First Impression: Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara

I've seen this mascara many times in the store but I haven't heard much about Neutrogena mascaras so I've never picked it up. I was recently in a Target and decided to try this out. I got it in the shade "carbon black." It's a really skinny tube and it's packaged with the brush separate from the tube. So, when you open it for the first time, you open the mascara tube and insert the clean brush. This mascara claims to lengthen lashes 100% and includes vitamin E, olive oil, and antioxidants to increase lash health as well. It is anti-clumping, flaking, and smudging. 

The first thing I noticed about this mascara was the consistency. It's a lot thicker than the mascaras I typically use. I could tell it was a much thicker formula as soon as I inserted the brush. I noticed that this is beneficial when applying as it's a lot less messy, doesn't smudge onto my eyelids, and doesn't flake off onto my cheeks when I put it on. I was a little worried that would mean it'd be clumpy, but actually the opposite was true.

The first time I applied this, the first thing I noticed was how natural it looked. After applying one coat, it looked like I had naturally black, full lashes. It coated every lash but remained soft to the touch. I applied a few more coats to build up length and volume and was really happy with the finished product. This is definitely not a dramatic mascara - even after several coats it's very natural-looking. This would be a perfect "no makeup" mascara, a base coat, or a good everyday mascara if you're looking for something a little more subtle. 

This was just under $8 at Target and can be found in most drugstores and also at Ulta. It's a great mascara to keep in your makeup bag or to take when traveling because of its slim tube!

I've only been using this for about a week so I can't review it's lash lengthening properties, but I would repurchase just because I liked the product. I've actually been using this as a base mascara because it separates lashes and coats them so they're totally black. Then, I go in with just one coat of a different mascara to add a bit more length and thickness for a bolder look. I have used this several times on "no makeup" days and I really love the way it looks just on its own. I've also been using this on my bottom lashes and it has not smudged at all.

Have you tried this lengthening mascara? Did you see any results? Let me know! I will provide an update after I've been using it consistently for several weeks.

For the Love of Makeup Wipes...

I LOVE makeup wipes. I fully depend on them. If I'm out of makeup removing wipes I make a mad-dash to Target no matter what time of day it is. I've been using them for years and while I do have my favorites, it's hard for me to turn down a makeup wipe. Here's why I love them...

Late nights. Makeup removing wipes are perfect when you're too tired to get up and wash your face. If you've been out late and you need to fall into bed immediately... they're a lifesaver. I keep a pack in my nightstand for nights when I've already gotten into bed but then remember I haven't taken off my makeup (the worst feeling ever). I used to think this is a horrible habit and that it would leave me terribly broken out in the morning, but it actually doesn't (more on that later).

Pre-face wash. When I wash my face, I typically like to remove my makeup before I use my facial cleanser. That way I know that my cleanser got to actually do some work on my skin, and it wasn't wasted simply removing my makeup. Sometimes I'll use a wipe to do this, sometimes a cleansing oil, etc.

Quick. I don't know about you, but I love the feeling of removing makeup. It doesn't bother me to have a full face of makeup on all day, but I enjoy the feeling of a freshly cleansed face. Especially in the summer. Sometimes if I get home from a long day or I come home and know I'm done for the day, I take off my makeup as soon as I get in. I just remove it with a wipe and then when I'm ready for bed I can cleanse and go through with my usual routine, but that way you don't have makeup sitting on your face for unnecessary lengths of time. This is a good idea when you're having a breakout. Let your skin breathe as much as possible. This is also handy sometimes when you're putting on makeup. Wipes can be useful to clean up liner or shadow or a mascara fleck. I also usually carry a pack of wipes in my yoga bag, so that if I come to yoga with makeup on, I can take it off before class to avoid running mascara/breakouts/etc.

I can't get away with using wipes as my ONLY cleanser, but I do find that they clean my skin well enough to stave off breakouts if I use them periodically. My favorite wipes at the moment are the Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes with White Tea Extract. The towels have just enough liquid, they're not greasy, and the smell is really nice and fresh. I tried the Cucumber & Sage version and they were a little rough on my under-eye area, and I wasn't a fan of the smell. The Burt's Bees wipes are one of the cheapest options, which is (pleasantly) surprising because they're all natural. I also like the Simple Skincare Cleansing Facial Wipes. They're also all natural, have a non-offensive smell, and I like to formulation. For many years I used various Neutrogena wipes, but haven't gone back to them because they're usually the priciest and I've been enjoying my other options.

Do you ever rely on makeup wipes? Which are your favorites and how do you use them?


Products mentioned in this blog:
Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes
Simple Skincare Cleansing Facial Wipes
Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes