Essence Lash Mania False Lash Mascara Waterproof

Drugstore waterproof mascaras that are actually waterproof and hold a curl well are hard to find, especially if don't want to spend more than five euros, as almost all mascaras got so expensive in the past years (looking at you L'Oreal and Maybelline). But I found one and I'm really impressed at how well it holds a curl, however, it's just my luck that this is being discontinued as we speak, so you'll have to hurry if you still want it.

The formula is indeed waterproof in the truest sense of the word. It doesn't smudge one bit, instead it only crumbles under a hot shower. I wore this when I went swimming and it survived perfectly. Due to excellent waterproof characteristics, it holds curl very well, so all day. It's the best drugstore mascara I've tried in terms of holding a curl, so I will actually be sad to see this go, but I have hopes that Essence merely replaced the wand and kept the formula for its replacement. Like I<3 Extremes and Lash Princess the formula is nicely black. It is a very difficult mascara to remove and even with oil it takes some time for the formula to break down. 

The brush is plastic with long, but kind of sparse bristles and it's huge. To me it looks a bit rashly designed, I'd even call it clumsy, especially when it comes to lover lashes, but the drier the formula gets, the less of a chance of a mess it is. The brush deposits tons of product with one coat, just like Princess Lash and I <3 Extremes, so I wish the bristles were denser because now there is a danger of spidery and clumpy lashes if you apply it too fast particularly when it's new and the formula is still wet, however, the amount of volume it gives is huge. With my slow method of combing the lashes and rotating the brush, I can get some lovely results, however, I still keep an old mascara wand at hand if I need to comb the lashes for a more defined effect.

This mascara really grew on me in these three weeks since I have it and I noticed how it's getting better as the formula gets drier. I'm very impressed with the formula, especially how waterproof it is, its consequential great lasting power as well as how well it holds a curl. If it weren't discontinued I know I'd be buying this mascara a lot. If you have lashes that refuse to stay curled or just need a mascara you'd be comfortable going to the beach with, give this one a try.

I got mine in Müller for 3.29 €, but it's currently sold for much cheaper (probably 0.99 €) since it's being discontinued. 

Have a great day!

L'Oreal False Lash Wings Intenza

L'Oreal released a new mascara, a spin-off to their original False Lash Wings (Butterfly Effect or Flutter mascara in some countries) and this version has the "butterfly wing shape" on both sides of the wand. Mine is a regular formula, but I think a waterproof version exists as well. 

Formula: In the first week of use the formula was quite thin, so all it did is separate and lengthen the lashes a bit, but in the volume department it wasn't the best. As my experience dictated me I gave it some time because usually once the formula dries a bit and therefore thickens, it starts to perform better in terms of volume. I was right. A few weeks later and the volume has doubled. It's not Essence's Lash Princess, but still a very nice amount of volume partnered with definition and lenght, so it really gives the effect of plenty of lashes. In that respect it reminds me a great deal of their Million Lashes mascara. It's a fibre mascara, but I must say I don't see many of them on the brush, especially compared to Japanese versions, but as far as I'm concerned that as good thing because when those fibres get in the eye, it hurts like a bitch and ruins contact lenses (#neverforget). This is a regular formula, so it doesn't hold the curl on my lashes, especially now that the formula is thicker and therefore heavier.

Wand: the original False Lash Wing had only one "butterfly wing", but the Intenza has them on both sides. In practice the small plastic combs separate and define each lash giving the appearance of more lashes. The slightly lifted end does help to lift the lashes, however, since it's regular formula, this doesn't mean much to me as my lashes still drop.

Staying power: I have noticed a bit of flaking at the end of the day, but no smudging. 

Since most mascaras perform well on my lashes, I gave this one to test to my cousin, who loved it at first swipe. She especially appreciated the definition this mascara is capable of doing and she is considering purchasing one for herself.

