l'oreal voluminous noir balm mascara (first impressions review)

My makeup collection is a mixture of high end and drugstore items. A lot of eyeshadow palettes and cheek products are higher end. However, when it comes to everyday essentials (foundation, mascara, brow products, powder, and eyeliner)...the drugstore wins out time and time again. The products tend to be on par or superior to the higher end offerings. Plus, everything is a lot more affordable. Though my all-time favourite mascara is The Super Sizer from Cover Girl, temptation won out and I decided to try the L'Oreal Voluminous Noir Balm Mascara. With lots of impressive product claims, it was a little too much to resist. Ready for a first impressions review? Find out how this drugstore mascara from L'Oreal performed. 

drugstore review: elf big mood mascara

Every now and then, a mascara manages to tempt me. Though I am pretty loyal to The Super Sizer from Cover Girl (higher end favourites include Better Than Sex from Too Faced and They're Real from Benefit)....the Big Mood Mascara from elf managed to catch my eye. Maybe it had something to do with the shiny purple packaging. Who knows? But at any rate, this drugstore item was added to my cart. Lately, I have been putting this mascara to the test to find out whether it lives up to the brand claims. 

first impressions: rimmel wonder volume thrill seeker mascara

Some mascaras are better than others. When it comes to Rimmel, a few of their mascaras have been stellar while others have only been so-so. The Wonder Volume Thrill Seeker Mascara was intriguing because of the claim on the packaging that it has a "creamy whipped formula." I was curious to find out how it performed and whether or not it met all of the other brand claims. Ready to learn more about this affordable product? Here is a first impressions review of this drugstore mascara from Rimmel.

review: essence lash without limits mascara

As prices continue to increase on both essential and non-essential items...it is nice to find beauty products that do not break the bank. One thing I appreciate about Essence is that this drugstore brand has always remained affordable. While most other drugstore offerings have massively increased their prices in recent years, Essence has remained fairly stable. Some of their products have been staples in my makeup collection for a long time, including their blushes and eyebrow pencils. However, there has not been a mascara from the brand that has wowed me, despite the fact that the Lash Princess Mascara seems to be beloved by many. Unfortunately, it didn't work well for me. I was a little apprehensive about the Lash Without Limits Mascara from Essence, but with a $5.99 CDN price, it seemed worth it to take the risk. Here is everything you need to know.

first impressions: revolution lift & define 5D lash extra dimension

Some people love a bold statement lip. Others are all about show stopping cheeks. For me? The eyes are everything. Though I love a beautiful lip colour and a gorgeous blush to pull a makeup look together...the eyes are always the main focus. I feel most creatively fulfilled when there are different eyeshadow shades and finishes involved. Then there is often lots of contrast with black liner and mascara. To this day, my favourite mascara remains The Super Sizer from Cover Girl, but every now and then, I have the opportunity to test out something different. (Friends and family members are well aware of my makeup obsession and often gift me makeup for birthdays and holidays.) For instance, the Revolution Lift & Define 5D Lash Extra Dimension Mascara. Curious about this lengthening drugstore mascara? Keep reading for all the claims and a first impressions review.

first impressions: cover girl exhibitionist stretch and strengthen

An awful lot of mascaras have come into my life over the years. Some have been wonderful and others have been...not nearly as wonderful. Out of all of them, The Super Sizer mascara from Cover Girl has been an absolute standout. It has become my holy grail mascara and is the one that I purchase over and over again. It just works! So, when it comes to Cover Girl mascaras, I am always open to trying something new from the brand, just to see how it compares to my all-time favourite. The Cover Girl Exhibitionist Stretch and Strengthen Mascara is designed to lengthen and strengthen the lashes. How does it perform? And how does it compare to The Super Sizer? Here are my first impressions of this drugstore mascara. 

pros and cons: rimmel wonder extension mascara

Ready for a little more drugstore? Today, it is time to take a look at a mascara from Rimmel. I'll be honest...this brand makes me ultra nostalgic. That is because it is one of the first makeup brands that I ever used. There was this eyeshadow that looked like the Union Jack and I was obsessed. (Take a trip down memory lane with me by checking out a very old blog post here.) I used that little eyeshadow set consistently, along with plenty of other Rimmel products. In fact, my go-to foundation for many years was from Rimmel, before it was discontinued. This is one makeup brand that has been part of my life for a very long time. Now? It is time to find out how the Wonder Extension Mascara from Rimmel performs. 

