Xtrème Lashes Long Lasting Brow Pen

After experimenting with the Long Lasting Brow Pen ($24) by Xtrème Lashes, I was excited. I felt like a kid who had been given a new set of markers. Remember that feeling?

I got extremely excited when I tried the pens for the first time. I don't use brow pens on a regular basis, so it's not that easy to impress me. Xtrème sent me press samples, and because I'm a big fan of Jo Mousselli's products, I "dug" right in.

I found that these pens meet their promise - and more. The Long Lasting Brow Pen is an innovative, soft-tipped, long-lasting (yes, I need that hyphen) "pen" that can help you have perfectly sculpted brows, even if yours are far from perfect. The long-lasting, smudge-proof formula fills in sparse areas beautifully. My brows are full, but occasionally, I'll get a sparse area when all the hairs in a spot decide to end their life cycle simultaneously. For anyone who needs more help, perhaps those who always have sparse brows, lightly colored brows, brows that need shape correction with color, or brows that are going gray, Xtrème's pen deposits natural-looking color - amazingly easily. I really like the way these pens write effortlessly. I've had them long enough to report that they don't dry out, and there's no way for them to break either (big smile).

Imagine a pen a bit larger than the felt-tip pens we use for writing on paper - one that deposits its color perfectly and responds to your touch. Want very light coverage? Use the pen lightly. Want heavier coverage. Apply just a bit more pressure. They apply color consistently and "fluidly." I need to emphasize "effortlessly." I really love the way these pens work.

Another plus, the water-based formula removes easily with any eye makeup remover or cleanser. I like Xtrème Lashes Eye Makeup Remover. It's fabulous - gentle and effective. I recently ran out, and I need a new bottle. It's one of the company's fine products I loved from first use and continued to love, right to the last drop. I kept the bottle to remind myself to order more.

The pens are available in two shades, Light and Deep. Here is a swatch photo of both, taken in full sun. Light looks very red, and, actually, it's a little too red for my brow color. It's not too red to wear (you'll have to trust me on that one), but I'd rather have a true dark blonde shade without the red undertone. These pens are so good, I'll bet Xtrème's already working on more shades.

Light is said to be ideal for blonde, auburn (absolutely), strawberry blonde, and light-to-medium brown hair. Deep is designed for those with rich brown to black hair. It's actually my favorite. Figure that out! It may not be dark enough for those with black hair. More colors, please!

You can order directly from the Xtrème Lashes Consumer site. While you're there, check out the other cosmetic products offered by the company. Jo Mousselli founded Xtrème Lashes, which has grown from a small, family business into an international company - for good reason. You can find out more about Jo and her company at this link.

Update: I am thrilled to report, just as I anticipated, that Xtrème Lashes is working on more shades. You are going to love this brow pen.

Photo at top courtesy of Xtrème Lashes; swatch photo by Best Things in Beauty

Xtrème Lashes Eye Makeup Remover and Facial Cleanser

I haven't exactly been holding out on you. I've meant to tell you about Xtrème Eye Makeup Remover and Facial Cleanser ($13.95 to $34) for a very long time - too long. I can see hiding a very special eye shadow - one that's yours alone, one that makes your eyes the envy of everyone who sees you. Some might love that and adopt an "eat your heart out" attitude, right? I felt almost selfish when I realized I had never told you about this extraordinary eye makeup remover, one I've been using since last year.

I did tell you about GlideLiner - an abfab, long-lasting eyeliner with all the great qualities of a liquid or gel, but in a devilishly easy-to-use pencil. I also told you about Xtrème Lashes AMPLIF-eye Lash & Brow Fortifier, an effective product that does not contain the dreaded prostaglandin, the active ingredient in LATISSE. If you didn't see those features, please click on the links and visit them. I love both products.

I also love the Xtrème Lashes Eye Makeup Remover and Facial Cleanser, an aloe-based makeup remover that will gently cleanse and moisturize the skin around your eyes (or your entire face) while conditioning the lashes and brows. A coconut-derived cleansing agent removes impurities and stubborn eye makeup, while antioxidant and vitamin-rich botanical extracts, including rosehip, chamomile, eyebright, and cucumber calm, refresh, and nourish the skin. I always feel grateful after I use this gentle product - grateful that Xtrème Lashes created it. For me?

It's over 90% natural and contains no mineral oil or artificial colors, fragrances, or dyes - nice and pure! It's sulfate-free too, so it won't strip your skin of natural oils. The clever folks at Xtrème Lashes, who specialize in eyelash extensions, created it to ensure it would work in harmony with their lashes. It's ideal for all skin types, even the sensitive skin around the eyes (my most sensitive area).

