Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

May 8, 2017

I picked up a tube of Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara over Christmas in Ohio. It’s funny, I almost just typed “Christmas break” as though I’m not a grown up who hasn’t had a Christmas break in…a long time. And no, I’m not a teacher so there’s no reason for “Christmas break.” As a matter of fact, I had gall bladder surgery over this “Christmas break,” so it was more of a chore than a celebration

Anyway, I bought a tube of this in Ohio at Sephora while shopping with my friend Caitlin. We were there on a post-Christmas shopping trip and I was doing my best not to buy everything in the store. Mascara displays were everywhere, so I decided mascara would be (one of) my purchases (I have no self control, okay?).

First Impressions

The tube is adorable. I like pink. And Caitlin’s eyelashes look amazing, so why not? I’m a loyal Diorshow addict, but I should step outside of my comfort zone and try new things.

Experience

So I took some photographs so you don’t have to just take my word for it: this mascara is great. My eyelashes are naturally pretty good; they’re not super thick, but they’re pretty long, so I’m always looking to boost volume. Here is a photo of my eyes pre-mascara (No judgment please! I’m wearing no makeup and the lighting is bad.)

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara - Beauty Chaos — I know, my hair looks awesome, too.

So that’s me, pre-mascara. There are a lot of layers here so bear with me. In this next photo, I have one coat of mascara on my left eye, but not the right.

Next, I put a second coat on my left eye. Despite the crudity of my photography skills with my iPhone, I think you can see there’s a definite difference between the two eyes.

This next image is two coats on the left eye, one coat on the right eye. I told you, I did my due diligence here. Again, forgive the images. I see the shadows are annoying. Sorry ???? Finally, two coats on both eyes.

If I were only allowed one item of makeup, it would be mascara. Or concealer. Or lip gloss. Okay, I can’t choose one. But I will say this: when I run out to the grocery store or whatever, if I put one cosmetic on my face, it’s mascara.

Cost and Where to Buy

Like I said earlier, I got Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara at Sephora for $23. Ulta also carries Too Faced for $23, and lots of department stores such as Macy’s carry Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara for around the same price. So it’s a little steep, but I think it’s worth it.

Summing Up

Overall, I would rank Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara 9.5 out of 10. I love it, it’s amazing, but the price is the only gating factor. I would like to try Too Faced’s other mascara products, like their waterproof mascara and their Better Than False Lashes Extreme! Instant Lash Extension Kit. Wow, that’s a long name.

Want me to try some crazy makeup? Message me here!

Nails

Seche Vive Gel Effect Top Coat

May 4, 2017

Seche Vive Gel Top Coat is by far one of my new favorite things. I love getting gel manicures. I’m hard on my nails, with all the typing I do, so they’re perfect for me. Regular manicures usually chip within a day, maybe two if I’m lucky.

However, gel manicures are really hard on my nails. I found that after a few times of going and getting the nails soaked off, when the new polish was applied and my fingers were put under the UV light, I would feel a very uncomfortable burning sensation. Not terrible, but definitely not good.

So I decided to forego any more gel manis and do my own nails with regular polish. Getting your nails done is expensive, and with the way I go through regular manicures there’s no point. Plus, I like doing my own nails; it allows me time to catch up on my Netflix or OnDemand queue and take some time for myself!

Fast forward a bit, and gel manicure home kits start appearing all over the place. But they still use the UV light device and I couldn’t bring myself to face that weird stinging pain again (seriously, it’s almost indescribable. Almost like nerve pain? I don’t know.).

Finally, the nail polish companies started putting out these gel top coats that don’t require UV light. Score! I could barely contain my excitement. Not only do they not require the light, but you can use these gel top coats over regular polish. Double score!

First Impressions

So I actually stumbled on this particular product by mistake. I was at Ross (which is like Marshall’s or TJ Maxx, for those not out west) and I decided to pop in to Sally Beauty Supply next door. At the time, I was using the new Essie Gel Top Coat (also a good product), and I needed a new bottle. When I couldn’t find any Essie products, I asked the salesgirl for a suggestion, and she showed me the Seche Vive Gel Top Coat. The bottle is pretty, and the best part was the price – about half of what I was paying for Essie.

