I sampled a few more mascaras this year. Some good, most bad. Mascaras are the one makeup item I'm more than content to be unadventurous with, seeing as about three work for me and no other do, so why not stick with what works?



Maybelline "The Colossal" Volume Express Waterproof
This was good! It's a sufficiently wet-but-dry formula that it doesn't end up all over my eyes, and it certainly is waterproof. The brush is chunky style, which I don't usually get on with, but it works perfectly with this formula.

Thumbs up from me.

Benefit BadGal Lash Mascara

This was a sample sized picked up from when Glamour magazine were giving away free Benefit bits and bobs, so perhaps not completely comparable with the real deal as it were, but I found this sample to be fairly bad.
It seeks out my eyelids and glues itself to them, ruining any eyeshadow/primer there. It doesn't really have any lengthening or curling effect, and doesn't even really do much in the way of volume. The only thing I can see it doing well is making my lashes darker, but I'd much prefer it did what it was meant to do first.


No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara

Seeing as I've repurchased this three, maybe four times (in fact, it was featured in one of my most recent posts) this mascara is clearly doing something right. It doesn't flake, is reasonably easy to apply, and the brush is in segments which means you can use different parts for different areas of the eye (i.e, shorter bristles on the lower eyelashes). I do think it's a triumph of mascara design. I hope Boots don't discontinue it any time soon.

Am I the only one with this problem of getting mascara all over my eyelid? Feeling rather clumsy!

Good morning and welcome to my blog in 2013! It feels so strange to be entering yet another year...

I focused a lot on lip products and brushes in 2012, but there was a product family that I was continually hitting pan on, repurchasing, and then just never blogging about. Yep, you guessed it: Eyeliners! Admittedly, the clue was in the title ;)


Maybelline 'Master Drama' Kohl Liner
I actually own this in black and brown. I bought the brown first on a whim, as during the Summer Maybelline released a load of new products and these were included in the line up. As I was going swimming later and was fully aware that a certain rugby player male type of eye-candy would be there, I decided to invest in some waterproof cosmetics. You know, just completely coincidentally.

Anyway, after a long discussion between myself and a friendly sales assistant in Boots who told me she owned this very pencil and used it on her eyebrows, I walked home with this. And it is incredible - so, so robust and waterproof. It lasted me two hours of swimming, which I was more than impressed with. On the hand, it persists for about a day with just casual handwashing.

I haven't actually tested out the black on the waterline yet, but I'm hoping it'll be more of the same story. Best part? This liner was about a fiver, and as Maybelline was 3 for 2, it worked out to be considerably cheaper.

The only downside for me is just how soft they are - it's easy to overapply if you're a little heavy handed (as I often am). I end up having to sharpen these fairly frequently, maybe every four or so uses. I'd still recommend them to anyone looking for a budget, waterproof kohl liner.


MUA Extreme Felt Eyeliner

This was my first felt liner (yes, I am always late to the game, and what?) so I have a little soft spot in my heart for it. It doesn't last too long, usage wise. Perhaps three weeks to a month of use before it dries out and the ink gets grey. But at only £2, it fits squarely into that "cheap and cheerful staple" category.


MUA swatch


Maybelline Swatch (closest brown to camera)


Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner - Black
This Maybelline offering is my second gel eyeliner (the first being Sleek's InkPot) and it has left a much better impression on me than my first.
It looks like the sort of thing that will stay moist for a long time - the lid is sturdy and seals tightly each time, and the frosted glass looks quite classy and evokes ideas of higher end brands such as Bobbi Brown. So I'm more than happy leaving the pot on my makeshift vanity.

For me, this is not a 24 hour liner, though. Out of all the liners I've posted, this gel liner actually survives the least amount of time before running; about six, seven hours. By the end of my college day, I end up with visible smudges by the corners of my eyes. It's quite disappointing. I've tried to remedy the problem by extending my eye primer over the parameters where it'd usually be, but it doesn't always stop the smudging. Boo.

Honorary mention: Sleek InkPot
 
Runs faster than Usain Bolt. No thank you.
Looking back at this post, I've almost exclusively purchased Maybelline eye products :/ I promise you, I'm not sponsored!

Apologies for the font/coding weirdness in this post. I'm still trying to work out what's going on.

Maybelline has been on 3 for 2 in Superdrug for some time now, and this glorious offer coincided with the release of some new summer products. Naturally, I couldn't help myself and took full advantage (and utilised my NUS Extra card, which entitled me to a further 10% off the normal price)




I bought their new Colour Sensational Popsticks in 'Cherry Pop' and 'Citrus Slice' as they look so like the Clarins balms I have been craving for like two years (but way cheaper) and their new BB Cream in Dark. I was seriously impressed that their 'Dark' shade is genuinely dark, unlike others (cough cough, MUA).

