Makeup Review | Vanity Claire

ClaireOctober 14, 2014

October Beauty Haul & Favourites

Aloha beauties! I originally sat down to write a September favourites post, then realised September ended 14 days ago. SORRY, WHERE IS THE TIME GOING?! So instead you get a bit of a random mixed post of things I’ve bought or have been given lately that have made me think ‘this is aiight, this’. I know, the enthusiasm is overwhelming, right?

Tantruth Ultimate Tanning Collection* – £16.99 Salon-Services

I hadn’t heard of Tantruth before I was kindly sent this range to review, but they’re a professional spray tanning brand which also stocks a retail range. This Ultimate Tanning Collection contains three of their retail products, which match the three stages of self-tanning: preparation, tanning and maintaining. The products are:

The Perfectionist Exfoliating Body Scrub, 250ml
The Ultimate Self–Tan Lotion, 195ml
The Prolonger Tan Enhancing Body Moisturiser, 250ml

(Has anyone noticed I left the exfoliator at my sister’s house so it’s not in this photo? No? Oh good, our liddle secret)

I’m really impressed with the tan itself. It has a strong guide colour so you know exactly where you’re putting the tan, and the colour once applied is the closest I’ve achieved to a professional shade while at home. It’s a lotion, whereas I do usually prefer a spray or mousse, but I haven’t noticed any problems with streaking so I suppose that’s not really an issue. The exfoliator is really nice to use – and is also bright pink, so a nice addition to my ~~sister’s~~ bathroom. The post-tan moisturiser is the only product of the three I don’t love, mainly because it’s a very thin, milk-like moisturiser so a lot more spills out of the bottle than you expect. It’s also a bit difficult to apply because of this, BUT on the plus side it does leave skin feeling nice and has a nice whiff to it too.

Overall this is a really nice collection, and I think having the three products together is a really nice touch. I mean, we all know that we should exfoliate the night before tanning but sometimes it’s just a massive CBA. Having this box did force me to be a little more A, so props to it for that.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water – £4.99 Boots

Micellar water has been one of the most hyped products in skincare for a while, so I picked up this cheapo Garnier offering (as obviously I would never pay £30 for a bottle, do I look like some sort of fancy Nancy?) With no soap or alcohol, it’s supposed to be a gentle makeup remover and cleanser. And it is. Using this leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean, and is a good eye makeup remover now I’ve got my Hollywood lashes and need one without oil. So… good. That’s as enthusiastic as I’m ever going to get about skincare, I’m afraid.

Juicy Couture Couture Eau de Parfum – £64.36 for 100ml, Boots

As I’m a massive chav I’m a big fan of Juicy Couture perfumes, so was suuuuuper happy to get Couture Couture for my birthday this year. I can’t describe scents at all so I won’t even try, but it’s fresh and girly, which is what I like for my day-to-day stank. I also think it’ll go really nicely with the Juicy velour tracksuit I would also still really like to own…no? WHAT DO YOU MEAN NO?!

Barry M Gelly Nail Paints in ‘Chai’ and ‘Coconut’ – £3.99 each from Boots

Lauren and I both adore Barry M Gelly Nail Paints and so when I had to stop getting acrylics done due to silly things like council tax and TV licenses (zzzz), I knew the only thing that would cheer me up was a couple of new shades. Chai is one of the new releases for autumn and is a steel grey. Coconut is white, but a much nicer white than the plain white Barry am Nail Paint they brought out a couple of years ago. That one was a bit Tippex-y, whereas this is slightly…warmer? I don’t actually know why it’s a better white, but it just is (great reviewer, eh).

Primark Candle – £1
Finally, no, this is not a beauty item. But if you haven’t discovered the joy of Primark’s candles yet then you ain’t living life right.

What do you all think of these items? Have you tried any of them?

