Clinique Superbalanced Makeup Foundation Review

I used this product several times only, in scorching heat, three days in a row. I can usually decide whether I like a product after one use only, the verdict depending on how it reacts on my skin and the longevity of the finish. It's because 99% of the time I use the exact same products (moisturizer and primer) so I know that, except for drastic weather conditions, it is going to be the same story every time I am going to use it. This is valid for foundations only. 

I got my hands on several samples of the Clinique Superbalanced foundation so I decided to (finally) use it; I haven't purchased the product so it wasn't a waste for me. The samples were more than enough for my five uses, which I find quite nice (usually samples contain a few drops of product that aren't sufficient for my entire face). So I guess if you're trying to decide on this product, getting a sample or two would be the best alternative since you can really see how it works when you use a little bit only, when you build up several layers, etc.

The sample was in Ivory VF-N. Don't really know what the abbreviations stand for since I am not into Clinique foundations. It must be some symbol for 'neutral' or their shades' gradation, though on the website they have one Ivory only and several others that suggest lighter/darker variation of the shade- Alabaster, Light, Fair, Petal, etc. 

The consistency of the foundation is that of a liquid, but not extremely runny. I'd say it belongs to the generic category of fluid foundations, with no 'special' qualities such as gel-like appearance, a mousse-like texture or anything creamier than your liquid foundation. 

I applied it on the back of my palm first, then used my Isadora large domed kabuki brush (natural bristles). This is one of the best brushes I have ever encountered, far better than  anything MAC, Sephora Platinum or any other foundation brush I have ever tried. 

The shade is light but it definitely suits my skintone. It's my face's natural color with only one problem- when on the back of my hand, it looked exactly like my natural skin, with mellow cream undertones, while once applied on the face it got rather pink undertones. Nothing strong, nothing visible, but I personally saw it. It didn't transfer into the pictures which was a relief, however I still think it's visible. Oh well. 

Foundation only. Facing natural light.

Facing natural light. Bourjois Rose d'Or Baked Blush on the cheeks only.

It does look natural in pictures, especially in natural light.

The first impression was 'wow'. It has great coverage and doesn't feel oily on the skin, yet allows for multiple layers (on the chin and under the eyes in my case). It has a bit of 'glow' on the pore areas- the inner cheeks, chin and forehead- which tends to fade off as soon as the foundation has dried out. It doesn't look oily at all.

However, and this isn't visible in the picture, it doesn't look natural on my skin. The shade just 'took over' my entire face and didn't let the skin 'breathe'. I felt like this foundation is a mellower Estee Lauder Double Wear minus the 'paint-like' aspect and endurance. It looked as if I had already set it with powder, and on the forehead it wasn't doing a great job with the pores and expression lines (the photos I took don't include the forehead, unfortunately).

It gets really dry, very quickly, and I could literally feel my skin pulling, especially around the mouth and the temples. I have combination skin and an oily forehead, therefore I didn't think this would be a problem; after setting it with a bit of powder (Chanel Poudre Universelle pressed powder) it really got extremely dry; however, it wasn't such a problem for my forehead since I had to take a long walk and the temperature was really high, the foundation + powder helping a great deal in this department. However, it did feel dry...even after a long day in the sun.

I am always going for the dewey yet not-oily aspect of the foundation, even after setting it with powder (forehead, nose and chin); it doesn't really happen with most products since it's difficult to achieve that finish with a liquid/cream foundation. So in this department, I might have to say my demands were a bit over the top.

However, I do think this foundation might be great for oily-very oily complexions because it absorbs the sebum of the skin, pretty much like Vichy Normablend. The only difference is the texture- thick and unnatural.

Therefore, I will not purchase this foundation because I feel like I am getting the same results with my Vichy one, minus the mask effect and a less rosy toned shade.

Things I love this summer (part 1)

Just a few things, most of them old 're-finds'. And the Nivea chapstick!

Make Up Store Microshadow in Ghetto 

The best eye/brow shadow ever, pigmented and LARGE. It comes at a fraction of the price you'd normally pay for a MAC one. Too bad I expect the brand to be available in Sweden only...

It's very soft and natural, the color is fantastic for brows, as eyeliner (i don't use black...) or as a plain matte eyeshadow. I'd compare it to MAC's Espresso, only with fewer 'red' undertones (from the chocolate tint that one has). It's perfect! 

