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Lancôme Hypnose Custom Wear Volume Mascara

This was one of the mascara samples that I got in my Selfridges advent calendar and I’ve really enjoyed using it. The wand is the perfect size, small enough to wield without ending up with mascara all over my hooded eyes but big enough to get the job done quickly. It’s a rubber bristled wand which I generally like too.

Of course this being a volumising mascara I wasn’t expecting much in terms of length or curl and I don’t get much. But I can’t fault it for things it doesn’t promise to deliver. This excels at delivering volume. The formula is very wet initially so does tend to drag down a curl but this effect lessens as the tube gets a little older and drier. Unfortunately as it gets drier it starts to get a little clumpy but this is easily remedied with a quick comb through.

Pre mascara:

And with mascara:

The colour is nice and black (this is Noir Hypnotic, it also come in Brun). Overall I think it is a nice mascara for those occasions when you want very thick, very black lashes. It isn’t necessarily my first choice for the work day but it’s nice in the evening. I won’t be buying the full size simply because I need all the help I can get with holding a curl and this doesn’t do it but if it sounds like your kind of mascara the full size tube costs £20.50 x

February Empties

So I’m slowly making a dent in things on this no buy and I have a fair pile of stuff that will be winging its way to the bin any moment now. If you’re new to the blog the point of showing you what is essentially rubbish is basically to say whether or not I would repurchase the item now that it’s gone.

Firstly there are some ELF Blot Tissues and Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths. I don’t need to say much about these, I love them and repurchase both items frequently.

Then we have a Neutrogena Black Head Eliminating Scrub. This did nothing. NOTHING. Would not buy again.

The Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser was a god send last month on my poor unfortunate nose that was being destroyed by Kleenex. The perfume free formula didn’t sting my sore bits. I’m a fan of their moisturisers in general and this one was no different.

The Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Sample is gone thankfully and thankfully so are the blemishes it caused. I wouldn’t buy the full size although I am curious to try other, non mineral oil based, cleansing oils now.

The Serge Lutens perfume sample was ok but not interesting enough to me to buy a full sized bottle.

*Sob* My sample of Chanel Sublime De Chanel mascara is no more. I adored it but I think there are plenty of good mascaras out there for a fraction of the cost. I’d rather spend money on a Chanel product that will stick around in my collection for more than a couple of months.

Boots Tea Tree Pore Strips, I was pleasantly surprised at the resoundingly positive response on my pore strips post. It seems there are plenty of us out there that enjoy the perverse satisfaction of using these. The Boots own brand ones work perfectly fine for me so I don’t see the need to spend more on brand name ones.

The Lancôme Renergie Lift Volumetry was a wonderful sample. A couple of years down the line I could see myself buying this but not just yet. I’m only 24 for goodness sakes!  

And finally a boat load of hand cream. The L’Occitane was divine and is definitely worth buying again (I think this one came free with a mag). The Kiehls was also lovely but the Eve Lom was a fail for me. I won’t say anymore as posts on each are scheduled.

My recycling bin is full now.... 

Illamasqua Queen of the Night Pure Pigment (With Added Dupe!)

Why you might ask am I bothering to review a product that was ltd edition and sold out months ago? Partly because the packaging fail will apply to all of their pigments and partly because I might have an answer for you if you missed out on this but want something similar. This was released as part of a gift set with the Freak fragrance before Christmas. Ordinarily the Pure Pigments can be bought individually at £15.50 for 1.3g of product.

Firstly the packaging. Looks good doesn’t it? Well it’s crap. Sorry Illamasqua but prising the lid off with my pathetic nails is no fun and once you get in there that little hole to let the product through manages to be both inefficient and messy at the same time.

The shade itself it lovely though. It’s a deep black base with burgundy/ purple sparkles in it. Like all loose pigments it benefits from a sticky base and I would apply your foundation after applying this due to inevitable fall out. It is very, very pretty.

