Before I post my reviews here I usually look for what other people are saying about the product. Sure I already have my own opinions to share, but I don't want to think or feel in a vacuum. It's like reading a movie review with all the spoilers - I just want to know if everyone else liked or disliked what we collectively experienced!I suppose it's always nice to know that someone else felt the same way you did about something.

So I was reading reviews about the Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lengthening Mascara (~P600) before I started writing this post. I was truly surprised that almost everyone seemed to dislike this mascara with a passion. 

The other bloggers (not local ones) are saying that this is super clumpy and flaky. It's is clumpy, true, but only because it dries super fast. The workaround is simply applying it as quickly as possible. I haven't observed any flakiness after using it for two weeks; it could be that I'm using a fresh stock. Only time will tell just how flaky this can get but for now I haven't observed anything out of place.

I like this mascara because of two things: how it lengthens my lashes like whoa and how it never smudges or smears. Swear.

Here's another one of those "are you wearing falsies?" mascaras! I've had the Fairydrops Volume Burst Mascara (P950 at Beauty Bar) for a while now and I'm vvv happy with it. I use the Fairydrops Platinum variant when I want clean and enhanced lashes, while Volume Burst is what I reach for when I want full and super-curled lashes. 

I made an odd observation just the other day while I was using Fairydrops. I noticed that the formula gets goopier over time, more viscuous. That's just normal because mascaras lose moisture everytime you open the tube. But what's not normal is that the Fairydrops mascaras actually look better when they're thicker! Platinum now makes my lashes look super thick and fat (as opposed to being natural before) while still being washable. Other mascaras would just start clumping and being all crackly but not Fairydrops. Cool huh? I've been using FD for two months now.

Anyway back to Volume Burst. I love it because it holds the curl of the lashes with an iron grip ALL DAY, does not smudge or smear, and makes lashes really stand out even in photos.

Have you guys heard of Fairydrops? It's a fairly popular brand from Japan, known for their mascara's patented "3 teardrop" wand. The brand is so popular, in fact, that it's also distributed at Sephora in the US. Google it and you'll find a lot of rave reviews. ;)

And so, I'm happy to announce that Fairydrops is finally here in the Philippines! They set up shop last week at Beauty Bar branches in Manila. Aside from their best-selling mascaras, there's also a BB cream, loose powder, and a glossy balm in the selection. I swatched the BB cream and it looks super promising!

What I will be reviewing today is one of my current fave mascaras: the Fairydrops Platinum Mascara (P1,195). It's a super black, clean finish mascara that washes off with only water. I've been using it for three weeks now and I love it! Did I say it washes off with just water? Yet it's smudge and smear-proof, and fairly water resistant as long as you don't rub it.

Here's a more detailed take!

What I love about the product 

• It's an office and school-safe mascara since it has a clean, enhancing finish. It's not in-your-face. It volumizes and lengthens just enough to make your lashes stand out, but not so much that it looks TOO much!
• Curls lashes and holds them all day. It's best used with an eyelash curler, but the wand does wonders by itself.

I keep three to four mascaras on rotation at any given time. Too much? I don't think so! I like getting different lash finishes depending on the look I'm going for. Sweet and nice? Thin and defined lashes should do the trick. Need to look fierce for an event? Volumized and super long lashes will stand out in photos. Casual and lazy? Then I need my lashes to look curled but easy to wash off when I get home. See, it depends. I'm not some crazy mascara junkie.

If you're a fellow mascara junkie lover, then I think you'll love one of the newest mascaras out now: the Etude House Lash Perm 3-Step Volumecara (P748). This mascara promises to give you doll lashes with three different settings and I rather think it does!

The mechanics of the thing is simple enough - just twist the upper portion of the tube and settle on the number with the effect you want to achieve. Step 1 gives you clean definition, Step 2 has more volume and length, while Step 3 is an all-out thick fringe. You can really see the difference! Here's a more detailed take.

What I love about the product

• It's neat that you're basically getting three different mascaras in one tube. How it works is that the twist tube controls how much product gets on the wand. Step 1 only allows for a bit of product, hence the cleaner finish, and so on. Simple but it's a great idea.
• It brings out lashes you didn't know you had. If volume is your thing, this is one good mascara to try.

Nelly See, the owner of Pinkbox, is easily one of the most glamorous people I know personally. It's not the kind of glamour that's in-your-face; hers is very subtle, something that's obviously born from years of effortless practice. She carries Hermes as if it's a body part - not something to flaunt or even be remotely conscious about, which is as it should be!

I also love that's she's super kikay! Haha. One time, while at the office, she asked me to come over to her desk. "Look at my lashes Liz!", she said. I was like, "Whoa! They're super long! What did you use?" 

"Benefit!" she said. Now I don't remember which mascara it was exactly, Bad Gal or They're Real, but my bet is on the latter. The Benefit They're Real Beyond Mascara (P1,200) promises to "reveal lashes you never knew you had". That's not quite off the mark but I think that They're Real focuses more on giving length rather than plushness. Really useful if you want an everyday mascara that can fool people into thinking they're real!

After using this for over a month, here are my thoughts on Benefit's star mascara!