Make Up Store 'Ghetto' microshadow

I got this amount of product by only touching the pan- it's really pigmented and a little goes a very, very long way. Very soft, yet not silky- it doesn't pick up too much on the brush or gets dusty once you swirl the brush in the pan.

This is MAC Espresso:

Stars'n Rockets blog 

Looks lighter in the pan but the orange undertones are far stronger. Espresso on the brows:

You either must have a light hand, light eyebrows (mousy blonde) or mix it with something ashy...I can't see how otherwise. Anyways, the product is very popular so I can't say it isn't good at what it does, it's just that sometimes one can find 'better dupes' at lower prices. That's my opinion. 

Helena Rubinstein Illumination Loose Powder

The best powder, loose or pressed, I have ever used (notice how little I have left :( ).  Did my friend's makeup on her wedding day and she looked spectacular. The powder illuminates the skin, sets the makeup and doesn't make your skin look cracked...which is a first. It's translucent but it has some tonality, available in 5 shades (I think). On the website it says it's enriched with 'optical pearlisers' for a glowy and healthy effect. It really works wonders, I suggest everyone to try and get their hands on a sample..I use it in nr 05 Light, and had it in 02 as well but gave that one away since it was too rosy for my skintone. 

Nivea Fruity Shine chapstick in Strawberry

The effect after wiping the lips

Very hard to find (Cherry, Honey and Classic are always on the shelves, not this baby). I adore the tint it gives the lips, very natural yet 'blushed', just like a strawberry. It's very hard to find a lipstick/lipgloss that would mimic the color of strawberries since they are all either cold-toned (fuchsia pinks) or orange/scarlet..which isn't bad, but I wanted something strawberry-ish! 

Been cruising makeup stores and supermarket aisles for ever until I saw this baby right by the cashier's...hello lover! I absolutely love the texture, the color, the scent (it has a pleasant taste as well, no plastic-bad blueberry juice like every other 'fruity' lipgloss/chapstick has), the smoothness and the hydrating effect. Comes with an SPF of 10 as well.

It's not extremely cheap, but not expensive either, so if you just want gorgeous lips without all the fuss, I suggest this product, combined with a lipliner (currently using Rimmel's East End Snob and Lancome's Caramel). It's going to be gorgeous and very Lolita-esque (kissed lips!), and it's REALLY pigmented for a chapstick (more pigmented than a lipgloss, obviously less color than with a lipstick). 

Maybelline Super Stay 24h Concealer

I use it as an eyelid primer and it works wonders, my makeup doesn't budge. I got the wrong shade (03, the darkest beige) which is too yellow for me so I can't really use it under the eyes. It's also a bit drying, which makes it a perfect tool to hide some blemishes. I probably shouldn't be using it on the eyelids, but they tend to get oily so I guess the dry effect cancels itself during the day...great eyeshadow primer! 

Veet Warm Wax

This is great for summer. I'll tell you why:

-I always wax my upper lip. The tiniest hair will get stuck in foundation and the more, the merrier- you end up looking like you have a mustache. If you're a brunette, even worse. I think every woman should wax their upper lip...the hair will not grow stronger or darker, but weaker and slower since you're yanking it out from its root and not only cutting off its surface. But that's just my take on the issue. However, girls with bleached facial hair look horrifying..so I personally suggest what my beautician said, just wax it...in two years maximum it won't grow back at all. 

-Bikini lines, especially if you're going to the seaside: salted water, chlorine and all those substances are known to irritate the hell out of the delicate skin or the upper thighs/bikini lines/inner thighs. If you're going on holiday and you're planning on shaving, think about the fact that if you're going straight into the water, you'll come out full of red dots; if you wait for a day (I tried waiting for 8 hours, didn't work), the hair is going to start growing back though it's (yet) unnoticeable. By this stage you can feel it already so no silk smooth legs. So you have to do it over and over again. Not nice. 

I strongly suggest girls, especially brunettes, to wax, since it's a healthy and perfect method of getting rid of body/face hair without paying a ton of $ if you can't afford laser/pulsed light/whatever else there is out there. I never shave on my upper legs/inner thighs/bikini, for fear of ingrown hairs (that always pop up when you go on holiday..especially when you swim/sweat) which look horrible in that area.

This wax is great because:

-it's not real bees wax. It's a combination of sugars and other substances that make it not that sticky as bees wax, easier to handle, with a higher boiling point (so you don't get burned as easily if you're a novice). 

