Supernatural Botanicals

Mabel Williams, Maybelline namesake

Maybelline is the gold standard in mascara; in fact, they were the original creators of mascara.  Here’s the skinny on how mascara was developed.  Tom Lyle Wiliams would watch his sister, Mabel, with fascination as she performed what she called the “secret of the harem”, mixing petroleum jelly with coal dust and ash from burnt cork and applying it to her lashes and brows.  Mabel’s simple beauty trick ignited Tom Lyle’s imagination and he started what would one day become a billion dollar business.  He named it Maybelline, which is a combination of Mabel + Vaseline.  Brilliant invention!

How does Isla Fisher get perfectly curled lashes?  Try her eyelash curling trick.   “To make lashes curl better, take a hair dryer to your eyelash curler for one or two seconds before using it.” —Isla Fisher

How many beautiful towels do you suppose you’ve ruined with your mascara?  Hundreds?  Thousands?

What’s a girl to do?  We all wear makeup and we all have to take it off at the end of the day.  The issue with makeup removal is that is stains your beautiful washcloths.

Not to worry, we can save your towels and your budget with one simple fix.  Consider trekking over to the baby aisle the next time you are at the grocery store.

As it turns out, baby wipes are multitaskers.  They are great for babies, obviously, but also great to get that mascara off of your eyes without destroying your entire linen closet.  They contain oils that help make the mascara slide right off of your eyes when removing makeup.

If you have sensitive skin, use the baby wipes marked “gentle, for sensitive skin.”

After you have removed your mascara with the baby wipe, which is the major culprit for black marks all over your washcloths, you can wash the rest of your face with the washcloth.

Make the switch.  Save your washcloths and keep your linen closet looking beautiful.

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Scarlett Johannson is working the “sex-kitten-meets-bombshell” look to  its fullest.  The hair is perfect, the makeup is perfect, the dress is perfect.  You can recreate this look with what you have.  It’s classic and simplistic, yet stylish and sophisticated. 

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To achieve Scarlett’s soft, flowy curls, nothing but hot rollers will do.  Hot rollers have made a come back and they are the perfect tool to create soft, sexy curls.  Try Caruso steam rollers.  (click on picture for info.)  They are better for your hair than hot rollers because they work on steam, not heat.  They produce the exact same results as hot rollers. 

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When it comes to red lips, I’m certainly an aficionado.  I adore the “red lip” look.  It’s classic and ultra sexy.  I have tried (literally) thousands of brands and styles.  Beautique (click on picture for details) is my all-time favorite red.  I use the pencil all over my lips, as it goes on great as a lipstick, then use this on top.  It produces the best red lip ever!  The kicker… it’s way inexpensive!

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  There’s an unwritten rule..or, perhaps it’s written somewhere, that if you opt for a bold lip color, like the red above, you should go with a soft eye look.  When you have too much eye and too much lip going on at the same time, your look can go from sophisticated to theatrical in seconds.  Scarlett’s top eyelids are lined with a brown liquid liner.  If you are a blonde, opt for brown instead of black.  It’s less harsh and more flattering to your skintone. 

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Maybellene’s Great Lash is a long time favorite of makeup artists everywhere (certainly my fav!)   But mascara reviews are like food reviews.  Honestly, it’s all relative to what you, you, like.  Most people, however, like it.  It’s ultra-popular with the masses, and often times sold out at stores.  Personal fav…brownish black Great Lash with the curved brush.  *swoon*

 Again, if you are blonde, opt for brownish black Great Lash.  It softens your look and is super feminine. 

Cover Girl has done an excellent job of letting their customers know exactly how to use their products via video clips by professional makeup artists on their website.  There are plenty of makeup tutorials for looks from casual to smokey eyes that are easy to understand and apply. 

They also provide informative general information, like these simple five rules about mascara.  Check out Cover Girl for practical applications on how to look sensational!

Mascara 101

• Never, ever pump the wand – this adds air to the mascara container, which will only make your mascara dry out faster.
• As a general rule, brown or soft black are best for daytime; black works best for night.
• Use less mascara on lower lashes than on top lashes. Or forego mascara on lower lashes for a more casual look.
• If your mascara smells funny or is more than six months old, chuck it. The eyes are very sensitive to bacteria.
• After you’ve coated lashes with mascara, add just one more layer to the outer corners. The extra coat will make your lashes look especially long.

In the Cold and Flu season, you should replace your mascara and lipstick once a month to avoid germs that can take you, and your immune system, down for the count.  Head germs off at the pass and avoid getting sick by having good makeup hygiene.  If anything (at all) has been in your makeup bag longer than three months, toss it.  Wash makeup brushes with shampoo and conditioner and let air dry to keep all makeup tools clean and free of germs. 

There’s a reason that Maybelline’s Great Lash mascara is the best selling mascara in America.  Great Lash is used by many, many makeup artists in Hollywood, and models have been singing the praises of Great Lash for years.  It’s inexpensive, and it works great!  It also makes your eyelashes look a mile long.  What’s not to love?  (editorial note)….try the curved brush in brownish-black.  Looks great on blondes. 

In 3400 B.C., they Egyptians created the first mascara using kohl.  Thousands of years later, Cleopatra partakes turning it into a beauty statement.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOHw5v9lYV4

   Without a doubt, the eyelash curler is a must-have in your makeup bag.  Curling your eyelashes really opens your eyes and makes your lashes look a mile long.  It makes eyes look younger.  It truly does make such a difference.  It only takes seconds, and you can find inexpensive eyelash curlers anywhere makeup is sold.   Use an eyelash curler on one eye, then notice the difference between the curled versus uncurled lash.   It’s huge.  An eyelash curler is a must have in your bag.