L'Oréal Voluminous Mascara Waterproof...

Is it just me or did this mascara use to give more volume?

I rarely wear waterproof mascaras and in fact I just can't recall using a formula other than this one. I may have tried other drugstore options but that was so long ago that I can't remember which, it's just not coming to me. Over the years I've repurchased this one maybe four or five times which for some reason I didn't mention in my first review of it, here. It was an ok go to for when I needed my mascara to stay put and in my memory I'm quite sure it kept the curl...

L'Oréal Voluminous Mascara, Waterproof...

Not what I remembered...

Again, I rarely wear waterproof but now I get the feeling I won't have any other choice since almost all the regular formulas I've tried recently don't seem to hold the curl even when heating my lash curler. Some of my old favorites aren't doing much better either. Are my lashes getting even stiffer? I hope not! Of course at this time of year, heat and humidity aren't helping much and so last week I decided to replace my L'Oréal Voluminous Waterproof from last year and at $5.99 I figured I'd be good for summer for cheap. Since my last trial was a bust, L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes Waterproof reviewed recently, here, I thought this old standard would be fine.

Just like in my original review, the brush is just fine and it does give good length but it doesn't provide much volume! Duh! It's called Voluminous!!! Why did I like this mascara I have no idea!

Am I starting to suffer from Alzheimer?

I thought it not only held the curl but was black enough, thickening enough... Not so but what does remain the same is... Oh what a pain to remove!!!

To give my lashes more oomph I have to apply some Clinique or Dior on the tips otherwise they are practically non existent! Even doing this, the effect doesn't last and so after five hours or so my lashes don't have much volume and barely any curl.

Bottom line, I'm sorry about my previous review, or am I? Seems to me it used to do good on my lashes but not anymore. L'Oréal Infaillible Lacquer Liner in Dark Slate remains my ultimate HG liner (I have two backups of it) but I think I'm done with the brand's mascaras except for Voluminous Million Lashes Excess which I reviewed last year, here. I was considering trying the new Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara but after reading my new bloguerette friend Lena of Lenalure's review, here, I'll pass and keep my wallet happy! :)

Any old favorites you feel have changed or don't perform as well as they used to?

L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes Waterproof Mascara...

To find a mascara that will hold the curl all day... Is it too much to ask for, is it an impossible concept?

Wait till I do a round up post of all the ones I've tried in the past twelve months or so... Crazy, just crazy!

Since so far I just can't seem to be pleased with any of the ones I use in rotation except for Dior Iconic reviewed, here, I figured the next step would be going for a waterproof formula. This is something I wanted to avoid because they usually are such a pain to remove. I know, I know one simply has to use a bi-phase eye makeup remover but I always end up with "clouds" in my eyes which equals in irritation. 

Anyways, I guess a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes Waterproof...

This picture I posted on Instagram last week.

On special at less than $8.00 when I purchased it last week, it was a bit of an impulse buy. For some reason I thought it would be if not improved at least similar to the original Voluminous Waterproof which I've repurchased several times over the years but with a new packaging. 

Not quite! Actually I should say, not even close!

The brush is made of plastic and is a little reminiscent of Benefit They're Real! but maybe a little less scary, less spiky looking and the wand is slightly more solid than L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess reviewed, here. I must admit that I prefer this brush to Excess, it's shorter and easier to work with. I believe the main problem with this waterproof version is the container's opening. Tight, it doesn't leave enough product on the brush. It separates lashes beautifully but leaves barely any color on then and this translates into no volume, no volume at all!

Remember, it's called Voluminous! On the package it also said "Multiplied Maximized Volume"

Top, Voluminous Million LashesWaterproof 

Bottom, Voluminous Million Lashes Excess

As mentioned, I've used the original Voluminous waterproof in the past and was always pleased with it except for the fact that it truly was a pain to remove but this one sadly, is not really an improved version. Separation and some length, yes but volume, forget it unless you're prepare to spend at least ten minutes applying coats after coats of it.

I tried it as a "base" to separate my lashes thinking that as a first coat it might help hold the curl better but not so. At the end of the day it didn't make any difference and was as anticipated, hard to remove. 

Would I recommend L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes Waterproof? Sadly, no.

Unless you have gorgeous long and full lashes that only need a little definition to begin with, this one won't do much for you unless you're prepared to apply five coats or more! It does receive some rave reviews but for me it just didn't work.

Reviews:

Makeup Alley: 4 / 5 lippies for 140 reviews.

Beauté-test: 3.1 / 5 stars for 90 reviews.

I guess should have stuck to the original L'Oréal Voluminous Waterproof formula! :(

Have you ever been disappointed by "improved" versions of old favorites?

Dior Diorshow Mascara...

On my quest to find the perfect non waterproof mascara for my lashes I've stumbled upon a few that I would consider repurchasing even though they're not quite what I would qualify as HG.

The most notables until now...

Dior Iconic, so far is The One! Sadly the brush is a pain with it's tight bristles. I get about six weeks of use out of it, after that due to the fact the formula thickens a little, the brush becomes hard to work with.

Estée Lauder Sumptuous, an excellent formula combined with a good brush, this one is at the top of my list. Goes on smoothly, keeps the curl and doesn't flake. 

Benefit They're Real!, superior to Estée Lauder (in summer) but the brush now annoys me a little and the formula crumbles under cold Canadian temperatures.

Clinique High Impact, good formula, easy to work with brush, this one almost made it but for some reason on some days it doesn't hold the curl. 

The latest contender?

Let's think for a minute that maybe, just maybe all the Dior mascaras have the same formula but in different containers with different brushes... Yes there are companies out there that do this! Notice how some can launch up to three "new" mascaras a year?

Dior Diorshow Mascara...

As mentioned Diorshow Iconic has an amazing formula so could it be possible that it and Diorshow share the same mysterious recipe but with different brushes?

Sadly no!

