Benefit | Roller Lash Mascara

Mascara, with its rapid-fire transformative power, can rev up your look with just a few quick swipes – no special skill set needed. Benefit, the brand at the top of the retro-packaging game (that is simultaneously kitschy + addictive … and way too much fun to look at), is taking things up a notch with their new Roller Lash Mascara (CAN $29.00 launching on February 27th) that aims to not only give you mile-long lashes, but also eliminate the need for any pre-curling via its 12-hour innovative setting formula.

PS: My press kit arrived with Roller Lash tucked cozily inside this adorable little makeup bag, which also held 3 vintage-style rollers. The crazy part? I actually remember using these exact rollers back in the day.

Benefit | Roller Lash Mascara

Benefit’s new Roller Lash is a black mascara that claims to hook, lift, and curl your lashes via a unique Hook ‘N’ Roll Brush (patent-pending) and an innovative 12-hour setting formula, free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.

My eyelashes are relatively long (blonder tips give the illusion of a slightly shorter length) with a decent enough thickness and natural curl. As a self-professed mascara fiend, my standards for what constitutes a good mascara are rather demanding and high; for starters, I want my mascara to be easily buildable, flake-proof, and smudge free (all non-negotiable), with a preference for the formula to fall on the wetter side. Why wet? Mainly because it takes a few seconds longer to dry/set which gives you a bit of play time as far as separating/combing through the lashes is concerned, and will most likely not dry out in the tube as fast as other mascaras. Another deal-breaker is crunchy lashes — although clumps I can live with (easily removed with a lash comb, or camouflaged with other makeup). My favourite mascaras, are those that give me both volume and length, and having curl hold is something I’ve always considered a bonus.

Results: First things first, Roller Lash while not 100% odourless, has a very mild and inoffensive scent – points scored for this. Secondly, the tube fits comfortably in one’s hand with the rubberized & ridged feel of the cap making for a solid grip. Lately, I’ve been getting more into curved mascara brush heads, and the one found on Roller Lash seems to be angled just right for getting down to the nitty-gritty roots of lashes. The brush also sports bristles of varying lengths, with the shortest being on the inner part of the curve – which has this interesting ‘hooking’ effect (and that totally remind me of the little barbs on a cat’s tongue) that do a good job of gripping lash hairs for easy product deposit. Lastly, I really appreciate that the brush doesn’t come out of the tube loaded up with product; in fact, you almost don’t need to wipe off any excess at all.

As far as actual results go, the swatch photos below (note that I did NOT use a lash curler at all) make my going into detail rather redundant, but in a nutshell: you get separation, length, and curl that holds throughout the wearing, and while there’s enough body given to the lashes even with the first coat, do not expect high-impact volume. That aside, Roller Lash is an amazing mascara that definitely delivers on its promises. Not the blackest mascara I own, but dark enough nevertheless (50 Shades of Black?). I experience no ‘crescent-moon’ smudging (those annoying shadows under the eyes – as if one actually desires to look punched), and barring a couple of ultra-fine flakes, the wear is excellent until removed. Which brings me to the last ‘benefit’ (couldn’t resist) – removal is effortlessly accomplished with your go-to remover (my Holy Grail is the dual-phase one by Neutrogena), without the need for excessive force, tugging or pulling on that most precious of commodities, your lashes. Some nutshell this was, lol!

Benefit | Roller Lash Mascara

Ingredients

Water, Paraffin, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Polybutene, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Palmatic Acid, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Vp/ Eiosene Copolymer, Acacia Senegalgum, Copernicia Cerifrea (Carnauba Wax), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candeulla) Wax, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Align Serine, Bht. [+/-: Cl 19140 (Yellow 5,Yellow 5 Lake) Cl 42090 (Blue 1 Lake) Cl 77007 (Ultramarines), Cl 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride)), Cl 77288 (Chromium Oxide Greens) Cl 772889 ((Chromium Hydroxide Green) Cl 77491, Cl 77492, Cl 77499 (Iron Oxides), Cl 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide, Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide), Cl 77742 (Manganese Violet), Cl 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)]

{Bare lashes}

Benefit | Roller Lash Mascara, with 1 coat applied

Benefit | Roller Lash Mascara, with 2 coats applied

Benefit | Roller Lash Mascara

Never having tried every mascara that Benefit has ever produced, Roller Lash has impressed me enough to land a spot in my go-to drawer of products. I would have liked to see a little more in the volume department (another option is a mascara cocktail – using Roller Lash for length and curl, and a thicker formula for volume. Works like a charm), but that aside, I love the length and separation this gives me. I put Roller Lash head to head up against pre-curled lashes, and it still seemed to magically give the appearance of more – and continued – lift. Verdict: totally worth it.

