Show your hair some love with a nourishing avocado hair mask that’ll repair dryness, breakage, and dullness. You can try a DIY version by mashing up the entire fruit, combing it through your hair in the shower, leaving it on for 10 minutes, and rinsing it out with your favorite shampoo or one laced with avocado oil that will leave your hair soft and manageable throughout your 40-hour work week. – Alexis Farah
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When 62-year-old Beverly Johnson does it? We take copious notes.
As one of the original 1970s supermodels, Johnson cemented her place in the fashion hall of fame by becoming the first African-American model to appear on the cover ofVogue in 1974, and then made history again as the first black woman to front ElleFrance the following year. Oh, and the New York Times named this beauty one of the most influential people in the industry.
Now—with over 500 magazines covers to her credit—Johnson’s documenting what life’s like as one of the fashion’s biggest game-changers with a new book, The Face That Changed It All: A Memoir, which hits bookstores today.
To celebrate, we couldn’t wait to add this icon to our growing of list of beautiful, strong women of all ages who share a page from their daily food and fitness routine. Here’s what she came back with, so read on and take note.
I start an average day by:
Meditating.
For breakfast I had:
Warm water and lemon and a bowl of fresh strawberries.
For lunch I had:
Grilled chicken breast, steamed spinach, and water.
For dinner I had:
Filet mignon, asparagus, and water. Dessert was strawberries.
Today I snacked on:
Apples.
My go-to healthy drink is:
A cappuccino—coffee is good for the mind!
The one thing I would never eat is:
Chitterlings. [Ed note: for the uninitiated, chitterlings are pig small intestines—and are a delicacy in some cultures.]
Johnson in the ’70s. (Photo: Getty)
My favorite workout is:
Golf—walking 18 holes is a workout.
My guilty pleasure food is:
Buttered popcorn.
The next big health and fitness trend will be:
Cross training, yoga and meditation all done on the same day.
My favorite healthy snack is:
Yogurt.
Some of the fitness blogs I love include:
Lana Kerr, Fat Loss Coach.
I’m obsessed with following:
Kim Kardashian on Instagram.
The three ingredients you’ll always find in my kitchen are
Garlic powder, sea salt, and olive oil.
My signature healthy dish is:
White fish and steamed spinach.
The health app I couldn’t live without is:
Your Fat Loss Coach.
The best part of my job is:
Helping and inspiring others to be the best they can be.
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For a few months now, the talk around the town has been that orange blush is a very commonly over-looked beauty must-have for women of color. More specifically, women with darker skin have been questioning the idea of orange blush being the go-to for a flushed, sun glowing look.
It’s true that orange blush is a very easy way for women with darker complexions to add a very pretty, warming glow to their skin. But in all honesty, orange blush looks good on allbrown women. You just have to find your right shade of the color.
So, if this has been the case, why have us Brown girls passed by the hue for so long? Most likely from lack of knowledge and fear of the bright color. Let’s be honest: regardless of how pretty it looks packaged and presented to us in stores, orange blush is kind of intimidating.
Always remember this rule of thumb: most of the time, bright eye shadows and blushes look amazing on darker skin because of the balance it creates. Don’t be afraid to try these colors, and don’t shy away just because it looks “too bright” in the packaging. What you see packaged, especially when it comes to shadows and blushes, will 9 times out of 10 never look that way on your skin tone. This is why beauty brick and mortars like Sephora let you try the products out before purchasing, and also have flexible return policies.
Here’s a list of the best orange blushes for brown skin.
Milani Baked Blush
Maybelline Face Studio Master Glaze in Coral Sheen
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All of the Mid-Day Makeup Fixes You Need to Keep Your Look Fresh
Photo @KarlieKloss
It’s happened to us all: It’s 8 a.m. your makeup is Kardashian perfect and completely selfie-worthy. But after a long morning commute, a series of unexpected meetings, stress, spilled coffee and more stress later, it’s 2 p.m. and your makeup now resembles something from a low-budget Halloween movie.
