REVIEW: Maybelline Volum' Express Mega Plush Waterproof Mascara in Very Black

I picked up the new Mega Plush version of Maybelline's Volum' Express along with Colossal Cat Eyes which I reviewed yesterday. Yet another cute package from Maybelline. I love this color combination. Even the font is cute!

Mega Plush is unique, at least to Maybelline. It's their first ever "gel-mousse" formula mascara and that's supposed to be volumizing without the brittle hairspray affect. Lashes are left soft and "plush". The brush is also supposed to be soft and flexible. From Maybelline's advertisements, it sounds like they are going for the mascara akin to a soft hold hairspray. Something that adds more oomph without stiffness.

As always, I picked the waterproof formula and blackest color I could find. In this case, the color is "Very Black".

The brush for this product is short on the ends and thick in the middle (like a football!). The bristles are fairly thin which makes them more flexible, but dense which helps to catch and coat more lashes. This is great for those who have very fine and/or sparse lashes.

However, I do find it difficult to maneuver the brush around my short lashes. I did accidentally deposit some product on the corner and lid when trying to get towards the roots of my lashes. This is more of a problem for those of us with monolids. On the other hand, the softer and dense bristles do a great job of gently but sufficiently depositing product on my lashes.

The formula applies thin (not in the consistency, but the coat) so I've used 3 coats. It's equivalent to 1-2 coats of Maybelline Falsies Black Drama but it looks much more smooth on the lashes (due to the lack of fibre and the gel-mousse formula I imagine). It has the same sheen as natural lashes - a satin or eggshell, I guess? It's neither glossy nor matte which I like.

It does hold a curl sufficiently but not dramatically. In a full day's use (about 12 hours for me) my lashes are no longer dramatically curled but definitely still there. I would say about 70% curl left.

What I really do not like about this mascara is its Flexor Brush. In the photo you'll see a kink about a third down the brush. That part bends! The idea is that it gently sweeps the mascara on your lashes and helps with that soft plush look.

Unfortunately, it also means less control of the brush. This may be especially noticeable if have thicker, stiffer lashes. You press the mascara on your lashes and it sort of just rests there....there is a similar brush on the L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion which I reviewed a while back (click here to see photos of that brush applicator) and I found that equally difficult to use.

Below is a comparison of Mega Blush against 4 other Volum' Express mascaras - Colossal Cat Eye, Turbo Boost, Falsies Flared, and Falsies Black Drama. Just like the Colossal Cat Eyes from yesterday, the actual tube is the same as other Volum' Express versions, just different in color scheme and of course, the labeling. The brushes do differ in shape and none are similar to Mega Plush.

Not shown above is the original Colossal as it was a work. However, it is the closest brush to Mega Plush. They both have long dense but thin bristles, both have shorter bristles at the front. Both formulas are on the thinner side but buildable. However, the Colossal brush is rigid throughout and the bristles are longer at the end like a fat cone instead of football. Click here for my previous review of Colossal.

Overall, I do like this mascara. It's not a favourite but it's good enough that I will keep using it until it's done. I might use this more when wearing my glasses as my lashes are kept soft (and therefore can bend if they hit my lenses) and for conservative business looks where dramatic lashes will look place with a super natural look.

I do think there are some of you out there who will enjoy this mascara a lot more than me. Namely those of you with eyes that are more deep set and lashes that are longer and easier to hold a curl.

Maybelline Volum' Express Mega Plush Waterproof Mascara in Very Black is available at most drugstores and discount department stores such as Walmart and Target. It retails for $5-10 depending on place of purchase.

REVIEW: Maybelline Volum' Express Colossal Cat Eyes Waterproof Mascara in Glam Black

I am so excited every time Maybelline comes out with a new mascara. Not only is their packaging super cute yet durable and their prices affordable, their mascaras are really really solid. It seems with other brands for every hit there's a miss but with Maybelline I've had way more hits than misses.

Of course, that's in the last few years. I have found that the older releases from the Volum' Express and Great Lash lines (I've lost count of how many they have!) just don't do the trick for me.

I am East Asian with very fine, sparse, and straight lashes that do not like to hold a curl. Because they are so feathery light, any weight (mascara!) will undo my freshly curled lashes. So the only solution are mascaras that will bind the curl in place. Waterproof mascaras seem to hold the curl much better (I guess because they bind to the lashes better?) so you'll see that my reviews are almost exclusively for these versions.

On that note, let's get to the review shall we?

First off, I just adore this packaging. The orange leopard print is a fun feature and makes this mascara such a fun thing to pull out of my makeup bag each morning. I also really like the tube - it's similar to the Covergirl Lash Blast ones. The thick tube allows for a good grip while applying.

The formula is great. Of course, it's a little wet as this is a new tube but it's not so liquid that I cannot blink for a good minute. About 10-15 seconds after I apply, I can bat my lashes without getting mascara on my eyelids. I usually prefer mascara after I've used it for a month when the formula dries out a little. It is a thinner formula than I've become used to since my last few have been fibre-infused but you know what? It works just as well!

In terms of volume, the first coat is average - not too thin, not too thick. However, unless you have very thick lashes, you'll want more than one coat. I use 2 full coats then lightly wiggle a third coat on to add a little more volume while separating a few lashes that have become caught together (due more to the way my lashes grow than the product). I do want to note that this mascara is not clumping and in fact quite good at coating individual lashes.

