How to decide which beauty products to toss?

When just one section of your eye-shadow collection looks like this, it can be a huge task to keep tabs on the expiration dates of every item of makeup you own. 

Plus, how do you know when to really trust the expiration date, when obviously the makeup company's end-goal is for you to buy more makeup?

As it turns out-- your beauty supplies will often times tell you when their time has passed. As soon as you witness any of your makeup products starting to change; either by separating, or a change to the color, texture, or smell, it is a sign that the included ingredients are no longer working as intended, and your makeup needs to be sent to it's trashcan grave.

Depending on the item-- such as lipstick or nail-polish-- the worst thing that will happen is that you suffer through a momentary beauty goof. (A gloppy manicure or crumbly lip-stick never really hurt anybody.) However, when it comes to items like mascara or sunscreen, using products with past-prime ingredients can be much more harmful. (Introducing bacteria to the eye, or sunbathing without proper SPF protection, could prove to be way more detrimental.)

Read on to determine the proper way to handle the following, short-lived beauty products: 

• Nail polish: Unfortunately, those little colored bottles you spend ages selecting, last only about a year. Usually though, it is at around 9 months after opening that the ingredients begin to degrade, and from here on out the color and consistency will noticeably change. You will definitely notice when this starts to happen, the once smooth color us now sticky and tacky. Save yourself the trouble, and toss it as soon as you see this start to happen. 

• Mascara: Again, it's life-span seems to come and go way too quickly. Once a tube of mascara has been opened, on average you have about 3 months of usage. As soon as the formula starts to get clumpy or dry, the mascara has become a breeding ground for bacteria. If you happen to contract an eye-infection (pink-eye, etc.) discard the mascara you were currently using immediately. Reusing the same mascara applicator can cause recurrences.

• Face cream: Most creams are given about a year after opening before being deemed "expired". This is largely due to the idea that your fingers are constantly adding bacteria to the enclosed product, however-- before adding product to your face, I'm going to assume that most people's hands are clean.
  
  That being said, your face cream will let you know when it's time to get thrown away; an oily liquid may appear on the surface, the lotion might look or smell different, or it might feel different to the touch. Pay attention to these signs, and throw away the cream in question.
  
• Perfume: Each time you spritz a squirt of perfume, air is being introduced into the sealed bottle. Over time (roughly 2 years), the presence of oxygen will cause the formula to oxidize, and the strength of the scent will slightly diminish. However, aside from a weaker fragrance, no real harm will come from using older perfume.
  
• Sunscreen: After about 6 months, sunscreen usually begins to lose it effectiveness, however for up to a year after opening the bottle-- as long as the ingredients have not begun to separate, change smell or color-- the sunscreen can still be applied...just be sure to reapply often as the SPF effectiveness on the bottle may have started to decrease.

The net take-away: expiration dates on makeup can seem somewhat arbitrary... Trust your eyes, fingers, and nose to determine when one of your beloved makeup products has expired... for real.

Spring cleaning your make-up bag

For some reason unbeknownest to me, the Spring season has become infamous as the time of the year to properly clean-out everything. Along with the clothing/bedding switch and excessive cleaning that is most likely to be taking place at this time of year, it is also a great opportunity to tackle a more insidious, under-the-radar mess: your make-up drawer. 

Despite the fact that these products are constantly coming into contact with your face, most women hardly ever think about the cleanliness/shelf-life of these products. The following is a just quick check-list of things to consider as you go through beauty products: 

• Any lotion based make-up product with an SPF in it (such as a foundation) has an especially limited shelf-life. After about 6 months, the active sunscreen ingredients begin to break-down, so that although the make-up appears to work as usual, your skin is not receiving the same amount of sun protection that you intended. If you want to hold on to these products, please be sure to apply another form of sun protection first.
  
• Time to wash all make-up brushes-- including mascara wands. If the brushes (mascara wands included, if older than 3 months) have not been washed regularly, they are most likely bacteria receptacles. You can either use wash made specifically for make-up brushes, or a gentle shampoo, to cleanse the brushes. Once clean, allow to air-dry.
  
  
• Go through and inspect everything you use on a regular basis. If anything appears to have changed consistency, color, or smells strange-- toss it.
  
• During the normal wear-and-tear of being tossed into a drawer or bag, it is likely that loose debris from the multiple colors inside a compact will have shifted onto each other, and possibly coated the interior mirror. Use a tissue to clean the powders off the mirror, and use a butter-knife to gently scrape the discolored layers off to make your compact look like new again (and prevent bacteria from growing).
  