With smudges, redness and creasing in tow, a mid-day makeup application is often a necessary evil. But let’s be real, you likely don’t have the time, patience or energy to completely re-do your entire look. On the flip side, applying more product on top of an already made up face can leave you feeling cakey, overdone and just plain uncomfortable. Thankfully, we recruited the help of celebrity makeup artist and butter London Global Colour Ambassador Katie Jane Hughes to help bring your makeup back to life.
Freshen Up Your Face
The face can be a big area of concern when re-doing makeup on the fly. Sweat, rain and other unsightly elements can be to blame for making your foundation, BB cream or concealer seem to vanish. Plus, throughout the day you’re likely touching your face, leaning on your knuckles and otherwise using your digits to destroy your makeup. If your skin sees creases or indents from your hands, try a little hydrating facial mist and gulp down a glass of water, says Hughes. “The hydration will help the skin become more neutral,” she explains of the quick skin-boosting trick.
If redness is a concern, Hughes suggests taking a damp sponge and dabbing it around the skin. “This will freshen the base makeup,” she explains. “You can then take that same sponge with your foundation and dab on the areas that need more coverage.” Tip:If applying more foundation or makeup products is a must for you, try pressing the product on only certain areas to avoid piling and caking.
But it’s not just your foundation that needs a little boost. Often times, as the day goes on, exhaustion sets in and concealer wears off. To hide afternoon dark circles, Hughes says you might actually need two products. “Many people need two different concealers but don’t know it,” she says. One concealer should be a peach shade—peach counteracts blue—used to even out the shadows that form under the eyes, and the other shade should be a similar color to your foundation, she explains. Apply the peach shade first by simply pressing the product on with your ring finger, then move on to the flesh-hued concealer. Although two products are used here, the simple combo of colors will hide any signs of fatigue and help your visage looking vibrant for the rest of the day.
Evaluate the Eyes
Nothing says you’re having a “rough day” quite like smudged eyeshadow. A little less-than-perfect shadow smudge can make your makeup look more lived in and a little grungy. Although that look might work wonders on Alexa Chung, for the rest of us, it tends to look sloppy. To quickly remove creases, Hughes suggests applying some cream shadow over the already-applied makeup. “You can then leave it or go over with powder shadow for more depth and staying power,” she adds.
A major cause of a mid-day makeup meltdown comes from eyeliner, eyeshadow’s even more rebellious younger sister. To figure out the best plan of attack for unruly liner, Hughes suggests looking at the way the liner is moved or smudged. “It may work just to add to it and create a more intense look,” she explains. (Think cat-eye or smudgy, smoky.) However, if your liner is simply not cooperating, dip a Q-Tip in some makeup remover and clean off the mistakes and then reapply as needed.
Mascara is the third component of eye makeup that can either make or break your look. If your mascara has clumped up, lost volume and curl and basically taken a beating throughout the day, you can actually revive your lashes fast—without washing off your old mascara. Reach for a lash primer to revitalize your peepers. Hughes suggests swiping on butter London Fit Lash Primer ($20) as it will re-wet the mascara, so you can add on another coat. We’re also fans of Urban Decay Mascara Resurrection ($16), which coats and separates lashes, making them appear as if you’ve applied fresh mascara. Finally, if you’re in a real tight spot, Hughes says opting for a different mascara formula altogether which can get the underlying mascara looking lively once again.
Know When to Start Fresh
Unfortunately, not everything can be saved with a quick makeup artist trick. Filled-in brows and a bold lip are two things Hughes says it’s best to just bite the bullet and start over with. “Take them off carefully with a makeup remover soaked Q-Tip, add a hint of concealer and reapply,” she says.
Although we can’t guarantee a completely meltdown-free day, we can guarantee that your makeup won’t be the cause of your stress.
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The night before the MTV Video Music Awards, Rita Ora proudly showed off her new customised manicure on Instagram. She obviously loved it, and so she should, because it cost a whopping $56,000 to create.
Only the best for a GLAMOUR cover star, hey?
Rita Ora‘s bling-tastic manicure – created by celebrity manicurist Barbara Windsor – uses Azature Black Diamond Nail Lacquer (in Ruby Diamond), and for those wondering, yes, it does contain black diamonds. The nail art was created by tiny hand-crafted diamond spiders and ruby bows. The entire manicure is thought to cost a grand total of $56,000.The night before the MTV Video Music Awards, Rita Ora proudly showed off her new customised manicure on Instagram. She obviously loved it, and so she should, because it cost a whopping $56,000 to create.
