Hi Everyone!
Again, I apologize for neglecting my blogging responsibilities but I was on vacation down south and spurning the Internet with all my might (btw...used our CyberDERM sunscreen and came back from the hot August sun beautifully alabaster...even the custom’s agent noticed). In a complete turn about, I thought I would do a little test-driving of some of this season’s least organic but most technologically evolved beauty gizmos. The two trends on the docket: 1. Long lasting gel nail polish, 2. Vibrating mascara. So yes, I am using this post as an excuse to indulge in my love for all things inane and I braved eyelid burn to do it.
Long lasting Gel Nail Polish.
Now this might not be the official name of this type of product but I got them done in Mt. Tremblant and my aesthetician did not speak English so I am translating. In short, this is a non-acryclic polish like thing that is professionally applied and then cured under UV light. It is reputed to last from two to three weeks. It cost the same price as a regular manicure but the Fairmount at Mt. Tremblant charges fairly high prices in general so I have no idea how much it might cost elsewhere. I used an OPI brand, which meant that I got to choose from their line of colours but the gel versions have only come out with an incredibly abbreviated selection....I chose “No, I’m not a Waitress”, obviously. Each layer involves being dried under a UV light (so douse your fingers in sunscreen...ergo AM Hydrating Whip). The end product really is a polish that is as hard as nails, no worries about smudging and it lasted sans chip for two weeks. The problem ends up being the widening gap between your cuticles and polish, giving you something akin to a reverse French manicure within the second week. You can try and fill in the gap by purchasing the matching non-gel colour and filling it in. You might try taking a nail buffer though and smoothening the edges of the polish or you will otherwise be left with a bumpy mess. The biggest issue, however, was with trying to take my “I’m not a Waitress” off. I soaked each nail in acetone before literally scraping it off with the edge of a nail file. My nail was pretty scratched up but was partially remedied by buffing it and then soaking in olive oil. Afterwards, I thought that maybe pre-soaking each nail in olive oil might make the scraping a little bit easier but that is an untested theory. All in all, a bit a labour intensive, which is against the point really.
Vibrating mascara
I thought I would pit this new vibrating type of mascara (the wand has a little motor on it that you switch on) against my now standard L’Oreal Beauty Tubes mascara. There is something intriguing about bringing a pulsing stick close to your eye. However, for $21.99 for Maybelline’s version, I wanted more than a vibrating piece of brouhaha. After my first attempt and after having an eye-off with my Beauty tubes, I have to say my Beauty Tubes is much prettier and more natural looking. My vibrating uber-mascara looks like I had Donatella Versace sitting on my shoulder, goading me into ever more drag-queen proportions...and that was the first coat. I’ll keep trying (for $21.99, I’ll be trying for a while) but so far, nothing good to report. Also the Maybelline version definitely flakes whereas my Tubes stay put...
If you have any thing you want me to tackle, just write in. I’m going to get something together on hair removal some time in September but I’m flexible.
All the beauty best,
Sara A. DudleyLabels: Gel nailpolish, Vibrating mascara
