Maybelline Big Eyes Volum' Express Mascara

One of the best things about a new country? New make up to try out... Especially new mascaras. Maybelline make some of my favourite mascaras so I was unbelievably excited to find a new one here! Big Eyes is a dual ended mascara, with one end (the purple) being for top lashes, & the other (black) being for bottom lashes. Definitely an idea I can get on board with! Most mascaras aren't really suitable for bottom lashes, & I left my Clinique Bottom Lash mascara at home. So I picked this up mainly for my lower lashes but with high hopes for the other mascara too!

The packaging is very slim for a Maybelline mascara. As you can see, it's half purple & half black, so you know which end is for which lashes. Not much more to say really! The brushes are attached onto the main part of the tube, & the removable sides of the mascara are the tubes of the formula. (Hopefully that makes sense!)

Left - Top lashes brush. Right - Bottom lashes brush.

The brushes are quite different. The one for top lashes is a bit bigger, & the bristles catch on to A LOT of mascara. Honestly? Not a fan. It does offer a bit of volume, but nowhere near as much as my other mascaras, & length isn't improved majorly. I also feel like it clumps my lashes together just a bit too much. It's not awful, I just much prefer my lashes to be more dramatic! But all is not lost - The brush for the bottom lashes is much smaller & neater, & the bristles are quite small & only dispense a bit of mascara onto your lashes. The wand is also longer, so it's perfect for getting under your eyes without smudges!

But..While I'm definitely going to continue using this on my bottom eyelashes, & won't hesitate also using the mascara for the top lashes in an emergency, I can't wait to get my Clinique back, and wouldn't bother repurchasing whatsoever. I hate writing negative reviews, but while I loved the concept, it just didn't deliver. That said, it's handy to throw in a bag, & if the thought of spending €16 on a mascara for just bottom lashes makes you feel sick, it is a decent alternative - This costs €10.99. While I don't believe it is yet available in Ireland, you might see it on your travels, if it's something you'd like to try.

Have you come across dual ended mascaras? What do you use on your bottom lashes?
Chloe x

Maybelline Volum Express The Rocket Mascara

I don't know if you can tell from all my wittering on.. But I LOVE mascara. If I ran out of everything, mascara would be my first repurchase because I have no eyelashes, just a few invisible hairs somewhere around my eye.

 I love the bright tube. The brush is also one of my favourites.

One of my favourites was Maybelline The Falsies, but I find it far too hard to repurchase a product, so I ended up slipping The Rocket into my bag. (After paying for it, obviously.) In fairness, the bright blue & pink packaging is so bright that everyone's eyes are on it! I'm a big fan of the packaging, and while the brush isn't anything new, I do like big, spiky brushes because they are ideal for getting in at lashes & zig-zagging.

Eh, hello eyelashes. I didn't realise you existed. This is with a quick two coats.

Add to that, the formula is proper black & it should be a-may-zing, right? That's not even a trick question, because it's beyond amazing. I text several people to express my delight at my lashes, & also fluttered them like crazy when in the presence of anyone I thought might appreciate them. (It worked.)

Now, I clearly am head-over-heels for The Rocket, but just to warn you - I like A LOT of volume, with as much length as possible added in. This means I can deal with clumps. I can't say I've had to cope with too many clumps, but they are possible, at least if you throw on a few coats, like I tend to. No matter how many coats though, I haven't managed to smudge it, & there's been no flaking.

Not gonna lie, this photo scares me a bit. Like, one intense eye, one un-defined eye.

So, if you're looking for dark, thick lashes, €11.99 (or so) in Boots, Superdrug, Sam McCauleys etc will make you happy.

And just a normal one coat of mascara, going around day-to-day.

What's your favourite brand for mascara?
Chloe x

Sunday Samples!

So, a new series of posts. Sunday Samples pretty much involves me trying out a sample size product, reviewing it & deciding whether I'd buy the full size!

First up, Clinique High Impact Mascara. I got a 1.99g sample size of this in Glamour magazine (costs €3.01). A full size is 8g & is €19.50 in Debenhams. So if you love this, it's cheaper to buy a few samples if they're in a magazine!

