February Favourites

Hi everyone!

These are my favourite products this month :) Feel free to comment on what products you enjoyed this month!

The Original Beauty Blender

I recently purchased this on Crush Cosmetics after months of contemplating whether a $20 sponge was worth it. And my oh my, this sponge is literally a miracle for blending out liquid foundation... it seriously is effortless with this baby! I bought it in a pack of two for $43 and if you compare it to the Real Techniques Sponge which retails for $16 in Australia, then it's totally worth it! Highlight recommend :D

Wet N Wild Eyeshadow Palette in Comfort Zone

Again, I was also skeptical to buy this because in the US it retails for about $5 whereas on Crush Cosmetics it costs $12 for us Australians. Still, I decided to give it a go because the neutrals are just so gorgeous. As you can see with the swatches below, all the colours are very pigmented and creamy - honestly they don't even need eyelid primer for the colours to show up unlike some high end palettes. The packaging is pretty flimsy but the product is so so good for a relatively affordable price in comparison to other palettes available in Australia. This is a great palette for beginners who are testing out what neutrals suit them. 

Hourglass Cosmetics Blush Palette Trio

Oh, baby. When this palette came out during Christmas I had to have my hands on it! Like the Ambient Lighting Palette, the texture of the powder is so finely milled, having more of a iridescent light as opposed to chunks of glitter. The swirl of the colours is gorgeous and in the swatch you can see that the colours are pigmented with a nice sheen on it. Definitely recommend for those who have been wanting to try out their blushes!  

Benefit Watts Up Cream Highlighter

This was one of my first Benefit products and over the years I have fallen in love with it over and over again. I initially used it for my main highlighter after foundation, but I actually found it better as a base for powder highlighters like the Mac Soft and Gentle or the Stila Highlighter Duo. It creates a nice sheen on your face that complements well with more shimmery highlighters. Love!

Leoban Croft Argan Oil

This is not a favourite because of the specific brand, but more so for the Argan Oil product. Even though argan oil isn't really permanent for your hair, it still adds softness and shine when used after you wash your hair. Nothing extraordinary but I love using it because of the smell and the way my hair feels!

Garnier Clean Sensitive 2-1 Gentle Makeup Remover

I actually stole this one off my mum because I had no more of my own makeup remover. I know micellar water is all the craze right now but this is such an underrated product. It is for sensitive skin so it doesn't irritate you skin when you use it. I find that this is the best makeup remover EVER. Key term: MAKEUP REMOVER. It removes mascara and red-stained lips like a dream! Unlike the micellar water, you will need to cleanse your face after. But, it is a lot better at removing makeup than micellar water - definitely!

Aveeno Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream

And lastly, my most recent love is this crazy good night cream. Aveeno is my favourite skincare brand because it works well with my skin and doesn't irritate it. One time I left my nose strip on for too long which literally dried every inch of my nose and burned like a b*%$h. Over night I used this cream and the next day it seemed to start heeling straight away. Daily moisturiser is definitely not enough for dry skin and now I HAVE to use night cream every night to keep it baby skin soft! FAVOURITE PRODUCT OF THE MONTH :D

Thanks for reading girlies and hope you had a great February! 

Jane

Coral Blushes

Hi everyone!

It has been a very, very long time since I have blogged and I have been meaning to but other things (study, ahem) have gotten in the way. This year I will be more dedicated to the blog and will also be making more videos to accompany it! I am pretty excited to relaunch the blog and provide you guys with more tips and tutorials.

Since it is summer in Australia at the moment, I've just been using coral blushes in most of my makeup looks because these colours add a healthy summer glow!

This is not so much a dupe post, but just a range of coral blushes (high end and low end) that should give you a similar glow-y look and is very flattering.

