Rimmel Scandaleyes XX-Treme Mascara

ANOTHER new mascara! This time around it's the Rimmel Scandaleyes XX-Treme Mascara ($7.99).   The mascara is advertised to give both volume and length at a (presumably) XX-TREME level with its unique brush. 

The wand is plastic, which I'm typically fond of. I find plastic wands are typically better for combing out clumps. One side of the brush is flat, while the other is arched. The flat side is to be used for creating length, while the arched side is meant to be for creating volume. 

Does it lengthen? Yes. Does it volumize? Yes. Does it clump? No. Does it smudge? No. Does it droop? No. 

The Rimmel Scandaleyes XX-Treme Mascara pretty much meets all the criteria to be a Stephanie-approved lash product, perhaps on par with my favourite CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara. It provides non-clumpy volume and length without smudging or drooping, so no complaints here. 

Do you like Rimmel mascaras? 

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CoverGirl Super Size Mascara and Intensify Me! Liquid Eyeliner

CoverGirl has two new things for your eyes – the CoverGirl Super Sizer Mascara and Intensify Me! Liquid Eyeliner by LashBlast. One I like and one I'm on the fence about. Guess which one's which and read my thoughts below: 

My lashes typically do well with CoverGirl mascaras, and this one is no exception. The CoverGirl Super Sizer Mascara (~$7) features a plastic tip with small bristles. Oddly enough, the wand goes from small at the base to slightly wider at the tip. This makes no difference in application. The slightly curved wand paired with small bristles, makes it easy to grab and slightly curl all my baby eyelashes without getting black blobs all over my eyelids. In addition, it doesn’t smudge or droop on me which is a definite plus. CG claims that lashes are 400 x more volumized from inner to outer corner. Yes, it’s very volumizing but maybe not by 400x. Regardless, the Super Sizer is a mascara that I’d definitely go back to. 

Indeed, you can carve out a decent looking cat eye with the CoverGirl Intensify Me! Liquid Eyeliner (~$8). However, the hard felt tip isn’t particularly precise (compared to the brush tips of the Physicians Formula, Kat Von D or Paul & Joe liquid liners). The liner is very dark and intense but bleeds ever so slightly; again making precision tougher than you might be used to. The formulation requires a little drying time before rapid blinking (or risk ultra-black lines in all the wrong places) but after drying, stays all day long with no signs of fading. 

All in all, the Intensify Me! Liquid Eyeliner is so-so but if you're a fan of CoverGirl mascaras, the Super Sizer Mascara won't disappoint.  

Have you tried these new goodies from CoverGirl? 

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New York Color Big Bold Volume by the Lash Mascara

12x the volume for lashes? If a mascara could do that... I would be the happiest camper. New York Color says that its Big Bold Volume By the Lash Mascara ($4.99) amps up your total fringe impact by individually coating and volumizing each and every lash up to 12x more. No smudges, no clumps, just a traffic-stopping wow effect.

12x is 1000% an over statement. While claims of no smudging and no clumping appear to be true, my lashes have been amped up around 0.12x compared to my natural lashes. The price is nice, but the result is less than stellar. Perhaps if you're looking for a everyday mascara that is natural and doesn't smudge or clump, then this is perfect. But you won't be stopping traffic with your lashes anytime soon. 

Have you tried any New York Color mascaras? 

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Lancome Hypnose Custom Volume Mascara

Iconic high-end mascaras always pique my interest. What makes a 3-month-lifetime product worth $30+? That's $10/month, nearly half my phone bill! I won the Lancome Hypnose Custom Volume Mascara ($31.50) from a giveaway run by Stephanie of theFantasia. 

The wand is pretty standard - straight, with natural bristles. Per the Sephora website, the claims of the Lancome Hypnose Custome Volume Mascara are simple. Buildable volume withought smearing, smudging or clumping. 

attractively curved mascara tube 

Does it lengthen? Yes. Does it volumize? Definitely. Does it clump? Slightly. Does it smudge? Unfortunately, yes...after 3 hours. Does it droop? No. 

Indeed the Lancome Hypnose Custom Volume Mascara delivers on it's volumizing claims. One coat for an everyday natural look. Above, I've built up three coats for a more dramatic lash. The downfall of this mascara is in it's smudging. The chemistry of the formula just doesn't work with my skin (or something...). Within 3 hours, the mascara smudges along my lower lashline, racoon style, and it isn't pretty. For the time being, I'll be sticking with my $7 HG drugstore option. 

