Comparing My Mascaras

While I was writing my last post on the new Boots 17 Faslifeye Mascara I tried out the 4 mascaras I have to see the difference (if any!).


Now I know each mascara should have different formulas, brushes and resualts but the 4 I have are claiming to do roughly the same. 

 'Dramatic 'fake lash' effect and volume'

The pictures below show the effect each had on my lashes from one coat and the difference in the brushes.

Collection 2000 Big Fake Lash (8ml, £4.99)

Collection 2000 XXL Volume Sensation (9ml, £4.99)

Bourjois Volume Clubbing Ultra Black (11ml, £7.99)

Boots 17 Falsifeye Mascara (9ml, £6.49)

Before this post my favourites are the Collection 2000 XXL Volume Sensation and Bourjois Volume Clubbing, seeing the pictures all together I think that is still true. There isn't really much of a difference between them, let me know what you think!

Stay Beautiful,

Jane xx

Boots 17 Falsifeye Mascara & Gel Eyeliner

Last week saw the launch of the new mascara from Boots. 17 Falsifeye Mascara claims to give your lashes the 'wow' look of false eye lashes.
I was in need of a little retail pick me up which is difficult where I work as there aren't many shops! As I wondered round the little Boots I saw this and decided to give it a go (plus it looks pretty and pink!). As a launch offer it is currently £6.49 and comes with a free Falsifeye Gel Eyeliner.

The packaging is pretty and pink which always attracts me, the only thing I don't like is that as the tube is chunky it makes it the wand a little harder to use as you can't get as close to the lashes. 
The last thing I really hate, but I guess it is the con of having pink packaging, is you can see inside the tube. This may sound silly but mentally being able to see inside the tube kind of makes me feel a little short changed i.e there isn't alot of product in there. Infact, I did check and there is 9ml which is about the average for drugstore brands.


I like the mascara, it does lengthen and define the lashes but I don't think it gives as good result as Collection 2000 Big Fake Lashes (£4.99) or Bourjois Volume Clubbing (£7.99, see my review of this mascara here). It has a very similar result to the Collection 2000 XXL Mascara (around £4.99).
To see the difference between all 4 mascaras see my Mascara Comparison post. 

Overall it is a good mascara but I think I would pay less for the Collection 2000 XXL Mascara for the same effect or a little more on the Bourjois Volume Clubbing for a more dramatic effect.

I hate to be negative about a product but the gel eyeliner is a bit disappointing. The brush that came with it actually was very good, it was easy to create a clear straight line, however, the product let it down. The colour, as you will see from the swatch didn't stand out on my skin tone and as you will see from the swatch underneath, after 30 minutes smudged really easily and faded.

It was free so I guess I shouldn't moan to much!

Stay Beautiful,


Jane xx

Travel Makeup Essentials

You've seen what I packed as my beauty essentials and today it is my makeup essectials.


As I mentioned in my last post, work stuff filled alot of my suitcase space so I really had to take the bare minimum! (Now i look at this photo it doesn't look very bare minimum but it is I promise!)

First of all my pride and joy is my Paul Smith makeup bag. I have had this for years, I brought it when I sold Paul Smith in a previous job. I actually think this was a pencil case that I used for makeup! (If I am being honest I was/still am a little obsessed with the Paul Smith stripe and it matched my handbag, shoes, belt x 2 and underwear x2!). It's great for makeup as it is neoprene so stretches when you overfill it or have awkward shaped items.


Alot of my products I have talked about before so will be brief!


Skin
As it is Summer and I have a bit of a tan i have switched to my fav Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser in Almond. I love this as I can keep a light coverage for day but build it up for an evening if I need to.
To go with it I have the Laura Mercier Under Eye Perfecter ( my bed is very uncomfortable so sleep is not easy, my under eyes are looking very dark!) and Laura Mercier Undercover Pot. This is great for travelling, it has the under eye concealer, secret camouflage and setting powder all in one little pot!


I watched GossMakeupArtist video on flawless skin before I left for my week away and have been trying it out this week. His tip about putting extra setting powder on and then buffing off is great! I had always been scared to overload but it works! My makeup looks so much better! I have been using a spare little sponge I had lying around to pat it on and then using my Boots No7 Powder Brush (see my post here for more info on the powder brush) to buff it off.

My highlighter is by Givenchy, it is the Mister Light Correcting Pen. I have had it for a few years and really it needs replacing but I keep spending my monies on other things! It isn't the greatest as it dries very quickly on my skin so I find it hard to blend in without looking cakey and I don't find it very highlighting on my skin. As I am typing I am wondering why I keep using it?!


Eyes
As I mentioned my makeup space is limited so my makeup has followed. Actually at the moment I am really loving the minimal look for my eyes so all I have been wearing is Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin with Sand Stalkers on top and Moors Treasure on the crease from the Sleek Makeup Monaco Palette.
To finish the look I have been using GOSH brown or black Kohl eyeliner pencils with Collection 2000 XXL Mascara in black.


