Glossier Lash Slick

Well, it's been a while since I've written a blog post. No real excuse, not that most of you would be looking for one. I just haven't felt like posting anything. I've had plenty of ideas but just none that I've followed through on. I've also been working on a new project. Myself and some talented women led by fellow Irish blogger Colette (Wide-Eyed and Blind) have started a website, Bean Magazine. 

I'm the Beauty/Film and Tv Editor so I've been working on articles for the website over the past while which has taken up the time I would have spent blogging. However now that we've launched and I've gotten used to writing different kinds of articles I feel like I can differentiate between what I write for the blog and what I write for Bean. It's been so much fun and so inspiring working with a group of like-minded women who all have different interests, passions and areas of expertise. I hope you have time to check out the website (which is a work in progress), we'd love any feedback you have to give and we're also always looking for contributors so if you or anyone you know is looking for a creative outlet or has anything they'd like to write about that doesn't fit anywhere else please don't hesitate to get in contact with us. You can also keep up with us on Instagram. 

Now, let's get into the review. This is a product that has been in the making for the past few years. It's something every Glossier fan was waiting for so it already had high expectations to live up to- Lash Slick mascara.

It's the product that was missing from my full face of Glossier post last year and now the wait is over and I've been using it for the past few weeks after kindly being sent one by the lovely ladies at Glossier (who I was lucky enough to meet recently).

I knew that any mascara launch from Glossier wasn't going to be like other brands. It would be something that enhanced your natural lashes. Nothing clumpy, no big brushes, nothing too volumising- and I was right. Emily Weiss wanted it be like lash extensions without the extensions. It took them 248 formulations to make "the perfect everyday mascara". But is it the perfect everyday mascara?

Let's begin with what Glossier claims the mascara will do. Curl, sculpt, lengthen and enhance your natural lashes without clumps. It contains tiny one and two millimetre curved fibers that create that extended look and film-forming polymers that lock the fibers in place. It also contains vegan biotin (a vitamin that helps to keep skin and hair healthy among other things) that conditions and strengthens the lashes over time. The natural shine polymers make the lashes shiny and sleek. It's suitable for anyone with sensitive eyes or those who wear contact lenses. It's water resistant but not waterproof so it can be removed with warm water (or Milky Jelly Cleanser). The tapered wand has tiered bristles that separate the lashes and give an even application. 

Did Lash Slick live up to my expectations? I'm happy to say it's a resounding yes! The first time I tried it, I loved it. That doesn't happen with all mascaras and obviously there are many more aspects to a great mascara than just first application and appearance. Wear time, smudging and flaking and removal all heavily factor into my opinion. I've used mascaras that have applied beautifully and looked incredible (MAC Upward Lash) but have flaked so much that it wasn't worth the hassle for me despite how amazing my lashes looked. 

Lash Slick gave my lashes length and definition and a small amount of volume, enough for me personally for an everyday mascara. The tapered brush meant that every tiny lash was coated and there was zero clumping even with a second coat. My lashes were fanned out and it held the curl from my eyelash curler which I use every day regardless of what mascara I follow up with. There was no flaking or smudging on me despite using it on my bottom lashes too. I have seen the odd rogue fiber but not enough to bother me at all. It wears perfectly throughout the day and I've tried removing it with a cleansing balm, warm water and MJC and I've never had a problem with any removal method.

As you can see it comes in the signature Glossier Pink packaging, I've only been using it for a few weeks so I don't know how long it will last before drying out but I always throw away my mascaras after three months anyway for hygiene reasons. One of the things I love most about it is the brush, the size and shape means I don't get any mascara on my eyelid which seems to happen to be all the time even when I'm being careful. At the moment it only comes in black but I could imagine there would be a demand for a brown shade too. 

Being completely honest, this mascara will not be for everyone. Most people are looking volume, length and definition when it comes to mascara and although I can't fault it for length and definition, it doesn't give as much volume as other mascaras I've tried. But that is exactly how it was intended, as a mascara that gives you 'your lashes but better'. It doesn't look like I'm wearing mascara, just that I have great eyelashes which I can't say I've gotten from any other mascara. But like I said, most people like to look like they're wearing makeup and have thick lashes. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. If I was going on a night out or wearing darker eyeshadow I would definitely wear a different mascara that's more volumising. But for everyday, to fit in with the kind of makeup I like to wear, Lash Slick is absolutely perfect for me.

