Pump Up The Volume With MAC Plush Lash Mascara

MAC addicts will be pleased to hear that the new Plush Lash mascara is available now in most stockists and on their website. It’s already received plenty of favourable reviews from beauty experts who claim that it lives up to its promise of instantly plumped-up lashes and ‘over-the-top voluptuous volume’.

The unique V-shaped brush is designed to prevent clumping and is used in two steps to create soft, long lashes. First, you apply the mascara with the flat side of the wand and then you flip the wand around to the grooved side to comb it through, curling the lashes and building volume. This means you can choose to use just the flat side only for a more understated look for work and during the day, and then pump up the volume for dark, dramatic lashes at night. The mascara itself contains pro-vitamin B5 to condition your lashes and vitamin E to ensure an even, smooth application.

With an affordable $11 price tag, Plush Lash would make an excellent addition to your Autumn / Winter make-up bag. Available in deep black and chocolate brown, it will go perfectly with the smoky eye-shadows that are set to be popular this season.

I'm So Pretty

While Bostonians may not be the flashiest of citizens, they are certainly meticulous, making well-groomed brows a must-have. And when one mentions brows in Beantown, she’s immediately rewarded with the name Julie Michaud. Michaud’s studio, perched on the fifth floor on the fancier end of Newbury Street, is a well-appointed, peaceful, pastel fantasy. Visiting is akin to primping among friends in a dreamy boudoir. Devoid of pretense and full of fun, not to mention skill, Michaud and staff are expert in cleaning you up and turning you loose ever-so-prettier than before.

Clients beg for her secrets and eager to share, Michaud developed her own line of cosmetics, which are now available online. This summer she launched a few new products, my favorites being her Pretty Pen Mineral Illuminator and Pretty Potion Mineral Sheer Veil.

The Pretty Pen comes in three shades of matte formulations, as well as a Peach Glow, which has an underlying oh-so subtle shimmer. I use the Pretty Pen as an under eye concealer. The pen design – a brush tip on one end and push button on the other – is ingenious, allowing you to paint on as much or as little makeup as you need, in just the right spots. (By the way, many makeup artists were trained in the fine arts, often as painters. You make the connection.) When I need a little extra lift, or just feel like shining, I add some Peach Glow around my eyes’ outer edges.

When feeling particularly flirty, I break out the Pretty Potion Mineral Sheer Veil. It’s light and translucent, so you can layer it right over your foundation. This formula is dew in a bottle. You can use it to highlight your brow bones and cheekbones or even sweep it over your chest.

After these two creations, I’ve taken a true shine to Michaud.