current obsession: cover girl lash blast cleantopia (ultramarine black)

Cover Girl mascaras are impressive. I've tried a handful from the brand that have wowed, including my all-time favourite, The Super Sizer. Most recently, I gave the Lash Blast Cleantopia Mascara in Ultramarine Black a try. It is described as "an intense black mascara shade with a hint of blue for brighter, wide-awake eyes." Talk about an intriguing idea. After all, I am pretty committed to black mascara, but still love the idea of having fun with colour. This particular mascara seemed like the perfect way to check off both boxes. Keep reading for all the information about this unusual drugstore beauty product.

love it or leave it? maybelline volum' express colossal

If there is one thing I am not on the look out for? It is a new mascara. I am pretty dedicated to the ones I love. (Cover Girl's The Super Sizer, Benefit's They're Real!, and Dior's DiorShow.) With a mixture of high-end and drugstore loves....the last thing I want to do is try out a ton of different mascaras. Well, that changed. The Maybelline Volum' Express Colossal Mascara kind of fell into my lap. My husband works at a drugstore. Every now and then they have unused testers to get rid of and in-store discounts. Which is how this mascara found its way into my life.

It was a little unnerving. I hadn't tried a new mascara in ages. But there was something exciting about it, too. Maybe this mascara would be better than my all-time favourites. Stranger things have happened. That is what leads me to today's blog post. Is the Maybelline Volum' Express Colossal Mascara a love? Or would I leave it? Keep reading. It is time to find out the verdict.

Drum roll please......

This is a leave it product for me.

Wondering why? There are a few reasons that this mascara failed to live up to my expectations. The first is the smell. None of my other mascaras have a fake perfumey scent. This does. It is actually quite strong and a little repellent. You will notice it the moment you unscrew the lid. (It really is that strong.) For some people this might not be an issue. I personally found it to be extremely off putting. I was not into thisBefore I even applied the product to my lashes.

The application itself was fairly good. The wand is a standard mascara brush....nothing special there. It went on well and added a good amount of volume and length. That was the good part. The not so good part? What happened later in the day. About an hour after application? There was smudging underneath my lower lash line. It looked awful! This has not happened with any other mascara in my collection. Needless to say it was shocking when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

The Maybelline Volum' Express Colossal Mascara was a dud for me. It performed well during application. But the smell? The smudging? No thanks. There are better alternatives at the drugstore.

Have you tried this mascara? Love it or leave it?

xo Shannon

l'oreal air volume mega mascara (first impressions video + review)

I am no stranger to drugstore mascaras. Though I have tried many different mascaras over the years...my all-time favourite comes from the drugstore. Expensive price points don't necessarily mean better products! Recently, I had the opportunity to test out a mascara from L'Oreal and was excited to put it to good use. The L'Oreal Air Volume Mega Mascara boasted a light and airy formula and dramatic results. What could be better than that? With warmer weather on the way, something that was ultra lightweight sounded ideal. Curious about how this affordable mascara performed? Keep reading for a first impressions review on my YouTube channel followed by a full review of the mascara. 

high end mascara face off (laura mercier vs benefit)

My favourite mascara is no secret. In fact, I've been pretty vocal about my obsession for Cover Girl's The Super Sizer mascara, both here and on my YouTube channel. The reason is simple: it works. That drugstore product adds tons of length, volume, and drama to the lashes. Since it is a holy grail product for me, I rarely think to try other mascaras on the market. I simply don't need to. That being said, during a Sephora VIB event a while back, two mascara samples were included in the goodie bag. One was from Laura Mercier and the other from Benefit. Find out how they perform and which one is worth the splurge...

review: cover girl lash blast clean waterproof mascara

It is no secret that Cover Girl is one of my all-time favourite drugstore makeup brands. I have so many wonderful memories associated with their products! From my first foundation purchase to my beloved The Super Sizer mascara...there is a lot to love about Cover Girl. Though their mascaras can be a little hit or miss, they are always fun to test and try out. Recently, I was able to put the Cover Girl Lash Blast Clean Waterproof Mascara to good use. Ready to find out how it performs? How this mascara compares to The Super Sizer? And most importantly, whether it is worth checking out the next time you are at the drugstore? Here is everything you need to know about this affordable beauty product. 

