Posts Tagged ‘mascara’

Review: Clinique Hi Def Lashes

October 27th, 2008

I have used the Clinique High Definition Lashes mascara for a wee while now, having received as a gift with purchase. The wand is half brush, half comb – the idea being that you brush through the mascara with the brush and then comb out any clumps or bunching. I found that the comb actually clumpifies though.

In the pictures below, I have benchmarked the Clinique (see left) against a previous winner of a mascara challenge – the Lancome Vitruose (see right). I recommend both for every day wear. The Clinique made my lashes look fuller and curlier, but those benefits are slightly offset by it also being messier and clumpier. It does last well through the day, with minimal smudging.

The dual brush/comb gives more choice on how your lashes can look. Using the brush alone works quite well for a subtle look, and the comb makes lashes much fuller and darker. The end of the wand is tapered nicely too so that you can easily get the tricky little lashes in the inner corner of your eye.

It may not be perfect but I’ll use it again, and maybe purchase it if I see it on sale.

You can also check out many other reviews of this mascara here.

Reader mail: lumpy mascara

August 28th, 2008

We recently got this email from a reader:

I have a make up question for you!! I just bought the L’Oreal telescopic mascara in carbon black and its really really gluggy/clumpy. Ive used the same kind before (although in regular black), and it wasnt like that. Any tips on how to un-glug it? Its brand new so I dont really want to bin it just yet.

I got Amy to answer it cos she’s smarter:

My first thought is, take it back. It might be a bung batch of mascara. Exercise your consumer power!

But if you can’t be bothered taking it back, how about a lash brush/comb – do you have a lash brush to brush out the clumps with??

Or maybe apply a lash primer first?? The lash primer that comes with my loreal mascara seems to thin the mascara out a bit and make application a bit smoother. It might work…

So we heard back:

Thanks for such a quick reply! I don’t have the receipt any more, so can’t take it back (although I did consider that).

Lash brush might be the best option. It is quite a thick mascara generally – which is why I like it. I have short blond eyelashes and it always makes them nice and long and black. This is my fourth one! I’m not very adventurous though, once I find something I like I tend to stick with it.

On a different note, I also bought the L’Oreal sensitive eye make up remover but it doesn’t seem to work with the telescopic mascara! It doesn’t seem strong enough and I always end up using a facecloth to wipe the rest off.

And Amy finished off:

Also, just one more thing… When I worked at Smith&Caugheys we didn’t require a receipt to give money back or replace a product – as long as we stocked it we had to replace it. We didn’t even ask for a reciept. So depending on where you bought it you could try taking it back…

And now we turn to you, dear reader – how do YOU deal with clumpy mascara?