ClaireJuly 15, 2014

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H Foundation | Review

Dear readers, it finally happened. After months – or possibly years – of saying “I really need to stop being such a tramp and buy myself a decent foundation”, I finally did it. Despite my bank balance looking uber depressing, I read some reviews, made my decision, and then took myself off to Boots to pick up the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24 Hour foundation.

After a bit of umming and ahhing and dibbing and dabbing with the counter woman, we eventually decided my best match was the shade 01 Beige Albatre. 010 Beige Porcelain was also a good match for me, but as I was having a pale day and usually am more ~~orange~~ tanned we opted for the slightly darker of the 2. There are an impressive 18 shades to choose from, so I think everyone should be able to find the perfect match.

I steadied my nerves as I handed over my £28.50, trying not to think about how many cocktails that could buy me during happy hour (answer: 8, with £4.50 left over for my taxi home) and instead focused on how pretty the packaging was and how super fancy I felt.

Now, onto the review! So as I said the packaging is pretty beaut, with a frosted glass bottle, sturdy lid and pump (which I was happy to see, as I am not tolerating that MAC crap where they make you fork out extra for the pump) so you know you’re dealing with a higher end product from the off. Once poured out, the consistency is creamy and quite thick, in keeping with the foundation’s claims of being super long-lasting.

According to Lancome, “Teint Idole Ultra 24H remains retouch-free, providing a flawless looking, even complexion with a velvety-smooth, shine-free finish.” As I’m a working bird, longevity is one of the main things I look for in all of my makeup – and of course looking flawless (for the first time ever) wouldn’t be too bad either. I first applied the foundation before a night out and I have to confess that as I first started to buff it in I thought ‘oh…is this it?’ I think in my head I had the assumption that paying nearly £30 for something would mean the foundation would do everything for me – act as a base, conceal all blemishes, cure world hunger… you know, the usual.

I admit now this might have been slightly ambitious of me, and to be honest there was nothing wrong with the coverage or feel of the product. It’s generally regarded as a full coverage foundation, but I would say it’s more medium if you go for just one layer. However, it’s really easily buildable and so once I blended a bit more in around my t-zone it definitely took a fuller coverage effect.

Before / After

As you can see from the above photo that was taken without concealer, powder or any other type of wizardry, it completely evened out my skin tone and gave a lovely matte finish. But where the foundation REALLY impressed me was indeed it’s staying power. As I was getting ready for said night out, my room was an utter sweatbox and after I had put my heated rollers in I thought to myself what an utter boob I had been applying my makeup first, and that I was deffo going to have a to re-apply.

And then. I looked in the mirror. And I gasped. My base was still perfect. It had not budged. I was not shiny. I did not look like the complete sweaty pig-mess that I felt. I wanted to run around my room doing a lap of victory, having finally found a makeup product that delivers on its promises.

I’ve now been using the foundation for over a week, and can honestly say that it hasn’t disappointed me at all. It holds up unbelievably well during the working day, and I can even get away without powdering my nose, never mind having to reapply any foundation or concealer. I’ve heard other people say that they find the finish to be quite dewy, but for me it definitely delivers on its matte promise – this is probably down to different skin types, so it might be worth you trying out a sample first if you can. Overall though, this foundation fully delivers on all of its claims for me, and I am really impressed.

For dragging me from the slums and finally making me a convert to high-end foundation, Lancome, I salute you.

Have any of you tried this foundation? What did you think?!

ClaireJune 19, 2014

Seventeen Back Lash Mascara Review

Anyone who knows me and Claire at all will know that the quest for the perfect mascara is always present. From Benefit’s They’re Real to horrible excuses for mascaras like Rimmel’s Scandaleyes Rockin’ Curves, we’ve tried and tested so many different brands with varying degrees of success. I like to try and buy a different mascara each time I run out because to frankly, I haven’t found anything that has made me think ‘Zut Alors, I must give up my life as a rather short, stumpy ginger girl and dedicate it to this here tube of mascara’.