first impressions: cover girl exhibitionist uncensored mascara

Cover Girl is one of the first (if not the first) makeup brands that ever entered my makeup collection. I can still remember pouring over the shelves of beauty products at the drugstore. It was overwhelming. Despite all of the options available...I wound up going home with a Cover Girl foundation, a single black eyeshadow, and a Lash Blast mascara. Since then? I have continued to use and enjoy a wide array of Cover Girl products. Including my all-time favourite mascara, The Super Sizer. Most recently, the Exhibitionist Uncensored Mascara entered my life. Even though I wasn't looking for a new mascara, part of me was curious about how another Cover Girl mascara would perform. Want to find out how it works? If it performs better than other Cover Girl products? Here is a first impressions review with all the information.

there are always flowers for those who want to see them.

Flower Beauty. I swear, I cannot get enough of it lately. Perhaps this is because it is the first time (in a very long time) that a new brand has actually hit the drugstore here in Canada. For years it has been the same old things: Maybelline, L'Oreal, Cover Girl, Hard Candy, Revlon. With the somewhat recent launch of Flower Beauty, makeup fans are going crazy. The products have been flying off of the shelves at my local drugstore. Despite this, I have been lucky enough to try out more than my fair share. Some of them I picked up on my own and others I was given as gifts around the holidays.

The latest that I am reviewing? Eye 2 Eye. This is a double ended product. It has a felt-tip eyeliner pen on one end and a mini mascara on the other end. The concept itself is genius. It is the perfect product to take on the go, throw in your makeup bag, or minimize clutter in your makeup drawer. As you can see from the picture above, it looks like a regular felt-tipped eyeliner pen. The only difference? There is a mascara included on the other end as well. Want to take a closer look? Here is a peek at both sides uncapped!

There is no doubt about it: this is a seriously handy product. It is a great way to be prepared wherever you are. Or just speed up your morning makeup routine! The concept? Absolutely flawless. So, how did the products themselves hold up? Let's start with the eyeliner. This was a definite win. Even though the colour itself wasn't ultra black, the product was super easy to use. The pen applicator was firm, which makes cat-eye liner a snap. Total bonus first thing in the morning!

As for the mascara, this was less of a win. I absolutely love the idea of including a mascara. Unfortunately, the mascara itself wasn't fantastic. I found the formula to be quite wet - which makes it a bit messy to apply. The mascara wand was nothing special and it actually made it difficult to coat my lashes properly. When it comes to lashes, I like them big and bold....and this mascara just didn't make that happen. Everyone has their own preferences though. So for some, this mascara might be fantastic. For me? Not so much. Despite this, I still love the concept and think this is a wonderful product to throw into your purse.

Ready to see the look I created using the Eye 2 Eye from my new favourite drugstore brand, Flower Beauty? Here is it....

There is something exciting about new brands. And something especially exciting about products that can save you time and space. While the mascara may not have been my favourite....the overall concept behind this product was a major win. I absolutely love it! It definitely makes me excited to try out new things from Flower Beauty in the future.

Have you tried this product before? Do you own any double ended beauty products?

xo Shannon

essence lash princess mascara (first impressions)

Sometimes, it feels nice to splurge on high end beauty products. Ones with fancy packaging and a from a highly regarded brand. Other times? You just need something affordable and effective. Something that works well and gets the job done. When it comes to mascara....high end isn't usually on my radar. Sure, there are high end options that I like. Examples include Benefit's They're Real and Too Faced's Better Than Sex. However, drugstore options are always preferable. This is partly due to the cost and partly due to the many wonderful drugstore options. (Like my all-time favourite, The Super Sizer from Cover Girl.) Recently, I was able to try out a mascara from Essence. This is an ultra affordable brand that I've had success with over the years.