The Balm's Shadow/Blush in Hot Mama: A pink-toned coral shade with gold shimmers

Nars' Blush in Orgasm: A pink-toned coral shade with gold shimmers

Milani's Baked Blush in Luminoso: A soft orange based-coral shade with golden sheen

ELF's Studio Blush in Candid Coral: A soft orange based-coral shade with gold shimmers

ELF's Studio Blush in Tickled Pink: A balanced pink-orange toned coral shade with golden sheen

(Swatches)

Description: 

As you can see in the swatches, hot mama and orgasm are similar in colour, with hot mama being a little bit more vibrant. In the packaging, hot mama definitely looks more orange but on the skin they have similar colours. Also the gold shimmers are very similar in both. I would say that Hot Mama is more pigmented and has a more buttery/silky texture. Another close match is ELF's Candid Coral and Milani's Luminoso. They are closer to the orange side for corals and are more subtle when adding that healthy natural glow. Luminous does not have any gold shimmers, but has more of a sheen which is easier to wear in the daytimes. Candid Coral has similar gold shimmers to Nars Orgasm, but in terms of texture it is not very pigmented and takes a lot to build it up. And lastly, tickled pink is the most balanced in terms of pink and orange corals and has a similar texture to Candid Coral - a very nice colour but has poor lasting power and pigmentation. 

Favourites:

Hot Mama and Luminoso

It would be a surprise that it is not Nars' Orgasm. Even though it has a finish, the pigmentation has faded overtime and reminds me more of the ELF blushes. 

Hope everyone had a Happy New Years and see you again for my next post! Stay tuned :)

Product Listing/Prices:

The Balm's Shadow/Blush in Hot Mama - $26 @ David Jones (or Asos - online only)

Nars' Blush in Orgasm - $39 @ Mecca Maxima

Milani's Baked Blush in Luminoso - $14.95 @ Crush Cosmetics (online only)

ELF's Studio Blush in Candid Coral - $8 @ Kmart (or iHerb - online only)

ELF's Studio Blush in Tickled Pink - $8 @ Kmart (or iHerb - online only)

Janie

Review: ELF Blushes and Face of Australia Contour Kit as dupes for Nars blush and bronzers

Hi everyone :)

Happy long weekend! Hope everyone is enjoying themselves on the road (not that you should be reading this and driving!) or snuggled up in bed with some studying for finals to do (like me D:). This surely will lighten up your day!

Today's post will be on dupes that I found for Nars Orgasm blush and Nars Laguna Bronzer. Retailing at $45 and $55 respectively, some of us find it very hard to believe that a product could be so good for us to empty our pockets. The products that I am going to compare are all under $10. Let's see if there really is a difference.

The Blushes: 

(Top to Bottom: Nars Blush in Orgasm, ELF Blush in Tickled Pink, ELF Blush in Candid Coral)

Nars Blush in Orgasm 

Pigmentation & Colour pay off

• As you can see in the picture, the colour is a very pretty pink-coral with small specks of shimmer. Before I bought this blush, I read that it was a colour that suited all different skin tones (i.e. a universal blush colour)
• And boy were they right. I've seen this colour on really fair skin to those with more tanned skin, and they look equally as nice. On fairer girls it gives a nice, pink-flush (I wouldn't call it natural but close to it) and on darker girls, the shimmer gives them a nice and healthy glow. 
• When I first used this brush, the colour was very pigmented. I just needed to swipe a bit on and it would show up on my face. However, lately it seems that the blush has dried up a bit and the shimmer specks show up more than the actual colour. For $45 I would think that this is quite unreasonable - the colour of the product should be consistent. It actually took me the same amount of swipes to get the colour on my arm as the ELF ones.

Texture:

• Nars blushes are famous for feeling so silky and feels just heavenly soft on your face. There are no flaky bits and it is definitely not drying on your face at all. It really does just brush on effortlessly and doesn't feel powdery at all.

Longevity/Lasting power

• This baby has amazing staying power. When I set my foundation with the NYX finishing powder, this blush stays on pretty much all night. 
• That's really what you want from a high-end blush - staying power. If the colour is beautiful and very unique, but the staying power isn't as great then the product isn't really worth it in my opinion. 
• I would say it lasts about 5-6 hours with a good primer, lasting foundation and a setting powder. For those who complain that blush never stays as well, you really need to prep your face for it to last for a long time!

