Max Factor: False Lash Effect Mascara Review

I used this mascara a few years ago and I remembered about it recently so I decided to repurchase it. "Max Factor's biggest ever brush with 50% more bristles gives a sweep of never-ending volume for a glamorous look you never thought your own lashes could give you. " Click here if you want to find out more about this mascara. I bought this for £10.99 in Boots in a 3 for 2 offer.

Length: 4/5 This mascara did add some length to my lashes, my lashes are so fair that you can't even see them without mascara so this did make a difference. Although my lashes are already quite long I did find this mascara to be build-able which gave even more length.

Overall Performance: 3/5 I liked this mascara overall, but I didn't find it easy to apply, as you can see in the video it began to clump in areas during the second coat, but a bit of blinking sorted it out eventually. I did feel that it made my lashes look ever so slightly clumpy, I definitely wouldn't put on a third coat. I also find this mascara difficult to remove at night as it is quite pigmented and it also flaked slightly during the day, but it did hold my lashes in place all day. 

Volume: 4/5 This mascara did add good volume to my lashes but I would say that it was a clumpy sort of volume which actually looks good with the right look. I don't think it gave them a 'false' look as I would have liked it to even out my lashes more and give the volumised fan appearance.

Expense: 4/5 For £10.99 this mascara is probably more on the expensive side, but it did give me a nice defined look which was visible from further away (I hate it when you get your lashes looking great only to step back from the mirror and they disappear). It also lats really well but I don't like how difficult it can be to take off, it feels like I'm having to scrub my lashes a bit too much. I would still like to try other Max Factor mascaras to see how they compare. 

If you have a mascara that you would like me to review just let me know - I would love to try it.

L.O.V.E RESULT
     15/20

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

For the past few months I decided to buy the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge, it was new at the time so I hadn't read any reviews, I just bought it on a whim. It is only £5.99 which is a great price, you can purchase this amazing creation HERE.

"Real Techniques by Sam Chapman introduces its new innovative Miracle Complexion Sponge. The Miracle Complexion Sponge will give you the pixel perfect, flawless base you have always dreamed of. The sponge is completely unique, featuring 3 distinct surfaces that give you 3 ways to apply liquid foundation."

I had heard about beauty blenders before, I have seen loads of people use them I just never really got round to getting one. I usually applied my foundation with a brush or my fingers and from past experiences of using a sponges I thought they soaked up most of the product which was a waste. But the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge has totally changed my mind.

Just bought myself a brand new one, it will be handy when my other one is drying

The sponge is bright orange, which is cool and is sort of egg shaped with a point on the bottom and a flat oval on the top, each area you can use for different techniques and results.

• "Rounded sides - blend large areas of the face with a repeated "dabbing" or "stippling" motion"
• "Precision tip - covers blemishes and imperfections"
• "Flat edge - for the contours around the eyes and nose"

You can also use the sponge damp or dry, I  prefer using it a day after I have washed it, this way it still has moisture in it, but not too much. I tend to use the flat edge mostly, I first start of by wiping my foundation over my face then blending it out, for more coverage I use the flat edge again with a bit more foundation and just pat it onto my face, I find this technique is great for a flawless coverage and it works wonders with my foundation. I use my sponge with my Max Factor Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion Foundation in Creamy Ivory, you can find out more about this product by clicking HERE.

My current foundation

Creamy Ivory (40)

The sponge has totally transformed how I apply and wear my foundation, it really does give such an even, smooth flawless coverage, I always thought only foundations could do this but it goes to show that the tools you use are just as important.

You can sort of see the flat edge and the point at the bottom

I now own two of these amazing sponges, I wanted to have one to use if the other needed washed or was drying, I try to wash it once a week, some people wash them every time after use but I find once a week works best with my foundation and skin. For just £5.99 I think this Miracle Complexion Sponge is such a fantastic product, I have been using it for months now and I can find no faults with it and it has made me want to buy more of the Real Techniques products.

Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter: Wild Watermelon

A couple of days ago I was in Boots buying some essentials when I noticed that the amazing three for two across makeup and beauty was on, I needed something to get for free so I took my time looking across the makeup counters and finally chose the new Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in Wild Watermelon. This usually sells for £7.99, I got it for free in the three for two, find out more HERE.

Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in Wild Watermelon

I have used some of the Revlon Lip Butters before and I really like them because they aren't too overpowering and are great for a more natural look, this colour Wild Watermelon is a pinky red, imagine a watermelon colour, great for spring/summer looks.

Wild Watermelon

I love this colour, I do like a red lip but this one is just a bit more natural looking so I will use this more for during the day and for more casual looks. The colour is just stunning, the pictures don't do it justice although I would say the first one is truer to the actual colour payoff when applied to lips. As with all of the Revlon Lip Butters they are more moisturising and the actual cut of the lipstick makes it easier to apply for me. 

The pigmentation is good, if you have used Revlon Lip Butters before you will know the consistency and the usual payoff, this one is no different. It is a more glossy, buttery texture and goes on to the lips similar to lipstick but slightly less thickly. I prefer using this to lipstick day to day as whenever I do wear lipstick I always find myself slightly paranoid and constantly checking in the mirror for smudges and that none has come off on my teeth.

The Revlon Lip Butters are a lot quicker to apply I find, usually when I apply lipstick it takes me ages to get it perfect, I can always do one side well then the other one looks completely different, with the Revlon Lip Butters depending on what colour you get you can almost apply it as you would lip balm, just use a mirror. Obviously because this colour is brighter than some of the others available I would take a bit more care when applying but even so it still doesn't take me long.

Because they are so buttery, they don't last as long on the lips as lipstick would but this really doesn't bother me as it only takes a few seconds. Overall I love this product and the colour Wild Watermelon, I love the name, I have a weird obsession with watermelon themed things! Now I want to go and buy some more Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butters!

Natural Collection: Lash Build Mascara Review

A few days ago I bought some of the Natural Collection Mascaras, they were on three for two and I have some points to spend on my Boots Advantage Card. This mascara retails at £1.99 which is a great price, this collection is also often on a three for two offer in Boots. The first one I tried was the Natural Collection Lash Build Mascara in Black.

"Natural Collection Lash Build Mascara glides on smooth to build great-looking lashes. Perfect for those with sparse & short lashes. Natural Collection Lash Build Mascara creates thicker lashes for extra volume." Click here if you want to find out more about this mascara.

Natural Collection Lash Build Mascara

My bare lashes brushed with my MAC lash comb

With two coats of Natural Collection Lash Build Mascara in Black

My completed look

Overall this mascara was fine, it didn't really give me enough definition and volume despite applying two coats, however it did give me a really nice, soft natural look to my lashes and some people like this natural look so it would be great for those who want this look.

The packaging is standard and the same as all the Natural Collection Mascaras

The brush is very standard with lots of bristles and I found it held a lot of product but didn't clump

Length: 3/5 This mascara didn't add any length to my natural lashes although this mascara doesn't claim to be a lengthening one I did like the effect it gave my lashes, it defined them without clumping but I don't think this would be suitable for those with shorter lashes looking for length.

Overall Performance: 3/5 This mascara performed well to an extent, it didn't clump at all even while applying a second coat, I did feel that the second coat made no difference to the appearance of my lashes. The brush is very standard and is thicker at the bottom and peaks at the top, the brush held a lot of product which I though would lead to clumping but amazingly, it didn't. I found the consistency of the formula to be slightly too watery, I don't mean too wet because it wasn't I just felt that the formula was too thin and didn't make any difference when applying a second coat of mascara, however it did give me a nice natural look and this would be great if this was the kind of look you were looking for. It separated my lashes nicely which again gave a nice natural look to my lashes, fine for days I'm not doing much. The mascara didn't flake, smudge or transfer during the day and comes off easily with my normal make up wipes. Overall the formula just wasn't build-able which the mascara claims to be.

Volume: 1/5 Unfortunately for a lash building and volumising mascara this one just didn't deliver what was promised. I feel I didn't get any added volume to my lashes, close up in the photos above it looks decent but if you were further away you couldn't make out my lashes. Don't get me wrong I did like the natural look and I can use this look on days I don't make as much of an effort, but I think for a volumising mascara this just wasn't good enough for me, but if you just want to define your natural lashes or want a really natural look then it might be worth giving this one a go.

Expense: 3/5 For £1.99 this mascara is well priced, but the price I paid and results I got, I couldn't justify buying this one again, that being said I did like the look it gave to my lashes, it separated them and defined them giving me a lovely natural look and I will use this mascara again until I have used it up.