The thin curved brush is great for getting right down to the roots of my lashes without getting into my contacts. It often happens with longer bristles or thicker centers like on the Lash Blast applicators (I can't see around it so bam! It hits my contacts...). It doesn't create "cat eyes" for me but I can see where the name comes from. For those with longer lashes, I imagine you would use a thicker brush to volumize and these on the corners to define and lift the last few lashes. My lashes are short/sparse enough to use on the entire span.

I applied this mascara at 9AM this morning and it is now midnight. My lashes have not drooped at all which is usually only the case with fibre-infused waterproof mascaras for me. My lashes have grown a little longer these fast few years so these days my main concern is curl and this really delivers just as good as my fave Maybelline Falsies.

There was a slight bit of smudging by early afternoon on my eyelid but light enough I could lightly rub off without affecting my eye makeup. There was no smudging in my undereye area which has occurred with other mascaras, particularly non-waterproof ones.

If you're curious, I've compared it to 3 other Volum' Express mascaras - Turbo Boost, Falsies Flared, and Falsies Black Drama. You can see that the tube is the same, just a different color. However, the brushes differ in shape. The thickness of the bristles are similar in the Cat Eyes and both Falsies. The Turbo Boost is short and thick. The Turbo Boost is also one that absolutely did not work for me, even though waterproof...

Not shown is the original Colossal as it was a work. However, here is a link to that review. I will say that I prefer the Cat Eyes version to the original by far.

Maybelline Volum' Express Colossal Cat Eyes Waterproof Mascara in Glam Black is available at most drugstores and discount department stores such as Walmart and Target. It retails for $5-10 depending on place of purchase.

TOPBOX: September 2012

I'm not going to post about last month's Topbox even though I received one. August was preparing for our roadtrip, going on roadtrip, then recovering from roadtrip so I decided to take a break from the blogosphere. Plus, there's a number of great reviews out there already!

September's Topbox came last week and consisted of 4-5 items, depending on how you count it.

 

The items were:

1) 30ml bottle of Philosophy Purity Facial Cleanser
2) 4ml tube of L'Essense by Balenciaga
3) 5ml pot of M.Asam Perfect Skin Primer 
4) 3g tube of Benefit They're Real Mascara

As with May 2012's Topbox, this box also included a voucher to redeem at Holt Renfrew for a complimentary make up bag. I guess you could call it a fifth item but....I wouldn't.

I didn't redeem last time even though I work down the street from one of Holt's locations. To be honest, I find these vouchers bit of a cop out. Why not just include the makeup bag in the box? Even if it doesn't fit, the same excuse can't be said for May's offer of a nail file. Also, it seems really unfair. I am sure that there are MANY subscribers who don't redeem them because they either don't have time and/or live too far away. Topbox is country-wide yet there are only 10 Holt's locations - 3 of which are in Toronto. Plus, it's while supplies last.

The actual products that came in the box seemed anemic upon reveal. Usually the box is a little more stuffed. But as we all know with cosmetics, size and price don't always add up!

So what's the math?

 The full size Philosophy cleanser is $26 for 240ml (also comes in 90ml for $13), the full sized Balenciaga is $150 for 75ml (also comes in 50ml for $110), the full size M.Asam primer is $42 for 50ml, the full sized Benefit mascara is $29 for 8.5g.

Based on a unit price calculation, the cleanser is worth $3.25, the perfume is worth $8, the primer is worth $4.20, the mascara is worth is worth $10.24. $3.25 + $8 + $4.20 + $10.24 = $25.69

1) 30ml bottle of Philosophy Purity Facial Cleanser
I've heard so much about this cleanser and have heard raves from close friends and bloggers alike but for some reason, I've never even though to ask for a sample at Sephora. So I was really glad to receive this. Plus, travel sized skincare is always useful for trips, especially brief ones with only a tote in tow.

This cleanser has only a slight scent. It's thicker consistency than a gel but thinner than a foam/cream style. Also, there's no grit in this. All in all, a very gentle cleanser although I would still recommend something from La Roche Posay or Cetaphil if you're prone to windburn and eczema breakouts in the cooler weather.

Purity did a pretty good job of removing all face makeup and most of my waterproof mascara. It didn't take it all off but then again, I've yet to come across one that does (I'm not even sure you'd want something that can take off waterproof mascara, though. Think what that's doing to your skin!).

That being said, I wouldn't buy this cleanser again. The price is not bad as some drugstore cleansers are in the teens for 100-150ml and this one is $13 for 120ml (when you buy the larger size). But for me, this one didn't particularly stand out from all the rest. And with so much product in my existing stash, something either has to be absolutely standout, a great deal, or both for me to purchase it.

2) 4ml tube of L'Essense by Balenciaga
 When I first put this on, I thought I was wearing Hermès Kelly Calèche. Which although I have to be in the right mood for, I do actually love. Although L'Essence is a more intense offshoot of Balenciaga's Balenciaga Paris, it has less of a "leather" note than the Hermès. Still, it is a bold fragrance and for those who are more used to say, Marc Jacobs Daisy, this may be just too much. It does smell very French if that's possible. Like something a woman in her 30's-40's who wears crisp white shirts, tailored pants, but beautiful lace lingerie would wear. There's definitely that juxtaposition of feminine and sexy versus strong and masculine. To give you an idea, here are the notes in this scent: vetiver, patchouli, violet, violet leaf, green notes, sandalwood and cedar.

