Benefit's They're Real Mascara!! - does it live up to the hype?

Hi everyone!!

I'm sure every beauty lover has heard of the 'revolutionary' Benefit - They're Real Mascara!! I only recently purchased it due to the fact that I was happy with the mascara's I previously used, but I was interested to see the effects on my lashes as they are very straight and I always have to curl them!

 I decided to purchase the 'sample' size bottle which cost me £9.50 from Boots!

- The Brush: the brush is very rubbery with lots of bristles, it also has 'upward' bristles for separating lashes!
I personally usually do not like these brushes (since using Benefit Bad Gal Lash) but I think this one works well with the formula.

- The Formula: advantages of the formula is it is very very black! I think the formula is great for lengthening lashes but not so much for curling them. Another thing I would have liked to see is, a waterproof version of this mascara. 

The Results!!

Top: no mascara

Middle: 1 coat

Bottom: 2 coats

As you can see, this mascara definitely makes a big difference!

But I do think after the first coat lashes start to clump and stick together.

Overview

Pros!!
- makes lashes look longer
- very black formula
- easy brush to use 
- great for people with short naturally curled lashes

Cons!!
- not good for thick straight lashes
- does clump after the 1st coat
- cannot be layered 
- expensive

Would I repurchase?
No, this is potentially a great mascara depending on your lashes before. But I think there's too many cons for me and it weighs my lashes down.

Hope this review helped!!


Armani X

 

Battle of the Naked Palettes!!!

Hi Guys!!

I'm very excited to finally do my first blog post!

As a Makeup addict I thought my first post ought to be: The Battle of the Naked Palettes,
I hope this post will help if you are trying to decide which Naked Palette to purchase...


Both palettes retail at approximately £36 and contain 12 amazing shades in each!

Urban Decay Naked Palette (original)

sorry for the state of my palette!

Overview

- 2 matte colours and 10 shimmer/glitter/satin shades

- comes with a good quality flat brush (good for applying but not blending)

- mine also came with a small 11ml tube of Urban Decay Primer Potion

- packaging is made out of a cardboard like material with a suede outside, I personally do not like this packaging as much as the Naked2 as it could easily get wrecked if wet! Suede outside also gets very dirty and cannot be wiped clean! (as you can see from the photo)

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

Overview

- 3 matte colours and 9 shimmery/glittery/satin shades

- comes with a double ended brush which I love! flat end is great for applying and fluffier end is a great blending brush!

- mine also came with a small 23ml tube of Urban Decay Lip Junkie Lip Gloss!!

- I am a big fan of the packaging of the Naked2 Palette! Longer lasting great quality metal packaging which wipes clean and is more travel-friendly. Another great packaging feature is the mirror is much bigger and much more useful!

Swatch comparison!!

top photo is naked 1,colours from left to right (virgin,sin,naked,sidecar,buck,halfbaked,smog,darkhorse,toasted,hustle,creep,gunmetal)

bottom photo is naked 2, colours from left to right (foxy,halfbaked,bootycall,chopper,tease,snakebite,suspect,pistol,verve,YDK,busted,blackout)

- naked 1 palette has warmer darker colours

-naked 2 has more lighter peachy and taupe colours

Overall I think Naked1 contains more wearable day colours (such as naked and buck) but Naked2 contains better colours for evening-wear and also contains better shades for highlighting purposes (such as brow-bone and inner corner).

If you already own the Naked1 palette I do not think it is worth purchasing the Naked2 at such a high price of £36! But if I had to choose between them I would buy the Naked2 as the packaging is much better quality, the double ended brush is also better and I personally prefer the colours!

Also look out for when Debenham's do their 10% off cosmetics sale!

Hope this comparison helped!!

Armani X