Rimmel London Extra Super Lash Mascara

This is one of my favorite mascaras of all time. A drugstore brand that has managed to formulate a great product.

My lashes aren't exceptionally thick but they're quite long. I mostly use several mascaras during a lash routine to achieve the desired look. Max Factor Masterpiece for a fist, very thin coat, because it separates and defines my lashes like nothing else, without clumping at all. it also provides a nice, natural curl that doesn't disappear no matter how many coats i apply afterwards.
I usually go in with L'Oreal Lash Architect when the first coat is dry, because it lengthens and thickens like nothing else. It doesn't clump either, which is something i can't say about the L'Oreal Voluminous (yes, false lash effect but with a major clump). After everything's dry, i apply a coat or half a coat (just a little bit of combing the lashes without inserting the wand into the tube twice) of the Rimmel ESL mascara, and i LOVE the effect. Nothing fans out my lashes like this one, not even Max Factor's False Lash Effect.



What it basically does is combing the lashes, through previous mascara layers, managing to untangle and remove any clumps, no matter how dry the layers are. This is something that only Shiseido mascaras do (in my opinion, that is), but if you're looking for a drugstore dupe then that's your find.



I love how it separates and 'arranges' the lashes, though a bit messy. It's very pigmented and creme-like. This mascara has never gotten runny on me, though not waterproof; high hazardous potential in case of rain or crying! :D



The wand is beautiful and a perfect dupe of the Shiseido Volume Mascara one:



I usually dread the not-so-tightly-packed bristles in a wand, fearing clumping and messiness. This doesn't do any of the aforementioned things to my lashes and somehow (i blame the great formulation) manages to actually 'repair' any previous clumping. I like that it's black and not porn-star bluish black, but a lovely ebony on the softer side.







All in all, the mascara is a must-have for me and i've never stopped repurchasing it ever since i used it for the first time, which was probably five years ago. It's been a staple in my makeup bag and a highly recommended product.

Product rave: Neutrogena Cleansing Bar

A short post on a great cleansing product. Ever since i read in a gossip column (yes...i read those :D) about this being Jennifer Aniston's favorite cosmetic product i couldn't wait to try it. Judging by the reviews on Makeupalley and the low price (compared to other facial washes that didn't do crap for my skin...i.e. Nuxe Perfection), it was a sooner or later issue whether i was going to pick this little baby up.

Cons: The consistency is adorable but the bar tends to melt pretty fast. I noticed it was unusually (mildly) sticky for a dry 'soap' bar and the reviews cleared the issue up- it's the natural consistency of the product. I live in Sweden so heat isn't really an issue, but for those who experience high temperatures or humidity, a dark, dry place is recommended for storage. One of the ladies on MUA mentioned her keeping the bar in the fridge. Well, i wouldn't go that far. I HATE to keep cosmetics in weird places because of their particularities. Luckily for me, the temperature didn't allow for the bar to dry up or melt down or anything in the family. I don't have a soap case (mostly due to the soap residues on the sink) so i keep the bar on it's cardboard box on one of the shelves in the bathroom. Works like a charm.

Pros:
- the consistency. I love the transparency and the softness, the mild feeling of holding something more gel-like than other regular cleansing bars. I love the feeling of slightly melted soap, though it hasn't happened (yet).
-the foam. It's PERFECT. not too much, not too little. it doesn't get into my hair and messes it up, it does just what foam is supposed to do and nothing more.
-the clean feeling- only experienced with Lush's Coalface before and this ONLY. I never had a product that would gently cleanse your skin without covering it in all sorts of oils and other crappy stuff. I get squeaky clean skin that's NOT dehydrated whatsoever. Loves it!

Though i've used it twice only i get the feeling that the little wonder bar is going to last, and last...more than my other cleansing products have. I also think it managed to minimize my forehead pores (if it's possible after one use only, but that's my impression) and kept my skin hydrated and not shiny through the night. I think it's great for using both at night and in the morning.

Will definitely purchase again. Too bad Neutrogena ISN'T available with their entire range here in Sweden. I would have loved to try their tinted moisturizers and sun protection hydrating fluids. Oh well.

SUMMER! Summer Lips

....on a budget.
I've got this tremendous amount of lipglosses, lipsticks, lip tints, and it's only now that i realize i probably own three or four high-end lip products. Mmm.
I'm a big nude lip, lipgloss and neutral lip fan in general. Now that it's summer i figured i should dump the thick, greasy and gooey lipsticks and start using lighter consistencies.
My favorite lipsticks are from Lancome Color Fever and Color Fever Shine collections- the youthful colors, the creamy yet light formulations, the (partial) glitter, it's simply lovely. I also love the Lancome Juicy Tubes but i can't always afford them, not in every color i'd like. Which brings me to the cheap finds i've got on top of my summer list.

H&M Lipgloss in Tropical Peach











H&M Lipgloss in Flirty Cecilia











Both glosses compared



Next there's one of my all-time favorites, the H&M (surprise surprise) lipgloss in Pale is Beautiful. Not only i absolutely love the color, the consistency and the price, what i find it most useful for is for making combinations and creating new shades and textures...because of it's neutral shade of pink and it's light pigmentation it's ideal for such purposes; i found a ton of lipsticks i didn't like (anymore), or more pretentious colors that can't be worn too often (a dark cherry lipstick i paid a ton of $ for, or a nude brown Spice Girls-style circa 1999, haha) and by mixing it with a tiny drop of this baby, ta-daa! Needless to say, this is more of a makeup-on-a-budget idea...especially if you own a jazzy blush or a plum eyeshadow you don't use that often/really like. Its versatility is literally endless which i love, especially financially-wise.









Another cheapster find is H&M's lipgloss in Color Me Cute. This has the same consistency as the Pale one but it's slightly more peach-toned and the pigmentation is a tad more intense





H&M lipgloss in Bubbly Pink, an in-between glittered pink shade. The tube has the loveliest fuzzy applicator that comes in really handy when you don't want to mess your fingers and not get product creasing at the same time. cute and soft :)











Viva La Diva Tasty Lips Lipgloss in Pineapple



This lipgloss is a low-end find as well, only its consistency is very tacky and rather thick (which is a plus for me). It lasts longer than the H&M ones, the pigmentation is also stronger, the only problem with it being that you have to blend it a little otherwise it tends to crease a bit. This is is the lightest and creamiest baby pink ever and i'm actually surprised they named it Pineapple...oh well.









Oriflame Visions Lipstick in Justin (haha how tacky is that!)- clear lipgloss used on top












The Makeup Factory Push Up Lipgloss in number 10. Glass tube with the loveliest soft brush and a creamy, slightly tacky consistency. Loves the color (baby pink with a hint of plum). But as it happens with every lipgloss given the light consistency and pigmentation, the shade is actually very versatile.













Rimmel London lipstick in 600 Soft Coral (one of my favorite lipsticks ever, probably THE holy grail of lippies)







Self-made lipgloss/tint (upcoming post on it)



Deborah Rosetto Sheer Light Creator lipstick in number 4+ clear lipgloss (Isadora in Waterfall)