Only the best for a GLAMOUR cover star, hey?
Rita Ora‘s bling-tastic manicure – created by celebrity manicurist Barbara Windsor – uses Azature Black Diamond Nail Lacquer (in Ruby Diamond), and for those wondering, yes, it does contain black diamonds. The nail art was created by tiny hand-crafted diamond spiders and ruby bows. The entire manicure is thought to cost a grand total of $56,000.
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If you have bangs, you know firsthand how important it is to keep them at their optimum length—half an inch too long and you’re a lost member of the Ramones, half an inch too short and you’re stuck looking like a surprised bird until they grow out. So how best to maintain them? Even if your stylist offers complimentary fringe-trims, going to the salon every other week is a serious time commitment. And if you don’t know what you’re doing, trying to cut them at home can have jagged, crooked results.
Until now. After ten years of DIY fringe maintenance, we here at StyleCaster have developed the ultimate way to maintain our bangs—and we’re breaking it down for you. Here’s how to trim your own bangs and not wind up looking like you’ve hacked at your fringe with a box cutter out of frustration.
Step #1. Spray your bangs with water and blow them out so that they’re straight and about three-quarters dry. Never cut soaking wet hair, and Never cut dry hair; both make it hard to accurately gauge length.
Bonus tip: Set aside at least half an hour to cut your bangs. Don’t try to trim them when you’re running late, when you’ve been drinking (hey, we’ve all been there) or when you’re stressed. Bangs are like horses: they can sense fear.
Step #2. Using bobby pins or alligator clips, clip back the lengths of your hair at the sides. This will help you make sure that your fringe is perfectly shaped at the scalp, and also so that there is zero chance of you cutting some accidental face-framing layers.
Step #3. Take a long piece of clear plastic tape and gently stick it to your bangs; this will be your guideline. The tape can go straight across (if you have a blunt fringe) or at an angle (if that’s the style you’re rocking), with the bottom edge of the tape denoting where you’re going to cut. Don’t do like the parent in this vintage tape ad and cut above the tape; that is a recipe for an unfortunate hair look. Remember to be more conservative with your tape guideline at first; you can easily go back and trim your hair shorter if you need to, but you can’t make it longer again.
Bonus tip: If your hair is very fine or damaged and you’re worried about the tape yanking your strands, stick it to your arm first, then peel it off. The tape will still stay, but it won’t be AS sticky—and your hair will remain healthy and unpulled.
Bonus tip #2: After ten years spent maintaining our bangs this way, we’ve found that the frosted office tape is the best to use for hair trimming purposes—the completely clear stuff is very sticky and pulls. Packing tape is definitely out. Duct tape, no damn way.
Step #5. Using a pair of hairdressing shears—not half-blunt office supply scissors you brought home from your last job—you’re now going to trim your hair. If you want blunt bangs, hold a 1″ section of hair taut between your first two fingers, start at the outside corner and snip in, slowly pulling the scissors back as you close them. This will help to pull the hair straight as you cut. If you want wispier bangs, hold the scissors horizontally and cut up and in to your hair, pulling them down as you close the blades. This will give you feathery ends.
Step #6. Continue cutting until your reach the other side. Remove the tape and dry your bangs all the way. How are they looking? If they need a little fine-tuning, dampen them again, replace the tape and trim until you’re happy. But remember: go slowly and carefully.
Step #7. You now have perfectly trimmed bangs! And if you’ve made them a touch too short, don’t worry—the good thing about bangs is that they grow quickly. In a week, any minor mistakes will have grown out.
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We love spending our summers outdoors – from backyard barbecues and mimosas by the pool to endless days at the beach, we try to find time to do it all. The downfall? All that time in the sun takes a real toll on our skin. Of course we’re always armed with our trusty SPF, but sometimes that just isn’t enough – our skin is in need of some serious hydration.