-it does a great job at removing unwanted hair, from the thickest to peach fuzz. Really good for sensitive skin (me and some of my friends have been using this on the face as well with no problems whatsoever).

-it's hydrosoluble, which means it dissolves in water. Any drops/spots/traces can be cleaned really easily and fast.

-comes with a set of reusable strips (since it's hydrosoluble, you just let the used strips in water and in 20 mins they're ready to be dried and used again). 

-comes with a cute thermo sensitive applicator that 'tells' you when it's too hot or good to use

- if you're handy enough, you can apply it in a thicker layer (it doesn't crack no matter for how long you leave it on the skin, unlike bees wax that starts chipping if left for more than 2-3 mins) and then yank it with your fingers if you wanna save the product (of course, if you're waxing fuzz). 

-you can warm in it in the microwave. Super fast and easy!

Summer foundations

Nivea Beauty Lift, Vichy Normaderm and Estee Lauder Double Wear. Because they're so resistant and don't budge in heat/water/sweat etc. Will review the Normaderm very soon! 

Chanel Vitalumiere Satin Smoothing Creme Makeup Review

I'm finally back on track with a wonderful product I've been wanting to review for ever, since it's less popular than the 'classic' Chanel Vitalumiere, which I tried and didn't love. Not the case with this one. 

Price: I was fortunate enough not to pay anything for this baby since I got it as a present from a friend. I guess the price is around $ 50, which isn't cheap at all. However, there are some props with this specific type of foundation which clearly make up for the bucks you pay.

Packaging: I really like it, but it's not ergonomic. The squared glass jar looks beautifully, very retro for a foundation since it doesn't come in the typical bottle with a pump. I like this packaging more than anything else, regardless of the fact that it's a pain to carry it around for touch ups. The thing is...you don't need any with this baby.

Shades: It comes in 9 shades, beautifully pigmented and extremely realistic. I've always praised other foundations, especially my beloved Estee Laude Double Wear, for their pigmentation, coverage, endurance, etc, but none comes close when it comes to shades and their adaptability. Most of the shades available on the European/US markets are beige-toned, and the ones catering to rosier complexions are demure and very skin-like. I have mine in 20 Clair, and had the classic Vitalumiere foundation (the one in the bottle) in 30 Cendre (I think it was 'Shell' in English). They are pretty much the same thing- the same undertone basis, the exact same 'color', Clair being a little bit lighter than Cendre. Very nicely executed replica, since it's quite difficult to find consecutive shades that are really a scale and not a pallet. 

I think Clair suits anyone with a lighter complexion- NW 20-30, even 35 (in summer, when tanned), or NC 20-25. It has beige undertones but neither orange nor yellow, just 'cream'. 

Another huge prop of this foundation (perhaps given by its consistency as well as the shade's potential) is the chromatic adaptability- it doesn't suit my skin 100% (what foundation does it to the degree of perfect?), but it manages to blend in perfectly to the point where I can't tell where I have applied it and if I need to blend it in my neck/hairline. Awesome. This is prop number 2, it's never happened to me before, with any other foundation, not to this degree. Really impressed by it. 

Consistency: creamy. Like a face cream, think Nivea Visage. Doesn't run, doesn't dry up fast. It's really beautiful to look at, since it gives the impression of a luxurious product.

Honestly, that's all you need for half a face. I was very surprised since this foundation is identical in terms of consistency with Nivea Beauty Lift, but seems to 'multiply itself' when applied. 

I did my makeup using a normal foundation brush, as opposed to Chanel's brush indicated on their website (big surprise, right). It worked wonders. 

I've always been the eye-rolling one while reading hundreds of reviews where the ladies praised various foundations, or even makeup brushes, claiming it cuts back on the quantity they use. In my case, I need two pumps on average, and another extra half pump for the undereye area and various spots/discolorations. With this foundation, I can happily say I have entered that 'I Only Need a Little' category.

Application: Smooth like nothing else, it works beautifully with anything- fingers, sponges, flat brushes, kabuki brushes (when I'm in a hurry), even with my stubborn Sephora #44 stippling brush, and I never got that one to work with anything, EVER. I guess it's the consistency combined with the strong pigmentation that allows for such a small quantity and a beautiful finish. I prefer using it with a flat brush, because I don't like getting my fingers dirty, and a sponge would suck up too much product. I also like the dewy finish, which doesn't quite happen when a sponge is involved.

