Urban Decay – Perversion Mascara

Image from HarpersBazaar.com

Ohhh Guys, I’m nervous…

I have a confession. I have had a very public love affair with Urban Decay eye make up for a decade now, ever since I first used a ‘disco on my eyelids’ blue glittery eyeliner when I was 16. Urban Decay and I, we’ve been through a lot. We were together through laughs, big life moments, we’ve been to many a country together, We’ve had arguments and we’ve been temporarily separated through tears. One thing is for sure; I’ve never cheated on UD, I know where my bread is buttered when it comes to eye shadow and eyelid primer.

That being said, If I could change anything about UD, it would be their mascaras. I’ve had Big Fatty – too gloopy, brush too big and too clunky to operate, resulting in stumpy lashes. Lush Lash – nondescript, could have been any Tom, Dick or Harry of the mascara world. With our track record, I’ve resisted buying Perversion mascara, I’m too afraid to rock our good relationship. But, I’m curious, I want a bit of excitement.

So, here goes…

The Perversion mascara and eyeliner, which I have previously reviewed, are described as having the purest, deepest and most intense black colour imaginable. Does it live up to this statement? After all, this has been one of the most eagerly anticipated beauty products since Kim Kardashian revealed it was her mascara of choice for her wedding to Kanye West.

Well, off to a good start, the brush is exactly what I like, good old fashioned rounded full barrel brush. The formula is instantly noticeable as being darker than your average mascara. It looks creamy and thick, oh I hope it’s as good as it looks.

The size of the brush means it is coating majority of the lashes as you sweep giving a good even coverage. This is easy to apply and glides onto your lashes smoothly, no snagging or feeling like you really have to work the product onto your lashes.

One coat, leaves you with demure, nice looking lashes. Quite similar to the look left after a few coats of They’re Real by Benefit. But, I didn’t buy Perversion for ‘demure’ lashes at all. I want bigger and blacker lashes then I’ve ever possessed. So I apply a second coat.

This is more like it, thicker and very dark lashes, I like the outcome. I cannot hand on heart say I’m blown away though. The look is what I expected, but I’m not wowed. This mascara retails at £17.00. I can get this look with something less than half the price (at the top of my head I’m comparing it to Barry M’s Lash Vegas). Out of rebellion I’m going to do something out of character. I’m going in for the unspeakable third coat.

And I’m I glad I did! This has transformed this mascara from ‘quite nice’ to ‘that’s what I’m talking about’. The inkiest black lashes I have ever seen, no clumps, nice and fanned out and really opened my eyes up and framed their shape. I’m impressed. I don’t like overloading my lashes with product, but this is still comfortable, not heavy and not scratchy. Team this with the Perversion eyeliner and you won’t believe your luck. Fabulous fabulous fabulous.

Oh Urban Decay, it really is true love.If you persist and add a few coats, this really is spectacular.

3 coats

With Perversion eyeliner

Bye bye high end, Hello drug store – Mascaras

As promised, here are my favourite drug store mascaras that will make you think twice about buying high end again.

L’Oreal False Lash Flutter £10.99

image from boots.com

This is my current fave mascara. It gives you the most delicate, dark, long lashes imaginable. What makes this mascara worth it? Check out the wand. The brush is a medium length plastic one which curves out at the end. This allows the outer corners of your lashes to elongate and just flutter giving the illusion that you have extensions. In a word? Extraordinary.

Barry M Lash Vegas £6.49

image from barrym.com

If you do not own this mascara, shame on you. This mascara actually wins hands down against any other mascara I’ve ever tried and I do mean any. With two coats you have the carbon black lashes that are endless. The brush is spiralled, which enables lashes to be coated individually and separates them without clumping. Your lashes will really look false, without being fake looking. Oh yes, it’s possible.

L’Oreal Mega Volume Miss Manga £8.99

So much hype surrounding this mascara, of course I got sucked in. I bought this mascara simply because it promised that lashes would look like that Japanese manga look which is so popular. Did they look manga. No. But still a nice mascara, the wand has a little bend towards the end by the brush so that you can manipulate the wand to get into all of the lashes and create the lash effect you want. What I will say is that this isn’t for the novice for this reason. To get the managa look, you need your lashes to be separated top and bottom, this mascara doesn’t do that, you can only achieve it with falsies I’m afraid.

17 Va Va Voom £6.50

image from boots.com

This mascara is a good, cheap mascara for every day. The brush is that wide kind that I like which gives you nice length while making lashes look really thick and luscious. Not too much else to say, I’d compare Va Va Voom to the DiorShow, do be careful not to load your lashes too much or it could end up looking like your lashes are dry and stumpy. A negative for me is the packaging. But if you’re not fussed by that, a good choice.

