Liquid Powder gets an extra aqua blast

Ever since I started wearing makeup, I've been using Cover Girl Ultimate Finish Liquid Powder. What can I say? I've never really had bad skin, and I'm a sucker for cheap make-up that does the trick. Foundation was way too heavy. I just needed light smoothing out, not total coverage. Yet I found powder to be rather useless. It didn't even look like I put anything on. Then I discovered this gem, and lo and behold! They even had it in a pale enough shade (Ivory) to match my skin tone. It is as easy to apply as powder, but with a little more substance. Cover Girl calls it liquid powder because it's like a cross between compacted powder and liquidy foundation. I also found that it worked as under eye cover up too if you applied it close to your lower lid, since it blends so seamlessly.

AND THEN...I went to Duane Reade on my lunch break the other day for a new compact. Ultimate Finish Liquid Powder was no where in sight. Instead I see a panel full of Aquasmooth Compact Foundation in its place. Since the name was so similar, I assumed that Cover Girl had done away with Liquid Powder and replaced it with the snazzier sounding Aquasmooth.
So, I bought one and called it a day, assuming it would be mostly the same product. After consulting the Cover Girl website, it turns out it is not. They still make Liquid Powder, apparently my drug store just doesn't carry it. Now typically I'd be annoyed at having switched to a new product unwittingly, but I have to say I kind of like it.

It is just a slightly more foundation laden blend, so that if you dip the sponge in, it's more liquid than powder. I like it better. It goes on faster, and provides more coverage without the need for multiple coats. And with all the late nights I've been working these past couple weeks, it's really done a fantastic job hiding the circles that have developed under my eyes. It is slightly more gooey though, and now that I now I can have my old standby back again? I'll most likely go back. Old habits die hard.

Lip Stains are No Joke

During my latest run of impulse buying, I purchased a tube of Cover Girl Outlast Lip Stain. Now, I admit, I am extremely susceptible to advertisements, and after seeing about 28,000 commercials in which Drew Barrymore flaunts her lusciously pink lips with color that never fades during today's Burn Notice marathon I was sold. I had to have it. Maybe it was because I just found out that Drew went to Bonnaroo, which ups her cool points and credibility in my book, or maybe it was the promise of a perfect pout for hours and hours at the beach that won't rub off on the coors lights that I plan on pounding this holiday weekend.

So, during the next commercial break, rather than watching yet another round of Drew flouncing around talking about how great it was I decided to run out to CVS, buy a tube, and try it out for myself. As an added bonus, with my purchase I won $2 in ExtraCare bucks for my next purchase. I guess that's what that little red card on my key chain is for after all.

After much debate about which shade to choose, I rejected Wild Berry Wink and Plum Pout, and settled on a tube that was a pleasing pinkish orange. I rushed home, so as not to miss a minute of the last episode in the marathon, and tore open the plastic packaging like a kid on Christmas, absolutely dying to see if it lived up to my expectations.

Well, this little lip stain, which, true to Cover Girl's claims is nothing like lipstick looks like a tiny magic marker. It smells a little better, but the application process is much the same as coloring within the lines. And the color is bright, vivid and apparently permanent. When they called it a stain, they weren't kidding. I have eaten a slice of pizza, had a few glasses of wine, with not tell tale lip print on the glass I might add, and my lips are still the same shade. The color has not budged a bit, and I'm beginning to think my pout will be Coy Coral forever and ever. I guess I'd better get a tan quick!

Lash Extension: The 3 Competitors

So, there have been a lot of recent mascaras claiming to make your eyelashes thicker and longer.  I have sampled three of the main competitors in the race and I will tell you the best in the bunch.

There is Shu Uemura Fiber Extension.  As far as I can tell, this one is the pioneer of mascara that claims to extend your lashes with little pieces of fibers that cling to the lash like individual false lashes, extending them past their typical length.  It is good stuff, but has a little bit of a greasy feel that leaves your lashes, although longer, a little limp and unable to hold a curl.

Then there is Fiberwig mascara, the knock off, which clamps on a little extra lash in much the same manner with one application.    This is by far the best lengthening and thickening mascara.  It is like falsies without the tedious application process.

Then there is the latest: L'Oreal Beauty Tubes, which is supposed to surround your eyelash with a thick tube of faux lash, making your normal fringe more lush and strong.  It's good in theory, but tends to clump and leave extreme gunky residue in the sink.  L'Oreal says that no eye makeup remover is necessary, but it will leave large black chunks in your sink with much scrubbing and not simply warm water removal. 

Shu Uemura comes off easy, but doesn't give results.  Fiberwig comes off easy and has much the same effect as the beauty tubes, making it the winner of this three way test.

Drugged Out Lashes

In the process of creating new pharmaceuticals to treat emerging or previously untreatable ailments, often new and highly beneficial side effects are found.  Not to the tune of those constantly annoying tv commercials listing possibly rectal bleeding, cramping, loss of vision......but side effects that can treat another previously untreatable condition.  For example, Viagra was first intended to lower blood pressure and was used as a cardiovascular drug.  It's "exciting" abilities were simply a pleasant surprise during drug trials.  Additionally, Minoxidil, a common drug used for hair re-growth, was pioneered to treat high blood pressure, and by coincidence, left it's users with a much fuller, longer, head of hair.  Even Botox wasn't originally intended to smooth the forehead wrinkles of the upper crust, but to still spastic eye lids.

Recently, another pleasant side effect of a common drug has been discovered to solve the beauty woes of your average lady.  The drug Lumigan, typically used to treat glaucoma, has been found to make eye lashes grow longer, darker, and generally more lush.  It has been conveniently repackaged, and renamed by drug company Allergan as Latisse, and is now available to be prescribed by dermatologists to clinically enhance your batting beauties.  All it takes is a nightly application of the gel to lashes, and within 4 weeks lashes should begin to grow longer and darker.  It is not a permanent fix, however, once you stop using Latisse, your lashes will recede to their previous length and pigment.  

I first came across this story in Marie Claire magazine, and wasn't sure whether I should be thrilled or appalled.  I mean, finally, I could have those dazzling long lashes I have always wanted?!  I mean what difference is it really applying gel in the evening or 3 swipes of my favorite mascara every morning?  This could totally revolutionize the make up industry and make mascara obsolete! Could this be the answer to all the prayers of my fellow fair headed sisters, eye lashes that can be seen without any make up?  

But then came a wave of doubts.  I can't lie, it kind of freaks me out that a medication used to treat such a serious illness such as glaucoma could now be marketed for such a superficial purpose.  And, with it's recent approval for such use, how can we be sure that there will be no damaging side effects down the line?  I mean, what if one day we do, heaven forbid, come down with glaucoma and have been using Latisse for years, will our exposure to the drug limit its effectiveness to treat an actual sight-threatening illness, or will we not care since our overly long eyelashes have been obscuring our sight for decades anyway?  Why are we so obsessed with having long lashes anyways?

Marie Claire cites that lashes are a symbol of youth and fertility, and lists a long timeline of the beauties through history who have achieved notoriety for their lashes i.e. Cleopatra, Twiggy, and J Lo. Yet, I think these gutsy women went down in history for a little more than fluttering lashes.  And can't we get lash extensions installed without the risk of clinically messing with our genes?  Or at the very least, just pick up a pair of falsies at the drug store?