Review - Maybelline XXL Pro Extensions Waterproof Mascara VS. Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara

I mentioned a couple posts ago that I hate the Rimmel Lash Accelerator mascara I've been using for the past few weeks. I started using it because it claims to make your lashes appear "117% longer after just one month." Uhhh...yeah right. After using it for a few weeks I see absolutely zero difference in the length of my lashes. It also clumps and smudges everywhere, and doesn't hold a curl. My lashes almost look even worse after putting the mascara on, if that's even possible. I kept using it even though I hated it, hoping to see a long-term difference in the length, but that's not happening so finally I decided to chuck this horrible mascara.

I used to use a Maybelline mascara with the white primer wand on one end, and I remember really liking it so I decided to try one of those again. I read a tip somewhere that waterproof mascaras hold a curl better, so I settled on this Maybelline XXL Pro Extensions Waterproof mascara. It claims to "tame unruly lashes" and boost length up to "85%."

I LOVE this mascara! It's one of my favorites that I've ever tried. The Step 1 primer side does seem to separate and straighten out my lashes that like to poke out every which way, although it doesn't weigh down my curl. The Step 2 mascara side builds on top of the primer to add length and volume, again not weighing down the curl. I also really like the brush on this mascara. The Rimmel brush would ALWAYS get mascara on my eyelid, but this brush doesn't do that. The only thing I find annoying is that because of the dual-sided packaging, the wand is really short so the tube bumps against my cheekbone when I'm trying to get the lashes on the very ends. But that's really not a big deal. The formula isn't "wet" like the Rimmel one so I can use the tip of the brush to get the baby lashes without getting clumps all over the place.

Here are some photos of the process:

Bare, uncurled lashes. Yeah, I know they suck.

Curled lashes using the hair dryer method (see below).

Step 1 primer side. 2 coats.

Step 2 mascara side. 2 coats.

Comparison shot! Ignore the fact that I look cross-eyed.

So yeah, pretty awesome results for my short, stubby, straight blonde lashes. I realize now they look a bit clumpy, but I'm willing to give and take a bit when it comes to having curlier, longer lashes.

Edited to add: I wrote this review before I actually wore this mascara out and about for the day. At the end of the day I had black smudges all over my under-eye area! Not good. I'm not sure if it's just because it was super hot and humid today, or if it's the mascara. That's a big negative, although it probably won't deter me from continuing to wear it until I find something better.

P.S. Here's a tip for curling your lashes that I just discovered! Blast your lash curler with a hair dryer for a few seconds before curling. It made a HUGE difference for me! Just make sure it's not too hot...burning your eyelid would suck.

Any other mascara recommendations out there?

Essie Smooth Sailing

If I had to choose my top 5 favorite polishes (not that I could ever actually choose), this would probably be one of them. This is Essie's Smooth Sailing from their Braziliant summer collection last year. It's a medium cornflower blue color with silver and purple shimmer. It's such a unique color and I love the chunky shimmer.

One thing I also love about this polish is that it's a color that works any time of year. I wore it a few times during the winter, and I just wore it the other day which totally complemented my tanned skin. The application is just the best; this is two perfect coats.

If you were forced to choose a top 5 favorite polishes, what do you think would be in it? I think butter LONDON Wallis would also be up there for me; I'll have to showcase that one on my blog soon.

EOTD - Autumn in Summer?

This eye look ended up looking a bit more autumn than summer, but it's still gorgeous! I used a heck of a lot of products in this look so brace yourselves!

As always I started with Urban Decay Primer Potion. Then, I blended Urban Decay Half Baked, a light golden shimmer, into the inner third of the lid. I patted MAC Rule, a light matte orange, into the center, then MAC Red Brick, a darker matte orange, into the outer third. Into the crease I blended MAC Embark, a dark matte brown, and darkened the outer crease with Urban Decay Snakebite, a shimmery dark bronzey brown.

I lined my lower waterline with Wet N' Wild Coloricon eyeliner in Dark Brown and set and smudged it with Embark, Rule, and Red Brick. I lined my top lashline with Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid Eyeliner in Demolition. Finally, I finished my lashes with Rimmel Lash Accelerator mascara in Extreme Black.

