Maybelline's latest mascara offering is pretty radical as it's probably the first mascara ad to show such extremely spidery lashes, calling it a 'sexy mess'.
While I did not find the ad visual to be appealing at all, this was super cheap ringing in at under US$6 so I bought a tube just for the fun of trying it out. This is made in the USA.
The mascara pulls out of the tube cleanly without any clumps on the brush, which is slightly angled upwards at the tip. The formula is more slick compared to Cover Girl's Super Sizer mascara and much more jet black in comparison. I purchased this in Blackest Black in the waterproof version, as Maybelline mascaras tend to smudge on me.
The instructions advise sweeping the Teaser Brush from root to tip for instant volume, and then turning the brush vertically and sweeping it from side to side to disorganize the lashes. I used it simply the normal way from root to tip.
Colossal Chaotic Lash turned out to be good at adding volume and definition to my lashes. It does not have the lifting and curling power of Benefit Roller Lash mascara so using an eyelash curler beforehand is still essential. With that done, the mascara does hold the curl of my lashes pretty well throughout the day. I was expecting this to be prone to clumping but it was not that bad actually. If over-applied, the lashes do end up sticking together but this is usually easily fixed.
Overall, this is pretty good for daily use as it's easy to work with, and lasts well throughout the day without flaking or smearing. For a product that needs to be replaced every other month, it doesn't burn a hole in one's pocket. The waterproof formula was also relatively easy to remove and I did not experience any loss of lashes with this.
List of ingredients below.
I haven't purchased anything from Cover Girl since my experiments with their Lash Blast series of mascaras a few years ago. This past week, I've been testing out their two newest summer releases, the Super Sizer Mascara and Outlast Stay Luminous Foundation. Both were relatively inexpensive. The mascara was about US$6 while the foundation was going at between US$10 to US$11 in the supermarkets and drugstores.
The Super Sizer mascara promises to increase lash volume by 400%, with its unique lash styler that is wider at the tip than the base. I purchased this in the shade Black Noir but it turned out to be not as jet black as my usual Japanese mascaras.
The brush was easy to use and pulled out of the tube cleanly without excessive product on the bristles.
This did provide good lengthening and definition as well as holding up the curl of my lashes. However, it was slightly prone to clumping. If over-layered, my lashes would stick together. It did perform well in adding definition to my almost-nonexistent lower lashes. There was no smudging or flaking. There are also no fibres in this mascara. All in all, this was a decent performer for the price.
Below is the ingredient list. This is made in the USA.
I had high hopes for the Outlast Stay Luminous foundation based on initial raves on MakeupAlley. Upon application, it looked pretty good too. The finish was not overtly glowy, just a healthy satin finish without any powdery dry down. This was easy to blend, provided light to medium coverage and did not pool in the pores. My shade was Buff Beige, the third lightest shade of the 6 shades currently available.
However, four hours later, I caught my reflection in the car mirror and was taken aback by how much it had oxidised until my face was significantly darker than my neck (by at least 2 tones). This was, simply put, a deal breaker. There is also an odd artificial scent that is noticeable upon application but dissipates soon after. I couldn't see myself using it again (after testing it out for 5 days) and so I returned it for a full refund at Walgreens with no questions asked to my surprise. Americans are so fortunate to have stores that take back used cosmetics. Nowhere else have I encountered such a generous return policy.
Other products used for this look include Suqqu Blend Color Eyeshadow EX22 Yukiichigo (from Holiday 2014) and YSL Glossy Stain #201 Dewy Red. I'm tempted to pick up more of the Pop Water Glossy Stains but I'm restraining myself as I have about a dozen Glossy Stains still begging for more love in my drawer.
Here's the ad visual for the upcoming Paul & Joe Waterproof Mascara Duo (available in 2 shades) and Smudgeproof Mascara (4 shades, of which 2 are limited edition) due out on 1 June in Japan. More details available on the Paul & Joe summer collection website.
This sample size Benefit Roller Lash mascara was a freebie with my recent Sephora.com order. When I first read about Roller Lash and its "hook'n'roll" brush that supposedly catches, lifts and curls the lashes thus doing away with the need for an eyelash curler, I put it down to Benefit's usual over-the-top marketing tactics. While their bestselling They're Real mascara (earlier review here) did work well for me, the claims for Roller Lash seemed too good to be true, especially when it comes to stubbornly straight and weak Asian lashes.
The slightly curved brush has a row of shorter bristles on one side, which is not that revolutionary. The mascara formula strikes a good balance between not being too stiff/gunky and not being too wet/gloopy. After testing this out for a week, I have to say that I'm truly impressed at its lifting power. I've used this several times without curling my lashes in advance, and each time, Roller Lash adds noticeable curl to my lashes and lifts them up from their usual downward pointing position. Both looks below were done without using an eyelash curler.
With its jet black formula, Roller Lash provides good definition, lengthening and volumising effects, although it does start to clump if over-layered. I also liked how easy it was to use on my extremely sparse lower lashes. My lashes stayed curled for the whole day without any flaking or smearing. It was easy to remove with my current Neutrogena eye makeup remover, although there was one incident in which five lashes came off on the cotton pad and caused a minor panic. I haven't noticed any other lash loss since then, so it could just be a one-off thing.
Overall, I'm still sufficiently impressed to consider purchasing this once my sample dries up although I probably will not as I still have a massive stash of mascara samples to work my way through. Like virtually any mascara, this generates a serious division of views as reflected in the MakeupAlley reviews so your mileage may vary (but that is pretty much the case for any cosmetic product).
