REVIEW: Love Alpha mascara and eyeliner.

Recently, I was recommended a mascara by one of my lovely readers (Thank you, Alice!), and just had to try it out! When I was shopping for the mascara, I also picked up their gel eyeliner at the same time, and I tried them both out, with amazing results!

One eye done, one eye natural.

Love Alpha fibre coat mascara is a two-part system, with a transplanting gel (which is black, and could be used alone), and natural fibres, which brush on over the top and stick to the gel.
The one thing I will say about the fibres, is that you should definitely apply another coat of mascara or transplanting gel over the top to seal the fibres, as they can cause quite a messy fallout if you leave them unsealed.

The thick eyeliner is awesome, it's a gel, which is very creamy and goes on like a dream. It even comes with its own fold away brush.

For a more in depth review, watch the video below. Don't forget to rate and subscribe for more beauty secrets!

Review: Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara

It's rare that I get really excited about a mascara, because I've tried so many of them, and they basically all do the same (ish) thing.

When I discovered this new one from Rimmel London, it was on sale and came with a free waterproof eyeliner, and I'm not going to lie, that was the large part of the appeal for me.

But then I did some research, and I tried it out, and oh boy, this is really a great product to get excited about!

Not only does it have the latest trend of fibres in the formula to lengthen and thicken lashes, it also helps you grow your own natural lashes with a growth formula built into it!

In just over a week of casual use (3 or 4 wears), I have noticed a difference in the look of my natural lashes when I have no product on them, and when I am wearing it, it's a fantastic lifting, separating, lengthening and volumising mascara. I love it!

I got this on sale at Chemist Warehouse for about 8 bucks (with a free eyeliner), but you can find this little beauty at Priceline, Kmart, Target, Big W, Coles supermarkets & selected pharmacies nationally.
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Review; Lancome Hypnose Star mascara

In the February Lust Have It box, I received a cute little sample of Lancome Hypnose Star mascara.I am quite the mascara connoisseur, so I was excited to try out a high end product like this and see if it lived up to the hype.

It totally does. In a few different ways!

First of all, it's a glossy, blacker-than-black colour. Just one coat of this makes my lashes pop and my eyes are defined absolutely.


Then there's the added benefit of not needing to tightline. I hate tightlining! It's uncomfortable, awkward, and risky, and the effect is not worth the hassle, to be honest. However, if you can get the same effect with no extra effort, it does make enough of a difference to bother with it.

The shape of the brush is what lets you get right in under the lashes to the upper waterline, and it coats the skin there right on the lashline as you pull the mascara through your lashes.

It lengthens and separates the lashes beautifully, and if you want a bit of extra volume like i do, you can always use a lash primer or fibre coat first, then apply this over the top. In my pictures, I've used a maybelline XXL pro lash primer (from the 2 step mascara that I usually use), then just one coat of the Lancome product over the top.

Now, in terms of where to get it and how much "high end" costs, it varies unbelievably between Australia and the USA. Here in Australia, you need to get it from the Lancome counter at Myer store, and it's going to set you back $52.

If you're in the USA, you're lucky, because at Sephora, you can pick this baby up for $28! I'm going to make do with my sample for the next few months and pick up a couple of full sized ones when I go to Texas in August.

Definitely a product to try out if you have the urge to splurge on a nice product. If you can find a sample somewhere, even better! I don't like to spend huge dollars on mascara, because technically we're supposed to ditch them every 3 months. It makes me wish that they came in smaller and more affordable product sizes. the sample that I got in my LHI box is just about a perfect 3 month supply for me, wearing makeup 4-5 times per week.

Check it out, though, it's a fantastic product!

Monday How-to: Choosing the right mascara for you.

There are so many different kinds of mascara out there. Definining, Curling, Plumping, Extending, the list goes on and on. So how do you choose which kind of mascara is best for you? Basically, it's all to do with personal preference, rather than face shape, colouring or eye shape, so I'm going to show you some of my favourite mascaras that have a home in my makeup kit, and come out to play dependent on my mood or the occasion.