first impressions: burt's bees all aflutter multi-benefit mascara

Another day another Burt's Bees review. This is the last one. At least for a while. Since my history with the brand has been less than stellar (with every single product I've tried from Burt's Bees being underwhelming at best) chances are low that I will go out of my way to purchase something else. That being said...it is time to do a first impressions review of one last item. It is the Burt's Bees All Aflutter Multi-Benefit Mascara. Say that ten times fast! Though the name is a bit of a mouthful, it comes with some pretty impressive claims. Would it live up to them? Could it be that finally a Burt's Bees product would impress? It is time to take a closer look at the mascara and find out if it is worth adding to your drugstore shopping cart.

first impressions: rimmel scandaleyes volume on demand mascara

Rimmel used to be one of my favourite drugstore makeup brands. I purchased items from them frequently....and then I didn't anymore. It all started when they discontinued my favourite foundation (The Clean Finish Foundation was my everything). Over time, I just browsed their selection less often than before. That being said, I do miss the brand. It is certainly nostalgic for me. I've tried a few of their mascaras in more recent years, but not a whole lot else. Maybe it is time to take a closer look at what they have to offer these days. Until then, it is time for a mascara review. Since my favourite mascara, The Super Sizer from Cover Girl, appears to have been discontinued (or at least seriously difficult for me to get my hands on), I am looking into alternatives. Keep reading for a first impressions review of the Scandaleyes Volume On Demand Mascara from Rimmel. 

review: physicians formula (the gold vault)

Two things I cannot ignore? Shimmer and discounted makeup. The Gold Vault 24-Karat Gold Collagen Face Palette from Physicians Formula checked off both boxes and then some. This set had a little bit of everything: bronzer, highlighter, eyeshadow, and mascara. (All with lots of shimmer and shine...mascara included.) Not to mention, it was also found at a discounted price. Always a bonus! This is something that caught my eye several months back and was used a lot during the holiday season and beyond. Now? I am finally ready to share my thoughts here on the creation of beauty is art. Keep reading for a full review of this product and a makeup look featuring these oh-so-shimmery drugstore items.

review: covergirl katy kat eye mascara

High expectations can be a dangerous thing. Especially when it comes to makeup. I remember seeing the display of Katy Kat Eye mascara. There it was in all its glory. Cute packaging and a larger than life photo of Katy Perry. I darted over to that display faster than you could imagine. (Katy Perry is one of my favourite artists. I love her music, her dramatic sense of style, and endless creativity.) Despite the fact that the product was brand new? The display had already been pretty picked over. There were only a few of the Katy Kat Eye mascaras left. That included Black, Very Black, and Perry Blue.

I'll admit. The Perry Blue was pretty intriguing....but a blue mascara is a little out of my wheel house. In the end, I opted for Very Black. I wanted to get a good idea of how the mascara performed. Choosing black made it easier to compare this product to other drugstore mascaras. So, how was the Katy Kat Eye mascara? Here is what I liked and disliked about it.

• What I Liked: 
• The packaging is sleek and stylish. I love the simplicity of the black and white. It definitely makes a statement. 
• This mascara definitely lives up to its name. It is very black which adds some drama to the lashes.
• What I Didn't Like:
• The mascara wand is awful. It has a "360 Sculpting Brush" that is supposed to create voluminous lashes. What it actually does is pull on the lashes and cause the product to clump up unnaturally.
• The overall appearance was also lacking. Comparing this to Cover Girl's The Super Sizer (which is actually cheaper) the results are sub par. It doesn't do much to lengthen or add volume to my lashes. Very disappointing. 

Overall, the Katy Kat Eye mascara is a dud for me. I would not repurchase. On the plus side? There is some fantastic Katy Perry makeup at the drugstore right now. Forget about the mascara and grab one of the Katy Kat Matte Lipsticks instead. The colours are beautiful, they feel comfortable on the lips, and they have good staying power. Want to see a few of the shades in action? Take a look at the creation of beauty is art YouTube channel.

Have you tried anything from CoverGirl's Katy Perry line?

xo Shannon

30 day beauty challenge: day 20

Editing Note: Since Dior continues to support a court-certified wife beater, I no longer support the brand. Believe survivors. 

Happy holidays! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I look forward to reading all about them. My Christmas was wonderful. To summarize it: I ate far too much, was given more than I could ever deserve, and spent the day with my amazing family.