Mary Kay Lash Love Lengthening Mascara Review

Mascara used to be something I didn't think was important enough to use. When I first started wearing makeup, I thought eye shadow, some face powder, and lip gloss were enough.

Well, I was 12 and didn't have as many complexion issues just yet, so I got away with my style.

Today I have a review on Mary Kay's Lash Love Lengthening Mascara in I <3 Black. 

My MK consultant gave me a sample recently, so, of course, I used it as soon as I could!

Here's what the product claims to do:

Long, strong, seriously separated lashes. What’s not to love?

• Creates bold, instantly intensified length of lashes.
• Lifts, curls and perfectly separates lashes.
• Conditions and strengthens lashes.
• Non-clumping, flake-free formula wears all day for over 10 hours

(From the Mary Kay Website)

The brush has short rubber bristles. I like the sleek, simple packaging. The full-size mascara comes with 0.28 ounces of product.

As you can see, the mascara does do a great job of separating my lashes and adding length. I really like to see more volume added since my lashes are somewhat sparse, but that's not the goal of this particular mascara. The formula doesn't irritate my eyes, and I use just one or two coats.

For $15, you're getting a nice deal. Mary Kay mascara tends to last for a while, and it really does perform better than some drugstore mascaras. My mom has sensitive eyes, and she's been using MK mascaras for years without any problems.

Should You Try It: If you crave length and separation, check out this mascara. Ask your consultant for a sample if you're not ready to spend the money. Contact-wearers, you'll be all right!

What: Mary Kay Lash Love Lengthening Mascara in I <3 Black

MSRP: $15

Pros: Great length and separation, no irritation, great for everyday use

Cons: Little volume added, a little expensive, only two colors available (I <3 Black and I <3 Brown), no waterproof formula available

What kind of lashes do you prefer? Do you like Mary Kay mascara? Have you tried this one? Let me know!

Pretty Panda's Ponderings:

• I just ordered some Mehron white face cream and setting powder for my Harley Quinn cosplay! ^_^
• I commissioned one of my favorite Etsy artists, Miss E's Accessories, to make a Harley Quinn-inspired jewelry set for my cosplay. Eloria has serious talent; just look at how amazing these pieces are! I can switch out the Joker card with the red and black pendant!

Paula's Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint Review

Monday sneaks up on me every time--and it's raining. :/ I love the rain, but I love it whenever I am home and in my pajamas. With a book. In my bed. 

Anyhoo...

A few weeks ago, I received some goodies from Paula's Choice from a contest I won on Phyrra's site. Phyrra is one of my favorite beauty mavens; her style is edgy yet approachable. Her tutorials are helpful for those of us who are a little nervous about using colorful products.

I received one PC Barely There Sheer Matte Tint with SPF 30 in the light/medium shade (I was able to choose the shade), one RESIST Anti-Aging Clear Skin Hydrator, and one RESIST Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum.

I received some samples and booklets, too! The hydrator is the taller bottle on the left at the top, and the serum is the tube in the middle. The tint is on the right.

I have been using the sheer tint on days that I would prefer quick, low-maintenance makeup. 

Let's check out the product, shall we?

Left: without anything but moisturizer. Right: After applying PC Barely There Sheer Matte Tint in Light/Medium

This tint helps to minimize the redness and uneven texture of my skin, but it lives up to its name: it is sheer. It's perfect for days outdoors, like at the beach or camping, whenever you don't want heavy foundation.

I like to apply some loose powder over it to set it (I tend to take this step with any liquid face makeup). 

As far as having a matte finish, I find that it does dry matte but leaves my skin somewhat luminous. Is it just me? Maybe it was my bathroom's lighting. I'm not complaining at all; it's just something I noticed. 

There are four shades to choose from: Light (Level 1), Light/Medium (Level 2), Medium (Level 3), and Dark (Level 4). I find the range limited, so this could be a problem if your skin tone is not included.  

Should You Try It: Paula's Choice is supposed to be an excellent line for sensitive skin, and the price isn't bad, either. This is my first time using anything from PC, and I'm impressed. So, if sensitive skin or rosacea plague you, try this bad gal out.

What: Paula's Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint

MSRP: 1 ounce is marked down to $12.71, and a sample size is marked down to $0.68 on the Website 

Pros: Affordable, nice coverage for a casual or outdoor event, every-day wear, high SPF, sensitive skin-approved

Cons: Seems to be available only online, limited shade range, truly sheer coverage (not like a BB cream or foundation for those of you who are wondering)

Have you ever used anything from Paula's Choice before? What about sheer tints for your face? Let me know!