First, a really great everyday mascara. Australis Lash TLC curling mascara is a really great one to use if you're out and about during the day, just hanging out. The effect is quite nice, it lifts and defines the lash, curling it gently and of course tinting it (mine is black). The other great thing about Lash TLC is that it contains conditioners to look after your lashes while you're wearing it, which is another reason I like it as a day-to day mascara. You may recognize this product from the September bellabox blog post. I love it when a sample becomes a staple.

Innoxa Ultimate Lash mascara is going to be my awesome beach mascara this summer. It's water-resistant (so a splash of water won't make it run, but it cleans off easily when you wash your face), lash curling and plumping, and you can build it up for a more dramatic look with two or more coats, so it easily becomes a beach-to-dinner-date product with a simple extra application. This product was provided for review by the lovely people at Innoxa. My opinions, of course, are always my own.

 Then we have Natio Lash Definition mascara, which really lives up to its name. It separates my lashes perfectly, adding a lovely black tint, while lengthening my lashes just enough for daytime, worktime, anytime wear. This product was provided for review by the lovely people at Natio. My opinions, of course, are always my own.

Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express is a product that has had a home in my makeup kit for a really long time. I always find that when I run out or it starts to get old, I really want to replace it and always have it in my case. It gives the fattest lashes ever, which is awesome for night time going out wear. It also makes a really good foundation for false lashes, creating a really dense look underneath them.

Last of all, we have my very favourite ever mascara. Another one from Maybelline, it's a two-step formula called XXL Extensions. First the primer goes on to create a longer, fatter lash, then once you give that a minute to dry, you go in with the black tope coat and finish the look. Twice in my life I've been asked by heterosexual men if my eyelashes were real or "fake", and both times I was wearing this mascara. It's a winner for any special occasion.

Pro-tip for mascara: Your lashes are cylindrical, so make sure you swoop in from above the lash as well as underneath to ensure maximum coverage and effect.

How to: avoid a makeup faux-pas

There are a few little tricks up my sleeve when it comes to keeping makeup fresh and natural-looking, and many, many times I've noticed women with the classic makeup faux-pas. We all know the "different coloured face" one, which can be overcome by choosing foundation based on the colour of the skin in your jawline/neck, rather than on the back of your hand/inside of your arm/forehead/nose, etc. Blend, blend, blend away the "line" where your foundation ends, and use a good powder to set your makeup that you can brush down over your neck and chest to keep the colour continuity. But there are some other makeup tips and tricks to help us overcome a little makeup disaster or make the most out of our makeup looks;

The first one is this little area right here: the nostrils. Often, we put on our face and forget that the skin around our nostrils curves inwards, and we need to get some foundation on that inward curve to avoid a "flaring nostril line", or a band of skin directly around the nostril which is a different colour. This is another very good reason to always use clean sponges, because you're going to have to edge your sponge just inside the nostril to get a good coverage.

Then there's the bleeding lips. Usually this will happen if you haven't used a lip liner, or if you're using bright glosses very close to the edge of the lip line. I've come across women in the past that just shouldn't wear lipgloss. It ends up all over their face. If you're one of those girls, take heed: lipliner, lipliner, lipliner and lipstick. A little bit of gloss goes a long way, so let's not slather it on like we don't care how fast it runs out. It's not a good look, your hair and makeup flawless, but your lippie looking like it's trying to escape up your nose. So, the key to avoiding this is not just lipliner, though that is important. You need to also make sure that when you apply your foundation, you also cover your entire lips. Then apply lip liner, and you're set to get your lipstick or gloss on there without a disaster.

Here's a little something that a lot of people don't even think about. When we apply mascara, we generally go in from underneath and coat the underside of the lash, but you can achieve a much fuller look by remembering that lashes are cylindrical, and a good coat from above is important to get the whole lash working for you. I often get comments about my lashes (twice now from heterosexual manly-men without makeup knowledge!), asking me where I got them, because people assume they are false lashes. Then when I explain that they are my real ones, I'm often asked how I get them looking so full....and now you all know my secret!


So, there you have it. Some of my tips and tricks for avoiding a makeup faux-pas and for making the most of your makeup looks. If you guys want to ask questions or request a tutorial, let me know and I'll get to work on that for you!