Showing posts with label mascara. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mascara. Show all posts
I spend too much time in Boots. I know the aisles off by heart. Sad, but true - it's my mecca and I worship there most days on the way home from work or at lunchtime. So when something new turns up there, I tend to notice right away.
I was curious to see a fixture full of a new brand of mascara, Belvada, sitting atop of one of the display shelves. Clocking the £20 price tag I decided it must be either a cult brand or something of exceptional quality. (Or it could be both, of course.) Sadly I lack the disposable income to pick one up to try out offhand, but I resolved to find out more about it.
Belvada is a brand with a unique selling point - their packaging, which exposes the product for use via a sliding mechanism on the handle. It's one-handed application. Great for people with disabilities, but is this strictly an improvement on the standard unscrew-pull out-apply mascara system? Well, the company seem to think so, since they have a patent pending for their design.
Belvada's website claims that "this unique one hand applicator will change the way you use mascara forever", citing the following as evidence:
- One Hand Application
- Mascara Loads Uniquely from Tip to Bottom
- Greater Stability and Control
- Optimum Volume
- No Pumping Necessary
Hmm. Without trying it myself I don't feel able to give a verdict, but on the strength of these claims I'm not wholly convinced. I'm interested in the tip-to-bottom loading though, and whether it makes a difference to have the brush pushed through the product rather than dipped into it.
I found some more information at Packaging Design, where I learned that the packaging has a "double-wiper system" to prevent overloading which can lead to clumps. It also seals air away from the product to keep it from drying out. That does sound good. But £20 worth of good? Bear in mind that we're advised to keep mascara for just 3 months anyway, so drying out shouldn't be that much of an issue if we follow that timeframe.
Belvada also make concealer and lipgloss with the same push-up mechanism, presumably with a similar pricetag. At the moment you can buy the mascara in the UK at Boots, priced at £20.
Has anyone else tried Belvada mascara? Please let us know your thoughts if you have.
A while back, I had a makeover at Laura Mercier, and one of the things I walked away with was the Thickening and Building mascara, in black. I can't find a decent pack shot, so we'll go straight into the in-use pictures - the photo on the left is after two coats.The mascara has a fairly fat brush with dense bristles - nothing particularly unusual or gimicky. The number of bristles helps to really grab each lash and coat it with mascara, whilst giving good separation too. The formula of the mascara itself works really well with the brush; it's thick, but also fairly slow-drying, so you can make sure your lashes are evenly coated and not clumpy before it dries. So, thumbs up for the formula and the brush.
The description given on the Space NK website claims that this mascara is waterproof. It is not. I dampened my fingers and pressed them against my eyelashes and immediately my eye was a runny black mess. The description also claims that the formula is "smudge and flake resistant", and as illustrated by the photo to the right, this is also not true. After a days wear, my under eye area had both flakes and smudges galore, more than I've had with any mascara in the past.So, although I love the formula, the brush, and the effect of this mascara, the terrible wear really ruins the whole product for me. When paying for a premium brand, I expect the whole package, and this just doesn't have it!
If you'd like to try this for yourself, you can get it at Space NK, for £15.66 for 5.7g.
I have found a truly excellent mascara.
Here it is.
And here's what it did for my lashes.
And that is just one coat!
NYX Doll Eye Volume mascara has a wonderful, creamy, thick, un-clumpy formula that applies auperbly. On top of that, it has one of the most ergonomic brushes I have ever seen. The shape of the brush head is sort of "waisted", so that it conforms to the curve of your eyelid. This means that it's easy for the long bristles at each end to catch the lashes at inner and outer corners of the eye, and in the centre you can get in close to the roots without sploging mascara on the eyelid above your lashes.
An absolute pleasure to use.
Sadly, NYX is hard to find in the UK. I picked up Doll Eye Volume mascara at a little outlet in Slough of all places, situated in the Queensmere Observatory. It was priced at £5.99.
You can puchase it online at Cherryculture.com, who ship to the UK. Or if you're very lucky, you may end up winning some in our upcoming US Beauty giveaway competition...
In any case, take any opportunity to get your hands on this product, it's a total bargain and performs well beyond expectations for its price range.
