Archive for the Mascaras Category

REDISCOVERED: Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara

I’m not sure whether I’ve blogged about this Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara (I probably have) but I’ve definitely used it in the past and remember liking it. However it was sent to me again at the weekend so I thought I’d wear it today..

Well, either the formulation has changed since I’ve last used it or I’ve simply forgotten how great it was, but I think I have found my Holy Grail mascara!!My lashes are quite long anyway, but they’re thin and sparse. With this mascara I genuinely look like I’m wearing falsies, without the downside of having a pair of lashes ridiculously oversized for my eyes. It provides volume (which I need plenty) and gorgeous doll-eye separation. It is PERFECT for my needs and wants.In fairness I’ve pretty much have gotten on with every Max Factor mascara I’ve tried, every time they bring a new one out that becomes my current favourite replacing their previous new release. However, having tried the Fusion mascara, the newest release I believe, I actually prefer this one. You just can’t beat the inky volume (admittedly it is close though!).

You can pick up Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara from www.Superdrug.com  for £10.99 – it’s currently on 3 for 2 so perfect opportunity to stock up!Max Factor False Lash Effect ‘Lash Hour’ on Twitter..
Whilst I’m chatting (okay, raving) about this mascara, I should also mention that Max Factor are having a ‘Lash Hour’ on Twitter next Tuesday, with celebrity Make-up Artists’ Pat McGrath and Caroline Barnes. They both will be tweeting tips and tricks about lashes, starting at 11am on Tuesday 21st February.

In celebration of all the awards Max Factor False Lash Effect mascara has won, Max Factor will also be giving away one hundred mascaras to those who tweet in with the best tweets during that hour.

DATE: Tuesday 21st February 2012
TIME: 11.00am
HASHTAG: #MFLovesLashes

Lx

DISCLAIMER: PR Samp

Clinique Mascara Review: Lash Building Primer, Lash Power Mascara & Bottom Lash Mascara!

I was sent three mascaras by Clinique a few months ago, the Lash Building Primer, the Lash Power Mascara Long Wearing Formula, and their latest edition to their mascara family – the Bottom Lash Mascara. Check my video below for a full review and demo of all three!

Here’s a closer pic of the brushes..And my face.. (focus on the lashes! I look rough).The Bottom Lash mascara is only £10, which I think is a great price for such a handy product, will definitely be repurchasing again! What do you guys think?

Lx

Current Favourites..

Max Factor False Lash Effect Fusion

I thought I’d do a post displaying my absolute three fave beauty products at the moment. These three items are definitely the most loved in my make-up kit right now and I typically always have them in my everyday make-up bag; two out of three are ‘repeat purchases’ which says a lot for someone who has tried practically everything out there!

GOSH Waterproof Eye Shadow Stick in Love That Copper
I’ve done various posts mentioning this product and have been using it religiously for the last six months. It is an amazing product, unbeatable lasting power, brilliant pigment and so easy to apply. Every time I wear it someone without fail comments asking what it is.. They’re so surprised when I tell them it’s a high street brand from Superdrug and only cost a fiver!

You can build up the colour beautifully (and what a great colour it is; a copper-ish, rustic orange), and once it’s almost ‘set’ a little blending out with your finger is all that is needed. And once it’s fully set, it won’t budge! If you find it in your local Superdrug, snap it up as I have a sneaking suspicion it might be discontinued soon as it took me THREE Superdrug stores to find it, and in the end I had to buy an opened one as that was all there was and I desperately needed a new one. :(

YSL Rouge Pur Corial Poetique
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Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick in Corail Poetique (No23)
Oh, how I LOVE this lipstick. It’s got nothing really to do with the texture or formulation, it’s not the longest lasting or glossiest lipstick in the world (although by no means the worst either; it is YSL, after all!). It is just simply a gorgeous colour. This is actually the third lipstick I’ve owned of this shade now, after the first two were lost. It’s not cheap, but I couldn’t be without it in my make-up kit. A gorgeous bright coral that is striking without being statement, a perfect warmer alternative for pale pink. You can wear it subtly or strongly depending on the look. Keep it cool though, as it becomes too greasy if it melts a little and that ruins how it wears – in ideal conditions it’s a creamy semi-matte.

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Modelling all three products..

Max Factor False Lash Effect Fusion Mascara
This is the only product that isn’t a repeat purchase, and if I’m perfectly honest it’s possibly the least loved of the three in the sense that I wouldn’t be devastated if I lost it (maybe something to do with the scarcity effect?). However, there is no denying that it beats all my current mascaras and the compliments over my lashes when worn never ends!

Max Factor False Lash Effect Fusion 1

It’s called Fusion because it combines the effects of two prior best selling Max Factor mascaras, to create volume and length. And it does. My lashes have never looked so long and they really do resemble falsies. Perfect separation and has yet to ever clumps on me, despite sometimes re-applying a minute or two after initial application which usually means The Layer of Death with other mascaras. I find it works better a month or so after opening, once the product has dried a little, but it was really effective from the beginning as well. Very stubborn to remove, mind. But that’s better than it running and smudging all over the place, right?