Pretty Panda's Ponderings

• OK, Nintendo, you have me hooked on Animal Crossing: New Leaf. I really want to complete the mermaid home decor collection.
• Brett and I ate lunch at Subway today, and then we walked down to Rite-Aid. NYC Color has a BOGO Free event, so I played a little game with Brett: he had to choose any two products (except nail polish because I have waaay too many bottles at home). What did my wonderful boyfriend choose for me?

Blue cream eye shadow and red lip balm. He said the colors were pretty and called out to him. He must love the '80s more than I do.

I'll make it work out--someday! :P

(That's his hand, not mine. I bite my nails too much to have such long ones!)

Sensitive Shaving Solutions

It's Friday, which means I'll be busy writing my August articles for What Now Magazine this weekend! I am excited to feature my alma mater's retiring president's story and a local Cajun saint altar for the readers. :D

I don't know about most girls, but when I was a pre-teen and had just discovered shaving, I was elated to begin a ritual that seemed to validate my entry into teen-dom and adulthood. 

What a silly feeling that elation was. Now I'm extremely happy whenever I can wear pants or jeans for a few days so that I can shorten my bath time and get on with my life.

Don't get me wrong; I love having smooth, soft legs. I just dread the extra time and care required to shave. It's become so much of a chore now, and until recently, I actually had irritating itching after.

For the next day or so after my shave, my legs and sometimes my underarms would become incessantly itchy. No redness, rashes, bumps, or visible signs of irritation, though, so I thought was I was losing my mind.

I shaved with body washes and sometimes applied scented lotion after I dried myself, but the itchiness wouldn't pop up until the next day, which was so strange.

I complained about this skin woe to a co-worker, who suggested that the lathering agents in my body washes could be getting into the tiny cuts and abrasions on my skin that my razor left behind, leading to the invisible itching. She recommend CeraVe lotion since it's fragrance-free and gentle, and she said I should try Dove body wash.

Current Dove body wash. I like to save it for shaving. It has no scent, but I still smell a "clean" fragrance. It's definitely safe for you sensitive gals, but I always find some kind of aroma in everything. 

I have been using Dove's soap bars since I was a toddler. I love them and their gentle, moisturizing cleaning. I have used the body wash before, but I love trying new brands and types for variety. I still use scented ones on non-shaving days, and sometimes I blend the gel ones with this creamy Dove body wash.

My legs, underarms, and arms feel so silky smooth with this! It really does seem to follow through with the commercials' and ads' claims.

My CeraVe lotion. I apply it after I dry off. It has no fragrance, but, like almost everything to my nose, I detect that "clean" scent-free aroma. I'm odd, I know.

I didn't realize just how awesome CeraVe is. I guess I never was much on lotion--I'm a lazy lady--but this is essential after I shave. It's pricey (about $10 a bottle for 12 ounces), but two pumps is enough for each leg and each arm. It softens my skin and heals it after it's been subjected to shaving torture. 

My Schick Quattro for Women Trim Style Razor. 

I have been using Schick religiously for several years (along with some last-resort/in-a-bind razors), and I keep buying the replacement heads. I can use one head for several shaves. I like the convenient bikini-area trimmer for these summer swimming days. Nothing beats a wax, of course, but those are expensive!

So far, I have been having great results and less itchy skin--or no itchiness at all. I apply some other unscented/soothing lotions on days after my shaving to save on the CeraVe, and it seems that my skin is doing better.

Do you have any similar issues? Have you tried any of the products mentioned above? What are your shaving tools? Let me know!

Pretty Panda's Ponderings

• It's been raining for the last few days, and I wish that I had an excuse to cuddle up with a good book and my jammies. 
• I ate sushi last night at Ichiban with Brett, my sister Kristen, and our friend Grem. We had a great time relaxing and enjoying delicious rolls and miso soup!
• Tom Perrotta is my favorite author of our generation.

Mary Kay Facial Cleansing Cloths Review

OK, who doesn't adore this heat and humidity that summer brings? I mean, I can't think of a better way to enjoy my day than by sweating and watching my hair turn into a Chia Pet plant.

Save us all.

(In case you didn't know, I was being sarcastic.)

My makeup can't help but melt a little, even though I slap on the primers and finishing spray. Hey, they all make a formidable team; you don't want to see the hot mess I am without the extra help. 

I also like to go swimming after I get home from work, but I don't like to swim with my makeup still on.

I usually use pre-moistened wipes (my current ones are Yes To Cucumbers Towelettes), but I wanted to see how facial cleansing cloths compare.

I ordered some Mary Kay Facial Cleansing Cloths from my MK consultant to give 'em a try.

Fresh face at the beginning of my day.

Here's the package of cloths.

Here's a cloth (dry).

Here's the cloth after I used it.

My face after washing it with the MK cloth.

So, understand that you need water to use this cloth. I ran it under the faucet in my bathroom sink and gently rubbed it between my hands to work up a lather.

