Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies Big Eyes Waterproof Mascara Review

I Bought This

When I go without mascara, I feel like I look like a male construction worker. Or that my eyes are really, really small. And ever since my Dolly Wink Long mascara ran out, I have been using a couple of mascaras I had lying around, but none of them were really making me feel (at least) like a female construction worker. So one day, when I was perusing the aisles of Walgreens (that darn money sinkhole), I happened to notice that all the Maybelline makeup was BOGO 1/2 off. I don't know about you, but for me Maybelline has been pretty solid in the mascara department and I decided to get not one, but two new mascaras. How could I not, they were BOGO 1/2 off after all (darn marketing tricks).

This is one of them, an intriguing little number from Maybelline, called Volum' Express The Falsies Big Eyes Mascara in Very Black.

From Maybelline.com:

Revolutionary dual-ended Mascara for 360° all around Lash Glam
Two brushes specifically designed for top and bottom lashes
Special quick-dry formula holds lashes in place

PRODUCT DETAILS

WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT

Now get bigger, wide-open eyes with 360 degrees of lash glam volume! The Upper Brush pushes lashes over the top while the lower Micro-Brush grabs every tiny bottom lash for a full circle effect.

FOR BEST RESULTS

Apply the Upper Brush against the top lashes and sweep from root to tip until a clean, voluminous look is achieved, followed by the lower lash line using the Micro Brush. Do not let dry between coats. Removes with soap and water or with Maybelline® Clean Express!® Classic Eye Makeup Remover.

^^Removes with soap and water.....??? Is anyone out there actually washing their eyes with soap??? Please tell me no. I would use an oil based cleanser/makeup remover with a cotton pad to remove waterproof mascara.

The dual brush is cool, but not really for those times when you're in a hurry and just want to put on a few swipes of mascara quickly. The lower lash brush is perfect for catching the small lashes and the ones at your inner corners. I really like the way this mascara makes my lashes look for about the first hour or so, then it starts drooping a bit, but they still look full and separated. One thing I hate is removing it and then the next day still getting panda eyes when I wake up... that's the problem with most waterproof mascaras though, they don't remove easily.  I think I may keep this and use the lower lash brush for those little tiny lashes. I like it for now but I think I just need to buy a new tube of the Dolly Wink Long mascara, or maybe try Fiberwig mascara, since they are pretty much everything I want as well as being water resistant and come off beautifully with warm water. Currently I haven't found a Western brand mascara that has all the attributes of an Asian mascara, please let me know if you have!

My Favourite Orange Lip Looks

Orange lips are SO big right now. I think you can pretty much wear orange lipstick through Spring, Summer and Fall, so it's an extremely versatile lip colour. I've compiled some of my favourite looks that I've done with Orange lipstick, so check them out!

Layering with Maybelline Vivids Lipstick in Electric Orange and Baby Lips in Coral Crush.

Two Toned Lips using Maybelline Vivids Lipstick in Electric Orange and Shocking Coral.

Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti, 1 & 2.

Orange can be worn in so many ways, subtly or as a bright pop of colour, I really love it as a change from my usual pinks and peaches. Maybelline Vivids Electric Orange is a beautiful bold statement shade, while Baby Lips Coral Crush is a nice soft wash of sheer colour, so whether you love to stand out or prefer to just dip your toe into orange, there's something for everyone. Orange also suits almost every complexion, so it's definitely one of the season's hot trends that I recommend.

Have you tried orange lipstick yet? What's your favourite?

Check out some other Orange Lip Looks here:

How To Do Two Toned Lips! Runway Trend Made Easy

Two Toned lips are all over runways and fashion magazines at the moment. I think it's one of the hottest trends for Spring and Summer, so I wanted to show you a few super easy ways to do it using drugstore makeup!

No. 1 - Bright Coral and Orange:

Products Used - Maybelline Vivids Lipsticks in Electric Orange and Shocking Coral. Pink and orange is the one I most wanted to try, it looks so high fashion and edgy! I wanted to use a pink that was similarly toned, so I chose a bright, warm coral pink. I used two lipsticks from the same line so I knew they had a similar formula and finish. It was very simple, just applied Shocking Coral on the top and Electric Orange on the bottom. Viola!

