Physicians formula organic wear fake out mascara review

I really hunted this new mascara down! I went to about 5 different local drug stores before I found it.

Physicians formula fake out mascara claims to give an '(almost) false lash effect' and  '24 hr wear'.
It is described as the '1st EVER mascara with 100% natural origin lash extension fibers for the full-on fringe of false lashes without irritation.' That just sounded amazing for a natural mascara. Maybe too amazing!

I adore the packaging. I don't think I've ever seen a fuchsia colored mascara tube before!

The wand is huge! One of the biggest I've used. It is actually hard to get it close to your lashes because it is so massive. It's practically impossible to get it onto lower lashes, I tried my best but I end up did poking myself.

fake out wand:

Sigh, I had such high hopes for this mascara. All the claims sounded so good. I have tried the original organic wear mascara and the lash boosting one as well - both were really good. They held curl, added length and conditioned my lashes.

Fake out is different because of the fibers. In a good and bad way.
First, I  found the formula extremely dry. I mean so dry, it was hard to get an even coat on. I had to layer a lot to get it onto my lashes evenly.

This is what 4 coats looks like:

 

Yah, sadly, it took 4 coats to get my lashes noticeably defined and thick.  

My lashes aren't short per say, but this made them feel stubby and weighed down. 

The fibers did not extend the tips of the lashes, but worked to thicken them.

Physicians Formula made this fake out formula so viscous and dry it can't lift and lengthen the way the other organic wear mascaras do.

It wore fairly well, with slight flaking by the end of the day, but that is expected with 4 coats of a dry mascara!

My huge gripe with all the organic wear mascaras? If they come in contact with water (like rain, eyedrops, crying) they will run everywhere, horribly. Fake out did this, but not as badly as the others did.

Please, Physicians Formula - please make organic wears in water proof or water resistant! 

Overall, if you don't mind a dry mascara that needs layering, and only want volume - you might just love this.

If you like wet formulas and length/drama then you probobly won't like this very much.

Repurchase? No, too dry

Price: $17.99 CAD (and it came with $6 rebate coupon)

Rating: 3/5 

Maybelline the colossal cat eyes mascara review

 Maybelline is putting out new mascaras left and right lately! Just one after the other after the other...

I tried the original 'colossal' mascara a few years back and I really liked it, except that it flaked horribly.
Fast forward to a few months ago I tried the waterproof version, and it was so dry I couldn't get anything on my lashes.
So I was slightly hesitant to try this. But, anything to do with cat eyes grabs my attention, so I got this as soon as I saw it on display.

 The tube has a cute leopard print pattern on it, it looks a bit juvenile in my opinion, but I suppose they are pushing products towards the younger crowd these days.

The 'claw' brush, actually does a good job of grabbing and coating lashes. It's a little awkward to work with if you aren't used to curved a brush.

The cat claw wand (click for large size) :

The result is fanned out lashes that are nicely lengthened and a little volumized. The curved brush helps to curl lashes up and the end of it is great for flipping up the outer corner lashes. Adding mascara to those outer corner lashes does result in a more cat-eye look and overall sultry eye.

with 2 coats of colossal cat eyes:

The formula is very wet and smells of roses. it's the exact same formula as the original colossal. Therefore, I have the exact same problem with it, the flaking off :/
I really like the brush, and if the formula was better I would recommend it.

Overall, this doesn't do too much for volume but it's great for length. It can be layered but beware of clumping. If you liked the original Maybelline Colossal you will probably like this too.

Repurchase? No

Price: $8 CAD

Rating: 3/5

Kat Von D Sin-full lash mascara review

Before I do this review can I just say how much I miss blogging? Well..I am back! I have so much material to cover, so many reviews to write - ah this will be fun!

I got this sin-full lash back in the summer, I had pretty high hopes it would be amazing. 

Of course the packaging rocks, as all KVD makeup has sleek pretty designs.

 

 

Sin-full lash is supposed to make your lashes look fuller, add length and curl...everything basically.  I watched an interview where Kat says she spent a lot of time getting the formula right, and even tested it herself.

So, does it do it all? Let's see.

