DiorShow Blackout Review

Hi lovely folx! I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day! I don't have many friends that are Mommys yet but I did drive 302 hours to see my Mommy. We had a beautiful time! Mothers are truly blessings, right? Welllll.....it's time for another edition of Mascara Monday.

Yesss, Mascara Monday is where we review a new mascara in attempts to find THE BEST MASCARA EVER!

I am finally reviewing the HG of all mascaras! I was sooo excited when I purchased this. My debit card was was stingin' from the swipe of $24 plus some tax but I was just bubbling from excitement. Did this "raved about by tons of beauty people everywhere" mascara impress me? You ready to find out?

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Christian Dior: Diorshow Blackout

Price: 1 out of 5
Packaging (Brush Wand): 2 out of 5
Overall: 2 out of 5

What it claims: "Creates the longest, thickest, curviest lashes ever, resulting in an ultra-glam "just-off-the-catwalk" look."


The truth: The brush isn't the best brush ever and it is far too clumpy to be effective.

What I loved about it: My lashes were thicker but by the third coat, they were too clumpy.

What I didn't like: It didn't give me any volume. I would have liked a little.

Overall: I hate to admit it, but I'm disappointed. I didn't get any WoW factor from this mascara. Not in the least. Which is really sad because $24 is entirely too much (I think) to spend on a mascara. I even tried layering it on top of my favorite mascara. Nope, still nothing. No dramatic lashes. The brush wasn't all that special . And after using it for a few days, I noticed the consistency of the mascara getting a little "glooby". Yuck, definitely not digging that. Booo....this happens sometimes in the beauty world. What some of us love, others of us loathe. Remember the pink & green Great Lash mascara? I adore it whereas I know a ton of ladies that can't get down with it. I'm on the nay side of Diorshow right now. It's taking up space in my mascara department but since it cost me some gas money, it's going to have to sit there for awhile and look pretty because it certainly won't be getting used.

What do you think about this mascara? Have you tried it and liked it? Or

[photo courtesy: sephora.com]

Make-Up Stash

Thanks J for your email. This entry is inspired by you! Since graduating from high school, I have always been on the move. From dorm to dorm, apartment to apartment, state to state, city to city....you get the idea. This never caused a problem until my addiction of make-up came about. It is extremely difficult packing up and moving beauty products. I've lost/broken way too many things along the way. The set-up for my make-up now is nothin' pretty but it's functional. Dig it...(click pictures to enlarge)

I know, I know... make-up in the bathroom. Not the best place but whatev. Everything is stashed in a boring ole' plastic thingie. I tried to be a bit creative in the brush department though...


Poor Baby Buki. I have to create a nice little home for her.

Open up the compartments and here's whatcho got


Lippies, part deux.


The small but growing blush department. Stay tuned for the Brown & Blushin' series!




Pencils, primers and pigments...



And I can't show you the mascara section because I don't ruin any surprises for Mascara Mondays. Hehehe....check out the nail care department.



You see that that throw back caboodle? I had it since those Seventeen magazine readin' days. A great deal of my pigments are in my traincase. Tinted moisturizer and minerals are in the medicine cabinet and I still have make-up hidden at my Mom's house 4 hours away. So everything is still a work in progress.

How do you gals keep your items in order? Traincases? Drawers? Cosmetic cases? Tell me! Got any ideas with what I should be doin' with my stash?

Stay pretty this weekend!

Brown and Blushin' Series

Blushes!

I can’t tell yall how much I love blushes. I wish someone would have told me a long ago that a sista of a darker hue can rock them beautifully. Before then I was sellin’ myself short but now I am truly a believer. And I absolutely adore my little blush collection. It is perfect for a newbie because none of the colors look alike. I decided to start a series in which I will feature a blush that I think compliments my darker skinned sistas. Thanks for the emails that inspired me to come up with this series.

Stay tuned for the series’ updates.

What do you think? Can darker skinned women rock blushes beautifully? Any type of colors that you would like for me to review? Email me at Brittany@ClumpsOfMascara.com.

Maybelline XXL Curl Power review

Hi beautiful people!

I would like to start by thanking Blogger for the future posts feature. This is a busy blogger’s dream! I love this idea. And it’s another Mascara Monday!!...hmm mmm…on Wednesday. Still in “unpacking my life” mode but I just had to share with yall my absolute favorite mascara right now!