Unfortunately, Seventeen’s Back Lash Mascara hasn’t quite done that for me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fine. There’s nothing particularly wrong with it, it’s just that it doesn’t wow me (…who do I think I am? Simon Cowell?). So without further waffle (I want a waffle), here’s my Seventeen Back Lash Mascara review. With bells on.

Lets get started with the brush. I’m a fan of most brushes. Claire’s partial to a nice plastic brush that separates the lashes properly, but I’m not too fussed whether its fibre or plastic. Although there’s a hugey caveat on that. If it’s fibre, it can’t be rubbish. While Seventeen’s Back Lash Mascara isn’t exactly rubbish per say, it’s a bit on the weak side. As you can see from the before and after pics below, it’s tends to clump my eyelashes together a bit. Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

On the other hand, it doesn’t flake off and lasts really well. I also hugely enjoy the silver packaging, it makes me feel mega jazzy. If I ever get stranded at the discoteque without a glow stick, I would quite happily whip this bad boy out and flail around.

I just can’t agree that it gives me over 100% greater lash impact. Maybe like, 23% greater lash impact but lets all be honest, that’s not particularly hard since I have the blondest eyelashes known to womankind. Any mascara would give me a greater impact, in the sense that it would actually make my eyes visible (fun fact, my aunty once told me that I should get my eyelashes tinted because they made my face look piggy. Cheers hun).

So would I repurchase Seventeen’s Back Lash Mascara? Probably not. But its handy enough to make me look less piggy eyed, so for that I will thank Seventeen profusely, and perhaps ask them to send a letter to my aunt in South Africa explaining that.

If you’d like to buy this silver tube of relatively alright mascara, you can do so for £6.49 at Boots.

Have you tried Seventeen’s Back Lash Mascara? Do you think its aight too?

ClaireJune 12, 2014

Makeup Revolution: The One Foundation | Review

As y’all no doubt know by now, we love cheap stuff and can never resist giving purse-friendly makeup a go – even if just out of morbid curiosity to see whether we break out in scales. Anywho, Makeup Revolution are most definitely the hot young things on the cheap makeup market right now, and I placed a sizeable order with them about a month ago. One thing I decided to throw in my online basket on a whim was The One Foundation, which boasts an impressive range of 16 shades and is uber affordable at only £4.

Packaging wise, the first thing I noticed was that this obviously bears more than a passing resemblance to MAC’s Face and Body. Brave, Makeup Rev, brave. The other thing that caught my attention was how teeny tiny the bottle is. ‘WHAT IS THIS?’ my brain yelled, ‘A FOUNDATION FOR ANTS?’* However, once I check the volume against my other foundations I realised it really wasn’t much less at all, and so the Borrower-esque appearance is more just down to lack of excessive packaging and pump etc.

*(I’ve definitely used that joke before on here, but I feel it’s still got some life left)

As I mentioned, the shade range is undeniably impressive, and one of main selling points on the website is that there is “ONE shade for everyone”. This is definitely something to be applauded, as I know lots of pale chicas struggle to find shades light enough, and similarly dark-skinned girls are seriously lacking in options when it comes to high street makeup. I opted for Shade 7, but probably should have gone for 9 as this is a little too pale for me when I’ve got a layer of fake tan on (hence why you just get to enjoy some fun hand swatches in this post, soz). On the plus side, it’s a yellow based shade which suits me much more than pinky-toned foundations.

The first thing to note about this foundation is that it’s really watery. Shaking before pouring any out is an absolute must, otherwise you get a literally clear liquid with random particles of foundation in. When mixed it still comes out very thin though, so you have to act quite quickly before it just absorbs into your hand or brush. Needless to say, when I first saw this I really wasn’t too impressed, and my hopes for The One plummeted faster than James Franco’s sex appeal after that 17-year-old scandal.

Partially Blended

HOWEVER, you know what dear readers? The foundation actually kind of impressed me. It’s marketed as full coverage, which I would say is definitely not the case. It applies quite sheer on the face, but is definitely buildable. After two layers I was quite happy to see most of my blemishes covered, and the finish is as matte as promised.