Luckily, there’s an easy fix – DIY face masks! And not only are they super simple to make at home, but they’re packed with a bunch of natural beauty benefits to help revitalize your skin. We’ve handpicked our favorites below, so grab your ingredients, give them a try and get ready for glowing skin!
Instagram @nutritionstripped
Avocado Honey Mask
Ingredients:
½ avocado
¼ cup of uncooked oatmeal
1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons of honey
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
Avocados are a great source of healthy fats and antioxidants that are used in tons of different skincare products. They are essentially a skin superfood. In addition to the moisturizing properties of avocado, the oatmeal in this mask works as an exfoliator while the apple cider vinegar and lemon juice help to brighten the complexion and reduce inflammation. Simply mash up the avocado and mix in the rest of the ingredients and apply for your desired amount of time. Try integrating this mask into your summer beauty regimen once or twice a week for soft, supple skin!
Image via sincerelykinsey.com
Banana Honey Face Mask
Ingredients:
1/2 banana (preferably ripe)
2 tablespoons of raw honey
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
This simple mask works wonders for oily, acne-prone skin as bananas are packed with antioxidants and potassium that naturally help combat acne while honey helps to keep skin perfectly hydrated. Simply take an overripe banana and mash it until its a semi-liquid consistency, then sprinkle in the cinnamon (an awesome, natural acne-fighting ingredient) and some honey. Mix it all together and apply to freshly cleansed skin. Leave on for 10 – 15 minutes and then rise off with warm water.
Image via beautybets.com
Strawberry Yogurt Face Mask
Ingredients:
1/4 cup of dry rolled oats
3 tablespoons of organic plain yogurt
2 tablespoons of honey
3 strawberries
Made from fresh produce you’re likely to already have in your fridge, this hydrating ingredient mask works wonders on dry, dull skin. Strawberries are not only a great summer snack, but are the perfect addition to any at-home mask! Not only are they packed with vitamin C, but they also work as a gentle exfoliant for dry skin. To start, blend your oats to a powder-like consistency in a food processor. In a bowl, mash the strawberries with a fork (or pulse in a blender for smoother consistency) and then mix in the yogurt, honey and blended oats. Apply to face for as long as desired and then rinse off with warm water. Follow up with your favorite toner and serum for instantly glowing skin!
Image via gourmandeinthekitchen.com
All-Natural Chocolate Face Mask
Ingredients:
1/3 cup of cocoa
2 tablespoons of heavy cream
1/4 cup of honey
3 tablespoons of oatmeal powder
The perfect addition to any at-home spa night, this chocolate mask not only smells divine, but will do wonders for tired skin. The cream and honey work together to restore moisture to parched skin, while the oatmeal gently removes dead skin. Simply mix all the ingredients together and refrigerate for 5-10 minutes until the mask is cool to the touch. Then apply generously to clean skin and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse off and follow up with a light moisturizer.
Image via pinsandprocrastination.com
Exfoliating Honey Cinnamon Face Mask
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of honey
1/4 cup of baking soda
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
Dry summer heat can often take a toll on our skin leaving it burnt, dried out and flaky. Luckily, exfoliating treatments are great at combating dehydrated skin and this DIY mask is packed with natural ingredients to help restore moisture and eliminate dryness. Cinnamon, a natural astringent, works with the baking soda to remove dirt and unclog pores while the honey restores moisture without making skin oily. Mix all the ingredients together and apply onto clean skin for 15-20 minutes.
Image via kristineldridge.com
Grapefruit Facial Mask
Ingredients:
1 beaten egg white
juice from 1/2 grapefruit
1/2 cup of oatmeal
1 tablespoon raw honey
Citrus fruits contain natural bleaching properties that work well in conjunction with the collagen and protein in egg whites to help fade acne scars and hyper-pigmentation. The addition of raw honey and oatmeal help to moisturize and exfoliate skin for a clearer complexion. In a large bowl, whip the egg whites until they are frothy and hold a soft peak. In a separate bowl, mix together the grapefruit juice, honey and oatmeal. Fold the grapefruit mixture into the egg whites and apply mask to clean skin for 10-15 minutes.