Intenza costs an "exorbitant" 15.49 €, which is not at all cheap for a drugstore mascara, but L'Oreal's mascaras tend to be very good compared to most of the "cheaper" competition. I might give a waterproof version a try and see how it performs.

 SLO

Intenza je naslednica originalne False Lash Wings maskare in sicer se za razliko od slednje ponaša z "obliko metuljnih kril" na obeh straneh krtačke. Moja je navadna formula, ki se lahko odstrani, mislim pa, da obstaja tudi vodoodporna verzija.

Ko je bila maskara popolnoma nova, je bila formula lahka in redka. Posledično ni uspela ustvariti kakšnega omembe vrednega volumna, ampak je trepalnicam dodala kar dosti dolžine in predvsem definicijo zaradi plastične krtačke. Po izkušnjah sem vedela, da se bo po nekaj tednih maskara zgostila in malo posušila. Zdaj ko je maskara malo starejša doda veliko več volumna. Sicer ne toliko kot Lash Princess, ampak kar blizu, predvsem pa prednjači v definiciji, saj krtačka lepo razčeše trepalnice in naredi učinek ogromno trepalnic, ker je vsaka ločena in obarvana. Zelo me spominja na Million Lashes, ki je bila včasih ena izmed mojih najljubših maskar (krtačko imam še vedno za razčesavanje trepalnic). Formula vsebuje vlakna, ampak jih sama ne vidim kaj dosti na krtački, kar meni sicer odgovarja, saj so japonske maskare mini mučilno orožje za uporabnike kontaktnih leč in ko ti eno tisto vlakno pade v oči zelo boli ter uniči leče (zelo zabavna izkušnja). Ker je formula moje maskare navadna ji ne uspe obdržati trepalnice zavihane, še posebej zdaj ko je formula gostejša.

Krtačka prvotne False Lash Wing maskare ima obliko metuljčkovih kril le na eni strani, medtem ko ju ima Intenza na obeh straneh, kar se izkaže za kar učinkovito. Glavnička z kratkimi zobčki lepo razčeseta trepalnice in rahlo dvignjeni zunanji del pomaga malo dvigniti trepalnice v zunanjih kotičkih, seveda se to na mojih trepalnicah ne obdrži.

Kar se tiče obstojnosti nisem opazila nobenega razmazovanja pod očmi, ampak sem pozno zvečer opazila črne pikice pod očmi.

Ker se večina maskar dobro obnese na mojih trepalnicah z izjemo ohranitve zavihanosti, sem dala maskaro preizkusiti še moji sestrični, da bo test bolj pravičen. Takoj ji je bila všeč. Še posebej zaradi definicije in menda načrtuje nakup. Trenutno je maskara 30 % cenejša v drogerijah (do 12.4.).

Intenza stane malo visokih 15,49 €, kar ni poceni, ampak L'Orealove maskare so povečini res dobre, vsaj v primerjavi z drugimi znamkami. Me pa to višanje cen vsake nove maskare (in ostalih stvari) zelo moti in verjetno nisem edina. 

Have a great day!

*Intenza was gifted to me / Maskaro sem dobila v test.

Essence Lash Princess Mascara

It's difficult for me to properly review mascaras with a regular formula because when I use them, my lashes drop like a rock and I've just basically wasted some mascara, while it still looks like I have no lashes if you look straight on (but not from sideways, obviously. Pic of my natural lashes here). So even if the mascara is absolutely amazing in terms of volume, if it's a regular formula, it does very little for me. This mascara is precisely such a case. It's a really, really good volumising mascara, seriously top notch and it gives pretty much the false lash effect on my lashes (I have been asked once if I'm wearing falsies, but this mascara was applied over a waterproof formula one), unfortunately once the lashes drop it's very hard to see all the volume. For this reason my pictures of the lashes don't look even close to the real effect and they look a lot shorter than in real life, so you'll just have to trust me when I say that the effect of this mascara is just phenomenal when it comes to volume, it's just that the rest is not ideal for my needs. 

