The Swatch Files: 17 Solo Eyeshadows

Pigmented, smooth and to top it all off..they don't cost the earth.

The swatches for Mardi Gras and Walnut Pearl look like I've overdone the flash but this is how they came out when I took them by a window with no flash.

Superstar and Socialite are glitter eyeshadows but I'm pleased to say that the glitter isn't chunky and itchy, it's apparent but not too in your face.

I find that Walnut Pearl makes a great everyday eyeshadow for those with a darker skintone.

They're currently on 3 for 2 at Boots.

Review: Collection 2000 Big Fake False Lash Effect Mascara

I bought this mascara totally on a whim the other week from Boots, mainly because you got a free eyeliner with it and I'd heard great things about the eyeliner.   

The mascara cost more than the eyeliner did and to a sensible mind, buying the eyeliner alone if that's what you really wanted would make more sense but I'm not a sensible person.

Plus, I quite like the packaging, it looks like a hybrid of Maybelline's Colossal and Stiletto.

The brush is MASSIVE, not chunky wise like my Prestige brush but length wise, it's pretty big (ooh err).  The mascara consistency itself seems ok, not too thick nor too thin.  Pigmentation is ok.  I know the review seems a bit wishy washy at the moment but that's all I observed of it.

I bought Ultra Black because brown doesn't do much for my lashes as they're black anyway.

What do Collection 2000 say?

"New Collection 2000 Big Fake False Lash Effect Mascara provides sensational lashes that really stand out from the crowd. The unique 3D lash coating tube technology will plump and stretch each individual lash without clumping or smudging. New Big Fake False Lash Effect Mascara also introduces the biggest brush yet from Collection 2000, and with new slim line, sleek and sexy packaging, it’s perfect to pop in your purse for a stylish pick up for your peepers! New Collection 2000 Big Fake False Lash Effect Mascara is set to re-create the false lash look with the mere wave of a wand. Achieve phenomenal length and volume!"

What do I say?

Firstly, brace yourselves..this review bit comes with an extra order of rambling.

I've used it a few times since I bought it and my opinion kept changing until I settled on one view. The first time I used it, it just lengthened them and that was all.  No false lash effect at all.  

I used it again and coated my lashes about 4 times.  I applied each coat whilst the one before was still wet so it was easy to mesh them all together as one.  I think that the consistency of the mascara itself is pretty good in this respect, it doesn't dry so quickly that you can't build up your lashes.

I wasn't impressed seeing as I could get this result from one coat with my Maybelline Colossal and application was quite fiddly with this to get it up a nice standard.  Not false lashes by any stretch of the imagination, just lashes which had mascara on them and looked a bit enhanced.

I went back a few hours later and my lashes looked totally different, they're longer, thicker and look pretty good..I'm finally impressed.

Then I went back again and the mascara had flaked pretty badly which is not what you want on your under eye area as it's pretty hard to remove without giving yourself premature wrinkles.

It's a shame that you have to figure out a way to use it properly before getting any results. I don't think many people would carry on with it after 2 coats but 4 seems to be the magic number here.  5 gave me really heavy lashes.

Repurchase?

Nope.  If you're looking for a false lash effect mascara and don't mind coating your lashes up then get it.  If you want an everyday mascara that doesn't clump and stays on for ages then you should also get it.  If you want no fuss fake looking lashes then there are other mascaras which will do the job better.

Excuse me, where the hell have you been?!

Remember last year when you went out shopping and picked up a right peach of an item? I do.

Remember when you came back home, swatched it, wore it about and realised that this new item was your new best mate? I do.

Remember when you vowed that this would be your signature eyeshadow/eyeliner/lipstick/lipgloss/foundation/blusher? I do.

Remember when you put it in drawer after putting your makeup on? I do.

Remember the next morning when you decided to switch it up a bit and use something different? I do.

Remember when you vowed to wear it the next day? I do.

Remember the days and weeks which followed where you totally forgot about your new best mate? I do.

Remember last week when you were rooting around your makeup stash trying to find something and came across your (neglected) new best mate? I do.

How does this happen?! I swear it's happened to me more times than I care to remember.  Remember that post I had before about items I was going to use more of this year? Well, these were the items I remembered at the time..turns out I had more which I had totally forgotten about, despite being in love with them when I bought them.  It's happened to me with a L'oreal Star Secrets Palette, Maybelline's Lash Stiletto (which I'm chucking out because it make my eyes itch after a few hours), my No7 glosses and countless other items.

However, I was quite shocked when I found these two lurking in my makeup drawers as I LOVED them when I first had them and then I totally forgot about them so from now on I'm going to make an effort to use them until they finish!

I seriously can't believe I totally forgot about Dune, I even reviewed it! Yinka recommended it as the perfect nude for women of colour (WOC's) and I trust her when it comes to those kind of statements so I snapped it up from ebay.  I got the 17 one from Boots in Terminal 5 when my mum went on holiday and I started to cry.  I'm such a dick, 25 years old and cries when her mum leaves for 2 weeks, despite the fact that I've gone months without seeing her when I was at uni.

Do you guys do the same with products? I think this might be something that only I do.

Review update

I was putting my face on today and realised that my current mascara (which is now no longer HG) wasn't really doing anything for me.  I remembered how thick my lashes were when I used my L'oreal mascara..I also remember that I said I wouldn't buy it because it made my lashes feel hard and that it smelt..so why was I reaching for it this morning?

So, with this in mind I decided to do a review of my reviews.  It' worked out pretty well because I have been using these items and my mind has changed about some as time went on..I think this kind of thing is useful for those of you, who, like me, take ages deciding whether or not to buy something and also equally useful for those who don't want to trawl through all my posts to find out about certain items.

