Girls of One Direction

Make Up Review: High End Mascara ♡

Disclaimer: All the mascaras featured in this post are part of Sephora Favorites Lashtash kit. Not all of them are available here in Manila, I'm afraid. But you can purchase them online through Sephora or Ulta. :)

1. STILA Forever Your Curl

Product: 7/10

Texture: 9/10

Longevity: 6/10

Application: 10/10

Packaging: 4/5

OVERALL: It's more of a lengthening mascara than it is volumizing. It's not waterproof, and did not last me the whole day. At around 2 in the afternoon, I could it see it running a bit already. 

RECOMMEND: No.

2. URBAN DECAY Supercurl Curling

Product: 9/10

Texture: 8/10

Longevity: ?

Application: 10/10

Packaging: 5/5

OVERALL: I loved the brush of this product! It cradles my lashes with the curved brush and helps apply mascara even to the lashes near my eye's inner corner which is really hard to reach. The consistency of the mascara itself was just okay, nothing spectacular -- but it was volumizing.

RECOMMEND: Yes.

3. TOO FACED Lashgasm

Product: 8/10

Texture: 9/10

Longevity: ?

Application: 7/10

Packaging: 4/5

OVERALL: It's a mediocre mascara. It does the job of adding depth to your lashes but it doesn't do a spectacular one. It has an odd scent, almost alcohol like, and the application wasn't too smooth. The packaging looks pretty fancy though.

RECOMMEND: No.

4. MAKE UP FOR EVER Smoky Lash

Product: 4/10

Texture: 5/10

Longevity: ?

Application: 5/10

Packaging: 3/5

OVERALL: This product is the shittiest piece of mascara I've ever tried on. SUCH A WASTE OF TIME. When I opened the bottle I don't know if it was Sephora or Make Up For Ever's fault, but the product was dry already! The brush looks like a toilet cleaner, and the product was so chunky on the top I don't know how the company imagined putting this on clients! So disappointing for a company like Make Up For Ever.

RECOMMEND: NO.

5. BARE MINERALS Flawless Definition Volumizing

Product: 8/10

Texture: 8/10

Longevity: ?

Application: 9/10

Packaging: 4/5

OVERALL: Oddly enough, this product had a pretty interesting effect on my lashes. It made them "boom", like I grew little lashes all over. It is volumizing, but in a different way I can't explain. It volumizes your lashes in a "natural" way as if you weren't wearing any mascara.

RECOMMEND: Depends on what your preference is.

6. HOURGLASS Film Noir Full Spectrum

Product: 8/10

Texture: 7/10

Longevity: ?

Application: 9/10

Packaging: 3/5

OVERALL: Nothing special about this product. It gives your lashes a little coverage, very natural, and probably just for a day look. The packaging wasn't too special, actually it was too simple. It's got a pretty decent brush which is good for a lengthening mascara.

RECOMMEND: No.

7. JOSIE MARAN GOGO Instant Natural Volume Argan

Product: 8/10

Texture: 8/10

Longevity: ?

Application: 7/10

Packaging: 5/5

OVERALL: The packaging is so cute!! That's it. Haha! The brush is awful, and doesn't do anything to volumize your lashes. I like the product though, it has a creamy consistency. I wish it came with a different brush instead!

RECOMMEND: Depends on your preference.

8. TARTE Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart

Product: 7/10

Texture: 7/10

Longevity: ?

Application: 8/10

Packaging: 5/5

OVERALL: The product itself isn't too creamy -- it's more liquid-y? Haha. It's okay as a lengthening mascara for me. Nothing special really.

RECOMMEND: No.

9. SEPHORA Full Size Advanced Lash Booster

Product: 8/10

Texture: 8/10

Longevity: 8/10

Application: 9/10

Packaging: 3/5

OVERALL: Despite this mascara not having much coverage (not really lengthening/volumizing), it feels good on the lashes and lasts for a pretty long time. It's very natural looking but makes your lashes noticeable.