The brush is an interesting curvy shape that deposits a lot of product onto the lashes, but still keeps them separated enough, though I still like to comb through with an old mascara wand just to give it a more defined look. The wand is a bit long for my taste and it does make the application a bit clumsier. The formula is very black and very wet. I've had mine for a couple of months now and it's holding quite well and is only a bit dry, which is a stark opposite of that Kardashian Beauty mascara I reviewed a while back, which is now almost completely dry (I got them a couple of weeks apart, both were given to me to review, hence why they are regular formulas.). 

Despite it not being a waterproof formula, I do use it on my lower lashes since I don't have a problem with smudging nor do I need them to stay curled, but it creates the doll eyes effect and it just makes the removal a bit easier. I use it often over several coats of waterproof mascara (that average performing Bourjois 1 Second one) on top lashes and it gives a lot more volume, but it does make the lashes drop faster despite being merely "a final top coat".

This is one of the most volumising mascaras I've tried so far, though I actually think that the I <3 Extreme and L'Oréal Paris Voluminous in Carbon Black are actually very, very similar. It's also very lengthening, so it's a very glamorous looking effect mascara with the huge lashes, at least on me. However, due to being a regular formula and so wet, my lashes drop within seconds and the effect on me is barely visible when looking straight on. If you don't have such stubborn lashes like me, give it a go, for one it's better that Kardashian Beauty mascara when it comes to volume, but it just doesn't hold the curl one bit and if you have trouble with that like me, this isn't for you.

Have a great day!

Kardashian Beauty Whip Lash Mascara

I didn't expect much from this mascara. For one the packaging looks ridiculously cheap and the wand looks like Great Lash is having a comeback, not to mention it's a regular formula, which right off the bat means my lashes will drop in a microsecond. But I was pleasantly surprised by it. It's not fantastic, but it is very decent.

Packaging and wand: The packaging feels so cheaply made. It's not just the plastic, the label looks wonky as well. The brush is very 90's - a classic wire brush, but with bristles that vary in length. In practice it turns out that the different bristles actually come handy, with the shorter side giving definition and the longer length and volume due to having more formula to deposit on the lashes.

Effect: The whole idea of this mascara is that you can gradually apply it to get the desired effect, so natural or glamorous lashes. You can get natural look if you apply a light layer, but built-up it never quite achieves the Hypnôse level. It gives a bit of length and some volume, basically it's a nice everyday mascara, but for something more you'll have to turn to something else. It defines more than I expected from the brush, but as you can see from the picture, it can get a touch clumpy if you're not careful, especially when it's new. It's definitely more volumising that the last mascara I reviewed, Bourjois Volume 1 Second, but less than Essence Lash Princess. I notice that unlike all regular mascaras, with this my lashes don't drop immediately after application, the curl does hold for a while, but then as always my lashes drop. I think that if you don't have such stubborn lashes as me, but still need something that would hold curl a bit better than most regular mascaras, this might just work for you.

It claims that regular use will make your lashes look longer, thicker and blacker. I've been using it for about two months and I noticed no such changes. For me it's not surprise that it doesn't do what it claims and I'm not disappointed as my lashes are in pretty good condition anyway, but all those who may buy the mascara purely for the claims, I'll just tell you that there is only as much a mascara for 15 € can do.

Staying power: I noticed no smudging, neither on the lids not under the eyes. It doesn't crumble and fall down on the cheeks. For the price that's what I'd expect. 

Price and availability: It costs 15 €, which is a lot for a mascara, though as you know I pay more for my waterproof Hypnôse, but that one does everything I need and expect from it. 

The packaging is a joke at this mascara, just look at L'Oreal or Bourjois for such a price, however, the product inside is nice, so they are forgiven to a certain degree. It's a nice lengthening and volumising mascara, it needs a bit more caution if you want defined lashes and it holds the curl a bit longer than regular mascaras. In general I can say that I expected a lot less from this mascara and I was quite pleasantly surprised. It's not amazing, but it is good. 

