mascaras unraveled...

being particular as most girls are with their mascaras, very few fit the bill. although i'm a fan of big and voluptuous, i despise clumps. i'm thrilled with the inventive new fiber formulas, and would love to know the trick of avoiding the smudge on my lid from the length of the fibers. it's a fine line between and just perfect. recently i've put a few of the newer contestants to battle. this is how they sum up next to some old favorites:

1. They're Real, by Benefit Cosmetics...  this mascara is just near perfection for me. i enjoy the amount of fiber in the formula, it's just enough to coat and lengthen, no smudging- and long, distinct lash results. this will float around my makeup satchel for years to come...

2. Too Faced, Lash Injection... HUGE plump lashes, over the top thickness. tube technology. not a whole lot of clumping. i can't get with the tube technology. the oily smudge is comforting upon removal.

3. Dior, DiorShow -the original. the adult star of the mascara world. richly coats lashes in a buttery and smudgeproof formula. creates thick and dramatic lashes. a bit tough to wrestle off, but any good eye remover will do. i've been known to use my samples of eye cream and small jars i have yet to finish, in lieu of eye makeup remover. gluttonous, i know. i have a hard time finding a match for this mascara.

4. Buxom Lash, Buxom Cosmetics- the smarter, sexier, sister to DiorShow. matte black evenly coats the lash, perfectly designed wand ensures delivery to even the smallest lashes. just dramatic enough for a "mascara & lipstick day". i use this mascara almost daily.

....tips for mascara

do not pump mascara
dump mascara at no more than six months
DO use colored mascara as an accent
always remove mascara before bed

xo
mercergirl

the best coconut butter ever...

this will be short and sweet... my battery is almost dead and i don't feel like plugging in before i go to bed. this steal from our favorite store trader joe's is easy to blurb about. with all the rage of coconut oil in the past few years and the undeniable usefulness of the nut, it's no wonder we want to rub it all over our bodies. trader joe's coconut butter is meant to do just so. even though i worked for tj's for many a year, this isn't endorsed. i have gone through 4 tubs of the stuff, and it hasn't even been on the shelf six months. pure coconut butter, free of parabens and full of yummy fats for our most environmentally assaulted places. your rough knees and ashy elbows will delight. next time you head out the door for your chocolate covered caramels, diced prosciutto, or tofutti cuties... make sure you don't skip the "haba" aisle. that stands for health and beauty aids...at five bucks a tub, grab a few. you can thank me later.

xo
mercergirl

calm down...

as many of you know, i've been riddled with rosacea and flushed skin since i was a kid. i wasn't diagnosed with rosacea until my twenties. my diagnoses sent me on a long path of topical prescription creams and gels, diet changes, oral medications and no success. not only did the gels and creams make my skin dry and irritable, but they only worked while they were on. as someone who suffered with acne as a child and have always been curiously involved in products and solutions for skin, i was determined to change my skin. i have tried just about every redness solution on the market. i have found that nearly all these products over promise and under deliver. there are only two regimens that i go to for my skin. one of my absolute staples is from mario bedescu. i adore bedescu. his product line is backed in science and rooted in nature. his packaging is simple, not fluffy. his line works and i've never been disappointed. my favorite from his line is called control cream. it is a must for me. not only is it a savior for flushed or rosacea skin, but it's fantastic for irritation, flakiness and skin that just needs to settle down. i am never without this cream. i have recommended this cream to so many people... all whom have thanked me. balsam peru, algae and carnation oil soothe and protect, while the water base is gentle and very easily absorbed. this cream is a cool and relaxing drink for your skin. enjoy...

xo
mercergirl

dangerous and delicious...

thank you balenciaga. with the launch of lady gaga and a meek excuse for a noir version of coco, i've been trumped for a new fall and winter nose. i'm in love with this scent. it's ladylike and vixen. it's edgy but far from masculine or tart. it will indeed become a staple and/or a signature on many pulse points this year.

love,
mercergirl xo

A scent from the botanical gardens of Balenciaga Paris, inspired by the woman who is beautiful but dangerous. An enchanting fragrance composed of a green accord twisted by an exhilarating note of juvenile freshness.