• For your collection of lipsticks and lip-gloss tubes, rubbing the surface with a paper-towel soaked in rubbing alcohol is a great way to clean and disinfect the areas that are coming into contact with your mouth.

Are there any make-up cleaning tips that you would like to share? If so, please do! We love hearing your feed-back! 

Secrets to looking younger with makeup

It's a double edged sword in every aspect of your appearance-- any change can improve your appearance, but there is also the risk that the change might end up detracting from your looks. 

While makeup can be your biggest ally when it comes to changing or improving your appearance, there are some common mistakes you should avoid so as to prevent yourself from inadvertently making yourself look older.

Consider the model pictured to the left. Obviously she is a beautiful girl-- and yet her makeup application significantly ages her. 

To avoid some common aging makeup pitfalls, follow the tips below to enhance, and preserve your natural beauty.

Makeup techniques to avoid:

Harsh, dark eye makeup: As witnessed on Sharon Stone at the 2011 Oscars, there comes a time in every woman's life where thick, black eyeliner ages you, and makes eyes seem tiny-- the exact opposite effect desired. (In fact, looking at this picture more closely, Sharon Stone might be a poster child woman for all of the antigaging makeup "Don'ts".)

Thick foundation: When the foundation is visibly caked into your pores, it gives an overall impression of unhealthiness. It's ok to utilize makeup in an attempt to make the skin look uniform, but a lighter touch, and lighter formula of makeup, will make skin look more natural and healthy. (Extra bad if you can see the makeup sitting on top of fine facial hairs.) 

Thick lipliner: Similar to the heavily applied dark eyeliner, defining your lips is supposed to make them look larger, even though the opposite is what occurs. In addition, this is an outdated look, and any fine wrinkles around the mouth, or thinning of the lips, will be more apparent.

Blue eyeshadow: Unless you are very careful, blue eyeshadow can quickly send a message of "bad makeup." Neutral colors, such as copper, champagne, and peach, are much more flattering for maturing skin. 

Glitter: Makeups with subtle shimmer are fine for daily use, however try to avoid makeups (usually eyeshadows) that have a more distinct glitter component. The heavier glitter particles are prone to settling into fine lines and wrinkles, making them more obvious. 

Anti-aging Makeup tips to try: 

Let Mascara define your eyes: Properly defined eye-lashes are a more natural looking way of making your eyes pop. (Eyeliner is fine, as long as the color and usage are appropriate.)  Makeup artist Cindy Joseph offers the following application advice; "With mascara, you don't want to apply in a rush. Do one good coat, keeping the lashes perfectly combed so they are separated. A second coat will make them look longer and thicker." 

Go for dewy skin, as opposed to matte: Multitasking makeup that lends color and moisture can help make the skin look younger. Fresh, dewy looking skin is much more natural looking than matte, cakey looking foundation. 

Shimmery makeup can be used for multiple purposes: Shimmery creams and powders can be used for eye-shadows, liners, lip color, and high-lighters. A soft champagne color can be applied right underneath the brow-bone, in the inner corners of your eyes, and along your clavicle. The light will reflect off all of these areas, for a subtly eye-catching effect.

A permanently permanent mascara?

First came permanent makeup. 

Knowing that there was a large female demographic that would never go for a "Mother" or dragon tat', tattoo artists cleverly adapted themselves to fit a more conservative lifestyle. Marketed as "permanent makeup," hordes of otherwise straight-laced women signed up to have their favorite style of eyeliner, lip-liner, lip-color, and even eyebrows, tattooed onto their faces. 

At the time, it was a novel and appealing concept; with permanent makeup, women could swim, sweat, shower, wake-up in the morning, do whatever, and already look the way they wanted to. 

Then, there came the extremely pervasive eyelash craze. 

Between eyelash growth enhancers like Latisse, lash extensions, and eyelash conditioners, the market is currently a flurry with eyelash products. 

It appears that the eyelash craze of now has merged with the permanent makeup craze of yore, as a semi-permanent mascara treatment has entered the scene. For those that felt applying mascara was always a huge time-suck, enter LashDip. Lasting up to six weeks, each eyelash is coated in a way so that it looks defined, curled, lifted, and separated. 

Pros: It's waterproof and smudge-proof, and your lashes will look defined the moment you wake up, or step out of the swimming pool.