I think this is a very generous tube (about 1/2 the size of most rollerballs tubes) and will last me quite a while. I just wish samples came in spray bottles or mini rollerballs instead of tubes with a stopper though but that's not specific to Topbox or Balenciaga.

3) 5ml pot of M.Asam Perfect Skin Primer 
I've never heard of this brand before but upon some research, it seems to be a TV shopping brand that originates from Germany. It's currently offered on HSN.com (Home Shopping Network) for $30US.

The primer is silky and a translucent white color although it goes on clear. I would say the consistency is very much like Clarin's Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer. The finish is matte and it does minimize pores but I don't think it's worth the price because it's nothing special. I would rather spend less than half the $42CDN price tag on something from the drugstore that works just as well.

4) 3g tube of Benefit They're Real Mascara
Benefit made big hoopla over this mascara when it first came out with Sephora appearances, email blasts, etc. But when I realized it was not waterproof (the only kind that holds a curl for me) nor had fibres (because I'm addicted to this innovation!), I was less excited. I was glad to see this in the box though as I am curious to try it. As expected, this didn't hold a curl for me.

No photos of the brush but it's similar to CoverGirl's Last Blast, which seems to be a holy grail for many. The sample brush seems quite big for the tube; I suspect it might be the same size as the full tube. I hate sample mascaras with teeny tiny brushes that tell you nothing about how the real deal would perform so this was a pleasant surprise. The brush really coats each lash with carbon black mascara, thickening and lengthening dramatically. I like the formul as wel - it's wet but not runny, almost like a gel. I wouldn't be buying a full size since it doesn't hold a curl for me but I will use this tube to apply a second coat over my usual.

All in all, I was pleasantly surprised with this month's Topbox. While the dollars & cents aren't high in this box and the box itself wasn't stuffed full of goodies, what was actually included were all items I would put to use. I hate months when half the samples just go into the junk pile.

Looking forward to next month!

TOPBOX: June 2012

June' s box came with the following items:

1) Full sized Bread & Butter Daily Face Cleanser
2) 2x 4.7ml samples of All Soft Argan-6 Multi-care Oil for Dry/Brittle Hair
3) 3.5ml tube of Stila Forever Your Curl Curl Memory Mascara
4) Sample tube of Pari Beauty Precious Glow Eyeshadow Primer / Intensifier
5) 3x 1.5ml packets of Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream in Light
6) 56ml Simple Eye Makeup Remover

A little card was added to the box indicating that in addition to the 4 deluxe samples, we'd also be getting some drugstore samples. The drugstore samples are the Simple makeup remover and Garnier BB cream - there is no further information regarding them on the product card that comes with each month's package.

There is no retail price listed for the cleanser but to give you an idea, it comes in a kit of 3 products for $35 and as an addition to the kit for $7. The Garnier packets are the type you can remove from magazine pages so I wouldn't really put a price on that. The makeup remover retails $7.97 online at Wal-Mart for 125ml.

Based on a unit price calculation, the hair oil is worth $4.04, the mascara is worth $14.93, the makeup remover $3.57.

I won't do an addition this month as there's not enough information on half the products. However, very approximate unit values put it at around $35 worth.

I'd say you get your money's worth but obviously not as much as last month's box.

**On a sidenote, I've checked out other blogger's June box and there are some similarities but some differences. One thing I noticed in particular was that most of the "different" products other bloggers received were things I received in previous months. I'm not sure how I feel about that - it seems it's less customization and trying out "new" products and instead just....fill the boxes with what we have in our storage and a particular subscriber hasn't received yet. What do you think?





FULL SIZE Bread & Butter Daily Face Cleanser - Full size 90ml in a kit of 3 products for $35 or as an add-on for $7
This was originally marketed as an item for the man in our life. The option was shave gel or cleanser. Since I'm greedy, I decided to get this for myself. This is a very light cleanser with what appears to be rice particles about the size of fine sand grains.

I've never heard of this brand before but a quick search shows that it's Toronto based and has been in a number of pubications like Nylon, Toronto Life, Fashion, Globe & Mail, etc. It's a unique business model. There are 6 products ranging from cleanser to moisturizer to lip balm. You can select a kit of 3 products for $35 or 5 products for $49. You then select the product combination (they give you recommendations depending on your needs) and they send you the items.

The products are marketed as non animal tested, bare bones, back to basics skincare. This cleanser has biodegradable exfolliants (I'm guessing the rice) and is free of fragrance, sodium laureth, parabens, and colors.

I have to admit, I didn't find anything interesting with the product itself. It still had a light rice-y scent but I believe that's natural but it just wasn't "fun". I like there to be some fragrance and/or color in my product although it's probably not good to admit such a thing these days.

I have this in my shower right now and will use it but I wouldn't purchase another one. I can see why people would like this though - natural or near-natural products are increasingly popular these days.