As you can in the photo above, my lashes aren't naturally that long, but most mascaras tend to make them look good. That doesn't necessarily mean I like most mascaras, it's probably one of the makeup products I'm the most picky about, especially considering you can get such great inexpensive mascaras nowadays. It takes a lot for me to buy a mascara twice because I do like to try different ones each time. This is one I will 100% be repurchasing. 

And just in case you hadn't heard yet, Glossier now deliver to Ireland which makes me so happy! Lash Slick is priced at €16 which I think is a great price point considering some "drugstore" mascaras are the same price and even more expensive. I'm delighted that the long-awaited Glossier mascara hasn't disappointed me.

What do you think? Does this kind of mascara interest you or do you prefer thicker lashes?

Emma x

XL Lashes

It's been a while since I've written about a mascara, I think my last one was Lancôme Grandiôse Extrême which was almost a year ago. I finally ran out of the stash of mascaras I had built up and was on the look out for something new to try. I came across the new L'Oréal Miss Baby Roll Mascara (that name is ridiculous!) in Boots after seeing a few other bloggers mention being interested in trying it, so on a whim I decided to just buy it and give it a whirl myself. 

I went with the waterproof version because I bought it just before going to New York and I wanted to bring a mascara with me that I knew would last throughout the day and I find that in general waterproof mascaras tend to last better on me than the standard formula. The first time I used it I loved it. It did exactly what I want a mascara to do for my lashes. It gave them volume, length and definition and the formula is easily buildable. 

Just Miss Baby Roll Mascara

As you can see the wand is quite unusual. It has a plastic brush which I'm not usually a fan of, I tend to prefer mascara wands with a bristle brush but I think because of the size and shape of this one and the way in which the bristles are twisted it just works really well on my lashes and isn't too big for my eye shape.

The formula lasts all day without smudging or flaking and holds a curl which is a must for me. As I mentioned already it's waterproof so you'll need an oil based make up remover, but it also comes in a non waterproof formula as well as in lilac, teal and indigo which all looked like they'd be really pretty for the Summer. The colourful shade range combined with the packaging and name make me think that this mascara is being marketed towards a younger consumer, but don't let that put you off, it's an excellent mascara and for the price point of €10.49 is definitely worth trying out the next time you're in the market for a new mascara. 

Top-bottom- bare lashes, Miss Baby Roll, Lancôme Cils Booster XL under Miss Baby Roll

The next lash product I wanted to tell you about is the Lancôme Cils Booster XL Super Enhancing Mascara Base. I had heard a few people mention this recently and I never looked into it or paid it much attention until I saw a photo on Instagram of the makeup look Fiona Stiles created on Lily Collins for the Met Gala. Her eyelashes looked incredible and I waited impatiently for her to list the products she used to create the look. As soon as I saw that she had used the Cils Booster XL to prime Lily's eyelashes I made a mental list to try it out as soon as possible. So when I was in Sephora in New York, I was browsing the miniatures aisle and to my absolute joy I saw that they had a mini version of the Cils Booster XL for $13 and without a further thought it went straight into my basket.

Cils Booster XL with Miss Baby Roll on top (just one coat of each)

I had used a lash primer once before, it was a double ended mascara with a primer on one end and a black mascara on the other, I can't remember the brand but I wasn't overly impressed. Not enough to continue to add that extra step into my daily makeup routine. However this had me hooked straight away. As you can see in the photos above my natural lashes aren't amazing, but they do tend to look quite good once I apply mascara. When I use Cils Booster XL, they are on another level. I obviously don't layer it up as much as Fiona Stiles did on Lily Collins but I'm sure you could if you wanted even more dramatic lashes. The formula is thin enough that you could definitely apply two coats with ease. I love that it doesn't make your lashes clump but instead it just enhances everything- volume, definition and in particular length.