Diorshow I was told was developed for last minute back stage "oomphing" up lashes and that, it does beautifully. It thickens and lengthens in two coats, dries fast and will definitely achieve great results on someone who already has lots of naturally curly lashes. Yes ladies, they are out there those who need neither mascara nor a lash curler... don't you hate them? 

Nah just kidding! :)

The brush of Diorshow, although huge, works nicely with the formula and unlike Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara, the product gets evenly distributed on the brush when you take it out of the container. On the picture below you can see there is less mascara on the tip of the Diorshow brush (top).

How does it perform? Read on...

It gives me long thick lashes with no clumps, resists the heat of my lash curler (remember I heat mine with a hair dryer otherwise I get no curl) but for some reason on some days the curl can last up to nine hours while on others I'll get barely two! This puzzles me since I always do the same thing and no, this doesn't happen on hot humid days so I have no smart explanation for this.

On me, it flakes!!! Weird again since this doesn't happen every day just like the curl doesn't hold the same from one day to the next... 

Is my Diorshow Mascara possessed?

Well probably not but it sure is a little cray cray, unstable I mean. Friday it did great and lasted an entire work day but Saturday it did poorly! Same weather except maybe I was outside a little more. When it flakes it doesn't do so in a discrete fashion but instead with big specs so I sometimes end up with black spots on my cheeks!!! Oh and it smudges a little! Now this is something I didn't expect. It does so very lightly in the outer corners of my eyes. I know it's Diorshow because these days I pretty much always wear the same eye makeup but with different mascaras and this happens only with this Dior offering.

The reviews...

After having written the above paragraph I decided to go have a look at some of the reviews on MakeupAlley, just the first two pages because there are 3026 in all... One confirmed something I was puzzled by, thinking it was a problem with mine only but apparently it's happened to others. After a while the wand doesn't screw back on properly and I get the feeling that if I force it it'll break and so it's the weirdest thing which has never happened to me and quite unimpressive coming from a luxury brand.

Makeup Alley: 3.5 / 5 lippies for 3026 reviews.

Beauté-test: 4 / 5 stars for 903 reviews.

Do I recommend Diorshow Mascara? Not really.

In the reviews there are many who swear by this mascara but I can't. Sadly I found it too unstable which is a description I never thought I would give a mascara. Some days are good while others not so much. Great dramatic look that can last and entire day or only a few hours, flakes here and there and a bit of smudging...

The fact that the brush is huge makes it unsuitable for short lashes.

I took my sweet time before writing this review because I wanted to make sure, sure I wasn't imagining things. I wore Diorshow on it's own as well as over other mascaras, namely Iconic, Benefit, Clinique and MUFE for that bit of extra oomph effect. It did that well but the flaking and smudging also happened in those instances. In other words, I really did put it to the test this past month and although it's working a little better now due to the fact it's dried up a little, it's not a formula I'll repurchase. 

If you've never tried a Dior mascara, best steer clear of this one which is $31.00 and either go for Diorshow Iconic or Diorshow Overcurl which is pretty much the brand's best seller and gets the most love from my bloguerette friends.

Now you do know there's a new one coming out don't you?

This little beauty is now available through Sephora's website though I haven't seen it in the store yet and goes for $32.00. The brush does remind me of Benefit's but from other pictures I've seen, appears to be a little thinner which I think will make it easy of use on most eye shape as well as on shorter lashes. I sincerely hope it's as good as it looks!

Do you use different mascaras in rotation or do you always go for the same one?

The Sunday Post, Vol. 20...

Excited!

My friend from Australia is coming to Montreal to visit her family and we have a date on Wednesday!

We've known each other since we were 14 yrs old and although we've lost track here and there we've managed to keep in touch. The last time we saw each other face to face? I can't really remember but I believe Catherine was 8 and she'll be 15 in less than a month so yes, it's been a while!

Finally we are back on track and have been enjoying beautiful springy weather! Most summer makeup collections are out but I've stayed away from the cosmetics departments! I stayed away because I need to reduce my beauty spending, not completely but I just can't go all crazy like I did last Christmas. I still need new shoes...

... and I have Catherine's upcoming birthday to think about!

This week's makeup love...

... Erm I should say this month's makeup love! Since for a while now I've been using pretty much the same items I thought it would be fun to do a round up and show you what I reach for in order of use, before putting on perfume and lipstick in the morning. Of course I don't use all of these at once in case you're wondering. If I were I guess I would probably look like a clown!

Base products...

Dior Hydra Life BB Crème (see below)
Hourglass Mineral Veil (under eye area)
Rimmel Match Perfection concealer
NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
Marcelle Pressed Powder (with a fan brush under eye area)
Guerlain Crazy Météorites

Eyes...

Guerlain Terracotta La Sélection de l'Été Eye and Face Palette from last year. The faun eye shadow on lower lid and been playing with the other two colors as well, a darkish olive green and purplish brown
Diorshow Mono in Velvet or TheBalm Shady Lady in Risqué Renee for definition
Bobbi Brown Ciment from the Navy & Nude palette on upper lids and to blend the edges
L'Oréal Infaillible Lacquer Liner in Slate sometimes "oomfed" with Dior Fusion Mono in Nocturne
Mascara, alternating between Diorshow and Diorshow Iconic

Contour, definition or glowy stuff, however you want to call these...

Bronzer, alternating between Terracotta 01 / La Sélection de l'Été and NARS Laguna. Diorskin Nude Tan Paradise Duo in Coral Glow has come out of hibernation but I've only used it 2x so far.

Oops! I forgot blushes! Well at the moment it's pretty much always M.A.C Whole Lotta Love

Finishing powder, Guerlain Crazy Météorite again or a combination from Hourglass Ambient Lighting, mainly Dim Light and Radiant Light.

Ok so I have included Bobbi Brown's Longwear Gel Eyeliner in Caviar Ink in there but in all honesty I rarely reach for it. I find it harder to work with than L'Oréal. For some reason, once the line is done, going back over it to either thicken it or make it more clean sometimes makes a pretty bad mess. Since it dries fast, it can get all smudgy and weird.