A little goes a long way. When I cleanse my skin with many gentle facial cleansers - usually too quickly at the end of a day - I end up with a touch of mascara "wash" under my eyes if I don't target the area under my lower lashes. One quick wipe with Xtrème Lashes Eye Makeup Remover, and it's gone, without tugging or a struggle. I have never felt even a remote suggestion of stinging, and it doesn't migrate into my eyes. I tried another eye makeup remover recently, one that was advertised as supremely gentle, and it migrated into my eyes and stung! This one never has.

I know Xtrème Lashes labels the product a facial cleanser too, but I have never used it to remove the day's makeup. I use it to supplement my cleanser. I think it would be lovely, though, to clean up quickly on one of those makeup-free days, when a light wipe is all I need to take off the day's grime. It's refreshing.

The next time you are in the market for an eye makeup remover, check it out. I'll bet you'll like it as much as I do! My lashes are natural (no extensions) and long. I want to take good care of them. I can count on Xtrème Lashes Eye Makeup Remover to help me.

You can order directly from the Xtrème Lashes Consumer site. While you're there, check out the other cosmetic products offered by the company. Jo Mousselli founded Xtrème Lashes, which has grown from a small, family business into an international company - for good reason. You can find out more about Jo and her company at this link.

OK, who remembers the British comedy Absolutely Fabulous? Nicknamed AbFab, it was a hit in its day.

Photo courtesy of Xtrème Lashes

New Giveaway Contest: Xtreme Lashes AMPLIF-eye Lash & Brow Fortifier

Congratulations to ne-knopka! Anna won the AMPLIF-eye Lash and Brow Fortifier!Everyone wants lush, long eye lashes, and I'm no exception. I'm depressed by the eyelashes that fall out regularly on my eyelid scrub pads. I know they grow back, but who wants to wait? Mascara can only do so much if you don't have eyelashes. That's probably why most mascara models and celebrities promoting mascara are wearing faux lashes. And what about those occasional gaps that form naturally when you've lost a few lashes in one spot - or the brow hairs that get temporarily thin in one spot, making you look lopsided?

Xtreme Lashes sent me Xtreme Lashes AMPLIF-eye Lash & Brow Fortifier ($119 for a three-month supply), which will be launched on Monday. In October, I reported to you that I had been using it for a couple of months, and my reaction was pure love. It made my lashes and brows thicker, and I'm sure it facilitated growth.

The living proof was a little spot on my left brow (at its widest spot) that had thinned. I had been using AMPLIF-eye only on my lashes, but I decided to try it on my left brow. Was I impressed! Within what seemed like a week of use, morning and evening, my eyebrows were even again as little brow hairs started to fill in the gap. Xtreme Lashes says that most users will see a difference in two-to-four weeks - and I did!

Working with the world leaders in eyelash growth technology, Jo Mousselli, President and Founder of Xtreme Lashes, developed a prostaglandin-free formula that delivers proven results without the drug-related side effects. In this highly competitive field, the ingredients and delivery system make this product a standout in a category filled with non-performers. "I had three objectives in developing AMPLIF∙eye Lash & Brow Fortifier," explains Jo, "it has to perform, it has to be safe, and it must be compatible with Xtreme Lashes eyelash extensions (she's world-famous for those!)." She has succeeded on all three fronts.

Why is AMPLIF-eye different from (and more effective than) other lash conditioners or the lash-enhancing drug LATISSE? The most important thing is that it does not contain a prostaglandin. The prescription drug LATISSE contains Bimatoprost, a prostaglandin analog contained in glaucoma medication, and that's the ingredient that can make your blue eyes brown or discolor your skin - or even make your eyes red and itchy. I'm not willing to accept the risks of using a prostaglandin on my eyelids - even a small risk. I was surprised to learn that some lash fortifiers contain a non-prescription strength prostaglandin, which means it's present, but you may not realize it! I think that's creepy.

Xtreme Lashes worked with their own in-house chemist to develop the formula for AMPLIF-eye, which does contain a concentrated growth-stimulating triple peptide complex. The three peptides comprise a full 35% of the product, which is pretty powerful. Competitors claim to have peptides in their formulas, and they do, but peptides are expensive ingredients. They are often included in other products in very weak concentrations. Xtreme Lashes told me that AMPLIF-eye has twice the peptides competing products have.