The formula contains micro-fibers that are supposed to both protect and volumise your lashes and the white colour means that any shade of mascara applied over it is intensified. Yes, it's pricey for a product that you don't necessarily "need" at approximately €26, but you can use a less expensive drugstore mascara with it like I've done and it seriously improves how your lashes look (even with an already great mascara like Miss Baby Roll). If you have short, thin lashes I feel like this will change your life. I'm aware that I'm making quite a big statement there, but I honestly don't think anyone could not think this is an incredible product. I don't have super long lashes but they aren't the worst and I am blown away by the difference every time I use this. I'm trying to save it for weekends but I'm so obsessed with how my lashes look with this on now that I can't help wanting to use it every day. It's also suitable for sensitive eyes which is an added bonus. I'll definitely be buying the full size once I've used up my mini one.

Cils Booster XL is available in Brown Thomas and Boots, or at any Lancôme counter.

What mascara are you using at the moment? Have you ever tried a lash primer?

Emma x

Grandiôse Eyes With Lancôme

I recently went to a press reveal of the latest launches from Lancôme- Grandiôse Liner, Grandiôse Extrême Mascara and Sourcils Styler Brow Mascara. I've been trying out all three products for a couple of weeks now and I can safely say I'm a big fan of all three.

Beginning with what I think is the most exciting of the three new releases, the Grandiôse Liner. The unique selling point of this liner is the wand. It clicks to a 35 degree angle so that it can be used either straight or curved making application much easier for the user. It also has a densely pigmented, matte formula for extra drama. 

It comes in three shades Carbon Black, Deep Brown and Sapphire Blue. I have the deep brown shade and although I would usually go for black, the brown is very dark, almost black but not as dramatic as a full on black which I actually liked more than I thought I would. I think it makes it more wearable for anyone who is a little shy about trying winged liner. 

I like to think I'm a bit of an expert when it comes to liquid liner. I've tried so many different brands and brushes over the years and some of my favourites include Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Liner in Perversion (which I have heard might be discontinued and if it is I will be devastated!) and L'Oréal Super Liner. Grandiôse is definitely up there with the best. I'm all about getting a sharp line as quickly and easily as possible and this does just that. I was sceptical at first about the angled wand, thinking it could just be a marketing gimmick but I was quickly proven wrong. I was genuinely surprised by how much easier it was to apply by bending the wand for certain parts of the application and clicking it straight again at other times. 

The brush is flexible and comes to a really thin point making it a lot easier to get a really sharp line. It also deposits just the right amount of liquid which is something I've found to be a big problem with a lot of the other liquid liners I've tried. You'll probably need to shake it up again to continue the application depending on how long and thick you want the line to be. 

I find that the formula is opaque from the first application which again is something that doesn't happen with other liners. I love that this dries to a matte finish, I don't think I've ever gotten a matte finish from a liquid liner but I think it just looks so much nicer than an eyeliner that dries to a more shiny finish. As for staying power, it's not waterproof but it is smudge proof and very long-lasting as I found out when I first swatched all three shades on my hand at the press meeting. I washed my hands several times without the lines budging and I actually ended up taking them off with make up remover that night. 

Grandiôse Liner is priced at €29 and it available now at Brown Thomas and in Debenhams, Boots and all Lancôme counters from July 1st. 

Grandiôse Extrême promises to be an amped up version of the original Grandiôse Mascara. If you've used the latter you'll know that it already packed quite a punch, but this new formula and brush give your lashes even more impact. The first difference is that it comes in sleek matte black packaging. The Swan-Neck wand is the same as before and allows for all different eye shapes to apply the mascara from inner to outer corner with ease. I find the brush is shorter than most other mascaras that I've used which allows you to get right into the inner corner. The bristles are more tightly packed which gives more volume particularly if you rest the brush at the base of the lashes and wiggle it through to the tips of the hairs (a top tip from Lancôme make up artist Laura Pye). With this technique I find you get amazing volume and because the formula is that perfect middle ground of not being to wet or too dry, you can apply a second coat with ease if you want even more volume. You can see in the photo below that my lashes are volumised, lengthened and defined but not clumpy. 