Available as of February 27th at all Benefit counters across Canada, Sephora and Sephora.ca

Press sample provided for my unbiased consideration

Maybelline | Color Sensational Creamy Mattes

February 24, 2015

The matte lip trend continues to show no sign of letting up, and cosmetics giant Maybelline has thrown the gauntlet down to all other mass-market brands (including several department store brands, for that matter), with their Color Sensational® Creamy Matte range of lipsticks (CAN $9.99 available in 8 shades, 10 in the US).

Previously, the mere mention of ‘matte’ and ‘lipstick’ in a sentence, usually implied a flat-looking lip product with all the moisturizing properties of the Sahara desert; these new Creamy Mattes take things in a novel direction with their pigment-rich appearance that have added oils for a nourishing feel, as well as a finish that lays down with the sheen of velvet, as opposed to a true matte.

The no-nonsense packaging design is colour-labelled on the bottom of each tube, very convenient for grabbing the shade you want from amongst the multitude of lipsticks we all tend to carry around. The scent reminds me of Play-Doh (and brings me right back to critter-creating fun with my daughter) but doesn’t seem to linger past initial application, and while I have no issue with it, it’s worth noting for those with sensitivities. The texture is where these lipsticks come into their own: very creamy (and exactly as named), almost gliding buttery-soft along the lips, with absolutely no tugging or pulling. One swipe is basically enough for solid coverage, although some of the lighter shades can use an extra pass.

In order to see how accurately the Creamy Mattes perform, all swatches shown below have been applied directly from the bullet, without the use of lip liner or blotting. With regards to staying power, the paler shades last the least (averaging about 3-4 hours) with the deeper hues ranging anywhere from 5-8 hours, not factoring in eating or drinking. The deepest shades also leave a light stain behind on the lips after the majority of colour has worn off, and while I can’t say that my lips are left feeling hydrated with this formula, neither do I experience any drying issues.

Ingredients

Isononyl Isononanoate, Octyldodecanol, Oleyl Erucate, Silica, Cera Alba/Beeswax/Cire Dabeille, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cera Microcristallina/Microcrystalline Wax/Cire Microcristalline, Synthetic Wax, Sesamum Indicum Oil/Sesame Seed Oil, Peg-45/Dodecyl Glycol Copolymer, Kaolin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Alumina, Benzyl Alcohol, Mel/Honey/Miel, Parfum/Fragrance, (May Contain / Peut Contenir, Mica, Ci 77891/Titanium Dioxide, Ci 77491, Ci 77499/Iron Oxides, Ci 15850/Red 7, Ci 45410/ Red 28 Lake, Ci 45380/ Red 22 Lake, Ci 15985/Yellow 6 Lake, Ci 42090/Blue 1 Lake).

Maybelline | Color Sensational® Creamy Matte Lipsticks

Maybelline | Color Sensational® Creamy Matte Lipstick swatches

#655 Daringly Nude | A rose-tinted nude shade that leans more warm than cool. Of the eight, this was one of two that gave me application issues, as it had a tendency to pull away from the inner lip area. Two ways around this, are by either applying a neutral lip liner all over the lips first topped by a coat of lipstick, or blotting between layers of lipstick for more even coverage. It’s worth the extra effort, as this is a very wearable shade that will suit a broad range of skin tones.

Maybelline | #655 Daringly Nude swatch

#660 Touch of Spice | A rich raisin hue with hints of berry in the base to warm it up, opaque at just one swipe and absolutely gorgeous. In my opinion, this is the most easy-to-wear colour of the bunch and will look fabulous on everyone (the perfect vampy shade for super fair complexions, or a great neutral for deep skin tones). Love this. Love.

Maybelline | #660 Touch of Spice swatch

#665 Lust for Blush | A lilac hue with pink undertones, in a formula that is definitely less colour-saturated than the rest, but which gives surprisingly good coverage by the first swipe. I suspect that its cooler nature will make it more suitable for those with fair to light complexions – against my skin tone, I felt the colour looked rather washed out ∗shrugs∗

Maybelline | #665 Lust for Blush swatch

#670 Ravishing Rose | A true pink hue that somehow manages to lean both cool and warm at once. This was the second of the 8 to give me a spot of trouble, as once more I had to work at it to get the even coverage seen here. Pink is a very difficult colour for me to pull off, so I was surprised to find that this shade actually doesn’t clash with my skin tone. Not my favourite of the group, but a great hue for pink-lovers.