Do you prefer high end or drugstore mascaras? 

Featured item won in giveaway, as mentioned above! 

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Quo Cosmetics Spring 2015 Collection

The first day of Spring is nearly here and Quo's got a bunch of new releases for you to make your collection Spring-ready. The packaging for the Quo Cosmetics Spring 2015 Collection is stunning - pink with a black overlay for the 3 eye palettes ($18), 2 face palettes ($20) and 1 brow palette ($12). In addition to that, there's four Quo by Orly Art Scene Polishes ($10 - see swatches here) and the Quo Cosmetics Dynamic Duo Mascara ($14). 

I'm no stranger to the Quo Brow Palette. Pictured above are both the Spring 2015 (pink) and Fall 2014 (blue) brow palettes. While I'm preferential to the Spring 2015 packaging, both palettes feature the same product, two brow powders and a cream. Overall, a perfect product for natural looking yet full brows - and a good cool-toned colour for my black brows. See swatches here. 

The Quo Cosmetics Dynamic Duo Mascara is one that claims to lengthen and curl. There's a retractable, built-in comb that's an interesting little contraption. While I would still use a lash curler, the Quo Cosmetics Dynamic Duo Mascara does a great job at lengthening and holding a curl not actually curling the lashes. The mascara can get a little clumpy after 4 coats so the built-in comb is perfect for picking out any clumpiness and making the lashes look more natural. Overall, not my favourite mascara but I do wish that all mascaras came with a retractable lash comb. 

Dynamic Duo Mascara - no eyelash curler used

Unfortunately, all of the Quo Cosmetics Spring 2015 line is limited edition. So if something interests you, head to your nearest Shoppers Drug Mart ASAP! 

What do you think of the Quo Cosmetics Spring 2015 Collection?

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Guerlain Cils D'enfer Volume Creating Curl Sculpting Mascara

Well,  here's something unique. It's a mascara that appears black but has a subtle blue shine. It is the Guerlain Cils D'enfer Volume Creating Curl Sculpting Mascara in 04 Marine ($34) which is part of Guerlain's Spring Colour Collection 2015 (available in Guerlain Boutiques & Instituts and Guerlain counters as of January 15th, 2015). 

The Cils D'enfer Volume Creating Curl Sculpting Mascara that was previously available in Noir (black), Violet (purple) and Moka (brown) is now available in Marine (blue). The Cils D'enfer Volume Creating Curl Sculpting Mascara is meant to dress up, intensify and enhance the eyes...ensures breathtaking volume, curl and hold. 

A few things I noted after trying the mascara: 

• The golden tube is stunning and quite weighty. Very luxe. 
• The Cils D'enfer is one of the most pleasant smelling mascaras. It's scent is on par with the floral perfume scent of the Shu Uemura Petal Lash Mascara. Thankfully, it doesn't bother my eyes. 
• The formula doesn't smudge at all, even on my lower lashes after a 12 hour day. 
• The natural bristled wand is perfect for grabbing onto even the most thin and wispy of lashes. 
• In person, the blue tint of the mascara is stunning. 
• I used 3 coats of mascara before it began to clump slightly. 

All in all, the Guerlain Cils D'enfer Volume Creating Curl Sculpting Mascara fulfills all of its claims on the fronts of volume, curl and intensity. The effect is more dramatic and long-wearing than that of the CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara, along with the added bonus of a beautiful navy shine that is less avant garde and more timeless than the Hard Candy 1000 Lashes in Indigo Blue. It's a coloured mascara that's highly appropriate for both work and play. This mascara is quite the product to behold. 

Does it lengthen? Yes. Does it volumize? Certainly! Does it clump? No. Does it smudge? Not at all. Does it droop? No. 

Have you encountered a slightly coloured mascara? 

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Hard Candy 1000 Lashes Fiberized Mascara in Indigo Blue

Hey, Stephanie. Something's different about your eyelashes. And brows. They're blue! It's all thanks to the Hard Candy 1000 Lashes Fiberized Mascara in Indigo Blue ($6, exclusively at Walmart). It's also available in other fun colours like Divine Purple, Mermaid Teal, White, Lush Green, and your standard Midnight Black. 

I think I'm obsessed. What's not to love about coloured mascara? The brush is pretty standard, straight with natural bristles. Other than the colour, what's different about the Hard Candy 1000 Lashes is the formula. If you look very, very closely at the wand, there's thousands of tiny little hairs. The tiny fibers make for very volumized lashes. 

