If you're not the dexterous type, putting on fake eyelashes quickly and expertly will most likely not be your forte.
Which is why this beauty shortcut is too convenient to be true. The latest mascara from L'Oreal Paris is a touted as extensions for your lashes.
Smudge-proof and long-wearing. The best bit: L'Oreal Paris' Double Extension Beauty Tubes just washes off when you want to remove it.
Applied the same way as you would any other mascara, the liquid mascara forms tube-like extensions around your eyelashes, and makes them look at least 80 per cent longer, according to the people at L'Oreal Paris.
The good thing about the Double Extension Beauty Tubes is that it does what it says - provides visible lengthening, does not clump or run and stays on for long-lasting wear and gives the same effect of wearing fake eyelashes.
The not-so-nice thing is that bits of the 'tubes' do fall off, resulting in black specks of mascara that might pepper the corners of your peepers during the course of the day. However, that is easily rectified by lightly brushing these offending specks off when you make quick checks on your make-up, as the mascara is smudge-proof once it is dry.
The mascara comes in a double-sided tube, with the white end to coat and protect your lashes, and the red end that contains the mascara that turns into 'beauty tubes' after application.
But the truly best bit about this beauty shortcut is that it washes off easily with lots of water. That means you only need to carry on with your usual shower or face-washing routine when you want to remove the mascara, eliminating the need to use special eye make-up remover and allows you to cut down on pulling on those fragile eye lashes.
That certainly cuts down one step in any beauty routine, which makes the Double Extension Beauty Tubes a favourite on our list of beauty shortcuts.
Double Extension Beauty Tubes is available in black and available from September 2008 in Singapore. Retail price: $25.90.
Instant lift - Tri-Aktiline Instant Deep Wrinkle Filler
If you're wavering between Botox shots or sticking to a good moisturiser to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, this nifty little product is worth checking out.
The Tri-Aktiline Instant Deep Wrinkle Filler promises to instantly relax the appearance of fine lines by filling them in with matt silicones in the short term.
Tri-Aktiline promises to be an instant wrinkle filler
There are also promised benefits in the long run, as prolonged use is supposed to help plump up skin with a host of goodies such as sodium hyaluronate, avocado oil, cholesterol and shea butter to hydrate skin and reduce the length and depth of wrinkles for a more permanent fix. It was originally developed as a cream to target stubborn cellulite, but it is now marketed as an anti-wrinkle cream.
But it is the properties from its star ingredients - Gatuline® Expression, an extract from the South American Acmella oleracea plant, KombuchkaTM PH Extract, a black tea extract and Argireline®, a peptide - that will address your wrinkle woes.
These help to relax facial lines, plump up wrinkles and boost natural collagen production respectively, say the people behind the product.
Distributed by Beauty Banks, which is an entrepreneurial think-tank division of The Estée Lauder Companies, Tri-Aktiline from beauty line Good Skin Labs was first introduced in the US and UK as early as 2006, and to Europe in 2007, and has received good feedback from consumers.
It is the first product from Good Skin Labs and it will also be the first product from Beauty Banks to hit the shelves come October in Singapore.
At $75 a tube from Guardian, it is certainly more pricey than other wrinkle creams. But a simple test of tapping the cream into the lines on my palm indeed made them less pronounced, and convinced me that it does have benefits for hard-to-erase facial lines. To use, pat into clean skin directly on frown lines and wrinkles, and let it set before applying serum, moisturiser and make-up.
While I cannot yet see any long-term effects, I find myself reaching for this anti-wrinkle cream every time I want to lessen the appearance of those deep grooves on my neck, as those unsightly lines do seem to fade a little each time with use.
Good Skin Labs Tri-Aktiline will be available from all Guardian & Beauty Health stores in Singapore from October 2008 onwards. Retail price: $75