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The beauty of lip stains? Unlike spilled coffee or a piece of chocolate that oh-so-conveniently (catch our sarcasm?) melted on your blouse, these products give you stains you actually WANT to wear. Learning how to use lip stain will end what seems like a lifetime of beauty woes—the kind that revolve around trying to get color to stay on all day long, through lunch and those inevitable snacks in-between. This was designed to last and with such a lightweight consistency making it seem like you’re not wearing anything at all. To get the most out of this product, follow some of the tips below.
Exfoliate and Moisturize
Because lip stains are really, really thin, you’re going to see imperfections a lot easier than if you were using a lip cream or a lipstick. The consistency matches something similar to a liquid, which by nature just skims the surface. That means dry, flaky pieces of skin will be in full view. Moisturize often (make this just as much as a habit as washing your face before bed) and use a product with little or natural fragrance so your lips don’t dry out quickly.
Use a Lip Liner
The color is going to stick around, but it’s not going to apply as precisely as something like a standard lipstick tube that comes to somewhat of a point. The liquid in and of itself makes it a little less easy-to-apply, even when it’s soaking up on a doe foot applicator. An easy way to combat this is to use a lip liner of the same exact color or something a little bit lighter, just so you have some guidelines when applying the lip liner. After applying lip liner, really blend those lines in so there isn’t a stark difference between the lip stain and the lip liner.
Layer Under Regular Lipstick
This is your must-use tip when you want the creamier, thicker finish of a lipstick but know the color isn’t going to last all day. Apply lip stain (something with a matte finish, like the Milani Power Lip Lasting & Moisturizing Gloss Stain that leaves a matte finish with the option of making it glossy) before putting on your gloss. Some lip stains have incredibly long wear, so by the time your lipstick rubs off after only a few hours, you’ll still have a whole lot of tint showing. You’ll totally rid yourself of a splotchy look where only the outer rim of your lips are still holding on to the pigment.
Layer Over for Intensity or Gloss
A lot of lip stains leave a glossy finish in and of themselves, but you can make a creamy lip color glossy and even hold more of an intense color on your lips by layering a lip stain on top. It doesn’t have to be the same exact color, though. Pick different shades in the same color family for something customized to you—getting personal with fashion and beauty isn’t only done with monograms.
Need Lip TLC? Check Over the Ingredients
As the barriers between cosmetics and skin care continue to blur, lip stains are taking strides in what they offer to a customer in the ingredients list. Many products are made with nourishing oils that will bring hydration and a heavy repair to lips that are chapped or suffering from flakiness or dryness.
Use It as a Cheek Tint
Not exactly a way to make it look better on your lips, no, but lip stain is an amazing multitasker. Dab a bit on your cheeks for blush that won’t budge—just make sure you apply the smallest amount and blend out towards your ears.
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Brushing your hair used to be a thing of ritual—100 strokes a night for long and luscious princess hair. But not everyone has “princess hair” per se, and everyone still needs to groom their hair one way or another. Rather than rip your hair out (figuratively and literally) over the wrong brush that may not even be detangling and styling your hair the best way it could be, here’s a brief guide to de-bunking which brush could benefit your hair the best.
A boar bristle brush is a great staple for almost any kind of hair. The natural boar bristles are excellent at distributing your scalp’s natural oils down the hair shaft, which may save you a day or two of washing. The bristles are flexible, so it won’t snag and break hair as it pulls through. Sometimes these can be densely packed though, so a thorough brushing takes several passes. These are also great for styling if you’re looking for smooth, frizz-free hair. Some of them have a mix of stiffer nylon bristles within the boar so it’s got a bit more grip for detangling and grooming.
Your basic weapon of choice, the classic hair styling brush has a rubber base and nylon bristles and can come in several sizes from small, medium, to large. The best thing about this brush is that it tackles detangling, blow-drying, and styling. This is an especially good pick for detangling curly hair since hair can move pretty easily through nylon bristles, and it can shape and smooth at the same time. If you’re after smooth styles, this is a good tool for blow-drying to get volume at your roots, before using round brush if you’re looking to style curled/waved ends.
