Clarins 3-Dot Liner vs. E.L.F. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen

Aloha!

Apologies for this unannounced hiatus from the blog scene- the past month has been full of birthdays, family vacations (my family going on vacations, not me sadly) and loads of business. I am preparing a few entires for release in the next few weeks so stay posted!

Today we're going to be looking at (one of) my favourite liquid liners and its budget-friendly sister. Clarins 3-Dot Liner and E.L.F. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen are the cosmetic's world answer to the trouble of tightlining - the process of lining only the eyelash line to create the appearance of thicker lashes. The purpose of the triple tip is to apply pigment in between the lashes on the lash line, as opposed to dragging your super sharp pencil as close to the lash's edge as possible.

The Clarins 3-Dot Liner is a limited edition eyeliner that was recently released with its Fall 2012 collection, that retails at $27 CAD (I purchased this at The Bay). The ELF Waterproof Eyeliner Pen is a recent addition to their Essentials collection, and retails at $3 CAD/USD, available on eyeslipsface.com.

The Clarins tip is longer with the tips more spaced apart compared to its ELF sister. Clarins' tip is also much more flexible, which makes gliding it along the lash line a more comfortable experience (I.E.: When you would use it as a liquid liner to create a bolder solid line). Being further spaced apart, I find the Clarins liner easier to use; I'm not petrified of poking my eyes out or accidentally punching myself in the face trying to apply eyeliner. The flexible tip also makes applying a solid liquid liner line on the bottom lashes very easy, it's actually a bit painful using the firmer tip of the E.L.F. liner. On MUA, a lot of reviewers agree that using the E.L.F. pen to create a solid liquid line is really uncomfortable.

Here the two pens are going head-to-head in the pigmentation and lining division. The Clarins liner is much more pigmented than the ELF counterpart, and creates cleaner, more uniform dots. The solid line is much more smooth and even in colour. I actually had to drag the ELF liner across the skin of my hand. One thing I've also noticed (that you can't really tell in this picture) is that the ELF formula is a bit runny and has the tendency to bleed on the skin and get really messy if you aren't careful. The Clarins formula seems thicker, almost like a gel-like consistency. I wouldn't say that the ELF formula is water proof, but it is certainly water resistant, as is the Clarins formula.

Looking at Before (sans eyeliner) and After photos, you can see the effect of tightlining on the eye- it does make the lash line appear thicker.  Comparing ELF and Clarins liners, there is very little difference between either eye (my apologies for the blurry after photo, I'm still trying to figure out how to use this new camera I got for my birthday!)

 The triple tip really gets into the skin between each lash, which is totally awesome.

Here's the finished product- ELF on the left (your left) and Clarins on the right, along with 1 coat of Lancome lash primer and Elizabeth Arden's Ceramide mascara.

The verdict: The Clarins liner is a superior product in its packaging, tip form, pigmentation and formula. When we look at the end result however, there really is very little difference in the finished product- both make tightlining a breeze and achieve the look of a fuller lash line. The Clarins eyeliner does carry a hefty price tag- you could actually purchase 9 E.L.F. eyeliner pens for the same price! Considering that eye cosmetics should be tossed after 3-6 months, the E.L.F. eyeliner is certainly a much better value, and when applied carefully, achieves the exact same look at its Clarins counterpart. If you really can't stand the firmer tip of the E.L.F. pen and have the extra dough to spend, then treat yourself to the Clarins pen, it is certainly a very luxurious eyeliner!

TooFaced released a 3-Way Liner similar to these that I've yet to try, I haven't seen it in any Sephoras in Canada. Once this Clarins liner runs out, perhaps I'll make a trip to the States and pick one up :)

That's all from me folks! Keep checking back for more updates and reviews!

What's your favourite way to tightline your lashes, with a pencil or with a liquid liner? Have you used a triple-tipped eyeliner before? I'd love to hear from you! Don't forget to subscribe and comment below!

xox,
ysobel

Crazy Good URBAN DECAY deal!

So I have this coupon for the shopping network and I was browsing the site trying to find something to use it on. Then I found this. It's a crazy good deal and I couldn't help but share!!

