PSA: Don’t buy Benefit’s Roller Lash Mascara

God it makes me so angry when overpriced, overhyped mascara grossly underperforms.

So angry that I’m reviving SoLoverly which has been slumbering happily for over a year now to warn people not to buy this travesty of over-marketing.

Maybe it works for girls with naturally long, curly lashes, but let’s face it, what doesn’t?

Here’s what’s wrong with it:

1. It’s too wet, it takes forever to dry. Sneeze 5 minutes after you’ve applied it and voila you’ve ruined your eye makeup.
2. You definitely DEFINITELY need an eye curler
3. If you don’t scrape it off properly, you’ll have a bad eyelash day. No. Really.
4. It smudges. Smuuudges.
5. It doesn’t lengthen at all or voluminise much.
6. I get better results from ZA and even Maybelline. So WHY am I paying US$24 for this thing?
7. It’s even more expensive outside of the US. Urgh!

This is one Benefit disappointment too many (I'm looking at you Stay Don't Stray). Am tempted to boycott this brand that’s clearly pouring more money into its marketing than it is into product development.

Yes Benefit. You and me. We’re breaking up right here, right now. You've failed to deliver on too many promises. 

Love it! - Sleek MakeUP Lash Out Mascara

I was deadly afraid to try this one. Western mascaras tend to smudge wildly on me and I hate that. 

But Sleek MakeUP had sent this to us ages ago for review and I was feeling guilty. So I gingerly tested this out on a weekend when nothing special was going on and I could wash it off at anytime. 

One coat and... Ooh!

Two coats and I ran out to grab the boyfriend squealing, "Lookee my eye! Lookee my eye!"

After he acknowledged the difference with great patience and suppressed amusement, I grabbed my phone and snapped this:

Cool, aye?

Mascara Wand Fail and Winter Makeup Woes

I was half asleep when I opened up a new tube of mascara yesterday and pulled out the wand.... to find the brush missing. It looks like the brush had got stuck in the tube and broke off when I removed the wand. I had to sit down and laugh for a good 5 minutes before I could dig out another new tube from my stash.

Thank goodness for backups.

Australian readers, is just me or has the cold weather affected your makeup as well? I have been blasting my mascara and concealer with the hairdryer for the past few mornings because they don't apply well otherwise. Forget about warming the concealer using the back of my hands; I have really poor blood circulation and my hands are icy cold all the time.

Review: Silky Girl Hi-Definition Mascara

"Oh, wow," my sister commented during a night out. "Love your lashes. What are you using? DiorShow?"

"Nope. Silky Girl."

"No $hit. Really?!"

Move over, Maybelline. Silky Girl is becoming my new go-to for budget mascaras. While I have never tried Lash Prism (some of my friends recommend it quite highly though), the other Silky Girl offerings are pretty good too. First there was Double Intense and now, Hi-Definition Mascara.

Mixed feelings about Majolica Majorca Lash Enamel Glamour Volume On Mascara

I honestly can't make up my mind about this mascara, while there are many things I dislike about it, the things I DO like about it are pretty damned great.

For example, I hate that it purports to give spiky anime lashes. But I love that the lashes it does give me are so defined I can skip eyeliner and even eyeshadow on days I want to look more natural (*cough*aminatearinghurry*cough*).

Not obvious in the shot but it makes a difference!

Unexpected find: SilkyGirl's Double Intense Waterproof Mascara

Just when  I'd decided that Maybelline's Volum' Express Hypercurl Mascara was my go-to budget everyday mascara along comes SilkyGirl with this little beauty. At a crazy affordable price it's a very decent  mascara with a more than decent wand.

Formula
The formula apes the "tube" mascaras so it won't smudge or run and it is waterproof but it may flake in heat and water. It can however be a little hard to remove without warm water but I find oil-cleansers and makeup removers do a decent job with some patience. It also appears thick and waxy but isn't that prone to clumping. I've also noticed that they included fibers in the mascara so you can build some extra length onto your lashes (not much though).

But what really sells and the reason behind the "double intense" name is The Wand.