RECOMMEND: Depends on your preference.

10. FAIRYDROPS Scandal Queen

Product: 10/10

Texture: 10/10

Longevity: ?

Application: 10/10

Packaging: 5/5

OVERALL: I absolutely loved this product!! The wand is so cute! It's something I've never seen before (and mind you, I've tried on a hell of a lot of mascara products). The consistency is perfectly creamy, great for volumizing, and the application is just so smooth! I wish we had Fairydrops in Manila! I'll definitely be restocking this when I get back to LA.

RECOMMEND: Yes.

Tweet me @poCARLIEsweat for questions and suggestions! Thank you. :)

Make Up Review: ELF Products ♡

First of all, happy independence day, my fellow Filipinos! :) Since today's a holiday, meaning no classes & work, I got to drag my mom to the mall for some shopping! Decided to haul cosmetics since there aren't really new/radical fashion trends I've been into lately (and honestly I'm over the whole chiffon&print combinations). I was so happy to see ELF restock some of their stuff, and even throw in some new products! For those of you who aren't familiar with the brand ELF (Eyes Lips Face) or are scared to use it because it's way too cheap, this blog post might actually help you guys. 

(L-R) ELF Stiple Brush, Party Purple Eyeshadow Quad, Sea Escape Eyeshadow Quad, and Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder

NARS ORGASM DUPES

SPLURGE: MAC Peachykeen

SAVE: ELF's Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder

ELF's Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder has received so many raves because of how comparable it is to Nars' blush and bronze duo. Some even prefer ELF's over NARS because of the matte bronzer. It's highly pigmented and fits most skin shades -- remember not too put too much of the bronzer product on your brush because when you apply it it'll look to heavy (I learned the hard way!). The ELF product is only P 250.00 :) Such a steal!! I also put the NARS Albatross in the mix because it's an AMAZING highlighter (even better than Benefit's High Beam) haha :) I don't know of any drugstore/affordable highlighters, but will let you guys know. If P 800.00 is pretty affordable to some of you I suggest you get The Balm Cosmetics' Mary Lou Manizer. 

These ELF eyeshadow quads are my best drugstore purchase EVER. For only 199.00 each, you get 4 beautiful AND highly pigmented shades. I really prefer palettes/trios/quads when it comes to eyeshadows because you save a lot of money by getting a lot of products for the price of one rather than spending almost P 800/ P 900 for a single eyeshadow let's say from MAC. The ones I got from ELF earlier today, I was expecting, wouldn't be as pigmented as they came out. The amazing thing is, there's not much fall out, it's a powder eyeshadow but comes out creamy (intensifying the look even further), and so far, the swatches on my hand haven't faded a bit. You can use these quads for a day/night look, whichever you prefer! 

My most prized makeup possessions are my brushes. I've really invested in these and for the last 2 years of my life, they're what I thank for my flawless looking face. Haha. Emphasis on flawless "looking". I used to use just a basic foundation brush from ELF when I started putting on makeup and it was quite good, except that you could see the strokes of how you put on your foundation sometimes which is why I switched for a time to a stipling brush (which is the one in the middle, my Sigma Duo Fibre). But the application didn't feel too right for me since I didn't feel or get that buffed out look, so I switched to Sigma's flat top kabuki brush, and eventually to this angled top kabuki brush. However, some people really prefer applying foundation with a stipling brush and I've heard really amazing reviews on the ELF Stiple Brush which is part of their Studio Line. My Duo Fibre from Sigma came from a brush set which cost me $109.00 which is roughly P 4500, individually it'll cost you $18 which is around P 800, while for the Angled Top Kabuki which is $16 it'll cost you around 750 :) So if you really wanna be able to save a hell of a lot of money and not sacrifice the outcome, get the ELF Stiple Brush which is only $3 in the US and P 250 here in Manila :)

That's all for now! If you want me to review other makeup brands/products tweet me @poCARLIEsweat :) I'm thinking of doing another makeup giveaway soon :) Will keep you all posted! xx