Maybelline | #670 Ravishing Rose swatch

#675 Faint for Fuchsia | Ummmm….WOW. Almost verging on neon territory, this shade took me by total surprise with its vibrancy. Perfect application, perfect coverage, perfect intensity. As I prefer either nudes or reds, this is somewhat of a scary shade for me to wear, but I can totally see this working with a tan.

Maybelline | #675 Faint for Fuchsia swatch

#680 Mesmerizing Magenta | A rich magenta hue that appears to have blueish undertones in the base (which would normally make this a cooler-leaning shade, but somehow manages to work well against warmer skin tones as well) in a formula & application that is bang-on. Gives such life to the face; all you need is a bit of face powder, a few swipes of mascara and you’re done. Absolutely GORGEOUS.

Maybelline | #680 Mesmerizing Magenta swatch

#685 Craving Coral | A vivid tangerine hue with high-voltage intensity, in a formula that certainly lives up to its creamy name and which applies with 100% opacity by the first swipe. I never wear orange, but the non-shiny finish of this shade turns what would usually be a rather garish colour (at least, on me) into something fun, edgy and even chic.

Maybelline | #685 Craving Coral swatch

#690 Siren in Scarlet | An intensely red hue with blue undertones in the base and densely colour rich by the first swipe along the lips. As with the shade above, care needs to be taken for application (definitely not a swipe-and-go kind of shade), but what’s a few minutes when your lips can look this amazing?

Maybelline | #690 Siren in Scarlet swatch

Colour me impressed … well done, Maybelline; these new Creamy Mattes certainly live up to their name and are well worth hunting down. As far as mass-market brands go, the formula can rival that of higher-priced versions and I hope the brand releases more shades in the range (speaking of, I don’t understand why only 8 of the 10 colours were released in Canada). Of favourites, I’m most drawn to Touch of Spice, Mesmerizing Magenta and Siren in Scarlet, although Craving Coral is making quite a strong case for itself as well. I mean, just look at it.

Available now at all mass-market retailers. Find more information on maybelline.ca

Press samples provided for my unbiased consideration

Clarins | Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil 01 Honey

February 22, 2015

Long associated with all things slimy (or salads), oil is now the beauty industry’s latest “it” ingredient, but Clarins knew way before the rest of the pack, how truly amazing certain oils can be; over 60 years ago, the brand’s first products were in fact, face and body oils. Launched with the recent Garden Escape Spring 2015 Collection (the eye shadow palette reviewed here) the latest addition to their already impressive line of beauty care, is the Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil (CAN $23.00), a triple threat balm/regenerator/gloss lip product. And it smells so yummy.

Don’t let the orange colour fool you; this lip oil most definitely applies clear. Made with nourishing oils such as Hazelnut, Mirabelle and organic Jojoba, the sponge-foot applicator is also unique in that it is much wider shaped than traditional gloss applicators & curved for ease of use. The downside to a wider applicator, however, is that it doesn’t come out of the opening as easily; you need to exert a touch more pressure – nothing major, but it should be noted that by doing so, you may just end up dropping some product along the way. In other words, don’t manhandle the process.

The texture is at once fluid, velvety, and buttery although the viscosity is thick enough to know you’re not wearing a gloss – but it sure shines like one. I personally love the honey scent (which seems almond candy-like to my nose) and while I’m not usually a fan of flavoured lip products, I don’t mind the slight sweet taste here either. With regards to lasting power, it’s about on par for a clear lip gloss-like product and I get approximately 2-3 hours of wear, although the nourishing feel it imparts to the lips last much longer than that. Another bonus, is that this lip oil can also be layered over lipstick/lip pencil, but I wouldn’t recommend contaminating the applicator like that.

Living in a climate that wreaks total CHAOS on the lips (and the incredibly cold Winter we’ve been experiencing this year, has taken things up a few notches in the dry/peeling/cracking lips department) I am constantly on the hunt for lip products to help give back what nature (and indoor heating) has taken away. This new Comfort Oil certainly delivers in that category, while making for that perfect swipe-and-go gloss … great for those days when you don’t want to bother with colour. With regards to long-term benefits, I can say that it won’t be replacing my current Holy Grail lip treatment product (which happens to be Vaseline’s Lip Therapy in Cocoa Butter) but it does an acceptable job just the same. My only issue, is that I find that about 30 minutes into the wearing, my lips actually start to feel a little tight around the edges – a quick press and the product gets redistributed, which goes a long way in eliminating that sensation.

