Review: Clinique High Lengths Mascara

So far, my quest for the best mascara in the world has led me to a lot of crumbly smeary raccoon-eyed days of test-run misery. As I've said a million times before, my miracle lash product thus far is Clinique Lash Power Mascara - waterproof, small precision applicator brush and all-around kickass formula that lasts through sweat, tears and Miami Beach in July.

Recently the fine folks at Clinique dropped me a sample of the NEW Clinique High Lengths Mascara. I didn't expect much since the other (non-Lash Power) Clinique mascaras out there rate a solid "meh" from me - they're nothing to write home about. High Lengths surprised me by being FREAKIN KILLER. KILL-ER.

Cost: $14
Details: The brush is this crazy skinny one-sided comb that looks like a praying mantis' leg or something. But it WORKS. Not only does it deliver enough product to give a glam lash look immediately (not a wussy wispy one) but it does so while enabling you to banish clumps and define each lash with a few swipes. NEVER in my life have I been able to get my lower lashes to look this long and separated.
Verdict: Get your ass to the Clinique counter STAT. I predict a sell-out in the near future!
Side Note: So far it's not on the Clinique site, but Neiman's, Bloomie's and Sephora have

Review: Clinique Deep Comfort Hand Cream

After my research into who's animal testing and who isn't, I was wondering where to turn once my former go-to winter hand cream (by bunny-beaters Neutrogena) runs out. Leave it to my friends at Clinique to save the day! I've had the opportunity to test out Clinique Deep Comfort Hand and Cuticle Cream ($17.50 for 2.5 oz.) which becomes available in November 2009, and I can't recommend it enough.

At that price point, I might call it a luxury for "just a hand cream" but I put literally a pea-sized amount in my palm and it did the job for both hands, so I think you could stretch one tube for almost an entire winter. It's extremely rich and thick but absorbed almost immediately. My skin felt really soft, not just surface-soft, and there was no heavy fragrance to it at all.

Verdict: Worth it! Try it at a Clinique counter next month and see for yourself.

P.S.: There's already a Deep Comfort Body Butter and Body Moisturizer out now. In November, a Body Wash is also set to be released.

Where Do You Get Your Panties?

Where do you buy your panties?
	Victoria's Secret
	Department Store
	other mall store (Aerie, HM)
	Target
	Other

I have a serious panty purchasing compulsion. I have like 90 pair - some with the tags still on - and yes, I throw out my old ones with regularity. I get mine pretty much everywhere: Marshall's/T.J. Maxx, Forever 21, Macy's, Aerie, and of course Victoria's Secret. My favorites used to be the VS cotton low-rise bikini, but the did away with the cut and introduced a new VS cotton bikini that was supposed to be a lower-rise version of the regular bikini. I got a coupon for a free pair the other day so I grabbed one to try them out. Holy Baywatch Bathing Suit. How anyone can wear these with a low rise pair of pants is beyond me, they're cut up to your tits with a hi-leg opening and suited for the longest ass in human history. Horror. Where should I turn to find great panties now? Help.

L'Oreal Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara Sucks

L'Oreal Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara
Claim: "12x More Impact Instantly"
Cost: $7-10
Verdict: Don't waste your money.
Why: The dry clumps look like someone threw pepper in your face.
Details: My first purchase of this product was the waterproof formula. It left a flurry of tiny black flakes in my lashes and below my eyes after just an hour of normal wear. To be fair, I've never used a waterproof (that wasn't Clinique Lash Power) that wasn't a dry crumbly mess, so I decided to drop another $7-ish at Target and try the regular formula before I dissed it. Same thing happened! L'Oreal generally makes decent cosmetics, so this line is a HUGE disappointment.

Pureology Super Smooth

If you don't like floral scents I'll tell you right off the bat to steer clear of Pureology's latest line Super Smooth, which launches next month. I don't mind a little flower power, although even for me the fragrance is a bit too strong when I use the shampoo ($27 for 10.1oz.), conditioner ($27 for 8.5oz.) and serum ($24 for 2.5oz.) all in the same day.

That said, you can't really go wrong with Pureology products if you have color-treated hair. The zero-sulfate formula with UVA/UVB sunscreens keep the wear and tear on your dye job to a minimum and the natural oils, shea butter and aforementioned geranium all contribute to awesome moisture. The hair masque (an OMG $50 for 5.1oz.) is great too, but the price is a bit much.

Welcome to my Layer

Redken’s Layer Lift 07 came into salons in April 2009. This non-aerosol spray gel smoothes out your frizzies while its volumizing formula brings out your layers.

When I first applied it, it was a tad sticky but that could just be from my recent onset of self-diagnosed OCD. (Geez, it has been a while since I last posted.) I combed it through my damp hair with my fingers, tousled a tad, and then ran a dryer on cool through my hair for about a minute.

I’m pretty happy with the results. It does help with a layered look, which is extremely helpful especially when you’re a few days overdue for a trim. (Please don’t judge me.)

Keep the Brass Out of Your Summer Blonde

If you're looking for a quick and easy refresher for your summer highlights, Redken's new Blonde Glam Color Enhancer is a MUST.

