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I can't remember where I first heard it from, but apparently you can use lash glue on your brows instead of brow gel or the soap brow me...

I can't remember where I first heard it from, but apparently you can use lash glue on your brows instead of brow gel or the soap brow method.  Lash glue is affordable enough, so I figured why not give it a try?  I'm ready to board this train to fluffy brow town.  

DUO BRUSH-ON ADHESIVE
Lash Glue Brow Gel Hack!

All aboard the bushy brow train!


INFO SHEET


Brand:  Duo
Product:  Brush-On Adhesive with Vitamins
Scent:  Like glue... but not noticeable after application.
Price:  $6.49
Where to Buy:  Amazon, Target, Ulta

I've used many different brow gels in the past, but just couldn't get them to work for me.  They wouldn't make my brows straight enough and would get all gunky.  I liked the results from the soap brow method, but alas my skin is too sensitive to leave soap on it and would get very itchy.  Plus if you intend to go swimming or live in a hot climate then just forget it.  It won't last. 

I was also toying with the idea of getting brow lamination, but just wasn't sure if I was ready to commit.  Enter:  The lash glue brow gel hack featuring Duo Brush-On Lash Adhesive!  

I arbitrarily chose to test this hack using Duo Brush-On Lash Adhesive.  I had searched for the best lash glue and sorted the results by highest rated.  I've never heard of this product beforehand because I've never tried fake lashes.  This lash glue is available in both dark and clear.  I went with clear because 1) how dark is dark? and 2) clear might be more forgiving if I mess up!


BEFORE AND AFTER

Don't put too much - trust me.

Brow Filler + Lash Glue = Win.


What isss thisss?  Color me shocked - now that's a bushy brow!!  You only need a teeny tiny amount to achieve the results above.  I'm talking VERY little.  The pictures above are from my second attempt, because my first attempt was an utter failure.  I had put what I thought was a moderate amount but ended up with rock hard brows.  I also learned that I probably should have trimmed my brows first, because I ended up looking like Brock Lee.

Another thing to note is that this sucker dries really fast, and you might need a good makeup remover (depending on how much glue you use).  For round two with Duo Brush-On Lash Adhesive, this is what I did:

  1. Trim my brows first by brushing them upward and trimming the straggly ones.
  2. Apply a small amount of lash glue and quickly brush the brows up and style.
  3. Fill in any areas that need a little love (I used my trusty Milani Weekend Brow Pen)
I used an old spoolie brush to style my brows upward and then out towards the tail.  At first I was worried that the lash glue wouldn't play nice with the brow pen, but it dried so fast that I had no issues filling them in afterward.  I also needed significantly less brow filler than I normally would; which means my brows look less "filled in" plus less fading to worry about.   


FINAL THOUGHTS


The lash glue brow gel hack is nothing to gawk it - it actually works VERY well.  I would honestly feel comfortable using it at a water park or the beach because it was completely water resistant.  I can't say the same for whatever brow filler is used afterward, but rest assured that the hairs should stay put.

STOREPRICEOFFERS
Amazon$5.38Free Shipping
Target$5.39Free Shipping Orders $35+
ULTA$6.49Free Shipping Orders $35+

The Duo Brush-On Lash Adhesive was perfect for this experiment.  It's very affordable, helped achieve what I set out to do, and did not irritate my skin.  It does leave a slight tacky feeling if you touch your brows, but at least they aren't going to budge!  It's also Made in Korea so that's a plus in my book. 

Rating

This post may contain affiliate links to help support this blog.  
None of these reviews sponsored, nor were any of the products provided for free (or even at a discount) by any affiliate.
Read full disclosure here.

One of my biggest pet peeves in my skin care journey is my large pores.  Apparently, these can be hereditary and not much can be done about ...

One of my biggest pet peeves in my skin care journey is my large pores.  Apparently, these can be hereditary and not much can be done about it.  There are some products out there that can temporarily minimize them, and Pacifica Cosmic Vanish Pore Strips is one of them...

PACIFICA
Cosmic Vanish Pore Strips Review

Pacifica Cosmic Vanish Pore Strips Review


INFO SHEET


Brand:  Pacifica
Product:  Cosmic Vanish Pore Strips
Scent:  A mix between tea tree and hemp.  Kind of odd but not unpleasant.
Price:  $6 for Six Strips (2x Nose, 2x Chin, 2x Forehead)
Where to Buy:  Amazon, Pacifica, Target, Ulta

To be honest, I've never purchased anything from Pacifica before; so I truly don't know what to expect with this product.  All I know is that my nose has seen better days, and I felt that it is finally time to address it.  Pacifica claims that the Cosmic Vanish Pore Strips can help provide a deep clean of pores by removing blackheads, dirt, and oil.  We shall see, Pacifica.  We shall see...

