Maxfactor False Lash Effect Mascara

I go on my hols in less than a month so I'm hurriedly preparing my packing list and trying to tick off all the items I'm going to need for a week in the sun :)

After a recent make-up clear out i noticed i haven't got any waterproof mascaras! Cue mad panic and a desperate search of blogs for some tips that would help me have gorgeous, fluttery, voluminous lashes that wont wash off in the pool/ocean leaving me looking like an extra from a Zombie movie.

I decided on Maxfactor's False Lash Effect Waterproof mascara in Black:

I love the chunky tube and sleek black packaging

I prefer a thicker volumising brush but this works perfectly well :)

This mascara comes in a neat black tube with gold font and a royal blue Maxfactor logo. The wand is long and slim while the brush is full of thin plastic bristles. I usually perfer a thick, chunky brush as i find these add the most volume to lashes but this brush works exceptionally well.

One coat ... 

The pics above are from one coat ...

This mascara is fab! I wasn't too sure i was going to get on with it at first (i totally judge a mascara by its brush and as I've said before i love a really thick, bristly brush!)

Maxfactor's False Lash Effect mascara really lengthens and separates the lashes well. I was super impressed as they stayed separated all day!

Another plus for this mascara is that it doesn't flake at all! My usual combo of Maybelline's Great Lash and 17's Va Va Volume mascara's like to flake and go crispy as the day wears on so I'm thrilled to not have to keep checking my reflection for little black specks on my face.

My main reason for choosing this mascara was because it was waterproof.

I put this to the test and can confirm it hold ups under the emotional strain of everyday life :'(  and also under a full on shower while washing my hair. It did not budge! :)

Maxfactor i salute you. I have found an excellent waterproof mascara that adds definition to my eyes. I am now armed for my holidays with gorgeous dark fluttery lashes.

I picked this up from Tesco's using my 'Double-up' vouchers along with some make-up wipes so technically it was free :) RRP: £10.99.

Have you tried this mascara? I also need a waterproof kohl eyeliner - any suggestions?

xoxo

My 100 Followers 'thank you' Giveaway ...

I recently hit 100 followers on my blog and am so very happy and grateful!

I totally didn't think anyone would read my little Notebook as the blogging community is vast and i thought it'd get lost in 'cyber-space' but here we are over 100 followers later and coming up to 100 posts - amaze!

As promised I've put together a little giveaway as a thank you to everyone that takes time out to visit my blog, read and comment on my posts. I wish you the best of luck and hope you continue to stop by and visit my page :)

Prizes:

Eylure Party Lashes designed by Nicola Roberts from Girls Aloud

Batiste Original Dry Shampoo

Soap & Glory's Wish Upon A Jar

Rimmel Volume Flash The Max Bold Curves Mascara - Black

E.L.F Luscious Liquid Lipstick - Raspberry

Barry M Dazzle Dust - Neon Pink

MUA Blush - Shade 1

MUA Lipstick - Shade 5

MUA Nail Polish - Shade 16

George Nail Polish - Starry Eyed

George Nail Polish - Love Rat

Pearl 'Made With Love' bracelet - handmade by me!

Rules:

Firstly, you must be a public GFC follower on my blog

To enter simply leave a comment on this post with your contact deets (email or twitter is fine)

Extra entries:

Tweet about the giveaway: 'I've just entered @kirsti_r 100 followers giveaway and you can too here @ http://kirstix.blogspot.com' (+1)

Put my button in your sidebar (+2) ... HTML coding can be found in my sidebar on the right.

All in all you have 4 chances of winning if you do all of the above.

The giveaway is open international and the winner will be chosen by Random.org.

This giveaway will close at midnight on Friday 17th June and the winner will be announced on my blog over that weekend.

I will also email/tweet the winner and if i don't get a response within 3 days, i will have to choose another.

Best of luck and once again girlies - thank you!

xoxo

Weekend: Whats Hot & Whats Not ...

Evening dolls! How are we all? I've had a lovely weekend :) Spent most of it at the bf's; living out of a weekend bag is hard especially when an impromptu night out springs up and you have to concoct a stunning outfit out of a few items!

I also had a bit of a spending spree in Primark using up the last of my birthday monies. I got some fabulous items ready for spring/summer which i'm sure will feature in my blog over the coming weeks....

So thought i'd do a post about what was hot & what was not about my weekend:

Whats Hot!

My new gorgeous Miss Selfridge floral bag

Isn't this divine!? It was one of those moments in the Mall when you're on route to meet someone and you spy an beautiful image out the corner of your eye and stop dead mesmerized by the beauties in the window display! I was a very lucky girl and the bf bought this for me as he still owed me a birthday present :)

Midnight McDonalds

There's fast becoming a tradition between me and my friends where we go for midnight snacks after a night out. Last night we stopped off at McDonalds - normally the ultimate sin but i had been craving MaccyD's for 6 months and it was amazing, totally savoured every mouthful, lol!