I actually prefer bristly wands because I like a more feathery rather than spikey lash but I can't fault this silicone baby's effectiveness. The short end is my favourite as it lets me get into the roots of my lashes without smudging AND it lets me apply mascara on my bottom lashes. Something beauty gurus around me have started advocating. 

The longer side lets me comb through the mascara and build on the ends a little for length and volume. While for true glamour I'd prefer more length and curl, it makes for a very pretty, slightly amped up everyday lash:

Maybelline Unstoppable Curly Extension Mascara

At first, I really didn't like this mascara very much. The thick formula seemed to take forever to dry leading to smudges and on top of it it didn't do much for lashes. You'd sit there, slapping the stuff on and then suddenly BOOM - all your lashes were stuck together. Argh!

But like most Maybelline formulas, this one seems to get better with age as the formula dries down and thickened it only takes a few strokes of the wand to get the required definition. Now a month in to using it daily I'm starting to like the formula. It does give bold black longer lashes - slightly more than my old favourite - but nothing that will knock your socks off. I think that it does indeed help retain curl, but the heavier formula weighs lashes down a bit so it's a give-some-take-some situation. 

Warning: Cargo's Lash Activator is a TERRIBLE Mascara!

It's finally happened. I completely LOATH a Cargo product. I don't know how much this costs(as I got it as part of the 7 in 7 kit), but it's a fair bet it's pricier than Maybelline. At first swipe, I loved this, it immediately emphasised my lashes, but then the trouble started.

Even after the requisite 30 secs everytime I blinked, it SMUDGED. This went on for almost five minutes - ladies that's a lotta blinking.

Then throughout the day there was fallout, even more smudging and even with meticulous blotting, powdering and cleaning up, I ended the day with more under my eyes than on my lashes. URGH!

Cargo, I love you to death, but you've disappointed me.

Review: Maybelline Magnum Volum' Express Waterproof Mascara

So I'm a little late with this one, but hey you know it's thoroughly tested! The quick verdict is, it's not worth shelling out extra cash for (as opposed to the RM20 Maybelline Volume Express Hypercurl), but it's not bad either. For the long version, read on!

Brush
I rather like the flat dense brush. It allows all the feathery lash potential of round fat brushes, while not blinding you completely. Nice one, Maybelline!

Formula
Like most Maybelline mascaras, initial results are bleh because the formula is too watery. But there comes a point, usually about a week or two in with daily use where the formula become purrrfect, just before it gets too thick and starts clumping (it's there now after only 6 weeks!).

At its best this formula gives voume, and length. Slightly, but not much, more than hypercurl in my opinion:

It comes off fairly easily with dual-phase eye makeup remover. But it won't come off well with cleansing oils which brings me to the one point it excells Hypercurl in.

It doesn't smudge. AT ALL. Not on my oily skin, not after running around in the rain and mud during a corporate retreat (but not with my company! Being a journalist really can be odd sometimes). If you're after a bulletproof mascara that doesn't take dismemberment to remove *cough Fasio cough* then this baby is GOLD.

Conclusion
I'll save my RM10 and stick to Hypercurl. RM31.90 may not break the bank, but it only lasts a month and a half, and it just doesn't inspire me to loyalty. I know you girls have used it, what do you think?

PS. I got this mascara as a pressie from a friend, I'm so loyal to Hypercurl I couldn't bring myself to buy it! There may come a day when I have the perfect product for everything and then have nothing left to blog about!

Review: L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara

Will you like this mascara? The key question is do you like your lashes spiky and dramatic? Or fluttery and natural++? I'm with the second camp so this mascara doesn' make it into my must-have list, but once you get past that it's actually pretty decent.

I got a tube to try via the Total Beauty network, it's newly launched in the US and I have absolutely no clue when or if it'll get here.

The key differentiator is of course, the sea-mine man-o-war (maybe that's why they called it "explosion"?) applicator. When I first saw this style of mascara wand on Givenchy Phenomen’Eyes Mascara, I'll was pretty interested. I normally turn my mascara wands almost vertical and use the tip to add oomph to my outer lashes so this wand seemed like a good idea.

