Product Review: Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara

Name: Masterpiece Max
Brand: Max Factor
Size: 7.2ml
Price: €13,49

From Max Factor’s website:
Masterpiece Max Mascara is the next generation of mascara. It delivers bold, thick lashes with up to 400% volume but defines and smoothes at the same time for a surprisingly, sleek effect.

What I liked:
– adds length
– separates lashes
– doesn’t smudge
– curls lashes
– longlasting
– the packaging
– the wand

What I didn’t like:
– doesn’t add much volume
– doesn’t hold a curl for long
– minor flakes
– the price

I’ve tried several mascaras last year and they always disappointed me. It’s not that they weren’t good, it’s just that the look they provided was too natural for my taste. What I want from a mascara is thickness and volume and Max Factor Masterpiece Max promises just that.

And since Max Factor mascaras have never let me down in the past, I decided to give this one a go too. But does this deliver what it promises?

Well, not really. I obviously didn’t expect my lashes to have up to 400% more volume (how can anyone measure that anyway?), but I was hoping it would add some drama to my lashes. Instead, despite being marketing as a volumizing mascaras, this delivers very little volume to lashes. And adding one or two more coats doesn’t make much of a difference in terms of volume either

Instead, what the mascara does is adding length without any clumps while the wand is very good at separating lashes. The result? Enhanced and defined lashes with just a hint of volume for a natural and nice look.

In addition, the mascara also adds curl to some extent, but you should still use an eyelash curler prior to it for better results. In any case, the curl only lasts for a few hours, unlike the mascara that stays put all day, until you remove it at night (which is easy to do ).

The mascara didn’t smudge on me, but I noticed some flakes by the end of the day. However, these were so minor that they didn’t really bother me. Also, the mascara was gentle and didn’t irritate my eyes.

As for the wand, it’s not too long, nor too thick. It’s the perfect size and flexible, which makes for precise application. Instead of bristles, it has small plastic spikes that reach each and every lash. Even those little stubborn ones that are hard to get are lengthened and separated.

Summary
Overall, Max Factor Masterpiece Max is a nice everyday mascara. It doesn’t give much volume as claimed, but it lengthens and defines lashes without clumping nor smudging. It lasts all day and is easy to remove, but I think it is too expensive for what it does.

Rating: 3.5/5

Disclaimer: the item was purchased by me for both personal and review purposes. The review is based on my own personal and honest experience with the product. For more information, please see my disclaimer.

A blast from the past: last January on BWB

It’s Friday, at last! It’s time to relax and look back at some of my fave posts from this time last year:

What is mineral makeup?: a small guide about everything you always wanted to know about mineral makeup: what it is, what ingredients are used, benefits for the skin, how to apply it and more.

Product Review: Chanel Exceptionnel De Chanel Mascara: if you’re looking for a mascara that gives a va-va-va-voom, fake lashes effect to your lashes this is it. It’s expensive and the wand takes a bit getting used to but it adds both volume and length without clumping or smudging.

Skin Irritation or Allergy?: sometimes the ingredients used in cosmetic and personal care products can cause irritations and allergies. But how do we tell the difference between the two?

12 Ways To Use A Q-tip: q-tips are a very inexpensive, useful and versatile makeup tool we all have at home. Here’s 12 beauty tricks you can do with them.

Product Review: Bottega Verde Purifying Mud Face Mask with Olive and Wheat Extracts: an organic mask that cleanses and exfoliates skin, leaving it clean, soft and bright. It doesn’t cause irritations and the packaging can be recycled.

Source

Makeup Packing Tips For One Bag Trips

I’m a big fan of packing lightly. Whenever I travel I  only bring one bag, a pink wheeled trolley bag to be precise. I don’t see the point in bringing my entire wardrobe and makeup closet with me. A girl needs to be ready for every occasion, but carrying around three or four heavy bags full of stuff that you know you’re never going to use is no fun!