Read more from this post in Beauty follower »
Here it is.
And here's what it did for my lashes.
And that is just one coat!
NYX Doll Eye Volume mascara has a wonderful, creamy, thick, un-clumpy formula that applies auperbly. On top of that, it has one of the most ergonomic brushes I have ever seen. The shape of the brush head is sort of "waisted", so that it conforms to the curve of your eyelid. This means that it's easy for the long bristles at each end to catch the lashes at inner and outer corners of the eye, and in the centre you can get in close to the roots without sploging mascara on the eyelid above your lashes.
An absolute pleasure to use.
Sadly, NYX is hard to find in the UK. I picked up Doll Eye Volume mascara at a little outlet in Slough of all places, situated in the Queensmere Observatory. It was priced at £5.99.
You can puchase it online at Cherryculture.com, who ship to the UK. Or if you're very lucky, you may end up winning some in our upcoming US Beauty giveaway competition...
In any case, take any opportunity to get your hands on this product, it's a total bargain and performs well beyond expectations for its price range.
Cut a Caper - mid-tone peachy pink (lustre)
The Faerie Glen - pale neutral pink (lustre)
Deepest Wish - deep creamy reddish brown (amplified)
Full Fuchsia - bright blue fuchsia (amplified)
Courting Lilac - sheer lilac mauve with soft gold pearl (glaze)
Radiant Jewels - dark sparkly magenta
Soft Dazzle - mid-tone peach pink with gold pearl
Passing Fancy - bright orange coral with soft pearl
Lightly Prancing - light peach with gold pearl
Gone Romancin' - mid-tone lavender with multi-dimensional pearl
Golden Crown - light gold with bronze tartan striping
A Wish Come True - dirty mauve with bubblegum pink tartan striping
Follow Your Fantasy - mid-tone peach with chocolate tartan striping
Enviably Fun - grass green with dark green tartan striping
Semi-Precious - aubergine with chocolate tartan striping
Glamora Castle - dark grey with teal tartan striping
Later - black with transforming purple pearl (frost)
Moonlight Night - blackened teal with teal pearl (frost)
A Family Crest - blackened bronze with bronze pearl (frost)
Petrol Blue - deep navy with pearl
Black Line - black with gold pearl
Undercurrent - teal with pearl
Black Swan - black with pearl
Lord It Up - bronze with pearl
Zoom Fast Black Lash - $16.50 - deepest black
Her Blooming Cheek - very bright iridescent blue pink (satin)
My Highland Honey - bright coral with soft gold pearl (satin)
Sly as a Fox - creamy mid-tone russet/burnt red (cream)
Style Clan - dark taupe with red pearl (frost)
What's on your MAC Tartan Tale wish list?
- Lisamarie -
Just to let you know what I was working with, my hair is fine and has a little bit of a natural wave to it but straightens out easily with a flat iron. After using the Garnier product, it was straight after blow drying. After using my flat iron, it was poker straight. The best part though was how it calmed the little frizzies and gave my hair some body! I have washed it 4 times now and I am still getting the same result so I am very happy with it - I would love to hear results from someone who used this that has curly hair!
Also keep in mind if you have shorter hair, there is enough product in the kit for two uses - you will just need to find a second pair of plastic gloves!
- Lisamarie -
New and Notable from Shoppers Drug Mart - Pür Minerals, L'Oréal, Garnier, Biotherm and Paris Hilton!
I like this kit because it works very well for day, but it also has that really dark eyeshadow you could add for a smoky look to make it nice for evening too!
- Lisamarie -
- Lisamarie -
I have been using a bit of this over my foundation on my cheek and brow bones and I'm a fan - best part, it smells like raspberries! I tried using it allover and it would start off looking good but would end up looking greasy in my oily areas so I now avoid using it there.
Of course Benefit has a solution to my problem of not being able to draw a straight line - the jimmy jimmy DOT technique - you are supposed to say the phrase out loud as you move along your upper lash line and every time you say DOT, you make a dot of black line in between your lashes. Space out the dots for natural looking volume or dot closely together and connect for a slim sleek liquid line. I was a little skeptical at my ability to do this but it actually worked for me - when I have dots to connect, I can actually draw a line!
