Hi everyone! I thought I'd review and demo this mascara in a post because it's pretty incredible and great value for money.

The Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara in the shade which I have called 'Blackest Black' retails at $21.95 from Priceline, and can also be purchased from Chemist Warehouse for around the same price!

As you can see, it has been well loved!

Applicator
The applicator is a perfect size in my opinion, and bends slightly to accommodate the shape of a lashline. I find it easy to apply product to the root of the lashes right out to the end, and leaves your lashes with a lovely curl with minimal smudging! It's also extremely easy to put it on the lower lashes, doesn't clump them together and separates and lengthens them nicely!


Demo
As you can see from the photo, this mascara gives a LOT of length. It separates lashes wonderfully and doesn't clump regardless of how many coats you do which I LOVE!

It gives a very black payoff and definitely does intensify the colour of natural lashes as any mascara should but the downside to this mascara is that after the initial coat, it doesn't do much in terms of volume.

Before

After a couple applications on top lashline

Longevity
This mascara lasts ALL DAY, doesn't crack or flake in the slightest and leaves your eyelashes curled the whole day! It will smudge if you rub your eye area though.

Rating:
Pros:

• Affordable
• Very dark colour
• Great at lengthening lashes
• Doesn't clump - Great at separating lashes
• Amazing for bottom lashes
• Doesn't crack or flake
• Lashes stay curled all day

This liner is definitely the easiest I've ever used. This is because of how the brush is shaped. (Though it looks like it, it is NOT a felt tip - it's a versatile brush that bends quite easily, but not too much so that you have a lack of control). Depending on which way you turn it, the brush can have a 'thinner', smaller and more precise shape which makes it easy for mapping out the wing...

The 'thinner' side

A swatch of the liner when using the thinner side

The 'thicker' angle

The width of the liner when applying with the 'thicker' side Pigmentation From looking at the photos, the pigmentation when first using the product is obviously impressive. However, after owning this product for about a month, the pigmentation has decreased IMMENSELY. I'm absolutely positive I haven't ran out of product either because I haven't been using it to a great extent. Now when applying I find myself going over the colour about 5 times because at best when applying one coat - it appears like a faint dark grey shade.  Longevity The great thing about this liner is that when it's new it doesn't fade TOO much over time. I could easily wear it for about 4 or 5 hours and it will still look pretty good. It can smudge if you rub your eye which isn't too disappointing because the product doesn't claim to be waterproof or have any intense staying power - which makes removing it at the end of the day a breeze. The product also does not flake at all. Pros: Incredibly easy application Versatile - can use the thicker side/thinner side to get the exact shape you want Great pigmentation when product is new Doesn't flake Cons: The pigmentation of the actual liquid coming out of the brush is disappointing - looks like a dark grey not a black after not even using it for a month Smudges  Overall it's up to you if you want to take the risk and purchase it even though the actual pigmentation decreased so rapidly since when I purchased it. It's definitely not considered my holy grail - though I may purchase it again if I see it on sale and give it another go... perhaps mine was just a dodgy one hahah and I really loved this liner when I first bought it! For more beauty related posts - visit my instagram @australianbeautyblog <3instagram.com/australianbeautyblog Lexy xxx

Hey guys! Today the The Parcel by Marie Claire: Summer Edit 2015 arrived at my doorstep so I've taken a couple snaps of what comes in the box for anyone interested!

You can purchase the parcel from the website, and if you want to purchase the box by itself as a one-time purchase it is $25! I however purchased the annual subscription a couple months ago when they were having a special discounted offer!

First off let me say that I love what's in this parcel. The spring edit was slightly disappointing as there wasn't really much I could personally use in the box, so I ended up giving it all to my mother hahaha!

There are 13 items in this edition of the parcel.

The Summer Edit of The Parcel

The box

The Parcel comes with two 60ml OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo and Conditioner. The 385ml full version of these are retailed at $17.99 each.

The Trilogy Make-Up Be Gone Cleansing Balm in 10ml. The full 80ml retails at $36.90!

This is the Elizabeth Arden Superstart Skin Renewal Booster (5ml) used to revitalize and provide supple, smooth and radiant-looking skin.

Swisse Deep Sea Hydrating Mist Toner (15ml) - this is used to hydrate, rejuvenate and tone the skin to give your face a more youthful look.

The parcel also includes a sample of the Michael Kors Gold Collection perfume. I'm actually in love with this perfume! To me it has a florally yet quite sweet scent.

This is the Maybelline New York Color Elixir by Color Sensational. The photo above is of the shade "100 Petal Plush" which is a normal pink lip gloss despite it looking much more peachy in the photo.