The peptide complexes rejuvenate and restore the amino acid production that decreases naturally as we age. The penetration of the amino acids is facilitated by an organized phalanx of botanicals that pump a protein-enriched bath of oxygen-infused blood to the follicles to maximize growth. Besides the super-effective peptides, AMPLIF-eye contains green tea, borage, saw palmetto (a beloved herbal remedy for hair loss), evening primrose, nettle, rosemary leaf, ginseng, apple, sugar cane, and witch hazel. Sounds pretty natural to me! Intrigued? Check out the Xtreme Lashes Web site. If you head over there, check out their other products. GlideLiner is fabulous!

Now, I'm thrilled to announce that, courtesy of Xtreme Lashes, I have one AMPLIF-eye to give away. That's a $119 prize!

To enter to win this giveaway contest, just leave a comment here once. After you comment, feel free to e-mail bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing your e-mail address on a blog, so I would follow this second step if I were you (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment). That's what most of you do.

You can "earn" a second entry by tweeting this contest. Just make sure to include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) in your tweet. I will tweet the contest soon, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry. You can earn a third entry by following the blog - either here or on Twitter (any entrant who is already a follower will automatically earn the follower point).

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, December 11, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner at that time. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected.

This contest is open to anyone anywhere! Good luck!

Photos courtesy of Xtreme Lashes

Xtreme Lashes AMPLIF-eye Lash & Brow Fortifier

Everyone wants lush, long eye lashes, and I'm no exception. I'm depressed by the eyelashes that fall out regularly on my eyelid scrub pads. I know they grow back, but who wants to wait? Mascara can only do so much if you don't have eyelashes. That's probably why most mascara models and celebrities hawking mascara are wearing faux lashes. And what about those occasional gaps that form naturally when you've lost a few lashes in one spot - or the brow hairs get temporarily thin in one spot, making you look lopsided?

Xtreme Lashes sent me Xtreme Lashes AMPLIF-eye Lash & Brow Fortifier ($119 for a three-month supply), which will be launched in early December. I've been using it for a couple of months, and I love it. Based on my testing, I'm sure it makes my lashes and brows thicker, and I'm sure it facilitates growth. Let's leave the FDA out of this.

Recently, I had a little spot on my left brow (at its widest spot) that thinned. I had been using AMPLIF-eye only on my lashes, but I decided to try it on my left brow. Am I impressed! Within what seemed like a week of use, morning and evening, my eyebrows were even again as little brow hairs started to fill in the gap. Xtreme Lashes says that most users will see a difference in two-to-four weeks. I proved that to myself.

I didn't follow the directions on my eyelashes. I'm bad. You are supposed to use AMPLIF-eye in the morning and evening. I used it every evening before bed. Despite doing my own thing, it made a difference. I could have used it in the morning; it does not cause the crustiness that some lash conditioners cause. I like the way it absorbs into my skin within seconds.

Why is AMPLIF-eye different from other lash conditioners or the lash-enhancing drug LATISSE? The most important thing I can tell you is that it does not contain a prostaglandin. The prescription drug LATISSE contains Bimatoprost, a prostaglandin analog contained in glaucoma medication, and that's the ingredient that can make your blue eyes brown or discolor your skin - or even make your eyes red and itchy. I'm not willing to accept the risks of using a prostaglandin on my eyelids - even a small risk. I was surprised to learn that some lash fortifiers contain a non-prescription strength prostaglandin, which means it's present, but you may not realize it! I think that's creepy.

Xtreme Lashes worked with their own in-house chemist to develop the formula for AMPLIF-eye, which does contain a concentrated growth-stimulating triple peptide complex. The three peptides comprise a full 35% of the product, which is pretty impressive. Competitors claim to have peptides in their formulas, and they do, but peptides are expensive ingredients. They are often included in other products in very weak concentrations. Xtreme Lashes told me that AMPLIF-eye has twice the peptides competing products have.

AMPLIF-eye is said to be non-irritating to the eyes and surrounding skin. I agree, but caution you to keep it out of your eyes. That's common sense, but on a night or two when I was tired and a little klutzy, I placed it into the waterline, and it stung a tiny bit for a nanosecond. That was user error, and the problem was solved by being more careful.

Besides the super-effective peptides, AMPLIF-eye contains green tea, borage, saw palmetto (a beloved herbal remedy for hair loss), evening primrose, nettle, rosemary leaf, ginseng, apple, sugar cane, and witch hazel. Sounds pretty natural to me!

