Review: Estee Lauder Doublewear Mascara

(please note, this is not a full sized product, but rather a sample).

Someone gave me this sample of Doublewear mascara quite awhile ago, but I only just pulled it out to use. After a week or so of testing, I'm ready to write a review.

Doublewear is touted to be a lengthening and no smudge mascara. The full size version of this product retails for 19.50$ USD and comes in black or brown.

How did it do? It started out pretty well, if boring. This is a definite 'natural' mascara--meaning that I'd recommend this to anyone who didn't want anything dramatic. It did lengthen, as you will see in the following pictures, but people who saw an eye makeup look with this mascara said: I think adding mascara would make this look more glamorous! Ouch!

Estee Lauder claims this mascara creates 'extraordinary length' that will last the whole day. It doesn't "wilt" as some mascaras can, but you have to keep your eyes open for a bit longer than I'm used to while waiting for this mascara to dry. It also doesn't create EXTRAordinary length, but just a little bit longer.

This doesn't make my lashes feel stiff, more feathery. Its a very gentle formula, especially when taking it off. It came off almost like a tube mascara! You just need a bit of cleanser and water and rub and most of it should come off. It's not exactly waterproof in that regard, but should hold up to a light drizzle of rain.

The pigment on this mascara is sort of dull. It claims to be glossy and rich in pigment, but falls flat on both accounts. Definitely not the darkest mascara out there! I can never tell the difference between a mascara that claims to be glossy and one that doesn't either, to be honest.

Doublewear's wand is small and skinny, with dense bristles as pictured below. I can't really get to the inner or outer corners of my eyes but that's okay because I don't look for that in a mascara.


Natural eye:
Doublewear'ed eye:

I will continue to use this, but only because I don't really want to waste it. It'll be a nice change from the harsh waterproof [yet dramatic] mascara that I'm currently using, but I certainly won't be dropping 20 bucks on it. Mediocre at its best.

Review: Dejavu Imju Fiberwig

So not to confuse people, Dejavu seems to be the name for Fiberwig used in Asia. It is the same thing as Imju Fiberwig, don't worry.

The name: Paint On False Lashes.
While the effect certainly is really nice, I don't think it's 'paint on false lashes'. When I think of false lashes, I think of long, lush, and lots of volume. Even though Fiberwig almost doubles my lash length, it doesn't do so great in the volume department. I would rec Fiberwig for someone whose looking for mostly length, as it would work really well then.

The packaging: I love that its in a red tube! It just seems so much prettier. The wand isn't too big either; just right. You get alot for your money, as its bigger than most other full size mascaras to me (the packaging doesn't list the weight). A+ for the packaging!

The Wand:
Application:
Borrowed with permission from piasucks2 at Makeupalley.com:
"Use the wand to brush up and out for lengthening, and hold the wand vertically if you need more volume. Once you do two coats, replace the wand back in the mascara, then take it out, bounce the mascara wand at the very edge of your lashes, and voila! Bounce the wand at the edge of your lashes twice and you will have more than DOUBLED your lash length. This mascara does NOT flake, (remember, these are fibres) smear, but can clump if you are not careful. The key is this - You have to be quick with your application, if you take forever the fibres will dry and when you apply the second coat it will stick to the other fibres."

I am so glad Pia wrote that review, because at first, I was using it like a regular mascara and it was horrible! This holds a curl for hours, for those curl-fanatics!
Effect:

Bare eye:



As you can see, much better, but not 'false lashes' great! This is as close to Holy Grail as any mascara has come so far though, because of the length and easy-to-take off-ness!

Special Editions: As I recall, there were two versions released for Holiday 2008 (a sparkling navy and a sparkling black). Jojoba of Makeupreviews reviewed the special edition Black color and it didn't live up to her expectations. I wonder why? Also, that tube seems to be much larger than the original.

Taking it off! Nothing special required. Use warm water and just gently rub at your lashes and voila! Little black fibers come off. (Warning: Don't do this with any males in the vincinity. Those tough guys can't handle the sight of it!)



This is available at sephora.com for 21$, a total ripoff as it's on Sasa.com for 12$ (albeit under a different name; Dejavu). Also, in Asia's drugstores, it's also under Dejavu for 12$! What is Sephora playing at?!

Review: Shiseido Majolica Majorca Lash Gorgeous Wing

This mascara is the one from Fall 2008, and would be the newest MJMJ Mascara if they didn't launch a Neo Expander Frame Plus this spring. It's the first non-fibre Majolica Majorca mascara that they've launched as well.

Retailing for about 9USD, I'd waited with high hopes for this one. The Lash Expander Neo had been OK, doing a better job of lengthening than volumizing as it then gave me clumped up lashes. So when I received this, I immediately chucked the Neo in the bin as it was impossible to get off.

In comparision to the Neo, it's vastly different. Firstly, the Neo has a comb applicator, while Lash Gorgeous Wing (LGW) has a regular, 'old school' spoolie wand.



And with a different wand comes a different application technique. While with Neo I had to keep 'combing' my lashes with the wand, I apply LGW the 'normal' way. Unfortunately.....It doesn't do much. It's the most natural mascara ever. Well, that would be OK for natural days, I thought. I kept layering...and layering...