The formula is smudge resistant and lasts up to 24 hours. I don't get any transfer under my eyes throughout the day, whether it last 24 hours I can't tell you because I don't know anyone who wears mascara for 24 hour straight, so I'll have to take their word for it. This could be a good one for people who want long lasting wear but hate the fuss of waterproof mascaras. I'm so impressed with this mascara, it's one of the few that I'd happily wear alone with no other eye make up as it gives such impact to your lashes. The closest I've come to it at a lower price point is the Bourjois Volume Clubbing mascara which has a much bigger brush and is nowhere near as easy to apply. 

Grandiôse Extrême is priced at €31 and is available at Brown Thomas now and in Boots and Debenhams from July 1st. 

Last up is the new brow mascara Sourcils Styler, which has been co-created with Lancôme creative director Lisa Eldridge so I had high expectations. At first glance I thought it was just going to be your average Brow Mascara, nothing special and certainly not warranting the €25.50 price tag. However the more I use this in comparison to the other brow mascaras I have, the more impressed I am with it's design. One of the most annoying things I find about brow mascaras is that they deposit too much product and it ends up making the skin around your brows look grubby. That doesn't happen with this brow mascara. The design of the brush is inspired by that of a hairbrush so it colours the hair and not the skin. It's recommended that you brush against the hairs to add density and then in the direction of the hairs for definition and hold. 

The formula is meant to hold for up to 14 hours and it's smudge resistant so it's been great in the heat.  The brush is fanned out so that it can be used on it's side for smaller brows and on the tapered end of the brow to add definition. It comes in four shades, Transparent, Blond, Châtain and Brun. I was given the shade Châtain which is a light brown and I find it quite similar to my natural brow colour. I obviously have quite thick brows already, but that's why I love a product like this. I don't need to do a huge amount to my brows, I just need something to add a little thickness and to define and hold them in place all day. This is such a time saver compared with using a brow crayon, pencil or powder. It literally takes a second to brush this on and I'm good to go. However I can see why this also may be a reason why someone wouldn't like a product like this, if your brows need a bit more filling in you may want to use this in conjunction with a pencil or powder. 

Is it worth the €25.50 price point? I firmly believe that it is. Having tried similar products and considering the thought that has gone into it's design I feel like this is a superior brow product to others on the market. Eyebrows are such an important part of the face and when done badly, they can really affect the rest of the make up. I don't think you can go wrong with a product like this, it's foolproof. Before I got this I was using the Bourjois Brow Design which is the same idea as Sourcils Styler. You can see me wearing it on my brows here. I love the finished result of it, the shade is darker as you can see but it can be difficult to use as the brush is longer (as long as a standard mascara brush) and it deposits too much formula which transfers onto the skin around my brows and because the formula is waterproof you actually need make up remover to get it off. I love that the Sourcils Styler is completely fuss free and easy to apply, it's perfect for everyday use when I'm in a hurry and haven't got time for tricky products.


Sourcils Styler is available now in Brown Thomas and Boots and in Debenhams from July 1st.

Check out the magnificent Lisa Eldridge herself using all three products:

What do you think of these products? Is there any you'd be interested in trying or do you have any current favourite liners, mascaras or brow products?

Emma x

Lancôme Hypnôse Volume-à-porter Mascara

I've never tried a Lancôme mascara before despite the fact that I've often bought them as gifts for other people. I know that they have great reputation for being excellent high end mascaras so when this Hypnôse Volume-à-porter mascara arrived in the post I was incredibly excited to give it a try.

The concept behind the campaign for this mascara is that the eyes say just as much as the lips and in French culture there is an emphasis on the power of the gaze.  Let's put it this way, you know a mascara is amazing when you're talking to your friend and they tell you they didn't hear a word you said because they were too busy staring at your eyelashes.

For years I would have chosen length and definition over volume every time, but getting up early for work every morning means that I forgo wearing eyeshadow most days and therefore the only eye make up I wear is mascara. Recently I've been wearing more volumising mascaras to compensate for having naked eyes and paired with shaped brows, some blush and a bold lip, it's been my go to effortless make up look most days.