Clarins | Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil 01 Honey

Clarins | Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil 01 Honey, ingredients list

Clarins | Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil 01 Honey, applied

The advantages to the Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil, are several; nourishing ingredients, instant shine and a feel-good scent/taste. Considering the CAN $23.00 price point, it’s also well within the reach of most budgets, especially when you factor in that it’s a department store brand. A lip saviour, it definitely isn’t for me, but I do like the feel upon initial application and enjoy the fact that my lips feel quite hydrated once it has worn off. I still think it’s worth looking into all the same, as we all respond differently to products and this might just be the ONE you’ve been looking for. Personally, I wish all lip products had this scent – bonus points for that.

Available now at all Clarins counters across Canada. Find more information via clarins.ca

Press sample provided for my unbiased consideration

Dior · Rouge Dior Brillant Bonheur, Victoire & Darling

February 21, 2015

First introduced in 1981, the House of Dior reinvents their Rouge Brillant (CAN $39.00 available in 12 shades) – a high impact lip gloss – with a new innovative formula and incredible shine. More than just a gloss, each slim profile tube is banded by the brand’s iconic ‘Cannage’ pattern in silver, with a transparent reservoir that clearly displays each colour held within. According to Peter Phlips, Creative and Image Director for Dior makeup, each new Rouge Dior Brillant is also a ‘modern treatment for global beauty, a truly Elusional Liquid Balm, bringing lip care to the heart of your lips for radiant perfect colour’

Dior was kind enough to send me several Rouge Brillant shades to test out, and after playing around with them for just over a week now, I am impressed enough to want to add them all to my beauty collection. The formula is created with a blend of three highly refractive treatment oils that include Vitamin E for its antioxidant and regenerative properties, as well as a proprietary plumping ingredient that ‘reactivates collagen synthesis‘ to help your lips feel incredibly smooth and completely hydrated. The precision-tipped applicator has a well in the centre to hold the perfect amount of product per swipe, while the included ‘long-wear contour waxes’ provide colour definition, staying power and mega-watt shine. Each gloss is scented with Dior’s signature rose fragrance, although I don’t notice anything after application – still worth noting for those with sensitivities.

The texture of each gloss, is where this product displays how outstanding it is in the category; the feel is a total sensorial experience with its buttery and emollient consistency, while the deeper Rouge Brillant shades are intensely colour-saturated enough to enable you to achieve full coverage with one swipe. I experience minimal settling into lip lines (and my lips are quite deeply lined), with no pilling of the product along lip edges either (when it collects along either the inner rim of the lip or at the corners). The absolute perfect mix of colour, brilliant shine, and balm. I’m not sure about a plumping effect, although I do sense a slight tingling upon initial application which leads me to believe that some fullness probably does result, although that effect would be temporary at best.

Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #468 Bonheur, #808 Victoire, #775 Darling

Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #775 Darling, #808 Victoire, #468 Bonheur

Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant

Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #468 Bonheur

Rouge Dior Brillant #468 Bonheur | A delicate light milky pink that leans warm against my skin tone, filled with an ultra-fine shimmer that never feels gritty upon the lips, but serves to add radiance instead. As my lips are quite lined, my high-res swatch photo below gives the illusion that #468 Bonheur emphasizes said lines, but the effect is quite the opposite seen in person. Finding a pale pink that doesn’t clash with the underlying yellow tone in in my skin, can be a challenge but I believe I can stop looking now. The shortest in staying power of the three (obviously due to the pale hue), I am still able to get a good 3 hours of wear (if you exclude eating & drinking from the equation), with my lips feeling fully nourished even after the colour fades.

FUN FACT: this pink shade was a favourite with M. Dior who believed that this colour “not only made women more beautiful, but happier”

Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #468 Bonheur

Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #468 Bonheur swatch

Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #808 Victoire

Rouge Dior Brillant #808 Victoire | An apricot/coral shade filled with the same type of shimmer as the rest, with a deeper pigmentation than that of #468 Bonheur (although not as intense as #775 Darling), which can also be layered to some degree for a stronger tone. Definitely more of a warmer hue, #808 Victoire will also make a great shade for those with cooler complexions, as it doesn’t lean too orange. As far as longevity goes, I am able to get 5 hours of wear (less, if drinking/eating), with a light peachy stain left behind on the lips after the colour has faded.