Wand
I love how small it is and how easy it makes applying mascara smudge-free. I just wish it was well... furrier. The spikes are actually rather far apart and the mascara formula is thick so lashes tend to bond together into triangle shaped spikes.One coat doesn't cut it, two coats and it's WHOA clumps! A lash comb solves almost all the problems, but wouldn't it be cool not to need it?

Effect

I will say though if you like spiky dramatic lashes you'll looove this. It's not big on curl, but it'll give you visible lashes alright. (There is no point my showing you the before. Just imagine my eyes, with NO lashes visible)

Wear
This is the best part about the mascara. It's waterproof, flake proof, and doesn't leave undereye shadows at all. All day. I wouldn't guarantee it's durability if you rubbed it with your fingers though. And here's the truly wonderful bit. It has all the above AND it's darned easy to remove at the end of the day. A few swipes with a dual-phase mascara remover and you're ready for bed. This is something few companies seem to overlook. We love long-wearing mascara but we don't like having to rub rub rub rub rub it off at the end of a hard day.

Conclusion
This retails in the US for just under US$10. Now, even if this showed up on our sunny (rainy) shores I doubt I'd pick it up as I do prefer my lashes fluttery and curled. But read the review and determine for yourself if it's the mascara for you.

Great for Everyday: Maybelline Volume Express Hypercurl Mascara in Very Black

I've finally found an everyday mascara I'm happy to repurchase over and over. As far as I'm concerned this baby is a HG. Is it outstanding? Nope, but it's precisely what I want out of my daily mascara:
1. It's cheap!
At RM22.90 it won't break the bank, and if I'm going to buy a new tube every 3 months, and still afford to try out new mascaras, cheap is good! (Edit March 2011: It's now RM32.90 and I find myself a LOT less willing to shell out for it)

2. It lasts
No smudging, flaking, or any hanky panky around my eyes.

3. It holds a curl
While not as dramatic as Stage's Standing Ovation, it's not bad at holding a curl all day.

4. It isn't OTT
Even though I suffer from lash envy, I honestly don't want a fake lash look for everyday. This mascara volumnises but keeps lashes looking feathery and non-clumpy (providing you don't over-apply) and lengthens to a lesser degree. This subtle emphasis makes my eyes look pretty but not dramatic.


5. It comes off easily
This is super important to me. After a long hard day I don't want to spend 15 mins struggling to remove my tenacious mascara.

6. I don't hate the brush
I don't love it either, but really look down when applying and you won't smudge your lids. It isn't outstanding but it isn't bad. Good enough for me!

Conclusion
I've found my staple basic mascara that I'm happy to buy over and over. I must add though that there are two shades for this - brown and very black and the only difference is a tiny sticker at the bottom. Brown does nothing for me, so I am annoyed that I've made this mistake. I wish maybelline marked it more carefully. Be careful!

Review: Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara

Okay, fine. I admit to being a hippie green chick at heart. When the Physicians Formula Organic Wear range finally launched in Australia a couple of months back, my little heart skipped a beat for joy.

Unfortunately, the prices are really high and the while the packaging and designs are really cute, the colours wouldn't show up on my skin. The only thing I would consider getting is the pressed powder and that will have to wait until I am done with the rest of my powder foundations.

What I really was lusting after though was the Organic Wear Mascara. I had read some really nice things about it and the cute packaging was irresistible. A leaf handle! How cool is that? I had to get it.

Justifications over, let's get on with the review.

The mascara formula is not waterproof so it was pretty runny when I first opened it and took ages to dry on my eyelashes. Blink too hard and you are left with black smears under your eyes. Thankfully, the formula is less runny after a week or so's use and it dries much faster now.

The Physicians Formula website claims that the mascara has a 5x Lash Boosting effect. Err.. right. It lengthens and holds a curl pretty well but 5x? Nope. I just get very pretty and natural eyelashes with no clumping. I like the effect but I could do with a leetle bit more volume.