Max Factor 2000 Calorie mascara £6.99

This mascara has always been my go-to mascara for when I need a fail safe mascara. The brush is quite thin, but it has bristles rather than that plastic type which gives your lashes a great fullness. This mascara has won many awards year after year and was a finalist in the beauty insiders awards in 2013. Your lashes look voluminous, thick and very black. I love this mascara, everyone should give it a go.

Laura Mercier – Long Lash Mascara

Image from lauramercier.com

I received a sample of this mascara in last month’s Birch Box, I was very happy to try this as I’ve had my eye on a few Laura Mercier products recently. This mascara is the long lash mascara which retails in the UK for £18.50 and the US for $24.00.

This mascara has a really small, thin wand. Perfect for getting right into the tiny lashes in the corners. From first coat I did take a look and think hmmm, not sure about this, then I applied a second coat and bam, a third coat and whoa nelly! I have never seen a mascara that lengthens my lashes so much. With three coats the lashes are not overloaded with product, and they still look delicate enough to give you that pretty, simple make up look. The formula is an innovative one, gliding on your lashes with stretch technology. It’s funny, but it really does seem like they’ve been stretched.

This mascara would be perfect for those days where you want to indulge in simple, natural make up or days where you want to rock a bolder lip. The mascara is subtle enough to do this but still makes your lashes look incredible. I am lucky enough to have decent length lashes anyway, but I don’t think I’ve experienced such a luscious sweeping lash as this with any other mascara. Not even my BFF YSL mascara (don’t worry, I’ve said this quietly so it didn’t hear!).

I totally recommend it, I think I’ll purchase the full sized product, and at £18.50, it’s not too pricey for high end mascara, it’s a good £6.00 cheaper than YSL and the cult classic Dior Show. I would say you lashes look naturally enhanced, I think the trained eye would think you have falsies on, as they could be forgiven for thinking you have those delicate false lashes that have been applied individually by a salon. So go ahead and prove them wrong with this gorgeous mascara.

Oldie but Goodie – Maybelline Great Lash

This iconic pink and green Maybelline mascara celebrated its 40th birthday back in 2011 and continues to be a top seller year after year. Victoria Beckham swears by this mascara and it is her go-to for everyday make up. This mascara is a no fuss, straight talking, does what it says on the tube type of mascara, there’s no bull****.

The formula has remained relatively unchanged since its conception in the 70’s and it doesn’t really need to. This mascara is very black and great for building lashes to the effect you want without clumping. It conditions your lashes as it thickens them, never making your lashes spidery or wiry looking. This mascara is inexpensive and is one you’d pick up if you wanted a good quality, reliable mascara.

It makes you think that if Maybelline got it so right all of them years ago, why create new ones?! (Probably because we’d all whinge!). I think it’s a fabulous testament to Maybelline that women of all generations have, and probably still do, use this mascara.

How many other brands can brag like that?

Bare Minerals – Lash Domination Mascara

I would not have known Bare Minerals did any other kinds of make up then their mineral foundation. I was given a sample of their new Lash Domination 10-in-1 Volumizing mascara.

Bare Minerals advertise the mascara as follows: ‘

‘The exclusive ProTwist180TM Wand is spiralled 180 degrees to curve around each lash and coat ALL angles with intense black colour. Powered by nourishing minerals and quinoa protein complex for larger-than-life lashes.’

10-in-1 benefits:
Volumizes
Lengthens
Thickens
Separates
Lifts
All-day wear
Mineral fortified
Smudge-resistant
Resists clumps
Fights Flakes

The brush on the wand is huge, there are many bristles to allow the lashes to be coated with the optimum amount of product. This mascara makes your lashes appear thicker and really gave them a lift. It gives the most intense black lashes and fans them out nicely, it’s almost as if they have been pre coated with lash primer. I had many complements on my mascara when I wore this into the office and out with friends.

I do have one or two complaints as I always aim to be honest. I did find that this mascara flakes and smudges slightly within the first hour or so having been applied. This can be quickly removed and then oddly is fine for the rest of the day and the intensity of the mascara remained for about 16 hours. I don’t see this as an issue, as it is easily sorted, I think the look and definition of the mascara on the lashes is well worth this slight imperfection.

The mascara retails in the UK for £16.00, this is a very reasonable price for a mid to high end range that packs such a punch. The colour pay-off is phenomenal and only requires the one coat, which for a new mascara in today’s saturated mascara market is brilliant. Definitely worth every penny, my favourite mascara in my collection at the moment.

If you’re not yet convinced, pop down to your nearest Bare Minerals counter and ask them for a sample…Oh and while you’re there, ask for a sample of that famous mineral foundation of theirs. *Spoiler alert* Could I possibly have a review coming up???

