimmer shadows 3. Cream blushes and shadows: messy to apply and the color gets everywhere 4. Pot glosses: see #3, above 5. Nail polish, unless it's clear
The Root of the Problem
Okay, it's high time that I had my roots done. The last time I went in to have it colored, it was June 23. Yikes. Since my chosen color is a little lighter than my natural color, and I have gray hairs I need to disguise, this is becoming more than a little obvious, even on my curly hair. It's just been so hard to find time to schedule an appointment! Fortunately, there are a few products that can help you stretch out the time between appointments while still remaining stylish: 1. Color Mark: This liquid hair color dries quickly and covers gray completely. It comes in a dozen colors, and it really works, though it takes a bit more time than a mascara or crayon. $19.95 2. Roux Tween Time: A classic. This coloring crayon is best for touching up small areas, like the hairline. About $9 3. Hair Mascaras: There are many brands of these, or you can simply use waterproof mascara, although you won't get the color selection. A few to try include Christian Dior Color Flash for Hair and GreyFree Touch Up Mascara. 4. Coloring shampoos and conditioners: These can be a great way to keep your color vibrant between appointments. ArtEc makes the best formulas, and your colorist should be able to help you choose one, as you don't want to alter your expensive hair color! Unfortunately, these are not as effective at covering gray hair.
Fashion is Frivolous! And that's the way it should be.
I received an angry email yesterday from a woman claiming that my most recent fashion column, which appeared on Tuesday ( http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Opinion/Columnists/Style/colSTYLE090407.htm) was ridiculous because I showed a $130 Trina Turk boatneck tee and a $160 Trina Turk mini on a model. Her main problem was that the model was a teenager, and she felt I was pushing expensive clothes on teenagers and their poor parents. (Unfortunately, the photos don't show up on the site). I informed her that the column was never intended for teenagers. It's intended for adults. But models are always young. Anyway, I found myself defending fashion, and the high price of fashion. As I was discussing it with my husband, he said something that stuck with me: "You're writing about fashion, not about clothes." That struck me as pretty profound. Everyone needs clothes. They're an essential part of civilized society. But fashion is for those of us who choose to express ourselves through our clothes, who enjoy making a statement with them and wearing what is new and trendy as long as it's filtered through our own sense of personal style. It's not an essential. It's a luxury, an escape. And for many of us, no matter what our budget, it's a passion. I don't write the local golf columnist telling him that golf is stupid and the downfall of society. It's a hobby, a sport. It's not meant to be controversial. And neither is fashion. So I'll stop defending it. It is what it is. If you're not interested, then don't read about it. If you are, join the rest of us "fashionistas" (although I hate that word). We're having a lot of fun.
The Best (Dramatic) Mascaras, Ever
This category covers the very best dramatic mascaras (natural-looking mascaras will be featured next week), regardless of price. Feel free to weigh in on your favorites. This list is actually comprised of two separate lists: 1) The Beauty Insider's Picks: My own personal list of the best products in that category, in no particular order 2) The Popular Vote: The results of a poll I did of over 1000 beauty-savvy consumers, in order of popularity The Beauty Insider's Picks1. Dior Show Mascara (“Black 090”): This mascara is creamy and intensely pigmented, and creates drama in just one coat. I use this when I’m in a glamorous, diva mood, which is most of the time. $23 2. Bourjois Coup de Theatre False Lash Illusion Duo Mascara (“Noir Diva 11”): This dual product delivers showstopping lashes with a volume-building primer on one end, and a lash-loving mascara packed with vitamins on the other. $16 3. Chanel Sculpting Mascara Extreme Length (“Black”): The slim brush is designed to reach even the puniest lashes, coaxing them to eye-popping lengths. $23.50 4. Lancome Definicils High Definition Mascara (“Black”): Arguably, Lancome makes the most consistently great mascaras. Definicils is a perennial best-seller, and with good reason. One fragrance-free coat defines, separates, and lengthens, for decidedly dramatic results. $21.50 5. Benefit BADgal Lash Mascara (“Black”): With a name like BADgal, it has to be black. This popular mascara creates seductively sooty lashes in a split second. $18 6. Urban Decay Skyscraper Mascara (“Gotham”): A cool, sleek silver tube hides an even cooler brush, with a flat side for thickening, a fuzzy one for lengthening, and a spiral tip for defining. Plus, the formula is packed with shu extract, a Chinese herb that promotes pigmentation and prevents hair loss. $16 7. Talika Eyelash Lipocils: Okay, so this isn’t a mascara, but no list of dramatic lash products would be complete without it. A publicist said this promotes “Mr. Snuffle-upagus Lashes,” and that was no exaggeration. This transparent gel is applied morning and evening to build naturally long, beautifully strong lashes. Even my mother noticed. I can’t live without this. $35 8. Yves Saint Laurent Luxurious Mascara/Volume Effet Faux Cils (“1 Black”): Faux cils means “false eyelashes,” and in this case, it’s not much of an exaggeration. This elegant formula goes on evenly, creating incredibly long, lush lashes that don’t smudge or smear. $23.50 9. L’Oreal Lash Out Mascara (“Black”): If you’re looking for length, the search is over. This affordable mascara draws lashes out of hiding, turning them into major man-magnets. $7 (approx.) 10. Maybelline Volum’ Express Turbo Waterproof Mascara (“Very Black”): Forget the pink-and-green tube—this is Maybelline’s real secret weapon. The smooth, gel-like formula makes it a breeze to achieve thick, long, perfectly-curled lashes. $6 (approx.) The Popular Vote1. L’Oreal Voluminous Original Volume-Building Mascara in “Black”, $7 (approx.) 2. MAC Fibre Rich Lash in “All Black”, $9.50 3. Lancome Definicils High Definition Mascara in “Black”, $21.50 4. Prescriptives False Eyelashes Plush Mascara in “Plush Black”, $19 5. Christian Dior MaximEyes Mascara in “MaxiBlack”, $22 6. Lancome Flextencils Full Extension Curving Mascara in “Black”, $21.50, and Maybelline Full ‘n Soft Mascara in “Very Black” (tie), $6.50 7. Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara in “Rich Black”, $5 and MAC Pro Lash in “Coal Black”, $9.50 (tie) 8. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in “Very Black”, $4.79 (approx.) 9. Revlon Lash Fantasy Two Step Lash Magnifier in “Blackest Black”, $8 (approx.) 10. Lancome Amplicils Panoramic Volume Mascara in “Black”, $21.50
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