So you see, I don't need to go all crazy over the new collections since I've got most of my makeup needs covered. Right?

A little update...

It's official, Dior Hydra Life BB Crème will not do for summer! Great luminous coverage but it doesn't control the oil and on some afternoons this week I could actually feel it on my skin. With it I've had to use 2x the powder I normally do if not more. Not a total waste, I will simply keep it for late august, for when the weather starts to cool down to transition into fall.

What I have my eyes on...

I do still want a few new nail polishes but haven't decided yet if I'll go Dior or Chanel and there's a Guerlain Rouge Automatique that I'm considering but since I have to find a new daytime foundation/BB or whatever the name, it may have to wait.

For your viewing enjoyment...

This week's video is not from Dior!!! Aren't you surprised? From YSL showing one of their iconic products, I think I really need one! Imagine that, a full night's sleep rested look in a clickable pen! I just can't believe I haven't tried this before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-3EhjF2ePE

Yup! I definitely need one.

Have a great week everyone! Hélène xoxo

Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara...

Last week I received my free birthday gift from Sephora and this year it's composed of two Make Up For Ever (MUFE) products. A Lipstick, which by the way I already own! I mean I have only one lipstick from this brand and just had to get another tiny one in the same color! Just my luck! The other product I was more excited about, a mascara!!!

Y'all know I'm a little obsessed with my lashes don't ya? Here I go rambling about them, again...

They're straight, they're stubborn and they tend to point downwards! Not a great look!

Why this obsession? My lids are starting to look more wrinkly and when my lashes are curved with a good smooth fluttery coat of mascara it's less obvious!

A while back I found the "almost" prefect one in Diorshow Iconic (reviewed, here) which remains at the top of my list of favorites but a tube barely lasts me two months before it starts to thicken to the point that the brush becomes almost useless. If its bristles weren't as tightly placed it would be possible to continue using but it's not the case. Do note that I don't pump the wand. For those who don't know, pumping brings air in the formula so the mascara thicken/dries faster and although for some it's a good thing since they start out pretty liquidy for others like Diorshow Iconic, not so much because it's rather creamy to begin with.

Recently I got a small size of Clinique High Impact that I must say, impressed me a lot, reviewed, here. The combination of the brush, the formula and the price makes it a strong contender to become an HG. At $19.00 it's a very reasonable option but then there's this one...

Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara...

Oh My Word!!!

This formula is fantastic! Goes on like a dream, dries fast, resists the heat of my lash curler and keeps the curl all day!

Beautiful fluttery curved lashes!!!

Really it's pretty much amazing!

But there's one problem... and it's a big one... the shape of the brush!

I wonder who thought of that one, probably a lady with big eyes and amazingly long lashes to begin with!

Here I wanted to give you an idea of the size of the brush.

There's no way I can use this brush the same way as I use others. I'm left applying the product with its tip because if I try to hold the wand the way I would any other mascara, I end up with black spots on my upper lids! This happens even if the opening is small and removes most of the product from the larger part of the brush. This also means that you're left with a lot of mascara on the tip of the brush so you have to scrape the extra otherwise it's a thick mess.

Here for an even better idea I photographed MUFE along side other small sized mascaras and would you believe I used to think Benefit's brush was big?

On top Clinique High Impact, middle Benefit They're Real and bottom MUFE. 

Do I recommend Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara? Yes and no.

Yes since it's a surprisingly good formula that defines my lashes almost like no others have but no because of the brush. For me it's really a pain to use. If you have short lashes or deep set eyes I don't think you'll appreciate this one.

I've read some reviews and they're pretty divided. Some say this mascara flakes which didn't happen on me, while others love the brush so you may take my opinion with a grain of salt but at $28.00 a pop I say better be sure and go get your VIB Birthday gift from Sephora to try it first.

The brush for me is a no go and I doubt I'll get accustomed to it so I'll be using this one on week ends, when I can take a little more time to do my makeup. :)


Reviews:

Makeup Alley: 3.2 lippies / 5 lippies for 32 reviews
Beauté-test: 4 / 5 stars for 20 reviews


Have you received you Sephora birthday gift yet? 

Clinique High Impact Mascara...

I don't know why I practically discarded this mascara a few years back! I thought it didn't hold the curl and so I used the small sizes I had for the tips of my lashes. I received a new mini in my latest Clinique gift with purchase and figured why not give it another chance?

Clinique High Impact Mascara...

On the first try I thought it was sticky when I curled my lashes but that was due to the fact I didn't wait long enough for it to dry. On the second, not only did it resist the heat of my hair dryer (I heat my curler, it's the only way my lashes can stay curl all day) but it did keep the curl and stayed pretty true for a good 10 hours!

The formula...

Goes on smoothly, not too wet and not too dry. Not as stiff as Benefit They're Real! but not as soft as Givenchy. So far I haven't had any clumps or flakes and putting it on in the morning is petty much a breeze.

The brush...

As you know I love my brushes! This one works like a charm and compare to my Diorshow Iconic (the one on top on the picture above) you can see that there's more space between the bristles and so it's much easier to apply a second coat. It's your typical boring classic brush but it does the job well and the pointy tip is perfect to reach those pesky little lashes in the inner corners of the eyes.

Do I recommend Clinique High Impact Mascara? Yes.

It's an excellent mid range ($19.00 CAD) mascara that does the job well, covers evenly, keeps the curl all day which for me is a biggie and doesn't flake of fade.

I'm suspecting it might reach HG status because I do believe I will purchase the full size once my Dior is done. How come I didn't like it the first time around? I just don't know why or maybe it's my lashes that have changed who knows? :)


Was there ever a makeup item that you weren't that impressed with at first but were pleased with the second time around?

Givenchy Noir Couture 4 in 1 Mascara...