Tip: GOSH Velvet Touch Eyeliner pencils are my life saver! They are soft enough you can blend them and they are waterproof! If you have limited space I always take my brown eyeliner as I use it as eyeshadow or a base for shadow. They are also great for holidays as they give you a little bit of colour when you are by the pool and you know you won't look like a panda at the end!


Tip: Sleek Makeup Palettes are great for travelling as you can carry a selection of colours in one container. I am loving my new Monoco palette (see my post here on the new Mediterranean collection) as it has some matt colours for day and then I can update my eyes with some shimmer for evenings out.


Cheeks
If I had not been in a rush packing then usually I take my small Z Palette with my depotted Mememe blushes in, however, I was in a rush this time so took the 2 Sleek Makeup blushes that were already in my bag. You can see which ones they are and how I wear them in my Sleek Mediterranean post.


For a highlighter I have started using my Barry M Dazzle Dust (the code is rubbed off but I think it is Silver Irridescent). I dip my blush brush into the lid and sweep over the cheek bone. It is great as it is so small you can fit it anywhere. Plus if you are heading for a night out you can give your eyes a little sparkle too!


Lips
My lips are very simple at the moment as I am in love with two products Barry M Toffee Lipgloss and GOSH Velvet Touch Lip Liner. The gloss gives me a natural gloss look, plus keeps my lips feeling moist for ages! The GOSH liners again like the eye liner are great for blending. I pick shades that blend well into my lip so it gives a natural defination to them. They last for ages and cope with drinking and eating. At the end of the day or night whem everything has started to fade my liner is still there!


I hope this helps anyone packing for their travels, sorry lack of photos my time is limited while I am away!


Stay Beautiful,


Jane xx

Bourjois Volume Clubbing Ultra Black Mascara

Hey guys, I just realised my very first post was my 3 for 2 Boots haul and I never reviewed the goodies I brought! So here is my first review from it.

I tend to use 2 mascaras one for 'everyday' which currently is Collection 2000 XXL Volume Sensation and a 'dressy' mascara which Collection 2000 Big Fake Lashes. They are both great mascaras but my Big Fake Lashes had dried out so I was on the hunt for a new one.

While mooching around Boots I came across this Bourjois mascara,

www.bourjois.co.uk

It claims to add volume to your lashes and coat with a tear and sweat proof mascara for £7.99.

At first I didn't like it because it was very thick and was very clumpy but I when I stood back and looked in the mirror I actually like the end effect. It made my lashes look amazing, almost as if I had false lashes on! 

I've found if I want to tone it down a little I use a small headed mascara brush to take off some of the excess and separate the lashes more. This mascara isn't great on lower lashes so I tend to use my Collection 2000 XXL mascara for this.

Overall I do really like this mascara, but for me it is defiantly one to use for a night out and not for a dramatic day look.

Stay Beautiful,

Jane x

Boots Advantage Card vs Superdrug Beautycard

Superdrug Beautycard

Boots Advantage Card

Superdrug have just launched their own loyalty card, to be honest i am surprised they didn't do it sooner! i really think Boots need to watch out, Superdrug really seem to be changing their feel on the high street. i always felt they were a bit cheap (sorry!!) but now I think they are becoming more credible and have a trendier feel then Boots. I kind of feel Boots is targeting the 30+ women and Superdrug 18+. If you haven't been to Superdrug lately go and have a hunt around, they have some good quality skincare products at great prices alongside an ever expanding makeup range. Even in makeup they have brands like Sleek and MeMeMe that are low priced but with luxury quality products.
I always used to head for Boots on a makeup haul but now Superdrug is my first stop!


So now to the important bit which card is the best,


Superdrug Beautycard - The Basics

• For every £1 you spend you earn 1 point
• 1 point = 1p
• You can redeem 100 points (£1) at a time and can use it as part payment. What is also good is you can choose how many batches of 100 points you use. E.g for a product at £5.00 you can choose to have £1, £2 etc off.
• You still earn points on products you redeem points on
• Points can be earned online but not spent
• If you forget your card you can't add the points later
• It has a mirror on it!!!!!

Boots Advantage Card - The Basics

• For every £1 you spend you earn 4 points
• 1point = 1p
• You can redeem any amount of points at a time but the points must cover the full value of the transaction
• You don't earn points on products you pay for using points
• Points can be earned online but not spent
• If you forget your card you can add points later
• It can become a registered Donor card

My Thoughts

Both have their advantages, Boots' earn you more points per £ but Superdrug allows you to earn points on products you redeem points on.
Boots does offer extra perks like Treat Street but Superdrug's has only just launched so hopefully it will develop more benefits.
If I am being honest you are likely to have both in your purse and so it makes no difference which is best. You could argue if you were to buy products that both stock, like Collection 2000, you may consider Boots first as you earn more points. In reality I think you will just buy in whichever shop you spot it in first, I have been know to buy products by the same brand in both shops on one trip!

 

Stay Beautiful,

Jane x