Ok, so this is another one of my super overdue posts...
Back in January I had actually started a combination of Project 10 Pan/Destash my bathroom, but seeing as I had finished it really quickly I never even posted about it: though it's hard to believe, I AM strong willed sometimes!
As I feel it's time to actively use up some of my make up again, I'm now officially starting the evil challenge devised by dear Music over at Beautifully Brainy Music (see the original story here). She actually hasn't been blogging much lately as she's just relocated to the one and only place I'd probably leave Italy for (wonder where that is??), but I'm sure she'll be happy to see I've finally managed to muster up some courage to face my next challenge, akaPost & Shame, which comes complete with its own logo:
And the rules are:
1. Choose 2 types of products that you already havevery much in excess. Be honest!
2. Take a picture of them, show everyone what you already have.
3. You are not allowed to buy anything from those two categories, not even from "it's-cheaper-than-chocolates-I-can't-afford-not-to-buy-it-now" sales, until you have finished at least 4 products from eachcategory.
Exceptions: products received as gifts and swaps are allowed.
My first challenge category is mascaras, as I feel I have far too many and I really should use them all up before I buy anything new and before they all dry out irreparably. Seeing as I can't really prove to you if a mascara is really deceased before I throw it out, I decided to go even further with this challenge and choose 3 categories (the other two will be hand creams and lip balms, will post about those when I manage to take pics, it may take me ages to track down all my lip balms, LOL!).
Since I had to take photos of my mascara collection I decided to do a condensed review of the majority of the mascaras I have at the moment, so as usual it's going to be a longish post...
So...can you guess how many mascaras there are in the box??
Ok, so they're not all full-sized...but, yes, 25. Actually, I have to admit there's one missing (possibly two...), but that's a "repeat", so it doesn't count, right?
Note that in my short reviews I am not going to mention the price of the mascaras. Mascaras in general are very expensive in my opinion, whether they're by high-end brands or drugstore brands. As I can't find "luxurious" mascaras with a discount, I at least try to buy Maybellines, Rimmels and L'Oreals only when there's a decent offer at the supermarket :)!
Also, we all know that mascaras work in a very individual way, just like foundation and perfume, so these reviews of course express my personal opinions. I have longish lashes but they are stick straight and they're not exactly full either. So what I look for in a mascara are volumising and curling properties...of course, if it also lengthens that's an added bonus!!
My favourite mascaras of the bunch:
Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill: this gorgeous tube feels so heavy that you COULD probably kill someone with it, but it is actually oh-so-light on the lashes! It lifts them up magically and keeps the curl all day, it's not the most dramatic of mascaras but it does give a good degree of volume and "fluffiness" to the lashes. No smudges nor clumps!
Clinique High Impact: this has a fluid formula, and gives nice liquid blacker than black shiny lashes. Curls nicely and gives good volume and length, again no smudges!
Maybelline The Colossal: lots of people have said this smells weird...what's weird about roses? And anyway, you can't really sniff your lashes, now, can you? I actually like the smell, and I love the great volumising clump-free properties of this mascara. This is my favourite drugstore mascara, a definite re-purchase!
Lancome Hypnose Onyx: fluffy, full lashes, no clumping, what's not to love? Lancome mascaras are not famous for anything!
L'Oréal Double Extension: this double ended mascara takes care of lashes with its white serum while also lengthening and creating great volume and curl. Might clump a little because of the "primer", especially when it starts drying in the tube.
"I do like them but" category:
Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes: this come with the famous innovative mace brush, a spiky ball that you can use in all directions to grab each and every lash. This is exceptionally good at coating outer corner lashes and curling them up, giving a lovely fluttery effect and it also volumizes really well...I really really love this...but...it smudges and it can definitely be tricky to apply without getting mascara on lids!
Benefit Bad Gal Lash: I used to really love this, it's an okay mascara, it volumizes and fans out lashes, but...it doesn't really give the false lash effect that it kind of promises so there's definitely something better out there! (this is still in its box as I haven't used it yet, I got it as part of a "Best of Benefit" collection from my local Sephora)
Collistar Supermascara Tridimensionale: this is a good choice when it comes to volume and length, but...I wish it curled more. Also, I feel it doesn't last all day on my lashes.
Rimmel The Max Volume Flash: you may remember from a long time ago a post where I complained about having bought this mascara with the wrong brush. I was finally contacted by the Rimmel PR, who asked me to send them my mascara so they could check it themselves. Having agreed that it was indeed faulty, they sent me 2 Rimmel The Max (this is the repeat I was talking about in my intro!). This is good at volumising without clumping whilst also separating but...I still feel like Maybelline's Colossal gives better results! Also it gives sort of uneven-looking lashes.
Rimmel The Max Volume Mascara VS. Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara
[Looking scary as I was trying to keep my eyes open!! Just one coat of each mascara, just for fun!]
"We have a problem here" category:
Lancome Hypnose Drama: I have been debating what category this mascara shuld be in. This is indeed a tricky one. I much prefer the original non-drama version: on good days I do agree it gives lashes a lot of ooomph and works really well, on others (ie. most of the time) it is unfortunately prone to heavy clumping and gives kind of uneven lashes (some up and some down). Pity!
Rimmel Sexy Curves: this is a favourite of many girls out there for its curling properties, but though the definition is good I am just so freaked out by the brush...it scratches my lashline every time I use it, it's like hearing nails screeching on a blackboard or a knife on a plate...eeeeekkkk! Not a good feeling!
"I'll bin this as soon as I've finished writing this post" category
(and yes, I'll be virtuous and not count it
towards my 4 finished mascaras for the challenge!):
CK Calvin Klein True Lashes : this was supposed to be volumising but I've only used this once as it was all goopy right from the beginning. Had I been in the US I'd have brought it back to the store immediately, unfortunately Italy doesn't have return policies for make up! I have therefore no idea if this mascara was good or not, nor will I ever have it as the line has been discontinued for the second time (I much preferred the original silver line anyway!) To see the goopy mess in all its glory, check out the photo below:
Don't they all look like little trees??
I will not review my coloured mascaras as most of them are LE anyway. Just for fun, they're: Chanel Cils Réflecteurs in Argent/Silver, Helena Rubinstein Magic Proof in Sparkling Shine, Clarins Wonder Volumein Blue, and Bourjois Aqua Volume in Violet Lumière and Coup de Théatre in Bleu Sérénade (which was as far as I remember the precursor of the double ended mascaras with the white primer).
As far as minis are concerned, they are unfortunately excluded from the mascara challenge, but I'll say that I like the Chanels (I have 1 Exceptionnel and 2Inimitables, one "regular" and one Noir Obscur - I've always liked Chanel mascaras, especially the lengthening ones), I don't think the Dior is exceptional (Diorshow - I have had a full tube of this in the past, it just smudges and isn't great overall), I am not impressed with Hourglass Superficial Lashes (it does nothing for my lashes), while I think Estée Lauder Magnascopic is a decent volumising and lengthening mascara (perhaps prone to clumps) and Stila Multi-Effect mascara is surprisingly good at everything!
Phew, that was long! But before I finish my post, I would also like to add that a few months ago I was lucky enough to win Music's giveaway, so thank you very much my dear, loved every single thing, especially the little message in the cute red & gold envelope!
And...that's it! Hope you survived my really long post, I'll do my best at surviving this challenge!
Anna xx