Farmgirl Beauty Secret #51-A: Milani Infinite Liquid Liner is also COMPLETELY waterproof.

This is an addendum to Farmgirl Beauty Secret # 51. Mac Liquidlast was my go-to liner when I wanted COMPLETELY waterproof eyeliners. However, the product turns goopy fairly fast and needs to be replaced more often than I like. So recently, I started looking for a drugstore alternative. I found it in Milani Infinite liquid Liner.

The ingredient lists between Mac Liquidlast and Milani Infinite are nearly identical in terms of the main ingredients that make them waterproof. Another great thing is it doesn't contain parabens either. The shocker: I think Milani Infinite is slightly more waterproof than Mac Liquidlast! See below:

Milani Infinite liquid Liner comes in 5 colors. I have Everlast (black), Endless (a deep purple that is a dupe for one of Mac Liquidlast color) and Forever (bronzy gold that looks amazing as a WATERPROOF liquid shadow).

Lesson of the day: If you want the waterproof longevity of Mac Liquidlast but you’re saving your money for life’s finer things, head to your nearest drugstore for Milani Infinite liquid Liner.

Beauty Myth-busting: Egg white mask for glowing, poreless skin?...hmm.

Applying raw egg white on face for skin that is smooth, glowing and poreless- sounds like a typical “natural” beauty treatment you can easily find and read about online. In fact, this was a beauty tip that had gone viral on the internet about 10 years ago. I was a frequenter of a once-popular beauty forum when a poster began posting about using egg whites on her face. The person claimed that, when used daily, egg white was causing the dead skin cells on her face to peel off to reveal the most gorgeous skin she’s had since infancy- fine lines and pores diminishing; old acne scars fading on a daily basis. Shortly after, people on the forum began jumping on the “egg white mask” bandwagon. Positive progress reports and pictures were posted on the forum daily and it seemed as if the entire forum was singing its praises.

Suddenly, glowing reviews were replaced by negative reactions. People began flooding the forum with questions and concerns about breakouts. It started with a pimple here and there followed by a frenzy of clogged pores. People tried to convince each other (and themselves) their skin was “purging” but it soon became clear that having clusters of fresh acne wasn’t leading to the perfect skin they envisioned. I witnessed this unfortunate incident unfold in a matter of months but the people who experienced negative side effects continued to nurse their broken-out skin long after that. When they finally got their acne under control, it left acne scars that etched their face for years thereafter.

I have no doubt that the egg white mask yielded wonderful results for the poster who started this trend. I’m sure she was trying to share something wonderful and didn’t have bad intentions. Problem is the majority of those who tried this had broken out severely. For that reason, I have to give this beauty tip a NAY. If I recall correctly, proponents of this mask claimed that egg whites provide a good source of vitamin A to the skin so it has a similar exfoliating effect as Retin-A (although I just looked up the nutrition content of raw egg whites, it has no vitamin A). What was most mind-boggling: raw eggs contains harmful bacteria that shouldn’t be ingested; why people thought it was okay smear a harmful bacteria-based medium on their skin is beyond me.

As a huge advocate of natural and Do-it-Yourself skincare, it’s crucial that I share an example of how “natural” doesn’t always equal safe and effective. It is becoming increasingly difficult to decipher between the good and bad of natural skincare and I want to do my part in unraveling that mystery.

*WIN Longer Lashes* Lashem™ Giveaway! (Closed)

The results are in!: Congratulations to Hershley, Kae and Dyane Vang for winning the *WIN Longer Lashes* Lashem Giveaway! Thank you to all for participating and stay tuned for the next Farmgirl Giveaway.

I’ve been using Lashem religiously for the past month and it’s the only lash treatment that has strengthened my existing lashes while encouraging the growth of my baby lashes, without the itchiness and irritation I often experience with other lash treatments. It does all this without the use of prostaglandin and parabens, which is a huge plus in my book. I want you to experience exactly what I’m talking about so Lashem has offered to give away Lashem™ Measurable Difference Lash Gel to [3] of my blog followers!