What I love about the product

• Lengthens lashes beautifully. It doesn't look fake as the tips are deceptively thin and pointed, mimicking natural hair. As far as I can tell, this mascara doesn't have microfibers (which are normally difficult to remove.)

It's funny, but the first couple of years that I started wearing makeup, I rarely put mascara on. I thought it was an uneccessary part of my routine; why bother working on my lashes when an eyeliner could already give the illusion of a thick fringe? But I was wrong. Mascaras ARE important if you want your eyes to look more fresh and awake. There really is a difference!

Benefit They're Real Mascara 

I used to just swipe my mascara upwards a couple of times and called it a day. I mean, how complicated should it be? Put goop, exeunt. However, I've learned a few tricks along the way to maximize any mascara! It doesn't matter if you're using something cheapo or expensive. Use it the right way and you can get fab lashes each time.

Here goes!

Step 1: Curl. Curl your lashes, starting at the base then crimping it upwards, tilting the curler as you go. It's important to curl your lashes before mascara to get them to stay that way all day.

I've been meaning to do this for a while now but I've just never gotten the chance. I keep bumping it off for some newfangled thing or another. But today, I will finally reveal my favorite everyday mascara after months - months! - of using it. 

It's the Shu Uemura Ultimate Natural Mascara in Dark Brown. :) I always reach for this when I need a brown, beautifying mascara, and here's why!

What I love about the product 

• As the name promises, it looks super natural and clean while magnifying your lashes. Just look at the photos. Two coats, no more, and I get such beautiful lashes.
• Keeps the curl of my lash hairs ALL DAY. No drooping here. It's best used with the Shu Uemura curler, another great love of mine.

We were waiting for lunch when my Mom asked me, "Did you get eyelash extensions?" I was surprised by the question, since it was the first time she ever asked me anything like it. My mom knows (quite better than anyone else) how much I love makeup. She knows that I always wear makeup whenever I'm out of the house so it's odd - and flattering - of her to ask!

The culprit in question is the Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara (P750). It made my lashes look longer at the tips and thicker at the base, while still appearing thin and natural. That's not new I know. But it pulls off the effect so flawlessly that it fooled my mom into thinking I had work done on my lashes. :D

I admit that it's already desensitizing for you, me raving about mascaras all the time, but I think there's something really special with this one!

What I love about the product 

• Makes my lashes look thick and long without looking completely fake. It also forms my lashes into this even, triangular shape.
• It doesn't smudge or budge with daily wear and tear, although expect some mess when you cry or sweat too much.

I love natural-looking (but enhanced) lashes for everyday, but for special events and evenings out, I prefer big, cow lashes that can pass of as falsies. Pro tip: there's no better way to look glam than with eyes framed by long, voluminous lashes! They show up better in photos too.

I've been a long-time fan of the Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus Mascara so I have great expectations from the brand's newest offering, the Majolica Majorca Lash King Mascara (P795). It promises to deliver  volume, length, and lushness to your lashes - features that used to be offered separately by MM's individual mascaras.

The Lash King is supposed to be MM's ultimate lash product, and I am inclined to agree!

What I LOVE about the product

• It does give volume, length, and the illusion of more lashes with only one coat. One coat is enough for daily use. If you want to up the drama, use two to three coats! Guarranteed, you'll look like you have falsies on.
• Doesn't smudge or smear no matter how humid the weather is or how sweaty and oily I get.

Avon mascaras have had a history of being unimpressive (for me). I wasn't expecting much from their latest one, the Avon SuperMagnify Mascara (P420), but I was pleasantly surprised as soon as I tried it on! It is such a nice everyday mascara, but you can also turn up the impact by adding a few more coats for an evening look.

Okay, anecdote time: I was at a coffee meeting when my right eye got irritated. I started tearing up heavily, as in really heavily. I unfortunately didn't have my lens case with me so I just endured the boo-boo until I can leave. I was really worried about my mascara running amok, but guess what, the SuperMagnify didn't! I got a bit of smudging (it's not waterproof) but it didn't look like a mess.

So yeah, this mascara made it to my list of reliable makeup. I've worn it in really humid weather and got only bearable smudging and smearing.

Here I am rambling about lasting power without even mentioning the effect first! Well, SuperMagnify lengthens and separates lashes into a fine, natural-looking fringe.

My advice to girls who don't like wearing a lot of makeup but still want to look pretty: just swipe on mascara and some tint! If you already have fairly good skin, a little bit of enhacement here and there is more than enough to bring out your natural beauty. Long and full lashes draw eyes towards them (involuntarily at that!), while a healthy flush makes you look fresh and happy.

That said, there are a couple of new Majolica Majorca releases that got beauty enthusiasts into a tizzy: the Lash King Mascara (P795) and the Blood On Cheek Tint (P495). Both were launched around two weeks ago, to good reviews! 

Let's start with the Lash King Mascara.

I've had the Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara (P995) for months now and I use it all the time. However, each time I sit down to try to review it my mind just drains of all thought. It's like writing about my toe. It's an integral part of me but it's not something I really think about, y'know?

