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 :)