Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

 Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara (£12)

I’m hopeless when it comes to applying mascara.  I give the brush a quick wiggle between my lashes and hope for the best but without fail manage to mess up and get it on my skin.  So naturally I’m interested in any product which can help me neaten up my peepers.

With its lightweight wand and minuscule brush head this little offering from Clinique is perfect for getting into the corners of your eyes and under those barely-there bottom lashes.  It both thickens and separates each individual lash, reducing the under eye smudge and creating a crisp, clean look.  It doesn’t flake or run and keep’s it’s colour intensity throughout the day.  This would be great for creating a chic, sixties graphic eye - think Twiggy lashes!

Of course a bottom lash mascara is not entirely essential for your make up bag and I don’t use it everyday but it is a nifty little product for when you can afford to take more time on your eye area.  Not very often for me as I don’t get much time on a daily basis but I love using it when I can as it really opens up my eyes.  And I just can’t get over how cute the packaging is.  It’s just so petite!  The perfect stocking filler for any beauty lover this Christmas I think.

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What's On My Face: The Office Edition

Max Factor’s Instant Complexion Enhancer CC Cream (£9.99) | Paul & Joe’s Limited Edition Pressed Powder UV (£28) | MAC Powder Blush in Supercontinental | Maybelline’s Mega Plush Volum’ Expess mascara (£7.99) | Benefit Browzings Brow Shaping Kit (£23.50) | Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant (£25)

Every morning I’m faced with the same old predicament: get up and apply some makeup or have an extra ten minutes in bed.  You can guarantee I choose my bed every time.  However, I’m not brave enough to go to work barefaced so have to try to make myself look presentable with a limited amount of time and a few products.

When I don’t have time to sit and blend in my foundation, the Max Factor’s Instant Complexion Enhancer CC Cream comes in really handy.  It’s more like a tinted moisturiser than a foundation so doesn’t need as much work.  It’s light and refreshing yet gives me good coverage.  If needs be I top up with a little concealer.  I forgot to photograph it but no prizes for guessing which one I use (Collection’s  Lasting Perfection concealer - review here).

I have to add powder when I need my makeup to last all day and my current dusting of choice comes from Paul & Joe’s Limited Edition Pressed Powder UV.  It contains finely milled glitter which adds a sheen to my face - the perfect pick me up for when I’m at work.  Onto blush and my usual office choice is MAC Powder Blush in Supercontinental, a bright yet natural coral shade.  It’s perfect for giving me a bit of a flush whilst not being too OTT or girly.  Unfortunately it was a limited edition from a collection last year so you will find it hard to hunt it down.  I’m using it sparingly!

Now for the eye area.  I tend to keep my eyes really simple whilst at work because as you nine-to-five girls know, too much tired eye-rubbing will leave you looking like an office zombie.  I apply a good few lashings of Maybelline’s Mega Plush Volum’ Expess mascara to keep my peepers looking wide awake.  I didn’t get on with this mascara at first as I found the formula rather runny and hard to work with but I persevered and glad I did.  I fill in my browns using the amazing Browzings duo from Benefit.  As you can see, the wax (left) is my favourite but I stick to the powder (right) during the day for a subtle look.

Finally, the lips.  Whenever I wear bright lipstick during the day at work I’m often asked if I’m going out afterwards and I get sick of saying “no I just like fancy a change!”  Can’t a girl wear a bit of bright lippy if she pleases?  Jeez!  Most days I opt for a touch of lip balm to keep my lips soft but glossy.  I make sure I keep it on my desk and top up during the day, especially in the colder weather.  My all time favourite lip balm is the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant.  If you don’t have this in your makeup bag then why not?  It cures an array of ailments and I love how soft it makes my lips feel.

And there you have it.  This whole routine takes around 10 minutes and is so fool proof it can be done when half asleep.  I plan on doing a few more What’s On My Face posts so let me know other ‘faces’ you would like to see.

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What I Bought: The Beauty Edition

I've done quite a bit of shopping lately so thought I'd do my first ever haul post to show you what I've been buying.  This haul is beauty related but I've bought myself some new threads too so I'm going to do a separate post for my fashion related purchases.  I've accumulated this stuff over the last couple of weeks so I don't feel too bad when I think about how much I've spent.  Wouldn't it be lovely if I could afford a haul like this every week though?  A girl can dream!  So without further ado, here are the products that have made it into my beauty basket lately...

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm (£21):  Oh look!  Another skin care purchase inspired by Caroline Hirons!  My purse is begging me to stop reading her blog.  This melting make up remover is one of her firm favourites and is a lot cheaper than the popular Emma Hardy Cleansing Balm which does the same sort of job.  I've used this a couple of times so far and love it already but need to use it a little more before I give you guys a full review.

Ciaté Emerald Collection (£25):  I actually got this amazing kit as a birthday gift from my friend Tonya.  She knows me so well.  Not quite a purchase of my own but I just had to include it because it’s so beautiful.  The kit includes an array of sprinkles, sparkles and fluff to create three different textured nail art looks.  I find myself in a trance-like state whenever I look at the glitter pot!  It's just so pretty...I can't wait to dip my nails in.  I've never seen anything like the velvet effect before so I'm rather intrigued with how that works.  Green is my favourite colour so this set is simply heaven for me.  It's like I've died and gone to the Emerald City.

Primark Face Cloths (£1.50):  To some, these flannels may be basic, boring and Nana-like but to me they are a godsend!  I use them on a daily basis to cleanse my face and remove my make up and they're a great little accompaniment to my new cleansing balm.  At £1.50 they're a steal!