The main thing I noticed was that this mascara made my lashes look nice and full. It sort of fanned them out and added some volume. Nothing too dramatic, but of course you can layer it and I never had much problem with it clumping.

The formula is a nice mix between dry/wet, right in the middle. It's got a really nice black pigment, nice and dark.

The brush is a good size, not too big and not too small.

sin-full lash brush:

 

So it added nice fullness and volume to my lashes, but it didn't do much for length. That is a deal breaker for me. I like length.
I also found it gave me slight raccoon eyes within a few hours of wearing. It smudged every time I wore it.

2 coats of sin-full lash on my lashes:

The biggest problem I had with this was the tube broke after I had it for 2 weeks. I am not sure how this happened to be honest. I remember it didn't close properly after I used it last and when I went to use it again it was like this:

I gueess I am too strong for my own good? I don't know.

Needless to say, I returned it, because I only had it for 2 weeks and it broke, and started to dry out. Really not cool. I've never had this happen to a mascara tube, ever! I'm always careful with my makeup and I thought this was weird.

Overall, I say pass. It only really volumizes, but will smudge by the end of the day. There are much better mascaras out there, less expensive ones too.

Repurchase? No

Price: $23 CAD

Rating: 2/5

MAC studio fix boldblack lash mascara review

I love trying MAC mascaras since mascara is one beauty item that only lasts 3-6 months and instead of throwing it away you can back to MAC it. It's just great!

My latest mascara purchase from MAC was studio fix in boldblack - since I like intense black lashes :)


This is what MAC has to say about studio fix bold black :
'Innovative, mousse-like formula gives superior definition, volume and lift by filling in sparse lashes for a dramatic effect now in carbon black.'

I do agree that it does give good volume and some definition. The formula is quite wet and can be a little messy, it clumps really easily.

The brush is made of hard plastic with little teeth that grab lashes well.

studio fix lash wand:

I didn't like this wand too much, it wasn't flexible at all and it was rough on my lash line when trying to get the mascara into the lash roots.

It really gave a lot of volume and I loved the black intensity. Unfortunately, it did flake as you can see in the picture below.

Wearing 2 coats of studio fix boldblack:

You can see the little flakes under my eyes. Not cool.
With 2 coats it was very hard to get the mascara not to clump. I think it's because the formula is so wet that it makes it difficult not to get too much product on the wand. Wiping the wand with a paper towel before applying would be best I think.

Overall, I didn't really like this mascara as much as others from MAC. It held curl alright, added a little length and a lot of volume. But it flaked through the day, and it ended up irritating my eyes just like zoom lash did.

If you like volume I think you would like this, but I wouldn't recommend it because it does have the tendency to clump and flake. A better option for volume and length would be MAC's false lashes mascara which doesn't clump or flake. Oops I still have to review that one!

Repurchase? No

Price: $19 CAD

Rating: 2.5/5

My summer beauty favorites!

 I thought I'd do a little post on all my favorite makeup I've been using this summer. All products in this post I use daily or at least once per week. I'll list everything and why I'm loving it :

 Left to right:

• NARS larger than life lipgloss in Tiber ~ perfect nude color, awesome formula not too sticky and actually moisturizing!
• MAC prep + prime BB beauty balm spf 35PA+++ ~ Amazing product! I am using the Asian version currently, it's almost the same as the U.S. just has different sunscreen actives. I was using products with SPF 15 but realized I need more SPF than that (my skin was getting irritated by the sun). So this beauty balm (not to be confused with BB cream!) is sheer and non greasy, providing a perfect base for makeup with SPF 35. On good skin days I use it by itself, just evens everything out and gives a slight glow.
• Biotherm multi-proctection SPF 30 eye contour cream ~ Awesome eye cream with SPF. It's fast absorbing and moisturizing, perfect under makeup.
• Burberry Brit EDP ~ I got this by accident, and I'm glad I did because I love it! I picked this up in a sleep deprived haze - thought it was Burberry the Beat (which I also adore!) and once I tried it I thought I may as well keep it. It's grown on me.. it smells warm, clean, sweet and summery. 
• Cover Girl lash blast mascara waterproof ~ I only use this when I need to since it's hard to remove, but it stays all day and is truly water resistant!
• Cover Girl liquiline blast brown blaze ~ The most perfect brown liner I've ever used! I'm not exaggerating. The color is gorgeous and doesn't have shimmer so it's great for the waterline. I like this for the summer because it isn't harsh like black can be.
• MAC penultimate eyeliner rapid black ~ I've been searching for a liner like this forever. I can actually make a tiny, small line with this! I love using it on the top lash line to add just a little bit of fullness to my lashes without having to make a thick line.