The lip gloss is okay, nothing exciting on it's own I like it much better layered over a deeper lipstick - the mascara on the other end is amazing! If you've ever thought about doing coloured mascara but thought it might be too much wear this on it's own, you get a little bit of colour and sparkle. If you want something more dramatic, wear it over your usual black mascara - so pretty!
This is the kind of thing that I wish had been around in my clubbing days - so cute and so portable!
You can get your Benefit fix at selected Shoppers Drug Marts, Murale, Holt Renfrew, Sephora and online at www.benefitcosmetics.com
- Lisamarie -
Here's some more blue mascara love. I'm on my third regular black Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes mascara, so a new addition to this range and a blue one at that was very welcome. Phenomen'Eyes Effet Extension has the same spheric brush of the original Phenomen'Eyes, but the formula is noticeably different. It's a bit thinner and is decidedly more lengthening than volumizing. The result is less dramatic, especially in this muted blue shade, but quite sophisticated.
I find that I might actually prefer the original Phenomen'Eyes formula because I like the extra volume, but since it doesn't come in blue and this shade is lovely and elegant, I can deal. I have a feeling that Effet Extension Formula might not perform as well for those with sparse or fine lashes, because it would not have enough hold, thus resulting in smudging. It's just a hunch, though, and I can't prove it. My sister has similar lashes to mine and I suspect the husband wouldn't be thrilled if I used him as a test subject this time.
On my lashes there are no longevity or performance issues. The mascara holds from morning to night, responds well to curling and looks fabulous. I'd be happier if they offered this blue color in the original Phenomen'Eyes formula that gives a lot more visibility and volume, but on the other hand it makes Effet Extension daytime appropriate, so that's something.
Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Effet Extension Blue ($29) is a Sephora exclusive.
Photos are mine.
The blue mascara obsession continues.
The black Buxom Lash from Bare Escentuals has been a favorite of mine for nearly a year because of its great tenacity and the superb separating abilities of the brush. It was reason enough to get over my fear of too bright colors and give Blue Noir a try (what's with the hybrid English/French name?)
The blue shade looks scary on the brush and is much brighter than many modern blue mascaras: see the photo comparison to Givenchy PhenomenEyes (review coming next week). On dark lashes, though, it becomes a demure navy. Still, if you're pale and your lashes are very light, I'd advise you proceed with caution, as this Buxom mascara has the potential to give you a serious pop of color. I find it very wearable and it works well with both summer and early fall colors.
Performance and texture-wise, Blue Noir is close to the original Buxom Black. It gives an even coating, enhances both volume and length without looking exaggerated and holds a curl nicely. It is much more prone to smudging, though, and on occasion I found myself with an unintentional deep blue smoky eye, so I'd suggest finding another alternative for super humid days or if you tend to rub your eyes.
Bottom Line: Decent, but not as good as I hoped.
Buxom Lash Mascara Special Effects Blue Noir ($18) is a Sephora exclusive.
All photos are mine.
From the Chronicles of the Blue Mascara.
Giorgio Armani's Eye To Kill mascara has set a new standard for what a top mascara should be. It doesn't only deliver excellent volume and length, but it's also dreamily weightless. There's no goopy stickiness even when the tube nears the end of its life (and I know, since I'm on my second black one). I don't think I ever needed a lash comb after using Eyes To Kill.
The new color, Blue Grey Night (#5), is the fall 2010 exclusive shade, part of Giorgio Armani's Night Viper look. It's a muted steel blue that isn't too obvious- the shade is darker than Graphite (#3) which look too dusty on me. Blue Grey Night looks good on my almost-black lashes and delivers that subtle brightening effect one gets from a (good) blue mascara.
Performance-wise, Eyes To Kill is as good as it gets. While I keep wondering if #5 is quite as lengthening as the black version (or maybe it's just my imagination and the fact the mascara is not black, thus creating less contrast), I'm very happy with it.
Bottom Line: You can't go wrong with this one.
Giorgio Armani Fall 2010 Blue Grey Night Eyes To Kill Mascara ($30) is available from giorgioarmanibeauty.com, Saks and Barneys.