Cons: It's $200-300 for your initial treatment, and touch-ups are recommended every 3-weeks.

The before and after pictures certainly look pretty, and it certainly is a wholly new concept in the world of eyelash loving. 

However, whether or not applying mascara is really a $250/month inconvenience is yet to be determined...

Tips for making the most of your Latisse

Once you know how to apply LATISSE^®, it's important to understand a few simple tips to help you make your treatment as effective as possible.

Follow these guidelines for best results:

 

1. Make it part of your routine Try to incorporate LATISSE^® into your nightly routine — for example, after you've washed your face and brushed your teeth.
 

2. Keep it handy Store the LATISSE^® bottle near your other skin care products or toothbrush, so you won't forget to apply it each night.

3. Be patient LATISSE^® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% takes time to work. Only use it once a night, and don't overuse it, as this may increase the chance of experiencing eye redness or itchiness.
 

4. Start on a clean surface If your eye makeup remover leaves an oily residue on your eyelids, wash off any excess oils with soap and water to ensure a clean surface before you apply LATISSE^®.

5. Don't play catch up If you miss a dose one night, don't apply more just to catch up. Simply apply LATISSE^® the next evening and stay on schedule.
 

6. Beware of germs

 Try to not let the tip of the bottle or applicator crush contact your fingers or any other unintended surface, in order to avoid contamination by common bacteria known to cause infections.

7. Keep track of your progress

When you start using LATISSE^® solution, be sure to mark your calendar and take pictures throughout weeks (0, 4, 8, 12, 16), so you can have your own "Before & After Gallery."

8. Stay the course As we mentioned earlier, you do need to exercise patience with LATISSE^®. If you're happy with your results by week 8, stick with the treatment. You'll see the full effect of LATISSE^® come into view at week 16. After that, you should talk to your doctor about ongoing use.

2011 is looking good...

New Year, new products, new treatments... so many new things to talk about!

We just received our first shipment yesterday from EOS (stands for Evolution of Smooth) and after reading rave reviews about these adorably packaged, organic, good-for-your-skin products, I am so excited to be offering them to our patients. (Plus, I love how the cheerful packaging makes me smile every time I pass the display.)

More about EOS later though, because I'm also so excited about the new SkinCeutical chemical peels that are joining our inventory of magical skin care treatments!

Whether your skin concern is acne, aging, or unevenness... there is a customizable SkinCeuticals Chemical Peel for you. 

Each of the peels (aging: MicroPeel, acne: MicroPeel Plus, uneven skin: Pigment Balancing Masque) can be made as strong or as mild as needed for your specific skin type, and the MicroPeel is literally the coolest peel ever due to the cryogenic therapy involved. Yup, the last step of this peel includes a man-made snow-ball on a stick, which is used to administer the final step of exfoliation. (It is the coolest thing ever, it feels amazing, and leaves your skin feeling so soft!) 

More on this later, too...

The other thing that has me especially stoked right now, is kind of frustrating considering that it took this long to think of... For months and months we have been trying to teach our patients the best way to use Latisse (use a lipstick brush to apply it to the lashes). However, patients used to always call to say that despite ardent looking, a lidded lipstick brush seemed impossible to find... but no more. We finally found the perfect brush, and are currently stocking it so that all of our Latisse lovers can get the most lash for their buck. 

(The thicker plastic brush on the left is the applicator brush that is included in the Latisse kit, and the thinner brush to the right is the kind that we recommend.)

Next on my to-get list: the perfect eye-lash curler. After Latisse does it's magic and grows your lashes long, longer, longest, the best way to get the most dramatic effect is by curling the lashes and really allowing their length to show. 

I've been doing my homework, but am not fully sold on any one curler yet. Do you have any recommendations on the BEST eye-lash curler out there? 

Also, with resolutions at their year time high, I am told that this is the best time of year for self-tanning. My St. Tropez inventory is stocked and ready to go... will be interesting to see what happens.

Hope you had a wonderful holiday, can't wait to share the rest of 2011 with you. :)

How to get the most out of your Latisse

Considering this is advice I share on an almost daily basis, it was a head-smacking moment when I realized I had yet to post a blog article about the ways to get the most of your teeny, tiny little Latisse bottle. 

It is no secret that I am a HUGE fan of Latisse, as are all of my patients. (The rumors about Latisse changing the color of your eyes or darkening your eye-lids, is sensationalized for the media's sake, as it has no bearing on reality. My light blue eyes haven't changed color one bit, nor have the light eyes of Latisse's new spokesmodel, Claire Danes.) 

