A Great New Mascara from Dior: Diorshow Iconic Overcurl

A few weeks ago, I saw this little Dior mascara at Sephora as a 100-pt perk, and I just had to have it. I love Diorshow Extase, and most of you probably know that I won't go without Diorshow Maximizer no matter what mascara I'm using.  So, how did this new mascara fare? In summary, I loved it. I would buy it if I weren't so currently entranced by Fairydrops Scandal Queen Mascara, but I'm definitely keeping it on the list for later.

As you can see, the wand of Diorshow Iconic Overcurl is that U-shape that you see so frequently with "curling" mascaras. Like with the Fairydrops Mascara, I do find more success with curling when using the U upside down. Who knew? I also find a better curling effect if you look down while applying and make an upwards curling motion.  This mascara also wears quite well, with no smudging or flaking that I can tell. I've worn it at least once for 12+ hours, and it worked just fine. Here's a look at my bare lashes. For those of you who don't know, my lashes are quite fine and do stick straight down in general.

No mascara!

Here's a look at the mascara in action. Not bad, right? I quite like it! Apologies again for the sad state of my skin and brows in these photos!

At the moment, this mascara is a Beauty Insider exclusive at Sephora. I'm not sure when the official release date is, but I'll be sure to post it when I find out! What do you think of Diorshow Iconic Overcurl? Will you be picking it up when it comes out? :)

Get HUGE Lashes with Fairydrops Scandal Queen Mascara

I remember a few years ago, this mascara finally became available at Sephora. I jumped on it and bought it right away, and I really enjoyed the few months of dramatic lashes that it gave me. :) This past holiday season, I decided to grab this again during one of Sephora's sales. This fiber mascara really attaches to my lashes and creates long lashes with CURL! Epic, right? My lashes are an ok lenght, but stick straight down and are quite fine, so you can imagine how big of a difference this makes to me. With Diorshow Maximizer, I see even more of a pronounced effect.

I know the wand must look crazy, but it really works for me. If I look downwards while applying this, and use the wand as an upside-down U, it really lifts my lashes. Not sure how I ended up using it as an upside down U (the result of a Lisa Eldridge video, perhaps?) but it really does work for me when it comes to these types of wands in general.

Check it out - here are my straight lashes without mascara. Look at the difference and CURL with one coat!!! I love it, and it really makes SUCH a difference. Please excuse the random leftover makeup on my lower lashline, LOL! And dude, my BROWS! Good thing I just bought an Anastasia brow kit to play with...

Anyway, back to the mascara! The mascara doesn't smudge or flake on me, but the fibers were initially very unusual to me. When you remove this, it does remove quite easily but with small fibers. For those not used to fiber mascaras, it often comes out in little tubes that look like lashes, and that freaked me out the first time around!

I feel the need to mention that fiber mascaras are not ones to be wearing if you rub your eyes with cotton pads when removing eye makeup. I have a tendency to do this, as I'm not always patient enough to use the Lisa Eldridge technique for makeup removal - soak a cotton pad, rest it on eyes, and pat gently. As a result, the fibers turn into crumbs, and I end up with mascara fibers in my eyes. Ouch! Such a fail on my part.... You've been warned! Don't be like me! Also, I don't know what possesses me to NOT use this technique, as it is just the easiest removal ever. Poof, eye makeup gone, no effort needed!

Anyways, what do you think of Fairydrops Scandal Queen Mascara? What is your favorite mascara or trick for pesky lashes?? Do share! :) 

Mascara Sampling: Lancome Hypnose Drama vs. Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume

Somehow, I've managed to collect quite a few mascaras. Mostly samples, as I've stuck to buying only drugstore options this year. In any event, the pile of sample mascaras still grows, even though I try to give them away frequently! The other day I decided to try out two of the mascaras in the pile. (Yes, one on each eye!) Lancome Hypnose Drama in Excessive Black has Lancome's signature rose scent. I don't know why, but I always find putting something rose scented on my eyes a bit strange. What if I was allergic to roses? That aside, I did like the look of the s-curved brush, but wasn't entirely sure of how to best use it. Based on the name, I expected the mascara to offer major drama, perhaps even in one coat, and it did not have that effect on my lashes. My lashes are also quite fine, so I always worry about having a spider lash effect with mascaras. While this mascara didn't do that, comparing it to the Laura Mercier option did make my lashes look a bit... scraggly. Not spidery, but scraggly. Like, not perfectly strong and straight... Perhaps it was the wand, or my lack of skill with it. Either way, this is finding a new home with a makeup friend since I don't have time to use it up! Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume Mascara is one that I should have tried sooner. A friend tried it this past spring and swears by it, and I've had this sample sitting around all this time. It really offers definition to my lashes, yet still looks fully natural. YAY. My friend loves it because it never flakes or smudges, and I have to say it really doesn't. I haven't tried crying or swimming with it or anything, but this mascara survives normal everyday wear (even with a bit of eye rubbing!) Since it is not waterproof and washes off VERY easily, I suspect it wouldn't hold up to a day at the beach or a tearful event. However, I'm definitely going to stick with this one and see how I like it as time passes. So far so good, though! Definition, length, and easy removal are all great features in my book! I can't wait to see how it pairs with my trusty Diorshow Maximizer, which really just makes every mascara infinitely more amazing.

I don't know why I don't have a proper photo of this, but here's a quick snap I took of the two mascaras on my eyes. Can you tell a difference?

What do you think of these mascaras? Have you tried either? Do you have any mascaras that I NEED to try? :)

My HG Mascara Formula

These two products are absolutely my FAVORITE mascara combination for defined, lengthy lashes.

But, I can't always be spending $56 on a mascara combination, and am happy to report that Diorshow Maximizer + Maybelline mascara (currently Falsies Flared) is also a dream. One day I texted a shot of this summer combo to my best friend, and she was impressed.  I've even seen success with my own eyes, and not just on me!  A super long lashed coworker has super HUGE defined lashes with Diorshow Maximizer + regular Diorshow mascara. The first day I saw it I was seriously shocked! (And she previously used Diorshow too!)

Here is a shot of 1 light coat of Diorshow Maximizer  +  1 coat of Maybelline Falsies Flared. I apologize in advance for my droopy Asian lashes and the weird shadows of my hair around my eyes lol. Oh, also it would help if I did't always forget to curl my eyelashes... and opened my eyes more in photos outside... and was not inept at applying mascara in general... But seriously,  can you imagine this at 2 or 3 coats with some curling? Crazy.

If anything, you have to buy Diorshow Maximizer.  It's unlike any mascara primer I've ever tried. There is little to no white that is applied to the lashes, which I love.  Only real downside I see is that each tube I have had seems to lose a bit of its oomph after 2-3 months. I wouldn't say it expires in that time, just that when I first open it and apply it to bare lashes, there is an immediate effect and that wow factor is just less so at the 2-3 month mark. IT. IS. AMAZING.

Have you tried this primer? If you haven't, you need to go and try it now and let me know how it goes!