 
 
I also purchased some of their 10 Hour Super Stay Tint Glosses, which I have been road testing and am seriously pleased with! I think the red is my favourite performance wise, but I love the colour of the plum.

 

What does everyone else think about Maybelline's recent offereings? Yey or nay?

Colour Tattoo. I'm sorry, the word doesn't look right without a 'u' in it. You sell in our country, you spell by our conventions dammit. I jest, I jest.



There has been HYPE over these shadows. I'm not surprised. I've tried many a highstreet (i.e, cheap) cream shadow in my time and they've all been crap, so to hear of one that isn't is a big, big thing in the makeup world.

 
Tops are plain, no tacky stickers or anything.

I hate creasage. It drives me mad. My eyeshadow doesn't crease because I layer on that primer like it's nobody's business. So to wear this, and not have it crease at the end of the day, sans primer? YES.



The consistency is a little oily, not creamy as you might expect, but as soon as it's on your eyelids the consistency changes to a nice paste-like substance. Once you've got to that stage, move quick. You have about ten seconds before it becomes unblendable.

I purchased On and On Bronze (it's more a platinum/pewter/bronze, but I'll let it go) and Turquoise Fever, to start with, though I'm likely to be going back for more considering payday was very recent. Swatched:



Turquoise Fever has visible silver glitter particles in it, which give it a lovely reflective quality. I look at it and just think of a gorgeous Caribbean beach or some other place that I can't afford to go to. Very summery.
The glitter in this doesn't fall out on me or during application, which is one pro it has over powder eyeshadows. Mess free, fuss free glitter is a win win situation.

On and On Bronze is a shimmery finish (no glitter) that is more complex than it first appears. Sometimes it appears almost metallic brown - others, it's leaning towards silver. I really understand why there is hype around these, because the colours are phenomenal and the products perform. Maybelline, feel free to pat yourself on the back.

Application for On and On Bronze is fine. With other cream shadows, I find I carefully measure the amount I use so as to not induce creasing, but this is fine - I can go for a sheer wash with eyeliner for a really lazy/rushed school look, or build it up for opacity. If you blend quickly enough, it finds uses as a highlighter either for the brow bone or the Cupid's bow - I find that it's staying power means it won't move from my lips if I eat/drink/sneeze or whatever. No idea whether it is lip safe or not, but that's how I use it.

Turquoise Fever can be a little patchy upon initial application, but to combat this I go in for a second layer and then just pat rather than rub the colour onto my eyelids. No problems with opacity, and it stays put for however long I want it to. Not 24 hours, I do like to wash in that time, but still. Clearly, to adequately test the 24 hours claim, I need to take these on Duke of Edinburgh with me...

At £4.99, I think these are pretty damn affordable (and you never hear me say that), considering they double as a coloured eyeshadow primer, too. I've used On and On Bronze as a base for the grey eyeshadow in the Sleek Paraguaya palette, and this results in a slightly shimmery, copper/grey colour. Gorgeous, and of course went the distance in lasting power. With the brighter colours in the range, you can use these as a base to make coloured shadows pop, and especially with the finicky mattes from the Sleek palettes, the slight tackiness of these shadows as a base really helps to 'grab on' to the shadow and keep it in place for more vibrancy. I'm very pleased these finally made it to the UK.

 Please don't be offended by the title, it's all in jest. And entirely appropriate seeing as I have spent a sinful amount on all of this:



THERE IS A JUSTIFICATION.

My makeup buying habits have been funded like this, thus far - I buy something small from Superdrug. I then take myself over to their website and fill in their Customer Survey. I then recieve a code from their website to write on my reciept, which I then take to the store and spend to get 10% off everything (when I spend over £10) and 25% off their own brands as well as Sleek, 2True and MUA. I then produce my NUS Extra card (a student card) to get an extra 10% off everything, making the total discount 20% or 35% off Sleek/own brands. Since I usually buy Sleek from Superdrug, it makes everything a lot more affordable.



However, I came to hear that Superdrug are phasing out these vouchers and my world came tumbling down. Those vouchers were the very reason I shop in Superdrug and not Boots, because Superdrug's reward card system is quite frankly, shite, and Boots' is infinitely better, but these vouchers make Superdrug much more affordable than Boots for what I want to buy which is why almost all my makeup is purchased there.


Naturally, I did what any sane person would do and bought everything I would need for the next few months my lifetime. I spent a lot more buying all five of the Blush by 3 palettes and a few other bits and bobs as well as some lipstick for my Mum (she loves Sleek True Colour lipstick as it comes in lots of shades of dark, vampy red) and a few giveaway bits but the majority was pure greed.