I used the Hard Candy 1000 Lashes in Indigo Blue atop the CoverGirl Full Lash Bloom Mascara for some extra volume and colour. It's ridiculous how vibrant and voluminous the blue looks on my naturally sparse lashes. 

Under my standard mascara evaluation it does pretty well. --> Does it lengthen? Yes. Does it volumize? Definitely. Does it clump? No. Does it smudge? No. Does it droop? No. 

If you're in the market for a coloured mascara, I would 1000% recommend the Hard Candy Fiberized Mascara. Given the performance of Indigo Blue, I'd love to eventually try the regular, old black colour. 

Have you tried any Hard Candy mascaras? 

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Rimmel Wonder'Lash Mascara with Argan Oil

New from Rimmel is the Rimmel Wonder'Lash Mascara with Argan Oil ($8.49 CAD). It's yet another mascara that claims to leave lashes feeling conditioned, soft and supple (re: CoverGirl Full Lash Bloom Mascara), which gives me the feeling that conditioning mascaras are the next "thing" in beauty. 

The Rimmel Wonder'Lash Mascara with Argan Oil is available in three variations - Black, Extreme Black, and Waterproof. The mascara is housed in a shiny brass tube, of which is probably the most luxurious drugstore mascara packaging I've come across. Think, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette packaging (fingerprints included). 

The brush is a large, flexible plastic wand with tons of tiny bristles. While the large brush is great for grabbing on to every lash, I always end up getting mascara on my eyelid and the wand is way too clunky for my bottom lashes. 

After playing around with the Rimmel Wonder'Lash Mascara with Argan Oil, I'm liking it a lot! The performance is pretty great AND my lashes do feel soft during and after use. The Rimmel Wonder'Lash is everything I look for in a mascara with the wonderful addition of soft, flexible, non-crispy lashes. 

Does it lengthen? Slightly. Does it volumize? Yes. Does it clump? After 3 coats. Does it smudge? Slightly, after 8 hours or a nap. Does it droop? No. 

Have you tried the Rimmel Wonder'Lash Mascara with Argan Oil? 

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CoverGirl Full Lash Bloom Mascara in Black

Long time no mascara review, mainly because I've found favourites in the Shu Uemura Petal Lash Mascara and the CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara. The CoverGirl Full Lash Bloom Mascara ($7.99) is the latest from CoverGirl. 

Here's the little advert blurb: 

"With Full Lash Bloom Mascara, get exceptional lash fullness that’s soft - even to the touch. With our new petal-shaped brush and mousse formula with natural beeswax, lashes are never stiff or brittle. Perfect for everyday wear, Full Lash Bloom Mascara is also safe for contact lens wearers and is ophthalmologically tested. So bring out every last lash, and embrace you in full bloom!"

SOFT EYELASHES? Is that even a thing? I'm quite fond of CoverGirl mascaras, so I was ecstatic to give this one a whirl. 

For the most part, it looks like your typically CoverGirl mascara tube...except for the fact that it comes in the girliest looking tube of life. Pink with little flowers. The 5 year old inside me loves this. 

The wand is plastic with short bristles. Generally, I like these kinds of wands, as I find that they work well for minimizing clumpiness and separating the lashes (see CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara).  

The end result? A little lackluster. While there's some definite lengthening and separating action going on, it's not enough for me. I want more. More volume, more length. As for soft lashes, I can't really say. It feels just like any other mascara. 

Does it lengthen? Yes. Does it volumize? Not really. Does it clump? No. Does it smudge? No. Does it droop? Very little. 

While this isn't my favourite mascara, it's a good pick if you're looking for a mascara that is lengthening yet natural looking. If you're looking for something a hair more dramatic and volumizing try the Clump Crusher or something a little more pricey with a false lash effect try the Shu Uemura Petal Lash Mascara. 

Have you ever tried a "touchably soft mascara"? 

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The Winter Flush: #NYCBeautyPro Challenge #4

Snowfall means... Sweater Weather! Fittingly, this month's New York Color NYC Beauty Pro Challenge theme is "Ice Skating at the Rockefeller Center". As such, I've put on one of my fuzziest winter sweaters and a makeup look to match the colder weather. 

In from the cold pink cheeks and a hydrated, slightly tinted lip are made easy with a few products from New York Color. 

