Bi-Weekly WTF :: Vol 10 – KISS Brow Stamp

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While there is a ton of nonsense on Twitter, it isn’t usually where I run into ridiculous products. Yet, a few weeks ago, I stumbled across a ridiculous product on that very site.

Behold,

KISS Brow StampKISS Brow Stamp


stamp on eyebrows.

Like any elementary school student, I am unreasonably entertained by ink stamps. I’m intrigued by what appears to be the promise of a single, swift, single-step brow. But what good is a quick, easy-to-use product if the product doesn’t perform? I took to Ulta’s site to investigate since brow stuff has been on my mind a lot as of late.

KISS’ Claims:

Benefits:

  • Never struggle with brows again! Just press the brow shaped sponge onto powder & stamp the color onto your brow!
  • Cover sparse areas or just create perfect, natural looking brows

The KISS Brow Stamp product is powder, rather than ink-based. You pat the brow-shaped sponge applicator into the product, then press onto your face.

Caveats

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NYX Tinted Brow Mascara

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This legacy post has received a facelift (or at least an invigorating facial massage). Content was tidied up; updates with new opinions/insights are in line with notation. April Favorites will run next week.

NYX Cosmetics has come out with a lot of new brow products – a gel, a mascara, a pomade (trying to take on Dipbrow?), new ultra-skinny pencils, etc. In spring of 2015, I picked up the NYX Tinted Brow Mascara in Brunette.

NYX Tinted Brow Mascara - Packaging

 

I was happy with Dipbrow (2018 Update – I did ultimately discontinue use of Dipbrow.) , but trying something new is fun every now and then. I picked this up when I returned the failed NYX Green CC Cream. While I was shopping, the first thing that struck me was the lack of variety in available shades. They have blonde (lighter, taupe-y), chocolate (warm brown), brunette (cool brown), espresso (dark brown), and black (brown-black)…that’s it!

Color Choice

I chose the (supposedly) cooler brown shade, Brunette. Although my hair is fairly warm, I don’t want my brows to be. Upon use, I found that despite perhaps being the cooler of the two, it is quite warm.

NYX Tinted Brow Mascara - Wand

Consistency, Hold, and Application

The consistency of NYX Tinted Brow Mascara is very lightweight, but wet; when you swipe it through your brows, you definitely feel the moisture content. Personally, I found that weird in a brow product and did not care for it. Given that, you don’t have a whole lot of control even though the spoolie with which you apply it is small and stiff. I found myself getting blobs in my brows that were really awkward. Ultimately, I had to gently squeeze the spoolie with a tissue to remove the excess so I was applying the bare minimum – which means I was wasting product to be able to use it.

NYX Tinted Brow Mascara - Hand SwatchNYX Tinted Brow Mascara – Swatch

As far as hold goes? Meh. It’s better than nothing, but if your brows are unruly and you really want them to stay put you need something else. Without sounding like a shill, I’ve only ever tried Anastasia’s clear one, and I was happy with its strong hold (2018 Update – Anastasia Clear Brow Gel still takes the cake but full disclosure – my brows are not unruly). Happy enough to regularly shell out for it? Nope; I’m sure there are other good ones out there.

2018 Update – Simply put, the spoolie is too large for the intended purpose. This is more of a standard, eyelash-mascara applicator rather than one suited for brows. It is difficult to use for the intended purpose, but not impossible.

The Bottom Line

My verdict? This product would be okay as a finishing touch when paired with a powder or pencil. I wouldn’t use this on its own unless your brows are already nigh-flawless.

It is finicky to work with, and the shade range leaves some to be desired. I wouldn’t buy if you’re looking for a one-and-done product, or unless you’re SURE the shade will work for you; in my case, my brows were too warm with this, it was really awkward and obvious.

How to: Care for Your Hairdryer

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How to Care for Your Hairdryer

Confessions from a Dusty Apartment: That is my hairdryer’s filter and yes, it is dusty and covered in lint. No wonder it was failing to perform!

We clean our homes. We clean our brushes (or at least pretend we do). Frequently, though, styling tools get neglected. Sure, you might be removing excess hair from your brushes as it accumulates, but are you cleaning your hot tools? What about your hairdryer? Yeah – didn’t think so! Fortunately, it is super easy (inexpensive, and quick!) to care for your hairdryer.

