Cosmetics Intermezzo: In Praise of "Makeup Alley"

And now for something completely frivolous.  Just kidding.  Fact is, for us women, makeup is not only NOT frivolous; it's a way of life. It's part of our LIFESTYLE. That said, that lifestyle can be pretty unattractive and frustrating at times.

If you're anything like me, you've got at least one drawer in your bathroom that is piled full of discarded warpaint and other weapons of mass destruction, the moldering stack of makeup a silent testament to the frustratingly "hit-or-miss" approach that we are all too often forced to take in the face of a barrage of  information (and not all of it good).

Any woman who has ever used a skincare, haircare or cosmetic product knows that there is a bewildering array of tools, devices, creams, lotions, powders and sprays out there; literally thousands of products, each with sometimes-incredible and often conflicting claims.  Whether you are spending $10.00 for a drugstore mascara or hundreds of dollars for an "anti-wrinkle" cream (notice the quotes of cynicism), the selection is seemingly endless and the benefits questionable.

Personally, I am one who tries to "do my homework" before spending my money on another makeup item or skincare product that is guaranteed to solve all of life's problems, everything from an unrefined pore size to split ends to split personality (just kidding about that last one (I think)). Unfortunately, it's not always easy to be well-informed.

Problem is, much as there are thousands of women's beauty and skincare products out there (compared to, say, about five such products for men), there are an equal number of websites, magazines and "testimonials" (again with those cynical quotation marks) dedicated to reviewing these products.  Even worse, it's often impossible to know which reviews to believe. 

What may seem like an "objective" website with "scientific" data substantiating the claims of the latest miracle cream all too often, upon closer inspection, turns out to be tainted by an undisclosed relationship with the product's manufacturers.  Since the recently-enacted legislation prohibiting bloggers and others from writing testimonials about products without full disclosure of any compensation received for such testimonials, I've noticed that several of these types of sites have started inserting the requisite disclosures; others have not, either ignorant of the new law or taking their chances that their transgressions will never be discovered. 

So what's a makeup-lovin' girl to do?

Enter "Makeup Alley" (complete with my unabashed quotations of adoration and worship).  Makeup Alley (or "MUA"), comprising several thousand registered members providing thousands of reviews of various beauty products and accessories, is a woman's best friend. I just can't say enough good things about it. The site has no axe to grind, nor do the vast majority of the reviewers.  Better yet, you will never be overwhelmed with irrelevant information, because you can filter each product's reviews by age group, skin type, date, etc. (after all, with all due respect, who wants to read an 18-year-old's review of an anti-wrinkle cream???). 

By the same token, if you just want to do some research to find the best brand in a given category, you can filter results by most popular with the MUA reviewers or even the most reviewed brands in a category.  The site has other features (a swap section and a mail function, for instance), but the product reviews are the best for all the aforementioned reasons.  All I know is, whenever I see an ad for the latest promising new product, I go straight to MUA to get the real scoop about that product.  Whether I'm looking for the best option for mascara or lipstick or flat irons, MUA's where it's at.

Makeup Alley:  Rocking my world, one beauty product at a time.

DISCLAIMER: In the interest of dotting the t's and crossing my eyes, I can assure you that I have no relationship with MUA, other than being a loyal registered member. I have received no compensation for my opinions as expressed herein (though I'm certainly willing to entertain any such offers!).