My lashes just looked like normal, with maybe a tiny bit of definition. I didn't even bother taking a picture of *that*. But, over the Majolica Majorca Lash Base with a white cap and tube, its a whole different story.

Bare lashes:



Curled, With Base, With LGW:



As you can see, it is definetly better with the base. Application using base:
1. Curl Lashes.
2. Comb base over lashes, one or two coats.
3. Without letting the base dry, wiggle LGW's wand up and out through lashes.

Voila! It was pretty fancy this way. And the curl did hold up well through a 12-hour day! Bonus points.
Although, it is quite the hassle. I only bother to wear this mascara (because it only works with this application) when I have the time. On weekdays, I much prefer Imju Fiberwig (review coming soon!)

I think the main focus of this mascara was more for length than volume. As you can see from the pictures, there's more length than volume anyways--so if they were going for volume they should tweak the formula. I don't mind though, since I prefer length over volume.

This mascara is housed, like the other MJMJ mascaras, in a black tube, with gold / bronze patterns on it. I really like that they make the effort to have it look pretty, (Cough Maybelline) and the wand isn't hard to hold at all (COUGH Lash Blast!) while you apply. I also have to note that the first time I pulled the wand out, I thought there was nothing in the tube! It really is a dry mascara.

Now, the part that I was praying would be easy: The removal!
Well ladies (and gentlemen?), it's really easy to take off! Sigh of relief! I just rub Shu cleansing oil, keep rubbing, and little by little add water until its gone. MUCH better than Neo!

All in all, if you are willing to go the distance and use this over a base, it's for you. Or, if you've been looking for the most natural mascara ever, this is also for you. Me, on the other hand, I'll use it up faithfully, but won't repurchase.

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Cite: BobbiBrown.com

Review: Clinique High Impact Mascara

I recieved this in a gift with purchase awhile back, but as I was using Covergirl Lash Blast at the time (Nice stuff!), didn't open it. Well, now that I'm done with the Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Neo fiasco, I've turned to this.

Lasting Ability: This lasts well, with no smudging at the end of the day. It's not anything to be 100% confident that it will last through sweat and heat (It's pretty cold now, so I cannot comment on that) though.

Keeping a Curl: It keeps a curl fairly well, using Shu uemura's lash curler before hand. However, at the end of the day, for me, it's become wilted. Therefore, if you're looking for a curling mascara, don't look here!

Lengthens: High Impact lengthens well, but it won't be a just lengthening mascara. It's actually pretty mediocre, until I get to about 4 coats.

Volumizes: Much more decent at volumizing than lenghtening! One coat amps up my lashes so much more. I would recommend High Impact for a more volumizing mascara, though I still love Lancome Hypnose more.

Definition: Here, it is again mediocre. It clumps after maybe 2 coats, but otherwise defines fairly well. Again, my HG for definition is Lancome Definicils.


Color: This is a glossy black, not super inky but it's good for everyday wear.

Brush: High Impact's brush is a regular spoolie type brush, which seems to be of normal width but there are 'more bristles' along the wand, if that makes sense. It's thicker in that way.


Overall: This is a good mascara for an everyday, natural look. I would definetly not use this while going for a High Impact look though. Decent, but nothing that rocks my world.

No Mascara:



Just High Impact:



With Majolica Majorca Lash Primer:

Review: Shiseido Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Neo

This is the 'same but better' version of Majolica Majorca's hit Lash Expander mascara. Is it worth the hype? Well, you'll find out.

Wear: This has a five star rating from me on this. Lasted a whole day in hot sweaty Chicago, 2 days (could not even BEGIN to take this off!), a long hot shower, Shu Uemura cleansing oil and Lancome Gel Clarte. So, how exactly do I take this off? See next :]

How to take this off: First, I rub shu’s cleansing oil really well through my lashes for a few minutes. Then, I gradually add water until I wash it off. After that, I use Lancome bi-facils, then their Gel Clarte cleanser. After I finish with the cleanser, I do another swipe of bi-facils just in case and finish with regular face wash. This stuff is long wearing!

What I use to remove this/UDPP size comparision:


Color: BK999, a dark inky black, a great colored black. Not glossy though.

Curl: Holds a curl really well, especially when used in conjunction with their curl enhancing primer.

Volume: Doesn’t do much for volume, just a little bit. If you’re looking for a volumizing mascara, I can tell you to look somewhere else.

Lengthening: This lengthens noticeably in two coats. Great for this, and while you’re combing out clumps it lengthens even more!

Brush: Comb-style brush, my first one. At first, I thought it was a little clumpy because the formula would get between the combs and get onto the lashes but it is easily dealt with. I find my second eye is much easier to get rid of clumps (I get rid of them by combing through with the brush more) since most of the build-up between bristles has transferred onto the other eye.


Notes: This made me lose a few lashes in the process of removal. Would I repurchase? No. Between the slight clumping and pain in the butt removal process, it’s too much. On the Mascara Rating spectrum, this rates a 3.5/5. Not so bad for a 3, but not nice enough for a 4.