Rimmel London Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal

It's Alright

I have reservations about calling this a waterproof eyeliner. First of all, it doesn't stay put in my waterline, even if I run a cotton bud across it first to remove excess water. Since I have in the Nude shade, I haven't tried it on my top lid so it might have better staying power there. It is pigmented and very soft so you don't need to worry about it tugging or pulling on delicate eyelid space. I've had mine for at least 2 years now (I sharpen and sanitize it frequently!) and it doesn't show sign of drying out. Even though it's soft, the "lead" doesn't melt or crumble in heat or when I'm sharpening it. Sharpening it may be inconvenient to some but I like having fresh product every time I put something near my eye; it reduces the chance of infection and spreading germs. Having said that, you've got to be careful when recapping the liner because the cap might scrape the "lead" and get product inside the lid, making it hard to clean. All in all, an affordable alternative to high end options that gets the job almost done!

May 6, 2015

Maybelline New York Eye Studio Master Drama Cream Pencil

Pretty Good

I've had two shades of this pencil, Coal Commander and Sapphire Siren, and both were good. They are pigmented enough; I didn't have to go over the line a million times to get a decent line. They smudged well but once set, they don't budge too much IF I use primer. I have oily and hooded eyelids so without primer, everything smudges and becomes a mess. I got transfer to my top lid after 6 hours but it was minor compared to other formulas. The point is very fine but since it lacks a built in sharpener, it dulls after a few uses. Since it's a twist up pencil, a sharpener isn't required but it would be handy to sharpen the point. Mine dried out after a crack appeared in the cap; I have a thing about smashing the cap on so that it doesn't fall off but I need to be more gentle. They didn't irritate my sensitive eyes and for that, it's one of my favorite formulas. It's not perfect but for the price, it's good enough for me.

May 6, 2015

Simple Kind to Skin Micellar Cleansing Water

Not What I Expected

This is the first micellar water I've ever used so I don't have any references. I was intrigued because I'm lazy when it comes to makeup removal. It's a necessary evil that I have to contend with every night but this piqued my interest because of the simple (hehe), no-wash, one step process. When wearing lighter makeup, like bb cream or tinted moisturizer, I needed to use 3 soaked cotton rounds (using both sides so 6 in total) before it came clear. Removing eye makeup is easy if all I'm wearing is concealer and eyeshadow; it doesn't do well with waterproof mascara or eyeliner. However, it doesn't sting my eyes when I get right up in there. I also find it helpful to remove errant eye makeup (like wonky cat eye liner) without disturbing the rest of my makeup. Since I wear a full face of makeup mostly every day, this one isn't for me but if you wear lighter makeup, this might be the one step process you've been looking for.

May 6, 2015

Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Wipes

Not Worth It

After seeing a lot of rave reviews here and elsewhere, I wonder if I've got a bad batch. These were some of the driest makeup wipes I've ever tried. Because they were so dry, I had a hard time removing makeup, even simple eyeshadow. Forget about any full coverage foundation, waterproof mascara, or eyeliner--this barely scratched the surface of my makeup. In addition to its ineffectiveness, the scent was horrible. I prefer non-scented products but I can deal with most scents. This one however, is even worse than the Neutrogena wipes. It's been years since I used the Neutrogena scent so it might have improved and people have different preferences but this one smells like moldy paper. The positive things about this wipe is that it's softer than some, retains its shape well, the ingredients list is short, and doesn't dry out my skin (doesn't contain drying alcohols). This is good if you're wearing light makeup or just looking for a midday refresher but if you're wearing a full face of makeup, I recommend you pass on this lest you be left disappointed.

May 6, 2015