3.5ml Stila Forever Your Curl Curl Memory Mascara - Full size 6.8ml for $29
How is this high-end? This is about as good as the dollar mascaras from ELF and NYC. Which is to say....it's nothing but black paint on the lashes. It doesn't hold a curl, it doesn't volumize, it doesn't lengthen. Back to Maybelline and L'Oreal for me!

Pari Beauty Eyeshadow Primer / Intensifier in Precious Glow - Full size 10ml for $15
There is no size listed for this product but it's the exact same size as the Stila tube which is 3.5ml. I imagine there's a little more in a primer tube than mascara so let's say approx. 4ml in this tube.

This is an interesting product because it's marketed as both an eyeshadow primer and a highlighter. I see the two as completely different things - primer is meant for layering, highlighter goes on top. But I tried it out and it is very sheer so I can understand why it works as a "duo" product.

I didn't like it under eyeshadow but that's not product-specific. I like my primer clear so there's no color/shimmer affecting my eyeshadow. I do like how thing it is. It goes on liquid (slightly oily) but quickly dries and is non-stickly/oily on the lids.

I won't buy this again but I do appreciate getting this tube because it'll be great for traveling!



2x 4.7ml Redken All Soft Argan-6 Multi-care Oil for Dry/Brittle Hair - Full size $34.99 for 90ml
WOOHOO! This is one of my favourite lines. I love the smell of All Soft. I haven't used it for years as there's just been too many other products to try but I do love everything about All Soft so really glad to have received this. There's about 2-3 applications in each tube so I wish it was a resealable bottle (perhaps a small 10ml bottle with a twist or snap-top) that I could travel with. But regardless, it's a great product that I probably won't buy at the price so I'm glad to have some samples to play with.

56ml Simple Eye Makeup Remover - Full size 125ml for $7.97
The simple line is supposed to be gentle but this was a little too gentle - it took off my eyeshadow/eyeliner but barely removed my mascara. Although it looked oil-free in the bottle (no oil/water separation) and I wasn't expecting it to work well. I would say this is a great size for travelling but on trips I tend to use waterproof makeup. I think I'll keep this in my makeup drawer at work *yes, I have one!) as backup.

3 x 1.5ml Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector Daily All-in-one BB Cream in Light - Full size $19.99 for 75ml
I've tried this before and neither Light nor Medium really works for me - it's too pink. But light? I'm NC35-37 and Medium barely works for me. This doesn't seem customized at all. I haven't done swaps in a long time but am starting to build up a collection of samples that won't work for me so perhaps I'll get into that again.

So overall, what do I think of June's box?

This wasn't a very "deluxe" month. As in some previous months, the majority of products here are the type you can get for free very easily from a cosmetics counter. When I think deluxe, I think of products that are essentially travel sized. Big enough to use for a week or two but not enough to be a permanent roster in your makeup drawer - thus the need to purchase the full-sized version.

However, I actually really enjoy this month's box. Every single product was something I am actually interested in and will use.

Can't wait to see what next month's box brings!

REVIEW: Maybelline Illegal Length Waterproof Mascara in Blackest Black

Since moving on from my trusty L'Oreal Voluminous Lash mascara, I've had great luck with fibre-infused formulas and Maybelline mascaras in general.

I was using Maybelline Falsies for a while but started to dislike the clumpiness of the formula, which was one I found to dry very quickly after opening. So I started to use L'Oreal's Voluminous False Lash mascara (read review here) which I really begin to love. If you read that review, it was a positive one but I said I would not buy it again. I started to reconsider that comment because as the formula "aged" and thickened, it seemed to create more volume than before.

Then Maybelline released their Illegal Length mascara and I had to try that out before another tube of Voluminous False Lash was purchased. It seemed to be Maybelline counter part to False Lash. Both had slim architectural-like tubes (the Maybelline version is based off their Lash Stiletto mascara) and use fibre-infused formulas.





I wish I had a comparison with False Lash but it was in my car so here I've pictured it with the Maybelline Falsies and L'Oreal Voluminous Lash (classic) mascaras. As you can see, the brush is thinner and stick straight (like a stiletto!) and the brushes short and further apart.

You'd think it would be easy to tell if a brush works or not by comparison with other brushes - short would grab smaller lashes, thick would help curl and deposit formula, etc. but it definitely is not. A perfect combination of brush and formula has to exist to make luscious lashes happen.

So, would this be the perfect mascara? Would it do what all that False Lash does but provide more volume? Volume, length, curl, and staying power?...







The conclusion? A big fat NOPE!! This mascara has two things going for it - staying power and length. But even that it does not excel in.

The formula is thin and it's hard to imagine there is fibre in there. The first coat is barely there - like the result regular run-of-the-mill mascara gives. After 3 coats, it looks decent but still lacks oomph. I feel like it emphasizes how fine my lashes are. It does last all day without smudging but I suspect it's more due to the thin formula.

It sort of holds a curl. My lashes don't stretch out straight but there is definitely some drooping to my curled lashes. I would say perhaps a 1/4 less curl.

I'd love to say this mascara would work for X, Y, or Z but I can't. I really don't know what type of lashes this mascara would benefit over any other mascara.

So no. Don't buy it.

Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara retails around $9US/$11CDN and is available at drug stores and discount department stores.

TOPBOX: March 2012

This is long overdue but better late than never, right?





The March topbox came in the same packaging as before. Can I just say...the packaging is getting a little boring? I love the tube mailer but they need to make the outside wrapping a little more exciting!

