Collection 2000 Big Fake Mascara

After the highly anticipated release of Collection 2000's supposed dupe for Maybelline's 'The Falsies', an unexpected silence reigned over the make-up blogging sector of the internet. 

Personally, I was extremely eager to test and trial this mascara as soon as I stumbled across it at a Boots store in Westfield Shopping Centre. The packaging is very obnoxious and, as the name gives away, visually 'loud'. I love the cap of the mascara, and the only problem I can imagine occurring in the future is the tube being bulky in my handbag. 

  
The actual formulation of the mascara is extremely watery and has a tendency to clump lashes together as a result. For this reason, I never use this mascara  without a good few coats of another beforehand. The 'claw' brush is not exactly innovative, and follows in the steps of it's predecessors: 'The Falsies' and 'The Colossal Cat Eyes'. In my personal opinion, the brush would be a good deal more effective if it's size were decreased slightly. Due to the width of the brush, it is nearly impossible to coat the lashes evenly without applying mascara to the rest of the eye area! 

Above is a picture of my lashes after one coat of the 'Big Fake' mascara. The result is one of thick clumped lashes, not the look that I would usually aim for. However, if you are a fan of less 'fanned-out' lashes, this mascara would be perfect for you!

The Best Things in Life Come in Fours

I am going to be completely honest and admit that I have no recollection whatsoever of where this palette was from, other than that it is obviously a Clinique palette. It was given to me during the summer months, which was acutely fitting, as each of the four colour just scream 'summer'!

My favourite colour, by far, is the beautiful 'Strawberry Fudge' shade. I am in absolute love with this colour, and love how it is so versatile to use. The possibilities are endless. The shadow colour be used as an all over lid colour, contour, brow hilight, facial hilight, or for the purpose that I most commonly use it for, as a tear duct 'brightener'. The peach colour appears on camera and in the palette as a frosty pink, although one applied it is clear the the shadow is in fact a veluxe pearl. The colour applies as an indescribable concoction of golds and satin pearls: simply breathtaking. Below are the colours swatched without a flash, and then secondly with a flash. (Left-Right: 'Beach Plum', 'Strawberry Fudge', 'Like Mink Duo'. 

I have to admit that my joy for the palette is bitter-sweet, as half of the colours, namely the 'Like Mink Duo', I am not very impressed with. The colours both appear as beautiful neutrals in the palette, but once applied, appear to be very poorly pigmented and, for lack of a better word, 'washed-out'. The nude colour is barely visible once applied, and I can only imagine it looking semi-professional on very dark skin tones. 

Despite the fact that the 'Duo' is not what it was destined to be, I am still besotted with this palette. The purple is amazingly pigmented, and I love how all of the colours synchronise so well with each other. I would definitely recommend this palette, as not only are the colours gorgeous, but the packaging is compact and pretty too!  

Yves Saint Laurent Top Secrets Flash Radiance Skincare Brush Review

I was a very lucky girl this Christmas, and received a lovely YSL gift set from my Nan. The set consists of three different YSL ‘cult’ products, and I have to admit, I have so far been extremely impressed. Out of the three products that are in the beautifully decorated box, it was the radiance primer that shocked me most with its impeccable quality and results. I am aware that if you buy the primer as an individual purchase, it comes with a brush, simultaneous to the one attached to the end of their radiance foundation. However, I feel that a lot of product would be wasted this way, and that the product would be difficult to apply. You only need a pea sized amount to cover the entire amount of your face.

I love how the formula is not hideously thick, and feels like a virtual film of air caressing your face as you apply the product. I simply use my fingers and blend outwards, concentrating on the inside of my face, where it is more common for oil to appear. I have to be honest, and say that when the make-up artist applied the primer to my hand in Boots, I noticed a much greater significant difference in the way that the lines on the back of my hand appeared, compared to how the product fills in the pores on my face. I do not notice much of a ‘smoothing’ effect like the product promises, but the wonder product does make my make up last all day. If it wasn't for the ridiculous price tag, I would buy it again and again! You can purchase the primer here.