Everyone who has tried it, gets results. Granted, the results range from just super long and thick, to almost mutant status (in the best way possible), where the lashes get so long that they look fake-- even without mascara. But like any addiction, Latisse users really like the results they get, and want to keep using-- which leads to Latisse's biggest downfall: it's price-point. 

At $126 per kit, Latisse is definitely a significant eye-lash investment. Allergan (the company that makes it) recommends using a kit per month, which roughly adds up to over $1,000 a year on eye-lashes! That is a lot of money, especially considering today's shaky economical environment. 

After years of use, I have developed a fool-proof way to fully maximize the contents of that tiny Latisse bottle, so that instead of a month, one bottle can last me over 4+ months. It all depends on the application method...

Your Latisse kit comes in a substantially sized box, but once you open it up, it is often shocking to see how little the Latisse bottle actually is.

The majority of the kit is made up of plastic applicator brushes, which Allergan recommends using two of for each application. (One brush per eye, and then in the trash they go.) The brushes are chunky and clumsy, and the cheap plastic bristles don't absorb the liquid, so you go through way more drops than necessary just trying to get it on your eye-- and this is why it is the recommended application. By following Allergan's directions, you go through Latisse extremely quickly, and would definitely another kit after 30 days. 

 

The application technique is the key to my entire Latisse trick. In order to get the most from your bottle, you have to use it as sparingly as possible, which means using a brush that actually holds the liquid, and absorbs only as much as you need. 

Instead of the wasteful brushes Allergan supplies, my best success has come from a lipstick brush. Retractable, with a lid, and nice, soft bristles, these brushes can usually be found inexpensively at any drugstore, and absolutely anywhere online. 

By using a brush like this, you can control more precisely the liquid you are using. 

Make sure your lipstick brush has a lid-- this way your brush never fully dries out, and never has to be fully re-saturated. The bristles on a brush like this are absorbent, and hold just enough liquid to adequately apply across your lash-line. (In addition, these brushes can be periodically washed if needed.)

These days, when I need a new kit I just take the little bottle out and put it in my make-up case. Instead of just throwing them out, I take the included applicator brushes and store them with my arts & crafts supplies. You never know when disposable paint brushes might come in handy... and that's about the only thing they're good for. 

This application method will definitely allow you more mileage from the 3mL bottle.  

Do you have any Latisse tricks and/or tips?

Dream Latisse user: Asians

One of our most favorite patients is a beautiful and fiesty Asian lady who owns a local Chinese restaurant. Genetically blessed with absolutely gorgeous skin, at age 50 she naturally has absolutely smooth, creamy, to-die for skin. (And I know it's genetic because I recently had the pleasure of meeting her mother, who had equally envy-inducing skin.) 

The other day I passed her in the hallway of our office, and she grabbed my hand to pull me close, and started batting her eye-lashes at me. 

"Look at these lashes!" she exclaimed, "My eye-lashes used to be short and terrible, but I've been using Latisse for a couple months, and now look at them!" 

Indeed, her fluttering eye-lashes looked long, thick, and perfect. 

She pulled me even closer, and confided, from one business owner to another, that I have been severely remiss by not marketing Latisse to the local Asian community. (Philadelphia's "China Town" is about 2 blocks away from our office.) 

As a business owner herself, she knows the power of word of mouth, but as she put it, "I tell everyone, but I'm only one person!" 

This discussion happened a couple of weeks ago, and since then I find my mind often drifting back to the topic, but I am momentarily confounded about how to appeal to a crowd that speaks a completely different language than myself. 

While I continue to work on that problem in my head, this article caught my eye. "In defense of Latisse" featured at Thehairpin.com is a funny, honest, beautifully written article by a girl that is half Asian named Jasmine Moy, whom details her experience with the eye-lash enhancing serum. 

I loved reading her account (below), and I was proud to see that she too had forsaken the stupid application brush that is included in the kit, and was instead doing the same thing we recommend to get the most out of every last drop of Latisse. (Don't use the applicator brushes they include, they waste too much product. Instead, an eye-liner brush works well, or our favorite is a retractable lipstick brush. The lipstick brush never fully dries out, so less liquid is needed to re-saturate it.) 

Her article is below, and I'll leave you to enjoy it while I continue to periodically mull over how to best advertise Latisse to my so-close, yet so far-away, Asian eye-lash market...