Paris necklace

I am obsessed with Paris and necklaces with Eiffel Tower charms. When i spied this little beaut in Primark i immediately dropped it into my basket and for only £2 who could resist!?

Bargains

This faux sheepskin waistcoat was an absolute steal!! On the sale rail at Primark for just ... wait for it! ... £3 !!! Can you believe it!? I'm thinking of teaming it with the new petrol blue maxi dress i just purchased from boohoo.com or black skinny jeans and a peach top.

Spending time with The Bf 

love

Whats Not!

Cold weather

Err why is it soo cold?! It's March so that means Spring.

Not enough space

I totally need a walk-in closet!

Mental drivers

I dislike people that drive insane! I actually feared for my life last night.

No lie-ins or naps :(

So at the weekends i normally have lie-ins and/or naps - this weekend i had neither :( I love to nap!

Maybelline One by One Volume Express Mascara

Picked up this mascara as the advert makes the lashes look amazing (yes, gullible! I totally fell for the advertising) Unfortunately the high hopes i had for this mascara soon faded as soon as the brush touched my lashes ... the brush was hard and scratchy and quite frankly hurt my eyes! The mascara itself separated the lashes well but i cant get over the nasty brush :( shame as i love the Maybelline Falsies mascara.

What were you loving/despising this weekend? How would you wear the sheepskin waistcoat?

xoxo

Top 5 Mascara's

I have been on a quest for the perfect mascara for as long as i can remember. If i was to create a mascara of my very own it would be ultra pitch black in colour, have a huge curved wand while extending, thickening, and adding volume and curl like a pair of false eyelashes. As you can see I'm expecting a lot from the average high street mascara!

I have stepped up my game recently and went on a bit of a mascara mission and tried out a number of different ones in a small space of time so i thought it would be the ideal time to write my first proper blog post and let you guys know what i think of them.

Top 5 Mascara's:

# 1. Rimmel - Volume Flash the Max Bold Curves - 001 Black

This mascara is my latest buy and in my opinion the closest i can get to ticking off everything of my wish list. Fantastic thick curved wand that gets a good coating of the mascara, fans out and separates the lashes while extending and adding volume. Doesn't flake, goes on super dark even with only one coat, stays put all day. Funky coloured tube - wont get lost in your make-up bag! RRP: £6.99

10/10

# 2. Maybelline - Great Lash - Blackest Black

This is an old classic that I've only recently discovered - my gosh! Wish i had found this years ago. Its colour - blackest black is true to its word and comes out nice and dark even with just one coat. It separates and lengthens and gives good coverage even though it only has a small wand. Funky coloured tube and a good price too - RRP is coming in at about £5 but if you're a bargain hunter like me you can pick this up for £2.99 on eBay!

8/10

# 3. 17 - Va Va Voom Volume Mascara - Black

Cheap inexpensive product, very good value for money! Really big thick wand, adds a lot of length to lashes and separates as well which you don't always get from the thick bristle wands. Only down sides to this mascara is that it doesn't add a lot of thickness/volume to lashes and its not as black as I'd like but all in all a great find. RRP: £6

7/10

# 4. Rimmel - Lash Accelerator - 001 Black

I was a little disappointed with this product but this might be because i fell for the advertising and believed it would make your lashes grow. In my opinion this hasn't worked. The wand was thinner than i had thought it would be but it does separate and adds length to lashes. Again not as black as I'd like but i think we've discovered that i like jet black lashes! I have been using this mascara as a base coat to add a bit of length and separate and then using one of the other ones featured here on top to add volume and definition. RRP: £8.99

6/10

# 5. Collection 2000 - Volume Sensation - Ultra Black

I was really disappointed with this mascara. Apart from waterproofs i have purchased in the past this is by far the worst. It does have a nice thick wand which i like and nice bright packaging but that's where the praise stops. When i first went to use this mascara it was sticky and hardly any came out of the tube (maybe i had one from a bad batch?) i had to heat the tube up myself to loosen the contents. The mascara does thicken the lashes but adds no length. The colour states 'Ultra Black' but this was definitely not a dark black. Looking forward to trying out some more Collection 2000 mascaras soon so hope i don't have the same problem! RRP: £4.99

 3/10
 

Special Mention:

Maybelline - The Falsies Volume Express - Black Waterproof

I've been using the Maybelline 'Falsies' mascara for almost a year now on and off. It is a decent mascara; it separates and adds length due to the curved wand but it does not thicken enough for my liking so have recently been using it on top of the Rimmel Lash Accelerator. I have found this mascara to flake quite a lot and although it says it is waterproof i have not found this to be true. RRP: £7.99

7/10

TIP: I am a huge bargain hunter - if there's a bargain to be had I'll sniff it out! So when there's a new mascara or make-up product that I'd like to try i always check eBay first. I have picked up a few of these much cheaper than on the high street - worth a look :)

"don't be a stranger xoxo"