Worth It

Worth it? Guerlain Maxi-Lash

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Like many semi-frequent shoppers of Ulta and Sephora, I have amassed a wee collection. It is kind of nice in that it enables me to try products I wouldn’t try as soon or, for that matter, at all, as well as preventing me from needing to decide what mascara I want to try next. Knowing I had a weekend away coming up, when it was time to reach for a new tube to try, I plucked Guerlain Maxi-Lash from my stash. The mascara claims to create volume and sculpt curls.

Also, apologies for low-quality images – it was a busy weekend.

Guerlain Maxi-Lash Sample TubeGuerlain Maxi-Lash sample tube

The sample tube (which I received from Sephora), which is just under three inches from end-to-end, is free of adornments unlike its full-sized sister. The full-sized tube is considerably more luxe-looking, and for $30 a tube? It better be.

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Worth It? Sephora Swarovski Pro Airbrush 55

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Indulgent. Exquisite. Envy-Inducing. We’re presenting our most coveted gift sets of the season. No one deserves them more than you.

was how a recent email I received from Sephora started out. Eyebrow already cocked.

This brush (via the Wayback Machine), the limited edition Sephora Swarovski Pro Airbrush 55, was referenced said email. “Oh, a sparkly brush. That’s fun,” I thought. I didn’t see the price in the email.


 Sephora Swarovski Pro Airbrush 55Sephora Swarovski Pro Airbrush 55

Later on, while browsing Sephora’s site, I came across it again.

The Sephora Swarovski Pro Airbrush 55 costs $275. One brush. Nothing special other than the fact that it is decked out in rhinestones. I could revamp my entire brush collection in Sigma and have money left over.

This is not even a specialty brush. Just a basic brush. The regular version (which has outstanding reviews!) costs only $34. See:

Classic/Regular version of the Sephora Pro Airbrush 55 as compared to Sephora Swarovski Pro Airbrush 55

On top of being ludicrously expensive, the, “luxurious,” Sephora Swarovski Pro Airbrush 55 is also wildly impractical – if you ever try to use it, good luck not getting makeup caked onto it. It will become a breeding ground for bacteria, the sparkle that you ostensibly purchased it for will dull. Cleaning in between the stones will be hellish at best. Even routine cleaning would be nerve-wracking – what if the adhesive holding the Swarovski crystals on weakens due to exposure to moisture?

For the love of cats, no, this Sephora Swarovski Pro Airbrush 55 brush is not worth it. Brushes are tools not decor; and while I can certainly appreciate an aesthetically pleasing brush, I don’t want or need my brush handles to resemble a cheap-quality, vastly-overpriced mall-kiosk cell phone case that a 12 year old would slap on her phone.

I’m all about investing in quality tools. I do believe that the right tool can make or break your experience (and not just with makeup, with anything. Ever needed to unscrew something but couldn’t find a screwdriver and had to use something like a butter knife? IT SUCKS) but there is also a point where it doesn’t make sense. Sephora’s Swarovski Pro Airbrush 55 crossed that point well over $200 ago.

Fortunately, the very few reviews this brush has point out that this is not a great buy. If you want to give someone a cosmetic-related gift, try something else (like a holiday palette or some Sigma brushes). At least it was good for a laugh!

I really enjoy Sephora and they come out with a lot of neat stuff, but unfortunately some things are just misses. What other hilariously-priced (and not possibly worth it) tools have you come across?

Worth it? Aztec Healing Clay

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Have you heard of it? If you haven’t, that isn’t surprising. If you have, you’re probably a product hipster or other beauty blogger. Aztec Healing Clay is one of those that I get excited to write about because it is under-advertised, not crazy-hyped, but is crazy-good as a deep treatment to help clear out your pores from any ilk that may be hiding within. Gross, but we all know that’s what clay masks are for.

