blinc mascara
What it is: blinc mascara in dark purple

Product Site: blincInc.com

Continuing with my review of blinc cosmetics, let’s examine their mascara. I was determined to test this out because having oily skin, smudging is a huge issue for me and what I found is not only is it fabulous but entirely different than any other mascara I’ve ever used.

So what’s so different?  Tubes!  Yes, I said tubes!  blinc mascara actually encases each and every lash in a tiny tube!  So what does this mean?  It means *no* smudging, *no* flaking, and the ultimate in water resistance. Once the little tubies dry (which is in a matter of minutes), there is nothing smudgeable (new word) left on your lashes at all  to result in any smearing whatsoever, under just about any circumstance (as I have satisfactorily ascertained, read on)!

So, I says I says to myself, how am I going to give this stuff a workout?  I have a serious aversion to perspiring unnecessarily, so I wasn’t about to run around the block and work up a sweat.  So, what did I do to test it out?  The unthinkable…

I slept in it.

Considered the cardinal sin of makeup-wearers the world over, sleeping without removing your cosmetics can never result in anything good, and this is especially true for mascara!  C’mon, we’ve all been there, coming home on New Year’s Eve at 4am, falling into bed exhausted, and then the next morning starting off the new year with a lovely new look that is so raccoon you’re afraid you might cultivate a desire to tip over trash cans.  Soooo not good, especially if there is anyone around to witness your unfortunate transformation from human to procyonid.  I have never, ever used a mascara, no matter how “smudge proof,” that would pass the sleep test.  Until now.

Yes, believe it or not a full 24 hours after I applied it, other than three tiny little “tube specks” under both eyes combined, there was absolutely no evidence I had slept in mascara.  None.  Zippo.  Zilch. Nada.  Amazing.  I’m sold!

The stuff also comes off, when you want it to, easy as pie.  Though the instructions say to use slight pressure with warm water (apparently not even oily makeup remover will dissolve these fabulous tubies… which means oily skin won’t either!), I just washed my face with my usual cleanser and complexion brush and came away sparkling clean.  I suppose the complexion brush supplied enough gentle pressure to slide ‘em right off.

blinc mascara is available in black, dark brown, medium brown, dark blue, dark purple and dark green.  I went with the dark purple, which is dark enough not to look punky (not that I necessarily mind a little punk) and added just a touch of drama.  Love the color, love the mascara!

blinc eyebrow mousse
What it is: blinc eyebrow mousse in Dark Brunette

Product Site: blincInc.com

I still hadn’t figured out how I was going to resolve this issue when I was invited to pick a few cosmetics from blincInc.com to try out and review (with brutal honesty, as I informed them before agreeing to do it) on Style & Angst.  I think my eyes probably just about popped out of my head when I saw one of the products they offered, and couldn’t believe there was actually a cosmetic out there I had never even heard of before.  Eyebrow mousse… who knew?  OK, I’ll bite.

Yves Saint Laurent Nail Lacquer
What it is: La Laque No 31 Blanc Scintillant Sparkling White Nail Lacquer

Where I got it: Amazon

I didn’t think it would happen being a huge Orly fan (still am) but Yves Saint Laurent has totally converted me.  I LOVE their nail lacquer!  I’ve been addicted to this nail polish all winter, and it’s actually unheard of for me to wear the same shade even twice in a row. For reference my nails are natural, pretty long but not ostentatiously so, and given my chosen profession I usually have a full set of ten of them two or three times a year, if I”m lucky (now being one of those rare times).

Two coats, even in the Sparkling White, covered completely.  This color is absolutely divine, it’s a beautiful shimmery platinum white, the prettiest white nail polish I have ever seen bar none  (white being my favorite winter nail color, I’m sure it’s a lingering rebellion of my mother’s long-past “no white after Labor Day” rule). It dries practically instantaneously, and with my standard topcoat of Orly’s Tough Cookie (which is actually a strengthener but is my favorite topcoat ever),  it lasts *forever,* much longer than any other nail lacquer I’ve used with the same topcoat applied.  I actually bought a second bottle in the same color as I believe this one is discontinued and I am not about to be left without it.  Grabbed one in Orange Crush too, a beautiful peach shade for spring, which I will review once I put it through its paces.  Grab some of this stuff, you will absolutely not regret it.  You can purchase it at the official site above or find Yves Saint Laurent Nail Lacquer on Amazon (probably the only place you’ll find this particular shade) and save yourself a couplefew bucks.

Vincent Longo Cosmetic Brushes

What it is: Vincent Longo Dense Buff Brush

Retail Price: $32