Review : Benefit They’re Real! Mascara

Product Name : Benefit They're Real! Mascara in Black

Where to Buy : Sephora, Benefit They're Real! Mascara

Retail Price : $22 USD

Product Overview : A jet-black mascara from Benefit that lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts, and separates lashes for a spectacular "out-to-here" look. This mascara claims to give your lashes the look that you never knew you had!

. . . My Thoughts After Using This Product For 2 Months . . .

What I Thought About the Packaging ? 

• The packaging and ads for this mascara is very trendy and it shows a bunch of consumer results that were convincing enough for me to buy it!
• The mascara wand has to be one of the best mascara brushes that I have ever used. It is the major reason why it was so easy to separate my lashes and giving them a panoramic look.

What I Love About This Product ?

• Great plastic-y brush
  
• Does lengthen lashes
• Does separate lashes
• Provides major lash definition

What I Didn't Love About This Product ?

• Does not hold up curls
• Does not volumize
• Clumpy after using it for a while

Product Quality Between "The First Couple Uses" and "After Using It For 1 Months". 

• "The First Couple Uses" : It was very easy to build up the effect by applying multiple coats and it provided definition and separation for my lashes with minor clumping. The brush is the best part about this mascara since the bristles would grab closely to the root of your lashes and give your lashes length and definitions. However, I find that the formula is a bit too wet to hold up my curls and instead it just de-curled them.
• "After Using It For 1 Months" : I didn't find myself reaching for this mascara very much. I used this mascara for more of a casual occasion when I'm not wearing a lot of makeup. The formula, however, was very consistent throughout the month. It did start to clump a bit more than before, but nothing major. There were minimal flakes after a whole working day.

Who Would I Recommend This Product For ?

• Similar to the  "Rimmel Lash Accelerator with Grow-Lash Complex Mascara", I would recommend this for someone that is looking for a mascara that lengthens and provides definitions for their lashes.
• For someone who already has long eyelashes.

Would I Buy This Product Again ? 

• No, I would not buy this mascara again because I'm very picky about mascara that doesn't curl upward when I curl it with my heated eyelash curler and this product was one of those mascara that didn't meet that criteria.

Overall Rating : 3.5/5.

Have a question ? Leave a comment.

Review : Too Faced Perfectly Pretty Set

 

Product Name : Too Faced Perfectly Pretty Set

Where to Buy : Sephora, Too Faced Perfectly Pretty Set

Retail Price : $16.50 USD

Product Overview : A set that includes deluxe, travel-size versions of Shadow Insurance, Primed & Poreless, and Lash Injection, all tucked away in a limited-edition damask bag.

• Lash Injection (0.169 oz)
• Shadow Insurance (0.11 oz)
• Primed & Poreless (0.17 oz)
• Limited Edition Damask Roll Bag

Pros and Cons :

• Product Name :  Too Faced Lash Injection
• Pros : Separating, Defining, Volumizing
• Cons : Does Not Lengthen, De-curled Lashes, Clumpy
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------

• Product Name : Too Faced Shadow Insurance
• Pros : Creamy, Long-Lasting, Smooth, Lightweight, Prevents creasing on your eye lids
• Cons : Nothing :) ....its Perfect!
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------

• Product Name : Too Faced Primed & Poreless
• Pros : Lightweight, Smooth/Silky Finish, Blends and absorbs easily, Contains Retinol which is known to reduce wrinkle and helps reduce blemishes
• Cons : No SPF, Minimal coverage; if you have blemishes on your skin, you may need to apply foundation or mineral foundation on top of the primer to achieve that flawless face look

Conclusion : Overall, this is a really good makeup set if you want to try out some of the top Too Faced products available, especially the Too Faced Shadow Insurance. The only thing I didn't like was the size of the samples; I thought they were too small and not even comparable to Sephora's deluxe sample size. If you've already tried Too Faced products before then it would probably save you more money buying the full size products instead of the trial set. The best part about the Perfectly Pretty set is definitely the primers. The Lash Injection mascara is a good mascara for a natural or office look, but it can be clumpy as you apply more coats to create a dramatic look. I personally didn't like mascara very much.

Ratings : 4/5. (-1 point for the small product size)

Did you love or hate this product?

