Best Mascaras of 2024 – My Top 5 Favorite Mascaras

You can skip a lot of products when it comes to doing your makeup, but no look is complete without mascara, its a MUST! Over the course of 10 years I’ve tried countless mascaras, loved some and hated some, so now I’m very selective when it comes to mascara. Mascara, I believe is one of those makeup products where you don’t have to splurge and spend a ton of money at a department store to get a good one. As a matter of fact I’ll be sharing my top 5 favorite which includes affordable drugstore brands as well as a few high end ones.

L’oreal Lash Paradise

This one can be found at any drugstore/Target, I love this one so much and it might just be my #1 pick because it’s just that amazing! Volume, length, definition, it gives you all. I’ve repurchased this one more times than I can count and I have  this one in my kit to use on clients as well (with a disposable wand of course). Some say its a dupe for Too Faced – Better Than Sex mascara but I personally believe its BETTER!

Loreal Lash Paradise – Check Price on Amazon

Nars Climax

If you like voluminous lashes you’re going to love this one. It provides intense volume and no clumps! I also love the red packaging on this one. I always get compliments on my lashes when I wear this one. I’ve even had people ask me if I’m wearing false lashes. 

Nars Climax – Check Price on Amazon

Rimmel Lash Accelerator 

I’ve been using this one since high school! It’s an oldie but goodie. This mascara helps strengthen and grow your lashes. It has a “Grow Lash Complex” which includes Keratin and Antioxidants so you’ll see your lashes falling out less and lengthening while using this. I definitely saw a difference while using it. Definitely one of my all time favorites. 

Rimmel Lash Accelerator – Check Price on Amazon

Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye

I discovered this mascara couple of years ago and I was pleasantly surprised how it gave me nice fluffy lashes with no clumping and it was easy to take off at night without using harsh makeup removers. I love Bobbi Brown products so it’s no surprise to see such a wonderful mascara from her line. 

Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara – Check Price on Amazon

Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill

What I love about this mascara is how jet black the color is and how smooth the formula is. It lasts all day and does not flake or smudge. It has so many highly rates reviews on Amazon and Sephora and for a good reason, its terrific mascara if you want to splurge a little. 

Giorgio Armani Mascara – Check Price on Amazon

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5 tips for the perfect bridal makeup

best bridal makeup look

I often get asked what is the best bridal makeup look. Having done makeup on hundreds of brides in the last 7 years, I’ve really mastered the perfect “soft glam” look that looks good on every bride, no matter the age, complexion, ethnicity, etc. This soft glam look really is one size fits all and I find myself redoing this look over and over again on so many brides because it’s so timeless and classic.

When it comes to your bridal makeup, you really want to focus on a timeless, classic and romantic look. You want to look back at your wedding gallery decades from your wedding day and still love your look from the big day. It’s the best feeling when you have makeup on but you still feel comfortable and your authentic self. The industry phrase “soft glam” is essentially a makeup look that enhances your features without that overly done makeup look. 

Now of course if you’re a makeup girl and absolutely love wearing makeup then of course you can get extra glam for your wedding day, at the end of the day its YOUR big day!  

Here’s a breakdown on how to achieve a soft glam makeup.

Foundation – I like to do light to medium coverage foundation, this is a KEY element, you want to be able to see the skin like beautiful freckles and beauty marks, plus light/medium foundation just FEELS so much nicer and lightweight on your skin, which is a huge plus on your wedding day when you’re wearing foundation pretty much all day and into the night.

Eyes – A huge part of soft glam makeup is soft eye makeup meaning earth tones such as espresso, rich browns, champagne, bronze, copper and gold are stunning colors to use on pretty much all eye colors. I try to avoid using black as it can look more dramatic and black tends to close up the eyes and make them look smaller. If I do use black it’s usually a really thin liner along the lash line (no wing!) and that’s it for eye makeup.

False lashes – When I hear a bride that says she doesn’t want lashes I gasp and try to persuade her otherwise best I can! False lashes for bridal makeup are like the whip cream on your pumpkin pie, like the ketchup and mustard on your hot dog and like socks with running shoes, it’s a must, TRUST ME! False lashes make a huge – and I mean huge difference in photography and enhance the overall look by a million percent! 

If comfort is your concern then individual lashes are truly the best, I find myself using them more and more on everyone that I do makeup on. They’re incredibly comfortable, (most clients report that they can’t even tell they’re on) they’re lightweight, highly customizable, natural looking, and just overall much better than strip lashes. If you really would rather skip the lashes then getting lash extensions couple of days prior to the big day is a great option. Bottom line – get the lashes! 

Lips – You really can’t go wrong with a nice nude or pink color lip! I like to top it off with a gloss for the plump juicy lip look. I stay away from dramatic colors such as dark plums, reds, orange etc. But if red is your go-to and you wear it often then go for it! 

Blush/bronzer – Always a must! Both of these products give you a nice healthy glow. Blush fades fast so I always go a little heavy handed with blush and usually a nice pink/peach color

Set it all with a good quality setting spray and you have yourself a soft glam bridal look!