Packaging

• It is a rubbery/plastic compact that is easy to grip and doesn't feel fragile. You feel like it is very unlikely to break if you were to drop it. 
• The rubbery texture does make the compact prone to dust or powders sticking to it. It's really hard to clean off and it comes back again so I don't even bother. You can see it from the packaging above. I would say that once it gets dusty, it does lose its 'premium' feel but I'm not too fussed about that
• Inside there is a small full-sized mirror which is great for doing makeup on the go. 

ELF Blush in Candid Coral & ELF Blush in Tickled Pink

Pigmentation and Colour Pay off

• Last week I went to Kmart to pick up the ELF's Blush and Bronzer Duo St Lucia but they were sold out again :( So I decided to do my research and found that these were everyone's two favourite blush colours
• The colours are very similar in the compact but when they are swatched, but they're actually quite different. As you can see, Tickled Pink is a similar colour to Nars Orgasm Blush but it has less shimmer and more of a peachy pink. For everyday use, I would prefer the ELF's blush because it is closer to my own 'blushed' cheek colour. (Apparently this colour is similar to Nars Deep Throat Blush - haven't got my hands on this one yet but i'll be sure to update you guys!)
• Many people say that Candid Coral is a dupe for the Nars Orgasm Blush but I don't really think so. The Nars blush is definitely more pink, whilst this one is a peachy-coral colour. There is definitely more shimmer in this colour compared to Tickled Pink, which makes it a great highlighter as well. 
• I guess if you mixed the ELF colours together it would look a bit like Nars Orgasm (if you wanted to go to all that trouble :P)

Texture

• These ELF blushes definitely don't feel as silky and smooth as Nars blushes. They often feel powdery and needs to be blended out. In saying that, once it is blended the texture on the face feels just as nice as Nars.

Longevity/Lasting Power

• This is probably the downfall of ELF blushes. Whilst the colours are great and very natural (my favourite look!), they tend to fade very quickly. I would give them tops about 3 hours and then you probably won't see it on your face anymore.
• The powdery texture is probably to blame here. It takes so long to blend, yet it comes off very easily. Sad face here :( 

Packaging

• As you can see above, the compacts look very similar - Elf was probably copying Nars design hehe. 
• Whereas Nars Blushes and Bronzers are in a rubbery/plastic compact, ELF blushes are just in a plastic case which feels a lot less sturdy and will probably break if you use drop it too much. 
• Inside, we only get half a mirror which is pretty uncomfortable for travel when you want to see how it looks on your whole face. 
• However, I do like the plastic window that tells which colour the blush is. I know for sure that if I get more Nars blushes I will have to always look at the back to see what colour I'm getting. A win for ELF here. 

Verdict 

I would recommend investing in the high-end blushes, especially with the great colour range that Nars has. The cheaper alternatives are good for everyday natural looks, but if you really want something that defines your cheeks and gives them definition opt for Nars blushes like Orgasm.

The Bronzers: 

(Top to Bottom: Face of Australia Illuminator (Glamazon Compact), Face of Australia Matte Contouring Bronzer (Glamazon Compact), Nars Bronzer in Laguna)

Nars Bronzer in Laguna

Pigmentation & Colour pay off

• This is the perfect colour for natural contouring. It is a nice golden medium brown that isn't too muddy and isn't too orange. It has a bit of shimmer in it which should not scare anyone away! The shimmer is to a minimum and does give your face a nice supermodel glow. 
• Recently the colour has gotten a bit orange, well it is just orange on my plain face without any foundation. I don't recommend contouring your face without having a foundation base first because it just looks muddy and doesn't blend well with your skin. 
• This colour is also great for an all over nice and healthy glow bronzer. I usually use it when my face is too pasty and this bronzer doesn't make my face look too orange at all!
• It really is a multi-tasker bronzer, both for light/natural contouring and all over the face. 

Texture

• I find that this bronzer is even silkier than the Nars blush purely because there aren't shimmer specks in it. The shimmer powder is very fine, so it makes the bronzer highly blendable for the skin. Absolutely love the smooth application!

Longevity/Lasting power

• I love how brands such as Nars keeps their products consistent. As a duo with the blush, the Laguna Bronzer has great staying power. Again, I would apply this at the beginning of the night and by the end of it, it would still be there!
• As with the blush, you guys really have to prep you face before and after using blush and bronzers to make sure that they do stay for longer. Invest in a good primer and setting powder. it will really make all the difference.