Experience

When I settled down to try the Seche Vive Top Coat, I was pleasantly surprised at the consistency. While a lot of the new gel top coats have a thick consistency, Seche Vive’s is more akin to regular top coats. The company suggests putting on a “heavy coat over dry nail polish,” so I really globbed (is that a word?) it on. It dried almost immediately, which is just a blessing for anyone who has ever experienced giving themselves a four hour manicure while waiting for polish to harden.

Seche Vive has a nice, glossy finish, just like a regular gel manicure. While my mani with this top coat does not last as long as a salon gel mani, it definitely lasts much longer than a manicure with a regular top coat.

Cost and Where to Buy

The price of the Seche Vive Gel Top Coat is, I think, one of the best things about this product. I think I got it for around $4 at Sally Beauty Supply. Beauty Plus Salon currently has it for $2.99 (!), and Amazon has it for $5.81. Compared to some of the other good gel top coats out there, Seche Vive definitely has one of the best prices.

Summing Up

I would give the Seche Vive Gel Top Coat a 9 out of 10. I have definitely added it into my regular rotation of beauty products. Because it doesn’t last quite as long as a regular gel manicure, I can’t give it a 10 out of 10. But it’s damn close.

Want me to try another top coat? Message me here!

Beauty, Hair Care

Dr. Dennis Gross Anti-Aging Scalp Serum

May 1, 2017

As most women of any age can understand, I am slightly obsessed with keeping my hair looking nice. This has become even more true as I have left my 20s and entered my 30s, finding my first gray hairs and battling a general unruliness that I don’t remember having all my life. Of course, this could just be perspective. I remember thinking my hair was terrible when I was a teenager.

Looking at photos from that period of my life, I wish my hair looked as effortlessly good when I threw it up into a messy ponytail now as it did back then.

Fortunately, the hair care industry has a category solely designed to deal with aging hair. I have done a lot of reading recently regarding this niche, and how it is very important to care for not just your hair, but your scalp as well.

Enter Dr. Dennis Gross Root Resilience Anti-Aging Scalp Serum. Wow, that is a mouthful. This serum promises to “reinvigorate the scalp.” It is designed for anyone with aging hair, wanting fuller hair, and wanting more shine. Dr. Gross Anti-Aging Serum contains amino acids, peptides, and vitamins that are supposed to “nourish hair follicle and root” so the hair can resist breakage and counteract damage from heat styling.

First Impressions

Although Dr. Dennis Gross’ website had nothing but glowing reviews for this product, Amazon’s customers were a bit more discerning. Many complained about the scent of the serum, which didn’t bother me.

The instructions are to use three to five pumps on wet or dry scalp (ideally after using Root Resilience Shampoo and Conditioner, of course). The serum is nice and light, and does give my hair a bit of a boost when I massage the serum into my scalp. But this could also be from the scalp massage.

Experience

After using Dr. Dennis Gross Anti-Aging Scalp Serum for a few weeks, I’m not all that impressed. Although it does give my hair a bit of a boost right after application, that lift fades quickly. I have not seen a big difference in the condition of my hair. The serum is nice and light, so that’s a plus. It doesn’t weigh down my already oily roots.

Cost and Where to Buy

The serum can be found on the Dr. Dennis Gross website, on LovelySkin.com for $54. Overstock has it a little cheaper at $43.49 plus $4.95 shipping. There are several bottles listed on eBay as well at much cheaper prices, usually under $20.

Summing Up

I’d give Dr. Dennis Gross Anti-Aging Scalp Serum a 6 out of 10. The company is cruelty free and vegan, which is always a plus, but the product didn’t wow me. I expected more based on what was promised. At $54, I’d like to be impressed, and I wasn’t.

Got a product or beauty treatment you’d like me to try? Contact me here!