In defense of Latisse 
For years I'd said that if I could get any part of my body replaced that it would be my eyelashes, to which some people would respond, "You can get eyelash transplants?" (I used to make fun of those people but, OMG, you can actually get transplants! Gross.) I'm half-Chinese and I have (rather, I had) what I not-so-affectionately called, "stubby Asian lashes," these short things that could barely be curled and required at least three coats of mascara to be seen at all. In short, if I'd known before now that eyelash transplants existed and if they weren't totally creepy I'd have bought in. Though I'd never consider Botox, I'm not above spending money on aesthetic improvement. I bought myself braces when I got out of grad school and I also sprung for Lasik a few years back.
When eyelash extensions were all the rage, I tried them. I sat through an hour of some woman gluing longer lashes to my own. The fumes from the glue painfully burning my eyeballs while also, as it turns out, making your lashes so stiff that so much as lightly rubbing your eye will make you feel like needles are being poked into your eyelids. Also, they fall out extremely unevenly (they stay on your lash until the lash itself falls or the glue comes undone, either of which will happen in a couple weeks) so you're left with crazy face after you lose half and are waiting for the rest to shed. When only a few remained on each eye, I pulled them off myself which is pretty much the worst thing someone who longs for longer lashes could do. The crazy face was THAT BAD.
So when Latisse came out, I wanted it. Nay, needed it. Not an early adapter, I wanted to wait until I'd met someone else who had tried it and approved first. I was in search of a guinea pig, but everyone I mentioned it to said the same thing, "It changes the color of your eyes! And turns your eyelids red!" or "How can you be SURE you won't grow some kind of horrible deformed eyelash baby or other biological/physiological monstrosity that the scientists just haven't figured out yet because it's all so new???"* There was also that pesky detail of Latisse being prescription only which I assumed meant some kind of doctor visit and, inevitably, a sturdy fee.
Some light research yielded several revelations. First, about a thousand cosmetic surgery offices offer Latisse with just $100 and a signed fax saying that you're aware of the side effects and that you don't have any random medicine allergies. Second, those side effects? Not likely. As a lawyer, I'm familiar with the black box warning. In "Torts 101" you learn that because of lawyers/lawsuits most prospective side effects, no matter how small or uncommon, must be stated on labels and mentioned in speed-read postscripts to commercials. Lumigan, the medicine from which Latisse was derived, was an eye drop used for glaucoma. Side effects of Lumigan included a darkening of the iris. In Latisse trials this didn't actually occur, but because some people are morons and will actually put this stuff in their eye instead of applying it like eyeliner, you've got to put the warning on the box.
I sent my fax and had my Latisse in hand in a week. Within a month people started noticing. "This is going to sound crazy, but I think I can already see it working," my co-worker said. After two months my lashes were so long that they were nearly unmanageable. I had to comb them or they'd tangle, but they looked pretty, not crazy like this. I'd use a little clear mascara on the base just to keep them from getting unruly. At least once a week someone comments on how beautiful my eyelashes are. I thought the girl who cuts my hair was leaning in to see if my bangs were even. Instead she said, "You're using Latisse, aren't you? That stuff is amazing." Occasionally one grows so long that I have to pull the rogue lash (trimming would leave a funny-looking blunt edge).
My hazel eyes are the same as always, but as for that other side-effect, the one with the darkening skin, I confess it has happened to me. The edge of my upper eyelid has a mauve-ish tint that goes away when I stop using the Latisse for a couple weeks (I don't bring it when I travel and sometimes I just forget). Currently, I only use it a few times a week and the discoloration is something I can live with for a few reasons: I barely have an eyelid to speak of (and no real eye-crease) because of that Asian thing, when I use eyeshadow I use a darker shade that covers it up anyhow, and I have an olive tone to my skin and it's not nearly as noticeable on me as it would be on someone with fairer skin. In short, it is a small price to pay.
As a good Virgo would, I've found a better and more effective way to use the Latisse than comes via the instructions.** They send these huge clumsy plastic cheap brushes that you're supposed to use once and toss. It may be sterile, but they suck. I bought a small eyeliner brush and just make sure to wash it regularly. I use half the amount of medicine than recommended (and with great results). Instead of one drop per disposable applicator, I use one drop total that I put in the bottle's lid, then dab at for both eyes. For those tough at math, that means that my bottle lasts twice as long. I got something like 6 months worth out of my first bottle.
But this is a commitment. If I ever stop using it, my Asian stubs will grow right back in as the long, luxurious ones fall out. There are those who might disapprove, something about how women should love the bodies they were born with blah blah blah, but my new lashes? I love them. They make me happy. And for that Latisse is worth every single penny. I rarely wear mascara anymore and have no need for eye makeup remover which are things I tell myself when I start doing the math to figure out how much it will cost to continue using it over the course of the rest of my life. Money: they say it can't buy you love or happiness but I'm living proof that it can, at least, buy you longer lashes.