Coverage: Five stars. The foundation is allegedly medium coverage, I find it to be full. Without the mask effect. No pores, no lines, no caking up. It's creamy and allows for building it up in as many layers as you please, without getting messy if used on primer, anti-shine gels, even powder. It's simply wonderful. 

Below are some photos taken at various moments of the day, with or without flash, in natural shade or lighting. 

Natural light, at noon, just blush on the cheeks (no powder)

Natural light, in shade, right after application (nothing else on top)

Natural light, opposing the sun (that's why my skin looks reddish), after 5 hours of dancing. Concealer under the eyes and a bit of blush on the cheeks. No powder on the face (just the hairline and lower chin).

Finish: Four stars. It has a very dewy finish than can feel oily, but it looks glowy. It usually happens the other way around with everything else I ever tried- you get an oil slick on your face while the product claims 'glowiness from within'. My skin is mixed, and I wore this in the middle of July for a wedding- it lasted beautifully throughout the night, with a bit of powder (Chanel pressed powder, review coming up very soon) applied mostly on the hairline and around the mouth (dancing and eating involved, thus extra measures had to be taken). It doesn't melt, it doesn't get cakey or sticky if you sweat (especially on the forehead or nose), and it doesn't stain. If you set it with a bit of powder, then you have an 8 hour guarantee. It also has an SPF of 15 and photographs beautifully.

In shadow, no flash light, after 8 hours.  

Right after the application, natural light, facing the window :) Just concealer (Clinique) under the eyes and blush.

However, it depends from complexion to complexion. My friend (the one who gave it to me) has tried it herself and cannot understand why I like it- on her skin it gets messy, gunky and basically dissolves in tiny balls around her cheeks and nose. She has normal skin with a bit of dryness- so she's the perfect choice for this foundation, according to the manufacturer. Many reviews warn about this foundation and oily complexions, and praise it as being the Holy Grail of dry or more mature skins. In her case, it just didn't work out, so the only flaw (and a major one) would be that it's a trial and error issue...which doesn't come in super handy when you have to pay $50 for the bottle. 

Overall: A fantastic product I intend to use for special occasions only. A little goes a long way, so those special occasions might come up every day. Since it's so pricy, I'll just use it wisely. Definitely going to repurchase this and not the typical Vitalumiere, which was a disappointment.

A short comparison between the Chanel Vitalumiere Creme Makeup and the Chanel Vitalumiere Fluid Makeup

-identical shades

-three of four times more coverage of the Creme v. the Fluid

-better finish of the Creme. The Fluid gets soaked in, looks very good and natural but tends to disappear around 3 hours after the application unless heavily set with powder. You need much more Fluid to cover what the Creme does with the tiniest amount

-endurance- the Fluid doesn't last nearly as long as the Creme. I'd say 3 hours v. 8-10 hours.

-the Fluid has a definite advantage in the packaging department; however, I'd rather carry a bulky bottle or depot it in something else than getting stuck with the Fluid. After all, it's about different densities of the products- that's why the 30 g of the Creme beats the 30 ml of the Fluid.

-the Creme will last you many months, daily use, while the Fluid lasts several weeks i assume (I returned mine after two uses, which amounted to 8 pumps. Ouch). You're not paying for water after all (70% of the Fluid) but for something more consistent (Creme).

-the finish is identical, minus the 'sleaking' part the Fluid has. They both look the same when applied, but the actual effect is different with the Creme.

I strongly, strongly recommend this foundation if you like the classic Vitalumiere, it's the same thing only ten times better. 

Ardell Duralash Experience....and why i am never doing it again

Oh well, well well. Where do i begin.

For an assiduous blogger like i am a prolonged  absence seems a bit painful to be honest, but i decided to st(r)ay away from any type of beauty blog since it would have talked me into writing...and i needed the time to be able to deliberate on my experience with semi-permanent lashes (the drugstore equivalent of lash extensions). I got the Ardell DuraLash in medium, black, regular individual false lashes, one box.

 

This is what happened so far. I first put them on the same day i last blogged, which would be september 24th. I took them off yesterday evening. This has been my journey with these lashes and my honest opinions are what follows. For your sake, i strongly recommend you to PLEASE read what i am writing here in case you're fancying the idea of a brand new set of fanned out falsies...i wish i could have had a detailed 'story' about these lashes before i even thought of purchasing them. So i begin.

