Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara

Rarely I stumble upon a product I really love from the word go, yet in Armani's Eyes To Kill mascara I've found my soul mate. My fluttery, long lashed soul mate.

Using microfil technology to swiftly create an enviable false lash appearance, this generous, elegant brush has transformed my search for statement eyes into a mere 2 coat application. Opting for a single light layer to take me throughout the day, I simply load up after work and gaze in awe at my big, black, beautifully framed eyes. I FREAKIN' LOVE IT!

Providing more visible length than thickness, this is ideal for those who want weightless, fluttery lashes within a matter of moments. Long lasting, non flaking and beautifully smooth to apply, this is a dream formula for clump free application.

Before:

After 1 coat of Eyes To Kill:

Priced at $30/ £23.50 a tube, this is a pricey yet wonderfully worthy addition to any mascara wardrobe. If you're a fan of YSL Faux Cils than this will be right up your street.

Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara is available from giorgioarmanibeauty-usa and selfridges.com for $30/£23.50.

*this product was a free sample obtained by the Beauty Bite*

Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express Mascara

We all have guilty pleasures, and this bright yellow, big brushed, weirdly spelt (volum'?) mascara is mine.

Having launched onto the market way back in 2008, The Colossal still continues to brag at being able to give lashes up to 7 times more volume thanks to its easy to load collagen enriched formula. Whilst I guess emphasis should be put on the words "up to", in general I think this mascara does a great job at bringing both a burst of instant length and thickness to the table. After all, here's what my lashes look like after just one quick coat:

Before:

After:

Whilst at times the large brush can be right royal pain to use, overall I've made my way though about 4 tubes of this formula. Leaving my eyes perfectly framed for anything up to 12 hours, I rarely - if ever - encounter any clumping or flaking thanks to the beautiful lightness of the texture. Granted it's not the most exciting or enjoyable product to use, but it does its job and it does it well. I just wish it looked a little bit prettier in my make up bag.

Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express Mascara is available from selected stores worldwide and boots.com for £7.19

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

Edward Bess Pure Impact Mascara

Dang it!

Whilst I've been sitting on this review for a month or two now, in typical sod's law style this fantastic product has only gone and been discontinued! As irrelevant as it may be, it still seems somewhat beneficial to discuss this offering from Edward Bess - a man who made his name with Lipsticks - if only to give a brief idea of what might be found in his follow up mascara, 'Bess Lash'.

Presented in a slim and sleek black tube, this high end product pitches it's credentials as lenghtening, weightless and clump free. Armed with a slender brush, Edward himself describes Pure Impact as "offering the look of false eyelashes" - a description which instantly gets my beauty heart a racing.

Easy to apply thanks to both the size and shape of the wand, Pure Impact is a great mascara for layering thanks to the not overly wet texture of the formula. Admittedly, after 4 coats it does begin to clump in a rather unattractive manner, but so long as you're careful with the amount of product on the wand, 3 coats provide a deliciously dramatic effect. Ideal for smokey night time eyes.

Before:

After 1 coat of Pure Impact Mascara:

As the above picture shows, Pure Impact can also pull off a relatively subtle appearance when gently brushed through the lashes. It's this easy versatility that makes me simply love this product, especially when it gives such beautiful and delicate results. My lashes appear naturally curled and lengthened, holding up easily throughout the day without any traces of flakes or smudging. Whilst I do think this formula would benefit from more volume thrown into the mix, as a mascara that I can reliably turn to for both day and night wear, Edward Bess has done an impressive job at creating another make up bag staple.

Retailing at a price point to rival the likes of Chanel, I wouldn't say I'd necessarily choose this over my beloved Inimitable or YSL Faux Cils. Having purchased this earlier on in the year for around £15 in the Zuneta sale, I genuinely wish I'd snapped up a back up or two. Whilst the full price does feel a tad too high to me, I honestly think this is a great mascara and one that would work well for a wide range of people. If Bess Lash is anything like it's elder sibling then it's certainly worth investigating, especially if you're already a fan of the man himself.

*this product was purchased by The Beauty Bite*

New CID i-Volumise Mascara

When it comes to lashes my views are simple; I want them bloomin' big.