One thing I have to give Givenchy, presentation!

Recently I returned a mascara to Sephora and got into a lengthy conversation about brushes with one of the SAs. She was just lovely and as geeky about them as I am. This was right after my mascara brushes post and she gave me a few suggestions, among them Tarte and YSL because they were out of Guerlain's Cils d'Enfer which is on my "to try" list. I decided to go for...

Givenchy Noir Couture 4 in 1 Mascara...

What it is:
A four-in-one mascara that creates intense volume, strong curl, infinite length, and complete lash care.

What it does:
This multitasking mascara is formulated with Givenchy’s exclusive Lash Booster Expert Complex that provides nutrition, revitalization, fortification, and protection. 

Research results:
-Based on a self-evaluation on 32 women after 4 weeks of daily application, 91% had visibly volumized, curled, and lengthened lashes.
-Based on clinical scoring on 32 women after 8 weeks of daily applications, 100% recorded lash beauty and strength, surface shine, evenness, and suppleness. 

Sephora is the exclusive beauty retailer for this product.

Such a beauty! The brush... must have been designed by an even more geekybrushpickynut than me! Despite the fact that it's totally out there, it works amazingly well.

If only the mascara itself was up to par with the brush! You can see on the top picture the nice point the formula has. It's just the right consistency, not too thick, not too thin and on the bottom picture, notice the rounded tip of the brush. It surprisingly works extremely well, even in the inner corner of my eyes. Since it does keep quite a bit of product on you must not "wiggle" the brush when applying this mascara otherwise you'll end up with a thick mess.

It does go on smooth, gives length, volume and is a beautiful satiny black but sadly it doesn't last. It tends to flake a little and kind of disappears during the course of the day. It resists the heat of the heated lash curler and does keep the curl for about six hours but it has no oomph!

I could apply two coats but more and it started to clump!

Would I recommend Givenchy Noir Couture 4 in 1 Mascara? Sadly no.

Unless you have beautifully long curly lashes to begin with I doubt this one will do much for you. I myself will be using it on weekends when I go for lighter eye makeup and maybe my lashes will take advantage of it's lash boosting properties.

By the way, that nice SA at Sephora was 100% correct about Givenchy's. She told me they often recommended it to women who wanted to achieve a natural look. For this it does work but I'm not ready to let go of a more dramatic effect yet so this one will not be a repurchase.

Have you tried any of Givenchy's makeup offerings?

Mascaras, Let's Compare a Few... Brushes!

Every time I review a mascara I always mention the importance of the combination of good formula and good brush. You really can't have one without the other. Basic I know but this is something that may have been overlooked by some of those who are still searching for "The One".

I think the first step is trying to figure out which brush works best for you and then take it from there because even if you have found a great formula, if you keep struggling with the brush, well, that's not a good thing. There is a perfect mascara for everyone out there, believe me!

Why was it such a struggle for me? My lashes are on the short side and point straight down plus they are stiff and hard to curl. The only way I can keep a curl all day is by heating my lash curler with my hair dryer and that's with mascara on! If I do this before application it's always a major fail. Doing this the mascara formula must be on the amazing side because not all can sustain a heated lash curler. Several "melt" on point of contact and although not super noticeable it's a little annoying.

The mascaras mentioned below all have great formulas that did good with the heated lash curler. Some believe that you're not suppose to curl your lashes with mascara on, thinking that it will break them but I've been doing this for years with no issues. If you break or pull off lashes the problem is the lash curler itself not the fact that you have mascara on. Oh I almost forgot, all these mascaras kept the curl a good 12 hours too!

Let's compare some brushes...

These are the ones I've used this year. Of course if you have long naturally curly lashes (I could almost hate you right now, yes I'm talking to you Melissa from Kiss & Makeup and Tracy from Beauty Reflections) you may not even need to bother with this entry, these comments but, you may still find it... informative. :)

L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess:  the brush is huge compared to the others and I don't quite get the curve of it. The wand itself is kind of soft and a little flimsy and I must admit that I was a afraid it would break at one point leaving the brush in the container. Still it was a good drugstore option because it did a good job and it's one I'd reconsider.

Estée Lauder Sumptuous: my favorite! It's a standard no fuss conic shaped brush that due to the fact it's more pointy makes mascara application easier on those inner corner tiny lashes.

Benefit They're Real!: Ok this one is a little funky and prickly but it does a good quick job. Combined with a good product it's one that I now buy in it's small size to always have available.

Diorshow Iconic: I truly loved this beautifully smooth formula but as mentioned the brush is a pain! Notice the difference below compared to the others? How the bristles are tight, close to one another? Once there a bit of products on the lashes it can barely grab on to them for a second coat. I was able to achieve a good look with it but it did take longer and that was rather annoying some mornings.

Diorshow Iconic Overcurl: curved brushes aren't my favorite and this one made it hard to grab the lashes on the inner corners of my eyes. I can't comment on the formula since it appears I ended up with a bad one that I had to take back but do know it gets a lot of love. I don't think I will try again just because of the brush.

My wish...

Could someone combine the formula of Diorshow Iconic with Estée Lauder's Sumptuous brush? This would make it one of the best mascaras out there!!!

Yes I dare say, even better than Benefit They're Real!

The mascaras mentioned here are all top sellers and get high ratings so yes, if you want to try any of them do go ahead. You may have noticed in the reviews I wrote about them, I really have nothing negative to say about their formulas* and unlike me, you may have no issues with their respective brushes. I guess I'm a bit of a perfectionist in this area but at the same time I thought it would give you something to think about the next time you decide to purchase a new mascara. That is if you haven't found "The One" yet!

Of course this year I will be trying others in fact, I already have a few I'm considering and can't wait to play with! :D


When deciding on trying a new mascara, is the brush an important selling point or am I the only nut case out there?