No. 2 - Shades of Pink.

Products used: Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick in Dollhouse Pink and Mauve Outta Here. For a more subtle two toned look, using two different but complementing shades of pink does the trick. This is Wet n Wild Dollhouse Pink on the top and Mauve Outta Here on the bottom. This is a good way to just dip your toe into a high fashion look that makes it more wearable for every day. You could also do this with two tones of red!

For something a little more elaborate, check out this post I did on an ombre lip look using lipstick and gold eyeshadow:

For more info and how I did it, click here!

All three looks are super easy to do, but the last one is probably the most wearable. You also don't have to worry about messing it up if you press your lips together, whereas the first two, you have to be careful not to smudge the colours.

I'm so excited about all the Spring Trends, there are so many vibrant, edgy looks to try!

What Spring Trend are you loving?

Maybelline Color Whisper Review and Comparision: Oh La Lilac & Go Nude

I love balm/gloss/lipstick hybrid products and I was so in love with the Revlon Lip Butters last year, when I saw the new Maybelline Color Whispers I knew I just had to have a few shades. Goodness knows I shouldn't be buying more lip products, since I have a whole drawerful of barely used lipsticks, glosses and everything in between, but when have I ever let that stop me??

I've been on a huge lilac and nude kick lately, I just love the two colours for spring! They work well for the tail end of winter too :) I have been trying not to buy pink and peach shades, since I have an overwhelming amount of them, so I decided to get these two: Oh La Lilac and Go Nude.

Maybelline Color Whisper in Oh La Lilac and Go Nude

Maybelline Color Whisper in Oh La Lilac and Go Nude

Maybelline Color Whisper in Oh La Lilac

Maybelline Color Whisper in Go Nude

They go on very smoothly, but the nude shade was slightly uneven and showed flaky skin a little more. This was only really noticable on camera and super close up, in reality it looked pretty smooth and even. They feel hydrating like a balm and are quite nice and glossy. They didn't last very long, probably only about 2 hours before I had to reapply and they tended to wear a little unevenly.

Now for the comparison! Of course, when I got these home I discovered I had very VERY similar shades of Revlon Lip Butters. I decided to compare them with Gumdrop and Creme Brulee.

L to R: Revlon Gumdrop, Maybelline Oh La Lilac, Maybelline Go Nude, Revlon Creme Brulee

L to R: Revlon Gumdrop, Maybelline Oh La Lilac, Maybelline Go Nude, Revlon Creme Brulee

The shades are very similar, but have different pigmentation, I felt the Color Whispers were easier to build up opacity, while the Lip Butters are more sheer. They also feel more like a balm, whereas the Lip Butters have tiny micro shimmer which makes them slightly gritty feeling when you first put it on, but it's not that noticable. Although I thought they looked smaller than the Revlon Lip Butters, the Lip Butters are .09oz/2.55g and the Color Whispers contain more at .11oz/3g. Overall, I feel like they are different enough to justify owning both (am I just trying to convince myself?).

I'm definitely a fan of the Color Whispers and think they're a lovely, hydrating lip product for those who prefer soft, subtle shades. They're not totally sheer though, they give a nice soft pop of colour which is perfect for Spring! You do have to reapply often, but you usually have to do that with lip balm and those types of products anyway.

Pretty and Practical: A Wearable Date Look

As much as I love seeing all the beautiful, creative and unique Valentine's looks that get posted around this time, the best kind of date makeup (IMO) is classic, simple and wearable.