Have a great day!

Izdelke Kardashian Beauty lahko najdete na Click2Chic.

*The mascara was gifted to me by Click2Chic.

Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara Wateproof

I feel like I've written this sentence a million times, but here it is again: I use waterproof mascaras on a daily basis because they keep the lashes curled, since my straight eyelashes drop like a stone if I use a regular formula (picture of my natural lashes here). Normally I reach for high-end mascaras as they actually perform like I expect them to, but I set upon finding a more affordable waterproof option that would hold the curl well. Volume 1 Seconde was on my wishlist since its release and now I've been using it for about 1-2 months. Honestly, I find it average, even now that the formula got a bit drier. 

The brush is a plastic one with small dense bristles and between them are small balls that I have no idea to what purpose they serve. In terms of formula and performance, I'd say it's a classic mascara with a plastic wand meaning it defines very well and gives length, while volume is not exactly its forte, however, for me it's enough. You can layer it, which obviously results in more volume, but I don't do that as more product on my lashes just weighs them down. As far as holding the curl is concerned, it's no where near my favourite Hypnôse, it's actually quite poor in that department. Sometimes it holds the curl for several hours, but the lashes drop slowly and sometimes the lashes just drop like a rock soon after application making me look like I have a lazy eye. 

All in all it's a pretty average mascara meaning it's good, but not amazing. It's lengthening and separates the lashes nicely, but if you're looking for a lot of volume, maybe try something else with a classic brush. Its curl holding capabilities aren't something to write home about and if it weren't for that I'd rate it as a good mascara. I won't even address the 1 second claim because it's utterly ridiculous.

I bought my tube in Müller for 14.25 €, which is not exactly cheap for a drugstore mascara.

Have a great day!

How to Curl Stubborn and Difficult-to-Curl Lashes

Curled lashes make a huge difference - the eye looks bigger and more awake. I'm sure I've complained numerous times about how stubborn my lashes are. Though they are long, they are poker straight, grow criss-cross and years of being smashed behind my glasses have caused a very noticeable sideways split on one eye. All that and my hooded eye shape mean that if I don't curl them well, it looks like I have no eyelashes at all when looking from the front. I've tried a few eyelash curlers, some really bad and some good, but none of them work on me like on most people - meaning that a few seconds of holding them on each eye does pretty much nothing on me and the lashes drop in microseconds (I really, really envy all of you whose lashes are easy to curl!). But, a few great tips and years of experience taught me how to curl them relatively well. Curling the lashes is actually a long step in my make up routine, but that's just the way it is. I can make an effort and have lovely looking lashes or have the look of having no lashes at all.

Start by finding a good curler for your eye shape. My eyes are small with a rounded upper part. Best I found are Tana's and Shiseido's. Tana Eyelash Curler is cheaper, slightly smaller with a rounder shape and feels more sturdy/better made, but it is very hard to find (used to be sold in Műller, I found them on eBay. Google for more). Shiseido The Makeup Eyelash Curler is more expensive, a bit bigger, flatter, feels lighter and is dark, which means it's not easy to really see the lashes, however, I think this one fits my eye shape best (bought mine on Feel Unique). You can buy replaceable pads for both unlike for Shu Uemura, which recommends you replace the curler every 6 months (insane, if you ask me! My Tana's are 7 years old). Both Shiseido's and Tana's feel very comfortable to use and don't pinch or pull out lashes (I've had Manhattan's that did that). Other curlers I that are supposed to be good are from Japonesque, Tweezerman and Kevyn Aucoin.

