Penny For Your Thoughts

 Meet my latest liner love, from Smashbox's Autumn Collection, Penny Lane. I penned an ode to Smashbox Liners last week, so you know the drill. When I saw a picture of this liner, I knew I had to add it to the collection.

It's a darker bronze than any other bronze shade in my collection, and quite a bit more shimmery than I expected too. Normally my bronze-of-choice is Rimmel's Scandaleyes pencil in Bronze, but this is much darker. It makes a great liner when you want something other than black on the lid, but still want something intense.  The wear is great, these claim to be waterproof and they seem to be, but they don't drag across your eyelid at all.

The real draw of these however, was the built in sharpener in the lid, so every time you open the liner, it's sharp, how clever is that?

Have you tried any Smashbox liners? Do you recommend any other products from them?

Liner Lover

 You know that little section of the Smashbox Counter where they have the products they only have one or two of left, and a few products that are reduced? I found this in that section when I was at work the other day, and had to snap it up on my break. The little tin contains a mini Full Exposure Mascara, which I talked about here, but also four 'travel size' eyeliners, in Bronze Citrine, Antique Gold, Imperial and Graphite. I recently purchased one of Smashbox's A/W liners and am majorly impressed (you'll see a review of that next week) and I also got a travel sized black liner in a kit back at the Smashbox UK launch, which is not only still going strong, but is also pretty damn good, so I'm no stranger to their liners, and just could not resist this.

Bronze Citrine is a warm toned bronze with a fair bit of shimmer, but it looks gorgeous paired with a champagne lid and smudged across the lashline. Antique Gold is a kind of dirty gold, which lookss really nice blended across the lid, or on the lower lash line. Imperial is a gorgeous royal purple which looks lovely with grey shadow, and lastly Graphite is a deep shimmery grey, which looks a little more subtle than black, but also looks nice layered with black or purple liner.

In terms of formula, they're creamy so they don't drag across the lid, but once they set they don't move all day.

I love these little liners! Have you tried any products from Smashbox?

Mini Mascara Maven

Being a shopaholic isn't without it's perks. Okay, so your bank balance never looks too great, and savings is a foreign concept, but there is something to be said for being a valued customer, particularly to high end brands. You end up first in the know when new launches hit counters, and sales associates never hold back when it comes to samples.

During the move between my uni halls and new flat, I discovered a plethora of miniature mascaras hidden about in my flat. None of them had been used. I think because mascara isn't something I tend to top up throughout the day, I never carry it in my handbag, so these handbag sized minis were definitely overlooked. Since the move however, I've made a concious effort to get mini mascara motivated, and now I have them in my handbag, on my desk, on my coffee table, and a stash in my everyday makeup drawers. So here's the verdict...

Benefit They're Real: I got this at a blogging event back at the beginning of the year, and it led untouched in my box of press stuff from then on. You guys know how I feel about They're Real, I just don't really get the hype. I've used up one full size and I was massively underwhelmed. I also find myself trying to pull it off my lashes throughout the day because it's so uncomfortably heavy on. Not a winner in my books. Shame because I love so many Benefit products, I wanted to love this. Read my review here.  

THE VERDICT: 1/5

YSL Babydoll Effect Faux Cils: If you read my favourite mascaras post last week, you'll know that I am a YSL Shocking Volume girl through and through. This is a nice mascara, it lengthens and seperates your lashes well, but it's just lacking in the volume department. Nice for subtle daytime lashes though.

THE VERDICT: 3/5

 Clinique High Impact Mascara: High impact my arse. This is an okay mascara, but it's just that, okay. It's not fantastic at length, it doesn't give much volume, and I find the formula a little flaky after four hours or so. It's an okay mascara, but it definitely isn't high impact.

THE VERDICT: 2/5

 Smashbox Hyperlash: I got this almost a year ago at the Smashbox UK launch, and it was the only product I never got around to using. Despite my innate aversion to plastic wands, I quite like this. Quite volumising and good at length, I just wish it held a curl better, and it does get a little flaky towards the end of the day. I do like this though!

THE VERDICT: 3/5

 Benefit Bad Gal: The first high end mascara I ever bought. I remember getting a miniature of this in a magazine when I was about fourteen, and then saving up for it once it run out. I much prefer this to They're Real. I love the bristles, they catch your lashes really well and add a good amount of volume and length.

THE VERDICT: 4/5

YSL Effect Faux Cils: The original YSL Mascara. I wanted to try this, and I'm glad I did, because I do really like this. Good for volume and length, holds a curl okay too. It's just not quite as good as Shocking. It's good, but it's not wow.

 THE VERDICT: 4/5

Diorshow Iconic Overcurl: My favourite of this bunch. I have somehow acquired three of these. Not sure how, since I own a grand total of one product from Dior. Anyway, the curvy wand means it grips every single lash in one fell swoop, lifting, volumising and lengthening. I will probably buy this when I use up all these minis!

THE VERDICT: 5/5

Smashbox Full Exposure: Marginally better than the previous Smashbox offering, it's basically the same mascara but this one is a bit more volumising.

THE VERDICT: 4/5

Do you own any of these mascaras? What do you think of them?