What I'm much less impressed by are the trio of palettes released by Suqqu for Spring 2015, which I ordered from Selfridges. These looked so beautiful in the pan with glorious shimmer but when applied, the color payoff of some shades is completely sub-par. Take for example, the periwinkle blue in #19 Awafujisukashi which pretty much fades to a muddy, washed out grey, regardless of the base. #18 Sakuraori is the best of the lot but its orange shade can be a tad hard to pull off. EX25 Haruhinata was also disappointing in its sheer level of pigmentation. Both Wondegondigo and Color Me Loud have more positive reviews of the quads, if you're considering them. Sara of Color Me Loud has also posted swatches of the new summer trios on Instagram and they look really promising.
Below is a second look done with Awafujisukashi. For this look, I'm also wearing Ellis Faas Skin Veil S102, which has received rave reviews from some of my favourite bloggers. I received samples of this in four shades with my last B-Glowing order (another e-tailer that I highly recommend). I can see why this is so beloved, as it blends effortlessly, with good coverage and does not show up dry patches or look mask-like.
This is the first FOTD post I've done in over a year, so I hope it's helpful! I would like to resume posting product reviews but can't promise that I can do so with any regularity. We've been in Illinois for about a month now, but we are going home for the summer and then moving to another apartment after we return here. I'm looking forward to finally settling into a more permanent (and nicer) place, and getting all of my stuff out of boxes. Right now, I'm mainly focusing on using up stuff, burning through all my candles (which have gone around the world with me only to end up back in the country that they originated from), taking Lush baths every other day and also trashing all the products that have expired. I should do a no-buy but that never lasts for long.
Paul & Joe will launch their new Smudgeproof Mascara (3000yen) and Waterproof Mascara Duo (3500yen) on 1 June in Japan. Easily removed with warm water, the Smudgeproof Mascara comes in 4 shades: Noel (black), Brown, Blue Hibiscus (LE) and Pink Sandbar (LE). The mascara duo comes in 2 shades (black and brown) and contains hydrolyzed silk protein and olive oil for nourishing the lashes.
Anna Sui will release the following new products on 4 January in Japan:
1. Curl & Volume Mascara (3000yen, 5g): Contains 'volume up powder' and 'volume up smooth polymer'. Waterproof and sebum/sweat-resistant.
2. Length & Separation Mascara (3000yen, 5g): Film-type mascara that can be removed with just warm water. Contains both hard and soft fibers for lengthening. Sweat and sebum-resistant.
3. Mascara Primer & Top Coat (2500yen, 5g): Waterproof, sebum and sweat-resistant mascara primer and top coat with a small screw brush for ease in reaching the lash roots. Helps to keep the lashes curled all day.
Fans of Heroine Make mascaras will be pleased to know that the brand will be releasing its first ever film-type mascara which can be easily removed with warm water. Long & Curl Mascara Super Film will retail at 1296yen, starting from 8 August. Formulated with a fast-drying polymer and four beauty ingredients including camellia oil, the 'airy curl' formula is supposed to be more lightweight compared to their earlier mascaras so that it helps to maintain the curl of lashes even with several coats. The brush is designed to deposit the fibres generously on the lashes while curling he lashes upwards.
Lash Expander Edge Meister F (1260yen/S$25.90) is the first film-type mascara by Majolica Majorca that can be removed with just warm water. This was recently released as part of the Fantastic Fantasy collection for autumn .
It features a "duet" comb. The side with more teeth is for adding length and separating lashes while the other side is for "point catch" of shorter lashes at the corners and along the lower eyelid.
Like most of other Majolica mascaras, this contains black fibres that are 4mm long. The formula is relatively 'wet' and slick, which makes for easy gliding through the lashes even on repeated coats. However, the comb does tend to pull out of the tube with quite a bit of product, so you may want to wipe it down a little otherwise the mascara tends to gloop onto the lashes and weigh them down. I normally avoid fibre-based mascaras as they can irritate my eyes, but with Edge Meister F, as long as I am careful to pick out any stray fibres that fall along the lashline, it did not cause any irritation and there was no fallout during the rest of the day.
Here's a pic of my bare lashes after curling with Tarte's eyelash curler.
I love the intense jet black shade which adds great definition to my lashes. Edge Meister F also does a good job of adding length and some volume. My lashes are naturally thin and sparse, so no mascara can ever add enough volume to give the thick false eyelash effect. If there is too much product on the comb, it tends to make my lashes stick together but this can be easily corrected. It does take a bit more effort and time to ensure an even application compared to some other mascaras but the final lengthening effect is worth it.
In terms of holding the curl of my lashes, it is just average. My lashes do not end up poker-straight at the end of the day, but there is also no extra uplift to them when freshly applied. The long fibres can also look messy if they end up in a bunch on the lashes. As for removal, the mascara does come off when I take a warm shower, without the need to rub my lashes. I usually use Lancome Bifacil to remove my eye makeup but it does not take off the mascara completely. The rest of it washes off in the shower, although some black bits usually end up around my eyelids, inner corners and under-eye area that can be easily wiped off.
Below is another set of before and after pics. Overall, I liked Edge Meister F for the excellent definition and lengthening but it falls somewhat short in terms of curling the lashes. It is also smudgeproof and does not smear even after many hours of wear.
Edge Meister F is available for US$16.50 on AdamBeauty.com. A friend helped me purchase this from Watsons in Singapore.
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.
