Eyes to mesmerize: YSL's Volume Effet Faux Cils

Mascara is a very personal choice and at the end of the day we all long for:

• Long and hypnotising
• Curled and voluminous
• Or, a combination of all of the above

My lashes are short (at least I think so), have a bit of a natural curl to them and are also fairly thick. Intermingled amongst my modest lashes are fair and wispy strands; instead of separating the wheat from the chaff, I like to paint my lashes with mascara as a way to make them look fuller and longer. I've never really settled on one brand of mascara, it's probably the only thing I have yet to lockdown as tried, tested and here to stay.

YSL's Volume Effets Faux Cils came highly recommended to me by one of my co-workers -- if it can accentuate her insanely beautiful lashes, then it wouldn't hurt if I gave it a spin, right?

VOLUME EFFET FAUX CILS

Volume Effect Faux Cils

The applicator is the key to glomming onto and dispensing mascara; YSL's Volume Effet applicator has insane spidey senses. Each bristle has a way of detecting and coating each lash as I gently wriggle the wand about. With every positive point, a negative will surely follow suit -- I hate how much product gets stuck between the bristles; it's similar to a honey trap gone wrong. Before each application I have to wipe off loads of excess product, it's annoying and Tammy Faye, I am not.

While YSL's formula sticks around on my lashes for the better part of an eight hour work day, panda bear eyes are imminent. Before lunch time I'm having to conduct a post-fallout clean up session, which is never fun because I often wonder how long I've been walking around in that particular state. I wear concealer to cover my under eye circles; I don't want to have to worry about my mascara creeping into an already volatile territory too!

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for YSL's Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara:

• $52.00 AUS / $30.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 6 out of 10 bags — Volumizing and lengthens, but I wish it would just stay put!

Likelihood to purchase:

• P-Cakes is loving this lipstick. I just might have to buy one for myself as well.

Butter London's Spring 2013 collection

Butter London Spring 2013

Candy shops, lollipops, lemonade, fairy floss and ice cream -- these are a few of my favourite things. Butter London's Spring 2013 nail collection's been added to the list and just in time really; I think they've swooped in to save us all before we fall off the neon precipice.

Let's celebrate these sensational spring colours together...

• Fruit Machine - creamy pink shade. Essie's Lovie Dovie is slightly warmer.
• Kerfuffle - sherbet orange, whereas Jaffa reminds me of a ripe Tropicana orange.
• Jasper - the pale yellow little sis to Cheeky Chops.
• Fiver - mint ice cream perfection. Essie's Mint Candy Apple is a pretty close dupe.
• Molly Coddled - a lovely lavender.
• Cuppa - tanned to perfection. Screams All Hail the Queen sans holographic glitter.

Can't wait for this collection to hit a store near you? Face of Australia and L'Oreal have a few creamy pastel alternatives to help tide your nails over. Kate and Lilit can help you in the swatch department for these respective collections :)

The final look: Body Shop Holiday 2012

Wearing Smoky Copper on my eyes and Ruby Sparkle on my lips

With two Smoky Eye palettes before me and the Ruby Sparkle lippie as well, I painted my face for an evening out with my husband.

While the overall look seems appealing, there were a few things I was disappointed with. The eyeshadow proved to be quite difficult in the blending department as the formula was drier than I anticipated; once the shadow hit my lid, it just wouldn't budge.  Colour payoff was minimal as well -- I was really hoping to get the same sort of intensity I got during my swatch session. The eyeshadow palette's only saving grace was the fact it didn't crease.

Ruby Sparkle, however, delivered. A creamy lipstick that has the ability to mimic a gloss, stays put and lasts. The microscopic sparkles reflected light and created a bit of drama, but I didn't feel a bit of grit on my lips. A berry hued optical illusion!

Buy Ruby Sparkle now and maybe wait 'til Smoky Copper or Smoky Moonstone gets marked down.

*PR sample provided –  Thoughts and ramblings written here are completely my own.

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me: two eyeshadow palettes

The Body Shop's Smoky Eye Palettes

To compliment my Ruby Sparkle lipstick I was given two options to play up my eyes: Smoky Copper* and Smoky Moonstone*. However, do I take a walk on the dark side of the moon or should I conduct heat with a bit of copper?

Can you hear the sound of duelling banjos? Smoky Moonstone (left) and Smoky Copper (right)

Each palette comes with a creamy beige base for all over application and then they divide. Copper Smoke leans warm with the help of metallic copper, burnt taupe and chocolate brown. Personally, this is my favourite palette; while I was away I learned orange hues help to intensify hazel eyes -- colour me happy!

Smoky Copper palette

Copper Smoke swatches

Smoky Moonstone is perfect for those looking to capture the well-known smoky eye look. Soft taupe, milk chocolate and greyish brown take the guess work out of the equation.

Smoky Moonstone palette

Smoky Moonstone swatches

The texture of the shadow is soft yet doesn't promote fallout and I think the formula lends itself to well-blended matrimony.

Each palette comes with a built in mirror, petite eyeshadow and angled eyeliner brushes and "how to" guides.

Like what you see so far? The Smoky Eye palettes are still available for $39.95 AUS / $28.00 USD.

Stay tuned for my final holiday look...

*PR sample provided –  Thoughts and ramblings written here are completely my own.