Photos are mine, cute nose is Sophie's.
Bobbi Brown released her fall 2010 Extreme Party Mascara in a blue denim color just as my personal blue mascara obsession is in its height. Denim (3) is, of course, part of Bobbi's new Denim & Rose line and I find that it's right on-trend with several of the other fall collections. It's been years since I tested any of Bobbi Brown's mascaras. I was never impressed with any of them, but I don't even remember which mascaras I tried and I'm pretty sure the formulas have changed enough to warrant a second chance. And there's that blue factor.
Extreme Party Mascara was a pleasant surprise. While I don't think there's anything extreme about it, the results it's been giving me are pretty good, especially in the volume and definition department. I'm mostly reminded of my perennial favorites, Clinique High Impact, which gives a lot of character to the lashes without ever looking overdone or fake. The brush is pretty standard with lots of bristles and a tapered nose, it gives a good coverage, makes lashes look full and thick but isn't super cooperative when trying to reach the corner or individual lashes. The formula is of medium thickness, easy to apply and doesn't smudge, coon or dot.
The blue shade of Denim is dark enough to frame the eyes nicely. It's not bright and doesn't scream "Blue" but is definitely noticeable enough and interesting. I usually prefer to pair a colored mascara with a black eyeliner, but I've also tried a monochrome eye with Bobbi Brown's Denim Ink gel eyeliner and various blue eye shadows from different brands and collections and the result is quite pretty, even if I personally prefer less obvious looks.
Bottom Line: Very good.
Bobbi Brown Denim Extreme Party Mascara ($22) is available at just about every department store as well as from bobbibrown.com
All photos by me.
Smoky Green is a new limited edition color in Kanebo Sensai 38°C Mascara line. This is the Separating & Lengthening formula with the delicate thin brush which I find easier to use than the angled brush of the Volumizing mascara. You can reach the base of the lashes with this brush and it creates a beautiful full fringe. I like it because the result is naturally full and healthy lashes. The mascara's texture is so good and smooth I can even apply it on my lower lashes to define them without looking too obvious or creating a dark shadow under the eyes.
Smoky Green is a black-based olive. On dark lashes it gives a hint of a color and is good when you want to lighten up the look and avoid black, or when you want your lashes to stand out against a shiny black eyeliner (this look is a bit too harsh for me, but it's not half bad). I also like applying this Sensai mascara as a second coat just on the tips over a black-brown one, but this is probably something only long-lashed ladies should attempt. This color is probably best for blondes, though. It will stand out the most against fair skin and bring out any flecks of green or hazel in your eyes. Mine have more cinnamon and the contrast is interesting, but I think navy works better for me.
One thing to avoid if you have very dark lashes is applying the 38°C (and most colored mascara) directly over a white base. While it makes the color more obvious, the lashes look dusty and too light. I tried it with two different primers and got the same unflattering results, so keep that in mind. Blondes need not worry about this and using a lash base would probably intensify the mascara's effect on them.
Bottom Line: Excellent for blondes, worth a try for most.
Kanebo Sensai 38°C Mascara ($25) is sold at Bergfdorf Goodman (Neiman Marcus is online only). You'll probably need to give them a call to reserve one in this color. I received this press preview sample from the PR team.
Photos by me.
I recently received a sample of Armani's new mascara, Eyes To Kill, with a foundation purchase (more about that later), and I've found myself rationing it out as I know it's going to run out sooner rather than later!The brush is a refreshing change from the weird and wonderful brushes that mascaras have been appearing with lately - it's tapered, deeply bristled, and long enough that I can cover all my lashes in two swipes; pretty traditional, all things considered. The formula is lovely - it thickens and lengthens the lashes, and in combination with the deep bristles on the brush, manages to be completely non clumpy too.
Armani's Eyes To Kill mascara costs £23 for 6.9ml, and you can grab it from Selfridges.com online.
I make a slightly odd test subject for posh mascaras - mainly because I never, ever buy them. I struggle with the idea of paying more than a tenner for a mascara, which I see as a short-term prospect because of the "throw it out after 6 months" thing. I know not everybody does this, but I do, or rather I try to. My obstinate refusal to throw something expensive out after a short time means that I've never taken the plunge and joined the ranks of the Diorshow and Hypnose devotees.
YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Noir Radical definitely belongs in the "high end" mascara bracket, with an RRP of £21.50. (However, I've just found the brown variant rather cheaper here.)
What makes it special? Well, I can't resist the temptation to quote another of YSL's deliciously overblown promotional texts:
"The legendary Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils has metamorphosized into a dangerous weapon of seduction. Now eyelashes are sheathed in radical black for dangerously intense, magnetic eyes….
BLACK - The signature colour of Yves Saint Laurent, black reveals its intonations and intentions in a host of YSL iconic creations. Dense, powerful, exalted black, Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils now reveals unique depths thanks to intense mineral pigments and a triple film complex for;
- Breathtaking volume: a coating film thickens each lash to create spectacular effects
- Gorgeous curl: a conditioning film sheathes the lashes without clumping to maximise the curling effect of the brush
- Extra long hold: a stabilizing film forms an invisible, vinyl polymer shield that maintains the colour without stiffening the lashes, and boosts its lasting qualities
A complex of bio-active sugars of plant origin with pro-vitamin B5 forms a moisture-preserving barrier on the lashes to more effectively protect them."
The dangerous weapon of seduction comes in a heavy, shiny gold tube. The lid and the barrel are slightly different tones, which gives it quite a nice eye-catching look. However I just don't get the whole gold blingy thing. I just don't like it. Again, I find myself wishing that the tube was silver, or chrome, or even metallic black. But that's YSL, it's how they roll, so fair play to them. A lot of people must love the gold look, because this is an extremely coveted and prestigious brand.
Lid off, the wand is fairly unexceptional to look at. Not for YSL the plastic combs, bendy rubber spindles or other bells and whistles favoured by high street mascara manufacturers. It's just a dense, straight fibre brush on a standard-length wand.
The USP of being EXTREMELY BLACK is indeed what stands out most about this product. It's incredibly pigmented. It's the blackest mascara I have ever used (and I've used many). It's like midnight on the blackest night at the bottom of a well that goes thousands of feet deep. It's so black that it will put your darkest, heaviest eyeliner to shame and make it look like a pitiful grey smudge.
Despite the positively lethal amount of pigment it packs, this mascara is brilliant at staying put. It doesn't smudge unless you really provoke it with tears or eye-rubbing. The only issue I have with it is removal. Because it's so black it makes a dreadful mess when you take it off and clings to the lashes very stubbornly. If you use a muslin cloth with your cleanser, the entire thing will be covered in black by the time you've finished. In short - be aware when you put this on that you'll need to dedicate a bit of time and effort to removing it thoroughly.
Verdict: This stuff definitely does what it says on the tin. It's supremely black, comfortable to wear, and reliable. An excellent purchase for special occasions. For me, it's distinctive enough to justify the price if you want to go all out.
NB A previous review highlighted some concerns about animal testing and L'Oreal (YSL's parent company). Please see this post for L'Oreal's statement on this issue.
My local Cle de Peau SA was very excited about their newest mascara, the one called "The Mascara". Her enthusiasm was contagious and the promises in the marketing materials even more so: it lengthens! it curls! it creates drama and volume! Who can ignore all that, especially since Cle de Peau is one of my favorite brands?
Let's start with the good: The mascara has a nice glossy black finish. It dries quickly, stays on all day and doesn't flake or smudge even when I accidentally touch my eyes. But that's about it. Performance, both volume and length-wise is nothing more than decent. There's absolutely no drama there and the result is less than impressive. The curved brush emphasizes the lashes in the outer corners but application is not even. This mascara is so atrociously expensive- compare Cle de Peau's $50 price tag to Kanebo Sensai Mascaras ($25 for the 38 Degree mascara and $32 for the Volumizing one) or Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill, which is one of the very best mascaras on the market today ($32). I'm all for luxury and finding the best products money can buy, but this is not the one.
Bottom Line: Avoid.
Cle de Peau The Mascara ($50) is available from top department stores. I bought it at my local Saks.
Photos by me.
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