And the alleged dupe? Barry M Dazzle Dust in Shade 102. The base is slightly more black and the shimmer slightly more fuchsia but it gives a very similar look on the eye. Plus I find it sticks to the skin a little better. Oh and it costs £4.59, and it’s not limited edition. Ok so it’s not an exact dupe but it is a viable alternative! The Swatch shows Barry M 102 on top with Queen of the Night underneath. 

Beauty Blog Link Love!

Beautifully Addicted To.... shows you how to create Galaxy Nails.

 Musicalhouses takes a look at Benefit's latest boxed blush offering, Benefit Hervana!

 Tigers get frisky on Valentine's Day as Addicted to Beauty enjoys London Zoo's viral campaign.

 At Musing on Beauty, Mariella tries two of the Edward Bess Quad Royale and is positively surprised!

 Dry skin got you down? Kajal Couture lets you in on an AMAZING new body moisturizer collection from Burts Bees.

 Beautywoome's response to the Kate Upton's Sports Illustrated cover is that real boobs have rights too!

Valentine's Day may be over, but here at My Funny Valentine, we love pink lippies all year round!

 The Pink Sith has found yet another TAUPE eyeshadow to drool over. This time it's Rouge Bunny Rouge Loose Glitter Pigment in Caress Of Mink!

 Curious about the new NARS Cosmetics Spring Collection? Check out Krasey Beauty's swatches and review!

 Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed would like to escape the cold weather for a resort. But, since that's not happening, she's brought it to her fingers with the essie Resort Collection!

Check it out and see if it brings you warm thoughts too! Looking for the ultimate baby pink lipstick? Amy Antoinette reviews Clarins Joli Rouge Baby Pink Lipstick.

 At theNotice, Rae takes you through The BB Cream Breakdown, with bare-faced (!) and full-face swatch comparisons of Garnier and Marcelle's BB Cream offerings.

 Tracy at Beauty Reflections shares her secret beauty habit and wants to know yours!

 Has Pammy Blogs Beauty discovered a new Holy Grail eye shadow? Check out her review of L'Oreal's new 24 hour Infallible Eye Shadow in Iced Latte.

 Phyrra debuts her first video tutorial of the year, a vibrant sapphire blue look with Makeup Geek & Sugarpill.

--- Every woman wants soft, luscious, plump lips. Win a tube of 3Lab Perfect Lips from Prime Beauty and perfect YOUR pout!

Sample Sunday – Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate

This product is an oil rather than a serum, apparently it’s a ‘Botanical Elixer’ which is 99% naturally derived. Containing fatty acids and squalene (whatever that might be...) this is supposed to magically repair your skin over night.

The product is interesting. It is a somewhat thick oil with a herbal, essential oil (well it does contain some) scent. It’s quite a pleasant, comforting sort of scent. It takes me about 5 drops for my face and the same again for my neck due to the slightly thicker texture. It doesn’t spread as easily as a thinner serum would.

The first time I applied this my heart sank. Surely something this rich and heavy would be too much for my skin? It does leave an oily residue on the skin so I went to bed, shiny face and all, with images of myself waking up in the morning to a face full of blemishes and milia. I needn’t have worried. By the time my alarm went off it had completely sunk in and my skin was intensely moisturised. And after a couple of weeks? Dare I say it my skin feels plump, healthy and not a spot in sight.

Now my skin is combination so I don’t feel the need to use a moisturiser with this. I don’t think it’s a product I would need during the summer but if next winter is a particularly harsh one then I wouldn’t begrudge spending the £36 for the full 30ml bottle of this. If your skin is dry I can only imagine you would really like this so try a sample if you can! This is one sample I will be sorry to see the back of! x

Look Of The Week: Purple and Gold

I’m still playing around with using dark shades in the inner and outer corners. This time I went for a more subtle (and spring like!) purple and gold version. Of course I forgot to photograph the gold shade from the Stila Dream in Full Colour palette that I used on the centre of the lid. Whoops!

On the eyes:

Barry B Dazzle Dust in 99

MAC Naked Pigment in the inner corner

The lilac in the Sleek Circus palette to blend out the edges

The white from the Circus palette as a brow bone highlight

The black from Circus on the upper lash line

Nouveau mascara

GOSH Purple Stain pencil on the waterline

#

For the rest I wore MAC Azalea Blossom Blush Ombre on the cheeks topped with Rituals Cheek & Eye Glow in Pink and Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick in Vintage Pink.

