Lash enhancers are growing in popularity ever since Latisse launched a few years back. Now women everywhere are looking for the “miracle serum” to make their lashes grow longer and darker.

My second foray into lash enhancers did not go as well as my first. This time, tarte sent me their new MultiplEye Lash Enhancer.

I used the MultiplEye serum along my upper lashline every night for three months – exactly according to directions. I haven’t noticed any difference in my lashes. In fact, they lost all the length and thickness I had developed while using DeaBella’s formula previously. I basically went backwards. I asked around on Twitter and several ladies responded saying they also didn’t get positive results with MultiplEye.

On the plus side, tarte’s lash enhancer does not sting, and I experienced no discoloration or other adverse effects.

Stay tuned for more upcoming lash enhancer reviews – I’m currently testing Jan Marini’s MariniLash, followed by L’Oreal’s new lash boosting serum. Hopefully I’ll have better results to report with these brands!

Tarte’s MultiplEYE Lash Enhancer sells for $65 at beauty.com.

FTC Disclosure: This item was sent to me free of charge in return for an honest review. The opinion in this article is based on my personal experience and was not influenced by any source. I was not compensated for this article. Feel free to read my disclosure policy for more information.

L’Occitane has a long-standing and well deserved reputation as a leader in skin and body care. Now Bionic Beauty readers have the chance to win one of their best-selling skin care gift sets- The Immortelle Day Skincare Discovery Set! Have you been itching to try a new skin care regimen? Or are you already hooked on L’Occitane products? Either way, this giveaway is your chance to get your skin in shape!

The Immortelle Day Skincare Discovery Set is a 3-step anti-aging skin care system loaded with essential oils, vitamin C, and raspberry extract (to name a few ingredients). This set is a perfect travel companion or a wonderful introduction to L’Occitane’s skin care products. The kit comes with:

• Immortelle Brightening Toner (1.6 ounce bottle)
• Immortelle Precious Cream (0.5 oz jar)
• Immortelle Eye Balm (0.2 oz jar)
• And a pouch that makes packing a breeze!

Each Immortelle product focuses on balancing your skin, improving texture, increasing firmness, and reducing the signs of aging.

How do you enter to win Bionic Beauty’s L’Occitane skin care giveaway?

Simply leave a comment below explaining your current skin “issues” that you’d like to resolve; or your favorite L’Occitane product!

If you’d like a second entry into this giveaway, you can post the following on Twitter: “I just entered to win a L’Occitane skincare set from @BionicBeauty! http://bit.ly/9K9bUj”

The Rules: One (1) winner will be chosen randomly from the qualified entrants and will receive the L’Occitane Immortelle Day Skincare Discovery set, as detailed above. Retail value is $35. To qualify for entry, you must follow the entry rules as outlined in this post. This giveaway is open to residents of the USA only. Please enter only once; duplicate entries will be detected and discarded. Entry deadline is June 19, 2010 at midnight USA ET. The winner will be chosen via Random.org and will be announced here on Bionic Beauty and contacted via email. *Please note that I will never share your email address with anyone! I only use your email address to contact you if you are a winner. However, if you do not enter a valid email address, you will be disqualified. Please DO NOT post your email address in the comment body… *just* in the email address field (for your own safety).

Please don’t forget to sign up for the Bionic Beauty blog newsletter (or you can subscribe in your favorite RSS reader). This way you can easily keep up with the free samples, product reviews, beauty and makeup news and giveaways offered on the blog.

Good luck Bionic Beauties!!

FTC Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by L’Occitane public relations. All opinions in this article are based on my own personal experience and were not influenced by any source. I received no compensation for this article. Feel free to read Bionic Beauty’s disclosure policy for more information.

Bionic Bronnie recently tested out two of Code.ai’s new Brow and Eyelash enhancing serums. Read about her results below!

Code.ai’s Brow Boosting Shaper
In short- it really works! I have had a couple scars in my brow line for years; which has never allows me to properly shape them. The hair just wouldn’t grow back. The Code.ai Brow Boosting serum is amazing! Kudos to the company and ingenious scientists that created this formula.

Here’s how you use it: Apply it to your brows, faithfully, twice a day. Within two weeks I was noticing some changes… by four weeks, I had hair filling in those scars and blank spots! Never in a million years would I have believed a product would fix those empty spots.

