Mascara 101: Mini Reviews & Recommendations

Mascara 101:  Mini Reviews & Recommendations

Hello hello! It feels like i’m on a roll these days, continuously blogging! Therefore while i’m in the mood to blog, I thought i’d do a post on my mascara collection along with mini reviews which I hope you find useful!

 

Mascara review

 

Currently I have 6 mascaras in rotation, cos a girl can’t just have one right?

 

Mascara collection reviews

 

As we begin todays mascara smackdown, a quick note that I’ll be following a sequence, where I will start with the brush design and then move onto formula etc.

First up,

Dior IT-Lash 

The IT-Lash comes with a spiked elastomer (plastic) brush. It’s a reasonably slim, slightly longish style. Personally I hate big brushes as they are harder to apply with so this one’s just perfect.

Diot IT Lash

The formula of this is on the thinner side and is great for those of you who have trouble with your mascara weighing down your lashes. This holds a curl well and keep lashes beautifully lengthened and separated without clumps. Sadly I don’t see much of the volumising action that it claims to have, but I really like this one for everyday use.

As far as removal is concerned, it’s pretty easy to get off. Just warm water does the trick. On occasion I also use Bioderma for removal as well.

 

Tom Ford Extreme Mascara

The sexiest packaging in my opinion. And incidentally the old school bristle brush does a good job making the lashes look sexy too.

Tom Ford extreme mascara review

The formula of this is denser and coats the lashes well for a thicker, lash look. Building up the volume is easy as this doesn’t set too quick and you have ample play time to keep adding more, more and MORE. I also love that this doesn’t clump and holds the curl pretty well to stay looking wide awake!

To remove, you can simply use an eye makeup remover. This one isn’t waterproof.

 

Le Volume De Chanel 

The very first volumising mascara I truly fell in love with. I have been repurchasing it over and over and I believe i’m on my 6th now.

The brush of this is a plastic one with shorter bristles meant to create an eye opening effect. (Sadly I never see any such results as the weight of this mascara droops down any curl I had to begin with) The shape of the brush also seems to give trouble separating the lashes and they always cling together.

Le volume de chanel review

If you have naturally curly lashes this would work great for you. It volumises and adds drama for a very glamorous look.

Le Volume de Chanel isn’t waterproof and removes easily with warm water similar to the Dior.

 

Clé de Peau Perfect Lash Mascara

Features a curved wand with natural bristles. It’s designed to comb the lash from root to tip and create a nice separated and defined lash.

Cle de peau mascara

If smudging is a problem for you, this is your guy! The waterproof formula keeps lashes looking fresh throughout the day without any flaking or smudging. It’s even rub proof!

As far as volume goes this one isn’t really mind blowing, and it doesn’t build well either as it sets pretty fast. I also notice if I attempt a second coat, the lashes start sticking together and look spiky. It’s strictly a one (quick) coat mascara.

Looking at the positives, the real claim to fame is the longevity of it’s wear and that it works great with shorter, stubby lashes that are prone to smudging.

For removal I always use Clarins Express Eye Makeup Remover which works well with waterproof formulas and never irritates my eyes.

 

Helena Rubinstein, Lash Queen Feline Black

If it’s mascara, then Helena does them best! She has such an extensive range of mascaras, it truly is overwhelming and difficult to pick one! I ended up with this leopard print ‘feline’ version which is great for volume and lengthening.

The brush is chubby and torpedo shaped which works well to separate and build up volume.

Helena Rubinstein

The best thing about this mascara is the formula is near perfect. You get plenty of time to build it up as it sets quite slow and the longer bristles keep the lashes from sticking together and comb as you go for good separation.

Volume, length and long wearing. It’s all there.

*This mascara comes in a waterproof version as well, and is my HG for packing on beach vacations. THE BEST!

 

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara (seen here is a mini size)

Comes with a shorter more chubbier wand in comparison to the Helena Rubinstein. This one though has a slightly fatter middle creating a more rounded, bushier brush.

Urban Decay Perversion mascara

 

An unexpected find which came in the form of a press sample. I really love how this volumises. Another one of those buildable formulas that you can layer and layer. You get fuller, thicker, lengthened lashes for a ‘bigger, blacker, badder lash’.

I believe i’ll repurchase this in a full size, quite loving it’s smooth, creamy texture and the colour intensity.

Lastly, this too isn’t a waterproof formula and comes off easily with a eye makeup remover.

 

Now a look at these worn on my poker straight lashes! Unfortunately you won’t be seeing much of a difference unless you click on the image for a closeup and look at the base of the lashes to see the more volumising ones 🙂

I promise the differences between them are far more visible in person. I blame my poor selfie skills!

Mascara grid 2Bottom Line

For volumising and lengthening, the best would be Helena Rubinstein and Urban Decay. I like how buildable they are and never look clumpy. The TF is also a good option, though lacks that wow factor you’d expect for the price.

For waterproof mascara, the CDP hands down. I never have to worry about it flaking or smudging. If you don’t mind a natural lash look, this one’s great for everyday use. For other cheaper waterproof options you can also check out Helena Rubinstein.

For lift and curl i’d recommend the Dior IT-Lash. This is great for those of you with already thick lashes but just want them defined and lengthened. It’s my favourite for day to day use and have just repurchased!