The plastic brush is okay but not fantastic at combing out eyelashes. The mascara tends to gather up at the sides of the brush and encourage clumps so wiping lightly on a piece of tissue beforehand prevents this. The comb tips are kind of pointy so be careful. I accidentally knocked my pupil with it and was dancing with pain for a while.

Concealers and eye sunscreens usually cause some amount of smudging with my good ol' Full 'n Soft but I didn't experience that with this mascara. No smudging or flaking even at the end of a hot day. Woo hoo!

The only smudging I got was when my eyes teared up from yawning and cutting onions. Well, the first gave me slight inky marks while the latter left me with a big black smear. Both were quickly remedied with a bit of damp cotton.

One of the drawbacks to this mascara is that it has a bit of an odd smell. I don't know how to describe it but the nearest thing it reminds me of is cow dung, only in a less pungent-I-am-going-to-puke-now way. It definitely makes you do a double-take and while the smell fades off, you still get whiffs of it through the rest of the day to remind you of what you are wearing.

Rest assured, you won't be losing any friends. I got friends to sniff around me (yes, I make my friends do weird things) and they said that they couldn't smell anything.

For a product which is supposed to be earth-friendly, this mascara sure uses a lot of packaging. Check it out. One huge cardboard box and additional plastic holders to package one tube of mascara. What wastage!



Being eco-friendly sadly does not come cheap. This mascara retails for AUD 24.95. Ouchie. I got it on sale for about AUD 21 but it's still pricey for a drugstore mascara.

Loving & Hating: Maybelline Volume Express Cat Eyes Mascara

It gives me defined, longer, separated lashes. But it flakes. It doesn't smudge. But it flakes. The comb is great for lifting and defining just the outer lashes. BUT IT FLAKES.

Yes that's the deal breaker for me! I can't stand having black flecks appear around my eyes all day. As soon as this tube's done I'm never repurchasing. Grrr...


I had high hopes for this mascara when I heard that it lifted and curled the lashes of some girls - without using a curler. I loved the idea of saving an extra step.

No luck for me. In fact I think this mascara uncurled my lashes a touch. -_-

This is forgivable, as is the fact that one stroke too many = clump city. Normally I don't mind some clumps but having your lashes a solid mass is no fun.

Conclusion
At RM33.90, with the unique comb, the really quite nice effect he has on lashes, and the great packaging I would repurchase it. Except... it flakes. >_<

Review: Maybelline Full N' Soft Mascara

You know those products which have a spot on your shelf for so long, you cease to realise it’s there and just automatically reach out for it? Bingo. That’s Maybelline’s Full N’ Soft Mascara for me. It has been a staple in my makeup bag ever since I hit Australia and I love it.

Let’s get the formalities out of the way before I do my gaga thing.

This stuff comes in two colours – Brownish Black and Very Black – and two formulas, waterproof and non-waterproof. The normal retail price is AUD 16.95 but I can usually get it on sale from Kmart for less than AUD 12. If it hasn’t sold out by then, that is. It sells out amazingly fast come sales period.

If you look this up on MUA, the jury is split over the waterproof and non-waterproof versions. Some like one more than the other, some claim that there isn’t a difference, others hate both. Me? I have only used the waterproof version and I lurve it.

True to its name, Full N’ Soft really does leave my lashes looking incredibly full and soft to the touch. Amazing as most waterproof formulas feel a little heavy and stiff on me. All I need is just one coat and tada! Beautifully defined lashes without looking overdone. Another two coats gives me fluttery eyelashes worthy of Bambi without the fuss of falsies.

When you first open this, the formula is pretty watery and liable to clump but happily, the texture improves after a week to reveal pretty, clump-free lashes.

Another wonderful thing I have discovered about this mascara is that it gives me the exact same results as DiorShow Iconic. I applied a coat to each eye and marched over to a friend’s room to ask if he could see the difference and my very befuddled male friend said no. Exact same length, volume (well, Full N’ Soft delivered a wee bit better there) and heck, they even smudged the same way at the same time! (Will get to that soon)

The only cons I can think of with this product is that it can smudge after a month or two’s usage but I guess that’s fine if you are particular about trashing your mascara every 2 months as recommended. The second con is that we can’t get this in Malaysia! *sighs* Can we petition Maybelline Malaysia to bring this in?