Hey, that wasn't so bad! Love the pop of bright orange in the center with golds and browns! What do you think; is this summery to you, or does it look too autumn-ish?

EOTD - Pink and Grey

I sure have been posting a lot of eye looks lately! I have been challenging myself to use shadows I haven't used in a while (or ever!) before buying any new ones. So far I'm resisting the temptation...I'm sure when I get paid next week it'll all be for naught, though. The new Sugarpill palette is calling my name...

To start this look, I used Urban Decay Primer Potion as I always do. On the inner third of the lid, I blended Urban Decay Free Love, a light shimmery pinky coral. Then, I packed MAC Free to Be, a matte pinky coral, all over the bottom of of the lid. This shadow is a little hard to work with so you really just have to keep packing it on to get it to be really opaque and bright. It's gorge though so I give it a free pass. In the outer half of the lid, I blended NYX Greyish Brown, which is a matte dark grey with a bit of bluish-looking shimmer (totally don't get why it's called Greyish Brown. there's no brown in it whatsoever). I blended NYX Dune, a dark grey shimmer with a bit of golden shimmer in it, into the crease.

On the bottom lashline, I used NYX Eye/Eyebrow Pencil in Grey and smudged it with a bit of Greyish Brown. I highlighted the browbone and inner corner with...I can't remember. I think it was either UD Bootycall or Mary Kay Moonstone. To line the upper lashline, I used Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion. Finally, I coated my lashes with Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara in Extreme Black.

I love the combination of pink and grey! What do you think of this color combo?

EOTD - Mojo Spa Isis Loose Eyeshadow

Just a quick couple photos for this post, but I wanted to show you guys my last Mojo Spa loose eyeshadow that I picked up a couple weeks ago called Isis. For this look, I basically used the same products and method that I did for this eye look, but instead of using MAC Plum Dressing, I used Isis. Isis is a crazy sparkly cool purple with blue-ish shimmer. Also, instead of Blackout, I used Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid eyeliner in Perversion on the top lashline.

Sorry this photo's kind of blurry on top, but you can
see the shimmer better this way at least!

P.S. Totally off topic, but does anyone have recommendations for a heated eyelash curler and/or a good mascara for short, stubby, pin-straight lashes? My lashes have always sucked but it seems like they've been getting worse the past couple weeks. I'm currently using a Revlon manual eyelash curler, but the curl fades away almost immediately after putting on my mascara. I also hate the Rimmel mascara I'm currently using b/c it's really liquidy and gets all over the place. Thanks!

EOTD - Beachy Golden Eyes

I saw a look like this on, I believe, a promotional image for Too Faced's new summer palette. It's a shimmery golden lid with a light turquoise bottom liner. I love how summery this color combination is! It makes me think of sitting on the beach watching the ocean.


As always, I started by prepping my lids with Urban Decay Primer Potion. I blended Urban Decay Baked, a shimmery gold, all over my lids. Then I (carefully!) patted a Mojo Spa loose eyeshadow in Havana, an insanely sparkly dark brown, into the crease. I darkened the outer corner with MAC Embark, a dark matte brown. I lined my upper lashline with Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Demolition, a dark brown.

On the bottom, I lined my waterline with NYX Slide-On Eye Pencil in Tropical Green, a dark metallic aqua green. I set this and smudged it ith Urban Decay Flipside, a bright shimmery turquoise. It showed up much brighter and bluer in real life; for some reason it doesn't pop as much in photos. I highlighted the browbone and inner corner with Urban Decay Bootycall as usual. Finally, I coated my lashes with Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara in Extreme Black.




I absolutely love this eye look and basically want to wear it all summer long. It goes great with bronzed skin ;)

Essie Navigate Her

I'm sure you've seen this polish before, but it's probably one of my absolute favorites that came out this spring so I just had to share it. It's Essie Navigate Her, a light pastel spring green creme.

It applied like a dream in two perfect coats. It's different than a lot of other light mint greens because it doesn't have any blue in it. I absolutely LOVE this color! My best friend, who also bought it for herself, ended up not really liking it because she said the color reminded her of boogers. I was like... o_O...the most gorgeous boogers ever! (Ew, sorry, that was gross.)

Anyway, a few days after this I put a coat of butter LONDON Tart With a Heart over this and it was even more beautiful!