Observe:

Aztec Healing Clay

Aztec Healing Clay

Here’s how to do the thing. Let’s start off with what you need:

Aztec Healing Clay Mask

  • Aztec Healing Clay – You can get it from Amazon for about $14. One pound will last you an absurdly long time
  • Apple Cider Vinegar (bonus points if raw) or Water
  • A non-metal mixing vessel – important! It can be glass, plastic, ceramic, wood, etc – but no metal, please! Bowls and cups are fine
  • A plastic spoon (remember, no metal!) or other utensil to mix with. I use a wooden tongue depressor to mix and even sometimes apply
    •  Usually, though, I apply with a flat foundation brush
  • Gloves (optional)

The unassuming little jar with silly graphics saying it is Aztec Healing Clay. It is a clay mask, but not in an oft-used format; when you open the jar, it is full of … what?

Aztec Healing Clay - Opened

Greenish powder. Aztec Healing Clay is calcium bentonite clay – and Aztec Secret gets theirs from Death Valley, California. Be careful to open in an area that is easy to clean, such as over a sink. The clay powder is very fine and gets all over the damn place very easily. It is an all-natural, single-ingredient, cruelty-free skincare product – how awesome is that? The real beauty of this product is its versatility – although it is a clay mask, it is usable by people with multiple skin types. It isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach; you just change what liquid you mix with the Aztec Healing Clay powder to suit your needs.

I, for example, use Apple Cider Vinegar (ideally, you should use raw ACV, but I don’t keep that on hand and did not want to make a special trip for it.) because my skin is normal/combination t-zone and not sensitive. If you are dry or sensitive, though, you might want to try this with water initially to gauge your skin’s reaction.

Measure equal parts Aztec Healing Clay…

Aztec Healing Clay

And Apple Cider Vinegar (or water)…

Aztec Healing Clay

Into the cup. One tablespoon of each is more than enough to do your whole face and, for me, my neck. You will notice it fizz a little as the vinegar reacts (normal). Quickly and thoroughly mix into a paste…

Aztec Healing Clay

…and then realize it is too thick and spash a little more ACV in.Aztec Healing Clay

If you’re using gloves, put on a glove, scoop some out, and apply it to your face like you would any other clay mask; avoid the eyes, coat everything else. If you went the tongue-depressor, scoop some of the Aztec Healing Clay paste out onto your tool and smooth into your face. This is definitely going to feel like you’re troweling mortar onto your face, but that’s okay – that’s what it should feel like. If you went the brush route, do the same thing – it will feel a little more luxurious than troweling mortar, though. The product itself suggests a layer of clay 1/8″ to 1/4″ thick; the latter is ludicrous to me (go get a ruler, check exactly how thick 1/4″ is. report back. yeah.) but 1/8″ is reasonable.

Aztec Healing Clay

Let it dry, let it dryyyy… sensitive folks, wait ten minutes to twelve minutes and rinse with warm water. Otherwise, 15-20 will do the trick. While the Aztec Healing Clay dries (especially if you go with the longer duration) your face is going to get uncomfortably tight. That is normal and okay – my advice is to avoid making facial expressions while waiting. You may also feel a warming or pulsating sensation – also normal, nothing to fret over. Woo circulation!

Once it is time, fetch thyself a washcloth – one you don’t feel particularly attached to in case it stains. Run some warm water, splash it on your face and then soak the washcloth. You will now have to scrub the Aztec Healing Clay off (no, it does not just rinse off as much as they would like to tell you that is the case). Be patient and go gently – your skin will feel tight from the mask, so rub in little circles, not zig-zagging all over your face tugging it from here to there. Rinse the washcloth off as needed and continue until your face is green bentonite mortar-clay free!

Your skin will likely be a little pink or red. Don’t be alarmed (of course, if you are having an actual reaction you should know that and seek treatment accordingly. I am not a medical professional!) if it is, the mask just got the circulation in your face going. It will subside – mine usually goes away within a half hour, but I’ve heard some people have needed longer. To be on the safe side, you could do this Aztec Healing Clay treatment the evening and give your skin overnight to return to its usual coloring. Slap on your moisturizer of choice (do not skip this! your skin will be thirsty!) and enjoy your very clean, firm, and radiant skin. To heck with a pore strip; this thing demolishes any sebaceous filaments or blackheads you may have.

For as inexpensive as Aztec Healing Clay is and with how awesome it performs, it is really a Holy Grail item when it comes to skincare and is definitely worth it. I switch it up sometimes, but this is definitely a staple in my skincare routine. I personally use this once every week to two weeks depending on how my skin feels…and it has been all the better for it.