 

 

Summer Dreams

So it’s finally summer! Armed with two beach vacations under my belt, I believe I am ready to dish my list of essentials for a sunny getaway.

Here’s the round up.

Summer makeup essentials

 

If you hadn’t noticed already, I am a huge fan of bronzing.

Personally I don’t think pasty white legs or face for that matter looks very beach worthy. So for a skin safe option (Cos nobody wants to run the risk of getting skin cancer), I like to pack a bronzer or two. Golden and glowy, the safe way.

 

Bronzer Chanel favourites Les Beiges

The two I have been loving the most so far are my Chanel Les Beiges in No. 02 that came out this summer and this older LE version which I have been enjoying as a blush. It’s actually the ideal mix of corally pink bronze that mimics the natural light rosiness you get on the high points of your face after a good day in the sun. (I like to use the top three stripes, as it’s the darkest and suits my current NC 35 skin well)

So to talk more about the Les Beiges No. 02 since it’s still available…

This is a very light bronzer to add just a hint of warmth to your face. I usually use the top two stripes. And the top most stripe (which is the lightest) contains a very light shimmer and imparts a radiant glow (You can use it alone as a subtle highlighter). The last stripe if used by itself is great as a summer blusher or defining your cheekbone a bit more for a soft contoured look.

Bottom line, it’s a very finely milled luxurious product that’s of good quality. I highly recommend it.

   Next up, I want to share something i’ve been loving for a while now, not only is it conveniently packaged for travel. It’s also a quality product that works!

The Cle de Peau Concealer.

Cle de peau concealer

Needs no introduction, and is indispensable for covering up any blemishes or dark under eyes circles.

I usually don’t wear foundation while on vacay as I like my makeup fresh and light and this is perfect for covering up the nasty little blemishes that may pop up and evens out the complexion. If your budget permits, it’s worth picking up!

 

 

Chanel cream blush intonation   Another summer favourite are cream blushes. They are perfect for adding colour without the powdery feel. And usually longer wearing and budge proof compared to their powder counterparts.

My personal favourites are coral blushes, and Chanel Intonation is the perfect bright coral to rock with your freshly acquired tan. It’s super easy to apply (I just use fingers FYI ) and get a believable, natural flush every time. Just make sure you pat and blend well so that you don’t end up with a harsh streak of blush across your cheek.

For eyes, the obvious. Water proof mascara.

It’s a must have for keeping your eyes looking defined and wide open. I usually never wear waterproof mascara, but always pick one up during the summer months specially for hitting the beach. One of the best out there are by Helena Rubinstein. Her line of mascaras are HG material. And I love them. They last all day and are budge proof.

Another eye essential is colourful bright eye liner. Somehow every year this trend keeps coming back and I really love it.

It’s a great way to add a fun touch of colour to define your eyes and draw attention to them. For waterproof versions, the Stila ones are great and they come in a load of gorgeous colours. My current favourite is this pretty, light blue liquid liner I packed last weekend for my trip to Krabi.

Nars Stila Helena Rubinstein eye makeup Kauai

So eye shadow is not something i’d consider a summer vacation staple. But if there was one eyeshadow I recommend you take on your beach vacay, it’s Kauai.

Kauai was a LE duo that came out this spring and if you didn’t pick it up.. ooops! you missed out on something amazing! The gold and purple combo is soo buttery smooth and the pigmentation was out of this world. It is by far my favourite Nars duo ever. The gold in this is perfect for a wash of colour and I paired it with this pretty aqua blue YSL liner from Summer 2014 for a quick eye makeup look.

The purple shade was great for night time, and creates a very fresh smoky look when paired with the gold.

So if you didn’t get a hold of this, I highly recommend you check out the Nars duos that came out for summer this year. Do not miss out! (The green/lavender version is stunning for those who are bolder with their eye makeup, and the pigmentation was excellent!)

Now onto Lips!

So I packed a few bright lipsticks, but none of them ended up being used! But guess what I did use everyday as my go-to lip colour?

This new lip tint by Clio!

 

 

 

Clio gelpresso lip tint

It was an unexpected find while on a routine visit to the drug stores. I love that it’s quite moist on the lips and feels feather light and undetectable due to it’s watery texture. This is one of my top favourite products this summer and very budget friendly, and I highly recommend it.

Lastly here are some new summer fragrances that I have been enjoying.

Below is a lovely little travel set of Guerlain EDT’s that released for summer in the DF. It comes with 4 fragrances that are light and fresh.

The Manderine Basilic was my favourite and has a very uplifting effect. Perfect for a quick splash in the mornings to wake up the senses before heading out.

 

Guerlain EDT Summer perfume

 

 

Also another great makeup bag essential I chanced upon is this gel type perfume by L’occitane.  I love the convenience of this type of packaging as its’ spill proof and great for mid day touch ups.

Plus the gel is quite interesting so it caught my eye! haha I just had to have it.

The fragrance is very fresh and slightly sweet. And if you are someone who like more feminine scents, this one’s for you!

Loccitane red cherry gel perfume

 

So that’s what I have been enjoying this summer. Of course if I find more interesting summer goodies i’d be sure to keep you informed. But for now, these get my stamp of approval as they are of excellent quality and travel friendly.

 

Thank you for reading.

Wishing you a fab week ahead!