My Favourite Mascaras

I have to tell you I've tried a LOT of mascaras from dirt-cheap to the higher end mascaras. Therefore I thought it might be fun to write about the favourites that I keep going back to, or have stuck out to me.

First of all, I thought I'd start with Maxfactor because I remember almost growing up with my mum using the brand. I've never had any issues using their products and recommend it to anyone. All products are a reasonable price and last.

They are known for their amazing mascaras, and I love a few from them including:

• Maxfactor False LashEffect Mascara - I hear that the formula might have changed since I last used it, and many people don't like it, but thought I'd still include it as it's one that comes to mind when describing favourite mascaras.
• Maxfactor Masterpiece Max Mascara - This reminds me of my mum as she used to use this all the time, but in waterproof. It was safely the first mascara I fell in love with.

I'm also keen to try their Velvet Volume False Lash Effect mascara because I hear it's one of their best yet. Growing up loving Maxfactor and even using its products for special occasions such as my graduation, I know I can rely on their products. I love their lip products, foundations, blushers and mascaras of course. I even used to wear their nail polishes before discovering favourite nail brands like Barry M, Nails Inc and O.P.I.

If you haven't tried Maxfactor before I definitely recommend it. It is promoted to be used by makeup artists and still love it. I bought one of their lip products recently. Anyone who knows me will know I rarely wear lipsticks or lipglosses. I hate them! Not lipfinity, it lasts and fades gradually. I tested it on my hand, and three days later and after a shower and cleansing my hand it's still kinda there. Not as noticeable but it is hard to shift! I like how easy it goes on, and actually used the last one up. How often do women do that? Anyway back to mascaras...

I've recently tried L'Oreal mascara Voluminous Extra-Black mascara recommended in a Look article I'd read of best mascaras. I thought it would be fun to buy as it's not as expensive as my usual favourite Benefit mascaras (as discussed here). I found this easy to build volume fast which is what you need, lasts all day and isn't clumpy as it says on the labelling (sometimes the labels lie though). It is a lovely brush to use, and recommend to anyone wanting a decent mascara at a good price. Look describes it as a "volume-inducing mascara" that has "many fans voting it their ultimate under £10 mascara for gorgeously thick lashes." Makeup artists are even said to love it as it separates, lengthens and curls. I have to agree. Having trichotillomania means I feel the need to make sure it is not clumpy, as it emphasises gaps on eyelinds, and also makes me want to pull my lashes more. If it can separate MY lashes and clump, I think it suits anyone! I will also hope to burn through more of the Look mascara recommendations, but I have a lot of mascaras to use up just now.

Next, I thought I'd describe my two favourite Benefit mascaras. I love Rollerlash and They're Real! mascaras from Benefit. I know I've already discussed these briefly in my recent Benefit post, but thought I'd go into more detail about just why they are so great.

Rollerlash is so easy to apply. I am the only person I know who takes longer to apply eye makeup than foundation. I literally slap on my face makeup, but take my time doing my eyes. Partly because I like to enthusiase my favourite face feature and also because I like doing it. However as someone who is lazy with my makeup routine, I always look for quicker and easier ways to look better. This is my solution. I don't feel like I'm putting coats on and don't often take longer than 5 minutes to apply it.

Unlike other mascaras, it is so easy to remove which is part of the issue. You rub and rub and take all your eyelashes off! Not with this, it also has lash-conditioning benefits; it includes provitamin B5 and serin. I even love the brush for this product. It pushes up lashes - even those stubborn ones that push down and it also stops you reaching for the curlers!

They're Real is fab! It's a favourite with a few of my friends too. It adds length fast and can separate lashes well. This is what I'm using at the moment.

This one is apparently Benefit's most popular mascara and I can see why. It does what it says it does. It adds length, volume and I also love how black your eyelashes are with it (if you buy the jet black of course - they do have it in brown and maybe other colours). I also love how it manages to pick lashes you haven't seen like the blonde ones or the smaller ones area the corner of your eye etc. It's just great!

Finally, I thought I'd finish with another mascara I loved as a teen. I haven't used for two or three years, but often go back. It's just great. I've tried a few of their mascaras, and love them, but this is by far my favourite one by the brand. It has a "roller brush" like that of Benefit (not surprising as it's the same owners who make it). This is amazing as it says you only need one coat, and that's enough for me. It gives a separated and long length.

