Beauty Product Reviews | Page 5

Perfect for groomed eyebrows

This waxy stick keeps my brows neat all day. I use it in 'Wheat', a smokey brown that does a good job of lightly shading as well as shaping; I normally use it with a pencil, but on days I just want a quick fix I can use this on its own.

For best results, it should be worked into the brows against the growth and combed through; it seems an oversight that MAC haven't made it double-ended with a spoolie. I remember being told that you can purchase refills, but my local counter doesn't offer this option. Worth checking at yours.

Best color

This is a great natural shade for darker skin tones that I came upon by accident - it was given to me by a fair, red-headed friend who said it didn't suit her. Now it's a staple, and the most wearable blush I own - the deep shade colors *and* contours, so it doubles as both blush and bronzer for everyday wear and on-the-go touch-ups.

My only dislike is the packaging - I'm not a fan of the Clinique brush that comes with its blushes, I always carry my own fluffy brush so I'd much rather it came in a square case - probably get more product for your buck too.

I really like this bronzer - the color is good for contouring, with the merest hint of shimmer, and the packaging is very cute. It has a strong fragrance though, so I try not to think too much about what I'm actually putting on my face...

This blush applies to a pretty finish and is long-lasting, both on the skin and in the pot. A little bit goes a very long way - because it's finely milled and highly-pigmented, I only have to tap a little bit in the lid for one application.

BONUS: This shade is right on the current coral trend - build it up for a bold cheek or apply subtly as the perfect complement to this season's bright lip colors :)

Had better

I recently had to replace my wonderful but ancient Benefit eyelash curlers, which they discontinued a while back. Having heard about Shu Uemura's for years, I was expecting so much more. I'm well-practiced in the eyelash-curling technique, but I haven't yet achieved my desired results without worrying I'll damage my lashes. Maybe the silicone pad needs to soften up, I'll persevere.

Disappearing act

Many stick-blushers can be a little greasy for my sensitive skin, so this cream-to-powder was what I was looking for. Like a lot of cream blushers though, the application can be patchy if not blended properly; if blended well, it disappears into my skin. Hardly a win-win.

I'll try building it more, and layering it with a powder blush. If in doubt, go for a darker colour.

Full, natural flutter - that grows!

Oye, I love this. It doesn't flake or smudge, it's super-buildable, I get big fat lashes, and it *makes them grow*. What more can I say? ♥ Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara 4 eva ♥

Can't live without it

Smudge-prone lids? This is your Holy Grail product. I love doing my eye makeup, but have always struggled with the fact that my small eyelids melt away my hard work within minutes. This eye primer was a revelation, and I don't know how I ever managed without it - it glides on smooth and creamy, then sets. And sets, and sets. Nothing you apply over it will come off until you want it to, which it will with just a swipe of remover.

The colours are so varied and fresh, you can find your perfect shade and wear them on their own for a bright-eyed look. I use 'Linen' with just a lick of eyeliner as a clean day-time eye, and 'Wheat' as a slightly darker base when I want some depth. 'Eyebright' is great universal shade for those with dark, tired eyes who want to perk up their peepers. All in all, a must-have.

Super smooth, long-lasting

I have super-small lids, and I'd yet to find an eye pencil that didn't rub off all over my lid and into my crease. I was interested to see what this would do - I'd read that it glides on smoothly and stays creamy on the lid long enough to blend, or if left alone a few moments would set to a budge-proof finish.

It didn't disappoint. I tested it without an eye primer to see how long it would stay on its own, and at the end of the day the line was still there. There was a hint of a smudge, but even that was impressive considering that my eyelids tend to get greasy and melt my eye makeup.

'Bourbon' is a gorgeous, shimmery brown shade - I was looking for the most neutral brown to complement my dark eyes, similar to MAC's 'Teddy' that I've used for years. This is perfect for a natural day look, or you could build and smudge for a pretty, smokey eye.

The reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars is its application. The pencil absolutely does what it says, and glides on smoothly; but because of it's soft texture, it's difficult to get a fine, sharp line that I favour on days I prefer pencil to liquid. So if you're happy with a soft band of colour on your lash line that lasts all day, this is the perfect liner for you.