Day One-Purchase and Application

I actually purchased the babies separately from their adhesive, the LashTite, since i thought it came inside the box-not. You must shell out other 4 € for the small tube of glue, which isn't all that but i was definitely super excited and wanted them on asap. Therefore i came back to the store and got the glue. My version is a very small one, not the huge tube depicted on makeupalley, so you might find the same type too; don't stress, it's the official adhesive marketed under different packagings around the world (i assume Europe and the US at least).

Putting them on is a hassle. Actually this is the key-the application process. Being the newbie that i was i frantically researched and came across a nicely written and detailed review on makeupalley. This is where it all started.

On the packaging you are advised to dip the small knot of the lash group in a tiny bit of glue and then apply it on your lash root-not on your eyelid skin, like you would regularly do with strip false lashes. The review (actually several of them) advised to engage in a more 'complicated' process that would mimic the salon lash extension technique-basically dip the knot, drag it along your lash (the one you decide to stick the knot to) so the adhesive would stick to a larger portion of hair, then fix it along this glue line, at the root of your lash. This way you are given more support for the false lash, hence increased life span. 

Well i did that. But it didn't work out because you have to be VERY handy to do it. I'll tell you why. No matter how much you comb and curl your natural lashes beforehand, it's impossible not to get glue on the neighboring lashes as well, especially around the base. The hairs are small and fine, and unlike hair, that you can clip while working through, there's no teeny tiny lash pin you can use. Therefore...disaster. This is what happened to me, on my first application- if you're handy and like these lashes by all means go ahead. 

Basically i ended up with small glue knots all over my lash roots, not sticking to the skin so it was quite visible i had 'balls' of glue all over my eye, from which the lashes started, darker and thicker than at the ends. It was quite unnatural but hey, they were long and bushy so i kinda loved the change. 

The other eye turned out more normal looking since i screwed the 'technique' and went with the packaging instructions-just attach the knot to your lash roots (or wherever you feel comfortable as long as it's not the skin, so they say) and you're done.

Another thing would be that if you don't have naturally thick and gorgeous lashes (which means you actually don't need falsies, but i'm just saying), you need more than ten clusters for each eye simply because they will look spiked, thin and unnatural. The best result you get by applying the clusters very close to one another, or coming back with other clusters and filling in the gaps. I used all the lash knots in the box for both my eyes, and i don't have particularly large eyes or desire for a dame Edna look. Some reviews mentioned combining two lengths for a maximum natural look- short and medium were the most common choices. I wholeheartedly agree, however one size (medium is the best in my opinion) isn't bad either since you can gently trim the inner angles of the lashes and make them look very natural. 

They can be easily curled and made up with mascara, they don't look fake or ugly or anything in the family. In fact, this is where it gets better-after a while, the hairs soften- you wash your face, take your eye makeup off, put your eye makeup on, curl them, clean them, rub them, etc- and they look like real, uber long and thick lashes, Spanish eyes style. Lovely. I adored them and felt super happy i had finally discovered something that didn't cost an arm and a leg, didn't involve salons and hours of sitting on someone's lap, high maintenance and regular 'refills' at high costs as well.

Then i started noticing the downsides....

First, the glue hardens very fast and creates a sort of 'bridge' all over your roots, especially if you use the 'technique'. If you have diligently applied  the lashes as described on the box, there will still be small glue 'stains' that once hardened, will sting your eyelids when you close your eyes, sneeze, squint, etc. It's very uncomfortable especially for people with sensitive eyes-i have no problems whatsoever and it still bothered me. I didn't use a large quantity of glue so i dare believe it wasn't 'my fault' with this.

Another thing-the glue will create the aforementioned 'bridges' and the eye makeup will slowly deposit on it, making the upper lash roots look dirty and full of shadow/eyeliner.

 what the roots of the lashes look like...scary. Filthy. Hazardous.The hardened adhesive keeps moist, bacteria and dirt stuck in your lash line, thus making it prone to infections and other dangerous happenings.

It's very hard to clean them because you have to use a lot of makeup remover and q-tips and gently rub; the cotton/fibers will get caught in the glue asperities and good luck yanking them out...no matter what you do, you'll always feel you haven't properly cleaned your lashes, and it is visible. Thumbs down.

