Best of Diva: Mascara Edition

Today's dip into the archives isn't so much a recipe as it is an edict. You'll see what I mean. One year later and its every bit as true and still makes me laugh. Hopefully it'll bring a smile to your day too. Be sure to stay tuned for Thirsty Thursdays tomorrow - I'll suspend my retrospective and will offer a new and wonderful beverage for your consumption!

Bon appetit!
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Plump 'em, don't clump 'em! (tm Covergirl): June 4, 2009

So what's all this about mascara you say? For one thing, I love it and can't live without it. If I'm not wearing it there's a problem: I'm either very sick or very dead. Either way, call 911. For another thing, you should be wearing it too. I mean all of you, all the time. You know who you are. If you look in the mirror and can't find your eyes, then get thee to Sephora post haste! If you're a man and you're reading this - then, ok, you get a buy. If you're a gay man reading this - then call me, we'll go for drinks and dish about all things Bravo. I'm not kidding, I need someone to share my Bravo-love ... but I digress.

The Diva is talking mascara because she's a former make-up artist who's never lost her cosmetics jones - and because she won't always have a new recipe to post. Sure, the cooking/healthy eating/dieting stuff is the main focus of the blog, but can't a Diva have a little fun?! They've taken my Doritos but they'll have to wrestle the mascara wand from my cold, dead hands.

Currently I'm wearing a combination of two mascaras. I need both length and volume so for the first two coats I use: Lancome's L'Extreme. Its magical! It picks up every little lash you've got and gives great definition. For the last coat I'm currently liking Clinique's Naturally Glossy. Its on the dry side, which helps prevent clumps, and does a good job of building volume.

I'll be posting make-up tips and product reviews from time to time and I hope you'll enjoy them as much as the recipes. I want to look good and feel good ... and I want you to look good too ... because if you don't the Diva will know and she *will* mock you. ~wink~

More recipes later. For now, what's your favorite mascara and why?

A New Day, A New Mascara

As Rachel pointed out in the comments last weekend, the mascara side of this blog has been woefully under-served of late. So sue me, I'm loyal to my brands! That being said, I did have occasion to try a new mascara recently, courtesy of the much touted Sephora. While I'm at times wary of customer loyalty programs - too much junk mail, not enough benefit - I did sign up for Sephora's Beauty Insider Program some time ago and its really paid off.

Heaven knows I'm in Sephora often enough to warrant some kind of reward. Its a wonder they haven't named an aisle after me. I'm a self-confessed cosmetics junkie ... and a ridiculous klutz. I'm forever dropping stuff on my tiled bathroom floor ... breakage ensues and the next thing you know I'm off to replace whatever it is I've ruined. Couple that with my mascara addiction and that makes for frequent expiditions ... which leads to frequent rewards. Yay!

The most recent reward offered me a choice of some lip gloss or a trial size of Too Faced Lash Injection Pin Point Mascara. Guess which one I chose? "Alex, I'll take mascara for $500." Indeed. I was a bit put off by the size of the brush when I first opened the tube - but one stroke and I was hooked. That tiny little brush finds every tiny lash and builds it to extreme length. The product description states: "Pinpoint's exclusive 3D polymers build a waterproof tube around each lash .." and as scary as that sounds, it works. My lashes have never looked so long.

I've never been a fan of waterproof mascara, but I'm making an exception in this case. It does come off with a minimum of effort and so far my eyes have had no trouble with the product. It wears like a dream and the only negative comments I have are the smell ... oddly fruity, and the consistency when nearing the end of the tube ... a bit rubbery. Neither of which would compell me to give it up. I'm giving it four Sparkly Diva Crowns. I'm in love.

On a related note, I recently heard about another interesting new product: Tarte Lash Hugger Natural Mascara. I have yet to try it, but it sounds promising - especially for those with sensative eyes. (I'm looking at you Pixelgal.) Its fragrence and synthetic free and made from a host of natural ingredients, such as rice bran wax, olive esters and water. In addition, the tube is composed of post-consumer recycled aluminum. How very 2008! It's eco-friendly and eco-friendly is sexy. Period.

Does it work? I don't know - but a quick glance at the consumer reviews shows a 5-star rating on average. Seems like its worth a shot. I'm putting it on the list and hoping Pixelgal, of the oh so sensitive eyes, will favor us with a review at some point. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, have you fallen in love with a new beauty product lately? Curious Diva wants to know.

Happy Monday!

What to say about the new background? Eh, I dunno ... we have 8 votes in favor of the pink w/polka dots and one against. What I'd like to do is keep the pink and the black bows and leave off the polka dots, but that was a "pre-fab" template and its all or nothing. I suppose I could figure out how to write my own HTML and get exactly what I want ... but I need to get in the kitchen and get cooking so that will have to wait for another day.

The plain white background is so not me, and I'm still looking to make a change. I love the pink and black combo, but agree that it was a bit busy. I think I'll go with the pale pink for now and work on figuring out the coding some other time. I do thank you for your opinions, dear readers. I want my site to look as good as I feel, and the plain 'ole white just doesn't cut it. The search continues.

Meanwhile, I'm putting on my mascara, trying to tame the frizz beast, and heading for the grocery store this afternoon. Look for the chicken head tomorrow, because he's certainly on the menu for tonight. We stopped at another farm stand this weekend and I've got fresh produce at the ready and a craving for barbecued chicken. I'll have to rework the recipe and make it SB acceptable, so there's going to be some adapting going on today.

We spent the weekend up in the Berkshires with mama and papa Diva, the husband's father and two friends of the family. And what a treat it was! There was a hint of fall in the air and all manner of fresh veggies available at the local stands. I'm really looking forward to the native corn and beautiful yellow bell peppers from the farm in Williamstown, MA. Mama Diva also brought me some tomatoes, potatoes and another giant zucchini from bro's garden. Yum!

This weird little picture was taken at the farm in Williamstown. Though I had my camera in my purse the whole time, I only took two pictures and neither of them are all that exciting. I do like the way the sky looks here and you can see that we were blessed with some spectacular weather. Nothing like a weekend in the country to renew your senses!

Now its time to reintroduce myself to the stove and get to work. More recipes tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Plum 'em, don't clump 'em (tm Covergirl) ...

So what's all this about mascara you say? For one thing, I love it and can't live without it. If I'm not wearing it there's a problem: I'm either very sick or very dead. Either way, call 911. For another thing, you should be wearing it too. I mean all of you, all the time. You know who you are. If you look in the mirror and can't find your eyes, then get thee to Sephora post haste! If you're a man and you're reading this - then, ok, you get a buy. If you're a gay man reading this - then call me, we'll go for drinks and dish about all things Bravo.
I'm not kidding, I need someone to share my Bravo-love ... but I digress.

The Diva is talking mascara because she's a former make-up artist who's never lost her cosmetics jones - and because she won't always have a new recipe to post. Sure, the cooking/healthy eating/dieting stuff is the main focus of the blog, but can't a diva have a little fun?! They've taken my Doritos but they'll have to wrestle the mascara wand from my cold, dead hands.

Currently I'm wearing a combination of two mascaras. I need both length and volume so for the first two coats I use: Lancome's L'Extreme. Its magical! It picks up every little lash you've got and gives great definition. For the last coat I'm currently liking Clinique's Naturally Glossy. Its on the dry side, which helps prevent clumps, and does a good job with building volume.

I'll be posting make-up tips and product reviews from time to time and I hope you'll enjoy them as much as the recipes. I want to look good and feel good ... and I want you to look good too ... because if you don't the Diva will know and she *will* mock you. ~wink~

More recipes later. For now, what's your favorite mascara and why?