You will be able to purchase AMPLIF-eye at the Xtreme Lashes Web site, where you can see a video now. Most of the salons that specialize in Xtreme Lashes eyelash extensions and carry the company's cosmetic products will carry this product. You may also see AMPLIF-eye Lash & Brow Fortifier appear at a department store near you. It's that good!

Photo courtesy of Xtreme Lashes

Xtreme Lashes GlideLiner Long Lasting Eye Pencil

Xtreme Lashes, well known for eyelash extensions, has a dynamite eyeliner! Called GlideLiner ($29), it's an eye pencil that you are going to love if you like a long-wearing liner that's easy to apply, easy to smudge, but stays put once it sets. I mean really put. When I applied it to my arm for the photo below, I couldn't wash it off with soap and water.

I was recently offered (and accepted) the opportunity to test two products from Xtreme Lashes: AMPLIF-eye Lash & Brow Fortifier (which I am using every night before bed) and GlideLiner. I'll report in soon on AMPLIF-eye Lash & Brow Fortifier, after I have used it for a month. Today, I want to tell you all about GlideLiner in its newest shade, Black Pearl.

The concept behind GlideLiner is that everyone loves the look and performance of liquid and gel liners. They give you rich, intense color, and most of them are very long-lasting. Unfortunately, not everyone is born with a steady hand and the eye-hand coordination to apply liquid liner. You failed at tennis? You probably aren't the best candidate for liquid liner. Sometimes gel liners can be just as balky. Women like the ease of pencils! Most of my friends, when polled, said they preferred pencils to other forms of liners.

In 2008, Xtreme Lashes set out to take a pot liner formula and put it into a pencil that can be sharpened (with a unique sharpener too). GlideLiners offer rich color with one stroke (or contiguous dots as I like to nestle the liner into my lash line), and it won't budge after you finish with its application. You know you are supposed to remove liner when you go to sleep, but if you don't (lecture time!), it will still be exactly where you put it the morning after.

The magic is in the soft, gel formula that allows about 20 seconds of working time (to smudge or not to smudge) before the liner sets. You can leave your line defined or smudge it. Just smudge quickly if that's your plan.

GlideLiners received a Cosmetic Innovator of the Year Award from the Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers & Distributors Association in 2008. Since then, it has been a "cult heroine" in beauty land. Now, Xtreme Lashes has introduced their latest innovation to the line, Black Pearl GlideLiner. Inspired by Jo Mousselli, President and Founder of Xtreme Lashes, Black Pearl was developed to be a shade Jo could call her own. Finding black-black eyeliners too harsh, and plums a bit too flamboyant for her taste (check), Jo was seeking a color that would be soft, versatile, and classy - but not boring.

Black Pearl has a soft black base that is imbued with the subtle violet luster of black pearls (hence the name) - and I adore black pearls. Just like its namesake, Black Pearl can go from casual to dressy in the blink of an eye (no pun intended). After only weeks on the market, it became a best seller, and I can see why. The color is delicious.

When I looked at the pencil, before applying it, I saw plum and thought it might be a dicey color for me. You beauty addicts know that plum is one of this fall's tony shades. Depending on the shade, plum can be hard for me to wear. Then I swatched it and continued to wonder if it was too plummy for me. At right is a swatch photo taken in full sun, the light in which the plum cast is most evident.

On my eyelids, Black Pearl is absolutely gorgeous! It looks like a soft black, but it has an indescribable quality that makes it appear soft black - or navy - or plummy black - depending on the lighting. It's absolutely perfect for me. When I wear it to work, I don't feel like my eyes are telegraphing black liner. When applied in a thin line, the liner makes my lashes look full and my eyes very natural. It's love.

GlideLiner is enriched with vitamin E, a really nice feature for a liner. As I read a brochure about Xtreme Lashes' other products, I was impressed with the quality ingredients in the company's products. For example, their Hydrating Under Eye Gel Patches look like something I can't live without. The key ingredients include hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, green tea extract, panax ginseng, aloe extract, and glycerin. What a line-up! The patches have to plump the under-eye skin, banishing those pesky expression lines.

Back to GlideLiner. It's available in other colors. You must try Black Pearl, but you can also order Graphite, Xtreme Black (for you vixens), Golden Olive, Midnight Blue, Plum, and Expresso. I think I will have to order Midnight Blue, and maybe Golden Olive, and then there's Expresso. Check out the Xtreme Lashes Web site and see if you can resist. With free shipping on orders over $75, I'm making a list.

Stay tuned for my review of AMPLIF-eye.

Photo at top courtesy of Xtreme Lashes