Primark Plastic Travel Bottles (£1):  Another boring but practical purchase.  I'm going away for the weekend at the end of this month and have been warned in advance that I need to pack light.  These travel sized bottles were just £1 from Primark and are going to help me on my quest to take less products with me.  Now if only there was an easy solution for my shoes...

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara (£12):  How cute is this?  This teeny tiny mascara is designed especially for your bottom eyelashes.  The minuscule brush is perfect for getting into the hard to reach inner corners of your eye and is great for avoiding those pesky mascara smudges.  Is it a necessity?  No.  But I was swayed by an offer on the Boots' website and thought it wouldn’t hurt to try.  I’ll review it for you soon.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (£3.99):  I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve repurchased this.  It’s the only concealer I use and I’m not about to start changing it anytime soon.  The consistency is thick and creamy and the coverage is amazing.  Spots, redness, eye-bags...you name it, this covers it.  If there’s one thing I recommend you try it’s this.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask (£22):  I think this is the product I was most excited about buying.  After hearing so many rave reviews about how it transforms your skin I knew I had to try it for myself.  Leave this mask on your face overnight and your skin will literally drink up the moisture.  The next day my face felt hydrated and looked brighter than it had in a long time.  I am really impressed!

And that includes my beauty haul!  What do you think?  Any treats in there that you would like to purchase yourself?  Or is there anything you’d recommend I buy next?  I know I shouldn’t considering my recent beauty binge but I really don’t care.  A girl can’t have too many products in my opinion ;)

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Soap and Glory Thick & Fast Mascara

Soap and Glory Thick & Fast Mascara (£10)

I’ve not tried many of Soap and Glory’s make up products and I’m not really sure why?  I suppose I believed they do such a good job of making sweet, smelly things that they weren’t going to be masters of make up too.  But I was wrong and it was their nifty Thick & Fast mascara that changed my mind.  It came as part of my big bumper S&G gift-set (the one that’s reduced to half price in Boots a couple of weeks before Christmas) and I only started to use it when I realised I was all out of my favourite mascara and hadn’t yet bought a replacement.

Although I didn’t originally buy this mascara, it is certainly one that I would now purchase.  My lashes look both thicker and longer after just a couple of coats of the stuff and it’s dramatic, yet wearable at the same time.  The formula is great as it doesn’t clog or clump my lashes together and most importantly, it doesn’t start to run down my face midday, leaving me completely unaware of my panda eyes.  The wand is your typical sort of bristle-brush: tapered at the end to make applying to the inner corners of your eyes a lot easier, yet big enough to really give your lashes some lift.

Soap and Glory have really gone back to basics with this mascara and I personally think that’s the reason it really works.  They’re not making any wild claims or promising anything innovative and even the packaging is just a straight up and down simple mascara tube but they’ve focused on making a great product on the inside.  Thick & Fast might not be life-changing and you probably won’t want to rush out and buy it straight away, but if, like me, you have this tucked away in your collection somewhere, it’s definitely worth a try.

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Maybelline The Falsies Volum’ Express Flared mascara

Maybelline The Falsies Volum’ Express Flared mascara (£7.99)

After succumbing to the charms of an amazing but expensive mascara (yes Benefit They’re Real!, I am looking at you), I started to think I’d never be able to love a drug store mascara again.  I was wrong!  Cue Maybelline’s The Falsies Volum’ Express mascara, the flared version.  I can’t explain how good this mascara is.  To say I’m really impressed is an understatement!

I’ll start by saying that it doesn’t do exactly what it says on the tin.  It doesn’t have the same effect on your eyes as wearing false lashes and any mascara that says it does is lying.  You just can’t achieve the same length, volume and thickness that fake lashes give unless you have Disney Princess style lashes to start with, which I don’t :( 

But when fake lashes aren’t appropriate and I still want to make the most of my lashes, this is the product I turn to.  Initially I was a little put off because Maybelline seem to have released so many different mascaras which all look and claim to do the same thing but just come in different coloured tubes.  I find it really confusing when I’m in Boots and I’m trying to work out which one will be best but I’m so glad I took a chance with this mascara.  

Personally, I think this is just as good as They’re Real! by Benefit.  It adds both length and volume to my lashes without making them clumpy or too heavy.  The brush is spoon shaped so I use the inside of it to curl my lashes and the back of it to fan them out at the ends.  It’s not a plastic brush which I know puts a lot of people off They’re Real!  So if you’re not a fan of Benefit’s wonder mascara then this may be the product for you.  This mascara is half the price and does the same job therefore it’s no competition for me.  Maybelline Falsies wins every time!

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Benefit They're Real! mascara

Benefit They’re Real! mascara (18.50)*

I’m not normally too fussed about paying loads for wonder mascaras as I always rely on fake lashes when I want to enhance my eyes.  I’ve never used a mascara that really lives up to it’s claims...until now.  Benefit They’re Real! mascara is simply amazing.  It works wonders on my stumpy little lashes, making them longer, fuller and thicker.  This will sound like such a cliche but the first day I wore this mascara someone asked me if I was wearing falsies to which I replied “they’re real!” (cheesy I know.)  At £18.50 this mascara is so expensive but it works so well and I will definitely be re-purchasing it.  My picture doesn’t do it justice and please excuse the black and white tint.  It’s a cop-out but my skin is awful at the minute and my camera loves picking up every imperfection!

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