I mean, seriously….I think this is the best one ever. I’m in love. Dig the review.

Let me introduce to you….

Maybelline XXL Curl Power

Price: 5 out of 5
Packaging (Brush Wand): 4 out of 5
Overall: 5 out of 5

This is seriously one of the best mascaras I have ever tried. I love it! It not only gave me curl, but length as well. The C-shaped brush takes a bit of getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, it does wonders.

What I loved about it: It lasted throughout the entire day. No flaking whatsoever. My lashes are a bit funny actin’ and never stay curled but this mascara had them waving allll day long.

What I didn't like: As you can see in the picture, it is has two wands; a primer and the actual mascara. I didn’t really like the primer because it seemed to be a bit too liquid-y. I wish the consistency was a little thicker. I was also buggin’ at how big the mascara tube was. Because the brush is connected at the middle (does that make sense?), you have to really get used to holding it. And also because the brush is C-shaped, it's hard to get those corner lashes.

Overall: I adore this mascara. It definitely is the best mascara in my book so far. For only $7.99, I don't think I have ever been THIS satisfied with a mascara. You can cop it at any drugstore. If you are lookin' for extra curl and volume, this is the mascara for you. I know that this will always be up in my make-up stash. Love love love it!

What do you think about this mascara? Have you tried it and liked it?

[photo courtesy: http://www.maybelline.com]

Making Moves

Hi beautiful people!! I'm shootin' a quick post to let you all know I have been crazy busy moving my life...yes, again. 4th location this year. Gotta love it. Been U-Hauling my things all over Florida, pushin' dressers up the stairs and pullin' out the power drill to put together my bed. Craziness....so I may be ghost for a minute and my apologies for not having this week's Mascara Monday. Which kinda sucks because I am in LOVE with this mascara. Should I wait another week or go ahead and post it on Wednesday?

What do yall think?

.....the busy B is off to work. Can't wait 'til I get some down time so I can start catchin' up on posts. I have 87 new ones. Wowsers! Have a wonderful upcoming weeeeek!

A Tag & Port Red

Yay for taggin' games!!! Yall know I'm on it.

My Foundation: N/A…no foundation for meeee.
My Mascara: Yall know I am constantly reviewing them but the one I adore right now is….catch the review next Monday!
My Blush: Fashion Fair Warm Sand and MAC Sweet as Cocoa.
My Eye Shadow: MAC’s Vanilla pigment. I swear it looks gorgeoussss.
My Day Cream: I wear Olay Complete.
My Lipstick: MAC’s 3D and now, Port Red!
My Beauty Product Brand: MAC Cosmetics, Milani, NARS, L’Oreal, etc.
My Essential Beauty Product: I really don’t leave the house without eyeliner.
My Favorite Makeup Product: Blush, it really tuns a simple look into glam.
My Perfume: Unforgettable for Women by Sean Combs.
My Nails: China Glaze! Currently dappin' in the WOW collection.
My Feet: A Mr. Pumice Bar every night, Vaseline with socks to bed.
My Hands: Some Avon lotion.
Three Products to bring on a deserted island: MAC's lip conditioner, a good sun block (you know, SPF 70, hehe) and a blend of olive oil and rosemary---for the face & hair.
Woman I admire for their beauty: Iman, Tia Williams, Angela Bassett, my Mom, Jill Scott
Woman with the Best Sense of Style: Don’t know. Not really up on what people are wearing.
My Ultimate Dream: To help as many people as I can.
How Do I Define Womanhood: I can show you better than I can tell you.
My Favorite Fashion Publication: Some UK piece. Can’t remember the name. It’s a wonderful fashion mag for Black women.

....but that's not alllll.

I was on my way to work and was tempted to try on that new Port Red lipstick from MAC's Naughty Nauticals collection. So I dropped my lunch box and purse on the floor and ran to my bathroom where the beauty of all lipsticks lay in my traincase. I lined my lips with Nightmoth and applied Port Red. I was floored with how beautiful it looks. The subtle gold specks really bring some "umph" to the overall color of Port Red. I am in love with this. And yep, it is a TRUE red. What I love about it is how it isn't a deep red. Deep reds tend to make me really look like somebody's 40 year old Momma. And yall know what I'm talkin' about....hehehe.

