Products For Rimming: What I Use & What Works

Once I was introduced to the whole rimming the eye technique, I was hooked.  (For anyone that doesn't know, tightlining/rimming is when you apply a liner/color to the inner portion of your lashline, 'shelf', closest to your eye.  You MUST be VERY careful when utilizing this technique and keep in mind that it is not for everyone.  Some people's eyes are just too sensitive to do this to.)  Whether in color or simple black or brown, I think it really completes your entire look, creating the look of fuller lashes, larger eyes, or whiter whites.  There are just so many possibilities and SO many products to choose from.  But, I am telling you, if you haven't tried this, you really should, just once.  I had a friend that had only rimmed her lower lashes and never her upper.  When I did her uppers for her one day, I think she was pretty impressed by how different it made her eyes look...more sultry and sexy with the colors we had applied.

"What do you use to do this though?" you ask?  There are a plethera of products on the market you can try and below, I have outlined my experiences with each I have tried.  I would say, you should choose your product according to how watery your eyes are.  Mine are pretty sensitive as well, because I wear contacts, so these products are REALLY
put to the test with me!  If they can stay for more than an hour...we have a winner!  There are a couple of additional tricks I will include for you at the end of the post.  Some ways I have found will make the color last a bit longer.  Now, on to the products!

The star ratings below are NOT for the actual product itself...it is for the staying power.  I adore all of the products below and couldn't live without any of them.  I also feel the products themselves are worth MORE than 5 stars overall!

MAC Eye Kohl: My favorite is Smolder, but I do have other colors like Fascinating & Hot Poppy.  I have always had GREAT luck with these pencils in my waterline...especially using my eye shadow trick (below).  I can normally go about 6-7 hours without having to touch up using this pencil, which is phenomenal in my book.  I really HATE touching up makeup when I am at work.  Now, I have found that when my eyes are the most watery, it dosn't last quite as long and begins fading on the shelf area closes to the eye and in the corners.  This product is very rich and creamy so it will smudge easily if you are not careful.  Setting is your best form of smudge prevention!  4 STARS

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner: Very comparable to MAC Fluidline, in my opinion.  However, the claims are that it is waterproof, 24 hour color, yeah right!  Well, IT IS...amazingly enough!  I have to say this is the drugstore product that I am most impressed with at the moment (next to the Revlon Photoready Foundation & Powder).  I, of course, use it as a normal gel liner creating a flawless wing and line on my upper lash line, but I have also used it in my waterline for additional drama.  (I kept the brush that comes with it and use that for tightlining sometimes.)  Only on RARE occassions do I see any loss of color from this product.  Generally, only when I rub my eyes...NOT even when I have cried (no running)!  I have set it with shadow before and got even LONGER wear out of it.  It is just a PUNK to have to take off!  I recommend a remover with oil in it.  The Lasting Drama Gel Liner is definately a product you want to try, just BE CAREFUL!  5 STARS

MAC Powerpoint:  This was the first MAC eye liner I purchased.  It was recommended to me because I was looking for a liner that was soft and wouldn't tug on my skin.  This is a great liner and it is said to be waterproof.  However, I don't feel that is so.  Don't get me wrong...I LOVE these liners, but they have really crummy staying power in MY waterline. (This is why I took a star away!)  I have tried a multitude of different ways to try & make it stay to no avail.  It will stay for about 3-4 hours max, then I am in the ladies room reapplying.  I have started using these liners mostly as a base under my shadow instead of a shadow stick to make colors appear more vibrant.  I love using it as a regular old liner on my lashline and on my lower lashline because the Powerpoint liner will smudge easily and glide on effortlessly providing lasting color in these areas.  *Idea:  Apply these liners on your lashline as a base for glitter, pigments, or shimmery shadows for a glowing effect!  3 STARS

Stila Eye Kajal: Tiffany D was the first person I saw using the Stila Kajal...in her waterline.  Since I trust her reviews & thoughts on makeup, I HAD to get my hands on one to try for myself!  I compare it to the MAC Powerpoint in look, however, it is MUCH creamier.  The ease of application is amazing...the staying power...pretty good.  I have found setting it will make it last a bit longer though.  It is not an all day wear, but I can get through lunch time until about mid afternoon with it.  If you are looking for the softest pencil, well EVER, this is the one you should grab up!  They come in tons of colors including an actual nude shade that is perfect for making your eyes look larger.  I have created entire smokey eye looks with one of these pencils.  They are also so soft that you can apply to a brush and use the product like a cream liner.  I absolutely adore these liners for tightlining!  Again, not great staying power, but a killer product so only 4 STARS

Urban Decay 24-7 Liner:  I acquired the UD 24-7 Liner Super Stash from a wonderful seller on the Makeup Geek Forum.  It was so exciting to get this since I had never tried these liners and all I heard was fabulous buzz about them!  These liners come in SO many colors and there are tons of applications they can be used for.  Today, we are talking about rimming, so on to my experience with that!  It was hard to step away from my MAC Kohl, but I gave in one day and did it.  I rimmed my eyes with Zero (the black color) and that is it.  I didn't set it with anything so I could see what the outcome would be on me.  Unfortunately, it didn't turn out that well.  The staying power was minimal...it was midmorning and I was having to touch up.  I will say, though, that when it started to fade, it was an even fade and didn't end up looking all crazy!  I also didn't end up with that gunky build up around my tear duct...THAT was a plus!  I DO love these liners and I will continue using them in my waterline, but with no expectations.  3 STARS