Packaging

• Similar to the blush packaging, it is rubbery but shock-absorbent I guess. I could drop it on the floor a thousand times without worrying if it broke. It is very light as well so it doesn't weigh down your bag. 
• The compact in this is bigger which I think is great for bronzers. Sometimes it is used for all-over-the-face bronzing, so it gives you a bigger pan to sweep your brush on and to apply on your face. 
• Also this means the mirror is a fair bit bigger than the blushes which is awesome! I use this mirror for application of any other makeup because I can usually see my whole face. It doesn't obstruct my view at all. 

Face of Australia Glamazon Contour and Highlight Kit in Leopardess 

Pigmentation & Colour pay off

• I bought this contour kit because every Australian beauty Instagrammer has it in all of their pictures so I HAD to have it. 
• Despite the Laguna Bronzer being amazing, I wanted to find cheaper alternatives if I were to hit the pan. The bronzer in this kit is actually a bit darker than Laguna and more matte. 
• I actually quite like this bronzer because it is matte so your cheeks look more defined - it looks a bit more clean-cut when contouring. 
• This product is actually more pigmented than the Nars bronzer which means a little goes a long way. If you use too much it will become muddy especially because it is more of a chocolate brown colour than golden dark honey colours like Nars and Benefit's Hoola Bronzer. I am quite fair so I do have to be very careful
• Since this is a contour kit you can obviously not use this as an all over bronzer because the result will not be pretty
• My favourite thing about this compact is the highlighter. It is so gorgeous and pigmented. I've never used a powder highlighter/illuminator so I can't really compare to others. It is not to shimmery and sits perfectly above my blush and bronzer. Again, you only need a sweep of this product. Do not use too much or you'll end up looking like a disco ball. 

Texture

• I like that both of these colours are quite silky unlike the powdery texture of the ELF blushes. For $10 you can't really complain! It does take a bit more effort to blend into your skin but again for a product that is about 5 times cheaper, I wouldn't be too fussed.

Longevity/Lasting power

• Unlike the ELF blushes which were quite powdery and lacked blendability, this contour kit is very pigmented and blends relatively well into the skin.
• This product lasts about 34 hours - if I do not randomly rub my face and it comes off. A bit less than the Nars bronzer. If you were wearing this in the day, I would recommend carrying the compact along for touch ups.

Packaging

• Out of all of these products, this is definitely my favourite compact! First of all the lid is leopard print, how sick is that! I'm pretty sure that is what really got me in all those instagram pictures. 
• the packaging is completely plastic with a glossy shine, which is different to the matte-ness of the other cases. It is a little flimsy and I would be scared to drop it, but the hinges and lock of the compact is very sturdy.
• It also contains a full sized mirror which I love. Not many drugstore brands have a nice full sized mirror, especially those matte powders. It is also great that this is both a bronzer and illuminator in one which makes it easier to carry around than my Nars Laguna. 
• As my first ever Face of Australia product, I am very impressed. Definitely going to look out for more cheap gems

Verdict

Whilst Nars Laguna Bronzer is my HG and my go to every time, after I bought this FOA one I have been reaching for that one a bit more. As I said I love the illuminator/bronzer duo which just makes it easier for doing my makeup while travelling on the train etc. I still love the Laguna bronzer as a multitasker and for the colour pay off, but the FOA contour kit is slowly winning over my heart. Jokes aside, I am really loving this contour kit - and it is great for beginners because of the price and the duo. Would highly recommend!