Fully Blended

I’ve worn this to work a couple of times and I will say that the staying power isn’t super amazing and by the end of the working day I would need some serious touch ups (ooer). So in that respect it’s definitely not a foundation for days when your makeup needs to last, but I think it’s well suited for those days where you’re just popping out to run a few errands or want to go quite natural looking without actually going natural (perish the thought). It’s also a good summer foundation, especially for girls who don’t struggle with their skin and like quite a light finish. If I had to sum up my views with some sort of physical sign of approval, then it doesn’t get a full round of applause and a celebratory fist pump from me, but it does get a pleasant nod of approval.

Have any of you tried The One yet? You can click here to read our other Makeup Revolution reviews.

ClaireApril 27, 2014

3 Ways to Apply Foundation

For a lot of us, foundation was one of the first staples that we adopted when we started applying makeup. Before we knew about primers, blushers, bronzers, highlighters, powders, under-eye concealers, blemish concealers, setting sprays and all of the other junk we would soon start slathering on our face (up yours, natural beauty), foundation was probably the first thing we felt comfortable with.

However, up until about a year ago I’d rarely applied foundation with anything other than my fingers or a flat foundation brush (which made me look like a waxwork, FYI) and I wasn’t really sure what the point of all the other methods was. So this post is for anyone like me who, although vaguely knows that there’s something out there called a buffing brush and thinks that maybe being buffed is a good thing, isn’t quite sure of the differences of brush or which ones works best.

Of course there are more ways to apply foundation, but in the interest of this post being finished some time before my 80th birthday I thought I would just concentrate on 3 popular methods.

Method 1: Buffing Brush
As the saying goes, you must be a muff if you don’t buff. Okay, I don’t think anyone has ever said that before but really, using a buffing brush will change your life. They have densely packed bristles and quite a small surface area to allow you to really work foundation into the skin, and you blend it in using small circular movements. It results in a flawless finish and is also pretty quick to apply (pssst, spoiler: this my favourite method).

Method 2: Stippling Brush
Stippling brushes can be identified by their pointed bristles – the heads look a bit like Pauly D’s hair on Jersey Shore. They usually have 2 layers of bristles, and you should only be using the top layer to apply your foundation. Rather than just slapping your foundation on like paint (which will result in streaking and make you look like a tit of the highest calibre) you dab the brush into some foundation and then dot it all over your face. A lot of people swear by this method as it supposedly leaves an airbrushed finish, as foundation isn’t rubbed into all the nooks and crannies of your face but is instead kind of lightly placed onto the skin. Personally, I find stippling take a bit too long on my moon face and I suffer from a big case of a CBAs about halfway through. I use my stippling brush for highlighter or cream blushes instead, but it’s worth trying with foundation to see how you get on.

Method 3: Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
Not to be confused with the humble foundation sponge, the Miracle Complexion Sponge is hailed as the UK’s answer to America’s famous Beauty Blender. Oval shaped with a flat part at one end and a point at the other, this works best when slightly damp so that it doesn’t just absorb the product (leaving you poor and ugly). Most reviews and tutorials instruct you to ‘bounce’ the sponge across your face to distribute the foundation; it takes a bit of getting used to but after a couple of attempts I was really pleased with the final effect. I use this mainly now when I contour (you can read my Guide to Contouring if you fancy) as it’s really good for blending and also seems to remove too much excess product.

So there we have it – buffing, dotting and bouncing, all different ways to get the same thing on your face. The choice really is yours, but for me buffing is the winner.

What do you all think? What’s your favourite way to apply foundation?

Please nominate Stylingo.co.uk for the Best Blogging Duo award in this year’s Company Style Blogger Awards!