How it works: Once a week I work the violet-tinted cream of the Perfect Platinum shade into damp hair and leave it in for about 5-10 minutes before rinsing. Each use deposits a little hint of toner to counteract any brassiness that may have occurred due to minerals in my shower water, or simple fading of the toner my colorist used. (The product also comes in a Warm Vanilla shade for golden blondes.)

Cost: $17 for 8.5 oz.

Buy It: Find a Redken salon near you by using the locator in the upper left corner on Redken.com

Win It: Install the Redken 10,000 Blondes application on Facebook and add your photo and you could win free samples.

The Old Way: I used to buy little bottles of violet pigment at Sally Beauty and add them to my shampoo, but it never distributed evenly and the impact on my color was not as strong. The $17 on the Redken solution is totally worth it!

Bar Refaeli Pimps Garnier Hairspray

The model best known as Leonardo DiCaprio's teenage girlfriend has been hired as the spokesmodel for Garnier Fructis Anti-Humidity Hairspray, to launch this month.

I love that drugstore brands hire millionaires to hawk products you know they would never, ever use. I mean, I'm a mere mortal and I don't use Garnier products. I'm expected to believe SJP rubs $12 lotions on her face?

[PRNewsFoto/Garnier]

Product Review: Pureology Essential Repair Hair Care

For the past two months, my daily go-to shampoo and conditioner have been the new Essential Repair products by Pureology.

Who it's for: Anyone looking for great moisture, a vegan product, and/or to preserve the vibrancy of their dye job. My hair feels thicker and softer because of moisturizing ingredients like soymilk, olive oil and chamomile.

The line also includes masks, split end treatment, and a leave-in conditioner. Thanks to daily use of the shampoo and conditioner (which I have just about used up) I haven't had to bust out the heavy artillery quite yet, but I did give the split end treatment a try. I know full well you can't "heal" split ends and you need to have them trimmed every six weeks or so, but my hair does appear less frazzled at the ends in the meantime. Oddly, the product smells a little bit like pita bread.

Call Us Joan Rivers but...

Hearts Like Stars is having a little work done. Okay, a lot. After years of messing with our layout and design and coming up with nothing short of a flea market effect, we've finally gone to see a professional. Luckily we found someone who didn't mind being paid in sex, so the project is already underway. So far our new face is looking amazing!

The swelling should be down and bandages off in the next two weeks, so keep an eye out...

Review: Redken Color Extend Haircare

Redken's new, reformulated Color Extend product line was released this month, and I've been exclusively using the entire line since I had my color and highlights done on Monday. So far, so good!

First Impression: Every product in the line carries a common, very understated scent that is definitely unisex - nothing fruity or flowery about it, but no stinging chemical scent either. I had to really concentrate to notice it. It's a "warm" fragrance.

Cleanse and Condition
Color Extend Shampoo ($13) and Conditoner ($14):
The shampoo is gentle, and the conditioner is rich, but not heavy. Both are perfect for regular daily use -though I wish the conditioner did more in the way of detangling. Like most of the products in this line, they contain cranberry oil for shine and vibrancy, UV filters to protect color against fading, and a ceramide complex to strengthen hair that has been weakened by chemicals in the coloring process. I noticed a reduction in breakage over several days, which is cool.

Treat
Total Recharge ($16) is the spray on strengthening treatment made for use after shampooing, soon after a salon color is applied to help lock it in. It was a pain in the ass trying to cover my long hair with spritzes in the shower, but it at least detangled my hair a bit. This product can also be used as a leave-in conditioner, and I suspect it would be more easily used as such.

Rich Recovery ($15) is a weekly deep conditioning treatment for color treated hair, and really does the job as far as damage control. Most colored hair has survived some degree of damage and needs to be treated at least once a week to restore moisture and shine lost through heat styling and general wear and tear. It serves as a replacement for a retired Redken product called Highlight Fuel - so if you were a fan of that, give this one a go.

Finish
As I said, the conditioner does not help a great deal with detangling - but a dollop of the Shine Enrich ($16) serum did the job while adding a glassy shine to my hair. It is lightweight enough to use on my baby-fine hair without pulling it down.

NOTE: Redken also has a line called Color Extend Sun, with a shampoo and a mask for post-sun exposure (I'm hoping to try these on my beach vacation this summer!) and a water-resistant sheilding serum meant to protect hair from chlorine and sun-damage.

Keys This Pricy Usually Go To Something Else

Tiffany & Co. has come out with a new line of key pendants that I can neither afford nor stop drooling over.

I don't know why, but I've always had a thing for keys - especially old skeleton keys. Maybe it was from reading The Secret Garden 9,000 times as a kid?

Regardless, I adore these insanely expensive versions, which are an interesting departure from the very basic charms and bands Tiffany has always sold.

The cheapest start around $100, and go well into the thousands as the keys become more ornate. Sigh.

[Photo via Tiffany.com]
From left: $250, $1050, $6825, $1150, $225, $5825

Amazing Tip from Lancome

If you haven't already hit the official (and brand new) Lancome Blog link we list as one of our faves, today is a good day to do so. They have an amazing tip regarding highlighting that you've probably never heard about (I hadn't even heard of it, and I'm a makeup slut.)