Bourjois Paris Volume Glamour mascara is so great they have bought other extensions of Volume Glamour including:

• Volume Glamour Ultra Black mascara
• Volume Glamour Max Mascara - This apparently adds 10x volume and lasts an incredible 16 hours!
• Volume Glamour Max Definition Mascara
• Volume Glamour Push up Mascara
• Volume Glamour Ultra Care Mascara - This is great as it states that 3 weeks after use, lashes will be stronger and more resistant. It is made for sensitive eyes, and really works to nourish and help fight against harsh external factors such as pollution and air conditioning.
• Volume Glamour Ultra Curl Mascara - This is recommended by Look, and sounds the best adaptation that I will try when I have a Bourjois craving!

Hope you enjoyed the post, and let me know if you have tried any of these. Alternatively I'd like to hear if there are mascaras you wish I had mentioned or think that I should try.

My Benefit Favourites

Benefit is safely one of my favourite makeup brands. It has my favourite bronzers, highlighter and mascaras. Although I haven't tried everything I thought I'd describe what I like most, and the other products I've tried.

In October, my friend over at Lost in Coffee bought me the Blushin' Babe gift set. Inside it included the Watt's Up! highlighter, They're Real! mascara, They're Real! push-up gel liner, Hoola bronzing powder, Dandelion blusher, Rockateur bronzer, Coralista blusher and Sugarbomb bronzer.

(I did try to include a swatch but didn't show the real shine and glow like I wanted!)

I love the high beam highlighter of theirs, and hadn't used it in years. It gives a lovely healthy, natural glow to your skin and is fab for makeup trends like contouring or strobing. I probably don't do either in the right way, but put it on my brow bones, cheeks, on my chin (to attempt to disguise my double-chin) and the bridge of my nose spreading any excess onto my forehead.

As you can tell, I LOVE that highlighter! Therefore I was excited to try the Watt's Up! highlighter, This one has more of a gold tone to it so I was a bit reserved trying it. I thought it might not suit my very pale complexion. However I loved it on, and goes on well with a decent bronzer.

BLUSHIN' BABE

Other favourites in the set included the Rockateur, Sugarbomb and They're Real! mascara. I've used Rockateur before and love it on. My Mum bought it either for a birthday or Christmas; I can't remember and fell in love with it. I love that it gives me some colour and use it most of the time. I always used to use blusher as I'm pale and therefore used to feel bronzers don't suit. With more blonde to my hair, I now prefer more of a bronze than blusher.

I also really liked Sugarbomb as it wasn't too bronzed and had a blend of colours to try.

I'm guilty of already trying the mascara, but like how it adds length fast and can separate the lashes well. Just what you often need. People often complain it's difficult to take off, and pulls off lashes in the process. I would have to agree to some extent, as it has done this in the past for me. However, now that I use Liz Earle, I find if I don't rub too hard, it comes off with some patience.

I also liked the "english rose"colour that comes from Dandelion.

Using a Boots gift card, I also treated myself to the Girl-a-rama gift set. Inside it has the Roller Lash mascara, Porefessional, Benetint, Coralista, Rockateur and They're Real! duo shadow blender. As I mentioned about the previous set, I love Rockateur, but the way it comes in the set, you can mix it with Coralista which adds something different to the tone. Sometimes I like mixing different bronzers with blushers. I think on it's own, Coralista is a bit too orange for me. However added with the other bronzer, it makes a lovely healthy glow to my cheeks that I love!

Benetint was also the first Benefit product that I tried, I love the quality and how easy it was to use. I also like how you can use it for both lips and cheeks. I liked the colour on cheeks and was keen to use it again. However don't feel it suits the tone of my skin anymore. It can still blend well with a bronzer for a different colour again. I also liked to use it a bit on my lips too.

GIRL-A-RAMA

The eyeshadow is fantastic. It can last all day, and I blend the two colours together. I love the roller-brush that comes with it, as I find it really helps to blend the colour well. The colour is gold, but also not too much. I love it and recommend it to anyone to try. If I can use it and feel fabulous, anyone can use it!

Roller Lash is by far - my favourite mascara. You don't need much to build up volume. I'm saving it for when I've finished my other mascaras and can't wait to use it again.

You can choose how much you're willing to spend on a brand too. The people who make Benefit also make Dior and Boujois, so there is something for every budget. Having tried both ranges as well, the items are still great. Dior is obviously the high-end of the brands, but Boujois is definitely fun to start with. It was one of my favourite brands of a teen - loving the blushers, eyeshadows and mascaras.

Although I've focused entirely this post on Benefit, this is not a PR post that I've been paid or asked to do. I actually plan to spotlight on a few more of my favourite brands in the coming weeks.

Let me know if you like this post. I don't write about beauty often as I feel quite clueless in that area, but have been inspired to write a few more as I have been trying new looks on myself recently.