I did this look on my friend Desiree, soft shades of gold, brown and nudes, with a subtle pop of pinky peach on the cheeks. I wanted the look to be pretty and classic, while not clashing with her bright red dress. Nude, glossy lipstick is also great for a date, as a red lip is nice but not so practical for kissing ;)

GET THE LOOK:

Eyes:

• ALWAYS DO THE EYES FIRST! Then you can get rid of any eyeshadow fallout with concealer/foundation.
• First I applied Urban Decay Primer Potion all over the lid and undereye area.
• Then I applied the light beige shade of the Stila eyeshadow palette from the Blushing Beauty(warm) set, Karat, all over the lid.
• I took the Urban Decay shadow, Baked, which is a shimmery gold and applied it in the center of the lid
• Then I used the dark brown shade from the Stila palette, Bronze, and applied it in a v shape on the outer corner and crease.
• I used a fluffy blending brush and Karat to blend out any harsh lines and into the browbone.
• I lined the lower lashline with NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in French Fries and put a dab of Urban Decay loose pigment in Yeyo in the inner corners.
• Then I lined the upper lashline and the waterline with a black kohl liner (forgot which brand!) and did 2 coats of Maybelline The Falsies mascara on the upper and lower lashes.
• I filled out her eyebrows with the e.l.f Studio Brow Kit in medium and used an eyebrow brush to soften it up and make it look more natural.

Face:

• First I applied Benefit The POREfessional primer all over
• Then I used a sponge to apply Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow! foundation in Petal
• I used NYX Concealer Jar in Orange for her undereye area and e.l.f Studio Concealer Pencil & Brush in Light for redness and blemishes.
• I contoured under her cheeks and jawline with the bronzer from the e.l.f Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzer Powder in St Lucia.
• For blush, I layered Too Faced Full Bloom Lip & Cheek Creme Color in Prim & Poppy under Benefit Hervana Blush on the apples of her cheeks
• To set her makeup and give an airbrushed, flawless look, I dusted e.l.f Studio Translucent Matifying Powder all over with a big fluffy brush.

Lips:

• I wanted a nice, nude glossy colour, so I lined her lips with e.l.f Studio Lip Liner & Blending Brush in Nude Pink.
• Then I put Revlon Lip Butter in Creme Brulee and a clear gloss on top.

Layering the blush and the lip products ensures that they'll last longer!
 

I curled Desiree's hair with my curling iron and combed it out so it sat in soft waves around her face. I think it was the perfect look to offset the bright, lacy red dress :)

What do you prefer for a Date? Soft and pretty, or bold and striking? If you're single, you should still pamper the ones you love, your family, your girlfriends, yourself! Go on a spa date or get a mani/pedi and eat LOTS of chocolate.

Maybelline Eye Studio Master Duo 2 in 1 Glossy Liquid Liner

On my quest for the Maybelline Color Whispers (which I went to 4 different CVS, Walmart and Target to find) I chanced upon this new Maybelline eyeliner which has a strikingly different kind of tip. Now I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for something that'll make my liquid liner application easier. This one claims to make it easy to do thick and thin lines with the one liner, using this new dual tip.

From the Maybelline website:

Maybelline Eye Studio Master Duo Thin or Thick Glossy Liquid Liner

IN BLACK LACQUER

• Dual tip to create thin precise lines with one side, bold thick lines with the other
• 2-in-1 dual tip
• Glossy formula for bold lines

Why You'll Love It
Experience the revolution in liquid liner: *2-in-1 tip *Glossy formula for bold lines

For Best Results

1. use flat disk side of tip for a thick dramatic line
2. turn 90 degrees and use for a thinner sophisticated line.

I bought this for $7.99 at CVS.

Round, flat side for thick lines

Thin side for thin lines

L: Thick line using round flat side of tip R: Thin line using thin side of tip

Now this seems like a great concept, and the round flat side works great for making thicker lines... but creating the thinner line takes a light hand, it actually took me 3 tries to get it this thin. The liner tip seems to get saturated with a lot of color, so I had to wipe it on the edge of the tube and then use a very light hand to draw the line. If you press too much, the line ends up being thick.

Formula-wise, the liner is a bit runny, but very opaque and goes on easily with no tugging. It is smudgeproof but not waterproof and removes easily with a makeup wipe. It dries to a shiny vinyl black, which would look great for dramatic makeup.

Overall, I will definitely use the Maybelline Master Duo eyeliner again for easy thick lines, but for thinner lines, I'll probably stick to my Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner.