I was happy to find out that its paraben-free (which are all-natural preservatives and not the to-be-feared chemicals many people believe they are, but that’s a *whole* ‘nother article!), not tested on animals, non-irritating, hypoallergenic, and has no harmful side effects (unlike Latisse’s hormone based formula). It uses a unique “Myriplex Technology” which contains a lipo-peptide amplifying complex. I read many testimonials written by cancer patients and even turned two of my neighbors, who are cancer patients, into fans.

The Brow Boosting serum stays in place, is clear, and comes with a mascara spooley applicator. I love it and have nothing bad that I can say. This is one of the neatest products that I have discovered and am truly happy to be able to share the results with all of our fellow Bionic Beauties!

Code.ai’s Lash Extend Serum (L-117)
These products are so similar, one review really covers both products- the basic difference? One is for your lashes, the other is for your brows.

The Lash Extend Serum is a bit more difficult to apply. It needs to go right into the hair growth area of the lashline and is applied with a small brush, it takes time and patience. However, if you are used to applying liquid or gel eyeliners, this is pretty much the same technique. It seemed to take about two weeks longer to really notice it working, but one day I used a good mascara and my lashes were so long they touched my eyelids when I opened them fully. Happy EEK! It also darkened and thickened them!

I found that if I poked myself in the eye (oops!) with the soft brush or applied it inside of the lash line, it did slightly burn my eyes, but it didn’t last long and it’s clearly stated that you shouldn’t get it in your eyes! I was also using a smaller tester version, so I imagine the full size one is easier and faster to use. Both are the size of a mascara and very portable.

The Code.ai website (www.codeai.com) is full of information and testimonials. I’ve found both products for sale on a few different websites. The full size containers would probably last a very long time as even the small sample containers lasted me a full month.

There is one more product made by code.ai called Lash Extend Primer L-122 which I hope to have to chance to share the results with you as well.

This is one of the most exciting new product breakthroughs I have seen in the cosmetics industry and I will continue to use them. There are so many lash and brow growth, plumping, and stimulating products on the market right now and I am very happy to find one that works and is safe! I honestly feel overwhelmed when trying to research and choose one that is worth the money and delivers results- so I hope this review helps you sort through all the offerings!

Beauty.com offers the Brow serum for $75 and the Lash Extend Serum for $115.

~Bionic Bronnie

FTC Disclosure: This item was sent to me free of charge in return for an honest review. The opinion in this article is based on my personal experience and was not influenced by any source. I was not compensated for this article. Feel free to read my disclosure policy for more information.

This week’s Bionic Asks… do you use an eye cream or serum in your daily beauty routine? What issues do you target- puffiness, dark circles, anti-aging, etc? And finally a followup, what’s your favorite (or least favorite) so far?

I use an eye cream at night, but it can vary widely depending on what I am currently testing (I test all eye creams for at least six weeks, which is why the reviews can be slow coming out).

My all-time favorites are YBF Skincare’s Correct (here’s my review of Correct), Sea Pure’s Perfecting Eye Cream (I’m still testing this one but it’s quite amazing so far; review to come soon!), and Boots No. 7 Restore and Renew. My least faves? Garnier Nutritioniste’s various eye creams- somehow I ended up with clogged pores under my eyes. How the heck does that happen?!?

And now it’s your turn to share!

A friend of mine, who is also quite the Bionic Beauty herself, asked me a question on Facebook. Since I haven’t had the chance to try this eye cream yet, I’m hoping one of you ladies in the land of the Internet can help us out…

Hi Jami,
I meant to ask you if you have ever heard of Correctionist Multi-Benefit Eye Creme (with Cerabrite Complex). I got a sample of it at my local Sally Beauty store, and it seems to work… but I am wondering if it is one of those that only works for week.
Thanks!
Lori

From my digging on the Sally Beauty website, the Correctionist Multi-Benefit Eye Creme sells for $12.99 in it’s regular jar size. And like myself, I know that Lori doesn’t want to waste her hard-earned money on something that isn’t going to perform in the long run. I’ve been in her spot many times. I receive a sample size of something that seems amazing at first, but when I buy the product, it just doesn’t seem to have the same results.

So… have any Bionic Beauties out there tried this eye cream from Sally? Or do you have another recommendation in a similar (and accessible) price point?

Let’s kick off this week with some freebies, shall we?