*Actual question from your editor, Edith Zimmerman.
**Um, legal disclaimer! I'm not responsible if something bad happens to you by following my example, etc.

Funny or Die: Latisse video spoof

Is this video funny... or is my bias towards Latisse blinding me (no pun intended!) from some great eye-lash humor? 

In the past, "Funny or Die" has featured some hilarious video clips. ("Landlord" will always hold a special place in my heart.) While the premise for a Latisse video spoof really had humorous potential, the laughs are not there. There are so many ways they could have made fun of it-- a spin of the hair club for men, or Latisse being used to grow hair in non-recommended places, or even trendy werewolves using the product-- they instead went in the immature, gross-out direction. 

Despite the numerous funny ways they could have gone with this product, and regardless of the considerable star power backing these "Funny or Die" spots, as it stands now this video is only barely watchable-- at best.

Lashisse from Molly Sims

Genie in a bottle? Nope, Christina Aguilera prefers Latisse.

Although perhaps not the best spokes-person for natural looking, understated beauty, in the November 2010 issue of Marie Claire magazine, Christina Aguilera does list Latisse eye-lash enhancing serum as one of her can't-live-without beauty products. 

While I strongly suspect that she also is a fan of massive fake eye-lashes (as any self-respecting heterosexual woman with proclivities towards drag-queen style would be!), but no doubt if she is a true Latisse devotee, her real lashes are probably pretty fake looking now, even when she's not wearing a lick of make-up. (Hey, a make-up free Christina Aguilera could happen-- she has to shower at some point, right?)

The jewel of her eye: Tarte's crystal covered eye-lash curler

For the girl that has everything (in our case, including killer lashes thanks to Latisse) what better way to extra emphasize (again-- in our case, ridiculously long) eyelashes than the perfect eyelash curler?

Tarte cosmetics has released a limited edition, crystal encrusted version of it's already popular eye-lash curler, just in time for the holidays! 

Ergonomically designed to be easy on both your hands and your lashes, it enables the user to get the most dramatic results from their lashes. (See before & after below.) Made to accommodate all eye shapes and sizes, the rubber padding is supposed to help prevent leaving any obvious "crimping" marks in your eye-lashes. 

The jeweled eye-lash curler has received great reviews, and is an adorable product guaranteed to appeal to many people. With it's reasonable price-tag (only $15) this is one eye-lash curler that you better get before you blink and it's gone. 

(Extra props to Tarte for it's dedication to the environment, and their free advice on what to do with the packaging so as to not waste anything.)

Botox "frequent-flyer-miles"

Not that I needed any sort of incentive to keep up with my Botox, but leave it to the geniuses at Allergan to concoct a way to incentivize us to stay on top of our Botox treatments, anyway! (Even though it's a bit hard to discern feelings in print, I am not being sarcastic at all. They really are very smart marketers!)

Allergan recently launched a rewards program, dubbed "Brilliant Distinctions". Akin to a "frequent flyer mile" situation, you are rewarded for every Botox/Juvederm treatment. 

Here's how it works; upon signing-up for the program, you are awarded "points" for every Botox or Juvederm treatment you receive. It doesn't matter how much of either consumable you use, just going through the act of the treatment qualifies you for points, so you are rewarded for frequency, not size. 

The points you are awarded translate into a dollar amount (200 points equals approximately $25.00) which can be saved up, or applied piece-meal to each treatment moving forward. (All of the legal fine-print and specific details can be found on the Brilliant Distinctions website.)

Although points are only given for Botox or Juvederm, the points can be redeemed on any Allergan product; including of course Botox or Juvederm, but also Latisse, or any Vivite skin care product. 

Depending on the timing, either Botox of Juvederm can be on special promotions where double or triple points are awarded for getting a treatment. 

Considering that Botox and Juvederm injections are treatments that are needed repeatedly, it is smart of Allergan to develop ways to incentivize  people to keep up with it.

