Mascara Graveyard

I am a mascara hoarder. While cleaning out my make up collection (no, I haven't read Marie Kondo) over the weekend I found about half a dozen empty mascara tubes in my drawer. I have either kept them as a reference for a future purchase or for the pretty packaging. Is it just me or do you find it hard to throw away high end empties?

Benefit - They're Real is one of the most hyped up mascaras on the market so I had high hopes when I picked up this tube. Unfortunately this didn't work for me at all. The wand is very spikey and sparse, in combination with the wet formula my lashes would look clumpy. This is an issue that could be resolved if you had some extra time. The deal breaker however was the fact that I lost a noticeable amount of lashes removing the mascara.

Smashbox - Full Exposure is just a lovely mascara. I have nothing bad to say about this, love the formula -not too wet, not too dry- and the brush is the perfect size for me. Just keep in mind that this is definitely natural looking, nothing dramatic!

YSL - Singulier was another disappointing purchase for me and a waste of money. The brush was designed in a spiral to lift the lashes and add volume which didn't work at all. The formula was dry and my lashes would clump together after applying a second coat. Fortunately YSL no longer sell this mascara.

Maybelline - Lash Sensational is my current drugstore favorite. I was skeptic at first as I'm not a fan of the curved wands but I managed to not stab myself in the eye and actually appreciate the shape. My lashes are separated and elongated and the formula is buildable. I've never had issues with smudging or flaking.

Dior - Diorshow in brown was my first ever mascara and I kept this tube simply for nostalgic reasons. I felt super fancy with my high end mascara as a teenager. As I wore this in brown it was natural and appropriate for school. The brush is huge and bristly and adds volume without clumping. This mascara was re-released in 2015 with an updated anti-drying formula.

What's your favorite mascara? High end or drugstore!

 

Step by Step Contouring with Smashbox

Over the Holiday season, also known as the party season, I've been reaching for my Smashbox contouring kit over and over again. This small and compact palette has been my go to product for almost perfect cheekbones over the past couple of months.

The contour powder is the star of this trio. The color is perfect: not too orange and not too ashy either. It can be quite dark on my skin but applied with a light hand and blended in it's everything I hoped for. The bronzer is a deeper tan color than what I'm used too. In the summer however I'll be able to use it and not need to carry around a seperate bronzer. The highlight doesn't show up too much on my skin which I appreciate as I'm only getting into the glowy/dewy look. I feel like all three are a bit on the powdery side but that is something I can work with as I like the pigmentation and blendability (is that even a word?). The included angled brush is great for laying down the contour but I always use a fluffier brush to blend and apply the bronzer.

Let's talk packaging: The three powders come in a hand-sized thin shiny black compact that's perfect for travelling. You will get fingerprints all over it but they are super easy to wipe away compared to the rubber packaging of a certain high-end brand (Yes - I'm talking about you, NARS!) There is no space reserved for useless sponges or mini brushes that we would throw out. Also for all of us newbies to contouring Smashbox have included a sticker with easy to follow instructions!

Which is your favorite contouring palette?

P.S. This is a recycled post that long time readers may have already come across. 
Unfortunately I'm currently fighting the flu, hope to be back soon.