In addition, when you travel only with one bag, you can carry it with you everywhere, even on planes, so you don’t have to worry about items being stolen from it  or your luggage getting lost. And with most airline companies starting to charge fees for checked in bags, you can save money if you only bring one suitcase with you.

But just because you’re bringing only one bag doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to look your best. You just need to be more selective of what you pack. I like to bring a couple of comfortable shoes and some classic pieces of clothing that are suitable for most occasions. As for my makeup and beauty items, here’s what I do:

Pack only what you’re gonna use
I’m always tempted to bring with me about 10 lipglosses or 7 blushes for example, but I know I will never be able to use them all. So, I only pack a pink blush and one pink and one nude lipglosses as they go well with any makeup look. Other things I carry are mascara, foundation, concealer, lip balm and black eyeliner. I never bring colored ones unless I’m absolutely sure that I’m going to wear them. I always pack brushes too but I keep them to a minimum. I like to bring my ELF eyeshadow brush as I can use it to apply my entire eye makeup if I need to, a crease brush and a couple of face brushes. Things like foundation or concealer, I just apply with my hands. It works just as well and saves me space in my bag.

Bring palettes
Palettes are very versatile and perfect for travelling. Instead of bringing 10 or 15 eyeshadows, I just bring one palette with both neutral and colorful shades so that I can create endless makeup looks with it. Some brands like MAC or MUFE also sell empty palettes that fit most eyeshadows so you can choose which colors to bring with you. Some palettes also contain blushes, lipsticks and glosses but I’m not a big fan of them as usually the powder gets everywhere and makes a huge mess. For a short trip, and as long as you keep them clean, these can be very handy though.

Travel-size products
Skincare products can be pretty bulky and take up a lot of space in your suitcase. There is no way that you can finish a whole bottle while on holiday (unless it is a VERY long holiday or the container is almost empty of course) so what I do is buy those small travel size containers and pour my favourite lotions in them. In alternative, you can go to your local beauty store or counter and ask for samples of your favourite skincare products. In addition, many brands are releasing travel size kits with their most famous and popular products so you can consider getting one of those if you’re planning a trip.

Liquid restrictions
If you’re travelling by plane and never check in bags, like me, make sure you are aware of liquid restrictions. You are only allowed to take with you on board liquid or gel products that come in containers that hold 3 ounces or less and they all have to fit into a quart size top plastic bag. Also, opt for powder product whenever possible.

Go shopping when you get to your destination
Another reason why I don’t like to bring too much makeup with me when I travel is that I always end up buying lots of new products once I reach my destination. I like going shopping while on a trip, especially if I go abroad, and having a chance to try new products that aren’t available where I live. I always get overexcited and end up buying too much! If you’re like me, and don’t have too much space left in your bag but don’t wanna buy another one, you can just ship your items home.

Do you have any more tips about travelling with one bag?

Product Review: L’Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara

Name: Telescopic Explosion
Brand: L’Oreal
Size: 8ml
Price: €16,99

From L’Oreal’s website:
The globe shaped brush is:
- Precise: to get right into the corners capturing even the shortest lashes.
- Spherical: to use from any angle for longer-looking lashes.
- Precise: to seek out every lash for a fanned out effect.
The Result: A spectacular fanned-out effect, for voluminous and beautifully lengthened looking lashes.

What I liked:
- lengthens
- separates lashes
- the wand
- the packaging

What I didn’t like:
- doesn’t add much volume
- it clumps
- smudges
- the price

I admit I only got this mascara because of the brush. The wand is a ball with little spikes on it, which is very similar to that of Givenchy’s Phenomen’Eyes mascara, and I thought it would be a cheap way to try it. Boy, was I wrong. This baby cost me €16,99! That’s about $24! For a drugstore mascara! That’s crazy! Seriously, if L’Oreal wants to increase the prices then it should increase the quality of the products as well, not charging so much for a gimmicky brush!

