Showing posts with label Lumene. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lumene. Show all posts

Saturday, July 25, 2009

The Secret Behind Curling Mascaras

    Ever wonder what miracle additive makes your lashes curl when you use a curling mascara? I do. I have teeny little lashes and they need all of the help they can get. Recently, I was really pleased with how Lumene's Blueberry Curl Mascara worked and wondered what caused difference between Lumene and every other curling mascara I have tried.

    My quest lead me to a secret source, on a sunny coast, who works for one of the Bigs. I can't say the name of the company, but I can tell you he works in R&D (research and development) and has been instrumental in some of the most popular selling mascaras recently. When I asked what ingredient made the mascara have curl power, the answer I got was a little surprising. Ozokerite? Filmifying polymer? Magic dust?

    He said that while there are some ingredients that can enhance curl, what really creates the curl is the type of brush you use. A brush that is firm and helps coat the lash - actually forcing the lash to bend as you apply the mascara is muy importante. Another factor is how the water evaporates out of the product as it dries.

    Think of hair mousse from back in the day - it dried crunchy and curly, but you had to let it air dry. The curling action happens as the water evaporates, causing the polymer or film to shrink, forcing your precious lashes to curl in response to the mascara tightening as it dries. So the key is the brush and how it interacts with air?

    Not the answer I was looking for. I was hoping I could isolate some wonderful ingredient like Magic Curl Polymer 6B and only buy mascara boasting that ingredient, thus having pretty, curled lashes ever after. Sigh.


    Are there any options guaranteed to work? If serious curl is what you are after, you can have your lashes permed, which my secret source says he has done (and really liked). You can have it done in a salon in the states, but in Europe, you can do it yourself at home.


    In the meantime, I am currently digging Lumene Blueberry Curl, Blinc, Rimmel Glam Eyes and Max Factor Lash Perfection Volume Couture. Let me know what you think!


    Copyright 2009, Gouldylox Reviews

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Worth It? Lumene TIME FREEZE Instant Cooling Eye Stick


    I recently picked up this cute little product from Lumene, Time Freeze Instant Eye Cooling Stick. This product helps relieve tired eyes by cooling and moisturizing the under eye area. It is also supposed to help diminish dark circles and reduce puffiness. According to their website, "Natural arctic heather together with the plant sterols extracted from arctic white peat provide long-term wrinkle reducing benefits and protect skin against future signs of aging."

    Here are my questions. What is arctic heather? Why is the stick so small? Does this really work? First things first, according to Lumene, here are the benefits of arctic heather:

    Heather Flower Extract
    The extract from arctic heather contains antioxidants and flavonoids, which protect the skin against free radicals. The heather's flower stalks contain arbutin, which helps lighten and prevent any changes in the skin's pigment. The extract also softens and moisturizes the skin.

    Next: Why is it so small and the price on the higher side ($20)? Got me. It's actually my one big complaint about this product. I wish it was larger because I love using it. I find that I have been using it quite a bit when I get home from work and need to relax. It is really COOL when you put it on. It also feels as if it is almost wet. I also like how it moisturizes my under eye area. I just wish you didn't get so little product!

    Interesting side note: I have been getting headaches a lot lately, which I hope does not mean I am turning into my father, who suffered terribly from them (happy to hear suggestions as nothing helped him). I find that applying this cooling eye stick helps me relax and along with medicine, does help me feel better. I love that.

    Finally, does this really work? I can't find any research suggesting that arctic heather will do what it claims. The ingredients that are behind the serious cooling effect are alcohol and menthyl lactate, which may irritate your skin. In other words, I love how it feels (and it doesn't irritate my skin at all), but I can't find any research that would support its claims.

    If you are looking for something to feel great on your skin, this definitely does.
    If you need a serious under eye treatment, there are probably better options on the market.



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