As for the inside, it's always packaged with purple crinkle confetti and tissue paper to keep the products from jostling around. A card describes each product and indicates their full size and price. An extra note was included this time in celebration of their semi-anniversary.





In this month's box:

1) Two duopacks of Redken Color Extend Shampoo & Conditioner - 10ml each
2) Make Up Forever Smoky Lash Mascara in Extra Black - 3ml
3) simple Face Cleansing Cloths - 7 cloths
4) mark. by Avon Gloss Gorgeous Stay On Lip Stain - 1.5g (FULL SIZE)
5) mark. by Avon Nailed It Trend Mini Nail Lacquers - 2 x 2.7ml (FULL SIZE)

The full sized mark. gloss and nail polish set are $12 and $8. Based on a unit price calculation, 7 pieces of cleansing cloth is worth $3.08, 3ml of mascara is worth $10.29, 20ml of shampoo is worth $1, 20ml of conditioner is worth $1.36.

$12+$8+$3.08+$10.29+$1+$1.36=$35.71 Not as good as last time based on this calculation BUT this is actually one of my favourite boxes!

This month wasn't high on the "premium" brands which is a tad disappointing as that's one of the main reasons to offer a beauty box, right? Give subscribers an opportunity to not only try new brands but products that are too pricey for most to purchase without sampling.

However, I'm still a super happy camper because each item in this month's box actually interests me and is something I'll use (save for the MUFE mascara as I already have a sample size of).











FULL SIZE mark. by Avon Gloss Gorgeous Stay On Lip Stain - Full size 1.5g for $12
LOVE this! I'll have to take some time and look into selling this mark. line. A few ladies at work sell Avon but it's never really interested me. Based on this and the nail polish though? I wouldn't mind tooting the horn of products that I will actually use myself. This is a really new interesting product on the market. Yves Saint Lauren's version -Rouge Pur Couture - goes for $34!! It goes on as a gloss and dries down as a stain. The best of both worlds!

The product is dispensed via click pen top, which I like a lot better than the twist style (think Stila and ELF lip glazes) as those often shoot out way too much product. The click seems to dispense less product each time although it takes quite a number of clicks to get product out initially - I thought was empty at first.

Bella Bella is beautiful and such a wearable color. I'm medium-yellow toned but I think it'll be gorgeous on a variety of skintones. I'm definitely interesting in purchasing other colors now.

3ml Make Up Forever Smoky Lash Mascara in Extra Black - Full size 7ml for $24
I didn't test this as I already have a sample but this is a great mascara. It really does create a very soot black thick lashed look. I only ever use waterproof mascara as it holds a curl better but sample sizes only come up every once in a blue moon. For that reason, I personally wouldn't repurchase the full size but I wouldn't be surprised it others do after trying this!





7-piece simple Face Cleansing Cloths - Full size 25-piece for $10.99
I saw these at Walmart recently and had my eye on the cleansing clothes. I'm always up for trying new ones as I use them pretty much every day. They are an absolute godsend for airplane rides, camping, and post motorcycle rides. This one claims to remove waterproof mascara and it does, completely! Granted, it's not as fast or gentle as makeup remover but it's more than I can say for other clothes I've used including Pond's, Garnier, Olay, etc. The cloth is also thicker than most which means it doesn't stretch or rip, nor do you feel like your finger tips are doing the actual cleaning. This is a 100% definite repurchase for me.

FULL SIZE mark. by Avon Nailed It Trend Mini Nail Lacquers - Full size 2 x 2.7ml for $8
I LOVE these! After purchasing a few Essence nail polishes recently, I've really gotten into the smaller sizes. It's hard to finish nail polish when you have so many and I hate traveling with several full sized bottles. These little duos in complimentary colors are perfect for fingers and toes!

I tried the colors on my fingers and they're just beautiful. A stunning metallic violet and a pretty pale lilac. The wear is quite good on these, too. I didn't notice a difference between it and some of my salon-brand polishes.



2 x 2 10ml packs of Redken Color Extend Shampoo & Conditioner - Full size shampoo 300ml for $15, conditioner 250ml for $17
I've used every version of Redken shampoo by now - All Soft, Extreme, Smoothdown, Color Extend, etc. and haven't had an issue with any of them. My favourites are All Soft and Extreme. Color Extend didn't wow me anymore than drugstore versions so I wouldn't buy it at full price. However, I'm really glad to receive these as it's hard to find travel-sized products for color treated hair.

Overall, March was a really good month. In the past few months Topbox's facebook page had received requests to stop sending out lotions and cheap peel-aways samples and start sending out nail polishes and other product types they haven't offered before.

It really sounds like they're making the effort and I'm now excited to see what April brings! I'm keeping my subscription for now.

Did you receive any subscription beauty boxes this month? What did you get? Did you enjoy your surprises?

TOPBOX: February 2012

The February Topbox will be my third month subscribing to them. Unlike my box from last month, February brought two full-sized items. However, I'm still on the fence about continuing my subscription.