I know it’s my fault and when I realised the price wasn’t on display I should have asked but I honestly didn’t think a drugstore mascara would cost that much! I only found out when I was paying for it and although I was really tempted to just go away without the mascara, I couldn’t do it. I’m just too nice for my own good sometimes. *sighs* But there is no way I would ever repurchase it. It’s just not worth it and the only thing that’s explosive about it is the huge mess it makes!

I was a bit worried the wand would be difficult to use, but it’s not. The ball is small and reaches all the lashes, even the tiniest ones. But where this mascara fails is the formula. It’s intensely black, wet and very runny. As a result, the wand picks up too much product causing it to clump and glue all the lashes together, leaving me with one huge lash. No kidding.

However, the mascara works ok if, before applying it, you wipe the wand off with a tissue. That will reduce clumping to a minimal, add lots of length and even separate lashes. But it doesn’t do much for volume. The result is quite natural which makes it more suitable for daytime. I’ve used the mascara quite a lot lately so you can check out my EOTDS (here and here for example) to see it in action.

Although the mascara lasted for most of the day, the curl didn’t, even if I use an eyelash curler. It also smudges and, if you cry or just shed a tear o two, you’re left with panda eyes. But at least the red packaging is pretty and very eye-catching.

Summary
Overall, L’Oreal Telescopic Explosion is an average mascara. It lengthens lashes and gives them a natural look but doesn’t add volume. The wand picks up too much product and if you don’t wipe it off, it will clump a lot. And it smudges too.

Rating: 3/5

Disclaimer: the item was purchased by me for both personal and review purposes. The review is based on my own personal and honest experience with the product. For more information, please see my disclaimer.

Product Review: Helena Rubinstein Glorious mascara

Name: Glorious
Brand: Helena Rubinstein
Size: 6.5ml
Price: €29.00

From Helena Rubinstein’s website:
The 1st HR mascara that dresses lashes with supple volume and offers a lasting flexible curve effect. 6 patents incurved “Curl-Up” system brush.

What I liked:
- adds length
- curls lashes
- doesn’t smudge
- longlasting
- the packaging

What I didn’t like:
- doesn’t add much volume
- curling effect doesn’t last long
- the price

I don’t usually like to spend a lot of money on mascaras since they have a very short shelf life. In addition, most high end mascaras I tried (Dior, Lancome and Estee Lauder) only gave my lashes a very natural look, while what I look for in a mascara is a dramatic, false lashes effect.

At €29.00 (about $41.00!), Helena Rubinstein Glorious mascara is even more expensive than all the brands mentioned above! But when I found a set containing the mascara plus sample sizes of All mascaras eye makeup remover and Collagenist Eye Zoom cream for €27.00, the impulse buyer in me couldn’t resist.

Packaged in a long, gold tube, which is beautiful and elegant, the mascara promises striking curl and volume. But does it deliver? Well, it adds a lot of length, but it doesn’t do much for volume. It doesn’t give a false-lashes look but I wouldn’t say it looks natural either. Your lashes will get noticed but not in an obvious way.

As for the curl, my first thought when I applied it was: wow! It really provides striking curl with just a single swipe! But when things are too good to be true, there usually is a catch. The curling effect doesn’t last long: less than an hour, even if you curl your lashes with an eyelash curler!

The curved wand makes application easy and also does a decent job at separating lashes. The mascara doesn’t smudge nor flake and stays put all day, even if you shed a few tears. Despite this, it is easy to remove.

Summary:
Glorious by Helena Rubinstein is a longlasting mascara that provides length, separates lashes and adds just a hint of volume. However, the curling effect doesn’t last long and while the mascara does a good job, it’s not any better than most drugstore mascaras out there. If you can afford it, why not? But honestly, there is nothing about this mascara that can justify the outrageously high price tag.

Rating: 3/5

Disclaimer: the item was purchased by me for both personal and review purposes. The review is based on my own personal and honest experience with the product. For more information, please see my disclaimer.