Standard packaging & bristle brush

The sample packaging is just a mini size of the full-size, & it's just a dark green, sparkly tube with silver writing. The writing has started to wear off a little bit, but it doesn't bother me!

Bare lashes - One coat - Two coats

Clinique say that this mascara is to add volume to lashes & it definitely succeeds! There's not much improvement in length, but it gives an instant bit of volume without clumps! It also lasts all day and while it's not waterproof, it doesn't run easily. One thing I find it works well for is blending eyelashes with your fake eyelashes, if you use them.

No mascara compared to two coats

Would I buy it again? Not anytime soon, because I have so many mascaras to get through, but I will definitely consider it. Especially for going out, I've used High Impact with a lengthening mascara on the tips & I love the effect!

Have you tried High Impact?

Chloe x

MUA Extreme Curl Mascara

Hi girls!

I think my main make up obsession is probably mascara - In fairness, it's worn daily & can really open up my teeny eyes, so I love snapping new ones up!

When MUA recently had a 50% sale, I decided to try one of their mascaras. It was ridiculously cheap & I know that even if I don't love a mascara, I can bring it with me on a night out or something without worrying about losing it. (Not that I've ever actually lost make-up when I'm out, EVER. I lost my camera once, & was more relieved that I still had my lipstick in my bag.)

So for £2.00 (Or about €1.15 with the sale & conversion), how did it fare?

Well, the packaging is beautifully sleek. It really reminds me of my Art Deco liner, which costs a bomb, so I'm impressed! The brush is also extremely curved - It looked a bit strange, but it turned out to be perfect for getting into the outer & inner lashes without hassle.

  

Bare lashes - One coat - Two coats

The two main things that I loved? I can honestly get every lash, plus it wasn't at all clumpy. Bad points? It's not the quickest drying, & I seemed to end up with quite a bit on my eye lid! I only noticed this when doing my review pictures, because I normally apply thick eyeliner before my mascara, it won't bother me most days.

Just mascara (& foundation, hence my beautiful foundation lips!)

So the verdict - If you're not in a rush, it's a lovey mascara that definitely lengthens & volumises lashes. But it's quite prone to smudging/ getting messy.

Have you tried any MUA mascaras? What mascara are you using?

Chloe x

Lancome Hypnose Drama in 01 Black

Hello!

Again, I have no laptop, so posting has been rather non-existent. However hopefully my laptop will be back to me within a fortnight, so until then, I'll just borrow one sporadically.

Today I'm bringing you one of my favourite products - mascara. I have teeny eyes, albino eyelashes and feel naked without eye make-up, especially when I'm wearing contacts. I have a major collection, but Lancome Hypnose Drama is one of my favourites.

The curved brush & packaging.

Lancome promise 'Instant full-body lash volume. Exceptional immediate volume.' & declare that this is 'A must have mascara for a sensual, incredible and extreme volume look.' Well, honestly, I agree. While it does lengthen, volume is this mascara's forte, and it does it well. The extreme black colour adds to this illusion, but with just a quick zig-zag in the roots of your eyelashes, they will already look bigger and bolder.

If you're in a rush, a few quick strokes will define your lashes and brighten up your eyes considerably - One coat is all that's needed. But, two coats can be built up for more volume, without clumping. However, as a warning, I do find that the brush is overloaded sometimes, which leads to a bit of a gloopy mess, but as long as you check the brush before application, you shouldn't have any problems. The brush iteslf is curved, so it fits into your lashes comfortably.

Bare lashes.

One coat.

Two coats.

Now, the bad news. The price. Of course, Lancome is a higher end brand, so you could probably pick up three high-street mascaras for Hypnose Drama's price tag of E25.92 in Debenhams. I have lots of cheaper mascaras that deliver similar results to this - But for a bit of luxury, the sleek black packaging with minimal gold writing is sophisticated and classic. I won't call this a must-have product but for girls whom love their mascaras, I don't think you'd regret having this in your collection!

Have you tried this mascara? What did you think?
Chloe x