I’m slowly starting coming round to the idea of embracing spring. I’m an Autumn Winter girl myself but some of the new Spring/ Summer collections (hello Geurlain!) are calling my name! x

Happy 2nd Birthday To Me!!! (closed)

Not me actually but my ickle blog. Can you believe I’ve stuck with it for 2 years? Me neither.


see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

More than anything I’m grateful to you lot! Thank you to everyone who takes the time out of their day to have a nosy round here. It is appreciated! And it wouldn't be a birthday without a little present would it...

From the No7 Spring Collection (all brand new and untouched, bought by me as a way of saying thank you to those who take the time to read/ comment on my blog):

No7 Vital Enlightening Highlighter, Vital Brights Lipstick on Blooming Pink, Cream Blush in Blooming Pink.

To enter you either have to follow via Google Friend Connect OR via Twitter (@ClaireEyelining). Just comment below stating how you follow, your GFC or Twitter name and a contact email address. It's just one entry per person to keep it simple. You must be over 16 to enter and please, no serial compers (unless you are a genuine reader of beauty bogs who also happens to comp).

The giveaway will end at 9:00pm on March 1st. It is open internationally. Good luck!

P.S. Oh how I wish I’d come up with a better name than ‘Eyelining Obsessions! Guess I’m stuck with it :p

A little mini baby L’Absolu Nu Lipstick in 302 Rose Ideal

This adorable little lippie was yet another goody from my advent calendar. The packaging is a tiny exact replica from what I can see online of the full sized Absolu Nu lipstick which ordinarily retails for £21. The shade Rose Ideal looks like a warm pink in the tube but on me looks like a very sheer glossy wash of a more coral pink.

Firstly the packaging, isn’t it cute? The only thing that bothers me about it is that Lancôme have a nasty habit of just putting the numbers instead of the shade names on the bottom of the tubes. This annoys me greatly but that’s because I’m a beauty blogger and therefore more than a little crazy. The product has a very faint lipstick scent but it isn’t strong or plastic. Once on I can’t smell or taste anything.

At first the texture of the product is a little firm but it soon warms up and becomes very comfortable to wear. It is slightly moisturising although I still wouldn’t skip my lip balm. I was surprised at how sheer the colour pay off was. It looks more like I’m wearing an understated gloss than a lipstick but of course without the stickiness and hair-stuck-to-face issues that come with wearing actual lip gloss.

Because of the subtle colour and finish I will use this product up at work and this really is a lipstick you don’t need a mirror to apply. I don’t begrudge spending £21 on a lipstick that I love, something special or different but this is just to meh to warrant the price tag. You would get a similar finish and slightly better colour pay off from the 17 Mirror Shine lipsticks for less than a fiver. Perhaps the other shades have a bit more oomph but for me Rose Ideal is a wearable but boring lipstick x

Clinique All About Eyes Rich

Over the winter the skin under my eyes became even drier than usual. It was practically desiccated. Yum. In a moment of madness I went out and spent £23 on 15ml of eye cream from Clinique in an attempt to remedy the problem. Now there is a standard All About Eyes cream which I believe is more of a gel consistency although I haven’t tried it myself. This is the ‘rich’ version aimed at dry to very dry skin (yes my nose is still oily, my under eyes are just doing their own thing).

The pot looks good with its thick frosted heavy duty plastic but it is still a pot which isn’t the most hygienic packaging solution in the world. The cream itself is fragrance free (of which I approve) and incredibly thick. It’s almost a paste rather than a cream it feels so firm (ooh er) in the jar. I’m used to thinner eye creams that glide over the skin but this needs to be patted in oh so gently with a ring finger, no smooshing of your delicate under eye skin! That would be counterproductive.

Once on it does absorb quite quickly and doesn’t interfere with any makeup I apply over the top of it. I have been using this for about 6 weeks now and have noticed two things. Firstly the skin under my eyes it no longer the texture of sand paper (although it is still a touch dry but nowhere near as bad as before). Secondly I think this jar will last me forever and a day. You need so little of it. Suddenly the price tag doesn’t look so bad when you factor in how long the jar will last!