*It was confirmed again this week that there was a bad shipment of Diorshow Iconic Overcurl mascara from another Dior counter where they too had some returns. My guess is it may have been exposed to extreme temperatures.

Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara...

I finally purchased it! I think it was back in August that I first started to notice this one so why not until now? I have no idea!

The last two I tried and reviewed were L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess and Diorshow Iconic. While the first did a good job in the beginning it turned rather quickly into a weird goop, the second had a great formula that kept the curl all day but the brush was a little of a pain to use due to the tight placing of the bristles.

Diorshow Iconic Overcurl...

A favorite for many! The brush's bristles are placed in a more traditional fashion and so application is faster and easier than with it's mate Iconic. Holding the brush against the lashes for a few seconds you can get a bit of a natural lift but on me this doesn't last. I still need to heat my lash curler not only to achieve the effect I want but it's also the only way the curl will last all day.

For me a good mascara does indeed require a good formula but if the brush doesn't do a proper job during application, well, it's kind of for nothing. Of course we all have our preferences in that regard.

What about Diorshow Iconic Overcurl's brush?

It's curved!

I'm not a fan of curved brushes because I find them hard to work with, especially in the inner corner of my eyes where my lashes are shorter. Ok I know it's not only me, we all have shorter lashes in that area! Many swear by the curve but I'm not one of them.

The formula...

I'm not sure if I got a "good one"! The first week I used it, it went on like a dream, thickened and lengthened my lashes in just a few swipes. Kept the curl a good 10 hours (with the help of my heated lash curler) and didn't produce any flakes.

After that, it went downhill! It's like it dried up in no time. The formula got thick and was hard to use by the end of the second week. It's important to note that I never, ever, pump the brush in the container. This is a big no no since it brings air in and can ruin a mascara in no time. I just don't know what happened. The temperature where I keep my makeup is on the normal side at about 21°C with no direct sunlight at this time of year. I did not leave it open, I love the little "click" it does when I screw the wand back in so this didn't happen. I purchased it at Sephora and the box was pristine so I doubt it had been opened. If you have any idea please let me know in the comments section because I'd really like to solve this mystery.

Would I recommend Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara? I just don't know!

The formula that first week was excellent and had just the right consistency to be able to apply 2 to 3 coats for a beautiful dramatic effect. I was even able to get a bit of a "lift" before using my lash curler. After those first 10 days or so, it got thick, was hard to apply with clumps here and there and horror of horror, flakes, lots of them. The last straw was that it didn't keep the curl for more than 5 hours or so. This is truly baffling!

For this one, don't take my word for it, really I mean it! Just look at the reviews below, it's a favorite for many and several of my bloguerette friends swear by it and that's after having tried several other high end formulas. This is the reason why I think I got a bad one. Even a not so good mascara will be relatively good for at least a month and a half, not barely two weeks! I just can't remember this happening to me before

One last note...

The wand is quite long and some may struggle a little with this at first but you do get used to it.

Reviews:

Makeup Alley: 4 / 5 lippies for 17 reviews.
Beauté-test: 4 / 5 stars for 83 reviews.


Update...

Last night out of the blues I thought why not try to take it back at Sephora where I purchased it? So today I did and the first thing I was told was that I wasn't the first one disappointed with this Dior mascara. Apparently there seems to be a bad batch out there! Duh!!!

I guess this answers my questions!

I'm glad I didn't press "enter" on this entry this morning!

They did exchange it, I didn't even have my receipt and so that's what I call great customer service!

So if Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara is you favorite than please carry on! Just know that it is possible to get a dud, even with Dior! :)


Have you ever purchased a mascara that dried up in no time or with an "off" formula?

What to do with my Sunday Post?

Before you start you may want to go grab a coffee or tea for this is a long one!

A little personal update...

As some of you may have guessed, I'm still trying to figure out how to organize my schedule between work, blogging and home time. I do think I'm slowly getting it but this week everything went kaput due to a horrible back pain that came out from nowhere!

It started last Friday just as I was going back to work after lunch. For some reason I could barely walk. That evening I was suppose to take Catherine to see a movie and so she had come downtown to meet with me. She was disappointed when I told her there was no way I could suffer sitting in a theatre for two hours straight. I took her to eat something and home we went.

In the morning I would have needed a mechanical lift to get me out of bed! This lasted until Thursday making this Friday morning almost normal. I still feel it but at least now it bearable.

My best friend this week was my heating pad. :(

The movie, we finally managed to go see this Friday. I almost bailed out again due to the fact I was so tired but I didn't want to turn down Catherine again. She rarely asks for anything and is such a good reasonable girl she totally deserved the treat. We went to see The Hunger Games and both loved it!


What to do with my Sunday post...

I'm not sure when I'll be able to continue my Notable Reads post. Having less time I kind of knew that it would suffer and so for now I won't stress and will simply put it on the back burner.

What will I replace it with? I just don't know yet! For now just bare with me. Sundays will likely be either New Additions, Weekly Makeup, New Makeup Love or maybe simply a new review.

This week I have a bit of everything!


Faithful purse companions...

This week with a more smoky eye it was all about Rouge Dior Grège 1947 and 

Givenchy Le Prisme Visage compact is always in my purse!

New additions...

I've purchased several new amazing items that have yet to be reviewed and this past week I've again indulged in a few additions... It would seem that I am doomed!!! Sephora and The Bay just a few minutes away from my office... This clearly means I'll be purchasing a few weekly goodies.

Here are the items I got this week. During my lunch hours I had to get up and walk since this was the only thing helping me with the pain. On Monday I went to The Bay to get Diorific Frimas! Not my kind of color but for some reason I just fell in love with it. On Thursday I went over to the Eaton Center and walked into Sephora just to "browse" and see what special holiday kits were left. I was told by an SA that there would be specials for Black Friday!

ARGH!!! 

Prices reduced on Dior fragrances? Little minis for $12.00?