Find a good waterproof mascara. The drier the formula the better. Waterproof mascaras hold curl much better because they don't allow the moisture to drop the lashes, however, they require an oil based remover. I find that drugstore mascara's don't hold the curl as well as high-end ones, but since we have only a handful of waterproof mascaras in Slovenia, I haven't tried a lot of them. Essence get BIG lashes volume boost waterproof mascara  and Maybelline the Colossal Volum' Express Waterproof are ok, as is Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus, but I get best results with Lancome's Hypnôse in waterproof formula and Helena Rubinstein's Lash Queen Feline Black waterproof.

Heated eyelash curler are not a must, but nice to have. It helps the curl to last longer, but you can also just heat your regular eyelash curler with a blow-dryer. In my experience that works very well and it's not too hot. 

I have Panasonic's Heated Eyelash Curler which I find really helps to give the outer lashes that fluttery look since it lifts and combs them so they point outwards (these are the lashes that are squashed on the edge when using a regular eyelash curler). It heats up in about a minute, there is an indicator that turns from purple to pink on the back, which tells you when it's ready to use. It's not that hot, but some people say that it burnt them, so caution is advised. I just place it on the lashes and wait three seconds, but combing doesn't do anything. I bought it on eBay.

Step 1: Start by curling your lashes in four stages, each time moving closer to the end of the lashes and do the last one as close to the roots as you can. This will give you a nice rounded curl instead of crimped looking lashes.

Step 2: Apply a very small amount of the driest formula waterproof mascara you have and I mean really small. This will give some grip just like a hair styling product with hold (e.g. hairspray) gives to the hair before curling it. I use a dried up waterproof mascara for this (so I don't waste product), but you can use your "fresh" mascara and wipe the brush before so there is only a small amount of product on the wand. I've learned this tip from Wayne Goss.

Step 3: Curl your lashes again as close to the lash line as you can. If you worry that this might cause your lashes to break - don't. I've been doing this for years and it's fine. Just make sure you apply a very small amount of mascara before and make sure your lashes are dry as well as still soft to the touch. I really notice the difference if I skip this step and my lashes drop fast without it.

Step 4: Apply a generous coat (or coats) of mascara. I prefer a very defined look so I also use an old mascara wand (L'Oreal's Million Lashes is best) to comb the lashes after.

Step 5: (Optional) Use a Panasonic's Heated Eyelash Curler. Not every heated curler works this way, but Panasonic's works only after the lashes have already been curled with a regular curled and mascara has been applied. It helps to create better lift and fixes the lashes that may look droopy, it also combs and defines them.
By the way, if you plan to heat your regular curlers, do that for step 1 and/or 3, but not after thick coat of mascara was applied.

And you're finished. A good waterproof formula should keep the lashes curled well enough until you decide to take the make up off. 

The before and after on my lashes:

I used Shiseido's curler, a dried up Hypnôse mascara, a "fresh" Hypnôse Star mascara and finished with Panasonic's Heated Eyelash Curler.

One more thing and I'm finished, I promise. Waterproof mascaras can dry out the lashes, so take care of them. I use a face oil every day (Nuxe) and apply a bit on the lashes as well. Coconut oil is great as well and it works as a make up remover. 

I hope this was helpful and have a great day!

Lancôme Hypnôse Star Waterproof Mascara

Lancôme's Hypnôse in waterproof formula is one of the two of my absolute favourite mascaras. I have very stubborn lashes that refuse to stay curled unless I use a good waterproof mascara and this one delivers. This time I went for a different version of Hypnôse called Star that comes is a very glamorous glittery packaging. 

Formula: The same as the original Hypnôse waterproof one. It's a drier formula that is really black and holds the curl all day. It gives tons of length and some volume. Exactly as I like it. 

Brush: I have to say I don't like it too much, I definitely prefer the original one. It's a dual-sided brush with a thin, flat side and a wide, tapered side that is designed to reach all the lashes, even those in the corner and it's meant to curl the lashes as well. In practice it turns out it's too small, about 2/3 the size of the original and it's difficult to coat the lashes evenly because of the shape. It's not the easiest brush to work with and it takes more time to apply mascara.