Review : Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies Waterproof Mascara

Product Name : Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies Waterproof Mascara

Where to Buy: Wal-mart, The Falsies Volum' Express Waterproof Mascara

Retail Price : about $5 - $7

Product Overview : This product has an unique flexible wand and patented Spoon brush to help lift and separate lashes to provide the look of more lashes. The special Kera-fiber formula instantly build 5x more volume without clumping to complete the falsie lash look.


Pros :

• Waterproof
• Defining, Separating, Volumizing
• Nicely designed spoon brush
• Very dark black color

I like that it provided definition and separated my lashes really well. It did volumize my lashes ... But it does get clumpy after a few coats. The spoon mascara brush is well-designed and very easy to apply. One thing that I would like to point out is that the applicator is flexible, but it sort of caused the application to become less firm compared to other mascara applicators. Also, the waterproof formula is good for those rainy days that we have here in Vancouver :).

Cons :

• Can be clumpy and flaky
• Does smudge
• Does not lengthen
• Does not hold up curls

I usually buy the waterproof formula because I think that it just holds up the curls a lot better than the non-waterproof version. However, this mascara de-curled my lashes after application and it didn't give me any lengthening effect, but it did give me some mascara smudge on the bottom outer corner of my eyes. The one major thing that I didn't like was that it was very flaky and those little flakes would fall into my eyes and get stuck on my contact lenses....argh!

Conclusion : There were a lot of buzz about this product and Maybelline kept introducing new version of the falsies (eg. Black Drama, Falsies Flared) so I thought I gave the original falsies a try hoping that I would be amazed by the result just like how everyone did. Well.. in my own opinion... it really didn't do much for me. There was just not enough lengthening power and definitely no Falsies effect. It was super clumpy even when using it for the first few times. Overall I think it is an okay mascara and it's definitely not something I would buy again.

Ratings : 3/5.

Have you tried this product ? Let me know what you think !

Review : Smashbox Limitless Liquid Liner Pen

Product Name : Smashbox Limitless Liquid Liner Pen in Jet Black

Where to Buy : Sephora, Smashbox Limitless Liquid Liner Pen

Retail Price : $22 USD

Product Overview : A liquid eyeliner from Smashbox that claims to be long-wearing and waterproof.

Pros :

• Fine tip
• Easy to apply

During the first couple applications, it was very easy to apply and the color was very black. I was able to easily create either a thin or thick line on my upper eyelids.

Cons :

• Short lifespan; dries out too quickly
• No longer easy to apply after the 15th application
• Difficult to shake or "re-moist" the liner tip
• Fades very easily, especially if you have oily eyelids

After using this product for a while, I noticed that the liner tip started to become very dry. It became very hard to apply because it was drying out too quickly and the color was no longer dark and pigmented. I tried to shake it as hard I could to get the "juice" out to the tip but nothing worked!! The line became lighter and was fading out after only a few hours or wearing it.

Conclusion : I really wanted to love this product but unfortunately it didn't live up to most of its claims. When I first bought the eyeliner, it worked really well but then it started to dry out, and was fading a lot after a few hours. Overall, I thought this product was too expensive for something that did not last ... (not even for a month). It was definitely a waste of money and I would definitely never buy this product ever again.

Ratings : 1 / 5.

Did you love or hate this product? Share your views and leave me a comment !

Review : Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara

Product Name : Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara in Blackest Black

Where to Buy : Walmart or at any local drugstores

Retail Price : $3-5 CAD (Walmart sells them for only $3.96 CAD)

Product Overview : Maybelline's favorite mascara even after 40 years, now with a heart-shaped brush!! The exclusive Great Little Grabber gets to each and every lash with precision for lots of volume from corner-to-corner. Volume builds with each coat - no clumps, no mess. Safe for contact lens wearers.

Pros :

• Great heart-shaped brush
• Defining
• Lengthening
• Volumnizing
• Lifts, Curls and Separates lashes
• Little to no Clumps

This is one of the best mascara that I have tried in a long time and the best part is that it is super inexpensive. This is a classic formula from Maybelline so it's not likely for the mascara to be discontinued. I love the heart-shaped brush because the tip of the brush is slimmer and designed to get those stubborn little lashes. This is not like the Cover Girl Lash Blast chunky brush where it's too big in the front and sometimes you can accidentally get it on your face.
After applying the mascara, I did noticed that it helped lengthen and separate my lashes. There were no clumping as long as you don't let it dry in between coats. The more coats you layer on top, the more volumizing it is going to be; this mascara is very easy to build up to the desire look that you are looking for. The texture of my lashes after applying the mascara is very soft and it didn't give me that crusty feeling on my lashes.

