Maybelline Eyestudio Gel Eyeliner

LOVE!!!

Fantastically pigmented, easy to apply and affordable, need I say more?

Well probably yes, as that doesn't really give a great review, to which this product, in my opinion, really deserves!!!

This is a new release from drugstore staple Maybelline, a brand I seem to have a fairly love/hate relationship with, but of late has done nothing but impress me! Retailing at £7.99 its currently available as an introductory price of £5.99, and is definitely worth a look at. Due to the fact I'm so torn over the brand itself, I was slightly skeptical over their version of a gel eyeliner, but having done and swatch on my hand once purchased (slightly backwards I know!) and the fact it seemed to have real staying power, I was excited to try it on my eyes!

So far I have used it to do winged eyeliner, which the only flaw is that if you make a mistake, its tough to remove without a makeup remover, and to just applied across the tops of my lids. It's true test will be when I'm back in London in a few weeks for a night out, false lashes, heat, and the inevitable sleeping with make up on after a heavy night out!

It comes with a brush, which I expected to be a bit rubbish, I tend to always throw away any applicators makeup comes with, but this brush is nice and sturdy, and because of its design it means you can quickly do either a very slimline, or a wider one, depending on what takes your fancy. I have yet to try the product with my MAC 210 brush, but hopefully it wont let me down!

I'm so impressed with not only this product, but the mascara Maybelline released along side the eyeliner, its called 'One by one', now although I haven't used this yet on myself, my sister bought a tube, and she is a very dedicated L'oreal Million Lashes mascara, we were both amazed as to how defined and volumised her lashes looked after one coat. With my 'Pulse Perfection' mascara increasingly difficult to find in this little town, I may be getting myself a tube soon!!!

L'oreal Studio Secrects Resurfacing Primer

GRRR!!! Hate this product!

Ok maybe hate is too strong of a word, but I really dislike it! Normally I use the Anti-Shine Primer from this range, but when no Boots near me had it in stock and I was in desperate need for primer, I thought, why not take a chance and give it a whirl...

Shouldn't have bothered! It retails for £12.99, whereas my normal one is £9.99, and its certainly NOT worth the extra few pounds!

It applies nicely to the face, very smooth, but its when I start to apply my make up, that the let down kicks in! Normally, I will get out of the shower, tone and moisturise my face and then prime a couple of minutes before I intend to start doing my make up, not with this, I need to leave it alot longer before I can apply anything else to my face.

I start off by doing my concealer, applying it under my eyes and to cover up any discolouration or blemishes, once I start to blend, it sticks to the Primer, and doesn't let go! so instead of blending it in and having a smooth finish to my concealer, it ends up streaky, and just being moved around my face, for the most part if you keep working with it, it will blend, eventually, but sometimes we just don't have the luxury of time! I'm glad I don't wear foundation in the summer, because goodness only knows what blending this would be like! Mayhem would be my guess! By the time I come to apply my tinted moisturiser it has been absorbed to my skin sufficiently enough not to cause any problems, but the amount of time between first application and when its "safe" to apply my concealer is ridiculous, I don't want to spend an extra 10 minutes waiting for a product to be absorbed into my skin, I just want to get the job done, and get on with my day!

I'm trying to finish the little jar up, but a little goes a long way, so in the month I have been using it, I have hardly made a dent in it! I definitely wont be buying this again, and in future if Boots don't have the anti-shine in, I will either find another brand, or wait until I can get my hands on a tube!

A bit of a waste of money in my opinion! if you have tried this product, let me know your thoughts, did you find the same? or could it just be my skin type/me not being patient enough!?

Some new products I have tried...

Over the past few weeks I have bought some new cosmetic products, some I love, and some I hate. Rather than writing one MASSIVE long blog about all of the products I've broken them down into a few smaller blog reviews. Enjoy and let me know if you have tried any of the products!

TAG: 40 Beauty Questions

I'm bored, and since I did a blog earlier today, I don't really have much else to write about, so I thought I would do a tag, as its fun, quick and easy!! So here goes...