By the way, if you click on the link it will take you to my original review.

Sleek palettes

• Still in love with these, falling more and more in love with them as the days pass.  I don't think theres an occasion where you CAN'T use them.

Benefit Badgal mascara

• Still not loving this, have tried it a few more times since the review but it has done nothing at all for me.

Maybelline Lash Stiletto mascara

• Have been teaming this up with the Maybelline Colossal and also using it alone.  I'd still buy it again as it makes my lashes longer.  No patent shine though.

Prestige My Biggest Lashes mascara

• Used this time and time again when I needed knockout lashes and it still works.  I have to remind myself that 2 coats is the magic key.  I'd still buy it again.

 Clearasil Pore Cleansing Pads and Boots Time Delay Balm

• I finished one tub of the cleansing pads and am half way through another.  I won't be buying these again, not because they don't work but because I've found something much better and also that the smell of these is VERY strong.  They're excellent if you have really oily skin and are prone to spots.
• I haven't finished a tub of the Boots balm as I have been using other cleansers but I have three backups which I will get through in time.  If I didn't have them, I'd buy it again.

Urban Decay eye shadows

• I loved these then and I still love them now.  The Illegal shade has been getting some serious love from me recently.  It's nice and matte and is my "my eyes but better" go to shade.  I'm going to incease my collection of these.

Biore Warming Blackhead Fighting Cream Wash

•  This was my lover back then and it still is now.  It's the only face scrub/wash that I've used consistently for more than a week.  I have half left and will buy it again.  The only issue I had with it was the fact that it gave me tiny whiteheads all around my nose..maybe because I used it despite having no blackheads? Anyway, if you do like me and do this, do not fear because I've found a cure..the things I do for you guys!

 MAC paint pot in Indianwood

• I wasn't too happy with how this looked in pics before but assured you guys it looked good IRL..which it did.  I tried it on many times since with varying amounts of UDPP and it just won't stick to my lids.  The colour is gorgeous but I just wish it would stay put! I won't be buying another one of these when the tub is finished.

Boots 17 Bronzed and Gorgeous palette

• Probably my all time fave freebie.  My current HG shadow has well and truly hit pan and I've been using my 17 palette for a while now and I'm loving the goldeny shade in it.  If they brought this out as perm, I'd buy it...or I'd buy £5 worth of products to get it free.

Boots No7 Eyeshadow Colour and Contour brush

• My thoughts on this brush are still exactly the same.  It's the shizz.  It's fluffy (but not too fluffy), it helps you blend like a pro and because the hairs are white, you can tell how much product you've picked up.  I'm buying it again when this one fails me.
  

Anatomicals Help the Paw hand cream and Badger Balm

• Nearly finished one "packet" of handcream and the Balm has well and truly finished.  Glad I bought backups of the hand cream, the sweet smell hasn't put me off yet!  I'd buy the Balm again too.

L'oreal Telescopic Explosion mascara

• I said I wouldn't buy it and honestly, I don't think I would.  It smells funny (this coming from a girl who has both the Colossal and Stiletto) and it made my lashes really really hard.  I wouldn't call it HG as I have Prestige for that so my opinion stays the same.
  

Broken brushes and random beauty finds

This post was originally going to be about my brush collection (which consists of 5 brushes at a push, of which I use 3 the most) but the brush I was going to focus my attention on broke last night whilst I was watching Blackadder. I might do a brush review tomorrow as I'm home alone all day.

My first ever "professional" brush for applying makeup was the Ruby and Millie eyeshadow brush (medium) which I got from Boots about four years ago now. It was free with the £5 off voucher and it has lasted me until a few months ago. It started fraying and the experts at Specktra told me to deep condition it, which I did. That prolonged its life for a while. I was using it yesterday and realised it had frayed again so I decided to just condition it again. Cleaned it up and was putting it away when the top fell off.

This is what my brush looked like before:


The tip:


After the damage had been done:

I never let any water get in there so maybe the glue just dried up or something? If the top hadn't frayed as much as it had I would keep it as a travel brush. I think I might try to deep condition it again and then see if it softens a bit.

Next onto the random beauty finds..I LOVE the 17 brand they have in Boots, they have pretty cheap makeup which is fairly decent for the price. If they did powders and foundations in my shade I'd buy them. Sadly, they don't. They always have offers on for freebie if you spend £5. Me and my mum went to Boots yesterday to get her some credit and she needed some powder and 17 is her HG brand for powder. She picked up two and I got this beautiful thing:

It reminds me of a Chanel blush, the case had faux pearls on it and this reminds me of that.

Inside is this array of gorgeousness:
(Finally managed to take a straight on pic with no flash/face in the mirror!)

Close up:
The "stick on the left is the usual shadow applicator, the two colours on the left hand side at the top are the shadows, the colour in the bottom left hand corner is the lipstick and by process of elimination, the bronzer is at the top right hand side. The application brush looks nice, will just have to learn how to use it!

Ingredients:

I haven't swatched the colours yet but the photo is pretty accurate as to how they look IRL so hopefully the colour payoff is good. I have one of the pots of dazzle in Midas Touch (discontinued now, booo ) and that has great colour payoff so I hope this is just as good.

Back to the brush quandry, which brush should I move onto? I do have a spare Ruby and Millie one which is unused but I think I may buy the MAC dupe from No7 as I have a voucher again. What do you guys think is a good basic eyeshadow brush? Should I take the plunge and buy the MAC 213, is that the basic MAC eyeshadow brush? I know there are lots but I'd just like one which covers and blends nicely.