Cons :

• Does smudge
• Does flake

There aren't anything bad I can say about this mascara other than that it is not waterproof so it did start to smudge a bit after I did my workout. There were a few tiny little flakes on my face after wearing it for a few hour. 

Conclusion :  I will admit.. at first I was very skeptical about this product. I mean.. How could something so cheap be any good ? After hearing so many good reviews about it, I gave it a try last night and I absolutely LOVE this mascara... No wonder this is one of the best and classic formula from Maybelline for the past 4 decades. I finally found a mascara that has the potential to replace my favorite mascara...Maybelline unstoppable mascara :) The pink and green packaging is really cute and the mascara wand is easy to grip.

Update: After using it for a month, it was more clumpy than before. I tried to reduce the clumps by wiping the brush before using it so that reduced the clumping a lot.

Ratings : 4.5/5. (-0.5 because the result was not consistent after using it for a month)

Did you love or hate this product ? Leave a comment !

Review : Lise Watier Base Miracle Pore Minimizing Primer

Product Name : Lise Watier Base Miracle Pore Minimizing Primer

Where to Buy : London Drugs, Lise Watier Base Miracle Pore Minimizing Primer

Retail Price : $30 CAD

Product Overview : Enlarged pores are bores. Make them disappear and give your skin a flawless, silky, matte finish with Base Miracle Pore Minimizing Primer. Just a touch of this innovative Makeup base and voila! Pesky shiny spots and enlarged pores vanish instantly. This is a fragrance free and paraben free product.

Pros :

• Smooth and  Silky Finish
• Temporarily reduce the appearance of pores
• Doesn't clog pores
• Reduce oil and shine

This is a good primer to use before you put on your foundation or mineral makeup. You don't need to apply it all over your face, just need to apply where your skin tends to be more oily or areas of enlarged pores. A little goes a long way ;-) After applying this product, it gave me a matte finish and the texture was very smooth and silky. My makeup stayed on all day and it made my face less oily and shiny.

Cons :

• No SPF protection
• Not light-weight ; felt a bit too thick for a base primer
• Doesn't provide enough moisture

I usually like primers with at least SPF 15 because sometimes I don't want to wear a lot of makeup on my days off. One thing that I didn't like about this primer was that it felt kind of thick after putting it on. I felt like I had a thick layer of matte, silicon-feeling goo on my face. If you have dry or combination skin, you definitely need to put a layer of moisturizer on before you apply the primer because this primer alone is not going to give your skin enough moisture.

Conclusion : When I bought this primer I was looking for a product that could help reduce the appearance of pores. The sales lady at London Drugs told me that this primer could instantly minimize the look of pores as well as nourishing my skin so my pores would look smaller in the long run. I don't think she knew what she was talking about :-P because the pore minimizing effect is only temporary, definitely not a long term treatment. This pore minimizing promier is not even comparable to Philosophy The Supernatural Poreless, Flawless Tinted SPF 15 which is about the same price. If you are looking for a primer that you could wear either alone of underneath your foundation, definitely go with the Philosophy one because it is very light-weight and an amazing tinted moisturizer and primer.

Ratings : 3.5/5.

Have a question ? Leave a comment !

Review : Best Drugstore Eyes and Face Makeup Remover Products

As much as we love putting makeup on our faces, it is still very important to know how to properly remove your makeup by the end of the day and which products can help you achieve that. A lot of people make the mistake of tugging and pulling on their eyelids when their trying to take off that stubborn waterproof mascara that just won't come off. BUT that's wrong! If you do that it will create more fine lines and wrinkles around your eye area as you get older.
Here are the eyes and face makeup remover products that I have tried and know that it works wonders when it comes to removing makeup and unclogging all the dirt out of your pores.

For Eyes :

• Product Name : Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover
• Retail Price : $6.99 USD
• Product Overview : Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover takes off even waterproof eye makeup without leaving an oily residue.
• Directions : Shake well to activate. Apply with cotton pad on closed eyelids. Gently rinse with warm water.
• Ratings : 5/5.