First, here's what I received:





1) Full sized C.Booth Anti-aging Handcream
2) Full sized Pari eyeshadow in a "personalized" color
3) 3ml sample tube of YSL Mascara
4) Postcard dab sample of YSL Touche Eclat Concealer
5) 2 3ml sample packets of LillyPilly lotions

A quick calculation shows that the YSL mascara is worth $16, 2 x LillyPilly creme is worth $0.88, full sized Pari eyeshadow is $11, full size C.Booth lotion is $16. I didn't include the YSL Touch Eclat dab sample as that can't be anything other than free...

So $16+$0.88+$11+$16=$43.88. Not bad! I do think it's overinflated as volume based calculation can be deceiving - the size of the YSL mascara and LillyPilly creme samples are the type you can get for free just by asking at a beauty counter or as part of a gift-with-purchase offer.

However, even at $27, you're definitely making your $11.30 (after tax) back...provided you will actually use the products.

Now that we've done the math, let's get on with the overview of February's box, shall we?

Note that I only receives these items Thursday night so this is just based on a couple uses of each



Full sized C.Booth Anti-aging Hand & Nail Treatment - Full Size 120ml for $16
This is a nice hand lotion that's not too greasy but still moisturizing. It doesn't blow me away. It's no holy grail. But I do appreciate the large size because I go through hand lotion like a bulldozer during the winter months.

I care about anti-aging but not so much my hands so honestly, I'm not really interested in this particular product but more so the type of product it is.

I have to say, I would have liked to received something more interesting to sample though. For me, these boxes are a way to try interesting new brands or types of products that would appeal to me but that I've never had the opportunity to try. It's not to receive products that I "need" because that's boring. That's like receiving a pair of functional nude undies from the significant other. Yeah, you need it but let's leave the boring necessities for self purchasing and the lacy racy number as a gift, am I right ladies?



Full sized Pari Eyeshadow in E54 - Full Size 2g for $11
According to their website, Pari does not test on animals. They are dedicated to color and "mineral" makeup. They also "try to use 100% recyclable packaging and the finest quality ingredients available.". Honestly? To me, that sounds like a load of B to the S. What does "try" really mean? Are your products 100% recyclable and using quality ingredients or only 50% or 25% or 1%...

It certainly doesn't sell me on the brand but since mineral makeup isn't a criteria for me, I'm still game to try it out.

In the pan, E54 reminds me of MAC Trax eyeshadow. It looks almost bronze or reddish in the packaging but after swiping, it definitely is a plummy purple with gold shimmer although less pearly/shimmery. It's a beautiful multidimensional color in the pan. Unfortunately, it does not perform anywhere near MAC when applied. The formula, like many mineral eyeshadows I've tried, is chalky. It has bad color payoff when applied to unprimed lids and is difficult to blend. Pari recommends priming the lid first but that doesn't say anything to the product quality itself as primer can pretty much make any horrible eyeshadow show up!

The price is higher than drugstore single pans but the quality is actually worse. This is not a line I'd be interested in based on this eyeshadow and also how they describe their environmental/ethical efforts.

2 sample packets of LillyPilly lotions - Full Size $22 for 150ml
Not a fan. It's not so bad I wouldn't use it in a pinch but this is no better than the other drugstore lotions. It's a light lotion and in a very short amount of time (literally 15 minutes or so!), I need to reapply. I would use something of this consistency in the summer but winter? It's pretty much useless. Last month we received the Tea Tree version and this month it's Kakadu Plum. Honestly, seems like only the scent is different. Will not repurchase the full price version.



Sample tube of YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils Mascara - Fill Size $36 for 6ml
First, the formula was really dry. It was more like a thick cream than a liquid. As I applied, little flakes/chunks attached to my lashes and also fell out of the tube. However, it is very dramatic. It provides a jet black matte coat to each lash, a very thick coat after only a couple swipes. Unfortunaetly, I have fine and somewhat sparse lashes so this just emphasized that. I think this mascara would be great for someone who wants that "kawaii" look with heavy doll like lashes or someone who has dense but fine lashes. It does not hold a curl but neither does it straighten your lashes like some mascara I've tried. However, it does smudge. I worn it to the gym for an hour long run as the sweat from that would be equivalent to a hot summer day. My undereye area was gray from the mascara.

The L'Oreal and Maybelline mascaras I purchase for around $5 on sale are way better than this. Over $40 after tax for a tube of mascara that doesn't perform as well and has to be thrown away in approx. 6 months? No thanks.

Postcard dab sample of YSL Touche Eclat Concealer - Full Size $50 for 3ml
According to Sephora, there's only 0.1z of this product in each tube. Which makes it $50 for just less than 3ml of product. The price itself is utterly ridiculous, IMO, even if the product works. This dab sample saddens me. What is the point of it?! There is too much product for a concealer that should be used very sparingly but you can't reseal it because as soon as the little dab tab is lifted, it's a goner.

Secondly, I received color #2 which would probably work for someone around the NC20-25 range. I'm around the NC35-37 and this made me look like Nicole Kidman in that infamous white undereye powder pic.

Lastly, you can request one of these sample cards pretty much anywhere so it honestly seemed like a filler product to me.

So overall, what do I think of February's box?

As you may recall, last month I received a sample of Benefit's Benetint and it was about 1/2 full. I checked other blogs and it was indeed an error because other photos showed full tubes. I decided not to use it since it seemed to have been opened already.

I posted the error on their facebook and was told I would receive another one in this month's box but I did not receive it.

