I have spent some time over the past few weeks exploring the options in Mascara. What I have found is that the options are endless and ever changing. It seems that every twelve and a half minutes a new formula is born…

So, I asked my personal panel of experts; my friends and colleagues what they use and like. With their help, I believe that I have found the best of the best mascara.

First, Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume Waterproof Mascara… I was truly surprised by how many times Maybelline Define-A-Lash came up in the top three. So, I added it to my Rite Aid Pharmacy shopping list along with, mouth wash, batteries, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. I will admit, my expectations weren’t particularly high but the product succeed in wowing me. It defines and volumizes at the same time without clumping. It wears like a product twice it’s price. So with the savings you can buy more peanut butter cups. That’s reason enough for me to put it in my top three.

The next mascara on my shopping list was CoverGirl LashBlast Waterproof. Actually I’ve been using this mascara for a few months but I wanted to see how it stands up next to some of the other options. CoverGirl Lash Blast maintains it place in my kit against the competition. It is so rich, thick, and smooth, it’s like butter. I would even go so far as to say that it’s the poor woman’s DiorShow.

DiorShow Black Out Waterproof Mascara is Legendary! It is the cat’s meow. It’s the duck’s quack. It’s the bees knees. It’s the leopards spots and the tigers stripes. Get it? This stuff is good. It’s my newly crowned king of mascara. It literally coats and volumizes each lash individually with the blackest black gunk I’ve ever seen. This mascara has a level of sophistication that would be expected from the Dior brand, however it’s a little hard to explain why it’s so much better than $10 mascara. It’s the difference between driving a lovely and reliable Toyota Corolla and a Jaguar XF. They pretty much do the same thing but the Jaguar does it in style, as does DiorShow. At around $25 it’s easily the most expensive mascara in my kit but so worth it.

Next week there will probably be new mascara for me to test but today these are my top choices and I’m standing by them.

Maybelline Define-A-Lash ✭✭✭✭
CoverGirl Lash Blast ✭✭✭
DiorShow Black Out ✭✭✭✭✭

With tearful brides in mind I always opt for the water proof formulas but for every day use the non-waterproof formulas are a little kinder to your lashes…

I made a very impromptu stop at Sephora in Times Square this week and left truly giddy with glee over what I found… Let me just tell you, that as a beauty industry professional who has spent 11+ years exploring what cosmetics companies have to offer, it is hard to get a rise out of me. I have so much wonderful product in my kit, and have at least seen if not touched everything else, but as much as I idolize Kevyn Aucoin I have never laid eyes or hands on his makeup, until last Wednesday that is.

Kevyn Aucoin Beauty takes up a relatively small amount of space on it’s kiosk but I would be willing to accept any challenge to get by on only what is there. The colors, consistency, and array of product all sing of the legendary artist, and name sake of this amazing line of products profound talent and legacy.

So far I’ve only picked up the Mousse Glacé in Gleam which is an easy to apply, silky smooth, cream in a pot that gives skin a shimmering radiance. In plain english it’s a highlighter and I’m going to use it on cheek bones and brow bones.

Next I think I will try the Liquid Lipstick. It’s rich and creamy, full of pigment and gloss. It comes in five gorgeous shades which is plenty for me. I tend to get overwhelmed when I see rows and rows of lip color. I love to use flesh tones in pink and beige with the occasional red; Kevyn Aucoin Beauty provides just enough variety without going over the top.

Then I think I’ll try the Creamy Moist Glow which is a cream-formula Blush. I’ve become a big fan of cream blush because they are so flattering on the skin. It looks so organic, like that color is naturally produced by your cheek. Sometimes, I gently dust over a cream blush with a little translucent or flesh tone powder to achieve a slight flush of color. While other times I like to layer a powder blush over a cream blush to add another dimension or a little more contrast. Whenever you start with a cream blush the result is youthful radiance; add a little hight-lighter on the high point of the check bone and look like you have just walked off the cover of any magazine. Again, Kevyn Aucoin Beauty has come up with just the right colors without overwhelming the consumer with unnecessary options.

I have to admit, I’m pretty curious about the Liquid Airbrush foundation. This product claims to give skin an airbrushed appearance with silky-matte flawlessness. I’m pretty faithful to MACs face and body foundation but I’m going to sample Kevyn Aucoin’s Liquid Airbrush and get back to you with my thoughts.

So far, I’m in awe of what Kevyn Aucoin Beauty has to offer. It’s obvious that a lot of thought has gone into everything about this line from the formulas to the colors and even the packaging. Everything comes in weighty glass containers that are either clear, or black and red, with gold lettering. I look forward to collecting the entire line now that it is so accessible at Sephora. Happy Shopping!