FAVORITE MASCARAS OF 2010

Here's the first entry in my miniseries about the favorite makeup products that I used this year. In terms of mascara, I've always belonged to the group that said that going with drugstore mascaras is the smarter choice. Formulas are so similar that I don't find myself ever feeling the need to try out high end brands. That said, I did have the chance to do so this year because I received some samples in gift sets that I was more than happy to discover.

L'ORÉAL HIP MASCARA

This mascara gave me amazing volume. However, I haven't seen it in recent months... Maybe it is no longer sold in Canada? Regardless, I enjoyed this formula while I was fortunate enough to have it :) The color is amazingly black and the formula is quite thick and gives amazing definition to my lashes! I was quite impressed since I got it on sale for $4! That cannot be beat!


L'ORÉAL TELESCOPIC MASCARA

This mascara is amazing if you want lengthening properties in your mascara. If you're looking mainly for thickness, I wouldn't suggest this. However, it's easily buildable in my opinion and layers wonderfully with other mascaras. I occasionally use it with Benefit's Bad Gal Blue and I find it to be wonderful when I'm looking for a little subtle color in my mascara.

TARTE LIGHTS CAMERA LASHES!

This is the reason I'd ever consider trying high end mascaras! I got this in a trial size with a Sephora kit and I am completely and utterly amazed by this product! Unfortunately I finished the tube rather quickly (the first time I actually finished a mascara before its supposed expiry date!) and it was good to the last drop! This formula is by far the blackest black I've ever seen! It's wonderfully thickening and lengthening! If the full-size didn't cost so much, this would be my holy grail! However, I simply cannot justify paying over $20 for a mascara when drugstore versions work just the same!

ALMAY ONE COAT NOURISHING MASCARA

This is the closest drugstore dupe I can find which replicates the blackness of the Tarte mascara. The brush is the real standout in this product: on one side you have a spiral-type wand which lengthens and on the other, you have very short bristles that seem stuck to the wand which thicken my lashes incredibly! I was so so so impressed with this mascara, I will definitely want to try more ALMAY mascaras in the future when I use up the ones I have.

E.L.F. MINERAL INFUSED MASCARA

This is my everyday mascara. I like it because it doesn't create a super dramatic look, but still defines my lashes and makes them look very black.  It's extremely inexpensive at $3 (and even cheaper if you get it on sale... E.L.F. ALWAYS HAS SALES!). The formula is a little wet and needs a few seconds to dry. So if you have deep set eyes, you need to be careful until it dries before you blink. The formula is surprisingly black for such an inexpensive mascara. The wand is pretty standard: plastic with rubber bristles which distribute the product.

Those were my top picks for 2010. 

What were your favorite mascaras of the year? What is your favorite mascara of all time?

Let me know!!

BEST MAKEUP PRODUCTS OF 2010 SERIES

I've decided to do a little series of the best makeup of the past year, since I haven't been posting in a little while. I figured it would make sense to do it in sections: lips, eyes, face. So stay tuned for my favorite products of the year! I will try to include a mix of drugstore and higher end products. I don't use that many high end products, what with being a student and all, but I do find myself splurging at Sephora a couple of times per year. I'll also include a few products that were a total fail for me which were purchased in the past year. I will probably be going on a Project 10 pan in the new year, since I do have quite a stash that I do want to use up, but I will continue to post reviews on products I do have.

So here's a little preview of the brands I will be going through:

• E.L.F. (obviously, I LOVE them!)
• NYX
• LORAC
• L'Oréal
• Benefit
• Wet'n'Wild
• Jordana
• Tarte
• Korres
• MAC

Also, I want to mention that I recently won a contest for a Stile palette on Twitter hosted by pinkiecharm. I love her YouTube channel. She does amazing, honest reviews and does high end as well as drugstore products. I find that her channel is quite balanced. So thanks a bunch for hosting a fabulous contest and not discriminating against Canadian subscribers!!!

So stay tuned for my year end reviews :)

My Review

Originally submitted at EyesLipsFace.com

better than other brands!!

By cocomabelle from Montreal, Canada on 11/6/2010

 

5out of 5

Pros: Long Lasting, Versatile, Good Value, Easy To Apply

Best Uses: Daily Use

Describe Yourself: Natural Style

Skin Tone: Fair

Age: 16-24

This matte finisher doubles your nail polish wardrobe. I was about to buy a matte finisher from another brand, but luckily elf came out with one that was 1/8 of the price!!

I find that it makes my nail polish last so much longer than if I used a shiny top coat. I really love this product.