Of course I went back the next day and took advantage of these specials. On top of those I purchased two sets of pyjamas for myself. Who could resist a 2 for 1? I mean really!

When I purchased Diorific Frimas I received a cute Miss Dior mini! Who doesn't like minis? :)

Both Tocca and Bite where special Black Friday goodies at $12.00 each! 

This week's makeup love...

...For eyes was all about Chanel Charming (yet to be reviewed I know *sigh* time goes by way too fast), Chanel Fatal and Dior Velvet...

... For face, it was Guerlain with  Madame Rougit, Crazy Terracotta and Crazy Météorites (also yet to be reviewed)...

There were of course the tag along, Estée Lauder BB cream, NARS Pro-Prime, Rimmel concealer, L'Oréal Infaillible Lacquer Liner and Diorshow Iconic mascara.


On my list...

This coming week I may get Diorshow Iconic Curl mascara since my Iconic is starting to be a little harder to apply. It seems to have gotten thicker and some mornings I've had to struggle a little which resulted in taking longer to achieve my usual lash look. Not a good thing!

I may also get a new lipstick, been thinking about NARS Dolce Vita but I might wait. Pictures of Dior and Chanel new spring collections have started to surface and of course I've already spotted a few items I'd love to get my hands on. There's also the fact that I'll need a new morning moisturizer soon and Chanel Vitalumière compact foundation is kind of calling my name. I've swatched it several times and the texture is just dreamy.

Then again, I may not get any of these since I do have to think about Catherine's Christmas gift. She may end up with the equivalent of my goodies and more in one gift. As mentioned, she's been such a good reasonable girl and with what she's been through this year I do want to get her something special. Ok she's always had the privilege of getting gorgeous Christmas goodies but this year I want to give her something meaningful she'll remember. I can barely believe it's already December 1st! Seems to me that only last week I was wearing flip flops and writing in my gazebo!


For your viewing enjoyment...

This week is all about Dior makeup, more specifically the Golden Winter Christmas Makeup Collection.

The Ad...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC3O7oAriA4

Le look Golden Winter...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baT8lwO9Dx8&list=PL1BC1B82A424FE06A

This makes me almost want to get 5 Couleurs 644 Golden Snow, almost...


Ouf! I think I'm done! Would you believe I had a bit of writers block yesterday! :)


Have a great week everyone!  Hélène xoxo

Recent Empties...

My routine is pretty basic so I don't do these types of post very often. What I experiment with the most are cleansers, lip balms and mascaras as you can see in the pictures below but I did empty a few treatments that are staples of mine.

All of these I truly loved. Biotherm Pure-Fect was purchased for my daughter but I tried it and it really is a good cleanser. I would definitely consider it again for next summer since it's more for combination/oily skin. Biotherm an Marcelle micellar waters, well, excellent! I wouldn't hesitate on recommending either of them and they both take care of eye makeup brilliantly. Caudalie Foam Cleanser (a product I forgot to review) was a great cleanser although the fragrance was slightly on the chemical side. For some reason I always ended up tasting it, a little nasty if you ask me. Still it's an excellent option and it too I would recommend.

As mentioned my skin care is on the boring side. For anti aging I rely on Avène. These three products contain the highest concentration of retinaldehyde available over the counter with the advantage that they are not as irritating once your skin gets used to them. Move effective than Neutrogena or anything you could get at Sephora. Ysthéal Cream was replaced by the Emulsion. This was probably my 4th tube of Eluage Cream and now I prefer the 1st mentioned. Eluage Concentrated Firming gel is a favorite due to the hyaluronic acid fragments in the formula which plumps the skin. I love this one for my forehead and as an eye contour. It's no longer available here but I have 2 backups.

Marcelle Xtension Plus mascara was ok but did require a bit of effort to hold the curl so I will not repurchase. Not a fail but not the best drugstore option. I've since then discovered L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes which for roughly the same price performs better on my lashes. Benefit They're Real is my HG mascara and so this one will be replaced.


Any Holy Grail product you've had to replace lately?


Sorry for the blurry pictures it's been cloudy here this past week and so they were taken inside.

My First Work Week In Makeup...

My first week at my new job is done and went quite well! Lots of things to learn but mostly about procedures which is what I was expecting. In all honesty, I do believe I will simply love it! :)

As suspected and mentioned last Sunday, I didn't get the chance to take note on interesting articles for you but I think I'll be able to next week. You see this weekend I've had to clean up the yard and do a lot of leaves picking. I got 10 big orange bags! I would have double if not for the leaf picker upper that mulches them! You may have guessed that I'm a little tired.

First week's beauty stuff...

I thought is would be fun to show you the items I reached for in the morning. Aside from getting up at 5:30 am, my biggest challenge was to figure out where I would "put on my face"! As it turns out, same place as usual only this time instead of relying on the light coming in from the window I use an artificial one. At that hour it's still night outside and thank the *putting on makeup* gods I have a good halogen lamp!

Face...

Split face testing of Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer, Estée Lauder DayWear BB Cream, Rimmel London Match Perfection Concealer, Marcelle Compact powder (not shown), a nice little go to to make sure other powders go on smoothly.

Eyes...

On Monday I started off the week with Chanel Mystère quad but as a *first day of work* gift to myself I got NARS Fary's Kiss palette during my lunch break and have been playing with it ever since. The top middle and top right colors have been my favorites so far and yes, I will bring you a review real soon. I also have one in the works for NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base.

Bobbi Brown Cement and Slate from the Navy & Nude palette have been great complements. Mascara, I started with L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess but for some reason on Wednesday it looked weird on my lashes, almost kind of goopy. I was able to smooth it out but it did make me a little angry so out it will go. On Thursday morning I switched to Dior Iconic and although it takes a little longer to achieve the thickness I like, it lasts all day and keeps the curl beautifully.

Oh the one item I left out is my beloved L'Oréal Infaillible Lacquer Liner in Slate! I get the most amazing thick line in no time and it stays put!