For a while, I stopped using any waterproof mascara because I was just having such a hard time taking it off by the end of the day, and sometimes I even lose my eyelashes trying to clean it off :(. I decided to give the Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover a try after so many people recommended it and I have to say this is by far the Best and most Inexpensive eye makeup remover I have ever tried.
It really does what it claims to do, it melts away all the waterproof mascara and eyeshadow without tugging and pulling on your eyes. All you have to do is shake the bottle, apply with a cotton pad, and just sort of press lightly on the cotton pad against your eyelashes to get the makeup off. You have to be really patient and wait for a few minutes before you start seeing the makeup to come off, this is because that's when it starts to break off the bonds between the mascara and your lashes so that it can be easily wiped off afterwards.

For Face :

• Product Name : Pond's Cold Cream
• Retail Price : $6 USD (even cheaper when walmart have B1G1 deal)
  
• Product Overview :  Gentle yet effective deep cleansing cream to removes hidden dirt and make-up.
• Directions :  Smooth generously on the skin with the fingertips. Gently remove with a tissue, cotton or a damp washcloth for a truly deep cleanse or for extra freshness, rinse off with warm water. Even the most stubborn make-up is lifted away while essential oils and emollients replace moisture, leaving skin soft, smooth and supple.
• Ratings :  5/5.

Usually I would remove my eye makeup using Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover first and then follow by Pond's Cold cream. All you need to do is gently massage the cream onto your face in a upward and circular motion for roughly 2-3 minutes and then wipe it off with a tissue... sometimes I even wipe the cream off with a warm wash cloth for that extra clean feeling. When you're done you can just clean your face with your favorite facial cleanser.
I have been using this products for years now and it's the only product that doesn't break out my skin. I have combination skin type and a lot of times makeup remover can be too oily and end up clogging my pores. You can also use this as a massage cream if you have dry skin or random dry patches on your face. Pond's classic cold cream will leave your skin soft, smooth, clean, and moisturized and most of all, it is very inexpensive and it gets the job done!

Review : Philosophy The Supernatural Poreless, Flawless Tinted SPF 15

Product Name : Philosophy The Supernatural Poreless, Flawless Tinted SPF 15 (1.6 oz)

Where to Buy : Sephora, Philosphy The Supernatural Poreless, Flawless Tinted SPF 15

Retail Price : $30 USD

Product Overview : This is an oil-free foundation primer with SPF 15 that could be worn alone or underneath your favorite foundation. It claims to offer a look that is pore-less, flawless and that is almost.. Supernatural! This product is available in one blend-able color that is suitable for all skin tone.
The reason I decided to give this product a try was because I was looking for a light-weight tinted moisturizer that could be worn alone or underneath my Bare Escentuals mineral powder for more coverage when needed. Most importantly I was looking for something that can make my pores look smaller.

Pros :

• Non-greasy, light-weight formula
• Smooth creamy texture
• Instantly minimize the appearance of pores
• Excellent primer to be worn alone or underneath foundation or mineral powder
  

The texture of the primer/moisturizer is very smooth and velvety feeling. After applying it for the first time, I did notice that it drastically minimize the appearance of my pores on my face, especially around my nose. Nonetheless, it also helped even out my skin tone to create a flawless look even without my bareMineral foundation powder. It was very light-weight and soft to the touch, almost felt like I wasn't wearing anything on my face at all.

Cons :

• Only available in one color

The only disadvantage about this product is the fact that it only came in one color that is sort of an orange-y, beige-y color. However, it was very blend-able so it was not really a major problem for me, but I have heard from other users that it did not match their skin tone.

Conclusion : Overall, I absolutely love this product because it really does what it claims to do. It will reduce the look of any skin imperfections you may have without the feeling that you're wearing a lot of makeup. I could simply use this product along with my Bare Escentuals mineral veil powder and be ready to go.

Overall Ratings : 5/5.

Did you love or hate this product? Feel free to share your views !

Review : Rimmel Lash Accelerator with Grow-Lash Complex Mascara

Product Name : Rimmel Lash Accelerator with Grow-Lash Complex Mascara in Extreme Black

Where To Buy :Any drugstores (Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, etc)

Retail Price : About $8 CAD

Product Overview : New Rimmel Lash Accelerator mascara contains exclusive natural GROW-LASH COMPLEX with Procapil extends and fortifies lashes. With continued use, lashes not only look longer, but also lusher and more numerous. Suitable for contact lens wearers and sensitive eyes.