Then, after a couple of days your natural lashes' curl will cease to exist so you'll feel the need to curl the falsies altogether- once curled, they don't come 'down' unless you wash them with lukewarm water. If you have applied your entire face and eyeshadow makeup and see your own lashes pointing down among the falsies, and if the falsies are already curled- you can't curl them again because they'll look excessively bent upwards, they'll touch your brow bone and mess your eye makeup-mascara on the lid and shadow on the lashes. Not pleasant at all. So pray that your natural lashes won't be too visibly sticking out from the falsies abundance, and that's about all you can do. 

These lashes didn't feel particularly heavy, actually they're lighter than strip false lashes; however, when you twist them and arrange them with your thumbs (they get a bit messy, mimicking natural lashes very well) you feel a bit of pressure on your natural eyelash roots thus an uncomfortable sensation. That's their weight and the pressure they put on your lashes, and it will take a toll. 

You get used to sleeping with them, swimming, taking showers, rubbing your eyes more carefully (you risk to rip your own eyelashes off if you're not gentle) and why not, a minimum amount of mascara; that was the best part of this experience- a tad of concealer, contoured eyebrows and i was literally good to go. Having these eyelashes on seriously cuts back on makeup time and allows you to feel fresh faced and pretty 24/7. It opens the eye, gives you a Bambi look, everything very natural and tasteful (especially if you have darker hair or larger eyes). I got a ton of compliments and they all said 'wow, your lashes are so long and full!' and not 'are you wearing falsies?'.

The lashes soften and gradually start mimicking natural lashes in texture, curl and volume-however, notice my own lashes through the falsies

The party's over

Then...a week and half after, when there was no sign the lashes were going to budge (as opposed to makeupalley reviewers claiming they experienced a softening of the adhesive and even fall outs two days after), i started losing my own lashes. Two, three hairs each eye, but it scared the hell out of me since i never, ever lose lashes. I think i lost one when i rubbed my eyes too hard trying to get rid of some overnight Shiseido mascara base, and that was all i can recall. I saw the lashes falling, and they weren't eyebrow hairs or the falsies- they were MINE. Oh no. Combine this with the cautionary instructions-don't use anything oil-based or you'll lose the falsies- and you get the perfect recipe for disaster. I couldn't condition my lashes with vaseline or anything else because i was afraid the adhesive will slowly soften and i will start losing lashes on my way to work, on the street or at my boyfriend's (not cool at all). Little did i know you can use ANYTHING, and i mean it, and the glue won't budge unless rubbed with industrial amounts of the Ardell LashFree adhesive remover....clever market move, huh. So if you're already wearing them and reading this, go ahead and use everything you desire-baby oil, vaseline, coconut oil, avocado oil, EVOO, the glue won't soften at all. 

Not to mention the worst part- a red inflammation of the lid on my left eye-partially caused by the hardened glue constantly poking my skin, partially by makeup residues i couldn't remove no matter what. It looked like a very bad irritation, almost like a small infection. Yikes. 

Then my own lashes were growing under; i could see the roots and the false lashes flipping and vibrating every time i blinked. They were losing their solid support base and were hanging on my lashes, weighing them down and putting even more pressure on. Well....i got the adhesive remover and started rubbing. And i rubbed, and rubbed, and massaged, and touched, and everything in the family. The LashFree remover comes in a tiny bottle, has an oily consistency, smells a bit like nailpolish remover and stings like crazy; hard to apply (how can you hold a paper tissue between your eyelids AND apply the remover at the same time??), time consuming, smelly, stingy, all in all a completely terrifying experience.

The clusters finally softened and started slipping down my real eyelashes; i didn't pull because i was really afraid to rip my own lashes off. Well, the only difference the adhesive remover did was to spare me of some pain- the horror. I saw most of my natural lashes stuck in the glue gunk as the falsies were coming out... and this isn't the worst part. I literally have no lashes right now. The adhesive has burned them down and made them fall out. 

This is what my lashes used to look like before.

This is what they look like now.

Notice the red spot on the lid- that was taken during the removal process. I no longer have the irritation going on therefore it must have been caused by the glue+dirt+makeup leftovers. Disgusting and dangerous if you ask me.