FUN FACT: Victoire was M. Dior’s youngest fit-model and muse, and this colour is named for her, as well as inspired by her youth and ‘sassy elegance’.

Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #808 Victoire

Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #808 Victoire swatch

Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #775 Darling

Rouge Dior Brillant #775 Darling | An intensely colour-saturated and pigment-rich raspberry/fuchsia shade, that provides full overage from the first swipe. In the same format as the rest (with regards to shimmer and texture), #775 Darling is hands-down the longest wearing of the three, and leaves a deep rose stain on the lips after the majority of colour/shine has faded. The coolest-leaning of the group, there are slight warmer hints in the shimmer that enable this shade to be worn by all skin tones with ease, and is the perfect pop of colour to pair with a simple black liner. Lasting power is impressive, and I’m able to easily get about 6 hours of wear, although I do experience a tiny bit of bleeding into surrounding lip lines after eating (adding a matching lip liner beforehand could help with this issue).

FUN FACT: This shade draws inspiration from an evening dress of the same colour that was created by M. Dior for the Spring/Summer 1948 Fashion Collection, embodying the spirit of ‘seductiveness and couture elegance’.

Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #775 Darling

Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant #775 Darling swatch

Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant swatches, direct sunlight

Dior | Rouge Dior Brillant swatches, alternate lighting

I received one more shade, #999 a classic red in true Dior style and that I will be showing in an upcoming post (spoiler: it’s totally gorgeous and you’ll want it – even if you never wear red lip shades). Don’t get me wrong; I love lipstick and the elegance that seems to be a part of the application ritual (there’s something to be said for taking the time to enjoy makeup, as opposed to just wearing it), but gloss is just so much easier, especially when you’re on the go. The new Rouge Dior Brillant glosses have upped the ante in the lipgloss game, by creating a product that feels as good as it looks. Did I mention that they’re also all layerable over lipstick? Not that you’ll want to, as they’re just so luscious on their own.

Available exclusive at The Bay as of April 1st, all Dior counters as of April 1st (Canada). Find more information by visiting dior.com

Press samples provided for my unbiased consideration

CHANEL | Joues Contraste 250 Crescendo

February 20, 2015

I was immediately drawn to the blush released as part of CHANEL’s La Perle de CHANEL Collection, Joues Contraste 250 Crescendo (CAN $48.00, Limited Edition), a hot pink confection that somehow manages to look both intensely cool and radiantly hot at the same time. The ballet inspiration behind this collection might have also had something to do with it; who wouldn’t want to shine like a prima ballerina?

CHANEL | Joues Contraste 250 Crescendo

Joues Contraste 250 Crescendo | A hot pink/magenta coloured blush in baked powder form. With its signature rose scent (and one that quickly dissipates upon application), CHANEL’s blushes are slightly dome-shaped in the pan, making it easy for your brush to pick up the right amount of product, as well as helping them wear down more evenly.

Don’t let the intense tone of 250 Crescendo scare you off; bright pink it might be, but application is a touch lighter than what you see in the compact, making for a highly wearable colour. There is a good mix of both cool and warm tones to keep the balance right, while the ultra-finely milled shimmer that CHANEL blushes are known for, will help add a gorgeous radiance to the skin. One issue with this blush, however, is that it seems to kick up some powder when you swirl your brush through it and can appear to be sitting at the surface level of the skin upon initial application – something easily remedied by using a denser brush to buff it in. The unique shade makes up for that little setback; 250 Crescendo adds a really lovely pop, drawing light and colour to one’s skin. I was able to get about 9 hours of solid wear time (when worn over foundation) before any noticeable fading.

CHANEL | Joues Contraste 250 Crescendo

I’ve managed to collect quite a few CHANEL blushes over the years, although up until now, I never owned a pink as vivid as 250 Crescendo – making this shade unique in my collection. The powdery nature can be a little off-putting but as I prefer buffing my face products in anyway, it doesn’t detract from my feelings for this gorgeous colour. The slight sheerness of initial application also works in its favour, making it easily worn as a lighter wash for those with fair complexions, or built up for more impact on deeper skin tones. Either way, it’s a stunner and I don’t regret picking it up. As if; it’s CHANEL, and we all know how I feel about this brand #myachillesheel

Available now, I picked mine up at The Bay (Canada).