Rimmel Scandaleyes Retro Glam

One of the latest mascaras to hit the shelves is the new Scandaleyes Retro Glam by Rimmel. I’ve never used a Rimmel mascara before, I have used some of their other products and have especially loved their nail varnishes. The brand are the best of British and are playing into the ‘retro’ trend and the 60’s iconic glamorous look (think Twiggy, think Jane Shrimpton). Us Brits have always had a love affair for this decade and with Rimmel’s new mascara we can flutter our lashes while dreaming of strutting down Carnaby Street back in the day.

I picked this mascara up for about £5.00 as it is on an introductory offer and will rise to about £7-8.00, however, I’m not totally sure precisely how much. What drew my attention to this mascara was that it claims to give your lashes the bold false lash 60’s cat eye look by coating each lash individually with just the one sweep.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get a bit sick of the amount of mascaras that are brought out each claiming to be better than the last. However, this is the first mascara I have seen in a while that targets a specific genre if you like. Rimmel have been very smart by luring us all in with the (not ending any time soon) trend of the retro look. I don’t think there is a mascara on the market at the moment that claims your eye lashes can look retro or a specific era.

Of course, I had to try.

What I love about this mascara is the brush. It has that broad bristled end and looks really sturdy and is shaped as an hourglass. I’m quite lucky with my lashes, I have lots of thick long lashes and most mascaras can look good on my eyes. However, I’m not looking for good with this mascara, I’m looking for retro without having to apply false lashes.

So, what is this retro look? The 1960’s borne the idea of a sexy sultry eye, women celebrated being flirtatious and powerful and having the freedom to look how they liked. The years of liberation playing on sexuality. The look was a doe-eyed babydoll look. Lashes were subtle but on the outer corners of the eye, swept out and were never-ending, very flirty the epitome of fluttery lashes.

The benefit of an hourglass shaped brush is that without any skill of your own the wand does all of the work for you, placing just the right amount of mascara on the correct part of your lashes. This is how Rimmel have successfully achieved the look they have advertised. The look to me is quite a delicate understated look, it’s not too heavy on the lash and this is a mascara where less is more. The more you coat, the retro look goes away and it just becomes another mascara.

To achieve this look now, you can apply false lashes just to the outer corners, this mascara gives this look without having to apply these extensions. I really like this mascara and I’m so happy that it actually does work. Looking at my lashes I can see more of an elongated flick at the corner. I would use the brush on the lash exactly as it is when you hold it up to your eye, try not to brush all over and in sections, keep the brush to your lash in the one spot and move your hand to coat. This will give the desired effect due to the hourglass shape.

I like this mascara, lashes look elegant and will look even better with the flick of eye-liner. I would recommend for when you want a new make up look at a reasonable price and without the faff of falsies.

Max Factor Lashfinity 3 Day Mascara (Day Three)

Day three, the last day has arrived!! I have woken up today with flaky lashes and it just feels so uncomfortable. The mascara has completely come off my lower lashes and the intensity of the upper lash has diminished. My lashes look today very spidery and spindly and clumped together. However, they are still black and it still looks as if I have mascara on. With all I have said this has still lasted 3 days and there is no disputing that the quality is still better then some of the other brands I have used with just the one application on the one day (Soap & Glory Thick & Fast and Model Co Fibre Lashxtend).

I don’t think I have quite given enough credit to this mascara. Three full days I’ve had this mascara on for and I’d say it could last another day, albeit with a less intensified look, but the product is definitely visible and hasn’t rubbed off as I’d have thought, there has been ever so slight smudging buy this hasn’t been too much of a problem. This mascara is waterproof, sleep proof and still remained after I took my other eye make up off last night.

The feel of the mascara on the lashes today is starting to feel a little uncomfortable, I know I have, but it feels like I’ve been wearing this mascara for a few days now, and I was hoping at least I would have comfortable eyes. My eyes feel tired and when I blink its quite scratchy. You can cope with it but I cannot wait to remove it now. I just hope the removal process is easy…..

OK, so that was easier then I imagined. I have now taken the mascara off. The remover skinks, it smells like gone off butter and it stings a little when applied to the lashes. You need to use a cotton bud to get the remover out of the tube and then use a large cotton pad to work the product off for about a minute (this is according to the instructions). The mascara has come off completely and my eyes do not sting.

I have noticed however, something which may cause a problem. I held the remover tube part up to the light and have seen that I only have just less than half a tube left to remove the mascara should I wish to use this again. I didn’t use too much to remove the mascara, I think any less wouldn’t have completely removed the product. Hmmm. I have already explained that washing with soap doesn’t shift it and neither does face wipes or cleanser. I don’t think it’s worth re-purchasing this mascara just for the remover.

This mascara would be good for you ladies that like going to festivals, a slick of this won’t budge whether your’re enjoying the music in the sun, holding your own in a mosh pit or being drenched in the British rain. This would also be approproate for a weekend away or camping when you want to travel light. There are negatives to this as I’ve explained over the 3 days and I won’t be purchasing it again I don’t even think I’d wear it again. I don’t have a problem putting on mascara every day and I like that I can take off my make up in the evening. The price for me is a big let down too.