SKINCARE -
How many times do you wash your face daily?
I try and do it twice, but sometimes I'm very lazy and only do it in the morning!!!

What skin type do you have? (dry,oily,combo)
Combination

What is your current facial wash?
Loreal Perfect Skin - Refreshing

Do you exfoliate?
Yes, the face wash comes with a little scrublet, so it gently exfoliates!

What brand do you use?
Loreal!

What moisturizer do you use?
Clinque Dramatically Different Gel

Do you have freckles?
Nope

Do you use eye cream?
No, I probably should, but its one of those things I never seem to do!

Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
Thankfully no! I'm very lucky in that in the past 5 months I have found the products that suit my skin best at this time!

Did you ever have to use Pro-activ?
Nope


MAKE-UP
What foundation do you use?
Revlon Beyond Natural Skin matching foundation

How about concealer?
MAC Studio Sculpt in NW20

Do you know your undertone color?
I would say I have yellow undertones, as that what I learnt at college, but I think because I have a NW concealer MAC may beg to differ!!!

What do you think of fake eyelashes?
LOVE LOVE LOVE!! I only wear them on nights out mind, not one of those people who love them so much I wear them everyday!!

Did you know that you are supposed to change your mascara every 3 months?
Yes! I tell my housemates off for not doing this!!! Common sense guys!!!

What brand of mascara do you use?
I LOVE my maybeline Pulse Perfection mascara!!

Sephora or MAC?
Well we don't have Spehora over here (wish we did though!!) So because it's all I know, MAC!

Do you have a MAC Pro-card?
No, I really need to get on and get one, but until I'm earning I wouldn't be able to take full advantage of it!!

What makeup tools do you use in make up application?
Brushes, at college I got a LOT of latex sponges with my kit and I HATE them! Brushes all the way!

Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes?
Yes, but I have to admit I only started using them last year! I use MAC's Prep & Prime

For the face?
Yes, I have found a brilliant one - Loreal Studio Secret Anti Shine Primer, LOVE IT!

What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)?
I wouldn't say I have a definite favourite, but I love doing brown smokey eyes, so I suppose a good spectrum of browns!

Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?
Pencil, As much as I love liquid liner alot of the time I can't be bothered!!!

How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
Not often, I wouldn't be a very good makeup artist if I did that!!!

What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?
As much as I like them, I don't use them often, I have done a few looks with pigments, but because they are so messy it puts me off!!

Do you use mineral makeup?
Nope, can't stand the stuff, it just doesn't give me the coverage I want!

What is your favorite lipstick?
Barry M 101 in Marshmallow - Ok so its a lip pain but still! I don't tend to wear lipstick because my lips are quite dark!

How about lipgloss?
Ooooh I love my Dazzleglass, in Bare Necessity

What is your favorite blush to use?
I'm liking my No7 Illuminating Powder in Dainty

Do you buy your makeup on ebay?
Nope, I'm always I a bit wary in case its fake etc

Do you like drugstore makeup?
Yes, providing you can find the right products for you, I don't think you necessarily have to spend a fortune on cosmetics!

Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets)
Again, something we don't have over here, maybe its for my own good though!!!!

Did you ever consider taking make-up classes?
Yes, well I went to college for a year so I guess been there done that!!!

Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
Nah, I try and be as precise as possible

Name a makeup crime that you hate?
ooft plenty, Orange Skin/White Neck, Badly placed/coloured blusher or bronzer, heavily lined lips, OTT eye Makeup...etc etc etc

Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones?
I like both, but I tend to wear neutrals, I do however like coming up with new looks using colours!

Which celebrity always has great make up?
Victoria Beckham rarely gets it wrong, I like Nicole Richie's as well, its a very natural look!

If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item, what would you use?
Hmm I think probably Mascara...oh wait Lip balm!!

Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?
erm I could, but I don't like to!!

Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?
I would like to think so, but I do prefer to wear it!

In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?
Tough one, probably MAC, maybe Benefit!

What do you think of Makeup??
I love it, not sure if its where I want to go with my career, but its a wonderful hobby!