Comes with 2x Nose, 2x Chin, 2x Forehead strips.

Close up of a Pacifica Cosmic Vanish Pore Strip for the nose.


This is my mistake, but for some reason I didn't expect the Pacifica Cosmic Vanish Pore Strips package to include chin and forehead strips as well.  I should have really read the description.  For this review, I will be testing the nose strips specifically and will use the chin and forehead strips later on.  My nose is probably the best part to test anyway, because most nose strips just don't seem to work well for it and it needs the most help.  


INGREDIENTS


I never considered ingredients in a pore strip before, because I always just imagined them to just be a tiny cast that happens to pull out gunk.  However, perhaps learning about the ingredients in the Pacifica Cosmic Vanish Pore Strips will help determine how well sebaceous filaments can be removed.  Come with me, and you'll be... in a world of pure education...

Aqua, Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), Glycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (Licorice Root Extract), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Xanthan Gum.

Notable Ingredients:

  • Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate - aka Licorice Root Extract.  A plant extract that soothes the skin, evens out skin tone, and reduces redness.
  • Hamamelis Virginiana Extract - aka Witch Hazel.  Is said to help remove excess oil from the skin and temporarily minimize pores.
  • Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil - aka Hemp Seed Oil.  Derived from the seeds of the hemp plant, this ingredient helps reduce inflammation and attracts moisture to the skin.
  • Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil - aka Tea Tree Oil.  Can be irritating to the skin in high concentrations, but in low concentrate applications (such as this) can help sooth the skin and reduce irritation.

So it looks like the Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) is the adhesive component that helps the pore strip stick to the skin, and the Witch Hazel absorbs the excess oil onto the strip.  The other ingredients appear to counteract the potential redness and irritation stemming from the whole process.  


COSDNA ALERTS


None of the ingredients listed above triggered any alerts from COSDNA for potential acne or irritation, but keep in mind; the action of peeling the strip off your skin may be irritating in itself.  Hopefully the anti-irritant ingredients will help with this.


BEFORE AND AFTER

Ren & Stimpy close up 🤮

🤮🤮🤮


Okay so the Pacifica Cosmic Vanish Pore Strips actually worked VERY well.  The pores in my nose are visibly smaller and it took out a ton of filaments.  I've never used a pore strip that worked this well so I am truly surprised by the results (sorry, Biore).  

The Pacifica pore strips were a little different from the Biore ones.  It felt more like a rigid paper so I wasn't sure if it would even stick to my nose.  I washed my face as instructed and applied the strip (shiny side down) to my wet face.  I then gently, pressed it into my nose for full adhesion.  There were some spots that were still dry or didn't stick well; so I used damp fingers on the top of the strip to further mold it around my nose.  

The instructions say to wear the strip for 15 minutes, but they still felt a little damp at that time.  You can tell if they're still damp because wet areas feel cooler than the dry areas.  So I waited until the strip was fully dried before peeling it off (about 25 minutes).  I also peeled it off very very slowly.  I grabbed each side of the Pacifica Cosmic Vanish Pore Strips and pulled it forward until it was released from the tip of my nose.  It didn't hurt much at all - I was expecting my nose to be irritated or at least a little pink afterward, but it was not probably thanks to the anti-irritant ingredients.


FINAL THOUGHTS


I'm definitely rebuying the Pacifica Cosmic Vanish Pore Strips.  While I don't think they will be good for the skins moisture barrier if you try to incorporate them into a regular skin care routine; I fully intend to use them if I'm going out and want to look nice, or for monthly "maintenance".  

STOREPRICEOFFERS
Amazon$6.00Free Shipping
Pacifica$6.0015% Off First Purchase; Free Shipping Orders $50+; Free Gift with Purchase
Target$5.99Free Shipping Orders $35+
ULTA$6.00Free Shipping Orders $35+

Finally something good to write about!  My last few reviews were full of duds, and it feels so good to get a win.  I'm very happy with my purchase and am excited to see what else Pacifica has to offer.

Rating

This post may contain affiliate links to help support this blog.  
None of these reviews sponsored, nor were any of the products provided for free (or even at a discount) by any affiliate.
Read full disclosure here.

I like gel liners that come in a little pot because I just find them to be easier to work with than pencil / liquid eyeliners.  As I trudged...

I like gel liners that come in a little pot because I just find them to be easier to work with than pencil / liquid eyeliners.  As I trudged through ULTA to try to find one that suits my needs, I came across MAC Pro Longwear Fluidline that seemed pretty promising.  