Product listing and locations

Nars Blush in Orgasm - $45 @ MeccaMaxima and MeccaCosmetica stores, and www.meccacosmetica.com.au
Nars Bronzer in Laguna - $55 @ MeccaMaxima and MeccaCosmetica stores,www.meccacosmetica.com.au
ELF Blush in Tickled Pink - $8 @ participating Kmart stores, kmart.com.au, and $3.21 @ au.iherb.com
ELF Blush in Candid Coral - $8 @ participating Kmart stores, kmart.com.au, and $3.21 @ au.iherb.com
Face of Australia Glamazon Contour and Highlighter Kit in Leopardess - $9.95 @ Big W stores, and www.bigw.com.au

A rather long post but I wanted to give you guys a detailed post on whether high-end brand and HG products are really worth your money. Usually they are, but there are also some hidden gems that we look passed straight away because of their dirt-cheap prices. I would definitely recommend doing more research on alternatives that may save you all the money and disappointment if you were to hate the high end product. Hope this helped everyone!

Tune in for the next post on my beautiful eyeshadow palettes that my friends bought for me for my birthday! Exciting! (yes, Toofaced Chocolate Bar is included. Does it actually taste like chocolate?! You'll find out in my next post!)

Toodles,

Janie xoxo

Favourite Makeup Brushes

Hi everyone :D

Long time no post. Finally on a friday and Saturdayy I am free to take pictures in the sunlight because I'm finally home in the mornings. I've recently bought new brushes and decided do a post on my favourite ones so far. Enjoy! :)

                                         

(From L to R: ELF Studio Line Powder Brush, Ecotools Tapered Blush Brush, Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Brush, Real Techniques Contour Brush, Real Techniques Setting Brush, Sigma E35 Tapered Blending Brush, Sigma E55 Eye Shading Brush.)

Ecotools Tapered Blush Brush

Why I love

• I've been looking for a blush brush that doesn't just deposit the powder onto your cheeks, but one that does so in a controlled and angular way. 
• The tapered design allows you to have precision for applying blush, especially if you are going to contour your face later. It gives you the line for application of bronzer later. 
• The brush is so, so, so soft. You would think that such a soft brush wouldn't be able to pick up powder, but it does so effortlessly. Some blush brushes that I've used in the past just waste my products because when I apply it to my face, there's hardly any powder - most of it had fallen off. 
• This brush is eco-friendly, and its products are biodegradable - great for all you people out there trying to save our world and the environment!
• The sleek design and long handle is great for comfortability when applying blush. This is definitely my go-to brush for blush!

Cons?

• With the tapered design, I thought it would be a little bit more precise - but in saying that this is a blush brush not a contour brush.
• No more that I can think of. 

Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Brush

Why I love 

• I really cannot tell you how amazing this brush is until you've tried it for yourself. A few weeks ago I stumbled on the website redefiningbeauty.com.au, and they are authorised resellers for Sigma brushes in Australia. The brushes that I ordered arrived in just 2 days, amazing service. 
• If you have trouble blending foundation into your face, this is definitely the brush for you. Previously I have used my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, which is good in that it applies well on the skin - but since it is more rounded at the top, it is harder to blend without getting those horrid streaks on your face. I also use the Real Techniques Buffing Brush in the Core Collection, which was good too but I still had to rub off the streaks with my hand.
• The Sigma brush, however, blends any type of foundation effortlessly. I don't know how I've lived without it before. 
• The flat top of the brush is very soft but packed quite densely. It picks up liquid foundation well and distributes all the product on your skin flawlessly, unlike the real techniques brushes where the liquid kind of gets stuck in the bristles and doesn't go on the skin. 
• Definitely my HG foundation brush. 

Cons

• Like most Sigma brushes, the shedding is pretty bad. I find that with the Kabuki Brush, some of the bristles were uneven so I had to cut it off. The shedding hasn't been too bad so far but I will give an update on it after I give my brushes a good wash. 

Real Techniques Contour Brush

Why I love

• I have yet to find a really good contour brush (I have my eyes on that new Nars one but it is so goddamn expensive!), but this one will do! 
• Like all Real Techniques brushes, this brush is super duper soft and picks up the bronzing powder really well. It is quite small so you can be more precise when contouring your face. 
• It is multi-purpose, so you can use it for blushes and highlighters as well - it not a tapered design, but it is pretty accurate. 
• The handle is pretty sleek so there is good grip when you are contouring or putting blush on your face.

Cons

• Like I said, this brush isn't the best contour brush but it is not too bad. What I don't like about this brush is that it puts too much bronzer in the places that I usually start with on my face. It doesn't blend out the bronzer as well as it should. 
• I usually have to use another brush to blend out the bronzer so it doesn't look like I have a muddy face.