As for this month's products? I have two pieces of constructive criticism:

1) Variety - I received two lotions in a row. Some people received two full sized lotions in a row. Perhaps if I indicated hand care as a priority, offer a lotion one month and a scrub the next. Both hand-related but different. But two large lotions in a row seems unimaginative and not a good way to really "sample" beauty products.

2) Sufficient amount of product - Dab samples like the ones you can pull out of a magazine have so little product it seems cheap to include them as part of a paid subscription box. It also doesn't provide enough product for the subscriber to really determine if its good enough to repurchase.

Full sized products are always a treat but if including them is taking away from Topbox's ability to provide a great variety of products? I would rather they nix full-sized items than go with cheap "freebie" sized samples.

So the conclusion is...I'm going to stay with Topbox for another month to see if they've improved on their offerings but if March doesn't blow me away, I might try out Glymm, Luxe Box, or the newly arrived GlossyBox instead.

Do you subscribe to Topbox or another one? What did you received? Were you pleased?

REVIEW: L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Waterproof Mascara in Blackest Black

This mascara was on clearance at my local Rexall for $4.00. I wasn't looking for a new mascara but at that price, I had to try out the curious mace-like applicator.

According to L'Oreal, the Telescopic Explosion mascara lengthens, thickens, and separates every lash. The spherical brush reaches 100% of lashes, even tiny corner and lower lashes, from every angle. The formula is smooth and wears all day without clumping, smudging or flaking. It is ophthalmologist and allergy tested, suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

There is a regular Telescopic mascara which has the classic brush-style wand but the "Explosion" version comes with this spiky round applicator. Both are supposed to be lengthening but the idea is that the Explosion is better for those hard to reach lashes.

Telescopic Explosion itself also comes in two versions - regular in a red and black tube and waterproof in a blue and black tube. The waterproof version is currently only available in Blackest Black as seen below.

For mascaras, I always, always, always purchase the waterproof and darkest color available. I find even the best "curling" mascara does not hold a curl on my fine straight lashes unless waterproof.





The formula itself is sealed in a tube with the brand new brush beside it. Some people say this is more hygienic and also ensures the product is "fresh" out of the packaging. I'm not sure that's really true. It just seems like an extra plastic cap thrown into the waste basket. But it does give you the advantage of seeing the actual applicator before purchasing.

I can sometimes tell by looking at the applicator if it will work for my lashes or not so if you're the same, this type of packaging is helpful.



The tube is a little wonky. I'm not sure if I got a lemon but as you can see from the photo above, the brush cap doesn't really align with the tube once screwed on. Not a big deal but you can tell this isn't quality packaging.



Tell me that doesn't look like a mace?!



No wonder guys sometimes think we're crazy. This is like playing Dungeons & Dragons with your face!

At least brand new, it's still in a pretty bright blue color....but after a dip into the mascara tube, this bad boy comes out looking like a mini weapon. I feel like at this point, a mini Cyclops needs to appear and come welding it at my lashes





The applicator takes a little getting used to. The connection between the black and blue parts of the applicator bends slightly. I'm not sure if this was intentional (to allow the "mace" to wisp through your lashes) or not. Instead of assertive strokes of the applicator along your lashes, you sort of have to make little mini strokes. I find it takes a way a little of your control on the applicator and thus, am not a fan.

So how did it hold up to its lengthening, separating, and thickening claims? It really did give me incredibly long lashes even without any fibre in the formula. It also thickening and separated my lashes....but separated by clumping several lashes together! The formula was quite dry and clumped a lot. Because of its lengthening and "separating" qualities, this was made more obvious on my lashes. I could see little clumps of mascara along the length of several lashes.

As for smudge-proof and waterproof? Yes, definitely. I wore this mascara for about 12 hours and it has very minor smudging on the outer half of my lower lash line. It was quite difficult to remove, similar to the Maybelline Falsies waterproof version and it actually came off in flakes and little clumps.

Although not advertised, it is excellent at holding a curl. Again, I find waterproof formulas do this better overall but it's in line with the Falsies. Much better than the classic L'oreal Voluminous and Covergirl Exact lines in their waterproof versions.

Overall, this is a great deal at $4.00 but would I buy it again at any other price? No. The dry clumpy formula detracts from its lengthening and lasting abilities.

The L'oreal Telescopic Explosion mascara is available at drugstores, discount department stores, and Well.ca. It retails for approx. $11-14CDN but can often be found on sale for $8-10CDN.

REVIEWED! Urban Decay Supercurl Curling Mascara in Black

This review will be based on the travel-sized version of this mascara, which is 5.11ml/0.18floz versus the regular-size version which is 9ml/0.3floz. I received the travel sized as the 100-points perk at Sephora a couple weeks ago.

The description on the box says:

"Not since your first spiral perm have you been this excited about something that curls. Our protein-packed Supercurl Curling Mascara boosts, curls, and sculpts your lashes, while conditioning incregients like silky proteins, meadowfoam seed oil, and shea better keep them sleek, smooth, and feathery-soft."

Before we go into the review, I have to apologize for these photos. They were taken around the same type as the photos from the Peach Revlon Colorburst and both turned out with a weird haze. I, however, am too lazy to retake. Temptalia or Karla Sugar, I am NOT!