As you can see it's a much smaller/shorter brush than from most mascaras. The closest in size is Majolica Majorca's Lash Expander Frame Plus.

Packaging: It's a bit different from the original version. The cap is rounder and the old wand doesn't fit into the Star version, which I wanted to do. The bottom part is coated with silver shimmer, which makes it looking very glamorous. 

Price and availability: I bought it in Müller when it was 20% off. Regular price there is 33 €, but you can find it cheaper online for example on Feel Unique (29 €) or Strawberry.net (27 €) and if you're lucky enough to live in North America it's 28.50 $ (20 €) in Sephora.

Though the formula is again a winner, the brush is clumsy and not the easiest to work with. The packaging is definitely glamorous and serves as a nice decoration on the vanity, but next time I'll stick to the original.

Have a great day!

Lancôme Hypnôse Custom-Wear Volume Waterproof Mascara

I finally found a worthy contender to my favourite mascara, which is Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Feline Black waterproof. I have very stubborn lashes that refuse to stay curled unless I use a good waterproof mascara. So far I have rarely been truly impressed by any, a notable exception being the HR one. That one ticks all the boxes, but it is so expensive. There was an offer for 20% off on all mascaras in my local drugstore and since it doesn't carry Helena Rubinstein, I opted for Lancôme Hypnôse Custom-Wear Volume waterproof mascara instead and I'm so glad I did. 

I had the regular Hypnôse years ago and I liked it, but found Dior's Iconic and Chanel's Inimitable a bit better, though I  only had regular versions of both. The design of the Hypnôse's waterproof version is the same as of the regular one's and it has the same classic brush. No fancy design, just a good old classic wand. 

The formula is on the dry side and also quite thick. It doesn't make the lashes clumpy except if I decide to really go for it (for comparison, HR keeps the lashes defined regardless of the amount of coats). It gives tons of length. Seriously, my lashes are touching my brows (I have small eyes and little lid space, but it counts). It gives a nice amount of volume, yet not quite as much as HR one, but it's more than enough for me. The lashes stay curled all day, just like with HR one and that's what is most important to me. Just for the formula, Lancôme gets my two thumbs up.

Picture of my lashes with no mascara is in this post.

Price-wise it's no cheaper than HR one. It's an eye-watering 32€ in my local drugstore, however, Feel Unique has it for a lot cheaper (25€ at the moment, while I paid the same amount with the discount). I still think HR is a bit better, but Lancôme is so much easier to get a hold off. If you're in need of a brilliant mascara that gives an almost hypnotic amount of length, holds curl all day and is easy to work with, I highly recommend it.

Have a great day!

I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara

I talked about my renewed faith in Essence mascaras in my Product of the Week post a while ago, where I talked about get big lashes volume boost waterproof mascara. I was highly recommended to try I <3 Extreme Crazy Volume mascara by a couple of bloggers, who said it is really good (Passing Fancy and Summer). Of course, the next time I was in a drugstore, it landed in my shopping basket. Now normally I don't go for non-waterproof mascaras because I have the most stubborn lashes that don't just look completely unruly but are also very straight, some even grow downwards, and they refuse to stay curled. However, I heard it holds curl despite being a regular formula. 

Well, it doesn't. My lashes drop like a rock with it. But, I'm not going to make a bad review based on what is truthfully it's only fault. It's not mascaras fault my lashes are being annoying. 

It's quite a volumising mascara and the formula is among thicker ones. First application will leave you with defined lashes, but the second could get clumpy, but not necessary. It gives a nice amount of length. I love the brush. I really do. It looks a bit funny, but I like plastic brushes and this one has some bristles at the end that make it easy to apply mascara on smaller or corner lashes.

The packaging is super tacky and looks like it was made for 12-year-old girls, but so do all Essence mascaras. It's among the biggest mascaras.

