Product Reviews

How do you feel about blue mascara and lashes? That’s a tricky one, isn’t it? For years I wasn’t sure where I stood on the subject. They’re almost like the Zac Efrons of the makeup world — people find them either terribly exciting, or not exciting at all.

There was a time I’d spot someone wearing blue lashes and think, “Sooo ’80s,” but now I’m seeing blue in a whole new light…

What can blue do for you?

Well, if you have brown eyes, A LOT! It’s hard to ignore a fringe of blue lashes batting above a pair of big brown eyes.

Swatch of YSL Blue Lagoon Mascara Aquaresistant

But if you have eyes of a different color, one or two coats of a shimmery neutral gold, beige or brown on your lids equals an easy and eye-catching, yet highly wearable summertime look. 🙂

YSL Mascara Aquaresistant in Blue Lagoon

Before you plunk down your money for a new (or your first) blue mascara, take a quick look at YSL’s electric blue Mascara Aquaresistant in Blue Lagoon ($30) from the company’s summer makeup collection. It’s a new waterproof addition to YSL’s permanent collection, and I wore it a lot last weekend because it does something on my lashes that most blue mascaras don’t — it actually works!

With one layer of Blue Lagoon

Some tinted mascaras just don’t show up on my dark black lashes at all. Maybe they aren’t thick enough or don’t catch the light effectively, I don’t know, but Blue Lagoon practically SHOUTS!
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Steno stores are so much fun, aren’t they? I can spend hours shopping for themed notebooks, mechanical pencils, art pen sets, fancy letterhead, scented erasers and Hello Kitty pencil sharpeners…

Maybe that’s why I’m a sucker for makeup in pen form. When I hear those words, “makeup in pen form,” something comes over me (no, it’s not Justin Bieber Fever!).

Have you given the new Clarins Instant Sun Light Click & Gloss SPF 6 lipglosses a try? Part of the Instant Sun Light Summer Make-Up Collection, they’re $18 each — an exorbitant price for steno, yes, but not totally out of line for a gloss. 🙂

They come with a cool click pen brush applicator in three sheer, shimmery shades.

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With summer en route, my appetite for brighter colors gets bigger every day, but it’s not so big yet that I can’t get behind something subtle like Clarins Instant Smooth Compact Highlighter in 01 Natural ($32, also available in a darker shade called 02 Bronze ).

Speaking of natural, it’s natural to like a silky smooth cream highlighting skin balm, and the one in the new Clarins Instant Sun Light Makeup collection totes reminds me of Benefit’s velvety Dr. Feelgood.

01 Natural’s sheer peachy pink tint quietly shines with subtle golden shimmer for a very fresh, youthful cheek that doesn’t look overdone at all.
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