MAC
Pro Longwear Fluidline Gel Eyeliner Review

MAC Pro Longwear Fluidline Gel Eyeliner Blacktrack Review


INFO SHEET


Brand:  MAC
Product:  Pro Longwear Fluidline
Shade:  Blacktrack
Color Payoff:  Moderate
Price:  $19.00
Where to Buy:  Amazon, MAC, Nordstrom, Ulta

I was looking for a soft gel formula that can be spread along my lash line pretty quickly.  Kind of like different drawing mediums... I prefer to work with chalk and charcoal that can be spread around and is generally more forgiving, while others like to work with pens and markers.  

MAC claims that the Fluidline gel eyeliner has a longwearing, smudgeproof yet silky finish - exactly what I was looking for.  I paired this liner with my trusty Anastasia Beverly Hills # 3 Tapered Liner Brush, but I think a angled liner brush will work just as well.   

MAC Pro Longwear Fluidline in Blacktrack packaging


SWATCH

It is truly smudge and waterproof!


The MAC Pro Longwear Fluidline gel eyeliner has a pretty good color payoff.  As expected, it's not quite as bold as a true liquid eyeliner (I like Benefit Cosmetics Roller Liner Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner), but it does have a nice finish.  Some black eyeliners tend to also look very stark, but the Blacktrack shade was a lovely soft black.   

The swatch dried pretty quickly, and after that it became practically smudge proof!  I even washed my hands several times throughout the day and it did not budge.  Safe to say that it passed the Water Test with flying colors.  Since soap and water did not remove the swatch, I had to use my Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil with a little help from my finger nails.  I hope it performs this well on my combination / oily face!

BEFORE AND AFTER

MAC Pro Longwear Fluidline in Blacktrack - With Primer

MAC Pro Longwear Fluidline in Blacktrack - Without Primer


First and foremost, I found that this gel eyeliner has to be used with primer (I used Sulwhasoo Makeup Balancer).  Otherwise, it just seems to break down after a few hours.  In addition to this, despite having used gel pot eyeliners in the past; the MAC Pro Longwear Fluidline had an unexpected learning curve.  I usually applied them with one long swoop, but if you attempt to do this with Fluidline then the stroke starts to look pretty weak / transparent.  The formula is so soft that the brush simultaneously applies it while also wiping it off.  I used three different brushes across several days to make sure I wasn't taking crazy pills.  It's not me, MAC, it's you.  

The best way to apply it is to use very short strokes.  Unfortunately you have to do this pretty quickly because if it dries during application, then the brush will start rubbing the product off completely and it will look flakey!  

The weather has been quite cool lately, so my combination / oily skin has been leaning more towards normal (it's oily in the summer); so I'm not sure if that's the reason why the gel liner seems to break down without primer.  Again, I did test it over several days to make sure.  


FINAL THOUGHTS


The PROS:  MAC Pro Longwear Fluidline in Blacktrack is water resistant, and does not transfer to the upper lid.  

The CONS:  It has quite a steep learning curve, and must be worn with primer.  I think if you were looking for a liner that could make a bold look (like a crisp cat's eye) then you might be disappointed.  

STOREPRICEOFFERS
Amazon$24.77Free Shipping
MAC$19.00Free Shipping Every Order + Free Samples
Nordstrom$19.00Free Shipping + Gift with Purchase
ULTA$19.00Free Shipping Orders $35+

At the end of the day, this product is just "okay".  I kind of feel like it's more trouble than it's worth but I'll continue playing with it to see if I could get it to work for me... I might just end up going back to my trusty Benefit Cosmetics Roller Liner Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner which is far, far better.  

Rating

This post may contain affiliate links to help support this blog.  
None of these reviews sponsored, nor were any of the products provided for free (or even at a discount) by any affiliate.
Read full disclosure here.

Once again, I needed to throw something affordable in my cart to get free shipping on my order, and these LAPCOS Collagen Eye Patches fit th...

Once again, I needed to throw something affordable in my cart to get free shipping on my order, and these LAPCOS Collagen Eye Patches fit the bill.  My undereye could always use a little more love anyway, so I figured I would give these a try.    

LAPCOS
Collagen Eye Patch Review

LAPCOS Collagen Eye Patch Review


INFO SHEET


Brand:  LAPCOS
Product:  Collagen Eye Patch
Scent:  None
Price:  $4 for One Pair
Where to Buy:  Amazon, LapcosUSA

Before I purchased the LAPCOS Collagen Eye Patches, I pulled up their website to learn a little about them.  The company states that the Collagen Eye Patches have a firming, and smoothing effect on the skin while also encompassing exceptional moisturizing capabilities.  Sounds good to me, but let's see if that's true.  
The LAPCOS Collagen Eye patches are really pretty in person, but how do they perform?