Escada is offering a free sample of their new Marine Groove fragrance. Perfect to get you in that warm weather mood while we are all shivering in this cold snap!

Grab your own free sample of iS Clinical’s new Youth Eye™ Complex! This eye serum has been advertised in a few women’s magazines recently. It’s caught my *eye*, but being bionically-budget conscious, I’d much rather sample it first. I’d love to hear your thoughts when you’ve tried the sample!

And since it’s cold season, today’s freebie roundup wouldn’t be complete without something to help the sniffles. Costco and Kleenex teamed up to offer a free trial pack of Kleenex tissues. You don’t need to be a Costco member to qualify, but there is a super-short survey.

To round it all out, there are an overwhelming amount of Kotex freebies…

• Samples of Security tampons in super & regular, plus fresh & dry long liners.
• Free trial pack of Kotex Regular maxi pads and fresh & dry long liners.
• And finally, get a free sample of Ultra thin pads with wings and fresh & dry long liners.

Enjoy!

Last week I introduced you to the L’uvalla Organic Skin Care brand by reviewing their Balancing System. For ladies looking for help battling the signs of aging skin, I also tested their Age-Defying System.

During my review period, I found the L’uvalla Age-Defying System to be as incredibly gentle as their Balancing System. And that’s saying quite a bit since many anti-aging products can really create a flare up for sensitive skin types

Bionic Bronnie reviews the L'uvalla Organic "Age Defying" skincare regimen.

The Age Defying System

The Cleanser: A milky hydrating cleanser that gently removes makeup and pollution from our environment without drying the skin. The active ingredients also help will skin cell sloughing, which in turn encourages new cell growth. The end result is clean, smooth and hydrated skin. This face wash also has strong aromatherapy properties using Lavendin Oil to quiet the mind, lift mood, balance mood swings, and encourage restful sleep. Other standout ingredients include: Sunflower Seed Oil, Betaine, Hazel Seed Oil, Lotus Flower, Orange Peel, Meadowsweet Extract and Ginseng Root. The Hydrating Milk Cleanser comes in a 7 ounce plastic flip-top bottle.

Eucalyptus Toner: This toner utilizes Eucalyptus Leaf Extract to renovate and purify skin. The Eucalyptus Leaf Extract combined with Yarrow Oil work together for strong aromatherapy benefits to invigorate, soothe, and can assist you through major life changes such as menopause. Additional toner ingredients include: Maris Salt Extract, Sage Oil, Niaouli Leaf Oil and White Lotus.  This toner was by far my favorite of the two from L’uvalla. It feels wonderful on my skin! Like the toner in the Balancing System, the Eucalyptus toner is also pH balanced and it really helped clear up the splotches on my face. I used a cotton pad for application, but since it’s pourable you could use your fingers, a sponge, or anything in between. Just be sure to keep them in the glass bottles- glass is inert and won’t react with anything packaged in it. I truly appreciate the incredible amount of thought L’uvalla put into each ingredient in this toner… everything in it has a documented purpose.  Packaged in a 6.7 ounce cobalt-blue glass bottle.

Regenerating Age-Defying Day/Night Cream: Designed to nourish and hydrate aging skin.  The essential aromatic oils are Rosewood and Thyme- known to balance the mind and body, strengthen nerves, aid in concentration and combat exhaustion.  The ingredient list for this face cream is long, but a few of the highlights include Argan Oil, Hazel Seed, Palm Kernel, Castor Seed, Rosewood, Rose Geranium Flower, Wheat Germ Oil, Cypress, Thyme, Chlorophyllin-Magnesium and Bitter Orange. This lotion is a real workhorse with intensive moisture (great for winter, dry climates, or normal to dry skin types) and can improve skin texture, smooth fine lines, and reduce puffiness.

Is this face cream effective as an anti-aging skin regimen? In my opinion, I feel that long term use may help reduce signs of aging including fine lines, dull skin, puffiness, etceteras. But even the face cream on its own is deeply nourishing and packed with so many wonderful natural ingredients!  My favorite skin care products typically don’t have a list of additives and L’uvalla certainly fits that bill.

Here’s a helpful tip I picked up while testing the L’uvalla products- the company suggested mixing the two moisturizers/cream in a half and half ratio. It worked great for my combination skin. You could alter the mix to your own custom needs depending if you want more anti-aging benefits, specific moisture levels, and so on. The L’uvalla customer service was fabulously helpful in getting my ratio right.