I have far fewer and shorter lashes than before; the glue literally destroyed them. I am never going to use the LashTite adhesive; if i fancy some individual falsies i'll go with the good ol' Duo adhesive or just regular glue. It's such a shame because they don't mention this effect...and for the ladies on makeaupalley who swear by wearing these lashes for twenty years- then you either have no lashes of your own left, or they're super-lashes. I can't explain it otherwise. This means i'm back to my vaseline+borage oil+castor oil routine again, slathering ten times the quantity and brushing them for ten minutes every night. I can't even begin to think what am i going to look like with mascara...thank goodness for the Shiseido mascara base, i hope it can help me a little in this department.

Bottom line-i strongly, strongly recommend you to stay away from the adhesive; it's just painful, complicated, and it takes a huge toll on your natural lashes. Goes straight into the trash can.

Therefore...: Yes, they look amazing. Yes, they can look natural and lift your entire look, particularly for a special occasion. However, there are serious problems you might encounter with these lashes, as i did. Everybody is different and if you are already a user and love them, by all means keep up the good work. What happened here happened after a decent amount of time, and perhaps my eyes are just built that way that it simply happened (the unwanted redness and inflammation). My advice would be use them, if you cannot resist the temptation (i almost felt the urge to apply them again after seeing how bald my eyes looked after removing them), but remove them as soon as possible, gently as possible, and then engage in an assiduous process of conditioning your lashes...because the adhesive does take a toll on them. I am never going to reapply the adhesive-i have no problem with the lashes whatsoever. So yep.

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes mascara review

Tried twice so far, two days in a row. That's usually enough for me to deliberate on a mascara; if any significant changes appear i'll update this review accordingly.

What made me get this product was the hype surrounding the wand-several reviewers and blogs compared it to Chanel Inimitable or Diorshow Iconic. I personally believe the comparison is not far fetched at all:

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes

Diorshow Iconic mascara-image from makeupandbeautyblog.com

The brushes are fairly similar except for the fact that Dior's bristles are shorter and a little zigzagged.

The L'Oreal Million Lashes has a fairly creamy texture but it is a little liquid, like all L'Oreal mascaras. With a bit of air exposure it gets perfectly creamy and then follows its natural drying cycle (unfortunately). I don't know if it takes a short while to get dried in the tube or if it lasts a long time; i was mostly interested in the effect.

The first couple of application it can be watery, as i said, so careful with brushing your lashes beforehand and curling them; you have to have a very light hand because it tends to accumulate- not to clump, but get thick on the lashes. If you brush them once the mascara is tacky, then wait for it to get 80% dry and apply a second coat, the problem is solved. I am surprised by this mascara because i never expected it to be so easy to work with.

It gives much more definition and separation than anything L'Oreal  i have tried before and paradoxically enough, it isn't as clumping as i would have expected. The color is a real dramatic black which gives a sort of  'vinyl' kind of finish to the lashes, making them really stand out. It isn't porny-black as many other 'dramatic black' mascaras, which is a plus for me (i hate blue-black mascaras, they give an overdone and synthetic appearance).

The brush is soft yet resistant enough to be maneuvered accordingly, it catches all the tiny lashes as well as the longer one and coats them evenly; you can feel it working its way through the lashes, the bristles massaging the roots of the hairs. I wouldn't say it's a tricky wand you must be careful with as many reviewers suggest, claiming they poked their eyeballs more than once; it's a large brush with 'spikes' therefore the usual attention must be paid as with everything that comes in contact with the eyes or the surrounding area. The brush is easy to work with because of the 'aerodynamic' shape and even if the product accumulation on the top and the base of the wand looks a bit scary, it's just the usual little product top that will eventually get creamy as the mascara gets exposed to oxygen. 

This is what one coat looks like:

And two coats:

 It tends to go a bit thick on the lashes as you can see, so careful with that. The best thing to do is apply it in thin coats and wait a little in between applications or carefully brush the lashes afterwards; separating them won't solve the 'problem' because they don't stick together but have too much product on.

Therefore...: I am about to say 'i want to repurchase this product today, get a back up in case they discontinue it overnight'. It is a very good mascara that delivers a lot of volume but isn't that strong in the lengthening department- Lash Architect is still my nr. 1 for that purpose. It holds the curl of the lashes and doesn't weigh them down, it doesn't smudge and doesn't smell/look funky after a certain number of hours. I definitely recommend this for everyone, especially those who have long but thin lashes. However, remember to be patient with this mascara, at least in the beginning, and cut it some slack for the first two-three applications. It looks good, you only need a coat or two and you get truly dramatic lashes without having to fight with the wand and your lashes or scoop inside the tube fifty times.