Mascara Diaries: Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes

Time for another entry to our mascara diaries. I have been using Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes mascara for about three weeks now and the results are mixed. Overall I'm not crazy about the mascara but I found a way to make it acceptable enough that I don't need to buy a new mascara for the time being.

My main complaint is the brush. I took a picture of the cat eyes brush (at the top) and the brush from my favorite Maybelline mascara Colossal Volum to show the difference. The cat eyes brush is far too skinny and the tube isn't designed to take enough excess mascara off as you remove the wand. You can probably see the difference between the two brushes and their product to bristle volume ration. This meant my lashes stuck together rather than fanning out into full and separate strands. It would be better to go without - a serious statement coming from a mascara addict. 

Since the consistency of the mascara is alright, I tried swapping the wands. I now use the brush from my favorite Maybelline mascara (pictured above) in the cat eyes mascara and left the scrawny cat eyes brush in the old tube of mascara. The regular Colossal Volum mascara has a much better formula when it comes to adding volume and length but the cat eyes option isn't so bad that I need to run out and buy a different mascara immediately. 

Mascara Diaries: Lancome Hypnose Drama

This round of Mascara Diaries involves a more expensive tube of mascara. I decided to use the whole tube before writing my review so our readers could get the most info before spending almost $30. Read below for my thoughts on Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara:

I wanted to love this mascara, and came very close to doing so. However, a few cons that an expensive mascara should not have held me back. Here is a list of pros and cons so you can decide if the price tag is worth it for you:

Pros

*Brush shape makes it easy to fan out those hard to reach corner lashes while also working well on the rest of your lashes
*Serious drama - the name is not a lie!
*Long lasting, eyelashes look just as great at the end of a long day
*Does not run down your face like other mascaras (example 1, example 2)

Cons

*Tube does not squeeze off enough excess mascara when removing the wand, which means super fast/running late application can get messy
*Product starts to clump in less than two months

I cannot stand clumpy mascara and I expect my high end products to last longer than two months. Sometimes you hit a rough patch with a tube of mascara, but magically the clumps stop forming after a few days so I kept trying it. I finally gave up on this mascara favor of my old tube of Colossal Volum because the clumping was getting ridiculous and showed no signs of stopping. Mascara should not have consistency issues after less than 8 weeks of use. If Maybelline can do it, so can Lancome.

That being said, you might not mind sacrificing a long life span for beautifully and dramatically fanned out lashes, regardless of the price tag. However, I will continue my hunt for the perfect eyelash drama inducing product. Check out all of our Mascara Diaries posts for the other products we have tried and loved, or in this case decided not to purchase again.

Sadly, Posh Purpose is not being sponsored by any of these brands or stores mentioned today. Melinda and I are not receiving free mascara; we are just product junkies who invest our own money and then share our findings with y'all. That being said, we will happily review any mascara sent our way! **hint hint, makeup companies**

Too Faced Better than Sex Mascara Review

This mascara was recommended to me by one of the helpful Sephora ladies a few months ago. I told her I wanted big, dramatic lashes and she said this Too Faced mascara was her favorite product.

Good news: the lashes became big and dramatic without clumps.

Bad news: I had mascara running down my face by lunch time.

I tried the usual eye primer, powder, concealer, then no concealer. Nothing would stop the running. I must have particularly oily eyes because this same thing happened to me with another mascara. I sadly returned this mascara the next week. At least Sephora has a great return policy!

Check out our other mascara diaries posts to learn all about our cosmetic adventures!

Product Review: Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara

Last summer, I got on the Bobbi Brown makeup bandwagon after trying a few of their products over the course of the previous year.  I was also bored with my regular regimen of Bare Escentuals makeup and I wanted to try something new (I swear I have product ADHD).  So, I took a trip to the Bobbi Brown makeup counter at Nordstrom and let them doll me up.  I let the sales girl talk me into the Telluride Glow set, which sadly is no longer available:

Bobbi Brown Telluride Glow Set
Image Source: Nordstrom

I mostly went with the set because I got to try out six eyeshadows, I was out of bronzer, and the pink shimmer lip gloss looked fun.  I wasn't that excited by the mascara or the gel eyeliner, but I figured I would get around to using them eventually.  I finally started using the Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara a few months ago (that's correct, I don't buy a new mascara every month like Allure, Glamour, and the rest of the beauty magazine community tells you to....so far my eyeballs and eyelashes are still intact, so I figure I'm ok).

Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara
$25
Image Source: Nordstrom

The Application: My daily makeup routine is to slather on wrinkle cream/moisturizer, do my eye makeup, put on concealer and foundation, dust on bronzer/blush, and apply powder all over my face (including my eyes).  My final step is to curl my eyelashes and add one really good coat of mascara (I have no patience for two coat application...plus the few times I've tried it my eyelashes get stuck to the curler).  Here's me with all my make up on before applying the mascara (I'm trying not to scare y'all away, so I keep the makeup free shots to a minimum here on Posh Purpose):

Before: Although I had mostly fixed my face, I clearly had not fixed my hair yet.  My apologies. :)

After: One coat of a Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara and a hair brush later.

The Verdict:  It's ok.  I'm not overly wowed by the formula or the results.  I will say that the wand is easy to use and the formula doesn't flake.  I think there are other mascaras out there that give you longer, fuller lashes and there wasn't much curling action going on here either.  If this is the "extreme party" I bet a "party" version is a sad, sad state of events involving a bad clown and stale cake.

Bottom line: Give it a go if it's part of any future kits or collections and don't let that deter you if you love the other products in the set...otherwise take your $25 and find something else.

Enjoy this post? We love writing our Mascara Diaries!

Cheap Mascara

I am reposting this blog article because Melinda had the genius idea of adding a picture of the mascara on my eyelashes. 

I am a mascara junkie. I can't go without it! I have tried all different brands and have decided to share my experiences with you, but in smaller posts rather than one extremely long chronology of the various tubes I have purchased. Melinda will also be sharing her own experiences, which is great because we have totally different eyelashes. Just for reference, mine are already on the long and thick side and they curl with just mascara (no need for the curling tool). I know, I know.. I'm lucky :) If you want to read other posts in this series, click here.

Info on picture above: the only makeup I have on above is tinted moisturizer and Urban Decay eyeshadow in Sin. I only applied one coat and did not have to use an eyelash brush. However, sometimes I am messy and end up using a clean toothbrush to comb out the lashes.

Let's start the series off with good news. Cheap mascara can make you happy! While I love to browse and purchase from Sephora's mascara bar, I have decided that mascara is one cosmetics area I can spend a bit less. My current favorite cheap mascara is Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express.

It goes on smooth, catches all your lashes, and lasts all day. That last bit is very important when it comes to buying cheap mascara. I actually went back to my old tube of this stuff when I was extremely dissatisfied with another cheap mascara I bought. That's right - old Colossal Volum' Express is better than a new tube of something else.

Let's Talk Cheap Mascara, Again

Last week, I introduced our new series Mascara Diaries. I told you about my current favorite cheap mascara, Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express. Yay! Prepare your sad faces for today, though. We are about to delve into a tube of mascara that actually sent me running back to my old tube mentioned above.**

Meet Maybelline Mega Plush Volum' Express.

Source: Maybelline

I don't know how I could have such drastically different results from two varieties of Maybelline mascara. This stuff went on a bit thin, definitely did not live up to the awesome marketing name Mega Plush. And a few hours later, it started sliding down my face. At first I blamed humid Florida. Then, my awesome moisturizer. I tried using it with under eye concealer and without. I also tried the under eye powder trick. It just kept sliding. I had an epiphany moment when I was trying to think of another solution: mascara should not be this much work! I promptly pulled out my old tube of Maybelline and threw this one back in the bag. The only reason why I saved it is so that I could remember the specific name to share on Posh Purpose. I clutter up my already cluttered makeup bag for our readers - I am just that dedicated.

I'm sure other people have had different experiences with Mega Plush. I do hope it makes someone happy, the name is just so awesome. However, it did not work for me. Do you have a favorite mascara? Or perhaps a despised tube? Let us know! Melinda and I love to try new products!



**I often switch mascaras every time I buy a new tube because I have cheap cosmetics ADD. However, the results are not always thrilling. That is why I save my old tube for a few weeks until I decide I love the new tube. It pays to hoard cosmetics.