Claire Danes reveals her new, ridiculous, amazing eye-lash experience

I can't help it.... 

I LOVE Latisse, and I LOVE Claire Danes, and the two of them together is almost more than my eye-lash-and-Romeo+Juliet-loving heart can take. (Please note, she is NOT wearing mascara in the photos below, and they have NOT been retouched.)

Always appearing so emotionally fragile, Claire Dane's face is so expressive that while watching her, you can feel everything she feels, just by her slightest facial movements. 

Adding ridiculously long and thick lashes to her already super expressive eyes increases her ability to communicate without saying a word. By flirtatiously fluttering her newly luxurious lashes, or coyly looking up from beneath them, or allowing tears to glisten a second longer before falling from her eyes, her new lashes, courtesy of Latisse, are the absolute perfect accessory to her brand of acting.

As the new Latisse spokes-woman, Claire documented her 16 week experience with a video journal:

Don't even bat a lash at these impossible Mascara promises...

It is no secret that I am an unabashed, die-hard Latisse devotee, and everyday my super long lashes serve as a badge of my undying Latisse loyalty.

As sales from Latisse have proven, there is a lot of money to be made in the eye-lash category, and almost every make-up company is jumping on board with some sort of product that promises to grow and enhance lashes. 

However, while Latisse remains the ONLY FDA-approved lash stimulator, I thought it would be interesting to investigate the competition's claims, and see if they have any merit. 

Revlon's "Grow Luscious by Fabulash" is marketed as a product that acts as a mascara that also encourages lashes to grow better. While tester's report positive results, the formula doesn't include anything that actually stimulates extra growth. The fibers and polypeptides included will bulk up the appearance of the lashes, and won't dry them out as other mascaras might, but once the mascara is removed the eye-lash appearance will return back to normal.

Grade: D

Akin to a "lip plumping" formula, LipFusion developed a "FushionBeauty LashFushion XL Micro-Technology Instant Wand-Lash Voluminizer" mascara. (Whew, try saying that 3x fast!) Employing the same delivery system hair-care experts use to make volume-boosting shampoos, testers say that their lashes looked noticeably fuller and thicker, and didn't clump all day long. This is the same as Revlon's product though... the appearance of longer lashes is temporary, and disappears with the removal of the mascara. 

Grade: C

Lancome Defincils Precious Cells (creepy sounding name) is a mascara that contains special plant extracts which are designed to condition lashes so that they stay as healthy, and in place, for as long as possible.The theory behind this is that the healthier the lashes are, the less likely they are to break and fall out. Latisse is also supposed to lengthen the lifetime of each eyelash, but in addition Latisse is proven to actually encourage extra growth too. 

Grade: C+ 

In a discussion about mascara, I would be remiss to not mention cult favorite Dior DiorShow Mascara. Known for delivering amazing eye-lash length and fullness, this lash booster has no ingredients that are known to improve the quality of your lashes after it's removal. (Personally, I don't even like this mascara and don't understand the fuss. For the price, it doesn't last very long and gets extremely clumpy too soon after opening.)

Grade: F

In conclusion (I like to add that in there to make this really feel like a 9th grade thesis paper) there remains only one option when it comes to optimizing your eye-lash appearance with or without makeup: Latisse. 

P.S. The aspect I don't like to dwell on too much is that no one completely understands what that causes the eyelashes to react the way they do... but it has been thoroughly tested and is proven to be completely safe for use.  (Funny Latisse side story, but it's eyelash effects were discovered by accident-- people using an Allergan eye-drop medication for glaucoma noticed that their eyelashes were growing like crazy. Allergan did research to pin-point which ingredient was causing this reaction, and singled it out and *ta da* now we have Latisse. But, the point being, it's totally safe as people have been purposely putting this stuff into their eyes for over 20 years now.)

P.P.S. Two eye-lash products that I have yet to try, but find especially intriguing are an eye makeup remover that is supposed to also act as an eyelash conditioner, and a product that is being marketed as a "topcoat" for your lashes. DermaQuest Eye Makeup Remover is made of a conditioning formula that hydrates the delicate skin around the eye area, and the lashes themselves, while removing every last speck of makeup. (Genius!) Laura Geller Lash Varnish is supposed to be applied to lashes after mascara has been put on, in order to give your lashes extra shine. 

Both sound interesting and promising... keep your eyes open for future reviews. ;)