L.O.V.E RESULT
     10/20

 

 

Chanel Beaute Des Cils Mascara Base

Last week I bought the Chanel Beaute Des Cils Mascara Base because my Dior one needed replaced and I thought I would try a different one for a change. I never bothered with mascara primers before but I decided to try the Dior one about six months ago and now I think they are fantastic! They are great for days you need your make up to last longer and they really help to hold your lashes in place all day, some primers are also enriched with lash caring ingredients which is beneficial for the condition of your lashes. You can also wear some of these lash caring primers at night although I never have.

Chanel Beaute Des Cils

The Chanel primer was £24 which is expensive but I wanted to try it for ages and the Dior one I normally use is £23 so its not a huge difference in price for me, also because you don't need to use it everyday it lasts longer so you don't need to buy it all the time.

"Beaute Des Cils is the 'specific beauty care' for lashes to be used on its own or as a primer. Worn under mascara, it intensifies and prolongs the makeup effect. Applied daily, it protects and acts like a rejuvenating treatment thanks to its nourishing and fortifying formula. Watch your lashes grow stronger." Find out more here.

Without Chanel Beaute Des Cils

With Chanel Beaute Des Cils

You can see the consistency and how it really coats your lashes, after a while it dries clear however some thicker areas of the primer stay white so I wouldn't recommend using this on it's own during the day. After it has dried applying mascara is easier as I usually find I only need the one coat but if you don't let it dry fully I feel like you just wipe it off with your mascara.

Chanel Beaute Des Cils

Brush Applicator

Overall I do like this primer it's just I think I prefer my Diorshow one as I feel it gives better results and I prefer the brush of my Diorshow Maximizer because it really holds my lashes in place all day, I feel that with the Chanel one they do lose some of their shape as the day goes on, not a huge amount but enough to notice the difference between this and my Diorshow Maximizer. The Chanel one is really good though and I will use it up but the next time I run out I will go back to my trusty Diorshow Primer. I also feel that the Diorshow Maximizer gives my lashes a bit more volume than the Chanel Beaut Des Cils. These are the only two eye lash primers I have used so let me know what your favourite one is so I can try others.

My Valentine...

Matt and I decided to have a quiet Valentines Day today, he was working all day so I made him a meal for coming back home, I say a meal, I really mean the Tesco "Dine in for Two" deal for £10. I just have some pictures of the day, my outfit for the night and the Tesco meal I so lovingly cooked. 

My Valentines Outfit

Matte Red Lips

Big Lashes and Red Lips

Red nails

I thought my favourite bag would be very appropriate for Valentines Day, I just can't resist a chance to wear it.

My Vivienne Westwood

The food we ate tonight was actually really good, the pudding was a chocolate sponge with a gooey salted caramel center and it was delicious!

Main

Dessert

I hope everyone has a lovely Valentines Day, and if your not big on Valentines Day then have a great weekend :D Unfortunately I'm working all weekend but I had a great birthday and Valentines Day!

Clinique: Bottom Lash Mascara Review

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

So my lovely fiancé bought me the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara in Black. It retails for £12.00, he bought it in our local Debenhams store.

http://www.clinique.co.uk/product/1606/15586/Makeup/Mascara/Bottom-Lash-Mascara/index.tmpl

So for starters its probably the cutest mascara I have ever seen!

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

Close up of the cute little brush.

For this review I don't think my usual L.O.V.E method is appropriate, seeing as it is just for bottom lashes the review will just be a general review of the product.

I actually think this product is just so cute that I have to like it! The packaging it gorgeous, silver with a floral print all over it. The brush is just so tiny so it's perfect for getting all of those bottom lashes, and it did this really well. I sometimes find with putting normal mascara on your bottom lashes it can clump easily and get kinda messy, but with this little one there's no problems at all. My lashes didn't clump, stick together and it gave an even coating to all of my lashes giving them a natural look, this is the kind of look I personally want for my bottom lashes because I don't suit darker, thicker ones. This product really is idea if you just want natural looking bottom lashes, I think if you added another coat or two you could get a darker, thicker effect if that's what you were after. At the same time, I don't know if it is really necessary, I can achieve a similar effect with certain other mascaras I can use for both my top and bottom lashes, is having a separate product for top and bottom lashes really needed. In my case, it's not, but I will use this product up while I have it, I will actually use it every day, who knows maybe I will fall in love with it but for now it's not something I would spend my money on again because it kinda over complicates things, but it's just so cute!