Whilst others may search for curl or definition, I constantly find myself attracted to tubes emblazoned with the words "1000% MORE LENGTH!", "FOR LASHES SO LONG YOU'LL NEED A TAPE MEASURE!" OR "CRIKEY! THIS FORMULA WILL MAKE YOU LOOK SO GOOD YOU'LL ACTUALLY FANCY YOURSELF!" Which is why it comes as no surprise to learn I was a right eager beaver to check out this root boosting affair...

i-Volumise by New CID is a chunky little thing. Packaged in a futuristic pearly white tube, this mascara sells itself on it's "revolutionary 2-in-1 brush". If you struggle with the size of Benefit's Bad Gal wand then this product will definitely test you further, mainly because it's bloody HUGE!

Whilst one side of the genius wand loads your lashes generously with thick helpings of formula, a svelte and nifty separating comb pulls through the hairs to insure your application stays free from unsightly clumps. Whilst the texture of the mascara is quite wet to begin with, I found the product dried moderately quickly, leaving my lashes light and lifted with a faint flirty curl.

Before:

After:

Claiming to offer both "huge volume" and "exceptional definition", I do feel a tad let down by the overall results. Don't get me wrong, I actually really, really like this mascara - it wears like a complete pro and gives the most gorgeous framing to the eyes - it just perhaps isn't quite the product I was expecting it to be.

For day to night use i-Volumise is definitely a contender for the make up bag; the brush is fun to use, the results are super speedy (the above picture is just 1 coat of product), plus it holds up remarkably well under warmer weather conditions (though it will need topping up occasionally to keep the 'Oomph!'). I'm just a bit sad it doesn't add a tad more thickness to the tips, then I'd be a seriously smitten.

i-Volumise Mascara is available from selected retailers worldwide and newcidcosmetics.co.uk for £18.

*this product was a free sample obtained by the Beauty Bite*

No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara

Yes, I know, this post is literally 473 months behind but trust me when I say a good mascara never goes out of fashion...

Whilst the beauty blogging world goes up in arms over No7's latest mascara (and it's marketing techniques) I'm still secretly loving 2010's three-in-one creation designed to deliver deliciously defined results.

The clever innovative brush (one side for volume, one side for combing and a rounded tip to reach those hard-to-get-to-hairs) means all curves and corners can be covered with just a simple flick and wiggle of the wand. Enriched with vitamins and soy protein, this keratin rich formula claims to both protect and care for lashes during wear.

Before:

After:

The results speak for themselves; length, volume, no dried out clumps - I can't see many lashes not being happy with this fluttery affair.

No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara is available from boot stores and boots.com priced at £7.50

*this product was a free sample obtained by the Beauty Bite*

Maybelline The Falsies Black Drama Mascara

As the cosmetic market becomes positively saturated with fake lashes and their mascara based rivals, it seems the bigger brands are pulling out all the stops in order to provide even more money making must haves. The latest spin off comes from Maybelline, a company who promise an intense, matte black effect in just a single sweep of their spoon shaped brush...

I'll admit, I'm yet to try the original Falsies formula - which I guess makes this review somewhat redundant. Whilst Black Drama offers to provide the same false lash effect, the twist comes with the added bonus of carbon black fibres; an ingredient intended to deliver more depth and intensity, creating the ultimate dramatic night time look.

Before:

After:

Although I have no major complaints regarding the brush or formula, I just can't seem to click with this mascara. Whilst it adds a great amount of length, my lashes tended to clump due to the rather wet texture of the blend. It holds up phenomenally well throughout the day and doesn't leave the hairs too brittle, but as far as an intense false lash effect goes? I don't think it's 100% there.

Whilst I enjoy wearing this throughout the day at work, I definitely wouldn't trade in my beloved YSL when it comes to creating those elusive evening eyes.

Maybelline The Falsies Black Drama Mascara is available from selected chemists worldwide and boots.com for £8.19

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara

2010 has most certainly been the year of the eye lash. Whilst sales of falsies climb by the day (this year it was reported Debenhams had seen demand rise by an astonishing 1000%) the mascara market has declared competition by promising consumers their own slice of permanent enviable eyelash action. One company joining the race is Rimmel, who launched their own growth-promoting formula back in August.

Lash Accelerator is advertised as an ultra lengthening formula containing a unique Grow Lash Complex - an element that claims to promote natural growth by up to 117% in just 30 days. In all honesty I haven't been using this mascara religiously enough to say whether or not these claims are true, but the Rimmel website seems to be bursting with happy customers.

The elegant thin wand grips the lashes nicely and provides an even, clump free application. A slightly wet formula, the product dries reasonably quickly to leave the lashes nourished from root to tip. I don't experience any brittleness with this product; a mascara trait which I truly hate.