I then washed my face with it as I would with a towel and soap/cleanser.

Finally, I dried my face.

Notice that this cloth looks so bare after I used it. Most of the makeup and grime washed off of it and down the drain as I washed my face. 

My face felt fresh, clean, and soft after I used the cloth; I didn't have any "tightness" that can accompany cleansers.

How well did the cloth remove my makeup? I wanted to find out, so I used some MK toner and went over my skin.

Nothing appeared on my toner pad, which surprised me. Even after I deep-clean my face with special cleansers, I still have residue to remove!

Yes, I was pleased with these results. This is a handy beauty tool to have if you're traveling, staying with a friend or relative, or visiting the gym. Nothing is as comforting as a fresh, clean face. :)

My only complaint is that these cloths are expensive. I would like to give my MK consultant business, but at $15 a package for 30 cloths, I may check out Wal-Mart, Target, or drugstores for other cleansing cloths.

Should You Try It: If you know an MK rep and don't mind the price, go for it. If you have tried other cleansing cloths and didn't have the same results, go for it. This is an excellent, impressive product, so I recommend it. I imagine even people with sensitive skin could use this since it has no distinguishable fragrance.

What: Mary Kay Facial Cleansing Cloths

MSRP: $15 for a pack of 30

Pros: Great cleansing power, no residue, leaves skin soft and fresh, appears to be fragrance-free or virtually so

Cons: A bit pricey

Have you tried these before? What did you think of them? What about other brands? Let me know!

Pretty Panda's Ponderings:

• I love Promise Phan. Her transformations and beauty tips are breath-taking.
• I ate 15 Totino's Pizza Rolls for lunch, and I am a happy lady.

POP Beauty Lash Extension Mascara Review

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today I have a review of POP Beauty's Lash Extension mascara in Black Silk.

I bought this mascara back in May when HauteLook had a special on Pixi and POP Beauty products. I saved over half of the MSRP, which is $18.50.

Let's see how it looks on me!

I really like the length my lashes receive from this mascara, and no clumping is always a bonus (a necessity, really). The separation is nice, and there is zero irritation for my eyes (I wear contacts, which can cause issues sometimes).

This mascara doesn't dry quickly, which allows you to build it well and separate your lashes as you like. I love thicker wands like this one, too.

Should You Try It: If you nab it on sale on HauteLook or another site, yes. I find it too pricey for a mascara; several fantastic drugstore brands are available that work just as well. If you have some spare cash or want to receive it as a gift, though, go for it.

What: POP Beauty Lash Extension Mascara

MSRP: $18.50 (available online and at Ulta)

Pros: No clumping or irritation, great separation and lengthening, available in black and brown

Cons: High price

Have you tried this or any other products from POP Beauty? What do you think about this brand? Let me know!

Pretty Panda's Ponderings

• I'm wearing some BYS eyeshadow from the Guilty Pleasures palette today (makeup I bought in Japan). I love the quality!
• Received some Moroccan oil from Suave in the mail yesterday (sample). I think I'm in love. <3
• Pepper's Pizzeria has pretty awesome pizza. 

25 Things You Probably Don't Know About Me!

Hello, everyone! I have been viewing and reading the "25 Things You Don't Know About Me" tags on YouTube and favorite beauty bloggers' sites, and I decided to do my own.

So, here are 25 not-so-secret secrets about yours truly.