I won’t be repurchasing just because there are so many other products I want to try out there but I don’t begrudge having splurged on this and I am enjoying using this. I don’t really have any wrinkles to judge the effect of this upon although the tiny fine lines from squinting at things look a little better for being better hydrated. The blurb states it will diminish the appearance of dark circles and I can categorically state that it did not do that. I still look like the walking dead but that is hereditary/ sleep related so I doubt any cream will have an impact on it.

Have you tried the original version and this? How do they compare? X

*Bought by me*

Lime Crime Candy Eyed Eyeshadow Helper

I took the opportunity to pick this up in the January in the Space NK sale for £7.50 which I think was half price. Sadly the first one that arrived had the cap wobbling about in the box and dried out product. Space NK were super quick and helpful about sending out a new one but the cap still doesn’t seem to quite shut properly (same problem I have with Benefit Powderflage) and you can see it starting to come away from the edges. I wonder if this is a general packaging fail rather than 2 isolated events... The second one is fine to use now but I doubt I will be able to get to the bottom of the pot before it’s dried out.

Packaging aside the product is an eyeshadow primer, designed to prevent fading and creasing, and sticky base rolled into one. It is apparently ‘moisture resistant’ and recommends that you remove it with a waterproof eye makeup remover. The product does feel a little tacky. The flesh toned shade seems to sheer out and becomes mostly colourless when you blend it in but it takes a little tugging on the lid to move it across the skin. I’m not sure how I feel about tugging on my eye lids like that... I know crepey eyelids are inevitable but I don’t want to do anything that might speed up the process!

Application issues aside it is a good primer. Shadows look bright and vibrant over it and I have had no creasing or fading whilst wearing this. So it works and is relatively inexpensive. I’m just not sold on the packaging or the texture... x

*Bought by me*

Sample Sunday – Shu Uemura High Performance Cleansing Oil Classic

I was so excited to try this sample out and I desperately wanted to love it. The idea of a cleanser that removes everything in one go (yes even your eye makeup) whilst being non drying is very appealing. Sadly I do not get on with this at all.

The oil itself is relatively light weight, it isn’t thick or goopy. It does have a scent but it’s quite faint, just a sort of clean medicinal fragrance. You simply massage in onto dry skin including the eye area and then add a little water to let it emulsify. Then just rinse off and voila! Makeup is gone! If I’ve worn particularly heavy eye makeup that day I sometimes have to go back with a little extra for the eyes but it’s still quicker and easier than using a separate eye makeup remover.

It doesn’t sting my eyes, it doesn’t dry out my skin. It’s so quick and easy to use. Sounds perfect doesn’t it?

No.

This sample lasted me about 2 weeks. After day one I had a huge spot on the side of my nose (I only ever normally get spots on my chin). Day two it had a little friend on my jaw line. It continued on like this until eventually I had to concede it was the cleanser to blame. As soon as I stopped using it the blemishes disappeared again. Le Sigh.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the culprit may have been the mineral oil which appears first on the list of ingredients. This is a little surprising for a product that costs £28 for the full 150ml bottle. I still love the idea of using a cleansing oil and will be trying out the MAC version (it’s mineral oil free) in future. But this product has disappointed me. I won’t be purchasing the full size x

Sugar Pill Chromalust Loose Eyeshadow in Goldilux

I have seen this on so many blogs described as molten gold on the skin that eventually I knew it would have to be mine. I bought this for £8.25 from www.love-makeup.co.uk . The packaging is very cute isn’t it?

You get 5g of incredibly finely milled pigment, more than I will ever be able to use. It is a bright yellow gold. I honestly don’t own a shade quite like it! For me it applies best wet though as with all lose pigments you do get some fall out if you apply it dry. Look at the sparkles! (I could not get my camera to focus for love nor money... the sparkles sent it mad)

You certainly achieve an intensity of colour that is hard to get from a pressed shadow. My one little niggle is I thought it would be a little bit smoother. Instead of the liquid gold I was expecting you get a slightly grittier, more sparkly effect. It’s still very pretty and I’ve used it a lot (it makes a wonderful liner used wet!)