Urban Decay Midnight Cowgirl Makeup Bag Set

I am a HUGE bargain shopper and will buy things in sets to get the best value (that's why I love buying during department store GWP time because I get all those free goodies!).

So this is going for $39.00CAD plus $6.96 shipping. It ships from my hometown so I don't have to worry about it taking ages to get here. It includes...

24/7 Glide on Pencil in Zero (0.04oz, 1.2g) - FULL SIZE worth $23 CAD
Big Fatty Mascara (15mL, 0.51oz) - FULL SIZE worth $24CAD
Eyeshadow Primer Potion (25mL, 0.85oz) - PROFESSIONAL SIZE worth $34CAD
Cosmetic pouch

So that's $90+ worth of product for $39.00CAD plus taxes, shipping and handling. NOT A BAD DEAL!

Mascara Woes

So like I promised, I'm going to talk about the big deal with mascara.

Take a look at the bottom of your tube of mascara. Actually, this goes for all kinds of cosmetics (face creams, eye shadow, foundations, etc.) There should be a picture of an open jar that has either 3M, 6M, 12M, 18M on it. That is how long your cosmetics can be used after you open it, essentially an expiry date (yes, cosmetics indeed DO expire!).

image care of bunbunmakeuptips.com

For mascara and most eyeliners/eye primers, the is anywhere between 3-6 months. For eyeliner pencils that need to be sharpened, that's around 36M. As a former microbiologist, I STRONGLY recommend that you follow the manufacturer's suggestion. Have you ever heard of the "mini world inside your eyelashes"? That because it actually exists. Your eyelashes help protect your eyes from daily assaults, not only from things like blazing sunshine, but from all of the crap in the air that you and I breathe in. Our nostrils have nose hairs, our respiratory tract has cilia, and our eyes have eyelashes. Anything that our eyelashes don't catch is caught in our tears and eventually "cried out".

I'll be the first to admit it - for a while I kept mascara for as long as there was still product in the tube. After studying some microbiology in school and working for a while in the cosmetics industry, I realized how nasty that was. Every time your mascara wand applies product to your lashes, it combs your lashes of all the crap they caught protecting your eyes. So for as long as you're using that same mascara tube, you're dragging more and more crap through your eyelashes. Bacteria is multiplying at exponential rates - the bacteria already in your tube from past uses, and the bacteria you're going to collect on it the next time your use it on your lashes, will be multiplying at astronomical rates.

This is precisely why I think that mascara tip (adding contact lens solution to your dried up mascara tubes) on Pinterest is absolutely revolting. Yuck.

The 3-6 month expiry also considers the mascara's consistency. Every time you open up your mascara, you're pumping more air into it, drying it out. Your mascara will keep the same, usable consistency for about 3-6 month's time. After that, the formula has been exposed to waaay too much air and is no longer suitable to use.

So what do to? First, throw away all of the mascara you purchased and opened before the end of last year. A makeup artist friend of mine writes the dates she opens up her mascara on the actual tube to help her remember. As per my last post, I like to use the small tubes you get in GWPs or as samples because there's only enough product in there to last you a few months evenwith every day use, so you don't have to worry about exceeding your mascara's expiry date. Lastly, if you can, use one mascara at a time, so you really get your money's worth of product (especially for department store mascaras, those are $18CAD - $31 a pop!).

I'll talk more about the expiry of cosmetics products in a later post. In the meantime, anyone else kept a mascara longer tan the manufacturer's suggestion? What's the longest you've kept your mascara? No worries, I won't judge... like I said, I used to keep mine forever, haha.

xox,
ysobel

Everyday Beauty Routine

Good morning everyone!

For my first post I thought I would share what pieces my current daily makeup routine consists of. It's a nice selection of both drugstore and department store cosmetics that I've acquired over the past few months as gifts, in GWPs (gift with purchase), or that I purchased myself. I'll do individual reviews for these products in the future, once those are done I will update this post with the links to the products.