A vid of me talking ‘bout the same stuff, kinda..

Lx

DISCLAIMER: All three were PR samps originally, however the YSL Lipstick and GOSH Eye Shadow Stick were re-purchased by myself.

Bourjois Volumizer Mascara

I was very dubious when I found out about the new Bourjois Volumizer mascara that effectively worked as two separate mascaras. It claimed that from the same tube, the same brush you could use ‘step 1’ to achieve daytime, subtle lashes, and then ‘step 2’ to instantly transform your peepers in gorgeous, fluttery, voluminous sensations.. All using the SAME BRUSH, remember..

Does it work? Have a look..

As I mentioned in the video, I seldom (scratch that, NEVER) use the Step 1 entirely on its own. I always use Step 2, day or night, if I’m wearing mascara (I don’t always wear mascara). Why would I ever choose toning down my beautiful fluttery lashes that are ALL REAL (with a little help from mascara ;) )? So yes, I don’t like toning the brilliance down. What I do use Step 1 for is combing through my lashes after applying Step 2, and softly adding more product without the risk of over applying. Both sides/steps combined result in the clump free, fluttery full lashes you are after.

Talking of clumps, I should add that with this particular mascara there is a fine line between gorgeous and drag queen all-stuck-together lashes. A FINE line. All it takes is one more coat with Step 2 and you’re screwed. Seriously, so many times I’ve thought, ‘yep, lashes looking pretty good, let me just one last coat’ and BOOM. Ruined.

So if you know the tricks (use Step 1 after Step 2) and have a good eye lash comb to gently comb the potential clumps through you have in my mind one of the best mascaras in the high street!

Lx

Lancome Hypnose Precious Cells Mascara

My sister mentioned to be me the other day that the word on the street was that this mascara by Lancome ( …Hypnose or something?) was the mascara to get. Everyone was raving about it, apparently. It made your lashes long and lush from WITHIN as it had special ingredients that cared for them whilst also cosmetically enhancing them (you know, the actual mascara part). I know I have a lot of mascaras, so please forgive me that it took a second or two to realise I actually own and have used this particular mascara for a series of months not that long ago! I hadn’t realised it had created such a stir in the beauty world (sorry guys, I’ve had internet probs!), but now I do I couldn’t resist in offering my two cents!

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The first few times I applied this I loved it; it gave me gorgeous fluttery, defined lashes that weren’t weighed down and I really was thoroughly impressed. One time, I was having dinner with a friend and I kept noticing him glancing at my eyes. Naturally thinking the worst I thought he could see clumps of mascara on the lid or something and started to get paranoid. Eventually, he asked if I was wearing false eyelashes. No, I replied. Really? He asked again. No, I repeated. ‘It’s just that your eyelashes look really long and curly.’. Ah! ‘It’s my new mascara!!!’, I squealed (triumphantly!). So I was really really pleased with that result and came home happy and thrilled with my new discovery!

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No flash (HATE this pic, btw)

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Flash

After a while, like the fifth day of wear, I started to notice that it didn’t look as fluttery as it did before. It looked okay, and with a few coats I could get a decent full lashes look, but within an hour the effect had disappeared and my lashes instead looked a little thin and stuck together. Not the full, curled and lengthened jobbie I had achieved when applying the mascara initially.

This is pretty much how the mascara continued on for me; could just about get it looking decent when getting ready, but then when I went to check my make-up later on in the eve the big full on lashes I spent a good few minutes creating had magically disappeared. Weird. I should also add that even when I got the ‘full on lashes’ at the beginning of the eve, it wasn’t anything special – not like the best mascara in the world or anything.

So anyway, I carried on using this mascara, even though I didn’t really rate it anymore until eventually – about a month before my three months of hygienic use were up, I decided I was totally bored now and moved on to another one. You can’t waste your life on bad make-up, that’s my motto.

As for the caring for the lashes and making them grow thicker and longer from within, can’t say I really noticed. Although, whenever I did stay out all night or slept in my make-up (so every weekend) I did notice my lashes didn’t feel as crumbly or dehydrated as they usually would in those conditions. So the nourishing, caring ingredients probably had something to do with that.

But worth £22? No. Waaaay better high street ones out there (Loreal Lash Architect and Max Factor False Lashes to name a few) and really, considering one of Lancome’s hero product is their mascara I was massively disappointed. Will not be repurchasing (although admittedly I didn’t purchase this in the first place). You get what I mean. Pass.

Lx

Max Factor Lash Extension Effect Mascara Launch

I had a lovely day today at the Max Factors’ ‘The Lash Lounge’ event. It was showcasing their newest mascara, Lash Extension Effect, with celebrity make-up artist Caroline Barnes (Kylie’s make-up artist!), and discussing upcoming trends for lashes in SS10.

Lash trends are something I usually don’t partake in; I tend to go down the route where you pick whatever you need to make them look their fullest – for me, I naturally have long lashes (good) which are annoyingly thin (bad) so generally always go for the false lash effect mascara when choosing one. Regardless of fashions, that’s what I like on me. Or at least that’s what I thought!