It's a pretty good mascara for a reasonable price. It gives volume, length, separates ok and I like the brush. If your lashes don't have a problem with staying curled, give it a go. I can't remember how much it was, but around 3€. I wish Essence made a waterproof version of it, but mine is going either to the makeup graveyard a.k.a. my mother's makeup bag or to my cousin.

In še info za Slovenke. Müller ima 20% popust na vse maskare od 12.8.-24.8. če še ne veste. 

Have a great day!

Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus

I have very stubborn lashes that refuse to stay curled unless I use a good waterproof mascara. So far I have rarely been truly impressed by any, a notable exception being Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Feline Black waterproof, which costs an eye-watering 30 €, but it sure holds the curl all day and makes your lashes look amazing. I have heard that Japanese mascaras hold curl very well, so after checking some reviews I narrowed my choice to two mascaras -  Fairy Drops Platinum Waterproof and this one, Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus. 

The design of the tube is definitely eye-catching with the gold/black label and an interesting top. The brush is unusual with a two sided design, one side has a comb and the other what I can only describe as evenly spaced grooves. I suppose the idea is to use the "groove" side first to get the product on the lashes and then the other side to comb them through. The brush is small, especially in comparison to the new big brushes that became so popular in the recent years. I must admit, I needed a few uses to get used to it, because it's definitely not the easiest brush to work with. What I can say is that the brush almost ruins this mascara for me. It seems to me like it was made for very short lashes, because it barely combs though mine. The grooves on both sides are just not deep enough for both application and separation. It almost feels like I'm applying mascara with a stick. First coat goes on easy and looks good, the lashes look separated and darker, but the problems appear with the second coat. The lashes starts to clump together and the brush just piles the product on, but the comb can't separate them any more. I have to use an old mascara wand from L'Oreal's Million lashes (one of the best brushes ever) to separate the lashes and avoid it looking too spidery.I do however, get a lot of volume with the second coat. I don't know how such a brush performs on short lashes though. 

As much as I dislike the brush, the formula is great. It's jet black, honestly one of the darkest mascaras I've had. It's not waterproof and wetter than I'm used to, but it holds curl all day, which makes me one happy camper. Of course, I have to make sure that the curl is great from the start by using my Tana lash curlers and the mascara works like a hair spray for lashes, so just holds it in place. Basically, the lashes stay the same as when I applied it all day - curled, volumised and black. A lot of mascaras change colour on me and get lighter during the day, but not this one.
It is a fibre mascara and you can see the fibres on the brush. I don't notice my lashes being any longer because of that and it's definitely not that special when it comes to lengthening in comparison to regular mascaras. The fibres in it are quite big and occasionally some do fall off the lashes, either on the cheeks or in the eye, the latter can be a bit uncomfortable and even painful.
It's very volumising because of the thicker formula, but as I said it has a tendency to clump up fast. Personally, I prefer the volumising effect of Maybelline's the Colossal mascara. I compared the two, each on one eye and the Maybelline one looked more natural, the lashes were more defined, but still volumised. 

It's not a waterproof mascara, but removal can be difficult if you don't use an oil based eye makeup remover. I use the Maybelline's spezial waterproof one. It doesn't run under a shower like other non-waterproof mascaras do, only the fibres fall off, still I wouldn't go swimming with it.

I got it on eBay from one the most thoughtful sellers (this one), who included a nice note and mascara took only one week to arrive from Thailand. I paid about 14 €.

It's a great mascara, but it has it's faults. I like the formula, but dislike the brush. However, since I have an old mascara wand to brush through my lashes, I don't find this such a big problem, just more of a nuisance. It passes with flying colours when it comes to holding the curl all day and it does give you a lot of volume, but lengthening-wise the fibres don't make much of a difference compared to regular formulas. A lot of people rave about this mascara, but I don't know whether they have mostly short lashes, because I find the brush difficult to use on mine. I'll probably get the Fairy Drops one next, I'm hoping it has a similar, great formula, but with a better brush for my lashes.