Sugarpill isn’t a brand I’ve tried anything else from but I do like this product. The quality is good, the colour is very special and the packaging is quirky. I’m curious to see what else they produce! X

*Bought by me*

Look of The Week

Er actually this was what I wore to a Chinese New Year party way back in January. This pics were also taken post party so apologies if I look a little smushed. I tried to do something red and gold for the evening so I used the Wet ‘n Wild Night Elf palette with Sugar Pill Goldilux used wet as a liner. I can’t for the life of me remember what else I used but I know it was Sleek Scandalous blush... So it’s mainly made up of limited edition items we can’t get any more. Sorry!

I liked doing a bit of a different shape than I normally do. Most of the time I start with lightest colour in the inner corner fading out to darker shades in the crease and outer corner. Using the black on both the edges was a small change but something totally different and in real life made my eyes seem a little rounder than normal. Ramble over, have a good weekend! x

Going Nude

Calm down folks, I’m keeping my clothes on. I wouldn’t do that to you (I couldn’t afford to pay for your therapy for a start). This is strictly a lip product post. For a girl who isn’t really into nude lips I seem to have acquired a fair few nude lip products.

Do bear in mind that I have naturally very dark pigmented lips so a fair few of these products look awful on me unless applied correctly. By correctly I mean smushed in with a finger rather than applied directly from the tube (hello corpse lips!) and often topped with a slightly warmer gloss. I won’t be reviewing things here as I simply don’t have the time or the space in one blog post. Everything has been reviewed before though (I think) so just shuffle on over to the search bar to your right and you will be able to read more on individual products if you should so wish.

Shall we begin with the glosses?

Collection 2000 Love Your Lips Gloss in Delight. I love these glosses and have almost used up my other shades, not a massive fan of this one on me though.

Missguided Lipsplash in Missled. This smells exactly like tablet (it’s a kind of Scottish confection a bit like fudge but not quite) and is just delicious. I wear it more for the smell/ taste than the colour. This was free in a mag!

Revlon Peach Petal. I tend to wear this over bright pinks to tone them down a bit as it is too light on its own on me. It’s a bit *ahem* porno on its own no?

Jemma Kid Makeup School gloss in Shell. Another magazine freebie! It’s a nice enough gloss but I don’t like the sugary scent.

And now some pinkier nudes...

L’Oreal Color Riche in Taffeta. A surprisingly wearable cool toned pink beige.

MAC Lazy Day from the To The Beach collection. Limited edition I’m afraid. This works better for me over a bright pink lip liner to make the colour a little stronger. On its own it has a tendency to go a bit patchy and let my natural lip colour through.

ELF Mineral Lipstick in Run Way Pink. A slightly less pink version of Lazy Day, it benefits from being smushed (technical term dontcha know).

Some more traditional nudes...

No7 Nude Rebellion is my favourite nude lipstick on me but sadly it was limited edition. I need a dupe...

Revlon Nude Attitude... fabulous formula but the colour is terrible on me. Patted in with a finger it looks ok but the yellowy beige is just too flesh toned for me when applied directly from the tube.

L’Oreal Color Riche in Nude. A more beige nude which works for me thanks to it being a little darker.

17 Mirror Shine On lipstick in Bee Hive. Everyone seems to love this. On me it’s just ok. Again I benefit from a lighter application.

And finally....

MAC Viva Glam V. A peachy beige nude with gold shimmer. It’s quite sheer, very wearable and one of those lipsticks you can just throw on sans mirror.

Estee Lauder Beige. This is slightly cool toned and shimmery but still pretty wearable.

17 Shine On lipstick in Toffee. It’s a slightly bronzey toffee shade, perhaps a little deeper than some people would class as a nude but to me it counts.

Well I don’t think I need any more nude shades for a while! What’s your favourite nude lippie? Do you rock full on nudes or do you struggle to pull them off like me?