(1) Too Faced Natural Eye Neutral Eye Shadow Collection
(2) Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Foundation SPF 20 in Shade 05
(3) E.L.F. Studio Blush in Candid Coral
(4) Covergirl Black Eyeliner
(5) Lancome Cils Booster
(6) Lancome Hypnose Mascara
(7) E.L.F. Studio Bronzer in Warm
(8) E.L.F. Maximum Coverage Concealer (Oil Free) in Beige
(9) E.L.F. Essential Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Luminance
(10) E.L.F. Studio Flawless Finish Foundation SPF 15 (Oil Free) in Buff
(11) E.L.F. Studio Mineral Infused Face Primer in Clear


(1) Too Faced Natural Eye Neutral Eye Shadow Collection
Incredibly versatile palette that has a nice selection of basic matte, metallic and glitter eye shadows in neutral shades suitable for any skin colour. Shadows are long wearing, highly pigmented. As you can see I've done some damage on the first half of the palette. My favourite shades in this are Heaven (matte off-white) and Push-Up (metallic medium brown).

(2) Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Foundation SPF 20 in Shade 05
Great mineral-based foundation that you can use on its own over top a primer, or to set liquid makeup. It has its own grinder that turns it into a loose powder, and you really only need a very little amount when you're using it as a setting powder. It doesn't settle into creases or wrinkles and it has SPF 20 which is a huge plus. Shade 05 would be a great shade for you if you're a medium, yellow-based skin tone.

(3) E.L.F. Studio Blush in Candid Coral
A nice peachy shade with very fine gold glitter. Not the most pigmented but definitely has some staying power. It's great for natural looks and super easy to blend, which is why it's my everyday blush of choice.

(4) CG Black Eyeliner
I really don't remember what collection this is from... I bought it about a year ago and I'm just finishing it because I can't stand throwing away decent products without using them up, haha. It's not self sharpening, but it does have this nifty smudger on the opposite end of it (that I'll admit, I never use).

(5) Lancome Cils Booster
Found this in a stash of my GWP cosmetics. It's a great lash conditioner to use underneath your mascara that helps keep your mascara from drying out and becoming flaky.

(6) Lancome Hypnose in Black
Great mascara that lengthens and thickens your lashes without too many clumps. Lashes still look natural, which is why I am really digging this stuff.

*I like to use mini sized mascaras, like the ones you receive in GWPs, because the lifespan of mascara is only 3 months! I'll blog later about this issue, but if you're wondering why I'm using trial sized mascaras, this is why.

(7) E.L.F. Studio Bronzer in Warm
A great warm-toned bronzer. I like to use the bottom two shades blended together to contour and I swirl my brush to pick up all 4 colours to bronze my forehead, jawline and neck.

(8) E.L.F. Maximum Coverage Concealer in Beige
A medium yellow-toned concealer that is super pigmented, so you only really need a tiny drop to do both of your under eye circles. I like to use this with my E.L.F. Flawless Concealer brush that applies any concealer like a dream.

(9) E.L.F.Healthy Glow Bronzer in Luminance
I know it says bronzer but as you can see, it's a highlighter. Nicely pigmented, pearly finish with virtually no glitter in it. It is also on the warm toned, almost a beige colour, which is really great for medium warm skin tones. Not bad for $1!

(10) E.L.F. Flawless Finish Foundation in Buff
Awesome $6 foundation that has medium coverage and a dewy finish. Is has SPF 15 in it which is awesome, also blends really well and doesn't settle into any creases. It's VERY long wearing - my skin still looks the same after 16 hours of wear! Buff is a medium yellow-toned colour that is almost borderline dark medium. I'm blending it with a little moisturizer right now to sheer it out while I'm at my lightest after the winter months.

(11) E.L.F. Mineral Infused Face Primer
A clear silicone based primer that I like to use before I apply any concealer or foundation. Very cost effective (only $6) and keeps my foundation on forever. I can't compare it to other primers because this is the first I've tried, but I've been so happy with this primer since I first purchased it I haven't had the need to buy another one. What I love most about it is that it does a really great job of making a barrier between my moisturizer and foundation, so my skin doesn't dry out after a long day of wearing make up.


There we have it, my daily make-up routine in a blog post. In a later post I'll share the products I use in my daily skin care regimen. Are any of these items in your daily make up routine? I'd love to know about what you guys think about these products - comment below!

xox,
Ysobel