If you have long and straight hair for the most part, a paddle brush covers a lot of ground for detangling purposes. Straight thick hair will benefit the most from this type of brush, which can come with nylon, boar, or a mixture of both bristles. Sometimes they’re vented for blow-drying purposes. The flat surface makes this a great tool for smoothing, frizz, and static-fighting. Plus, with its wide flat shape, it can fit more bristles on it and detangle your hair quicker and with less passes—so less shedding for you.
The wide-tooth comb is a must for detangling wet hair. Since lots of hair can slip through the teeth, that means less breakage for you. Wide-tooth combs are also one of the best tools for thick curly hair, since it can detangle your curls without messing with their shape, and it’s the best weapon against hair poof-age.
The round boar bristle brush is your go-to for blow-drying. By being able to wrap the hair around the barrel and brush it through and you heat style, you can create smooth curls, waves, and bends. It’s not the easiest tool for detangling, but if you’re trying to maintain a blow-out a couple days afterwards, smoothing and brushing in the direction of your hairstyle with this brush would be best to refresh the shape. Just don’t wrap hair TOO much around this or you may find yourself with a new attachment to your hair. These brushes come in all sizes, and to some degree, size does matter. The bigger the barrel, the straighter your blowout will be. Those are great for high volume styles and for creating a relatively smooth and straight style, with flipped-out or curved-under ends. The smaller barrel, where you can wrap a section of hair around at least twice, is the one to give you waves and curls. Round brushes comes in a variation of nylon, boar, or both bristles, and the inner barrel sometimes can be ceramic or heat-conducting to help speed up your blow-out.
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Most of us dream of having long, full, thick lashes. And while the majority of us weren’t blessed with them naturally, we can still fake it with a little help from some friends called false lashes. But with new lash companies cropping up left and right, finding the perfect lash seems almost impossible. On top of that, there are so many different kinds to choose from–mink, synthetic, natural. So, how do you know which one is the best pick for you? While the choices may seem overwhelming, choosing t
he right false lash is easier than you think. The main thing you need to know is what look you’re going for and how comfortable you are with applying them. We’ve put together a small guide going through all the different types of false lashes you can choose from, so you’ll know exactly what to get next time you’re shopping for a pair.
Human hair
Many affordable, good quality lashes that you find at your local drugstore or beauty supply store are made with human hair. These lashes tend to have thin bands and are extremely easy to apply and comfortable to wear. Since they are made from human hair, they look very natural, but can still create a super dramatic effect. With these types of lashes, you can usually only get 3 or 4 wears out of them before they start to look wonky. But at such an affordable price, these are the perfect types of lashes to buy in bulk if you’re a lash-a-holic, or to just try out if you’re a newbie.
Synthetic hair
Many affordable lashes are also made from synthetic hair. Sometimes you’ll find human hair lashes mixed with synthetic fibers, often on more dramatic styles to create a more sturdy shape. Other times, you’ll find a complete strip of synthetic hair lashes. These lashes tend to be a bit harder to work with–the lash band is usually thick and not as flexible as a standard, human hair lash band. Synthetic hair lashes tend to look less natural, but are still great for adding some drama to your look. Similar to natural hair lashes, they can be reused up to 5 times.
Mink hair
Mink hair lashes are definitely the most luxurious lashes on the market. They create the most soft, fluffy, yet dramatic effect to the eyes. Mink lashes come in an array of styles, from light and natural to full on glam. While they usually start at around $25 a pair, they can be reused 25 to 30 times! If you can’t leave the house without your lashes on, minks are definitely worth the buy.
Individual lashes
If you want the most natural look possible, or if maybe you just hate fighting with strip lashes, individual lashes are the way to go. Individual lashes usually come in a variety of lengths as single lashes or tiny clusters of 3. They can be placed anywhere you want on the lash line–so you’re basically creating your own custom false lash shape. How cool is that? Applying them takes a bit of practice, but once you get the hang of it, you can’t even tell they’re there!
Bottom lashes
Unfortunately, some of us were cursed with non-existent lower lashes. And that’s okay! Because now false bottom lashes exist and our lives are changed forever. False bottom lashes come on a clear band and are applied underneath your lower lashes to give them a longer, fuller, yet still natural, appearance. So you can forget clumping on mascara.
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