Ahoy for lashes!!-part deux

Three days ago, wanting to boost my little 'eyelid hairs', i purchased an eyelash growth serum from a German brand named BeYu. And i really, REALLY like it. I was going back and forth whether to get this one or the L'Oreal serum, but the ingredients list convinced me...bonus, the SAs positive attitude and gorgeous lashes (she said she's a faithful user of the former). Now let's see.

The BeYu Lash Energizer (Growth Activating Gel) comes in a mascara packaging, 10 ml for the equivalent of $27 (ouch!) or £17. More expensive than the L'Oreal one, especially on the North American market, but it's packed with good ingredients and more product inside. I purchased this from Åhlens, which is a sort of Swedish Harrods, and it was the last one on the shelf...the SA said they literally flew off the racks in less than a week. Good for them! :)

It comes in a nice, glittery silver-ish cardboard box, pretty much like a higher-end mascara. It doesn't have a scent unless you sniff it really close (mmmm something milky with a hint of baby powder...something rather fresh) and you can't feel it once you've applied it.

I'm really happy with this product; though nothing spectacular has happened, i truly believe it works and it has already improved my lashes in just 3 days of use. The 'final' effects are visible after 30 days of use. Hopefully the product will last me enough or even a bit more since i'm not sure they'll bring it back...however, i'm not totally against the L'Oreal one (never tried) since this is how Lollipop recovered her beautiful lashes...i want those too!!! ;)

What it says it does: 'nourishing eyelash gel for visibly longer, thicker and stronger lashes. Thanks to the novel multi-active complex consisting of a bio-energizer and peptides, the eyelash growth is doubled compared to natural growth already after a month of daily use' .

Ingredients: that's quite interesting. While L'Oreal's consists mainly of chemicals whose names i can't spell, let alone pronounce, and a bit of panthenol (that 80% of face creams and lotions contain), this one seems to be richer in this department, whith a couple of interesting additions.

-apigenin: a flavone (derived from Vitamin P) with strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune system booster effects. It's mostly considered very efficient for cell growth and cell development stimulation, hence it's destination-a lash energizer. Haha, quite funny. I'm quite impressed, you know. It's easy to research on so you should definitely check apigenin out if you want to find out more, i'm being brief here.

-biotinoyl tripeptide-1: also present in Lilash and Cargo eyelash growth products (according to truthaging.com), a substance used for treating alopecia.

-keratin: no comment. the more the better. it replenishes the hair structure since it's a natural substance the hair follicles are based on.

-oarweed (Laminaria Digitata) and millet (Panicum Miliaceum) extracts: brown and green algae extracts. couldn't be happier about that. Sea weed has proven regeneration and cell growth properties, being a key ingredient in many expensive cosmetics (La Mer, Silk Therapy, etc). 

-Channel Wrack (Pelvetia Canaliculata): another brown alga rich in nutritious elements, packed with peptides, used in anti-hairloss cremes and treatments. 

Application: they say it should be applied as a normal mascara, once or twice a day, before going to bed, on clean lashes, or before applying your makeup in the morning, letting it dry for 60 seconds if you're also putting on your regular mascara. I apply this several times a day like i would normally apply a mascara and i also take a bit of gel from the brush and massage it into the roots of the lashes to maximize the effect. 

It doesn't sting at all, however it gave a slight tingling sensation on my left eye, right where the gaps were, so my positive self wants to believe it's because the product was 'working it'. It is definitely neither painful nor disturbing. Haven't noticed any discoloration/pigmentation on the lashlines, it could be too early to say but so far nada, therefore whoever wants to give this a try shouldn't worry about these aspects. My eye color hasn't changed either :)). 

It looks and acts like a transparent mascara- it's a cloudy gel that dries transparent, giving the lashes a bit of a crisp, so i'd say coating them with a drop of oil makes everything more comfortable and prevents any breakage from occurring in case you want to curl them/wash your face etc. Just to be extra careful, you know.

