MakeupBug.com

Promise: “Finally, bold volume without any of the bulk.
• Patented Lash Catcher™ brush has 3 bristles per lash to make every lash count
• Catches, coats and de-clumps each lash to make them all fatter and flirtier
• Instant clump-free volume
• Contact lens safe and ophthalmologist-tested
• Washable, also available in Waterproof formula”   (maybelline.com)

Availability: All drugstores!

Packaging: I hate the packaging – it’s really tacky.  The tube is the same shape as all of Maybelline’s Volum’ Express mascaras, and this one is a pinky coral color with turquoise/blue accents.  I just really hate the One by One logo, and the cheap sticker that it’s on.  But, what really matters is what’s on the inside, so let’s get to that!!

Wand: I absolutely love the wand!! I’ll admit it’s a little short in length (I mean the actual length of the wand from the handle to the end of the bristles), which makes the application a little awkward, BUT there are so many bristles! It’s amazing how this mascara separates your lashes – it’s impossible to make a clump, it just won’t happen.  And the bristles at the very end are shorter than the ones in the middle so it doesn’t poke at my inner eye area like some other mascaras.

Formula: Ah-maz-ing!! It lengthens, it volumizes, it holds curl, and it separates. The only thing this mascara doesn’t do is apply itself.  You have to try it!! Check out the photo below to see what it looks like on. I left one eye bare so you can really see the difference.

Price: Pretty cheap! I bought mine for about $6!

5/5 stars! One by One is easily one of my all-time favorite mascaras!!

I love this shade!!! It’s a dark chocolate/taupe color, or put simply, it’s like Nesquik for your nails. GORGEOUS!!

*Ignore my slightly wonky cuticles in the above photo, my manicure is a few days old.

Ok, I was skeptical when I bought the ELF Makeup Mist & Set a few weeks ago, I couldn’t imagine a spray doing anything but ruining my makeup – my makeup in the rain = disaster – but, I was completely wrong about this product.  It actually works… it’s like hairspray for your face! I swear your makeup is not going anywhere if you use this!!

Insert terrible photo of me doing my “Walmart Portrait Studio gaze into the distance pose”:

Now this is after hours of wear.  Normally when I do a post I take photos right after I apply my makeup.  But this was at least 8 hours after!! And it looks amazing! Normally with my Everyday Minerals foundation, I have to touch up at once during the day, or at least spot conceal, but not with this setting spray.  It’s amazing!

Tomorrow I’m going to try it with liquid foundation, so stay tuned for part 2!

Promise: “Plump ‘em, don’t clump ‘em! VolumeExact’s flexible bristles with microchambers surround each lash, to plump and separate for expressive volume.

Availability: VolumeExact is available nearly everywhere – it’s a drugstore product after all.

Packaging: Cute, sleek, and a deep berry shade. I like it! Compared to bulkier and brighter packages like Lash Blast or Colossal, this mascara seems more sophisticated (if that’s possible for a mascara).

Wand: It has a plastic bristle brush, not too small and certainly not too big .  It tapers at the end making it easy to reach the tiny lashes on the inner corner of the eye.  And although I don’t know what the hell microchambers are, they do a great job of separating each and every lash.

Formula: Love it! It really doesn’t clump, it lengthens, and it volumizes like crazy. It’s one of those mascaras that seems to find lashes you didn’t even know you had! It rivals my other favorite mascara (Almay One Coat Triple Effect), and because this one is less messy and not as thick, I actually reach for it more often for everyday wear.

Price: It’s priced nicely between $6-7.

This mascara is like Lash Blast’s older sister.  It’s awesome, underrated older sister.  If you’re looking for a great drugstore mascara check out this oldie but goodie! 5/5 stars!

Promise: “Instant false glam in a tube.  The Falsies mascara delivers a false lash look; giving you a full set of voluminous, bold, fanned out lashes and the appearance of no gaps from any angle.  The pro-keratin and fiber-enriched formula is designed to deliver immediate results, distributing volume and visible intensity to your lashes.  The patented “spoon” shaped brush helps fan lashes out.  The Falsies mascara is designed to give the appearance of no gaps and spaces.  In a wink lashes you didn’t even know you had look visibly thickened.” (Maybelline UK website).

Availability: It’s available where most cosmetics are sold.

Packaging: I like the packaging, I think the purple tube with metallic blue accents is cute.  Some may complain that it’s not sophisticated enough, but come on people, it’s just a mascara!

Wand: Uhhh… the wand is huge, and sometimes bigger is better, but I’m not sure this is one of those times.  It’s slightly curved with a flattened shape – they call it a “spoon” shaped brush.  The thing is, it’s wider than the width of my lashes, so whenever I apply this mascara I have to try really hard to not get it in my upper waterline or on my eyelid.  I do like the slight curve though, it makes it easier to reach all the little lashes.

Formula: This formula just doesn’t live up to Maybelline’s claims.  It doesn’t clump at all which is good, but certainly does not give me the false lash effect I’m after.  It doesn’t hold curl very well and provides hardly any volume.  I guess it lengthens a bit, but who cares about length when your lashes are as thin as mine??

Price: Nicely priced between $6-8.

I’d read a lot of positive initial reviews when this product first came out and I was so looking forward to this mascara being great, but in the end it’s just okay… 3.5/5 stars.

After two weeks of using L’Oreal’s Lash Boosting Serum I can honestly say this stuff works! I wasn’t completely sure until I compared this week’s photos to the photos I took before I started this experiment (see below).

Check in next week for photos from week 3!

This weeks photos:

A side-by-side comparison, before L’Oreal Lash Boosting Serum (left) and after just 2 weeks (right):

I see the most improvement at the outer corner of the eye!

After using L’Oreal Lash Boosting Serum day and night for a week straight, it’s still difficult to say if I can see results or not.  I think a few of my lashes may be a little longer, but I’m not sure. They certainly look healthier and well-conditioned though, so that’s a plus.

Check out the photos below and I’ll be back in a week with more shots!