The New York Color Cheek Glow Powder Blush in 650 NoLiTa Pink ($2.99) is the perfect flush of natural pink with a hint of golden sparkle for a subtle glow. The blush is surprisingly pigmented, so make sure to tap off the excess before applying it to the face. On the lips, I'm wearing the New York Color Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm ($2.99) smells exactly like apple hard candies and adds the tiniest bit of gloss and a red tint to dehydrated lips. I also attempted to apply the New York Color Show Time Waterproof Volumizing Mascara in 844 Extreme Black ($3.99) onto my lashes but it didn't do much other than darken them. I'm also wearing a bit of the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper and the CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation on my face. 

There's not really much too this look. A little blush, a little gloss and you're good to go. Add some mascara, liner, and a touch of foundation for a fuller-faced look. 

What's your go-to winter makeup look? 

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Kat Von D the Star Studded Look Set

Holiday value sets are making their way into Sephora. If you like mini (aka fun size) beauty products, then right around now is the perfect time to try out a plethora of brands and products without the commitment of full-size. That being said, I've been playing around with the Kat Von D the Star Studded Look set ($24), which contains three deluxe-size Kat Von D favourites - the Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Underage, Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper, and Kat Von D Immortal Lash Mascara. 

The Kat Von D the Star Studded Look retails for $24 CAD for $32 in value per the Sephora website. I've taken the liberty of calculating values for this set of minis and the $32 total value is accurate (I'm studying accounting. So I kind of like this stuff... except when it's on an exam).

Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Underage ($26 full size // $10.40 mini) - Holy mother of pigmentation. This satin finish fire-engine red is HOT. The formulation is good but not amazing, it's not as creamy as you might expect and drags on the lips slightly. Other than that, the colour is superbly opaque in 2 layers and lasts through multiple meals (~7 hours). Plus, how cute is the mini lipstick bullet? 

Kat Von D Immortal Lash Mascara ($25 full size // $14.36 mini) - This is probably the most torturous looking mascara wand I've ever seen. The plastic bristles spiral around the wand and are concentrated at the very tip. This mascara claims to be a 3-in-1, do-it-all 24H formula that lengthens, curls, and coats. While no mascara has ever lived up to the curl claim on my stick straight lashes, the lengthening properties work for me (see the results below). If I wore mascara for 24 hours, I fear my lashes might fall off but this one stays all day without smudging or flaking so it gets my seal of approval. 

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper ($23 full size // $8.05 mini) - I can see why all I read online is raves for this liquid liner. The applicator is actually a number of very fine brush hairs stuck together to create a very precise tip. When I first used this liner, it seemed a little watery but with a little shaking and upside down storage, the formula was the blackest of opaque blacks - no need for double swiping. What I love about this liner is that it doesn't bleed or smudge and the brush is super easy to use. If you wear liquid liner on the daily, this is definitely something to look into. 

The Star Studded Look... 

Overall, I've easily worked these products together and separately into my everyday routine. I'm impressed with the performance of each of these Kat Von D products. So, if you're looking to try a bit of Kat Von D, be sure to check out this limited edition set! 

Have you tried any of these items? What do you think of Kat Von D? 

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Annabelle Instaglam Eyeliner + Touch-Up Mascara in Black Star and Psychedelic

For the everyday woman, it seems as though beauty products are all about convenience. That's why there's lip/cheek tints, dual-ended brushes, and double-sided eyeliners. Now here's something interesting - how about a mascara and eyeliner all in one? Sounds convenient, doesn't it? 

Thick liquid eyeliner marker on one side and tube of mascara on the other, that's the Annabelle Instaglam Eyeliner + Touch-up Mascara ($12.95) in a nutshell. It comes in three shades - Abyss (blue), Psychedelic (purple) and Black Star (black). 

Annabelle Instaglam Eyeliner + Touch-Up Mascara in Black Star and Psychedelic

I feel like dual-purpose products can only be one of two things - either a gift from the beauty gods or a total gimmick. In this case, the Annabelle Instaglam Eyeliner + Touch-Up Mascara leans towards the gimmicky side of things. The eyeliner side is sheer and bleeds into the skin, which is a pretty look on nobody. Moreover, the mascara should be reserved for touch-ups only because it doesn't add much to my lashes. However, the purple is pretty cool (I wore it in this makeup look) and definitely shows some promise worn underneath a white primer. 