Before:

After:

1 coat of mascara undeniably lengthens the lashes and feels extremely comfortable to wear. The light weight texture prevents the hair's natural curve being weighed down and creates an instant bright eyed effect - ideal for those who love a slightly bolder take on the natural look. In general I think this formula holds up well, yet I do really wish it gave a tad more thickness to the lashes.

If you're a one-mascara-at-a-time kind of girl then this is probably worth a punt. However, if like me, you have several tubes in rotation then a lot of the selling points for this formula will be irrelevant due to infrequent use. I do enjoy wearing Lash Accelerator as an occasional day to day basic, but I don't love it enough to commit myself to 30 days use.

Rimmel's Lash Accelerator mascara is available at selected chemists and boots.com for £8.99

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

Max Factor Xperience Volumising Mascara

Max Factor's lastest range of weightless-to-wear products have taken chemists across the country by storm. Originally launching with the pore busting Xperience Foundation way back in September, the collection has since extended to include a series of glossy lip balms plus an innovative volume inducing mascara.

Using a brand new mousse effect formula which doesn't weigh the hair down, Xperience Mascara allows the lashes to feel both light and lifted; a nifty trick which helps instantly add fluttery volume to the natural curl. If you dig the minimal look yet hate the idea of facing the world mascara free, then this does a great job of enhancing what nature already gave you.

Before:

After:

Application is a breeze: the long wand comfortably grabs each strand and delivers both a quick and even result completely free of stickiness. I wouldn't say this mascara was any more pleasurable to wear, simply because I'v never felt heavy lashes to be an issue, yet I would note that the curl definitely stayed perkier for longer. Even after 10 hours wear there was not a single smudge, flake or patch of stiffness to be found.

Available in either black or brown, this product certainly lives up to Max Factor's already impressive CV of mascaras. If you're a fan of Masterpiece then this will probably be your cup of tea, although those of you hooked on Masterpiece Max may crave a little more depth.

Max Factor Xperience Mascara is available from Max Factor stands, boots.com for £10.99, and Superdrug for £7.99.

*this product was a free sample obtained by the Beauty Bite*

Lancome Hypnose Mascara

A short while ago we picked up a small sample tube of Lancome's customisable volume mascara Hypnose. Fitted with it's very own patented powerFULL brush, the product claims to visibly thicken lashes by up to 6 times their natural state. Promising a clump free, simple and smooth application, we wanted to see if these mighty statements could actually be matched by such a tiny tester...

The long thin brush easily hugged the majority of our lashes and certainly delivered a clean, even coat of mascara. However, although we didn't experience any clumping, the wetness of the formula did cause some of our lashes to cling whilst drying; though, it definitely wasn't anything that couldn't be fixed with a quick swipe of the brush...

Bare lashes

Lashes with 1 coat of Lancome Hypnose (black)

There's no denying Hypnose lengthens, thickens and emphasis, yet our favourite trait without a doubt is it's longevity. This formula really packs a punch and lasted a whole 12 hours wear without flaking, drooping, crumbling or smudging. We found that 3 coats instantly took our lashes to an enviable state of flutter and, during the course of an evening, were asked 8 times if they were in fact falsies!

If you're looking for 1 product to swiftly take you from day to night, then generous lashings of this would definitely do the job.

Lancome Hypnose mascara is available from selected retailers worldwide and lancome.co.uk for £20.

*this product was a free sample obtained by the Beauty Bite*

Bourjois Volumizer Mascara

Most of you will no doubt have seen MAC's very own take on the 2-in-1 mascara brush, yet high street favourites Bourjois are the first drug store brand to bring this innovative concept to the masses. So, does double the brush mean double the impact? Let's have a look...

First things first - to state the obvious - Volumizer mascara is in fact just ONE brush. Attached to an ultra skinny wand, the 2-in-1 effect is achieved by pushing the slim wand through a thicker wand that removes a whole heap of excess mascara in the process. This allows for the more subtle and natural look that makes up Step 1, and the more dramatic, 3-d effect of Step 2 - clever, huh?

Step One Brush

The brush itself is BIG. Close in size to that of Benefit's Bad Gal, if you've got smaller eyes or hooded lids you may find this application leaning towards the more messy side of things. The bristles effortlessly coated the lashes well, yet the sheer wetness of the product's formula resulted in the majority of our lashes sticking together.

