Eyes to mesmerize: Chanel's Inimitable Waterproof Mascara in Noir

Chanel's Inimitable Waterproof Mascara in Noir

You can have friends and they might even come and go. Then there's your best friend, the guy or girl in your life you will forever carry in your pocket. Years might even separate the last time you've seen each other, but you always pick back up like it was yesterday.

So, what does this have to do with mascara? Well, choosing a mascara or two is similar to making friends - complex personalities, differing backgrounds and timing. What brought you together will either make or break that long-lasting foundation or bond.

This bond, I'm sad to say, with Chanel's Inimitable Waterproof Mascara in Noir was never meant to be.

Inimitable Waterproof Mascara is flashy with her wet formula, yet the heaviness of her pull forces the lashes to stick together as opposed to lifting and separating. The qualities I cherished in the non-waterproof version - feather light, flirty lashes complete with a matte finish were nowhere to be found.

Wearing Chanel's Inimitable Waterproof Mascara in Noir

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Chanel's Inimitable Waterproof Mascara in Noir:

• $72.00 AUS / $30.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 3 out of 10 bags — Don't let a waterproof formula be the only factor in your decision making process.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• The elusive Sweet Star will forever be that unicorn in the sky.

New gal on the block: Dusty Girls

Night Fall Natural Mineral Mascara (bottom) and Pacific Ocean Shimmer Natural Shimmering Lip Gloss (top)

Why Dusty Girls you ask? Well this sister brand to Moogoo is emulating the skins' look and feel after spending a day in the country -- slightly dusty, but glowing. While I can't attest to this sort of experience personally having grown up in a fairly Americana suburb myself, I do, however, appreciate their ethos.

This petite makeup collection (eight items in total, with a few colour options) IMHO, targets three specific groups:

1. A young demographic, e.g., tweens and late teens
2. Makeup newbies 
3. Low maintenance gals on the go

Imagine Britney Spears' "I'm not a girl, not yet a woman" country bumpkin charm prior to breaking up with Mr. JT.

The packaging

The packaging is sweet and easy to bust into if you're impatient like me; colour coordinated boxes, complete with application tips, house these goodies. As for the tubes, they are rubberised (similar to NARS) in order to assist maintaining a proper hold during application (klutz-free, for the win).

Application tips

Night Fall Natural Mineral Mascara

Night Fall Natural Mineral Mascara - Ahh, pitch black, clump-free lashes -- it's a mascara that lengthens and plumps, it's practically a dream. Then the nightmare rudely interrupts, prepare yourselves for panda eyes! Dun-dun-dun!!

Over the past several weeks I've worn Night Fall Natural Mineral Mascara out and about with Scott and during the day to work. For short stints this mascara is perfect, but after hour five or so you've reached panda bear territory.

Wearing Night Fall Natural Mineral Mascara

From another view

Pacific Ocean Shimmer Natural Shimmering Lip Gloss

Opalescent shimmer

Swatch of Pacific Ocean Shimmer Natural Shimmering Lip Gloss

Pacific Ocean Shimmer Natural Shimmering Lip Gloss - An easy-peasy gloss which leaves your lips looking like the crests on the waves of an ocean (hey, Hawaii). It's non-sticky, almost colourless, moisturising and lasts around three hours tops.

My lips, but better

Dusty Girls does not test on animals.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Dusty Girls' Night Fall Natural Mineral Mascara and Pacific Ocean Shimmer Natural Shimmering Lip Gloss:

• $18.50 AUS (mascara) and $14.50 AUS (lip gloss)

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• Mascara: 5 out of 10 bags — These eyes are crying
• Lip Gloss: 8 out of 10 bags — Grab and go

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• Wish I could test their products out in store as this range is exclusively sold online ATM.

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

Eyes to mesmerize: Clinique's Lash Power Mascara

Clinique's Lash Power Mascara

My lashes might not be as beautiful as my husband's or even my brother Richard's. While we're on the topic, why do guys get long, luscious lashes? Enquiring minds want to know.

Alas.

When it's time to go shopping for a mascara, here's what I look for: 

• Won't break the bank
• Panda bear-free
• Removes easily
• Lasts the day
• Finally, gives me length

The formula I can always count on to accomplish all these things is tubing mascara. Kevyn Aucoin's The Mascara Volume sucked me in with its petite wand and lash hugging ways. Tubing mascara is hands down the jam to my peanut butter. Now that I know what I like, I'm on the hunt to find the best performing tubing mascara out there.

Clinique, good start with your pretty little wand

Clinique's Lash Power Mascara in Black Onyx ticks almost all my boxes. The Aussie price tag is a major drawback, if mascara only lasted longer and didn't have the potential to give you pink eye. Second, it sometimes clumps my lashes together which creates more work for me after application -- I just want to swipe and go. The trick to avoid clumping is to remove excess product from the bristles prior to applying.

It's also worth mentioning that Lash Power Mascara loves to be layered...

One coat for daytime

Two coats for evening

Top and bottom lashes fully covered for that extra edge

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Clinique's Lash Power Mascara:

• $38.00 AUS / $16.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 7 out of 10 bags — With a little patience Lash Power will give you flirty, playful lashes.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• Lash Power Mascara now has a sister!