The packaging of the Supercurl Curling mascara is so pretty. I love the contrast of the matte black swirls on the gunmetal chrome tube. I always have a weakness for Urban Decay's packaging - while brands like YSL and Guerlain are classy and elegant, Urban Decay to me is the younger black-sheep sister who wears stompy combat boots and biker jackets.

The bristles are short and evenly spaced. I find this type of brush makes it easier to apply to the shorter lashes although I personally don't bother with my teensy lower ones.

The bristles are close enough together to deposit mascara onto the lashes without much wiggling, which is a problem I have with some mascaras (looking at you Too Faced LashLight!!). However, I don't find that it's as volumizing as a longer denser brush.

The brush itself curves slightly which is suppose to contour to the eyes and I guess "sculpt" the lashes. It looks and sounds good in theory but I've never found it particularly helpful. I prefer to do my own "sculpting" by hand, moving the wand this way and that until I've evenly applied mascara along the entire span of lashes.

I will not be purchasing this mascara again. First, I only use waterproof mascara as they hold a curl much better than any non-waterproof mascara, even the ones that claim to curl. This mascara does not currently come in a waterproof version. Secondly, I don't find that this curls any better than other non-waterproof mascara formulas I've tried. It also doesn't do anything for me in terms of length or volume.

I think if you already had a good base - long, dense lashes that hold a curl - then you'll love this because the black is VERY black. I compared this against my L'Oreal Voluminous Lash mascara in black and I could see a difference. Once held up against the Urban Decay mascara, Volminous "black" looked more charcoal.

So there you have it. I recommend spending your money on Urban Decay's buttery-smooth long-lasting 24/7 eyeliners instead.

The Urban Decay Supercurl Curling Mascara can be found at Sephora for $20US/$24CDN. Travel size is available on the UrbanDecay.com website for $9US but US shipping only.

REVIEW: L'Oreal Voluminous False Lashes Waterproof Mascara in Blackest Black

It does exist!!! The proof is in the photos below!!! Believe it!! It's not a lie!!

I glimpsed this mascara on a small display at Wal-Mart a while back. I've had great success with the Maybelline Falsies series which uses a fibre formula, so this held promise. We were in a rush so I decided to pick it up later. Well, that became a month long search because it was nowhere to be found! All my usual go-to's for drugstore finds - Shopper's Drug Mart, Rexall, Wal-Mart didn't have this particular mascara!

I told my husband about this mascara and he decided it was just in my imagination. It didn't exist. Seriously, I was starting to believe it myself.

But then I started seeing commercials for Voluminous False Lahes mascara featuring Gwen Stefani and knew this was the one I'd glimpse! Same week a Shoppers's flyer featured the mascara at $6.99

It still took me a couple locations before I found it. All I could think was, this better be good because otherwise, it would be like pining away for some cute guy you got a glimpse at only to realize he's a huge douchebag when you finally meet!







If this mascara seems familiar, it is. It's also called Lash Architect 4D and I believe it goes by that name in Europe and Asia (at least from a quick Google search). Here's a photo of it:


image via Google search

Why did they rename it Voluminous False Lashes mascara here? I wonder if it's because the Voluminous name is more recognizable here? Or is it that we just like our plain speak? Architect is too fancy for these parts, False Lashes says it like it is.







I used to like the Voluminous line before I saw the light. Then came along some of Maybelline's recent releases (Colossal, Falsies, One by One) and they were out the door like old news. I thought Voluminous mascaras gave the most volume, length, and curl powder but they didn't even compare. The promise of a "lash sculpting fibre formula" in this latest version made me eager to give it another try.

I'm not sure why it's a two-tone brush because I don't see any blue peaking through. I think it's also a little misleading because the rendering makes it looks like this mascara has thick spikey rubber bristles (similar to Maybelline One by One, Covergirl Last Blast, or Benefit They're Real brushes). But the bristles on this brush are what I can only describe as a "regular" mascara, just shorter and bound in a different shape.

Here are some comparisons to the Original Voluminous mascara in Black.









You can see that the wand is longer and the brush is thinner/shorter. I really like this for fine lashes and monolid eyes as it allows the brush to deposit product on each lash without the bristles creeping through and stippling your lids.

The Blackest Black is also slightly darker than the Voluminous's "Black".

This mascara applies light coats but adds length due to the fibres. It's more subtle than Maybelline's Falsies Black Drama and does not clump. Unlike the Falsies which starts clumping after a couple coats and can't really go much more than that, you can apply several coats of this and still be okay.

However, just because it layers well does not mean it's buildable. This mascara is for day-time use. It layers, but does not build volume. It's more skinny skyscraper than solid brick house.

The curling power is decent. By the end of a long day, my curl is more subtle, but definitely still there. Staying power is excellent. I guess because of the thinner coats, it's less prone to rubbing or flaking.

What I really like? It adds length and ends in a subtle curl, perfect for everyday use. The formula provides a natural look. It's a clean and easy application due to the short bristles.

What I don't like is the dry and light formula that does not provide much volume. Would I buy this mascara again? No. I would use up this tube and enjoy using it but I know there's better mascaras out there that provide a better combination of volume, curl, length, and staying power.

My lengthy search for this elusive mascara was not a waste though. I will enjoy using it for a light office look and now I can stop searching!