I've been using this for three days now and i apply it more than once a day. In my desperate attempt to recover my BAE (before Ardell Extensions) lashes i keep applying this perhaps six or seven times a day. I'm keeping it on my desk, next to a mirror, so i won't forget about it. At night, i apply it, let it get tacky (not dry) and then apply a concoction on olive and castor oil on top of that (i read that the two oils mixed together increase each other's effects and penetrate the skin and hair follicles much better than when applied separately). I haven't noticed any massive growth in thickness, but there have definitely been some changes.

My lashes are longer in both eyes, especially the right one. The gaps on the left one are almost invisible, the small hairs struggling to come out having grown quite decently (small lashes) on my lash line. The lashes are longer and it is quite noticeable, which i can't say it's the effect of olive+castor oil since they do work, but on a slower pace. 

This is what my lashes look like now. The camera can't capture all the changes that have taken place unfortunately, i.e. some lashes have outgrown their neighbors and look like fine baby hairs; since it's just a few of them and they're quite light, you barely see them. 

If you click on the photos you'll see a great deal of tiny lashes growing out...fingers crossed! However, they're not as dark as they used to be and there's no 'fake' curl whatsoever, just my natural barely there blah. Oh well, this isn't a big deal to me, just thought i should mention it since most of the lash growth products out there also give a tremendous curl from what i've seen.

So i'm going to keep using this and do a little update in a week...see what happens. Lash Diary!

Ahoy for lashes!!

Here we go again with the lashes...during my boot camp conditioning routine. I am currently using:

-vaseline

-castor oil

-extra virgin olive oil

-the oils combined

-the three ingredients altogether

-a Swedish pharmacy cream for extra dry skin enriched with peanut oil (worked wonder in the past on both my skin and lashes)

-a second type of vaseline (white, pharmacy refined) in the hopes that something will bring back my lashes. 

The Makeup Store treatment mascara is discontinued. Bummer. Face Stockholm has a product but it's kinda expensive right now, around €30; the SA's babbling that 'uhm well, yes...it does make your lashes grow...but doesn't make them longer....it's a conditioner for lashes thus will make them...longer...but not really, thicker i assume...but they will grow back....unless they have been yanked out...' convinced me not to get that product. 

And i'm also seeing some changes with my 'holistic' routine. Here's what they look like now:

Right eye- definitely not thicker but a tad longer and more luscious. I am not losing lashes either so hurray!

The left eye is the biggest troublemaker; when i removed the false lashes i also lost two bunches of my own lashes....i think there were more than twenty. Notice the gap and the two little hairs sprouting out...my lashes are finally growing back. Slowly but decisively. I had major lash rip off and two gaps actually...but the lashes around the 1st one are gradually getting longer and perhaps it helps at concealing the baldness...sigh. This is the worst feeling ever after getting a (short) bad haircut....luckily, mascara is much more accessible than hair extensions and looks better than wigs ;)

My lashes still look crappy with mascara on because they're fewer and adding copious layers of makeup makes them look crunchy and unnatural (eeeeekkk!!!! i hate the look!!!) but what's a girl gotta do.....

I'll keep my aforementioned regimen and perhaps muster the courage to pick up an eyelash growth product...heard about a 'good one' from a lady working in a beauty salon, hopefully it isn't something excessively priced...anyways. I'll come back in a couple of days and do an update on my lashes...i feel so down and bad without them :( sigh sigh and triple sigh.

Update on the lashes-week 1

Okay so it's been a little bit more than a week (8 days) since i started regularly applying vaseline and borage oil to condition the lashes. The results aren't spectacular, but i can definitely see an improvement in my lashes, thickness and lusciousness-wise:

Scary pic, huh

Right eye-still a bit longer and THICKER lashes!

My right eye lashes are longer, yet a little bit 'chipped' in the outer corner,  as opposed to the left eye, where they're normally 'arranged' along the lash line (thicker in the outer corner), yet a tad shorter. 

However, I am definitely pleased with the results. So far not a single lash fell throughout my makeup (removing) routine(s), which is great-they're healthier and more robust. Hopefully a noticeable improvement will happen by the end of the month.

