MAC Natural Flare E/S Quad

Products Used

Face

• Benefit “That Gal”
• MUFE HD Foundation in 117
• Dior Loose Powder 001
• NARS Albatross (Cheekbone Highlight)
• Benefit Coralista as Blush

Eyes

• UD Primer Potion
• MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque (Lid)
• MAC Color Craft Quad in Natural Flare
• MAC Vanilla (Brow Bone)
• MAC Eye Brow Crayon in Spiked
• Lancome Oscillation Powerbooster Lash Primer
• Bourjois Coup de Theatre 2 in 1 Mascara (Clump City!!)

Lips

• No7 Lip Liner in Nude 20
• Stila Lip Glaze in Nutmeg Spice

xox

The press on nails started to look a bit shabby by Monday/ Tuesday (I blame AM, she scudded me) and needed some re-glues, they lasted long enough to give my cuticles a chance to heal though so all good.
I’ve made myself another empty promise that I won’t chew them again…..

Nails of the day are OPI’s “Sheer” Your Toys (grey mauve) as a base, topped with Bourjois’ 1 Seconde in No 18 (sparkly lilac).

These Bourjois Polishes come with a “Fan Effect Brush”, supposed to make each nail a one second job, hence the name
I actually really like the brush so far but the colour I have is clear and therefore quite forgiving. I’ll have to pick it up in a more opaque colour and see how well it applies then.

What are your nail polishes have you been loving recently?
I fancy picking up some new colours when I get paid and need inspiration!

xox

Bourjois’ Rouge Hi-Tech, a water based lip tint rings in at £7.10. Bit pricey for a small lip product I thought. However the rep called in at the weekend and knocked 50% off them. That effectively makes it a sale item, and a bargain, and therefore a no brainer…. (ok ok I’m trying to justify it)

I opted for 85 – Groseille irréelle, a vivid hot pink.

Note: Be aware (because I wasn’t) that the bottle colours are not accurate depictions of the product inside. They are simply a coloured plastic. Below you can see the true colour of the tint and the sponge applicator. Bourjois’ site claims “the precise applicator makes it ultra easy to apply”, IMO a brush applicator would be better with this product, the sponge applicator makes the cupids bow area difficult to apply to accurately. I went over slightly and I have a pretty steady hand.

Below: My natural lips, no primer, no product.

Below: My lips with the Bourjois lip tint, I have applied a single coat

It certainly does give that bitten lip look and for people with poor lip pigmentation these lip tints would be very beneficial. I’d quite like to try the bright orange coloured one and the vivid purple, I think both would work well for fashion make-up. There are a few less garish shades, a coral and a taupe but they didn’t instill an excitement in me.

Problems I have with it are that its quite drying on my lips. Almost reminds me of that clear varnish you get to seal lipstick? I would definitely need to pair it with a gloss for general comfort.
Other bigger problem is that this is not a tint, more of a stain. If you choose to wear one of these then you really need to be sure you want to commit to it for the day.
This baby ain’t budging. In the pic below I have used a Simple facial wipe and a cotton pad and cleanser to remove.

As you can see I’m still very much pinky lipped. So I’d keep that in mind, but on the other hand this is a great product and fun to wear. You can also use it as a cheek tint but if you do go down that route you need to be a quick blender, it dries in seconds.

xox

I have a drawer for all the mascara I test and use, it’s not a big drawer and every so often I like to be ruthless and bin the majority to make room for the new bigger and better mascaras that are emerging (too few & far between lately!).

The other more obvious and less frugal reason for binning what looks like perfectly good product is the use by date. This is important for every cosmetic product but it is particularly so for mascara, they are a breeding ground like no other for bacteria, and these bacteria can cause very very nasty infections within the eyes. I don’t need to tell anyone how precious your sight is!
The manufacturers are obliged to give you a guideline in regards to how long the product will last once opened, you’re looking for a pot with a little open lid as pictured below on Rimmel’s Sexy Curves Mascara. The number inside the pot is the number of months the product is good for after opening.

Rimmel’s time period is extremely optimistic IMO, most mascaras tend to read good for 6 months, a few 3. The rule for my own mascara is generally 3-4 months, by which stage if I love it its finished anyway or if its not I don’t like it enough to keep it.

In regards to mascara I have to use on other people, I keep that for 1 month and then dispose of regardless of what amount is left. I always use disposable wands which are cheap to buy but avoid double dipping and product contamination. Even if you’re not a pro make-up artist, but like to practice looks on friends & family you should get yourself some wands and get into the habit. Your bessie mate won’t thank you for conjunctivitis :S

So what did I throw out today then?

• MAC Plush Lash – Messy wand, too much like hard work for me
• Enormous Lash – Completely done, won’t be re-purchasing, vaseline is giving the same effects
• L’Oreal Double Extension Waterproof – horrible formula, dried up within a few weeks
• NARS Mascara Black Orchid – Yawn, boring boring boring and horrid smell
• Bourjois Volume & Glamour – Nasty over-powering paint type smell which made eyes water
• Bourjois Liner Effect – what a crock of sh*t, review here
• No7 Lash 360˚- Colour more dark grey than black, formulation dry, never going to get used up

So what have you binned recenty? Or are you one of these people that has drawers of things they don’t use but are convinced they might need some day? xox

Thats how best to describe this mascara.

The promotional material for Bourjois’ Liner Effect Mascara reads

“The brush has a double action:
Step 1: Use long bristles to stretch the mascara formula from root to tip. Intensely lengthens lashes without clumping.
Step 2: Use short bristles to deposit formula at the base of the lashes, emphasising roots for a liner effect. It will look as though you have used a pencil khol (yes they really did spell it like this on their website) in the inside rim of your lashes, without the hassle!

Ummmm did anyone ACTUALLY test this mascara before marketing it??? Below is a picture of the lovely “liner effect” and this is without me exposing the inside rim of my lashes. The “effect” is very clear. Attractive?

Now take a closer look

I have used this as directed, beyond that I have used it not as directed to see if the magic formula to achieving the liner effect was in fact hidden elsewhere. Its not. The short bristles that promise a kohl line effect inside the upper rim of your eye do nothing other than deposit unsightly stripes of mascara. I have studied the wand and bristles up close and have to conclude, that of course it couldn’t create a solid line as the bristles themselves are spaced apart.

Its a pity really, as the actual mascara formulation is honestly very good, and the shade is a pretty glamourous black but it just doesn’t do what it says it does and more than that, it actually looks terrible.

RRP 8.99