So dig the little photo shoot I had in the car. I was careful about it, I promise. I also tried to show pictures in different lightning so you can really get an idea of how Port Red looks. *insert British voice* I was a bit giddy in these pics, chaps but I had a jolly good time. And you'll have to enlarge for a better view. Photbucket was on the trips today, mannnn.





My brows are really crackin' me up. Goin' to get them threaded tomorrow. I can't express how much I love this color.




What do you think?
Yay or nay to Port Red?
.....what' s your take on darker skinned ladies wearin' red lippies?

MAC's Naughty Nauticals

MAC's Naughty Nauticals has been released today and being the MAC lover that I am, I had to check it out. I'm not 'gon lie to yall. MAC hasn't really been impressing me these past few collections. I've really only purchased things out of pretty packaging and the MAC urge. Some of you fellow addicts, know about the latter.

Nonetheless, I am dedicated, so during my lunch break, I took a stroll to my MAC Pro store here in Orlando. One of my favorite make-up artists was there! I love this man. He's a bit on the sexy side and did my make-up that I had on in this picture..*click for a close up*


Yeeeeep, that was when those Paint Pots first came out and I was all over that Delft and Freshwater. Yessss chile. Me and my girl Raffie, good times good times.

Anywho, so my make-up artist (we'll call him Thai) did a great job at introducing the colors to me (tellin' me which ones were dupe-able) and I surprisingly, stuck to my list. Kind of...

Here are the swatches of some of the eyeshadows that I was able to gather WITH flash. I swatched Blue Clam (NOT apart of Naughty Nauticals) because I was debating on getting this color or not. I think I will one day. It is beautiiiiful.

WITHOUT flash

I know, I'm a bit unfair to my readers when it comes to swatchin' and postin'. I'm not really good in this department. I really only swatch the things that I "think" I may like...hehe, so my apologies if you are lookin' for the entire collection on my hand. Ain't gonna happen, chief. It's hard enough trying to to explain why I don't need a make-up remover wipe. Geez.

I wanted to like Illegal Cargo, but Thai and I both decided that it was too chalky for my skin tone. SEE! Pastels never work for us darker folx *pouts* But I did like the 2 pigments I swatched.

Oh la laaaa....that Mutiny is hooooot!! I wanted to haul it so bad but I doubt I will ever wear it. Especially since I'm into neutrals these days. Thai confirmed that Bell Bottom Blue is definitely un-original and therefore not worthy to be hauled. Don't you love honest make-up artists? Can I take him home?

On to the lippies...

Port Red was lined with Nightmoth lip liner because Thai said that they would look beautiful together. He ain't lyin'. And that's why I hauled that. I don't own a TRUE red lipstick. The other lippies were okay, but just "eh..." I liked Buoy-O-Buoy but I already have a nice neutral lipstick.

And I didn't see any Lustreglasses out on display so I didn't get a chance to check those out. I don't think I would have been that interested anyway. I've had my share of lip gloss over $5 for quite some time. Fo reals.

So here are the eye shadows I got.

I know, I know....another blue. But I swear this blue is different. It is absolutely gorgeous. The only thing that I don't like about it, is that it is a frost. Not a big fan of frosts because they take a lot of "packing on" to be effective. But I think that it's worth it. And contrary to what some people think it does not look like Freshwater. This blue is richer. I love it!

This color is re-promote that was originally introduced in the Balloonancy collection. It is a fab gun smoke silver that I think will look good in my little collection. It has silver undertones and is a bit more glittery than I'd like, but overall, I thought it was a must have.....especially for smoky eyes.

Yall know I am a huge proponent for women of color wearing red lipsticks. I am really excited about this Port Red. I checked the racks to see if there was a color like it and I didn't see one. I may have over looked something, but I wanted a nice red lipstick so I'm happy about hauling this. FOTDs soon to come!!

Naughty Nauticals overall: It's okay. But just okay. I'm kinda glad that I didn't like everything because I really don't need to go overboard on the purchasing make-up when I have a new place to furnish. If you already have a good amount of blues/deep purples, pass it. That Mutiny pigment is the best thing I have ever seen though and I may try to snag a sample of that, if anything. The lippies are nice, but I seemed to have colors that were similar and like I mentioned, I didn't see the Lustreglasses.

So what do you folx think?

Those that have checked out the collection, are you lovin' it?
And those that haven't....do you think you will love it?

[image source: maccosmetics.com]