Fingers crosses and let's hope for the best!

The HG Mascaras

Over the years (i do sound so old) i have bought MANY mascaras, from no names to the highest of the high-end. I've been surprised by some, disappointed by many, and utterly upset by others that i've ended throwing away since nobody else wanted them.

On my current list, and in my makeup kit actually, there are several mascaras i always end up coming back to. I have been repurchasing most of these mascaras for about four years and i couldn't be happier. They deliver what i want, well, what we all want- full, thick, long and curly lashes- without necessarily costing an arm and a leg. I have got my mind set on two or three mascara additions right now- Elizabeth Arden (sheer curiosity), Lancome Hypnose (i've heard only great things about it) and Shiseido Volumizing mascara (owned it in the past and want to repurchase to have a complete collection thereof).

However. These are my present mascaras, they have their own satin pochette and a very very happy life. Plus, i don't know why, but 99% are drugstore mascaras.

1. Max Factor Masterpiece Mascara

There is nothing in this world that separates my lashes like this one does, period. It just coats EACH individual lash, and not in the marketing-babbling way- it really does it. I couldn't start applying anything else without this one as a base (to save my Shiseido mascara base for more special occasions). I love the gummy, cone-shaped bristles that look like little plastic spikes. The brush is rather triangular, medium-sized and it manages to catch all my lashes, from the tiniest to the longest. I will keep repurchasing this until they discontinue it (hopefully they will never do)

2. L'Oreal Lash Architect Mascara

 I don't know why most reviews are negative when it comes to this product. To me it's great. Nothing lengthens my lashes like this one. Being a L'Oreal mascara, it works on the same basis- it needs a tiny bit of oxygen exposure so the uber-creamy formulation can 'dry' up a little and not verge on the runnier side. I never experienced clumping or flaking with this mascara. To me it's a fantastic lengthening product, and one coat is enough for both eyes (a coat= one tube scoop with the wand). I like the long, slender brush and the thick, tightly packed bristles. The Masterpiece and this one are my usual daily mascara routine and i'm always out the door with fanned, thick lashes.

3. Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara

Already reviewed so i'll keep it simple. This has a special volumizing brush and a cream formula. I like it for a more dramatic finishing effect.

4. Isadora Extra Volume Buildup Mascara

Another GREAT drugstore find. First, the tube is huge-12 ml v. the usual 8 ml most mascaras are. The brush is rather huge, with thin, long bristles that catch the lashes for a real buildup effect. It doesn't clump, doesn't run dry and doesn't flake either. I initially tried it as a sample (that lasted me more than 4 months) and i fell in love with it. It's a great product, relatively cheap, easy to find. I strongly recommend it.

5. Max Factor False Lash Effect

A recent addition to my mascara collection, after reading a ton of reviews praising it and comparing it to the US version of the Covergirl Lashblast. Since Covergirl isn't available in Europe, and the packaging and formulation are said to be 99% identical, i thought i could give it a try and i was really positively surprised. It can replace my MF Masterpiece as a first mascara coat/base very easily, it doesn't clump, i like the fatty brush and the short bristles and the final effect- really natural lashes. Never worked it for a more dramatic effect, so i don't know if several layers would make it clump, but so far i like it.

6. L'Oreal Voluminous

Poor man's Yves Saint Laurent Faux Cils Effect Mascara. Most YouTube gurus and beauty bloggers agree on this one; i discovered this mascara many years ago, in highschool, and i remember the first time i got asked about it-it was a beauty sales assistant wanting to know what mascara i was using! I have been repurchasing this ever since, for about six-seven years or more. It's a great volumizing product as long as it's used three-four times before- a little bit of oxygen exposure will unleash its maximum volumizing&lengthening capacities.