The box also includes a full size of the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure which retails at $14.95! The colour you recieve is quite random but I was fortunate enough to recieve the shade "160 Shell we dance" which is a distinct "french-manicure" sort of colour! Definitely something I'm going to use all the time.

This is the Paula's Choice Vitamin C Spot Treatment which retails at $70 for 15ml. The 5ml sample states it is ideal for spot-treating wrinkles, and targeting brown spots and post-acne discolourations.

The parcel also includes the Maybelline The Colossal Pumped Up Volum'Express Mascara which is $19.95 in stores.

These are the Lonvitalite Face Masks which are sold in packs of 5 for $39 in the stores. In the parcel you receive two masks.

Last but definitely not least, you recieve a Zoeva eyeshadow brush! I ADORE these brushes. The brushes that you have the chance of getting are either the 227 Luxe Soft Definer (I have this one and I use it as a blending brush!), or the 228 Luxe Crease brush, or the 230 Luxe Pencil brush - a fine, tapered brush which is what I was lucky enough to receive! It was after all the one I really wanted out of the 3 possibilities!

I highly recommend grabbing this box before they run out (because they have in the past and it's not a fun time...).

Remember to check out my instagram for more beauty-related posts - instagram.com/australianbeautyblog.

Have a lovely day!

Lexy xxx

Hello world!

Hello everyone!

So over the past few weeks I was eagerly searching for an avenue to make my début at imitating the recently favoured trend of bold and dramatic eyebrows. As you will see below, I have unruly eyebrows, predominantly because I'm too scared to wax the top off in case I end up looking perpetually inexpressive afterwards. But what sparked this new-found determination to be "in with the times" was when I began to notice in photographs, particularly when taken with the flash on, that my eyebrows were grey. This was unsettling to say the least and was what motivated my search for a holy grail eyebrow item that could fill in the few gaps while concurrently not making the brows look overly fabricated and stencilled. (Only because they're already full and shapely - I am in no way disparaging anyone who prefers to draw their brows on afresh.)

Swatch of the Maybelline Master Shape by Eyestudio Brow Pencil in the colour Deep Brown

Before application

Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner in Blackest Black - Packaging and bottle

Application
After experiencing numerous eyeliner pen/tip styles such as brushes and thick felt tips over the large timespan I've been using liquid eyeliner,  I can definitely say that this was the easiest to apply of them all. With the reasonably sized brush tip, the ability to control the angle of wing you desire, and how thick you want the line to be is facilitated. (See photograph below) If you're a beginner with liquid eyeliner, I would undoubtedly recommend this product for you! It'll make learning how to apply liquid eyeliner and the different styles you can try much easier! If you're more experienced and would like a more dramatic and thick eyeliner look, I'd probably steer away from this product for the reasons I'll explain below. In saying that, this is great for every day application if you're searching for something that can be applied quickly and flawlessly.

Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner in Blackest Black thickness/quality

Quality
Upon my first application, the line on my eyelid appeared quite faded, with the product appearing a greyer colour in contrast to the expectations suggested by its name "Blackest Black". Following using the product on multiple occasions, the felt pen turned out began to grasp more black from the bottle, so don't let the first impression discourage you.

To achieve a dramatic look, multiple coats of the product must be applied unlike Rimmel's "Exaggerate eyeliner" which had an overall thicker consistency.

Contrary to the packet saying it's "100% Smudge Proof", and it, "wears all day", I noticed that if you even lightly rubbed your eyelid the product would immediately come off or become patchy. Over the period of the day, the product can fade, and I've noticed that it leaves a faded black or light grey residue. Although it claims to be waterproof, it is extremely easily removed with water.

Summary:
Pros:

• Quick and easy to apply - great for everyday application
• Easy fixable if you make mistakes
• Nice small packaging (looks like a pen)

Cons:

• Comes off easily
• Fades over time (Needs re-application throughout the day)
• Requires multiple coats for darker shade
• Not waterproof (though it claims to be)
• EDIT: After using it for less than a month, the colour payoff from the pen has faded COMPLETELY and now the product comes out as an extremely pale grey. Therefore it's lifetime is very short.

Rating: ★★★☆☆
3/5 stars.

Great for daily application, probably need a product with a thicker consistency for a night out.

EDIT:  After I'd been using the product for about a month, I noticed the liquid doesn't come out as black any more and instead is a pale grey. Very unimpressed with how quickly the product went from innovative to practically useless. Perhaps the one I bought was faulty but there is definitely a lot of product left so the problem isn't that it's empty. Just thought I'd mention it!

Hope this helps you decide whether you're interested in purchasing the product!
Feel free to follow me to see more beauty product reviews.

Alex xo