I have included both eyes as you can see the lashes have settled differently over the three days. For me, I like uniform lashes and this mascara didn’t provide that for me.

Max Factor Lashfinity 3 Day Mascara (Day Two)

I woke up this morning with my lashes all stuck together, great start isn’t it? I haven’t even looked in the mirror yet. I felt my lashes and they were quite thick and dry. So here we go, I had a look in the mirror and the mascara hadn’t smudged, however they looked really clumpy.

I managed to separate my lashes with my fingers and that seemed to do the trick. I am still impressed that the lashes are black and the colour hasn’t worn off during my sleep. Time for the shower test.

The instructions say that this mascara is ‘Life Proof’, so that should mean I can wash my face, as well, you can’t go on in life with a dirty face can you? I didn’t hold back, I scrubbed my face like I had a point to prove with my face wash and dried it off. Here there was a little smudging but not too much, just under my lower lash line.

I did my make up as normal and headed out for my day. It did feel good going out without having to put mascara on. I asked my good friend Fiona to honestly tell me what she thought of my mascara today. And well her face said it all. I said “does it look like I put this mascara on yesterday?” With her nod I was gutted but was in agreement. Part of me thinks that it looks like I forgot to take it off following a heavy night’s drinking sesh and just rolled out of bed late for work or a lecture or something.

I think the worst part of it is that I found it frustrating that I couldn’t take it off because it’s a 3 day thing and I’m intrigued at the outcome. I wouldn’t have chosen to go out of the house with these lashes the way they were. They weren’t shocking but when it comes to mascara I have high expectations. I don’t think they have maintained their shape, the intensity of colour is still present but they do not have the same wow factor of a fanned lash I loved after the initial application. To give Max Factor their credit, it has survived for about 36 hours and does look acceptable. I’m not sure Fiona would have thought anything of my lashes had I not pointed out I was on day two of this experiment…. maybe she is just too nice to me haha. I don’t think it’s that bad considering and maybe I’m being a bit too critical. The technology is pretty impressive.

This photo was taken after my morning shower to give the most accurate look after sleep and after washing my face. On to day three….

Max Factor Lashfinity 3 Day Mascara (Day One)

OK, so face washed. No traces of yesterday’s mascara and no moisturiser. I’m ready to go. This one coat is going to be difficult but, I want this to work, so I’m doing what I’m told.

The brush on the wand is the old fashioned style I like, but it’s really big and the other end holds the remover so this brush is really heavy. Better get working out before you use this. The product is quite gloopy too so make sure you try to leave the excess in the tube, do this by just popping the brush part back through the catch, not the whole length though.

So I start applying, you can get quite an intense look with this brush, you might need to use all of the product on the brush but I’m happy with the look. Thank god for the remover though, as it does go everywhere, all over your upper lid, even on the brow bone, well it did with me anyway. All you need is a cotton bud or Q-Tip and it comes right off.

Both eyes now done, I do notice that the product is quite sticky, I can feel my eyelashes trying to stick to the lower lashes. I don’t like this feeling. However, when dry this goes away.

I’m quite impressed, I was worried one coat wouldn’t be enough, but it’s fine. This is day one, so I’m hoping I will still be all smiles tomorrow.

Max Factor Lashfinity 3 Day Mascara

Today is experiment day my friends……

The fastest growing trend in cosmetics at the moment is longevity of the product on the skin. Everybody is doing it, from the highest of high end products to your every day high street brands. We find ourselves working longer hours, partying harder and becoming more financially savvie that we want good quality products to last us until it’s time to wind down in the evenings (or mornings, by the time you’ve dragged yourself out of the club).

Mascara is my favourite item of make up, it would be my one luxury item on a desert island. I’m like a magpie when it comes to the latest must have mascara, my eyes widened at this 3 day mascara, could it be? Is it true? Well I’m about to find out.

This mascara is expensive (£18.99), especially when you notice it’s Max Factor. This product needs to be special for Max Factor to justify Benefit, Clinque, Bobbi Brown prices. So, the words on everybody’s lips, ‘Is it?’

This mascara comes with a laminated instruction guide. It promises a brand new technological advance that brings longwear lashes to cosmetics. They claim this mascara is ‘Life Proof’. You can live your life while not having to worry about applying mascara every day, you can sleep, shower and rub your eyes and it won’t budge.

So here we go. In order for this to work you need to make sure your eyes are free from product of any kind, just wash your face with water and apply no moisturiser. You are recommended to only apply the one coat. Gosh, this is going to be hard. The other end of the mascara I must say comes with a remover, and this is the only way this product is coming off. No amount of face wash or make up remover will do it, as claimed. I will post like a diary entries for each of the three days so you can really see how the lashes are holding up.