"Glow" & Cheeks...

Guerlain Crazy Terracotta has been getting all my attention this week and with good reason, just read my review, it's total love! I used Madame Rougit a few times for a little extra kick of color when I felt the need for it.

Lips...

On my first day it was Rouge Dior Grège 1947 but for a work day it's too creamy and doesn't last long enough so the following day I wore Rouge Dior Nude in Esquisse 683 and on Friday, Rose Dolce Vita 555 was the one I reached for. Those last two haven't been reviewed yet but it's coming! I also kept in my purse this new Revlon Lip Gloss but have to find the color. I bought two recently and they lost their stickers at the bottom. This one here has a bit of glitter in it which gives it dimension and results into a nice nude lip.

Nails...

I started the week with Diorific Minuit and on Wednesday night went for Essie Sable Collar. Usually I would not have done my nails again in the middle of the week but broke a nail.

Fragrances...

Except for Tuesday when I wore Dior J'Adore, it was Nina L'Eau by Nina Ricci this entire week.

In my purse...

I kept the lipsticks and gloss along with my little Givenchy compact and my small Caudalie Huile Divine.

How long did it take me to put on my makeup in the morning?

10 minutes tops and that was Wednesday when I had to *play* with my lashes due to the L'Oréal mascara.


What do you think? Too much or too little? Have you ever broken down your weekly beauty routine? 

Diorshow Iconic Mascara / Review...

Most of you already know that my absolute favorite mascara so far is, Benefit They're Real! mascara. I would, if I could, repost my original review everytime I repurchase but it would end up being redundent and boring to you so, I just have to move on and try others!

Diorshow Iconic Mascara in 090 Black...

Originally I wanted to get Diorshow Iconic Overcurl but was told this newest member of Dior's mascara line up had a slightly dryer formula and looking at the tester, it did seem quite creamy and stable so I figured why not?

L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess / Review

For a while now I haven't had much luck with drugstore mascaras and so recently I had just about given up. True that for the price of my beloved Benefit They're Real! I can get two or three drugstore mascaras but if they're not good it's simply money wasted.

The only one I've purchased repetitively years ago was L'Oréal Voluminous but for some mysterious reason there came a point where it wasn't working for me anymore. I don't know if it was the formula or my lashes that got really stiff but it wouldn't hold the curl anymore. That's when I started to heat my lash curler with my blow dryer. Even doing this, Voluminous let me down after an hour or so.

Last Winter, in need of a more tenacious formula, I purchased L'Oréal Voluminous Mascara Waterproof and was quite pleased with it despite the fact that it was a pain to remove. Since I don't need to wear this type of mascara often, it was an affordable alternative and next Winter I'll surely repurchase. It's what one has to wear on those snowstorm days since raccoon eyes are never a good look.

This week I stumbled upon the new incarnation of this old favorite, L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess and decided to give it a go after reading Tracy's review on her blog Beauty Reflections, here. It was on special and so I figured for $8.00? Why not?

 I must admit that I much preferred the old packaging which was less flashy 

but I guess the red and gold will make it easy to find in one's makeup bag. 

For me a good mascara doesn't only rely on the formula but also the brush...

Below, on the left, I'm showing you the difference between the new L'Oréal Voluminous and Benefit They're Real! my current favorite. The brush is similar except for the slight hourglass shape and the tip which is more pointy. Benefit's is a little bigger but both have similar bristles.

On the right, the new vs the old. It's clear to me that the new brush makes it easier to evenly coat each lashes more quickly. Do note that both the regular and waterproof of the old version had the same brush. The old version's wand was a little longer and the brush was almost identical to Estée Lauder's Sumptuous which is also a favorite of mine.

Again a little blurry I know but I believe you can get the idea.

Ok so a good brush was a good start!

How does L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess perform? Very well thank you!

The formula is a little thinner than both Benefit and Estée Lauder but goes on quite smoothly. No clumps, no mess (I feel like a commercial here) the brush is as I thought, excellent. What a difference if I compare this one to Telescopic Shocking Extension also from L'Oréal. The brush on that one was such a pain to use for me but I know that it did get lots of love. It just wasn't for me. Voluminous Million Lashes Excess gave my lashes good volume in one go and gave them a bit of extra length. Like Tracy mentions in her review, in about two weeks of regular use the formula will be dryer and just about perfect!

Does it keep the curl? YES!!!

I know you're not suppose to but I curl my lashes with mascara on. I've always done this and never had any issues. Curling without just doesn't work, my lashes are super extra stiff and point down. Nice I know! So I apply a good coat of L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess mascara (honestly, they could have made the name shorter!), heat my Shiseido lash curler with my blow dryer, let the heat do it's thing and boom!

My lashes kept their curl a good seven hours and even in the evening just before I removed my eye makeup they still had a bit of a curl. Not quite like Benefit or Estée Lauder but still super impressive for me. Remember, my lashes have a mind of their own!

If I have one bad thing to say about it it's that at the end of the day I did have a few super tiny black specs below my eyes, like black eye shadow fall out. I saw these looking in a magnifying mirror and it was truly minimal, easily removed with a small powder brush.

This mascara is going straight into my emergency makeup bag! I wouldn't want what happened to my friend Stacey to happen to me!

The horror! One morning she was in her car and realised she had forgotten to apply mascara! Now for a makeup addict this is just plain horrific! She had to make a stop on her way to work to get one from the drugstore. Good thing she had time to do so. Can you imagine an entire morning with naked lashes? Ouch!

Do have a read of her "nightmare", here. She got a Maybeline mascara that I just might try myself. :)

About the reviews Voluminous Million Lashes Excess has received so far I was stunned! It's quite new and can seem pricey if one only purchases makeup from the drugstore especially since L'Oréal is one of the more expensive brands in that market but I was still surprised by the poor performance comments. I don't think this mascara is made to apply several coats. It has some thickness on the first coat so I believe applying more than two coats would make it clump. Also, it seems some expected their lashes to double in length, that's just not possible!