(legalese)

My Review

Originally submitted at EyesLipsFace.com

amazing value!!

By cocomabelle from Montreal, Canada on 11/6/2010

 

5out of 5

Pros: Easy To Apply, Good Value, Long Lasting, Versatile

Best Uses: Special Occasions, Dry Skin, Oily Skin, Normal Skin, Sensitive Skin, Daily Use

Describe Yourself: Natural Style

Skin Tone: Fair

Age: 16-24

These were the first brushes I bought, and let me say that I'll never need to look elsewhere for brushes!! For the price of a single designer brush, I have a full set of quality, non-shedding brushes. They smell a little funny when you first get them, but once you wash them, the smell goes away.

All these brushes are amazing! When I got my package, one of the brushes was damaged and elf customer service quickly sent me another one to make up for it!

ELF is amazing!! Thanks for making quality items for reasonable prices:)

(legalese)

My Review of lipstick

Originally submitted at EyesLipsFace.com

Now you can hydrate your lips and get a lasting soft color naturally! This nourishing blend of exotic oils, natural waxes, vitamins and plant extracts create the perfect moisturizing formula. The sleek lipstick has superior color payoff, glides easily onto lips, and is long wearing. Lips stay p...

lipstick

great colors!!

By cocomabelle from Montreal, Canada on 11/6/2010

 

5out of 5

Pros: Moisturizing, Convenient Container, Great Color Selection, Glossy Finish, Even Application

Cons: Wears Off Easily, Not True To Color

Best Uses: Daytime, Going Out, Special Occasions, Everyday Use

Describe Yourself: Natural Style

I love the colors available. There is something for everyone. I have most of the lighter colors and I'm super impressed with Natural Nymph and Cool Coral. They are great colors.

Application is really smooth. The finish isn't glossy, but it isn't matte either. It feel really nice on the lips.

The online swatches are nothing like what the colors are in real life. I'd suggest looking up swatches on blogs and youtube, which is what I did.

(legalese)

My Review of Mineral Infused Mascara

Originally submitted at EyesLipsFace.com

Mineral Infused Mascara creates fuller, healthier looking lashes. It enhances lashes for a naturally thicker and more volumized look. The long-wear formula and unique silicone brush creates clump free and defined lashes that last all day.

Mineral Infused Mascara

great for definition, but not thickening

By cocomabelle from Montreal, Canada on 11/6/2010

 

5out of 5

Pros: Defines & Separates, Lengthens, Applies Evenly, Doesn't Clump, Great Brush

Cons: No volume

Best Uses: Daytime

Describe Yourself: Natural Style

This is a great mascara if you're looking for definition. If you want voluminizing power, this is not for you. The brush is nice. It defines and separates my lashes nicely and the color is nice and dark. I often use this as a base with another mascara on top that has a thickening formula for extra oomph. But during the day, I can use this and get a natural look.

I think this is good for daytime. But if you want something more dramatic, this definitely won't cut it.

(legalese)

My Review of Liquid Eyeliner

Originally submitted at EyesLipsFace.com

No more tugging or pulling on your eyelids with this easy glide liquid eyeliner. The smudge-proof liner is rich in color, creating a long lasting defined look. The fine tip brush creates easy and precise definition for natural or dramatic effects.

Liquid Eyeliner

some colors are good, others not to much

By cocomabelle from Montreal, Canada on 11/6/2010

 

4out of 5

Pros: Easy To Apply, Long-Lasting, Bold Color, Doesn't Run, Easy Removal, Glides On Smoothly

Cons: Bad Color, Clumpy

Best Uses: Smoky Look, Going Out, Everyday, Thin Defined Line, Thicker Line

Describe Yourself: Natural Style

Let me make something clear. Some of these colors are great! Other are horrible. For example, the black and midnight ones are fabulous. The color is nice and opaque. You don't need to go over it more than once to get a nice line. I don't have the coffee one.

The plum and ash ones are horrible. The colors are streaky and not very pigmented. I was really disappointed in the ash one, because it was an extremely light grey that hardly showed up on my fair skin.

The sparkly ones were completely horrible. I'm biased, because I didn't think the eyeliner was clear with sparkles. I thought there was a color base in there, but it's basically clear with glitter in them, so you need some kind of other color underneath to make them look good.

The applicator was pretty decent. A little stiff, so you need to know how to use liquid eyeliner to start with. It's not easy for beginners to manipulate this wand. But it can give you a nice thin line, or a thicker one if you want that.

Overall, the opaque colors are the best in my opinion!

(legalese)