Once you’ve gotten used to how to use Aztec Healing Clay, you can check out their (ancient-looking) website for some other skincare recipes!

Sephora Eyeshadow in Space Odyssey

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When I was last in Sephora a while ago (springtime!), I picked up one of their shadow singles in No. 21, Space Odyssey. On clearance and never having tried a Sephora branded product before, I wasn’t expecting much. I haven’t been impressed by other, “house-brand,” shadows before, and even though I love Sephora, I was entirely expecting it to be just okay. (Spoilers: MY BAD.)

Sephora Eyeshadow in Space Odyssey - ClosedSephora eyeshadow in No. 21 Space Odyssey

I’ve had it for months now, and just picked it up to swatch it on Thursday night. For the love of CATS this shadow is pigmented. And awesome. And pigmented. And glittery. Take a look!

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Worth it? Mally Volumizing Mascara

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Mally Volumizing Mascara
Mally Volumizing Mascara

On any given day, if I could only wear one type of cosmetic, it would be mascara.  A while back, I had gotten one of the gift bag things with an Ulta purchase that was full of all sorts of goodies. One such item was a full-sized Mally Volumizing Mascara. I hadn’t used any Mally products before (though I am interested in trying the Poreless Face Defender), so I went into this as a clean slate – no preexisting opinions or notions.

Here’s what Ulta’s site says about the Mally Volumizing Mascara I received:

This Volumizing Mascara has a unique formula that helps create the look of gorgeous, full, luxurious lashes. The combination of natural waxes and carefully chosen powders gives lashes an instant boost. The plush brush works with the powders in the formula to help thicken lashes without clumping, giving you gorgeous volume that lasts and lasts. Apply 2 coats to the top lashes and 1 to the bottom to get instant volume that lasts.

Okay, cool! I know Benefit Gimme Brow has fibers in it for a similar effect for your brows. That should work great.

Pristine, first-use mascara wands are a beautiful thing, right? I was excited to open it, but found that it didn’t have that pristine quality newly-opened tubes have. It had surely not been opened, but the formula looked very wet and clung to the wand. The bristles are the more traditional plush variety, which I find slightly more difficult to work with (less precise) than the shorter synthetic ones.

My first application was just okay. Initial consistency can be weird on plenty of products. I like to give mascara a few weeks before calling in a verdict, as you’ll find it sometimes differs between its initial use and several uses in. I often find I like my favorite ones best after about the 4th use.

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Worth it? Benefit they’re Real Push-Up Liner

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The internet went a-buzz when Benefit Cosmetics started leaking information about their they’re Real Push-Up Liner. They did a couple advanced sales between their site, Sephora, and Ulta and then everything was kept mum until its official release on June 27.

I am already a gel liner user – I find using an angled-bristle brush with gel gives me the most control and best results. I also like gel because it is pretty smudge-proof and long lasting. As I’m sure you can imagine, I was intrigued when I heard about Benefit’s they’re Real Push-Up liner. For $24, however, I decided that I would pass for the time being; although I like to try new things, I was already happy with my liner and didn’t want to drop that kind of money on a single eyeliner.

I actually made a Sephora order for other things on June 27 and to my delight found that one of the samples they were offering (via promo code) was a Benefit they’re Real Push-Up Liner deluxe mini. Of course I got it, we need to try it for science after all, especially considering all these top bloggers/vloggers got it early and are losing their minds over it. It is really innovative and clever, but it is that good?

Always a skeptic.

Because it arrived when it did, I didn’t have much time to fuss with it. I took a few photos of the product itself, but didn’t bother trying to apply it. I did poke at the silicone tip to get an idea for just how flexible it is – too much flexibility could cause me to make a ridiculous mess on my lids, so I wanted to know what to expect. On Wednesday I played with it, and Thursday I actually used it for the day!

I found that you have to turn-click the product’s base several times before product comes to the tip. It is important to do this slowly, especially for your first use. You don’t want too much product on the silicone, “AccuFlex,” tip, or else you’ll end up making a mess when you apply (unless you wipe if off first, but that’s wasteful – and I don’t know about you, but I’m not trying to waste any of a $24 product). So I clicked it up until it was about flush with the silicone AccuFlex tip – it protruded ever-so-slightly, but I think even a millimeter would be too generous an estimate of how far. You may not get as lucky with your and may have to tap or wipe yours even.