Real Techniques Setting Brush

Why I love

• Another Real Techniques Brush, and this one really has no flaws! At first I was wondering why so many people were raving about this brush. It seemed like your typical mini setting brush for powders underneath your eyes.
• Little did I know that this brush was absolutely perfect for liquid concealers! It is very fluffy like the contour brush so I thought it would only be good for powders. 
• I usually dot the concealer on my dark circles and redness around my nose. With this brush, I swiftly blend in the concealer and it looks flawless, almost like a HD effect. 
• Before this brush I used my fingertips usually, and it would never blend properly into the skin - only on the surface which looked quite noticeable. This brush has saved my life for concealing! 
• And of course, you can use this brush with powders such as the NYX HD finishing powder for under eyes to set your concealer as well. 
• Very handy and multi-purpose! Love this. 

Cons

• None! Everyone needs this brush in their collection!

 Sigma E55 Eye Shading Brush

Why I love

• This was one of the brushes that I bought on redefining beauty because I did not own any brushes that were simply to deposit eyeshadow all over the lid. I have a few cheap ones that seem to pick up a lot of product but by the time it gets to my lids it just falls off. 
• The eye shading brush is so densely packed as well as being really soft. It picks up my ChiChi cosmetic eyeshadows really well! Since it is very soft, it doesn't feel scratchy on the skin of the lid at all. You guys should really invest in buying good quality and soft eye brushes because scratchy brushes will really irritate that area of the skin.
• Overall, excellent basic brush for applying shadow your whole lid!

Cons

• I guess it's not multi purpose, but overall nothing to really complain here.

Sigma E35 Tapered Blending Brush

Why I love

• I have been looking everywhere for a great blending brush, because it is very important for your eye makeup collection! Without a good blending brush, trust your eyeshadows to look muddy and have a splattered 90s feel all over your lid.
• Previously, I have been using the Crown double ended blending and pencil brush duo. They are great but quite scratchy and causes irritation to my eyes. This brush is again very very soft and a bit more tapered that my Crown one.
• There is also the Tapered Blending E40 but I heard that one sheds a lot, and I haven't had the same problem with this brush.
• This brush blends effortlessly, and makes it easier to create that gradient look for your eyeshadows which gives more the eyes more depth and dimension

Cons

• The brush is a little bit big for my eyes - I kind of wish I bought the small tapered blending brush instead.
• It blends well but I have kind of give it more room, or it will blend to the outside of my eyelid. 

E.L.F. Studio Line Powder Brush

Why I love 

• This was one of my first brushes every, along with my ELF Small Stippling Brush. I have had this for about a year and a half now, and it has not shed and has stayed in shape ever since I got it. 
• Recommended by a friend, she said that this brush was really soft and picked up powders very well. I have used it for powders ever since then and it has been great. 
• I think I really have a thing for flat top brushes, because I just feel that they mould to your face better when you are using them. 
• The bristles and the actual head of the brush is a perfect size, as it distributes the powder evenly over your face, not causing any big patches. 
• Overall it is just really soft and I feel privileged to use such a heavenly feeling brush over my face! It has made me love setting my makeup the favourite part of my routine. 

Cons

• Since it's only about $8, the handle is quite flimsy and the glue is not as secure as my other brushes. I would recommend buying a few of these just in case the handle does fall off! KMART sell ELF products in Australia now!

Product listing and locations:

Ecotools Tapered Blush Brush - $7.58 @ http://au.iherb.com/EcoTools, or $16.99 @ priceline.com.au

Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Brush - $25.00 @ redefiningbeauty.com.au.