Other L’uvalla Products
The dual-use Eye and Lip Cream is similar to the Day/Night Creams in L’uvalla’s regimens, except it’s a bit more concentrated. With an SPF of 20, it’s perfect for day use; then just use your Day/Night Cream at night.  Due to my sensitive skin, I usually have a hard time finding a sunscreen that doesn’t irritate my face. L’uvallas Eye/Lip Cream didn’t cause any burning… I didn’t know that was possible! It works as a physical-barrier sunscreen (which are effective immediately and block all the sun’s harmful rays; as opposed to chemical sunscreens which take around 30 minutes to work and must be absorbed by the skin… hence the occasional burning.) against UVA and UVB rays. I love it!

In summary, the entire L’uvalla Skin Care product line is a wonderful skin regimen. It works well with other products. In my opinion, you just can’t go wrong if you have some L’uvalla in the bathroom! Don’t forget Bionic Beauty readers can enter coupon code BIONIC25 at checkout to get 25% off your entire purchase (valid until December 22, 2009) ~and~ later this week check back for L’uvalla Skin Care giveaway!

The L’uvalla Age-Defying skincare regimen runs $109.22 and it should last you about 3 months.

~Bionic Bronnie

FTC Disclosure: This item was sent to me free of charge in return for an honest review. The opinion in this article is based on my personal experience and was not influenced by any source. I was not compensated for this article. Feel free to read my disclosure policy for more information.

Bionic Bronnie reviews one of ColoreScience’s most popular, and versatile, skin care products…

ColoreScience Line Tamer and Skin Brightener is a yellow-toned serum that absorbs into facial skin nicely. I started using it under makeup since it’s also designed as a primer, now I sometimes use it even without makeup. This is a great treatment for dark, puffy eyes. It reduces redness and is very soothing following waxing, microdermabrasion or facial other potentially harsh skin treatments.

While it’s not perfect as a moisturizer, it is effective as a pore reducer, skin mattifier and line refiner. My skin loves this serum! I keep a bottle in my purse for a quick touchup, especially on hot or humid days. Plus, it packs SPF 20! The bonus sun protection makes this little multitasker even more powerful. ColoreScience’s Line Tamer uses natural ingredients including Green Tea, Beta Carotene, Grape Seed and Vitamin E.

Colorescience Line Tamer, Primer and Skin Brightener is available for $45 at SkinStore.com.

After an extensive freebie hunt, I’ve found some new samples for all the Bionic Beauties out there. So request away ladies!

• First, thanks to BJ for writing in about the new samples that Walmart is offering! You can grab a freebie of the new Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Sun-Damage eye cream with SPF 15. The Garnier samples are usually a pretty generous packet size. Perfect for at least a week of use!
• Dove has launched some new samples of shampoo and conditioner. You can choose from either their Heat Defense Therapy or Intense Damage Therapy hair care lines.
• For the indie-brand lovers, Pristine Skincare products is offering some freebies of their skin care line. While the sample form doesn’t specify what you’ll receive, it’s usually fun to try out a new brand.
  
• Head to your local Aveda salon and mention that you saw the offer in O (Oprah) Magazine for a free sample of their skin care. However, be sure to check for your local participating locations first.
• Also, while you’re at the Aveda site, you can register for their birthday program. You’ll get a coupon good for one free scented body care or other item to redeem on your b-day!

Remember that most samples go very quickly, and that I don’t ship/sell any of the samples from Bionic Beauty – I just locate them during my web travels. Have fun, Bionic Beauties!

These are a clever little invention called DuWop igels. There are 3 sets of gelatin based eye covers that store in the refrigerator and go over your eyes for about 10 minutes. The gel packs are infused with essential oils and they conform to the shape of your eye to reduce puffiness.

Igels specifically address dark circles with Grapefruit extract and Arnica; fine lines with Vitamin C, Collagen and Green Tea; and reduce swelling with Chamomile. Igels are reusable a few times and will last a bit longer if you don’t fuss with them (i.e. don’t go using them as squishy stress-relievers…).

I think Igels are a great idea, I really do. But I wish they held and distributed a little more product and lasted a bit longer. Overall, I do have puffy eyes from my sinuses and really enjoyed the cooling sensation of DuWop igels in the morning.

DuWop iGels are $25 at duwop.com for a variety pack of the Orange, Purple, and Blue iGels.