Is there one place in the drugstore that you always visit to see what’s new? For me it’s the nail and lash section. And I noticed some new ones in the KISS section of lashes this past trip. I love that the brand is always putting out products to help make applying lashes easier and their release of So Simple Lash ($4.50) is supposed to do just that. Now I have practiced and practiced applying lashes so I pretty much have my technique down but I know it is hard to do the first … 20, 30, 50 or so times.

This pair comes with a built-in, what they call, LashLock, which grips the front of the lash from side-to-side so that when the glue you apply is tacky, the lash is angled with this mechanism and ready to apply.

So did the lash applicator help? Click after the picture to find out!

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1. VICHY Pureté Thermale Beautifying Cleansing Micellar Oil ($18/4.2oz @ walgreens.com) – I’m a firm believer in the micellar water makeup remover trend.

2. LA ROCHE-POSAY Cicaplast Baume B5 ($14.99/1.35oz @ dermstore.com) – this one has worked wonders on a super dry spot on my ankle.

3. TRESEMME Beauty-Full Volume Reverse System Pre-Wash Conditioner ($6.49/16.5oz @ target.com ulta.com) – Use this one on wet hair before(it) you shampoo and watch your products work better than ever.

4. COVERGIRL The Super Sizer Mascara ($5.99 @ target.com) – It’s all about the comb brush when it comes to this mascara and length and volume it gives. Love!

5. CERAVE Renewing SA Cleanser for Normal Skin ($12.99/8oz @ walgreens.com) – from what I’ve read, the pH in this cleanser is not in the ideal range for the salicylic acid in this but the cleanser to be effective but it’s still a great cleanser.  

Disclosure: Some of these items were provided for review purposes. Some I bought.

This has to be the wackiest hair brush I’ve ever laid eyes on and at first I thought, “I’ll never use this…” but lo and behold, I tried it, it’s super easy and quite frankly, exactly what I’ve needed this whole time.

Here’s the sitch: When blow drying my hair, I, and probably 100 million others, use a round brush. Now when drying the different sections, I’ll sometimes inadvertently give a little curl to somewhere in the section. With this brush, That. Won’t. Happen!

See, with this SPORNETTE Ventura Blow-Out Brush ($30 @ spornette.com, ulta.com) you are getting a round brush and a vented paddle brush in one. This allows me to grab a section of hair, apply the heat from the dryer and direct it where I want on the brush by simply twisting the brush to the flat part or the rounded sides of the brush. So no more unintended bends. Just sleek strands and maybe some curl at the ends, but with this, I get to decide!

And is doesn’t seem to matter what length your hair is. I thought this would be best for longer hair types but mine is shoulder length and it works nicely. Is this something up your alley?  

Available in Blue or Silver.  

It’s exciting to see a fellow blogger partner with a brand to put out a product. In this case it’s MakeupByRenRen and the SEDONA LACE brand. She worked with them to put together a collection of brushes called the Synthetic Professional Makeup Brush collection. It’s 13 brushes (I know, why the unlucky number??) made with densely packed and super soft bristles. While it seems like every brush you will need to makeup your face, I don’t see a use for the big fan brush and you already know how I feel about those plastic eyelash separators. I think maybe the travel version of this set might be a better value unless you like using different size shadow brushes.

And don’t you just love the pink to black ombré of the bristles?

Picks: (I put check marks next to each in the picture)

FB 03 Synthetic Tulip Contour – the bristles are cut to help make contouring along the cheeks easier.

LB 25 Capped Lip Brush – there’s nothing daintier than using a lip brush to apply your lip color. Not only will it last longer but you get better precision when using a brush instead of straight outta the tube.

EB 11 Flat Synthetic – the perfect width for applying that first layer of eye shadow.

EB 13 Synthetic Blender – this one blends shadows in the crease beautifully.

$99.95 @ sedonalace.com. 

I love when a line comes along and puts a spin on using-oils-in-beauty-products, as in, no fillers! From what I’ve seen, many products on the shelves contain silicones along with the oils but you’d never know it from the name of the products or the words “natural” and “organic” thrown around. Then when you get home and look at the ingredient list, BAM, fillers!

BUTTER ELIXIR is not that line. Created in NYC, the brand is comprised of 7 products and the ingredient list for each is clean and straight forward. Here are the two I tried:

BUTTERelixir Lip ($12/.25oz) – Ingredients: soy bean oil, sunflower oil, bees wax, hemp oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, cacao butter, shea butter, vitamin E, aloe vera, argan oil, vanilla and cardamom.

BUTTERelixir Body + Hair Oil ($35/3oz) – ingredients: sweet almond oil, lavender and chamomile fragrance oil.

Something I don’t see listed on the products is an expiration date. Maybe one of the ingredients also acts as a preservative? At the rate I’m going at using both of these, they won’t have time to expire.

Both @ butterelixir.com. 

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

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Seems like every brand is jumping on the matte lip trend and I’m not complaining one bit! In fact, I’m quite obsessed. The latest is from NUDESTIX with their Intense Matte Lip + Cheek Pencil shown here in Kiss, a just kissed rude nude.

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I first heard about the use of charcoal in beauty products with this one here a few years ago. Many praise its ability to draw out toxins and impurities from the skin, so products infused with it are great for those with acne. Here are a few products that highlight the ingredient.

Charcoal In Beauty

BIORE Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser ($5.99/6.77oz @ ulta.com, amazon.com) – This black goo is infused with Japanese Skin Purifying Technology that acts as a strong magnet to remove 2x’s more dirt than the average cleanser. It doesn’t hurt that it smells nice too!

DEW PUFF Pure Plant Fiber Sponge Bamboo Charcoal ($8 @ walgreens.com) – I wrote about this other one in their line a few years ago and enjoyed it!  This one infuses bamboo charcoal and is great if you’re trying to limit the amount of products you use on your skin because of flare-ups.

YES TO TOMATOES Detoxifying Charcoal Mud Mask ($15.99/2oz @ amazon.com) – New to the Yes to … brand is this black mask for those with acne. It uses salicylic acid and a botanical blend of ingredients to help treat it and get rid of it.

EARTH THERAPEUTICS Cosmetic Blending Sponge ($6 @ kohls.com) – This sponge is actually made with bamboo charcoal so it will stay contaminate-free longer than your other makeup sponges. And they have other charcoal focused products in the line, so check the others out too.