Covergirl Lashblast Volume Mascara

Why Covergirl Lashblast Volume Mascara is the best-selling mascara in the United States certainly got my attention, and it being sold at drugstore price, well, no doubt I scribbled it onto my shopping list. 

It comes in a bright orange tube. The brush is made of synthetic bristles and is orange when still un-dipped into the tube.

Its accolades aren't misplaced. I think it gives the lashes an extra black hue and lengthens them unabashedly. Of course do not forget the curler pre-application. The smell is not very pleasant though -- it wafts of a chemical scent, which can be overlooked because it dissipates in a few seconds. The best part is I can build the intensity of the mascara by swiping/layering it across the lashes multiple times without it clumping. It still smudges on me after about eight hours, but I've not found a mascara that doesn't. Thumbs up for this orange blast of goodness. 

Ingredients list. 

Origins Fringe Benefits Lash-loving Mascara

Origins was a brand locally available, but no more. It took some research and a helping hand (thank you 三 姐) to finally get a hold of this lash-loving Fringe Benefits mascara. 

It is most probably the "lash-loving" part that I sold me. 

It comes in a gray tube giving off a recyclable vibe. The silver wand slightly glams it up. 

As always, Origins makeup is free of parabens, mineral oil, PABA, and other known nasties. 

The brush is just the right size, not too big and bushy or thin and spiky. I think the hairs are spaced out properly, and it gives a glossy black color to the lashes.

It has been very gentle on my lashes, although it is not the most tenacious mascaras I've tried. It smudges onto the undereye area when I apply cream products without powdering on top. However, with powder on it is stays fine for about five hours. This mascara opens up the eyes not in a bold way, but in a clear, definitive "clean" outline. 

Ingredients list.

Overall, a do-good mascara save for the smudging tendencies. 

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm Collection

Last Christmas I was surprised by my sisters with Clarins' Beauty Flash Balm Collection (thank you 大姐 and 三姐). The Yuletide-themed box features red balls and ribbons.  

It contains the famous Beauty Flash Balm, Instant Definition Mascara in 01 Intense Black, and Natural Lip Perfector in 01 Rose Shimmer. 

The three products are meant to bring instant results into one's beauty regime. 

Opening . . . the box reveals a gold cosmetics case. 

The box states it is made of recycled materials. Eco-friendly is the way to go.

The case features an oval shape made of soft material. It is laterally roomy but may not easily keep tall bottles or bulkier products. These three wonders fit perfectly inside.  

The Beauty Flash Balm comes in its original 50ml size, while the Instant Definition Mascara and Natural Lip Perfector come in 3ml and 5ml sample sizes respectively. 

Beauty Flash comes sealed hygienically with a foil on the opening. This product has actually been around for a long time and is one of Clarins' classic releases. I remember trying this for the first time many years ago and loved the effect it gave. The product comes out as a peachy-flesh color which disappears into the skin when applied. It has a plant-based scent which lingers for a few minutes and dissipates. I find this product to have the best effects when used sparingly. Too much and the skin looks oily and tired. When the perfect amount is used (usually a small squirt) it really does its magic of making the skin look brighter and more revitalized. It can even work as a primer for normal/dry skin types. I personally use it on its own as it is already a little too heavy for me to top up with foundation or powder. I like the glow it gives but I don't use it every day as it has a tendency to clog pores. 

Above the pamphlet introduces two ways of using this product -- as a booster or as a mask. I haven't really tried using this as a mask as this method comes across as too rich for my skin type. 

The Instant Definition Mascara comes in a black tube with a gold metallic cap. 

The pigments in this mascara produces an inky black effect when applied to the lashes. 

The brush has short bristles and tapers to a narrow tip. I find this kind of tip helps reach into the inner lashes more easily. The best way to apply this mascara is to layer when it has slightly dried. It can be a bit too heavy for my sparse lashes, so I only use minimal coatings. Sometimes when I use too much it makes my lashes clump together. However, at the right amount it separates the lashes and gives a dark, smokey effect that is very attractive. It doesn't have curling properties so an eyelash curler is best paired with this product. Overall, this is a mascara that needs an expert hand, and not really one that is easy to use on an everyday basis. It does "dress" the eyes in an instant by giving it a sooty look. 

The Natural Lip Perfector comes in a pink tube befitting its Rose Shimmer shade. The golden cap adds a nice elegant touch to the look. 

Above is the applicator in pristine condition. The white fuzzy-textured tip gives way to a pink shade. This lip product is not really a lip gloss or a balm. It comes out as a pinkish gel-type liquid that coats the lips subtly with color and understated shine. The best part is it moisturizes the lips and makes it healthy-looking. I feel my lips are nourished throughout the time I wear this. There are two other shades in Apricot and Nude Shimmer, which I would definitely look into. This product is probably my favorite lip product of all time because it is practical and satisfies my beauty-related needs at the same time (not to mention the wonderful scent that accompanies it). 