The thing I like most about this mascara is how volumizing it is while still being incredibly easy to wash off. Yes, it washes off with just water; even so, the integrity of the mascara is not compromised with normal sweat and oil around the eyes. Just don't cry!

There are pros and cons of having a mascara that's washable. The obvious pro is you don't have to rub and sacrfifice a few lashes just to take it off. I personally prize this feature because I hate having to fuss over makeup removal after a long day.

It's been a while since I talked about mascara here, eh? This time I want you to meet Revlon's newest called the Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara (price TBA). It will be available starting next month, so this is sort of like a first look for all you mascara fans out there.

I really liked its predecessor, the Revlon Grow Luscious Fabulash so naturally I was curious about what this mascara can do! To start off, the main difference between the two is the wand. The Plumping Mascara has a smaller wand with an edge that tapers off, making it easier to maneuver around the lashes compared to Fabulash.

Formula-wise, they're very similar, except that Fabulash adds a bit more length.

Finish and texture. The Plumping Mascara delivers thick, black lashes in one coat. The formula is goopy so you don't have to layer so much to get vavoom lashes, but if you want something really dramatic, two coats will do the job.

Mascara for your bottom lashes? Why not! It's an awesome idea, actually. I've poked my eyes many times with a normal mascara wand, trying to coax those itty bitty bottom lash hairs into existence. For someone like me with sparse, short lower lashes, a mascara specifically designed for them is heaven sent! It's perfect for getting that clean, wide, doll-eyed look or just generally younger-looking peepers. Lush fringe of lashes = illusion of younger, less tired eyes.

The Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara (P1,150) is exactly as it is called: a mascara for your lower lashes. It has a small, conical wand that can easily coat fine lashes without messing up the skin around it. The wand is a breeze to maneuver and could actually also be used as a mascara for those hard-to-reach upper lashes near the inner corner of the eyes.

It's pretty awesome. Here's why!

What I love about the product

• Volumizes and lengthens in one coat. One coat is usually enough to bring the lower lashes out; two coats give a little too much va-voom for me.
• Doesn't smudge. Very valuable since the mascara is precariously used in the smudge zone - the lower lid.

The truth is, mascaras mainly differ from each other through their wands. A winning formula plays a role but it's really the wand that seals the deal (in my experience anyway). So a mascara that has two wands is like buying, well, two mascaras!

The Revlon CustomEyes Mascara (P750) promises to deliver two lash looks: one that has length and definition, and another that has length and drama. It's possible via a wand that has swiveling bristles controlled by a twist mechanism built in the cap. So, is there a difference between two settings? There is.

Length and Definition delivers sharper lashes while Length and Drama volumizes. It's best to use them together!

Available in three shades: Blackest Black, Black and Blackened Brown

What I like about the product

• Washes off easily with room temp water, at least, the non-waterproof version. Saves me a lot of hassle whenever I take off my makeup.
• The CustomEyes mascara is all about options. You can pick from two settings, two fomulas (waterproof and non-waterproof) and three shades.

I hate going out during the day. However, work and errands beckon, so I really don't have a choice! I've been out in the sun for the past four days (!!!) but I'm not too worried since I'm currently testing out a sunblock with SPF130. Yeah. I'm smug.

Anyway, it's too hot and bothersome to wear eyeshadows so I depend heavily on eyeliner and mascara to keep my eyes looking good. After much experimentation, I discovered the best combination to get an absolutely smudge-free eye - it doesn't matter how long I was out or how much I sweat and oil up. This combo is deadly. I've been to Tagaytay, Batangas, Marikina, and all over Manila with these two products on and they've never failed me.

Ready?

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Pam, the Marketing Coordinator for VMV Hypoallergenics. I must confess that I was pretty excited about the casual meeting because I've always been curious about the brand. I've heard so many good things about their Armada sunblocks and line of foundations, and of course, their claim about being completely hypoallergenic.

Did you know that VMV is a proudly Pinoy brand? I was really surprised when I first heard about that a couple of years ago. VMV is so well-packaged, so well-branded, that many of us are not aware that it started right here back in 1979. It's local, but it has a global mindset. Currently, VMV can also be found in New York, UAE, and Hong Kong among others.

It's among the first brands in Asia to formulate a hypoallergenic line, going as far as creating its own rating system for each product.

I used to consider mascara as an unnecessary part of my makeup routine. It’s a hassle to wear and a hassle to remove, plus they keep hitting my glasses whenever I blink! Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice extra to wear for special events, but I don’t use them every time I go out. That is, until I started wearing contacts recently.

A lot of things changed since I started wearing contacts. I’m now more meticulous about my eye makeup since every mistake is easily seen. I’m more careful about the junk I put near my eyes too, since I can’t risk irritation or worse, infection. I also started going crazy over mascara - I rarely go out now without at least one layer of it. 

So, I’d like to share my current favorite mascara: the Colour Collection Triple Effect Mascara (P499). I didn’t like it at first, but when I got the hang of it, this mascara and I have become inseparable! 

What I love about the product

• Looks very natural, close to real lashes. I haven’t tried mascara like this before! Although one layer doesn’t do much, it’s in the second coat where the magic happens. It makes my lashes look like a thick fringe, thanks to the small fibers in the formula.