 

• Wet n Wild vanity palette  ~ Love this! I like to use the matte colors for a subtle look somedays, and for a more smoky eye I put the shimmery brown over MAC constructivist paint pot and it looks amazing... try it!
• MAC MSF semi precious crystal pink ~ I'm really sad this is limited edition because it's the perfect summer blush and highlighter in one. I use this a lot, the middle gives a light bronze/pink blush and the outside gives a shimmery beige highlight. It's perfect.
• MAC constructivist paint pot ~ Gorgeous deep brown with reddish undertones. I use this one a lot too. I like to layer shimmery taupes and browns over it for a smoky eye.
• Maybelline 24 hr eye tattoo in bad to the bronze ~ Another amazing color. It's the one thing I must say you need for summer. Some days when I want a minimal look thats fast and easy I just use this all over the lid with some mascara and I'm good to go. It's the perfect champagne taupe color, not too dark or too light. The best thing is that it stays all day and doesn't crease or travel.
• MAC lipstick blankety ~ This has become my favorite lipstick ever. It goes with everything, It also makes lips look plump.
• Urban Decay naked palette ~ (Forgot to take a pic!) This is my go-to palette most days. I love it.

One of my favorite summer polishes is Illamasqua Milf. I love it! Sorry for the blurry pic, was holding my baby and trying to aim the camera with the same arm.

 

Here is my summer FOTD, very basic and neutral. I'm spending a lot of time outside so I look really tan..wow.
My FOTD:
face:
- MAC prep + prime beauty balm
- Revlon Colorstay in buff (a whole shade darker than the usual ivory! )
- MAC MSF crystal pink
eyes:
- Urban Decay naked palette: naked (lid), buck (crease & lower lash line), sin (blended above crease), virgin (to highlight).
- Armani eyes to kill mascara (review coming soon!)
- Annabelle brow pencil taupe
lips:
NARS larger than life l/g Tiber

Well I hope you are all having a great summer. My family and I are enjoying it, looking forward to holidays in a few weeks as well.
Let me know what your favorite summer beauty products are! Especailly any skin care and foundations, always up for trying new things :)

YSL faux cils shocking mascara review

This was my very fist Yves Saint Laurent purchase. I almost bought touch eclat as well but just wasn't digging the price!

I want to start by mentioning I've never used the original faux cils mascara before, so unfortunately I cannot compare this version to it. From what I understand 'shocking' is supposed to be even more dramatic than the regular faux cils mascara, and the wands are made slightly different.


The tube is gold...I am sure most people like it but I don't. I think it looks tacky. I suppose I'm more of a platinum/silver/white gold type of girl.

The brush, is pretty messy to say the least. There are mid-sized bristles on it that attract varying amounts of product, making it hard to get an even application.
Lots of product gets onto the brush making it clump very easily.

YSL faux cils shocking brush:

The formula is very wet. This in combination with the brush design can be disastrous. It goes on thick and is prone to clumping.
It has a very strong rose smell that you will either love or hate. I personally don't like it. Thankfully, the scent doesn't linger too long.
It's very easy to overapply, I find that one or two coats is sufficient in adding lots of volume and some length.

Wearing two coats of faux cils shocking:

I love the dense carbon black color. It really makes your lashes stand out.
Unfortunately, this doesn't wear too well. After a few hours I get some flakes falling off my lashes.

For such an expensive mascara I expect more. I don't like the packaging, the smell, the clumping and most of all, flaking.
I think that this is similar to Diorshow blackout in terms of volume and pigmentation, and I much prefer blackout since it lengthens more and doesn't clump so easily.
I don't recommend this. If you are looking for a high end mascara with lot's of intensity I'd say go with Diorshow blackout.

