Smashbox Bionic Mascara

I've been using the Smashbox Bionic mascara for a couple of weeks now, occasionally using one of my other mascaras to provide a reference point. I was all set to write it off until I tried it again this morning.

With a name like Bionic, I was expecting something dramatic. On initially trying it I was confused about the choice of the adjective as this added colour and some definition but little else. The wand has an almost retro feel; the brush is quite long and narrow with no shaping apart from at the very tip. When I first opened the tube the mascara was soft and fluid but not runny. It layered without clumping but didn't add length or volume no matter how much I apply. Now that it has dried a little, 'bionic' is a more appropriate. The formula is still soft but the fibres are more obvious and it does provide a more dramatic look, adding volume and a little length, although I also encountered some clumping.

Initial use

Use after several weeks of opening

I'm still not sure that I'm a fan of this mascara. I suspect it will work better for those more blessed in the lashes department than myself. The improvement in the formula after a couple of weeks is something I have encountered before (I think my MUFE Smoky Lash mascara was the same) but it can be a nuisance in terms of deciding whether or not you like the mascara. Certainly Smashbox Bionic hasn't knocked my favourites, Hourglass Film Noir and Max Factor Xperience mascara, off their top spots.

Smashbox Bionic mascara is available from CheapSmells.com and costs £12.95


Disclosure: PR Sample

YSL Touche Éclat: An Oldie but a Goldie?

I seem to recall that I was using YSL Touche Éclat Radiant Touch concealer when I first started writing this blog and it was probably one of my early project 10 pan items. Since then, I have tried a variety of different highlighter concealers including Lancôme Teint Miracle, By Terry Touche Veloutee, RMK Super Basic Liquid Concealer (you can see a comparison here) and Healthspan Nuture Illuminating Touch Concealer. The RMK Super Basic Concealer has been become a firm favourite because it's more opaque and the yellow undertone seems to work well for me. Having used a more opaque undereye concealer for a while, I wondered how old faithful would fare. EDIT The shade shown here is #1.

Left - Touche Éclat #1, Right - RMK Super Basic Liquid #01

In bright sunlight, well as bright as it gets in January! RMK at the top, Touch Éclat at the bottom.

Touche Éclat has quite a thin, fluid formula and the colour is very different to the RMK. It's quite pink based however, I don't think the pink tone is as obvious when applied to the undereye area as it is in my swatch. I apply quite liberally but only to the areas of discolouration, so the arc under the tear duct and also at the very outer corner. To blend it in I pat the colour into the skin with my ring finger (you can just make out a finger print in my after picture!).

My undereye discolouration looks particularly shocking at the moment due to minimal sleep, overindulging and the general Christmas drain. I have some redness as well as the usual dark circles. I had my reservations about the Touch Éclat being enough to cover it but to my surprise it worked really well. It knocks down the dark circles and really brightens the undereye area. The bonus of it being a light forumla is that it isn't as prone to creasing or settling into fine lines as a more opaque concealer, although it obviously doesn't offer the same level of coverage. I do find that I have to reapply during the day if I want to remain looking fresh but I find this to be true of all highlighter concealers.

This YSL Touche Éclat was sent to me by CheapSmells.com where it available for £17.95 instead of the usual £24.50. I'm sure you're already familiar with the website but in case you're not, they're an e-tailer offering many perfumes brands and beauty products at discounted prices. They seem to have had added some new brands recently. I realised from their newsletter that they now stock a number of NARS items, including NARS Albatross and three shades of the NARS Multiples. It's well worth a browse if you after a post-Christmas pick me up!


Disclosure: PR Sample