7. Bourjois Volume Clubbing Mascara

This stuff came as an initial disappointment. I didn't like the 'bald' wand, the fatty (yet glamorous) tube, the runny consistency, the porn-star blueish black. It got better in time, after a serious oxygen exposure- probably a month after opening it. It's very tricky to use, you have to experiment with the brush in order to find the perfect angle to achieve the desired effect, and pay extra attention when you're applying the mascara on the lashes directly with the 'bald' side or the short bristles- it can be messy. It flakes a little but it's extremely resistant. I can easily remove it with my cream-based eye makeup remover (Olay), but many complaints in this department- if you use an oil-based mascara remover it's going to take a while to take it off and perhaps a couple of lashes as well. However, i remember it was a tad pricy, probably in the Lancome-Dior category, which is a bit of an eyebrow raise if you consider Bourjois to be on the less expensive side (not a drugstore brand, but still, it's not a high-end one either). The effect is wonderful- truly black, lusciously long diva lashes than can rival a natural set of falsies. Worth every penny.

8. Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara

Yet another MF favorite. The brush is fantastic, very thick and tightly packed, the formulation is just perfect, not too runny or too thick, it tends to clump a tiny bit if i insist with the brush and several layers but a 30 second break in between is more than enough to prevent it from drying up and making the lashes stick together. I use it as a 'base', a 'filler' but also as a 'finishing' mascara if i'm on the run or just feel like it. It's one of the few mascaras that i can personally use all by itself and be 100% satisfied with the results. It does volumize and lengthen, preserving the curl and giving a very natural look even after several coats. A five stars product.

Update on lashes and Borage Oil

While performing my regular vaseline eyelash therapy i also included several Borage oil drops into my routine, for both lashes and skin. Whilst nothing miraculous happened (Rapunzel lashes...), my skin and lashes do look and feel better.

I found out about the borage oil from the lovely I Want To Be A Roitfeld, impassioned admirer of Carine Roitfeld (French Vogue editor) and her daughter Julia Roitfeld. Borage oil is one of Julia's favorite beauty products that she uses on the hair tips, rubbing it into the skin and as a nutritional supplement as well. Well, i had to try it.

Borage Oil capsules

Starflower

 About: 'The oil is pressed from the borage, or starflower, a delicate blue flower native to the Mediterranean region and parts of Asia, Africa, and South America. Not only will your hair shine as a result: borage is the plant with the highest concentration of gamma linolenic acid (GLA), the only omega-6 fatty acid known to stop the growth and metastasis of tumors. Borage has also been proven to metabolize bad fat, reduce inflammation, ease cramping and mood swings associated with PMS, promote healthy circulation, and even help with impotence. Borage — the wonder oil!'

Borage oil is also highly indicated in cases of eczema or atopic dermatitis and other inflammations due to the concentration of omega-6 fatty acids it contains.

 I began a couple of days ago, mixing a few drops of borage oil into my usual A-Derma cream (that contains omega-6 fatty acids as well) and it worked very pleasantly, the cream glided on and got absorbed very quickly. It worked as a conductor so to speak since i've noticed the oil by itself is difficult to get absorbed into the skin and gives an annoying oiliness for about half an hour. I have the capsule-packaged oil with a vitamin E addition (500 mg oil & 10 mg vit E); the capsules are a little bit hard to puncture so i use a needle and then squeeze out a couple of drops. One capsule suffices for three uses. I am not very sure about starting to regularly take Borage oil as a supplement because of the vit E (it can have a series of secondary effects, depending on the organism), but i'm feeling on the right track from the beauty therapy respect.

Definitely an improvement, in both lashes and skin. It does feel moisturized when i wake up in the morning, the same feeling of hydration i get from applying vaseline, minus the pore-clogging effect petroleum jelly is famously known for. The skin on my cheeks is plumper and looks fresh, and my fine lines around the eyes have become less noticeable as well.