Step Two Brush

As for Step 2? It was a pretty hit and miss affair. On the initial application we found the brush collected far too much product, which, inevitably, resulted in some pretty hefty clumping. However, once we'd left the lashes to dry for a few minutes the formula became pretty easy to manipulate, and with the aid of a lash comb managed to present us with some gorgeously fluttery eye curtains. It's all swings and roundabouts in the world of mascara, hey?

Brush mid "transformation"

Throughout the day the Volumizer confidently holds up well. Not only does it keep the curl of the lashes nice and soft, it also doesn't drop or flake like some thicker mascaras. If you're someone who likes your lashes big and bold then you might enjoy the dense effect that Step 2 has to offer.

Excess mascara after brush "transformation"

At £9.99, we struggle to accept the price of this product. It seems that every year drug store mascaras are getting closer and closer in cost to that of mid brand companies - and with MAC's Haute & Naughty only costing $18 (£11.69 in today's exchange rate) - it does make us long for the days when you could pop into Boots and pick up a tube for a fiver.

Step One applied to lashes

Bourjois no doubt have some truly fantastic mascaras in their repertoire, yet we can't help but feel Volumizer has somewhat of a way to go in order to match up to it's contemporaries. It's certainly a quick weapon to have in your handbag to swiftly take you throughout the day - and Step 2 really does pack some punch when fanned out - we just wish the formula wasn't so darn wet.

Step Two applied to lashes (Photo taken before lashes were combed out)

If you like your lashes thick, black and bold then Volumizer might just be up your alley (we can see this becoming a real favourite with young teenage girls) Yet if you prefer the more natural look, then the 2-in-1 treatment might just be a step too far...

Bourjois Volumizer Mascara is currently available from Boots priced at £9.99 *GET A FREE BOURJOIS EYE LINER WORTH UP TO £5.99 WITH EACH PURCHASE UNTIL OCTOBER*

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

Mascara Wars - The Champion!

So, after a fierce 24 hour battle a victor has finally emerged. Ladies and Gentlemen, please applaud our very worthy winner: picture number 6 - YSL Faux Cils!

Check out our full review by clicking here!

In second place was picture number 1 - the fantastic Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous.

Check out our full review by clicking here!

Third place went to picture number 3 - Max Factor's somewhat-boring-but-ultra-effective Lash Extension; perfect for those of you who love the natural look.

Check out our full review by clicking here!

Fourth place was taken by the most expensive mascara on our list: Picture number 4 - Chantecaille Faux Cils.

Check out our full review by clicking here!

In fifth place was Picture 5 - a rather disappointing offering from the otherwise fantastic Clinique with their High Impact mascara.

Check out our full review by clicking here!

And in last place was picture number 2 - Avon's Astonishing Lengths.

Check out our full review by clicking here!

Surprised? Shocked? Did the right wand win? Thanks to everyone who voted - we love hearing your thoughts!

Mascara Wars!

Mascara: to begin with we might be looking to fix different things, but when it comes to the end results we all crave for our lashes to look no-less than incredible. Over the last 2 months we've taken 6 different products, applied them to our eyes and let the proof be in the pictures. Which are your best and worst?

In the words of PJ and Duncan - let's get ready to rummbllleeee!

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

Avon Astonishing Lengths Mascara

First things first, we have to give it to Avon for having the guts to stick the word "astonishing" on what is otherwise a rather ordinary product. This has been gracing our lashes for the last 5 days, and although we're generally quite pleased with it's ability, it certainly isn't the formula the name would lead you to believe.

Claiming to lengthen lashes by up to 65%, the reasonably sized brush evenly grabs and coats every hair from root to tip. However, due to the products wet and thin consistency, we're yet to experience an application completely free of smudges or smears. If you don't have a cotton bud handy then this mascara is certainly best left alone.

Before:

After:

Plus:

Although it states to be clump free, from our experience we've encountered several repeat cases of sticky lashes - yet once brushed out this mascara does hold up exceptionally well. At the weekend we rocked it for 16 hours straight

and not once did it slip, slide or smudge. All in all we've thoroughly enjoyed wearing this as a subtle day look, but as far as "astonishing" goes? Perhaps another word should have been picked from the thesaurus.

Avon Astonishing Lengths mascara is available from local representatives and avon.com for $2.99 (currently on sale from $8.50.)

*this product was a free sample obtained by the Beauty Bite*