Here’s how it looked when I applied:

Benefit they're Real Push-Up Liner - 7AM

Yes, I realize my head is tilted, sorry. You can at least see the left wing well!

I had the best luck with this, which seems to be what Benefit recommends for they’re Real Push-Up Liner – and it is about the same method I use for regular lining:

  1. Twist product up (we’ve covered this).
  2. Press the tip along your lash-line three times, stamping the product at the beginning, middle, and end of your line.
  3. Connect the stamps.
  4. (Optional) Create a wing by placing the shorter side of the AccuFlex tip closest to your lower lashline and angle the longer edge outward as if you are ‘continuing’ or following the (imaginary) line of your lower lashline. Stamp again and pull inward to the outer corner of your eye.
  5. (Optional, required if you do step four so you don’t look foolish), connect the upper, outer part of the wing with the rest of your liner by sweeping the AccuFlex tip over towards it.

Stamping is super easy with they’re Real Push-Up Liner, and just like with gel and a brush, it is way easier to connect a series of three shorter points than it is to completely free-hand it. There’s less room for error, this way; these innovative silicone tip and these instructions really make this aspect of application of this matte gel liner very user friendly.

Here are a photo of the liner, eye nearly closed:

Benefit they're Real Push-Up Liner - 7AM, another angle

 

That’s about where the good things about this product end, unfortunately.

Application is not like butter. I found the formula of the gel to be rather dry and to skip and tug a bit, so I would have to pull it away and twist-click more product up, risking blobs near my lash-line. This might not be an issue if you like a thicker line, but for day-to-day, that isn’t for me. I am not a raccoon, after all. It took some work and going back over it several times to even out sparse areas as a result of the skipping – I figured this was preferable to risking smeared blobs, as I had heard it dries quickly. I found that much was true, and it actually made it a little difficult to even out the line.

Once I was satisfied with how it looked (finished at 7 AM, wings and all, I set about my day. I work in a reasonably low-humidity office and do not rub my eyes throughout the day (thanks glasses!). Around 11:30 AM, however, I noticed a black speck on my glasses.

What?

Part of my left eye’s wing had flaked and literally just fell off. What?! Especially since there’s all this hype about how it’s soooo good, so long lasting, not flaky, amazing, perfect, etc. I was right to be skeptical – I’ve never had eyeliner just decide to spontaneously disconnect itself from my eye. Here’s a picture, because it definitely happened. Oh hey, random gap:

Benefit they're Real Push-Up Liner flaked4.5 hours into wearing Benefit they’re Real Push-Up Liner a noticeable section flaked off

At this point, I was not impressed and frankly, kind of annoyed. I touched it up right away, and went back to this:

Benefit they're Real Push-Up Liner post-flake touch up

Another big thing about this product is that purportedly, its staying power is so dang good that you just have to buy their special cleanser to remove it easily. Your regular makeup remover simply won’t do it quickly and gently, they say! I didn’t definitely didn’t believe this, based on the flaking I experienced. That night, I went to remove my makeup and lo and behold – they’re Real Push-Up Liner came off even easier than my other gel liners with a Ponds wipe. I didn’t need to use three of them, I didn’t need to tug or scrub. Don’t waste your money on the cleanser.

Between the price, the skipping application, random flaking, and lack of longevity-as-promised, Benefit they’re Real Push-Up Liner is just not worth it – not in its current form, anyway. I love the innovative applicator; I think it is really cool to bring engineering into makeup to improve our experiences with products…but the formula of the liner itself is lackluster at best. My Maybelline Gel Liner kicks its arse, and I will continue faithfully using it instead. Hopefully Benefit will improve the formula of the gel that makes up they’re Real Push-Up Liner (research shows that I am not the only person with these complaints) because the applicator (AccuFlex Tip) is pretty neat…which is amusing, because my prediction was that I would love the formula, but find the silicone tip weird. If it cost about $10 less than it does, I might be a little more willing to work with it.