Thanks for reading!

New Essence Goodies Part 1

And again essence released a bunch of new makeup as they do so often. I got three things that are new in the permanent range, a colour changing lip balm from the newest Oz The Great and Powerful TE and a mascara that has been in the permanent range for a while. That little red pot from Catrice is a part of the Neo Geisha LE. I'll do this in two parts, the second will feature lip products and I'll post it very soon (I have the pictures already, I just have to write the reviews). 

First up is the Match2Cover cream concealer: 

The idea here is that you have two shades of concealer in one product and you either use one, or mix the two to get the perfect match for your skin. It is a great idea, I'll give them that, but the product leaves much to be desired. 

Starting with the packaging. It's simple, plastic, the lid stays shut and doesn't feel flimsy. It is small, compact and good for travelling. 

The texture is what left me disappointed. It feels creamy in the pot, but so dry on my skin and I wore a moisturiser underneath (La Roche Posay Cicaplast if you're wondering). You can see on the picture where I'm wearing it that it looks cakey and dry. I had difficulties blending it nicely as it didn't melt in my skin at all. I also didn't like it for pinpoint concealing. For some reason it didn't cover the redness I have from old blemishes and it just caked up. Maybe it would perform better on oiler skins, I don't know. I find it almost a complete dupe of theBalm's Time Balm concealer in terms of texture. Essence feels a bit more creamy to the touch, however, on the skin both feel dry and very similar.

I'd say coverage is medium to full. Perhaps I'm just spoiled from Estee Lauder Maximum Cover, but I find that though it covers my circles well, it doesn't cover blemishes or red marks effectively.

Shades are a pleasant surprise, though. The light shade is the lightest I own. It's even lighter than theBalm's Time Balm Lighter than Light and even on my Snow White skin, it works wonderful as an illuminator. Just for reference, Maybelline's the Eraser in Fair is my perfect match right now. The darker shade is a smidgen darker than Maybelline's the Eraser in Light and I think it will match a lot of people. Unfortunately, this is the only combination of shades available, so people with darker skintones won't find a match here.

Here is a comparison of all concealers I have plus Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation in 51 (it's swatched on my forearm, which is milky white right now):

I'm wearing the concealer on the right. As you can see it looks dry and obvious. Perhaps if I used a super greasy moisturiser it would work better. However, it creased even without it, so I think it would be even worse with it. Included here is the effect of essence get BIG lashes mascara:

All in all, I'm not too impressed. I was looking forward to this concealer, but it left me disappointed. If your skin is dry avoid it. Perhaps, it performs better on oilier skin. It costs 2.69€.

Essence get BIG lashes volume boost waterproof mascara is not a new addition in the essence range, but Sara from Passing Fancy said it's her favourite, so I gave it a go. You can see the effect in the picture above, honestly the lashes look a bit bigger in person than on the pic (I have no idea why my lashes always look so blah in pictures and so much nicer in person). In my experience, it gives you more length than volume. You get big lashes all right, but it looks a bit too clumpy for my taste. I prefer the look of natural volume, I mean big lashes that still look like there is nothing or much on them. I get that with the Maybelline one, though this one is not bad at all. I think it looks better a few minutes after application. I find the brush clumsy, because it's big and the bristles could be more defined. It looks just like an old school brush. The formula is dry as with most waterproof mascaras. It is a very good waterproof mascara, better than the Maybelline one. The latter smudges in contact with water and this one doesn't. It crumbles under a shower, but to a much lesser degree than I expected. In that respect I give a nod to essence. Because it's a good waterproof mascara is holds curl well. It's a nice mascara for the price, but not my favourite drugstore one. I like how it's waterproof, holds curl and lengthens, but the brush could be nicer and I'm not too excited about the clumps either. It costs 2.69 €.

Second part will be up soon. Thanks for reading!