Opening the package revealed two clear eye patches in a thin plastic shell.  They were designed to have a pink / blue iridescent sheen that reflected nicely in the light.  Although this is pretty neat, I'm more interested in function over fashion.  I did notice that the plastic shell seemed to have collected a little bit of serum inside, which could support the moisturizing component in LAPCOS' statement above.  Another thing I appreciated is how tall the eye patches are so they can cover some of the cheek area as well.  


INGREDIENTS


What turned me on to the LAPCOS Collagen Eye Patches was the fact that they are hydrogels, on top of being loaded with goodies.  Here is the complete ingredients list:  

Water, Glycerin, Calcium Chloride, Ceratonia Siliqua (Carob) Gum, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Collagen (8,000 PPM), Ethyl Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (2,000 PPM), Citrus Grandis (Grapefuit) Seed Extract, Bambusa Textilis Stem Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinesis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexandediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Titanium Dioxide, Carmine, Ferric Ferrocyanide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance

Notable Ingredients:

  • Niacinamide - aka Vitamin B3.  Provides a wide range of benefits including the increase of moisture retention and elasticity, brightening, excess sebum control, and improved appearance of enlarged pores.
  • Hydrolyzed Collagen - A water-binding agent that helps increase skin smoothness.
  • Chondrus Crispus Powder - Extracted from algae, this powerful antioxidant helps increase skin hydration and protect it from pollutants.
  • Bambusa Textilis Stem Extract - Extracted from bamboo, this powerful antioxidant helps increase the smoothness of skin.
  • Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract - AKA Pine Tree Leaf Extract.  An antimicrobial and anti inflammatory agent.
  • Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract - An herbal remedy that helps even out skintone.
  • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract - aka Green Tea Extract.  An antioxidant that calms the skin with it's anti-irritant properties.  Said to improve the overall appearance of sun-damaged skin.
  • Houttuynia Cordata Extract - A popular ingredient in the "glass skin" movement which helps hydrate the skin and maintain skin moisture levels.  It was also found to have anti-inflammatory properties as well as helping to regulate sebum.
  • Allantoin - Conditions and soothes the skin.  

For those who care; the LAPCOS Collagen Eye Patches contain Carmine which means that they are not vegan (it's a natural red color derived from dried beetles).  


COSDNA ALERTS


Only one ingredient triggered COSDNA's Ingredients Analysis:
  • Butylene Glycol - 1 of 5 (Acne)
Luckily, my skin can tolerate this ingredient pretty well.  Please note though that these collagen eye patches contain fragrance; which can be irritating to some.  


BEFORE AND AFTER

Eye patches... why you no work?


The LAPCOS Collagen Eye Patches felt cool on my under eye upon application.  I did not keep them refrigerated or anything so this was a pleasant surprise.  I wore them for 15 minutes per the instructions and removed them to see / feel the results.  My undereye should at least be hydrated, right?  After all, they felt nice to wear.  I was wrong.  They barely did anything and I don't know why.  Did I just get a bad batch?  They weren't expired; so who knows?  In the end, they just left my undereye feeling kind of blah somehow.  Very strange.  

I've worn many eye patches that produced physical and visible results within the same relative time span.  For instance, I've reviewed the Kose Clear Turn Skin Plumping Masks and the TONYMOLY My Little Pet Eye Patches which all yielded good results.  So I'm a little perplexed as to how these could do so little.  


FINAL THOUGHTS


While the Lapcos Collagen Eye Patch was cool and soothing to wear, unfortunately my undereye did not feel very hydrated after and actually felt a little fatigued.  Not sure why because the ingredients seemed nice on paper, but for some reason the execution fell flat.  

STOREPRICEOFFERS
Amazon$4.00Free Shipping
LapcosUSA$4.00Free Shipping Orders $45+ & Gift with Purchase

What is going on with these things though?  I'm seriously wondering if I just got a bad pair, but unfortunately I will not rebuy to find out 😞.  

Rating

This post may contain affiliate links to help support this blog.  
None of these reviews sponsored, nor were any of the products provided for free (or even at a discount) by any affiliate.
Read full disclosure here.

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Skin Shade: MAC NC37
Skin Type: Combination / Oily
Skin Issues: Acne Prone / Sensitive / Aging / Texture

Currently Testing: The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10%

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This blog not intended to be a substitute for the professional advice of a doctor, dermatologist, or medical professional of any kind. It is strongly encouraged to seek the guidance of a professional before trying any skin care products, skin care routines, or any practice related to skincare or general health.​