ClaireApril 23, 2014

Primark PS Love Lip Gloss Crayon | Review

Regularly readers probably know by now that I adore Primark with a fierce love – similar to the love that lionesses have for their cubs, but a bit less bitey. I’ve already dabbled with their new-ish range of cosmetics, PS Love and recently reviewed their Volumising Ultra Black Mascara. I was actually really impressed by that product, and in fact since writing that review I’ve became even more of a fan and it’s my go-to everyday mascara at the moment.

So when I popped into Primark recently (on one of my usual ‘I only came in for some socks and have accidentally left with a shopping bag that weighs the same as a small child’ trips) I decided to pick up one or two more products. One of these was the pack of false nails which I reviewed here and the other was this here lip crayon.

I opted for a nude shade because, frankly, everything is better in nude (lips, shoes, Kit Harrington…). First up I’m quite fond of the packaging – the plastic lid is a little on the cheap side, but I think the gold detailing is quite a nice touch. Plus the crayon winds up which is really handy, as sharpening is sooooo 2003 (I remember having some sort of glittery eye crayon from Barry M – no I don’t know why I thought that was a good look either – and it was literally the biggest nightmare to sharpen. Blue glitter err’where).

Then we get onto the actual application of the product. And my overall opinion can be summed up in the following noise: meeeeeeeh.

The colour payoff actually looks much better on my hand than it does on the lips. To be honest, it’s barely noticeable once on. Obviously it’s a lip gloss crayon so it’s a much more sheer formula than we’re used to with a lot of other lip crayons on the market right now. And in defence of the product, it does feel smooth and glossy to apply, and leaves a sheen. However, it’s certainly not as glossy as a proper gloss (has the word ‘gloss’ started to look like a made-up word to anyone else by now?) and if I’m honest the staying power is minimal.

Overall I think this is one of those hybrid products that doesn’t quite hit the mark in either things it’s trying to achieve. I’d be intrigued to see whether the other colours in the range offer a stronger colour payoff, but won’t particularly be rushing out to buy one with my own money. I know they’re only £1.50, but I can buy like, three Greggs sausage rolls for that (maybe even four if they’ve got an offer on).

It’s rare for me to say anything bad about Primark, but even lion cubs are probably little shits sometimes.

Have any of you tried the lip gloss crayons from Primark? What do you think?

Please nominate Stylingo.co.uk for the Best Blogging Duo award in this year’s Company Style Blogger Awards!

ClaireApril 3, 2014

Rimmel ScandalEyes Rockin’ Curves Review

It’s been a while since I have royally slagged something off. I think I can blame my recent rants about pretty much everything on the fact I’ve not had a proper complain here on Stylingo.

Thankfully, I can finally come to some sort of rant closure and finally I have something to properly complain about. And that something is bloody Rimmel Scandaleyes Rockin’ Curves mascara. In fact, it’s not just complaining. It’s full on hatred.

This is without a doubt the worst thing I have put on my face, even worse than that time I thought mixing yoghurt and porridge oats would be a pleasant face mask experience. Since my love of lists is almost as much as my love of complaining, here is my beef in list form.

What in god’s good name is the brush about? It’s literally the stupidest thing I have ever seen. Why would you make a curly wand like this? WHY. It means that at any one time, you can only get a few of your lashes. It means that your hand flaps about because you don’t know what’s going on. It basically means that whoever designed this temporarily lost their minds and/or should be sacked.
I was promised curves. Where are they? My eyelashes look like a big ball of utter wank (pardon). They look like tiny stubby midgets balancing on my eyelids. What they don’t look like is rockin’, or curvy.
Why is my face crumbling like pastry? I have never experienced a mascara that crumbles like this. By the end of the day, it looks like I have been down t’pit. It is also extremely annoying and slightly uncomfortable when it flakes off and falls into your eyeballs. No, Rimmel. No.
Why is the packaging so embarrassing? I’m sorry, but snakeskin and a pitiful attempt at a ‘cool’ logo makes me want to throw up. It also makes me wonder why I bought it in the first place, I must have felt some kind of 3 for 2 Boots pressure and temporarily lost it.
Why have you given me eyeball disease? I can’t rightly blame this on the mascara, but I have a sore eyeball now and I strongly suspect it is because this pathetic excuse for a mascara has been flaking all over the place and making me touch my eyes more than I usually would. Owwy.