The Instant Light series continues above. 

Ingredients for Beauty Flash Balm. 

Ingredients for Natural Lip Perfector and Instant Definition Mascara. 

Kiss Me Heroine Make Impact Frame & Curl Mascara

Kiss Me's Heroine Make line is popular for their mascaras. One of their recent releases is the Impact Frame & Curl Mascara, which I've read many good reviews about.

It comes in a standard black tube with gold imprints. The cap is carved with a princess-inspired design.

The packaging features this mascara as a deep black shade. 

This is the first mascara I've seen that features both brush and plastic in one wand.

Additional information for those who understand Japanese.
 
Using the diagrams as guide, I applied the plastic side to separate my lashes, and then proceeded to use the fluffier brush side to curl and add volume to them.

The inky blackness of the mascara truly gave my lashes a deep, dark, sooty look. It also left a delicious glossy finish that made my lashes look healthier. I found that it curled and gave volume to my lashes, but did not separate them so well. My experience is that heavier mascaras tend to curl and give volume, while lighter ones either curl and lengthen or curl and separate. I haven't found a product that successfully did all three for my sparse, thin lashes. However, this mascara is infinitely better compared to Heroine Make's earlier Long & Curl Mascara release (reviewed here). 

The Impact Frame & Curl Mascara stayed put without smudging for the 10 hours that I wore it and would have lasted longer if I hadn't called it a day. It wasn't easy to remove but I was able to get rid of most of it (not all though; I found some mascara on my lower lid in the morning) after patiently soaking my lashes with Biore Eye & Lip Makeup Remover. Overall, I found this mascara too heavy for my thin, brittle lashes and while it did give me a wide-awake look, the volumizing effect was obviously unnatural. For those with lush lashes that can carry the weight of heavily formulated mascaras, I can imagine how this can deliver fantastic results in terms of color, finish, and volume.

E.L.F Wet Gloss Lash and Brow Clear Mascara

In my search for a cheap clear mascara for eyebrow use, I chanced across E.L.F. Wet Gloss Lash and Brow Clear Mascara. Many good words have been said about this clear eyebrow and eyelash duo.

I think because for its very cheap $1 tag in the U.S., this has won the hearts of many. It's a great multi-purpose product that tackles both lash and brow in one tube. This dual-ended design also makes makeup application more sanitary as sometimes the clear mascara can change color (because of mixing with other makeup) and stain over time, especially if used for the brows. You can see this happening in the picture above on the left side (eyebrow side). 
The brushes are extremely hard and stiff and can definitely hurt the delicate area around the eyes, if you are not careful. But I find that it did a good job in setting my eyebrows and coating my lashes. I bought this for around $3 here in Manila, and though it is way more expensive than U.S. retail price I thought it worth a buy since I've never seen any brand come up with a 2-in-1 clear mascara. This is what I really like about the product. 
However, after over a month of usage, it started to smell different. I am not sure whether I got an old product that was near its expiration, but I find one month pretty fast for a clear mascara to surrender. This product is made in China too, so I would be more wary. After some more sniffing, I decided it was a bad kind of funky smell. Sadly, I had to cut short the affair and off to the trash it went. 
If stiff bristles and a short expiry date are not an issue for mascaras, you will find that this product really does set the eyebrows and coat the lashes well, and I would definitely recommend this product on those points.

Kiss Me Heroine Make Long and Curl Mascara

Long and Curl Mascara by Kiss Me Heroine Make has garnered a steady fan base. I've bought many volumizing mascaras from Lunasol, Fairy Drops, BeneFit, so I thought to try something new and gave this lengthening version a go.

It is packaged in a simple light maroon tube that brings to memory old Shanghai or Beijing, perhaps because I always associate red hues with China. After I remind myself that it is a Japanese brand, the kawaii elegance comes through. For me, Japanese brands win hands-down on product design among the many cosmetic brands all over the world.

The plastic brush is curved to help deliver a curl on the lashes. The formula is fibrous as can be observed on the tip of the brush. Initially I was applying it using the upper curved part as shown on the picture and found not much curling action. When I decided to turn it over and run the convex part on the lashes instead, there was slight improvement. While my lashes were more defined and somewhat longer and curlier, I didn't see considerable results that put a positive impact on my overall look. It coats the lashes in thick black liquid but also leaves it dry and spidery. It stays smudge free and is quite hard to remove with the eye makeup remover I use which is Kose's Softymo Super Point Make Up Remover.

Overall, this is a basic mascara. The one compliment I can give is that it does not travel/smudge thus avoiding the dreaded panda eyes. This can work nicely for girls who have naturally thick and long lashes. It does not help those (un)blessed with sparse and fine hair. The best mascara I have tried yet is Clinique's High Impact Curling Mascara which gives my lashes the definite boost they need by curling, defining, and glossing them beautifully without dryness or the hard-to-remove dilemma.