Makeup for the Gym?

Is there even such a thing? How many of you still wear makeup at the gym just in case a hot guy is lifting across from you? I'm honestly curious. Anyway, I'm about to head off to the gym and was wondering if anybody else just can't seem to go naked for the sake of sweating. I can't do it guys!

So anyway, here's my super short list of must-have products for the gym (or any active lifestyle event, I suppose):

-Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer

-Benefit's They're Real mascara

-Burt's Bees pomegranate lip balm

Laugh at me if you will, but I wouldn't go to the gym at all if it weren't for these products. I'm still a little insecure about my small blemishes and acne scars. And who could forgo mascara lest you meet someone absolutely luscious sweating next to you?

Let me know your thoughts on this somewhat taboo makeup topic!

Mascara Meltdown- Vol. 1: Waterproof Summer Faves

Mascara meltdown will be reviews and comparisons all about mascara. Different types, formulas, recommendations for special occasions. If it's about mascara, it will end up in the meltdown.

Today's meltdown is all about waterproof summer favorites, as requested by my DG sister, Mary. She works a lot of long days and needs a recommendation for something that won't give raccoon eyes after a few hours of wear. So the following listed are all ready for super long wear and will still be working hard even after you're not!

High End:
-Urban Decay Cannonball
-Too Faced Lash Injection

Drugstore:
-Covergirl Lashblast Volume in Waterproof
-L'oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes
-Maybelline The Falsies in Waterproof

Of all of these recommendations, the ultimate winner would have to be COVERGIRL LASHBLAST VOLUME IN WATERPROOF. This mascara will leave you scrubbing your eyeballs raw without an eye makeup remover. Even with an eye makeup remover I'll need to go over it twice. Use with caution. One coat is more than enough.

DISCLAIMER: if you do decide to give the L'oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes, beware that when you go to take it off with warm water (you don't need a makeup remover for this- what a plus!), you will see all of these thick, black tubes come off on your hands. Don't worry- these aren't your eyelashes, just the tubes of mascara that surrounded them. If you're not used to it, I can see how this would freak some of you out.

Well, best of luck, and head off to the pool!

Peace, love and hugs,
Abbey

Review- Covergirl Natureluxe Collection

Is it really worth all the hype? Here's the breakdown of Covergirl's newest Natureluxe collection, piece-by-piece.

FOUNDATION
It is an extremely lightweight and silky foundation that has light coverage. I would really like to see the range of shades expanded, but because the coverage is so light it doesn't matter as much that they don't have the perfect color match for everybody. I tend to think of this foundation as a substitute for a tinted moisturizer on days that I need a little more coverage but still want the lightweight feel.

I felt as if my skin could breathe a lot better than if I were wearing a regular foundation, and it dried to a light, almost powder-like finish. I think this is good for all skin types, but if you are oily/combination you're going to have to touch up at some point during the day because the coverage is so light.

-How much do I get? 1 fl oz
-How much does it cost? $9.99
-What type of coverage does it have? Light
-What is the color range? Not exceptional, but passable


GLOSSBALM
Let me start off by saying this glossbalm has very little color payoff. The color you see in the packaging is not the color that your lips will be after using it. That being said, I think that this is an excellent product that delivers a sheer wash of color and moisturization in a tiny package. This is an excellent alternative to wearing chapstick, and doesn't feel like you have anything on your lips at all. Great for die-hard chapstick fans trying to branch out into the world of lip color. It has a slight shimmer to it and a light sheen is visible on the lips instead of a full-on gloss.


I think this is a beautiful and natural alternative to heavy lip color in the summer and would be great for women of all ages. The colors are very sheer so selecting one to fit your skin tone really isn't an issue. Any woman can wear any of the colors, which is wonderful!


MASCARA

This mascara is a little different than most drugstore brands because it is a mousse formula. Like everything else in the collection, it is lightweight and natural looking, which is great for summer wear and tear but generally imperceptible in photographs. They make a regular and a waterproof formula, and I have tried them both. The waterproof formula is a smidge drier than the regular, which I actually prefer, but if you are a type of person who likes a lot of time to apply their mascara and form their lashes just the way they want before they dry, don't get the waterproof. It will be too dry to do that and end up clumping and flaking all over the place.


I was a little disappointed in the applicator, it had a small, oval shaped brush with rubber bristles that were spaced relatively close to one another. I'm really not a huge fan of brushes with rubber bristles, so that's probably why I got turned off by it, but I must say it did give a nice, clean definition as opposed to a regular brush wand.

-How much do I get? 0.37 fl oz

-How much does it cost? $7.99

-What colors does it come in? Black and Brown

-What type of formula is it? Regular and Water Resistant

-What type of wand does it come with? Standard brush of average size with rubber bristles

Review- Urban Decay Cannonball Ultra Waterproof Mascara

Okay, so I've been using this mascara a few days now and I'm finally ready to do a full review.  When I saw the ads for this ultra waterproof mascara, I was a little skeptical. Most "waterproof" mascaras are really only water resistant and with enough liquid prodding slough off lashes pretty easily. Not this one. It's sweat-proof, surf-proof, pool-proof, and basically bulletproof. I normally use Neutrogena oil-free eye makeup remover, but even that didn't get all of this baby off. I had to pull out the big guns and use my oil-based Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes, and Lips.

Very rarely have I come across a mascara that lives up to its claims. Bravo, Urban Decay! What a fabulous formula.

Now on to what I didn't like: the brush. How on earth could they have such a wonderful and blessed formula and stick just any old brush on it?! It is your standard mascara wand with nothing else to say. It didn't really do anything special for thickening or lengthening. All the brush did was place the product onto my lashes, which would be just fine if I were a 12 year old girl putting on makeup to go to the movies. I would have preferred to see an oversized brush with extra bristles and a tapered point to make applying product to the inner and outer corners easier.

I suppose if you were using this mascara for exactly what they advertise it (as a product one might wear to the gym or the beach) then you wouldn't be entirely too concerned with fattening up your lashes and lengthening them to the point of no return. But for the vast majority of beauty junkies that purchase Urban Decay, we're just looking for an extremely long-wearing mascara that won't smudge or transfer on those hot and steamy nights.

Onto the must-knows for this product:

-How much do I get? 0.37 fl oz

-How much does it cost? $20

-What colors does it come in? Only black

-What type of formula is it? Ultra-waterproof (neither volumizing nor lengthening)

-What type of wand does it come with? Standard brush of average size

Overall, I think this product has a fabulous formula with a less than par wand. I will continue to use it in those specific afore-mentioned situations, but for times when all out glamour is required, I will have to hunt for something else. Perhaps I can put a coat or two of this mascara on top of another.