So anyway. The only positive I can give Rimmel Scandaleyes Rockin’ Curves is that it makes my blonde eyelashes black and therefore makes me look like less of an albino. That is all.

Don’t bother buying this girls, it will be the most upsetting thing you ever do.

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ClaireMarch 15, 2014

Collection 2000 Lock n Hold Lipgloss in Rock Steady Review

Hello you scoundrels,

I hope you are all having a marvellous Saturday. I’m bringing you a very quick review today, because quite frankly there is only so much you can say about lipgloss. A LIPGLOSS?! Yes, apparently we’ve time travelled to 2003 and I’m actually going to start doing OOTDs with my oversized disc belt and white gypsy skirt.

Anywho, lipglosses are great – especially if you can tear yourself away from the terrible fact that no matter what you do, your hair will always get stuck to your lips. I like wearing them during the day, partly because they’re easy to reapply at my desk and also because I can’t be trusted to wear lipstick to work (i.e. it manages to get on my nose and forehead, don’t ask me how).

I’m a big fan of Collection and here at the old Stylingo ‘hood, we enjoy a bit of Collection 2000 reviewing – check out our Collection reviews if you’re feeling wild.

What I am not a fan of is cheap lipgloss. It tends to be really sticky, gloopy, generally rubbish and sob-inducing. The Lock n Hold lipgloss is £2.99, so we can safely say it’s a cheap lipgloss. But is it all of these tragic things?

Well….kind of. I do really like it and I recommend it if you’re looking for an everyday gloss. Their colour range is really nice – Claire has the lilac version and it looks absolutely brillo. I just find it a little bit gloopy and touch to work with. The trick is not to layer it on too thickly (quite obvious but easy to do with the Lock n Hold) and spread the colour evenly.

Rock Steady is a pale whitey nude colour, which is right up my street. It looks quite nice on and I’m happy with it! In terms of lasting 6 hours, I say to Collection…are you having a bleedin’ laugh?

What do you think? Have any of you tried the Lock n Hold Lipgloss?

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ClaireFebruary 2, 2014

Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balms | Swatches & Review

Up until now, the chubby lip crayon craze had passed me by. In the past I’ve found lip crayons to be dragging, drying and unforgiving on any but the smoothest lips, and so I wasn’t overly excited when I first heart about Revlon’s newest releases, the ColorBurst Matte Balms.

Then I read a few rave reviews on them and my arm was twisted, so when Lauren and I headed to Boots on payday last week (always a dangerous business) we couldn’t resist swatching a few. Swatching led to buying one each. Buying one each then led to me going back the following day to buy another. I warn you in advance: these crayons are addictive.

The ColorBurst Matte Balms are supposed to be unique in the sense that they provide a pigmented, matte finish but with all of the moisture of a balm due to a triple complex of Shea, Mango and Coconut Butter. Moisture and matte are not two words that usually go side by side, so I was dubious about the claims. But you know what? The hype is fully true.

The crayons go on extremely smoothly, with a light peppermint smell that makes them feel even more balm-like. From the first swipe they’re extremely pigmented, but the smoothness of the formula means that you can also continue to build up for a stronger look.

Once on, they feel really nourishing on the lips, and not at all cakey or dry like other matte products tend to. The finish is, as promised, velvety and matte.

I’m absolutely in love with my first shade, Shameless; it’s a strong purple which is perfect for a dramatic look at this time of year. The second and third shades are both brilliant everyday colours, with Elsuive being a light blue-toned pink and Sultry being a darker – but totally wearable – brownish-red.

I’ve found the wear time of my two shades (Shameless and Elusive) to be a good few hours. Because of the formula, they do transfer onto glasses and whatnot quite easily – but when the colour does fade, it seems to do so evenly, without that dreaded ‘unintentional lipliner’ look you can get from other matte lipsticks.

