Review: Makeup: Guerlain Le 2 Brush Mascara

I got a pleasant surprise one day last week when I was contacted by Guerlain to review their newest mascara - Le 2 de Guerlain mascara. Other than my favourite Anna Sui Full DX mascara, and Lancome Flextencils (discontinued) I’d never tried other high end (read: Expensive) mascaras.

Guerlain’s new Le 2 de Guerlain Mascara is so named because it is one tube of mascara with 2 brushes. I can’t direct you to the website on the Le 2 Mascara due to flash (but its worth watching) so I’ll direct you to Sephora instead where you can read the official blurb.

What struck me most when I first got it was how long it was! It is about a quarter longer than a normal mascara tube, which makes it very long indeed. It can’t fit in my container where I stick all my mascaras so I have to keep it separately. It almost feels like a magic wand when you hold it. I can see Hermoine Granger waving this around But does it measure up to a magic wand on your lashes? Continue Reading >> Review: Makeup: Guerlain Le 2 Brush Mascara

Review: Makeup: Imju Dejavu Fiberwig Mascara

I’m sure many would have seen or read about or heard about the Imju Dejavu Fiberwig mascara. It is touted as Japan’s best selling mascara and I first saw it in Malaysia in the last year or two. It was about that time that I was learning to use mascara and was looking for a good one.

A friend from Hong Kong told me to try the Dejavu Fiberwig mascara. According to her, its nothing short of awesome. However, being a little bit of a skinflint, I balked at paying RM49.90 at Sasa for it. On my last trip to Bangkok, I happened to see it at a Watsons for only about RM25! (have I mentioned how I love to shop in Bangkok?!) So I picked up a tube of Fiberwig in Pure Black to see what the hype was about. Continue Reading >> Review: Makeup: Imju Dejavu Fiberwig Mascara

Review: Makeup: Anna Sui Super Mascara DX Full

Fireangel and FashionAsia (both FA!) asked below about my thoughts on the Anna Sui Super Mascara DX Full which was gifted to me by a friend.

The mascara comes in a usual tube with the signature Anna Sui rose on the top of the cover. The formula is supposed to make your lashes look fuller and to this end, I reckon it does.

The brush is rather fat though which makes it hard for me as I have rather short and sparse lashes. However, with a bit of patience with the swiping and wriggling of the brush over the lashes, I do see a thickening effect. My lashes when using this mascara do look fuller and thicker and all round more lush.

There is even a lengthening effect but then most mascaras of any value will help lengthen my lashes because I have such short ones. It also helps keep the curl on the lashes, so again, that’s great.

The formula is thick and sticks to the lashes well, but I will warn whoever does not like fragrances in their mascara or eye makeup products, to please stay away, because the signature Anna Sui rose smell is present. I must say its quite strong too. So, when you first apply it, and throughout the morning, I catch hints of the rose fragrance. Does it bother me? No. But if it does bother you, do avoid it.

I do like that its waterproof/water resistent. It does not smudge at all and it lasts the whole day long, keeping my lashes looking as full and as lush as when I first applied it in the morning. It can be quite stubborn to remove but I use cleansing oils to remove my mascara and so far, its been no problem.

This mascara retails for RM93.00 at all Anna Sui counters. Expensive. However, as I received it as a gift, its awesome. Would I purchase? Maybe but honestly, I still like the Lancome Flextencils (RM90) which I’m told is being discontinued. If I can’t get the Lancome Flextencils anymore, then yes, Anna Sui will replace it.

Pros: Makes lashes look fuller and more lush, holds a curl, waterproof

Cons: Expensive, has a fragrance which some people might dislike

Rating:

How do you know its time to bin the mascara?

One of the items that is hardest to figure out when to get rid of it, is mascara. Mascaras always come in a solid coloured tube and you never know how much there is in there in the first place. Unlike lipstick where you can see the stick growing shorter day by day, mascara is almost a closed book.

From my rather limited experience with using mascara, here are some sure signs its time to bin the ol’ mascara and open up a new tube:

• The brush looks dry when you pull it out of the tube.
• The mascara flakes from your lashes onto your face
• It gets harder to apply it and to see any effect on your lashes.
• Your mascara-ed lashes just don’t look as lush and long anymore
• Its been more than 3 months.

Hygiene experts recommend that mascara be binned after 3 months because in that time, it would have dried up, or have bacteria in it from regular use. I’ve used some mascara for slightly over 3 months without problems, but it isn’t recommended by the experts.

In order to prevent the introduction of air and bacteria into the tube, take care never to pump the wand in the tube like you see in some movies. This pumping in and out action only serves to introduce air into the tube which not only dries out the mascara inside, but also introduces bacteria into the tube. With something going so near your eyes, you do not want bacteria in the formula!

So, check your mascara and if any one of them fall in the any of the categories above, its time to bin it!