Budget beauty: Silky Girl Lash Prism Mascara

When I got a tube of SG Lash Prism in black, I'll admit I regarded it with trepidation. What if it turned me into a racoon? What if it stung my eyes and caused what few lashes I had to fall out? But I finally screwed up the guts to try it and by jingo, I was pleasantly surprised! It lenghtened, defined, and even had fibres in it to bump up the volume and length of my lashes. No stinging, no racoon eyes.

Curious about the price, I went to an SG counter to check it out. It was RM13.90. And it came in blue, brown and purple. Thrilled I snapped up a tube of purple mascara just for fun.

Colours
You really can see that the mascara is purple - but it's not too alarming on my lashes. I'm not entirely sure what I'll do with the purple since I much prefer the definition provided by black (and it is VERY black) but it was fun to indulge my curiosity so affordably.

(L) Purple & (R) Black

Brush
The brush may be the best part of the mascara. As you can see it resembles rimmel's sexy curves mascara in shape. Itks nicely dense and separates lashes well applying the formula evenly without clumps. It's also not too big, which is nice for small chinese eyes. ;)

Formula
As mentioned earlier, it really isn't bad. But of course at this price, it isn't perfect either. The difference it makes isn't dramatic so it's a good everyday mascara. It also feels rather wet and takes awhile to dry.

Although the formula claims to be waterproof I don't really find it so. It can smudge if I tear up from yawning or laughing. Crying would probably result in two black, or purple, rivulets down my face.

Conclusion
If I'm short up for cash, or needed to buy a mascara while on a trip, this is an excellent deal. Also if you're tempted to give coloured mascaras a go, this makes for an affordable experiment. Definitely worth a look!

Monday's Beauty Bit: My lashed-out experience with Lancome Oscillation in the Mobile Lash Lab

When I was a wee lass I'd chase after ice cream trucks. Now I'm grown, and have left childish ways behind me.... I chase mascara trucks. Or to be precise, the Lancome Mobile Lash Lab that contains all the goodies to make my puny lashes flirty and long!

The cheerful black-clad and perspiring (it's rather warm in there) lash-labrats will measure your eyelashes (no I'm not kidding) in length and angle before and after they doctor them. Before being treated with the Lancome Lash Primer and their secret weapon - Lancome Oscillation Mascara (pix), my lashes were at a puny 5mm length and virtually straight at 100º (90º would be dead-on straight when my eyes are open).

So, how did the my lashes respond to the treatment?

I don't need to tell you which side has been 'done' and which side is au-natural do I?


After my lashes were "Oscillated" - it feels truly odd to have your lashes vibrated by the way - they achieved an extra 2mm in length making them 7mm. Plus, without curling and only this wonder-mascara, they headed upwards at a 135º inclination - which means they curled 35º upwards!

So what's stopping me from switching heart, soul and lashes over to this mascara forever and ever? Well, it's RM120 each. That's why. Which makes them very much a special-occasion thing. But if you do have a special occasion or two coming up this is very much worth your moolah as it really does work. Plus the batteries in the wand (which only vibrates when you press a button, genius!) will last you 9 months and the mascara is supposed to last 6 months after you crack it open.

Or better yet, win yourself one! Head over to Connie's blog where she's running a competition with a tube of Lancome Oscillation as the prize!

So how is this a Monday Beauty Bit? Well, I'm gonna tell you where, when and how you can catch the Lash Lab, and what's in it for you:

Promotion
The first 50 customers to visit the Lancome Mobile Lash Lab at each of its locations for a lash diagnosis will receive a sample tube of Lancome’s signature Virtuose mascara as well as an eyebrow trimming voucher worth RM50. Even if you're not in the first 50, there are still offers worth up to RM70 up for grabs.