Maybelline Vivids lipstick! Electric Orange and Shocking Coral.

Prepare to feel like you've been punched in the eye by some shockingly bright, super opaque lipsticks! When I first saw press pictures and the first swatches of these lipsticks floating around, I knew I had to get my hands on some. I love bright lipstick and these are such fun, Spring and Summer-like hues. I give you the crazy gorgeous Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids lipstick in Electric Orange and Shocking Coral..

Even the packaging is ridiculously bright.

Electric Orange and Shocking Coral

Electric Orange and Shocking Coral

Ok, let me summarise. They're creamy, they're pigmented, they have a satiny finish and they don't feel drying at all - you might wear lip balm underneath if you have very dry lips, but it's not a must. I actually wiped my lips with a dry tissue (couldn't find my makeup wipes) in between swatches and then applied the lipstick, and it didn't give me any issues with dryness at all. They have a light, creamy sweet scent which isn't strong enough to be irritating. They don't really stain, but wear very well, I had mine on for a good 5 hours and then took it off because I was going to bed and it had basically no wear. I'm sure it could have lasted for much longer! I'm in love with the shades I got and you can apply them lightly for a nice pop of colour or put on a few more layers for an insane bright almost neon look. The swatches below are 2-3 swipes of the lipsticks.

L: Electric Orange, R: Shocking Coral

Electric Orange

Electric Orange is a bright, juicy OJ type of shade, a true orange, which was hard for my camera to capture. I love how vibrant and ORANGE this looks, some oranges can be dull and reddish, which looks a bit dated. This one is fresh and delicious!

Shocking Coral

 Shocking Coral is a yellowy bright pink, definitely a pinker coral rather than peach or orange. I am obsessed with pink of all shades, and this one can still be feminine and girly while bringing a bit of a modern edgy feel to your look.

Electric Orange

Shocking Coral

My camera spazzed a bit trying to capture the awesomeness, so I had to colour correct a bit to get closer the true shade. That's why my hair randomly looks two different colours in the pictures above =_=

I really LOOOOVE these lipsticks and I am planning to pick up a few more soon. I already got Hot Plum, after seeing a picture Maybelline retweeted of a girl around my skintone wearing it. I will definitely be posting a FOTD with it soon! If you aren't afraid of colour, these are some absolutely gorgeous lipsticks in a wide range of shades that definitely has something for every skintone. If you prefer something more subtle, I will have a few swatches and comparisons of the Maybelline Color Whisper lip colors soon, so keep an eye out!

Have you tried any of the Maybelline VIvids? Are you a bright and punchy, or a soft and subtle type?

My Favourite Summer Shade: Orange!

It's Saturday! It's Summer! So it's time for a new series from the Blogazons called Summer Saturdays.

This week, our topic is 'My Favourite Summer Shade' and mine for this season is orange! I love tangerines, corals, salmons, everything juicy and bright.

These are three of the products I've been using to give my look a subtle pop of Summer colour.

L to R: Nicole by OPI Fresh Squeezed, Maybelline Color Tattoo Fierce & Tangy, Revlon Lip Butter Tutti Frutti.

 

What's your favourite shade for Summer? I'm off to the pool, it's waaay too hot over here! I might look for a new swim suit before I go though... maybe an orange one ;)

Gettin' Matchy Wit' It: Pink & Grey FOTD

Following up from yesterday's nail post, I decided to a soft grey and pink makeup look to be matchy matchy with my nails.

I didn't want to get too over the top, so I kept it pretty light and simple (just like the nails :p).

Products used-

Face:

• Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream #31
• Boots No7 Natural Blush Cheek Colour in Candy Pink

Eyes:

• NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Strawberry Milk all over the lid and on the lower lashline
• Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Gunmetal blended in the inner and outer corners
• Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Skimp on the browbone, blending the grey out a little
• Urban Decay Supercurl mascara

Lips:

• Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch

My accessories for the day :) Silver and pearls.

I'm really loving pink and grey together, I wouldn't mind trying a brighter pink with it though and maybe making a pink version of a smoky eye.

What's your favourite colour combination?