Straight away I was impressed by the sleek, minimalist gunmetal packaging. For me Lancôme have always been such a classy brand and I've long admired their general aesthetic and packaging. 

It's the first time Lancôme have used an elastomer brush which means that it's flexible but still manages to maintain a great shape. I usually don't go for rubber brushes, but this one is like no other I've tried. The wand is tapered which allows you to coat the tiniest inner lashes with ease. There are 306(!) yes, that's right, 306 bristles on the brush. The shorter bristles coat the roots and the longer ones bring the mascara through to the tips of the lashes giving full and even distribution. 

When I first applied this I wasn't hugely impressed with the volume it gave, however after the application of a second coat I could see exactly where it gets it's name from. It's the first mascara I've used that allows for a second coat with such ease and not a clump in sight. You can see below that there is length, volume and definition which is very hard to achieve with your average mascara. 

It's not just the brush that's amazing, the formula consists of a melt-in cream texture and it's smudge proof so there is no transfer under my eyes during the day. The formula also contains latex which gives great hold. I curl my lashes beforehand and I've noticed that this holds the curl all day because it's so lightweight. 

Not only do you get the most beautiful instant results from this mascara, you also get the continuous benefit of the exclusive Lancôme Native Rose Cells extract that leaves the lashes softer, stronger and more full looking after just a few weeks. 

Hypnôse Volume-à-porter/Bare lashes

I don't have a bad word to say about this mascara, it even has a scent of roses. At €27.50 it is very pricey for a mascara and a lot more than I would usually pay, but if you like to wear minimal eye make up or if your lashes are in need of some TLC, this is the mascara for you. I've been wearing this for a couple of months now and it hasn't dried out at all which is very rare in my experience so you definitely get value for your money. 

What's your current favourite mascara?

Emma x

The Colossal

I received Maybelline's The Colossal mascara in my December Glossybox and I loved it so much that I repurchased it in the waterproof formula as soon as it ran out. 

This is going to sound completely ridiculous but my taste in mascaras seems to have changed over the past year. Before I would have been looking for length and definition over volume but after trying out some different mascaras recently, I found myself really liking the voluminous, lashy look reminiscent of the sixties. I especially loved it during the Christmas period when I was wearing a bit more eye shadow than usual. It's also great with minimal eye make up and a bright lip or winged liner and nude lips for that Jean Shrimpton look.

 The formula is enriched with collagen so it's supposed to give your lashes lots of volume which it definitely did for me. I found the non waterproof one slightly better than this one and I'd go for that one over the waterproof when I buy it again. I was already a fan of Maybelline mascaras but I hadn't gotten around to trying this one yet.

I usually shy away from big mascara wands, but I love this one. I usually apply two coats depending on the look I am going for, one coat gives a more subtle effect. The formula is similar to The Falsies, the perfect medium of neither being too dry nor too wet so that it's easy to work with. I use an eyelash curler with all of my mascaras and I find that this holds the curl well and doesn't drag it down like some mascaras can do. I can attest to the fact that this is properly waterproof (yes, I have cried whilst wearing it, for review purposes only!). You will definitely need a waterproof eye make up remover for this one. It retails for approximately €9.99 which is a very fair price compared to some other high street brands.

What mascara are you using at the moment? Do you have any recommendations?

Emma x

Bourjois Volume Glamour Ultra Curl

This mascara was a very pleasant surprise for me. I bought it a few months ago as part of a Bourjois 3 for 2 offer in Boots. I didn't have anything in mind for the third free product and as I was running out of mascara I decided to try the Volume Glamour Ultra Curl mascara. 

Products Used:

Benefit The Porefessional Primer
Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in Light Vanilla
Revlon Rich Sable Matte Eye Shadow
No7 Beautiful Eyebrow Pencil in Brown
Collection Clear Mascara
Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin
Urban Decay eye shadows in Suspect, Snakebite and Foxy
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Zero
No7 Stay Perfect Amazing Eyes Pencil in Brown
NARS Blush in Sin
theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer Highlighting Powder
No7 Perfect Light Loose Powder in Translucent
Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey


At first I wasn't feeling this mascara at all, but after using it a few times I grew to love it. It gives your lashes some serious curl and volume but without that clumpy look, although if you like that I'm sure you could achieve it with some extra coats. I usually curl my eyelashes with my Shu Uemura curlers and then do two coats of mascara on top and one on the bottom lashes which works perfectly for a daytime look. I even find myself wearing just this mascara and no other eye make up because I love how it looks by itself.