Repurchase? No. I would like to try the original faux cils though.

Price: $36 CAD

Rating: 2.5/5

Diorshow New Look mascara review

This is Diors newest mascara release, as always I have to try new things so I picked it up when I saw it.
I've tried lots of Dior mascaras including Diorshow, Diorshow iconic, Diorshow blackout and Diorshow Blackout waterproof.
I'm not a fan of most, but Diorshow blackout is pretty much the love of my life. I will post my review of that one soon!

New look has a special 'nano' brush to grab all lashes even tiny ones to get a full voluminous effect.
It's a pretty small brush, with little plastic bristles that range in size. The bottom part has longer bristles, and the top tapers off with very small ones.
It does an ok job of depositing mascara to each lash.

New look 'nano' brush:

New look is described by Dior as having a 'lash multipying effect, volume and care'. I'm not really sure what the 'care' part involves, it is apparently supposed to 'densify lashes'. I highly doubt it. I haven't seen any changes in my lashes since using it, and there are no special ingredients in this to really care for lashes.

Wearing 3 coats of new look:

This mascara gave me basic volume. That was just about it. I didn't get much length, and even after layering a few times it just kept making my lashes look fatter and shorter.
It didn't hold curl too well. I wasn't impressed, I felt like it made my eyelashes look short and stubby.
The formula is ok, doesn't smudge, clump or flake.

I really liked the packaging of this mascara. The tube is decorated with silver Dior designs. It feels nice and expensive.

If all you want in a mascara is volume, this is for you. It provides lots of volume and that's just about it. To me, it's a waste of money because I want curl and length!
There are much cheaper options out there that deliver volume. Off the top of my head I'd reccomend L'oreal voluminous carbon black which performs the same, if not better than this!

Repurchase? no

Price: $35 CAD

Rating: 2/5

Rimmel Extra WOW Lash mascara review

I've tried several Rimmel mascaras in the past. I only really liked and have repurchased is their eye magnifier. I have a few other short and sweet Rimmel mascara reviews here if you're interested.

Extra wow lash is marketed as a layerable type of mascara, basically you control if you want more or less of a dramatic look by building layers.

The brush is mid sized and has a somewhat fluffy wand, the bristles are large and dense.
I found it quite easy to use and it didn't get all messy like some mascaras do.

extra wow lash wand:

I played around with this mascara and it is totally buildable. It looks good with one or two coats, but really starts to look intense with 3-4 coats - and no clumping either.
That is a major plus in my books because I love layering mascara.

with 2 coats:

with 4 coats:

You can see it adds some length and volume, slightly separates too.
I found it didn't hold curl as much as I'd have liked, but it didn't weigh my lashes down either.
It has a basic formula that is sort of wet to enable lots of layering.
Wear wasn't bad but it did start to flake on me after 6 hours - this is mainly when I put on lots of layers.

Overall, if you are on a budget this mascara is a pretty decent one to get from the drug store. It's so cheap I say try it out! I found mine on sale, I think it cost $3.97 or something crazy.

Repurchase? maybe - if I am in need of a cheap mascara fix!

Price: $4.99 CAD

Rating: 3.5/5

Too Faced lashGASM mascara review

I admit it, I bought this mascara mostly because of the name. I ended up getting a back up too, because I thought I'd love it to death. It promises 'fluffy lashes, dramatic length and intense color'.

With a name like lashgasm, I was expecting to be really wowed. I've used Too Faced lash injection pin point mascara before, and I liked it a lot- so I figured this one would be good.

The brush has spiky bristles to grab your lashes and I found that it did a great job of coating every lash. It is a little bit sharp but nothing too crazy.

lashgasm brush:

The formula was decent, but a little bit odd. After applying a few coats I found that my lashes - bottom and top would stick together. Even after it dried it felt somewhat sticky, and especially my outer lashes would sometimes get 'tangled' together. Not cool!

It added some decent length and volume, and the color was really rich black.
I had no smearing or flaking with this.