I didn't own either the Original or the Au Naturel palettes so bought them. Now, if I just add the PPQ palette, I've got every Sleek palette ever released ;)
Bought a Luminaire concealer as I've always wanted to see what the fuss was about.
MUA Felt Tip Eyeliner,
Suede blush, because I wanted to know if I was missing out. (On use, I can say I'm not)
A repurchase of their Luminous Pressed Powder in Shade 03 as I'm running low on mine (used most days)
Repurchase of the Storm palette as I've broken a shade in the one I already have.
 Various lipsticks.

MUA's new BB Cream in 'Dark' (Verdict: Not dark enough)
Two MUA lipsticks
Lots of GOSH 'Soft 'n' Shine' lip balms (LOVE)
MUA White Eye Kohl
Max Factor 'Fantasy Fire' nail polish
Two of the Maybelline 24 Eyeshadow pot things
Maybelline Gel Eyeliner (not pictured)
Sleek Blush by 3 (not pictured)
Sleek Hide it Concealer (I already own this, but in a darker shade. I have Shade 4, and bought it in Shade 3)
More stuff that wouldn't fit in the photo.




After these holidays are over, I will be far too preoccupied with exams to buy makeup anyway, so really this is an investment in my future...and I will totally save money after this. Promise.

What do you want reviewed first?

Hey guys! After this post, there is one more (of the purple glitter polish) that was pictured in the very first haul and another Boots purple one that wasn't pictured, and then we can swatch the newer ones :P
This is from the Colorama collection by Maybelline. The colour is called "Jelly Bean"

The very first photo lies. The colour is a LOT more green. It's a bluey-tinged turquoise in shade and a greeny one in sunlight.
I had reservations about this colour originally. I painted a coat on and was just like, what? Is this going to be another Tropical Peach? It went on meh. A tad runny, and it looked really sheer on my nail which irritated me. It opaqued up while it was drying though (which took a hella long time). Despite the drying time, once it was dry, it really was dry - no amount of knocking could dent it, which I appreciated. And the brush was whack - splayed out everywhere - but I think that was due to the previous owner rather than any fault of the polish :P In the photos you see I've applied two coats. It has a foily finish and green shimmer. Yeah, it's grown on me.

Mascara time! These are two mascaras that I bought from TJ Hughes the other day.  
I got NYC Lengthening Mascara and Maybelline Define A Lash Volume Mascara.

 The NYC was really not good. I put a coat on my lashes and was like, "Eh?" It barely made any difference to my lashes apart from making them look slightly darker, which hello, I need no help with, because they're black already? I waited five minutes then mushed another coat on. And another. After loads of vigarous shaking and pulling, my lashes looked a little longer. A little. What a fail. The brush was soft and didn't really feel like it was doing anything. Not my thing at all.

The Maybelline was a lot better, though the brush felt a tad odd because it was so short and bristly, almost painful. Once you get used to the sensation, though, this is by far the superior product. It instantly seperates your lashes and actually makes them look longer and fuller, and I didn't need to put on a million coats.

*I paid for all these products myself. :D

I said those orange nails were crying out for nail art, haha.

Sorry about the lack of cleanup. Anyway, I did these with these two nail polishes:
The radioactive warning signs could have ben a little less messy, but yeah. Happy Holy Saturday, by the way :D

This is a swatch of the Maybelline "Tropical Peach" that was featured in the earlier haul. Colour was a bit of a disapointment, to be honest.

I was really hoping that it would be more opaque than it actually was. It's a yellowy tinged orange that is slightly sheer. This was two coats and there's still visible nail line. The light makes it look slightly more sheer than it is on my nails, though. It is a bit more pigmented than it appears here. Application was meh, runny but not so much that it was impossible to apply. Easily mixed. I think this is definately a good colour for summer so I'll save it until then.
This colour is crying out for some nail art! On it's own I don't think it really suits me as well as the Avon blue but yeah.

Goodnight all!

Here we have: two Maybellines, three Avons and one nail polish from Boots.
This is what looks like a glittery purple topcoat (from Avon).
Here's the topcoat again with it's buddies - Avon Minimilastic Peach (which I showed in an earlier post) and Flash. Both look like they'll be good colours for school. The formula on Minimalistic Peach is absolutley gorgeous. The ball bearings literally fly through the mixture yet on your fingers it's not runny at all. Good coverage. I haven't tried Flash or Glittering Purple yet but I'm sure they'll live up to expectations.
The Maybelline colours really caught my eye! There's an orange (Tropical Peach, hmm, a lot of peaches hanging around here!) and a turquoise (Jelly Bean). The colours are both lighter than they appear in this photo. Again, haven't tried these out yet but expect swatches soon! Both of them look like they have very interesting hints of shimmer in them.