I'm totally impressed with a company as major as Lancome for launching a fun and unpretentious blog. So far it has really been the smaller hipster brands who've gotten on the blog-wagon.

NARS Reveals Summer 2009 Products

NARS is one of the few brands that is not a bff of Hearts Like Stars yet (We've reached out a few times... maybe they're just not down with bloggers?) so I can't give you the skinny on the texture and lasting power of the colors they released today. What I can say is that the look is bold, but at the same time, sophisticated. I'm a big fan of the upcoming orange lipstick trend.

The model is wearing new single eyeshadow in Tropic ($22), lip liner in Tonga ($20) and lipstick in Outsider ($24). The entire summer 2009 collection is pictured at left. Notice there is no blush? Don't do it if you're wearing eyes and lips this bold! A dusting of bronzer is all the color you need.

(Product and model images via NARScosmetics.com. Click to enlarge.)

To Gel and Back

The product Gods at Bumble and Bumble recently released two new gels (yes, GELS!) While I haven't had much use for the Gellac so far (gives you that hard, slick wet-look hair - great for extreme hairstyles, updos and graphic runway looks), I've got rave reviews about the Bb. Gel "The multi-talented sculpting medium" that works more like a texturizer and leaves hair in a moveable, brushable state. (Don't let traumatic flashbacks of that big pink jug of L.A. Looks deter you - it's called "gel", but it's not even the same species.)

Sometimes the best reviews come from the mouths of dudes, so I'll share my dude's succinct assessment and be done with it: "It makes your hair as sweet as it is when you don't wash it for a day, except without the dirtiness. Bumble and Bumble just doesn't make bad products."

Agreed. You can pick either product up for a reasonable $24. (Free shipping on orders over $50, as always.)

Review: Cover Girl Exact Eyelights Eye-Brightening Mascara

The company line: "Get 4x brighter eyes* with Exact Eyelights Mascara! Light-reflecting metallics and a hint of tint bring out your blues, browns, hazels and greens, while our patented no-clump brush helps define lashes."
* Vs. bare lashes

The reality: Judge for yourself, do my eyes look brighter? The shimmer in the mascara is definitely not "glitter", which was a relief - it's subtle and in the case of the gold, the outcome is an overall brown look. I like that the formula is smudge resistant and the brush is a similar hard bristle style to "Lash Blast" mascara, which is a decent new release from CG. I've found it reduces clumpage and gives you a more even coat.

What sucks: It didn't complement my eye color and make it "pop" as much as a basic coat of black does. It's just a shimmery mascara, in a fun array of shades.

Price: $6.99

(Rihanna's Exact Eyelights ad)

Lohan Tan (Sevin Nyne) Launches April 15

[Sevin Nyne campaign image via PeopleStyleWatch.com]

Ever look at Lindsay Lohan's fake-bake and think "I want that!"?
a.) You should be shot
b.) You can get her new tanning spray "Sevin Nyne" (I think that's probably really how she spells it) for $35 and your self-respect at Sephora.com on April 15 and in stores on May

More High-End, Low-Priced Action to Come

Net-a-Porter, the premiere online shopping destination for super expensive designer garb, is launching a sister site for those of us lighter in the bank account: theOutnet.com.

Yes, it sounds like a gay dating site. Yes, the tagline is something my mom would have come up with. But the premise sounds pretty sweet: designer labels at 40-60% off, and they'll be selling smaller labels as well as the majors. If you go now, you can sign up yourself and a friend, and you'll get an email when the launch is approaching. All we know so far is that it will be next month.

Review: Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse

I have to be honest. I too am sometimes suckered into a purchase by an ad telling me something I want to hear. For example: "This makeup will totally hide the cavernous pores your dad's genes cursed you with" (I'm paraphrasing.)

I grabbed a bottle of Maybelline's new Dream Liquid Mousse foundation the other day to see if it delivers on the promise of a "smooth, 100% poreless finish." It kinda did.

The first time I applied it was immediately after applying a heavier moisturizer (Neutrogena Healthy Skin anti-wrinkle.) The makeup definitely sank into my pores making them even more visible, which is exactly what the fancy animation in their TV spot claims it won't do. I tried it again later with a light moisturizer (Jergens Natural Glow Face) and this time waited for it to absorb before applying foundation. I didn't pay much attention to the result, but later as I was trying on clothes in a store dressing room I did a double in the mirror. My skin looked really soft and matte in a natural way, and my face did not, for once, look like the surface of the moon.

Verdict: It ain't a miracle, but at $8-ish a bottle, it's one of the best full coverage foundations in it's drugstore price range. (The other one I like? Loreal Infallible.) The other bonus is that the cap is fitted, reducing the chance of a dried up foundation wad clogging the dispenser, and reducing the chance of the cap falling off in your bag.

F21 Finally Doing Swimwear

Hey, it can't be any more poorly made than Victoria's Secret shizz...

No exact date on when the new product line launches, but I'll be sure to post the good and the ghastly as soon as it does!