Lastly and this made me smile, several reviewers mentioned L'Oréal's television commercial which I haven't seen and, well, just don't believe everything you see on TV! :)


Reviews:

Makeup Alley: 2.5 / 5 lippies for 17 reviews.
Beauté-test: 3.5 / 5 stars for 6 reviews.


What was your last drugstore purchase? Any great discovery?

Pupa Ultra Shine Eyeliner / Review

The other day at the drugstore I stumbled upon a display of Pupa's 50's Dream Collection which came out for Spring 2013. I guess they where getting ready for the new Summer collection since all the items where reduced. Curious, I noticed the eyeliners, a turquoise and a deep plum. I tried the latter on my hand and although I liked the color, I found it a little glittery for my taste. The fact that it was a liquid didn't help either. I usually stay away from those since I've never been able to really master the application technique.

So I left the drugstore and went about with my day. When I got home I of course washed my hands. The eyeliner didn't budge. I must have repeated this at least four times and still, the eyeliner swatch was on my hand!

That stuff wore like iron!!!

Estée Lauder Sumptuous Two Tone Eye-Opening Mascara is a Smart Idea!

Finally someone thought about this! A two tone mascara, black for upper lashes and brown for lower lashes. Did anyone know about this? Am I again late to the party? I stumbled upon it while browsing The Bay's website today.

This is what we used to do when I did makeup and even if today I rarely apply mascara on my lower lashes, when I do, I reach for brown. Why? More subtle, less harsh, flattering on everyone.

From Estée Lauder website...

Straight From the Runway
Now, Tom Pecheux, Creative Makeup Director, Estée Lauder, inspires a breakthrough mascara based on his secret backstage technique for big, beautiful eyes. 

The genius is in the two contrast colors and two different brushes. 

Top Lashes 
Big BrushComber™ adds bold black volume to upper lashes. 

Bottom Lashes 
Smaller MicroBrush adds eye-brightening, smudge-free color to lower lashes.

Now it's easy to create the most amazing wide-eyed look-it's runway proven.


If you've never tried this, please do. You will notice that by using brown on your lower lashes, it does open up the eyes.

Sumptuous Two Tone Eye-Opening Mascara, $32.00.

Estée Lauder's Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting mascara is way up there among my favorites, full review, here. I'm quite sure this one will not disappoint. It is more expensive but you do get two mascaras in one.

So now I'm torn! I have found a favorite, Benefit They're Real! but there are several new mascaras I want to try, badly! Which to choose?

Benefit They're Real! Mascara / Review

I've had this mascara for a month now and can now bring you my review...

A revelation! Amazing! Da Bomb!!!

The End.

Ok I know, I can't stop here. Sorry!

So far, this mascara is the best I've used in years. No kidding!  My lashes point down not up (grrr!) and they are quite stubborn to boot. This mascara holds the curl like no other so far without being a waterproof formula. It's stiff, real stiff so it keeps lashes looking nice for a good 10 hours if not more.

Ta-da!!!

Back in April I received this little birthday present at Sephora which included small sizes of Watts Up! highlighter reviewed here, and They're Real! mascara.

I was so impressed by how the mascara performed that the following week I went and got the full size.

I don't know if this has happened to any of you but sometimes you get a promotional size of a product, like it, go get the full size and are left disappointed. This is the reason why I wanted to wait before writing my review. I wanted to make sure it was that good.

How did it perform? F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C!!!

I take the wand out once and do both eyes. I don't pump it in the container because I want to introduce as little air as possible. The formula is just perfect! Not too thin and not too thick. It dries fast so you can easily do two or three coats in no time. No clumps, no mess. For real! 

I know I sound like a commercial, sorry about that but it's that good!

It lenghtens and thickens my lashes and sometimes it even... wait for it... gives me a little curl without using the lash curler! Practically unheard of for me.

As much as Estée Lauder's Sumptuous mascara had been a hit and run, this one is hitting the ball way out of the ball park! 

Do I recommend Benefit They're Real!? Hummmm, what do you think?

I understand that at $29.00 it's not cheap for a mascara but if you have a hard time with your lashes, if they're hard to curl, don't keep the curl, if they're short or whatever the issue is, do try this one! You can purchase the small size for $12.00 and the formula really is the same, so is the brush. 

I've mentioned before, a good mascara is a combination of a good formula and a good brush. This one, just like Estée Lauder's reviewed here, definitely has both. 

Let's compare the two...

Top, Benefit they're Real!

Bottom, Estée Lauder Sumptuous.

Both brushes are roughly the same size, they are big so if you're accustomed to smaller ones you may find getting accustomed to one of these a little tricky. This would apply if you have short lashes as well but it's doable. The lashes in the inner corners of my eyes are kind of short and I have no issues with either of these brushes. What makes Benefit's superior, in my view, are the little spikes you can see at the end. They get in there and grab every single one of those tiny little lashes!

For curling, I still have to heat my lash curler with the blow dryer but I don't have to press as much as with Sumptuous. The only way this works for me is if I curl with the mascara on. Neither of these formulas budge or clump but with They're Real! I only have to do it a few times. I get great results faster than with Estée Lauder.

Removal...

Since it's stiffer than other mascaras, you need a little more eye makeup remover or micellar water on your cotton pads to remove it. Between the two, Estée Lauder is easier to take off but Benefit is worth the little extra time for that gorgeous all day finish you get.

So...

Estée Lauder's Sumptuous does remain an excellent option and if you already use and like it, keep doing so but for me Benefit's they're Real! is superior and has reached HG status! Total Holy Grail!

I will of course try other mascaras to bring you more reviews but I do believe that this one will remain in my makeup bag for a long time!

Reviews:

Makeup Alley: 3.5 / 5 lippies for 763 reviews.

Beauté-test: 4 / 5 stars for 523 reviews.