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils:  You may not think to use a shadow pencil in your waterline, but it works and the NYX Pencils are no exception.  I don't know how I ever survived makeup before these little gems!  I mean, primer, shadow, liner, blush, lipstick, all wrapped up into one...how could you go wrong???!!!  If you don't own one...GET ONE!!!  I always have one in my bag and the day I had to substitue the Jumbo Pencil in Black Bean for my usual Kohl Liner, because I left it at home, I wasn't too disappointed.  No, the staying power on its own was NOT flawless, but when I set it with a shadow, it did stay longer.  Plus, tons of colors will ensure that you always have a liner that will match your eye look!  3 STARS

I have continued my quest for the perfect liners for the waterline and will continue to update you all on what I find.  Staying power is always going to be the catch with me.  All these companies claim that their pencil is waterproof, and for the most part they are...but when I put them on my waterline...they aren't!!!  I have always applied them to my hand at the beginning of the day...just to see how they will do in comparisson to my eye...and the color on my hand WILL stay all day.  So, what's the deal and the difference in my eye?  Is it the fact that the water is a different composition?  Are companies testing actual tears or a substance that is similar prior to stating that they are waterproof IN THE EYE? 

Seriously, that conversation could go on forever, so I have come up with a couple of ways you can get your liner to actually stay longer in your waterline...beyond having the supposed perfect product.  Applying a primer to that area has worked for me.  However, my eyes are VERY sensitive so this is not always an option.  Plus, you may not want to do this...some people just have an aversion to applying makeup products THAT close to their eyes.  My one, sure fire way, to make liners stay in my waterline is to set that liner with a powder shadow or pigment.  Not only will you get the additonal staying power, but you can end up with some really killer effects!  Applying certain shadows over a Kohl Liner will create an all new look/color.  (The MAC Starflash Colors are an example...I will be doing a post on this topic soon.)  Also, applying a shadow with glitter will allow the glitter to actually show up!  I like to apply MAC Beauty Marked over Smolder Eye Kohl in my waterline.  The glitter actually stays and the effect is phenomenal!

Now...I want to know from YOU!  What do you use in your waterline??  What have you used and what works best?  What type of issues do you deal with...are your eyes sensitive, watery, do you have allergies?  Are there any ways that you go about helping your products stay?  If so, let me know and I will include your tip in one of my YouTube 'Quick Tip' videos with you as the contributor!  If there is a product I didn't mention above that you think I should try, let me know!!!  I LOVE trying new things and reporting my findings and you KNOW I will always tell you exactly how it is!

As always...your comments will enter you into my quarterly giveaway GOING ON NOW!  Prize video to be uploaded next week with the drawing being on April 1st! 

Love Your Cuticles & Stop Picking Them!

Hi, my name is Laura and I'm a...finger picker (as my family has so sweetly named me).  I know, I know, it is TERRIBLE for my nails and terrible to look at!  But, I am working to reform myself.  Actually, it is in my genes, so I was doomed from the beginning (my mom is a cuticle picker)!

So, she was at the dermatioligist last week and the doctor noticed.  After scolding her for 20 minutes about how bad it is for your skin and your nails, she gave her the best trick ever!  Of course, you can use moisturizer or cuticle oils to help with the dryness, but those are not always the most portible resolutions to this problem  The derm said to grab a hold of a tube of Vaseline Advanced Lip Therapy (at Wal-Mart, Target, or any corner drugstore).  It is the only lip balm that Valleline makes.  It is not in a stick but in a tube. 

Every time you feel a rough spot on or around your cuticles, reach in your pocket for this little gem in a tube!  Massage into the cuticles and any other dry spot on your nails/hands.  Let it absorb into your skin and viola!  It is a little greasy, so I wouldn't suggest just getting it all over your hands and typing out your novel, but it doesn't take much time to absorb.

Since I have been doing this little tip, I have had MUCH less cracking, peeling and bleeding of my cuticles and nail beds.  On top of this trick, I have kept my nails polished and that is always something that will curb my desire to pick at my cuticles or nails.  I am really impressed at my dedication to this.  Wish I could say the same for my mother!  LOL!  I am sure she is fiddling with her nails now!

Are you a nail/cuticle picker?  What other bad habits do you have that you will admit to us?  If you have a trick to help stop biting and grow longer nails, let us know in the comments below!  Remember, all comments get you an entry into the on-going quarterly giveaway!  I am rounding up some great prizes you probably won't want to miss out on!

How to get rid of oily skin, you ask??

I posted a new video on YouTube that will address this concern of ours, so make sure to go check it out!

You won't be using makeup of any sort, no mattifiers or blot powders. Just all natural and cheap ingredients go into this quick tip for my Beauty Secrets Series for you guys!

Click the link below and go check it out!!! Plus, if you haven't subscribed already, click the yellow box to do so for more quick tips and a contest that is coming soon!!! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6EQjGUY9PQ

Quick Tip: Illuminate Your Tinted Moisturizer

I got up this morning to go to Old Navy & grab up some of their $2 tanks for myself & my daughter...it was a bust though! But, this was not the reason for my blog! I got up a lot later than I had planned and wanted to be there when the doors opened, so I only had about 15 min to get out the door! This is obviously not enough time for the full beauty routine, so I wanted to even out my skin tone and add just a natural look in no time! This is what I came up with!

By mixing Ulta's brand of tinted moisturizer (for fair to medium skin tones) and No7 High Lights Illuminating Moisturizer, I acheived an even skintone with minimal blending or effort! I mean, it looked as even as it would have using my mineralized foundation. I was pretty impressed with the way these two products worked together.

When I first purchased and used Ulta's tinted moisturizer, I HATED it! It was thicker than I had wanted and ended up being a little dark for my skin. Therefore, it has been sitting on my vanity with all my other products, going unused...until today! I will probably use this routine daily...alone or with concealer & powder!

So, if you are interested in this quick tip, go check out the video on YouTube! I will put the link below! This is hopefully going to be the first of many videos in my Quick Tip Section!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAchBzG4gsI

www.youtube.com/VanitysEdge