Wearing lashgasm:

I found lashgasm held some curl. It's somewhat surprising since it was a sticky formula.
One problem I had was clumping. Trying to build layers was difficult, because it tended to stick all of my lashes together. The brush helps separate lashes, but a few coats will cause major clumps regardless.

Removal was difficult. It was like glue... I stopped using it because I had to tug on my eyes so much to take it all off.

There are some really nice things about this mascara and some not so great things... I personally didn't find it worked well for me. For the price I say forget it.

Repurchase? No

Price: $28 CAD

Rating: 3/5

MAKE UP FOR EVER smoky lash mascara review

Make up for ever aka MUFE is one brand I really enjoy using. I find the quality pretty good, although some products are hit and miss.

Smoky lash has been on my wish list for a very long time. Years. Now that I have a Sephora nearby smoky lash is mine!
The packaging is sleek and comfortable to use. I like the shape of it.

The mascara brush is mid-sized with little bristles shooting out from all angles and edges.
It really grabs onto your lashes and makes it easy to build up the volume.

smoky lash wand:

I found the formula quite dry. This was good for building layers and adding fantastic length and volume. It can be layered a lot without any clumping.
After a few coats my lashes looked long, defined volumized and curled.
I didn't find the blackness of it to be very intense. I've used many other mascaras that are darker in pigment and look much blacker.

Wearing smoky lash:

Unfortunately, after a few hours smoky lash flaked all under my eye area. I think this is because the formula is very dry. In this pic you can see the little flakes beneath my eyes:

I really like this mascara. It holds curl well, and doesn't clump at all.
Sadly, for me flaking is a major deal breaker. I don't have time for touch ups through the day and when I leave the house the last thing I need to worry about are specks of mascara flaking off my eyes.

I wonder if I got a drier mascara and this is why it didn't perform well. I also wonder if the waterproof version would be less flake-prone.

Overall this is a great mascara and I do recommend trying it in case it works out for you. Just beware that it might flake.

Repurchase? No, but I might grab the waterproof version in the future.

Price: $24 CAD

Rating: 4/5

Maybelline lash discovery mascara review & update!

I'm going to start with a little update before I move on to the review.
For those who don't know, I'm 9 mos pregnant - I'm also anemic and so very tired! I haven't been playing with makeup as much lately. My skin is suffering the worst acne right now since I was 14, so I really don't want to take many pics. Thanks hormones.
Anyways, this week I'm uploading all of my mascara reviews, I want to get them posted before the baby comes :)
So welcome to the start of my mascara review extravaganza!

Lash discovery mascara has always held a little mystery in my eyes. How does a mascara with such a tiny brush work?

For reference, here is the brush beside a Canadian quarter. Canadian quarters are the exact same size as American ones, in case you wondered the difference.

You can see just how tiny the mini brush is. It's absolutely the smallest mascara brush I've ever used.

One BIG problem with this little mascara is that the opening of the tube is not small enough to remove any excess product from the brush.
So, when you take it out to apply it, you will find there is a load of mascara on the tiny wand, and it will be a mess. To fix this problem I had to wipe excess product from the wand every time I went to apply it. Not cool.

It was a challenge to get used to applying mascara with the small wand. It reached all my lashes nicely and coated them. It added some length and volume but nothing spectacular.

Wearing Maybelline lash discovery* :

One thing I despised about this was that it really weighed down my lashes. It did not hold any curl whatsoever. I think it does this because the brush holds onto too much product as I mentioned above. It's a heavy formula and the weight just pulls down on your lashes.
*I need to point out that for the photo above I actually curled my lashes before applying lash discovery and then again after to get the curl back into them.

The formula is very wet and I didn't use it long enough to see what the result was when it got a bit drier. I imagine it would work better after it dried out slightly, it would grab less onto the lashes and maybe then it wouldn't weigh them down so much.

Overall this mascara gave me basic length and slight volume. It took extra work to clean the wand before applying and then curl my lashes again after I applied it.
I'm sure you can see why I didn't like this mascara very much at all. It's not available everywhere so I had to hunt for it, definitely a waste of time. I say pass on it!

Repurchase? No way.

Price: $9.99 CAD

Rating: 2/5