The wand is spoon shaped similar to that of Maybelline The Falsies and the formula is that perfect mixture of not too dry and not too wet making it easy to apply extra coats if you want to. If you like eyelashes with volume that hold a curl then I definitely recommend giving this one a try.

You can find this on the Boots website for €10.99.

Have you ever tried this mascara before? What one are you using at the moment?

Emma x

Maybelline Eyes

I have tried a lot of mascaras over the years and rarely use the same one twice in a row. However I keep coming back to Maybelline's The Falsies because I know it won't let me down. 

I use the waterproof version of this because during the Summer I want something that will stay all day and not smudge or flake. It give my eyelashes length and volume but the formula is a nice medium consistency that you can put on two coats if you want more volume. I know some people don't like the spoon brush but I really like it and I find it helps keep the shape of my eyelashes after I've curled them. This is the only "drugstore" mascara that I have repurchased other than Boots 17 Wild Curls. 

I'm quite picky about mascara, I don't like a very dry or very wet formula and I really don't like big straight wands because I like to get right into the corners and on my bottom lashes too and I feel like this wand is perfect for that. I use an oil-based make up remover to take this off, as I would with any other waterproof or long lasting products.

These are €11.99 in Boots and other pharmacies, but you can usually get them on special offer if you keep an eye out.

Emma x

Sumptuous Extreme

I recently received a sample size of Estée Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara as a free gift with purchase. I've been using it for the past 6 weeks or so and I really like it. At first I found the large brush hard to work with but with some patience and two coats it gives my eyelashes so much volume and length without looking clumpy. 

The idea behind it is that it uses three different types of fibres to multiple the lashes. It also contains lash conditioning vitamins which is always a good thing because between using curlers, mascara and make up remover I tend to lose some eyelashes and I did find they grew back really quickly when using this mascara. 

I don't think I would ever tried this had I not received this sample. At €28 for a full price tube, it is very expensive, especially considering how much I love my cheap and cheerful 17 Wild Curls. I don't think I could justify spending that much money on a mascara. However if you do feel like treating yourself to some extreme lashes, this is a good one to try!

Emma x

Wild Lashes

I recently bought four of these Boots 17 Wild Curls Mascaras. They were doing a special promotion where you could print off a voucher from their site that meant you got the mascara for €1.50, which is a steal by anyone's standards!

I figured for €1.50 it was worth a try even though I've never tried any 17 products before. The mascara comes in Wildest Black, Black, Waterproof Black and Brown Black. I bought one waterproof black and loved it so much I went back and bought another 2 of them and one Wildest Black.

I'll be honest I really wasn't expecting much as for me mascaras can be so hit and miss. I generally prefer defining mascaras with smaller tapered wands that give my lashes length and definition. I really can't stand big clumpy wands with loads of formula on them. This wand is on the smaller side and the formula is evenly distributed around the bristles, I can easily get into my inner corner lashes which is a must for me. I use one coat of this to give a really nicely defined look, a second coat is easily achieved as the formula doesn't dry too quickly and this gives a more dramatic/evening look without being really clumpy.  

The packaging is nothing special but I'm the kind of person that if the product works, and the packaging isn't annoying then it doesn't matter what it looks like. I use No. 7 Beautiful Skin eye make up remover to take of the waterproof one and it comes off very easily. It costs £6.29/ €8.94  in Boots so essentially I got four mascaras for less then the price of one. If you're in the UK/Ireland it's good to keep an eye on the Promotions section of the Boots website as they often have great offers like this on. Below you can see me wearing one coat of the mascara on top and bottom lashes. Oh and I've also curled my lashes first!

I'll definitely buy this again when my four tubes run out! I even got asked in work if I was wearing false eyelashes! So what do you think? What's your favourite mascara? Any recommendations for me?

Emma x