Real Techniques Contour Brush (part of Core Collection) - $19.53 @ http://au.iherb.com/Real-Techniques-by-Samantha-Chapman or $44.99 @ priceline.com.au

Real Techniques Setting Brush (Single) - $8.68 @ http://au.iherb.com/Real-Techniques-by-Samantha-Chapman or $14.99 @ priceline.com.au

Sigma E55 Eyeshading Brush - $14.00 @ redefiningbeauty.com.au

Sigma E35 Tapered Blending Brush - $14.00 @ redefiningbeauty.com.au

E.L.F. Studio Line Powder Brush - $3.26 @ http://au.iherb.com/E-L-F-Cosmetics, or $8.00 @ participating Kmart Stores, or $8.00 @ elfcosmetics.com.au

Have a great weekend guys! Hope this helps you with what brushes to buy for your brush collection! 

Janie xoxo

To the New Year and New Mascaras

Hey ladies and gentlemen!

After a few months of being AWOL on this blog, I've finally come back for the new year of 2014.  Here's to new years' resolutions and learning to finish what you started :) Wishing you all a swell start to the new year!

Could it be "The One"? (talking about mascara here!)

Which mascara is right for you? Are they too clumpy? Does it run when you sweat? Can it hold your curls? Will I have voluminous lashes like all the models who put on fake lashes for a mascara campaign?! I have some of the answers here for you. 

Loreal's Volume Million Lashes

Thickness/Volume: *****
Length: ***
Curl hold: **
Intensity: ***
No Clumping: ****
Waterproof: Not waterproof but holds up well with some sweating 

Overall, this mascara does as it says - creates very thick lashes and its plastic bristles attaches onto every lash. For Surprisingly this mascara was also very black in colour which is great for creating a more intense look. However, the thickness does come at a cost due to its quite heavy formula. Not as thick as some of the mascaras below, but it seems to not be able to hold a curl as well. As you can see the bristles are all straight which means an even coverage of formulae which makes it difficult to extend the middle lashes especially. This is good for both everyday use for a more intensified look, as well as a simple evening, not over the top, lash look. 

Verdict: ***.5

Rimmel's (new) Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara
Thickness/Volume: **
Length: ***
Curl hold: *
Intensity: ***
No Clumping: **
Waterproof: Not waterproof 

This is one of my first Rimmel mascaras, and to be honest was a big disappointment. Unlike most mascaras, it has a really big wand which makes it difficult to manoeuvre around small lashes. In the ad it promised a 'doll-like', 'retro glam', look. The shape of the wand supposedly makes the outside and inside lashes longer than the middle lashes making your eyes look bigger. The fact that the formula smelled like nail polish remover, and was just so thick really put me off. When I applied it on my lashes, it just felt like wiping black paint on my lashes, weighing down my already very straight lashes. Not a very nice look at all. Due to the heavy formula, curl hold was very poor as I mentioned above. The only real benefit was the length. Disappointed!

Verdict: **

Covergirl's Lash Blast Volume Waterproof Mascara
Thickness/Volume: ***
Length: **
Curl hold: *
Intensity: **
No Clumping: ***
Waterproof: TOO waterproof 

Overall, I had high hopes for this mascara because it is raved about on every beauty blog and beauty video. I'm not sure if it was because I got the waterproof one, which is way to waterproof by the way. It took me about 6 swipes of Garnier's gentle makeup remover to get it completely off my lashes. The bristles are also plastic, but unlike Loreal's (Millions) mascara, they are very short which felt like it couldn't grab any lashes at all! The formula is very thick and feels uncomfortable on the lashes - as if lashes got a few times heavier - and again thick formulas are the worst for curl hold. The thickness of the lashes was noticeable, but the length was nowhere to be seen due to the short bristles. Overrated. Really. 

Verdict: **

Lancome's Hypnose Mascara
Thickness/Volume: **
Length: ****
Curl hold: **
Intensity: ***
No Clumping: ***
Waterproof: not waterproof

Overall, this 'high end' mascara is probably not worth your money if you are looking for an all-rounder. However, it is excellent for layering. The formula is quite thick, wet and might smudge if you don't let it dry on your lashes. If you let it set properly though, i.e. wait for a few weeks before using the bottle, it dries up and works a charm. Usually I use this mascara for when my 'natural' mascaras do not give enough oomph. This mascara lengthens beautifully, especially when you just apply it on the tips of your already applied lashes. It will clump if you use it by itself due to the thick formula as other mascara I have mentioned above. Lancome's Hypnose also has bristles that are quite short which makes it difficult to make the lashes voluminous as it does not capture every lash. This formula is not waterproof so again I would not recommend using it on its own!