Overall, the Annabelle Instaglam Eyeliner + Touch-Up Mascara was not for me. Annabelle has much better offerings of eyeliner and mascara separately, so if you're looking to try something from the brand, skip this and be impressed by something else. 

What's your favourite dual-purpose product? 

Press sample featured. This is part of my eyeliner monday series - where I review a different eyeliner every...Monday. :) See more eyeliner reviews here. 

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Shu Uemura Petal Lash Mascara

A testament to the prowess of a mascara comes about when a boy says, "your lashes look long today". And in my mind I'm thinking, "YESSSSSS. Not only do my eyelashes exist, they look LONG!" (and I apply my make-up at 9am, at the time it was 10pm). The Shu Uemura Petal Lash Mascara ($29 CAD, 15% and free shipping with the code DRAW15 on shuuemura.ca) has proven itself worthy of my short, stubby lashes. 

Lashes for days. The Shu Uemura Petal Lash Mascara is slightly volumizing and above and beyond lengthening. Surprisingly, it's a little more wet than the mascaras I typically prefer (i.e. CoverGirl Clump Crusher) and it takes a little bit of time to work with the small brush that tends to clump lashes together. I make sure to wipe off the excess product on the sides of the tube before applying to avoid sticking my lashes together. 

The mascara wand is quite fine and the criss-cross hairs pick up each and every one of my fine lashes. Also, the lash is so small that it's perfection for my lower lashes. Before the Petal Lash Mascara, I never wore product on my lower lashes (for fear of clumping and smudging) but the Petal Lash is 100% long-wearing, flake-proof and smudge-proof - all day long. 

Another noteworthy mention: most mascaras I've come across smell like a vat of chemicals, this one smells like flowers! 

My only issue... It's waterproof, an absolute pain to remove. Not even the famed Shu Uemura-branded cleansing oils can get this stuff off. Hot showers aside, I'll go through my entire cleansing process (eye makeup remover, cleansing oil, facial cleanser) and it looks like it's all gone but when I wake up the next morning, I've still got this hard-to-remove black residue under my eyes. But you know what? It's worth it. My lashes have never looked and stayed as amazing as the Petal Lash Mascara makes them out to be (and hard-to-remove is preferred over party-all-night-raccoon-eyes). 

Overall, a great mascara and I can live with the removal process. Yes, I totally received this as a press sample but I'd totally be willing to shell out $29 every 3-6 months because my lashes never looked so good. 

Have you ever tried a mascara that smells like flowers? 

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Shu Uemura Tokyo Lash Eye Opening Volume Mascara

Long time no mascara review! I typically avoid high-end mascaras (with the exception of a few) because the drugstore is plentiful in awesome offerings, my favourite being the CoverGirl Clump Crusher. I received the Shu Uemura Tokyo Lash Eye Opening Volume Mascara ($29 at shuuemura.ca) for a post on the Fashion Magazine Beauty Panel.

When it comes to mascara, I'm not picky. If you've read any of my posts featuring my eyes, you'll know that my lashes are puny and sad. Uncurled and without mascara, they appear to be non-existent. So, I'm just looking for something that will add some volume and length that can hold a curl and won't smudge. I'm not asking for much. 

Here's what Shu Uemura has to say about its Tokyo Lash Mascara: 

"Volume-type mascara for lacquer-black lashes. New crisscross brush catches shortest lashes and brings out lash makeup as if it were done by a make-up artist.Long-lasting and smudge-proof!"

The Shu Uemura Tokyo Lash Eye Opening Volume Mascara delivers on both the volume and length fronts, bringing my lashes into existence without clumpiness. The look is very comparable to the clump crusher but better. The Tokyo Lash provides slightly more volume, length, and drama. It smudges slightly if I apply at 8AM and check my makeup at 12PM, which isn't great. I find that the staying power of CoverGirl mascaras is better. Throughout a full day there's no drooping with the Tokyo Lash, which is a huge benefit because, for me, the secret to good lashes is a good, long-lasting curl. Also noteworthy, it's not waterproof so it'easy to remove without pulling out the lashes that I have. 

Oddly enough, I find that the Shu Uemura Tokyo Lash Eye Opening Volume Mascara provides more length than I had expected. In a perfect world, it would provide a touch more volume and wouldn't smudge, but when my lashes show up in photos, it's hard for me to complain (but sad that there's a huge tradeoff) 

Do you have a favourite high-end mascara? 

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