How to enter:

• This Giveaway is open to readers anywhere in the world.
• Be a Farmgirl blog follower (click on “follow” tab to your right). It’s the ONLY way to contact you if you win!
• To enter, submit a comment below about why you want/need Lashem™ Measurable Difference Lash Gel! (You can submit [1] comment per day to increase your chances to win. You must enter at least [1] comment to qualify.)

• [3] winners are chosen at random.
• Lashem™ Measurable Difference Lash Gel is valued at $85 USD.
• Giveaway starts today and ends 7.20.2010 at 11.59pm PST.
• Winners contacted and announced by 7.22.2010

Good luck!

Want that | Get this!: Natural/Good-for-you alternatives to your current lemmings.

Want that: You’re itching to splurge on another MAC Mineralize Skinfinish but want to go natural with your make-up routine.

Get this!: Rejuva Baked Mineral Foundation has the swirls and sheen reminiscent of MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinish but contains only the following ingredients:

Mica, Sericite Mica, Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis) seed oil, Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius) seed oil, Lavandula Angustifolia flower extract, Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris) extract, Green Tea (Camelia Sinensis) extract, Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate), Rosemary Leaf (Rosemarinus Officinalis) extract, Magnolia Bark (Magnolia Officinalis) extract, Iron Oxides

(Bonus: no micronized or “nano-sized” minerals were used to make this baked-in-Italy mineral powder- double plus in my book.)

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Want that: The Nars Multiples are calling your name but you’ve sworn off complicated ingredients that could suffocate your pores.

Get this!: Vapour Beauty offers an entire line of stick-form mineral makeup made with certified organic ingredients, natural pigments and skin-nourishing botanical oils. Their Solar Translucent Bronzer easily rivals Nars Multiples in Waikiki and South Beach. I also love their Stratus Instant Skin Perfector when I want to achieve a velvety smooth finish without using conventional primers (this smooths over fine lines around my eyes!). And with ingredient lists so clean, they won’t clog pores like regular cream or stick makeup products do.

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Want that: You want to try Latisse for fuller, longer lashes but could do without the prescription substance and prostaglandin. It runs the risk of darkened skin around eyes and changing of eye color- No, thank you!

Get this!: Lashem is an alternative lash growth treatment that utilizes patented Lipo Oligo-peptide, Pro-Vitamin B-5 and Biotin to promote 40% longer lashes in 2 weeks without the use of prostagladin. The formula is boosted with a blend of botanical extracts with NO harsh preservatives like parabens and methylchloroisothiazalinone. I like to use this on both my lashline (to combat daily damages from mascara use) and brows (for, well, brows!).

Here’s my disclaimer: I write extremely researched reviews after extensive, self-conducted testing. I do not review products I dislike; it's a waste of time and typing skills. This review contains products sent by company due to interest in feedbacks. My first priority is to my readers; company gratis does not guarantee placement. Affiliate and non-affiliate links are provided to inform readers of where to purchase products. All in all, you can be sure that items seen on my website are the very few products that qualify for recommendation after rigorous testing.

Farmgirl Beauty Secret # 11: Aloe vera gel + favorite foundation = ideal summer time tinted moisturizer.

STOP yourself before you plot your summer makeup haul! Contrary to popular belief, conventional tinted moisturizers are not the ideal makeup option for the summer time, especially for oily skin types. They are every bit as "makeupy" as foundations, only with less pigments and MORE FILLERS (and we don't want that, do we?). The moisturizing agents and fillers used to make tinted moisturizers are not nearly as sophisticated as the ingredients in your regular moisturizer. You might as well mix your favorite moisturizer with your favorite foundation.

If you want something that is truly lightweight and sheer, mix 1 serving of your favorite foundation with a dollop of aloe vera gel. Aloe vera gel blends beautifully with foundations. The result: a gel-textured face tint that evens out skin tone and controls oil while providing a coveted, see-through glow fit for summer.