Overall, I don’t think I can stress enough how much ABSOLUTELY LOVE THESE PRODUCTS. They’ve completely changed my opinion on lip crayons, and I’m now gagging to try out the Lacquer finishes too. At £7.99, they’re unfortunately not the cheapest lip products out there – but the quality is, in my opinion, brilliant and so well worth the price of two less fantastic lipsticks from a cheaper brand.

Have any of you tried the ColorBurst Matte Balms yet? What do you think?

ClaireJanuary 26, 2014

Maybelline Falsies Big Eyes Mascara | Review

If you read this blog regularly then you may know that nothing gets my pulse racing quite like a new mascara (I know, I know – some call me an adrenaline junkie but I just won’t stop). Although I only recently re-purchased my beloved Benefit’s They’re Real (my review of which you can read here), a few new releases lately had piqued my interest. One was L’Oreal’s Miss Manga, which I was dangerously close to trying out until I saw the advert for Maybelline’s offering.

Maybelline Falsies Big Eyes claims to be quite the revolutionary piece of makeup, giving us “360 degrees of lash glam volume” with its double ended mascara wand. The idea is that our bottom lashes are different beasts to our top lashes, and so deserve a separate brush to properly catch each eyelash.

This was a concept I wholeheartedly supported; how many times have we poked ourselves viciously in the eye with a fat mascara wand as we attempt to delicately wiggle it down our bottom lashes? Too many, ladies, TOO MANY TIMES. I know Clinique has a special Bottom Lash Mascara but I for one can’t quite bring myself to spend £12 on a product that can only be used on half of my eye; so Maybelline offering 2 brushes in 1 product was much more up my street.

So, does it deliver on its grand problem-solving promises? The answer: ehhhh kinda.

Firstly we’ll talk about the Upper Lashes wand. It’s not my usual wand of choice, being a fibre brush whereas I’m much of a plastic fantastic kind of girl. It’s also one of those wands that has twists in it for what appears to be no good reason. I like the brushes to be quite straight and even so that I can work all the magic with my fancy hand wiggles and so on. Wands like this never really seem to catch my lashes where they’re supposed to, and can distribute product too unevenly.

And then there is my main bugbear with this mascara. The length of the wand itself. Just look at it. The decision to make the wand double ended and have the product in both the lids was, in my opinion, the wrong one. It means you have to manouvre all of the bulky packaging while applying the mascara, giving you much less control than when you have a longer wand to play with. It also might bash off your nose and lead to you smearing mascara over your cheek if you’re a bit, er, like me…

The Lower Lashes wand, however, IS really good for the job. A nice, simple brush, it’s got much smaller fibres to properly coat the finer hairs on the bottom. I’ll go as far as to put my lady balls on the line here and say that it’s better at catching the lower lashes than They’re Real – and that’s a big claim for me to make.

I think the results photo here shows perfectly my overall issue with the mascara. Bottom lashes = PERFECTO. Top lashes = PERFECT-NO (sorry, that was the best I could do). As you can see, the top wand just didn’t work for me and resulted in uneven distribution as well as my inner lashes being missed due to the cumbersome wand issue.

In terms of formula, I think the mascara does fairly well. It lasts nicely and doesn’t seem to smudge. It’s also a welcome change, after using the very wet and stubborn Lash Vegas and They’re Real recently, to have a mascara that actually comes off with a face wipe and doesn’t leave me looking like a panda until I’ve quadruple-cleansed.

Overall, my thoughts are that Maybelline are onto a winner in terms of concept, but didn’t quite get it right with the upper wand. I’m sure other people would be able to manouvre the upper brush much better than me, but personally I don’t think I’ll get much more use from it. The bottom lash wand is an absolute god send though, and I think I’ll continue to use this alongside my normal mascara to better complete my look.

Have any of you tried this mascara yet? What do you think?

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