Ettusais Lash Version Up

I don't usually use a mascara base or primer but the first time I tried Ettusais Lash Version Up, it was instant love. I actually purchased this in Tokyo a year ago and only just opened it up earlier this week. The product was still completely fine without any noticeable dryness. It was pretty affordable too at 1050yen for 6g (versus S$28 in Singapore). It has garnered good reviews on Cosme.net with an average 5 star rating (out of 7 stars).

It contains short fibres to help lengthen and add volume. Normally, I steer clear of fibre-based mascaras as they tend to irritate my eyes but this did not as long as I was careful to remove any stray fibres that fell along the lashline. The clear black tint also looks natural, unlike those white mascara bases by other brands, and you can wear this on its own if you are rushed for time. The fine tooth comb brushes easily through the lashes and catches even the tiny lashes at the inner corners. The comb pulls out of the tube with just enough product so there is no caking or need to wipe it down first before applying.

The most impressive aspect of Lash Version Up is the instant uplift and curl that it adds to my lashes, making one look much more awake. I have very sparse lashes that normally get weighed down by most mascaras. The lift and curl effect lasts quite well throughout the day with just a tiny bit of a droop by the end, but my lashes stayed curled.

In these pics, I'm wearing Helena Rubenstein Lash Queen Feline Blacks mascara layered over Lash Version Up. When I apply Feline Blacks over Lash Version Up, the mascara does tend to catch a bit on the latter so brushing it through my lashes does not feel as smooth as using Feline Blacks on its own. Nevertheless, there was no noticeable clumping and the volume and length did build up quite quickly.


My current daily lash routine consists of curling the lashes first with the Tarte curler, followed by one coat of Lash Version Up and then Feline Blacks. There is no waiting time needed between applying Lash Version Up and Feline Blacks. I use Lancome's BiFacil to remove at the end of the day, by pressing the soaked cotton pad against the lashes for about 10 seconds and then gently wiping the mascara off.

Feline Blacks was a recent purchase when it was on 50% discount. It's not especially impressive enough for me to consider re-purchasing it at full price (more than 40 Swiss francs). Ettusais Lash Version Up, on the other hand, is a new staple and I would definitely re-purchase it.

Ettusais will release a limited edition BB Plus Mineral Powder (1522yen, 9g) plus its popular BB Mineral White and BB Mineral Cream in a limited edition packaging (but only in shade #20) on 19 September in Japan.

Kate Mascara Base and Magical Long Gel Mascara

At a recent Kate bloggers' event, I received their Magical Long Gel Mascara N BK1 and Mascara Base A (Volume Long) to try out. The Magical Long Gel mascara is a glossy jet black mascara without any fibres. The black gel not only helps to lengthen and build volume, the gel formula also means there are no powder bits flaking off through the course of the day. The mascara is smudgeproof and tears-resistant, and it can be removed with warm water (40°C and above). It also contains treatment ingredients such as olive oil, panthenol and silk to condition the lashes.

Below is the ingredients list (click to view in full size).

The Mascara Base is chock full of white fibres in a half-translucent base. It is supposed to help build length and volume as well as hold the curl of the lashes. It is also formulated with olive oil, panthenol and silk, and can be removed with warm water.

Below is the ingredients list.

The mascara base tends to come out of the tube smothered in fibres so it's best to clean off some before applying, otherwise the fibres get very messy on the lashes. I'm still not a fan of fibre-based mascaras and primers for the simple fact that the fibres often fall in between my lashes or under my eyelid and end up irritating my eye to no end. The first time I used the Kate Mascara Base, I drove to work feeling a fibre tickling my eye with every blink. Fortunately, I was able to remove it thereafter.

The mascara base does build length and volume very well, to the point of being ridiculous (about twice the length of my lashes) if you get some of the longer fibres extending way off the lash tips. I ended up having to pick off some of the fibres. The base also helps to hold the curl of my lashes and the white fibres were easily concealed by the black mascara.

The photo above shows my lashes with both the primer and mascara while the photo below shows my lashes with only the mascara. When I didn't use the primer, there was a significant difference as the mascara alone could not hold the curl of my lashes and the lengthening effect was not as good. The mascara does have its plus points though. The gel formula slicks on very smoothly and doesn't clump with repeated brushes through the lashes. The jet black formula gives great definition and doesn't make my lashes feel stiff or brittle after drying.

Removal of both the mascara and base was a breeze with the Biore Makeup Remover for Eye and Lip.

For this look, I also used: Rachel K Color Control Blemish Balm topped with Jill Stuart Loose Powder, Sleek Paraguaya i-Divine Palette and Pan Tao blush, MAC Play Time lipstick topped with Topshop Gloom Gloss, Dolly Wink Liquid Liner, K-Palette Real Lasting Eyebrow 02 and Lancome Natural Light Creator Bare Skin Perfecting Corrector Pen #1.


Kate can be found easily at Watsons stores islandwide. Do also check out the Kate Facebook page and Singapore website.

Shiseido Nourishing Mascara Base

Since receiving the Shiseido Nourishing Mascara Base back in August, it has quickly become a staple in my daily makeup routine. Aside from helping to add length and volume, it truly excels in helping to keep my lashes curled and lifted throughout the day. Like many Asians, my lashes are very sparse and point straight downwards if I do not curl them.

Unlike Majolica Majorca Lash Bone Black Fibre In and Urban Decay Eyelash Primer Potion, the Shiseido Nourishing Mascara Base does not contain any fibres. It has a clear base that is not too watery or glue-like. I much prefer mascara primers that apply clear instead of white (like the Urban Decay one) which looks very unnatural and require more work to cover up. At S$41 for 8g, it is pricey but as it works well, I think it is a worthwhile investment.

The consistency is similar to applying an eyelash essence. After using it several times, I've found that it's best to apply the mascara immediately after applying the Nourishing Mascara Base, i.e. before the base dries. If you wait for the mascara base to dry, the lashes feel dry when applying the mascara and so the mascara does not go on as smoothly. When using the mascara base, it does take a bit more time to remove my mascara at the end of the day. I use a cotton pad doused with Cleansing Express Eye Makeup Remover and gently clean off the mascara starting from underneath my lashes in an upward motion.

Although I also received the Shiseido Perfect Mascara Defining Volume at the same time, I did not like it because even when used on its own without the base, the Perfect Mascara tended to deposit too much product on my lashes and resulted in clumping after just two sweeps through my lashes. This sample tube of the mascara base came without a box so I do not have the ingredients list.

The Nourishing Mascara Base works very well with other brands of mascara that I currently have in rotation, such as the Clinique High Impact and Lancome Virtuose Precious Cells. The only exception was Fasio Mascaliner where the tips of my lashes ended up pointing downwards, but I think that was the fault of the Mascaliner. In these pics, I used it with Visee Lash Wide Impact (Curl Long) BK002 Blue Black from the Mercury Duo collection. The Visee mascara is a fibre-based waterproof mascara with an interesting comb applicator that has "teeth" all around the edges. The teeth at the tip are particularly useful for reaching the lashes at the inner corners of the eyes. The BK002 is a limited edition shade that is no longer available but the mascara is still available as part of the regular range in BK001 and BR300.