Locations:
Kuala Lumpur
- 4th May (That's TODAY!): SS15 (near Asia Cafe)
- 5th May (Tues): Jalan Raja Chulan (near Bangunan AmBank)
- 6th May (Wed): Damansara Uptown (near Uptown 5)
- 11th May (Mon): Jalan Sultan Ismail (near Menara KH)
- 12th May (Tues): Jalan Raja Laut (near Bangunan KWSP)
- 13th May (Wed): Puchong Jaya (near HSBC)
- 14th May (Thurs): Bukit Tinggi commercial area, Klang
- 15th May (Fri): Aman Suria
- 16th May (Sat): Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (near Sogo Shopping Center)
- 17th May (Sun): Alamanda Putrajaya Shopping Center, Putrajaya

Johor Bahru
- 1st May (Fri): Jusco Tebrau City (Entrance 2)
- 2nd May (Sat): Plaza Pelangi

Malacca
- 3rd May (Sun): Mahkota Parade

Penang
- 7th May (Thurs): Jalan Northam
- 8th May (Fri): Gurney Plaza
- 9th May (Sat): Queensbay Mall

Ipoh
- 10th May (Sun): Kinta City

Opening Hours:
Weekdays (Mon - Fri): 11am to 3pm
Weekends (Sat & Sun & Shopping Malls): 11am to 6pm

Secret to lush lashes: IMJU Fiberwig Mascara + Any other good mascara!

Yes, yes I know Fiberwig is overhyped and doesn't really work. Which is why I never could bring myself to fork out the RM58 for it until it went on 25% discount. So why am I blarneying on about lush lashes and all that?

Well I came across this video on YouTube y'see, featuring Elaine of Ford Models which is where I got the tip to do this trick. I was going to append it to this post, but it's now "private" and I can't even see it let alone post it. So bear with me.

There are two things you need to know to get lashes like this (below) with this stuff (Told ya I'd share, read on!)

1. It needs company - it doesn't work well alone.
2. How you apply it, matters!




1. It doesn't work well alone
That's right, you can't use this mascara on its own. What it is, is a bunch of fibers suspended in a very light liquid. The liquid does nothing and frankly it doesn't have enough fibers to really go vava voom!

So what you need to do is first apply another decent volumnising mascara to curled lashes ( I used Stage's Standing Ovation in this pic). Btw, Standing Ovation pairs great with this, as Fiberwig does de-curl. Elaine preferred DiorShow - which is frankly beyond my means because alas, I'm not a Ford Model. *sighs*

2. How you apply it matters
Now you have mascara'd your lashes up. Don't slap the Fiberwig on with a horizontal brush. Point it upwards, and use only the tip to flick at the ends of your lashes.

Go on. FlickFlickFlickFlickFlickFlickFlickFlickFlickFlick... et voila! Longer lashes! This method, which Givenchy tried to cash in on with its really odd looking mascara wand, allows the fibers to build on one another on the ends of your lashes. Extending them, and by using the tip of the wand you're not brushing off the fibers you put on. Plus, since you're only doing the ends, you won't be clumping your lashes up.

Go on, dig out that cursed and hated tube of Fiberwig and give it a try.

Note: Sadly as this method is a bit time consuming, and Fiberwig is a b*tch to get off (little fibers everywhere!), it's not for everyday. But once in awhile when you want the drama but are terrified of can't be bothered to use false eyelashes.

Review: Stage Standing Ovation Mascara

After two solid months of daily use, I can only conclude that I truly TRULY love this mascara by Stage! Unlike Syen of the long lashes, I have short stumpy lashes that are usually invisible. This mascara does exactly what it promises, it raises and maintains the curl you've crimped into your lashes, giving you fluttery dolly eyelashes that frame your eyes. It even gained me a compliment from Syen.

Packaging
I love this mascara's minimalist, monochromatic yet pretty packaging. It's sturdy, takes wear and tear well and feels solid. I also love the brush as it's full without being too big for my wee eyes.

Mascara Performance
This mascara doesn't lengthen or volumnise very much, so for va-va-voom lashes you may want to layer a volumnising mascara over this. However for daily use, I find it defines and lengthens very prettily and quickly. Two swipes per eye after curling with my beloved Stage Eyelash Curler and I'm good to go!

