Having stick straight lashes that don’t hold their curl keeps me on the constant lookout for the perfect mascara. In addition to being tall, dark, and handsome, my perfect mascara must also be thickening, lengthening, and most importantly, able to hold the curl provided by my ever-faithful Shu Uemura eyelash curler.

At my sister’s urging, I tried Loreal’s Original Voluminous mascara in Blackest Black this week and was truly impressed with how the chubby wand deposits the perfect amount of product (on me, too much at first means heavy, wet, lashes and buh-bye curl).

Also, the unique formula of ceramide-R and panthenol condition lashes while thickening leaving them healthy and supple.

No wonder my sister swears by this product.

L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara, $6.59

See other Makeup Bag reviews of L’Oreal Paris products here.

A business trip to Las Vegas this week found me standing in front of the Sisley counter at Saks Fifth Avenue on the Las Vegas Strip.

I have never before used Sisley, a french skincare line that uses botanical products and essential oils to accelerate surface microcirculation and promote toxin elimination, resulting in radiant skin.

My favorite product by far is the Sisleya Eye/Lip Contour Cream, which after only three days has left the delicate skin around my eyes more firm and hydrated than ever before.

(I have recently been using La Mer eye cream, which, according to the lovely Sisley representative, I have been doing ALL WRONG! Apparently, after applying La Mer eye cream, you need to seal with a layer of Creme de La Mer in order to hold the moisture in and allow the eye cream to penetrate the skin. Lovely Sisely Representative used to work for La Mer which is how she knows this very important detail about applying their eye cream, but OHMYGOD why didn’t anyone tell me this when I bought it?)

In addition to the incredible eye treatment, I have been literally blown away by their other products, especially the Intensive Night Cream and the Buff & Wash Facial Gel. The only drawback is that I might have to sell my car in order to keep up with this luxe regimen.

Sisley Sisleya Eye and Lip Contour Cream, $165

This week I had the opportunity to interview David Ray, author of Makeup Beat, an insightful and witty blog about beauty and fashion and everything that goes along with it.

David Ray began his career as a makeup artist and hair stylist and has managed to work in nearly every aspect of the beauty industry since. He has worked with many celebrities and supermodels and contributed to several beauty publications such as Bazaar, Cosmopolitan and French Elle.

Makeup Bag: Hi David. I love your blog and are so excited to be able to get to know a little more about you, thank you for giving us this time with you.

You have such an impressive resume in the beauty industry that spans from freelance to advertising to creative directing to consulting. Obviously, all things beauty is your calling, but which aspect do you feel best encompasses your talent as a creator?

David Ray: I have enjoyed every aspect of the beauty industry and as the creative director I am able to combine them all. I’ve always worked conceptually. As an advertising makeup artist I took my inspiration from the model, what she was wearing, the type of product, the colors of the set, etc. So it is even more fulfilling to be the person making all those decisions from the start by creating the original concept. I love photography plus with my makeup artist and fashion styling background I can communicate my vision more effectively to my team.
Consulting is an opportunity to use my years of experience helping cosmetic companies develop new products which is also very rewarding.

MB: Is there someone in the beauty industry that you looked up to when you were first getting started?

DR: Serge Lutens, creative head of Dior and then Shiseido, is still one of my heroes. I also was inspired by makeup artist Way Bandy. And I admire the creative genius of the French art director Jean-Paul Goude.

MB: You’ve worked with some incredibly beautiful women including, Christie Brinkley, Jaclyn Smith and Nicolette Sheridan. As an artist, is it harder to work with a “celebrity” that is well known for a particular look (ie: Christie Brinkley = Wholesome)?

DR: Working with celebrities is great but you do have to keep in mind their public image and that they need to be recognizable. Of course Christie was a model but was still booked mostly for her fresh natural look.

MB: And she still looks amazing to this day. Would you give us a beauty tip for the ‘real woman’?

DR: Have your eyelashes dyed black and then use an eye-lash curler. Also there seems to be two main types of women, the ones that are afraid of makeup and use too little and the woman that loves makeup and wants to wear it all at the same time…try to find a balance.

MB: I love that you love dogs! I have a Siberian Husky and a Yorkie/Shih-Tzu mix, but haven’t had the pleasure of knowing any French Bulldogs. What makes the French Bulldog breed unique?

DR: French Bulldogs are known as the little clowns of the dog world so they have lots of personality which is balanced by the fact that they love to sleep, so they’re not hyper. And they are not big barkers…good for apartment living. My girl Kobey-Rose is quite the “celeb-u-pup” having been featured on the Martha Stewart Show, Animal Planet and several magazines and websites. Can you tell I’m a proud papa? I even have a web-site, Gents Canine Society.com, all about dogs and the men that love them.

MB: She’s adorable! Thank you so much for spending this time with us. We’ve got your sites loaded into our feedreader and look forward to your up and coming material.

Chanel Pro Lumiere Professional Finish Makeup with SPF 15 is one of those pleasant little surprises that catches you off guard and hits you unexpectedly like a designer purse that rings up at an additional 20% off the already marked-down price.

Let’s just say right off that I was not looking for a new foundation. Especially not a FIFTY DOLLAR foundation.

However, after becoming engaged to the eyeshadows at the Chanel counter, the salesgirl offered me some Pro Lumiere samples to celebrate our love/good-fortune/new life together, and really? How could we not accept?

Also, FREE SAMPLES.

The thing that surprised me the most about this makeup is how well it blends into my skin. The oil-free fluid is runnier than I’m used to, and a little goes a very long way (which is good, I guess, because did I mention that this makeup costs $50?) but within seconds my skin was flawless.

Now, will I give up my favorite Bobbi Brown foundation for the perfection Chanel is offering?

Good question! I’ll let you know when my sample runs out.

Chanel Pro Lumiere Professional Finish Makeup SPF 15, $50

See other Makeup Bag reviews of Chanel products here.