The lashes- now on the left eye, i couldn't quite capture a clear image with the camera but the right eye lashes look curlier, thicker and shinier; the thickness isn't that improved (i'm still counting on the vaseline factor for this aspect) but they do look healthier:

I'll keep it going and see what happens at the end of the month..the Eternal Lash Hopeful that i am :)

Lashes and Vaseline- part 1

Ready, steady, go. I had a no-shopping, no-going out (free) day on my hands so i figured i could start the vaseline eyelash therapy.
Tools:
-an old mascara brush (amazing mascara btw, from a German brand named The Makeup Factory. the brush is identical with the Too Faced Lash Injection one, the mascara had a volumizing formulation and did beautifully).
-supermarket/pharmacy vaseline: two options, Klover vaseline or  pharmacy vaseline. I don't know why, maybe it's just me, but i think the Klover version works better. Though they're identical. So it's just me.

Great lip moisturizer & lip scrub medium as well:

Lashes and Vaseline

Today i am seriously starting to use Vaseline and 'lash conditioning cream' on my lashes, every night (and during daytime as well, if i have time/am home alone) and see what happens.

For the past month(s) i have been using vaseline (petroleum jelly, regular stuff) to condition my lashes and very good things have happened.

First, they appear stronger. The hairs look thicker and healthier. The lashes don't 'crack' anymore when i use mascara (seriously, i can hear the mascara wand rubbing against the hairs, THAT deteriorated they were- thanks to Rimmel Sexy Curves), they are not necessarily much longer but they look and feel thicker and, most important of all, stronger.

I usually don't experience lash fall, not even when trying to remove mascara bases or waterproof stuff (hello rubbing); i think i've lost probably 6-7 lashes in my entire life, during periods of time and not makeup-involving processes. I sometimes find a lash on the cheek, on the pillow case, stuff like that. I'd get very scared if i lost lashes during makeup removal and who knows what i'd be capable of purchasing *rolls eyes* in order to stop the tragedy from occurring.

While admiring the courage (and financial sacrifice) of everybody who's ever tried lash-growth products (i.e. Latisse, Jan Marini, LiLash etc), i must confess i'm not that brave. First off, none of these products is available in Sweden. Secondly, i never shop on e-bay or amazon or other sites like that; perhaps i would trust a lash-growth product transaction only on MUA swapping or from a friend only; i'm just not pro e-bay ever since one of my friends got an old Super Mario game instead of a PS2 console and another one discovered baby powder and corn starch in her Erno Laszlo, 'brand new and sealed' moisturizer. So yeah. Maybe i'm being a tad paranoid (i actually know i am) but i'd rather just use stuff available and safe to return/complain about etc.*digress digress digress*

Soooo i really think vaseline works. It's not a miracle growth product that would stimulate one's lashes grow in a week like Jack's beanstalk in a night; nevertheless it conditions, prevents fallouts, prevents both the hairs and the skin from dehydrating and makes them shinier.

At the end of the 'trial' period, a month that is, i am definitely going to purchase the Make Up Store Conditioning Mascara, a product that's been a constant presence on the Swedish beauty blogosphere. I can hardly wait to try that one and see what happens (highly recommended by several Swedish models and beauty bloggers).

However. I've been a little negligent in my vaseline-application therefore i decided to start the countdown. A month, four weeks. Let's see what happens after daily use of vaseline. This is what my lashes look like now:

Left eye lashes are thicker and a bit shorter than right eye's lashes

Right eye-longer but thinner lashes

I hope one of the two, ie Vaseline or the conditioning mascara, can help with the bleached tips and roots of the lashes. I hate having lighter hairs among the darker ones and the bottom lashes look like crap as well because of this- it looks bald and the skin shows through *sad face*. It looks like i need to apply eye pencil 24/7.

About dying the lashes- I've been put off (a long time ago actually) by some cautionary tales, and especially by my friend's experience. She had quite long and thick lashes but as a natural blonde, they needed mascara to show; she had them done at the salon and within two-three weeks, major fallout occurred. It depends on one's lash type and the natural response our bodies give to such treatments (allergic reactions to hair dye, perm solution etc) but still, i can't muster the strength to allow something that aggressive around my lashes.

So this is it. I'm going to set the date on September the 30th and evaluate the results. Fingers crossed!