It has been over a year since I pulled one of these posts out of my trick bag, but I've got some amazing finds that I'm dying to share with you.
L'Oreal Voluminous
The mascara that I return to time and time again. We've been going strong for almost ten years now, with some bumpy spots in the road where I decided to try out other miracle mascaras including DiorShow, Buxom Lash, and Too Faced Lash Injection as well as some forays into other drug store offerings including the always popular Cover Girl Lashblast. Admittedly, I did fall madly in love with DiorShow, but realized the reason that I liked it so much is because it gives the same dramatic effect as Voluminous, but for almost $20 more per tube.
I also appreciate that Voluminous offer a variety of levels of drama and impact with different formulas. But my favorite, and the one that I've gotten repeated compliments and inquiries about is the Voluminous in Carbon Black. What can I say, I am not into subtlety when it comes to my eye makeup! The one thing you do have to be wary of is clumping. It's the only downside, but I think that the tendency to clump is only natural when the formula fattens up your lashes so very much. It's also not much of a lengthener, so if you've already got thick lashes, and are looking to make them longer, it may not be for you. But if you're like me (a lot of lashes, naturally long, but fine and light) this could be your miracle product as well.
Mario Badescu Skin Care
When I was a youngun, I had pretty decent skin. I got away with some stridex pads, a little clearasil, and didn't wear anything other than powder until I got to college. Then I hit 20, and my skin went bat shit crazy. We're talking every kind of acne imaginable--blackheads, white heads, cystic--everything. Thus began my near decade long search for the perfect skin care routine. I have worked my way through so many brands: Proactiv, Philosophy, Murad, everything available at the drugstore, Clinique, Mary Kay, Arbonne. Basically, if they touted magical skin clearing properties, I gave it a try. I even attempted the Oil Cleansing Method which worked fine at first until my skin rebelled with a terrifying explosion of pimples.
Then, one happy day in Ulta, I happened upon their Mario Badescu shelf, and was taken with the simple packaging and wide variety of treatment options. I'd heard good things about the drying lotion, and decided while I was at it, I'd try out the cleanser and toner. I was shocked at how much my face cleared up, and after the first month of using the cleanser I haven't had a single cystic acne outbreak in five months. I can't tell you how amazing that is--cystic acne is not only ugly as sin, but it's incredibly painful. The personal Badescu cocktail I'm currently mixing is the Botanic Facial Gel as my every day cleanser, Glycolic Foaming Cleanser once every other day, Glycolic Grapefruit Cleansing Lotion (toner), and Glycolic Gel after washing and toning at night. When I have a breakout, I hit it with the Drying Lotion at night and the Drying Cream during the day, and the Buffering Lotion works well for Cystic Acne. I've also tried some of the masks and exfoliators and really like the Whitening Mask (has lightened some of my slight scarring) and the Kiwi Face Scrub. There really is something for EVERY skin complaint, and if you're in the market for a new skin care line, I really can't recommend Mario Badescu enough.
Game of Thrones/ A Song of Ice and Fire
(Can we talk about how gorgeous Emilia Clarke is? I mean really.) So, about a year ago, on one of my pilgramages to NYC to visit my sister, she started talking up this Song of Ice and Fire series. She was really excited about it because it was an upcoming HBO series and it appealed to her fantasy fan sensibiliteis. But then she made her tragic error--she compared it to The Lord of the Rings. And I was out. I tolerate the LOTR movies, and slogged my way through the books, and while they weren't as awful as I thought they'd be, I wasn't overly excited to read or watch anything comparable. But then people kept talking about how amazing Game of Thrones was. Someone compared it to The Tudors in scope and sweep. And then I read that it was loosely based on the War of the Roses, and just like that, I was hooked. So, I sat down to watch one episode, and then another followed immediately after, then another, and before I knew it, I had inhaled the entire series up to that point (seven episodes at the time) over the course of three days. And I loved it.
This is no Lord of the Rings people. There's so much more passion, and excitement, and adventure, and if you don't like one storyline wait five minutes because another one is coming up. It's fast paced, even to the point of confusion at times, but the acting, as well as the cinematography, sets, and costumes, is superb. The last episode of the season is coming up on Sunday, and it has already been picked up for season two and I imagine will go on for at least another couple of years beyond that. I hesitated at first over whether I wanted to spoil the end of the series by reading the books, but decided I just couldn't wait a year to find out how the story continues, so I've been inhaling the first book in the series over the past few days. And I'm finding that rather than spoiling the show it is giving me and will give me so much more appreciation for the onscreen translation, as well as so much more depth to all of the character's motivations, histories, and personalites.
(These are all my own thoughts and opinions, I have not been contacted by any companies mentioned in this post. Just sharing because I heart them!)
Hey now! Be fair--I said Game of Thrones was like a combination of Lord of the Rings and The Tudors! That being said, I'm glad you like it. ;)
Posted by: Brittany | June 16, 2011 at 05:03 PM
LOOOOOOVE mario badescu!
Posted by: Kaley | June 16, 2011 at 07:24 PM
I am TOTALLY obsessed with Mario Badescu. I used to only wear Clinique and ever since Nordstrom gave me some of his stuff to try, I'm a TOTAL convert. LOVE IT. Wow that's lots of caps.
Posted by: Jessica | June 17, 2011 at 05:04 AM
I watched the pilot for Game of Thrones at my friend's house in San Francisco and I was instantly hooked. And then I had to go back to my pathetic, non-HBO having life. Sob. I am going to have to read the books!
Posted by: Operation Pink Herring | June 17, 2011 at 09:59 PM
You might not need this but have you tried the Voluminous Million lashes? I wear waterproof mascara on work days (so it lasts) but on weekends I like something lighter. Neutrogena discontinued their lash tint, so I tried the Million version and I like it. Doesn't bother my eyes, which is really great.
Posted by: Kate P | June 18, 2011 at 03:46 AM
Haha!! I guess I just tuned you out when you said Lord of the Rings ;)
Posted by: Angela Noelle | June 18, 2011 at 05:07 AM
We should form a fan club! Wooooo!
Posted by: Angela Noelle | June 18, 2011 at 05:07 AM
I love how many products there are--I think ANYONE could find the perfect combination for their skin.
Posted by: Angela Noelle | June 18, 2011 at 05:08 AM
Yes, you must! In all of your free time, ha! (I don't have HBO either, but I have... other ways...)
Posted by: Angela Noelle | June 18, 2011 at 05:08 AM
Oh, I'd love to check that out--I need a more subtle mascara for the not-in-full-makeup days :) Thanks for the recommendation!
Posted by: Angela Noelle | June 18, 2011 at 05:09 AM
LOVE Voluminous!! I remember watching a video comparing it with a YSL and it looked even better than that :)
Posted by: Emily Jane | June 19, 2011 at 09:51 AM
I love DiorShow...but yes, super $$. Now I'm gonna try the Voluminous!
Posted by: McLain | June 20, 2011 at 01:37 PM
Oh wow! That gives my recommendation even more credence ;)
Posted by: Angela Noelle | June 20, 2011 at 03:19 PM
I hope you like it! And hey, if not, you're only out a few bucks!
Posted by: Angela Noelle | June 20, 2011 at 03:19 PM
omg we just finished the series the other day. LOVED it. and i just bought the first book. i can't wait to read it. so have you enjoyed all the books, or do they tend to fizzle out? i also saw you recently read the book of lost things, how did you like it?
Posted by: Terri | July 10, 2011 at 11:31 PM