. . . My Thoughts After Using This Product For 1 Months . . .

What I Thought About the Packaging ?

• The overall packaging of the mascara tube is very sleek and easy to grip onto. It looks kinda like a round ruler shape design.
• The mascara wand looks like the traditional mascara brush but with a modern twist. It is slender on both ends and thicker in the middle of the brush.

What I Love About This Product ?

• Provides major lash definition
• Does lengthen lashes
• Does separate lashes
• Holds up curls

What I Didn't Love About This Product ?

• Not Smudge-proof
• Can be Flaky
• No Major Eyelash Growth
• Does Not Volumize

Product Quality Between "The First Couple Uses" and "After Using It For 1 Months". 

• "The First Couple Uses" : After applying two coats of this mascara my lashes looked longer and definitely more defined. The result was not clumpy and the texture of my lashes were very soft and not crusty. After a full 8 hours work day, minor smudging and flaking.
• "After Using It For 1 Months" : The quality of the mascara was not as good as before and the formula became clumpier and thicker. It still separated my lashes but it did start to clump a lot. After a full 8 hours work day, there were a lot of flakes and my curls were pretty much gone.

Did The Grow-Lash Complex Make My Eyelash Grow Longer and Thicker?

• No; I didn't notice any difference in the length or thickness of my eyelashes.

Who Would I Recommend This Product For ?

• For someone that is looking for a mascara that lengthens and provides definitions for their lashes.
• Someone who wants to go for a natural or professional office look.
• Great for people with shorter lashes that goes straight down.

Would I Buy This Product Again ? 

• No, I would not repurchase this product again since there are other alternative mascaras such as Lots of Lashes that is cheaper and offer better results.

Overall Rating : 3/5.

Have a question ? Leave a comment !

Review : My Monthly Gift to Myself... November Glymm Beauty Box

The November 2011 Glymm Box includes :

• Lise Watier Flash Lift Radiance Vial
  
  "Introducing your handbag's new bff. This new vitalizing serum comes in a convenient vial. Which can be applied any time of the day. Formulated for every skin type this serum erases the signs of fatigue and smoothes the appearance of wrinkles. Late night out? No big deal, just dab some on for an instant glow."

• Rahua (Ra-Wa) Luxury Shampoo & Conditioner
  
  "Gwenth Paltrow's secret to beautiful Lustrous hair is now available to you. Rahua is a natural, organic hair care system which contains the precious Rahua nut oil, found deep in the Amazon rainforest. Sol exclusively in top salons around the world, the gentle Rahua Molecules penetrates deeply leaving your hair luminous and healthy."

• Orlane Paris Light Smoothing Cream
  
  "Brighten up your mornings with Orlane's light smoothing cream. This Hypoallergenic day cream is infused with rich vitamins and minerals to defend your skin against daily toxins. Your skin is left smooth, soft , radiant and well protected against irritations."

• RGB Designer Nail Lacquer (Full Size)
  
  "In Style magazine named it "America's most wanted nail polish". RGB is LA's hottest contemporary nail care brand, with a modern edge. The chip resistant lacquer is formulated for long lasting ultra Glossy results. RGB is a 3Free lacquer, made in the USA, and has recently collaborated with Celebrity Stylist Jenna Hipp and Urban Outfitters."

• Annabelle Smudge Paint (Full Size)
  
  "Annabelle Cosmetics, Canada's leading eyeliner brand launched the innovative Smudge paint eyeliner and shadow this season. The potted gel cream can give you discrete eyeliner for day and a fierce dramatic look at night. The built in brush allows you to glide on smoothly, giving you a more custom look."

• Glymm Sweets
  

• $10 off Any Online Purchase at Brownsshoes.com

This is my second month receiving a Glymm box and so far, I'm very satisfied with all the products that I get every month.  For the November box, there were a lot of more products than the October Glymm Box. I will admit sometimes you're not going to get the color or shades that you prefer, but it is definitely worth trying out new stuff that you wouldn't normally have picked out once in a while. This way it gives you a reason to try out that new color that you're too afraid to try.
Hopefully Glymm will have a special Xmas Glymm box in December ! :) If you like to find out more about Glymm and how to subscribe, click here to get your own Glymm beauty box !