Max Factor Lash Extension Effect is effectively lash extensions, in a tube. It even contains the same nylon lash extension fibres! Unlike most false lash mascaras, this one aims to genuinely mimic the effect of good false lashes – definition, separation, length and shape. As opposed to simply adding more volume and making your lashes look heavy and clumpy; A.K.A. lashes favoured by the likes of Jordan. Hmmm.. When you put it this way you really start to see their point. The future in lashes, in trends, appears to be more about definition and elongation, and framing the eye.

This sounded great in theory, but me and separating mascaras don’t have a great history, so if Caroline hadn’t given us a demonstration I would probably have remained a cynic.
Here’s how she applied it on the model..
Use the tip of the brush (incidently, Max Factor’s longest ever mascara brush) to do the lower lashes, and never use the whole brush across when doing this area.

Then use the tip again to do the inner and outer corner lashes for the upper lashes, and the length of the brush for the middle. You want to bring your lashes up and out, creating an almond shape with your lash line.

She also used another Max Factor Mascara, False Lash Effect, on the other eye, which looked pretty damn amazing in my opinion.

Left Eye – False Lash Effect Mascara, Right Eye – Lash Extension Mascara

Check this vid out to learn some great tips on how to apply Lash Extension Effect Mascara…

Then (the exciting bit) she offered to do ours, and despite already having some mascara caked on I went for it!
She combed my old mascara out, using a Ruby and Millie metal eye lash comb (plastic ones aren’t as good, according to Caroline).

Then proceeded to apply the mascara, starting with the lower lashes first.

It looked….. AMAAAAAAAZING.
I was so pleased with the result, I declared myself a convert right then and there!

I’ve been wearing it since all day and as I never wear mascara on my lower lashes it has taken some getting used to (I can feel them on my cheeks!). But I LOVED the way they genuinely look like lash inserts/fake lashes. The length and separation reminded me of Twiggy in the 60′s, a look I’ve often wanted to achieve and not thought possible without falsies and just mascara alone! 

The mascara has been on now approximately 7 hours and I feel it’s still looking fairly fresh (see pic above)! I should add I have not touched up any of my make-up in the slightest (hence the pale colour-free lips!) since Caroline applied the mascara. Notice the absence of mascara smudges under the eye, see!

We were given a lovely goody bag, containing the Lash Extension Mascara and the Flash Lash Effect one, and were asked to try them both for our own respective blogs. They also gave us gorgeous zebra print tweezers by Tweezerman! Ahhhh!

So.. at the mo, utterly in love with Max Factor Lash Extension Mascara, but the real test will have to be how I get on when applying it with my own hands; not Caroline Barnes’ celebrity make-up artist hands! So check back for the review on that!

A really, really fun day! Definitely one of my favourite events so far. Well done, Max Factor!

Lx

Maybelline The Colossal Volum’ Express Mascara

The Colossal Volum’ Express Mascara claims to build your lashes up to 7x in volume with just one coat thanks to its mega brush and collagen enriched formula with thickening agents. If you’ve read any of my mascara reviews prior, you’ll know I’m one for big, luscious, bold, fake looking lashes that literally weigh down your eyelid with the weight of all those gorgeous fluttery feather like lashes! So this sounds like it could be just the ticket, but let’s see if Colossal Volum’ Express by Maybelline is all it’s cracked up to be..

 
 

Application
The good thing about this mascara is that it does come with a good, big brush, as described. I could coat my lashes easily and it didn’t clump – I usually wear two coats of mascara, sometimes three if it hasn’t dried (very important to not re-apply once mascara has dried!) and I need more ‘umph’. The Colossal didn’t provide 7x more volume with one singular coat as it claimed, but it did do pretty well after a couple of coats with lifting, defining and lengthening them. It also gave my lashes a beautiful curl instead of just shaping them into harsh, straight, stark mascara coated hairs like many other mascaras can tend to do.

My eyelashes with no mascara (above)…
My eyelashes with Maybelline The Colossal Volum’ Express Mascara (below)
 

Verdict
I do like this mascara, but it’s certainly not the best for the high street – however, there are some amazing ones in the high street so that’s hardly an insult! Also, not sure whether mine was faulty or whether they are all like that (if anyone else has this could please you let me know?) but it has seemed to dry out quite quick, and now, despite only having worn it for a few times within a month, it has started to look flaky and dry when I do wear it, and a little clumpy (especially if I try to do two coats). Maybe I need to wash the brush and see if it improves the dehydration as a month is far too short a shelf life, will report if do see an improvement. But in conclusion, for me, The Colossal has its strengths in lengthening and lifting, but volume? Hmmm.. not so much. A good mascara that is definitely better than many (but not the best!) and I will certainly continue to use it till it finishes, however I don’t think I will be repurchasing. The Colossal Volum’ Express Mascara by Maybelline is available from Boots priced £6.99, and here is the direct link.
Lx

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