Verdict: **.5 

Maybelline's Colossal Volume Express Waterproof
Thickness/Volume: ***
Length: ***
Curl hold: ***
Intensity: **
No Clumping: ***
Waterproof: Enough waterproof

Overall, this mascara is similar to the above. Better for layering that using it by itself. The bristles are way too thin to soak up a lot of formula so this reduces its drama factor. Ideally you use the flatter side to build up your volume/thickness and length, and the curved side is to add the curl, and furthermore to make the lashes at the end longer for a 'cat eye' look. However, to create this look, this mascara needs to be layered onto another mascara already on the lashes. For example, using the more basic mascaras like Maybelline's Full 'N Soft, and Loreal's Volume Million Lashes, creates a voluminous base to shape the curled lashes. Apply this mascara, again to the tip of your lashes so it does not clump. This should extend your lashes that are towards the end and lengthen the middle lashes. 

Verdict: **.5

Maybelline's Full 'N Soft Waterproof Mascara
Thickness/Volume: *****
Length: ***
Curl hold: ****
Intensity: **
No Clumping: *****
Waterproof: Enough waterproof

Overall, this is by far my favourite mascara of all time! Don't be fooled by the funny looked bristles in the picture. The closeness of the thin brush-like, and soft bristles attach itself effortlessly onto your lashes. Unlike Maybelline's Colossal Volume Express mascara, the formula soaks the bristles enough for even coverage and lightly onto the lashes. It promises that your lashes will be soft and full and it really does its job. In all of the times i've used it, there has never been a sign of clumping which is awesome! I've gone through many mascara bottles, but this is the one that I always go back to. It is good as a base for other mascaras, good on its own when you continue layering it, and it just feels so light on your lashes. One thing about Maybelline mascaras is that the formula is thin so that it doesn't feel too heavy on your lashes making you want to rub it off. Due to its light formula, curl hold is great and I feel like my lashes are curled all day. A great mascara for everyday use if you aren't satisfied with your own lashes - some extra oomph for the day time. 

Verdict: ****

Benefit's They're Real Mascara

Thickness/Volume: ***.5
Length: ****
Curl hold: ***
Intensity: ***
No Clumping: ****
Waterproof: enough waterproof

And lastly, behold the Holy Grail of all mascara users! This mascara is raved about on every website and every beauty blog I've ever been on. Yes, the formula is great - gives you thick lashes but the formula isn't too heavy. The unique ball bristles at the top end of the brush is great for trying to get those small lashes on the inner or outer corner of your lashes, as well as lengthening the middle of your lashes as well. Even though it is always raved about, I'll bring you back to earth! The volume for this mascara is quite average - it doesn't grab onto all your lashes, and when you try to it continues to lengthen the ones that are already long! Also the bristles are VERY sharp so if you get it too close to your eyes you might just get a nasty surprise and you do not want that from your mascara! Like most thick formulas, it does not hold a curl as well as the thinner formulas. It does boast to make your lashes look 'real', but I feel that it is a step too intense for a natural looking mascara. I'm not trying to steer you away from buying it, but don't always go for the high end mascaras just because you've heard everyone talk a lot about it. It is a great mascara but there are cons too!

Verdict: ***.5

There you go. For those who are too afraid to try mascaras, I've made the job easy for you! Hopefully the new year brings in new mascaras that you love (or hate). Feel free to ask me any questions or to give me some opinions on mascaras that you have used (or the ones I've posted about!) 

Prices and Where to purchase.
Loreal's Volume Million Lashes, Priceline, $27.95.
Rimmel's Scandaleyes Retro Glam, Priceline, $16.95.
Covergirl's LashBlastVolume, Priceline, $17.95.
Lancome's Hypnose Mascara, Myer, $52.
Maybelline's Colossal Volume Express, Priceline, $17.95.
Maybelline's Full 'N Soft Waterproof Mascara, Priceline, $14.95.
Benefit's They're Real Mascara, Myer (Benefit bar), $38.

Toodles, 
Janie