1. I once made a boy cry in 1st grade. Remember those geometrical blocks we all used to play with in elementary school? They were stored in buckets/tubs and were perfect for making flowers. Well, one rainy day, we had inside recess, and I had made some pretty stellar geometric blossoms. I had walked away for a little while, and when I returned to my flowers, a male classmate was playing with the blocks. I remember fussing at him and then seeing the tears flow. I'm a terrible person.
2. I had braces twice. I received my top braces when I was in 7th grade, and I received my bottom set when I was in 8th grade. In 10th grade around September, I had them taken off. I was ecstatic! Well, after a few months, I went to my orthodontist to have a follow-up check-up. He noticed slight spacing between some teeth, and in January, I had braces put back on my top teeth. They were finally removed again in January of my junior year!
3. I used to narrate my video games as I played them when I was a kid. I distinctly remember coming up with my own stories while playing the Donkey Kong County series and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. My mom was highly amused.
4. My first rated R movie was Resident Evil in 2002. I was 13 and highly disappointed by the lack of integrity to the game series.
5. My sisters and I used to have three hamsters, all named by my youngest sister, Anne: Schoochie (she "schooched" around), Sunflower (black and white fella), and Ligeia (given to me by my friend Emily and previously named). Schoochie was our first one, and she liked to urinate on the walls before we moved her to an outdoor shelf. We played with her inside, though.
6. I had/still have a paper dollhouse. It's a long book that opens up into a house, and everything is turn-of-the-20th century/Victorian style. I love it!
7. I have double piercings in both of my lobes. I used to have a cartilage piercing in my left ear, but it became infected. 
8. I considered pharmacology as my major while I was in my biology classes in high school. I chose to take the honors classes, which covered more material than the regular classes. I took Anatomy & Physiology my senior year, and I LOVED studying about diseases. I stuck with English, though, due to my love of the written word and distaste for math.
9. My first real concert was The Police for their reunion tour in 2007. My dad and I attended it together, and I felt like I was in Heaven. Something about Sting, you guys.
10. I wrote to Nintendo with ideas when I was in elementary school. I wish I could remember where I placed their reply letters! Two of them were generic and business-like, but one (a reply to my suggestion that the new-at-the-time Game Boy Advance port Super Nintendo Games) received an enthusiastic letter from a sweet lady who said it was a great idea and that several titles were already being ported.
11. I didn't wear mascara for a while. I stuck to powder, blush, and eye shadow (sometimes a lip product), but I didn't see the necessity in emphasizing my lashes. I was about 11 or 12.
12. I attended a writers' conference my sophomore year of high school in 2005, and I met author J. C. Wilder. I was interested in her book The Shadow Dwellers and bought an autographed copy. I understood it to be a romance, so I thought my mom might like to check it out after I was done. Follow the link to see why I decided to keep it to myself.
13. I hate cucumbers and tomatoes, but I love pickles and ketchup. Not together!
14. My first trip to Disney World was when I was 15 and in 9th grade. My high school band marched in a parade there!
15. When I was a little kid, I adored Rugrats. When I saw the Hanukkah episode, I thought my family--which is Roman Catholic--could celebrate the holiday as well. My dad explained to me that we weren't Jewish and that we celebrated Christmas instead. "But aren't we Polish?" I argued. "Doesn't that mean we can have Hanukkah?" "No, Celeste, we aren't Jewish." I bawled my eyes out that night.
16. My favorite snowball flavor is buttered popcorn, but the only snowball stand that serves it stopped offering it a few years ago. :(
17. I hate driving. If I had a chauffeur, I'd be that much closer to paradise. I'd love my own red Beetle, though (the rounder models). I'd put eye lashes on it.
18. I've never been fishing or hunting. Yeah, I'm from the South, but my dad doesn't partake in either. Nothing ethical or anything; just not his thing.
19. I have no interest in sports, save the Olympics and tennis.
20. I ran track in 9th grade (100-meter dash). I do did like running.
21. My ideal bedtime would be between midnight and 2 AM, but a 7:30-4:30 workday prevents me from staying up that late.
22. I used to collect gemstones and rocks from The Discovery Store. I still have some!
23. I'm named after my mom's younger sister who was five days old when she passed away (Celeste Mary).
24. My favorite historical family is the Romanovs. 
25. I have a stomach disorder: mild IBS. Food is unpredictable; sometimes a certain dish will upset my stomach, while other times it won't. I find my nerves trigger problems the most.

What secrets do you want to share?

Rimmel Volume Flash The Max Mascara Review

Hey there, everyone! I've been MIA for a while--so sorry about that. I went to Shreveport to visit my aunt and uncle last weekend, and I have been pretty busy with work lately. 

I need to catch up and share some beauty goodness with you all, so here's a review on one of my favorite mascaras, Rimmel Volume Flash The Max. 

In the picture, I am wearing the shade Extreme Black (the site calls it Ultra Black).

I love how well this mascara separates my lashes without causing any clumping. My lashes are naturally curly; my desired result is more volume without looking artificial.

For a drugstore mascara, I am impressed. I used to buy Rimmel's mascaras in high school, and they always performed well. They don't irritate my eyes or interfere with my contacts.

I haven't tried the waterproof formula, but I find this one has nice staying power. It doesn't smudge much, but I don't know how it would fare with tears. I haven't cried with it on. :P

Should You Try It: If you like this type of mascara brush, I recommend this mascara. If you like a natural look, then give this one a try!

What: Rimmel Volume Flash The Max Mascara in Extreme Black

MSRP: $5.47 at Walmart.com

Pros: No clumping, irritation, or much smudging after a long day

Cons: If you prefer brown mascara or light shades, you won't be able to find any. 

What drugstore mascara do you like? Have you tried any from Rimmel? Let me know!

Pretty Panda's Ponderings:

• I took my grandparents to see The Lone Ranger this past Saturday. The effects and action are pretty stellar, and the movie is entertaining overall. Granny and Paw Paw said that this version is quite different from the one they grew up with! 
• I love edamame! I ate some last night--it's a frozen brand that you can buy at Sam's Club.