Like many people, I left my hairdryer to face neglect. My dryer isn’t a fancy, performance dryer like a Neuro or Speed Freak. Instead, it is a modest (yet delightfully effective) Conair that my husband gifted me a few years ago. I was sad, earlier this year, when its performance started to wane. One day, I noticed that the dryer itself started to seem a bit hotter than usual although the air it was outputting was not. To top that off, the airflow wasn’t as powerful, either. After first giving it a quick blast with a can of compressed air to dislodge some of the fluff, I noticed an immediate improvement in my dryer’s performance. Shockingly, the picture above is after the compressed air. Oops. Then, I set out to do it, “right.”

The Right Way

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Garnier Micellar Water

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Garnier Micellar WaterGarnier Micellar Water

This is a legacy post that has been given a facelift. Content is the same but may have been edited for clarity and readability. Any additional commentary is noted in line.

Micellar Water, where have you been all my life? Oh, right, in France, as Bioderma. But NOW, here, everywhere, inexpensive, accessible, and glorious.

I purchased my bottle of Garnier Micellar Water from Target, unassuming in its pink-capped, clear, oval bottle. I tend to do a good job resisting the hype, but I got anxious when I got home with it. Is it just water? Did I just pay $6 for a bottle of water?!

What’s in a Micelle?

I did more homework. To explain it simply:

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Stopped Using Philosophy Pure Grace

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Philosophy Pure Grace, $49

Scent is a funny thing. It is the sense tied most strongly to memory, for instance. Beyond that, some things that are really appealing to some of us are cloying and off-putting to others. Stranger still is how we can be really fond of a particular smell – like a candle or a perfume – for a long time and then, with no discernible reason, find it bothersome.

Case in Point

In 2011 or so I came to adore Yankee Candle Pink Sands. I had it everywhere; in our house, on a warmer at my desk at work, everywhere. I can’t come close to accurately guessing how many times I purchased it in its various forms.

I’m paring down my candle collection just like my makeup – but I’m paring it down by steadily burning what we can tolerate. (I’m giving the rest away.) Two weeks ago, I came to a partially-burnt Pink Sands jar and lit it. Later, I suddenly found myself thinking that I had grown tired of it.

Personal Fragrance

I’ve talked about my relationship with fragrance before. I enjoy wearing it – or the idea of wearing it, anyway – but I am very picky about it. On top of that, I have a highly fragrance-sensitive husband. Obviously I don’t want to use products in my home or on my person that will cause him headaches or respiratory distress!

I felt myself growing tired of Pure Grace. I’d been wearing it a lot because it is clean, appropriate for work when used sparingly (as I use all my fragrance), and worked well with my chemistry. All that said, though, I seem to have used it in such a way that it overstayed its appeal to me.

Around the same time, unbeknownst to either of us, my husband started developing sensitivity to it. For a while, he’d ask what the heck I’d sprayed or what lotion I’d used; since it was such a part of my routine it didn’t even register until I went without for a week, then used it again – and he asked again.

The Bottom Line

If I’m going to be the source of my partner’s headaches, it is damn well going to be something more important than the fragrance I’m wearing – so I broke up with Pure Grace.

I’m back to only wearing Fresh Cream (also Philosophy). I don’t know if I’m going to seek a new fragrance or not. I really loved Daisy and Daisy Eau so Fresh from Marc Jacobs; maybe I’ll return to those.

Have your fragrance tastes evolved over time?

How To: Preserve Blonde Hair

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I’ve had blonde balayage highlights for almost two years now. I have the distinct pleasure of having hard water as well, which means two years of preserving blonde hair by navigating brassy wasters with various purple-tinged potions. Even though I decided recently to discontinue undergoing the process with the salon I was working with, the jury of one is still out on whether I’m done-done, or just done with that salon for now. Regardless of whether I continue, I still have many months of preservation ahead so I don’t look like a clown.

Step One: Squeaky Clean

Good news – clarifying shampoos can be found in the drugstore away from the premium, salon brands. I use this inexpensive one from TRESemme ($0.16 per ounce); in spite of being a clarifying shampoo, it is gentle and does not lead my scalp to mutiny. I’ve had good luck with Suave’s ($0.06 per ounce) too.

Using a clarifying shampoo is like any other shampoo. Lather up, then rinse. Done!

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