I also love how when I pair it up with Imju DejaVu Fiberwig (review to come) for extra lash-length it helps my lashes hold their curl. I find without Standing Ovation, Fiberwig tends to weigh down the lashes and negate their curl.

Although it isn't waterproof, this mascara manages to last all day without smudging or smearing. It is also easily removed with cleanser and water. Bonus!

Conclusion
I really do love this mascara, and while logically I know I have so many more mascaras waiting to be tested (Maybelline's Collosal is up next) I wonder if I can live without it! So unless something else replaces this little beauty in holding a curl, I'll be moseying down to Stage and paying up RM50 for another tube... unless Stage's volumnising and lengthening mascara, Drama Lash (which still haunts my memories) seduces me instead.

Guest Review: Benefit's Mascara Gets Eli Bent out of shape

Yes, I'm afraid I really did just perpetrate that godawful pun. But.. but.. the mascara's called Get Bent Lash.. and Eli hates it... so, how could I resist? Oh ignore me, and read on!

Has anyone flipped through the British Vogue’s December issue? If you haven’t, you should. It’s very thick, very lovely and has a few good articles in there. I would have bought it if it wasn’t for the AUD 20 price tag. Happily, my sister bought a copy so I am hijacking it when I visit her in a few days.

I ended up with the Australian Vogue instead. They are giving away free tubes of Benefit’s “Get Bent” mascara with each copy. Reading material and makeup for AUD 7.95? How is a girl to resist?

On hindsight, I should have resisted.


“Get Bent” is Benefit’s version of a push-up bra for eyelashes: it’s supposed to lengthen, lift and add more oomph to eyelashes. The reason why this mascara is called “Bent” is because the pine cone-shaped brush is bent to allow better application to one’s eyelashes.

I dislike this mascara so much; I am having trouble deciding where to begin.

Angled mascara brushes are supposed to make life easier for those of us with large rounded eyes. The “Get Bent” brush makes life a lot harder. Trying to get an even application is near impossible with the tiny bristles while the combination of a huge brush head with an angle makes the brush difficult to handle. I actually ended up getting mascara on my eyelids – something which has never happened before.

The mascara formula itself does a pretty good job of lengthening eyelashes and of holding a curl for a few hours. I could feel my lashes brushing against my glasses when I slipped my spectacles on. However, any attempt at Bambi eyes with “Get Bent” would be spoilt by excessive smudging and flaking around the eyes within an hour of application. The formula also clumps madly and the long lashes created by this mascara look spidery rather than au natural.

Luckily, “Get Bent” washes right off with some warm water and a bit of cleanser. Halloween passed too long ago for me to trot around looking like a zombie.

Verdict? Stay far away, girls. Unless you like going around looking like a ghost from a horror flick. (Kahani: Or like Cullen? *grins*)

Review: Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara is "Meh"

This really is the absolute last purchase I made in England. Right before hopping onto my flight back to Malaysia I cashed in all my remaining Boots points in Heathrow airport and picked up this mascara (in black) on a whim.

I've finished the tube (it's a bit dry and has started making my eyes itch), and the reason my review has been such a long-time coming is because I can't make up my mind what I think of this stuff!

You see, although it does define, volumnise and lengthen my lashes (good) - it doesn't really do so by much without multiple coats (bad). And with multiple coats it tends to clump (bad), but there is some drama going on (good).

And although it's non-waterproof it doesn't smudge (good) but is insanely hard to wash off, even with a cleansing oil and eyemakeup remover (bad). But somehow still manages to smudge when I'm caught in the rain or crying (bad). It does help the curl last (good), it doesn't last longer than half a day (bad).

So you see, I don't hate it nor do I like it. I used it everyday for 3 months and my opinion of is is "meh". Perhaps I'd hate it more if I'd actually paid £9.99 for it instead of just cashing in my Boots points before sprinting for the plane. Wish I'd gotmore Soap & Glory instead. Ah well...win some, you lose some.

By the by
Petra, sister of our star Guest Reviewer, Eli, says this mascara is evil. Explain more, Pet?